(5/10) Celeb Run-ins... shambles

So... I'm really bad at meeting celebs, but I have seen a whole lot of people during my stay in NY! Here is my list of celeb sightings, run-ins, and encounters (in order of appearance of course). :)

1. Jeffrey Tambor aka the dad from The Hangover

Story: soooo I saw this guy just walking back from work near Broadway and did a double take! He's been in a lotta movies, but most recently, the Hangover.

2. Rachel Dratch from SNL

Story: I saw this SNL cast member walking down 10th street on my way back to my NYU dorm. She's actually not as frumpy in person LOL she looked kinda normal!

3. Alex Wolff of the Naked Brothers Band on Nickelodeon

Story: I saw this young Nickelodeon actor/musician at the same place as Rachel Dratch (close to 10th and 5th) walking with an old man. I was walkin with the homie J Regalado and kept sayin "is that the kid from the Naked Brothers Band?" ha! He was talkin about his career believe it or not and on our way back from eating we saw him and the old man again!

4. Theophilus London

Story: So anyone who I know, who loves music has probably heard me utter the words 'You know Theophilus London? You should def check him out!' I've seen this guy twice in Manhattan and once in BK. Love his music! (This is a pic from the Diesel: U Music Tour)

5. Russell Simmons

Story: I saw this hip hop mogul on my way back from snaggin my Diesel Music tour tickets where I would ultimately see Kanye West and take a terrible pic of him lol. I literally said "Oh wow. Russel... Hi!" and he gave me the nod with a look in his eye like 'please litlle negress... don't cause a scene i got bizness to take care of' ha! He was on his phone steppin out of a nice ass car!

6. Kanye West

Story: soooo I was soooo excited that the special guest at the Diesel Tour was Kanye West! Ye is one of my favorites so I started to back up out of fear when he came off stage and then when I realized how close we were I started running towards him and his bodyguard says "NO!" and points to me. So I try and take a picture... ugh. So a camera on zoom and an open bar are a bad mix for celeb sightings I guess.

7. Kelis and her baby

Story: On my way to pick up promo checks for work, I saw a newly-divorced Kelis and her newborn! Good luck on the settlement with Nas! Get that mon(t)ey gurl!!

8. T-Weed from "I love New York"

Story: So we're havin a nice ass time at Hotel on Rivington and I turn around to see this negro T-Weed! Then I tell my friend Roberto and he goes "Yo T-Weed" so we proceeded to take pics with him! ha!

(4/10) Beauty

Damn! I've been seriously slackin on my 10 post-game. But this weekend has been full of discoveries. This week I learned: There's something beautiful about beauty (LOL). But really.... it's something about the way a vendor lines up their handmade beads, displays their flowers. There's something beautiful about how much time a person will take to create a piece of artwork for no pay. The world is a beautiful place. Don't just look to a person's face for beauty, look at what their hands create.

(3/10) Expanding your Music Vocabulary

So my second post is about: Expanding your Music Vocab (LOL sorry about the dramatiks)... but I truly believe that constantly expanding what we listen to is good for the soul. Get out of your Rap/Pop/R&B mode and branch out!

So, here are some of my favorite musicians I have recently discovered within the last year. These artists are truly amazing to me! They are different, they take chances, and have unique sounds. They're undefined!... and I've always felt that the best music is undefined. Try them on for size:

Theophilus London- A rapper like you've never heard before. The fact that Theo samples tracks is the only traditional thing about his stance as a rapper... but don't expect to have heard the originals. I've seen this guy more than a few times and he blows me away. Download This Charming Mixtape and prepare to be hooked.

Website: http://theophiluslondon.wordpress.com/

Be's Pick: "TNT"

Janelle Monae- Imagine if you had a blender and you added the following: a little Erykah Badu, a little Prince, a lot of Andre 3000, and just a pinch of Lauryn Hill then poured Count Bassie on top... You would get something like Jane (recipe subjective of course). An eclectic sound with a little old and a little new. Her live performances are unforgettable as well.

Website: http://www.jmonae.com/

Be's Pick(s): "Lettin' Go" and "You Are My Everything"

Santigold- aka SantOgold is one of my new favorites as well! For those of you who don't know, she's sort of like a black MIA with the swag of Brooklyn, NY behind her. You may have heard her sampled by Drake and Weezy in "Unstoppable" or on "Brooklyn We Go Hard (Remix) with Jay Z, Lil Kim, etc. Love this gurl's music. So creative and innovative!

Website: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17316664/artist_to_watch_santogold

Be's Pick: Shove It

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Also, look up MGMT, Passion Pit,

and Heart's Revolution

if you got some time on your hands.

Oh! and for a one-stop shop

for a free playlist featuring more of this fresh/urban/undefined music, Click Here for 22 free songs sponsored by Nylon Mag!

*On side: Heart's Revolution and Passion Pit (respectively). Pics taken by moi at the Diesel Music Tour

10 Days Left... 10 Blog Posts

So... I've been a little lax on this whole blog thing. You would be surprised how much time can be spent just thinking about life and getting your shit together!! LOL but as the title mentions I will be on my A++ game and do 1o posts before i head back (unwillingly) to Michigan on the 3rd. A reasonable goal i feel! Don't you?

What i've learned from all of my time to think:

1. Don't take yourself - or anyone else for that matter - too seriously

2. "Love is a battlefield and I tripped AND got shot" LOL but It's okay to show weakness, we're human!

3. Sometimes you gotta run away, but eventually you will need to come back

Well that's a little wisdom for ya! Nothing too serious. I don't really like feelings so that's about all you will get from me for a while. haha

SUPERBLOGGER BRITTNEY COMING SOON! ;D

(1/10) Why I love Kanye West

So, my very dear friend Brandi N. Davie (yes, the almost-whole gov'ment name) always sends me these stop-animation photobucket graphics on twitter and one of my favorites is this one: |Click Here|

That is a piece of a video he put on his blog about getting his own Louis shoe. "I was forced to be change my name to Martin Louis the King........ JUNIOR. Address me as such!" BAHHahah! Here's the full vid in case you missed it:

I think Ye is an inspiration. Yea some people say he has an Ego. So what? Some say he's full of himself. So what? Doesn't he deserve it for saving hip-hop from monotony?? (I know a bold statement. Yea i said it!) It is his reckless, unwavering confidence that i admire most. Whether it is his music, his style, or just his personality, he takes risks and isn't afraid to do whatever his heart tells him. He is uncompromisingly Kanye West... and I love it! Don't hate, get on his level.

Five Reasons Why Black People Aren't Taken Seriously

Reason Number 5.

We're known to be "naturally entertaining". That's an m'effin issue in itself! Because of the media endorsing rappers like Soulja Boy, Black people all over the world are known not necessarily for our acheivements, but because we make catchy songs with dances to match. Lovely. We need to start making sure more positive portrayals of Blacks are being showcased in the media. I say, less B.E.T. rappers and video vixxens, and more Obama!

Reason Number 4.

We can't agree on what we want to be. We can't come together and decided if we want to be more like our white counterparts or simply maintain a tasteful culture that can be more socially accepted. What do i mean by that? Example: the new Disney Princess is not much like the others except for the fact that is was made in 2-D. Our Disney princess has a very distinct "Black voice". This presents a problem for me because Mulan and Jasmine sound very mainstream. If we're going to get a traditional Disney princess, she should sound like the other ones. Why couldn't she at least have a happy-medium voice like Regina King or something? That's my stance, but on the other side, if she didn't have this "Black voice", people would complain that she's too White-washed. Let's get it together people! What do we really want?

Reason Number 3.

... going along with number four, We can't stick together worth a damn nickel! With all of the dark skin vs light skin nonsense and African American vs "real Africans" debate, how can other races take us seriously? Let's not forget how Black people segregate themselves between who's :down: and who's :not:. LOL stop making fun of Carlton Banks! Accept that there are many styles of "Blackness". Being "hood" isn't the same as bein Black.

Reason Number 2.

We easily forget who came before us. What about DuBois, Frederick Douglass, MLK, Malcolm X? Would they be happy with where we are as a people? Or on a MUCH smaller scale, what about J.J. Fad, Ready for the World, and Kurtis Blow? Where are these pioneers now? You don't see the Caucasians forgetting about Led Zeppelin or Guns N Roses do you? Let's take the time to look back and do better.

Reason Number 1.

... in the tradition of number five: Hurricane Chris. Period.

Things that Make Me Feel Weird (1)

In the original words of Eric B and Rakim (not Aaliyah and Timbaland contrary to popular belief) "It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you- without a strong rhyme to step to" ... or a nice blog... to read to... Lame? yea i know... but anyways, to ease back into the wonderful world of blogging I thought I would add:

mY FIRST VIDEO POST! *squeels of excitement*

Today I got a txt from one of my roommates (Wendy of the UN crew) saying she had finally seen the commercial I was talking about a few weeks ago and was also left staring at the TV unamused. So here's the story: I was watching tha tube after a strenuous 4 hour work-day and was not only disturbed by the new Capri Sun commercial, but caught myself 4 minutes later with my mouth still hung open in disbelief and confusion. I knew commercials were getting weird but whaaaa? I had just gotten used ads like the "berries and cream" Starburst jumpoff and the "patrick chewing" Snickers ad... but at least I managed to laugh in hysterics after the initial shock. In complete contrast, this ad was just too m'effin strange! I still can't get over it!!

but enough writin, check the weirdness:

Am I being ridiculous? Is this not the most bizarre commercial you've ever seen?? *sigh* The advertising age is slowly sinking into the ruins...