Barack Obama, Washington Square, NYC - Rally 9/27

Barack Obama, Washington Square, NYC - Rally 9/27 (1 of 3)


Barack Obama, Washington Square, NYC - Rally 9/27 (2 of 3)


Barack Obama, Washington Square, NYC - Rally 9/27 (3 of 3)

Still on my fence...

GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~

DUMB IT DOWN

GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON HIP HOP PANEL 2 (IN IT'S ENTIRETY)

Congressional Hearings on Hip Hop - Panel 2 (1 of 9)

Congressional Hearings on Hip Hop - Panel 2 (2 of 9)

Congressional Hearings on Hip Hop - Panel 2 (3 of 9)

Congressional Hearings on Hip Hop - Panel 2 (4 of 9)

Congressional Hearings on Hip Hop - Panel 2 (5 of 9)

Congressional Hearings on Hip Hop - Panel 2 (6 of 9)

Congressional Hearings on Hip Hop - Panel 2 (7 of 9)

Congressional Hearings on Hip Hop - Panel 2 (8 of 9)

Congressional Hearings on Hip Hop - Panel 2 (9 of 9)


GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~

AN OPEN LETTER TO ADRIANNE CURRY

Since I started this blog, my inbox has been flooded with messages full of things people think will get under my skin. It is as if they are daring me to unleash the wrath of the heavens through my fingertips onto this digital page. Sometimes, I suspect they do it just to watch my head explode all over the keyboard for their personal amusement. Other times, I believe it is because they genuinely want someone to speak the truths they cannot always voice for themselves.

It reminds me of when I was younger and my friends would tap into my deep frustration with law enforcement. Where we lived, they were pigs. In certain schools or neighborhoods, they were Officer Friendly. Either way, my friends knew how much I hated watching people in power abuse those who had none. So they would make sure I noticed every cop who was taking himself too seriously or bothering someone who could not fight back. I did not have much power either, but I damn sure was not going to back down. And they knew that.

One day, I will tell you the story about how my liberal, fight the power, white English teacher set Officer Friendly up to get his head verbally torn off by me in the seventh grade. She orchestrated it like it was a stage play, all for her own quiet entertainment. PEOPLE, I REALLY REALLY TRIED NOT TO, BUT THEY KEPT PUSHING ME.

Anyway, as I was saying, it feels like some of my friends actually enjoy the cosmic literary smackdowns that they know are likely to follow the contents of their emails. And I cannot lie, there is something beautiful about being someone others trust to speak up. I appreciate that people believe I can be a voice for their frustrations. I love that they care about the blog enough to feed it with inspiration. I just hope that if I ever get locked up over an anti Bush rant, they will show up to bail my Black ass out.

So there I was, checking my inbox again, and I saw a message titled “Think you’d like this for your blog.” From the sender alone, I already knew this was not going to be some peaceful image of children laughing in a park or a black and white photo of two lovers basking in that Black love I am always writing about. I braced myself to be pissed off.

I opened the message and found a link to a MySpace blog entry by Adrianne Curry. Yes, that chick who married a Brady. The blog was a steaming pile of racist ignorance wrapped in a condescending tone and delivered with the arrogance of someone too blind to realize they are drowning in their own privilege. It was her little rant about why she was boycotting BET. I am not necessarily mad at that part. But she went further and proudly declared she was also boycotting Black History Month.

Goal. My friend had accomplished his mission. Piss me the fuck off.

I started writing a response. I walked away. I came back. The words were not hitting the way I needed them to. The tone was off. It was not sharp enough to pierce through the nonsense or soft enough to cradle the weight of why this kind of thing hurts. I wanted to rewrite it. I planned to. But then something unexpected happened.

While catching up on my daily ritual of reading the blogs I love, I stumbled upon Humanity Critic’s latest post. The title stopped me cold. “An Open Letter to Adrianne Curry.” In just those six words, I knew someone had already written the letter I had been trying to find my way to.

I read it slowly. Every sentence echoed what I had been thinking and feeling. It gave voice to what I could not quite say the way I wanted. And in that moment, I knew the job had been done. Not by me. But through me.

So here it is. Our open letter to "Ms. Curry."

Please click here to read, and then pass it on.

GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~

WATCH HIP HOP CONGRESS HEARINGS ONLINE NOW

From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degrading Images is currently straming online. If you’re so inclined, you can watch the hearing here. Please feel free to leave your comments and thoughts on the hearings here on my blog comment section.

GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~

BABIES R US: ANOTHER ONE IS HERE!!!

I just got that call. My boy Chris, also known as Mr. CMG himself, and his wife Marise have welcomed their second daughter, Victoria Jolie Simone, into the world. God, I love that name. She arrived full of life and promise, weighing 8 pounds and 1.5 ounces, stretching 19.75 inches long, and making her presence known at exactly 12:23 PM central time.

I love her name for more than one reason. First, it is regal. It is elegant. It carries the grace and power that every young queen should inherit. A name that does not just identify her, but crowns her. Second, and more personally, there was something Chris said to me weeks ago when we were talking about names that has never left me. He told me, “I was in the gym one day and I heard the Lord say I am forming VICTORY in your wife's womb.” I saved that quote. I read it again and again. And every time, it hits me with the same force. Every time, it pulls something deep from within me and holds it tenderly.

This is a good weekend. No, this is a great weekend. I have always been a believer in love, in marriage, and in the sacred duty of parenthood. To see my friends building families rooted in love, building legacies out of joy and commitment, brings a kind of warmth that does not just fill me. It lives in me. It settles deep in my bones and reminds me that we are capable of extraordinary things when we lead with love.

Right now, four of my closest and oldest friends are either welcoming or preparing to welcome new life. Chris and Ben both became fathers to daughters this weekend. And two more men I love like family, Quincy and Justin, are entering their final stretch before delivery. Quincy, who helped raise me from the apartment next door. Justin, who has always been my rider. These men have seen me at my highest. They have stayed with me at my lowest. They have carried me with nothing in return but the hope that I would keep going. Keep healing. Keep becoming. They have loved me without condition. And all I have ever asked is that I be allowed to love them back the same way.

I had written more. Something longer. Something more focused on me. But I realized quickly that today is not about me. Today is theirs. This moment belongs to them, and so this offering will too.

I love you all. I wish you nothing less than the fullness of joy that this life has to give. You have been entrusted with the sacred calling of raising and shaping another human soul. You do not walk that road alone. You have a tribe behind you. You have a support system around you. You have me.

I have told you this in private. Now I say it out loud for all to hear. WHENEVER. WHEREVER. HOWEVER. I AM HERE FOR YOU ALL.

CLICK ME:
CURTIS MAYFIELD “MISS BLACK AMERICA”

HERE IS THE BABIES R US PLAYLIST ONCE AGAIN. IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS PLAYING THE PLAYLIST BELOW, CLICK ON LAUNCH STANDALONE PLAYER AND IT SHOULD PLAY.

GVG
~Godfather and Uncle to the stars~

TODAY IS REALLY SUNDAY???!!! OPPS

So, as some of you who read the blog yesterday may have figured out, I truly believed it was Sunday. I posted my weekly Audio Foreplay as if it were. Now you may be wondering how a grown person manages to lose track of an entire day. The answer is painfully simple. Liquor.

We were celebrating the healthy and beautiful arrival of my goddaughter, Sheridan, Ben’s first child. It was a night of joy, of tears, of pride, and yes, of drinks. Our old companion alcohol showed up, and, being the international jetsetter he is, he did not come alone. He brought a crowd.

First to arrive was his elegant French friend, Veuve Clicquot, who made an early entrance and set the tone. But when you invite one Frenchman to a room full of Haitians, you better believe he is going to call for backup. Grey Goose showed up soon after, standing tall and smooth like he knew exactly what kind of night it was going to be. And just when we thought things had settled, the Mexicans pulled up. Patron entered the room, and we all knew what time it was. The vibe shifted. It was on.

We toasted. We drank. We laughed. We toasted again. We drank again. We toasted and drank until time felt like a concept only sober people believed in. One toast turned into ten. One memory turned into many. There was a rhythm to it. A dance. A sacred ritual of celebration and release.

We all “woke up” yesterday at wildly different hours. No one moved before 1:30 PM. I came back to life around 2:30. Someone else stirred at 4:30. I will spare them the public shaming, but you know who you are. Nobody told you to mix dark and light. That was a rookie mistake and you paid for it.

And so, we wandered through the day convinced it was Sunday. We performed our Sunday routines with full confidence. It was not until much later that we realized the truth. Today is Sunday. Today is actually the day we thought we had already lived through.

But what a gift that realization was. One more day to be wrapped in this joy. One more day to visit the hospital and hold our new little girl. One more day to feel what it means to witness life come full circle.

So since today really is Sunday, maybe I will do a mini Audio Foreplay after all. Maybe I will savor this extra moment. This bonus blessing. This stretch of time where we are reminded that joy sometimes makes us forget the clock entirely.

And honestly, what better reason is there to lose track of time?

THE PERFECT SONG: CLICK HERE

GVG
~we’re the warriors they write epics about~

BILL O' REILLY: IS ANYONE SURPRISED?

O'Reilly surprised "there was no difference" between Harlem restaurant and other New York restaurants


Discussing his recent dinner with Rev. Al Sharpton at the Harlem restaurant Sylvia's, Bill O'Reilly reported that he "couldn't get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia's restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it's run by blacks, primarily black patronship." O'Reilly added: "There wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, 'M-Fer, I want more iced tea.' "


"...it was like going into an Italian restaurant in an all-white suburb in the sense of people were sitting there, and they were ordering and having fun. And there wasn't any kind of craziness at all." O'Reilly also stated: "I think black Americans are starting to think more and more for themselves. They're getting away from the Sharptons and the [Rev. Jesse] Jacksons and the people trying to lead them into a race-based culture. They're just trying to figure it out. 'Look, I can make it. If I work hard and get educated, I can make it."

ANYONE CAN NOW POST COMMENTS ON MY BLOG EVEN WITHOUT A GMAIL ACCOUNT

For a long time I was having a problem with people not being able to leave their comments due to the fact that you had to have a Gmail account to leave comments. The problem has been corrected and you can now leave comments as anonymous without a Gmail account. Below are a few of the blogs that people have said they wanted to comment on, but just weren’t able to without setting up another e-mail account. Who the hell really wants to set up another e-mail account just to leave a comment? I wouldn’t have done it and it’s my blog. Please feel free to check the ones below out or scan through the past post for your favorites or the ones that pissed you off and leave those comments you wanted to.I’D LOVE TO READ ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY.

THE INFAMOUS WATERMELON BLOG

HEAD ABOVE WATER

TYLER LYNCH TURNS SMART PEOPLE DUMB

PUBLIC LETTER TO Dr. Creflo A. Dollar AND ALL LIKE MINDED

WHAT MAKES US FRIENDS?

CALL THEM THE KINGZ

1 MORE DAY TILL FASHIOH WEEK!!! DON'T CALL ME FOR (ALMOST) NOTHING!!!

GVG

~we’re the warriors they write epics about~

AUDIO FOREPLAY SUNDAY: I'M A GODFATHER!!!

Today is a very very special Audio Foreplay Sunday. It is in honor of one of the greatest blessings and privileges I have ever received.

Yesterday, September 21, 2007, at exactly 4:45 PM, I was given the profound honor of becoming a godfather. My oldest and dearest friend Ben welcomed his first child into the world. His daughter, Sheridan Elie, arrived healthy and radiant, weighing in at five pounds eleven ounces and measuring eighteen inches long.

Pictures are on the way. I would have shared them sooner, but let’s just say not every new father in 2007 has figured out how to use the camera feature on their phones. But I am not one to gossip, so you did not hear that from me.

Sheridan is now my fourth godchild and my third baby girl. And as I write this, I find myself already preparing what I like to call the DADDIES OF DAUGHTERS SURVIVAL STARTER KIT. Ben, welcome to a new kind of love, a deeper kind of responsibility, and a beautiful chapter filled with unexpected lessons.

Raising girls in this world takes intention, awareness, and heart. By now I know a few things, and I am here for you every step of the way.

Below, you will find the official DADDIES OF DAUGHTERS SURVIVAL STARTER KIT. Alongside it, today’s Audio Foreplay playlist is dedicated to Sheridan and to my other extraordinary (and occasionally exhausting) godchildren – Gavroch, Bethsaida, and my not-so-little-anymore Darnelle.

P.S. I could not find one of my all-time favorite songs about daughters to include in the playlist, so I am dropping it here separately. Click on it. Listen closely. Enjoy.

CURTIS MAYFIELD “MISS BLACK AMERICA”

DADDIES OF DAUGHTERS SURVIVAL STARTER KIT

· Shotgun
· Pit-bull
· Phone taps
· GPS tracking system to be installed in her phone, car, and if the technology is created in time - her ass
· Tylenol extra strength
· Anti-depressants
· Directory of all daddies w/ daughters support groups and counseling centers
· Severe Ulcer medication
· Digital camera to document how fast they grow up
· Contact info for the FDA to question the Hormones being put into the food of children today
· The Dad Book handbook: A fathers of daughters parenting guide with all answers to all the questions she will ask that you NEVER NEVER EVER TRULY want to talk to your little girl about answers

Still working on the kit, but by the time she’s crawling it will be fully stocked and ready to get you through those long, stressful years. Then the great day will come when you’re old and she can wipe your ass and tell you what to do -AHH THE CIRCLE OF LIFE.

ALL MY DADDIES OF DAUGHTERS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE KIT; WITH ALL OUR HELP MAYBE WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP THE FUTURE GENERATION GET THROUGH IT A BIT EASIER.

IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS PLAYING THE PLAYLIST BELOW, CLICK ON LAUNCH STANDALONE PLAYER AND IT SHOULD PLAY.

GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~

NOTICE:

summer is over...

AUDIO FOREPLAY SUNDAY:

WE'RE ALL JUST LIVING FOR THE SAME THING...



GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~

IT’S OVER!!!! NOW I CAN SLEEP!!! RIGHT?

Nope. Now comes the wave of phone calls and emails from clients, all asking the same thing — what should they expect next season?

And honestly, this is my favorite part of it all. I love watching shows and mentally placing pieces into my clients’ wardrobes. I catch myself thinking, “Oh, MR. SMITH would be perfect in that,” or “That would work beautifully for the groomsmen at that wedding in Costa Rica,” or even “MR. JOHNSON just asked me last week where to find something like this.”

Now begins the process of really combing through the photos, pairing designers with clients, and uncovering talent I may have overlooked or underappreciated in the past.

This season did not blow me away, but it also did not completely lose me. It lived somewhere in the middle. On the men’s side, no one truly surprised me. But on the women’s side, a few collections shocked me — though not in a good way. Some were downright disappointing. Let this be a reminder: CELEBRITY, INFAMY, and MARRIAGE might open doors, but they will not sustain a fashion house.

There were a lot of men’s shows this Spring 08 season. I had every intention of giving full recaps for each, but then my Blackberry died. It was a noble death, one I have decided to view as an act of self-sacrifice, so I would feel no guilt trading it in for the newly released Crackberry Curve hitting T-Mobile this week.

The problem? I had not backed it up. So every note I had written — and I promise you some of that was the funniest shit I have ever written — is gone. I can be a mean bastard when I am in critique mode, and I say that with love.

So instead of full recaps, below is a curated list of the men’s shows I believe are worth your time. Click on the designer to explore their Spring 08 offerings and decide for yourself what this season had to say.

MENSWEAR SPRING 08

Adam Kimmel
Band of Outsiders

DKNY

Duckie Brown

John Varvatos

Lacoste

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Michael Bastian

Michael Kors

Narciso Rodriguez
Obedient Sons

Patrik Ervell

Perry Ellis Signature

Rag & Bone

Ralph Lauren

Robert Geller

Thom Browne

Tim Hamilton
Tommy Hilfiger

Tony Melillo

Trovata

Y-3

Z Zegna

GVG

~we're the warriors they write epics about~

P.S. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD OWN A PAIR...

www.christianlouboutin.fr

GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~

A POCKET FULL OF CLUES

A whole bunch of people flooded my email, text, and voicemail with serious questions and deep concerns after I revealed the contents of my pockets Wednesday morning, specifically the grenade and the bullet casings. So I feel compelled to share a little more with you, my faithful readers (all five of you), partly because I don’t want anyone reporting my Black ass to Homeland Security.

Let me give you some context about how those items came into my possession and the night that brought them there. We attended “A Meditation of Weapons” art exhibit by Anton Skorubsky Kandinsky curated by Marc Ecko in his personal studio. The soundtrack for the evening was provided by the ever well-dressed and ready-to-make-you-move-your-feet-to-the-beat Mr. M.O.S., who also produced the CD found in my pocket, the same one with the grenade pictured on the cover.

Below are some of my favorite pieces from the show, along with a playlist of the songs from the “IPOD REVOLUTION” themed soundtrack DJ M.O.S. created for the event. I have no idea what the hell I meant by “IPOD REVOLUTION,” but it sounded good, so fuck it.

.

A Meditation of Weapons soundtrack

Track List
1.Intro
2.Snap your fingers (DJ M.O.S. Mix) - Lil John feat. E-40
3.Let me in - paul mccaurtney
4.Black steel in the hour of chaos (m.o.s. Edit) - public enemy
5.War pigs - black sabbath
6.War songs - windscale
7.The people - common
8.Stop children what's that sound - jefferson airplane
9.Toxic - Mark Ronson Feat. Triggers and ol dirty bastard
10.Road to the riches - kool g rap and dj polo
11. Get it together - beastie boys feat q-tip
12. Time for the season - the zombies
13.Time for enore - dj sizzahands
14. Soilders cadance - full metal jacket
15. Rotten love - the briefs
16. What people do for money - ac/dc 17.bullet with butterfly wing - smashing pumkins
18.Killing in the name of (mr. Oizo remix) - rage against the machine
19.Overnight celebrity - twista
20.Start! - the jam
21.Verigo - u2
22.Fire - jimi hendrix
23. Machine gun - jimi hendrix
24. We'll meet again - vera lynn (the grand finale)

GVG

~we’re the warriors they write epics about~

THIS IS THE GOOD LIFE!!!

When the fashion and music worlds collide, you end up seeing ALL the same people EVERYWHERE, EVERY DAY, and EVERY NIGHT for an entire week straight. I swear, it feels like I’m back in high school. Actually, that’s what I’m calling it from now on — Fashion Music High — where we’re all just grinding to get that paper. Last night, we hit seven parties (eight if you count the interlude — more on that later), all in the exact same order. We ALL spent about the same amount of time at each spot, and we ALL rolled up to the next one together. THIS WAS THE ROUTINE EVERY DAY AND NIGHT FOR A WHOLE WEEK!!! FUCK IT! THIS IS MY WORLD AND I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!! IT’S THE GOOD LIFE!!!

My friends and I carved out a little break from the fashion and music scene with a pure SOCA interlude at my boy Jason’s birthday party at Level V. Now that I think about it, that might have been the most fun part of the night. Then we jumped right back into the usual program — free top shelf liquor, the fashion and music crowd, Kanye West tracks blasting, Kanye West himself (LOL), and of course, Kim Kardashian ass gawking. Finally, I get it — ALL the people of color, men and women alike, in EVERY room took a collective moment of silence to admire the monster that was that ass. “Welcome to the good life where we like the girls who ain’t on TV because they got more ass than the models.” And the wannabes — the ones who want to be models, A&R reps, actors, producers, PR people, designers, Puffy’s baby mama, and everything in between — plus more free stuff (I wanted that vibrating ring condom so bad, knew I should have grabbed that gift bag!!!).

I woke up this morning, LATE, getting ready to hit my last shows for the week, which by the way I said fuck it to the 11 a.m. show and just planned to show up for the afternoon and evening gigs. Anyway, I looked in my pocket and found a CD with a painted grenade on the cover, bullet casings, and three pockets stuffed full of business cards from mostly people and companies I have NEVER heard of. I feel like I’m living in the pilot episode of a new CSI. What the hell did you people get me into last night??!?!!!

GVG
~we’re the warriors they write epics about~

HELP ME: I NEED FOOTBALL CLASSIC VIDEO BAD!!!!!

If ANYONE has video of The Southern University Band doing Soulja Boy for the battle of the bands at the Chicago Football Classic PLEASE send it to me. I NEED THAT IN MY LIFE AND SO WILL THE REST OF YOU ONCE YOU SEE IT.

GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~

AUDIO FOREPLAY SUNDAY

The video below has absolutely nothing to do with fashion week or the massive amounts of free top shelf liquor I’ve been consuming in the name of fashion and work, but damn, it’s cool, so FUCK IT. I skipped out early to check out the Fort Greene Festival in Brooklyn, New York. By the time I arrived, everyone else had already performed, but I caught the headliner, Talib Kweli, shutting it down. It was the perfect way to spend the rest of my Saturday.

My phone broke last night and honestly, I almost broke with it. It did help that when it happened, my blood to liquor ratio was roughly sixty to forty. I’ll let you be the judge which was more dominant in my bloodstream, LOL.

Yesterday, I went to a show by a hipster downtown white designer someone I won’t name with all white models and a completely white audience. I had to watch as he used Soulja Boy as the background music for his runway show. My friend Dave, who is just as old as me, corrected me and said, and I quote, “Soulja Boy. Spell it right!” That’s when I realized Dave was officially too old to know this stuff, and that it was definitely time for me to get my Black ass back to Brooklyn. I have work to do. As always, enjoy the moments.

Fuck it, I just figured out what I’m going to play today. Since everyone got a kick out of the visual, and I had to laugh looking back at the comedy of that crowd rocking hard to some ATL music. What do you even call that? Crunk music? Did I just sound like a region hater? I hope Lil Wayne doesn’t try to pimp slap me with his locks.

Soulja Boy - How to Crank That


Soulja Boy - How to Crank That - INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO. REALLY?!?!?!!!!!!!!


While I was looking for the video I came across this. NOW THIS IS SOME CUTE SH&T. SHE IS STILL FINNNNEEEE AS HELL AND LOOKIN LIKE SHE 23!!!


This was originally what I planned to play. Enjoy them all.
Check out this video: Meshell Ndegeocello DNB LIVE in Atlanta 2002



Add to My Profile | More Videos

GVG
~we’re the warriors they write epics about~

1 MORE DAY TILL FASHIOH WEEK!!! DON'T CALL ME FOR (ALMOST) NOTHING!!!

Tomorrow marks the “Official” first day of New York Fashion Week, but with all the pre-shows, parties, and castings, it honestly feels like it started a week ago. This time of year, I become unexpectedly popular. People I haven’t heard from in six months suddenly find me in their phonebooks like magic, eager to reconnect. Do the math — fashion week happens twice a year.

So for all those long lost friends and anyone who loves stopping me mid sprint as if I’m some kind of walking information kiosk, I’ve put together a small FAQ to save you some time and save me from being asked the same questions your Starbucks barista just grilled me with five minutes ago.

I’m sure as the days go on, I’ll be adding more answers to this list because, let’s be real, you’re going to have plenty more questions.

•NO, I DON'T HAVE EXTRA TICKETS.

•NO, I CAN'T GET YOU A MEETING WITH SOME DESIGNERS, BUYERS, BOOKING AGENTS, CASTING DIRECTORS, FASHION EDITORS, PUFFY’S BABY MOMMAS, ETC.

•NO, I CAN'T PUT YOUR NAME ON THE GUEST LIST.

•THIS IS THE TENTS FOR FASHION WEEK. IT’S WHERE TWICE A YEAR DESIGNERS SHOW THEIR NEW FALL/SPRING DESIGNS FOR BUYERS, INDUSTRY INSIDERS, THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY THIS SH%T, THE CHILDREN OF PEOPLE WHO COULD BUY THIS SH%T. YES, THAT FASHION WEEK.

•NO, I WON'T GIVE UP MY SEAT TO THE CRACKED OUT STARLET OF THE MOMENT.

•NO, I AM NOT ANY PLUS SIZED, DARK SKINNED BLACK ACTOR, SINGER, OR RAPPER YOU LOVE.

•NO, I’M NOT A STYLIST. I’M AN IMAGE CONSULTANT. YES, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. NO, I WILL NOT EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS. WHY ARE YOU HERE?!?!!!

•I BOUGHT IT AT THAT PLACE UP THE BLOCK AND AROUND THE CORNER. NO, NOT THAT PLACE.

•YES, MODELS EAT. I HAVEN’T SEEN IT, BUT I HEARD.

•NO, I DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU CAN SCORE SOME…

•NO, YOU CAN'T MEET ME AT THE DOOR FOR THE AFTER PARTY. I'LL MEET YOU INSIDE.

•YES, I KNOW WHERE DIDDY’S PARTY IS AT. NO, I’M NOT TELLING YOU.

•NO, OF COURSE I DIDN’T IGNORE YOUR CALL. 1. I GET NO RECEPTION IN HERE. 2. I CAN’T HEAR MY PHONE WITH ALL THAT NOISE. 3. WE HAD TO TURN OUR PHONES OFF FOR THE SHOW. (WHICHEVER ONE FITS)

•NO, YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT'S IN MY GIFT BAGS.

•YES, THERE ARE STRAIGHT MEN IN FASHION.

•YES, THERE ARE SUCCESSFUL BLACK PEOPLE IN FASHION.

•YES, THIS IS THE LINE FOR THE SHOW. LOOK AT THE SIGN!

•YES, THOSE SHADES ARE PRETENTIOUS, BUT WHERE ELSE BUT HERE TO BE.

•YES, THEY ARE WEARING REAL FUR. HOW DO I KNOW I DIDN'T DESIGN IT.

•YES, YOU MAY GET ME ANOTHER DRINK.

•YES, YOU MAY PRACTICE WALKING IN YOUR 5 INCH HEELS FOR MY OPINIONS AND CRITIQUES.

•YES, YOU MAY FLY ME TO MILAN AND PARIS TO KEEP THE PARTY GOING.

•YES, I WILL BE UP FOR THE NEXT EIGHT DAYS AND LOVING EVERY WAKING MINUTE OF IT.

GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~

AUDIO FOREPLAY: ALL CARIBBEAN MASSIVE STAND UP!!!

It’s another Sunday and all four of you who read this blog know what that means – AUDIO FOREPLAY SUNDAY. Today’s edition holds a special place in my heart because it falls on Labor Day weekend. Anyone who has ever been to New York City for the annual West Indian Day Parade knows just how monumental this celebration is.

I grew up here, and the sounds of all those Caribbean islands, especially the bands from my own homeland, Haiti, blasting down the parkway, made for the best part of my summer. We closed it out with a bang, some jumpin, and plenty of wavin. My whole “not crossing the bridge on weekends” motto actually began with Labor Day weekend. For as long as I can remember, I dedicated this weekend to my roots — both as a Haitian and a Brooklynite — and all the incredible things that come with it. The music — Zouk, Compa, Soca, Reggae — the food, the drinks, the culture, the people, and of course, the parties. At least once a year, I had to get my fix of all those things along with some serious rounds of Dominoes.

This weekend was the first time in a very long time that I crossed the bridge during Labor Day weekend. I have to admit, it made for some unforgettable moments, but today I am back in Brooklyn, and I’m not leaving until Tuesday. So let’s wait no longer. Today’s AUDIO FOREPLAY sampling is dedicated to Carnival, summer, and of course, the jump and wave.

SO EVERYONE TAKE YOUR FLAGS OUT AND WAVE THEM HIGH!!! IT’S CARNIVAL TIME!!!!

Wyclef ft. Buju Banton & T-Vice "Party By The Sea"


Machel Montano & Xtatik Big Truck and Footsteps


Carimi


Djakout Mizik - Sa Se Biznis Pam


KASSAV LIVE


KASSAV - "OU LE"


Bunji Garlin & Square One


Ms. Alysha & Faye-Ann Lyons - Party


KMC - Soul On Fire


GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~