Now, hit play and hold on to your wigs…

Just imagine when he starts using words that we understand… SMH

On my daily visits, I found First Weekend Club’s Pick of The Week.

First, @AVADVA (Ava DuVernay) hit us with the critically acclaimed  hip-hop documentary, This is The Life: How The West Was One (’08). For those of us who were part of the budding hip-hop scene in Los Angeles during the early ’90′s, will agree with me when I say, this docu gave props to some of hip-hop’s GREATEST lyricists and portrayed the LA movement with much respect.  Then she moved to the small screen with 2 network music docus. Continuously showing hip-hop love, DuVernay turned her lens to focus on the females in the male dominated genre with “My Mic Sounds Nice” and then she gave viewers an inside look at one of America’s largest Black music festivals; “The Essence Music Festival”. Now, Ava is bringing us her second film (first screenplay), I Will Follow. This triple threat talent wrote, produced, and directed the flick. Filled to the gills with stellar talent (Beverly Todd, Blaire Underwood, Omari Hardwick, Michole White), the story follows a grieving woman, Maye (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) and the twelve people who assist her through her lost.  It is scheduled for release this month (3/11/2011). The film has already been making noise at some of the film festivals.

OK, now that my sharing is caring moment is out of the way. I wanted to vent for a second. Remember when I wrote about my family being competitive when it comes to seeing films first…well, if you forgot here it is. Anyway, just to show you how bad it is, my father knew about a private screening of this movie and didn’t tell anyone because HE couldn’t go!!!  WAWAWACKKK, right?! That’s cool, I’ll catch it on the 11th of this month with everyone else! Showing support for indie films and filmmakers.

SHARING IS CARING…

Wow, 100 years of celebration. I truly believe today should be an official holiday like President’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, and Christmas.  Banks, grocery stores, The Children’s Place, laundromats, rivers with big rocks, open air markets, and kitchens need to be closed.   Tons of women are the unsung heroes and heroines (some have to play both roles) of their households, communities, and even their nations. We are just as deserving of a “day off” in our honor as our male counter-parts. As women, we are still in positions where we have to “prove” our worth and “justify” our existence.

I remember when I first started my journey on becoming a sound engineer, I was told to my face by more than one co-worker, who of course were men. That I would NEVER amount to anything in the industry and, get this, because I am a female of color I would never get work…to my face!!!! Well, maybe those that were so quick to speak their minds, ought to take a look at my “about” page and hide themselves under a rock.  With that being said, I think this year’s global theme is so appropriate: Women and men united to end violence against women and girls. Obviously, physical violence is extremely damaging and unjust to women but what we sometimes don’t realize, is that violence can come in the form of words (most women would agree with me on that one.). If  20 years ago, I were to have believed those guys who voluntarily tried to predict MY fate. The damage that could have come out of those few little words could have completely changed my life and not for the better.  Anyway, I dedicate this post to ALL the beautiful women and little girls who are in my life on a daily and to ALL the women and little girls world-wide!!! Celebrate your existence and know that life cannot be without WE…

Anyway, today I was motivated to finish it but from a different angle. Initially I was going to only focus on black blogs (not the color silly, the people that run them!) but decided to focus on those on my blogroll and ones I virtually stumble across. So, as I always say “Sharing is Caring”; my other one is “If It’s Free It’s Me” (I actually have to credit my homegirl Sandy Nelson /The Camden Media Agency for that one) just in case you were wondering. Here, I share with you, my “Daily Roll-bys”; that’s actually what I want to name my blogroll but don’t know how to change it yet; working on it.

Street Etiquette : It’s funny when I first went to their blog I just knew they were from Europe. NOPE!!! These Bronx brothas sense of style takes you back to when things were dapper, clean, and well manicured. These aficionados of vintage wares, throw a current twist to their styles. Take a cruise on over to their site and you’ll know exactly what I am talking about. Make sure you take a look at Black Ivy a project they put together with like-minded cats; it will really blow your minds. I truly appreciate the quick history plug at the end of their post regarding the featured fashion.

Where Did You Get That? : Karen Blanchard is a stylist in New York and has a peerless sense of  fashion; in other words, she has her OWN style.

Ronda Brown Art: Gotta plug my folks.  For all lovers of art and every configuration of  it, this mystically baptized  artwork is a must see. It will definitely move you. Check out her “Mic” series of hip-hop artist she’s photographed in action and then converted into malachitesque oils.

Frolab: Afros unite! Jewell and Cognito are LA locals who are heavy contributors of musical art. What that means is, they are dope graphic designers, photographers, and promoters of the hip-hop scene but with a fresh anomalous approach… I am proud to say, I’ve been FroSpotted and have earned my Frolab badge.  Spend a day in the life with these two and you just might up your value in hip-hop culture.  Love their mentality, “Pick Fros not Fights! is their motto.

George Duke, Scott Galloway, Aundrae Russell, and making her first official appearance since Teena’s passing, Alia Rose (Teena’s daughter) were the panelist for the evening. Each one shared with us their personal experiences and gave their insight to whom the true Teena Marie was. After wiping away my tears (of joy of course), the one thing that I found amazing from the panelists was, that Teena still had her concerns about how the world would accept the embodiment of a deeply soulful singer, a passionate performer, and a compassionate creator in the form of a white woman. It’s a funny thing, when I think of Teena Marie, I don’t see or hear color. I just embrace the connection that she had for the energy we call music and give thanks that I was able to be touched by what she left with us. Remember this post ?

I got a little footage from that night, bear with me and look pass the heads (well the really big one), the shaky camera handling, and other stuff; I did it on the sneak. I couldn’t resist, it was such a bittersweet evening to be a part of.

Next Up: Raphael Saadiq @ The Grammy Museum

Remember to stop by the museum and check out the Hip-Hop Exhibit. We were allowed to stroll through briefly on the way out and I have to say, The Grammy Museum is really trying to represent the culture.

This series has Danyel Smith (Vibe Magazine) moderating a round table (literally) with some of today’s brightest young stars out now who are changing up the music game; Lupe Fiasco, B.o.B, Janelle Monáe, and Estelle [Darling].  Smith is one of my favorite Hip-Hop journalist, it’s not  just the fact that she was the Editor-In-Chief at one of  Hip-Hop’s first publications but because she still gets excited about music and the new generation that is ushering it in.

Here is the first nugget in the series…

It’s a relief to see that there are people who are not afraid of stepping out and being comfortable with being different. Artist who don’t want to be categorized or cloned in an industry where originality is foreign .

Simmons was very engaging, attentive, and patient.  Even within the enlightened statements, there were sprinkles of  ”colorful venecular” which just reminded me that we are all humans working on becoming balanced whole spiritual beings. Sometimes I get lost in the, so-called “being perfect”…to just realize we already are.

Definitely pick up the book and READ it; Eso Won has a few autographed copies on deck. 

Tastebud Thriller Alert: PJ’s Classic Homemade Ice Cream was on deck and it was a show stopper topped with one of Gwen’s Specialty Cakes Mini Sweet Potato Pies!!!! MmmmMmmm!!!

Sidenote:I am happy to say that I survived NBA All-Star Weekend this year. With it being hosted in my lovely City of Angels, I try to avoid going out during these times. I have to admit my sister and I journeyed out Sunday evening to try to catch a little comedy show Beats by Dr. Dre was putting on; only to get to the head of the line (after being online for 40 minutes), next up and turned away!!! Uhhh…WTH?!! Due to…”we’re filled to capacity”, MALARKEY!!. If you would’ve seen my face and heard my sister’s “but it’s the principal that I’m talking about” speech it wasn’t a pretty scene. Then to find out later, that Dave Chappelle himself made a surprise appearance!!!! I was hot! Oh well, next time.

I was NOT planning nor expecting to be out and about Grammy week, AT all!! But LA was bursting out of her seams with numerous nocturnal activities to attend thanks to  The Grammys.  Sometimes you have to just roll with the punches and I am soooo glad that I did. It started Friday, no Thursday night at BHCP Live! . What was supposed to be a performance with El DeBarge (hope everything is OK with him, ijs) turned out to be a mini soul concert with two dope vocalist; Rachelle Ferrell and Ledisi. BHCP Live! is really playing it’s part in trying to bring real music  to the community nonetheless… for FREE!

Friday night, Kiss n Grind & Walk Talkin’ s Pre-Grammy Jammy (I posted it so, get mad at yourself if you didn’t go) with Vikter Duplaix, Eric Roberson, and none other than DJ Jazzy Jeff!!!  I had never seen Jeff do his thing before and when I say this was a delicious musical cornucopia, it was a TREAT. Jeff is silly, no stupid, no RIDICULOUS on the 1′s & 2′s. He played nothing from the 2000′s (yayyy!!), strictly the 80′s, 90′s and even some 70′s throwbacks. It felt like I was back in the day hangin’ out in my sister’s room listening to  some of her MANY records she’d copped from her record store runs (yes, I said record store).

Then there was Saturday… I had no idea how I was gonna do it but I did. I got passes to get into one of the hottest shows during Grammy week…The 7th Annual Roots Jam Session!! The Music Box’s stage was PACKED with so much talent; Chaka Khan, Estelle, Ana Tijoux, Too Short, Betty Wright (she actually busted a rap), Taj Mahl, Chuck Brown, Lalah Hathaway, Anthony Hamilton, Raheem DeVaughn, Dougie Fresh of course The Legendary Roots Crew backing everyone that the blessed the stage and many more performers.  You are just gonna have to check out my video of the evening to fully understand what was experienced that night. I will say, I was a little salty with my digi equip. Halfway through the evening, my camera stopped working and I ran out of battery life on my Flip, so I wasn’t able to capture some of the performers like Dougie Fresh who closed and shut down the night and yes he did HIS version of  “The Dougie”.

Anyway, hoped you enjoy what I was able to get and remember, here is where Your Fortune to Fun starts (check out my “Happenings” page).

*who were your Grammy picks?

*Ok, don’t talk about my skills on the camera. I got a Flip for Christmas and I’m still working out the handling and editing, work with me. Geesh give a girl a chance!

*Happy B’day weekend to my Sister and Bestie Kerri!!!!