THE HIDDEN PARTS OF MY SOUL

SUIT YOUR LIFE: 7 FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS THAT ARE NOT A TIE

2011-06-18T14:27:00.002-04:00

Check out the first piece for my new Suit Your Life fashion column with Black Enterprise Magazine. Enjoy.

http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/06/17/7-fathers-day-gift-ideas-not-a-tie/

Tell a friend to tell another friend.

Join me on twitter for more news, articles, and updates. A lot of great things on the horizon. Join me @iamGVG

Take 1

2010-02-01T02:16:00.000-05:00

HEARTS 4 HAITI

2010-01-17T02:30:00.000-05:00

A Brooklyn Haiku

2010-01-13T03:42:00.006-05:00

I slept with the girl of my dreams on the first date

In the morning when I woke up, she was still the girl of my dreams.

When she woke up, I was the guy she had a drunken one-night stand with.

AM I A WHORE BY BLOOD?

2009-08-31T22:47:00.001-04:00

I received a call from my cousin tonight which led to a deeper than normal conversation for us concerning our futures and the idea of love. He asking, “Do you believe people truly want to be in love”, spawned all this? Without a breathe I responded with a “Yes!” He responded with an “Oh” that sung out his loss of interest in continuing the conversation with such a “naïve” person. I pushed the subject further out of a desire to have a conversation with one of the only men I hoped could truly understand how I felt since he had the same bloodline as me. I reminded him of how both our fathers died with large bank accounts, numerous homes on multiple continents, closet of tailored suits, custom shoes, and a long list of conquest but none present at their bedsides when the end came. How sad it was that the only woman in my father’s life he trusted enough to help him put his life in order after his stroke in the event he died was my mother. Whom he hadn’t had a relationship with for about 14 years at the time. I continued to speak about how I didn’t want that for myself. How I wanted someone who loved me and that I loved in the same way. He listened impatiently and with every “Uh huh” signaled his lack of desire to continue the conversation. At the end of my long country song with the exuberance of a kid who just got a lifetime supply of chocolate, he screamed out “OUR DADS WHERE WHORES AND WE GOT THEIR BLOOD!!!”

WTF?!?!?!!!

I didn’t know what to say to that. I sat there quietly as he reminisces over “The good times” The Brothers, as we always called them, had with all their lovely conquest. We had this conversation on numerous occasions through the course of our lives each of us, my brother, cousin, and I, all had our Father/Uncle stories. Coming downstairs to find three women standing in front of the dinner table with the dishes they had prepared and my father asking me to choose which of them my fat picky fingers would feast on that evening. It wasn’t until years later that I realized what I had walked into. One of us walking in on a father/uncle receiving what we initially thought was a spirited bedside prayer and seconds later being hit with the realization that there was nothing holy in the act.

I told him of my concerns with my bloodline and how with every relationship I hoped to be the man I talked about being and not the man my bloodline destined me to be. My behavior in the past has lent itself to something my father would have done. I’m not a cheater, but I do love women. I love to flirt. I love the attention and I wonder if I’ll be able to turn that off once that ring comes on. I realized my cousin could not give me the answers I needed or wanted or maybe he was just the person to give me the answers, but I just didn’t want to hear them. I find any excuse to let him out of the conversation he clearly didn’t want to be in. then I was left alone to think and with no one else of value awake, all I could do was let the thoughts swoosh around in my head. Getting bigger with each turn.

Was I destined to be exactly what he proclaimed me to be – A whore? What would that entail? Would I get all the girls and have my kids and nephews talking for years about all the women that laid to my beckoning? Would I die alone wishing I had just picked one of them and made it work?

BOOK EVERYTHING TRAVEL BLOG: EP 2 BOSTON

2008-11-21T00:24:00.002-05:00

PART 1

PART 2

GVG
~SEE YOU IN THE AIR~

BOOK EVERYTHING TRAVEL BLOG INTRO AND EP1: PACKING SUCKS OR I SUCK AT PACKING

2008-11-19T05:11:00.006-05:00

You may not know this, but my New Year’s resolution (that wasn’t actually done on New Year’s) was to travel again. Travel as much as I can, as often as I can, for as long as I can. I can’t figure out why it was that I stopped traveling, maybe it’s the same reason I never made that big move across the Atlantic, that I’ve been talking about doing for all these years. Anyway, I got to a point where I said enough is enough and just started to book everything that came across my computer screen. I’ve done rather well. I’ve been on a plane at least once a month if not a minimum of twice a month since April. Not all of them have been lavish, far off lands, but all of them great experiences that have added to my growth and fond memories. The most memorable of the trips being my first trip back to Haiti with my brother. We plan to do that one again very soon.

My cousin Stephanie especially, and a few other close friends have tried to get me to keep a journal of my journey’s, but as I’ve seemed to have lost my bug for writing, as anyone who used to reads this blog can attest to, I just didn’t have the desire to write. I needed another way of documenting this experience, I ran into a cool guy one night who told me about how he created a collage with all the things in his pockets and other small random items he collected from his trip to South Africa. Interesting. I came across a blog of a guy who took one Polaroid picture per day since the late 70s and never missed a day. Very interesting. Another friend’s father wrote about the best part of each day for one year, exactly one year. Also interesting. As I encountered all these creative ways of documenting ones life I knew I wanted my own way, but I knew it had to be my own and not the rehash of someone else’s.

I have played around with the idea of keeping a photo journal, but I knew me and how I would have to preface each pic with a story and thought that wouldn’t do the idea justice. Then I had another idea – how about a video journal of my travels. No writing, but I get to give you all the stuff that’s going on with me as its happening. On a good day it could hopefully be insightful, entertaining, funny, informative, and beautiful, on all the other days a complete car wreck, and who doesn’t love watching a good wreck in progress!

This was great. The only problem is I hate carrying stuff, I hated, hated, HATED the idea of having to carry a digital camera, a digital recorder, my cell phone, CrackBerry, extra batteries, more cords, adapters, god it’s hurting my back just to type it all out. I already think we all look like batman wannabes with utility belts on. Then I got a great e-mail informing me that there had been a new operating system update released for my blackberry that would give it the ability to create video – EUREKA!!! That’s it. I could do my video journals with my CrackBerry. All was right with the world and my new video blog was one-step closer to being a reality, now all I needed was somewhere to go.

This brings us to this point. Below is my first official entry of my "BOOK EVERYTHING TRAVEL BLOG" series. The video quality on the phone isn’t the greatest, but I think it’s good enough to get the job done.

P.S. Below that, I added my test run of the CrackBerry video feature.

BOOK EVERYTHING TRAVEL BLOG EP1 PACKING SUCKS OR I SUCK AT PACKING

Click on link for a pic of the finished product
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/photo.php?pid=1523468&id=592097266&ref=nf

TESTING 1 2 3

AND THEN SO I SAID...

2008-10-30T04:01:00.006-04:00

I was reading part 2 of a blog over at A Belle in Brooklyn, about Belle’s first study abroad experience. The video below is in response to one of the comments left by Anon 11:14. Yes, I was TOO LAZY to write my response, so I took advantage of my newly acquired video option on my CrackBerry to create a video reply. I recommend reading the blog Part 1 here and Part 2 here and the comment by Anon 11:14 here, which motivated me to create the response below.

P.S. Check out Part 3 here.

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

P.P.S. This is my first time trying this Vlog thing on here.

A CONVERSATION BEFORE DEATH CALLS

2008-10-10T10:35:00.004-04:00

Below is a CrackBerry Messenger conversation I had with a friend yesterday, while on a short flight from Michigan to NYC, after reading a blog post she wrote entitled “It was all a dream”.

Participants:
-------------
GVG, Belle

Messages:
---------

GVG: It’s funny you had a dream about death

GVG: The last couple of flights I've had have been especially bad for me

GVG: I've never been scared of flying

GVG: Outside of the little anxiety on takeoff and landing, but I think that's common with everyone.

GVG: The last couple of flights have been different

GVG: I have these weird daydreams about the plane crashing

GVG: Maybe it has to do with the fact that I always sit in the emergency row for the extra legroom n all of a sudden I have really started to think about why there is an emergency row n when my responsibilities would actually take effect

GVG: I honestly think I'm writing so I can stop thinking about dying

GVG: It’s not working

GVG: Cuss now instead of dreaming of dying, I'm writing about dying

GVG: Weird things pass through ur mind when you think u may die

GVG: Who you'd call

GVG: In what order

GVG: Who u wouldn’t

GVG: what you'd say

GVG: I keep thinking that I’ll do one last status update on FaceBook

*GVG: "Gardy is about to die. Hope you're having a better day. P.S. Spirit sucks!"

GVG: You start thinking about all the things u didn't do

GVG: the women u loved n never told

GVG: The women who loved u n u never appreciated

GVG: The petty issues u had with friends and family

GVG: I actually just had a great memory pop into my head about u

GVG: Don't know why it sticks, but I just thought about that smile u gave me that night I ran out of that Roots concert at Highline

GVG: Even while I sit here writing

GVG: I realize I'm not scared of death

GVG: God, just make it quick

GVG: I'm scared shitless of not being remembered

GVG: I can be better than I am

GVG: That's such a bullshit statement

GVG: We can all be better than we are

GVG: The question is what will we do to be better

GVG: I think you should know that I always thought the story that it was when you saw my "story of life/death" tattoo was when you lost interest was bs

GVG: The plane is bouncing back n fourth n it’s messing with me

GVG: My toees r clinched

GVG: I have to keep typing

GVG: I put the volume all the way up on Alice Smith’s album

*GVG: I love the irony that the beginning of the chorus to the song I’m listening to is "If we start to fall..."

GVG: We landed.

*Belle: Blog this. It's painfully honest.

Belle: I'm glad you made it safe.

Belle: And um, why is your phone on mofo. You're supposed to turn it off.

GVG: Painfully honest is just the right way to describe it

Belle: And the tats were it.

Belle: I wouldn't lie.

Belle: ull be remembered. The question is how. That dream was eye opening for me.

GVG: Think it was eye opening for both of us

GVG: I started keeping it [my phone] on because I thought if I was going to die I didn't want to waste time trying to turn it back on to call n text

Belle: Am I living the way I want people to remember me? Will my folk remember me enuff to party on?

GVG: I think I would have had a panic attack if I wasn't typing

Belle: will kev and jess be ok? Will …… (Deleted because its none of your business)

Belle: Alice Smith is good. So is Nina Simone.

Belle: Or gospel music or Stevie- all songs about hope. Little trick I use.

GVG: I’ll remember that

GVG: I needed an uplifting album

GVG: Good God my hands r ashy

GVG: The things u notice...

Belle: He died, but did you see how ashy his hands were in that casket?

GVG: Thanx for giving me the space to type

Belle: Good lord. They coulda done a better job than that.

GVG: LOL

GVG: He don't even look like that

Belle: If I ever write this book. That line is going in there.

Belle: He woulda used more lotion.

Belle: Someone who loves you would put lotion on you.

GVG: Agreed

Belle: (It won't be me. Cause I ain't touching a body)

Belle: But we wouldn't let you go to the great beyond looking ashy.

Belle: You got to go how you came - in style.

GVG: Fresh to death!!!!

Belle: Word.

Belle: Gotta bounce for the train. $

GVG: Bye!

Belle: You should post this whole exchange on ur blog. $

GVG: Was thinking the same thing

GVG: Think I’ll call it "A conversation before death calls"

THE END

*It should be noted on this flight that Spirit left my luggage back in Michigan and at the time of posting still have not returned my luggage. Guess that status update wasn’t too far off.

* The song I was listening to was Gary’s Song off Alice Smith’s debut album “For Lovers, Dreamers, & Me”

* You may have noticed that I wrote a lot with no response. Up until this point I was still in the air with no signal on my phone. When we landed, my signal returned, and all the messages I had typed went through at once.

WOULD YOU SAVE A SOUL?

2008-07-24T13:56:00.003-04:00

There is so much going on in my life that no one other than I will ever know, if you ask me I will lie, if you think you know, you probably don’t, but it’s there and it hurts. I remember the day I got the new Gnarls Barkley Album “The Odd Couple”, anxiously pressed play, then it got to track 2 “Who's Gonna Save My Soul”, I stayed there for days with it, playing it over and over and over again. It spoke to me. It made me think about writing. I didn’t. It made me think about speaking. I didn’t. I just listened. Today I was sent the video for it. The video has done just the same to me as the song has and I’d like to share it with you. I thought about writing and speaking some more. I won’t.

Who's Gonna Save My Soul

FINALLY...

2008-06-09T11:49:00.001-04:00

MY THOUGHTS

2008-06-04T11:56:00.003-04:00

Someone asked me today what my thoughts were of last nights primary presumptive victory after I asked him and another friend to stop a heated conversation/arguement concerning the magnitude or lack thereof of last nights primary victory by Barack Obama for the Presidential nomination. Below is my response.

"I’m the biggest cynic any of you will EVER meet. I'm still kind of pissy that they keep referreing to Obama as a “Black man” like we still live by the one drop rule (I made a conscious decision earlier this year to keep those thoughts to myself from then on for a bunch of reason I will not discuss now) . However, I have to admit it wasn’t until this morning that it really hit me what I had witnessed and through all my cynicism it touched me and I’m am proud of this moment. I acknowlegde the road ahead while enjoying the patch of glorious grass under my feet and clear sky above my head right now. I take the moment as it is and enjoy it, and then live each moment that follows as they come. Today is ours and we should enjoy it as such. It’s a step in a direction we did not grow up believing existed."

Great qoute from PostBourgie

“every cynic was once a wounded optimist who still secretly longs that he/she will be proven wrong.”

Only November will tell how I’ll see the cup from now on.

REPOST: SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT

2008-05-27T03:23:00.004-04:00

This weekend while at an always good for a great house party I was outside of talking to friends and somehow, "She's got to have it" came up which then got me to thinking about the "A.S.S" survey I had reposted here last year and all the reactions that it brought about. Seeing as it's on my mind and I didn't write anything else, I’ve decided to repost it. Enjoy.

"I just came across a survey that Spike Lee had supposedly given to several women in order to help formulate the character that later became Nola Darling in “SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT” from Che Grand. I read through the survey and got very curious about what the answers to these questions would be 21 years after the original release of the film and the survey that created such a controversial character at the time. This is where you my loyal, beautiful, intelligent, open minded female readers and friends come in (Yes, I'm greasing you up, but I mean ever word), I would like you, if comfortable, to take the survey and if not comfortable having me know the answers came from you, you can post them as an anonymous commenter on my blog." Continue reading here

NOTE: The last time I posted this blog it lead to some controversy and not everyone was happy with my post (to say the least). If this offends you, I apologize in advance.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN - DANCE AFRICA IS HERE!!!!

2008-05-23T12:16:00.001-04:00

One of the most beautiful gatherings of black people, food, music, art, woman, and great vibes each year. Also a wonderful beginning to the unofficial start of summer. See you in the streets.

http://www.bam.org/events/08AFRI/08AFRI_bazaar.aspx

Sat, May 24, 12noon—10pm
Sun, May 25, 12noon—8pm
Mon, May 26, 12noon—7pm

Over 250 vendors from around the world converge on the streets surrounding BAM, transforming the neighborhood into a global marketplace offering African, Caribbean, and African-American food, crafts, and fashion. Rain or shine!

As part of the festivities, BAM presents a live showcase of roaming drummers, dancers, and stilt walkers inspired by the spirit of Africa.

I SEE PISS COMING I MOVE!

2008-05-22T14:31:00.002-04:00

SHE SAW PISS COMING SHE STAYED!

I RESPECT THIS!

2008-05-18T13:44:00.000-04:00

GVG
~when keeping it real goes right~

YOU KNOW I ALREADY KNEW THIS..,

2008-05-12T14:49:00.001-04:00

2008-05-11T13:37:00.000-04:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO YOU AND YOURS

LET THERE BE LIGHT....

2008-05-09T13:16:00.001-04:00

Below is just the fix we need on a nasty, dark, rainy day like today. Enjoy.

THANX TIMM

LOLA'S VILLAGE VOICE STORY OUT TODAY!!!!!

2008-05-07T12:15:00.007-04:00

Below is a link to the story in this month’s Village Voice about Lola's ongoing fight with the Soho Alliance and our "Dinner for a cause" events back on March 26TH AND 27TH, 2008 by Chloe A. Hilliard. A special Thanx goes to all the promoters who helped not only promote, but organize this event, and made it the huge success it was - DJ Herbert, Ed Freiberg, DJ Marc Smooth and Stone Jackson of EarCandyNYC, Kevin Powell, Grae Enterprise, MIH Icon, Gary Grant, Omar Hamilton, Danny Castro, Juanito Fortuno, C.I.A, Yaz, and DJ Cosi.

Thank you to EVERYONE who assisted in making this event such a great success by patronizing the restaurant on both nights of the "Dinner with a cause" events and all the nights after. We appreciate you all and hope you continue to support and spread the word about Lola's and their ongoing issues.

Lola is Soul
www.Lolaissoul.com
15 Watts st. corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York)
T. 212.675.6700

Deep South of Houston: Is a Soul-Food Restaurant Too Black for Soho?
by Chloe A. Hilliard
May 6th, 2008 12:00 AM

Lola, a soul-food restaurant that featured live rhythm-and-blues acts, attracts a largely black clientele, and also went by the name Lola Is Soul, decided in 2004, for business reasons, to move from Chelsea to Soho. But once they got there, the owners—a biracial couple—ran into surprisingly stiff opposition from the Soho Alliance, a community group that has opposed Lola's liquor license and its legal petition to have live entertainment at its new location.

Cries of racism have, not surprisingly, been leveled by Lola's supporters. But Don Clark MacPherson, a longtime resident of the neighborhood and a member of the Soho Alliance—as well as the publisher of the Soho Journal—says that the accusations of racism are unfounded. Lola, he tells the Voice, just moved to Soho at a bad time: Frustrated by the large number of nightclubs already in the area, the alliance saw in Lola simply one liquor license too many. "Race in this issue is a red herring," he says. "I don't think that the type of music had anything to do with it. The objection started before anyone heard about the type of music Lola played." Continue reading here

Also check out the Villager story here

THE STORY OF ELIZA PT. 2 OF 2

2008-04-30T04:05:00.004-04:00

This is the final part of the story. Enjoy

If you haven't already read part 1 scroll down to the post below and catch up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our relationship developed quickly, we were comfortable with each other in ways neither of us had ever been before with anyone else. We brought our strengths to each other’s life. We found balance in our differences. We seemed to understand each other; we could make the other laugh without ever having to utter a word. We had the same ideals and ethics. Lived by the same rules of conduct. Wanted similar lives.

One evening in the summer, she called me as both of us did more or less every night and informed me that she was in my neighborhood at her godfather’s house. I was in my friend’s car a couple of blocks away and decided this was a sign that we should see each other.
My friend commented on how my aura seemed to change the moment I picked up the phone to speak to her, how I perked up, sat straighter in my seat, and an uncontrollable grin plastered itself onto my face with each word she and I exchanged. I took the observation to be nothing more than a friend ribbing another for his own amusement.

We pulled up to find her and her godfather sitting on the steps of his brownstone laughing. I got out of the car, joined them in their conversation, and spent about three hours talking with them about everything under the evening stars. You would have thought we had all known each other forever. I felt at home and didn’t want the moment to end. However, it was late; he had to go to work in the morning and needed to go to bed.

Eliza and I thought it was a beautiful night - why not walk to the train station instead of her taking a cab. We walked in the direction of the train station but somehow never seemed to come to it, we walked and talked, and talked and walked some more, by the time we had looked up we had walked about 4 miles all the way to her neighborhood and never even realized it.

She suggested we extend the night a bit longer and partake in some handmade per order foreign beverage she had been raving about all night that could only be found at a café a couple of blocks away. We walked over only to find they had already closed for the evening. We crossed the street to another establishment both of us had walked pass for years but for some reason or another had never ventured into.

We approached the bar, sat, and asked the bartender for a drink recommendation. He quickly replied – rum punch. He asked us if we wanted anything to eat. We weren’t hungry but thought we could share a dessert to pass the time while we drank. He suggested their house specialty - Malva pudding; I was not a fan of pudding but took him on his word of its good and ordered it nonetheless. The bartender recommended we sit outside to enjoy our beverages in the summer breeze. The Malva pudding (which looked more like a circular brownie than pudding) came and initially, neither of us were brave enough to take the first bite. I finally manned up, slipped my dessertspoon into the pudding, and lifted it up with a small scoop of the vanilla ice cream that had accompanied it. I slipped it onto my tongue and allowed it to dissolve down my throat. Eliza asked me how it was and all I could do was to offer her to taste it for herself. Her facial expression seemed near orgasmic as the warm baked good touched her tongue. We had both fallen in love at the exact same moment, together, forever with Malva pudding.

We sat for hours talking about everything, anything, and sometimes even nothing as we always had. Except this time the conversation seemed to be different, we seemed to be closer, more honest, and sweeter. It just felt better. We closed the restaurant down. I finally took her to her front step that night, she made her way inside, and then I made my way home. Nothing happened nor was attempted.

I came home that night, took off my clothes, and went straight to bed. I slept well. I also had a dream about Eliza. She and our daughter kneeled on the floor, their elbows on a short table. They were coloring on a Playskool Lego desk. They looked so much alike with that shared hue of brown skin, that long curly black hair, and those gigantic cheesy smiles. They emanated happiness from every pore. As I walked in, both of my ladies looked up and let out huge uncontrollable squeals of joy. I felt their love and genuine happiness at my presence. It was the best feeling I’d ever had and I remembered how great it felt even after I woke.

I had that dream many more times over after that first night. Different variations but always the same constants - Eliza, our kids, and myself - happily ever after.

I kept those dreams to myself for years until now. Now that it’s over… and probably will never be… I tell you.

THE STORY OF ELIZA PT. 1 OF 2

2008-04-29T07:10:00.012-04:00

Nothing beats summer in New York City for my friends and I. Days and nights filled with an abundance of friends, laughs, ladies, music, parties, food, and tons of free top shelf liquor and merch all Thanx to the wonderful marketing folks vying for our loyalty for their client’s brand of the moment and inturn your patronage. They've dubbed us the cool kids, so all these marketing folk think if we like it, then you’ll buy it. The girls and the wannabes think if the marketing folk like us, maybe they should be around us. Therefore, those parties tend to be filled with some of this city’s best draft picks looking to be our first pick. We are more than obliged to check out their stats then give them a tryout. All the while hoping to find our next superstar player to lead our team to the championship. Sorry for all the sports references, The NFL draft is here again and all we’ve been doing for the past week is hitting draft parties, it must all be sinking in. Guess those marketing dollars are working.

So a couple of years ago at one of those top shelf “my brand is better than that brand” events for some brand that I swear taste and looks just like the brand from the night before I met a girl. Let me rephrase, I noticed a girl. She was the complete opposite of anyone I, or anyone who knew me, would have picked for me. She was short, light, young, immature, ill dressed for my world and my future (tomboy), too perky, and did I mention short? She amused me though. The first time I met her, she was hopping up and down for attention while I was having a conversation with her friend (who by the way was closer to “my type.”) It was funny to me. I wanted to tap her on her head and tell her to go sit somewhere until her friend and I finished our grown folks business. I didn’t. I watched her hopping there with a big smile on her face and all that hair going everywhere and allowed her to amuse me. It made me happier than I had been that whole day.

I left both of them to head to the downstairs patio to speak to some of my like-minded friends who probably hadn’t hopped in 20 yrs and probably saw no good reason to ever do so again. I laughed to myself about that while I chatted with them. At one point, I turned around to check the talent coming out the doorway onto the patio. A steady stream of five-inch heels and super tight jersey dresses that would make any man happy to be alive and straight. As I watched the steady stream, she came to the top of the stairs. The sun was setting and the light hit her in just the right way. I thought to myself: “She’s beautiful. I should help her bring that out.” Pompous ass, aren’t I?

At that moment, I decided to make her my new pet project. I was going to dress her in big girl clothes and debut her to society. I told her of my plan and she was more than in love with the idea. Come to find out her favorite movie of all time was “My Fair Lady” and she had dreamt of one day being her own modern day version of Eliza Doolittle. I was to be her Professor Henry Higgins.

The plan was set. We spoke every day for two weeks about whom she was and who she wanted to be for her debut, a weekly event I used to produce for all the people of my ilk. I gave her pointers, but told her she could select her own ensemble for the event, but it had to be a dress and she had to wear heals. She reluctantly agreed.

I showed up to the event that next night and waited for her. I felt a tap on my shoulder as I spoke to a patron. I took a quick glance back, noticed a woman standing there in a black and green patterned dressed. After initially not recognizing the woman, I turned back and as I was about to continue my conversation, it hit me. I snapped by neck back again to the woman, and after a blink I realized it was none other than my very own Eliza Doolittle. Wow! I thought. She looked amazing. I congratulated her on the selections she had made, took a moment to take it all in, and then went back to doing my duties for the evening.

At different points in the night, I would look around for her to make sure she was doing okay. Eliza was doing more than great. Every man turned his head when she passed. Those who weren’t with anyone (even some who were) attempted to get her attention with an offer of a dance, a drink, a trip abroad, anything just for a moment of her time. The DJ had learned her name and shouted it out so much that I was asked at least half a dozen times if someone by the name of Eliza was having a birthday or was about to get her car towed.

I could see how much she loved the attention and I loved the attention for her. She was happy and I felt like a proud parent whose child just won the spelling bee. All the hard work had paid off.

That night she got a ride home from one of those gentlemen callers. It was the first time I realized I cared about her. I went off about how it was unsafe to get into the car of a stranger, no matter how good a friend of mine he was. It wasn’t to be done and I never wanted to see her do it again. “WTF was that?!” I thought to myself as I let the words escape my mouth.

TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR PT. 2

OFFICERS ACQUITTED OF SEAN BELL MURDER

2008-04-25T10:44:00.006-04:00

3 NYPD detectives acquitted in groom slaying
Sean Bell, 23, killed in hail of bullets on night of his bachelor party

BREAKING NEWS

updated 49 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Three detectives were acquitted of all charges Friday in the 50-shot killing of an unarmed groom-to-be on his wedding day, a case that put the New York Police Department at the center of another dispute involving allegations of excessive firepower.

Justice Arthur Cooperman delivered the verdict in a Queens courtroom packed with spectators, including victim Sean Bell's fiancee and parents, as at least 200 people gathered outside the building.

As word of the verdict spread, many outside the courthouse began crying and yelled "No!" Some briefly jostled with police officers. Continue reading here

GVG
~justice for all my ass~

BRING OUT THE CONGOS. WE GO GO GROOVIN'!

2008-04-23T13:59:00.008-04:00

Is it just me or does GO GO seems like its breaking through and about to change the sound of hip-hop for the next few years a la Dr. Dre and Death Row in the 90s? First N.E.R.D with that crazy off the meat rack “Everyone Nose” joint that I honestly played every morning for like three weeks. Then all the buzz about Wale (Prounounced WAH-LAY), his signing with Mark Ronson, and his new mixtape “A mixtape about nothing” a.k.a the Seinfeld mixtape, and now this new video from the Roots ft Chrissette Michelle, and you guessed it – Wale and a serious go go beat. Think we might all have to hit Howard homecoming next yr or CBC to see whats going down down there.

The Roots ft. Wale & Chrisette Michele - Rising Up

N.E.R.D - Everyone Nose

Wale - "W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E"

Wale - Nike Boots

Just to take it a bit back. Most non Marylanders first introduction to that Go Go groove.

GVG
~we go go groovin~

DEAR PA RESIDENTS...

2008-04-23T12:04:00.001-04:00

Just checking in on all my PA people to make sure they’re ok. WHAT UP ANTOINE/MEGAN?! Your citizens as a whole have failed us, but we do not blame you (totally). We understand that this is just as hard for you as it is for us. We know you were out their fighting the good fight and spreading the word. Maybe not loud enough, but hey with each mistake a lesson is learned. All I am saying is if she wins the nomination, I’m coming for that ass. City of “Brotherly” love my ass. You ain’t give that brother no love. I’m just playing (sort of). Good day all.

HOME IS WHERE THE DEGREE IS?

2008-04-10T12:35:00.007-04:00

This seems to be the month of the newspapers for me; I keep coming across really great articles that I feel obligated to share with you. Guess not all the papers are going to shit, as David Simon would like you to believe. Yesterday I read an article (I was going to use the word interesting, but still not sure that’s the right word to describe how I felt about it). The article was this weeks cover story for the Village Voice entitled “A New Home Room” by Chloé A. Hilliard.

The piece is an in-depth look at the relatively new trend amongst black families in New York of taking their children, primarly their young black male children, out of school to homeschool. I have my own thoughts on the story, but I’m going to allow you to read the piece for yourself and come to your own conclusions, before I bombard you with mine.

Below are some excerpts from the story and a link to the full piece. If interested in my thoughts hit the comment section, read mine, and then leave your own, or vice versa. This is a place for some talking.

For Some Black Parents, the New Home Room is Home
Public schools are failing black boys, say a growing number of parents who are homeschooling
by Chloé A. Hilliard
April 8th, 2008 12:00 AM

“Say "homeschooling" and what tends to come to mind are the whitest people you know, holding Sunday school every day of the week in their basements, producing kids who can declaim against Charles Darwin for hours on end, but who are so screwed up socially that you can't imagine them getting a date, except years later as part of a group outing to Christian Day at Disney World.So, with that admittedly over-broad stereotype in mind, it's something of a shock to see the lessons in progress at Bread Stuy, a small café in Brooklyn, where customers sip at their coffee and read newspapers, unaware that a woman named P. Aurora Robinson is holding a homeschooling class in their midst.” Continue reading here

Full disclosure: The writer of this piece Chloé A. Hilliard, is a good friend of mine. That’s not the reason I posted the story though, it’s because in my groggy, half woke state yesterday morning the story woke me up and had me thinking, then writing, and then texting her ass like “YOU GOT SOME QUESTIONS TO ANSWER”. Now if a piece that does that to me is not worthy of some blog space sharing, I don’t know what is. I have a lot of friends doing a lot of things, but only the dopiest make it to this page.

DON'T PUT THAT BROWN PAPER BAG AWAY JUST YET...

2008-04-09T11:35:00.004-04:00

Hello all. Yesterday I posted two articles that grabbed my attention and thought would grab yours, but one seemed to truly capture the thoughts and words of my friends, so I’m giving it its own shine.

Below is an excerpt and link to an article from the UK paper “The Independent” and the article is entitled “Men, women & the secrets of skin colour” -

Men, women, & the secrets of skin colour

"For him, the female ideal is fair-complexioned and pure; but for her, it's the wild, dark Heathcliff types who attract

The fair maiden of myth appears to have a basis in scientific reality, according to new research. Scientists looking into attractiveness in men and women suggest that men of all races are subconsciously attracted to fairer-skinned women, while women are more drawn to dark-complexioned men.

The researchers, whose study shows that across different races, lighter-skinned women are seen as the ideal, say the attraction is driven by preferences based on moral assumptions.

Men are subconsciously attracted to fairer skin because of its association with innocence, purity, modesty, virginity, vulnerability and goodness, according to researchers at the University of Toronto. Women are attracted to men with darker complexions because these are associated with sex, virility, mystery, villainy and danger." Continue reading here

SOME GOOD READING TO PASS THE TIME

2008-04-08T12:01:00.003-04:00

Hello people. I realize I’ve been MIA for a few days now (more to come on that soon. Great news. Maybe even a full blog on it. Maybe not. LOL) Anyway while gone I came across two completely unrelated but both good articles that I thought you my readers would both enjoy and have some things to say about. Check them out and hit that comment section.

The first one is from Newsweek entitled “Today's culture of povety”
http://www.newsweek.com/id/129681

The second I came across on my Homegirls new online mag “Parlour Magazine” from The Independent entitled “Men, women & the secrets of skin colour”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/men-women--the-secrets-of-skin-colour-796610.html

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

Do you believe I am the best-dressed real man in America?

2008-04-01T20:39:00.011-04:00

At the behest of my good friend and fellow style aficionado - SRJ – I have entered Esquire's BEST DRESSED REAL MAN OF 2008 competition. I ask only three simple things of you –

1. Check out my Esquire Profile - http://www.esquirebdrm.com/GardyG/446

2. Vote for me, if and only if, you believe me to be deserving of the honor and title.

3. Please pass this on to everyone who would appreciate checking out some very well dressed men and maybe even voting for one of us.

To vote – Please click on the amount of stars you believe the contestant ranks at - 1 star = worst dressed - 5 stars = Best dressed. Please only vote once and if you would like more votes for a contestant just forward his Esquire profile URL to your friends for their votes. My Esquire profile URL is http://www.esquirebdrm.com/GardyG/446

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this, check out my page, and hopefully vote me as Esquire's BEST DRESSED REAL MAN OF 08.

GVG
~Dress inappropriately and they notice the dress; dress impeccably and they notice the person.~

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO LOLA'S DINNER PARTY FOR A CAUSE

2008-03-24T04:23:00.001-04:00

Dear Friends,

I am writing you in hopes that you will be moved, just as I was, to help give towards a great cause. Lola is Soul (www.lolaissoul.com) is a smashing upscale southern/Cajun restaurant owned and operated by husband and wife Tom and Gayle Patrick - Odeen b/k/a Lola

Read the Full Background story on their current troubles here: http://thevillager.com/villager_252/lolacantlivewithout.html

Since relocating in 2004 from its location on 22nd street, where it hosted an amazing live R&B music showcase as well as a Gospel Brunch to its new digs at 15 Watts st. on the corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York), Lola's has been blacklisted by its neighbors and The Soho Alliance who has successfully rallied to cut out all live music for fear it would bring an "undesirable" read: BLACK, URBAN crowd.

WITHOUT LIVE MUSIC LOLA’S IS SUFFERING

HOW YOU CAN HELP: I invite you to join my friends and I for a full course dinner, drinks and music (soul, R&B, Jazz, and Classics), at Lola's. An after work dinner party for a truly worthy cause. Plus, some of the best food you will ever have.

DATE: March 26TH AND 27TH, 2008

TIME: 6pm – 12am

LOCATION: Lola is Soul - 15 Watts st. corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York)

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Step 1: Call Lola's to make a RESERVATION at 212.675.6700!!! I should not have to say this but PLEASE BE ON TIME. The goal is to serve as many people as possible and make it a record-breaking night. If you are "FASHIONABLY LATE”, your table will be taken.

Step 2: BRING CASH or CREDIT CARD. The goal is to indulge in the full menu, so set aside 2 hours, and come ready to be wined and dined.

Step 3: Tell More Friends about Lola's. If you cannot make it on either, the 26th or the 27th do not give up - visit this fantastic spot some other time. We want Lola's to stay open for a long time. Add it to your top ten lists.

In the true spirit of giving, I hope to see you ALL there!

THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU FOR THESE EVENTS, OTHER THAN THE LISTED MENU PRICES FOR WHATEVER YOU ORDER.

100% OF ALL PROFITS RAISED FROM THESE TWO EVENTS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO LOLA’S AND THEIR DEFENSE FUND.

PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU BELIEVE WOULD APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT THIS WORTHY CAUSE

Thank you to our special host committee that has been working hard to make this event a great success – DJ Herbert, Ed Freiberg, DJ Marc Smooth and Stone Jackson of EarCandyNYC, Kevin Powell, Grae Enterprise, MIH Icon, Gary Grant, Omar Hamilton, Danny Castro, Juanito Fortuno, C.I.A, Yaz, and DJ Cosi.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at anytime with any of the contact info listed below and I will do my best to assist you in any way I can.

-GVG

Gardy
E-mail: GVG@iamGVG.com

Video: Damian Marley - One Loaf of Bread

2008-03-19T17:12:00.000-04:00

Off the “Gang War” compilation, Tuff Gong Records
Shot & Directed by Jason Goldwatch for deconmedia.com

-black and white super 8mm footage shot in Haiti
-color super 8mm footage shot in South Africa

Video: Lupe Fiasco - Hip-Hop Saved My Life

2008-03-19T16:53:00.000-04:00

FULL VIDEO: BARACK OBAMA'S A More Perfect Union speech

2008-03-18T16:19:00.003-04:00

Watch Barack's speech on race in America and building a more perfect union.

you can find the full transcript of the speech here.

GVG
~still having cab wiz by his black ass~

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO LOLA'S DINNER PARTY FOR A CAUSE

2008-03-18T03:57:00.013-04:00

WITHOUT LIVE MUSIC LOLA’S IS SUFFERING

WE THE PEOPLE...

2008-03-17T17:03:00.004-04:00

... WILL NO LONGER SIT QUIETLY.

I REALLY WANT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE SHARING OF THIS GENIUS, BUT ALL CREDIT HAS TO GO TO ISIS FOR SENDING THIS TO ME! I LOVE HER AND SO SHOULD YOU!

Ok, so I’m sure most of you have seen or at least heard about the first part of the Boondocks episode entitled "Hunger strike" that was never aired because of serious threats by BET, but leaked to the internet. Guess they don’t like having their business out in the streets, just our dirty laundry. Anyway, for those who haven’t had the pleasure or know nothing of the genius I speak of, below is the first part of the “Hunger Strike” episode and below that is the second unaired part of the episode. ENJOY and pass it on to a friend.

The Boondocks "The Hunger Strike" (Part 1 of 2)

The Boondocks "The Hunger Strike" (Part 2 of 2)

P.S. I have a lot of friends at BET (past and present) and I hear this is right on the nose if not nicer to how bad they really are. All those people really do work (past and present) at BET. If you see them on the street feel free to tell them about themselves.

GVG
~the voice of decent can not be silenced~

ONE OF THESE DAYS...

2008-03-16T16:51:00.007-04:00

In the past two weeks I’ve written more than I have in a very very long time and yet posted none of it. Great, introspective, sincere, honest, heartbreaking (at times), funny as all shit (at others), thought provoking stuff, too. I wonder if any of you are as amused by that as I am.

GVG
~"The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible." ~ Vladimir Nabakov~

DETAILS: COLORS

2008-03-15T11:41:00.005-04:00

This shot honestly made my morning. I love this guy for putting it together and I love The Sartorialist even more for realizing how fly it was that he had to shoot and post it.

GVG
~never scared~

THE END OF GREATNESS: LET'S MOURN THE WIRE TOGETHER

2008-03-09T23:32:00.002-04:00

Let’s all show some respect for the greatest show (2nd for me) of all time and stand with a united front. If you like, I’d love it if you changed your default photo to the one I created (shown above) on MySpace/FaceBook and send The Wire off, as it deserved. Show our mourning while thanking David Simon and each and EVERY member of that cast for every moment of the past five seasons. Wear your band publicly with pride and your head held high - show the world you appreciate what intelligent, well-written TV had to offer. DOWN WITH THE REST!

As you can all tell from the photo I am not a graphic designer, but I think it does the job.

GVG
~in need of another hit~

THE NIGERIAN GANGSTER ALBUM. YOU'RE WELCOME.

2008-03-09T18:11:00.004-04:00

Below is the link to Mike Love’s Mash up of Fela Kuti and Jay z's American Gangster album entitled Nigerian Gangster. Most of you received the link I sent with the lead track off the mix tape “Nigerian Gangster” that mashes up Jay Z’s Roc Boys lyrics over The music from Fela’s "Water No Get Enemy" from, Expensive Shit, (1975) (http://www.thefader.com/articles/2008/2/5/freeload-jay-z-roc-boys-mike-love-s-nigerian-gangster-remix) The whole album is now available for free download on Mike Love's MySpace page, which you can find through the link below.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=51773990&blogID=360955957

Below is a link to a list of all the Fela samples he used for the project.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=51773990&blogID=362645852

Currently listening to the album – you will not be dissapointed.

GVG
~my bands about 70 strong like Fela~

REPOST: Who Is At Fault When The American Dream Crumbles?

2008-03-08T14:51:00.006-05:00

As of late, there have been a small series of revolving topics amongst my friends discussion list and one of the ones on the top of the list is and probably will be for a while is the subprime mortgage disaster currently taking homes away from many first time homeowners of color in our communities. Monica Potts of PostBourgie wrote an interesting piece about the situation and I think you will all enjoy the read. Please leave all comments there.

"As the subprime mortgage crash and the housing market’s downward spiral pull the rest of the economy with them, there is a lot of talk about “personal responsibility.” President Bush and other “reformers” used the same kind of rhetoric when he modified bankruptcy law in 2005.

The subprime mortgage crash occurred after an unprecedented decade of home ownership growth. Conventional wisdom holds that home ownership is a good thing; it makes people more invested in their communities and in their democracy, and it allows homeowners to build wealth. Politicians and policy makers have long worked to make home ownership easier; encouraging banks to extend credit to those with lower incomes and lowering down payments." Continue reading here

GVG
~I stay prime~

The Roots - Get Busy (Feat. Dice Raw, Peedi Crakk & DJ Jazzy Jeff)

2008-03-07T09:24:00.005-05:00

“My bands about 70 strong like Fela…” WOW!

The roots done got me hyped about a Hip Hop Album. PHILLY STAND UP! YOU HAVE JUST BEEN REPPED!

CTFU @ THE CORNERSTONE STAFF, OFFICES, AND PRODUCT PLACEMENT ALL IN THE VIDEO. SOMEBODY CUTTING CHECKS! I WANT SOME!!!

Previously: The Roots - 75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)

~my city ain't nothin like yours~

YOU ARE ALL SMARTER THAN ME...

2008-03-05T10:24:00.001-05:00

So maybe you can tell me - HOW THE HELL DID HILLARY CLINTON TAKE OHIO AND TEXAS?!?!!!

GVG
~moving~

VIDEO: THE ROOTS - 75 BARS

2008-03-02T19:43:00.004-05:00

The Roots - 75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction).

Directed by Rik Cordero a.k.a The only director seemingly working in Hip Hop. Download the full video over at Okayplayer.

So, what do you think?

GVG
~on a quest for love~

BIRTHDAYS...

2008-03-02T12:48:00.003-05:00

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN ANY WORDS AND MY FRIENDS SCREAMED FROM THE ROOFTOPS HOW MUCH THEY TRULY LOVED ME WITH THEIRS LAST NIGHT.

GVG
~growing~

I find it rather amusing, correction, poignant that while writing this post my random playlist just switched to Bill Wither's "Lean on me". Guess you are getting an Audio Foreplay Sampling for today. ENJOY

Watch where you lean though, you might end up on the floor.

P.P.S. Yes, my birthday was yesterday.

HISTORY WITNESSED: Q TIP, COMMON, AND KRS ONE ROCK THE SMIRNOFF SIGNATURE MIX EVENT

2008-02-28T12:53:00.006-05:00

About two weeks ago, I read the blurb below on Miss Info’s blog:

"Smirnoff and Cornerstone Promotions are making art and commerce work together for our benefit. To promote the new Smirnoff Signature Mix drinks, they've commissioned Common and Just Blaze to remake "The Light," Q-tip and Cool n Dre to remake Tribe's "Midnight," and KRS One and DJ Premier to remake "Criminal Minded. All of the artists will be performing their classics live at the Smirnoff/Cornerstone launch party on Feb, 26th."

YES! YOU AND I BOTH READ IT RIGHT!!! I READ IT THREE TIMES TO MAKE SURE!

Then a mass e-mail was immediately sent out to ALL my insider friends with the subject “WHO KNOWS THE DETAILS ON THIS?! WE NEED TO BE IN THIS ROOM!!!!” A few phone calls later and I had all the info I needed. Thanx to all that got back to me ASAP on this one.

I showed up considerably earlier than I normally do for most things just because I didn’t want to deal with any BS or miss any parts of this history-making event. I’m a huge hip-hop (music as a whole) fan and quality performers, but with a mild case of Claustrophobia, I’m not a big crowd’s person so I tend to stay away from concerts except for very very special exceptions – this being one of them. I’m a HUGE fan of Tribe, Common, and the #1,2,3,4,5 spot holder – KRS ONE. This night was a dream come true.

I was fortunate enough to get there and IN early enough to witness common, KRS-One and DJ Premiere doing their soundcheck from the an ideal balcony spot that was directly in front of the stage. I thought this would have been the best part of the show – God was I mistaken. I’m not going to give you a long min by min recap. Except to say Common and KRS – One tore down the house, then rebuilt it in their likeness. I just wrote this so I could post the video clips from Mikey Fresh’s blog. ENJOY///

A very special thanx to Eliza Doolittle for making this experience happen for me and sharing it with me as well. ;)

Also a very very special thanx to the staff of Element that always takes great care of me and the special ladies of Cornerstone Promotions – you know who you are.

HIP HOP LIVES!!! TURN UP YOUR SPEAKERS!!!

GVG
~riding with this Hip-Hop thing till the wheels fall off~

P.S. Who else but Common could make a song and Video about a straight up freaky rock star orgy come across like a plausible savior of us as a people?!

Common freestyling…

Q-tip performing “Midnight 2008″….

KRS-One performing “South Bronx”….

Q-tip “Excursions”….

Q-tip “Can I Kick It”….

Common “Go”….

Common “The People”…..

Common “Testify”….

KRS-One freestyle…

KRS-One “Step Into”….

KRS-One “Classic”….

SOME QUALITY TO CLOSE OUT "BLACK HISTORY MONTH"

2008-02-25T12:57:00.003-05:00

Cha$e Dollaz - The Best Of Me

A blog is probably coming real soon on those quotation marks, just wanted to give you this video and song that one of my good friends Shimy produced. Enjoy

GVG
~taking no shorts~

A PHOTO MASTERPIECE UNVEILED

2008-02-22T00:43:00.018-05:00

I saw the above shown photo of Malcolm X as a teenager in a store in the west village of NYC, I would always frequent the shop for books, art, cloths, and personal enlightenment on my persuit of “Knowledge of self”. The photo was hung on the wall behind the shopkeeper. Every time I would go to the store, I would stare at the pic as I spoke to the shop owner. I was so impressed by the composition of the photo, the color, and Malcolm’s seemingly tranquil state that I always wanted to travel to that mosque and have that same red light shower me as it had him so many years earlier.

When I came across the photo again a few months ago online, I quickly saved it, and then did my best with the information I had (none) to find where and when it was taken. I had always thought the photo was from Malcolm's pilgrimage to Mecca and had to this day never shown it to anyone, just a photo I would look at on hard days to calm my soul and think of my trip one day to that place that seem to calm him. I finally posted the photo yesterday in honor of Malcolm X’s life on the day it was taken from us and my friend Megan immediately identified the location of that red light. I would like to introduce you all to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. The trip just got one-step closer. Thanx Megan.

PLEASE CLICK ON ALL PHOTOS TO ENLARGEThe Blue Mosque lit at night from the water

A daytime shot of the front of the Blue Mosque

View of the inner courtyard

Interior view of the mosque; in the back, the mihrab; on the right side at the pier is the imperial loge

Interior Prayer room

Central dome semi-dome with three exedrae; fine overview of the decorations in the mosque

From the Wikipedia entry

"The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii) is a historical mosque in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman Empire (from 1453 to 1923). The mosque is one of several mosques known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has become one of the greatest tourist attractions of Istanbul."

GVG
~better~

O'REILLY DOESN'T WANT TO LYNCH MICHELLE OBAMA UNLESS...

2008-02-21T23:41:00.002-05:00

GVG
~O'Reilly got a neck too...~

THE CORFORMIST x KANYE WEST x ADDICTION = GENIUS

2008-02-21T13:11:00.009-05:00

Below is the latest video creation to come from the brain of the oh so talented VA$HTIE for Kanye West's song "Addiction" off his Late Registration album. Vashtie is probably best known for her video for "Us Placers" by CRS's (The "super group" Kanye West, Pharrel Williams, and Lupe Fiasco)

Below is what she had to say about the piece in which she mashes up the iconic film "The Conformist" and one of my favorite songs off the Late Registration album "Addiction" to create something special.

""the conformist" by bertolucci is one of my favorite movies ever. it's my version of porn...the cinematography makes my mouth water. it might be a little lame, but i was bored and i like it ;) if i could have directed a video for this, "the conformist" would have been my inspiration."

GVG
~taking the train~

IN HONOR OF MALCOLM X

2008-02-21T04:02:00.014-05:00

Today is the 43rd anniversary of Malcolm X's assassination at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. We have an election currently going on that has a lot of focus being placed on the spoken word and the way in which certain candidates deliver said words in their speeches. Malcolm X was who the word orator was created for. When he delivered a speech, he gave you more than just words and rhetoric - he gave you belief - both in him and his words. He died giving those words, but his words will never die.

PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU, TAKE A FEW MOMENTS AND LISTEN TO SOME OF MY FAVORITE WORDS FROM ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE MEN -

MALCOLM X
May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965

The best for last. This is a bit longer than the others, but truly worthy of your time. If you have it to give, take the time, and listen.

Below is, I think, one of the greatest moments ever put on film from Spike Lee and Denzel Washington's 1992 portrayal of Malcolm X in their biopic of the same name. We have all had those moments when a piece of art effected us in such a way that it stayed with us for life and from then on we were different, correction, better for having witnessed - The first time I heard Rakim Allah's "Microphone fiend", read James Baldwin's "Giovanni's room", heard Gil Scott-Heron, saw Clockwork orange - the list for each of us is different and I’m sure lengthy. The scene below is one of those that made me better. Enjoy.

P.S. It's been my dream for as long I could remember,since I first saw the photo above, to travel to this Mosque and recreate the image.

GVG
~the ballot or the bullet~

DERRICK ASHONG IS A POLI-SCI ROCK STAR!!!

2008-02-21T03:34:00.005-05:00

It's funny that I just wrote a post about friends sending me clips to rile me up then I get an e-mail from my friend Reggie entitled "Check this brother out...Barack Supporter? Do we know why we support who we support?". I had a really busy day and didn't get to it until today about 23hrs later and God did it make my night. I don't want to give too much info about what it is, but to all those that say this generation is uninformed, tuned out, and indifferent - press play.

Derrick Ashong explains a bit about his background and his emotional reasons for supporting Barack Obama.

Thanx for this Reggie.

Here's an interesting sidenote - while doing some research on who Derrick was I came across this article in the Economist that used Derricks YouTube clip as an opening point to a very interesting article about the independent party (My party!).

"ONE of the most interesting political videos on YouTube features a young Obama supporter, Derrick Ashong. A camera-wielding interviewer collars Mr Ashong in the street and starts to pepper him with questions. The interviewer assumes that his victim's casual appearance—he is wearing a baseball hat, a shell necklace and is chewing gum—betokens an equally casual approach to politics. “Do you have any specifics?” he demands aggressively. “What are their policies?” Mr Ashong delivers a series of carefully argued replies that could form the basis of an editorial in a serious newspaper. The interviewer is increasingly abashed. But, having delivered his defence of Barack Obama, Mr Ashong concludes the interview by saying “I'm independent. I'm not a Democrat. I might vote for McCain.”" Continue reading here

Source: Think On These Things

GVG
~going to read a book~

DR. FIDEL CASTRO STEPS DOWN AS CUBA'S PRESIDENT AFTER 49 YRS

2008-02-19T16:32:00.016-05:00

Dr. Fidel Castro - Council and Commander in Chief stepped down as Cuba’s president after 49 years - 1959-2008 - I have such a conflicted love for Fidel. As a black man born in America, but of Haitian Parents and a strong connection to my Haitian roots, you can't help but respect if not love the man who stood up to the super power and said "NO! I will not back down. Come try to take me out." The man stood strong for 49years in the name of COO-BAH - The longest leader in history. Please allow me to say that again Dr. Fidel Castro now stands as the longest sitting leader of any country.

The man has done so much for Haiti and its people. When the floods happened in Haiti a couple of years ago(The magnitude of the flooding due in large part to all the trees being cut down and used for the production of coal by America and France), he was one of the first to send aide. When our Bicentennial came around, he was one of a small few of world leaders to show his pride and respect for our accomplishment of being the first black republic to TAKE our independence 200 years earlier from the hands of our French oppressors. The same couldn't be said for many other leaders and nations that I thought should and would stand with us. When the Typhoon that hit Thailand also hit Haiti and other unmentioned black islands in the Caribbean and caused disastrous flooding, tens of thousands of deaths and many many more left with nothing- Castro was there. The doctors exchange program, which educates some of Haiti and Cuba’s best and brighest young minds and has them spend time in each other’s countryside’s providing free healthcare for the poorest of both our fellow citizens. The list could go on for pages…

I say proudly - God bless his good, while acknowledging what some may call his “Bad”. Remember many a black person believed in the basic tenants of communism during the 60s. Marxism isn't just a trendy intellectual dinner party conversation point. It stood as a beacon of hope and change for many a downtrodden, disillusioned, marginalized person back then, and still stands for many until this day as an inspiration of a different view. We understood in the 60s that the world in which we existed as black and Latino people did not see us as equals.

Communism stood as a path to equality for a people disillusioned with the pace of progress and saw change in a different way of government. The problem with communism has always been the same - it looks good on paper, but doesn’t account for peoples need to be tops and bottoms. People’s selfish nature to want to have more than their neighbor and take the power away from those who can’t stand up for themselves. This then directly contradicts the basic principals of communism: a socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of a classless, stateless society based on common ownership of the means of production.

A good friend told me of something his father once said to him as a child about Fidel Castro that I think really speaks to the sum of Fidel's parts.

“Fidel was a great man who possessed great ideas, but made some great mistakes. Eh...He is human” – said in his best Panamanian accent.

I’m not here to argue the pros and cons of communism, just to acknowledge a man I will not hide my pride for on this day as he stepped down from power on his own two feet and wasn’t pushed out by America’s.

VIVE LA REVOLUCION!

GVG
~VIVE LA REVOLUCION~

COERCION: A BLOG IN THE NAME OF FRIENDSHIP OR JUSTIN.

2008-02-19T01:10:00.001-05:00

I received an e-mail today with a YouTube clip embedded inside from one of my oldest and dearest (on some days, not most) friends (Did I mention that I am the godfather of his soon to be daughter and he makes it a point to bring that up whenever he needs something as well? God, I love my friends. LOL). He is one of those button pushers I spoke about here. The clip didn't touch me in a deep down enough place to make me want to post it, but I liked it for what it was and was not at all mad at its addition to my day. The part of this e-mail that did resonate was the note that was attached, which brings us to today’s post - Aptly titled: COERCION: A BLOG IN THE NAME OF FRIENDSHIP OR JUSTIN. Enjoy.

“Subject: IF THIS DOES NOT MAKE IT TO THE BLOG, I DON’T KNOW......”

"DUDE I HAVE SENT YOU A LOT OF LIL CLIPS OF STUFF THINKING ONE DAY I MIGHT FIND SOMETHING GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE IT TO YOUR BLOG. TODAY I PRESENT YOU THIS AND I KNOW THAT IT IS WORTHY OF YOUR TIME AND ENERGY AND IF NOT THEN I GUESS I MISJUDGED OUR FRIENDSHIP."

Loved the use of the ALL CAPS.

GVG
~keeping those friendships alive......~

OMG! UM... KANYE WEST'S "FLASHING LIGHTS" VIDEO PREMIERE... UM... WOW... YEA...

2008-02-13T19:38:00.005-05:00

you say something...

GVG
~speechless~

THE TAO OF THE SCARF

2008-02-12T04:20:00.000-05:00

The protect your neck crew© is a very discerning group of swaggerlicious cold style conscious individuals. We don't accept most applicants who attempt to join our ranks, but appreciate all entries done via public audition - when done with a pure heart and in pursuit of the commitment to the Tao. The Tao of the scarf is finding that perfect balance - Our members understand that a scarf should not only serve as a utilitarian object, but also as a reflection of our personalities and inner swagger or as some members call it "The light".

Below are two members of The protect your neck crew© that one of our best street Scouts - The Sartorialist - found while on his daily hunt for the swag.

PLEASE CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

GVG
~protect your neck or lose your light~

COME ON... SAY IT!

2008-02-12T03:31:00.000-05:00

I'm in a serious fight with what wants to become a cold, so I’m not in full on writing mode. Excuse me for posting things that amuse me with not much commentary or analyst. I'll allow the work to speak for itself until I’m a bit better and you tell me what you think. I'm sure if you say something crazy enough, no matter how sick I am you'll get my fingers moving in response.

Below is a video promo for Nas's new album "Nigger". (Thought I was going to put controversially titled before that now didn't you?)
LOL.

GVG
~i wish~

GO BIG OR GO HOME - GRAMMY'S/FASHION WEEK EDITION

2008-02-11T15:28:00.000-05:00

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, but now that the craziness that was the 2008/2009 Fall/Winter New York Fashion week is over I can get back to my regularly scheduled programming. I would blog about the shows, but there isn’t much to say about them other than they might not see me next season – steadily losing interest in the hype. Think I’ll just stay at home from now on and wait for my look books to be delivered. The parties on the other hand were some of the greatest EVER! Might write about that in the near future.

I was going so hard for the past two weeks that I think the lord just had to shut me down for a day and remind me I’m not as indestructible as I believe myself to be when on top of those tables dancing and screaming at the top of my lungs. I woke up on Friday with a pain in the back of my throat that was so bad that I honestly thought I had tonsillitis and needed to go to the emergency room. Having doctors around comes in handy – some scripts – some vitamins- some Theraflu – some other undisclosed things and by the next morning I was right. Then my dumb ass decides I need to make up for the Friday I missed and now my black ass is sick again. Don’t really care because hearing Prince Paul DJing my home girl Jamila’s B Day makes all things right with the world, including some sniffles and a sore throat.

So last night I decided after I had a 5 hr brunch with my friends (Yes. I said 5 hrs!) that I would be staying in for the night and resting my throat and after watching the Wire - I change the channel to the 50th annual Grammy awards - right as Kanye West begun his performances. Below are both his “Hey mama” performance that put a lump in my throat and the “Stronger” performance, with Daft Punk making their first American TV appearance, that got me off my ass to dance with him as he brought the house down. I respect Kanye West’s dedication to the extravagance of fame and showmanship.

GVG
~going big cuss I never stay home~

HEY MAMA

STRONGER

ANN COULTER LOVES SEN. CLINTON. BE SCARED.

2008-02-04T01:56:00.000-05:00

I apologize in advance for cursing, but this is honestly the scariest shit I have seen in a very long time and I had a damn scary sight on Saturday. I have watched this clip multiple times,to make sure I wasn’t mistaken and imagining things, of Ann Coulter giving an endorsement to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary RodHAM Clinton. YES! I SAID ANN COULTER. DO I REALLY NEED TO DO A SATAN'S GREATEST HITS REEL OF ALL THE NASTY, MALICIOUS, POLARIZING, RACIST, UNTRUE, VENOM LACED, AND RIGHT WINGED THINGS THIS WOMAN HAS SAID IN THE PAST? I'm not sure what scares me more - the fact that Ann Coulter is making better points for the Democratic Party’s candidate than their own pundits or what it says about Sen. Clinton that someone like Ann Coulter wakes up in the morning, thinks to herself, and then believes in the thought enough to say it aloud, on national TV - "HEY! I LIKE HER. THAT'S MY KIND OF CANDIDATE"? Further proving my point that Sen. Clinton is pure evil that must be stopped by all means necessary. Even her fellow hell spawns are coming out of the woodwork to show their support and admiration. Watch the clip and prepare to be shocked.

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

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick public statement

2008-02-03T14:57:00.000-05:00

I meant to post his statements when they were first released, but got a bit sidetracked, and wasn't able to until now. I'll leave my opinions to myself on this one, but would love to know yours. Thank you to PostBourgie and my Cousin Steph for bringing this video to my attention.

GVG
~hoping things get better~

FASHION WEEK IS HERE AGAIN, GOD HELP ME!

2008-01-30T15:09:00.000-05:00

Well Ladies and Gentlemen today is January 30th 2008 and for all my fellow fashion whores and employees of the taste you know what that means - we’re only two days away from the beginning of it all once again – Mercedes-Benz New York Fall Fashion Week. I just got a call from a client in desperate need of an emergency fashion consultation, for an event she is attending with a very important client that she must impress; just for reference, she called me at 1pm, the event is at 7pm. To be honest with you it wasn’t until that moment that I realized it was already the 30th and we were only two days away from the shows. My wakeup call from her got me in full go mode and I’m doing what needs to be done to get her dressed to the nines to impress everyone in that room, including her client. Yes, it is normal to get a call a matter of hours before an event, with a client expecting you to turn them into a Vogue/GQ cover model, for an event with that limited amount of prep time. I’m really good at what I do, so this is not a problem for me. It also helps that the client happens to also be a friend that I love, so I like making her look as great on the outside, as she is on the inside.

I have not really been on my pre- Fashion Week grind this year, the weeks leading up to fashion week tend to be just as frantic and busy as the actual eight day week of the shows – credentials, castings, fittings, client meetings, shopping, calls, scheduling, bookings, photo shoots, and pre-parties - the list is considerably longer. However, this year – not so much of all that pre-week “stuff”. I’ve just been uninterested in the process. Since I was not able to attend The Milan Men’s Fall Fashion Week Shows (The real fashion week for us people who work in men’s apparel) a few weeks ago due to scheduling conflicts, it put me in a shitty mood for the New York shows. I wasn’t too impressed with what I saw back in September on those runways and all the bull that came with what the week has become. I didn’t even book a hotel room in the area as I usually do to save me the hassle of having to go back and forth from the shows to Brooklyn to events and parties. I’m losing interest in an event that seems to be becoming more about the celebrities in the seats than the clothes on the runway. When I have more celebrities, paparazzi, and entertainment gossip shows/mags present than Buyers, Editors, Fashion Photographers, Image Consultants, and Stylist – then it’s time to wrap it up and wait for the online coverage in the comfort of my home or just jack my Stylist and Editor friends for their digicam shots and notes.

As it happens every year around this time for the Fall shows and September for the Spring shows, I seem to become very popular. I’m sure everyone who has been reading this blog for a while remembers what last September was like for me. All of a sudden, people I haven’t heard from in about six months seem to miraculously find me in their phonebooks and need to reconnect - do the math, fashion week is semi-annual, and it’s that time once again. This worked so well last September that I have decided to do the list once again – THE FAQ LIST.

For all those long lost friends and all the people who love stopping me in mid sprint, as if I have an information kiosk sign on my head, I have created a small FAQ section. This is to save you any daytime minutes or for me to avoid your need to stop me from getting to where I have to get to, so you can ask the same questions your co- worker at Starbucks just asked me five minutes earlier. I am sure as the days of fashion week go on I will be adding more answers to this list, seeing, as I am sure you will be asking more questions. Peace, Love, and Fashion!

•NO, I DO NOT HAVE EXTRA INVITATIONS FOR ANY SHOWS.

•NO, I CANNOT GET YOU A MEETING WITH SOME DESIGNERS, BUYERS, BOOKING AGENTS, CASTING DIRECTORS, FASHION EDITOR, AND/OR PUFFY’S BABY MOMMAS, ETC.

•NO, I CANNOT PUT YOUR NAME ON THE GUEST LIST.

•NO, YOU CANNOT BE MY PLUS 1.

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

•NO, I WILL NOT 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 AM NOT A STYLIST. I AM 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, AROUND THE CORNER, AND DOWN THE STREET. NO. NOT THAT PLACE.

•YES, MODELS EAT. NO, I HAVE NOT SEEN IT, BUT I HEARD.

•NO, I DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU CAN SCORE SOME…

•NO, YOU CANNOT MEET ME AT THE DOOR FOR THE AFTER PARTY. I WILL MEET YOU INSIDE.

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

•NO, OF COURSE I DID NOT IGNORE YOUR CALL. (APPLY WHICHEVER SUITS)

1. "I GET NO RECEPTION IN HERE"
2. "I CANNOT HEAR MY PHONE WITH ALL THAT NOISE"
3. "WE HAD TO TURN OUR PHONES OFF FOR THE SHOW"

•NO, YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT IS 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/PARTY. 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.

SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RUNWAY

GVG
~Tom Ford is still my fashion God~

P.S. I would have put up a photo of some black models on the runway, but let’s be honest – it’s New York Fashion Week – they don’t exist. Blog probably coming soon.

FOR THE PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY...

2008-01-28T04:54:00.000-05:00

I was having a discussion with a very good female friend yesterday concerning dating in New York City. she’s a beautiful, highly successful, editor for a prestigious, major publication – well accomplished, cultured, very social, attractive, worldly, well manicured and coiffed at all times, confident, always dressed to the nines, well traveled, on every A list for all the major events, in all the major cities - a true type A women, and tends to attract carbon copies of herself in the men she choices to allow to court her.

Our discussion led into what the average amount spent on a first date in New York City or any other major metropolitan city with a woman that a man is truly into and trying to make the best first impression for would cost. The date could, but would not have to, include a pre or post-dinner event, dinner (Including, but not limited to cocktails, appetizers, wine, entrees, and desert – all dependent upon the persons involved), dancing, after dinner drinks, and/or whatever else you would do on average with a women you were courting. Our estimates for the date were so far apart from each other’s with neither of us willing to give an inch to go closer to the others estimate that it just became clear to both of us that one of us was being unrealistic on the matter and we left it there. This is where you - my wonderful readers come in – I pose the question to you.

For the men: What do you spend on average for the above-described first date or whatever adaptation of an average first date with a woman you are sincerely courting?

For the women: How much do you believe a man spends on average in a major metropolitan city such as New York to court you in true and proper first date form?

This is both for the men and women – please feel free to expound on not only the amount you believe is spent, both on the high and low end, but also what the date might consist of to justify the amount.

GVG
~reservations required~

AUDIO FOREPLAY SUNDAYS: VICTORY

2008-01-27T12:30:00.000-05:00

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to a beautiful new Sunday and for those of you who are new to this lil ol’ space O mine; On Sundays I usually tend do what I have entitled - Audio foreplay Sundays. Audio Foreplay is a sampling of the music that I play on my seventh day to relax and rest to or it stands as a soundtrack sampling to my life from that past week. As you probably know last night, Barack Obama won the South Carolina primary carrying 81 percent of the black vote to Clinton's 17 percent, according to exit polls cited by Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC. Obama also got 24 percent of the white vote, with Clinton and Edwards dividing the remainder, the exit polls showed. Today’s sampling is going to be dedicated to the words of victory and not the sounds of music.

Obama made a speech that hit most of the points I felt he really needed to address, about both policy and his detractors. I was happy, dare I say proud, that Obama finally showed a backbone at the South Carolina primary debate earlier this week and stood up against Hillary and Bill Clinton on their repeated misrepresentations of his positions and statements. He is finally starting to learn this election is not for the nice guy. When the dog bites you, you bite it back, so it knows to respect you. Below is his South Carolina victory speech, noticeably absent is a certain “cadence” that was such a topic of discussion after his Iowa victory speech.

What did you think of both his performance in the South Carolina primary debate and his victory speech last night?

Barack Obama South Carolina Primary Victory Speech PT 1

Barack Obama South Carolina Primary Victory Speech PT 2

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

THANX FOR THE SUPPORT

2008-01-26T20:40:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to take a moment of your time and share some good news with the people that matter to me. One of my favorite bloggers -The Field Negro (http://field-negro.blogspot.com/) – an esteemed journalist for a very reputable and honorable paper that I get most of my political news from, listed my blog – The Hidden Parts of My Soul - this week as his favorite blog of the moment and more than tripled my readership. Honestly, the additional readership is truly and greatly appreciated, but as I am sure, anyone that has had it happen knows - the acknowledgement from someone whom you respect and value in your field or "hobby" /passion/obsession of choice means considerably more. Therefore, I just wanted to send this out as a public thank you to both him and everyone else that has been, just started, and will continue to read and pass on my thoughts, rants, and opinions. Peace and blessings to all.

GVG
The Hidden Parts of My Soul
~we’re the warriors they write epics about~

NO COMMENT

2008-01-25T05:07:00.000-05:00

Please stop asking me and/or forwarding me articles about Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's troubles. I will not be commenting on the matter. Other than, to say this is an unfortunate series of developments and I’m sorry his family has to deal with matters such as these in such a very public fashion, whether or not they may be by his own doing.

THE ECONOMICS OF THE BLACK VOTE

2008-01-23T14:14:00.000-05:00

In a Wall Street journal article from yesterday, the paper discusses the “Class Split” Amongst Black voters in this election and how it may effect Barack Obama.

“A poll this fall by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a black think tank, shows the wide disparity of support for Mr. Obama among blacks. While 75% of blacks who went to college had a favorable or very favorable view of the candidate — rising to 88% among blacks who went to graduate or professional school — support dipped to 62% among those with just a high-school degree and to 42% among blacks who haven’t finished high school. A similar pattern shows up as income levels fall among blacks. And while 83% of blacks employed full time had a favorable view of Mr. Obama, just 55% of unemployed blacks did.” Please continue to full article here

GVG
~sometimes i just want to read~

GO GO GROOVIN'

2008-01-23T13:34:00.001-05:00

Last night I attended the Fader Magazine Wire party and got to meet some of my favorite members of the cast - Slim Charles a.k.a Gangus, Marlo 'Black' Stanfield a.k.a Jamie Hector, and last but could never be least - Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' "carrying water" Davis a.k.a Isiah Whitlock Jr.. The event was great – almost all Maryland/VA people, but you know Brooklyn was in the house deep. My home girl was so geeked about a performance from a band I had never heard of - The backyard Band with Slim Charles a.k.a Gangus. She told me it was going to be one of the greatest shows I’d ever witness - she did not lie.

Here's a clip of The Backyard Band at another show

This is me Go Go Groovin’ to the sounds of The Backyard band
Notice the indifference to anything going on around me
The closed eyes for the full sound around the body effect
The biting of the bottom lip to emphasize the feeling of the groove.

I came home to an e-mail from another good friend with an MP3 attached and a short note that read - "You need this in your life"

After hearing it - I realize you need it in yours too – enjoy

N.E.R.D. - Everyone Nose

GVG
~living a go go life~

The Giants triumphed by kicking an oblong ball

2008-01-23T12:28:00.001-05:00

Yes, the scene really exist. GO GIANTS!!!!

GVG
~my face is going to be on some money~

IN HONOR OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

2008-01-21T13:39:00.000-05:00

Today stands as not just a holiday, but as the embodiment of a dream. The dream for us all as a people – Black, White, Yellow, Brown, etc. – to fight in the name of, as Martin Luther King Jr, said “the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."” in his famous “I HAVE A DREAM” speech on that historic day, August 28, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial(Washington, D.C.).

Today is a day to not only remember his life and the spirit of his words, but to also take a step forward in the name of his dream – both for you and all those around you, who may not have the strength to fight for themselves and their dreams. I have always kept an MLK Jr. quote close to my heart since I learned it in fourth grade and used it as a driving force and validation of my actions when told to "sit down and shut up" – “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter". It is with those words that I leave you, here on this day to not only remember, but to progress.

Below is the famous and poignant “I have a dream” speech in its entirety with a link below that to the full transcript.

I HAVE A DREAM

P.S. Martin Luther Kings actual birthday is January 15.

GVG
~pushing the dream forward~

UPDATE

Jay Smooth from http://www.illdoctrine.com/, as always, has blessed us with a ingenious new Vlog post in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. that so well illustrates the force of timeless truth embodied in MLK’s words and the reason they still resonate to this day with what Jay has entitled “Ten OTHER Things MLK Said”.

AUDIO FOREPLAY SUNDAYS: THE BIRTHDAY EDITION

2008-01-20T14:13:00.000-05:00

It seems as if almost all the people I know and love are born in January; including my mother and Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday was actually the 15 of January, which is why I have renamed it - “The month the world was born”. . My mother took full advantage of her Queen for the day status and had me literally buy EVERYTHING on the menu at her favorite Haitian restaurant and almost every kind of patty they had with a huge Haitian cake at the Haitian bakery with all types of Haitian “beverages” to wash it all down. Last night was the culmination of it all with the - “The month the world was born” party. The party was, I thought, suppose to be for six of my friends – Carey, KD, Courtney, Kim, and the Thompson sisters, then I walked in to have an additional five friends tell me it was their birthdays as well. WELL IT’S A CELEBRATION AND EVERYONES INVITED!!! In honor of all my friends, let’s sing Happy Birthday (Stevie Wonder version of course) at the top of our lungs. On three press play on the video below and SING! 1! 2! 3!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YAAA!!!

OMG! I don’t believe in coincidences, I believe everything happens for a reason, and this I believe validates my belief! I went to go find a the video for Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday”, which I honestly didn’t even know if there was one made for it back then, for our Stevie wonder birthday sing along. I go onto YouTube and there it is – The Stevie wonder “Happy Birthday” video posted above – GREAT! Here’s where it gets interesting, I start to play the video, and I’m sure all the people who are in the know, know where I’m going with this, but up until this moment I didn’t know Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” was a dedication to the birth of Martin Luther King jr.. How perfect is it that the video I choice to commemorate the birth of my so many of family, friends, and the man himself MLK, was actually made for him! Please use tomorrow as a day to celebrate Martin Luther King’s Birthday and to push the dream forward.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF YOU DAMN CAPRICORNS – MOMMY O’ MINE, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., MY AUNT ALICE, JUSTIN, CAREY, COURTNEY, KD, KIM, DEE DEE, JARREL, RIKERS, CRYSTAL, CHRIS, REG, THE THOMPSON SISTERS. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PEOPLE BORN IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS. YOU ALL HAVE MADE WONDERFUL ADDITIONS TO MY LIFE AND I THANK THE UNIVERSE FOR BLESSING ALL OF US WITH YOUR PRESENCE, LOVE, AND SUPPORT. MAY YOUR BIRTHDAYS BRING YOU ALL YOU WISH.

GVG
~celebrating life~

PROUD TO BE AN ANGRY BLACK MAN! FINALLY.

2008-01-19T19:28:00.000-05:00

Last night I went out with a good female friend for dinner, drinks, and our latest round of Main street news editorializing, about our two degree of separation existences. As I was waiting for her at a very popular restaurant, I decided to add our names to the “to be” seated list, on what I was told by the hostess with a straight face would be a 15 min wait. 15 minutes?! On the Friday of a holiday weekend, in a very popular, packed restaurant, with about 50 people waiting ahead of me, right. I decided to wait outside with some of the other 15 min folk and enjoy the unseasonably warm New York January weather. BTW, if I get one more ATL person crying to me about the one snowflake they saw I’m driving down there and beating them with my belt. I think that last sentence perfectly illustrates the overall point of this post. As I stood outside, I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation of the four women who were standing directly in front of me. I’ll give you there ethnicities because I believe it relates to this story – I believe two were either from Spain or Columbia and the other two possibly Dominican. The conversation had shifted from its original topic of men and relationships to politics. As it seems one of the Dominican ladies was being pressed to divulge whom she would be voting for in the democratic primary election – Clinton or Obama.

The Dominican woman shook her head and repeatedly said, “I don’t know. I’m still undecided”

The ladies prodded her for an answer. Finally she turns and said, “If it was just Obama I would vote for him, but there’s a woman running too”

At which point the fairer skin of the two Spaniard woman replied in a venom laced voice “What’s an Obama??!!!”

They all laughed as the other Dominican woman while still in mid laugh belted out “I think I want to vote for him too. He’s colored!” Yes, ladies and gentlemen Barack Obama is colored. I can’t make this shit up.

I didn’t realize it, but as the woman defecated, the word colored out of her mouth, I had unconsciously taken a couple of steps towards the women. Right when I started to raise my hand, as I simultaneously opened my mouth to say something; the hostess walked out, and screamed a name. Which awoke me from my angry black man autopilot and made me walk around the corner before it took over me again. I tend to pace when I get angry, it does nothing to calm, but it’s what I do. My brain was going a 100 miles a minute, replaying the words in my head repeatedly. I tried to distract myself by working on getting a friend’s birthday plans taken care of after he got royally screwed out of his regularly scheduled programming. I just couldn’t bring myself to focus on anything else. I finally just leaned up against the wall and did some deep breathing exercises I had learned, yet never seemed to use in those moments they were made for.

My friend finally arrived and we went inside to wait for our table, as I told her about the discovery from the nice ladies outside that Barack Obama was colored. She questioned how it was that I always seemed to be the one to witness such acts of ignorance and stupidity. I still have no answer to her query. This was in no way the end of the stupidity and irritations that would be our night.

I’m not going into a long story, but the short of it was I made a reservation, once I got there added my name to “the list”, and still got skipped by the hostess numerous times - each with an apology and promise that I and my friend would be the next couple sat, each time to be skipped again. After the third time, I almost couldn’t take it anymore (honestly after the second, but I’ve been trying to keep my temper in check after a not so good experience with my doctor and an EKG machine that told me I was having a heart attack at my last annual). Therefore, ever since then I have been trying to not go off as much on inconsequential things and I hated being seen as "the angry black man" both on and offline. I was trying to keep my composure- THEN SHE SKIPPED ME FOR THE FOURTH TIME! FUCK IT! I’M DONE!

I walked into the dining area right behind the hostess as she sat the two women at our fourth table. As she turned with me standing in front of her, it dawned on her what she had done to the big visibly angry black man standing in front of her. She attempted to appease me with an apology and an offer of free juice. Yes, free juice! She walked away before she could see me laugh in her face. I knew juice wouldn’t have been enough of an incentive to stop me from flipping, but I thought - let me wait to be seated, then deal with the compensation for our pain, hunger, and suffering. This is where the long story gets short – all she was willing to give us was some juice. I tell her that’s not going to suffice. She brings the juice out anyway and regurgitates that BS about all she’s willing to do. I tell her it’s not enough and ask for the manager for the second time. She takes the juice back! Manager finally comes and attempts to defend hostess's said behavior, and I finally lose it. This manager calls me a liar for the third time for saying I had been skipped for the fourth time, in contradiction to the one time the hostess had told him it had been.

My friend sat there quietly as I went off and when I saw it getting to that point of no return, I realized I was with a good friend who didn’t deserve to see this man cry amongst other things in this restaurant. I got up, he jumped like a scared child about to be beat by his father, and we proceeded to leave. Which surprisingly brought on a bit of cheering and looks of admiration from the two people flanking us on either side of our table, and the others relegated to the 15 min waiting section we were once members of just a few mins earlier.

As we walked out my friend turned to me and said something I was very surprised to hear “You’re a nicer person than I am. I would have flipped a lot sooner than that!” This for me was a big surprise, because I’ve always been told I’m so angry by women who have witnessed me go off for service issues. I seem to have always been ranting about something or another, as they perceived it. One friend proclaimed to me just a few weeks ago when he saw the veins in my head about to explode after he informed me in the middle of a dance with a very beautiful woman that Senator Hillary RodHAM Clinton had won the New Hampshire primary after her tear-caspade

“WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY? YOU DO KNOW YOU’RE NOT RUNNING, RIGHT?! YOU’RE AN ANGRY ASS BLACK MAN!”

Angry Black man - I had become a bit use to the moniker, never happy with it, but heard it enough to be use to it. The reason for all this rambling above was because I had been thinking about how I hated being perceived as the angry black man and what that meant to be seen as angry when you felt you were just impassioned. I have friends who are indifferent and sure when things are going to hell I’m a bit envious of how monotone they are with their emotions, as I narrowly avoid an aneurism caused by my outrage. Here’s the flip of it and the reason I like being an “angry black man” – because I feel for the bad and unjust and I truly enjoy the good when I find it. When things go right with those same indifferent friends, you can’t tell if there’s any joy to be found in them. Those moments rates to them the same way the bad ones do, but for me I bask in the bright light of pleasure and success. I live it and appreciate every moment of it as it happens to me.

I’m never just angry. I have a purpose and a target. When I’m driven to scream or write whether it be - one of my blog post, a comment/rant on a topic board, blog, e-mail discussion, forwarded news report, anything. It’s usually because I was so overwhelmed with the passion of my feelings that I couldn’t stop myself from putting it all the way out there for all to see. You might not agree with all the things I say, but I think you will be hard-pressed to find someone who doubts my belief in the things I say and believe. Give me passion or give me death.

OK, believe it or not that was supposed to be a one-paragraph intro to a great post I came across on the Field Negro’s blog today discussing the very same topic I had been racking my brain with since last night. I guess I needed to get out last night’s events more than I thought. Below is an excerpt of the opening to the Field Negro’s post entitled "The last angry black man" and a link to the full piece in its entirety.

“A friend of mine was introducing me to someone today, and for some reason he felt the need to tell her that I blog.”He has a blog called field Negro. I think he is the last angry black man left in America." Ha ha ha ha, laughs all around.”

“Of course dude was right. At times it seems that there are no angry black men left in A-merry-ca. I think the angry black man has been ashamed into accepting his fate, and his place in the A-merry-can scheme of things. But there is nothing to be ashamed of. Not when your anger is driven by disappointment and not resentment. You see it's like this: most people think that the angry black man, like yours truly, is angry because he is somehow feeling left out and is disappointed with his station in life. While this might be true with some angry black men, it isn't the case here. (Although to be honest, I couldn't really blame any black man for being angry and pissed off for the state of his condition. The shit that some of us -and yes I say us because whatever that black man goes through effects me as well-go through, I wouldn't wish on my worst white enemy). I am quite happy with pretty much all aspects of my life, both socially and professionally, but I am still angry.” Continue reading here

GVG
~HAPPY TO BE ANGRY~

P.S. Yes, I am aware of the irony of last night’s events and the content of this post on the same weekend as the celebration Martin Luther King Day and all he stood for - The man who wanted us to turn the other cheek. Guess I’m more of a Malcolm guy.

P.P.S. After we left the restaurant, our night actually turned into a great one. You’d be amazed what a great meal, a good witty friend, who can make you laugh so hard you spit out all the contents of your mouth, and almost die from a sincere inability to breathe from laughing, and a huge pitcher of sangria can do to sooth your troubles away.

MEET THE VOTERS

2008-01-19T16:58:00.000-05:00

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

MLK DAY-OFF?

2008-01-18T14:17:00.000-05:00

I just received the e-mail posted below from a close friend concerning Pricewaterhouse Cooper's (PwC) decision to stay open on MLK day and their “reasons” as to why and below that is the response I gave to my friend. I’d like to open it up to you guys and see where you stand on the matter. Curious about this one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi All -

Please check out this email that my former employer (PwC) sent to its employees regarding MLK Day. It is quite an interesting take on why they feel their employees should work on this day, despite the fact that it is a nationally recognized holiday.

Regards,
N

----- Forwarded by H US/ABAS/PwC on 01/18/2008 09:26 AM -----
01/18/2008 09:13 AM

"Reply to All" is Disabled
To: PwC US Staff
cc

Subject: In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This coming Monday, we commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the preeminent leaders in the civil rights movement. At the age of 35, Dr. King was the youngest person at that time to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and he is widely known for his work toward ending racial segregation in public schools and promoting meaningful civil rights legislation, including a law that would prohibit racial discrimination in the workplace.

Dr. King was a remarkable speaker, and his "I Have a Dream" speech is considered one of the most impactful dissertations of all time. But there is another quote he delivered that I think is particularly important for us as a Firm:

"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."

Many US companies have decided to give employees the "day off" in commemoration of Dr. King's birthday. But as you read the quote above, you realize that Dr. King believed that the efforts around basic human rights could never take a holiday. As a result, we consider Dr. King's birthday as a "day on;" a day to take action; a day to recognize that progress is not automatic.

Throughout many of our offices this Monday, we will be hosting talented high school students from our local markets. The intent of these gatherings is to introduce these students to the vast array of career opportunities that are available to them, not just in our profession, but in the business world in general. In keeping with Dr. King's passion for equal opportunity, I believe this is a fitting tribute to his work.

I'll leave you with one final quote from Dr. King; "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Equal rights cannot be taken for granted, either personally or collectively as a Firm. I hope that you will take a moment to reflect on the significance of this holiday and find some way to recommit to the equality and respect for all individuals that Dr. King talked about so many years ago.
Regards,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My response

I honestly don’t know how I feel about this. If PwC is truly sincere in their outlined motivation and desire to use the holiday as a vehicle of enlightenment and access to children whom might not have had an opportunity normally to visit a top firm and see the possibility of future career opportunities outside of blue-collar aspirations. In its actual work setting, instead of with a representative in your classroom giving a long drawn out speech, with Kings dream of progression for us as a people on all fronts – education, community, and career as the basis, than I believe it to be a good and noble action.

Honestly, how many people do you know who take MLK day as a day of reflection and self-enlightenment? In fact, how many people do you know whom take any holiday with its origins entrenched in the pain and sacrifice of a people for anything other than barbequing, partying, and drinking on a Sunday with no work on Monday? If this was a black firm I Believe, by many including myself, that it would be perceived as great idea that could work to show young children of color reflections of themselves in the work force and I don’t believe there would be any uproar over it.

Now, on the other hand, if this is just a tactic to make an extra buck instead of having to lose a full day worth of labor over “the death of some n&gg&r that deserved to die in the first place” then where are we meeting and how many picket signs do I need to bring? It’s all a matter of perception based on whoever is reading. Unless you know the intent of the author, we all just exist in a state of speculation.

~GVG

Bob Johnson + Microphone = Danger

2008-01-16T16:43:00.000-05:00

In the post below this one I reposted a New York Times Op-ed piece, I received last night written by Gloria Steinem, which discussed her views on what would be a bigger hurdle in this election - race or sex. Below is the latest Vlog from Jay Smooth of www.illdoctrine.com discussing Bob Johnson’s latest dumb ass statements in reference to Obama and his admitted drug use. Which, in my opinion, I believe well illustrates how self-hating internal race lampooning will be one of the biggest hindrances of this election. Please see Magic Johnson, John Lewis, Robert Johnson, Andrew Young, and Charles Rangel for more examples.

GVG
~wishing on a star for a piano to fall on...~

What is a bigger hurdle in this election - race or sex?

2008-01-16T06:09:00.000-05:00

Check out this New York Times Op- Ed piece by Gloria Steinem entitled “Women Are Never Front-Runners” which gives her opinion on the matter.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/opinion/08steinem.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Once you read the article check out this debate from democracynow.org with the author of the piece, Gloria Steinem, defending her position while, a professor at Princeton, Melissa Harris-Lacewell opposes her assertions about race and sex, and why way in which it plays into the election from the piece. It is a very interesting read and discussion. Enjoy.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/14/race_and_gender_in_presidential_politics

GVG
~startin stuff~

THE WIRE: WHO IS SCOTT TEMPLETON?

2008-01-14T16:00:00.000-05:00

I’m sure if you’re a Wire addict like me and my friends you’ve been racking your brains trying to figure out who the story fabricating journalist Scott Templeton character is based on. We guessed it could have been Jayson Blair from the New York Times, Jack Kelley from USA Today, Stephen Glass at The New Republic, or even Janet Cooke from The Washington Post. Well thanx to the good folks over at PostBourgie we now know it was based on Sun reporter Jim Haner. Think some people just lost some money.

When the Wires on don’t call me for NOTHING. Get hooked!

GVG

~I'm carrying water~

P.S. One of the greatest moments for me (God there are so so many) from last nights episode and I think from the past five seasons so far was the amazing dialogue from Senator Clay Davis to Commissioner Ervin H. Burrell.

“I’m out there doing the lords work for you Erv! You know it. Who got that pay raise from the council?! Just enough for you to get that new patio, but not enough for that guy from Pittsburgh to take your place.”

“God damn it Erv! I’ve been there for you, carried water for you, and you do me like this.”

“You think I’m going down, don’t cha? Yoouuuuu uuuuu tthiiii ttthhhiiinkkk I’m done? All ya ungrateful bitches thinking you can throw me out the boat”

“AIGHT!”

“I’m going to remember this moment Erv.”

Fist to the chest “I’m going to hold on to this moment. Yea.”

The stutter and fist to the heart tap alone deserves an honorable mention. It was genius.

THE DETAILS: PLAID DONE RIGHT

2008-01-14T14:26:00.000-05:00

People always ask me why this blog doesn’t have more men’s fashion on it. Hell, it’s what I do for a living. You’d think this blog would be overrun with all the latest trends, runway shows, and diatribes about the godliness of Tom Ford. However, that’s the exact reason why it’s not filled with fashion “stuff”, my days are dedicated to fashion, always looking for the newest thing, the best designers, client request, style on the street. I might be a bit jaded, but it takes a lot for me to truly stop and take notice, but when I do it’s worth it for you to stop as well.

There was a great qoute on the first episode from this fifth and last season of the Wire that I believe best sums up todays post "The details, Ms. Gutierrez. At the Baltimore Sun, God still resides in the details.” I’ve always believed that perfection is in the details and the photo below is the personification of that mantra. As with every morning I was doing my usual blog rounds – Politics, Gossip, news, rumors, NPR, and of course fashion when I made my way over to my favorite men’s fashion site - The Sartorialist. What I saw honestly has made my day. Check out the man below in this plaid suit which in both my and The Sartorialist's opinion is a bespoke sweater. They just don’t make them like that off the rack.

Please click on photo to enlarge so you can take note of each and every perfectly executed detail – The simple boutonnière, the juxtaposition of the pocket square and the plaid, the amount of shirt sleeve showing, The way the plaid lines up on his shoulder/sleeve all the way down the torso (you only get that from a tailor who truly has an eye and only accepts perfection from themselves. Not an easy thing to do with patterns. Trust me.)

PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME WITH THIS PHOTO

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

GVG
~God still resides in the details~

VIDEO FOREPLAY SUNDAYS: FOR YOU LATE SUCKAS

2008-01-13T06:19:00.000-05:00

I think all my day one Wire watchers and I’ll even through in my DVD folk that caught up over the summer can relate to this post and the Video foreplay for this week. This is for all those people that bother us in the middle of a great scene of dialogue to ask questions about the show and the amazing character’s Tet a Tet they’re making us miss with their dumb late to the party questions.

Who’s that guy? Why’d he do that? Why is she sleeping with him? Did she sleep with him too? Who killed him? What did that line mean? Why is everyone laughing? Why does he keep saying shiiit? Was he important? Why they drove off, and then drive back? Why does it matters that they had to sign in the last time?

Like my man Chris said “You don’t ever want to be the last to the party”. So below is the first 4 seasons of the Wire in 4 minutes for all you late to the party summabitches. Now you have no reason to bother me while I’m watching my stories. Shiiiiitt. Get hooked.

P.S. I realize I didn’t do a bulletin for last weeks special first edition of Video Foreplay Sundays: The Wire edition, so some of you may have missed out on the special favorites sampling I did. So for those of you who need that fix. Check it out here.

GVG
~doin my junkie lean~

UPDATE

I originally wasn’t going to add an audio sampling for today. However, a friend just sent me this Nina Simone video and where else but audio foreplay would I share musical greatness with you my peoples? It also doesn’t hurt that it sounds like the perfect song to use as a backdrop to so many moments in the Wire.

Nina Simone “Feeling Good”

CRYING IS WHAT'S HOT IN 08

2008-01-09T16:46:00.000-05:00

Last night Senator Hillary RodHAM Clinton won the Democratic primary in New Hampshire. I guess we really are as stupid and gullible as these politicians believe us to be. CRYING GETS YOU A WIN??!!! FOR REAL???!!! THAT SHIT WORKED??!! What’s next? Pouting about polling that says voters don’t like her as much as they do Obama? Oh wait; she already did that at the NH debate.

Senator John McCain meanwhile staged his own comeback on the Republican side, triumphing with 37 percent in the crucial early vote despite having been widely written off months ago as his campaign flagged. The win comes just six months after people were writing off Senator McCain's bid for the presidency. His campaign was broke and people were laid off. Then he poured all his energy, and resources into New Hampshire.

GVG
~no words~

A Raisin in the Sun Trailer

2008-01-08T14:37:00.001-05:00

Raisin
by skaybn

THE TEAR DROP HEARD ROUND THE WORLD

2008-01-08T01:15:00.000-05:00

For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about stop playing video games, Sudoku, watching porn, or whatever else has you distracted from the BS currently going on in the world and turn on a news station or whatever the most convenient way of receiving your news is – there’s a million of them. So when Senator Hillary RodHAM Clinton was asked about how hard it must be on her being on the campaign trail; she could only respond in all her democratic, political, campaign strategist, “genius” with this -

God! Is this really where we’re at in American politics?! For real??!!!

GVG
~about ready to cry my damn self~

WHERE'S BROOKLYN AT???!!!!!

2008-01-07T05:45:00.001-05:00

Any of you who knows me or have been reading this blog for a while know I’ve been fighting a one man war against gentrification and losing for the past few years. With a doorman at my front door and a tennis court in my backyard we’re the first stop on transplants and realtors neighborhood wish list. It seems as if everyday I see someone “New” with keys to my building. Then having to deal with the stress that comes with knowing for each of them that comes one of us goes and that my time may be sooner than later to be one of the departed.

Gentrification is just one of those inescapable beasts when it comes to the NYC housing market (but hey, it got me sushi delivered to my front door! Just fucked when you know the reasons you can get the sushi delivered and the realization that it’s not for you) that said, few developments cause enough stir to inspire twenty authors (including some favorites of mine) to contribute to an anthology in defense of their neighborhood. Brooklyn Was Mine is a collection of essays, stories, and poems from notable authors like Jonathan Lethem, Dinaw Mengetsu and Robert Sullivan (plus a whole bunch more) was released Wednesday to directly benefit Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn—a community organization committed to fighting Forest City Ratner’s extensive Atlantic Yards development. The collection is only like fifteen bucks, and there are two readings in the coming weeks to support the organization. There's more info on the book, the organization and the readings here.

GVG
~fighting the war til the end~

VIDEO FOREPLAY SUNDAY: THE WIRE EDITION

2008-01-06T06:10:00.000-05:00

I know you guys have become use to my “usual” weekly audio foreplay Sundays. However, seeing as today - Sunday January 6, 2008 is a very very special day leading to a very very special evening we’re going to do something a bit different. For the four of you in the US that don’t know tonight at 9pm on HBO is the premiere of the fifth and last season of one of the greatest television shows ever put on TV. As if I really have to tell you – The Wire is back people.

So in honor of such a special occasion I’m going to be doing a special Sunday selection of some of my all time favorite scene from the past four seasons of the show.

Welcome to the Video Foreplay Sunday: The Wire Edition

The package is looking real good in the streets for this season. GET HOOKED.

On a Sunday morning

Man up

Teacher pet/head of the class

The tower of flowers

Sorry for ya

Good to have friends

Shiiit

What do you get for the person who has everything

The paper bag test

Not hard enough?

You Were Very Gentle

Stand still…

What cho do

I got one more high left in me...

They saw you coming

Dream with me

You know I couldn’t do a Sunday without at least one audio selection and seeing as the wire inspired this videos concept it was a no brainer that this would be the perfect accompaniment for our clips today.

Freeway (Ft. Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel) - What We Do

GVG
~waiting on my fix~

PRIMARIES VS. CAUCUSES

2008-01-05T13:55:00.000-05:00

In the summer of every presidential election year, political parties in the United States typically conduct national conventions to choose their presidential candidates. At the conventions, the presidential candidates are selected by groups of delegates from each state. After a series of speeches and demonstrations in support of each candidate, the delegates begin to vote, state-by-state, for the candidate of their choice. The first candidate to receive a preset majority number of delegate votes becomes the party’s presidential candidate. The candidate selected to run for president then selects a vice presidential candidate.

Delegates to the national conventions are selected at the state level, according to rules and formulas determined by each political party’s state committee. While these rules and formulas can change from state-to-state and from year-to-year, there remain two methods by which the states choose their delegates to the national conventions: the caucus and the primary.

THE CAUCUS

Caucuses are simply meetings, open to all registered voters of the party, at which delegates to the party’s national convention are selected. When the caucus begins, the voters in attendance divide themselves into groups according to the candidate they support. The undecided voters congregate into their own group and prepare to be “courted” by supporters of other candidates.

Voters in each group are then invited to give speeches supporting their candidate and trying to persuade others to join their group. At the end of the caucus, party organizers count the voters in each candidate’s group and calculate how many delegates to the county convention each candidate has won.

The caucus process can produce delegates who are bound or “pledged” to vote for the primary winner in voting at the national convention. In other states, some or all delegates are “unpledged” and free to vote for any candidate they wish at the convention.

THE PRIMARY

In states holding them, presidential primary elections are open to all registered voters.

Just like in general elections, voting is done through a secret ballot. Voters may choose from among all registered candidates and write-ins are counted. There are two types of primaries, closed and open. In a closed primary, voters may vote only in the primary of the political party in which they registered. For example, a voter who registered as a Republican can only vote in the Republican primary. In an open primary, registered voters can vote in the primary of either party, but are allowed to vote in only one primary. Most states hold closed primaries. Primary elections also vary in what names appear on their ballots. Most states hold presidential preference primaries, in which the actual presidential candidates’ names appear on the ballot. In other states, only the names of convention delegates appear on the ballot. Delegates may state their support for a candidate or declare themselves to be uncommitted.

As in the caucuses, the primary process can produce both pledged and unpledged convention delegates, depending on the party rules of the various states.

Source

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

THE OBAMA SPEECH FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOP?

2008-01-04T14:02:00.000-05:00

Below is a conversation that occurred between a friend and me last night right after the Obama Victory speech shown above after his historic win in the Iowa primary. This may or may not become the basis for my latest blog. If I can take some time to stop reading that reckless shit Republican Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll said here in reference to New Jersey “apologizing” for their history of slavery.

From: Daveeeeed
Date: Jan 3, 2008 11:12 PM

www.cnn.com

If you get this now, the victory speech is on CNN. Tune in!!!!

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Gardy a.k.a GVG
Date: Jan 3, 2008 8:31 PM

Watching and reading all the feeds online now. People are blowing up my phone, text, and E-mail over this. I might have a blog coming tomorrow that’s going to piss you all the fuck off. LOL

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Daveeeeed
Date: Jan 3, 2008 11:35 PM

Hey never said I was def voting for him. I'm just spitting out current news, lol. I see you’re not a fan eh?

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Gardy a.k.a GVG
Date: Jan 3, 2008 8:56 PM

Not that I’m not a fan, just that I don’t believe. This is a direct quote from one of the CNN political analyst just now in reference to Barack Obama’s speech “There were echoes of Martin Luther King in that speech.” WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN??!!! NOW WE HAVE WHITE PEOPLE COMPARING THIS DUDE TO CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS, ARE YOU SERIOUS???!!!! However, with all that being said I still don’t wake up in cold sweats thinking about him in the white house like I do Hillary “smiling in your face, stabbing you in the back, while killing your cat” Clinton.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Daveeeeed
Date: Jan 4, 2008 12:00 AM

Good point. He does radiate that whole, "let my people go" aura. Folks feel they can relate to him, have a real convo. You don't really get that with Hill, but she is a business woman. This we know. John Edwards was second, so Hill has a double defeat.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Gardy a.k.a GVG
Date: Jan 3, 2008 9:11 PM

Honestly and also another point I’m bouncing around on what would be the blog if I wrote it is I think this was a strategic move on the Clintons part. They are scared out of their minds that democrats and independants are going to stay home because they believe there’s no chance in hell Hillary can lose the primary to a black man. No matter how fair skinned, cute, well behaved, and well spoken he is.

The Clinton political machine want to scare them dems out of their seats. They want to show them “Hey, this nigger has a chance. Get the fuck off your ass now for the primaries and on general election day or we’re fucked for another four years” She’s giving them just what they need to do what her campaign needs done.

Same shit Bush did with the far right with abortion and same sex marriage to mobilize their vote. They didn’t go after swing voters, they went after non voters. Get those old school mothafuckas out and you can take this. There is no switching of sides to them there for their party and their meat and potatoes beliefs, but just believe their party isn’t enough for them. Watch what happens in New Hampshire. Iowa is just the beginning of a very very long fight.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Daveeeeed
Date: Jan 4, 2008 12:15 AM

True indeed. Do I think he's gonna ultimately beat her? Nope. But it makes for better TV.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Gardy a.k.a GVG
Date: Jan 4, 2008 12:40 PM

Now on that point my friend we agree. I love seeing them sweat and shit their pants.

The end

*Editors note: I’m voting for Obama. Just want to believe in my vote for once.

The realest thing said so far about Obama's win in Iowa last night

2008-01-04T13:32:00.000-05:00

Another great video post from Jay Smooth @ www.Illdoctrine.com

Agree or Disagree?

Give me your whose/why/ and what fors here

You have to speak (write) to be heard (read). You get what I mean.

GVG
~asking some questions no one wants to answer~

La Chaim and all that Good stuff: The New Years Eve - New Years Day recap

2008-01-02T13:38:00.000-05:00

Living through one of the best 48 hours of my life and the way I’m feeling right now as I play Jay Z’s “Roc boys” it seems like it’s going for the 72 hour mark. IT'S A FUCKING CELEBRATION BITCHES! LE CHAIM!!!

I was having a conversation with a friend a few days prior to NYE and discussing our tentative plans for the big 07 send off and she said the most amazing thing to me.

“NYE is cool, for me it's more spiritual and I learned long ago that you can't put a lot on it or it'll be notoriously wack.”

I lived by those words this year and allowed whatever was meant to happen to happen and up until 5:30pm on the day of new years eve I had NO idea what my Who/What/When/Where’s were going to be for the night. A call from my homegirl D a min later and the games were on! I’m not going into a bunch of details, but I’ll give you some highlights.

• Limited edition Haitian rum

• Greatest soul food ever

• I saw stars then took them home for myself

• Pinky rings and cashmere

• The stroke of midnight with 30 gorgeous, perky, tipsy, and friendly black women and I’m one of only 4 guys in the house. That was the moment the tear came down my cheek and I was asked if I was ok. Looking into the sky and the only response I could get out was “This is the greatest night of my life!!!”

• A booty poppin tutorial with above mention 30 women against an all mirrored wall. (DUDE! I CAN’T MAKE SHIT LIKE THAT UP!!!)

• Walking in the streets looking for a cab with 20 of the women from the booty poppin tuturial masters class to hit the next BK house party hot spot with a huge cup of the best drink I’ve ever mixed and not getting a ticket

• Finding the next house party by following the sound of the DJ screaming on the mic “IS BROOKLYN IN THE HOUSE???!!!!”

• Wall sweating house party

• Soca. Roc Boys. The Good Life. The music that makes you raise your hands in the air, close your eyes, scream out the lyrics, and appreciate every blessing you have in this world and having a great soundtrack to live it to

• Watching your friend do her Baltimore Go Go dancing like she still 20 and her knees making it VERY clear to her that she's a grown ass woman. COMEDY!!! D. You too old for that shit. I love you for trying though.

• A basement filled wall to wall with empty bottles of Patron, Grey Goose, champagne, and much much much more liquor

• Patron shots at 4:30am

• Sitting on the steps with your friends (A.K.A. the cafeteria at the cool kids table. You had to be there) drinking Veuve Clicquot straight from the bottle because it’s 5am and we just don’t give a fuck about decorum

• Texting all your friends "I'M SSSSSOOOOOOO DRUNK RIGHT NOW!!!! HAPPY FUCKING NEW YEAR!!!!" at about 5:30 in the morning when you’re not really that drunk but realizing "I'M KIND OF NICE RIGHT NOW. HAPPY NEW YEAR." just doesn’t have the same je ne sais que to it

• Being that nice at 5:30 in the morning in the middle of a slamming party and texting all your friends and family because you wish they were there enjoying it with you (I guess this one wasn’t really a highlight. I sensitive. I LOVE YA SUCKAS!)

• Eating the greatest soul food left overs at 7am while doing the sleepy/tipsy headnod with each bite

• New Years day drinking lychee rum punch at a brunch/lunch (being too lazy to wake up early enough for eggs)while we have the most amazing south african food with the comedy that can only come from sitting at a table tipsy at 4pm with your friends

• Bottles of Ethiopian honey wine made special just for you and your friends to continue the party

• Continuing the drinking all day and night until 2am the next day

• No hangovers

• Going to work the next day and being brilliant, vibrant, and on point

Yep, that basically sums it up. WHAT YOUR NEW YEARS LOOK LIKE?!?!!!

P.S. I get to say Le Chaim and not look crazy in the street. Yiddish is part of my NY vocab, I didn't know Oy Vey wasn't a common English expression until I was in fourth grade and transferred to an all black prep school. (LONG STORY. LOL)

LIVE EVERY DAY LIKE YOU MEAN IT!!!!

GVG
~ridin this shit out to the end~

UPDATE

THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO CLOSE IT OUT.

GET YOUR RED LIGHT SWAGGER RIGHT FOR 08

BE BETTER

2007-12-31T05:47:00.000-05:00

Fool me once...

2007-12-27T14:25:00.000-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

2007-12-25T14:41:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

May your day be filled with hope, love, joy, peace and plenty of jolly, glee and laughter!

YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR LIFE

2007-12-22T03:55:00.000-05:00

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR LINK TO SHOW WEBSITE
TIX GO ON SALE DEC 29, 2007
TIX SELL OUT DEC 30, 2007
GET ON YOUR GRIZZY.

ARE HBCUs STILL RELEVANT AND/OR NECESSARY?

2007-12-21T01:59:00.000-05:00

Check out this article “Separation Anxiety” from the Nov. 30th edition of The Wall Street Journal for their take on black enrollment in black colleges. If you have an opinion on the matter PLEASE leave it in the comment section of the blog post here and do not send your reply to my E-mail, text box, or voicemail. I'd like to have a public discussion on the matter, not a private whisper.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119638557991308817.html

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

REPOST: The BIG DEBATE on THE GREAT DEBATERS

2007-12-20T14:34:00.000-05:00

Below is a recent blog post from Dominga Martin editor of Crème magazine for The Honey Magazine website. Check it out.

Hi Friends, check out our editor's new blog on HONEY MAGAZINE! Here's an excerpt, inspired by a critic who just couldn't accept the fact that the Great Debaters is based on a true story and that the images of African Americans in this film were positive...PLEASE FORWARD and see this film!

###

"I’m a member of a film critics circle for women and recently, one member of the group wrote a review for a HUGELY popular movie site that sent the group in an empowering frenzy! She started off the review with the following quote:

“Noble, brilliant suit-wearing Negros fight for equality in racist Texas circa 1935. All the white people are toothless, evil pig farmers. Denzel insults his white audience with caricatures.”

She then went on to say “I wasn’t going to review “The Great Debaters” knowing full well the ugly emails I would get if I don’t like a movie made by or about black people, I’m a racist…(blah, blah, blah)…here’s her DISCLAIMER, which follwed the foot in her mouth:"

Want more? Click here!!!
The BIG DEBATE on THE GREAT DEBATERS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Haven't put my full thoughts on this one out just as yet, still waiting on some more info. Below is what I had posted so far.

"OK! OK! OK! <~~ That was me taking a breath before I went off. I really really REALLY want to go off on this "Critic". However, I don't want to speak on just excerpts, it doesn't make for the most informed of rebuttals and seeing as things can be misconstrued out of context. I don't really see the possibility of that here, but I’ll give her "know more about African culture from first-hand, feet on the ground experience then all of my black neighbors and friends put together" ass the benefit of the doubt. Please if you could e-mail me the full review and I would if possible like to know where it was originally published. That for me would be another very curious point.

As they say opinions are like assholes because every ones got one. I hope this foolishness of a reviews doesn’t stop anyone from going to see what I know will be one of this year’s best movies. We ask for our positive stories to be told on film and television and when they are we need to support them so more can be produced. The numbers are what translate in Hollywood, let’s give this one numbers to break the records."

GVG

The Great Debaters comes to a theater near you Christmas day 2007

UPDATE

READ THE FULL ORIGINAL REVIEW HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I just read the original review in it's entirety and this is what i had to say to the reviewer.

"When I was first forwarded excerpts of your review, I refused to fully respond before reading the review in its entirety and gave you the benefit of the doubt in hopes that your statements were taken out of context. I didn’t want to take you to task for what seemed like some of the most idiotic, ignorant, ill-informed statements made in a review concerning a historical adaptation in the past 10 years. So I patiently waited for my e-mail box to be filled with a link to the full review. After taking the time to read your “critiques”, I’ve realized the person who sent me the excerpts was actually a friend who was trying their best to protect you from the world knowing how much of an idiot you were.

As I said in my original comment to the person whom sent me the excerpts, opinions are like asshole because everyone has one and I hope this reviewer’s "know more about African culture from first-hand, feet on the ground experience then all of my black neighbors and friends put together" ass doesn’t deter anyone with any sense of AMERICAN HISTORY from seeing a true story that has taken way too long to be brought to light. I read the original article that inspired this film in the American Legacy magazine and it did a great job of translating the story to film in my humble NYU Film school graduate opinion. As for your assertion that someone who was a poetic wordsmith, instrumental in bringing fare working conditions for his fellow men and women through unionizing, in-turn couldn’t possibly have the time to mold the minds of the young men and women of Wiley College as their professor and debate coach which then lead to them beating what by most to this day is thought to be the brightest minds in our country, you my dear are a lost cause and there is no need for anyone to try and bring you to the light.

P.S. and I hope with all my heart that your ass is black when you start this review out using the word Negros."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make sure to check out the comment left by Blank Frank in her comment section. He makes a very great point.

EVEN MY MUSLIM BROTHERS ARE GETTING JACKED FOR THEIR SWAG

2007-12-20T13:39:00.000-05:00

Just came across an article about the outrage from the Muslim community concerning celebrities wearing the keffiyeh as Scarves for their latest fashion statement. I guess i'm not the only one pissed about these celebreties lack of originality, read my previous post concerning the matter here. Please read the Muslim piece below.

"A new Hip Hop trend is threatening to drive a wedge between the Muslim and urban communities. The Muslims are taking offense to a style of dress adopted by rappers who wear a Keffiyeh - a Muslim symbol of freedom - around their necks as a scarf. The Keffiyeh is a traditional head dress worn by Muslim freedom fighters.

The new style first made popular by Island Records president of Urban Music, Jermaine Dupri, is now being worn by everyone from Jay Z to Omarion and Chris Brown. But while celebrities think the head garment is stylish to wear around their necks, it is causing a furor within the Muslim community. The Muslims want celebs to stop desecrating their symbol - or face the consequences.

One man who asked to remain anonymous told me, “Men died fighting in a war for that. Arafat wore it. People took bullets in the back fighting for that! [Rappers] don’t know what the meaning of that is.. they’re ignorant! They go overseas and they go to Dubai then they come back and say, ‘look at the new trend I started’. It’s disrespectful!”

The Muslim man I spoke with thinks rappers need a little sensitivity training, “If I see them wearing the jalabia, I’ll make them take it off!,” he said."

LET'S SEE HOW GANGSTA YOU RAPPERS REALLY ARE WHEN YOU HAVE AN AK TO YOUR HEAD AND THE GUY HOLDING IT DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT A RAP CONTRACT. DON'T START NOTHIN, WON'T BE NOTHIN. YOU GUYS AREN'T BUILT FOR THAT KIND OF BEEF.

GVG
~taken back our swag~

UPDATE

There was an error in the original article excerpt I posted where the writer incorrectly referred to the traditional headdress of Arab men as a Jalabia instead of its proper name which is Keffiyeh. I would also like to extend an apology to my readers for not doing my own research on the matter.

Ohh yea and BTW, Jermaine Dupri has never in his life started any trend or even co-opted one in its infancy. If one person mentions Kris Kros and that damn backwords clothing sh&t I'm beating your ass. LOL

Wyclef & Akon Perform at Yele Fest in Haiti

2007-12-19T13:14:00.000-05:00

Wyclef, Akon Put A Spotlight On Haiti's Suffering And Beauty At Yele

"Our music can change and influence the world," 'Clef says of two-day event in his native country.

By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Rahman Dukes for MTV NEWS

Haiti's most famous diplomat was very busy over the weekend in his native country. Wyclef Jean co-headlined the first Yele Festival with Akon; the event was the brainchild of the two recording artists and manager Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond.

The two-day event included a tour of Haiti for journalists on Friday and a concert fundraiser Saturday.

"We cater to the press, answering questions, visiting the children's prisons [in Port-au-Prince], the schools," Rosemond said Friday. " ... There's not too much stuff to do in Haiti. For it to be a two-day event is even big in itself. We're trying to do something with Yele like how [Reggae] Sunsplash was for Jamaica. This will be a yearly event. In between, we'll have smaller shows and cap off every year around this time with some of the biggest artists in the world."

The Haitian-born Wyclef made a deal that he would perform in Senegal (Akon was born in St. Louis but raised in Senegal) sometime next year in return for 'Kon performing in his homeland.

On Saturday, 'Clef and 'Kon rocked Haiti's capital square, which Rosemond said is "as large as two football stadiums." The trio are still awaiting final numbers as far as the size of the crowd and donations, which will go toward retaining counsel for inmates at Haiti's children's prisons and helping rebuild and provide supplies to schools damaged during the hurricane season.

"This has been an eye-opening experience for me," Akon told MTV News via e-mail. "To meet the Haitian people in suffering and in celebration has made my mission clearer. I will use my blessings to help all impoverished people, and I know my people in Senegal will embrace Wyclef as his people did me."

"The Haitian people came out in multitude, putting aside their suffering, politics and beliefs, to come see two of their favorite artists," Wyclef said. "Akon is a true musician and artist, and I look forward to my journey to his native land of Senegal. ... Not one person was hurt [at the concert]. This is proof to my fellow artists that our music can change and influence the world. Mission accomplished. The Haitian people have passed the test, and now we welcome you."

"I am speechless from the overwhelming turnout for change in Haiti," Rosemond said over the weekend. "We went back to the basics to prove a point: Music is a universal language. We know one free concert won't change everything, but at least we've started something that may make a change. But I think what we all walked away with is a sense that it's Haiti today, but it can easily be the world tomorrow.

"In order for us to heal the ills of Haiti, press have to know first that it's safe to come there [to] document and expose the ills and the good stuff going on in Haiti," he added. "The only thing you hear about Haiti is there's a dictatorship. The only way we're gonna get economic strength, we need the tourist dollars and for us to sell our art, sell our music. We need for people to see the wonderful country of Haiti. It's been closed so long because of the bad press. We wanna expose some of the good stuff."

WHY THEY TRYNA BE LIKE ME??!! I'M THE ORIGINATOR OF THIS SHIII!!!!

2007-12-18T15:04:00.000-05:00

"Guys are stepping up their accessories game and rocking scarves hard this season. This trend is pretty evident if you look at all males in entertainment - Kanye of course (who started the trend on the black carpet), Omarion, Lupe Fiasco, and Jay-Z are some of the guys who like to add a scarf to their look. I noticed some time ago when David Beckham showed his scarf swag, letting folks know that this trend isn’t all for the ladies. I think the look is a go and shows that guys can be a little versatile with their wardrobe."

"Kanye of course (who started the trend on the black carpet)" FORREAL??!!!! PEOPLE! PEOPLE! PEOPLE! Do I really have to come up on here and put these stylist, fashion reporters, trend analyst, bloggers, and randoms onto game? I'm the originator of this here scarf thing. Don't make me have to start putting people on blast, I've had a few stylist compliment my scarf swag then all of a sudden their client mysteriously becomes the newest member of the protect your neck crew. Imma show you how I do this son!!!

... and just for good measure. YES, THAT'S THE ASCOT BELOW! I DOES THAT TOO!!!

I got to put these people in their place. This is like the 10th time this shit has happened and then mothasuckas act like I'm jacking style from some wack ass celebrity that wouldn't even know which socks to put on in the morning without a stylist picking it out for them. Just popped my own collar. what my man Jay said "Imma show you how to do this son!!!" Yep, sounds about right.

GVG
~I AIN'T NEW TO THIS SHIT~

YOU MAY NOW GO OUT AND REPRODUCE...

2007-12-14T11:09:00.002-05:00

GVG
~product of that classic baby makin muzak~

BIG STEP TAKEN TOWARDS FINALLY GETTING RID OF THE PREJUDICIAL ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAWS W/ UPDATE

2007-12-10T18:09:00.000-05:00

Below is a link to an article concerning a recent Supreme Court ruling that could finally lead to the end or at least the complete overhaul of the obviously racist Rockefeller drug laws that have put so many young black and Latino men and women in prison over the course of the past 35+ years for the position of small amounts of crack while their white counterparts have faced nowhere near as heavy sentences for the possession of 100x the amount of cocaine.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/12/10/scotus.crack.cocaine/index.html

UPDATE

PANEL TO MAKE DECISION ON MAKING SUPREME COURT RULING RETROACTIVE. PLEASE READ here

AUDIO FOREPLAY: IN HONOR OF A FALLEN KAANG

2007-12-09T07:22:00.000-05:00

click on photo to enlarge

I realized the four of you who actually read this blog haven’t gotten a Sunday audio foreplay offering from me in a very very long time, but I haven’t been inspired as I was on Sundays past to post music to go out to live to. You have to actually be doing it to put a set of theme songs together for it, at least in my world. However, today stands as a special yet sad occasion that is very deserving of a well put together Audio Foreplay that I hope you take the time to both read and listen to. I promise you will be the better for it.

As most or all of you may know by now Pimp C real name Chad Butler, one half of the legendary rap duo UGK, was found dead earlier this week in his hotel room in LA at the young age of 33 (No signs of drug use or physical harm were present at the time he was found. Medical examiners currently believe it may have been natural causes). This post is a bit hard for me due to the fact that I hate that we keep losing the greatest producers of musical genius of our generation at such young ages with unknown amounts more to give to us, but I’m sure it’s in no way as hard as it must be for the millions of fans who have been loyally riding tough with UGK since their 1992 debut “Too Hard to swallow”. I’m sure Texas is currently in a national state of mourning for one of their greatest exports.

I have a confession I feel must be shared on the matter of UGK, I’m one of the late ones who didn’t get into them until their latest album “Underground Kingz” put me on my ass with the hard slap boom bap wakeup call it gave me of their musical genius. Yes, even after their verses on Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin”, and just to start a fight on a Sunday, I actually didn't love that song and always thought it was one of the weakest songs in Jay’s catalogue (BRING IT ON!!!). It was the Underground Kingz album and an e-mail from a friend posted below that drove me back to their earlier works to hear if this was a onetime whim of genius or have they always been this lyrically prolific and I was just ignorant to it and the answer was – YES, they always have. I bought that album for the love of one song – International Players anthem, which I only truly loved because of the Andre “Feature Killer” 3000 verse. To then be blown away by the realization that International Players anthem was one of the weakest songs on the album. Trust that the use of the word weak is not the best word selection, as there was nothing AT ALL WEAK about anything put onto that album. It stands as perfection in my eyes.

One of the greatest things I heard once I had written a review of the Underground Kingz albums was from a very good southern friend whose musical taste I both respected and trusted e-mailed me the following.

“This album to me and my fellow dirrty souf peers is a classic...being that you're from New York, you probably wouldn't understand when I say THIS IS THE OL SKOOL UGK...The pocket full of stones UGK, the, "I'm 'bout to do a kick door, lay down on the floor UGK, THE UGK I GREW UP ON! This album will most definitely get mad play in my ride!”

Those simple, yet passionate, couple of sentences put me on a serious hunt to find the classic UGK albums that had produced such memorable lines. This is what great music and the people that create it do to people – it leaves you with something to live the rest of your life to. All this rambling was to say even though I haven’t known them for as long as I should, the short time that I had UGK in my world they left me with a lot and for that I shall forever be blessed and in an eternal state of mourning for the loss.

R.I.P PIMP C/Chad Butler.

P.S. Below is a great qoute from Bun B when asked when was the last time you saw him?(Pimp C)

"We performed together in Dallas the day after Thanksgiving. And we attended the Young Jeezy concert together Thanksgiving. And that was the last time I physically saw him. We met, we hugged, said we loved each other. When we separate we always make sure we hug and say we love each other. And keep in mind, Pimp C and I, we didn't agree on everything… I've been knowing Pimp C since he was 16 years old. By nature, our personalities and our character tended to be at odds, but because of who we were and where we were from, and where we were trying to go and what we were trying to prove, we were always together in that respect. And I loved him, and he loved me, and we're never ashamed to say it. And I know we're in the era of "pause" and "no homo" and all that, and that's all fine and dandy, but if you really love your homie, don't feel like you can't tell him you love him. Who gives a fuck how somebody take it. Because when things happen, you're going to wish you had said it. You're going to wish you said it louder."

AUDIO FOREPLAY SUNDAYS

Below is a video playlist I put together for today’s audio foreplay in honor of the group that through these streets reppin the south with lyrics as well as swagger. I have to start it with the song that got me to take the red pill:

UGK ft. Outkast – “International Players”

UGK – “Use Me Up”

UGK – “It's Supposed To Bubble”

Jay-Z ft. UGK – “Big Pimpin”

UGK - “The Game Belongs To Me”

Pimp C ft. Mike Jones & Bun B – “Pourin' Up”

“Get Throwed.”

Pimp-C - "Knockin doors Down" uncut

GVG
~kickin in doors~

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS...

2007-12-06T01:37:00.000-05:00

IT'S EXACTLY ONE MONTH AWAY FROM THE NEW SEASON OF THE SECOND GREATEST SHOW EVER PUT ON TV - THE WIRE. THE PACKAGE IS LOOKING REAL GOOD IN THE STREETS FOR 08. GET HOOKED.

GVG
~waiting on the new package~

REPOST: America Has Lost a Generation of Black Boys By Phillip Jackson

2007-12-03T15:12:00.000-05:00

America Has Lost a Generation of Black Boys By Phillip Jackson

"There is no longer a need for dire predictions, hand-wringing, or apprehension about losing a generation of Black boys. It is too late. In education, employment, economics, incarceration, health, housing, and parenting, we have lost a generation of young Black men. The question that remains is will we lose the next two or three generations, or possibly every generation of Black boys hereafter to the streets, negative media, gangs, drugs, poor education, unemployment, father absence, crime, violence and death. Most young Black men in the United States don't graduate from high school. Only 35% of Black male students graduated from high school in Chicago and only 26% in New York City, according to a 2006 report by The Sch ott Foundation for Public Education. Only a few Black boys who finish high school actually attend college, and of those few Black boys who enter college, nationally, only 22% of them finish college. Young Black male students have the worst grades, the lowest test scores, and the highest dropout rates of all students in the country. When these young Black men don't succeed in school, they are much more likely to succeed in the nation's criminal justice and penitentiary system. And it was discovered recently that even when a young Black man graduates from a U.S. College, there is a good chance that he is from Africa, the Caribbean or Europe, and not the United States. Black men in prison in America have become as American as apple pie. There are more Black men in prisons and jails in the United States (about 1.1 million) than there are Black men incarcerated in the rest of the world combined. This criminalization process now starts in elementary schools with Black male children as young as six and seven years old being arrested in staggering numbers according to a 2005 report, Education on Lockdown by the Advancement Project.

The rest of the world is watching and following the lead of America. Other countries including England, Canada, Jamaica, Brazil and South Africa are adopting American social policies that encourage the> incarceration and destruction of young Black men. This is leading to a world-wide catastrophe. But still, there is no adequate response from the American or global Black community. Worst of all is the passivity, neglect and disengagement of the Black community concerning the future of our Black boys. We do little while the future lives of Black boys are being destroyed in record numbers. The schools that Black boys a ttend prepare them with skills that will make them obsolete before, and if, they graduate. In a strange and perverse way, the Black community, itself, has started to wage a kind of war against young Black men and has become part of this destructive process. Who are young Black women going to marry? Who is going to build and maintain the economies of Black communities? Who is going to anchor strong families in the Black community? Who will young Black boys emulate as they grow into men? Where is the outrage of the Black> community at the destruction of its Black boys? Where are the plans and the supportive actions to change this? Is this the beginning of the end of the Black people in America? The list of those who have failed young Black men includes our government, our foundations, our schools, our media, our Black churches, our Black leaders, and even o ur parents. Ironically, experts say that the solutions to the problems of young Black men are simple and relatively inexpensive, but they may not be easy, practical or popular. It is not that we lack solutions as much as it is that we lack the will to implement these solutions to save Black boys. It seems that government is willing to pay billions of dollars to lock up young Black men, rather than the millions it would take to prepare them to become viable contributors and alued members of our society.

Please consider these simple goals that can lead to solutions for fixing the problems of young Black men: Short term 1) Teach all Black boys to read at grade level by the third grade and to embrace education. 2) Provide positive role models for Black boys. 3) Create a stable home environment for Black boys that includes contact with their fathers. 4) Ensure that Black boys have a strong spiritual base. 5) Control the negative media influences on Black boys. 6) Teach Black boys to respect all girls and women. Long term 1) Invest as much money in educating Black boys as in locking up Black men. 2) Help connect Black boys to a positive vision of themselves in the future. 3) Create high expectations and help Black boys live into those high expectations. 4) Build a positive peer culture for Black boys. 5) Teach Black boys self-discipline, culture and history. 6) Teach Black boys and the communities in which they live to embrace education and life-long learning. More Facts: 37.7% of Black men in the United States are not working (2006 Joint Economic Committee Study chaired by Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)). 58% of Black boys in the United States do not grad uate from high school (2006 Report from the Schott Foundation for Public Education). Almost 70% of Black children are born into female, single parent households (2000 Census Report). About 1 million Black men in the United States are in prison (U.S. Justice Department). I would add to these: 1. Teach Black boys that about 1 in 1,000,000 (my statistics, not official) are successful in professional sports (i.e. baseball, basketball, football, etc.). 2. Teach Black boys that about 1 in 1,000,000,000 (my stats, not official) are successful in the entertainment industry (i.e. actor, recording Artist, RAPPER, etc.). 3. Teach Black boys that about 1 in 1,000,000,000, 000 (my stats, not official) are successful as a drug dealer.....IF ANY 'If you don't stand for something, you will fall for everything.' Life is not always perfect, but when you have it, thank God for it."

Problems followed by some solutions. Now I am encouraged.