Young & Hip Hop

Recently I went out to an after-work party here in NYC.  I like the after-work crowd cuz they're chill, good people, good vibes & no cover.  However at this last party, I noticed something...I didn't know any of the songs!  I spent the whole night fake two-stepping to songs that I barely recognized.  And that's when it hit me...am I old?

Between the ever indistinguishable pop music (Rhianna, Pitbull, LMFAO) strip club music (anything Waka Flacka does) and Drake (I hate his face)...I think I'm out of touch.  It wasn't until the DJ started playing the obligatory MJ set with some old school Chaka & Stevie that I really found my groove.  But, when did I become an old lady?

I'm only 27...I like to think I'm still young & hip.  Oh wait, is the fact that I just said young & hip an indication of being old?  I think the real issue is I'm just not into today's music.  I love vocals and harmonies, instruments and minor chords.  Today's music seems like it's more about computer-made beats, catchy phrases (YOLO!), and twerking.

I dunno, maybe it's time I take a break from the club scene, or at least find a nice 30 and over club that's more in line with my 1990s sensibilities.  To all the DJs out there, let's bring back some of the classics: a lil Jodeci, teenage Bobby Brown, old school Mary J, hell, all 3 Tony's.  Let's show these whippersnappers what real music is!

Sarah Baartman

Have you ever heard of Sarah Baartman? What about Jennifer Lopez? I know you've heard of Nicki Minaj.  What do all three of these ladies have in common...giant asses...ummm, rear ends.

You've probably not heard of Sarah Baartman because she lived in the 1800's.  Well, just like her modern day counterparts, she was lauded for her back side.  She was so celebrated that she was taken on a world wide traveling freak show.  She was so admired that after she passed away, her genitalia was studied by modern science.  She was so revered that people all over the world assumed all Black women were hyper-sexualized beasts.  I guess you can say she was a celebrity.


Fast forward to today.  Women are extolled for their bodies in music videos and strip clubs.  Television would have you believe that all Black women are hyper-sexualized with tons of babies.  And how do we respond?  With life-threatening ass shots and booty pops.  When did our butts become our most important attribute?  The problem is, once you become just an 'ass' YOU are no longer important.

For Black History Month, think of the implications of our adoration and celebration of the almighty ass.  After all, it was only a short time ago that Sarah Baartman was the world's biggest celebrity.

I heart Jeremy Lin

As I'm sure you've all heard by now, there is a player for the New York Knicks who is taking the basketball world by storm. No not Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin!  (I actually think Mike D'Antoni stepped on Carmelo's groin to keep him out longer...the Knicks are phenomenal without their $80 million star.)  But back to Lin...I <3 him!  Let me tell y'all why I love this guy:

He Loves the Lord: My #1 requirement for any man I date is that they love the Lord. And Jeremy surely does! From his Twitter picture to his recent declaration he wants to be a minister...he's automatically marriage material in my book!

He's Humble: Every time Jer is interviewed, he's always incredibly humble. Any praise he gets he immediately defers to his team yet in defeat, he takes it all on his shoulders.

He went to Harvard: So y'all know he's smart. Good. Nothin more I can't stand than a stupid man.

He's obviously good at sports: I LOVE basketball. So does Jeremy. Nuff said.

He already lives in NYC: I have a rule about dating people outside of the city, actually my borough. Well, J is based right here in the city on the isle of Manhattan!  Win.  Win.


So Jeremy Lin, there's one thing I wanna know: Will You Marry Me?

It's my blog-o-versary

It's my blog-o-versary!  It has been 3 wonderful months since I started regurgitating all of my thoughts to you all.  The feedback I've received from my friends and family has been amazing!  I hope you all have enjoyed reading as much as I have enjoyed writing.  Keep your comments coming, I love to hear from you guys!

Also, a special shout out to my grandmother who thinks this blog is the funniest slice of heaven she's ever stumbled upon.

So, what has been your favorite post thus far?

Valentine's Day

I'm sure you all are expecting some bitter, angry, single woman's tirade about Valentine's Day.  Uhh-uhh, not from me, I'm keeping it allllll positive.

To all of you, whether you're snuggling up with your DVR, cozying up with your boo or drinking til you forget your last name, I want to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day! 

  

P.S. I think this has to be my favorite pic yet!

I Will Always Love You

As you've all heard by now, Whitney Houston passed away yesterday.  My heart aches.  When I was growing up, Whitney was in her heyday and as a 5 year-old aspiring singer, Whitney was my idol.  I knew every song, every word, every run.  She made me want to be a singer.  Her voice, her control, her power.  Even though her last few years were fairly difficult, I choose to remember the Whitney that I fell in love with.  Fun loving...beautiful...the VOICE...simply Whitney.

Love & HipHop: A Guide for Black Women

Aight, I know everyone is tired of these ladies...and frankly I am too.  But, I just couldn't resist; there's a life lesson in everything.

Emily: She spends her days & nights pining over a man who has disrespected her and their relationship behind her back and in front of her face.  Instead of moving on or demanding more from him, she's waiting patiently for him to grow up and crying to anyone who will listen.  When last we saw Emily, she was ecstatic that her man finally 'claimed' her in public.  *Blankstare face*

The lesson in this one ladies: Men will only do what we allow them to get away with.  If you put up with lying & cheating, it will continue to happen.  You teach people how to treat you.  


Chrissy: Where shall I begin? Oh yes.  She wants to be married, but has stayed in her relationship for 7 years without a ring.  She's whined, cried, and complained along the way, but still has never left.  Now that she's gotten her ring, with or without the actual wedding, she's content.

The lesson in this one ladies: If you stay with a man for years, not requiring that he marry you, he prolly won't marry you.  You know, cows ... milk ... free.  Secondly, if you cry wolf for 7 years, there's a pretty good chance your man knows you're not gonna leave. 


Kimbella/Erica: Though they think they're different people, they're really the same person.  A ho-fessional is a ho-fessional...whether you do it on Twidda or the respectable way, in music videos.

The lesson in this one ladies: Stop thinking being a ho-fessional is going to be your big break.  If your career goals include Bad Girls Club or getting knocked up by somebody famous, it's time to rethink your life.  Go read a book!


Yandy: I'm still not sure about her.  On the one hand, I think she actually has a job, she manages artists.  But on the other hand, Jim Jones was about as relevant as Ja Rule until Love & Hip Hop came along.  Maybe she's not so good at her job after all.  My biggest issue with Yandy was her personal involvement with her former lover client, Jim Jones.

The lesson in this one ladies: Keep your work life and your personal life separate.  "Don't sh*t where you eat"


Olivia: Mmm, poor girl.

The lesson in this one ladies: Always follow your dreams.  HOWEVER know when to hold em & when to fold em.  I think it's time Olivia just gets a job at McDonald's and rides quietly off into the sunset.

Aight, and now I'm really done.

Single Man's Guide to Cooking

That's sexist...some of yall women out here can't cook either.  I, however, am not one of them.  I love to cook & find it incredibly relaxing.  I think everyone can cook if they really tried.  Can you read a recipe?  Work a knife?  Turn on a stove? Aight, then you're good money.

First, yall gotta go to the grocery store.  Your refrigerator isn't just for beer & Ciroc, you can put food in there too.  When you go to the store, get some staples: pasta, chicken, spices, ground beef, milk, eggs, spaghetti sauce, olive oil.  (There are more but I'm not writing a book here.)  These basics will carry you through your most basic meal.

Next, find a recipe.  I love recipe blogs & the Food Network; you probably don't.  That's cool, but do you wanna eat? Okay then.  You should find recipes that have a few steps and a short prep time, like 15 minutes.  Your first time it'll probably take you a bit longer, but that's okay.  Just google some of those staples (i.e. chicken breast, pasta, olive oil) and a number of recipes will pop up.

Then, follow the damn recipe.

A quick pause for the cause: please clean up your kitchen.  Don't just leave those dishes lying in the sink...it's cheapens your great accomplishment.

Finally, women love a man who can cook.  AND cooking dinner for your lady will cost you a lot less than taking her out.  Everybody wins!

As a good teacher, I can't just tell you what to do & not give you an example.  So here's your first recipe!

Lemon-Rosemary Chicken Thighs

Ingredients:

6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

3 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons dried rosemary or 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary

1 garlic clove, minced

Salt and Pepper

Preparation:

1. Preheat broiler. Rinse chicken thighs; pat dry. Arrange thighs, skin side down, on a broiler pan. In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, olive oil, rosemary and garlic. Brush 1/3 of mixture over chicken and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil 4 to 6 inches from heat until lightly browned, about 7 minutes.
2. Using tongs, turn chicken thighs skin side up. Brush 1/3 of lemon-juice mixture over skin and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil until thighs are browned, about 7 minutes.
3. Turn off broiler and set oven to 450°F. Brush final 1/3 of lemon-juice mixture over chicken (discard any leftover lemon-juice mixture) and return pan to oven. Bake until juices run clear when pricked with a fork and meat is no longer pink at the bone, about 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Everyone's a little bit Racist

I've recently been forced to confront the fact that I'm Black.  I know, this is news to you as well.  Lemme explain.  I've spent my whole life being a loving daughter/sister, a model student, best friend ever, and an exemplary teacher.  But to some folks, regardless of all of those magnificent attributes, I'm still ... just ... Black.

Don't get me wrong, I love being Black!  My people have such a rich history & have been through so much, it's amazing we're still standing.  However, there are some people who can't rejoice in our successes because to them we'll always be second-class citizens; not smart enough, not pretty enough, not deserving of anything.

No matter how far we think we've progressed as a country, there are still some people who only see race.  Let's take this month, as short as it is, to have open dialogues & confront these issues head on. Otherwise, like a pot of boiling water left unattended, our underlying issues will spill out onto the surface.  Trust me, I know first hand...

29 Days

This month, schools will hang pictures of Frederick Douglass, Soledad O'Brien will profile left-handed Black people named Tom, and children will finally learn the difference between George Washington and George Washington Carver.  That's right kids.......It's Black History Month!

That's right, yall tried to give us this short ass, coldest month of the year.  But guess what: thanks to global warming, it's gonna be 60 degrees today and thanks to Leap Year, we got 29 days this year.  HA!  Between Red Tails & Blue Ivy, Blacks are having the best year ever!