I LOVE LGBT Indie Artist!!!!!!!

Being that I began the process of “coming out” at the tender age of 9 which would rewind us into the late 80’s/early 90’s around the time that the only images of anything queer in mainstream society was Rupaul and “the gay cancer” HIV/AIDS. Positive reflections that hinted any representation of me weren’t very accessible let alone easy to find in nature. This left me in a further state of confusion as to who I am as a person because if the society that I am a member of did not recognize me and others like me in not just a positive light, but in any light beyond the shadows of depression and disease was my life even worth living!?

In finding myself at a crossroads of sorts I began writing and becoming an active member of my community: open, queer, & proud! I am capable of utilizing many forms and genres of writing but my preference is poetry. It is my poetry which has thrust me into the limelight of my community and has made me an artist in my own write *WINK*…….

However, this blog is not about me *wink*……. Through my artistry, in a sense I am often looked upon as a voice for my community. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, appreciating, & building relationships with some of the most intelligent, beautiful, and talented women within our community and I’m taking the time to highlight their skillz:

I met Angie evans around 2005, a gorgeous woman suggested that I attend the open mic that she hosted in Long Beach, CA at Viento y Agua café every Tuesday. Angie, equally gorgeous herself and eclectic in nature had a very “R0kr chik” vibe with a great spirit and an amazing aura. Assisted by guitar she opened her show up with a Mary J. Blige cover which blew the crowd (along with me) away. Upon introduction Angie is very personable, eventually she invited me to feature at her spot in which I eagerly & happily obliged. Though we have lost touch over the years as our paths no longer cross on a regular basis with my move to Georgia and her constant touring which has brought her probably to a city close to you, I will forever cherish the memories of artistic comradery that we created…

Having been introduced to the BLU retreat (formerly sistahfest) also around 2005, I was very blessed to have met Afia Walkingtree. A professional drummer whose presence enamored all of the youth at the retreat. In this generation the word “swag” is heavily used but if you really want a formal introduction then you need to meet Afia because she will teach you what it really is through her presence. Afia, has this smooth confidence because she truly “walks to the beat of her own drum” and it is conveyed through her calm spirit and positive attitude. Through her music she offers affirming lyrics that offer healing and as a woman & a stroke survivor they are not only appreciated but needed because with all of the chaos in the world we forget:

“I am ALIVE!

I am BEAUTIFUL!

I can do anything I put my heart & mind into!”

Thank you Afia, because of you I will always remember this *SMILE*

Being an avid twitter user I was approached by J. Holloway of  USE OF FORCE ENTERTAINMENT in 2009. Upon listening to her MySpace music page an exchange between us immediately began. The track that caught my attention is titled “Queen” not a ladies anthem but an anthem for the real women in the universe. The lyrics which are savvy and witty take a defiant stand against blatant disrespect of women and the disregarding of our feelings that often take place not just on the streets but in the media as well. It also is a reminder across the board of our capabilities and stature as not just women but black women as well. Among being a great lyricist and vocalist J is also a producer and videographer to watch out for because she is definitely a force that you want to reckon with!

In 2009 when I was assisting with an online radio show I was introduced to the music of Anye Elite, an openly male gay indie artist. I immediately fell in love with his song “Love It Up” a sassy tune that declared his love for another man. A bold move in the bible belt but one that was definitely loved by me. I played tag with Anye through various social networking sites until we were able to have a quick exchange through Facebook about my appreciation of his artistry. It is not often that black gay male artist come with the type of confidence to be themselves that Anye conveys through his music.

Nefertiti A.K.A nefTUNES was also another artist that I ran into during my stint with the online radio show that I assisted. I was actually at a former associates home reviewing video from a performance of a recent feature spot that I did at Left Eyes UNI Studios which was produced by Cambridge Jenkins IV (a local artist extraordinaire himself) in which I had taken a great risk of growth on my part by exercising my lungs through singing (I have never believed that god gave me the gift of song though I love to sing but I was about to learn who he did bless with that gift…)as I watched myself bluff through pseudo confidence and belt out hooks that I designed specifically to outline certain poems I swelled up with excitement and exclaimed the self pride that I felt. Nef, standing behind me in a calm tone sharing that experience with me simply said “me too”. What an endearing moment that would be the foundation of a friendship to be pursued… Later on that evening Nef was easily convinced to share her talent with what had turned into a group of us all hanging out and being creative with one another and for eachother. She retrieved her guitar from her car, sat in a chair, strummed a few chords and then she opened her lips which led rhaspy smoke hazed vocals dripping in blues origins with a hip vibe that took us on a ride through our favorite song on the radio… After that night it would be months before I saw Nef again but I was very determined and eventually I would find out of her performance at our local Malcolm X Fest where I would make my presence known, which is easy when you’re offering your support because every bit has value and quite frankly you never know exactly who you’re networking with and how they may be able to help you. The best part of learning Nef throughout this last year has been finding out how reciprocating she can be when it comes to support which is a foundation that she set forth upon our first meeting and has remained consistent with. Nefs’ very humble nature is extremely refreshing and though I have no criticism of a non-constructive nature for her I do know that if I did that she would really think about it and take my feelings into consideration and try to understand where I was coming from. There aren’t many artist like that in the world which makes her very embraceable.

Also in 2009 while researching another indie artist that I had seen at a recent pride performance, upon landing on her MySpace page I learned of an event called MONDO HOMO which is a Queer Artist Music Festival located in Atlanta, GA. Upon going to their website I learned of a group called KIN4LIFE, I found out that they would be moderating a workshop that was perfect to help me assist in gaining focus for a project that I was embarking on for my job on the behalf of indie artist in our local area. I also found out that I could stay “in the know” by following both them and the event on twitter which I did. No further research on them had been done and I attended the events workshop eager to meet them, usually this is not my typical approach but the project I was organizing was huge and had it been allowed its success would have been the first of its kind so I was willing to accept help from any angle since I had a million ideas with no guidance from my “superiors” since I would be the first to pave the way. I had a big pseudo green light that I eventually realized was blazing red (but that’s a story for another time)……. I sat down with them and mapped out this event and as industry insiders they were able to give me insight and advice that helped me realize the direction that I wanted the project to go in if I were to be the sole organizer. What I learned during that time is that KIN4LIFE is a duo made up of 2 college educated women both named tiffany, to kill all confusion one goes by nor and the other IQ but I never questioned those pseudonyms deeper meanings. Upon graduation they found that their love for music was still strong and they came together to turn their dream into reality (well, that’s the jist of it anyway)… Nor is quite the playboi but don’t let the charm fool you and IQ is truly a lioness though quiet she maintains a striking eye catching appearance that leads you to inquire about her presence. However, neither of them are to be toyed with. Their first nature is being business women, being artists comes next. Jointly they own their own record label –> NORIQ (there goes that deeper meaning, I guess *WINK*…….) in which they manage their own artist. Being artist themselves, as a duo they compliment eachothers vocal styles very well. I would liken them to a hip-hop/rock lesbian version of Floetry but somehow I still don’t feel like that’s any type of justification for their vocal talent. They are definitely one of a kind, receiving notoriety within our community through various media outlets such as LOGO TV, Southern Voice (SOVO is an LBGT newspaper), landing the title track for the second season of The Lovers and Friends Show, etc. You may not see or hear them coming but you better get ready because they are arriving whether you like it or not!

My break out artist for 2010 is Jimmii Montana! One night a few months ago I received a text from a friend telling me to check out this chicks youtube channel, her name was interesting enough plus the refferer is a trusted source of good information so not long after I checked her out. Though Jimmi does a lot of covers twisting the lyrics to suit her and has yet to release anything original except maybe a few freestyles……. Let’s just say that I can’t wait for the mixtape! This chick is a beast on tracks that aren’t even HERS! WHO DOES $#!T LIKE THAT? Jimmii! What’s even more attention grabbing is that she covers mainstream artist work that I don’t typically support but because she kills THEIR TRACK it makes me wonder what they did when normally I wouldn’t care……. Again, I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE MIXTAPE! I want to know what she is going to do with tracks that are her own and I want to blast them throughout my household but until then I’ll enjoy her recent feature in IKONS magazine!

For the most part please notice that I did not mention age or education levels throughout their profiles because they all vary. These women (and Anye *SMILE*) recognized the passions of their dreams and worked diligently to turn them into reality, some of them are still in the process as you read this. Please support them by visiting the links that I provide on their behalf and enjoy the music as well because just as much as it is for them, it is for you too……. ~Thank you!

The Man In The Mirror…….

 

A great majority of us grew up watching Michael Jackson blossom into the great success that he is (even posthumously). We watched as his melanin faded, his hair went from nappy to bone strait, nose went from broad to slender… But what did not change and only got better with time was his musical talent. Some would argue that his father Joseph Jackson is the driving force to his success, while others would say that he is the one that “ruined” him. However, either way it goes there is not one person who has not been affected by Michaels’ existence unless they’ve been living under ground. Even if you never picked up any of the numerous CDs that he has been involved in throughout his career spanning 40yrs+, he has inspired a generation of artists (singers, songwriters, producers, and artist of all mediums) and been the butt of many comedians’ jokes. Michael broke barriers and opened doors to opportunities that did not exist for entertainers of “color”.

Unfortunately Michaels’ accomplishments have been overshadowed by his seemingly drastic physical transformations and ill-proved accusations of child molestation. The media came up with the epithet “Wacko Jacko” that has haunted him for at least half of his career and only aided many smear campaigns against him. Michael has successfully reached many goals, some which he may not have even intended to. Despite this fact he could not change his heritage which more than likely proved to be his greatest obstacle throughout his career, being a black man.

Michael grew up in an era when white male dominance strongly existed. Racism wasn’t just a distant memory (and still isn’t). He was thrust into the music industry when he was a child all but leaving behind his education unbeknownst to anyone that he was actually beginning his career. Yes, he had his family to lean on but there is evidence that the ties that bind weren’t as strong as he needed them to be. Michael took the lead in a singing group with his brothers (The Jackson 5). Of the youngest there really was no one for him to relate to and then as they got older “creative control” of the product that they were marketing became an issue as well as group management. By the time he was 18 he was involved in making decisions that controlled the financial future of not just himself as an individual, but also affected his entire family.

Eventually Michael chose to move forward into a solo career that led to him becoming an international superstar. He probably invented “the cross-over” plateau that so many artist hope to reach in their career, defining the genre “Pop” and owning it! Radio and music television could not deny the mass appeal that Michael had to the universe and gradually through his talent he broke racial barriers for future artist to come. Michael didn’t just impact the world on a musical level but on a financial level as well. What we did for him, he did for us ten-fold. Made evident through the “Guinness Book of World Records” when Michael was documented as being the most charitable artist in the universe (so I take this time to THANK all those who purchased Michael Jackson paraphernalia during this time, THANK YOU!)

Going into his adult years Michael became a media spectacle that would not be respected. Those he shared his life with on a very genuine level would betray his trust and damage his spirit. Everyone from family, friends, fans, nay-sayers, media personalities, paparazzi, and the like have all speculated on what would have been the “right” way for him to live his life yet have had none of his experiences nor have any of his expertise. Most of us can’t even live our own lives properly yet we feel that we have the expertise to manage someone else’s life; We really need to get a grip. We can’t even manage the thousands that go through our checkbooks how could we ever manage the millions that went through his. Hindsight is always 20/20; Please have the foresight to allow this man to R.I.P. Spend your time speculating on how you can make your life better and not on what he did wrong or where he went wrong. We must all have our individual experiences that allow us to blossom into the imperfect human beings that we are!!!!!!!  –> A SILENT MOMENT PLEASE…….    

NOT TOO THRILLED!!!!!!!

 

As of August 24, 2009 Michael Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide (1 day shy of the 2month anniversary of his death). He was under the influence of multiple sedatives administered by a doctor he hired to care for him. The extreme liberal in me wonders why as a resident of California he was not prescribed medicinal marijuana. I feel that it is a much healthier alternative to many of the drugs prescribed by any doctor in which most have near fatal side effects such as blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and a host of others issues that if you’re not strong enough to bounce back from make you wish that you were dead anyway!

      In light of his death I also feel that us fans are being financially exploited, magazines that once couldn’t even get an authorized cover from Michael Jackson are doing full memorial spreads and charging TWICE THE PRICE! Venues where Michael Jackson paraphernalia couldn’t even be found have an over flow of his product available at unreasonable prices, not to mention the music stores that didn’t have any real variety of Michaels’ music not only offer a wide array now but have also jacked up the prices to high hell! Everyone is trying to get a piece of the peripheral pie but weren’t even interested in it until he died!

      Yes, I’m complaining! When Michael needed your support, where were you? Huddled up in your pow wows talking amongst yourselves about his “guilt”, talkin crap about how you liked him when he was “black” as if he could change his DNA. I’m not inspired by or appreciative of your change of heart. All of a sudden you care…. Everyone wanted to speculate about how he should live his life yet none of you could ever walk a day in his shoes or empathize with his plight yet you felt that you had a right to judge him. I’m not thrilled!

THE UNIMAGINABLE

The King Of Pop

15 Years ago you could not convince me that I would be alive when the “King of Pop” died; I honestly believed my children would experience the same greatness I had. When MJ released “Invincible” I believed him! Sadly on June 25, 2009 we all found out  just how mortal he is. I remember this morning well because when I woke up I sat up on the edge of my bed and rested my head in the palm of my hands… Shortly thereafter I learned he was in the hospital, I had hope that my living breathing hero would prevail like always. I headed to work a few hours later and snuck on Twitter through my mobile app for updates, quickly my homepage filled with the shocking news that Michael had died! I have a rule that more than likely it’s true if more than 2 people say it….. Everyone was saying it! I work at a retail chain and I began getting massive phone calls for MJ product but no one could tell me if  he was ok or not. Common sense kicked in and I quickly realized that the people who were calling were not genuine fans and could care less; they just wanted a piece of history…

One phone call really tugged at my heart strings, a gentlemen requesting MJ  product asked me how I  felt about everyone’s laxidasical attitude about his health because I was the first person he heard inquiring about Michaels well being. Honestly I was hurt, too hurt to be angry or enraged. That moment let me know if Michael hadn’t taken his last breath he was very close to it, the world officially made it known that they had no concern for the musical prodigy that influenced at least 90%, if not the whole entertainment industry! I left work early and an hour later I received the confirmation that the man I revered had left the planet that he loved so much that he gave until he had no more to give…

2 Days later I went out and got my first tattoo ever (his initials on my wrist with musical notes above it), 1 week later I wrote the poem “Can I R.I.P?” and performed it at a CD release party for a project that I’m featured on. It’s been a little over a month since MJ died and it’s been a tough journey of grief but I’m slowly accepting it for what it is.
Thank you Michael for creating musical perfection by teaching me creativity through on screen wonder and countless hours of relief as I allowed myself to get lost in the lyrics that you translated with the finest of instruments: Your spirit, heart, and mouth……. THANK YOU!!!!!!!