Tag: Happy Birthday

Statue of Liberty

Lady Liberty was inspired by the end of the Civil War and emancipation. The connection to immigration came later.

Lady Liberty was originally designed to celebrate the end of slavery, not the arrival of immigrants. Ellis Island, the inspection station through which million of immigrants passed, didn’t open until six years after the statue was unveiled in 1886. The plaque with the famous Emma Lazarus poem wasn’t added until 1903.

“One of the first meanings [of the statue] had to do with abolition, but it’s a meaning that didn’t stick,” Edward Berenson, a history professor at New York University and author of the book “The Statue of Liberty: A Transatlantic Story,” said in an interview with The Washington Post.

Written by Dianne Washington

Leon

Leon Preston Robinson IV (born March 8, 1962) usually credited as simply Leon, is an American actor and singer, who began his professional career as a film actor in the early-1980s. Robinson is best known for his roles as David Ruffin in the TV Movie The Temptations (1998), J.T. Matthews in the 1991 Robert Townsend film, The Five Heartbeats, Derice Bannock in the 1993 film, Cool Runnings, and as Shep in the 1994 basketball drama film, Above the Rim.

Robinson appeared in a 1989 episode of the NBC series Midnight Caller, in which he played an athlete who falls victim to crack cocaine. He also co-starred in the 1989 ABC miniseries The Women of Brewster Place, as the boyfriend of a suburbanite (played by Robin Givens). He was cast as Saint Martin de Porres in Madonna’s controversial 1989 music video “Like a Prayer”.

Robinson’s early film roles included a football teammate of Tom Cruise in All the Right Moves (1983), as Shadow Nadeing, the Notre Dame-bound basketball playing co-worker of Matt Dillon, in The Flamingo Kid (1984). He costarred in the Michael Mann-produced Tri-Star Pictures film Band of The Hand, as well as the “Killer Bee” in the Dennis Hopper-directed gang film Colors, starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall. After his exposure in the 1989 video for the song “Like a Prayer” by Madonna, he played a leading role in the 1993 Disney film Cool Runnings. That same year, he co-starred as John Lithgow’s henchman in Renny Harlin’s Cliffhanger and followed with a turn as a disillusioned ex-jock in New Line Cinema’s Above the Rim (1994). Robinson also appeared as Lela Rochon’s married lover in 1995’s Waiting to Exhale directed by Forest Whitaker and starring Whitney Houston and a starring role in the Merchant/Ivory produced movie, Side Streets with Rosario Dawson. He produced as well as starred in the 1997 romantic drama The Price of Kissing with TV star Pauley Perrette. He also starred in the movie Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored, directed by Tim Reid and winner of Best Picture at the NAACP Image Awards.

Robinson has received critical acclaim[by whom?] for his portrayal of three singers: David Ruffin in the 1998 NBC miniseries The Temptations, Little Richard in the self-titled 2000 NBC movie biography, and JT in the 20th Century Fox movie,The Five Heartbeats directed by Robert Townsend. He received an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Little Richard. During this period, Robinson joined the ensemble cast of two TV series, playing the popular Jefferson Keane on HBO’s first series, Oz and as Lawrence Hill on Showtime’s Resurrection Blvd., a costarring role as “Stoney” best friend of Joaquin Phoenix in Miramax’ military drama Buffalo Soldiers, an uncredited role as “Joseph 13 X” in Michael Mann’s award winning biopic, Ali starring Will Smith, in addition to briefly hosting his own late-night talk show, The L-Bow Room, on BET.

In 2008, Robinson starred in the 20th Century Fox thriller Cover, directed by Bill Duke, and starred alongside Danny Masterson and Dominique Swain in the indie comedy The Brooklyn Heist, directed by Julian Mark Kheel. In 2009, AOL Black Voices voted Robinson one of the Sexiest Actors of All-time. Between 2013 and 2014, he appeared in four movies, the romantic comedy I Really Hate My Ex, written and directed by Troy Beyer, the southern drama Soul Ties, based on the book by Tee Austin, the indie rock/drama 37 and the romantic drama, And Then There Was You with Garcelle Beauvais.

In theater, Robinson has headlined three national tours, with sold out performances at Hollywood’s Kodak Theater, NYC’s Beacon Theater, Detroit’s Fox Theater, Washington, DC’s Warner Theater and more in Friends and Lovers (2005), based on Eric Jerome Dickey’s NY Times bestselling book. In 2009 and 2010 as a soldier returning from Iraq in 3 Ways to Get A Husband co-starring Billy Dee Williams and in 2012, the revival of Why Do Good Girls Like Bad Boys.

Robinson is the lead vocalist and songwriter of the band, Leon and the Peoples. In 2007, he received an International Reggae and World Music Award nomination for the band’s debut CD The Road Less Traveled, winner of Best International Artist at the Joe Higgs Reggae Awards and completed a 36 city US tour with reggae greats Beres Hammond and Marcia Griffiths titled the “For The Love Of It Tour”. He was a frequent guest on Beres Hammond’s 2008 and 2010 North American tours. He head-lined NYC’s Central Park 2010 and 2013 AIDS Walk Concerts. Other performances include: 2011 Aspen Jazz Fest., 2012 Catalpa NYC Music Festival, New Orleans Music Festival, Chicago’s Festival Of Life, Reggae on River, Jamaica’s Rebel Salute, and BET’s popular 106 & Park.

Leon and The Peoples’ single, Love Is A Beautiful Thing was featured on the BET/Centric TV show Culture List, which premiered on July 21, 2013.

Written by Dianne Washington

Erykah Badu

Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), better known by her stage name Erykah Badu is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, record producer, activist and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre. She is known as the “First Lady of Neo-Soul” or the “Queen of Neo-Soul”.

Early in her career, Badu was recognizable for wearing very large and colorful headwraps. For her musical sensibilities, she has often been compared to jazz great Billie Holiday. She was a core member of the Soulquarians, and is also an actress having appeared in a number of films playing a range of supporting roles in movies such as Blues Brothers 2000, The Cider House Rules and House of D. She also speaks at length in the documentaries Before the Music Dies and “The Black Power Mixtapes”

Erykah Badu was born Erica Abi Wright in Dallas, Texas on February 26, 1971. Her mother raised her, her brother (Jabbada), and her sister (Nayrok) alone after their father, William Wright Jr., deserted the family early in their lives. To provide for her family, the children’s grandmother often helped looking after them while Erykah’s mother, Kolleen Maria Gipson (Wright), performed as an actress in theatrical productions. Influenced by her mother, Erykah had her first taste of show business at the age of 4, singing and dancing with her mother at the Dallas Theatre Centre. Erykah Badu was the owner of Focal point in Dallas, Texas.

By the age of 14, Erykah was free-styling for a local radio station alongside such talent as Roy Hargrove. In her early youth, she decided to change the spelling of her name from Erica to Erykah, as she firmly believed her original name to be her slave name. The term ‘kah’ signifies the inner self. Badu is her favorite jazz scat sound and is also an African name for the 10th born child used for the Akan people in Ghana.

Upon graduating from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Badu went on to study theater at the historically black college Grambling State University. Concentrating on music full-time, she left the university in 1993 before graduating and took on several minimum wage jobs to support herself. She taught drama and dance to children at the South Dallas Cultural Center. Working and touring with her cousin, Robert “Free” Bradford, she recorded a 19-song demo, Country Cousins, which attracted the attention of Kedar Massenburg, who set Badu up to record a duet with D’Angelo, “Your Precious Love,” and eventually signed her to a record deal with Universal Imperial Records.

After 10 years as a vegetarian, Badu became a vegan in 2006: “Vegan food is soul food in its truest form. Soul food means to feed the soul. And to me, your soul is your intent. If your intent is pure, you are pure.” Badu splits her time between Dallas, Texas and Fort Greene, New York.

In 1995, Badu became involved with rapper André 3000 of OutKast, with whom she had her first child, a son named Seven Sirius Benjamin, on November 18, 1997. Their relationship ended sometime in 1999. Their relationship inspired André 3000 to write the song “Ms. Jackson”.

In 2000, Badu was in a romantic relationship with fellow Soulquarian Common; their relationship ended in 2002. On July 5, 2004, Badu gave birth to a daughter, Puma Sabti Curry; Puma’s father is West Coast rapper The D.O.C., originally from Dallas. On February 1, 2009, Badu gave birth to her third child, a girl named Mars Merkaba Thedford, with her boyfriend of five years, rapper Jay Electronica.

Written by Dianne Washington

African Venus

“African Venus” was created by the sculptor Charles Henri Joseph Cordier in bronze in 1851. The sculpture was created as a companion piece to an earlier work created by Charles Cordier entitled “Said Abdullah of the Mayac, Kingdom of the Darfur”. The model was a young African woman by the name of Seïd Enkess who was a former slave in France. Both busts became popular after France abolished slavery in 1848. Charles Cordier himself was sympathetic to the abolitionist movement.

 

Written by Dianne Washington

Lisa Lisa takes the Bronx home!

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Lisa Lisa rips summer stage in the Bronx. ” I Wonder If I Take Home” was the song and the crowd sang as the 80’s pop star brought her talent to St. Mary’s Park located on 450 St Ann’s Ave, Bronx, NY,10454. It became a disco frenzy. The crowd of young and old danced and bobbed their heads reminiscing how music use to be. A fan screamed out, “Thank you God for real music! I love you, Lisa!” Lisa Lisa belted out hit melodies as the crowd sung along. Throughout the park, the audience’s cheers echoed over the singer. Lisa welcomed it as she looked into the crowd while watching the audience – made up of all ages. Chickie Gonzalez of the Bronx was celebrating her 50th birthday with her family and was surprised by the free Lisa Lisa concert. When she heard that Lisa Lisa was performing, she moved her party over to the side where the concert was. She reported that it was the best birthday party she ever had. The park was packed with thousands of people, no one could barely move. Truly an unforgettable night, thanks to Lisa Lisa.

The City Parks Foundation has been giving free concerts and free events for many years. Log on to      http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage/ for a concert near you.  street line
Thanks, Summer Stage!

Written by: Street Line

 

Miss E… So Addictive: The Legacy of Missy Elliott

Hands down, she is one of the greatest to ever do it. The most creative woman in hip hop. Between both her and Busta Rhymes with the most creative, funniest, and wackiest music videos, her ability to do both singing and rapping and is an incredible writer and producer as well. She’s worked with so many artists that the list is endless. They say her ability to create should be a crime, almost like a misdemeanor. The Misdemeanor herself, aka Missy Elliott, the Virginia native that been through it all and still came out on top to be one of hip hop’s most respected in the game. She grew up an only child with an imagination that reflected very well in her personality and art. While she was in high school, she met a guy named Tim Mosley, who we all know today as Timbaland. Their chemistry worked and they became something that was dope, they were a duo, like peanut butter and jelly, ketchup and mustard. They Always hung out to create something. Timbaland was a DJ while Missy sang and rapped and they would feed off of each other to help make each other’s skills stronger. She also became part of an all girl group who named themselves Fayze. They only had one joint out called “The First Move.” After high school, she and her group went to a Jodeci concert dressed as the female version of them, which was Missy’s idea. They performed for DeVante and they were part of his crew called Da Basement under his label called “Swing Mob.” Other members of Da Basement who we all know as well were Magoo, Tweet, Playa and Ginuwine. DeVante changed Missy’s group name to Sista and in 1994 they released an album called “4 All The Sistas Around Da World” with the only hit single “Brand New.” By 1995, Swing Mob was no longer in effect and Missy left it behind. She then returned as just a producer and writer and ended up being featured on Gina Thompson’s 1996 remix of “The Things That You Do.” Missy also did hits for Total, SWV, 702, Nicole Wray, Destiny’s Child, MC Lyte and worked with Aaliyah on her album “One In a Million.” By 1997, Missy finally released her debut album “Supa Dupa Fly.” Her single “The Rain” came with a video that was way ahead of its time. Directed by Hype Williams, Missy’s Videos during that time was something that was never seen or done before by a female in hip hop. Hype Williams is a director, who at the time, was doing music videos that was far more creative and different from the rest. After breaking out for her debut in 1997, Missy continues to keep putting out albums and hits for days. She’s also writing and producing for other artists as well. With more albums under her name like “Da Real World”, “Miss E… So Addictive”, “Under Construction”, “This Is Not a Test!”, and “The Cookbook”, Missy never loses her touch. She continues to keep going and she’s gotten more greater each time. She was honored at VH1’s 2007 Hip Hop Honors and she’s done a lot of philanthropic work and was even a spokesperson for women who were abused by sharing her story of what happened to her as a child. Forever innovative and creative, imaginative and magical, Missy is definitely a legend. She’s so fly and so addictive!

The Legacy of Ice Cube

The man who was once a part of a hip hop group that was ruthless, very honest and to be considered “the world’s most dangerous”, Ice Cube is one cold mutha that brought the heat with his highly conscious music and bold raps of what it’s like to be a Black man here in America. When he left NWA, there was friction between him and the group but with drama comes with great music and Cube definitely brought out some hard bangers. More than a month ago, I finally got the chance to actually listen to his albums from start to finish and I was completely blown away with how dope his music is, not that I wasn’t expecting it to be but, the production, the attitude, the topics, it was all dope. I personally enjoy his music a lot more than NWA’s. Especially his first albums “Amerikkka’s Most Wanted”, “Death Certificate” and “The Predator.” All three albums were a reflection of the Ice Cube that was unapologetically truthful and harsh but he was real. Songs about certain topics that made your mouth drop and laugh like “Yoooo, did he really say that? Did he actually make a song about that?” After the third album, Ice Cube’s music is not exactly the same but he still had some bangers and he was now appearing on the big screen in movies. His character as “Doughboy” in 1991’s “Boyz N The Hood” was the perfect role for him. He was also in “CB4”, “Higher Learning”, and nothing like the classic “Friday” series. Such a classic and hilarious movies. The Ice Cube nowadays is a lot more laid back but don’t sleep on him. He’ll still bite back if he has to and he just recently got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, such a huge accomplishment for the West Coast hip hop legend. Yay Yaaayyyy!

Keep The Faith: The Legacy of Faith Evans

The story of Faith Evans doesn’t begin when she became an official artist of Bad Boy and it certainly does not begin when she married the late great, Notorious B.I.G. either. The story of this R&B diva begins in New Jersey. She grew up in a Christian environment, which explains that golden voice of hers. She sung with several jazz bands and was encouraged by her mother to do it. While she was in high school, Faith was also involved in pageants, festivals and even contests where she got even more exposure and after graduating in 1991, she attended Fordham University to study marketing but then left a year afterwards when she had her daughter Chyna with her then boyfriend and producer Kiyamma Griffin. Faith then moved to L.A. to be a backup singer for Al B. Sure! and was then finally noticed by Diddy. In 1994, Diddy signed Faith to his up and coming Bad Boy label making her the first female artist on the label. Before Faith’s debut album released a year later, she was contributing backup vocals for Mary J. Blige and Usher. Finally, on August 29th, 1995, Faith released her self titled debut album. This album is a personal top 10 R&B album for me. The entire album is a banger and I grew up on it. Faith’s first joint “You Used To Love Me” was originally for the group Total, another act on the Bad Boy label. That song and “You Don’t Understand” were both about her marriage to Biggie Smalls, who she married on August 4th, 1995. They met a Bad Boy photo shoot. Together they only had one son, who they named after Biggie but they call CJ. The drama in their relationship eventually ended up putting Faith in a feud, one that includes the East Coast/West Coast Beef and even in altercations with other women that Biggie dealt with but all of this ended in a very horrific and tragic ending when Biggie was murdered and passed in March 1997. In memory of Biggie, Faith appeared on the song “I’ll Be Missing You” with 112 and Diddy which won her a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1998. That same year she also appeared on the song “Heartbreak Hotel” with Whitney Houston and Kelly Price and even released her second album “Keep The Faith” in October. The album was a difficult process for her because she was skeptical about the progress in the beginning. By the early 2000’s and on, Faith continues to put out more albums and more bangers. 2001’s “Faithfully”, which is my personal second favorite from her, 2005’s “The First Lady”, a Christmas album the same year as well, 2010’s “Something About Faith”, a compilation album called “R&B Divas” with other R&B legends for the show on TV One, 2014’s “Incomparable” and she recently released a new album with Biggie called “The King And I.” I haven’t heard the album yet but so far I’ve heard mixed reviews. Some positive and some negative. Throughout it all, Faith Evans is definitely an R&B legend and someone who is not just once The Notorious B.I.G.’s wife. Although Faith herself uses that a lot, I thought it was a smart idea to actually put out more work including both her and Big. Her vocal ability and songwriting skills are amazing and she has an incredible body of work under her belt that people today still can sit down and enjoy from start to finish. Faith herself is not a hip hop artist but she’s definitely involved. Her legacy lives on.

Everything Is Everything: The Legacy of Lauryn Hill

She was only 18 years old when the world got the chance to see and know this young girl. She appeared on the 1993 movie Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit. Then, when she was in high school, she was approached by Pras Michel, the cousin of Wyclef Jean to join a hip hop group who named themselves The Fugees and released only 2 albums. Then in 1998, she released her debut album, which is considered to be one of hip hop’s most highly respected and classic albums of all time. With her smooth and beautiful singing voice and a hard to ignore, hard hitting, in your face, rap style that caught the people’s attention, Lauryn Hill is definitely someone in the industry who is well respected and loved. With hits like “Killing Me Softly”, “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, “Everything Is Everything”, “The Sweetest Thing”, “To Zion”, or even “Ex-Factor”, Lauryn was not only a hip hop superstar but she also gave us that 1970’s soul and lyrics about love, compassion, life and gave us knowledge, she was also considered to be Neo Soul as well. She had a sound and style that was sort of similar to Erykah Badu’s or D’Angelo. I think I speak for a lot of hip hop fans when I say that it would be dope for Lauryn to drop another album. People Have been speaking about it for years after she left the spotlight after her 2002 MTV Unplugged performance. It was one of MTV’s most memorable moments. Lauryn opened up her heart and said a lot of things that she was feeling while dealing with the industry and what it did to her spiritually and mentally, freeing herself from burden and pain while she spoke her stories and sang her songs. Of course, there’s also another side of Lauryn that was often spoken about. Stories of her showing hours late to her own shows and disappointing fans but still being able to put on a great show, Lauryn still remains one of the greatest to ever do it.

What A Good Look. Kim Goodlook Seabrook

*ALERT*MEDIA*BLOG
It is said that laughter is good for the soul, so when I was invited to a comedy show to hear a Spoken Word Artist, I thought, hmmm this will be different. I had know idea how different…

The Black National Theatre of Harlem housed What To Do Ent. comedy show hosted by JC Best in conjunction with comedians OC the Bus Driver and Kenny Woo.

The opening act was a Spoken Word artist by the name of Kim Goodlook Seabrook. Seabrook is a Bronx native Spoken Word artist and radio personality. You can find her weekly on one of  New York City’s budding internet radio stations, I AXIS Radio. With her show Keepin’ it 100 with Kim and Della.

As the night got on its way and following her introduction from JC Best, Kim seemed to float out onto the stage, very poised and confident. She immediately surveyed the crowd and attached with the audience. Kim performed three pieces that night, Cocaine, A Woman’s Identity and Got Dam. The three pieces were very different in content but the same in rawness and reality.

The first piece, cocaine, as u would guest was creative writing about the opioid drug. It spoke of how it seems to be your friend in a time of despair however, just like all fairweather friends it let’s you down in the end. The twist and metephores GoodLook used was so vivid, at one time I literally felt chills as she performed. The second piece was dedicated to all woman kind. Kim relayed the message of don’t lose yourself being a wife, a mother an employee or whatever capacity it is you’re in day to day. The message was always remember to keep your identity as a woman first.
Ms.Seabrook did not forget about the men who was in attendance, she delivered a bold piece titled Got Damn, which focused on the struggle of the Black Man. Seabrook spewed so many truths and nuances about being a Black Man in America it received a standing ovation when it was over. This piece touched on nagging baby mothers, police harassment and much more, not to give too much away, this piece touches and goes into the depths of trying to survive in Amerikkka as a Black Man. Got Damn!
Once Kim bowed out from her performance, there were murmurs in the audience of wows and she’s deep along with she was a show all by herself. Sitting in the audience and to hear and see people’s genuine reaction to her tells a truth I couldn’t make up. Kim Goodlook Seabrook is a force to be reckoned with in the spoken word realm. Her sensual voice her command of tje stage and her piuse and cadence is unmatched. She is a humble person who exudes great energy. I recommend everyone see her live performance, you will not be disappointed. Until you get a chance to hear her live, listen to her pieces on SoundCloud…

Written by Sugarhill Sky.
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