BE Blog
Have you attended a University of Chicago OBS event yet?
Here's what's coming up in February and March....
(click to enlarge)
On Monday, January, 27th at the University of Chicago's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, there was a presentation of "Love Does Not Hurt," the multi-media production about domestic violence written and directed by AquaMoon. The full version of the play (which was not able to be viewed in OMSA's community lounge) has a visual art component, music, dance and a number of other things to fulfill it's multimedia title. AquaMoon asserts that they based their writing on the "core poem" style, and compare it to Ntozake Shange's For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow was Enuf... It is a production that seeks to define domestic violence in all its capacities and to inspire dialogues so that groups and communities can come to solutions.
This is not just a tribute to boogying on down, and being funkedelic but also to the live performance. Even when the performance wasn't live, and it was a music video, it was still directed towards giving you the feel of a live performance. These were the people who set it up so that Michael Jackson could do a music video in a glitter suit with green lights flashing, him dancing and nothing else. Lights, glitter and a live band--everything great in one package that just makes you want to grrooovve.
Chester French--they're signed but they aren't getting hyped up quite enough for my liking.
They're an Ivy League pop/rock combo. And you thought all Harvard had to offer was challenging academics and after four years, an impressive piece of card stock paper with a fancy crest on it. Had you fooled.
Queen-Another One Bites the Dust
The most repetitive and mildly irritating, yet wonderful and perfectly molded song for the walk of shame.
Kenny Loggins-Danger Zone
I always get Kenny Loggins mixed up with Kenny G, but not this time, especially not for one of the sexiest movie scenes of the 80s: the Top Gun love scene. Tom Cruise...Kelly McGillis...Kenny Loggins...Do That
Read more: B.E. Misha's Study Break: The Best/Worst of the 80s
Read more: Study Break Posts: Remember when Mariah could sing?
Amidst a recession, Cash/Young Money Records has Money to Blow and stereotypes to fulfill.
Recently, Drake, Baby, Lil Wayne--a three generation rap dynasty--put out a single entitled "Money to Blow." Now, as I witness close friends of mine seriously considering egg donation as a means to avoid late tuition penalty fees or to pay grad school applications, I wonder how appropriate it is that these financially blessed entertainers brag about their champagne diets, iced out wrists, and daily pay-days?
Futhermore, where has the social and moral responsibility gone in the realm of hip-hop? With a culture so focused on street relevance and credibility, how is it that these entertainers are so distanced from their beloved fans, that thye see nothing wrong with celebrating riches at a time when so many of 'their people' struggle? Additionally, I truly hope I am not the only one who sees the blatant irony of this entire situation, in that although these artists are more well off than the average Joe or Janiqua, they are still pawns in the conglomerate parent company Universal Music Group, that truly has money to blow, and embodies wealth beyond Baby, Drake, or Lil Wayne's wildest dreams. Believe it or not we all play a crucial role in the perpetuation of Rap that culturally devastating force, that perpetuates coonery and stereotypes, and hip-hop, the universal political and social medium through which young people of color can positively and constructively express themselves.
What is hip-hop and what is its potential?
Read more: Letters from Lauryn: The Culturally Devastating Repercussions of Rap's Irrelevancy
Let me tell you, the Blacklightmag.com staff loves good music---and any type of music will do. When I heard the two artists that are featured in this week's B.E. Artist Spotlight, I was instantly pulled in by their soul and ability to do new things with the played out "white girl with the black girl soul" craze. Diane Birch and Mozella couldn't be any more different, but they both deliver fantastic takes on life, love and forgiveness while writing their own lyrics and playing their own instruments. Move over Amy and Adele, Diane and Mozella should be moving in any day now. Check out their music and bios below and support the artists.
MoZella (Universal/Motown Records):The Detroit girl w/ the Southern flavor
http://www.myspace.com/mozella
“Detroit-bred singer-songwriter MoZella seamlessly blends pop, soul, and jazz into her carefully crafted tales of life and love. Her charismatic vocals and charming personality have earned her the reputation as a fresh alternative to formulaic pop artists. Now based out of Los Angeles, MoZella is on the cusp of releasing her sophomore album on Universal/Motown Records.
Armed with nothing but her guitar, the blonde troubadour set out for the West Coast immediately after graduating from high school to pursue her music career. When things didn’t develop as quickly as she had hoped, MoZella found herself decorating cakes by day and performing in coffee shops at night. All her hard work eventually paid off, as she was signed to Madonna’s Maverick Records in 2004.
Following her Warner/Maverick debut in 2006, MoZella toured the U.S. with the Dave Matthews Band, Lifehouse, Five For Fighting, Daniel Powter, Michelle Branch, and Colbie Caillat. About this time, MoZella’s single “Amnesia” charted on Hot AC across the country, and she performed on radio stations throughout the U.S. Her songs have been featured in several television series including One Tree Hill, Las Vegas, How I Met Your Mother, Bones, Wildfire, Lipstick Jungle, as well as many others. In addition, she wrote and recorded the song “Amazed,” which was used in a national Mercedes-Benz television commercial.
MoZella has continuously stayed focused on finding new ways to further develop her signature, audacious style of songwriting. For the sophmore LP, MoZella enlisted the talents of Jimmy Harry, Tony Kanal (No Doubt), Marty James (One Block Radius), Tim Meyers (One Republic), Sunny Levine, Rune Westberg, and Smidi. Her arrival to her hometown label, Motown Records promises to be her biggest accomplishment yet. MoZella’s forthcoming album, 'Belle Isle', with it's big hooks, smart lyrics, and infectious beats, is now available through Universal/Motown
Records.”
Check out MoZella’s "I Will": here
I, after moving across the country and having to commute to work 2 hours a day, have become increasingly dependent on my daily dose of Maxwell's new album Blacksummers'night. Although I often claim that many things are, "the story of my life," this particular piece of work is creepily reminiscent of many of the trials, lessons, feelings and emotions I found myself having recently. Of course it's not easy being young, black, (U of C) educated, single, "little fish in a big pond", the list goes on. And of course I do not claim to have some of the same burdens and trials as many other women in these tough economic times. But as I, reluctantly and uncontrollably, start to view my life in the same way as many other (black) women before us have done--in terms of several compartmentalized sections, each representing an arbitrary number of years, yet when added up equate to life passed, and things undone (marriage, kids, house, car, graduate degrees, etc.). Maxwell's words resonate with me even more and I wonder...Is he on to something here?
As I navigate the world, living as closely as I can to God, and trying to put good into the world, counting my blessings and not my burdens, loving myself and others around me even when it's hard to do so; I still can't shake the ever-present fear: will I be that woman who ultimately settles for less? I only pray, I am not alone in this fear, which, really is ridiculous seeing as though I am the one who would ultimately control that. However, as the years pass, I still find myself falling into the same patterns. Why? Love can be a beautiful thing, we all know this; yet, it has the power to turn some of the most beautiful, strong, smart women into fumbling, irritated, confused, and for lack of a better phrase "hot messes." I am no exception. Neither are you. And that brings me to Maxwell (bless his heart). He really is onto something here, I hate to say it but in some of his songs he sounds like a woman. Let me explain, in many of his lyrics, it seems as though he has put himself in the woman's stilettos, mind, and heart. Or maybe he just gets it. Maybe he truly understands what relationships can do to anybody, not just a woman. Ok, so I know I'm not a music critic, and maybe this has already been said/analyzed but humor me, please.
Read more: Letters from Lauryn: Is Maxwell Onto Something Here? The Meaning Behind the Music
So, this is my first time posting on Blacklightmag.com. A shame, I know. But, life gets to you sometimes and even your passions, the things that you love most in the world, like your creativity and your art and poetry and spoken word and expression, are pushed to the back burner while you try to work enough hours to cover the rent and that bomb ass concert that you want to attend next week. Its a hard life being a young artist--you either throw yourself into it with everything in you and lose out on some things or you compromise a little and become a little more....normal--like the rest of the muggles. Oh, don't act like you're not up on that Harry Potter.
But, sometimes you run into things that make your creative juices flow again. You are so overwhelmed by something that you are compelled to act, compelled to reach down inside of you, turn your inner artist up and leave the comfort of normalcy behind. This has happened for me and I am finally out of my slump. Thank Goddess. As I type this, I am sitting in a classroom at University of Chicago Charter School-Woodlawn Campus (where they are blasting WGCI and putting together presentations for a program next week) and I just finished going over a performance piece with a group of incoming high school freshman. The text used in this piece, aptly titled "Chi-City: UCW Speaks", was written during a writing and community building workshop that I did with the kids a few weeks back. Back then, I wasn't fully aware of the powerful words written on the multicolored construction paper. I was wrapped up in work and finishing papers and everything else but reveling in the good feelings that working with these often ignored and discouraged babies (Ahem, excuse me. Maybe not babies. Pre-teens? Young adults? I rather like calling them babies.) can bring. But, last night, as I worked on compiling their words into a short skit/performance piece for the kids to perform in front of their peers and teachers and parents, I was struck by the openness and hidden secrets spilled onto the page--like they trusted the construction paper (and me) with their secrets. I wasn't so much shocked by their talent as I was encouraged.
With that encouragement, I came here early this morning-on my very fuel efficient bike (My calves were on fire. Littrally. Thats how we say it in the South.), got my group of performers and started directing. I put them to work. They were amazed to see their words typed up on paper and forming a cohesive whole. They couldn't imagine that their words were that profound and fit some well together. They were all more alike than they thought. They were also more talented than they'd ever let themselves imagine. They took to being on stage and working as an ensemble like pros. By the time we'd finished, they were offering their own suggestions on how they should move on stage and use their voices to convey certain emotions. I loved it. They loved it. And just like that, my creativity came back to life. Hopefully, they'll remember everything they learned today and will make me proud next week. Maybe we need to start a little BE performance art group here on campus. They need it because they are running around here right now like they ate chocolate covered sour straws for lunch. For real. But, they're having fun and I love them for it.
I want to share some of what they wrote with all of you. They agreed that it was fly, dope, hot as f*** (that's Rashad) and deserved a Nobel Peace Prize. That last one was a little much but I could only laugh. Here it is. Enjoy the words from the mouths of children. We need to start listening.
