My favorite thing about this video besides the fact that two of my favorite bitches from the 90s are featured on this track, and the “Queen Bitch” sample from Lil Kim’s Hardcore album, is the fashion featured in this video. Mary J. Blige had the flyest style of any female R&B artist in the 90s. From the blonde weave to the jumpsuits to the snakeskin outfit with the white Versace shades, Mary was the epitome of classy ghetto fabulousness. Most can’t pull that off without looking like a tackhead swapmeet queen, but Diddy’s vision of Mary as ghetto fab was executed in a good way.
Enjoy the throwback video, enjoy your weekend, stay positive, and stay blessed!
Dresses are my go-to garment for summer fashion. With the temperature climbing, summer dresses the only thing that keeps me cool and look stylish to boot! This summer I’ve been leaning more toward floral dresses, my favorite style being maxi dresses. Check out a few of my picks for women’s summer dresses!
Oh how I wish I was going to see Dwele tomorrow! He’s my favorite soul/R&B artist above all others. I won’t make it, but if you’re in town you should check him out. Enjoy it for me!
Show starts @ 8p…tix are $25. Grab them at Ticketmaster or at the door!
Hope everyone’s having a good week. Things have been shaky over here on the west coast; we had a pretty sizable earthquake in LA this week. It was a weird one too, it was more like a rolling wave rather than a big shake up. Oscar Grant’s murderer got off the hook on an involuntary manslaughter verdict. I hope Grant’s family gets proper due in a civil suit. Every dog has its day….
Its important to remember that as bad as things may get, it doesn’t stay that way. Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad, you have to do bad to do good….check out today’s throwback video to hear the inspiration behind my words. Until we meet again…have a great weekeend, and stay positive!
I’d heard Lupe’s new track from his upcoming album, Lasers a couple of weeks ago. Initially I thought it was just aight….until it came on one of my Pandora playlists in the car. “I’m Beamin’” knocks on car speakers. I think the video is really innovative – creative, yet simple with cardboard cutouts reflecting the images he spits in his lyrics. I love this dude’s grind, this song def earns a place in my motivational playlist. Check it…
This African/tribal print trend got me thinking. Trends and fads go in and out as quickly as one changes their underwear. Looking at fashion magazines and blogs, I’ve noticed that the Afrocentricity trend is making a comeback. In the early 90s, when hip hop music rang loudly with ethos of black power, responsibility, accountability, speaking words of knowledge and truth about black culture instead of denigration, it was cool and hip to rock the red, the black, and the green. Eventually the tide changed and other trends became popular, but for a moment in time Afrocentrism was “hip” and “cool.”
I love fashion, I love hip hop, and I love black culture. I love how these things inspire one another. I just hate to see a movement that has such an impact on our people cheapened and mass produced to be popularized and forgotten once the trends change like the wind. Not only do I hate it when this is done to my culture, I hate to see it done to other cultures as well. Maybe my sisters and brothers of other minority groups get annoyed as well when their cultural wares are cheapened for popular consumption.
I think it’s fine for others to have an appreciation for Afrocentricity and black culture. I also think its fine for it to receive mainstream acceptance. I think the dress I used for the image for this post is colorful and amazing (check out the post at Sicka Than Average if you want to see more African inspired fashion). However, it’s disheartening to think that there are people who probably rock this trend understanding its origin and importance. I’m aware that many fashion conscious people are intelligent and aware of world issues, but I know that there are many who aren’t. And those are the ones who I feel should understand the history and the “why” behind certain trends and styles.
The next time you’re in Forever 21 and you think about grabbing that African print maxi dress, take a moment to consider where the inspiration comes from.
3 piece online is an online boutique based in Atlanta, GA. The owner of 3 piece online, Jacquelyn Roberts, uses hip hop, and African American community culture to create whimsical pieces to inspire living spaces. I immediately fell in love with her throw pillows, because you know I love hip hop! Jacquelyn’s designs are very eco-friendly, she uses old tees and jeans to create throw pillows. Check out some of her designs! Go to http://www.3pieceonline.com/shop to see more.
Jacquelyn was kind enough to share the inspiration behind some of her pieces:
“Craftwork 101: The Barber Tumbled Marble Coaster features original digital artwork by Jacquelyn Roberts capturing the crafts that sustain our communities. This is the first in a series mostly because I go to the Barber every Saturday .”
“Graffiti and Jeans Throw Pillow was the first I created because I received a t-shirt from local graffiti artist Michael Mauldin and wanted to preserve it. This pillow is also backed with upcycled worn-in blue jeans.”
“Love No. 1 Tumbled Marble Coaster features original digital artwork by Jacquelyn Roberts capturing Love in our communities. This is also the first in the series and it shows the joy that exists in mature love.”
“My Beat Goes Boom Throw Pillow features an old worn in cotton green t-shirt handpainted with reflecting boom boxes and backed with upcycled worn-in blue jeans.”
I decided to post this video because the mantra is so true – if you stay ready, you ain’t got to get ready. Suga Free gave up so much game onhis aptly named album Street Gospel, it deserves a thorough listen based on the strength of knowledge and game. A lot of shit he talks about goes over most peoples’ heads…it’s one of those things where if you can’t decipher the messages presented through tales of pimping, it’s not really for you. But if you can appreciate a real nigga chopping game, its worth a listen.
Aside from me turning into a crazy banshee, about a week before my cycle starts my skin starts breaking out like nobody’s business. It’s always in the chin area, pissing me the hell off. I’m already hormonal, emotional, and bloated, damn monthly breakouts make me even madder!
Since I’m broke chic and can no longer afford the luxury of hitting the day spa for a facial every other month, I take matters into my own hands and give myself at home facials and scrubs. Sometimes I use store-bought products, but lately I’ve been experimenting with homemade scrubs and masks.
My latest at home facial scrub consists of two simple ingredients that every person has in their home – baking soda and water. You don’t really have to measure, just take some baking soda, add enough water to form a paste, and apply to skin after cleansing. Set for 10-20 minutes, and rinse off completely. Rub your face with ice to reduce swelling, and moisturize. Voila! Your skin will look brighter and more toned. It’s damn near free, it’s worth a try.
I need music for everything. I listen to music while I work, while I blog, when I clean my house, even when I shop. So invariably, I need to listen to music when I cook.
My cooking soundtrack depends on my mood, and the dish I’m making. Afro-latin beat is great for when I’m making Arroz Con Pollo, Arepas, or Chicken Fajitas. When I’m making Jambalaya or Fried Chicken with a side of Southern Cabbage and Cornbread, I like to listen to Juvenile, UGK…any Southern rap track containing high amounts of bass. When I’m chopping veggies and making sauces, I like listening to something with jazzy hip-hop influences, like Foreign Exchange, Slum Village, or A Tribe Called Quest.
To my cooks out there, what do you listen to when you cook? What music inspires you in the kitchen?
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