Young, Gifted, Black and DEAD!!!

I've decided to highlight the deaths of innocent young African Americans at the hands of other African Americans. Black on black crime is destroying communities of color across the country. A day after 15 year old Brandon Bethea was killed, 16 year old Tyreece Johnson was killed by a bullet to the head in the Far Rockaway section of Queens, NY. Ironically, Tyreece, the son of an entrepreneur and corrections officer, was shot as he was walking into a bodega on Monday afternoon, the day before FIVE people were shot on the same block, hours after Brandon Bethea was killed. Like Brandon, Tyreece no longer lived in the Far Rockaway neighborhood, he was sent to live with an aunt in North Carolina because of the violence that plagues Far Rockaway. Two black teens killed in less than 48 hours in the same neighborhood. When will it end?

Soul Fixin'

The R. Kelly Trail Has Finally Begun...Jurors View Sex Tape

The 25 minute sex tape at the heart of the R. Kelly trial was played today in court. R. Kelly sat expressionless as the infamous tape played. Prosecutor Shauna Brolicker described the video as "vile, disturbing, and disgusting." She told jurors they would see "the crime unfold...frame by ugly frame" in a video that was "choreographed, produced, and starring Robert Kelly." Prosecutors maintain the girl in the video could have been as young as 13 when the tape was made sometime between 1998 and 2000. The alleged victim, now 23, denies the she's the girl in the video. The defense countered that even the FBI, "the same people chasing bin Laden...cannot identify Mr. Kelly as being on the tape." The defense also stated the Kelly has had a visible mole on his back since childhood and that the man in the video did not have a mole. Kells has been charged with 14 counts of child pornography and faces 15 years in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted.

I saw the video...if that isn't R. Kelly not only can pigs fly but I Believe I Can Fly..

Let's Meet the Jury....

Juror #69...white male...30's...listens to NPR...reads Forbes and Wall Street Journal...believes the justice system has a bias against minorities...believes R. Kelly is guilty but judge based on the evidence.
Juror #6...black female...40's or 50's...wife of Baptist preacher...lives in the same area of Chicago as Kelly but did not know much about him or the case.
Juror #9...black male...late 50's...Christian...not a fan of pornography...has heard of R. Kelly but could only name one song: "I Believe I Can Fly"
Juror #22...white male...40's...served on 2 other juries.
Juror #23...white male...30's...investment banker...wore an "Impeach Bush" button to jury duty...when asked about being fair he said "I would hold myself to a very high standard."
Juror #32...black female...late 20's...teaching assistant at Catholic school....saw the infamous video and isn't sure if it is R. Kelly in the video.
Juror #40...black male in his 30's or 40's...has heard of Sparkle and Barry Hankerson...hasn't seen the tape or followed the R. Kelly story.
Juror #48...white male...20's...past arrest for underage drinking and marijuana possession...believes people with money can afford "better lawyers."
Juror #44...white male...30's or 40's...saw a faded-out version of the video on the news...has no opinion of the case.
Juror #61...white male...60's...emigrated from Romania 38 years ago...doesn't quite understand the concept of reasonable doubt...quoted as saying " I'm not the smartest guy, but I will do what is best and fair."

Juror #68...white female...20's...rape victim...alleged rapist wasn't indicted...When asked if she could put aside what happened to her for this case, she said, "It would be very hard, but yes."

Young, Gifted, Black and DEAD!!!

On May 1, a friend of mine passed away. 22 year old Tyshawn Bierria died after being taken off of life support as a result of being stabbed several times outside his upstate NY college campus. Ty was set to graduate this month. Tyshawn's untimely death illustrates a DISEASE plaguing black communities across the country; black on black violence. One black male with a promising future killed and one black male on his way to prison.According to federal crime stats, homicide is the leading cause of death among African-American males aged 15 to 34. They also indicate that between 1976 and 2004, 94 % of black murder victims were killed by black offenders.

Why isn't Black America outraged? We march and protest when the police kill us but black men are more likely to be killed by other black men than they are to be killed by police. It should come as no surprise that law enforcement can shoot a black man dead, WE don't respect OURSELVES, how can we expect anyone to respect us?

Social activists, clergy,community leaders, public officials, and the hip-hop community need to take a stand. Truth be told, WE ALL NEED TO TAKE A STAND!!!!

In light of Ty's death I've decided to highlight the deaths of young blacks across the country. I was saddened by the death of a 15 year old Queens girl. Brandon Bethea was hanging out in the Redfern Housing Projects in Far Rockaway, Queens when she was the innocent victim of gunfire. Her family had recently moved out of the Redfern projects, ironically Brandon became a victim of the violence her family sought to escape. An aspiring dancer, Brandon was set to graduate from junior high school next month and was looking forward to attending high school in the fall. Less than 2 hours after she was shot the sound of bullets rang out again just 4 blocks away resulting in five people being taken to the hospital. This 15 year old didn't deserve to die. More should be done than just candle light vigils and having Brandons' face emblazoned on t-shirts. A large majority of black America has rallied behind the Obama campaign, I think it is safe to say that we are capable of supporting a new campaign, a campaign to save the lives our of mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers and to stop black on black violence.

Soul Fixin'

2008 BET Award Nominations

Lil Wayne, MJB and Nelly helped announce the 2008 BET Award nominees. T-Pain's non singing a** leads the pack with 5 nominations. Kanye, MJB, A. Keys, Lil' Wayne and Keyshia Cole are nominated for multiple awards. Quincy Jones will receive the Humanitarian Award and Al "Grits" Green will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. I'm looking forward to seeing Keyshia's mama, Frankie, act a fool on the red carpet. The BET Awards air June 24th at 8 PM. I'm not a big fan of BET, but the BET Awards are hands down the best award show on TV!!!!!

Soul Fixin'

It Takes 3 To Make A Thing Go Right

Essence's annual "Black Music Month" June issue features a triple cover tribute to MJB, Jill Scott and A. Keys. The three R&B singers discuss their beginnings and how they have maintained successful careers in the music biz in the article Ladies First. The "Black Music Month" issue also features the Essence Summer Music Hot List, a guide to summer releases and concerts, including the 2008 Essence Music Festival.

Here is an excerpt of the article...

Essence: One thing you all have in common is that you each had a debut album that was a phenomenal success. How do you feel when you hear those songs now?

Mary J. Blige: It’s been about six months since I’ve listened to What’s the 411? I was in Japan working out, and when I heard it, I could definitely feel my youth, but I could also hear that I’ve always had an old soul. When I think back to that time, I remember that I was singing to escape. I understand that some people are stuck in that place, but I firmly believe that if you don’t evolve and grow, you will die.

Essence: From the outside looking in, it seems that success has been yours since day one, but there probably were, and are, disappointments. How do you cope when a project doesn’t pan out?

Jill Scott: This is life, and if something doesn’t work out, then it wasn’t meant to. I feel that there is a divine plan in all things. All I can do is the best I can do, and if it’s well received, then, yeah. If not, I hope life will give me an opportunity to try again. Do I challenge myself? Absolutely. But beat myself up? I just can’t do it.

Essence: Have you ever regretted folding to pressure from record labels?

Alicia Keys: In the beginning, I didn’t understand the concept of boundaries. I wanted to make sure the music was heard, but there’s a price you pay for that. I did everything and anything to promote my first album, like flying from New York to Los Angeles and back on the same day, which was a bit excessive.

Essence: Have you figured out the ingredients for the perfect song?

Mary: Yes, but I won’t tell. [Laughs] For me, it’s about being real and honest. And the lyrics have to be relatable.

Jill: Oh, I wish I knew. I think Ne-Yo knows. I think Carvin Haggins, who does a lot of writing for Musiq Soulchild, has the ingredients, too. My songs are mostly about life experiences, about being human and falling and getting back up. About loving and losing.

Essence: But aren’t those the ingredients right there?

Alicia: It’s always a bit of a mystery. A song should deal with a widely understood emotion, have a really strong, clear explanation of that emotion and a great melody that makes you want to sing it at the top of your lungs. Then the music should evoke the same feeling as the lyrics. Somewhere within all of that lies the perfect song.

Speaking of Mary, I think I speak for many, I'M SO PROUD OF MJB. When she entered the game back in '92 she was the around the way girl we could all relate to. She reminded us of the women in our lives; mothers, aunts, cousins, friends, girlfriends. We understood and felt her pain, the pain of a young black girl from the projects longing to find her place in the world. I think it is safe to say that Mary has finally found her place.

Soul Fixin'

AL GREEN LAYS IT DOWN
The Rev. Al Green, has recorded an album with production by James Poyser and ?uestlove of the Roots. John Legend, Anthony Hamilton, and Corrine Bailey Rae make guest appearances. Rolling Stone magazine describes the Green-Rae duet as "the supreme booty call music movement." Interesting...Al Green...Corrine Bailey Rae...booty call doesn't come to mind..but anyway.. The Dap-Horn Kings, guitarist Chalmers “Spanky” Alford (Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joss Stone) and bassist Adam Blackstone (Jill Scott, DJ Jazzy Jeff) also contributed to the project. Lay It Down began during a session at the Electric Lady Studio in Greenwich Village. "That was such a session. We sketched out eight songs and really started the project....Everybody contributed and that's why it feels so good. There were no big 'I's and little 'you's' in there. All of us dreamed it up together." said Al Green. Lay It Down draws on the high spirited funky sound created by Green and Memphis producer Willie Mitchell with a modern twist. The critically acclaimed album will be in stores May 27.

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Soul Fixin'

It Never Rains In Southern California
Having recently worked with the likes of MJB, Musiq, Lionel Richie, Teedra Moss, Joss Stone and Kelis, rumor has it that former Tony! Tone! Toni! front man Raphael Saadiq is busy working on a long awaited new album that reflects his love of the Motown sound. Can we expect another critically acclaimed album?

Classic Album Revisited

If Marvin's "Let Get It On" was the song of the night, "Let's Do It Again", a #1 R&B and pop hit, was definitely the song to be played the morning after. Let's Do It Again was a detour from the Staples previous inspirational gospel infused recordings. As Stax was nearing bankruptcy the Staple Singers signed with Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label. The sacred Staple Singers fully embraced the sensual secular music of Curtis Mayfield on this 1975 soundtrack to the highly successful film starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby. Mavis was at her vocal best, she fully embraced the lyrics with a hip sound that was a combination of funk, soul, sass, lust, and sexual seduction on tracks such as "Funky Love", "New Orleans" and "A Whole Lot Of Love." Let's Do It Again has proven to be one of the best albums the Staple Singers ever cut and listening to it makes you feel so damn good!!

Faith Evans - "You Are My Friend"

Faith Evans performs "You Are My Friend" for Patti LaBelle. Faith tore this song up.

Life Is A Song Worth Singing

Soundtrack of My Life

Birth

"To Zion" - Lauryn Hill ( "Unsure of what the balance held..I touched my belly overwhelmed..by what I had been chosen to perform..But then an angel came one day..told me to kneel down and pray..for unto me a man child would be born..)

Childhood

"Young, Gifted and Black" - Aretha Franklin ( "In this cold world... there are millions of boys and girls ..who are young gifted and black..with their souls in tact..")

"ABC" - The Jackson 5 ( "Reading, writing and arithmetic..are the branches of the learning tree..")

Family

"Family Reunion" - The O' Jays ( "It's so nice to see..all the folks you love together..sittin' and talkin' 'bout..all the things that's been goin' down..)

"It Don't Have To Change" - John Legend ( "Oh do you remember..when the family was everything?..oh do you remember?..it was so long ago and so much has changed..I wanna go back ..wanna go back to those simple days..I wanna go back..but now we've grown and gone our separate ways..")

"Mama Knew Love" - Anthony Hamilton ("Up bright and early scrambled eggs..swellin' in ya legs..bills on the bed")

"Sadie" - The Spinners ("In a world like today..it's a rare occasion to be able..to see young mothers like the ones..that were around when I grew up..)

Love & Life

" My Life" - Mary J. Blige (" I know it is hard..but we will get by..and if you don't believe in me..just believe in He..")

"To Be Invisible" - Gladys Knight & The Pips ( "A world that seems not for me..so privately, I'll be invisible..that way I won't have to explain a thing, if you know what I mean.. I won't even have to be here on the scene..")

Fire & Desire - Rick James & Teena Marie ("Love them and leave them..oh, that’s what I used to do..use them and abuse them..whoa..then I laid eyes on you..it was pain before pleasure..oh, that was my claim to fame..with every measure..tasted your teardrop stains..")

"If This World Were Mine" - Luther Vandross & Cheryl Lynn ("If this world were mine..I would place at your feet all that I own..you've been so good to me..")

"Rock Wit'cha" - Bobby Brown - ("I want a little music now..let’s hear some Marvin Gaye..ooh ooh..let me rub your shoulders down..let’s dance the night away..")

"Can We Talk" - Tevin Campbell (" I started..to write you letters..but I wanted..to be more clever..I wanted to get down and sweet talk to you..but just like a baby..I could not talk..I tried to come closer but could not walk..")

"At Your Best (You are Love)" -Aaliyah ("But at your best you are love..you're a positive motivating force within my life..should you ever feel the need to wonder why..let me know, let me know..)

"Yesterday" - Donny Hathaway ("Why she had to go..I don't know..she wouldn't say..I said something wrong..now I long for yesterday..")

Black Consciousness

"We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue" - Curtis Mayfield ( "We the people who are darker than blue..are we just gonna stand around this town..and let what others say come true?..we're just good for nothing they figure..")

"Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" - James Brown ( "I've worked on jobs with my feet and my hands..but all the work I did was for the other man..")

"A Change Is Gonna Come" - Sam Cooke ("It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die..I don't know what's up there beyond the sky..it's been a long time coming..but I know a change is gonna come..")

"Be Real Black For Me" -Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway ("Be real black for me..be real black for me..be real black for me..")

"This Is My Country" - The Impressions ("I've paid three hundred years or more..of slave driving, sweat, and welts on my back..this is my country...")

"Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)" - Marvin Gaye ("The way they do my life..make me wanna holler..the way they do my life..this ain't livin'..this ain't livin'..")

"Think" - Aretha Franklin ("You better think..think about what you're trying to do to me..")

Making Love

"Sexual Healing" - Marvin Gaye ("Baby I got sick this morning..a sea was storming inside of me..baby I think I'm capsizing..the waves are rising and rising..and when I get that feeling..I want sexual healing..")

"Close The Door" - Teddy Pendergrass ("Close the door baby..and let me know you're mine..plenty good lovin' all through the night..and then again and then again..when the morning comes..")

"Let's Do It Again" - The Staple Singers ("Let's do it in the mornin'..sweet breeze in the summer time..feeling your sweet face..all laid up next to mine..sweet love in the midnight..good sleep, come mornin' light..no worries 'bout nothin'..just gettin' good, just gettin' good..just gettin' good love..")

"Knockin' Da Boots" - H-Town ("Good loving body rockin’ knockin boots all night long..")

"Let's Get It On" - Marvin Gaye ("Don’t you know how sweet and wonderful life can be..ooh ooh..I’m askin’ you baby to get it on with me..")

"Between The Sheets" - The Isley Brothers ("Hey, girl, ain't no mystery..at least as far as I can see..I wanna keep you here layin' next to me..sharin' our love between the sheets..")

Glory

"Stairway To Heaven" - The O' Jays ("Here we go climbing the stairway to heaven..")

Marvin Gaye - "What's Going On"

Watch as Marvin turns "What's Going On" into a 9 minute epic.

Soul Fixin'

New Music Drop

Conquer The World The Lost Soul of Philadelphia International Records - Various Artists

Soul Speak - Michael McDonald

Just Up The Road - Melissa Young

Marcus - Marcus Miller

The Sound Of Philadelphia: Gamble & Huff's Greatest Hits - Various Artists

Brilliant Corners - Thelonious Monk
Reflections of Country Greats - Esther Phillips

Luther Ingram - (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Wanna Do Right

Soul Fixin'

VIBE Book List

VIBE magazine compiled a list of the "best" eight music books...READ A BOOK...READ A MUH'F*CKIN BOOK!!

Room Full Of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix by Charles R. Cross...chronicles Hendrix' rise from Seattle ghetto to rock god.

I, Tina by Tina Turner w/ Kurt Loder...Tina reveals the good, bad, and ugly..from growing up in Tennessee to getting her ass beat by Ike to her remarkable 80's resuscitation.

Divided Soul: The Life Of Marvin Gaye by David Ritz...in-depth analysis of Marvin's life...cocaine, underage girls and his untimely death.

ego trips's Book of Rap Lists by Sacha Jenkins, Elliott Wilson, Jeff Mao, Gabriel Alvarez, and Brent Rollins...compilation of lists..."10 Songs Marley Marl Wishes He Had Produced"..."Kool Keith's Favorite Places To Pleasure Himself In Public."

Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation by Jeff Chang...chronicles the events, ideas, music and art that shaped hip hop.

Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom by Peter Guralnick...documents the soul of the 50's, 60's and 70's while telling the story of a nation.

James Brown's Live at the Apollo (33 1/3) by Douglas Wolk...details what some consider to be the greatest live album of all time against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Flyboy in the Buttermilk: Essays on Contemporary America by Greg Tate...an eye-opening look at race, politics, literature and music.

Soul Fixin'

I Believe to My Soul
Released back in 2005 I Believe To My Soul is a great add to any music collection. Produced by Joe Henry, who worked with Solomon Burke on his 2002 Grammy winning album Don't Give Up On Me, I Believe To My Soul is a mix or soul classic and original songs. You can hear Mavis Staples singing "You Must Have That Old Time Religion" and The Impressions classic "Keep On Pushing." Ann Peebles, known for her classic "I Can't Stand The Rain", lets loose on the tracks "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" and "When The Candle Burns Low." Billy Preston, Irma Thomas, and Allen Toussaint lend their voices to the project. I believe you should go get it...nuff said.

Soul Fixin'

Still Going Strong
Soul legend Mavis Staples is still doing her thing. She is currently touring overseas..New Zealand, Australia, The Netherlands, England, France..getting PAID. I wish America appreciated older soul singers the way Europeans do. In a recent interview with The Age, a leading Melbourne, Australia newspaper, Mavis said "Dr King brought us a long way...but there is so much more that needs to be done... because every day in the paper I see something that reminds me of the trouble in the '60s. Hurricane Katrina was so horrible, seeing these people floating in the black water, and no one coming to help them... policemen in New York just shot a young black kid...with 50 rounds..." Mavis ain't lying..we still got work to do. She also spoke of the upcoming election "I'm very excited, because I like Hillary too. People seem to admire and love Obama. He seems to be sincere and a purist. But I won't vote for him just because he's a black man. He has to convince me that he's really going to do what he says. But still, I think of how happy Dr King would be." MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AND VOTE IN NOVEMBER...I know that sounds corny and cheesy but please vote, people DIED for us to vote...I know that sounds so cliche but it's the truth...bottom line..get ya a** up and vote..you ain't got sh*t else to do.

Soul Fixin'

BET HONORS
If you thought you were too cool to watch BET Honors, BET's new award show, you missed out on a good show. BET Honors honored Alicia Keys, Richard Parsons, Dr.Cornel West, Tyra Banks, Maxine Waters and Janice Bryant Howroyd. Raheem DaVaughn, Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, Ne-Yo, John Legend and Gladys Knight performed. Stevie, John Legend, and Gladys gave an AMAZING performance. I couldn't find future air dates, I'm sure BET will air the show 1,000 times so be on the look out!!! You can also check out The BET Honors website and watch the entire show online.

Soul Fixin'

No Justice No Peace
The trail of the three NYPD officers who gunned down Sean Bell on his wedding day began last week. Let's continue to keep the Bell family in our prayers and hope for justice.

Check this out....defense lawyers said Sean Bell should not have held his bachelor party where patrons "watch women shake their booty and fulfill a sense of twisted sexual prowess."..Is that an excuse for firing 50 bullets at unarmed men?

Classic Album Revisited

Marvin Gaye's landmark concept album What's Going On was released in 1971. Prior to recording What's Going On, Marvin was deeply depressed. In March of 1970 Tammi Terrell died. Three years prior to her death she collapsed on stage while performing with Marvin, she was later diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Marvin took a hiatus from recording and performing and went into self isolation. Believe it or not, Marvin even attempted a career in football, he tried out for the Detroit Lions. Al Cleveland and The Four Tops' Renaldo "Obie" Benson reached out to Marvin to help them complete the writing of a politically conscious song, "What's Going On." Cleveland and Benson persuaded Marvin to record the song, and in June 1970 Marvin recorded "What's Going On" and "God Is Love." Berry Gordy refused to release the songs, he thought they were far too political and would fail at commercial success. Marvin eventually convinced Gordy to release the songs. "What's Going On" reached #1 on the R&B charts and #2 on the Pop listings. After the success of "What's Going On" Berry Gordy requested an entire album.
Over a 10 day period, Marvin began recording and producing the tracks that would comprise What's Going On, an album told through the eyes of a Vietnam veteran returning home to a world of drug abuse, poverty, police brutality and unemployment. Simply put, What's Going On is an album that expressed the cries, pain and agony of a black man in the 1970's. It is as sacred as Aretha's Amazing Grace and the musical equivalent of The Autobiography of Malcolm X. A 9 track unified album, most songs led into the next, What's Going On was named Album Of The Year by Rolling Stone magazine, Billboard gave it the Trendsetter Award of 1971.It was ranked number six on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. A 1999 critics poll conducted by British newspaper Guardian/Observer named it the "Greatest Album Of the 20th Century."

The Staple Singers - "Respect Yourself"

Pops, Mavis, Yvonne and Cleotha, The Staple Singers, singing "Respect Yourself" at Wattstax.