The Heart of the Matter

What is it about the heart that desires the things we can't have? Better yet, someone we dream to have a future with but yet we cannot have them? 

It happens to us all the time. No matter if the signs tell us that its not meant to be, we still want it and will do almost anything to get it. Seriously. Have you ever met someone you really liked and connected with very well, did whatever you could to become friends with that person and even confessed how much you like them? However, they never reciprocate your feelings. They express no signs of interest in you at all but you believe that if you stick it out, that person will eventually fall in love with you. But how long will you wait? A few weeks, a few months, years? Going out of your way to treat and spoil them in the best way possible just to get a relationship started. It may be crazy and it works....or it may be psychotic and a waste of time.

I've never been in love. Love can be blind, based on my observations. People that are so in love with someone that doesn't pay them half the attention are blinded by their emotions to see all the signs pointing to stop, detour, dead end, not for you or STOP BEING A DAMN IDIOT AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE!!!

Remember this saying: "You refuse what's good for you but the bad is what you go for"? I guess it's just human nature. Half the time, the ones you're trying to force some kind of relationship with are the ones that will end up hurting you. You put so much focus into chasing after something that isn't meant to be for them, all while missing out the one that would come along with the same emotions that would be returned. I know some people who would actually WAIT for a night of sex instead of giving to anybody or the one that really wants them. Sad, isn't it? You're SINGLE. You should be out having fun, not going on some obsessed trip for an unloving relationship. You're only making yourself miserable trying to force that kind of love you want instead of waiting out for the love you need to show up at your doorstep. Don't spend the rest of your life chasing waterfalls.....

Black History: Mary McLeod Bethune

 

An African-American educator and civil rights lead best known for starting a school for black students in Daytona Beach, Fl. that eventually became Bethune-Cookman University, and was also appointed as an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

S.O.S: Help for Haiti

Yep, another telethon to raise funds in order to help Haiti. A couple of weeks ago, many stars ranging from actors to singers to activists came together for the Help For Haiti Now campaign to raise money for the relief efforts in the aftermath of the deadly earthquakes in Haiti. So far, nearly $90 million has been raised. Last night, media broadcasting company Viacom, which owns the three music networks BET, MTV and VH1, decided that another telethon was needed. This time, S.O.S: Saving Ourselves - Help for Haiti,there were mostly popular African-American singers and rappers, and some actors. I'm not sure how much would be raised with this benefit concert, which was held in Miami and hosted by Queen Latifah, Diddy and Pharrell, as it was only aired on those three aforementioned networks. I'm sure millions of us have donated all that we could by now. Many stars that came out includes Justin Bieber, Busta Rhymes, Monica, Mary J. Blige, Kirk Franklin, India.Arie, Ludacris, Jazmine Sullivan, Akon, Spike Lee, Wyclef Jean, former President Bill Clinton, Robin Thicke, Keri Hilson, Mike Tyson, Chrisette Michele, Ne-Yo and Chris Brown, who was warmly welcomed by fans (audience and Twitter) as he gave his first televised performance since the domestic violence incident that occurred one year ago. Here are a few performances from the concert:

Chris Brown - Crawl/With You


Monica featuring Ludacris - Still Standing


Kirk Franklin featuring India.Arie, Chrisette Michele and Jazmine Sullivan - Are You Listening?


Mary J. Blige featuring Jazmine Sullivan - Gonna Make It/One


Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris - One Less Lonely Girl/Never Let You Go/Baby 

Nas and Damien Marley

I'm sooooo glad Bouncy wasn't there to perform because if I had to hear "Haiti, I can see your halo" one more time....but didn't it seem like little Justin was taking notes from her during his performance of "Baby"? "Haiti, Haiti, Haiti, Haiti, Hai---" STFU!!!!

Are You Listening?

Written and produced by gospel great Kirk Franklin, the day after the 25th Stellar Awards were taped, most of the gospel stars have all gathered together and recorded this beautiful inspirational, gospel-themed charity single, Are You Listening?, in honor of the Haitian earthquake victims.

Artists include: Yolanda Adams; Jeremy Camp; Shirley Caesar; Dorinda Clark Cole; Natalie Grant; Fred Hammond; Tamela & David Mann; Mary Mary; Donnie McClurkin; Bishop Paul S. Morton; J. Moss; Smokie Norful; Marvin Sapp; Karen Clark Sheard; Kiera "KiKi" Sheard; BeBe Winans; CeCe Winans and Marvin Winans along with other gospel artists featured in choir including Shari Addison; Kathy Taylor Brown; John Gray; Bishop Darryl Hines; Stephen Hurd; Karima Kibble; Judith McAllister; Nicole C. Mullen; Jessica Reedy; The Neville Sisters; Troy Sneed; Micah Stampley; Melinda Watts and Brian Courtney Wilson.

The single is now available on iTunes.

We Are The World 2010

In the days following the Grammy ceremony, which was held this past Sunday, nearly 100 celebrities, from singers and rappers to actors and producers joined together at Jim Henson studios to record a remake of the 25 year old hit charity single We Are The World, which was also recorded at the same studio. The idea was headed by the original producer Quincy Jones and the original co-writer Lionel Richie (the late Michael Jackson also helped write the song). The world premiere of the single and song's video will air during NBC's coverage of the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Friday, February 12th.

 

Among the stars participating in the project include P!NK, Natalie Cole, the Jonas Brothers, Jennifer Hudson, Akon, Julianne Hough, Jamie Foxx, Gladys Knight, India.Arie, Tyrese, Usher, Toni Braxton, Trey Songz, Lil’ Wayne, Busta Rhymes, Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus, Keri Hilson, T-Pain, Jordin Sparks, Wyclef Jean, Vince Vaughn, Farnsworth Bentley, Harry Connick Jr., Justin Bieber, Enrique Iglesias, Kid Cudi, Sean Garrett, Carlos Santana, Mary Mary, Earth,Wind & Fire, Nicole Scherzinger, Brandy, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Jackson, Musiq Soulchild, Bizzy Bone, Swizz Beatz, Drake, Mann, Nipsey Hussle, Zac Brown, BeBe Winans, Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson, Freda Payne, the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and Al Jardine, A.R. Rahman, Randy Jackson, Patti Austin, Jeff Bridges, Nicole Richie, Rashida Jones, 3T (sons of Tito Jackson), Joel and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte, Melanie Fiona, Mya, Katherine McPhee, Faith Evans, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Orianthi, Sugarland, Jason Mraz, Raphael Saadiq, Rob Thomas, Isaac Slade of the Fray, Ethan Bortnick, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, and Iyaz.

 

Janet Jackson confirmed to lay vocals at a later time, possibly singing MJ’s lines. Whitney Houston is rumored to have already recorded her verse/lines, possibly when reports surfaced about a sighting at a studio in ATL (could’ve been a rehearsal seeing 5-month long world tour starts this week). Jay-z, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake are also rumored to record their parts at a later date. Recently announced, Michael Jackson's children - Paris, Prince and Blanket - will recite a poem written by Maya Angelou for the new song.

 

We Are The World Pt. 2 is being remade in an effort to help the country of Haiti in the aftermath of last month's devastating earthquakes that destroyed the entire region. The entire proceeds from the single sales will be donated to the relief efforts.

BET Honors...at church!!

"It's a marvelous feeling to be looked at and not judged. Judge not for your flaws but for your triumphs."

-Whitney Houston

Kicking off Black History month the right way and with a great start, Buffoonery Entertainment Television (BET) aired its 3rd annual BET Honors was aired Monday night. The network was honored the excellence and paid tribute to some of the most famous successful members of the African-American community. This year's Honors recipients include Dr. Keith Black for Public Service, Queen Latifah for Media, Sean "Diddy" Combs for Entrepreneurship, Dr. Ruth Simmons for Education, and lastly, my favorite crackish diva, Whitney Houston for Entertainment.

Each recipient was given a special tribute performance by select singers. I took the time out to bring you the highlights:

Kim Burrell - I Believe In You And Me

Paying tribute to her dear friend and uber (stan) fan Whitney Houston, Kim brought down the house with her stirring rendition of Whitney's classic "I Believe In You And Me". I've had the privilege to witness this woman work the mic and piano live when I was in middle school, and I damn near caught the Holy Spirit. So, naturally, I knew Kim was going to knock it out the park. But I'll be DAMNED!! Kim knocked it out the park, the neighborhood, the city AND the state! Poor Nippy can't even get happy without people accusing her of being high, strung out or drunk. Whitney STANS for Kim like a fan would STAN for Michael Jackson during one of his concerts. Ne-Yo said it: Whitney's "most favorite voice on the planet." That's evident by her leaping out of her seat like the ice cream man was passing by a child.

Jennifer Hudson - I Will Always Love You

I've always said it. Simon Cowell has always said it. Any singer should never, EVER touch a Whitney Houston classic. I'm talking about the classic that sat on top of the Billboard charts for a consecutive record-breaking 14 weeks. The one that became one of the biggest, best-selling songs from the biggest, best-selling soundtrack to one of the best-selling films of all time. Yes, the classic and timeless "I Will Always Love You". So naturally, when Jen-Jen sang the opening lines of the song, I immediately thought, "She 'bout to fuck that shit up and Nippy going to jail tonight." But, to my surprise, Jenny held her own. Known for oversinging and lack of control, the girl came a long way. If Whitney approves, which she did, then it was alright with me.

Whitney is living proof of God's work. To comeback from crack rock bottom to living a better life and selling 2 million albums worldwide is amazing.

Now, I could not leave out Aunt Mary and Mama Patti taking me back during their performances. Patti Patti showed out on the vocals and gave this Nicki Minaj chick that she's the queen of random facial expressions during a show. 

Queen Mary showed us why the 90's was the best decade in music. 

Black History: The Greensboro Sit-ins

Today marks the first day of Black History Month. It's a time where we look back and honor the many historical African-American events, inventors, leaders, activists, educators and entertainers. What better way to kick things off than to honor the four young college students that sparked a national civil rights movement fifty years ago today?

 

On Feb. 1, 1960, the Greensboro Four, as they would later be called, felt isolated and alone as they sat at that whites-only lunch counter at the Woolworth Store on South Elm Street.
They were seeking more than what they ordered — sodas, coffee, doughnuts. They were attacking the social order of the time. The unwritten rules of society required black people to stay out of white-owned restaurants, to use only designated drinking fountains and restrooms, to sit in the rear of Greensboro city buses, in a separate balcony at the Center Theatre and in segregated bleachers during sports events at War Memorial Stadium.
The four black youths — Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr. and David Richmond, all still teenagers and all freshmen on academic scholarships at N.C. A&T State University — had entered the unknown. McCain, who grew up in Washington and spent one year attending Greensboro's Dudley High School, says he expected to be arrested, beaten to a pulp or worse.
All four would emerge unscathed and eventually be recognized as heroes of the civil rights movement.

They were persistent. In the days after Feb. 1, they would be joined by other students at the Woolworth counter and at the Kress 5 & 10 lunch counter a half-block away. Their protests inspired black people to do the same at Formica-topped dime-store counters in other cities. The movement they started led to the integration of the Woolworth and the Kress chains, landmarks on every main street in the South.
In the months that followed, more sit-ins began to spread throughout the South at many segregated stores, most of them peaceful and ending with positive results. The Greensboro Woolworth store desegregated its lunch counter on July 26, 1960, serving blacks and whites alike.