TECHNOLOGY GOTTA LOVE IT!!!

BEYONCE FEATURING MC LYTE

ALMOST SEPTEMBER IN THE STUDIO

HERE IN THE STUDIO I EXPLAIN THE HAPPENINGS OF THE GROUP AND ALL THAT WE DO!!

MY LIL CUZ CHARLES AT IT AGAIN

EXCUSE THE PROFANITY BUT THAT'S HIP HOP GETS DOWN. OFF THE TOP OF THE HEAD!!!

ROCKING INTHE STUDIO IN HAMBURG

SINGING IS SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS SHYD AWAY FROM. AS A CHILD I SANG IN THE SCHOOL CHOIR. I THOUGHT BAND CLASS WAS SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING SO I TRIED THAT FOR A DAY AND IT DIDN'T QUITE WORK OUT. IN BAND CLASS I WAS MOSTLY FRUSTRATED HOWEVER I DID LEARN HOW TO READ MUSIC WHILE THERE. AFTER 2 DAYS I WENT ON HANDS AND KNEES BEGGING THE CHOIR DIRECTOR TO LET ME BACK IN THE CHOIR...LOL MR. CARTER HAD LOVE FOR ME AND LET ME BACK IN.

YEARS LATER I TRIED A VOCAL CLASS AND THAT SEEMED A BIT BORING SO I QUIT BEFORE I EVEN GOT STARTED. NOW YEARS LATER I AM USING WHAT SOME CALL SING J TO ADD ANOTHER COLOR TO THE TRACKS I'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

CHECK IT OUT!!!!

MC LYTE CIRCA 89

PLEASE TELL ME WHERE DID ALL THE TIME GO??? I REMEMBER THIS DAY LIKE IT WAS LAST WEEK. I WAS SO GREEN AND SO TAKEN BY ALL THAT WAS HAPPENING. I WAS NERVOUS AND PASSING GAS NEXT TO DON CORNELIUS. I WONDER DID HE SMELL IT...LMBAO.

I REMEMBER AFTER THE SHOW WE HUNG OUT AT A LOS ANGELES CLUB ON SUNSET WITH VANITY AND SOUL II SOUL. KAREN WHEELER WAS IN THE HOUSE. YEAH, I'M TALKING GROWN FOLK STUFF NOW BUT YOU YOUNG CATS CAN LEARN SOMETHING HERE AT OKAY SISTER...LOL. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT SPREADING THE KNOWLEDGE SO NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND. EACH ONE TEACH ONE.......HOLLA

I REMEMBER EATING AT AUNT KIZZIE'S AND HITTING UP LARRY PARKERS ON BEVERLY. ALL THE HOTSPOTS BACK IN THE DAY. I BELIEVE WE MAY HAVE SHOT THE VIDEO TO STOP LOOK AND LISTEN DURING THAT LA TRIP AS WELL. THE SHOOT TOOK PLACE AT A PLACE CALLED PARADISE AND EVERYONE CAME THRU TO REPRESENT. MIKE TYSON, ROSIE PEREZ, CARL FROM 227 AND A FEW OTHERS.

AIDS AWARENESS CIRCA 90

LYTE KICKIN' IT!!! AT THE DERBY

HIP HOP LIVES

IT IS STILL AMAZING TO ME HOW ONCE BORN IN THE STREETS OF THE BRONX, HIP HOP HAS PASSED OVER EVERY CULTURAL LINE ON THE FACE OF THIS PLANET!!! ROCK ON!

ALMOST SEPTEMBER

ALMOST SEPTEMBER AT GERMAN RADIO STATION

LIVE- LYTE WITH THE ROOTS

SOLD OUT CROWD IN HAMBURG AT A SPOT CALLED DOCKS!!! I JOINED THE ROOTS ON STAGE!!!

J LEE FROM ALMOST SEPTEMBER

QUEST & LYTE in GERMANY

MC LYTE FAN GETS BUSY

LIVE IN AMSTERDAM

AND THEY ASK WHERE THE FEMALE MCS ARE

LYTE ROCKS AMSTERDAM

SO TONIGHT WAS THE NIGHT I ROCKED AMSTERDAM. IT’S BEEN OVER 10 YEARS SINCE I’V EBEEN HERE TO PERFORM AND IT DEFINITELY FELT LIKE IT. THE MILKY WAY CLUB WAS PACKED AND EVERYONE WAS SINGING ALONG. WHAT AN AMAZING FEELING IT IS TO HAVE NATIVES OF ANOTHER COUNTRY RHYMING ALONG TO RECORDS THAT WERE RECORDED OVER A DECADE AGO.


I STARTED IT ALL OF WITH CHA CHA CHA AND TOOK THEM THRU AN INCREDIBLE HIP HOP JOURNEY. I DID THE HITS THAT EUROPE MADE NUMBER 1 ACROSS THE CONTINENT, PAPER THIN, RUFFNECK, POOR GEORGIE, COLD ROCK A PARTY, KEEP ON AND MORE. I INTRODUCED THEM TO SOME ALMOST SEPTEMBER FEATURING KRS 1. THEY WERE FEELING IT AND IT’S A GOOD THING BECAUSE WE KICK OFF THE ALMOST SEPTEMBER PORTION OF THE TOUR IN HAMBURG.

THE DUTCH LOVERS OF MUSIC THAT SHOWED UP WERE DANCING AND PARTICIPATING LIKE ANY OTHER HIP HOP CROWD. THEY WERE FULLY KNOWLEDGEABLE OF ALL THE HIP HOP LEGENDS AND THEIR SONGS.

AFTER THE SHOW I DID A COUPLE OF INTERVIEWS FOR DUTCH RADIO AND ALSO A HIP HOP ACADEMY WHERE MCS THAT ATTEND CAN ACTUALLY AQUIRE A BA IN HIP HOP.

AN EXTREMELY TALENTED ARTIST CAME DOWN AND PRESENTED AN AMAZING PIECE OF ART OF MOI TO MOI!!! HOW DOPE IS THAT? VISITING ANOTHER COUNTRY AND PEOPLE PREPARE GIFTS TO SHOW THEIR LOVE. STAY LOCKED IN I WILL POST MORE NEWS ON THE LOCAL ARTIST.

I’LL BE POSTING UPDATES BE SURE TO CHECK BACK.

HIP HOP IS ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AM SO VERY PROUD OF WHAT THE HIP HOP COMMUNITY HAS ACCOMPLISHED THIS ELECTION. EVERYONE EVERYWHERE DID THEIR PART INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY!!

LET'S START WITH RUSSEL SIMMONS, P DIDDY, JAY Z, T.I., LUDACRIS, MARY J BLIGE AND A HOST OF OTHER CELEBRITIES THAT USED THEIR VOICES AND THEIR FACES TO GET MILLIONS TO GET OUT THERE AND VOTE.

LET'S SLIDE OVER TO RADIO TALK SHOW HOSTS THAT BLEW UP THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AROUND THIS NATION!! LET'S NOT FORGET TO MENTION BET, MTV AND VH1!!!! BET STOOD UP TO THE OCCASION BY PROMOTING AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT NOW WAS THE MOMENT, IF ANY, TO GET INVOLVED AND MAKE IT TO THE POLLS.

OK, SO NOW WE MUST THANK THE HIP HOP JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE MADE IT THEIR BUSINESS TO NOT KEEP A CLOSED MOUTH THIS ELECTION SEASON AND USE THE POWER THAT THEY TRULY HAVE TO INSPIRE AND GET A NATION OF PEOPLE TO EXERCISE THEIR MUSCLES!!!!!!! HATS OFF TO THE NEW REGIME AT THE SOURCE, MY GOD, VIBE AND ALL THE OTHER PUBLICATIONS THAT GAVE SENATOR OBAMA THE SPACE NOT ONLY TO BE SEEN BUT HEARD AND THEREFORE RESPECTED!!!!

I GET CHILLS JUST TYPING THIS BLOG THINKING OF HOW POWERFUL AND MIGHTY WE AS THE HIPHOP COMMUNITY REALLY ARE WHEN WE COME TOGETHER FOR A DIVINE PURPOSE. NOW ALL WE MUST DO IS FIND OTHER ISSUES TO BE JUST AS PASSIONATE ABOUT AND MAKE THEM HAPPEN.

LAST NIGHT I HOSTED A FEW MINUTES OF WEEN RADIO ON LINE AND SHARED MY THOUGHTS WITH A YOUNG LADY IN COLLEGE WHO VOTED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. I SAID,"WHAT YOU DID BY VOTING THIS TERM WAS ASSURE A FUTURE FOR YOUR CHILDREN'S TOMORROW."

UP UNTIL NOW I WAS REALLY UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR VOTES. DID THEY GET WHISKED AWAY IN SOME HUGE BLACK HOLE AND THE DECISION WAS LEFT UP TO THE REAL POWERS THAT BE? BUT OH NO, I THINK I FINALLY UNDERSTAND THE MATRIX AND THAT IS...WE DO HAVE THE POWER, WE ARE THE DECISION. I JUST THINK FOR SO LONG WE'VE BEEN INDOCTRINATED TO BELIEVE WE HAVE NO POWER AND WE JUST HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH THE FLOW. PEOPLE!!!!!!! I AM HONORED AND ELATED TO BE A PART OF HIP HOP, OBVIOUSLY A CULTURE THAT IS VERY MUCH ALIVE, POWERFUL AND LONGING FOR PURPOSE!!!!!!!!! WHEN THERE IS PURPOSE WE SEE BEYOND THE MADNESS AND AIM HIGHER THAN ANYONE THOUGHT POSSIBLE!!! MY PEOPLE, MY CULTURE......I AM SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LADIES ROCKING IT

TAMPA, FLORIDA

GUAVAWEEN!!! THIS IS JUST A PORTION OF WHAT THE CROWD LOOKED LIKE THIS PAST SATURDAY IN TAMPA, FLORIDA. ROCKING AND SWAYING TO THE LIKES OF PAPERTHIN, POOR GEORGIE, KEEP ON, CHA CHA CHA, STOP LOOK AND LISTEN AND A HOST OF OTHER JOINTS INCLUDING SELF DESTRUCTION AND COLD ROCK A PARTY.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A SHOW WHEN I WANNA PARTY AS MUCH AS THE CROWD. FOR SOME REASON THESE 2 SHOWS THIS PAST WEEKEND FELT LIKE I'M UNDERSTANDING MORE AND MORE HOW IT IS THAT I CONNECT WITH THE CROWD. FIRST OFF A NUMBER OF THINGS HAVE TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE I CAN TOTALLY COMMIT. THE SOUND BY ALL MEANS HAS TO BE UP TO PAR AND THAT MEANS, MONITORS, MICS AND SPEAKERS THAT BOOM TO THE AUDIENCE. ANOTHER THING THAT HAS TO BE RIGHT IS THE, YOU GUESSED IT, THE LIGHTING. OH YEAH AND THE PEOPLE, THEY HAVE TO BE READY TO GO ON A VOYAGE WITH ME. WITH ALL THOSE THINGS IN PLACE THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!!!!

Man Behind the DJ

This is DJ Cool V!!! He is the ultimate dj and has been for many years. Usually providing the music for a Biz Markie tune he also travels the world rocking parties all over the globe!!!

My inspiration to DJ comes from this man right here. He is the greatest teacher!!

ATLANTA

]

SUNDAY AFTERNOON I JOINED INDIA.ARIE IN THE STUDIO TO RECORD A QUICK 16 BARS FOR A SONG THAT WILL BE FEATURED ON HER UPCOMING ALBUM. WHILE VISITING INDIA PLAYED HER NEW PROJECT AND IT'S, WITHOUT A DOUBT, NEXT LEVEL WORLD MUSIC!! SHE PLAYED SEVERAL AND EACH ONE HAD AN AMAZING HEALING AND INSPIRATIONAL QUALITY TO THEM. THERE ARE A FEW GUESTS FEATURED BUT I'M NOT TOO SURE IF THEY ARE MEANT TO BE A SURPRISE SO I WILL KEEP MY LIPS TIGHT.

NOT SURE OF THE RELEASE DATE BUT BE SURE TO PICK IT THE NEW PROJECT UP....IT'S WELL WORTH THE WAIT!!!!

FLY GIRLS VOTE

THIS PAST SATURDAY, AT CLARK UNIVERSITY IN ATLANTA SEVERAL WOMEN JOINED MAKAYALIA DAVIS FOR A MEMORABLE AFTERNOON OF CONNECTING. DEBRA LEE, PRESIDENT OF BET, WAS DEFINITELY IN THE HOUSE SHOWING GREAT CONCERN FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND THE ABILITY TO USE THEIR VOTING POWER.

HIP HOP SISTERS

I HAVE MET MANY PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY BUT I MUST ADMIT THERE ARE VERY FEW THAT ARE COMMITTED TO A MISSION WITHOUT ANY EXPECTATIONS OF FAME AND MONEY. I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE TWO BEAUTIFUL SISTERS FOR MAKING THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE HIP HOP SISTERS ORGANIZATION.

MECCA AND ATLAS MANAGE ALL INTERNET PRESENCE FOR HHS AND HAVE TO HELPED TO MOLD AND SHAPE THE GROUP THAT STANDS TODAY.

THANK YOU ATLAS AND MECCA!!!!! WE, THE HIP HOP SISTERS APPRECIATE YOU!!!!

TAG RECORDS

TODAY TAG, JERMAINE DUPRI DEF JAM AND DR. BEN CHAVIS CAME TOGETHER TO SPONSOR SOME BEAUTIFUL STUDENTS DOING SOME BEAUTIFUL THINGS. STUDENTS WERE ASKED TO SUBMIT THEIR BUSINESS PLAN FOR A COMPANY THAT COULD ULTIMATELY "MAKE HISTORY". THERE WERE MANY ENTRIES BUT ONLY 5 STUDENTS WON THE PRIZE OF 10K EACH AS SEED MONEY FOR THEIR NEW VENTURE.

IN THE HOUSE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES WERE RUSSEL SIMMONS, DR. BEN CHAVIS, CHILI, NEYO AND A TAG RECORDING ARTIST.

BIG UPS TO TAG FOR MAKING HISTORY AND GIVING YOUNG BLACK STUDENTS ACROSS THE NATION AN OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN A FRESH NEW BUSINESS.

BET REHEARSAL

OMG, TALK ABOUT A FEMALE EMPOWERMENT MOVEMENT! I JUST LEFT REHEARSAL WHERE SALT N PEPA, YOYO, RAGE AND I GOT BUSY DURING THE RUN-THRU. SO MUCH LOVE IN THE SPOT.

WE ALL MET THIS AFTERNOON AT USHER'S MOM'S STUDIO TO GO OVER WHAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE ONE OF THE MOST MONUMENTAL MOMENTS IN HIP HOP. IT IS THE FIRST TIME EVER 4 FEMALE HIP HOP ENTITIES WILL TAKE THE SAME STAGE AND ROCK!! ATL LOOK OUT!!!

TISHA CAMBEL MARTIN

LAST WEEK DUANE MARTIN THREW HIS WIFE A HUGE SURPRISE CELEBRATION FOR HER 40TH BIRTHDAY. IT WAS HELD AT CINESPACE IN HOLLYWOOD, CA. BEFORE BEING BROUGHT TO THE SECRET LOCATION TISHA, DUANE AND A FEW SPECIAL FRIENDS DINED NEXT DOOR AT JENNIFER LOPEZ'S RESTAURANT ON HOLLYWOOD BLVD.

I ARRIVED A LITTLE EARLY AND GOT A CHANCE TO SEE ALL THE PARTY FAVORS BEING PUT TOGETHER. THERE WERE HUGE PICS OF TISHA FROM ALL HER YEARS OF ACTING AND PERFORMING. THERE WERE ALSO SCREENS THROUGHOUT THE VENUE SHOWCASING TISHA IN HER FIRST ACTING GIG EVER AT AGE 7.

DENZEL WASHINGTON WAS IN THE HOUSE AND SO WAS TICHINA ARNOLD AND CHRIS SPENCER TO HELP HER CELEBRATE. DJ DANNO WAS ON THE 1S AND 2S AND SET THE PARTY OFF IN A MAJOR WAY.

FLY GIRLS VOTE

HERE IN ATLANTA FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. FIRST AND FOREMOST I AM HERE FOR THE BET HIP HOP AWARDS! THIS SHOULD BE AN AWARD CEREMONY TO REMEMBER. I AM ALSO HERE TO TAKE PART IN A DISCUSSION CONCERNING WOMEN AND OUR POWER TO VOTE. WE WILL BE AT CLARK UNIVERSITY TOMORROW AFTERNOON CHOPPING IT UP WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY PANEL OF DEDICATED WOMEN WHO WILL SHARE THEIR VIEWS ON HOW THE FLY GIRLS TODAY CAN FLAUNT THEIR POWER.

THIS PIC IS AN IN STUDIO SHOT AT ATLANTA'S OWN V-103. SPINDERELLA, YOYO AND MICHAELA ANGELA DAVIS WERE UP EARLY THIS AM TO VISIT FRANK SKI AND WANDA IN THE MORNING. WE SPOKE ON A RANGE OF TOPICS BUT SPECIFICALLY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT WOMEN IN HIP HOP.

ALMOST SEPTEMBER

JUST TO LET THE FANS KNOW, WE'VE SIGNED A DEAL WITH SONY/BMG IN EUROPE. THE EP IS BEING RELEASED ON OCTOBER 31ST. THE ALBUM IN FEBRUARY.
WE HIT EUROPE IN NOVEMBER AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO REPORTING BACK TO YOU ABOUT THE HAPPENINGS.
AMSTERDAM IS THE FIRST SPOT AND NOOOOOO.....I'LL JUST BE WORKING. HIGH OUT OF MY MIND IS NOT MY IDEAD OF FUN, ALTHOUGH OTHERS MAY CHOOSE OTHERWISE...LOL

HERE IN NYC

WHAT'S UP MY PEOPLE!! HERE IN NY ABOUT O RECEIVE AN AWARD ALONG SIDE THE FIRST FEMALE RAPPER EVER, SHA ROCK FROM THE FUNKY FOUR PLUS 1 MORE.
WE ARE HERE AT THE MAGIC JOHNSON THEATERS IN THE HEART OF HARLEM.
AFTERWARDS I HEAD TO HARFORD, CT TO DJ A SET AT A CLUB CALLED CLUB VYBES. SEE YA THERE

HIP HOP HONORS

Every year VH1 celebrates the vision, innovation and groove power of the seminal artists who helped make hip hop such a strong cultural force around the world. Our Annual Hip Hop Honors show airs on Monday, October 6 at 10 pm ET. Tracy Morgan hosts the show.

Purchase tickets to the official "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" screening and after party on October 2.

2008 Honorees are

Slick Rick
Too Short
De La Soul
Cypress Hill
Naughty by Nature

JERMAINE DUPRI AT IT AGAIN

Welcome to TAG Records. We're changing the game with this new label, so I suggest you join the movement. We're giving artists an incredible platform that no other label can offer. Most importantly, we're offering new artists the chance to have their music heard on an unprecedented level. TAG Records is making history with this one and if you're fresh enough, you can do the same. To get the latest news on TAG Records as well as hear my thoughts on the hustle and the music industry, visit my page Tag Records.

Jermaine Dupri knows a little about making history. As a producer and songwriter, the Atlanta-based music mogul has discovered and developed some of the best-selling artists of all time. When he’s not making his mark in hip-hop and R&B, JD always looking to expand his empire whether it be with his restaurant, his book or more recently TAG Records.

REALLY??

THE BRITISH INVASION

HEADED BACK TO LA

SLID OUT OF LA ON THE LATE NIGHT TO FULFILL A REQUEST FROM CONGRESS WOMAN MAXINE WATERS. HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN WASHINGTON DC EARLY THIS AM.
THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER WAS JAMMED PACKED TODAY FULL OF YOUNG, BLACK, EDUCATED KIDS EAGER TO LISTEN AND LEARN FROM ALL THE PANELISTS INVOLVED.

THIS MARKS MY THIRD YEAR PARTICIPATING IN THE ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS HERE IN DC.

THERE WERE 3 OTHERS PANELISTS ASIDE FROM MYSELF HELPING MRS. MAXINE WATERS WITH HER MESSAGE AND MISSION.

THE MESSAGE
HOW AFRICAN AMERICAN ENTERTAINERS CAN IMPACT and EMPOWER their community, locally, and globally.

WE ALL WERE INTRODUCED AND GIVEN TIME TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT COULD ACTUALLY LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION UPON ALL OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.

HERE'S WHAT I SAID
"What do 3 out of 4 Americans on welfare have in common with

85% of percent of unwed mothers

and with 68% of those arrested in the US annually?

They are all ILLITERATE

In this decade, only 68% of students who enter the 9th grade will GRADUATE high school

and ONE-FIFTH of those high school graduate won't be able to READ their diploma.

I am speaking about the epidemic of ILLITERACY."

I WENT ON TO SAY A BIT MORE THAT, I BELIEVE IN MY SPIRIT, I LEFT THEM ALL WITH SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

CHARLES HAMILTON & JOE BUDDIN

MY GOODNESS, I LOVE IT. MY COUSIN IS AT AGAIN. BUSTING THEM MICS. THE ULTIMATE FREESTYLE FROM CHARLES HAMILTON & JOE BUDDEN!!!

LISA RAYE'S CELEBRATION

LAST NIGHT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!! WE ALL ATTENDED LISA RAYE'S 41ST BIRTHDAY WHICH SHE OPENLY SAID SHE WAS CELEBRATING. THE NIGHT WAS FILLED WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY AND FANS SHOWING NOT ONLY LOVE FOR LISA RAYE'S BIRTHDAY BUT ALSO SHOWING SUPPORT FOR HER FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. THERE WILL BE 3 OTHER PARTYS HELD NATIONWIDE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE IKE IN TURKS & CAICOS.

TEDDY RILEY, QUEEN PEN, PAULA J. PARKER AND FONZEWORTH WERE AMONGST THE CELEBRITY GUEST LIST. SPIN ON THE TURNTABLES AND ME ON THE MIC.

LIFE- WHAT'S THE MEANING?

I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT OVER AND OVER....WHAT IS THE MEANING TO LIFE? SPECIFICALLY MINE. WHAT AM I HERE FOR? AM I NEARLY DONE WITH WHAT I'M MEANT TO DO OR HAVE I JUST CRACKED THE CEMENT?
I HEARD THE MOMENTS WHEN YOU FEEL AT OPTIMUM LEVEL IS WHEN YOUR SOUL IS CONNECTING WITH IT'S PURPOSE. IF THIS IS THE CASE I MUST BE MEANT TO HELP. HELPING OTHERS BRINGS ME THE GREATEST JOY.
PERHAPS LIFE IS WORTH LIVING WHEN LIFE IS USED TO HELP OTHERS LIVE........

ALMOST SEPTEMBER

CELEBRATION

ALMOST SEPTEMBER

THE FEMALE MC

WHAT'S HAPPENED? WHAT'S WRONG? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE STATE OF HIP HOP AS IT RELATES TO WOMEN? WHY AREN'T ANY FEMALE MCS BEING RELEASED BY MAJOR RECORD LABELS? SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FEMALE MC. SO MANY PUBLICATIONS ARE DECIDING TO NOW SPEAK ON SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BREWING FOR MANY YEARS NOW. HAS THE FEMALE MC MORPHED INTO SOMETHING WE CAN NO LONGER RECOGNIZE AS HIP HOP? OR SHOULD I SAY AT LEAST I CAN'T RECOGNIZE THEM AS MCS.
RECORD LABELS HAVE CHOSEN TO INVEST THEIR MONIES IN HIP HOP PRODUCERS AND POP FEMALES WHO ALL IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER FAVOR THE MELODIC SOUNDS OF MISSY ELLIOTT. THEY LOOK GOOD, THEY SOUND GOOD BUT THEY'RE HARDLY WHAT I WOULD RECOGNIZE AS FEMALE MCS NOR WOULD THEY WANT THAT TITLE SEEING AS THOUGH THE FEMALE MC BARELY GETS ANY ATTENTION ON A MUSIC FRONT THESE DAYS. I'M SURE THEY'RE QUITE HAPPY WITH THE POP APPEAL THEY ATTRACT MATTER OF FACT THAT'S WHAT MOST OF US AS FEMALE MCS HAVE BEEN BANKING ON.
IF SOMEONE ASKED ME.....LOL.... I'D SAY THE FEMALE MC HAS BEEN BORN OUT OF MALE CAMPS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME. THIS TIME IS NO DIFFERENT EXCEPT THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME MEN IN THE GAME THAT GET BEHIND A WOMAN AND PUSH. HE NEEDS TO BE HAPPY WITH HER POINT OF VIEW FROM THE GET GO AND NOT BE ON A MISSION TO MOLD HER TO HIS LIKING. LET HER BE!!! WITH HER JUST BEING, TRUTH WILL BE TOLD AND SHE WILL GAIN FANS FROM BEING GENUINE. SHE HAS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS TO TRULY FEEL CONNECTED TO THE MUSIC AND LYRICS AND THEN SHE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THE AUDIENCE ENGAGED.
LADIES WHO ROCK THE MIC!!!!! KICK IT!!!

LISA RAYE RAISES FUNDS FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS

Join LisaRaye and Celebrity Friends

… As She Dedicates Her Birthday Celebration to
Raise Funds For The Citizens of Turks
& Caicos

That Are Victims of Hurricane Ike
September 23, 2008
Where: The Area 643 N. La Cienega Blvd. West Hollywood. 9PM

Confirmed Celebrities include: Wendy Raquel Robinson, John Sally, Sanaa
Lathan, Elise Neal, Stacy Dash, Brandy, Malik Yoba, Kenya Moore, Alex
Thomas, Tamela Jones,
Kim Whitley, Judge Matthis and more.

Speak Of My Legacy

Seems like not long ago I stepped on to a stage in Brooklyn, NY to rock my first joint, "I Cram to Understand U". I was 16 years old and I was ready for the world. I remember before signing with a major label we were very independent. I traveled all over the eastern shore with Audio Two (Top Billin') to promote our singles to a new generation of hip hop lovers.

Since those early days I have been around the globe many times over and have had the opportunity to meet many groups of interesting people and extremely beautiful individuals. Along the way I have learned valuable lessons that are priceless and no I wouldn't change a thing. The experience is one that still brings me joy, enlightenment and excitement.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!

SLICK RICK HONORED

Finally Slick Rick earns his place in the world of VH1 Hip-Hop Honors this October 2008. He has given us so very much as artist throughout the years so it seems only right that we pay homage to the man who made us jam.

Ricky Walters born January 14 1965, better known by Slick Rick, MC Ricky D and Rick the Ruler, is a British mc, song writer and actor. Originally from London, England he moved with his family to the Bronx in 1975 where he met Dana Dane, later forming a hip hop duo as Kangol Crew. Rick's characteristic eye-patch was acquired after being blinded in the right eye by broken glass as an infant. He is best known for a series of rap recordings during the 1980s, including "Children's Story" and "La Di Da Di", B-side of Doug E. Fresh single "The Show" (1985).

Seen here is Slick Rick and his lovely wife Mandy.

almostseptember

GET LYTE

Chuck D called me a few months ago and told me to check out a new movement in Harlem and the Bronx called "GET LYTE". I did and it had me stuck for days. I called up everybody to take a look at this new dance on youtube.com. It seemed like a combination of a few dances we've seen before however the kids putting their own individual spin on things makes it extremely interesting to watch.

We recorded a song with Black the Beast from Harlem and Chuck commissioned the video by Cdoc. The video has just been completed and I'd love to premier it right here at Okaysister.com

Stay tuned for the date!!!!

Meanwhile GET LYTE is available at ITunes and various digital download sites.

ROLLING IN MY 64

NOT REALLY...I GOT JOKES...WENT ROLLERBLADING YESTERDAY AND HIT UP A COUPLE BEACHES. I LOVE IT! UNDER THAT LIL CRAZY LOOKING HELMUT I CAN BE ANYONE I WANNA. I ZOOM THRU CROWDS OF PEOPLE AND NOONE KNOWS THE WISER. MUCH BETTER, I MOVE AT THE SPEED OF LYTE AND SO I GO UNDETECTED AND COVER A WHOLE LOT OF TERRAINE. LOOK FOR ME......

LISTEN TO ME NOW

LIVE ON WGCI

New Orleans

TONIGHT ON BET

TUNE IN TONIGHT FOR AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ON BET'S BLACK CARPET.  8PM EASTERN STANDARD.  CHECK YOU LOCAL LISTING.

DJ MC LYTE

COME EAT BEFORE YOU DRINK!!! I'M SPINNING AT K24 1608 CAHUENGA BLVD IN HOLLYWOOD,CA. EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 9PM. ORDER BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR DINNER WHENEVER YOU'D LIKE, NOW THAT'S SERVICE. CHECK OUT THE INFO ON THE NEW HOTSPOT!!!

Kitchen 24 is located in Hollywood in the historic home of the famed 1960's jazz club, Shelley's Manne-Hole. Owned and operated by the late, hall of fame Jazz drummer Shelley Manne; this nightclub hosted almost every major Jazz Combo and Big Band that came through town during that era. Shelley Manne is considered one of the founding fathers of the 1950s West Coast Jazz scene. In honor of this musical tradition, Kitchen 24 will provide an eclectic variety of music to complement your dining experience.
Kitchen 24 is located at 1608 N. Cahuenga Blvd in the heart of the “Caheunga Corridor”. It is near the intersection of Cahuenga Blvd and Selma, just one block south of Hollywood Blvd. We are walking distance from the Pantages Theater and the Vine Street Metro Stop.

THE JAMES GANG

“MEET Showtime,” said Giovanni James, a musician, magician and inventor of sorts, introducing his prized dove, who occupies a spacious cage in Mr. James’s apartment in Midtown Manhattan. Showtime is integral to Mr. James’s magic act and to his décor, a sepia-tone universe straight out of the gaslight era.
Multimedia

Steampunk
The lead singer of a neovaudevillian performance troupe called the James Gang, Mr. James has assembled his universe from oddly assorted props and castoffs: a gramophone with a crank and velvet turntable, an old wooden icebox and a wardrobe rack made from brass pipes that were ballet bars in a previous incarnation.
Yes, he owns a flat-screen television, but he has modified it with a burlap frame. He uses an iPhone, but it is encased in burnished brass. Even his clothing — an unlikely fusion of current and neo-Edwardian pieces (polo shirt, gentleman’s waistcoat, paisley bow tie), not unlike those he plans to sell this summer at his own Manhattan haberdashery — is an expression of his keenly romantic worldview.
It is also the vision of steampunk, a subculture that is the aesthetic expression of a time-traveling fantasy world, one that embraces music, film, design and now fashion, all inspired by the extravagantly inventive age of dirigibles and steam locomotives, brass diving bells and jar-shaped protosubmarines. First appearing in the late 1980s and early ’90s, steampunk has picked up momentum in recent months, making a transition from what used to be mainly a literary taste to a Web-propagated way of life.
To some, “steampunk” is a catchall term, a concept in search of a visual identity. “To me, it’s essentially the intersection of technology and romance,” said Jake von Slatt, a designer in Boston and the proprietor of the Steampunk Workshop (steampunkworkshop.com), where he exhibits such curiosities as a computer furnished with a brass-frame monitor and vintage typewriter keys.

LYTE IN YOUR CITY

HEY MY PEOPLE I WILL BE IN BOSTON FRIDAY, RICHMOND, VA ON SATURDAY AND THE BLACK EXPO IN INDIANA ON SUNDAY!!! COME HOLLA AT ME AS I DJ AT THE HERBALIFE BOOTH AT THE EXPO.

CNN - BLACK IN AMERICA

On July 23 at 9pm and July 24 at 9pm, CNN will premier a series, 'Black in America with Soledad O'Brien' and I personally challenge you to watch it WITH your children, especially your sons, if you have any, uninterrupted. The aforementioned statistic and many others will be revealed during the series.

I had the privilege of meeting with Soledad O'Brien and actually SEEING this premier on Monday, and what I saw brought tears to my eyes and anguish, frustration, and a sense of helplessness to my soul.

On Monday the series will focus on Women and Families and Tuesday is dedicated entirely to the plight of the Black Man in America .

I beg and plead with you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE watch and internalize what you see and hear; no matter HOW disturbing the information revealed...you can (and will) thank me later.

NEW ORLEANS

YESTERDAY IN NEW ORLEANS I ROCKED THE HOUSE FOR 2500 PLUS PEOPLE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. WE CELEBRATED WITH A PERFORMANCE FOR THE MCDONALD'S BRAND. THE SEGMENT I WAS INVOLVED WITH WAS HOSTED BY 106 & PARK'S ROXI AND TERRENCE. I DID ALL THE HITS OF MY CAREER INCLUDING THE NEW JOINT GET LYTE. DURING THE SHOW I ASKED HOW MANY HEADS WERE ACTUALLY DOWNLOADING MUSIC AND IT WASN'T NEARLY AS MUCH AS I HAD THOUGHT. THE AUDIENCE WAS MOSTLY 80'S BABIES AND FOR SOME REASON I THOUGHT BY NOW THEY WERE ALL DOWNLOADING THEIR MUSIC. I GUESS SOME FOLKS STILL LIKE TO WALK IN TO A STORE TO PURCHASE THEIR MUSIC. NOT ME!! I'D RATHER LAY ON MY COUCH AND BROWSE THE DIGITAL WALLS OF MY MAC TO FIND NEW MUSIC. IT'S A WHOLE LOT MORE RELAXING AND I GET TO TAKE MY TIME WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT MY FEET HURTING...LOL

IN NYC

HERE ON POWER 105.1 WITH ED LOVER. WE GO WAY BACK LIKE MONTE CARLOS AND QUARTER WATERS. WE TOURED TOGETHER WITH KRISS KROSS BACK IN 92.

TONIGHT WE PERFORM AT THE PALACE IN WATERBURY, CT. WITH DOUG E FRESH, WHODINI, KANE AND SLICK RICK!! TAKING IT BACK!
HOLLA AT ME
HTTP://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MCLYTE

CHARLES HAMILTON

CHECK OUT THE BIZ

FRIDAY IN SANTA MONICA APPLE STORE

WEEN JUNE 28TH NYC

Join:
MC Lyte (WEEN Senior Advisory Board Member)
LeToya Luckett
Lil Mama
Lil Mo
Danyel Smith
Shanti Das
La La Vasquez
Alesha Renee
Melyssa Ford
Dawn of Danity Kane
Free
Julissa Bermudez

Additional special guests include:
Kevin Liles
Dr. Benjamin Chavis
Terrence J
Hill Harper
More to be announced...

Entertainment stars and executives will engage in an exciting, never seen before discussion before 3,000 young adults on Healthy Relationships, Health, Financial Literacy and Career Development/Leadership.

Women and men, please bring all the ladies in your life for this unforgettable event.

Tickets are free and doors open/pink carpet begins at 1:30 p.m.

For more details and free tickets, please log onto: www.weenonline.org or listen to Power 105.1 FM.

The movement will be televised.

NIGGER!!

WELL IF YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T HEAR THE WORD ENOUGH, HERE YA GO!! ENOUGH TO DRIVE THE NAACP MADDDD, SEEING AS THOUGH THE WORD THEY BURIED HAS RETURNED LIKE A ZOMBIE FROM THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.

FLASHBACK 2007 MY BDAY

BKYLN & THE INDIE ARTIST

CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO NY FOR THE PERFORMANCE IN BKLYN. THE BAND SHELL!! SPOKE WITH KRS AND HE SAID WHEN HE WAS HOMELESS HE USED TO SLEEP NEAR THE BAND SHELL AND DREAM OF PERFORMING THERE. NO SECRET, HE'LL SHARE HIS STORY WITH YOU IF YOU EVER MEET HIM. THAT'S WHAT I CALL MAKING A DREAM COME TRUE!!

WHEN WE PUT OUR MINDS TO COMPLETE A GOAL WE GET IT DONE. ALL THE POWER LIES WITHIN. KEEP BELIEVING IN YOURSELF NO MATTER WHAT THE ODDS. IF I SLOWED DOWN EVERY TIME SOME KNUCKLE HEAD TRIED TO SHUT A DOOR IN MY FACE I'D BE UNDER A ROCK SOMEWHERE. IF I WERE TO QUIT EVERY TIME SOME YOUNGSTER DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I'M STILL HERE AND CREATING I WOULD HAVE LET ALL THE ONES WHO DO UNDERSTAND DOWN....SH*T I WOULD HAVE LET MYSELF DOWN. SO WE ALL PUSH ON. HEARING KRS TELL ME THAT STORY JUST REMINDED ME OF THE WARRIORS WE TRULY ARE!! EVEN IN THE FACE OF MAINSTREAM WE AS INDEPENDENT ARTISTS ARE ALLOWED TO BE OURSELVES. WE CAN SAY WHAT WE WANT, HOW WE WANT, WHEN WE WANT. WE ANSWER TO NO ONE BUT THE PEOPLE!!!! WE GET TO APPEAR ON ANYONE'S RECORD WE LIKE. WE GET TO LEND OUR VOICES TO WHATEVER BRAND WE CHOOSE. IT'S LIBERATING BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT'S LOTS OF HARD WORK. WITH EVERY STEP IT'S REWARDING. THE OUTCOME IS WHATEVER I DID OR DIDN'T DO. NO ONE TO BLAME, BUT ME IN THE END. SOME CALL IT A CURSE BUT THE INTERNET, BY FAR, IS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO INDEPENDENT ARTIST.

THAT BAND SHELL SITS IN PROSPECT PARK WHERE I ROAD MY BICYCLE FOR YEARS. WHERE I SPENT MUCH OF MY YOUTH WALKING AROUND, TALKING AND LAUGHING WITH FRIENDS FROM THE BLOCK. I WILL RETURN TO THAT PARK ON JULY 13TH TO PERFORM AND IT WILL BE JUST AS CRAZY AS IT WAS WHEN I PERFORMED LAST YEAR AT MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL GEORGE W. WINGATE, IN FRONT OF 4,000 HEADS FROM BKLYN AND THE OTHER BOROUGHS. IT WILL BE A DAY TO BE REMEMBERED FOR SURE!!

PERFORMANCE

Twenty-year music veteran MC Lyte keeps it fresh by hosting a new show on BET called The Boot, extending her career as a voiceover talent, and even recording new music with the group Almost September. Hear her at her freshest in this exclusive live performance.
Apple Store, Third Street Promenade
June 20, 7:00 p.m.

VISIT WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO ON OTHER GROUPS PERFORMING FOR BLACK MUSIC MONTH.

ALMOST SEPTEMBER

NEW MUSIC

HEY MY PEEPS,
SO MUCH MUSIC OUT THERE THESE DAYS YOU GOTTA FIGHT......FOR YOUR RIGHT.....TO PARTY...LOL. YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN... I MEAN THERE ARE A FEW CDS THAT HAVE DROPPED AND THEY DESERVE SOME ATTENTION. SO RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW I'MA DO JUST THAT
NEW MUSIC
KEITH MURRY
METHOD MAN
LL COOL J
I HAPPEN TO LIKE ABOUT 4 JOINTS ON KEITH'S RECORD. U AIN'T NO GANGSTA, HUSTLE ON, HEY LADIES AND ANGER. GET THAT JOINT!!!
IT'S ONE THING IF YOU'RE AN ARTIST FROM ANOTHER ERA AND WACK BUT WHEN YOU BRING THE PAIN EVERY TIME YOU DESERVE TO BE CELEBRATED. VETERANS, KNOW THE GAME AND HOW TO PLAY. KNOW THE MOVES AND HOW TO SCORE. THE GAME NEEEEEDS US. LET'S ACT LIKE WE KNOW!!!

LUV YA! LATER

FRESH IN FROM VEGAS

TURNED IT OUT LAST NIGHT AND HAD A BALL AT THE RUM JUNGLE. NO STAGE BUT WE CRAMMED UP IN THE DJ BOOTH AND BLASTED THAT JOINT OFF!!! WHODINI DID ALL THEIR HITS, FREAKS COME OUT AT NIGHT, FRIENDS, ONE LOVE!!! YOYO REPPED FOR THE WOMEN ON THE WEST COAST AND MADE THEM SHOUT THE LYRICS ALONG WITH HER.

NOW BACK IN THE MIX HERE AT LA. ALMOST SEPTEMBER WILL BE ON AIR LIVE AT KJLH IN LOS ANGELES TONIGHT AT 9PM 102.3FM

BE SURE TO TUNE IN IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA!!!!!

MEANWHILE CHECK THIS OUT!! DUBSTEP!!

This is the new flavor for sure. She's been bubbling under ground for a sec and now she's ready to blow. Reminds me of Missy, Nelly Furtado and Macy Gray all wrapped into one. Enjoy!!!!

Love, love, love this video. Should get a whole lot of awards.

MEEE

MEEEEEE
Current mood: anxious
Category: Music

MY PEOPLE WHAT'S GOOD!!!! ALL THAT YOU MAKE GOOD IS GREAT! I AM UP LATE ON A THURSDAY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT FRIDAY HAS TO BRING. IF YOU DON'T KNOW I HAVE STARTED DJING AND THROUGH THAT I HAVE FOUND A LOVE FOR MUSIC ALL OVER AGAIN. NOT JUST HIPHOP CAUSE I LOVE HIP HOP NO MATTER WHAT BUT I MEAN ALL KINDS OF MUSIC. ELECTRO HOUSE, TECHNO, DUBSTEP!!
I DJ TONIGHT IN DIAMOND BAR AND I'M GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

ALMOST SEPTEMBER, A GROUP WE STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WILL DEBUT ON ITUNES 05/27 FOR ALL YOU MUSIC LOVERS BE SURE TO PICK UP THE 6 SONG EP. THE ALBUM WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER IN THE YEAR!!!! YOU CAN SAY YOU KNEW IT FIRST.

GET READY CUZ HERE WE COME!! LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT THE GROUP.

JARED AKA J LEE IS FROM DETROIT. REAL COOL CAT WITH A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR. HE'S THE GOLDEN BOY OF THE GROUP AND THE HEART THROB. ALL THE GIRLS LIKE J LEE CUZ HE PAYS ATTENTION. SOMETIMES SHY BUT ALL THE WAY LIVE.

WHITEY AKA YT IS THE SMOOTH OPERATOR LOL. GOTTA LOVE HIS SPIRIT. HE'S THE PEACE KEEPER AND THE MELODY MAKER. HE LOVES TO MAKE MUSIC THAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL GOOD AND PEACEFUL.

LYTE AKA LYTRO IS ME! I AM THE RHYME SPITTER, HEAVY HITTER. I LOVE STEPPING UP TO THE MIC WITH THE GOAL IN MIND OF HAVING THE LISTENER FEEL THE LYRICS. FEEL SOMETHING... AGREE OR DISAGREE BUT AT LEAST FEEL SOMETHING.

THERE YOU HAVE THE GROUP....ALMOST SEPTEMBER!!!! GET AT US!! HITTING A CITY NEAR YOU!!!

1:55 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

THE ESSENCE OF BEING EXTRAORDINARY

HERSHE PRESENTS A CHARITY BREAKFAST HONORING EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN. NIA LONG, AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS -JESSICA HARPER, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR - VENUS MANUEL, MISS BLACK UNITED STATES - CHARISSE NESBIT, AUTHOR/EDITOR.


Nia Long is a three-time Image Award-winning actress. She is best known for her roles in The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, Soul Food, Love Jones, The Best Man, Big Momma's House, Third Watch and Are We There Yet?. Nia serves as a group mentor for the HerShe Group and makes herself available to lead discussions for HerShe Group's "Girl-Talk" series. HerShe girls love to personally connect with Nia and they appreciate her honesty and genuine spirit. She is truly extraordinary.

Jessica Harper is an award-winning actress, author and recording artist. She has shared the stage with Al Pacino and won a Cable Ace award for best actress. She has written and produced muscial CDs for children, earning multiple awards and rave reviews from Entertainment Weekly, Parenting, Billboard and others. She has also penned seven picture books in the last decade, including the best-selling "Nora's Room." Charitably, she is a writing mentor to a teenage girl, under the auspices of WriteGirl. Her new series of chapter books will be coming out this spring!

Venus Manuel was crowned Miss L.A County, Miss Black California & Miss Black United States and has also been named one of the top 10 college women in the nation by Glamour magazine. Venus graduated with honors from Cal State, Dominguez Hills and has become an inspiration to young adults in the foster care system, as she is also a former foster youth. Manuel shares her story to give hope to struggling young adults.

Charisse Nesbit, also a former foster youth, is the author and editor of the new book, A Dream Deferred, a Joy Achieved which is a positive look at the foster care system through stories of its survivors who demonstrate hope for the future, even in a system often identified by abuse and neglect. With a unique perspective, this collection of inspiring stories is a testament to the fighting spirit of former foster children who have emerged from the system as successful productive members of society.

Please come and meet four incredible women at HerShe Group's first charity breakfast featuring women who have significantly impacted the lives of our youth.


This will undoubtedly be the best way to spend your Saturday morning on March 15, 2008 at Casa del Mar in Santa Monica.


The HerShe Group empowers girls in foster care to make a successful transition into adulthood by exposing them to extraordinary experiences through the arts, mentorship, adventure and education.

COOK'N TO KEEP HIM by Cheryl Mayfield Brown

Delicious, Spicy, Hot, Tasty . . . a few of the same words that apply to food can also be used to describe sensual dining experiences.

We are all very familiar with the saying, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." At one time we would probably agreed with the statement. Especially when we were trying to Get and Keep the attention of the man that you would like to one day call your own.

Do you remember the first time when you laid eyes on him? Remember when you would spend countless hours thinking of ways to "Get Him"? Remember when you would do almost anything to capture his attention. You would chant silly little prayers' "Lead me not into temptation for I can find the way myself." It was then you decided to make yourself look delicious. You went out and bought new perfumes, sexy clothes and high heel shoes (even if they did hurt your feet).

You decided to show him your old fashioned culinary skills. You prepared him a home cooked meal; from scratch. He was very impressed. This becomes habit forming for the both of you. It's fun. It's challenging. You win the prize. Your man!

As with any prize, we must on occasion, give some attention to what we have worked so hard to get and keep. (Yes, keep. Always play to keep.)

In this book you will discover how to cultivate a new kind of flavor for your relationship using and working the "cooking utensils" that you naturally possess. With these basic cooking utensils, you will learn how to peel back you inner most cooking skills so that you can and will make temperatures rise in the kitchen (and other places) so the next time your prepare a meal for your man, it won't be the spoon that he is begging to lick.

GO TO COOK'N TO KEEP HIM FOR MORE INFO

SOUTH CAROLINA

THE RAIN IS COMING DOWN LIKE CRAZY. THERE IS A TORNADO WATCH IN THE NEIGHBORING CITIES BUT GUESS WHAT? THE SHOW MUST GO ON. TONIGHT IT'S DOUG E, KANE AND WHODINI. WE DO A GREAT NUMBER OF SHOWS TOGETHER AND WE ALWAYS BRING THE HOUSE DOWN. NOT DOWN LIKE DOWN BUT DOWN LIKE WE RAISE THE ROOF. WE ARE TRULY LIKE SOME MODERN DAY HOLY ROLLERS. WE LIFT SPIRITS AND MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD!! THROUGH MUSIC AND LYRICS WE LIFT THEM OUT OF A FUNK, PUT THEM IN A GREAT MOOD AND THEY FORGET ALL THEIR TROUBLES. IT'S LIKE MAGIC SEEING ALL THOSE FACES THAT LIGHT UP DURING A CONCERT. MY EXPERIENCE ON STAGE IS ONE THAT I HAVE COME TO DEPEND ON. BEING ON STAGE FEEDS ME AS AN ARTIST AND ALLOWS ME TO SHARE MY WORLD WITH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD, I LOVE IT!!!

AT A LIVE CONCERT THE FANS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ARTISTS THAT HAVE PROVIDED THE SOUNDTRACK TO THEIR YOUNG LIVES. OUR MUSIC IS A PART OF THEIR HISTORY. THEY GET TO SHOW THEIR LOVE BY PARTICIPATING, DANCING AND RHYMING ALONG.

OKAY SISTERS

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE??

Far be it from me to impose my thoughts upon a situation such as this. I believe women get the raw part of the deal always. How is it when we look at our counterparts who have been brought in for cases much higher on the pole of importance, we find they walk away with no more than a slap on the wrist?

After allegedly purchasing firearms and such, TI gets to stay home in the comfort of his luxurious Atlanta home while nearly every woman in the game that has been taken in for something, has either done time or waiting on pins and needles to know the outcome of their cases. One case as trivial as a cell phone head bopping (don’t front like if you were pushed to the edge you wouldn’t hesitate to turn a Razor flip or a Jimmy Choo into the best kept secret weapon). Every dude from Diddy to Snoop to Barretta has walked away from doing any time behind bars. This statement is in no way saying these gentlemen committed these crimes, I’m simply saying how does the system justify sending these women away for the scuffs, bumps,bruises and white lies, which this beloved country of ours was built on.

It’s a hard-knock life in the hip-hop game simply because you are continuously being tested. Tested by the label, promoters, managers,po-po and everyone else that feels they deserve the flamboyant life of fame more than you.

These women have worked hard and performed arduous tasks to attain the notoriety that the system so eagerly desires to not only strip away but defame the African-American queen along the course.

I have faith that these women have the power to turn it all around to work in their favor. This moment in time they have all had to come to terms that they can only depend on themselves and the God within to give them the answers they need to sustain. They each have harnessed an insurmountable amount of power and prestige which has proven for many others to be unattainable. I wish these women well on the journey back to leadership where others have no choice but to accept, respect and expect the absolute best from them. My sisters….we love you.

TIME GOES TIC

How do you explain to a baby chic or chickadee that you can never get a moment back. Once lived...the moment is gone. Never spend a minute doing something you don't wanna.....Recognize that your time as well as others is extremely valuable. Don't stand people up!!! Do what you say you're gonna doooooo sucka! Ok, sorry if I hurt a few feelings but if you are sensitive to this issue you probably need to switch up your voltage and brighten your wattage. Become what you like to see in others. Be your best and only you know what that is so don't sell yourself short.

On another note, where are the leaders damnit!!! I wanna feel like I'm not alone. I know I'm not! Let's get up! Start a revolution in this hip hop game!!!! Much love to that man KRS 1. He's a new book on the way entitled, "THE GOSPEL OF HIPHOP". I can't wait for it to hit the stands so you all can check it out. I've actually got a copy and it's a walk into a well needed journey. Love that man!!! KRS 1 calls himself the teacher and we all agree to the tenth degree.

Excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF HIP HOP

CONSIDER THE IDEA THAT THIS LIFE, AS WE KNOW IT, IS SIMPLY THE DREAM OF OUR TRUE EXISTENCE AS BEINGS OF LIGHT (CONSCIOUSNESS). FOR IT IS LIGHT (CONSCIOUSNESS) THAT WE ARE, AND IT IS MORE LIGHT (CONSCIOUSNESS) THAT WE SHALL BECOME. AT THE TIME OF OUR PHYSICAL DEATHS, WE SIMPLY WAKE UP! FOR THIS PHYSICAL LIFE IS ONLY A TEMPORARY REST FOR OUR REAL EXISTENCE AS BEINGS OF CONSCIOUS LIGHT.

AND MY, IS THERE MORE. I CELEBRATE KRS1 FOR HIS EVERLASTING COMMITMENT TO HIP HOP, TO TEACHING AND TO LIFE!!! HE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST LEADERS IN THE REALM OF HIP HOP...EVER. HEY, TELL YOUR FAVORITE RAPPER TO STEP HIS GAME UP!!!

ALICIA DOES HER THING!!

Facts on Alicia!!

Alicia Keys was one of six Honorees at BET's First Annual BET Honors. Hosted by Cedric "The Entertainer," The BET Honors aired February 22. Performers included Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Wyclef Jean, and more!

Alicia won her two awards for the smash single "No One," taking Best R&B song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Check out her performance of "No One" with John Mayer at the 2008 Grammys!

Songs In A Minor, which spawned her signature hit “Fallin,” sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and garnered five Grammy Awards including Best New Artist and Best R&B Album.

Diary of Alicia Keys, which is currently 7 times platinum, captured four Grammy Awards and featured the hits “If I Ain’t Got You,” “You Don’t Know My Name,” and “Karma.”

With the 2005 release of Unplugged, which has sold 2 million copies, Keys became the first female R&B artist to have three consecutive #1 debuts on the Billboard 200 album chart in as many releases.

In total she is a nine-time Grammy Award winner!


THE ALICIA KEYS AS I AM TOUR PRESENTED BY LEXUS

(Subject to change):
DATE CITY VENUE
Sat-Apr-19 Hampton, VA Hampton Coliseum
Sun-Apr-20 Philadelphia Liacouras Center
Tue-Apr-22 Pittsburgh Peterson Events Center
Thu-Apr-24 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
Sat-Apr-26 Columbus, OH Value City Arena at Schottenstein Ctr
Sun-Apr-27 St Louis, MO Scottrade Center
Wed-Apr-30 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Thu-May-01 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
Mon-May-05 Los Angeles, CA TBA
Wed-May-07 San Diego, CA San Diego Sports Arena
Fri-May-09 Las Vegas, NV MGM Garden Arena
Sat-May-10 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
Mon-May-12 Phoenix, AZ Jobing.com Arena
Wed-May-14 Dallas, TX Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie
Sun-May-18 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Thu-May-22 New Orleans New Orleans Arena
Sat-May-24 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum
Sun-May-25 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
Wed-May-28 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
Fri-May-30 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
Sat-May-31 Cincinnati, OH US Bank Arena
Tue-Jun-03 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
Thu-Jun-05 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center at Cleveland State
Fri-Jun-06 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Sun-Jun-08 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
Wed-Jun-11 Boston, MA TD Bank North Garden
Fri-Jun-13 Washington D.C. Verizon Center
Sun-Jun-15 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
Tue-Jun-17 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
Wed-Jun-18 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

For more information on Alicia Keys and complete tour and ticket information,
please log onto www.aliciakeys.com.

FRIDAY NIGHT IN NORTH CAROLINA

I am in the pretty city of Charlotte for CIAA this weekend at a spot called "THE BIG CHILL".  I am here to host with DJ 9th Wonder and Parish of EPMD.  Wow!!  This takes me back to the days when Parish and I performed at colleges and universities all over the east coast.  Our first show together was in 86 and it was at Stoney Brook.  At that time Eric Sermon was still in college so Parish had to perform both their parts.  No one was the wiser because the two that made EPMD sound so much alike it didn't even matter.

Anyhow I look forward to tonight and of course I will give you the scoop on how it all goes down.  BTW.. I was invited to co-host a party tomorrow but I backed out once I got wind the other host was the guy who calls himself "THE PIED PIPER".

GRAMMY ORG.

As a member of the Grammy committee I urge all that have had any type of musical release to join. As a member you have the ability to vote for Grammy winners. I hear people as they watch the Grammys baffled as to how "so and so" won!! Well I'm here to tell you, you can change the fate of who takes the award home. Please visit the Grammy site and register to become a member for just a $100 annual fee.

Also look out for the new Grammy Museum. The GRAMMY Museum is one-of-a-kind, 30,000 square foot museum with interactive, permanent and traveling exhibits including:

• Four floors of dynamic and stimulating exhibit space
• More than two dozen exhibits that explore the greatest GRAMMY music - everything from Rock and Hip-Hop to Country, Classical, R&B, and Jazz
• 200 seat state-of-the-art GRAMMY Sound Stage
• A roof top terrace for special programs and private events
• Interesting and thought-provoking educational and public programs featuring films, lectures and performances

The GRAMMY Museum website is designed to keep Recording Academy members and the general public informed about exhibits, membership, public programs, performances, exclusive Recording Academy member events.

Please visit Grammy Museum.  Please sign up for the e-newsletter to received updates on the museum, exhibits and more!!

Photo Shoot

What's up my people!!! Here at a photo shoot in Silver Lake, CA. I think it's definitely going well, but you can never tell until you get the shots.

Last night I kicked a verse at the studio for a new joint called "Let's go". It's a hot lil something and I can't wait for the world to hear it.

Yesterday we had our meeting with Myspace and it went extremely well. We will keep you posted on updates concerning the group, Almost September.

ASCAP PRESENTS

Writers Roundtable

CLARK-ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
Robert Woodruff Library Exhibition Hall
111 James P. Brawley Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA
7pm to 9pm
No RSVP is required.

ASCAP will present a special "Writers Roundtable" panel discussion on Thursday, March 6, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Clark-Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA. The panel will feature some of today's top songwriters and is part of an ongoing series of professional development programs that focus on the music creation process. Moderated by ASCAP's Tremayne "Tre" Anchrum, the event is free and open to the public.
Featured panelists are:

Lyfe Jennings
Songwriter: "Never Never Land," "S.E.X.," "Must Be Nice"

Manuel Seal
Songwriter: "Always Be My Baby" (Mariah Carey); "My Boo" (Usher); "We Belong Together" (Mariah Carey)

Cri$tyle "The Ink" Johnson
Songwriter: "Touch My Body" (Mariah Carey); "Angel" (Natasha Bedingfield); "I'm Grown" (Tiffany Evans); "Hood Anthem" (Keke Palmer)

Atozzio "The Hitt Writer"
Songwriter: "Friend Me Up" (Keke Palmer); "Mama" (Chris Brown); "Holla At Ya Boy" (2 Much)

RL
Songwriter: "Butta Love," "Too Close," "I Still Love You"

KIM WAYANS ROCKS A ONE WOMAN SHOW

SATURDAY NIGHT I JOINED 65 OTHERS IN A SOLD OUT SHOWING OF A WOMAN SHOW PERFORMED BY THE KIM WAYANS.  WE ALL CRAMMED IN TO WITNESS THE LAST NIGHT OF A MONTH'S RUN OF "A HANDSOME WOMAN RETREATS".  THE TWO HOUR LONG AUTO-BIOGRAPHICAL PIECE WAS WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY KIM AND WAS FILLED WITH LAUGHTER, TEARS, AND BONE GRIPPING TRUTH.

THE STORY GOES

On the advice of her yoga instructor, a dissatisfied, panic-plagued woman attends a ten-day silent meditation retreat to root out the source of her anxiety. It's an awkward, sometimes painful, often funny journey of self-discovery. Along the way, Kim introduces many of the unique characters whose influences contributed to the Wayans Family becoming one of the most successful families in entertainment today.

THE PLAY IS EXPECTED TO RUN IN CLEVELAND FOR 2 WEEKS.  PLEASE CHECK HER OUT 

FRIDAY NIGHT (STUDIO)

LAST NIGHT PROVED TO BE QUITE PRODUCTIVE.  I HIT THE STUDIO WITH JARED, ONE THIRD OF THE NEW GROUP ALMOST SEPTEMBER.  WE WROTE TO A TRACK PRODUCED BY THE LATE GREAT JDILLA.  IF YOU'RE UNAWARE OF THE MAN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIP HOP GOOGLE HIM.  HE'S PRODUCED TALIB, MOS DEF, SLUM VILLAGE AND COMMON.  DURING COMMON'S LAST SHOW HERE IN LA, AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES, HE PAID TRIBUTE TO JDILLA.  WELL THANKS FOR JARED'S CONNECTIONS BACK IN HIS HOME TOWN OF DETROIT WE NOW HAVE A TRACK FROM ONE OF THE GREATEST HIP HOP PRODUCERS THAT EVER LIVED.

COLUMBIA, MI

A WOMAN'S WISDOM IS NECESSARY IN THE SCOPE OF ALL THAT IS AT THIS MOMENT. OR ANY OTHER MOMENT THAT LIVES TO EXIST. WHAT WOULD THE WORLD BE WITHOUT YOUR LOVE, YOUR OPINION, YOUR STRENGTH, YOUR TENACITY, YOUR FORGIVENESS, YOUR ABILITY TO SPRING BACK!!! 

YOUNG BOYS AND OLD SHOULD RESPECT AND CHERISH THE TABLE YOU SET FOOD UPON. YOU ARE, IN ESSENCE, WHAT MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND.  MY DISAPPOINTMENT IN HIP HOP DOES NOT LIE AT THE HAND OF A FEW JERK OFFS AND THEIR MISUSE OF THE POWER OF THE MIC.  MY DISAPPOINTMENT IS WITH EVERYONE THAT CAN STOP THE CYCLE BUT CHOOSE TO ALLOW IT TO PERSIST!!!! 

AS WOMEN WHO LOVE HIP HOP WE SHOULD NOT BE DISCOURAGED.  WE SHOULD SPEND OUR TIME AND OUR DOLLAR WISELY.  SPEND OUR HARD EARNED MONEY ON MUSIC WITH LYRICS THAT SHOW RESPECT, LOVE AND ADMIRATION TO THE BEAUTIFUL QUEENS THAT WE ARE.  SPEND TIME WATCHING AND LISTENING TO VIDEOS AND MUSIC THAT LIFT OUR SPIRITS AND INSPIRE OUR LIVES AND MAKE US FEEL GOOD IN A WORLD THAT TREATS US AS LAST ON THE TOTEM POLE.

HIP HOP HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOME TO ME.  SOMEWHERE I'M WANTED AND SOMEWHERE THAT FEELS COMFORTABLE.  WHY SHOULD I FEEL MISPLACED BY A FEW UNINVITED GUESTS??