the legendary Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt
1927-2008

this cabaret and film legend passed away from complications due to colon cancer on Christmas Day 2008.

"My recipe for life is not being afraid of myself, afraid of what I think or of my opinions."

Rest in Peace, Ms. Kitt

Currently listening :
The Collection
By Eartha Kitt
Release date: 2006-12-11

the legendary Eartha Kitt

confessions 2: electric boogaloo

in the immortal words of TheBlackSnob, 'this is going to be the most awkwardly sexy four-to-eight years, ever.'

feel free to continue the inappropriate ogling, here.


Currently listening :
These Songs for You, Live!
By Donny Hathaway
Release date: 2004-06-08

confessions 2: electric boogaloo

in balance there is might.

the freejohnforte website has been replaced by:

after being granted a sentence commutation on november 25th 2008, john forté is free from prison, today. he has served 7 years out of a 14 year sentence--the mandatory minimum sentence of a conviction of 'posession with intent to distribute'-- and a relatively harsh sentence for a first-time, non-violent offender. mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses tend to unfairly target people of color in the US, leading to disproportionate sentences.

sadly, forté's myspace page has also been disabled, taking it with it the brilliant, insightful entries he would post on his blog (via a friend), while incarcerated. these are the words that affected met the most:

While falling may be inevitable, it does not have to be crippling; so when I get up, it is so I might master my balance. In balance there is might.

--john forté

Currently listening :
Atlantis: Hymns for Disco
By K Os
Release date: 2007-02-20

in balance there is might.

confessions....

ahem.

my thus far undocumented, inappropriate crush on Barack Obama has officially become even MORE inappropriate.

for more, check out Time magazine's 'Obama: The College Years.'

Currently reading:
Emergency Sex (and Other Desperate Measures): True Stories from a War Zone

confessions....

soul food: the afropolitan Grammy edition

there's nothing i love more than the discovery of a new artist who brings with them a much needed cleansing breath of fresh air. and in the face of the epidemic that is the re-birth of the vocoder (somewhere Roger Troutum is like, 'um, HELLO? REMEMBER ME???), fresh air is exactly what is required. ok, wait. i lied. there is something i love more, and that is the discovery of a new [or new to me] afropolitan artist.

when the Grammy nominations were announced last week, not one, but TWO Afropolitans were nominated in the category of Best Urban/Alternative Performance: Ethiopian-born artists, Kenna and Wayna.

i've been waxing poetic about Kenna since i first heard his 2003 album 'The Sacred Cow', which floored me with it's totally and completely blatant non-categorizationability. his very N.E.R.D infused sound was the definition of thinking outside the box and i began singing his praises far and wide to any and all that would listen.

with his next album, 'Make Sure They See My Face' (2007), he finally started to get the recognition he deserved. the tracks i cannot get enough of are 'Hell Bent', 'Free Time', and 'Say Goodbye to Love'.

and for about two weeks now, i have been captivated by the pure light that is singer/songwriter Wayna. Her rendition of Minnie Ripperton's 'Loving You' is captivating and the comparison to all the soul queens--both past and present--is inevitable.

i personally find her sound too unique to start comparing her to anyone. she's a storyteller who effortlessly combines classic soul, jazz, funk, blues, and hip hop and the result is incomparable. here are three of my favorite tracks from Higher Ground:

Daydream

Mr. Duracell

My Love

more Kenna

more Wayna

Wayna image source

Kenna image source

soul food: the afropolitan Grammy edition

funkitude

ooh, this right here is just what i needed this monday morning.
much love to vivrant thang for this, which i have blatantly ganked from her soul-full space.

check out theartist... just a-tappin his foot and getting into the grooveness.

funkitude

soul food: jazmine '5 grammy noms' sullivan "bust your windows"

disclaimer: while negrita lurves her some jazmine (5 grammy nominations, BRRRRAAAP!), she does not condone busting windows or any other act of vengeful violence. nor does she condone beyonce's bionic glove, but that's a story for another time. end disclaimer.

soul food: jazmine '5 grammy noms' sullivan "bust your windows"

soul food: india.arie 'complicated melody'

"i almost cannot sing it on key. but he means the world...to me."

soul food: india.arie 'complicated melody'

World AIDS Day 2008

today marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, and this year's theme is:

Lead-Empower-Deliver




find out what you can do to educate and inform yourselves and others in order to consciously adopt a pro-active approach to eliminating the stigma and spread of this disease and to learning how we can all live with it and support those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

World AIDS Day 2008