jay-z's life and times

jay z is blogging. 

his new site, life and times, focuses on style, leisure, sports, technology, music and art + design. it looks fly, so far.

jay-z's life and times

soul food: new music from jill scott

new track from the lovely and ever-awesome jill scott, from her forthcoming album the light of the sun.

'shame' featuring eve

 Shame - Jill Scott featuring Eve by TgotSoul 

i've missed them both.

also: here's the first single from her other upcoming album (a compilation of previously unreleased material from hidden beach called just before dawn)...her cover of bill withers' 'lovely day'

soul food: new music from jill scott

yaa, he got it: shad k wins a juno

shad k can finally polish that juno! on the first night of the juno awards, held in toronto, canada, the amazingness [sic] that is shad's tsol received the award for rap recording of the year, beating out the clear favorite: drake's thank me later. so well-deserved. this album is the freshness. (in case i haven't said it before)

shad k, 'listen'

yaa, he got it: shad k wins a juno

support good music: somi live at the jazz standard

the lovely and talented Somi is recording a live album on march 29 - 30 2011 at the jazz standard in nyc. she needs all the help she can get to make this album happen! so, please watch the video, then click on the link below and do what you can--however little--to support good music!

support good music: somi live at the jazz standard

soul food: bez's 'more you'

nigerian soul man, bez. refreshing sound. love.

soul food: bez's 'more you'

'i believe' by john forte

'i believe' by john forte

soul food: shad k's 'keep shining'

when i first heard this track on Shad's TSOL album, tears came to my eyes. a beautiful ode to all the women that have shaped and influenced his life, personally and professionally, 'Keep Shining' is positive and uplifting and reinforces that 'true beauty doesn't run from the light.' the video features women of all walks of life spreading the message. love it.

'no curls too tight, no mind too bright, no skin too dark to keep shining'

soul food: shad k's 'keep shining'

bob marley day!

today marks what would have been the 65th birthday of robert nesta marley. a visionary and a messenger, the impact of his music in my life is almost impossible to describe. i just don't remember my life without him.

bob marley day!

reality check

over the past few months, as i was making the giant leap from my secure good-on-paper job to self-employment, i kept reading and reading and researching and spouting quotes about following one's dreams and being one's authentic self (tm auntie O) and creating the change we want to see, etc, etc. there were the first few weeks of anxiety attacks, just after resigning, but those passed eventually and i submerged myself in the newness and the opportunity and all of that. i knew it would not be without its ups and downs, but i've generally been very positive and upbeat and 'woo hoo!' about the whole thing.

and then i stopped by the bank and asked for a statement, today.

i am currently still on floor in fetal position as it dawns on me that not having a regular paycheque is going to mean being devastatingly broke [uh...relatively...file this under 'high class problems'] for more than a little while. i knew that in theory, but i now have the proof in these couple of sheets of paper that i'm clutching to my chest.

WHAT HAVE I DONE!? WILL I HAVE TO GO BACK TO RAMEN NOODLES?

*plaintive wail*

alright, i'm done.

reality check

new year

 “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” 

Lao Tzu

a change has got to be made this year. 

new year

soul food: be my man

asa's latest: be my man from her album beautiful imperfection. dope video.

soul food: be my man