Black Music month

Summer Soul Session Vol. 2

On Friday, June 24, three artists are hitting the stage for a performance you don’t want to miss.  LivSuite Presents Summer Soul Session Vol. 2, featuring Lauren White, Chris Turner, and Ife’.  These artists are an eclectic mix of R&B, Neo-Soul, Jazz, and Funk. 

Lauren White has performed with great acts, such as Chante Moore, Anthony Hamilton, and Will Downing.  Her first solo album, “The Biography”, debuted in November 2009, and her next album is set to be released later this summer.  This Washington, DC native has been described as dynamic and commanding and her performances are “guaranteed to keep the listener entertained, engaged, feeling like they are a part of the experience.”

“Love Child” Chris Turner decided at the tender age of 4 he wanted to be a singer, just like his father.  This Oakland, CA native has been performing most of his life.  Past affiliations include the SF Jazz High School All-Stars and GRAMMY High School Jazz Ensemble.  Chris has been on tour with Gwen Stefani, Chris Brown, Kelly Clarkson, and Bilal Oliver.  Currently working on his first full album “LOVEchild”, Chris was selected in February of this year by BET Music Matters as an “Artist to Watch”. 

Not only is Seattle native Ife’ a singer and songwriter-she has also started her own company, Crescendo Entertainment.  Her hope for Crescendo is that it will be “the conduit through which I not only create and produce various projects that I’ve been wanting to bring to life, but also will allow me to use my creative expression to help uplift people in their lives.  It starts with music, but that’s really only the foundation; it’s my platform to share my gifts with the world.” 

As you can see, this show on the 24th is going to be filled with wonderful talent, and if you’re in the DMV, you definitely don’t want to miss it.  The venue for Summer Soul Session Vol. 2 is XII Restaurant and Lounge, located at 1123 H Street NE, Washington, DC.   Advanced tickets can be purchased now for $20; they will be $25 at the door.  Bring your man, bring your girl, or just come by yourself.  Until next time, I’m just a Southern girl…in the city!

 

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This Week in the News

As I will be traveling tomorrow, my weekly news post is coming a day early! (Thank God for family reunions and the beach!)  As usual, here are my musings and opinions of noteworthy things that have occurred this week!

First, Game 7 is tonight!!!  It’s a night we all (well at least some) have been waiting for!  Yes, I am a Celtics fan; Kevin Garnett is my homeboy! (We don’t have each other’s numbers on speed dial, but I did meet him as a teenager at my first job.)  Also, I’m just really not a Kobe fan…but in any event, my money is on the Celtics beating the Lakers. 

For those of you who have been living under a rock, BP is still under fire.  BP testified earlier today in front of the House of Representatives in regards to the ongoing oil spill.  CEO Tony Hayward was very apologetic in his opening remarks to the House Energy Committee.  I really try not to take sides here, lest a political debate be started, but this is a topic that we should all keep an eye on.  So the only thing I will say is just make sure that you are doing your due diligence to keep up with the lastest happenings.

While (briefly) listening to the Tom Joyner Morning Show this morning, I caught the “Little Known Black History Fact”, which was about the African-American slaves who built the Capitol building. (Read details here.)  Democratic and Republican leaders were present to honor those human beings who toiled for 7 years to build the exterior of the Capitol building, and a plaque was unveiled recognizing those people.  I’m happy to know that our current leaders are still acknowledging the work that African-Americans contributed to this country.  As someone who likes to keep up with my Black history, I am glad that I can add this important tidbit to my personal library.

Tupac Shakur would have been 39 years old yesterday.  Various stations in the DC area played select songs the rapper made pretty much all afternoon yesterday.  I enjoyed listening to one mix so much that I told my co-workers that we were going to listen to Tupac in honor of his birthday.  Yeah, not such a great idea.  Unfortunately, the online station we were listening to didn’t play any edited songs, so after one too many, mf’ers, gd’s, and other choice words, I realized that Tupac wasn’t workplace inappropriate, so he had to go.  But we did recognize him!

They did it!!! Just when I thought they would be another couple together forever and never get married, Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford get married!!!  I am very happy for them!  Yes, being the traditional girl that I am, I love weddings, but more importantly, I love marriages! So I say “Congrats” to Harrison and Calista and wish them many prosperous years together!

Ok, folks, so I know there was something that I missed.  Why don’t you share it with the rest of us!  Just a little FYI, I will be attending the Digital Capital Week 140Tech Party tonight, so I’ll share my perspective with you soon!  Have a great weekend!!! Until next time, I’m just a Southern girl…in the city.

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Happy Black Girl Day

A fellow blogger, The Beautiful Struggler, came up with the concept of Happy Black Girl Day.  Essentially, HBGD is where we celebrate ALL black women and try to uplift each other instead of belittle, degrade, and diminish.  So I am taking it upon myself to help the cause of uplifting other black women.  On the 2nd Wednesday of each month, I will have some type of post highlighting and celebrating Happy Black Girl Day.  This month, as it is Black Music Month, I will be highlighting my Top 5 Favorite Black Women Singers. Now, even though you may not agree with me, this is MY list. If you don’t like them, make your own.  And I’m not saying these women are the best singers…I’m just saying they’re MY favorite!

5. Beyonce- When Destiny’s Child first came out, I was a huge fan.  But I was not a Beyonce fan.  The thing that turned it around for me was a few years back when I saw a special on E! about her life.  I realized that she and I had similar childhoods.  And while watching her on tv I saw a very humble, talented, and gracious human being.  From there, I was hooked! I purchased every Beyonce album, I watch her on tv every chance I get, and I jokingly tell my friends that I aspire to be her (via my summer body).  No matter her success, she remains that little girl from the South, which I can relate to.  Not to mention the girl can dance her tail off and she can sing.  Beyonce is just a talented performer, and I will probably be a Beyonce Stan for life.  (And I have vowed-after watching Sex and the City 2-that I will learn the choreography to “Single Ladies” by the end of the summer!)

4. Nina Simone- I first fell in love with her voice before I even knew who she was.  I first heard “Four Women” at a performance during my junior year in college, and I made it my business to find out who sang the song. From there, I found out about Nina Simone (who’s a fellow Southern girl) and listened to more of her songs.  No matter what type of mood I’m in, Ms. Nina can relate. 

3. Lauryn Hill- This girl is phenomenal…hands down!  This girl has stage presence, amazing writing talent, and she can rap AND sing.  I just really want Lauryn to come back with a bangin’ album, a bangin’ tour, something…I still blast “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” like I got it last week.

2. Brandy- Maybe it’s because I grew up listening to her, but Brandy is one of my favorite singers.  I probably know just about every lyric to each song that was released as a single.  I loved her as Danesha on “Thea” and on her own series “Moesha”.  Brandy was the good girl I could relate to, and she was talented.  There weren’t too many songs by her I didn’t like.  Some of my favorites are “Best Friend”, “The Boy is Mine” (her duet with Monica), “Full Moon”, and “What About Us”. 

1. Jill Scott- SHE.IS.THE.GREATEST. Do I really need to say more?!?! This woman is a poet, a singer, a writer…Is there anything she doesn’t do?  I love her voice, and from what I can tell, she is a great live performer.   Each and every time I listen to her live performance in Philly and she sings “You’re Getting in the Way” I sing at the top of my lungs right along with her, and I dare somebody to tell me I can’t blow.  My mother even picked on me one day as “A Long Walk” came on the radio, and I knew EVERY lyric.   Even though I’ll miss her performance in DC next week :(, I anxiously await her new album “The Light of the Sun”, which is set to be released later on this year.

Honorable Mention: Aaliyah and Faith Evans

So, there you have it, my Top 5 Black Women Singers.  Who are you favorite Black women singers?  What are some of your favorite songs by Black women? Until next time, I’m just a Southern girl…in the city.

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Black Music Month

So for those of you that don’t know, June is Black Music Month.  As someone who is an avid music lover, this is an important month to me.  Some of my favorite artists are Beyonce, Jill Scott, Maxwell, Raheem Devaughn, Mint Condition, Chrisette Michelle, Common, Lenny Kravitz, and my girlhood crush Prince (don’t judge me!).   So please take some time out of your busy schedule this month to celebrate your favorite artist.  A great site to check out is Black Music America, which highlights all genres of music that are prevalent to black artists.  If you want to stay in the know of music and artistry, this is the place to go.  Also, check to see if your city is holding any festivals or events celebrating Black History Month or even a Black musical artist.  If not, take it upon yourself to gather up some friends and have your own event where you play music by some of your favorite artists or even have a movie night and show black musicals, like “Purple Rain” (you knew it was coming), “Mahogany”, or “Dreamgirls”, just to name a few.  And we don’t have to limit ourselves to just musical artists.  Play songs by your favorite black producer or songwriter… I know I will be.   So, until next time-I’m just a Southern girl…in the city.

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