MY TOP TEN ADULT FILMS OF 2008

IMPORTANT: THESE DVDS ARE ADULT FILM AND ARE FOR VIEWERS WHO ARE 18 YEARS AND OLDER

Since I began to write reviews on Porn, I felt it would be nice to list my favorite top ten adult fims of 2008

1. Spilling The Tea In London (Black Men Net.com)
2. Da Hating Game (Pitbull Productions)
3. Harlem Thug Nights (Pittbull Productions)
4. Home Alone (Choclate Creme Productions) & Take It Like a Man Part 1 (Pitbull produtions)
5. Carlito Has His Way (Street Royale Productions)
6. Turned Out 2 (Chocolate Cream Productions)
7. Sauki2U (Flavaworks)
8. Lil' homes (chocolate Creame Productions)
9. Queensboro Plaza Pick up 2 (Real Urbanman Productions)
10. Ho-Tail (Chocolate Cream Productions)

GRATEFUL TO HAVE SEEN ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

Yesterday was my 38th birthday, and though I didn't go all out for it, I was blessed to have had the opporutnity to wake up, known that I lived another year.
When I arrived home from my mom's crib, I did my yearly tradition of playing
The Suprmes' classic gold single "Stoned Love" and The Four Tops' classic comeback hit "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I Got)" (No ladies, I''m not turning hetrosexual; I also share the same birthday as Abdul "Duke" Fakir of The Four Tops, who is a cool, classy guy and is the only surviving member of the Motown group, who up until 1997 was the only group to have the same original member for 43 years. I also play Stoned Love because I learned that I was born the day the song peakd at # 1 on the R&B charts. It's also my second favorite song of all time.
I play those songs everyyear because it helps me remember how God has blessed me with knowledge of music; especially Motown, and it helps me remember how these artists paved the way for many of today's singers.
Last year I went to the Boys Room and got me a lap dance, but this year my birthday was somewhat laid-back and simple. After I spent time with my Godfather, I showered, got dressed ( I don't wear jeans, sneakers or timbs on my birthday) got a hair cut, hung out with my good friend Donald Peebles, who brought me actress Victoria Rowell's autobiography. After we at BBQ's we headed to the center, and treated ourselves to a dvd, and CD's. After our hang out, I came home, and while I was on the Express bus feeling grand, I began to think how blessed I was to have people remember my birthday by calling me and sending me wishes on my myspace page, as well as friends who want to help me celebrate at a later date.
I'm grateful because there are many who aren't around to celebrate their birthdays, while many don't have loved ones to celebrate with, and that's why I'm not complaining; I'm grateful to God for waking me up to see another year.


Songs played during this post

STONED LOVE
PERFORMED BY THE SUPREMES
WRITTEN BY FRANK WILSON & YNNEK SAMOHT
PRODUCED BY FRANK WILSON
1970 MOTOWN RECORDS
LEAD VOCALS: JEAN TERRELL
BACKGROUND VOCALS: MARY WILSON, CINDY BIRDSONG, JEAN TERRELL
LINE UP: MARY WILSON, CINDY BIRDSONG, JEAN TERRELL
# 1 R&B/SOUL/# 7 POP

AIN'T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I GOT)
PERFORMED BY THE FOUR TOPS
WRITTEN BY DENNIS LAMBERT AND BRIAN PORTER
PRODUCED BY STEVE BARRI
1973 ABC RECORDS
LEAD VOCALS: LEVI STUBS, LAWERENCE PAYTON, RENALDO "OBIE" BENSON, ABDUL "DUKE" FAKIR
BACKGROUD VOCALS: THE FOUR TOPS

MY CHAT WITH SEXY GAY RAPPER

For years, many rappers have emerged from New York, California, Atlanta, Florida and the U.K., but rapper Bry’nt plans on putting Conneticut on the Hip-Hop map. Since bursting on the scene, the rapper is becoming one of the Gay community’s hottest rappers, with his rhymes, swagger, and his looks (the brother is sexy as heaven). He’s appeared in an online Gay Hip-Hop documentary, and performed at Esculitas and at the Our Youth benefit concert a few weeks ago, promoting his mix tape “Porn Star.” I had the opportunity meet him at the Our Youth concert and take a flick with him, and a few weeks later, I had a chance to speak to this sexy, professional and intelligent rapper via telephone, while he was finishing his Christmas shopping, where he spoke about his life, career, his feelings about the music industry.

SHAWN: THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTERVIEW YOU. HOW ARE THINGS GOING SO FAR?
BRY’NT: Well, “Porn Star” the mix tape has over 125 downloads, which is very good for an undiscovered independent artist and “Porn Star” 2 is gonna come out in the spring right before the album comes out. Everything is going well. I have a couple of songs coning out in a few porno movies.

SHAWN: HOW DID YOU GET INTO RAP?
BRY’NT: Well in junior high school, I had this friend who rapped, and she was real good, She could draw attention where she was at by rapping, and I wanted to emhabit that same ability, you know what I mean, like to express myself to attract attention and I though that rapping was the only way that I could express myself the best.

SHAWN: I READ YOUR BIO ON YOUR MYSPACE PAGE AND YOU WERE ALSO A PART OF A GROUP CALLED 3RD CHAPTER, AM I CORRECT?
BRY’NT: No. 3rd Degree. That’s the group me and my junior high school friend started. Me and him started a group together. We were 14 and 15.

SHAWN: YOU ALSO MERGED WITH AN R&B GROUP AS WELL.
BRY’NT: Oh yeah (both laughs). Actually 3rd Degree merged with an R&B group, and it turned into two rappers and two singers; it was an up and coming R&B group at the time that I was friends with one of the members so it became two and two and later, it was me and the two singers, but after a while, the two singers weren’t getting along with each other. So ended up parting ways. I mean there’s still love between all of us, but we weren’t gelling well.

SHAWN: IS THAT WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO BECOME A SOLO ARTIST?
BRY’NT: Well not really. I probably was (like) 16 when the group disbanded, and I was still writing rhymes. When I was in college, one of my friends knew I could rap and he was like ‘you know, it’ll be hot if you was a gay rapper right?’ You know what I mean? That’s when I started to pursue it seriously.

SHAWN: I’VE LISTENED TO YOUR CD AND I NOTICED THAT YOU RAP ABOUT VARIOUS TOPICS INCLUDING SEX, PARTYING AND DEALING WITH GUYS WHO CLAIM TO BE SINGLE, YET THEY BE ON THE DOWN LOW. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO RAP ABOUT THOSE TOPICS?
BRY’NT: (Laughs) The mix tape I say is 90% of my real life. You know what I mean? Every song it’s a idea or thought I had in my life. Being a deeivent individual; being an Gay Black male inspired me to write most of that stuff. Being in a relationship and stuff like that.

SHAWN: HOW WAS YOU ABLE TO COPE WITH YOUR SEXULAITY BEING A PART OF A HIP-HOP/R&B GROUP WITH 3 HETEROSEXUAL MALES?
BRY’NT: Um, I did what most Black men do at that age; I just kept it a secret. It was mostly a situation I kept behind closed doors and (just) dealt with it by myself. I didn’t embrace my sexuality until I graduated high school. I wasn’t so much ashamed anymore.

SHAWN: SINCE YOU’VE BEEN PERFORMING AS A GAY RAPPER HAVE YOUR FOUNT IT HARD TO BE ACCEPTED?
BRY’NT: No, not yet. I haven’t come across any bumps in the road yet because I’ve been going towards my target audience, which is the gay community, so it’s not like I was going to straight clubs trying to perform and sell my CD’s to straight people. Know what I mean? I was on the radio; the shade 45 morning show. They wanted me to freestyle and they thought I wasn’t gonna be good, but after they heard me rap, that’s when they kinda accepted me as a gay artist.

SHAWN: ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS ARE “NUTTIN’ BUT NIKES” WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THAT SONG?
BRY’NT: (Both laughs) Nuttin’ But Nikeys. I’m glad you like it.

SHAWN: Thanks.
BRY’NT: It’s about a dude getting caught by a female in a compromising situation with another man. (laughs)
BRY’NT: You asked what’s the inspiration right?
SHAWN: Yes
BRY’NT: Life (both laughs). That’s one of the only songs that has fictional elements, but it’s real.

SHAWN: ANOTHER FAVORITE IS “SHIT YOU LIKE. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO SPIT OVER THAT JAY-Z/ISLEY BROTHERS CLASSIC AND FROM YOUR OPINION, WHY DOES THE ISLEY BROTHERS' CLASSIC "BETWEEN THE SHEETS“ HAVE AN APPEAL WITH THE URBAN MUSIC COMMUNITY?
BRY’NT: The beat is hot. The Isley Brothers are phenomomus with Black love and Black romance. That’s why I think it’s popular among Black people, and I thought the beat was hot. Jay-Z had already did “Ignorant Shit” and I decided to put my own spin on it because the song it says

I got that ignorant shit you like
Nigga fuck shit.

I took that hook from Jay-z because I do make songs with a positive message people aren’t gonna cling to it the way they cling to my other songs like “Porn Star.” They wanna hear me talk about sex and stuff. They don’t wanna hear me talk about positive things, that why I make that song I got that ignorant shit cause I do. I do have those type of songs, but I do have positive songs as well as you know. You heard the entire mix tape.

SHAWN: ANOTHER FAVORITE IS "SEX,MONEY,DRUGS" WHICH DEALS WITH YOUNG KIDS GETTING WITH OLDER DUDES WHO HAVE MONEY, BLING, AND ROCKS THE TIMBS AND JORDANS WHO GIVES THEM SEX AND MONEY INSTEAD ON MENTORING AND NUTURING. WHAT INSPIRED THAT SONG AND IS THAT STILL PREVIDENT IN THE GAY COMMUNITY?
BRY’NT: It’s actually my favorite too, but “Sex Drugs Money," it’s a true story and like I’m talking about one person. It’s actually a combination of three people that I’m talking about. I think that young Black Gay men who keep their sexuality a secret they don’t know the healthy way to date so If they meet a man and he has money and he’s giving them money, they think it’s love, or if he’s having sex with you, they think that’s love, or if he’s keeping you fresh and keeping you high, they think that’s love. That’s not love. You can be tricked. You can be screwed. It happens all the time. They get love and material things mixed up. They get love and lust mixed up. It still happens to young Black men and even young Black girls. It happens to them.

SHAWN: YOU PERFORMED AT ESCULITAS LAST MONTH. WHAT WAS IT LIKE PERFORMING AT THAT LEGENDARY CLUB?
BRY’NT: I love Escculitas (laughs). Harmonica Sunbeam has been nothing but kind to me since I met her. I actually performed there this past summer and I performed at the diva search, and she found me on my space and asked me to come again. I love Esculitas, It was one of the first Gay clubs I went to when I was 18 or 19, and I like it there. I like Harmonica. That’s my girl.

SHAWN: YOU ALSO PERFORMED AT THE OUR YOUR AIDS BENEFIT WITH THE KIDS. WHAT WAS IT LIKE PERFORMING WITH THE KIDS?
BRY’NT: Well, I performed with the kids at Langstons in Brooklyn and it was the first time I performed in front of teenagers before and they had so much love for me. I guess they never saw anybody like myself who was comfortable with their sexuality and some body they can relate to. You know what I mean? And though my music isn’t for them, they still cling to me and saw me as a role model. They ignored the fact I have these adult (I laugh) songs. They ignored that. They’re in love with the fact that he’s doing it; he’s just like me. I loved performing for them. I think it’s important to look out for the kids; look out for those who are HIV positive. People shut our Gay kids. People shut out people who are HIV positive people. People shut out Gay people, so that was important to me.

SHAWN: YOU MADE AN INTERESTING POINT ABOUT THE KIDS ADMIRING GAY RAPPERS AND SINGERS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE OPEN RAPPERS AND SINGERS WHO ARE DOING THEIR THANG HAVE PROBLEMS GETTING BOOKED AT CLUBS, BUT PEOPLE WILL HIRE AND BOOK DRAG QUEENS. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
BRY’NT: I think the whole genre is still new. That’s all. Once industry people realize there’s money in the Gay rap genre and the Gay rap industry; once they realize it attracts people and people spend their money then it’ll be easy Like you say, people will pay to see drag queens. You know what I mean. Once they see Gay rappers and singers pulls crowd, then that’s when it’s gonna blow up.

SHAWN: I HAVE TO ADMIT YOU’RE AN ATTRACTIVE AND SEXY YOUNG FELLA. WHEN FEMALES FIND OUT YOU’RE A GAY MALE AND GAY RAPPER, DO YOU GET REACTIONS LIKE DAMN WHY YOU GOTTA BE GAY?
BRY’NT: Yeah (both laugh). It is what it is. I can’t control what I’m attracted to, you know. I just have to let them know this is what it is. I’m attracted to dudes. It’s not like I volunteered to do this; I was made this way.

SHAWN: YOU MENTIONED EARLIER SOME OF YOUR SONGS ARE GOING TO BE IN SOME PORN FILMS. AM I CORRECT?
BRY’NT: Yes.

SHAWN: DO YOU KNOW WHICH ONES SO I CAN KEEP AN EYE OUT?
BRY’NT: You know my song “Porn Star” right?

SHAWN: Yes.
BRY’NT: OK. “Porn Star” has a remix which was produced by a producer by Tramont and the remix is gonna be in a porno. I don’t know the title yet, but the porno is by Forbidden Funk productions and they came out with one called “Grind.” I don’t know which one of my songs is gonna be in, but I’ll let you know when I get a hold of that information.

SHAWN: YOU’VE ALSO TOOK PART IN AN ONLINE GAY HIP-HOP DOCUMENTARY. HOW DID YOU GET INVOVLED AND WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING A PART OF IT?
BRY’NT: I was very proud to be asked to do it because I didn’t even think people knew who I was. You know ? (laughs). I was just happy; I met Lester Greene. I was happy that he embraced me; another artist. That’s rare for another artist to embrace each other. I was just proud to be on there and say what I had to say and get my little bit of knowledge on what’s going on in the world of Gay Hip-Hop.

SHAWN: IN ADDITION TO RAPPING, DO YOU HAVE OTHER CAREER GOALS IN THE FUTURE?
BRY’NT: Right now, I’m in school. I’m trying to finish my degree. I wanna be a nurse if I can’t eat off my rap career, so I’m trying to finish my degree. I have one more year to go. Other than that, I model here and there. My career goals involve with my music, putting out more and more material and trying to perform more and more places.

SHAWN: IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO PERFORM WITH ANY MAINSTREAM ARTIST, WHO IT WOULD BE AND WHY?
BRY’NT: I would have to say Mary. Mary J. Blige comes to mind. When she came out I was a kid, and she was singing how I felt. You know what I mean?

SHAWN: Me too. I was in college when she first came out.
BRY’NT: Right. So I was like Mary is was sup. I wanna work with her. She was one of the artists that I felt was talking inside my heart so I wanna work with her.

SHAWN: HOW DO YOU THINK YOU’RE MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE GAY COMMUNITY AND HIP-HOP COMMUNITY?
BRY’NT: As far as the Gay community, I raised the bar as far as what is expected from the Gay Hip-Hop artists. As far as the Hip-Hop community goes, it changed the fane of rappers, you know what I mean. Not every rapper is a drug dealer. An ex-drug dealer. Everybody got a story. It’s hard to explain. I fee like I’m something different in the Hip-Hop community. Diversity is the main thing.

SHAWN: BRY’NT YOU MADE AN INTERESTING POINT. THE INDUSTRY ALWAYS SAY THEY WANT RAPPERS TO KEEP IT REAL AND BE TRUE TO THEMSELVES.
BRY’NT: Right! And I’m keeping it real. I’m being real; a Black Man’s life has yet to be told by rap artists completely. Like all we hear about how they sell drugs. What about the ones that are Gay and Bisexual? We’re missing elements to our lives in our music.

SHAWN: I’M 37 AND REMEMBER WHEN HIP-HOP WAS COMING UP. YOU HAD DIVERSITY. YOU HAD POLITICAL RAP. YOU HAD FUN RAP, AND SEXUAL RAP. NOW IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY IS BEING FORCED TO JUMP ON THE BAND WAGON.
BRY’NT: Right. It's unfortante.

SHAWN: WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT FIVE OR TEN YEARS?
BRY'NT: Hopefully, I'll be in music. That's what I want to do. I might have a family. I might depending on the next few years, I might have a career path in music or I'll have a career as a nurse.

SHAWN: WHATEVER CAREEP PATH YOU CHOOSE, YOU'LL MAKE ALOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY.
BRY'NT: (Both laugh) I hope so. I wanna help people. That's all I wanna be doing is helping people.

SHAWN: YOU'RE GONNA BE GOING TO CALI NEXT MONTH. ARE YOU EXCITED?
BRY'NT: Yes. I've never been to Los Angelas. I've neverr been to Cali period. The farthest west I've ever been is Las Vegas. So I'm excited to ge going there for the first time. Actually, I was supposed to be going on vacation just to go for un, but it turned into a business trip and recording a song, hopefully.

SHAWN: WHAT IS YOUR STYLE OF HIP-HOP?
BRY'NT: My style is life fun, shocking, edgy. I rap hard. My life is deviant; the way I rap is hard. Rugged. The music is shocking; you can dance to it. Some of it is real sad. Some of it is sexy. It's colorful. You can't expect the same thing from me. All the songs are not the same. They may have the same vibe, but it's different from each other.

SHAWN: YOU'RE BASED IN CONNECTICUT RIGHT?
BRY'NT: The situation is I go to school in Conneticut, but I'm usually back and forth here and in Connecuit. My management is out of New York, however I grew up in H60, which is Hartford Connecticut.

SHAWN: WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP THERE?
BRY'NT: Hartford is one of the most violent cities in the U.S. Alot of the West Indians when they come to this country move to Hartfield. It's very poor and it's a very homophobic city, so it's very poor; it's not a situation where there's alot of surburbss. When I was born, my family lived in Hartford for a few years. We moved around because we kept getting robbed. We ended up moving to a town called Bloomfield, which is outside of Hartfield; it's more calm. I call it a Black surburb and so when I was a teenager, I used to be in Hartford. You know what I mean? There's alot of negative things going on; people selling drugs, prosituting, fighting.

SHAWN: YOU CAME OUT FROM THAT SITUATION FINE.
BRY'NT: She (Bry'nt's mother) moved me away from that enviorment. She moved me to where I was able to have a decent childhood, where I didn't have to turn into a hustler, and stuff like that. I had the space and opportunity to go to school, but when I became a teenager, I was still rebelious because of the gay thing, that brought me back to the hood. Back to the streets, because I what's where I felt the place I felt comfortable. I was a good boy going bad (both laugh).

SHAWN: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A GAY KID WHO WANTS TO PURSUE A CAREER AS AN OPEN GAY RAPPER?
BRY'NT: Well, first of all, they have to swallow their fears; there's gonna be alot of backlash. Gay people already got gay bashers in their everyday lives. They're gonna kiss them because of their sexuality. People wanna fight; you can't be afraid of nothing. Just don't let people walk over you either. Just cuz you're gay doesn't mean you have to be stepped on. Develop a tough skin and swallow all your fears.

MY CHAT WITH SOULFUL AND COMPASSIONATE LGBT PERFORMER

Singer/Songwriter Scandelle is a talented artist who has a lot of soul and passion for his music and for people in the LGBT community who admires him for his singing, songwriting, endostrias looks and style, and for taking stands against violence towards those many LGBT youth and people, who are subjected to being attacked by people. Performing since the late 1980’s, he credits singers Grace Jones, Sylvester, Annie Lennox for inspiring him to go against the grain and not be pigeonholed as an artists, as well as crediting his late uncle songwriter Otis Blackwell for his ability to write all types of music.
I had the opportunity to meet and spoke with this wonderful, talented and passionate performer at the Our Youth AIDS Benefit where he spoke about his influences, the importance of tackling violence, his late uncle’s legacy and Annie Lennox finally getting her long over due award.

SHAWN: THANKS FOR DOING THE INTERVIEW. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING MUSIC?
SCANDELLE: I’ve been around for a minute as they said in the hood, but been doing the independent LGBT music thing for a while. I started out dancing on bar tops in the East village, honing my craft and gaining fans.

SHAWN: WHO ARE YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES?
SCANDELLE: I’m a child of the music from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s. Everything is good each year but there’s special music stuff going on thought that period. You had The Temptations. You had The Supremes. I mean how could you not be inspired? If you thought you could sing, you sang, so that’s where the music came from and it gets more and more inspiring. In fact, it was Grace Jones, Sylvester and my late uncle Otis Blackwell.

SHAWN: THAT NAME SOUNDS FAMILIAR
SCANDELLE: He wrote “Fever.’ He’s in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It’s in my family tree.

SHAWN: You started out performing in the Village. When did you start performing there?
SCANDELLE: It started I would say in the late 80’s at the Pyramid Club in Alphabet City doing drag and I lip-synched Annie Lennox, and quickly decided that from that point on that I was going to use my own singing voice, and started doing shows in different places and eventually kicked out my EP in 2003 that was really received and today I have about fifty-thousand fans, but they’re spread out thought different websites.

SHAWN: YOU MENTIONED AN INTERESTING POINT ABOUT USING YOUR OWN SINGING VOICE INSTEAD OF LIP-SYNCHING. WHEN YOU PERFORM, DOES THE CROWD BE IN AWE WHEN THEY LEARN YOU’RE SINGING LIVE?
SCANDELLE: I’m blessed. I’m blessed. I don’t wanna toot my own horn, but I would have to stay for the most part, the crowd’s reaction been very good. Very positive. Very loyal, so I would have to say it’s been a positive experience using my singing voice. I have nothing against lip-synching. (I mean) it’s about the performance (and) what you’re bringing to the table. Lip-synching has its own vibe and singing live has its own vibe. Those crowds could be tough.

SHAWN: You said you released your EP in 2003, right?
SCANDELLE: 2003. I wrote all the songs. Sang, arranged all the vocals and co-produced with a producer out in D.C. It made it to over 125 radio stations; it really got a lot of press within the community and somewhat outside the community. Still going strong.

SHAWN: YOU SAID THAT YOUR INFLUENCES ARE GRACE JONES, ANNIE LENNOX AND SYLVESTER. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THOSE LEGENDS INFLUENCE YOU?
SCANDELLE: Gender fluid. Androgyny. Power. Self-acceptance and of course their musical talents; they could blow as they say, Sylvester there’s never been a falsetto Soul singer to revival what he put out there and I’m so happy he was an influence for me, But then again the greats too including Ella, Dinah Washington. I’m a mixed bag when it comes to music. I try to sing what I love and that’s a little bit of everything. I have a Gospel record that I just released called ‘God Loves Me Too.’ We’re doing a one million plays campaign at my space to raise awareness for the end of LGBT crimes. Some of the sales will go to AVP and Our Youth.

SHAWN: THERE ARE STIL PEOPLE IN THE LGBT WHO ARE STILL BEING ATTACTED. HOW IMPROTANT IS IT FOR ARTISTS TO BRING AWARNESS AGAINST THESE CRIMES?
SCANDELLE: I think it’s important. There’s no option policy. If we’re living identifying ourselves out as LGBT people, musicians in particular we’re very much at risk for that kind of situation. We put ourselves out there and we have to be on guard. If you’re LGBT and you/re a target and even the ones who think they’re not being recognized…that DL stuff and that stuff, the dangers are so real. The numbers are climbing, even though they’re not being reported, the numbers are climbing. Unfortunately, a friend of ours Geo Vaughn was attacked in Chelsea in August. I produced a rally in September and I put together twelve or thirteen LGBT artists, musicians, singers and politicians and organizations to start what we’re gonna do annually. I also started a website called www.SubtleGenocide.com which was a tag phrase that came out for an interview; suttle meaning the media doesn’t grab hold of these painted stories long enough for people to understand that we’re being masticated right before their eyes. People are being burned alive, beheaded, kidnapped and tortured. These are things you see in third world countries on CNN News, you don’t realize it’s happening right here.

SHAWN: YOU’VE ALSO INVOLVED WITH SUPPORTING THE MEMBERS OF OUR YOUTH. HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED?
SCANDELLE: We met Rob and the kids at the rally on September 13. There’s You tube footage of the rally too if you want to direct people there. That’s how we all met. I fell in love with the kids you see. They were the ones who brought the images, the faces, the posters of the survivors. They were the ones who woke me up to the real dangers; that record is for that purpose.

SHAWN: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR ARTISTS TO BRING AWARNESS TO AIDS AWARENESS?
SCANDELLE: That’s never gonna change. The Anti-violence movement is still going on. The AIDS movement is still going on. As long as there’s AIDS, there’s gonna be a movement. It’s not a fad; people are still dying. The numbers are consistent, and people are dropping their guards in our community everyday; doing what they call bare backing and stuff like that. And you know it’s not something you can take lightly and what to be consistent with those things.

SHAWN: ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO PERFORMING?
SCANDELLE: I’ve been looking forward to tonight for a long time. I get to do my song with the kids. Some of them are performing "God Loves Me Too." I wrote it for them and the victims and survivors of gay/LGBT hate crimes.

SHAWN: IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ANY ARTISTS WHO INSPIRED YOU, WHO WOULD IT BE?
SCANDELLE: I don’t say it could be one person, but the person who touches my heart is Annie Lennox. When you talk about people, who have their coming out story, and music is a part of that when you’re young and all, that Annie Lennox album “Diva” come on. That album got me through a lot of shit. Annie Lennox is my hero.

SHAWN: LAST MONTH, SHE WAS HONORED BY THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS. HOW DID IT MAKE YOU FEEL TO SEE HER FINALLY GET HONORED?
SCANDELLE: I don’t see why it took people so long to give those kinds of accolades to her. I have a feeling though it has to do with the gender fluid thing if you ask me. I think they took their time because they didn’t know how to honor someone who was brave enough to tap into that side of themselves, but at least she was alive to receive the award.

SHAWN: EARLIER, YOU MENTIONED THAT SINGER/SONGWRITER OTIS BLACKWELL WAS YOUR UNCLE. WHAT WAS IT LIKE HAVING A FAMOUS UNCLE?
SCANDELLE: I didn’t get a chance to spend a lot of time with him. His generation in my family tree is from the elder part of the tree. My grandfather had eighteen children, and he was one of the first boys, so I learned about him primarily through an uncle that I was close to in New York and I hand a chance to meet him briefly during an honor concert that took place in Prospect Park one summer years ago. It was The Ramones that actually set up the concert for and they asked him t come as a special guest. So that’s when I met him in the park and shook hands. We look alike; it was a magic moment. He’s an important part of American music. He wrote some of the important Pop music records ever and helped make Elvis Presley bonafied music star and gave him great material.

SHAN: WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOUR CD?
SCANDELLE: What can they expect? They can expect a lot of love. A lot of soul. A lot of passion and alot of commitment to changing our situation from music to helping the LGBT life better.

MY INTERVIEW WITH PROUD LESBIAN MUSICIAN AND ACTIVIST

Lori Michaels is getting a buzz with her talents, looks, positive spirit and activism. Originally a child performer, the New Jersey native has been fighting for the rights of Gay youth since she was a teenager and her unselfish deeds have been rewarded with her being named Curve Magazine’s Entertainer of the year and DJ’s playing her music on their shows non-stop. I had the pleasure of meeting the talented singer/songwriter at the Our Youth benefit concert and right before I fixed me a plate of food, I had the opportunity to interview this wonderful lady.

Q: WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU PERFORM
A: I’ve been doing Pop, Dance, A little fusion of everything. I have a collection of love songs and depending on the venue, and the show, I have an act called Me and The Girls, and we’ve been headlining at Pride festivals and clubs nationwide, helping to celebrate the release of our CD called “Living My Life Out Loud” (and) we’re also coming upon 20 years on our non-profit organization anniversary called ‘Reach Out Inc.” Entertaining and also raising awareness and funds when we can for causes that our community cares about and should care about.

Q: HOW DID YOU GET INTO MUSIC?
A: I love music! I started piano when I was two -and-a-half years old and piano lessons. Dance lessons right after that. I started singing in church, and I just love music (and) it completely feeds my soul (laughs and smiles).

Q: WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS?
A: That’s an open-ended question. I have different kinds of taste. I love the female artists who are out. Pink, Beyonce, Rhianna is awesome. I like the guitar or piano soloists. I’m into all types of music; Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop. You know, different types of music. As a singer/songwriter/performer, I tend to lean towards those artists that not in any disrespect but do more than just hold the microphone (both laughs) so I when there’s someone who pops out as a total package and works it, I enjoy them as well.

Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PERFORMING?
A: I’ve been performing professionally since I was a kid. I was a showbiz kid. I got started at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Dancing first. Then I got into the entertainment business, but never really fully engaged in the business. I just recently started my own production company a few years ago, and that’s when I started targeting the LGBT community. I’m on out artist and I’m proud of who I am, and I’m lucky the community have embraced me as a entertainer, singer, songwriter and as someone who lives their life out loud.

Q: GREAT POINT. THERE ARE MANY OUT ARTISTS WHO ARE RECORDING AND PERFORMING ALL GENRES OF MUSIC INCLUDING POP, ROCK, R&B AND HIP-HOP, BUT MAINSTREAM RECORD EXECUTIVES WOULDN’T SIGN THEM IF THEY’RE NOT SINGING HOUSE MUSIC. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
A: I think that the music industry has changed so much and I really think its gonna continue to yet be seen; it’s gonna be an interesting time to see who comes out on top and what’s really played out there and that radio stations and video shows and the digital world. I’m leaning more towards trying to believe that the music that’s put out will speak for itself, and I hope that’s the case because there are so many talented musicians, performers that will never get a record deal and that will never get that big record deal, and you know it’s gonn be great if the times change and be able to do what they love and get it out there.

Q: YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR OWN ORGANIZATION. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RUNNING IT?
A: My non-profit organization is called ‘Reach Out Ink’ I started it many years ago when I was in high school and it’s really become an umbrella organization for various causes and we raise funds to help various communities and local families. It’s a small organization that does really big things and that’s the main reason I’m here tonight. And I believe in helping this organization..

Q: YOU ALSO SUPPORT MANY AIDS CHARITIES. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY?
A: I’m on the honorary board for the Joey Defellow AIDS foundation. We have supported local AIDS organizations and the nationally recognized as well. I’ve met a lot of people; especially kids and teens and they’ve touched my life in ways that I cannot really describe and I will continue to do whatever I can to help people living with AIDS.

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW MUSIC COMING SOON?
A: My CD was jest released a couple of months ago. It’s available digitally everywhere and in selected stores nationwide. We’re gonna be hitting at the top of the year with a dance radio campaign for a remix of my single “Meet Me at the Partay” and I’m also gonna be doing a couple of other collaborations and other projects for my music.

Q: IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO PERFORM WITH ANY MAINSTREM ARTIST, WHO WOULD IT BE?
A: Right now, I would love to perform with Pink.


For information and updates on her music, check out the following:
www.myspace.com/lorimichaels
www.lorimichaelsproductions.com

PLEASURE P DROPS TASTEFUL YET SEXY SINGLE ABOUT BEING A BACKUP LOVER

PLEASURE P
BOYFRIEND NUMBER 2
SWAGGER ENTERTAINMENT/ATLANTIC RECORDS
4 ON A SCALE OF 1-5

After releasing a heartfelt ballad asking for forgiveness, singer/songwriter Pleasure P’s current single “Boyfriend Number 2’ is a hot sexy song about being the other man who picks up the sexual slack that the primary and main boyfriend leaves off without any ounce of guilt.
Since leaving Hip-Hop/R&B group Pretty Ricky, Pleasure has been creating a buzz as a solo artist by showing his vocal skills instead of just singing hooks and bridges and though his music isn’t as raunchy as his former band mates, he was able to cook up a hot and tasteful single that has a nice combo of R&B, and Dance courtesy of the bass, beats, keyboards and classical piano riffs as well as hot lyrics.

If we don’t fuss, don’t fight, don’t argue
And second place always got a whole to prove
So whenever you get in the mood
(Just call) boyfriend number 2
Ladies if you got a man and buddy on the side
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
If you making plans cuz he don’t hit it right
Say yeah
I got a couple places I’m sure he don’t know about
The familiar you could free to go out
I’m not afraid of doin’ what he doesn’t do.

This single is hot, though he should have used his falsetto more towards the end of the song, all in all the song is good and shows that he’s capable of singing hot mid tempo joints, while showcasing his vocal skills and not limiting the subject matter.

LGBT ARTISTS LENDS TIME AND SUPPORT TO AIDS FUNDRASIER

The cold weather didn’t prevent people from attending and performing at the Our Youth’s annual fund raiser in Jersey City, and while it was cold outside, the performers each gave hot performers for a good cause; to raise funds and awareness of AIDS.
“I’m honored and completely thrilled to be a part if in some small way helping make the lives better” singer/songwriter Lori Michaels shortly before the program began.
“I will continue to do whatever I can to help people living with A.I.D.S.”
After the guests and performers talked and ate a nicely buffet of home cooked food, the program began with Miss Livertha who opened with a live version of Madonna’s 1990 top charting classic “Vogue” donned in a Black dress before she moved it and finished her performance in a sequenced gown. After she addressed and joked with the crowd, she introduced her co-host Vanessa Valtre, who’s hot and breath taking performance featured her interacting with the guest and performing back flips. In addition to her performance, she acknowledge those who have died from the disease, she also spoke about being a proud parent.
“Monday was world A.I.D.S day and we’re here to honor those who passed” she told the audience. “I can be a father and mother at the same time, but I don’t do windows and diapers.
Lori Michaels then took the stage and showcased her soulful vocals and dance moves while she performed her latest single “Meet Me At The Partay” with her background dancer and members of the Our Youth organization, which had the crowd clapping and dancing along with Ms. Sugar’s sassy performance of Jennifer Holiday’s classic “And I Am Telling You, I’m Not Going.” What made Sugar’s performance fun was when she stripped from a sequenced dress to a Home Depot apron, which she didn’t have any problems thanking for being her sponsor for her wardrobe.
“I wanna thank my sponsor for every week. Home Depot” she said.
“My body is done by Burger King.”
Miss Jennifer took the stage and encouraged the crowd to support the youth before she sang a soulful performance of Yvonne Ellman’s top charting classic “If I Can’t Have You” and showed people that Asian chicks have soul and talent.
Shirley Nixon followed and performed a routine to the hit “I Kissed The Girl” dressed in a sequenced gown and bifocal glasses, and showed the crowd that everybody is beautiful and sexy in their own way.
The organization’s president Rob D’Anthony came on stage and presented an community service award outreach worker Dolly Basin, for her work in the AIDS community.
“I have a passion for what I do. I both am infected and affected by the AIDS virus and I want to thank you.” she told the crowd as she accepted her award
After her touching speech, singer and American Idol contestant Vanessa Nicole Ortiz performed Beyonce Knowles’ current hits “If I Was A Boy” and “Single Ladies..Put A Ring On It”, with great vocals and smooth dance moves that would give the former Destiny’s Child lead singer a run for her American Express Card. Her performance was followed by Drag King performer Stefon, who rocked the crowd with his performances of Ne-Yo’s “Nobody,” Chris Brown’s “Forever” and a House remix of Beyonce’s “If A Was A Boy” in a suit, tie and hat.
Gay rappers Bryn’t and Shorty Roc added Hip-Hop flavor to the benefit by displaying their flows and styles which had the kids from the organization out their seats dancing, and nodding their heads to their beats and performances.. First Bryn;t took the stage wearing a button shirt, jeans and timberlands and performed a medley of songs from his CD including “Don’t Break It (The Condom Song) and “Brand New” as well as performed over beats by various hetero rappers and R&B singers while he danced to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.”
Brooklyn born rapper Shorty Roc took the stage and performed an accapella version of “Tipsy” as he walked down the stairs donned in a hoody, jeans and sneakers, followed by a performance of the House flavored “Two Step” and his current single “Critically Acclaim” Roc has spoke to the kids and performed at last years fund raiser encouraged the guest to use protection at all times.
Singer Lavari performed his latest single, with two of the kids from the organization performing as his background dancers, along with dedicating his performance to the late Willie Ninja, who died two years ago., followed by singer/songwriter Scandelle, who acknowledged how fan many LGBT artists have by being more open to record and perform all genres of music, before he performed his single that was inspired by catching his ex-lover cheating on him. He then performed his upcoming single “God Loves Me Too” which he calls a Gay Gospel love song. Natalie Ninja performed ‘Better Without You” while dancer Britney Houston rocked the crowd with her dance moves to the hottest club bangers including Janet Jackson’s “Feedback,” “Britney Spears’ “Toxic” Lil’ Mama’s “Lip Gloss” and Beyonce Knowles’ “Single Ladies.”
Lavari, Scandelle, Miss Vanessa and Bry’nt all retuned to the stage to perform an anti-violence song, with some of the youth who assisted them with the singing and dancing, followed by Ortiz closing the show with a soulful performance of Mariah Carey’s classic “All I Want For Christmas.”
Our Youth’s fundraiser was nice event and a way to show love and support to the LGBT community by having all types of LGBT and LGBT friendly artists perform and gives those infected and affected by the AIDS virus.

MY INTERVIEW WITH ALTERNATIVE AND INOVATIVE PERFORMER

Since Baron dropped his album “Celebrity’ this past summer, he’s been the toast of the alternative and independent music industry. Combining Rock, Tribal, Soul, New Wave, and Hip-Hop, the New Jersey native has been showing people that it’s ok to be creative and his work has paid off, when he won the Velocity Magazine Award for Best Alternative Artists as well as rocking the ceremony with his performance and unique style of fashion.
I’ve met and hung out with Baron on several occasions and I discovered that we had many things in common; we both love all types of music (especially artists from overseas) and the interview I conducted with him at the Soda Shop in Chelsea the day after Thanksgiving was a great learning experience.

Q: CONGRATULATIONS ON WINNING AT THE VELLOCITY AWARDS. WHAT WAS IT LIKE WINNING?
A: It was great. It was a honor to be there and a honor to perform there, so it was great. I did so much work on the album, so it was good to get some recognition.

Q: WAS IT YOUR FIRST TIME PERFORMING AT AN AWARDS SHOW?
A: Yes, it was my first time being at a awards show like that and also performing and seeing so many other great performers there as well. It was an honor to be a part of it.

Q: HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH MUSIC?
A: I had my first album which is “Trouble Man” and it was spoken word, and after that I was like ‘let me try something new so I started to learn how to make beats, and I contacted my friend Belief who’s a Hip-Hop producer and we started making music and we started the direction of the album.

Q: I HAVE YOUR CD AND I NOTICE THAT IT HAS DIFFERENT GENRES OF MUSIC INCLUDING TRIBAL, ROCK, R&B, NEW WAVE AND HIP-HOP. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO COMBINE ALL THOSE TYPES OF MUSIC TOGETHER?
A: I can say my I-Pod play list (laughs). During that time I was listening to a lot of Old-School Hip-Hop and a lot of 80’s and 90’s music and that’s where the Hip-Hop and Rock and New Wave feel comes from (and) I was listening to artist like God Frat and Missy.

Q: YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU DID SPOKEN WORD. HAVE YOU ALWAYS WRITTEN POETRY?
A: I’ve been writing poetry since high school, and I contributed to literary magazine for school, I didn’t start performing until well after high school and I started that in a spot called the Uforia, and then I moved here and did things at the Nyorican Café.

Q: YOU KNOW MY FAVORITE SONG ON THE CD IS THROW IT ON ME WITH BLACKBIRD (Both laughs). WHAT WAS THE INSPRIATION FOR THAT SONG, HOW DID YOU LINK UP WITH BLACK BIRD AND WILL THAT SONG BE RELEASED AS A SINGLE?
A: UM. ‘Throw it on me’ I wrote in one day. I got the track on Monday and I wrote the song the next day. The beat was just so great, and (that beat was) produced by Belief. How I linked up with Blackbird? Blackbird is my cousin; he’s family. I let him hear the track and I wanted to do a collabo with him anyway and he has an amazing voice. It was something different for him because he’s a Soul Acoustic artist, so I was like you wanna try it, and he was like ‘yeah’ so we went in and did the song. I’m glad people like it. Some other people gave me feedback about that song too. Would it be released as a single? I hope so (laughs). I hope so. I hope the whole album is released as a single.

Q: YOU’VE ALSO PERFORMED AT THE LATEX BALL. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
A: The ball was nerve wracking. Everyone has always said the gay crowds is the most critical crowd to win over. We rehearsed and everything. We rehearsed in a dance studio so the space is longer, so we practiced moving from here to there all across the stage, but when we got to the stage, all they had was a runway and we’re tripping out because we don’t have the space we practiced for and its my first time performing the song live. That and I find out we’re going on first, which even more tripped me out, but being out there, I loved it and we got some footage of them being into it.

Q: THERE’S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HAVING TO PLEASE THE GAY CROWD FIRST. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
A: To me, that’s what people say; you gotta win them over and then you win everything else over. Me as a performer, I perform everywhere so it’s not more like performing for that crowd is better, so it’s about me giving my best performance for every crowd. I never go into a performance with that mindset.

Q: THERE ARE MANY OPEN GAY AND BISEXUAL PERFORMERS WHO ARE MAKING NAMES FOR THEMSELVES. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
A: To each it’s own. T think for me going into the ‘Celebrity’ album I say it in the liner notes. I’m writing for the world. I didn’t write for the gay community or the straight community, or the Black community or the white community; I wrote for those who would see the stories.

Q: YOU ALSO DID SOME MODELING AM I CORRECT?
A: Yes (laughs)

Q: AND YOU’VE ALSO DONE MANY CHARITABLE AND COMMUNITY EVENTS
A: I’ve done quite a bit of stuff for GMHC going as far back when they this weekly poetry workshop called Giovanni’s Room. I’ve done stuff for Women with Equality. I’ve done a fundraiser for this organization called Higher Ground, which does a rehabilitation workshop for women in prison. Recently, I was a judge for this organization called New Jersey Slam which is an organization for young poets in the New York/New Jersey area.

Q: WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES?
A: This is the short list (both laugh). There’s Prince. Stevie Wonder. Missy Elliot. There’s Goldfrat. Everything But The Girl. Santa Fay. There’s Janet. Madonna; the icons. Hall & Oates. Such great songwriters. Very innovative. There’s Kayne. That’s the short list (both laugh). I can go on and on.

Q: IF YOU CAN WORK WITH ANY ARITIST, WHO WOULD IT BE?
A: Kayne. Royslin Murphy. I just recently discovered her and she blows me away. Brandy would be fun to work with. Jay-Z would be fun. Santa Fay.

Q: I NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE EXCELLENT TASTE IN MUSIC; NOT JUST THE TYPICAL R&B AND HIP-HOP GENRE. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR PEOPLE TO BE EXPOSED TO OTHER GENRES OF MUSIC BESIDES WHAT THEY’RE SUPPOSE TO LISTEN TO?
A: You know, I was thinking about that at the Tina concert. You look at Tina because she’s Black, some people have put her in the R&B category, but she said ‘I don’t want to do R&B. I wanna do Rock’ and she does Rock fabulously! You know what I’m saying? So I think in American culture, we should look outside of what the ideas of what music people should listen to. I like R&B like everyone else, but I like Trip-Top, Pop music. So I think (the) more we broaden our taste, the more we can appreciate it more.

Q: YOU GOT A CHANCE TO SEE TINA PERFORM LIVE. WHAT WAS IT LIKE SEEING HER PERFORM AT 69 YEARS OLD?
A: It’s funny cause like I told you, I took my grandmother, and my grandmother is not much older than her, so I was thinking Tina Tuner at 69 years old performing for two hours, high energy, power housing it. I have no excuse (laughs). I have no excuse not to do what I want to dream. People have no excuse for not living their dreams and not to be inspired by it; to go out and do what you love. That’s what I took home; I have no excuse not to.

Q: WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO ANY ACTING?
A: I’m not opposed to it. I would love to do it. I haven’t at this point pursued it, but yeah, I would love to do it. Right now, I’m focused on the music and performing and becoming a better performer.

Q: YOU MENTIONED AN EXCELLENT POINT ABOUT BECOMING A BETTER PEEFORMER. A LOT OF INSPRING PERFORMANCERS THINKS THAT THEY CAN JUST GET ON STAGE, SING AND LOOK CUTE.
A: When I was doing spoken word, it was me and the microphone, right, and I’ve grown accustomed and kind of mastered the microphone. With the songs I got on the album and the songs I perform it doesn’t work with just me and the microphone so it’s dancing, chorography, some visionary things and it’s like for it to be good, you have to rehearse and practice, practice, practice, which is something I wasn’t prepared for. I’m glad I’m doing it now, but it wasn’t something I was prepared for being a spoken word artist.

Q: YOUR FASHION STYLE IS ALSO INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE. WHAT INSPIRED YOUR STYLE OF DRESS?
A: I also liked to dress up. Even as a young boy. I liked to dress up and I like to dress up differently. I got comfortable being the different child and so I would dress different, and it’s always in style and it’s not always the most fashionable thing, but hey.

Q: WITH YOUR MUSIC CAREER TAKING OFF, HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO BALANCE YOUR CAREER, SOCIAL LIFE AND PERSONAL TIME?
A: I don’t know. I think it’s a possibility to create a balance for yourself. I’m trying to learn that myself, so give me a couple of years to answer that question correctly.

Q: WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?
A: Five years from now, I see me touring full time and let me be direct, have completed my third album and living the life I always wanted.

Q: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE THIRD ALBUM?
A: I would love to say that I have an idea, but I don’t. I’ve been collecting a lot of songs and sounds that I like, but I haven’t themed it yet. Right now I wanna enjoy the album and have everyone else enjoy the album, and then I’ll be able to write the next project.

Q: HOW YOU THINK YOU’RE MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
A: I think right now, what’s happing is people are shaken up by it because they don’t know how to classify it, and for me, I think it’s a good thing because it challenging to make people look at music differently and I come from a slew of artists who are doing the same thing. We’re in the information age where you can get music from all types of places and you can mix electronically music from India, Asia, Got your African drums, you know what I’m saying? I think where I am at in the music industry is a art of the new culture of artists

Q” WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN INSPRING ARTIST WHO WANTS TO BE INNOVATIVE BUT HAVE FEARS OF NOT BEING ACCEPTED?
A: Do you. Do you cause what you do put your heart and soul into what you do and people will find you, but let it be good. Also let it be good. Do you, but let it be good because there’s a lot of artists who did their thing and their thing became the hot thang. Do what you love.

Baron's CD "Celebrity" is available at CD Baby and I-Tunes
www.myspace.com/baronartist

PATTI, SARAH & NONA PUTS FANS IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE WITH LATEST SINGLE

LABELLE
SUPERLOVER
VERVE RECORDS
25 ON A SCALE OF 1-10

After releasing a hot dance track, legendary singing Soul/Funk/Rock trio LaBelle slows down the pace with their latest single "Superlover" which is already gaining lots of positive feedback on Youtube from viewers who praise Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx for recording a ballad that has a old school/classic soul feel. Since these legendary ladies reunited, many fans have been purchasing their album "Back To Now" and have dubbed this song as one of their favorites and have been contacting radio stations by phone, fax and emails to request that they play this beautiful and sexy song that has potential to receive an Grammy nomination. (It be nice if they win).
Written by the trio and Camus Celli and produced by Lenny Kravitz, the song has a nice rhythm and horn section, beautiful lyrics and caputes Patti ability to sing lead and harmonize with Sarah and Nona. Especially during the bridge of the song, where they cut loose on the call and response they perform with each other.

Never knew anybody like you
No one who move me like you do
Love on top of love
More love than I ever dreamed of
Baby-baby
Won't you take me take me and
Make me, make me
Drive me crazy
Whoa!
Superlover
Superlover Yes
I wonder
Every other lover
In the world
Make each feel
The way you make me feel

A great song for the kids and hetero folks to play while having a candlelit dinner as well as while they're cuddling, making hot passionate love and celebrating their wedding and anniversaries and it goes to show that classic loves songs by legendary artists will never go out of style. Enjoy and get your groove on.

NEW EDITION FRONT MAN WILL BE PERFORMING IN BIG APPLE

New Edition lead singer and front man Ralph Tresvant will be providing his fans with sensitivity and a great show when he hits New York in a few weeks. The talented singer/songwriter/musician will be performing at the Blender Theatre at Gramercy located on East 23 Street between Lexington and Park Avenue.
Since bursting on the music scene 25 years ago, Tresvant captured the hearts of millions as the lead vocalist of the Boston group on classics hits like "Candy Girl," "Is This The End," "Cool It Now," "Count Me Out," "If It Isn't Love" "Can You Stand The Rain" and "I'm Still In Love With You." He also scored several hits as a solo artists. including "Sensitivity" which topped the R&B charts and earned him several awards for best male vocalist, "Stonecold Gentleman" and "Do What I Gotta Do." In addition to singing, he's also a talented songwriter, who co-penned the group's 1984 radio hit "I'm Leaving You Again" which was sampled by Bow Wow and Ciara for their 2005 top charting ballad "Like You"
Though he's doing solo gigs and performing with fellow NE members Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill, he's not leaving the group; the group has performed several dates in homor of their 25 anniversary and lots of fans are excited to see him perform live this month.
"I am excited to see so many fans and music lovers supported Ralph's solo efforts" Susan Stuart, the head of the group's meetup group posted.

Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster

DETROIT RAPPER ISN'T PRACTICING WHAT HE PREACHES ABOUT RESPECT

This past summer, Detroit-based rapper and entreprenuer Trick Trick had helped break up a fight that invovled rapper Yung Berg, and when he was interviewed, he said that the Chicago-Based rapper, who was in hot heat for dissing dark-skinned females and for dissing the famous Motown city was a 'disresepctful individual' and that the world would be a better place if everybody would have respect for each other (See YOUNG RAPPER WROTE BAD CHECK THAT HIS ASS COULDN'T CASH-August 28, 2008).
Well it seems that the rapper isn't praticing what he preached four months ago because he recently disrespected Gays by saying that he doesn't want any Gays buying his latest CD.
“I’ma go on the record right now with this. Homosexuals are probably not gonna like this album,” the rapper revealed to AllHipHop.com. “I don’t want your f**got money any goddamn way. I don’t like it [homosexuality]. Carry that s**t somewhere else.”
He also recorded a song that expresses his disapproval for same-sex couples, attacking Actresses and talk-show hostess Rosie O'Donnel and Ellen Degenneres calling them dyke bitches and planning on having a missle crash their cruise ship that O'Dowell rides with her partner and children every year, but he gets out of hand on the topic of same-sex adoption, Trick Trick adamantly spits that “He goes both ways/Either way he’s gay/Ain’t no other way to say/He’s a f**king faggot so I’m lettin’ off my AK/Bust ‘em in his forehead/He ain’t worth lettin’ live/A man and man shouldn’t raise another man’s kids!”
He isn't the first rapper to record homophobic songs; his musical collaborator Emeniem recorded songs that offened the Gay community, but things changed, when he performed his hit "Stan" with Elton John on the 2001 Grammy Awards, but what got me pissed off was how Trick Trick was talking about people needing to show respect for each other, but yet not only talks about his hatred of Gays, but he does songs about killing them. Talk about being a fucking hyprcorite!!! How the fuck this nigga is going to be talking about respect, but yet he had the audacity to disrespect a group of people who are play a major role in the entertainment industry by promoting and dressing these stars? Talk about calling the kettle Black!! How the hell was he gonna know if Gay people would buy his shit? Have people screened at the record stores? Be for real; all Gays guys don't be snapping and swtiching, and not all Lesbians by bopping and nodding their heads either so he needs to grow up and stop promoting mixed messages. One mintue he's complaining about how Yung Berg being a disrespectful individaul, but yet tells people who can purchase and listen to his music, which advocates violence, hatred and ignorance? Since he don't want any of Gay people's money, I won't have any problem not purchasing to his music. Shit, I'll do something even better; I won't even download his shit either. Instead I'll continue to support artists like Nona Hendryx, Shorty Roc, Jesse-0, Bry'Nt, Nhjoi, Baron, Kin, God-Des, Boy George, Melissa Ethridge, Anye Elite Q-Boyand all the other openly Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual singers, rappers and performers, who has the heart, guts and strength to be who they are without compromising their orientation for mainstream success as well as hetrosexual and Gay-friendly artists like Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Cher, Salt-N-Pepa, Malik Yoba, Mary Wilson, Kelly Rowland, Pink, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Barbra Striesand and T-Boz.

Songs played and inspried for this blog

Tipsy (Freestyle)
Nigga Please
This Is My Quest
Pandemoneium
Performed by Shorty Roc

Not Your Average
Performed by Johnny Dangerous

Debate
Performed by Johnny Dangerous with God-Des and Lisa G.

Brand New
Shit You Like
Performed by Bry'nt

They Love It
Performed by Anye Elite

Step To This
Performed by Jesse-0

Doing My Thang
Performed by Nhjoi

System
Performed by LaBelle

MY CHAT WITH OPEN PREACHER

For many decades, many churches had been a place for people to hear the word of God, develop their vocal skills by singing in the choir, and a place to gain spiritual knowledge and healing. Sadly it’s also a place, where many members and Gays have felt judge for not dressing to their standards of wearing fancy and expensive designer suits, and for being attracted to the same sex, while the same members and preachers take part in the actions they strongly and bluntly preach against.
Well Apostle/Reverend Taruius J. Franklin is making a difference and going against the traditions by being true to himself and ministering and people of all genders and backgrounds without being selective of one’s outer appearance and orientation.
Born in California, Franklin grew up with a strong spiritual background, courtesy of his parents and Grandfather being Bishops and Preachers, who taught him the bible and importance of serving God. He was even ordained a pastor during his teen years, but like many people raised in the church, he ignored his calling due to battles with his sexuality and hypocritical non-loving behavior of many of the members, and opted to chose a career as a singer and later ran an adult entertainment company and escort service, where led to engaging in sex and drugs that led him to his death bed. God and his late father saw that he had the opportunity to make a difference in the world, so he surrendered to God and chose to be open about his sexuality on BET Live with Travis Smiley in 2000 and forming his own ministry The Agape Community Center in Atlanta Georgia, a church that is open to people regardless of race, creed and sexual orientation.
“This is not a Gay Church” he says.
“It’s a church for everybody. You’re gonna see people with suits, and you’re gonna see people in du-rags, sagging jeans, white tee’s and ice.”
I met Franklin on Black Gay Chat, and after he accepted my request to be a friend, he posted a comment about his church, and after I learned he was the pastor, I peeped the church’s site and was surprised to learn that not only was he the pastor, he’s also a great singer with a seven octave range who can sing his butt off and rocks fitted caps, du-rags, baggy jeans and timbs. After I requested an interview with him we spoke the following day, and I was captivated by his love of God, his realness, sense of humor, inner strength and business-like manner and we agreed to conduct the interview which was unexpectedly delayed due to me passing out from exhaustion and the heat in my apartment, which is a blessing to have at times. We were able to reschedule the interview for the following week, where Franklin spoke about God, music, his love of urban attire, and what types of person tickles his fancy.

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO FORM YOUR OWN CHURCH
A: First of all, I had a calling to that. I ran from that call for years until this year and it’s affirming, meaning that regardless of one’s sexual orientation, we’re also radically inclusive, including everybody who has a jaded past. Also, we’re not a traditional church, meaning you don’t have to come with a suit and tie. If you come with a suit and tie, than that’s fine, but me myself, I wear timberlands, jeans and white Tees. It’s just simply a church for people regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The bible says that those who worship him, must worship him in truth, so you’ll have to be real with yourself and who you are, and once you understand that, you’ll be God’s child. No matter what anybody says about you. There were two different experiences I had when I was six. I was six years old and I had went to Love Center Church and I remember took me; it was me and my mother, and I it was a Black Transgender woman; she sat down next to me and I knew that wasn’t a dude because she didn’t look real soft. She was hard looking. We had got up during the middle of the service and left. My mother was really uncomfortable and she never went back even though I joined when I was eighteen, I went back. Another episode when I was six years old, the singer Sylvester, God rest his soul. There was a church in Oakland California; a very known church back them and Andre Crouch was real big back then, and Shirley Caesar was coming for a concert at the church and their flight was delayed, and they (the concert promoters and audience) to prolong the concert. Well Sylvester went up to the podium and said “Praise the Lord” and what I do remember is that everybody talked about him and I knew he was a man dressed like a woman. He went to hug the pastor and she would not hug him and everybody said something about it. Even at six years old, I knew that was wrong and that everybody should have been embraced. You don’t reject anybody in church! That was always imprinted in my mind and I said ‘when I get older and get a church of my own, it would be a church where everybody will be accepted. It would be affirming and inclusive; at six years old I knew it was wrong. The bible says whoever will let them come. It doesn’t say with the exception of you can’t come. That I can’t come. It says whoever; the gay people are so whoever can come. The Lesbians, Black White, Straight, Bisexual, non-sexual. That’s what God says. Not what Man says. Not what your Bishop says. Nor what Pastor so and so who don’t like certain people and certain group says. It upset me as a six year old little boy; I didn’t know what Gay meant; all I know was that this man was dressed as a woman and he went up to the pulpit to say words and they talked about him so bad and the pastor wouldn’t hug him and I didn’t know who Sylvester was until I became a teenager and shortly he died.

Q: I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A STRONG SPIRITUAL BACKGROUND AND FOUNDATION. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
A: I was always raised in the church since I was little. My father was an Arch-Bishop. My mother is a Pastor. My grandfather was a Bishop. That’s how I was raised. The bible says train the child the way they should go and when they’re older they won’t depart from it. It’s always been in me. I love the Lord with all my fiber. I don’t compromise my love for God or my spirituality. I’m not a religious person. I’m a spiritual person.

Q: WE KNOW THAT MANY CHURCHES AND LEADERS ALWAYS CONDEM PEOPLE FOR THEIR ORIENTATION, YET THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE SAME THINGS THEY PREACH AGAINST. HOW HARD IT WAS IT FOR YOU TO COPE WITH YOUR SEXUALITY BEING THAT YOU WERE RAISED BY TWO PREACHERS
A: That’s a two-part question. Not just Black churches. Churches period. There’s a contradiction that’s straight across the board, and this is the season of change. Even when Obama takes office in January, it’s equality for everybody now. It’s gonna take some time, but regardless of your race or sexual orientation, there is no excuse for anybody to live underneath your full potential.
Aside from my parents, my father, before he died, we had several conversations, even up until the week of his death; it was very clear about my sexual orientation. My mother has a hard time with it, but she’s still my mama. I have a real stand on bisexuality and on most metro sexual people, because just as heterosexual people who hate on Gay people, there are Gay people who hate on bisexual people because they’re supposedly confused, and what’s really sad is that there’s a lot of Gay people hating on Gay people. You have to come to peace about yourself and it’s not about your momma and your daddy, and it’s no disrespect to your parents, but if your earthly parents don’t support you, the bible says that I will take you up. God has claims to all his children.

Q: I ALSO READ IN YOUR BIO THAT YOU USED TO RUN AN ADULT ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY AND ESCORTING SERVICE. WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO WORK IN THAT FIELD AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT NOW?
A: Real simple, When I ran from my call, I was doing everything that I wanted to do; from running an adult entertainment company and escorting service. Selling drugs, using drugs. Having sex with all types of people. That’s the life. Also been in entertainment for 15 years. I’m 35 now. I had partied with and sang with the most and least known celebrities. Sex, drugs and music. That’s the lifestyle of the quote-on-quote entertainment world. I completely left the ministry at 25, and at 30, that’s when I started using drugs; doing all kinds of stuff. I no longer run that now. Just the webpage and agency for singers, models, fashion designers, lip-synch models, writers

Q: WHAT WAS THE TURNING POINT THAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RENEW YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND BE OPEN ABOUT YOUR SEXUALITY?
A: I came out the closet on B.E.T. Live with Travis Smiley in 2000. Myself, Bishop Randy Cheeks, and Mark Tuggle from G.M.A.D. The topic was ‘Invisible Lives about Black Gay Men’
Even before then in the 90’s, I was still singing at Gay and Straight clubs, doing some panel conferences, to speak on the behalf of the Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Questioning community. The turning point in my life to renew my relationship with God I had a call all my life. There was no way I can preach and bash Gay people on the low which you see everybody do. I’ve always been a blunt and real person who don’t play games and lie.
I was raised in Holiness; there is on grey area. God dealt with me himself and told me to open the church. I’m not renewing my relationship with God. I surrendered myself totally to God. My father’s death last year. I had kidney failure. Here I am in the hospital in Atlanta dying and my father was in the hospital in California dying. My mother and my partner at the time was at my bedside, and my father called me and told me that I needed to surrender and God was going to heal me. I was on dialysis three times a week and God had took me off of dialysis, which is something unheard of.
I did every kind of drugs. Cocaine, Crack, Weed. I tried to take my life over the course of four years. I was hit by a car that was in a police car. God had kept me from death.

Q: I REMEMBERING WATCHING THAT BET EPISODE TWICE. WHAT WAS IT LIKE COMING OUT ON NATIONAL TELEVISION?
A: I was the first masculine thuggish dude if you remember that show-that set a standard. Every time you seen a male or bisexual on T.V., it’s always been a drag queen, a Transgender or a real feminine man. So I take pride in that finally there was somebody who was masculine and out that has high moral standards and integrity about himself. I took it as an honor and we’re gonna put it on You Tube and My Space so the new kids that’s out who never seen the show. That they don’t even know were Homo Thug came from. Me. When shows like “Noah’s Arc“ and “In the Closet” that shows Gays in a positive light, it stands on my shoulders, it stands on Mark Tuggle’s shoulders, Cleo’s shoulders, Bishop Zachary Jones’ and many others to name of few.

Q: I ADMIRE YOUR STRENGHT, ATTIRE, SINGING VOICE-YOU CAN SING YOUR BUTT OFF-AND SENSE OF HUMOR. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR YOU TO BE TRUE TO YOURSELF AS OPPOSED TO SO-CALLED TRADITIONS WHERE PASTORS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE UPPITY, WEARING EXPENSIVE SUITS AND NOT RELATABLE TO URBAN PEOPLE?
A: Cuz I’m true to myself. Like Patti LaBelle said ‘what you see is what you get.’ I stand by that everyday. Humorous, I like to laugh. I like to be happy. I don’t like drama, negativity or extra, you know what I’m saying? Life is too short; you’re gonna have challenges. You can laugh at your challenges. I’ve been singing since I was born and I was told I can sing up to seven octaves, which is unheard of for a male. Me, I can sing baritone to contralto without even blinking.
I’m a very masculine dude and I like urban wear. I like Echo, Sean John. I wear that daily. I wear that when I preach.
My strength comes from life, God. Just life. No way you can live 35 years been through what I’ve been through and be a weak person. A lot of times, it intimidates people. I have a job to do; don’t trip on that. I have a job to do. I take that very humbly and very seriously. The bible says whoever so will let them come. You’re gonna see people with suits. You’re gonna see people in du-rags, and hats in the church. You’re gonna see sagging jeans, white tees and ice.
Suits and ties are cool. If that’s how you were raised, but respect urban wear.

Q: I ALSO ADMIRE THE WORK YOU DO IN THE AIDS COMMUNITY. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR YOU TO BRING COMFORT TO THOSE WHO ARE INFECTED AND AFFECTED BY THIS DISEASE?
A: There are people in my membership who are HIV positive. There are people who have full-blown A.I.D.S. These are still God’s people.

Q: YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU’RE FORMING YOUR OWN RECORD LABEL. DO U PLAN ON SIGNING TALENTED OPENLY GAY ARTISTS AS WELL AS HETEROS?
A: Everybody. Signing everybody who has true talent. Pure talent. Pure talent is something that’s not learned. That’s nice, but there’s some people like myself that can just come out effortless, stand and deliver and blow you off the seat, under the seat, under the carpet, under the floor. Pure talent you have to be teachable. No Divas. No Prima Donnas. You’ve got to put your time in.

Q: YOU’VE ALSO MENTIONED ABOUT GOING THROUGH MANY CHALLENGING TIMES. DO YOU PLAN ON WRITING A BOOK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES AND IF YOUR BOOK WAS TO BE MADE INTO A MOVIE, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY YOU?
A: I have personally talked to E. Lynn Harris quite a lot. There’s a gentleman who was in Atlanta, but we spoke a few weeks ago; he’s in New York. His name is Jerry Headley. Several times, I started writing my book and stopped, but with the help of therapy, it will be an ongoing and I think it will be healthy for everybody and as far as who could play me, I think about that everyday who would play me has to be real. The movie is gonna be in your face. Whoever he is has to be a real flexible actor. Flexable meaning to cover every aspect of my life from birth until that point and has to be believable. I really like for it to be a Broadway play the way they did “The Color Purple.”

Q: WITH ALL THE FITTED CAPS AND DU-RAGS YOU WEAR, HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO HAVE QUALITY TIME WITH YOURSELF, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL LIFE? WHAT KIND OF GUYS CAPTURES YOUR ATTENTION AND HOW DOES FEMALES REACT WHEN THEY LEARN YOU’RE GAY?
A: Actually, I’m metro-sexual. Metro-sexual meaning I’m attracted to whoever I’m attracted too. So I’m not just gay. My quality time, I have a Godson; his name is Jonathan Mitchell. He’s 22 going on 23 and he’s been very successful. He has his own web page design and he’s he is a Gay activist like his dad. Time with myself, I’m a You Tube freak. I like to chill at the crib and I’m a spontaneous dude. Never boring. Sometimes God has me to myself to study and pray which with me being from California, I meet God is the water and the ocean. There’s no beaches or Oceans in Atlanta. When I go to South Beach, I actually used to live there for a short period of time. The type of person I’m attracted to as far as males are thuggish redbone, pretty, pretty boys. Females, you have on point, point, point, point, point (both laugh). I met Halle Berry and I was in awe. I’ve been around a lot of celebrities, and it’s rare. The only other person I’ve been in awe with was Patti LaBelle; I met her in person and kissed her hand at her book signing for “Don’t Stop the Blessing.”
I just like a person who has to be spiritual and have to love God. The first thing that comes out my mouth is what church you go to and do you believe in God? As for the females, they do trip. I have females who like me; Lesbians who like me. A lot of different people. It’s a trip when they see me rock the baggy jeans.
There are a lot of celebrities and females who are tying to make me straight. I done poked enough female couchie and dude couchie (I laugh) to last me a life time. I’m good with myself and I’m cool with my life. As for my private life, I’m a private person. Event though I’m a public person, I like to have my privacy. I get a lot of dudes saying they wanna be the first husband and the first lady. This is not a gay church/ This is a church for everybody and when I get married for real, the whole world is gonna know. I am single, period.

Q: HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU’RE MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE GAY AND CHURCH COMMUNITY?
A: As I said earlier, I just mentioned all those people who are standing on our shoulders. The fight continues. Pray for our leaders. We need your prayers. We need your prayers. I appreciate your prayers. We need support from both the Gay and straight community.

Q: IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECORD AN ALBUM WITH ANY ARITIST, WHO IT WOULD BE?
A: Patti LaBelle, Rachelle, Ferrell, Chaka Khan, Vicki Winans, my Godfather Daryl Cooley. I love that singing fool, I love him very much. Pastor Rantz Allen, Tweet, Bilal, Prince. Just various artists.

Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO SERVE GOD, BUT HAS ISSUES WITH THEIR SEXUALITY?
A: Love God. Love yourself. Stop judging yourself. God never Judges. Be true with who you are.
That’s the greatest commandment. To love thy neighbor as thy self. Live by that daily.

BEGINNING TO ENJOY LIFE

As I was getting my dance on last night, I had a great moment when a tall sexy fella wearing a fitted cap, sweat-shirt, jeans and Nike sneakers (I have a weakness for men who rocks Nikeys and timberlands) started dancing with me and for some strange reason, I didn't shy away.
Years ago, I would have been shy (I'm still am shy), but I decided to let my hair down and have a good time without feeling any ounce of guilt.
As I posted several times, I was a member of a chruch (which I call a cult) where they had members follow stupid rules and regulations, such as only attending their service and having members believe that they were the only true church who takes God's word seriously and who's going to Heaven. They also had us date within the confides of the organization to prevent the sisters from leaving and they had us attend many services and events to prevent us from straying as well as preventing members from giving into sex and masturbation. Oh yes, they was totally against sex outside of marriage and self-pleasure; they used to say that masturbation was unclean, disgusting, sinful and keeps one seperated from God.
It seemed that most of the time I was asked about my purity and if I was depressed, I was accused of lusting and masturbation, which I've done several times despite doing all things to prevent myself from doing so, including asking my Psychitrist to increase the dosage of my anti-depression medicines.
They put some much emphasis on purity it was fucking phatetic;
Once me and couple of other members had celebrated New Years at a former member's house, who suggested that we stay the night at her house so we wouldn't have to wait a long time for the train to come. We were like cool; the sisters slept in her room, while we slept in the living room, and a few hours later, my former mentor was on the phone with his mentor, who had a hissy fit about us staying over her house overnight. I'm don't remember what he was told word from word, but it was to the affect of the men not taking lead, and not being Christlike, saying that Satan could have gotten a hold of the section and we could have had sexual flings that night and we should have left them sisters there.
I laugh about that incident because the reasons were stupid.
First of all, it was mad brick that night, and being that the train was running shuttle, it would have taken us about 3 or more hours to get home (especially for the guys who lived in Brooklyn).
I had no issues because there were about two occasions, where I spend the night with a group of females and nothing sexually happen, and I was grateful that someone had consideration to allow us a place to stay instead of waiting in the cold for two trains.
Another event that I've been laughing about is the time when my former bible talk leader copped an attitude for attending my friend's 25 birthday party. One Friday, we were out trying to convert people and he wanted to know my plans for the next day.
"I'm going to my friend who left the church birthday party" I told him
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked me angrily.
"I wish you would have told me earlier so I could have spoken to J and see if it was OK for you to go."
I was shocked. He wish I would have told him earlier so he could get approval from our pastor who was 24 years old at the time. Then on Monday, he started telling me I wasn't wise and showed me a scripture talking about bad company corrupts go character
and he wanted a full report of what happened
I told him what he needed to know, and he wanted to know what made me decided to go to his party and did I ask his mother was there gonna be any alcohol there.
I couldn't beleive that incident. Getting approval from the pastor about me attending a good friend of mines party and judging his guests. People he never even knew and vice-versa.
Back to the sex topics, they would do everything to prevent us from having sexual thoughts, and not playing certain songs at parties (when they threw parties, they made sure they played the edited versions of the songs; one leader wouldn't let me play Monica and Usher's version of Midnight Star's 1983 classic "Slow Jam" though some females requested to hear the song.
That was one of the many reasons I left that place to grow and be comfortable with who I am, and though I'm still making progress, I'm doing a good job going out to parties and shaking my groove thang by myself and/or with people who show interest without any guilt or shame.
As long as I respect myself and others, I'll be good to go

Songs played during this post

Superlover
Performed by LaBelle
Written by Nona Hendryx, Patti LaBelle and Sarah Dash
Produced by Lenny Kravitz
2009 Verve Records

System
Performed by LaBelle
Written by Nona Hendryx
Produced by Lenny Kravitz
2008 Verve Records

Jumpin', Jumpin'
Performed by Destiny's Child
Written by Beyonce Knowles, Chad Elliot-Rufus Moore
Produced by Chad Elliot and Beyonce Knowles
1999 Columbia Records
Lineup" Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Le-Toya Luckett-La-Tavia Roberson

KIDS TURNED OUT FOR BEYONCE'S ALBUM RELEASE PARTY WHILE ONLY 3 RECEIVED PRIZES

Late yesterday afternoon, I was asked by DJ Baker if I was free to attend a party last night to celebrate the release of former Destiny's Child lead singer Beyonce Knowles, and I was like yes.
Afrer taking a nap, and listening to the original line-up's last hit "Jumpin' Jumpin'" I hopped in the shower, ironed my clothes, I had to look nice that night and headed into the city for the main event.
When I arrived, there were people sitting around, talking, networking and dancing, and by the next hour, one of the promoters announced that they were going to be giving away copies of Ms. Carter's latest release "I Am Sasha...Fierce" and they only gave away like 2 copies as well as a copy of her DVD.
As a person who's volunteered and attened many album release parties, it would have been nice had they gave away some promotional items like copies of the single and posters (which I took as a parting gift)
Other aspects of the party; they DJ played a nice mixture of music, including a extended rap version of her current single "Single Ladies Put A Ring On It" and a remix of her top charting 2003 hit "Crazy In Love" (The reason why I said an extended rap version is because the version had the same beat and featured a female rapper spitting a few verses on the song, while the remix had a totally different beat than the original version), but he should have played the extended version of "Get Me Bodied." There are a few of us who love Beyonce while there are many who are Beyonced out, but that's one song that must be played in it's entirely.
I had a great time (espcially when one of the party throwers danced with my despite my having to use my cane due to my knee acting up again and giving me a kiss) and I'm looking forward to attending more parties where hopefully they will be more promotional items.

NEW CHURCH TO INCLUDE ALL

My interview with the Pastor will be posted soon

BEING NOMIATED IS A HONOR

Since I was a kid, I would always watch many award shows and dream about being at one and waiting to see if I would win in the category I was nominated for. This past weekend, I finally had the experience when I attened the Velocity Magazine Awards in Washingotn DC, where I sat and wondered if DJ Baker, the host of DA DOO Dirty show, who I assit and do research for would win and call me and his lover Eric J. Parker on stage to share in the victory. It didn't happen. We lost to another online radio host, and though we lost, I was happy to have the experience of being at an awards show and being nominted, but like Patti wrote in her 1996 autobiography "Don't Block The Blessings," losing ain't fun.
I could be better about it, but I'm not, because being at the show taught me the value of hard work and acheiving your dreams no matter what obstacles are thrown in your way, and that's one reason why I have respect for the show (though the producer should have made sure our hotel accomodations were taken care of more properly and that we were given ample notice about the dress code requierments at the club where the afterparty took place; he did however made sure we got into a better hotel though which compensates for the loss, and he had some hot talent perform with the exception of the VH1 lady perform).
As I writing this particular post, fixing a pot of turkey vegetable soup and listening to LaBelle's reunion album (Yes bitches, I'm an fan of old school/classic sould music), I just had some thought of how people with talent and gifts who don't always get the recognition that they deserve until much later in life and sadly sometimes when they die, and I recall when participating in essay contests at my former church when I was a teen. The first time I particiapted, I came in first place, but then they had to do a recount and I wound up being in second place. Alot of people were saying it was unfair, but I didn't care. I was happy to win. The last time I competed, not only did I win first place, but I won a 200 scholarship, and everybody was happy that I finally got my due.

SONGS PLAYED FOR THIS POST

ROLL OUT PERFORMED BY LABELLE
WRITTEN BY WYCLEF JEAN, JERRY, NONA HENDRYX, PATTI LABELLE, SARAH DASH
PRODUCED BY WYCLEF JEAN

SUPERLOVER PERFORMED BY LABELLE
WRITTEN BY NONA HENDRY, PATTI LABELLE, SARAH DASH
PRODUCED BY LENNY KRAVITZ

SYSTEM PERFORMED BY LABELLE
WRITTEN BY NONA HENDRYX
PRODUCED BY LENNY KRAVITZ

FEELS LIKE FASHION
PERFORMED, WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY BARON

THROW IT ON ME
PERFORMED BY BARON AND BLACKBIRD
WRITTEN BY BARON AND BLACKBIRD
PRODUCED BY BARON

IF I WERE TO MEET THE NEW COMMANDER AND CHIEF AND FIRST LADY

While I was working on the previous blog, I began to think what it would be like if I given the opportunity to meet with Obama and his family at their new residence. What would I do and what would I speak about?

I would be in awe because it would be my first time in the White House and I would be somewhat star-struck meeting the President face-to-face, but I would eventually get over it and treat them with respect and speak about issues that are on my heart

1. Providing housing for low-income families and people with disabilities.
With the ecomony in it's current condition (thanks to his soon to be former tenant spending it on a stupid ass war which needs to end), many people are forced to work two or more jobs to provide a roof over their heads and floors on their feet (see Mr. Cosby, nobody pays over 500 dollars for a pair of sneakers), and most of the time people are a pay check away from being evicted. Nobody has the right to be homeless, and there should be homes provided for everybody to have a place to lay their heads instead of laying them on stone pillows.

B. There are many people living with disabilites who also find themselves finding housing and landlords who are willing to accept those relying on programs such as HASA, SSI, Section 8 and Pensions and if they do, they are more willing to accept programs that pays the full amount as opposed to take those who pay partial rent, due to the bad apples who refuses to pay their share. The ones who are responsible shouldn't have to suffer, and they should be able to have a place to live without having to go through hassles just to find a decent place to live.

2. Giving the veterans their proper benefits. Many people have enlisted in the military to fight many senseless wars, but when they return back to the US, many find it hard to re-adjust to life as a regular civilian, and they're given a choice of what benefits they can receive. Especially those who are forced to retire due to physical and mental health issues. They should be giving both SSI and their military benefits since they risked their lives to fight and return with scars that may or may not be healed.

3. Gay rights. Gays and Lesbians have been helping many people in the world of entertainment and politics for years, and they shouldn't be mistreated or not given the same health benefits and rights the hetero folks got. Especially not being to visit a loved one in the hospital who may be estranged and/or disowned from their biological families because of their orientation.


4. More funding for inner-city programs. If you don't like to see kids robbing and killing, provide a place for them go.

5. Affordable health care.

Those are the things I would speak to Obama about in a nice, mature and intelligent way.

PAINT THE WHITEHOUSE BLACK: OBAMA MAKES HISTORY

“It’s the answer that’s led those who’s been told for long you to by so many to be cynical, and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arch of history and venture once more towards a better day. But tonight, because of what we did on this day. In this election, change has come in America.”

When I heard that Obama made history, I jumped out of my bed, and gave him a standing ovation while I played Michael Jackson‘s 1996 single “HIStory“ followed by Josie & The Pussycat‘s classic “You Come A Long Way Baby“ and George Clinton‘s classic “Paint The White House Black.”
“He did it!” I yelled as Peter Jennings announced this moment in history.
Barack Obama is one truly blessed man; who ever would have thought that this man of African descent who was raised by various relatives including his late mother and grandmother, who died three days ago, would be make history by becoming the first Black President of The United States of America?
His recent victory shows that Black people are capable of doing things and having positive influences over people, and the way he conducted himself during the debates and campaign, he showed the world how far Blacks have come. From being slaves, and fighting for equality including the right to vote, attend college and to have nice jobs, and now the white house has its first Black family.

How does this makes me feel? It makes me feel great to be a part of history again; the first time I voted was back in 1989, when former Manhattan President David Dinkins was running to be the first Black Mayor of New York, and I was glad to been one of many New Yorkers who had helped him achieve his victory. 19 years later, I participated in helping elect another Black man into office, and after hearing his speech, it made me be proud to be a Black Gay/SGL men, as well as make me realize that I can achieve anything despite the obstacles that may be thrown in my path.

My thoughts on Obama’s speech, he conducted himself with class, dignity, integrity, and humility. Especially when he acknowledged his former opponent John Mc Cain, who congratulated him on his victor, and quoted speeches from the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Senator Mc Cain fought long and hard for this campaign and he had fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves” the newly elected President said during his speech in Chicago.

I also loved he showed his love and gratitude towards his wife Michelle, and his daughters who he plans on giving them a puppy as a gift for his victor, which shows that there are Black men who cares about their family, and hopefully the media will start focusing on the men who are involved with their children’s lives, whether or not they’re not in relationship with the mothers of their children.

As I played the audio tape of his speech, I began to reflect on how one of my female friends had problems deciding on who she should vote for; Obama because of he was Black and Hillary because of her gender. She decided to vote for Obama as well as other Black females who I’ve spoken to about the elections.
“I love Hilliary, but I don’t want her blowing up the world because she’s having a bad day” one author said.

There was one friend who at first refused to vote, because he felt that nothing was going to be done, but when we spoke, I was surprised to learn that he decided to be part of the solution by registering to vote.
“I’m gonna vote” he told me as we spoke Monday morning.

Another thing that I was impressed with was the amount of people who came out to vote, and as long as I’ve been voting, I’ve never waited a long period of time to vote. My time on line was approximately 45 minutes, but the touching part was seeing a homeless man vote in February, which impressed the staff who was working that day, and while some complained about his body odor, one lady wasn’t impressed.
“At least he came out to vote” she said.

I’m just overcome with happiness, and I’m glad that The White House is gonna be painted Black and it’s time for the world to stand up and bow to the world’s first (and hopefully not last) Black President Barach Obama and the first Black First Lady Michelle.

Songs played during this post and celebration

HIStory
Performed by Michael Jackson
Written by Michael Jackson-James Harris III-Terry Lewis
Produced by Michael Jackson for MJJ Productions, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for Flyte Tyme Productions
1995 Epic/MJJ Records

I Know You Come Along Way
Performed by Josie & The Pussycats
1970 Captial Records

Paint The Whitehouse Black
Performed by George Clinton with Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Yo-Yo, Flava Flave and Kam
1993 Paisley Park Records.