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.

NOAH'S ARC FILM TIES UP LOOSE ENDS WHILE ENTERTAIN AND ENLIGHTEN FANS

When Noah’s Arc first premiered on Logo three years ago, many Gays made it a habit to be home on Wednesday night to see what adventures Noah (Daryl Stevens), Alex, (Rodney Chester) Chance (Doug Spellman) and Ricky (Christian Vincent) would get into as well as how they were able to resolve conflicts and situations to help them heal. The did well in the ratings department, but when the series were canceled indefinitely, many fans were pissed to the point of having a petition send the network to bring the series back, Well Logo and the show’s creator decided to have the series into a movie, "Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom" which has fans turning out in large numbers to support, and I have to say the movie is excellent and tackles issues dealing with relationships, trusts and maturity.
The film begins with Alex, Chance, Ricky, and his date Brandon (played by Gary LeRoi Gray, who played Nelson in “The Cosby Show”). arriving in Mass chutes to help coordinate Noah and Wade’s (Jessen Atwood) wedding on his family’s property, and as soon as they enter the main house, they begin to chat while sassy Alex informs them of their responsibilities for the weekend. Afterwards Noah and Wade have a quiet moment on the patio where they hug and kiss while Noah expresses him gratitude and appreciation to Wade for allowing them to get married on his family’s property.
‘My grand father left this house to all of us” Wade says as he holds Noah close to him, before their mood of intimacy is ruined when Noah receives a phone call from his boss Brandy, who’s bitches at Noah for not receiving the script and for not receiving an invitation for the wedding.
“That’s the 5th time she called” Wade says with disgust in his voice.
Noah decides to text the information of where the nuptials take place, thinking she’s not going to attend.
“She won’t attend” Noah assures Wade as they return to the house to get their assignments from Alex, whose sassiness lights up the scene. Especially when he refers to Brandon as Ricky’s trick and while they’re at the dinner praying where Noah, and Brandon catches Ricky in his tramp mode kissing the property’s care taker. After dinner Brandon speaks to Alex about being coming to grips about his sexuality and being inspired to come out to his mother after seeing a bunch of Black Gay men being loving towards each other.
“Just make sure the choice you’re making is laying down the foundation” Alex tells Brandon before he gives him two boxes of condoms.
As Brandon walks up stairs, he sees Ricky holding Noah by his waist while they speak about the pros and cons of marriage, before Wade intervenes and informs Ricky that he’s stepping on his territory. A few minutes later, Ricky enter the room and sees Brandon’s profile on a non-sex site, and complains about marriage, while Brandon calls him mother and comes out to her, which has her pissed and him crying, and instead of Ricky being sensitive about the situation, he leaves him for a hook-up with a white man which turns out to be a bad thing; in addition to refusing to kiss, he forces Ricky to such him off, and while he’s going down on Ricky, a police car spots them and takes Ricky into custody, while Brandon reaches out to Chance and Eddie (who’s jealous of him) for comfort and wind up sharing the bed while Alex checks on Tre who’s in California watching their two-month old child they adopted.
The next day, Wade explodes when British Rapper/Actor Baby Gat (played by Jason Steele) makes an surprise visit and tries to win over Noah’s heart with flowers and gifts, while Brandy informs Noah’s she’s in town for a Party that Puffy is having at a new home he brought in the area and she wants him to show Gat hospitality so he can play in the movie he’s working on. Wade also walks out to the patio and let Noah knows that his friends aren’t too fond of him, forcing Noah to let him know that it’s going to take time for them to become close and that if he wants to marry him, let him know and before Noah can finish his sentence, Wade grabs and kisses him. One funny part of the film is when Gat and Alex read each other, and when Brandon informs him that he filmed Gat’s undercover activities and that he can easily post it on You Tube if Gat tries to disrupt the wedding. A sad moment is when Eddie tries to reminisce about his days playing in a music group and when Chance reminds Eddie he wasn’t too thrilled about his short-lived music career, he gets slapped in the face, causing the audience to give mixed reactions from the audience.
Another fun moment was when Noah, Brandon and Chance begins to vogue in the living room before they head to their separate Bachelors party, which has some nice edits of them speaking about various topics including, sexual roles, body image, using condoms while being in long term monogamous relationships, but the fun begins to end when Noah who’s drunk decides to call his future mother-in-law and informs her that Wade would love for her to be at their wedding, and when Brandon reveals to Wade and Eddie how Ricky really has feelings for Noah which confirms Wade’s suspicions of why Ricky was always flirting with him. The bachelor party gets wild when Brandy and Gat crashes, and Gat does everything to have a fling with Noah, who resists his urges despite being kissed and being dragged into the hot tub, while Chances makes out with Brandon after he informs Eddie their relationship is over, but the hottest and touching moments are when Noah catches Ricky kissing Wade, and when Alex admits to Noah that he’s in risk of losing Tre due to his dominating and controlling mouth. Noah commends him for acknowledging the problem, and encourages him to continue to learn to be more of a listener, while he encourages Chance and Eddie to work on more communication as well as telling Brandon that he can rely on his friends for being his family if his parents refuses to accept him for being who he is.
The movie ends with both the grooms parents attending, and while Noah’s mother is happy, Wade’s mother was shocked that her son was gay, and how Wade stood up to her and let her know that if she doesn’t want to accept his son’s decision, that she can leave. She tells him that somebody has to pay for the cab and Gat decides to pay in a way of showing his appreciation and gratitude., before they dance at the reception.

The movie was very great, uplifting and encouraging. I like how Patrick was able to tackle important issues that many in the Gay community deal with on a daily basis, and how people can solve them and live healthier lives. I commend him for showing Ricky’s and Alex’s sensitive sides as well as showing how mature Brandon was. Especially when he tells Ricky “though I’m only 19, I know what real love is.“ It though it would have been nice had he included music by openly Gay Singers and rappers in the film to show how far gays are coming in the industry,

LABELLE RETURNS: MUSIC'S LEGENDARY NIGHTBIRDS ARE BACK WITH NEW ALBUM IN OVER 3 DECADES

LABELLE
BACK TO NOW
VERVE RECORDS

9 Out of 1-10
Whenever journalists would interview Patti La Belle, they would always ask would she, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash would ever reunite and perform? Girlfriend would always say yes, and they have reunited for several occasions; they recorded the song “Release Yourself” for Patti’s 1991 Grammy Award winning album “Burnin” and recorded a top charting dance single “Turn It Out” for the “To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything” Soundtrack. They even reunited for two specials where Patti were honored, but many including the fans and the ladies grew tired of waiting for the original Space birds to get back together.
“Pat’s been talking about us getting back together for thirty years! Nona said in the group’s bio.“ I said, ‘we should either stop announcing it…or do it!’” “I knew it was long overdue but each time, I was not ready to do it and I had so many things on my plate.” Patti added. “My manager Damascene Pierre Paul kept asking me to do this; he was begging me and finally, I gave in. Then I said, ‘I don’t want to half–step…I will make time to do this.” Adds Sarah, “We never did a farewell tour. We just stopped. This is a way of bringing completion for the fans who were with us from the beginning.”
The group had originally began as Patti La Belle & The Bluebelles, which also featured Cindy Birdsong, who joined The Supremes in 1967, while the group carried on as a trio. Three years later, the group linked up with British producer Vicki Wickham, who gave them a music make-over by changing their name to La Belle, having them dress in silver costumes, and record songs (mostly written by Hendryx) about empowerment, sex, and politics, which became a hit with many fans including Blacks, Women and Gays, who embraced their musical mixture of Soul, Funk and Rock. They hit big with their top charting classic “Lady Marmalade” which made them the first Black group to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Sadly creative difference caused tensions in the group (Nona wanted to record Rock, while Sarah wanted to sing Dance and Patti wanted to record more ballads), and to save their friendship, they decided to split in 1976 to pursue solo projects. In addition to writing and producing for several artists including Lisa-Lisa, Nona also scored many classic hits including “Transformation” and “Why Should I Cry?” as well as forming her own record label. Sarah has scored many Dance hits while starring in several television movies and plays and singing background for The Rolling Stones as well as working with the group’s members Keith Richards on their solo projects. Patti has became a legend in her own right, scoring several classic hits including “If Only You Knew,” “New Attitude,” “If You Asked Me To” and her chart topping duet with Michael Mc Donald on the classic “On My Own.”
While they ladies were working on their solo careers, many of today’s artists have kept their music alive including Shelia E, Lady Soul and Sugar Babes who each did versions of their classic “Lady Marmalade” along with Christina Aguleria, Mya, Pink and Lil’ Kim, who’s version of the song topped the charts and earned them several awards for Best video and performance by a group or duo, while rappers Nick Cannon and Nelly sampled “Going On A Holiday” and “Isn’t A Shame” for their singles “Get Crunk Shorty” and “My Place.”
After years of waiting, the trio is back with “Back To Now” which features songs written by the trio and production by Hendryx, Lenny Kravitz, Wyclef Jean, and the legendary team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff who was able to keep the album fresh without losing their originality.
The CD opens with Hendryx’s self-penned “Candlelight” which contains a nice combo of Blues, and Soul courtesy of the guitar, piano riffs, strings and harmonies, followed by the album’s first release “Roll Out” which is getting spins in Gay clubs and moving up the charts as we speak. This track has sassy and empowering lyrics about being mistreated by a man and doing your own thing and features Wyclef singing the hook while the group’s sings harmony in a Caribbean style, but the computerized effects weren’t necessary. Especially for these talented females

I ain’t your superwoman
I ain’t your wonder woman
I ain’t gonna wash your clothes
I ain’t the floor you’re walking on
I’m gonna keep the car
Stop caring where you are
Buy your own cigarettes
Walk your own pets
I’m out the door
Tonight when you come home
I will be gone
LADIES!!!
Tonight. Ain’t gotta fight
I’ll be alright.
I see the light.

“Super Lover” is a beautiful sexy ballad that has a nice horn section and captures Patti’s ability to sing mid range as well as harmony with Nona and Sarah, further demonstrated on “Without You In My Life, which contains heartfelt lyrics penned by the group and “System” which is one of my favorites songs on this CD. In addition to the music, the songs has creative social conscious lyrics that tells people (especially politicians and homophobic pastors) not to impose their narrow-minded views on people because they wouldn’t like it if the tables were turned.

Please don’t take that attitude
Now who’s reflecting who?
I control the multitude
Tell me which one would you chose?
It’s up to me to whatever you’re gonna be in the end
System don’t bother me
System don’t worry me.


Nona cuts loose vocally on the hard rocking “Truth Will Set You Free” which has hot Rock guitars solos and lyrics encouraging people to be who they are without compromise and to put their trust in God, while they tackle issues of war, poverty, haterism, abandonment of children and violence of the Caribbean flavored “Tears For The World” which should have had more balanced percussion, but the vocals compensates for the loss along with the Nona-produced “Dear Rosa” a beautiful tribute to the late Civil Right leader whose refusal to give her seat for a white passenger resulted in her being arrested and for equality for many Southerners who experienced racism on a daily basis and the Disco-flavored “How Long“ The CD closes with the group’s 1970 original recording of the Cole Porter classic “Miss Otis Regrets,” a treat for longtime fans who were eager to see how the former Bluebelles was going to succeed with the new direction they planned to take.
Patti, Nona and Sarah recorded a good album, and it shows that they haven't lost their touch to record thought proviking songs that touches the hearts and souls of fans who love good music, and it show how they were able to maintain their originality as opposed to jumping on the everchanging music band wagon to acheive success.

This review is dedicated to those who impact people in positive ways including My brother Garry, My Godfather Donald, Obama, Da Doo Dirty Show and Beautiful Boyz of Pride Network.
This review is also dedicated to the memories of James Budd Ellison-La Belle's original music director, My grandmother Clythia Dorsey, My great-aunt Manda Lowery and my uncles and friends Phillip Howell and Robert Spellman

CHELSEA CLUB HAS PACKED NICE ON OPENING NIGHT

Club Madison had a great turn out for it's opening night, and the crowd wasn't disappointed. Co-sponered and hosted by BKen, the party was held in a nice bar that has a classy, laid back and sexy atmopshere, which gives party goers the feeling of comfort while they're dancing and lounging. DJ Styles played a hot mixture of R&B, Hip-Hop, Reggae and Soca, and even gave a shout outs to both the Gay and Lesbians, as well as acknowledging the sexy Americans and Caribbeans who were in attendance last night.
Another highlight was the exotic dancer that was hired to perform. The London born dancer had a nice built, dancing skills, and great personality that kept me going back to him. Hopefully they will hire him more often and have more than one dancer to keep the crowd's fantasies fulfilled.
It was great to see be at a place where the music and staff was nice. Especially the exotic dancer that was hired to perform. He had a nice built, great moves and a great personality.

BECAREFUL OF WHO YOU THROW SHADE AT

I had the opportunity to attend the Gay Erotic Expo this weekend, and I was able to take a picture with one of the models who was passing out copies of HX Magazine. Not only did he have a nice body (I have a thing for men who has nice chests), he had a nice personality and was very down to earth.
Later that afternoon, after squeezing through the crowd (hopefully they will have the expo in a larger area and have more ethnic companies there), I walked over to a table and saw three sexy models at a table smiling and greeting the guests. Let me rephrase that, they were being more flritatious with a White man while one gave me mixed actions. Even though this model was nice looking and plesant, he could have been more respectful and professional.

This particular post is one of many I've been wanting to write for a long time, but never got around to doing so. Now that I have the opportunity, inspiration and heart, I will write how I feel about many public figures, who feel they can treat and talk to anybody they want to. I've met and interviewed many singers, rappers, authors and adult film stars, and I was blessed to have good experiences with them, but there are some I've met who feel that the world owes them something.

2 years ago durng Gay Pride day, I met a group of models and purchased their calendars and get photographs. When they arrived, I purchased the calendar, got autographs, and photographs with them, and they were very nice. All but one, who I don't know, may have woked up on the wrong side of the bed that morning. I asked him for an autograph, and he said he would be with me in a moment. He wanted to cater to the females who were there, and I allowed him to give them autographs and take photographs with them. A few minutes later, I got his autograph and asked him for a photo. I went to put my arm on his shoulder, and he got an attitude
"OOh! Don't touch me!" he screamed.
I was shocked at his attitude. It wasn't like I grabbed his dick and ass; I just simply put my arm on his shoulder like I did with the other models who had no problem. Especially since they pose with females and males at events.
A former associate cussed him out
"You got some damn nerve being shady, yet my boy paid for your motherfucking calendar!" he said disgusted at his behavoir.

A few months ago, I was at a club when I saw this former porn star who I met before he entered the industry. We danced and I spoked to him about appearing on DA DOO Dirty show. Afterwards, he was like "I'm thirsty, buy me a drink!"
I was totally shocked at his command and outburst. This isn't the same kid I met at an awards dinenr, who spoke about the importance of showing and receiving respect. I said to myself. I didn't get him the drink for two reasons
1. My money was low
2. His attitude.

My nice nature began to eat at my conscience after the second incident; I left the club feeling bad at not telling him no, but after I re-examined the incident and spoke to a few friends, I realized that I had did the right thing. Especially since he didn't ask me in a nice manner to buy him a drink.

Being in the public eye has many pros and cons. The pros are being famous, recognized, and being able to travel the world, and experience other cultures, but the cons are constanly not having the ability to have quality time with family, friends, partners, and making sure a person isn't trying to hang because of their status or materialistic items they have, and it's hard to cater and please everyone, but there are things that are totally unexcusable such as being nice to certain fans because of their looks and physique, while overlooking the one's who may be full-figured and laid-back because they may be the ones who buys their products and they could be journalist and bloggers who will put you on blast.

The point: show respect because you the person who is getting shade thrown at them may be the ones who could help end and (may-be) re-start your career.

Songs inspired for this post

Think
Performed by Patra and Lynn Collins-The Sultry Siren of Funk
Written by James Brown-Lynn Collins & Patra
1993 Epic Records

Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)
Performed by The Temptations
Written by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong
Produced by Norman Whitfield
1972 Gordy Records

After All This Time
Performed by Simon Webbe
2005 Innocent/Virgin Records

Runnin' Back To You
Performed by Vanessa Williams
1991 Wing/Mercury Records

DIRECTOR HIRES AVERAGE AND SEXY LOOKING MEN FOR HOT SEQUEL

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A POSITIVE FLASHBACK

It's 3:17 in the morning, and I had worked up from a nap and began to battle depression. Depression can be a bitch at times, but I always find a way to jump back to my joyful self.

Did you ever remember a time in your life when you was feeling lonely, losted and unloved? Have you ever been to a place where you was told to be on your best behavior so you won't be found guilty of association?

I have. As I was surfing You Tube, I stumbled across Gospel Group Commissioned's beautiful Gospel song "Secret Place" and as I was listened to the song, I began to think about the first time I heard the song and how much it means to me. It helps me find peace whenver I'm feeling down and it also brought back some memeories that I hold dear to my heart; being loved and accepted for who I am.

In 1993, I was hired to work with the Freedom School program as a teacher and one of the requirements was to take part in a 3 week training; two weeks at Shaw University in North Carolina and the final week in California. During my teenaged, years, I was always fanscinated with Southern culture, and I had always wanted to visit, and this would be my second time visiting Shaw University, but this time it would be more a posistive experience. The first time I went was two years prior to a Church convention and I was told by the former leader that I had to be on my best behavior becuse there was many Southerns who didn't like New Yorkers.
"Why" I asked.
She told me that the media had portrayed New Yorkers as being rich, and that it made them jealous along with many other New Yorkers who went the convention with egos.
I was shocked. I was unaware of the 'so-called' tension between Northerns and Southerners. Sadly, I found out that was true.
The second week, I was hanging out with one of the students and he told me how a guy from our training program had major attitude; he was standing in the doorway like he owned it and when the student got near the doorway, he gave him a look that said
"You better say excuse me!"
I was pissed, sad and hurt; I couldn't believe that the student would act like that. Espcially since he was a guess at a historically Black college!!
I remember telling the student that though I was from New York, I didn't like the way he acted, and if he had to bust his ass, do what you got to do.
I knew he must have been shocked to hear me say that because anybody else would have copped a major attitude because of where they're from.
During the first week, I had began to feel homesick, because it was the first time I would be away from home for a long period of time in over 10 years, and I remember that Friday I was walking around the campus, a student from Chicago called me over to speak and we cliked. the rest of the night, I began to hang out with other students from the University, and by the time the weekend ended I began to feel loved and envied. I recall eating with them and one of the students from the program gave me a look that said "I can't beleive this nigga is hanging out with the them"
In other words, the nerd wasn't supposed to be chilling with the popular people.
(He would have gagged had he known that one of the fraternity brothers personally invited me to a party at his house. The more I hung with them, the more I learned that if you have a great heart and soul, people will be drawn to you, and that's what I loved about my expericne at Shaw University 15 years ago; all you gotta do is have love in your heart.
I remember asking them to recommend some Gospel artists and they told me to check out Commissioned, so after I returned to New York, I copped the tape and fell in love with "Hold Me" and "Secret Place"
The saddest part about the trip was leaving; I remember telling one of the students a brother from Philly that I was going to cry because I had such a great time.
"Please don't because if you do I'm gonna cry too" he replied.
I held my tears, until I got on the plane and headed towards California for the last week of training. The minute we pulled off, I cried a bucket of tears; while I was crying, I remember Michael Jackson's interview with Oprah and he recalled once when he and his older brothers were scheduled to go to South America, and he hid in a closet crying because he wanted to stay home and be a normal kid.
I didn't want to leave North Carolina; I wanted to stay and enroll at Shaw University, graduate and find permanet residence there. Maybe one day I will.

Writing this post was a sad and joyful experience; the sad part is missing being with a great group of southern people who showed me love, and was able to not judge me based on where I was born and raised. The joyful part is that I can always flashback to the great memories I had and share them with others.

Songs played during the writing of this post

Secret Place
Peformed by Commissoned
1991 Benson/A&M Records

Reflections
Peformed by Diana Ross & The Supremes
Written by Brian Holland-Lamont Doizer-Eddie Holland
Produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Doizer
1967 Motown Records

NORMAN WHITFIELD: MOTOWN RECORDS' INNOVATIVE PRODUCERS DIES

Norman Whitfield, Motown Records prolific and innovative producers has died in Los Angeles at the age of 65. The cause of death was complications from diabetes. During his tenure at Motown, he had helped wrote and produced many hits for many of the label’s artists including The Temptations who helped bring Whitfield’s songs to life, and making them classics that still gets spins on radio and has been covered and sampled by many of today’s singers and Rappers.

Whitfield was born in 1943 in Harlem, New York, but migrated to Detroit Michigan during his early teens with his family, where his father worked with his sister and brother law at their pharmacy Barthwell Drugs. Whitfield had enrolled in Northwestern High School, and hung out with Otis Williams’ band The Distants (which consisted of future Temptations Williams, Melvin Franklin and Richard Street), and played tambourine on their single “Come On” before joining Motown Records as a member of Popcorn Wylie * the Mohawks. Wanting to be more creative, he left and secured a job as a produced at Thelma Records, before returning to Motown, where the label’s founder Berry Gordy, Jr, impressed by his persistence, gave him a position at the label’s quality control department where he helped decided which singles should be released. He also co-wrote Marvin Gaye’s hit “Pride And Joy” as well as The Misrelates’ “Too Many Fish In The Sea” and “Needle In The Haystack for The Velvelettes, which did well, but his ultimate goal was to write and produced for The Temptations, who was being produced by Smokey Robinson, Gordy’s best friend and Vice-President of the label, who had a tight grip of the group. A grip that Norman planned to break with his persistence and aggressiveness, which was something that he was known for.

“I didn’t have great hopes that he would be able to beat out Smokey Robinson” songwriter Eddie Holland said in liner notes of the group’s Emperors of Soul boxed set. “But he felt so strongly, I said, ‘Well, let me take a look at it.”

In December 1965, the group recorded Robinson’s “Get Ready” A few weeks later, the group recorded Whitfield’s “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” which the group’s founder and only surviving member Otis describe as different as night and day. “

“Norman’s melody had a touch of blues.” Williams wrote in his autobiography “Temptations” sounded as anguished and desperate as Eddie Holland’s words, which David Ruffin brought to life. David sang his ass off on that one. It was a fantastic song, and even though it was a departure from out previous hits, it suited us.”

The label decided to release “Get Ready,” but told both producers that if the song didn’t crack the Top Ten, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” would be the next single. Get Ready peaked at #29, and when “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” was released, it peaked at
#13, and made Whitfield The Temptations’ main producer who would have a eight year run of hits. It also marked a change for the group musically; the music had electric rock guitars, while the group’s harmony became more distinctive and the lyrics written with Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant and Roger Roger Penzabene were about heartache, pain and regret, including “I Wish It Would Rain” which was written from the pain that Penzabeme was experiencing after he learned that his wife was creeping.

“Norman’s accomplishment, I think, was that he did with us what a producer should do; take us in a new direction without losing the heart of our sound.” Williams wrote in his autobiography.

Wanting to showcase his versatility, Norman began to collaborate with singer/songwriter Barrett Strong, and began to cut different versions of songs on different artists, including “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” which he first cut on The Miracles and The Isley Brothers, before he decided to cut a haunting version of the song on Marvin Gaye, who he had sing the song in much higher keys to capture the intensity of the lyrics. This caused friction between the two talented and strong willed geniuses.

“Norman and I came within a fraction of fighting.” Gaye told David Ritz. “He made me sing in keys much higher than I was used to. He had me reaching for notes that caused my throat veins to bulge….but even though we fought like hell; I knew he was good for me.”

The label thought other wise. They didn’t release the single because they though it was too dark for their Soulful Pop sound. Whitfield didn’t give up; he decided to redo another version of the song with Gladys Knight & The Pips, who’s Gospel and Southern version peak at # 1 one R&B charts and # 2 on the Pop charts becoming the label’s biggest selling single of 1967, and encouraging Norman to continue advocating for Gaye’s version to be released. Tired and impressive with his persistence, the label relented and released Gaye’s version the following year, and it topped both the R&B and Pop charts, sold over four million copies and became the label’s first platinum single.

Whitfield also gave The Temptations another musical makeover; The Tempts founder Williams had encouraged him to check out Sly & The Family Stone’s single “Dance To The Music” and at first he was resistant, but changed his mind and the group’s style; having each of the Tempts sing lead (including Ruffin’s replacement David Ruffin, who was eager to take the group to a new musical level), music that consisted of different rhythms, Indian chants and lyrics about the conditions of the world. Particularly the trials and struggles of inner city Blacks.

My thing was to out-Sly Sly Stone," Whitfield told Marvin Gaye' biographer, David Ritz. "Sly was definitely sly, and his sound was new, his grooves were incredible, he borrowed a lot from rock. He caught the psychedelic thing. He was bad. I could match him though, rhythm for rhythm, horn for horn."

In October, 1968, the group’s single “Cloud Nine” which hit #6 and earned them Motown’s first Grammy Award For Best R&B Performance by Duo or Group. They followed with “Runaway Child, Running Wild, “Psychedelic Shack,” and “Ball of Confusion (That’s what’s The World Is Today)” which featured the famous line ‘and the band played on. ‘ He also co-wrote and produced Edwin Starr’s top charting hit “War” but his streak came to a temporary halt when The Tempts single “Ungena Za Lowing (Unite The World)” failed the Top 30. This forced Norman to do something The Tempts and their fans want them to do; write some ballads.

“We needed to do something a little different,“ Whitfield’s former writing partner Strong said in The Billboard Book of Number One Hits.“ “”We had thought of ‘Just My Imagination’ a year of two ago before we recorded it, but the timing wasn’t right. Norman asked me, ‘What was that song we were messing around with a year ago? I played it on the piano and he said, “Meet me in the studio because I’m gonna record it today.'

In 1971, The Temptations’ ballad “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” topped the charts, went platinum and was dubbed one of Motown’s prettiest ballads. “When Jerry Long did the strings and horns, I had the feeling on ‘Just My Imagination” that I had on ‘My Girl” Williams said on The Temptations DVD “Get Ready: The Definitive Collection."

The following year the group scored with “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone’ which topped the Pop charts, and earned three Grammy Awards; it was one of the first singles that focused more on the music arrangements than the group’s vocals, paving the way for Cinematic Soul, music that would later be used in Black films like Shaft, Black Caesar and “Trouble Man.”

“I wanted to try some songs that had the scope and feeling of a movie” he told Billboard Magazine in 1973.

While Whitfield was being innovative, The Tempts had grown tired of seeing about the world’s woes, and was constantly fighting with him to record ballads. But Whitfield refused.

“Look, trends were changing and I was only interested in keeping them on top and in keeping them current” he said in the Billboard Books of Rhythm and Blues Number Ones” A transition was needed, but I admit I never really confided in them as to what I was doing.”

In 1974, Norman left Motown, formed his own label Whitfield Records and worked with his group Rolls Royce, who recorded the soundtrack to the film Soundtrack which featured the title track topping the Pop & R&B charts. They also scored with "I’m Going Down," "Love Don't Live Hear Anymore" and "Wishing on A Star.

In 1983, Whitfield produced The Tempts’ album "Back To Back" and #13 R&B hit “Sail Away” and did some work on “The Last Dragon” soundtrack, but have kept a low profile for many years. His music however have been covered and sampled by many artists including Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans and Madonna who covered “I’m Goin’ Down” and “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” while Public Enemy sampled “Psychedelic Shack” for their hit “Welcome to the Terrodome." Rapper Cam’Ron sampled “War” for his hit “My Hood” while Shaggy and Janet sampled “Oh Boy” for their single “Luv Me, Luv Me” for the “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”: soundtrack. Cam’Ron also sampled “I’m Goin’ Down” for his hit “Oh Boy”, which at the time was his former record label’s longest running single. He also joined Mariah Carey for her single “Boy I Need You” which contains samples of both songs, and Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliot joined forces to remake the classic hit “Car Wash.” The Covergirls and Beyonce each covered "Wishing On A Star."

In 1998, actor Mel Jackson won wave reviews for his portrayal of Whitfield in the Award-winning mini-series "The Temptaions."

The success of these remakes, samples and mini-series earned Whitfield and Strong an induction in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004, where both appeared to accept their long overdue honor, but his honor was short live, when he plead guilty for tax-evasion the following year. Norman was sentenced to 6 months house arrest and order to pay a $25,000 fine, in part to his battle with diabetes and other ailments including heart problems.
During the last months of his life, Whitfield was hospitalized in Cedars-Sinai Hospital where he lapsed into a coma and successfully emerged, before he entered the Motown studios in heaven.

Many are sadden by his loss. "He deserves more credit than he gets for what he did with the Temptations," says Jay, the leader of the group The Undisputed Truth. . "He was a genius in getting the most out of their sound. You hear the stories about how he pushed Dennis to get that 'It was the third of September' vocal [on 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone'].
"He took the whole Motown sound around the corner."

Norman was survived by one daughter, three sons, one brother, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral arrangements are pending at this moment.

Suggested CD to listen to Norman’s great work

The Temptations
Emperor of Soul
1994 Motown

Marvin Gaye
The Master 1961-1984
1995 Motown

The Temptations
Psychedelic Soul
2003 Motown

Car Wash-Soundtrack
1975 MCA Records

HONORING AN CREATIVE TEMPTAITON

Paul was so a unique individual, no one would be able to take Paul’s place because besides being able to sing and dance, his concept of how to put things together helped the Tempts were so unique, that he was a very special force.
Otis Williams
The Definitive Collection

Paul Williams was the creative force behind the legendary Temptations. He was the one who gave the group it’s spirit, drive and dance moves; he also help the group have sex appeal, and sell sex without it being though as being taboo or sinful. Sadly, his own spirit was robbed by health problems and alcoholism, which drove him into depression and unfortunately, suicide, leaving a void in the group and the Motown legacy that has yet to be filled. This article honors his memory, legacy and contribution to one of the greatest groups to come from the Motown label and era.
Paul was born on August 2, 1939 to Sophia Williams in Birmingham Alabama, and like most kids raised in the South, Paul honed his skills by singing in church, but he also listened to other styles of music including Jazz and Blues, and by the time he began school, he began to dance., learning from Peg Leg Bates, an dancer with a wooden leg, who would out dance anybody.
During his teens, he met neighbor Eddie Kendricks, who would become his best friend until his death. Wanting to pursue a career in music, he convinced his friend to leave Alabama behind and migrate up north, settling in Cleveland, and later Detroit where he and Kendricks linked with Kel Osborne and formed the group The Primes, who performed with a sister act named The Primettes, (who would later become The Supremes) at Sock-Hops, often sharing the bill with Detroit natives Otis Williams & The Distantsm who were amazed by The Primes’ singing and dancing styles. Little did they know they would wind up combining their talents together. In 1961, Kendricks called Otis who had informed him that two members of his group had left, and was in need of a tenor they had an audition with Motown Records. Eddie accepted, and asked if he could bring Paul into the group. “As good as Paul is, hell yes” Otis wrote in his autobiography “Temptations.” The two linked up with Otis, Melvin Franklin and Eldrige Bryant, and became The Temptaions, where Paul did more than arrange with the vocal harmonies, he began to teach the group routines.
“Paul said ‘now look, we can’t just stand there. Otis said on the group’s DVD “Get Ready; The Definitive collection’ “We got to dance. We got to sell sex. We got to be flashy.”
“Paul was a fabulous dancer and elements of his style were later evident in all the Temptations great moves.” former Primette and original Supreme Mary Wilson wrote in her autobiography “Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme.” The steps that Paul created were clever, sexy, and unique.”
That’s what made the Temptations stand out from the other Motown groups. After they signed with the label, they recorded many singles with produced the label’s founder Berry Gordy including “Oh Mother of Mine” with Paul on lead, didn’t do well, but the follow ups “I Want A Love I Can See” and “Farewell My Love” with production by Smokey Robinson made some noise, but didn’t do as well as the company and group hoped, but they continued to make an impact with their live performances, with the crowd calling them back for encores, though they were the opening act. By 1963, things Bryant’s drinking and attitude began to affect his behavior and relationship with the group, and one night Bryant got angry and hit Paul with a bottle after he refused to return to the stage for an encore, and though the group wanted to let him go, Paul was against the idea, so they kept him until he was replaced by David Ruffin, who would dominate most of the leads, leaving Paul to sing background and do album cuts and b-sides. At the end of 1965, the group released their classic “Don’t Look Back” with Paul singing lead, and it featured one of the group’s classic routines, which featured the group fanned out across the stage with him in the middle singing with soul and passion, but it would be the last single that featured him singing lead. The following year, the group released their single “Get Ready” and shortly before a scheduled performance on “American Bandstand” Paul came up with the routine in thirty-two minutes, and it became a hit with the fans. Paul had also wanted the group to come off the chitling circuit and play better venues.
“Man we’ve got to play Vegas and Atlantic City” Paul told the group “The white folks don’t want to see no guys out there bumpin’ and grindin’ and carrying on.” Neither did the his band mates or Motown; who felt that their artists needed to start performing in supper clubs, so in 1966, the group released their album “In a Mellow Mood” an album of standards, which Paul had resisted doing out of fear that their fans particularly those in the Black community would label them sell-outs, but the album did well, and helped them appear at the Copacabana, where the audience loved his rendition of the classic “For Once In My Life” which was one of his show stopping numbers that had audience members moved to tears. By the late 1960’s the group had began recording Psychedelic Soul music, which featured social conscious lyrics and the group sharing lead vocals with Ruffin’s replacement Dennis Edwards, and scoring with “Cloud Nine” which earned them Motown’s first Grammy Award, Runaway Child, Running Wild,” “I Can’t Get Next To You,” and “Ball of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today).” They had also filmed two television specials with The Supremes, and their special T.C.B.” featured Paul’s signature song “The Impossible Dream,” but the success was bitter sweet. Suffering from sickle-cell anemia (something that he never informed his band-mates), and having the group’s chirography being supervised by Cholly Atkins and Lon Fontaine, Paul began to drink heavily, which caused him to perform terribly and gasp for air, and though the group did what they could by having interventions and pouring his hidden stashes down the drain, his health began to fail.
“Paul was our strength. The spirit of our group.” Otis said in the liner notes for “Emperor of Soul” To see somebody go from drinking milk to alcohol on a regular basis was a traumatic experience for all of us.” With his health worsening, Richard Street was hired to sing Paul’s part backstage, except for his special numbers, and on January 31, 1971, Paul made his last television appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, when the group performed their single “Just My Imagination (Runnin’ Away With Me).” which topped the charts a few weeks later. A few months later, a doctor found a spot on his liver, which forced Street to take his place, but the group, however decided to have keep him on payroll and to help them create routines, but Paul continued drinking and feeling depressed over the closing of a boutique he opened with his mistress Winnie Brown, which left owing $80,000 in taxes. His financial problems and not being able to performed forced him to become more depressed. and on August 17, 1973, Paul was found dead two blocks away from the Hitsville studios. The official report was that Paul had committed suicide with a single gun shot to his head. Many were sadden by his death, and over 24,000 thousand family and friends attended his funeral including his wife and six children, and his band mates, who were too choked up to perform, though they served as pallbearers and when they arrived at the cemetery, Eddie had gently kissed Paul on his face. Though his death was ruled as a suicide, there are many including his family, who still believe that his death wasn’t a suicide; they believe that he was murdered, but he had expressed suicidal thoughts to many of his closest friends and. In 1982, the group dedicated its “Reunion” album and tour to Paul’s memory, while former Supremes lead singer Diana Ross, featured a tribute to him in her hit video “Missing You.” On January 18, 1989, Paul was posthumously inducted into the Rock of Hall of Fame as a member of The Temptations, where Kendricks accepted on his behalf, while, he. Otis, Melvin, David and Dennis sang his signature song “Don’t Look Back” after they accepted their awards. In 1995, Motown released a CD with two of Paul’s unreleased solo songs including “Feel Like Givin’ Up, and three years later actor/singer Christian Payton won wave reviews for his portrayal of Paul in the award-winning mini-series “Temptations.” which gave viewers a chance to see how talented he was, and how good of a heart he had.
Paul Williams was a talented and creative man, who gave a lot to the world and his bandmates; he gave them the strengh, drive, and polish to become the legends that they are today, and though he's gone, he's memory and spirit contiues to live on.

NEW SINGER BRINGS SOUL AND ORIGINALITY BACK WITH DEBUT RELEASE

NOEL GOURDIN
AFTER MY TIME
EPIC RECORDS

4.9 On scale of 1-5

I first became aware of R&B/Soul singer/songwriter Noel Gourdin while I was on the express bus reading an article about him in Black Beat magazine. “This is one brother I have to check out” I said as the bus strolled up Courteylou Road. Three days later, I logged onto his website, and I was captivated with his soulful singing voice.
“Damn! This brother got some soulful pipes” I said after I listened to “One Love” and “The River” which was featured in the film “Meeting The Roscoes” and is still getting spins on R&B radio.
Born and raised in Boston, Gourdin grew up listening to Soul legends Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Michael Jackson and Tyrone Davis, as well as spending summers with his grandparents in their hometown of Biloxi, Mississippi, where he received an education about history, the southerners struggles, making out in backseats of cars. He also spend time in church where he honed his singing and writing skills, which is evident on his debut release “After My Time” which is the number one album on I-Tunes, and is becoming a hit with the young and adults.
With many of today’s R&B singers, relying on Hip-Hop beats to reach the young market, Gourdin opted to record songs that cater to both the females and males as well as combine all genres of music including R&B, Soul, Rock and New Jack Swing which makes him stand out from the other male artist. “I didn't do a bunch of collabos with popular names because I want people to fall in love with me as an artist” the singer told Essence Magazine. “There is something for everyone on this album and I’m comfortable in going other places musically.
Producers Kay-Gee (Naughty By Nature, Zhane, Jaheim), Rafael Saadiq, Salaam Remi, Antwann “Frost Beatz” helped with the production along with the team of Andre Harris and Vidal Davis.
The CD opens with his current single “One Love” which has great strings, and displays his Southern and Gospel roots, and his ability to sing lead, and harmonize, further demonstrated on “Better Man” which also has funky horn riffs. He displays his writing talents on his debut single “The River” which is still gaining spins on R&B and Adult Comptermporary radio as we speak. It features creative lyrics about life in the south during the 1950’s and 1960’s, and contains samples from Millie Jackson’s classic “How Do You Feel the Morning After.”
“Open” is a hot song that features Noel singing tenor and baritone, and sensual lyrics written by Salaam Remi and Rico Love, though his vocal performance at the end of the song should have been longer. However, he redeems himself with smooth flowing “Hurts Like Hell which has a hot combo of R&B, Soul and House, and lyrics about leaving a woman who played them.
“You have it all
Can have the house
Keep the cars and the dog
I’m gone. As long as you’re happy
But when it gets tough
And it will
Find another sucker to cover your bills
She really played me out
But I love her still.
Hurts like hell
But she’ll never see me cryin’
This song will be a hit with the brothers along with “Reach” is creatively written song about a guy thanking his woman for sticking with him, though he isn’t able to provide diamonds and expensive clothing. (Sisters need to listen to this song). “Led You On” is a favorite that be a radio and concert high light thanks to the old school live concert feel, courtesy of the guitars by Ray Horten, and finger snaps blending with Noel’s smooth vocalizing, which can also be heard on the Jazz flavored ballad “Sorry” which contains samples from the Jazz classic “Mystic Brew.”
“Summertime” is my all time favorite song on the album. In addition to Noel’s soulful vocal riffs and phrasing, this sexy ballad has creative and sensual about having hot and passionate sex during the winter season, and once you hear this song, you’re going to be tempted to use your personal days to make love to your partners. Especially when it’s cold outside.

It could be December
If we keep kissin’
We gonna need some air condition
Got a fifth of Bacardi
Suckin’ that Marley
Windows are foggy, whoa
And we can make summer wherever we go.
Just because it’s cold outside
And the sun ain’t shinning
That don’t mean we can’t get to sweatin’
Like it’s summertime.

The CD closes with inspirational “Make The Most,” an uplifting song about showing love to family and friends, and not taking them for granted. What make this song are the lyrics, and the vocal performance between Noel and the song’s co-writer Arama Brown who blends with the singer during the bridge of the song.

Noel Gourdin’s debut is one of the freshest debuts I heard in years; it’s great to hear new artist bring something different to the game, as opposed to trying to keep up with the Joneses. As long as Noel continues to follow his heart and stay true to himself, he will be able to maintain longevity, and become a legend in his own right.