Ladies, I said ladies! You ever hopped up out the bed, turned your swag on, took a look in the mirror - butt ass nekkid (maybe with a hot ass pair of pumps on) and said, "Damn! I'm a bad bytch!"?
Even though you ain't even at the size you wanna be? Even though you're soft in places where Beyonce might be hard? Even though you have a lil' cellulite, your booty jiggles and your girls don't sit as high as they once did? Even though society might try to tell you otherwise - you ever just looked at yourself in the mirror and thought you were the shyt? Not on some 'I'm better than you'. But just on some I love myself. I have. I've even done a little dance in the mirror. Posed for the cameras, now click. And it feels good.
And for those of you who haven't - try it someday. Take a good look at yourself, take it all in, and then embrace what you see. Last Fourth of July, I put up Outkast's Liberation, cause too many times we as Black people feel we still ain't free in this country. But then we got us a President and apparently we'z free now. Tee hee. So I'm putting the song up again this year for a different reason, for us ladies to focus on the following words: "Can't worry 'bout what another nygga think, now that's liberation and baby I want it!" So I reiterate what Courvoisier said a few weeks ago. Love yourself bytches.* And I'm out this mothafcuka. Drops mic and goes back to enjoying a drank in New Orleans with the other ladies from the 5 Spot.
That's my time y'all! Happy Rum Punch Friday!
*And I'm only calling you bytch cause I don't know your names individually.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
les bon temps rouler...
My sincere apologies folks, -- I'm in Nawlins and my state of mind isn't right. I'll be on point next week.
Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
cheers,
Bellini
P.S. I'm not sure if Minty will post --she's in court as we speak, gotta move those dockets.
Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
cheers,
Bellini
P.S. I'm not sure if Minty will post --she's in court as we speak, gotta move those dockets.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A Paper Torn
Just like the BET awards, its now my turn to share my Michael Jackson moment! Watch out for the bandwagon!
I first learned about Michael in front of a giant floor model television (you know the ones that took most of the living room and held everything from family pictures, to a newer television on top) at my grandparents’ house. My cousin, who is a couple months older loved her some Thriller, for me, it was all about Billy Jean. Before knowing anything about paternity tests or baby momma dramas, I knew I loved walking on the title floor squares-wishing they would light up. And because adult folks love getting free entertainment from the antics of their kids, I was totally encouraged to sing, throw my pretend hat and spin around until I fell. There was laughter, there was clapping and most importantly there were some good times! And that’s what Michael’s music conjurers up for me, good times at the party, good times at the cookout, good times dancing in the car at a red light while a cop looks over, smiles and shakes his head (that was just Friday night).
Mike’s music was great but his life definitely had its ups and downs. As I listened to the media folks a lot of outlets in mainstream America could not resist bringing up old shyt- the child molestation case, his changing appearance, the fact that he may or may not be broke. Meanwhile, back in the Black community there was nothing but love. Sure, during Mike’s life we all cracked jokes, talked about how weird he was, wondered how unhuman he was going to make himself look after it was all said and done. But in my community, in death there was nothing but respect for a man who gave us good times. Even my pastor was moonwalking in the pulpit on Sunday…of course he tied it all together with Jesus and our salvation…but still, some Amens were shouted and everyone got up on their feet.
One of the things that I have been thinking about for the past few days was Mike’s reputation. While we all loved Michael Jackson the entertainer, we knew something wasn’t quite right with the man. It’s interesting to me that even in his death the downs he experienced in his life are eclipsing his philanthropy, the conscious messages in his music or even his humanitarian work. There is an Asian (can’t recall if its Chinese or Japanese) saying that addresses speaking badly about people. In the beginning, it’s like Michael Jackson was a whole piece of paper. And over years pieces of him were torn up and scattered around by lawsuits, leeches, loneliness and low self esteem. And as the saying goes, no matter how long you search for these torn scattered little pieces you cannot put the paper back whole again. Why? Because some pieces are taken by others or destroyed in their environment. Some pieces you just can’t recover…no matter how hard you try. And I think that maybe in the end Mike was just tired of trying to get back the pieces that were lost. But me no know, I’m a 20 something in DC who only knew Michael Jackson through his music. But I hope that he has peace and is finally whole now.
See You In Seven
I first learned about Michael in front of a giant floor model television (you know the ones that took most of the living room and held everything from family pictures, to a newer television on top) at my grandparents’ house. My cousin, who is a couple months older loved her some Thriller, for me, it was all about Billy Jean. Before knowing anything about paternity tests or baby momma dramas, I knew I loved walking on the title floor squares-wishing they would light up. And because adult folks love getting free entertainment from the antics of their kids, I was totally encouraged to sing, throw my pretend hat and spin around until I fell. There was laughter, there was clapping and most importantly there were some good times! And that’s what Michael’s music conjurers up for me, good times at the party, good times at the cookout, good times dancing in the car at a red light while a cop looks over, smiles and shakes his head (that was just Friday night).
Mike’s music was great but his life definitely had its ups and downs. As I listened to the media folks a lot of outlets in mainstream America could not resist bringing up old shyt- the child molestation case, his changing appearance, the fact that he may or may not be broke. Meanwhile, back in the Black community there was nothing but love. Sure, during Mike’s life we all cracked jokes, talked about how weird he was, wondered how unhuman he was going to make himself look after it was all said and done. But in my community, in death there was nothing but respect for a man who gave us good times. Even my pastor was moonwalking in the pulpit on Sunday…of course he tied it all together with Jesus and our salvation…but still, some Amens were shouted and everyone got up on their feet.
One of the things that I have been thinking about for the past few days was Mike’s reputation. While we all loved Michael Jackson the entertainer, we knew something wasn’t quite right with the man. It’s interesting to me that even in his death the downs he experienced in his life are eclipsing his philanthropy, the conscious messages in his music or even his humanitarian work. There is an Asian (can’t recall if its Chinese or Japanese) saying that addresses speaking badly about people. In the beginning, it’s like Michael Jackson was a whole piece of paper. And over years pieces of him were torn up and scattered around by lawsuits, leeches, loneliness and low self esteem. And as the saying goes, no matter how long you search for these torn scattered little pieces you cannot put the paper back whole again. Why? Because some pieces are taken by others or destroyed in their environment. Some pieces you just can’t recover…no matter how hard you try. And I think that maybe in the end Mike was just tired of trying to get back the pieces that were lost. But me no know, I’m a 20 something in DC who only knew Michael Jackson through his music. But I hope that he has peace and is finally whole now.
See You In Seven
Monday, June 29, 2009
I <3 MJ
A couple of weeks ago, I started writing letters to my friends titled “When We First Met…” The purpose of these letters is to document the moment that I realized their existence. After loosing one of THE GREATEST Entertainer of our times, I thought it was only fitting that this morning I share my letter to Michael Jackson. Here goes…
Dear Michael,
When I first realized you existed was the day my parents got satellite TV. I was hiding on the side of the refrigerator, peeking around the corner to see the TV and there you were dancing in the subway station. I was 6 and in love!!! I don’t know if you remember but this video, it was like 15 minutes long. Who’s bad Wisley? (chuckle) “You doing wrong!!”
From that day Mikey, I was so curious about you. I started going through my parents’ record collection to find this classic. This one might have been a couple years before my time but this is MY FAVORITE MJ album! “I can’t help it even if I wanted to… I wouldn’t help it if I could.” NO question. I have no problem taking this to an abandoned island. I begged my dad to play this over and over. I was singing live you life off the wall before I even knew what that meant… “Life is short, live it off the wall!!”
Dad said, we have that other song you like too baby girl. That was the Thriller record. I was like “WOW! This man is AWESOME!” Every song is GREAT! And you are the cutest man I have ever seen in a white suit. (chuckle)
At the time I wasn’t a fan of P.Y.T, Beat It was my jam and I still hadn’t seen Thriller yet. But I remember when I did. I was by my best friend’s, her grandmother was napping and she said let’s watch this tape my brother left. It was Thriller! I covered my eyes for the majority of the video. We played it like 4 times. Dang that was a good and scary at the same time! But back to P.Y.T… this one has a special place in my heart because it was the song that my uncle danced with me at my cousin’s birthday party. I still remember that because my cousin was older than me and I was the youngest one there, no one to play with. I will never forget you Michael.
For the prep rally in 96, I revived Beat It, choreographed a dance and all for the school the day before the track meet.
Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough and Rock with You, had me convinced I meant to be a 70s baby. In fact, my default dance move is an adaptation of the moves in these videos to this day. I still rock like you! (chuckle) I have cried to that note, Roooooooccck with you… Mike
I spent countless lunch breaks trying to perfect the patented anti-gravity lean from Smooth Criminal’s music video.
I spent countless lunch breaks trying to perfect the patented anti-gravity lean from Smooth Criminal’s music video. Shook my body down to the ground. :)Then the summer before high school I choreographed, what I called at the time, a spiritual dance to Keep the Faith. You couldn’t tell me Remember the time was not the ish!!! Used Dangerous for countless rounds of name that tone on the telephone. (chuckle) Oh man Michael, my first boyfriend sang me “You Are Not Alone”! That was truly an amazing collaboration with R. Kelly.
Urgh! I could go on forever with memories of each and every one of your songs. But there is one thing that is true… I will never ever forget the effect you had on my life. The effect your music will have on my children’s life. I don’t have to defend your music MJ! I don’t need to blame it on the alcohol but I will blame it on the boogie. (chuckle)
But don't worry, I remembered what you said... we can change the world!
No one delivers a message like you Mike! I am almost stop being a girlfriend when she tried to say you weren't all that. Are you serious? People who are not feeling this lost, have not taken a moment to listen to his music again. All I have to say is "Can you feel it?"
Much luv until next week... peace :)
P.S. Hope you got my message I left you at Apollo. I couldn't ask for a better place to be stranded without an umbrella than with a group of your fans sining at the top of our lungs while a little boy danced your moves to all of your tunes. I know you will live forever.
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