Hip-Hop Theatre Festival, Commonwealth, Black History's History, Social Atelier & TED's Sir Ken Robinson

Hip-Hop + Theater = Goodness

A month ago I was in church and a guest pastor was delivering his sermon. All in all he was pretty good but something he said kind of rubbed me the wrong way. He had a 5-8 minute monologue about language and more specifically how young kids have butchered the English language with slang. His examples (rather out-dated) were "bad meaning good", "dope meaning exceptional" and the phrase "sick, crazy dude" meaning a guy who is remarkably impressive. Funny, right? Some what. Although the entire church laughed and enjoyed his jokes about slang and his admittance to being out of the loop I realized that the entire church congregation was made of people at and over over the age of 40. Then something happened. When the pastor continued with another anecdote he said the word sucker-- "sucka" to be exact.

The inquisitive cultural observer and challenger of authority in me quickly pulled out my phone, got online and looked up the definition of sucker.

Sucker- A shoot which arises from an underground shoot or root of a plant. He didn't use sucker in that context. Here's the definition of sucker the pastor was referring to; Sucker- Slang: any person or thing.

I was shocked {and delighted} that the pastor who just finished passionately politicking about how we should denounce the use of slang and how we should come together as a country to reclaim our common language {which isn't really ours anyway much like everything else in this country} just dropped a big ole slang bomb without it even occurring to him he did so.

That's when it hit me. The issue wasn't with the use of slang, it was with the use and creation of slang words he doesn't understand. It wasn't a slang thing at all it was a generational thing. This chasm between my generation and the pastor's isn't anything new but I am impressed at how one organization in particular is bridging the generational gap in an artistic way-- the Hip-Hop Theater Festival. I know the theater may not be for every one but I would like to think that the number of potential theater-goers in my generation would increase if they knew depictions of relevant subject matter was being created and performed with them in mind. That's the beauty of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival.



I found out about this amazing initiative while watching Current TV {if you aren't watching Current by now you have missed the train} and my mouth hit the floor. I was so drawn to the connection this organization was making between hip-hip culture {CULTURE people not the corney "bling-bling, make it rain, rolling on dubs" simpleton antics crammed down our throats over radio stations} and performance art. To me the strength of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival is their understanding of their target. They work with and speak to members of the hip-hop generation while serving the young, urban communities across the U.S and around the world. Check out the website to learn more and if you have a short attention span jump over to the Hip-Hop Festival Current TV pod. Lazy rascal.


Commonwealth: Anything but Common

Anyone who knows me KNOWS I likes to look good which means I pay attention to clothes. All kinds. Personally I call my style "Project Preppy" because I switch it up from jeans and sneaks to loafers and a vest any day and pull it off everyday. Of course I stuck out like a sore thumb in my little small town and there really weren't too many places to shop so we all ways hit the malls up in VA. I wish Commonwealth was open then.




Commonwealth {owned and operated by cousins} is a fly retail space in downtown Norfolk, VA {not even an hour from my hometown} and they also have a spot in Washington D.C. If you value eclectic pieces, original design and underground street fashion labels then Commonwealth is the spot for you. In addition to dressing those who love to dress {including me in the near future} they also hold events so if you're in the area check them out. There is also a great interview of one of the co-founders {Omar Quiambao} written by Michael Bercasio with Inquiringmind Magazine. It's a great read so check it out and get your browse on at the same time.

VA stand up!!!


Black History's History

I, for one, don't relegate the accomplishments and contributions of my people to this country to 28 days {or 29 depending on the year}. I always find a way to celebrate Black history everyday. Hell, I even started the Black History Quiz Bowl at my high school {whether they continue it or not I don't know but your boy is to thank for that one *wink*}. Much to my surprise I was slightly disappointed and ashamed at how little I knew about the origins of Black History Month itself.

This is when my good friend Current TV {I told y'all don't sleep on Current} stepped in and gave me the rundown on the come up that was Negro History Day, then Negro History Week and eventually Black History Month. Check it out.




Social Atelier: Fashion as Change Agent

I've already confessed my affinity for fresh clothing {see Commonwealth} but the combination of fresh clothes and social change makes elbj a very happy boy. Social Atelier is a company that uses fashion to increase social awareness and increase change pertaining to key issues facing our culture(s) today like war, AIDS, global warming and poverty. The SA donates a portion of their proceeds to certain causes and this season's proceeds of SA sales will be donated to the Solar Cooker Project. "This project significantly improves the safety and survival of women in the refugee camps by alleviating the need for them to go out and seek cooking fuel, an action that puts them at severe risk for assault, rape, and even death. (http://www.socialatelier.com/Awarness.html)".

Check out video of Social Atelier's latest collection. Social Atelier is an example of social entrepreneurship and fashion at its best...that is until I step onto the scene. Y'all ain't ready for that yet.





TED & Sir Ken Robinson

I have to admit when I heard about TED I thought it was some dude who had an amazing ego and demanded people spell his name with all upper case letters. Don't ask where I got that from. Much to my delight TED is far from that. TED has been going on since 1984 and stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. Since inception TED has been an organization and conference which brought bright minds from all three of those fields together to share their wisdom. Over the years what started as a humble conference has turned into a global powerhouse of intellectual, cultural, technological and inspirational resources. I really want to go to TEDAfrica later this year...hopefully a brother can get his pockets right. {Yeah I said it}.




Yesterday a good friend of mine {whatsup RoRo!!} sent me a link to someone who has the potential of being my next Man Crush {see last post}. A midst a daydream, reading about flood insurance and customizing my Legos Sir Ken Robinson {right} inspired me with his talk of children, creativity, intelligence and how we, as a people, teach the creativity out of our most precious resource. He was speaking my language and I watched his video 5 times in a row. It's the bomb but don't take my word for it. See for yourself. I may have to induct Sir Ken into The Genius Syndicate Hall of Fame.


If you are one who is motivated by insight and inspired by truth then you will absolutely enjoy what Sir Ken and the rest of the TED Talks have to offer.






Quote of the Day

“A fully functional multiracial society cannot be achieved without a sense of history and open, honest dialogue.”

-Dr. Cornel West

Barack Obama: My First Politican Man-Crush

A friend of mine helped me come to terms with what she called a "man crush" I have on Senator Obama. It never registered with me before but now in hindsight all the signs were there. I was just too smitten to take notice.

Everyday, for the past month and a half, I consciously spent at least 30 minutes reading articles on CNN.com, the NY Times.com and Reuters.com and listening to commentary about Barack Obama (his primary wins, endorsements from high profile Americans and campaign fund raising, strengths, weaknesses, appeal, etc.) and I can't help but get excited. Right now I'm flipping through a slideshow of the Obama campaign South Carolina primary win and its amazing to see the make-up of the crowd. Diverse in every way: age, gender and especially race. Its true that this man has managed to tap into the core of our generation and its beyond remarkable. I say all of this to say that Barack Obama is one of those majestic black men that we've heard about but never really seen in the public eye.

In the midst of "ambitious drug dealer turned music star", "the tragic hero ex-con", 'the marching civil rights celebrity", "angry brother man", "keeping it real dude", "black when it suites me" guy, "the professional athlete", the "I got mine so you get yours" black millionaire, "post millennium pimp" and other "characters" of black manhood I am ecstatic that Barack has elevated beyond the stereotyped limits of what a black man is "supposed" to be and has affixed himself (and those around him) to the blessing of what a black man may become. He's the manifestation of activated positive potential. This brother is bad.

Like Toni Morrison said, "In addition to keen intelligence, integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit something that has nothing to do with age, experience, race or gender and something I don't see in other candidates. That something is a creative imagination which, coupled with brilliance, equals wisdom."

Do your thing B.

-elbj

Okay enough pole riding. To see how B has managed to blanket pop culture to become the poster child of change agents, no pun intended, {you'll get it when you scroll down} check out what's below.

Roy Powell, 19, a first-time voter, called Barack Obama "humble and approachable."

Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times

One of two Shepard Fairey designed posters of Barack Obama.
















Barack Obama designed Air Force Ones by Van Taylor Monroe. This kat seriously needs a store.









A Barack valentine card. Its sold out already so don't even think about trying to order any. Check out the Chicagoist for more Barack art or... "Barart".

Come on, you know it was coming.

One of many Barack themed tshirts over at Cafepress.com. No, I'm serious. There are over 13,000 designs and they're reasonably priced. Pick one up.

Shout out to Michelle O!

Kehinde Wiley, Free Rice, Best Cities for Young Professionals, Colin Munroe, Freezing Grand Central and Events 101

Kehinde Wiley: Remixing Fine Art

I first witnessed the amazing talent that is Kehinde Wiley when I was living in Brooklyn. He executed portraits of the honorees for VH1's 2005 Hip Hop Honors and each piece was displayed {as posters} at certain subway stations. I was blown away. I damn near missed my train because I was hypnotized by his attention to detail and his ability to add a new dimension to the black image via art and imagery. I also had a chance to see a real piece of his work at a First Friday function at the Brooklyn Museum. It was refreshing to see all types of people admiring Kehinde's "Napoleon Leading the Army Over the Alps" {below}.

Mr. Wiley has been featured in countless magazines and I was not surprised when I caught a pod about him and his art on Current TV. He's truly remarkable and I highly suggest you {friends, family, significant other, etc.} check out Mr. Wiley and his work if you have the chance. He's a gifted brother who is, truly, making art everyone can appreciate.



Free Rice...with some Vocabulary on the Side

I have to admit the first time I played this game I ended up donating over 2,600 grains of free rice to the United Nations World Food Program. Let me explain. Free Rice is a website that simply allows you to fight the plague of world hunger while building your vocabulary. It's your simple vocabulary guessing game that helps you step up your word game AND for every correct answer Free Rice donates 20 grains of rice to the United Nations. Real talk. Help people, around the world, eat and obtain prodigious palaver in the process. That's right, a brother has been getting his Free Rice on. Give it a try.




Young Professionals...move here.

In this order: New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Washington D.C, Boston, Seattle, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Denver round out Forbes' list for the top 10 cities for young professionals. I can personally vouch for New York and Atlanta. "he list was compiled by tracking where the graduates of top universities across the country ended up 10 years after commencement, where the best business opportunities exist, which cities had the most young and unmarried people, and which cities paid young professionals the best. {Matt Woolsey, Forbes.com}. This is good information for any recent graduate/young professional to know but what about young professionals of color? Don't worry. I got you.

This may be a little unorthodox {and completely qualitative and subjective on my part} but I managed to find Black Enterprise's 2007 Best 10 Cities for African Americans to Work, Live and Play and decided to cross reference it with the Forbes list to give you an indication of the best cities for young professionals of color. Atlanta and Washington D.C are the stand out cities but if you {or someone you know} aren't feeling these cities look into Texas because locations like Houston and Dallas may be more your speed. No matter where you stay {or relocate} just make sure you put forth the effort to make it work for you. Your first city after school isn't, most likely, going to be your last city so put your best foot forward to make everyone know your name {in a positive way....please be in a positive way}.



Colin Munroe: The Dopest "Flashing Lights" Remix in the Game

Imagine my ding dang surprise when my brother told me that a white dude from Canada had the fliest remix of "Flashing Lights" {by Kanye West} out right now. Now before you go all "We are the World" on me I have nothing against white people but you have to admit that they have stepped up their swagger tremendously in the past 20 years.

I'm not talking about the corney Paul Walls or white people who try to imitate black culture. No, I'm talking about the people who are just effortlessly cool and manage to slide in and out of swaggerdom like sliding in and out of underwear {maybe that metaphor isn't as classy and it sounded in my head, no?} This is the vibe you get from Colin Munroe when you check out his version of "Flashing Lights" titled "I Want Those Flashing Lights".

To me, Colin showed a lot of these rap kats how to do a remix properly. Its more than just dropping your lyrics {however executed} over the existing beat. Colin made this joint his OWN and it's Hot....even the video is hot. You really can't be mad at him and his team. Toronto, Canada stand up!! To find out more about Colin and his music check out his Myspace page and check out the "I Want Those Flashing Lights" video while you're at it.


Freezing Grand Central

This is why I will always be madly in love with New York City. This is probably why people consider me an eccentric individual but I still think this is cool as hell. A group of people in NYC got together and decided to freeze in place for a short period of time in the middle of Grand Central Station. They didn't move at all. Not an inch. The whole thing shook some bystanders up and others were completely amazed. After the two minutes were up all of the frozen participants resumed to their prior activities as if nothing had ever happened. You have to see it to appreciate it. Check it out.





Events 101

Hopefully everyone had a banging New Year's celebration to welcome in 2008. Did you bring in the New Year in church? In an intimate setting with that significant other? A party? Most likely everyone was in some type of party atmosphere and there is one thing about a party that rings true...either it’s the bomb {remarkable} or a dud. Sure, when holding one there is pressure to organize and pull off a one-of-a-time kick-ass event but imagine if you had to do it on a weekly basis for a group of people who have come to expect the real deal and will call you out on your -ish if you 'effed up.


That's what today's Guest Genius, Lorna Pinckney {center}, does in Richmond, Virginia at Tuesday Verses: Open Mic Experience. By day Lorna is the CEO of Upside Promotions and Design by night she holds the creative and soulful heart of Richmond in her hands by giving musical and poetic artists the venue to share their passion and hone their craft in front of an amazing audience {all while eating banging food}. Lorna is going to give us the insight to creating, organizing, executing and maintaining a great event that resonates and inspires as well as entertains.

TGS: What was your inspiration for creating Tuesday Verses?

LP: I’m originally from Brooklyn and in Brooklyn culture and music is every where, like all on the radio, and I realized there wasn’t too much of that in Richmond. There wasn’t too much creative thought going on that actually helped people get through their day. And even if there was something like that going on in Richmond it was for the older crowd—nothing for the younger crowd and it was driving me crazy. I found myself complaining about it a lot and one day I was with my friends Paul and Rich and I said, “I’m going to create my own space.” Rich said, “You should. You do that every where you go anyway.” Soon after that we had Soul Kitchen at the Captain’s Grill. People came from Chicago, New York, D.C and Atlanta. The Fuzz Band eventually became the house band and John Goode {the traveling poet} put the word out about Soul Kitchen to all of his people and because of him I had people calling me from all over. The first night was crazy! We had poets from B-more, Cali, a young (very young) John Bibbs and people were lined up outside. A few of them didn’t get in. The mix of people was hot—young, old, black folks, white folks, Hispanic and especially Hispanic musicians. That was the only spot where so many different kinds of people came together. I did it for a year and it was packed every time. The spot ended up closing and I started getting calls from the owner of Tropical Soul. She was ecstatic about me holding an event at her place. Tropical Soul is smaller than the Captain’s Grill so I knew that I had to do something different for black people of all ages to hang out and be comfortable and that’s how I came up with Tuesday Verses.

TGS: How long has Tuesday Verses been running?

LP: 5 1/2 years. It’ll be 6 this August.

TGS: What steps did you take to ensure your event would be a success?

LP: To me there are two kinds of event planners/promoters—those who just want to make money and those who just love it. I’m the second one. I try to make experiences that others like me would want. It’s like a mutual fantasy. I want people to be amazed and committed. When you’re planning an event you want people to come and leave that way (amazed and committed). This only works if you love making events. When you use money as a priority it limits you. When you love events you try to be unique. It’s a vision you work hard to create just like music and art.

TGS: How important was it for you to understand your audience?

LP: In terms of getting to know my audience I went with my gut. You can find out all of the demo stuff but it’s not enough. You have to be out with the people for you to figure out what they’re lacking and what to give them. The event is still your personal creation but it can’t happen without the audience’s participation. Your vision is different from some others out there. What ever event you make it should provide people with what they are lacking. Some people go to parties because it gives them what they are missing. It’s all emotionally driven though. Tuesday Verses is based off of love. I can get up on stage and sing the ABC’s and they'll (the audience) be just fine with it.

TGS: On average, how many visitors does Tuesday Verses have a week?

LP: About 100 to 150. Those 50 can’t get in so they just stand outside.

TGS: Diverse audience or like-minded audience, which is better?

LP: Diverse. You can’t learn if everyone is the same. We {audience} all love music. Now I do want black people, don’t get me wrong but we need a place where people from all backgrounds come and get a long. That’s tough to get in Richmond.

TGS: Is location important to you? Why or why not?

LP: Location is key. It’s everything. It’s so important. You can’t have something at the end of the Earth and there must be enough parking. The venue has to support you 100%. Promotion is key. {Show} Format is key. Vision is key. Information of what to expect should be clear before someone arrives. No one should be guessing.

TGS: How has hosting and facilitating a weekly event affected your organization skills?

LP: I can pretty much handle what ever is thrown my way at this point. It’s like having a child. I have to feed it, nurture it and make sure it has enough money. I usually go in an hour and a half early to make sure everything is in order from lighting candles, seat arrangements, stacking fliers and newsletters.

TGS: How often do you rely on your people/client relation skills? Has your people skills/client relation skills changed since Tuesday Verses began?

LP: I’ve become very diplomatic. When you’re communicating your vision to people who may not understand it you have to work at being more patient and not snobbish. Patience is really important because when someone does something outside of your vision that can be a problem. You have to be tolerant. You have to make sure you have the right people on the right jobs. If it’s the wrong person then your vision is compromised.

TGS: In your words, what does the audience get out of a Tuesday Verses show?

LP: Love, inspiration, acceptance, camaraderie, intellectual growth and a drive to be better people in their own personal lives. We always talk about making growth in whatever area people focus on. We create a family structure where you have support and they always inspire you to keep going.

TGS: Describe how Verses has grown since inception and how you’ve adapted along the way?

LP: The responsibility of the venue has grown because it’s become so personal for me and others. I have people who drive from D.C and the Tidewater {Virginia} area twice a month and need for us to be there and they need for us to be open no questions asked. Tuesday Verses has changed from a place where they come to feel good to a spot you come before you flip out. We had a guy come in who was a thug and he never had anyone show him you can be a man without being a thug. He has grown as a person because of his participation with the event. It’s {Verses} become a spiritual platform. Men have proposed to wives there. People change their minds not to commit suicide and people have told me that Verses has helped them get a long. Verses has turned into a place where they can bring their issues, get it off their chest through song or poem. Every week I meet someone who says “I don’t’ know what I’d do if you didn’t hold this event every Tuesday.” It ends up ministering to people. There’s a spiritual piece it didn’t have before. I’ll go in with a plan and I have to change it immediately because I realize that people need to be inspired. I have to change my plan to give them what they are looking for.

TGS: Where do you see Verses in the next 5 years?

LP: I would love to tour. I want to hold a Tuesday Verses in surrounding states. I’ve heard that nothing like this even exists in this region and although there may be shows with similar formats they’re not the same. I want to put out an album of Verses music so people at home can experience what we do. I want us to get people to creatively fix their problems and not get too caught up in life and complaining about it. Instead of complaining I want people to express why they are upset creatively. Saying you hate your job isn’t going to change anything but if you can sing about it or write a poem about why you hate your job then that’s a whole different story and that’s something others can learn from. What you do can end up inspiring other people.

Thanks to Lorna for being today's Guest Genius and if you find yourself in the Richmond area on a Tuesday night feel free to check out Tuesday Verses at Tropical Soul, 314 N. 2nd Street Richmond, VA {804} 771-1605.

Quote of the Day

"If I told you a duck could pull a truck shut up and hook the muthaf*cka up!"

-Jerome from Martin

Crown Ministries, I Love Black People, The Harlem Tea Room, Winter Skin Tips, and The Gentlemen's Fund

Crown Ministries: Jesus is a financial planner too?!

Not only is He your co-pilot but He can balance a mean check book. All jokes aside, Crown Financial Ministries is a financial management workshop based on principles of the bible applied to money management. Crown's mission is to "equip people worldwide to learn, apply, and teach God's financial principles so they may know Christ more intimately, be free to serve Him, and help fund the Great Commission." When you really think about it the entire movement makes a lot of sense {that is if you are a Christian}. Founders Larry Burkett {RIP} and Howard Dayton refreshingly put a new twist on old thinking when it comes to religion, money, debt and managing them. The Crown movement has been gaining ground {recently featured on Good Morning America} and is rooted in contentment and stewardship {two things we all can improve upon} and works to re-educate people, all over the world, about the blessings of God and how money fits into that category. I'm not the type of blogger to pass on things to you without trying them myself. I'm excited to say that I will be starting my Crown Financial Ministry classes at Mt. Paran Church of God here in Atlanta very soon. To be honest I'm psyched about it too. Crown is built to help all those who believe in Him get their paper right so they can stop worrying about bad finances and start appreciating all the good in their life. Dealing with debt and getting out of it isn't easy but if God can part the Red Sea I KNOW He can help a brother with his credit. To find out more about Crown Financial Ministries click here.



I Love Black People

My people at Shadowflack Apparel struck a chord with these shirts. Although this self-loving and positive movement via fashion has been going on for some time I STILL get looks and inquiries when I wear my I Love Black People t-shirt {I even wrote about it on my myspace blog http://www.myspace.com/theoneandonlyemoo }. I was so impressed and inspired by the message that I bought shirts for my family immediately after I purchased mine directly from the owner, R. Morgan. Mr. Morgan and the Shadowflack team have been touching the masses and helping black people {and others} love each other and themselves with this apparel. I've seen these shirts all over the TV screen and although I spotted a knock-off version on Run's House a few months ago it's still good to know that Morgan's message is so successful that someone {probably not even black} had to knock it off. Shadowflack has a full portfolio of I Love Black People merchandise so check out the site and be sure to pick something up. And if they happen to have an I Love Black People messenger bag, overnight bag, blazer or fitted cap let a brother know.



Would You Like Some Tea with your Uptown?

If you haven't noticed I'm pro-black and definitely pro-black business. I love to support African-Americans who have made the transition from employee to employer and I definitely admire Patrice Clayton and The Harlem Tea Room staff. And no, before you even ask I haven't been there yet but best believe that I'll be sipping on some aromatic, antioxidant rich brews during my next trip to NYC. I found out about this stylish 3-year old endeavor while watching the Black Enterprise business report and have heard nothing but great things about The Harlem Tea Room since then. Patrice has stated that the welcome and response to the tea room in Harlem has been more than she imagined and its just a testament to the fact that black consumerism doesn't fit into the myopic box marketers try to assign to our culture and lifestyle. A lot of the crowd is a professional type but The Harlem Tea Room also attracts a wide range of clientèle and Patrice can absolutely add me to the list. If you find yourself in Harlem or heading to NYC stop by The Harlem Tea Room located at 1793A Madison Avenue or give them a call at 212.348.3471.



Winter Skin Tips...Because the Hawk is Hell on Your Skin

I know January is practically over and in some places Spring may come early but Winter temperatures are still a reality for most of us {even those of use in ATL} and you still have to protect yourself from the brutal chill of winter air. For a lot of us Winter can be a time to implement a completely different skin care regiment and even if you are the type of person who thinks he or she is fine doing what you normally do in warmer temperatures then check out your elbows and knees. If they look like someone sprinkled powder sugar on them then keep reading. {Yeah I went there.}

Julyn Derrick over at About.com has a lot of helpful info to keep your skin in prime condition during colder climates. Like using lukewarm water instead of hot water because hot water depletes the skin of natural moister, using creamy moisturizers and bypassing the drying soaps and not forgetting that your lips need moisture too- use a lip balm people! And for my fellas the team over at MSN Lifestyle: Men suggest using shampoos that contain soothing products like "extracts of seaweed, licorice and plai oil". Its not a shampoo but I'm partial to Carol's Daughter's Lisa's Hair Elixir myself because it contains peppermint which contains circulation. No matter what product you use just realize that skin in the winter needs more attention which means you need to be up on your game until Spring officially makes it way into our lives. You don't want to be caught out there with the Hawk staring at your ashy ankles. It ain't a good look.




GQ's Gentlemen's Fund

You really can't get mad at the combination of style and philanthropy. I read about GQ's The Gentlemen Fund a few months ago and have been impressed about it ever since. It doesn't hurt that my boy John Legend is the spokesperson either.


The Gentlemen's Fund's mission is to "raise support and awareness for five cornerstones essential to men: opportunity, health, education, environment, and justice." Like I said, you can't get mad at this. The Gentlemen's Fund is comprised of 5 individual charities Career Gear, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids, A Better Chance, Global Green USA and Justice for Children International. The Gentlemen's Fund is dedicated to improving the welfare of men and children all over the world and although the organization is 1 year old I'm sure that GQ will be impacting a lot of lives in the future through their works. When you get a chance check out The Gentlemen's Fund and if the spirit moves you donate some paper {or suits in Career Gear's case} to the cause.



Quote of the Day

"Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential."

-Barack Obama

Voltron Sneakers, FREE Magazine, Make It Right, Rocawear Beef, & 7 Style Secrets

Voltron Sneakers...you read it right.


If you were born in the late 70's or early 80's then the Transformers and Voltron were THE topics of discussion for you and your friends everyday. Real talk, and if they weren't then I don't know what planet you lived on. My mom told me that everything comes back into fashion in a 20 year cycle and I be damned if she wasn't lying. This product dropped back in October but this is just too cool to not bring to your attention. Reebok has released the "Voltron Collection" or the "Voltron Lion Force Pack" {depending on who you get them from} which is a collection of sneakers inspired by each of the five lions that form Voltron. Sneaker heads, anime freaks and 80's babies can all get their rocks off while rocking a fly pair of kicks thanks to Reebok. In addition to purchasing a dope pair of sneaks you also get a complimentary action figure of the lion that inspired your shoe. Tell me that ain't fly. Prices range from $85 to $135 depending on what pair you purchase. I'm partial to the Omni Pump {Yellow Tiger} myself and don't sleep on the ERS Racer {Green Tiger} either. Aww hell. Just give 'em all to me. Check out the rest of the collection here.



FREE Magazine

It's exactly what it sounds like. A free...magazine. Duh. This magazine is the brainchild of a dude I can honestly say I admire and ever since my first encounter with FREE I've been smitten. Todd N. Triplett and PKHDMC, in partnership with Parks-Hall {a non-profit arts organization} helps FREE Magazine reach the cool masses, by focusing on art, fashion, music, luxury, current events and professionalism, while offering exposure to independent artists. The crazy {amazing} thing about FREE is that a complimentary CD is included with each issue of the actual magazine. THIS IS CRAZY!!! I don't know about you but I've never picked up a mag from the rack and walked away with a mixtape of independent artists. FREE turned me on to J*Davey {dope to infinity} and a lot of cool art, designers, photographers and writers. And don't EVEN get me started on the release parties. Step into FREEdom and check out a taste of the current issue {No. 9} here.


Make It Right

Just when you think the media and this current administration has created enough ill-will towards the surviving citizens and mindset of New Orleans/Gulf Coast something like Make It Right comes along and on its tail something like the NO protest gone of December 20 happens . What's important is that progress is being made in New Orleans and unfortunately it isn't happening at the rate, and in the fashion, we'd all like.

Brad Pitt and Stephen Bing have teamed up to create Make It Right. This organization's purpose is to provide 150 low-income houses for citizens of New Orleans. 13 architecture firms are competing to create the most impressive and environmentally-responsible green designs for the housing communities. Unlike projects of old; the Make It Right properties will be sustainable homes that are projected to keep maintenance costs down by 75%. "Each house will be around 1200 square feet with three bedrooms, and each will cost around $150,000. {http://www.joshspear.com/item/make-it-right/}" Pitt has even put up his own money {$5 mill} for Make It Right and everyone from individuals to corporations can donate money and materials for this initiative. {Design by Concordia Architecture above.}

Seems like things are looking up for the N.O, right? Not so fast. A good friend of mine told me about this protest that took a violent turn. A group of citizens chose to physically show their disapproval of the demolition of a set of New Orleans public housing properties and police made forceful attempts to control the crowd by pepper spray and tazers. No matter what happens in New Orleans it seems that tension is always at the surface and if anything that is a sign of passion and commitment. Say what you want about New Orleans but its evident that the citizens of that city and even the region have a pride and love for their home that is not understood by many. To find out more about Make It Right and ways you can help the progress to improve New Orleans take a jump here and for contrast's sake check the CNN clip of the protest here.


Rocawear it at Your Own Risk

Before some of you pull out your Jigga Man Official Fan Club membership cards just sit back and read the rest of the blurb. In Jan of '07 the Humane Society of the United States conducted some test and revealed that Jay-Z and Rocawear were selling faux-fur clothing that feature fur from raccoon dogs on the Rocawear website. Apparently this is a regular move in the faux-fur game cause Diddy was accused of doing the same with his Sean John women's line. Damn. Wow.

To be honest I've never been a Rocawear or Sean John dude and after strolling through Perimeter Mall a few weeks ago I probably will never be. Nothing personal against the lines or the heads of the companies. While in Dillard's me and my homeboy came across a Rocawear t-shirt that was more ignorant and stereotypical than progressive and witty. To understand the absurdity of this shirt you have to understand that Perimeter Mall is in Sandy Springs, GA, a predominately white city immediately outside of the Atlanta city limits. So imagine my surprise to see a Rocawear shirt {wait for it} in Dillard's that shows the Monopoly logo drenched in blood and Mr. Moneybags with a bandana, fitted cap and bag of money running {tolerable}. The kicker was the line {in small text} above the remixed Monopoly logo that said something to the extent of "Properly Getting Cash from the Hood Brothers." I'm paraphrasing so don't trip. The issue is that 1} how does blood and bandanas signify properly doing anything and 2} what muthaf***ing "hood brothers" are in Sandy Springs, Georgia? The more I think about this shirt, and others like it ,the more I think about the stereotypical behavior and image of today's hip-hop, how it's manufactured to appeal to those who can't completely relate to it and how it demeans those it's supposedly representing. Us.



Get Your Grown Man on with 7 Style Secrets

When I had my hair twisted in college I took it upon myself to perform a small experiment. If you didn't know I'm here to tell you that dreads/twists have a bad wrap in society {especially in the south} so I wanted to see what I could do to change people's perceptions in my small town. For one week I wore nothing but baggy jeans, timberlands and over-sized shirts to school, work and all over town. As you've probably guessed I was treated like and talked to like I was someone who wasn't educated...a thug basically. I'm far from that. The following week I switched the game up and wore fitted clothes, button-down shirts, loafers and I even bought a pair of reading glasses with a very weak prescription. The only constant variable from week 1 to week 2 was my hair and the way I was treated was a complete 180 from the prior week. My hypothesis was correct...fashion, style, clothing, whatever you want to call it has the power to attract positive or negative reactions. That's why I'm always cognizant of my appearance..that and I'm a Kappa so I make it my business to be on point all of the time.

I came across this article on MSN.com written in partnership with Best Life magazine {great magazine by the way} about 7 style secrets for men. For some reason fellas think that getting your wardrobe up always means being uncomfortable in tight clothes or wearing clothing that doesn't represent their personality. Where in the hell did this come from? It's far from being true and some of the most stylish brothers know that true style means you put your own mark on conventions of fashion. We as black men excel at this but as of lately I've noticed a few brothers have steered way off track.

Of the 7 secrets I'm only agreeing with 5 of them. Not because I'm defiant but because they don't fit my personality but this is good info for any kat who is thinking or working on getting his style game in order. Every man needs a new suit. "The easiest way to upgrade your office look instantly is to add a suit that isn't corporate gray" and one way to separate yourself from the pack is to add a fly workbag with the get up. Leather is always in style {Wilson's chelsea contrast stitch messenger to the right}. No offense but it's not cool to be wearing a backpack to work. In addition to the new suit try coppping a gig that pushes your envelope a little bit. Nothing crazy like Ye at last year's Grammys but something that is current, well-fitted, relevant to your personality and confidently says "Damn I'm a fly mother...shut yo' mouth!" Instead of pleated pants think about "flat-front trousers that will make you look taller and thinner. There are four more tips for you so strut on over to the link and read the rest of the article Mr. Debonair.





Quote of the Day

"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."

-John F. Kennedy

Paper Saving Gift Giving, Another Bush F-up, A Saggy Pants Law?, Keyshia Cole & Interviewing 101

Give a Gift. Hold on to your paper.

If your family is like mine no one will be giving or receiving any light blue Tiffany boxes or Rolex watches this Christmas. That’s not to say that great gifts haven’t been given and received in our house around Christmas time. Believe me, my mama got over like a fat rat last Christmas. She deserved it though.

So what do you do if your intentions are grand and you don’t want to sell out by purchasing a gift card? You make a budget, get creative and read the rest of what I’m about to drop on you. Liz Pulliam Weston at MSN.com suggests “purchasing gifts that fall into three categories: Consumables: stuff you can eat, drink or otherwise use up quickly. {i.e. exotic spices for kitchen lovers}, services and experiences: stuff others can do to or for the recipient (i.e. free massage at the local spa} or gadgets: a product created to either help corral clutter or make life easier {i.e. a digital picture frame for someone who loves sharing pictures}."

Weston has even done a great job identifying gifts ranging from below $10 to under $30. Everything from a month’s subscription to Netflix {$8.99} to the iTurbo for your iPod {$25} is listed in addition to gift ideas within higher price ranges. Weston has really done her homework and even if some of her suggestions don’t fit the person you’re shopping for you can at least get inspired by her ideas. Check the article out here.

Another President Bush F-up; are you surprised?

It bugs me out that there are still people in our country who stand behind our President. I’m not even talking about the war but more simple things like pronouncing OB/GYN as oh-bee-gin. Oh yes y’all. That’s a fact. This time he managed to eclipse a major issue in society- the homeowner mortgage crisis- by reciting the wrong phone number for homeowners worrying about their rising mortgage payments. Instead of directing citizens to call 1-888-995-HOPE, for the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, Mr. President told Americans to dial 1-800-995-HOPE. This number belongs to the Freedom Christian Academy—a school in Texas.

I’m still trying to figure out how this dude got re-elected. Check out our President’s flub here.

The Saggy Baggy of it All

In southern cities all over the country officials and citizens are working to eliminate the wearing of baggy, saggy pants on urban youth. I don’t know how I feel about this just yet but I do know that sagging pants should be at the bottom of our country’s list of things to get bent out of shape about. We still have millions of families living below the poverty line. Citizens of the Gulf Coast are still living in FEMA trailers 2 years after Katrina and don’t let me get started about the plight of our young black youth.

While checking out the Complex.com blog I came across what Neil Richards, first amendment expert of Washington University had to say. “People have a right to express their identity through speech and action.” So true. In Pine Lawn, MO offenders of this law {who are majority young, black and male} can be fined $100 “and their parents could be fined up to $500 or serve 90 days in jail” for breaking the saggy pant law.

Is this another attack on current hip-hop culture or is it the kick in the butt this young generation needs? Who knows but I will tell you this: if any of these guys’ mothers is like mine she ain’t dropping one penny or spending a second in jail for some below the butt cheeks, can’t barely walk, showing all of your ass nonsense.

I’m just saying. Check out the rest of the article from the AP.

Keyshia Cole: The Way She Is

I have a confession to make. I’m in love with Keyshia Cole. Not in THAT way you pervs. I’m saying that I admire her for her talent, hustle and patience dealing with her fam. Now don’t get me wrong because my family ain’t perfect, by any means, but then again we {my father’s side anyway} ain’t showcasing our coo-coo bananas family behavior all over television.

This is the second season of Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is... on BET and I have to say that I’m late to the show. I admit that I slept on the first season but I’m hooked on the second season. This show is a great story about passion, determination, family, unconditional love and humanity. Keyshia’s dealing with an ex-con and ex addict mother, a sister who is anything but ready for suburban life and a full time career. I don’t know how she does it.

For someone who doesn’t watch too much of BET at all I can say that if you aren’t watching this TV show then you should. It’s all about Keyshia’s struggle…and that’s the way it is. The season finale aired December 11, 2007 but I’m absolutely positive BET will be airing repeats in the near future. They do what they want to on that channel.

Catch episodes of Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, when you can, weeknights on BET.



Interviewing 101

Looking good on paper is one thing but being great in person is something totally different. I meet a lot of people who ask me how to do the right things in an interview. I give them the best advice I can but all I end up doing is telling them what works for me which may not translate well to their personality. I decided to devote this 101 Session to the skill of interviewing and how to prepare for and have a successful one. Today's Guest Genius is Lynda Wicker (Lynda isn't in the picture to the right by the way...come on people), the director of Human Resources at JWT Atlanta in Atlanta, GA. Lynda has over 10 years experience in Human Resources. She is a great interviewer and totally knows the in's, out's, do's and don'ts of the interview. If you ever wanted insider information about the essentials of interviewing you're in luck.


T.G.S: How long have you been working in Human Resources?

Lynda: I've been in Human Resources for 12 years. I really have to thank my sister-in-law for introducing me to this field. Early in my career I was an office manager but I was always trying to help people. Before I knew it I was pursuing a career in HR and started at PBA Atlanta as a Human Resources Assistant. I just love helping people find the right career and realize their career options.


T.G.S: What are some of the biggest myths/misconceptions people have about interviewing?

Lynda: This is why I think my next career move will be career counseling. I really think people should stop with the manufactured behavior. It's okay to be nervous but that's not reason to be so cliched. I want to have a conversation with the person I'm interviewing. The one-word answers or the cliche' responses, {I'm a people person...my weakness is that I try to hard} don't impress me. I really wish people would stop saying those in interviews. Have a resume in hand and be ready to talk about your experience. Truly understand that the job is about results and not how hard you tried. Work is about results so give examples of how you showed initiative and have key points of view {i.e. your style of work, what you like about the company and you're personal goals}.Be articulate. Be able to clearly express your thoughts in a concise and thorough way. One thing I've noticed with the millennial workforce is they, sometimes, come to an interview too casual. I know this is the age of casual but you have to be smart about it. I've had some people come in t-shirts and jeans. It's such an easy thing not to screw up. If you are unsure about a company's culture wear a suit. You can't go wrong.

T.G.S: Are there common mistakes young professionals make during interviews?

Lynda: Not preparing enough: a lot of young professionals don't do their homework before coming in. There's is no excuse for no preparation. During interviews I notice that a lot of young professionals feel they should come across as if they know everything and that's wrong. If you're interviewing for an entry-level position you can't know everything there is to know about the position you want or the company you hope to work for. Although the seasoned professionals think they know everything too. It's important that interviewees have questions for the interviewer. This is the interviewee's chance to get conversational and learn a lot about the company and please don't just ask the "company culture" question. Do your research and come up with good questions.

T.G.S: We've already touched on this but what are some of you're interviewer pet-peeves?

Lynda: The stock answers. Rehearsed answers. I like it best when people are comfortable so, this is such a cliche, but BE YOURSELF and be honest. Dress nice but not to the point where you come across as a perfectionist. That's a big one for me. Believe it or not "I'm a people person" is still a big problem.


TGS: What are some of the commonalties of your better interviews?

Lynda: Well, for me, first interviews are usually phone interviews and they are sometimes awkward when you aren't talking with a natural conversationalist. I like experienced people, people who really listen to questions and answer them thoroughly and honestly. I like when people have good eye contact and they are honest about their capabilities. You can tell when some one is genuinely interested and not treating HR as an invaluable gatekeeper.


T.G.S: How about the mysterious follow-up time. How do you advise people do handle that?

Lynda: I'm definitely a believer in sending a thank you note or thank you email within 24 to 48 hours of the interview. There are some people who don't like thank you emails but I don't think they are a problem. Follow-up is good period. During the interview ask the interviewer about the follow-up process. If someone promises to follow-up with you and they don't fulfill their promise don't panic. There are a number of things that are going on within a company that can side-track the HR director and hiring efforts. Some companies have strict interviewing cycles and its good to ask about the interviewing process during your interview so that can give you a follow-up strategy. Now if you realize that 4 to 6 weeks have gone by just send another note expressing your interest in the position if you're still interested. I like to call them gentle reminders. If its been more than 6 weeks and you haven't heard anything then that means you probably didn't get it.


Thanks to Lynda Wicker for being today's Guest Genius.



Quote of the Day

"Exceptional people have exceptional battles, they go through exceptional problems, they go through exceptional chaos and they have exceptional deliverances. Be careful about putting your foot on an exceptional person."

-T.D Jakes