By: Tazz DaddyShow
Dear Ladies,
I hope this letter finds you well. While I’m not an artist, I am a writer. So I thought I would take this time to let you know things that I feel every Black woman should know about Black men
1. We don’t think that every Black woman is a b****, but we sure know the difference between a b**** and a lady.
It would behoove you to conduct yourself in a positive manner. We don’t have time for a lot of slick talking and unnecessary debate.
2. Your job doesn’t mean anything to us and neither does your title.
When we choose a mate, we’re more concerned with how they act, and if they’re able to carry on a stimulating intellectual conversation about various subjects. I’m not going to say that we don’t care what you look like physically, because that would be lying. Men definitely care about how you look; we’re just not as obsessed with it as you think we are.
3. We can’t stand your hair weaves!
We can’t touch your hair, let alone pull it during sex. So many of you start off with such long beautiful hair, and then the very next week it’s brand-new hair sewn in. This totally baffles us; it makes us feel like you never satisfied with your image. When it comes to choosing a mate we don’t want an indecisive, self-conscious woman. And we all know you don’t want an indecisive self-conscious man!
4. We don’t want to hear about your ex-boyfriends/husbands and how horrible they were to you.
We are not responsible for their mistakes, nor will we sit around and pay for them. If you have not given yourself enough time to get over your ex, do us a favor and seek psychological help before entering into a relationship with us.
5. No Black Man respects Steve Harvey’s opinion on women.
This man is a professional comedian who is backed up by Oprah Winfrey. How can you believe advice from a woman who can’t commit to a man she’s been with for over 20 years? That’s as asinine as me giving diet tips!
6. We know the difference between a wife and a jumpoff.
We don’t need to hear you tell us how much of a “good woman” you are. That will be evidenced by the way that you carry yourself.
7. Its true: All Men Are Dogs!
What you fail to realize is that all dogs have different pedigrees! It’s up to you to determine the difference between the poodles, the mongrels, the German shepherds, and the rabid pit bulls. Depending on the pedigree some dogs are loyal, and some dogs are wayward much that you should never touch because you could catch something: like rabies!
8. We want a woman who’s going to be willing to submit to us.
Where women mess up is by thinking that we mean that we want a slave, or a maid. A man who is bringing his A-game desires a cheerleader from the sidelines, who can double as an assistant coach. We also want someone who can play wide receiver as well as understand that there is only room for one quarterback. In layman’s terms, we don’t want you behind us, we want you beside us. We need women who are able to support our dreams and our vision without all of the nagging and jaw jacking that tends to come with some sistas.
9. Your girlfriends have absolutely no business in our relationship/marriage!
Many of today’s modern women feel like they need someone to cosign every decision they make in their relationship/marriage. This annoys the living daylights out of every Black man I know including me. And that goes double for your male “best friend”. This guy either wants to sleep with you (and you’re unaware of it) or he already has in the past. Either way, he DAMN SURE doesn’t need to know what’s going on in our relationship/marriage!
10. Sex and children are not weapons!
If you manipulate a man by using sex and children, you will eventually find yourself by yourself! Or there’s the alternative: you find yourself with a man who truly does not want to be with you but has no choice, because he wants to see his child. When it comes to sex, it can only hold a weak man hostage. Strong men who have their lives together understand that they have many options. Some of which, are better options than you are.
11. Mind games never work!
Even if you manage to manipulate a man, sooner or later he’ll become aware of your manipulation and he will resent you for it. Thinking that you are slicker than a can of oil, can only lead you to slip up! Men respect women who can be open and honest with them! After all, isn’t that what you want in a man?
12. Don’t go through our phones, our computers or through our cars without our permission.
When you choose to become a private detective in your relationship/marriage, you’re telling us that you don’t have any trust in us at all! Once the trust is broken, you have nothing left to stand on in your relationship. You are not Sherlock Holmes, you are not Nancy Drew, and you damn sure are not Joey Greco from the TV show Cheaters. If you have questions and concerns, open your mouth and address him like an adult. If you can’t do this, and you feel the need to snoop, you might as well leave the relationship.
13. If you have one or more friends who is a slut, most men will tend to believe that you probably are a slut as well.
While that sounds particularly harsh, it’s how man’s brains are wired. Even if you’re not a slut or a whore, why would you condone the behavior of your “friend” who acts like one? That makes as much sense as a man who has a friend who does not take care of his children. Or about as much sense as a man who has a friend who cheats on his wife. If your woman with even the smallest ounce of self-respect, you would question us the same way that we would question you if you had a friend who was as open as a Waffle House in the middle of Georgia.
14. Don’t Listen to the Media!
As a broadcast professional of over 20 years, I can assure you that when information is put out about Black men and Black women, it is done for one purpose and one purpose alone: Ratings! The media is in the business of Ratings, Revenue & Entertainment, not in the business of serving the Black community, and Black women, in a way that will uplift and empower them. Black men are not all gay or on the “Down Low”! Black men are not all in jail/prison! There are plenty of us who are educated, eligible, hard working and who are willing to love you unconditionally if given the chance. You have to be willing to come to the realization that your “Knight in shining armor” may come in the form of a plumber, mail carrier, or small business owner. If you spend your life waiting on the float with Mr. Universe on it, you’re going to miss the entire parade!
15. Stop using Beyoncé as a life coach!
In recent years, Beyoncé, along with several other R&B artists have made these “Women’s Empowerment Anthems” that have led women to believe that they can throw us “to the left”. Contrary to public opinion and prior belief, if you “bust the windows out of our cars”, we’re going to press charges against you. If you spend your time looking for a “Sponsor”, and honestly believe that “If we liked it then we should’ve put a ring on it”, then you truly don’t understand what we’re all about! To us when we hear a woman say that she wants a “sponsor”, we hear that she’s trying to use her vagina and good looks for money. Believe it or not, most men don’t want a prostitute. Also, when we Love you, we will “put a ring on it”, and not a minute before we’re ready! Finally, Beyoncé may talk a good game on records and in videos, but what most of you are failing to realize is that she is a very happily married woman! Beyoncé is also the woman who wrote the song “Cater to You”, but for some strange reason you don’t go around quoting that one!
Ladies, these views are my personal take on things that my friends and I have always had issues with when it came to Black women. I hope you take this letter inthe spirit of honesty, and not turn it into an attack on all Black Women.
You’re loved, honored, and respected, but like some Black men, some of you need to get it together.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Mom’s hug revives baby that was pronounced dead
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Back To The Education...
This might be old and i know that classes have already started but i would like for you ladies and gentlemen to take some time out of your busy schedules to read this motivating speech about the need for education in America today...
Enjoy...
Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama: Back to School Event
Arlington, Virginia
September 8, 2009
"Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about responsibility.
I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren’t working where students aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.
And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a good writer – maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper – but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.
And no matter what you want to do with your life – I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You’re going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You’ve got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.
And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.
We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.
Now I know it’s not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.
I get it. I know what that’s like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn’t always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn’t fit in.
So I wasn’t always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I’m not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn’t have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.
Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don’t have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there’s not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don’t feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren’t right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life – what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home – that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.
That’s what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn’t speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.
I’m thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who’s fought brain cancer since he was three. He’s endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer – hundreds of extra hours – to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he’s headed to college this fall.
And then there’s Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she’s on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren’t any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.
That’s why today, I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education – and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you’ll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you’ll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you’ll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you’ll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don’t feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.
Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things.
But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won’t love every subject you study. You won’t click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won’t necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.
That’s OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures. JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
These people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures define you – you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn’t mean you’re a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn’t mean you’re stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.
No one’s born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You’re not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don’t hit every note the first time you sing a song. You’ve got to practice. It’s the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it’s good enough to hand in.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust – a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor – and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.
It’s the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.
So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?
Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I’m working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you’ve got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down – don’t let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America."
Enjoy...
Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama: Back to School Event
Arlington, Virginia
September 8, 2009
"Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about responsibility.
I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren’t working where students aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.
And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a good writer – maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper – but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.
And no matter what you want to do with your life – I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You’re going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You’ve got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.
And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.
We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.
Now I know it’s not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.
I get it. I know what that’s like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn’t always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn’t fit in.
So I wasn’t always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I’m not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn’t have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.
Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don’t have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there’s not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don’t feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren’t right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life – what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home – that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.
That’s what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn’t speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.
I’m thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who’s fought brain cancer since he was three. He’s endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer – hundreds of extra hours – to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he’s headed to college this fall.
And then there’s Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she’s on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren’t any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.
That’s why today, I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education – and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you’ll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you’ll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you’ll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you’ll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don’t feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.
Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things.
But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won’t love every subject you study. You won’t click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won’t necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.
That’s OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures. JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
These people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures define you – you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn’t mean you’re a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn’t mean you’re stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.
No one’s born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You’re not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don’t hit every note the first time you sing a song. You’ve got to practice. It’s the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it’s good enough to hand in.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust – a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor – and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.
It’s the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.
So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?
Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I’m working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you’ve got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down – don’t let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America."
Friday, July 9, 2010
Jin: From BET's Freestyle Friday to Chrisitian Rap
Jin first distinguished himself as a notable lyricist when he came out of nowhere to become the “Freestyle Friday Champ” on BET’s 106 and Park. Every week, Jin destroyed the competition and went on to eventually retire as the undefeated Freestyle Champion, solidifying his place as one of the most innovative rap artists of this century.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida Jin’s parents ran their own take-out restaurant, where he spent most of his childhood and teenage years. Growing up during the Golden Age of Hip Hop (the early 90’s), Jin became fascinated with rap music and the Hip Hop lifestyle. When Jin’s family decided to move to Manhattan, he knew it would be the perfect opportunity to follow his dreams. Jin immediately took to the streets of New York and sold his own mix tapes.
But his big break came when he won “Freestyle Friday” and became the undisputed champion. That victory led his record deal with Ruff Ryders. “Learn Chinese” was the first single from Jin’s debut album, The Rest Is History, and became his first video to be played on MTV & BET.
Despite being in the music industry only a few years, Jin has already accomplished a lot more than most artists ever attempt: He made his feature film debut in “2 Fast 2 Furious,” pocketed $100,000.00 and a brand new car in the Fightclub Freestyle Battle at the Mix Show Power Summit (earning the title “Hundred Grand Jin”), and sold over 200,000 copies of his solo debut album. He began a new chapter in his journey with the release of his first-ever all-Cantonese album, ABC (American Born Chinese).
ABC was released in August of 2008, several days before the jaw-dropping opening ceremonies of the Beijing Summer Olympics. He surprised the Eastern world when the media attention surrounding his arrival in Hong Kong stood its ground amidst the massive coverage of the Olympic games. He achieved instant recognition and notoriety within weeks as radio, magazine and TV programs scrambled to feature Jin’s move into town.
Though ABC has no English lyrics, Jin feels that the theme of the project was universal and could appeal to Hip Hop heads everywhere.
“It balances where you were born with your heritage. There has never been an album like this, and no Chinese American has ever done it,” he explains.
All the production on ABC was done by LA-based Far East Movement, an increasingly popular Hip Hop act and production team. FM provided an amazing backdrop to the album, with a classic Hip Hop sound and fat drum tracks. The album is Jin’s musical biography of what it was like growing up in America and still trying to stay true to his Chinese cultural heritage. Even the album cover is a testament to this, showing snap shots from his childhood.
Currently working hard to finish his second Cantonese album, Wui Herng Jing (a play on the words “Hong Kong ID Card”), the project chronicles Jin’s first months living in the “Motherland” and his eventual decision to move into the city once and for all.
Describing the direction of the album Jin says, “It will definitely still have the original sound and appeal of ABC, but the subject matter will be way more relatable for the Hong Kong citizens.”
Jin now preaches the gospel through rap and hip hop. Say Something, his first christian rap album is now available for downloading and he can also be followed at his blog AyoJin.com
Friday, July 2, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Gone Too Soon - MJ Tribute
Michael Jackson (1958 - 2009) You are loved, missed and never forgotten!!! I still cant believe its been a whole year... you were truly gone too soon....
A Michael Jackson Tribute from Joe Staley on Vimeo.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
God Given Talent
Danielle Owens, Soldier serving our country overseas through the Air Force and has a passion for serving Christ as well. Danielle is not only a talented singer but also a wife to my brother Brandon Owens and Sister-In-Law to me since July 3rd, 2009 Good Luck with the audition Danielle!
"Everyone knows that I love music but I never want to pimp my soul or my gift to gain fame and fortune. Then again Im not supposed to sit on my gift either...man it's hot out here, Im tired...bored in this quiet room...Im looking all grimmey..I have nothing to lose. Folks can compliment me if they want to or not I just felt like finally singing out to share with friends and fam. Thanks so much for the words..."
- Danielle Owens
"Everyone knows that I love music but I never want to pimp my soul or my gift to gain fame and fortune. Then again Im not supposed to sit on my gift either...man it's hot out here, Im tired...bored in this quiet room...Im looking all grimmey..I have nothing to lose. Folks can compliment me if they want to or not I just felt like finally singing out to share with friends and fam. Thanks so much for the words..."
- Danielle Owens
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Fresh Downloads of The Week
What's Fresh:
Lloyd Banks ft. Lloyd- Any Girl
Drake- Tim Westwood (Freestyle)
The Roots ft. John Legend- The Fire
Travie McCoy ft. T-Pain- Ms. Tattoo Girl
Big Boi ft. Andre 3000 and Sleepy Brown- Lookin' For Ya
Eminem ft. Lil Wayne- No Love
Akon ft. Qwess Kross- In The Night
Flo Rida - Club Can't Handle Me (Prod. by David Guetta)
Brother Ali- Don't Look At Me, Look Around
Eminem ft. Kobe- Talkin' 2 Myself
Eminem ft. Rihanna- Love The Way You Lie
Chamillionaire ft. Lloyd and Twista- Make A Movie
Kevin Rudolph ft. Three 6 Mafia- Late Night Automatic
Nipsey Hu$$le ft. Lloyd- Feeling Myself
M.I.A. ft. Jay-Z- XXXO (Rmx)
Who Dat
Excuse The Language [Explicit]
J. Cole - Who Dat (Directed by BBGUN) from bbgun on Vimeo.
J. Cole - Who Dat (Directed by BBGUN) from bbgun on Vimeo.
J. Cole - Who Dat (Directed by BBGUN) from bbgun on Vimeo.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Drake - Thank Me Later
Drake’s the first superstar of the second decade of the 21st century. Of course, given that this decade is driven by a here yesterday, gone today, forgotten tomorrow mentality, the nature of his drive to being a superstar PRIOR to releasing his debut album is a story unto itself. A young man with the right look, pedigree and style for mainstream acceptance hasn’t existed in hip hop since Will Smith, except in 2010 it’s going to take a little bit more than mainstream acceptable cartoon rhymes and humor tracks to get over. Drake was not shot nine times. Nor has he gone to prison and been released holding a #1 rap album and a mainstream record deal. No, Drake also hasn’t sold drugs and laundered his success into a wildly successful imprint. Aubrey Graham sat in a wheelchair and was a passable teen actor on Degrassi: The Next Generation. His intellect and witticism as a budding lyricist apparently led him to Lil Wayne, who mentored, developed, and maybe even borrowed the notepad on occasion of the young Canadian from the T Dot. However, a lauded mixtape turned EP turned legendary debut single “Best I Ever Had,” and turn as the most visible rising public face of Young Money Entertainment later, and we’re here. The young man that blends the best elements of Smith, LL Cool J and yes, Kanye West and Lil Wayne has become the LeBron James of hip hop without even playing a full season in the big leagues. Debut album Thank Me Later is a reflection on Drake’s cognizance of his bizarre rise, and his ambition to enjoy success and preserve it, even in the face of immense hate given his unique career to date.
This is by no stretch a great album. It is a debut, fraught with the issues of which many debuts are waylaid. At 61 minutes, given much of the subject matter, the album may run a bit long, and may at times appear tedious. Also, the release has eight guest appearances that in literally every case expose the emcee as not remotely close on a lyrical level to likely any of the top ten emcees in the game. Tracks like “Miss Me” featuring Drizzy’s lyrical hero Lil Wayne and “Unforgettable” featuring trap superstar Young Jeezy are noticeably better when in the hands of veterans, while Jay-Z on “Miss Me” does a tremendous job in appearing to be a wizened grandfather of the game and delivers a solid, yet effortless sixteen bars, cosigning without overshadowing.
Drake is a success and at best when flossin’. There’s no better way to put it, no different way to state it. Drake shines as an emcee when he’s himself, a very young man of very considerable means, as B.I.G. says famously in “Big Poppa,” “money, hoes and clothes” is all this brother seems to know right now. Given that he was raised in a broken home, having material gain as the second half of a foundation equation for his life is a popular life circumstance for many rappers these days, but none has ever taken the time to describe it as Drake does here. Album opener “Fireworks” handles this eloquently in the metaphorical, possibly the best discussion of young wealth and fame, a song that the Waka Flockas of the world should consider in the face of the frivolousness of Fozzy Bear chains, an endless supply of open nightclubs and loose women.
Drake has decided to adopt and strive to be adept at the principles of hip hop storytelling espoused by the likes of Nas and Andre 3000. He’s only adept at telling one story right now, but he tells that story with a precision and depth that it warrants both mention and praise. Producers 40 and Boi-1da, the Canadian tandem responsible for “Best I Ever Had” and much of the wildly successful So Far Gone mixtape/EP shine here, brighter than veterans Timbaland, Swizz Beatz and Kanye West, who in attempting to match the intensely thoughtful tableau, fall short of the standard set by those who know Drake best. While rookies like Nicki Minaj are less than skilled at Drake’s level of reflection, tracks like “Resistance,” “Shut It Down,” “Up All Night” and “Fancy” are great showpieces for what will make Drake a name of importance in the industry.
In final, this album is merely the beginning for Drake. It is not perfect, but it shows the foundation for perfection. If Drake remains intensely thoughtful and develops his skill to craft metaphorical anthems with catchy adlibs, he’ll truly be the definition of “Successful” that he so desperately wants to be. At the end of the album he wants us to “Thank Me Now.” That’s quite the audacious statement firmly couched in the naivete of youth. Drake is a top contender, but yet to be the champion. Soon, he will be. “Thank Me Later?” Sounds about right.
Signing Out, The RAPture...
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Yung Rick - "Over" Remix
As G.T.K. (Grow The Kingdom) the purpose was made known and the foundation was set!! I now intruoduce you to YUNG RICK...stay tuned!!!
Follow Yung Rick as he spreads the word of God on his MySpace
Enjoy...
Yung Rick - Over Remix
Follow Yung Rick as he spreads the word of God on his MySpace
Enjoy...
Yung Rick - Over Remix
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Heavy On My Heart...
First off, i know its not easy attempting to live a life pleasing to Christ and it is a struggle at times but right now it is 2:51 am and i am laying in a hospital bed and cannot sleep because i feel as though i have to post a note to help someone out there that struggles with the same situations i do.....
Here we go...
Lord, i have always thought that you weren't a true Christian if you didn't study the bible all the time and never let a bad thought go through your head, and always take yourself out of situations that you know you shouldn't be in. But since i have been in college and am really starting to learn myself more and more i am realizing that i should eventually get to these points in my walk with you but at the same time i have to crawl before i can walk and just as a baby trust its parental figure i have to put complete trust in you and allow you to take over my life and be the paternal figure i need.
I believe that a person not living their life Christ like should look at a person who is and notice that there is something different about them and the way that they carry themselves. A "sinner" should be able to look at the actions and good doings of a "follower" and see that they are a child of God, including being a giver (in the community or through donations and cheerful giving), and their willingness to speak the words of God whenever they receive them and to do it without shame or doubt.
A child of God should be willing and able to fight temptation (sexually or secularly) at the drop of a dime and rebuke the devil when he shows himself to you through other's actions or through the mishaps of your day and also be alert enough recognize when they are being pulled into a trap and know when to remove themselves from situations (friends, family, addictions, etc...) that they know is not pleasing to God and his will for their life.
And last but certainly not least, they should always be ready to put themselves (pride,feelings, ego,etc...) aside in order to put God first and the people God want them to help second.
Lord i thank you for using me to help someone else in need and i pray that you be with me every step of the way and allow me to reach the point in my journey where these things will be of second nature to me. I pray that you guide me into the man that you want me to be lord and that you help my family, friends and associates and help me to lead them to you Lord, if not through this message, then hopefully through words or actions when you want it to happen lord.
I just thank you for using me as a vessel to get your word across lord. Amen
Here we go...
Lord, i have always thought that you weren't a true Christian if you didn't study the bible all the time and never let a bad thought go through your head, and always take yourself out of situations that you know you shouldn't be in. But since i have been in college and am really starting to learn myself more and more i am realizing that i should eventually get to these points in my walk with you but at the same time i have to crawl before i can walk and just as a baby trust its parental figure i have to put complete trust in you and allow you to take over my life and be the paternal figure i need.
I believe that a person not living their life Christ like should look at a person who is and notice that there is something different about them and the way that they carry themselves. A "sinner" should be able to look at the actions and good doings of a "follower" and see that they are a child of God, including being a giver (in the community or through donations and cheerful giving), and their willingness to speak the words of God whenever they receive them and to do it without shame or doubt.
A child of God should be willing and able to fight temptation (sexually or secularly) at the drop of a dime and rebuke the devil when he shows himself to you through other's actions or through the mishaps of your day and also be alert enough recognize when they are being pulled into a trap and know when to remove themselves from situations (friends, family, addictions, etc...) that they know is not pleasing to God and his will for their life.
And last but certainly not least, they should always be ready to put themselves (pride,feelings, ego,etc...) aside in order to put God first and the people God want them to help second.
Lord i thank you for using me to help someone else in need and i pray that you be with me every step of the way and allow me to reach the point in my journey where these things will be of second nature to me. I pray that you guide me into the man that you want me to be lord and that you help my family, friends and associates and help me to lead them to you Lord, if not through this message, then hopefully through words or actions when you want it to happen lord.
I just thank you for using me as a vessel to get your word across lord. Amen
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Crude Misperception
Lauren DeRamus, is the creator of "Crude Misperception", a blog collecting her thoughts on fashion, music, artist, and politics. Lauren is a good friend of mine that i met in college, Texas A&M University - Commerce, through my girlfriend, Nadia.
Support Lauren with your follows and comments!
"Life is just a crude misperception"
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Benjamin Bixby
The Benjamin Bixby clothing line by Andre Benjamin, a.k.a. Andre 3000, is a late 1930's inspired line drawn from old college football documentaries. The collection consists of 70 pieces that was released at Barney's NY for Fall 2008.
The Look:
Benjamin Bixby Clothing Line centers around classic vintage with a dash of modern. The line will soon be adding denim made from salvaged Japanese fabrics and also plans on launching a full line for women.
About Benjamin Bixby's Clothing Line:
The timing of the launch was called by some unfortunate, as it hit just at the start of the recession. The high price point of the line combined with the fact that it was a new brand without loyalty made it very difficult to make the sales needed to continue. As Andre paid great attention to detail, his clothing was not able to be reproduced at a cost that would compliment mass production, and consequently, when he had to lower the price to help the retailers move his product, he suffered losses.
The official website for the company is still operating, and has a list of retailers who carry the line, including Barney's, Bloomingdales, and Neiman Marcus in the United States and locations in Paris, London, Dubai, Moscow, and Japan for international buyers.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Nathan ft. Flo Rida - Caught Me Slippin (Tiger Woods Spoof)
Check out Nathan's New Song Caught me Slippin Ft Flo Rida www.nathanofficial.com & www.twitter.com/nathanofficial
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Hot Spot In The DFW Metroplex...
If your ever in the DFW Metroplex, you have to go to Mockingbird Station where you can find "Centre", a all-around up-to-date fashion store. Centre is located fairly close to downtown and many other shopping areas. Centre offers the latest in footwear and accessories while offering Centre shirts as seen below. To find out more about Centre follow them on Twitter @gotocentre, on facebook "Centre", or on their blog: GoToCentre
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Mr. Hit That Hoe...
Coming straight out of MY city, Dallas, TX, i present to you "Mr. Hit That Hoe"... Enjoy...
Friday, January 8, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
"So High Up, I Got Birds In My Condo"
The weekend villa juts out of a mountainside in a popular holiday area known for its hot springs, in Shizuoka Prefecture on Japan’s main island of Honshu.
By: The Cool Hunter
Photographs - Ken'ichi Suzuki
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)