There’s something about Miles Davis & John Coltrane

In a room dimly lit, with the aroma of Frankincense & Myrrh incense sticks, this song is a peaceful joy to take in. That’s why I’m sharing it with you all.

Jill Scott: “Ain’t A Ceiling”

Jill Scott has always been by far the woman I am easily moved by through sound and poetry. Her talents are beyond the norm. Here is a little inspiration from her poem/song, “Ain’t A Ceiling”

Urban Word NYC: A Safe Haven For Teen Expressionists

Urban Word NYC is a non profit organization in New York City that allows teenagers from ages 13 – 21 to come together and receive mentorship from other creative individuals. Urban Word NYC provides a series of workshops on self expression through creativity and poetry. Focusing on  freedom of uncensored expression.

I found out about Urban Word NYC after researching for a grant writing class in college. Poetry is a passion of mine so this non profit organization had me sold. Upon discovering Urban Word, I had only wished I knew about it when I was a teen. I am sure I would have excelled in my craft and surely, I would’ve stayed out of trouble and into the arms of the wise. My first meeting with Urban Word NYC was with a woman named Lisa Russell, she wrote grants for the program while working on her own film projects. She does a lot of promotion for the organization and is a wonderful humanitarian. The mission of Urban Word NYC is, “To Ensure that NYC youth be provided with a safe, supportive, dynamic and challenging community in which to discover their powerful voices – through written and spoken word – and use them to express their views, self-esteem and engage them in opportunities that address the sociopolitical issues that affect them. Urban Word provides free and uncensored writing and performance opportunities to youth in all five boroughs of NYC. Their workshops are designed to develop critical thinking skills, leadership, and to ignite a personal commitment to growth and learning which leads to heightened school performance, and a greater interest in pursuing their higher education.”

Urban Word’s Vision is to build a community of young leaders, writers, spoken word and hip-hop artists who, through self-awareness and enhanced critical thought, help after the socio-economic pathway constructed for inner city youth, from marginalization toward one of empowerment, tolerance and social responsibility. Urban Word NYC works with 15,000 teens per year in NYC alone. Urban Word NYC also holds different events such as an annual NYC Teen Poetry Slam, NY Knicks Poetry Slam, local and national youth slams, festivals, reading series, open mics and more.

Events are non stop and for the latest performances and slams you can go to Urban Word NYC for updates. To be a part of Urban Word NYC’s goal please make a donation, any amount is greatly appreciated, feel free to purchase a book, CD or T-Shirt.

Some of their funders include Axe-Houghton Foundation, Charles Hayden Foundation, ConEd, Department of Cultural Affairs, Jewish Communal Fund, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Ms. Foundation for Women, New York, Community Trust, Partners for Arts Education, Time Warner, The Starbucks Foundation and more.

Your support is greatly appreciated and very much recognized!

Brook Yung an Urban Word NYC Poet

I Can’t Hate on Beyonce

I must say, I have been an official hater when it comes to Beyonce’s new album. Although her lyrics are catchy and she’s a great performer, I didn’t really and I still don’t really like some of the generic, “If you like it then you should’ve put a ring on it…, Where Yo Boss At?”  lyrics. But this one song,” Halo”,  is beautiful. The lyrics are moving and although many of us experience the worst of heart breaks, this song creatively makes me envision and re-live a true love with no flaws. Great job to Beyonce for killing the track and to whoever wrote such a beautiful song! Diva is the other video included. I wasn’t a fan of that song either, but the video is dope. Art is art.

Remember those walls I built
Well, baby they’re tumbling down
And they didn’t even put up a fight
They didn’t even make up a sound

I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now

It’s like I’ve been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin’
It’s the risk that I’m takin’
I ain’t never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I’m looking now
I’m surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you’re my saving grace

You’re everything I need and more
It’s written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won’t fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You’re the only one that I want
Think I’m addicted to your light

I swore I’d never fall again
But this don’t even feel like falling
Gravity can’t forget
To pull me back to the ground again

Feels like I’ve been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin’
The risk that I’m takin’
I’m never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I’m looking now
I’m surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you’re my saving grace

You’re everything I need and more
It’s written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won’t fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
Halo, halo

Everywhere I’m looking now
I’m surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you’re my saving grace

You’re everything I need and more
It’s written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won’t fade away

Hook 2 x

Courtesy of EMI Publishing

Al Be Back – Hi

Hi - An Al Be Back Experience Feb 25 2009 Artwork by Jaleel Kindell

Al Be Back is a native from the Bronx contributing to Hip Hop culture with his clever & witty lyrics. His flow and song structures never get dull or boring and he is always good at story telling.

Hi, his second album following “Al Be Back, Future” is an amazing follow up with a great introduction song entitled “Boo”, portraying an audience “booing” at him with negative criticism. Another song that is very appealing and emotional is “Without You”, not your typical love song but rather of a potential love lost in a car accident. The songs on the album are creative, funny, upbeat, emotional, and give an introspective look on life as we know it .

Al Be Back has starred in the 2006 film ATL directed by Chris Robinson of Robot Films, Spit a documentary by Rotimi Rainwater, and performed as a feature poet on Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam.

Hi features KRS-ONE, MC Lyte, Olivia, Whosane, Khao, Kanye West and Mos Def. Inquire within to get a copy or download on www.myspace.com/albemusic

Track List

1. Boo
2. Boyz BeMix
3. Cookie Jar BeMix feat Olivia
4. Mida Mida
5. Love You More
6. ALL4ONE
7. We Grow feat Whosane
8. 16,17,18 feat KRS-ONE and MC Lyte
9. Plastic World feat Whosane
10. Never Let It Go Away
11. Without You
12. Goodnight feat Kanye West and Mos Def
13. Big Cuzin (RIP Big Pun)

Here are two official music videos to his first and second single!

Love You More

Cookie Jar Bemix feat Olivia

Media Brainwash – Social Programming to define and divide the sexes

Subliminal messages have always been one of medias biggest charms. The medias job is to program us with images and language over and over again to make us believe that what we see is real and what we want is what they make appealing; thus the term media or medea is the Goddess of trickery, magic, and deceit. Now not all media is bad, it simply puts us in a fairytale land and sometimes makes us feel good however, we should be mindful what to digest and what to know isn’t real, therefore we don’t have to mimic the media.  See here for a brief description of Medea’s myth

Medea Magic

One of the Infamous messages rely on the depiction of the ideal man, hero, and the ideal woman, heroine. This programming is viewed every single day by Americans and below I will show you some images that have us hypnotized by power, sex and the constant struggle of domination be it by a man or woman. Sadly, our culture has become poisoned by our media in many ways. The “Battle of the Sexes” being one of them.  Here take a look…

Heroine

1. a: a mythological or legendary woman having the qualities of a hero

b: a woman admired and emulated for her achievements and qualities

2. a: the principal female character in a literary or dramatic work

b: the central female figure in an event or period

Hero

1. a: a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability

b: an illustrious warrior

c: a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities

d: one that shows great courage

2 a: the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work

b: the central figure in an event, period, or movement

Here are a few images to ponder upon…

In my opinion, women and men should build each other up in support of one another, not “battle” or “compete” with each other. Here are three youtube videos that delve into this subject in great detail. It will be approximately less than 30 minutes of your time. Feel free to share points of views and comments.