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Saturday, June 25, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Talib's rap rainbow set shines in Brooklyn
Talib Kweli gave a chill entertaining - real hip-hop- concert in Brooklyn's Red Hook Park Tuesday evening at part of NYC's free summer Center Stage concert series.
More than 2,500 people, of all races and ages, came out on a blustery first day of summer evening to hear some good music and enjoy the good vibes. Kweli, whom I'd followed for several years but never seen live, upheld his part playing sounds from his BlackStar Project days where he teamed with Mos Def to his belting a great live versions of some of his most recent hits "Gutter Rainbow", "I Try", "Never Been in Love" http://youtu.be/jyqkw0z6Shs, "Listen," and "Get By" http://youtu.be/UVtpXvzzXiA.
Showing his versatility, the critically-acclaimed MC played riffs and improvisations of songs from the Beatles, Sugar Hill Gang, The Beastie Boys, Boogie Down Productions, Gil Scott Heron and Bob Marley. It seemed like at any minute Kanye, Common, Mike G or KRS-One was gonna bound onto the stage to join Talib's boundless energy.
An engaging rapping with stage presence and great linguistic dexterity, Talib, at more than a couple points in the show, had a brother falling back to some of my late 80s/early 90s New Jack arm Swings before regathering my pose and subtle subjectivity of informed observer ;)
A good time was had by all - Shelley was dancing and singing; I even saw some members of the NYPD and FDNY looking as if they were enjoying the show as well; that's what I'm talking 'bout! Son, if you're a fan of real hip hop music and understand and love its whole history, Kweli delivers it straight with no filler.
Tuesday night was pure hip hop, no need for drink, trees or bravado, as Talib says in one of his songs, " all you need is love to get by."
Jay Z was right right about Talib.
More than 2,500 people, of all races and ages, came out on a blustery first day of summer evening to hear some good music and enjoy the good vibes. Kweli, whom I'd followed for several years but never seen live, upheld his part playing sounds from his BlackStar Project days where he teamed with Mos Def to his belting a great live versions of some of his most recent hits "Gutter Rainbow", "I Try", "Never Been in Love" http://youtu.be/jyqkw0z6Shs, "Listen," and "Get By" http://youtu.be/UVtpXvzzXiA.
Showing his versatility, the critically-acclaimed MC played riffs and improvisations of songs from the Beatles, Sugar Hill Gang, The Beastie Boys, Boogie Down Productions, Gil Scott Heron and Bob Marley. It seemed like at any minute Kanye, Common, Mike G or KRS-One was gonna bound onto the stage to join Talib's boundless energy.
An engaging rapping with stage presence and great linguistic dexterity, Talib, at more than a couple points in the show, had a brother falling back to some of my late 80s/early 90s New Jack arm Swings before regathering my pose and subtle subjectivity of informed observer ;)
A good time was had by all - Shelley was dancing and singing; I even saw some members of the NYPD and FDNY looking as if they were enjoying the show as well; that's what I'm talking 'bout! Son, if you're a fan of real hip hop music and understand and love its whole history, Kweli delivers it straight with no filler.
Tuesday night was pure hip hop, no need for drink, trees or bravado, as Talib says in one of his songs, " all you need is love to get by."
Jay Z was right right about Talib.
Friday, June 17, 2011
WANT A GOOD LAUGH? Read this
Want a belly laugh? Have you seen the original Friday video by Rebecca Black? Okay open this link and scroll down to the bottom and look at the picture and the question she asks? HILARIOUS.
reposted from Roc4Life
Rebecca Black's straight outta nowhere but suddenly everywhere "Friday" video is no longer available on YouTube. "Video no longer available due to a copyright claim by Rebecca Black. Sorry about that" is the gloomy message that now greets those seeking out the hugely popular video on YouTube.
"Friday" was temporarily available only as a $2.99 YouTube rental last week, and now, it's completely locked. The video garnered over 165 million views and catapulted Rebecca Black to stardom in a short amount of time.
A YouTube person offered the following explanation to Techcrunch:
"YouTube takes copyright infringement very seriously. When we receive a complaint alleging that a video infringes another person or company’s copyrights, we remove that video. Users who believe that a video was removed in error can appeal the copyright takedown."
What do you think, Roc4Lifers? Good riddance or bad move?
Either way, that was fun fun fun while it lasted.
reposted from Roc4Life
Rebecca Black's straight outta nowhere but suddenly everywhere "Friday" video is no longer available on YouTube. "Video no longer available due to a copyright claim by Rebecca Black. Sorry about that" is the gloomy message that now greets those seeking out the hugely popular video on YouTube.
"Friday" was temporarily available only as a $2.99 YouTube rental last week, and now, it's completely locked. The video garnered over 165 million views and catapulted Rebecca Black to stardom in a short amount of time.
A YouTube person offered the following explanation to Techcrunch:
"YouTube takes copyright infringement very seriously. When we receive a complaint alleging that a video infringes another person or company’s copyrights, we remove that video. Users who believe that a video was removed in error can appeal the copyright takedown."
What do you think, Roc4Lifers? Good riddance or bad move?
Either way, that was fun fun fun while it lasted.
Celebrating Father’s Day: Father and Son in Film
Deadbeat. Immature. Absentee.
Unfortunately, those are the stereotypes given to many African American fathers, but it is not the reality for many who are doing “the right thing.“ The team at HW celebrates all of the dads who are teaching their sons responsibility, respect, commitment, and the value of education.
Here are our pick(s)–it was a tie– for our favorite videos that we believe best represent father/son relationships.
Boyz N The Hood (1991) The film is about the struggle of three young men growing up in South Central Los Angeles. The film shows the crime and senseless violence the plague many urban communities. But, to call it just that would be a poetic injustice–pun intended.
The secondary story about the strong and positive father/son relationship adds to what should be a cinema classic. Laurence Fishburne, who plays divorced father “Furious Styles,” is an active participant and has always had a strong hand in his son’s upbringing–and it shows. Cuba Gooding, Jr plays Tre, the teenage son moving in with him after spending his early childhood living with his mother.
Boyz N The Hood co-stars Angela Bassett, Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube, Regina King and Nia Long.
John Singleton received an Academy Award nomination for best screenplay and directing for this film. Only 24 at the time, he became the youngest person and first African-American to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Director. See why.
Pursuit of Happyness (2006) The film is based on the real life story of entrepreneur, motivational speaker and author Chris Gardner who struggled with homelessness while raising his young son as a single dad. Gardner, who won a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds Trading program, fell into deep financial troubles, after the program’s small salary left him unable to make ends meet.
Gardner’s, whose own childhood was marked by poverty, abuse and alcoholism, vowed he would never pass that onto his son. His amazing story inspired a New York Times best-selling book and a Hollywood film.
(And, if both were not enough to inspire and motivate, Gardner’s follow up book, Start Where You Are, speaks to anyone struggling to make ends meet–or just struggling to get through the day– to get where you want to be.)
Real life father and son Will and Jaden Smith co-star in this movie which garnered the elder Smith an Oscar nomination as Best Actor.
Tell us your pick for films that best celebrate Dad.
Unfortunately, those are the stereotypes given to many African American fathers, but it is not the reality for many who are doing “the right thing.“ The team at HW celebrates all of the dads who are teaching their sons responsibility, respect, commitment, and the value of education.
Here are our pick(s)–it was a tie– for our favorite videos that we believe best represent father/son relationships.
Boyz N The Hood (1991) The film is about the struggle of three young men growing up in South Central Los Angeles. The film shows the crime and senseless violence the plague many urban communities. But, to call it just that would be a poetic injustice–pun intended.The secondary story about the strong and positive father/son relationship adds to what should be a cinema classic. Laurence Fishburne, who plays divorced father “Furious Styles,” is an active participant and has always had a strong hand in his son’s upbringing–and it shows. Cuba Gooding, Jr plays Tre, the teenage son moving in with him after spending his early childhood living with his mother.
Boyz N The Hood co-stars Angela Bassett, Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube, Regina King and Nia Long.
John Singleton received an Academy Award nomination for best screenplay and directing for this film. Only 24 at the time, he became the youngest person and first African-American to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Director. See why.
Pursuit of Happyness (2006) The film is based on the real life story of entrepreneur, motivational speaker and author Chris Gardner who struggled with homelessness while raising his young son as a single dad. Gardner, who won a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds Trading program, fell into deep financial troubles, after the program’s small salary left him unable to make ends meet.
Gardner’s, whose own childhood was marked by poverty, abuse and alcoholism, vowed he would never pass that onto his son. His amazing story inspired a New York Times best-selling book and a Hollywood film.
(And, if both were not enough to inspire and motivate, Gardner’s follow up book, Start Where You Are, speaks to anyone struggling to make ends meet–or just struggling to get through the day– to get where you want to be.)
Real life father and son Will and Jaden Smith co-star in this movie which garnered the elder Smith an Oscar nomination as Best Actor.
Tell us your pick for films that best celebrate Dad.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
POPTalk - Joe Girardi
"My kids don't care that
I'm the manager of the NY Yankees!"
Watch more of the Yankees skipper on Fatherhood here:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=10080017&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_10080017&v=3
PopTalk - Tom Brady
It's Great to See Them Run Around
When it comes to being a dad, it's no surprise NFL superstar Tom Brady plans to bond with his boys over football.
The New England Patriots quarterback says he is looking forward to the day he can play sports with his family off the NFL field."It's a great thing to see them run around at the football game or at least one of them run around," says Brady, referring to his eldest child, 3-year-old son John, with ex Bridget Moynahan.
He adds: "For a long time, I didn't know when I was going to be a father, and now I have two boys.""I like to spend time with my family and friends and get a little rest," he tells Extra of his downtime.
"Because, obviously, during the football season, there's not a whole lot of that!"
The New England Patriots quarterback says he is looking forward to the day he can play sports with his family off the NFL field.He adds: "For a long time, I didn't know when I was going to be a father, and now I have two boys.""I like to spend time with my family and friends and get a little rest," he tells Extra of his downtime.
"Because, obviously, during the football season, there's not a whole lot of that!"
PopTalk -Albert Pujols
MLB slugger Albert Pujols says it's something special when your children call you "Daddy"
Watch how fatherhood has changed one of baseball's biggest stars.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8853605&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_8853605&v=3
PopTalk - Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise Talks Fatherhood, his children make him better.......
Excerpts from an interview in Esquire and reposted on Just Mommies: http://www.justmommies.
Cruise says Suri makes him a better person:" It comes down to the same thing as when I was a kid. Can I create a character that will make her happy, that will make her laugh? And you know what? She makes me get better and better, because she's always asking me to do it again."
Excerpts from an interview in Esquire and reposted on Just Mommies: http://www.justmommies.
"I remember looking at my dad and wanting to understand him. I didn't want to just write the guy off. He was lost. I can't speak specifically in terms of why and how he got to where he was -- that was his journey. All I can tell you is, he was overwhelmed by life... My mother basically did all the work, and then they got separated and I didn't see him for a long time. He didn't try to help the family financially or spiritually, and I lived with the effects of the chaos."
He also talks about being a father himself to children Isabella, Suri and Connor. "I'll never forget the moment I became a dad. But it's hard to describe -- that level of responsibility, the desire to give such joy. The clarity: Nothing is more important than this. I remember that first night, just staring at Bella. I was checking her every second, just looking at her, feeling that immediate bond. I was probably looking at her so much that I was keeping her up. I made a promise to her: All I can do is the best I can. But I'm not going to say I'm gonna do something and then not do it."
Cruise says Suri makes him a better person:" It comes down to the same thing as when I was a kid. Can I create a character that will make her happy, that will make her laugh? And you know what? She makes me get better and better, because she's always asking me to do it again."PopTalk - Nat King Cole
The day Natalie was born was "Unforgettable."
- Nat King Cole excerpted from Africanamericanquotes.org
“I felt something impossible for me to explain in words. Then when they took her away, it hit me. I got scared all over again and began to feel giddy. Then it came to me — I was a father.”
PopTalk - Rev. Run
Who's House? Run's House!
POPTALK - Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and hip-hop pioneer Joseph Simmons aka Rev. Run, of MTV’s top-rated reality show Run’s House, knows a lot about fatherhood and fame. More than 25 years ago Rev. Run was known as DJ Run, founder of the ground-breaking rap group Run-D.M.C. While he remains an influential part of the hip-hop culture, today his focus is on the family and parenting six children.
For six seasons straight Run’s House, a reality series about the Simmons family, has been educating and entertaining viewers with themes ranging from career exploration and healthy competition to dealing with the loss of a loved one and adoption.
Rev. Run told Today’s Child magazine his show isn’t about fame and it’s not a show about him becoming a bigger star. His show is about giving people stories and words of wisdom. It’s about self-help. “I believe that people watch the show because they recognize that they have similar families. They have a similar life—and they also can achieve similar closeness with their family”. Watch more of Rev. Run on fatherhood and family.
For more PopTalks, celebrity family and parenting news, views and tips, visit todayschildcommunications.com; follow on Twitter @todayschildmag and like us on Facebook/Today’s Child Communications. Also follow the new blog mommyhoy.blogspot.com.
PopTalk- Dwayne Wade
“My Life as an NBA Superstar Single Dad”
by Dwayne Wade
“There are a few words that come to mind when I think about the past couple years of my life: challenging, rewarding, transformative—they roll off the tip of my tongue in an instant. In the span of a year my two good friends LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined me on the Miami Heat, I struggled through a painful, public divorce, and I became the full-time parent to my two young sons, Zaire and Zion.
I’ve had some ups and downs lately, but the memories of the unpleasant times disappear quickly, in part because of moments like the one recently when I was able to surprise my younger son, Zion, at his school with cupcakes for his fourth birthday. It was the day after we’d won the Eastern Conference finals, but that victory couldn’t compare with the huge smile on Zion’s face at that moment. I will never forget it. Bad memories vanish each morning when I walk into both of my sons’ bedrooms to wake them up for school—their laughter gives me all I need to face whatever is happening in my life. Not too long ago, due to custody issues, I wasn’t allowed to see my sons for long periods of time, or was given the chance to see them for only a few hours with no idea of if or when I’d see them again. I can’t describe how trying those days were, fighting for full custody while also working as a professional basketball player nine months of the year. I just knew I wanted to be with my kids.
I was seriously motivated to be a full-time parent for my sons. My mother and father weren’t together when I was a kid growing up in Chicago, and early on my mother fell victim to drug abuse. At 9 years old, I moved in with my father because my mother could no longer care for me. Looking back, I now see so many similarities between my own childhood and that of my sons. My father stepped in when I needed him, and that gave me the chance for a better life. That’s what I’m doing for my boys now.
All children need their fathers, but boys especially need fathers to teach them how to be men. I remember wanting that so badly before I went to live with my dad. I wanted someone to teach me how to tie a tie and walk the walk, things only a man can teach a boy. Of course, back then, I never could have imagined being in the same situation someday with my own kids. My dad and I bumped heads a lot—we were so alike, both of us born competitors. My older son, Zaire, is exactly the same way. We’ll battle on the court when I’m 39 and he’s 19. He’s 9 now, and he’s grown up with basketball. Zion could take it or leave it, which is cool by me.
Today, I constantly tell my dad how much I appreciate what he did for me. I think you really have to become a parent to understand what you will endure to be there for your kids. I could say I was surprised at the criticism I received for traveling from Miami to Chicago so often during the regular season for my custody court cases, but nothing really surprises me anymore. I had a duty to fight to be with my kids, and I did it.
Thankfully, I’ve gotten a lot of support from my mother, sister, and others in taking care of my boys and making their new living arrangements a smooth and happy transition. Going forward, I want my sons to have a healthy relationship with their mother, and that’s something we’re working on. I hope to have a great relationship with her one day too, because I know how much it meant to me to see my parents get along as time went on.
I can’t say what we’ll do for Father’s Day, because since my sons came to live with me about two months ago, every day has been like Father’s Day. I just want people—men, and men of color in particular—to hear my story and know that their children need them and that it’s their responsibility to be there for them. We have to step up as men and do our part. There are no excuses.”
For more PopTalks, celebrity family and parenting news, views and tips, visit www.todayschildcommunications.com; follow on Twitter @todayschildmag and like us on Facebook/Today’s Child Communications. Also follow the new blog all about Moms > mommyhoy.blogspot.com.
by Dwayne Wade
“There are a few words that come to mind when I think about the past couple years of my life: challenging, rewarding, transformative—they roll off the tip of my tongue in an instant. In the span of a year my two good friends LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined me on the Miami Heat, I struggled through a painful, public divorce, and I became the full-time parent to my two young sons, Zaire and Zion.
I’ve had some ups and downs lately, but the memories of the unpleasant times disappear quickly, in part because of moments like the one recently when I was able to surprise my younger son, Zion, at his school with cupcakes for his fourth birthday. It was the day after we’d won the Eastern Conference finals, but that victory couldn’t compare with the huge smile on Zion’s face at that moment. I will never forget it. Bad memories vanish each morning when I walk into both of my sons’ bedrooms to wake them up for school—their laughter gives me all I need to face whatever is happening in my life. Not too long ago, due to custody issues, I wasn’t allowed to see my sons for long periods of time, or was given the chance to see them for only a few hours with no idea of if or when I’d see them again. I can’t describe how trying those days were, fighting for full custody while also working as a professional basketball player nine months of the year. I just knew I wanted to be with my kids.I was seriously motivated to be a full-time parent for my sons. My mother and father weren’t together when I was a kid growing up in Chicago, and early on my mother fell victim to drug abuse. At 9 years old, I moved in with my father because my mother could no longer care for me. Looking back, I now see so many similarities between my own childhood and that of my sons. My father stepped in when I needed him, and that gave me the chance for a better life. That’s what I’m doing for my boys now.
All children need their fathers, but boys especially need fathers to teach them how to be men. I remember wanting that so badly before I went to live with my dad. I wanted someone to teach me how to tie a tie and walk the walk, things only a man can teach a boy. Of course, back then, I never could have imagined being in the same situation someday with my own kids. My dad and I bumped heads a lot—we were so alike, both of us born competitors. My older son, Zaire, is exactly the same way. We’ll battle on the court when I’m 39 and he’s 19. He’s 9 now, and he’s grown up with basketball. Zion could take it or leave it, which is cool by me.Today, I constantly tell my dad how much I appreciate what he did for me. I think you really have to become a parent to understand what you will endure to be there for your kids. I could say I was surprised at the criticism I received for traveling from Miami to Chicago so often during the regular season for my custody court cases, but nothing really surprises me anymore. I had a duty to fight to be with my kids, and I did it.
Thankfully, I’ve gotten a lot of support from my mother, sister, and others in taking care of my boys and making their new living arrangements a smooth and happy transition. Going forward, I want my sons to have a healthy relationship with their mother, and that’s something we’re working on. I hope to have a great relationship with her one day too, because I know how much it meant to me to see my parents get along as time went on.
I can’t say what we’ll do for Father’s Day, because since my sons came to live with me about two months ago, every day has been like Father’s Day. I just want people—men, and men of color in particular—to hear my story and know that their children need them and that it’s their responsibility to be there for them. We have to step up as men and do our part. There are no excuses.”
For more PopTalks, celebrity family and parenting news, views and tips, visit www.todayschildcommunications.com; follow on Twitter @todayschildmag and like us on Facebook/Today’s Child Communications. Also follow the new blog all about Moms > mommyhoy.blogspot.com.
PopTalk-LeBron James
LeBron is not mad at his Dad who abandoned him
From an interview in Celebrity Baby Scoop
"It's not all anger. "It's not all anger at all," James said in a recent interview. "I'm not downgrading my father or blasting him. I don't know what he may have been going through at the time. I'm not one of those to judge without knowing. I was too young to understand."
LeBron is even willing to credit his father for part of his success. "Without him, first of all, I wouldn't be here in this world," he says. "And then, secondly, I may have got a lot of genes from him, and that's part of the reason why I am who I am today."
LeBron James in an interview with celebritybaby.com
LeBron Sr. on his sons playing basketball: “Well, like any father, I would hope that they would follow in my footsteps. That would be a great story—and as a father, I would be on cloud nine every day. Ultimately, though, only the big man above knows their future. They do have lots of talent, though.”
LeBron Jr. on his future in the NBA: “I’m going to play in the NBA,” he announces proudly. (His mother explains), “He sees his dad playing and he thinks it’s cool. But he can do whatever he wants to do in life. He doesn’t have to walk in his father’s footsteps.”
PopTalk - John Leguizamo
"I read tons of books about parenting."Comic actor John Leguizamo says he's
more like his Dad as his children get older.
Excerpts from a recent interview with babble.com.....
Q. Did you have any expectations of what being a parent would be like?
"Nothing prepares you. I think people don't prepare you because they want you to suffer like them. (Laughs.) But nothing prepared me for this. I never knew that I could love something outside of myself so much like I love my kids. And the amount of pain and suffering that comes with that.I used to live such a carefree life! And it makes you care about the world in a way that I never did before. Like, protect this world for them and the future. I never felt that before, you know? It's interesting how that love for your kids just bleeds out into so many other things."
"There's no bonding like when you actually have to do things with them."
Q.What about dads who don't change diapers?
"Not anymore. That was back then. Life isn't like that anymore. You don't
have that luxury anymore. Guys gotta do shit that women used to do, and it's good. I see a lot of dads feeding those babies at the park, with the bottle. It's tougher for us, it's tougher for the dudes. But in the end, you do get closer to your kids."
"[My wife] was smart enough to know that I needed to bond [with the baby] and the best way to bond is to just be with the kids, and do the diapering, do all that stuff and be with them... It's true. There's no bonding like when you actually have to do things with them."Q. Do you ever look at your kids - a daughter Allegra Sky,11; and son Ryder Lee, 10 - and say to your wife, okay, that came from me, that came from you?
"Yeah. You can see that. Nothing you can do. Even if you're aware, and you read, you're still doing shit. My parents were so immigrant and so driven, and I can't help but do that to my kids. [I tell them] "You have to earn everything. I'm not buying you another toy." And I go, oh my god. That's my parents. (Laughs.) "Earn every toy, every Wii, every Nintendo DS - you have to read a book, you have to earn it." They've got to read certain books over the summer, or they don't get the ping pong table. They gotta earn everything."
POPTalk - Harrison Ford
(He’s also the grandfather to two children).
"My first child was born when I was 25. Babies raising babies is not a pretty sight. I am much better at it now.
"We'll take a couple of hours on Sunday morning to go motorcycle riding or go for a hike. I just made a birdhouse with my son, Harrison said."
POPTalk - Can't afford a Bentley for your Pops this year?
Don't fret go here: http://www.couponcabin.com/
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