Artists Against Addiction Showcase On Sunday, January 27, 2013

Coming in Hot, Left & Right

This is just another one of those days when things are coming left and right. However, I keep repeating one thing - it is what it is. I don't remember who I picked that up from but it's true. Challenges come and yes they do. However, God's grace is always there.

We have to be understanding and just deal with what we have to deal with. We may not always like situations but what can we do but try our best, pray and stay strong. God is there for ALL of us. He will leave anyone behind.

To those who are suffering, have faith. It is simply said but true. To those who are grieving, don't give up, God will give you balance and ease your pain. To those who are in distress, never feel that you are alone for there are others who are reaching out to you to comfort you.

We can only do what we can do in our power. If you can help, do that. If you find that you are a stumbling block, then get out of the way. Life is going to happen regardless and while we do not like the outcome of matters, we just have to deal with it. Be strong.

I pray that God blesses those who mourn at this time.

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Knowing Your Limits and Evoking Change

We all know what our limits are. You might be able to take more than I can. Limits apply to physical activity and also to mental and emotional state. You may be able to hold in your tears which I can't. I may be able run faster or further than you can.

When it comes to dealing with nonsense, that's another type of limitation. Everyone has their boiling point. I have limited tolerance for stupidness so you can say I have little patience. Another point to look at is the way we deal with problems. Should we hold in our thoughts and ideas for the fear of offending another - even when improvement is possible in the end?

Leaders have to look closely at these things. What is truly acceptable? I find things are very lax because of we are on pins and needles afraid to offend the other person. If I am wrong, please correct me. Do not let me fail or fall. Point me in the right direction please.

This is why the world is in peril. We are too afraid to make those tough decisions when we see that we are reaching our limits. I am never saying that we must blatantly offend each other; however we should seek to be problem solvers who can bring a matter to a close.

What has been bugging you and what can you do to make a difference?

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Our Wonderful Children

It's always amazing to see how everyone deals with the children under their care. When the children act up, some of us leave them be. Others spank them. Some yell and others punish. Children will always try your faith. They will try to pit one parent against the other.

However, they are children and they are our responsibility. We have to find ways to nurture and correct them. I get frustrated just like any other person and I am always open for tips on how I can improve myself and how I deal with my children.

There's a lot that a parent needs to do and has to do daily. People don't always understand the challenges that you have to go through. They get mad with you when you don't want to interact because you have homework to deal with. They get upset when you want to just chill because you finally have some free time for yourself.

You just have to do you and deal with your family. If you have to work two jobs to make ends meet, please see if you can find someone to look after them if they are not big enough to do so. Please just try your best. Give them the love they need and be sure to correct them when they are wrong.

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POEM: Your Way

You can't always have it your way
and you can't fight what people say
you just have to live each day
keeping the devil at bay
as you continuously and purposefully pray
mold yourself like clay
and ignore the foolish brays
you've gotta live like a happy day in May
have fun while you play
watch the trees sway
it's your time, it's your day
so don't be led astray
live your life happy every day

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Poem: Lots on My Mind

I have lots on my mind

and I have lots to do
but with this daily grind
I have no time to feel blue
It's a crazy world
with lots of action
but I'm a simple girl
keeping a cool reaction
My thinking is different
my soul is reaching
I live in the moment
while learning from teachings
To make it today
You have to be bold
You have to know what to say
and how to do what you're told
My simple mind has lots to process
and I take it all in strides
I am on a mission for success
as I have learned to weather the tide

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Our friends - virtual and real

It's good to have friends. On Facebook, we have lots of them. Some are truly treasured gems. They post inspirationall stuff. Others make me laugh and I do love the jokes. Some are quiet but knowing that they are there is good enough. At least I can reach out to them every now and then. Others have malicious intent, but they'll be fine. The fact that people want to know our business just means that we are important.

I love social media as a way to promote my ideas and other's as well. I look at it as a great way to reach people to share information.

My real life friends are cool. They are there for me when I ask them. They give me encouragement and I try to do that too.

In everyone's life, there is at least one person that they can reach out. Take care of your friends and show love for them. You may connect with them face to face, by telephone or by internet. Whichever way, look out for them.

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First Poem of 2013: How I'm Living

I know what I want
and I know what I love
because I know who I am
and I'm not out there
looking for love

I have to be real
and I must be positive
because the way I move
and the way I groove
is just the way I live

I have nothing to prove
and I can accept defeat
for me, I am living
so every day is a challenge
but I'll keep getting on my feet

I may seem odd or weird
but I want to use my talents
I aim to make a difference
and yes, I aim to do great feats
and live a life of contentment


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A Great Hip Hop Album: 2Pac's Greatest Hits

Tupac Shakur was a talented poet and rapper. His most memorable songs like "Dear Mama" and "Changes" were released on his Greatest Hits album in 1998.

Tupac Shakur, also called 2Pac, was an extremely talented poet and lyricist who is considered as one of the greatest artist of the 1990's. His violent and untimely death in 1996 did not bring a halt to the release of his music and in 1998, his Greatest Hits album was released via Death Row Records Interscope Records. Some of the songs were released on 2Pac's earlier albums and others such as "Changes" were unreleased at that time. 2Pac's lyrics are sometimes explicit but his music tells his story. On Greatest Hits, this superb artist collaborates with Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Shock G from Digital Underground, K-Ci & Jojo originally of Jodeci and other artists. 2Pac's music was definitely influenced by classic soul because several of the tracks on Greatest Hits contain samples from songs like the Zapp's "Computer Love" and Cameo's "Candy."

2Pac's 1990's Albums from 2Pacalypse Now to Makaveli

His first album was 2Pacalypse Now in 1991 with the popular songs being "Brenda's Got a Baby" and "Trapped." The next album Strictly 4 My N*** was released in 1993 and 2Pac's biggest tracks on this album were "Keep Your Head Up" and "Holla If You Hear Me." Thug Life was the next album is 1994 with the hit song "How Long will They Mourn Me." Me Against the World was the 1995 album and the title song was a big hit for 2Pac.

Then All Eyez On Me was released in 1996 with the hits "California Love," "Picture Me Rollin" and "Life Goes On." Makaveli was released after 2Pac's death and this album included songs like "Me and My Girlfriend," "To Live and Die in L.A." and "Hail Mary."**Songs on 2Pac'sGreatest Hits** Tupac Shakur's Greatest Hits album has twenty-six of this artist's best loved hits. Lyrically, the songs express pain and struggle while still conveying lighter and happier messages in some songs.

• "Brenda's Got a Baby": Hip Hop fans would remember this early release from 2Pac after seeing him perform with Digital Underground in that group's music videos. "Brenda's Got a Baby" conveyed strong messages about teenage pregnancy, child abuse and prostitution. "I hear Brenda's got a baby but Brenda's barely got a brain/ a damn shame/ the girl can't even spell her name" starts off 2Pac in this powerful track. He speaks of Brenda who was a young girl who fell in love and got pregnant by a man who did not care about her. After making the difficult decision to keep the baby, to feed her child, Brenda resorted to selling crack and eventually turned to prostitution. The song ends with 2Pac saying "prostitute found slain and Brenda's her name/ she's got a baby."
• An Anthem for the Women is "Keep Ya Head Up": Written by 2pac, Roger Troutman of Zapp, D. Anderson and Stan Vincent, this song shares positivity to women. "I wonder why we take from our women/ why we rape our women" are examples of the lyrics. The "ooh child" in the chorus is an interpolation from the original song "Ooh Child" written by Stan Vincent and the instrumental is sampled from Zapp's "Be Alright."
• "Changes" is a Powerful Song: 2pac poured his heart out in this song as he talks about different struggles and how people can unite to make positive change. His interpolation from Bruce Hornsby's "The Way It Is" rings in the chorus, "that's just the way it is, some things will never change." In this previously unreleased track, 2Pac makes the statement that he "wouldn't live to see a black president" and he did not live to see Barack Obama elected the President of the United States in 2008.
• Tupac's Ode to California is "To Live and Die in L.A.": This song begins with an interesting intro where a reporter is asking someone how he feels about 2Pac's new record. Although the interviewee shares that he likes 2pac's music, the reporter interrupts rehashing some of the more negative lyrics from previous albums. In this song, 2Pac raps about his love for California despite the hard times and difficult days. Val Young sings the hook in this song which was written by 2Pac, Q. Jones III and Miss Young. "I love Cali like I love women" and "we might fight amongst each other but I promise you this, we'll burn…if you get us pissed" are some of his emphatic lyrics on his love for his hometown.

The Greatest Hits album from Tupac Shakur has a title that speaks well for its content. The songs are raw poetry even though some are explicit. Tupac was killed in 1996, but his legacy lives on through the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation. His music remains socially and musically relevant because through his talent, he was able to share his life's story.

Listen to Classic Smooth R&B: Brown Sugar by D'Angelo

D'Angelo's debut album Brown Sugar is smooth R&B with a hint of hip hop and jazz. Written, arranged and performed by D'Angelo, it is a classic R&B album.

1995 was a spectacular year for R&B with top albums released such as History Past, Present and Future Book I by Michael Jackson, Candy Rain by Soul For Real, Reflections by After 7 and Miss Thang by Monica. D'Angelo also released his debut album Brown Sugar in 1995 with ten songs on varying themes of love. The songs that made it to the top of the charts were "Brown Sugar," "Cruisin," and "Lady" but the other six songs all have the chart- topping appeal and flavor.

R&B Singer D'Angelo

He was born Michael Eugene Archer on February 11, 1974 but the lovers of R&B music know him as D'Angelo. As a writer, composer and performer, D'Angelo's smooth voice and deep lyrics about love offer the listener a double dose of enjoyment. After Brown Sugar, D'Angelo released Voodoo in 2000. Then in 2008, The Best So Far was released which is a compilation of the singer's greatest hits.

The Songs on D'Angelo's Brown Sugar

The ten songs on this album all speak on the varied aspects of love while giving the listener an earful of soulful rhythms. Other than the songs that were released, songs like "Jonz In My Bonz," "When We Get By" and "Smooth" as well as the other tracks are all equally well-written and sung.

• The Title Song "Brown Sugar": This was the first song released by D'Angelo from this album. The music lovers in the 1990s can remember the "Brown Sugar" music video where D'Angelo sat at the piano in a smoke-filled room and started to croon those unforgettable lyrics "Let me tell you 'bout this girl/ maybe I shouldn't/ I met her in Philly and her name was Brown Sugar." Written and produced by D'Angelo and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, "Brown Sugar" provided the perfect debut song off the album.
• The Love Anthem "When We Get By": The first thought on listening to "When We Get By" is that D'Angelo penned this song for a special love interest. While having a jazzy feel, the song presents the characteristics of a classic R&B song. He sings "you're so fine and the day is fine, and we'll be fine/ When we make it by and we get by with love."
• The Remake of Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin": Many artists attempt to remake classic songs but some do not do a good job. However, D'Angelo's remake of William "Smokey" Robinson's "Cruisin" gives a fresh touch to the classic love song. D'Angelo sang all the vocals and arranged all the music for "Cruisin."
• "Jonz In My Bonz" Co-written by Angie Stone: Angela Stone more popularly known as the R&B artist Angie Stone co-wrote "Jonz In My Bonz" with D'Angelo. "Jonz In My Bonz" or 'Jones in my bones' sings of a feeling of longing. It is not clear what D'Angelo has the 'jones' for or is longing for but his voice makes longing for anything sound good.

Anyone who loves the music of the 1990s will appreciate D'Angelo's Brown Sugar. Hits like "Lady" and "Cruisin" are on this album along with sensual tracks like "Jonz In My Bonz" and "Smooth."