Sherise Stapleton Crowned Miss Teen Diva 2011

Fifteen year-old Sherise Stapleton won the title of Miss Teen Diva 2011 on September 24, 2011 at the East End/Long Look Community Centre. Sherise competed against Brittani Stoutt and Diamond Lake in a spectacular and eye-catching competition of seven segments.

Brittani was awarded Best Diva Party Wear with her orange polka dot and blue ensemble and Best Creative Diva Wear which was made from shopping bags from Clarence Thomas Ltd. Brittani also secured Miss Intellect, which is scored based on the introduction speech and the Question & Answer segment; and Miss Poise which is determined by the total poise scores from every segment.

Sherise won Best African Diva Wear, Best School Wear and Best Formal Wear with her black and yellow fitted gown which had a short but elegant train. This year for the African Diva Wear segment, the contestants had to present a fashion-forward African print inspired dress and also had to perform a dance that resembles African culture. For Sherise’s winning school wear, she displayed a turquoise shirt and a purple skirt. The skirt was then converted into a school bag as Sherise completed the segment in short pants.

For the Formal Wear segment, the young ladies were challenged to showcase a black formal dress that added a pop of color. According to Camille Merry, the pageant founder, she wanted to add yet another element of surprise to the pageant as well as go beyond the traditional pageantry borders, while forcing contestants to use their creativity. Sherise also won Miss Popularity, Miss Congeniality, which was chosen by the contestants and Miss Photogenic, which was chosen by the pageant’s photographer, Mr. Curtis DeRavariere.

The 2011 Miss Teen Diva Pageant was hosted by Kareem Hull and Katherine Irish and entertainment was provided by Jhanique and Reema. There was also a fashion show put on by L&D Impressions and this was well received by the audience. The Pageant Committee would like to acknowledge Caribbean Transport Ltd., Starworks Beauty Salon & Spa, Creations Hair Supply Store, Ayanna’s House of Hair, Road Town Wholesale Trading Ltd and all the persons who made the event a success. The founder also wishes to thank all of the committee members and helpers whose invaluable contributions helped to make the pageant a success.

Sherise’s first official appearance as Miss Teen Diva 2011 was at the Ministry of Education & Culture’s Back To School Service. Sherise will be linked with the D.A.R.E. Club for Girls, Family Support Network (FSN) and will be visible in the community. The Miss Teen Diva Pageant Committee reaffirms its commitment to working with young ladies in the British Virgin Islands and also with the overall community to promote a positive spirit among our young people.

Miss Teen Diva Pageant Committee

POEM: About the Plastics

It's all about the plastic
making you think
that life is fantastic
but it's those underlying tactics
that really cause life to be hectic
it's much better to be authentic
cause plastic living is lethargic
caustic, spastic and drastic
and that's not what I pick
that's the ballon that I prick
let me grab my figurative stick
cause someone's gonna get real licks
for I'm not afraid of tricks
I'm enthusiatic, realistic and a specialist
so tell the plastics to desist
and disappear

© ribbon

Brother Resistance's De Power of Resistance Album is Rapso Music

Hailing from the republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Brother Resistance of the 'Rapso' movement released the De Power of Resistance album in 1996.

Trinidad andTobago (T &T) is known for its soca and calypso music, for originating the steel drum/pan and as the birthplace of successful artistes, such as Nicki Minaj and Heather Headley. Reggae artistes, Ziggy Rankin, Jah Bami and Isasha also come from Trinidad and Tobago, as does Brother Resistance and 'rapso' music.

What is Rapso

** Out of the heavy soca background of Trinidad and Tobago, a new musical movement was born in the 1970s, called 'rapso', which combined traditional musical rhythms with a more poetic and rap style of vocalization. One of the men who was part of the initial movement and still promotes rapso today is poet, Lutalo Masimba, more often called Brother Resistance. Rapso, according to Brother Resistance, is described as "the rap of soca...a synthesis of rhythms - voice rhythm with traditional drum and steel drum."

Poet and Artiste Brother Resistance

While Brother Resistance is one of the premier faces of rapso, he does not credit himself as the originator of this musical style. He refers to the oral tradition of his African ancestors because rapso tends to follow traditional chants and beats. He has toured in Europe and many other places promoting rapso. I met Brother Resistance in August 2008 at Carifesta X, where he gave an engaging performance. Presently, Resistance, a UWI graduate, is the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (TUCO) President. He was recently honored at the University of the West Indies 50th Anniversary Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony, according to Guardian Media Limited.

Brother Resistance's Albums

According to Brother Resistance's discography, he has released several albums of rapso music including Roots of De Rapso Riddum in 1982, Rapso Explosion in 1984, Rapso Takeover in 1986 and Rapso Uprising in 1989. For Rapso Lovers de World Over (1990), Touch de Earth with Rapso (1991), F rom De Heart of De Rapso Nation (1992), From De Rapso Tradition (1993) and De Power of Resistance (1996) were released in the following decade. Since 2000, he has released both Let Us Rejoice and When De Riddum Explode in 2001.

De Power of Resistance

The 1996 release, De Power of Resistance, is appropriately titled because it is a powerful performance in the rapso style of music. De Power of Resistance credits the contributing artistes as 'de Network Rapso Riddum Band'. Resistance produced the album along with Kenny Phillips, Martin Raymond and Anase Hadeed. The album has fourteen tracks, including "Tonite Is De Nite," "Dancing Shoes," "Drum and De Bass" and the popular "Ring De Bell."

• "Life So Beautiful Remix": This track is reminiscent of the 1990s techno and rap syles. Resistance gives a rap style performance as he admonishes listeners to "Stay off the drugs and live." This song adopts the chant and response style, with the background singers chiming in response to his chants. He calls "Drugs" and the backup singers respond with an extended "No."
• "Big Dirty Lie Dancehall Mix": "Big Dirty Lie" is the opening chant of this song. Resistance sings about Christopher Columbus, on a rhythm similar to the reggae rhythm called the "Bam Bam Riddim." Songs on the Bam Bam Riddim include "Murder She Wrote" by Chaka Demus and Pliers, "Dem A Bleach" by Nardo Ranks and "A Who She Mi Dun" by Cutty Ranks. Brother Resistance gives a historical chant about Columbus' claim regarding his fraudulent discoveries and the resultant upheaval and subsequent re-population of the Caribbean through the slave trade. Near the ending of the song, Resistance and the band sing the words "Murder He Wrote," a sample of the song mentioned earlier, "Murder She Wrote."
• "Is It Safe?": This is the shortest track on the album. It is a one minute long poem with a serious message. "Is it safe to be yourself in a society where priority is on pose and posture, where trying to be like somebody else is all that matter?" are the opening words. He continues, "where courage is referred by many as madness", in his challenge to the way society functions and the way the community fights against itself; asking "Is it safe?" until the end of the poem.
• "Power Mix": This song starts off like a traditional calypso song, reminiscent of the Mighty Sparrow, Arrow and other calypso and soca pioneers. The mix starts off with a chant, asking the listener to "shake something" because the rapso riddim will have them entranced to dance, and singing "jamming tonight, rapso jamming tomorrow night." It is the longest track, at over six minutes, and encourages the 'bobo shanti', the traditionalist, and all to dance.
• "Mother Earth": "Let the vibes be one with you, Mother Earth" are the words that begin this soulful chant. Not a typical calypso rhythm, this song expresses admiration for our beloved 'Mother Earth', which has been the place of existence for humankind. Resistance also refers to the way man has damaged and offended nature and asks to seek a solution to save her.
• "Ring De Bell": Brother Resistance asks the world to "ring de bell" for culture, justice, freedom and rapso in "Ring De Bell." You can hear an actual bell ringing between the drum beats and other instruments during the song. He sings, "I come to deliver this word/ let the voice of the down-pressed be heard over the world...I come with my bell just to second the motion, rock the rapso riddim."

Rapso has been around for over thirty years. The combination of traditional calypso rhythms with poetic flow is the result of the continuation of the Afro-Caribbean oral tradition. Brother Resistance is a Trinidadian cultural icon and his De Power of Resistance is an album that both poetry and calyso

lovers will enjoy.

Sources:

• "Masimba Cherishes Alumni Honour" published on April 17, 2011, Guardian Media Limited. Accessed September 22, 2011.
• Brother Resistance Official Webpage (http://www.brotherresistance.com), accessed September 22, 2011.

301st Blog Post!

Just the other day, I had posted 200 entries and today I am posting my 301st. I guess I really do have a lot to say.

My words are simple for today:

it's about the love
about the time
about the interaction
cause we are limited
yet so unlimited
and have so much
to do
let's rise
let's start
and get in the right gear

 

© ribbon

The 2011 Miss Teen Diva Pageant Set For Saturday, September 24, 2011

The 2011 Miss Teen Diva Pageant Set For Saturday, September 24, 2011

Three young ladies will be vying for the title of Miss Teen Diva on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at the East End/Long Look Community Centre. The pageant is set to start at 7:30pm and is under the theme “It’s My Time to Shine.” The three teens, all Elmore Stoutt High School students, are #1 Sherise Stapleton, #2 Brittani Stoutt and #3 Diamond Lake. The audience can look forward to a tight competition as these young ladies compete for the title of Miss Teen Diva 2011. They will compete in seven innovative segments including Creative School Wear, African Diva Wear, Creative Diva Wear, formerly Futuristic Wear, and Question & Answer.

There will be performances by Jhanique, Reema and Amoui and a fashion show featuring clothing from L & D Impressions. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children and can be purchased at Bolo’s Department Store, Elite Superette or from the contestants. Please note that there will be an additional cost when paying at the door. For more information, please call 342-4994.

Miss Teen Diva Pageant Committee

POEM: I am on a vibe

I am on a vibe
that only can get sweeter
because we've erased all the bitter
feelings that are sad are only a moment's torture
this good vibe is one you can not
bust or burst
you can only thirst
for this livity
cause I'm living, livid and alive
and no man can stop me
from what I strive
for I am heading to the rainbow
and taking all the positive people
in tow
so keep your toes
out of the way
because our speed can't be swayed
it can't be stayed
because I'm stepping God's way

© ribbon

R&B of 2000: Aijuswanaseing by Musiq Soulchild

"Girl Next Door," "Love" and "Just Friends (Sunny)" are some of the songs on Musiq Soulchild's debut release of Aijuswanaseing in 2000.

In 2000, after the headaches and angst about Y2K, the music industry was popping with new music to officially set the tone for the music at the start of the millennium. Live in London and More by Donnie McClurkin, Like Water for Chocolate by Common, Mama's Gun by Erykah Badu were some of the albums released that year. Musiq Soulchild also released Aijuswanaseing in 2000.

A Talented Musiq Soulchild

A very soulful and talented young man named Taalib Johnson came on the music scene with an unusual artist name and an even more intriguing album title. Johnson is known to fans as Musiq Soulchild or for short Musiq. He released his debut Aijuswanaseing in 2000 and at that time, he brought a fresh style and energy to R&B/Soul music. Musiq not only had lyrical input in Aijuswanaseing but he also executive produced this album with Jerome Hipps, Mike McArthur and Kevin Liles.

Aijuswanaseing

Aijuswanaseing is this artist's way of expressing "I Just Wanna Sing" and it was released via Island Def Jam. Aijuswanaseing has 15 tracks including the first track "Scratch Introlude" and a self-titled ninth track "Musiq Soulchild (Interlude)." The popular songs are "Girl Next Door," "Love" and "Just Friends (Sunny)" which, according to MTV.com's Musiq Soulchild Biography, "appeared on the soundtrack to Nutty Professor II: The Klumps."

• "Settle For My Love (Intermission)": "Settle For My Love (Intermission)" is the fourteenth song on this album and it is entertaining from the start to the ending. A remake of [Patrice Rushen](http://www.patricerushen.com/)'s "Settle For My Love", Musiq croons along with Ayana and Ayinke of AARIES in a blended tune that makes you want to sway, sing along and then press the rewind button to hear the song again. They sing "settle for my love/ settle for my kiss/ settle for my love that you'll never miss."
• "Girl Next Door": In "Girl Next Door,' Musiq sings an 'Ugly Duckling' type story. While he never paid attention to a neighborhood girl in the past, he sings of his interest and how she has him captivated as an adult. The song contains a sample from Ed Green's "My Love For You" and features Ayana of AARIES. Musiq expresses in the hook "If I would've known the girl next door would've been you/ I probably would've shared my grub...by now we would be so in love."
• "Love": Love is a song with a short title but it has a powerful message. Produced by Andre Harris and Carvin Haggins with lyrical input by Musiq Soulchild, this song is probably one of the greatest love songs since 2000. Some lyrics are "ever since the first moment I spoke your name/ from then on I knew/ that by you being in my life/ things were destined to change...."
• "My Girl": "My Girl" is a man's testimony to a lady that she has all of her lover's attention. The second verse starts "Girl don't you know my whole world stops for you/ in this relationship you're first and I come two."
• "Just Friends (Sunny)": The 'Sunny' in "Just Friends (Sunny)" is attributed to the sample of Bobby Hebb's "Sunny." This song is almost conversational as it expresses his feelings and interest in a young lady. The hook simply starts "I'm not trying to pressure you/ just can't stop thinking about you/ you ain't even really gotta be my girlfriend...."

Since Aijuswanaseing, Musiq Soulchild has released several albums including Juslisen (2002) and then  with [Altantic Records](http://atlanticrecords.com/), he released Luvanmusiq (2007), On My Radio  (2008) and MusiqInTheMagiq (2011). He also released Christmas  Musiq in 2009. Musiq has also appeared on the sitcom, The Game and on Angie Stone's Mahogany Soul album. Musiq always bring unique music and is an artist to keep listening to.