A SUPREME ROCK BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT TO JEAN TERRELL AND TINA TURNER

While many are celebrating Thanksgiving, there are two legends who are celebraring their birthdays today. Singers Jean Terrell and Tina Turner.
Both ladies have graced us with their God-Given Talents as well as blessed us with wonderful and timeless music that will live on forever.
Jean was born in Mississippi as one of ten children, who had later relocated to Chicago, and got into music at a younger age, due to the encouragement of her parents and siblings. After high school, she and her brother Ernie a former boxer had sung together with a group, and was discovered in Miami by Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, who was looking for a talented lady to become the new lead singer of The Supremes. When Diana Ross decided to pursue a solo career, many had wondered who was going to step into her pumps and gowns? Syretta Wright was going to take that spot, but Gordy decided to enlist Terrell, who brought a Soulful, yet hip sound to the group. With Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, they scored many hits inlcuding "Up The Ladder To The Roof," "Stoned Love" (my second all time favorite song and the group's last # 1 hit) "Nathan Jones," "Touch" one of the group's sexiest and underated songs, "Floy Joy," and "Bad Weather" produced by Stevie Wonder. Terrell's ethnic and sexy looks symbolized Black pride and confidence and individuality, and while she dressed in the group's trademark gowns, she always loved to dress casual. When the group was on Soul Train in 1973, Jean wore a white dress, and matching hat and strutted down the Soul Train line. Shorty after that performance, Jean left the group, had two children, recorded a solo album for A&M Records, and has helped her brother operate their family owned business in California.
Tina has been dazzling music fans for over 50 years, and she has shown the world that no one should be pigeonholed or stifiled to do certain things due to age, race and sex, and she reminded the world of that last year, when she came out of retirement and performed another sold out concert tour.
Born as Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush Tennessee, Tina was the youngest of two daughters born to broken home, and after getting tired of her husband's abuse, Tina's mother left her father and her children to be raised by various relatives including her grandparents, and while she didn't receive much love from her paternal grandmother, her maternal grandparents, showed her lots of love as well as a White family who she worked for, who taught her class, and introduced her to having a grand lifestyle with or without much money. Her high school principal saw something in the teenager and encourgaged her to do well in school. When her mother came back to her mother's funeral, she asked her young daughter to move with and her sister Alieen to St. Louis, and Tina obliged. When she got there, she visisted various night clubs, and one night she met Ike Turner, who would become her teacher and husband. Ike would have women sing, and when Tina's sister refused to sing, she grabbed the mike and began to sing the BB King classic "(Darlin) You Know I love You, and blew everybody away. Soon, she began to perform with Ike's band, and when a singer tried to cheat Ike out of money, he asked Tina to sing the demo for the song "A Fool In Love" and when the head of Sue Records heard the track, he told Ike not to erase Tina's vocals. The duo was offered a record deal and Tina got more than a deal; she got a new name and persona: Tina Turner. The duo would become the hottest touring acts of the 1960's and 1970's performing Blues, Soul and Rock songs, including "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" and "Shake A Tail Feather." Wanting to grow and expand, Tina convinced Ike to add Rock covers to their repritore, and they became a huger hit, but the hit the jackpot when their rendition of "Proud Mary" became the biggest hit of their career going gold and earning a Grammy Award. They later scored with Tina's self-composed "Nutbush City Limits" while Tina won wave reviews in the movie "Tommy." A few years earlier, she recorded the classic "River Deep Mountain High" which flopped in the states, but became an international hit, and showcased her as a vocalist, due to the song's producer Phil Spector issuing a clasue that Ike could not be at the sessions. By the middle of the 1970's Tina had grew tired of Ike's physical abuse, aduletry and addiction to cocaine, so on July 1, 1976 Tina had decided that she wasn't gonna tolerate Ike's mistreatment any longer. After Ike struck her, Tina retailated by hitting, kicking and scratching, and cursing his ass out. When they arrived at the hotel,Ike fell asleep and she made her escape with only 36 cents and a mobile gas card. She ran to a hotel, explained her situation to the manager, who gave her a room and security. Tina then went back to LA and filed for divorced, and though she was entitled to half of their assets, she decided to let him keep everything over her laywer's objections. Tina didn't want to have anything further to do with that moron, and she knew that she was going to have her own coins. She began to perform at Casinos and on variety shows to pay off debts. In 1980. Roger Davies caught Tina's act, and was so blown away, he decided to become her manager, and when he asked Tina what she wanted to do, she tolc him she no longer wanted to sing the Blues. She wanted to sing ballads and happy love songs and she also wanted to sing Rock and Roll. Davies told her she needed to get a new band and to ditch the glittery gowns, and she did. With her new band and her look consisiitng of leather pants, jeans and red dresses, she opened for The Rolling Stones, and showed the kids that a Black woman in her early 40's can be Rock Queens.
After releasing several platnium albums and embarking on several tours, Tina decided to retire from performing in 2000, but after she won rave review for ripping the stage with Destiny's Child lead singer Beyonce Knowles, she decied to hit the road and her tour grossed over $100 million dollars.
Happy birthday to Soul and Rock singerr Jean Terrell and Tina Turner

FEELING BLESSED

Happy Thanksgiving to all.
I'm feeling blessed.
I surgery yesterday and though it wasn't major, I'm glad that it was a success and I'm grateful to be alive.
This year has been very hetic for me, but I've managed to pull through and I'm still standing (I have to for the next couple of days LOL).
Many people feel that being blessed has to be something big and major. True, but people are blessed though the smallest things such greeting you with a smile and courtesy gesture, seeing if you're OK and giving u a nice complemant.
Of course we all would love to be blessed with mad money, but real riches comes from the heart not from the pocket.

ORIGINAL OAKTOWN BABE AND LEGEND SPEAKS

Twenty years ago, Rap legend MC Hammer burst onto the music scene with his rap and dancing style as well as introduced the world to Oaktown’s 357, his original background dancers, and the original artists signed to his record label Bust-It. The group consisting of Tabitha “Terrible T” Brace, Djuana “Sweet LD” and Little P who left, had scored with their debut album “Wild & Loose” which featured the classics “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,” “357 Straight At You” and the remix of “Juicy Gotcha Crazy” with label mate B. Angie B. The duo released their follow up “Fully Loaded” and the single “It’s Not Your Money” which was on heavy rotation on BET’s Video Vibrations, Rap City and on the popular cable shows The Box. Sadly due to lack of promotion, the duo was dropped from Capitol, while Hammer continued to score hits, and the duo disbanded on friendly terms. Since You Tube has been in effect, many fans are still watching their classic videos and comments and asking what the famous Oaktown babes have been up to. I had the blessing to interview member Sweet LD, via telephone, and found the mother of three to be very cool, mellow and fun. She’s relocated to Texas, got married and spending time raising her two young sons. We spoke about her career, what happened with the group, the reasons why they didn’t achieve the success they deserved and learning the impact the group had on music culture.

SUPREMEWRITER: WHAT WAS IT LIKE FILMING YOUR FIRST VIDEO?
SWEET LD: It was cool and a lot of fun, but like I said, it was your first time. You have a lot of pressure on you to tape and get it right and they (the director) gets everything. If you off looking in the corner or anything, it’s like that.

SUPREMEWRITER: I REMEMBER SEEING YOU PERFORM ON THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW. WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING ON ARSENIO?
SWEET LD: That was over the top. Can you imagine you’re a person who graduated high school and never got home to figure out what you’re gonna do, and the next day, you’re ending up on Arsenio Hall. Come on now (laughs). I can’t even believe it as I was telling people that was what we’re gonna do. We were nervous. Crazy nervous. Crazy nervous, but we rehearsed like crazy. Decided we was going to go out there and have some fun. I think we did OK. I look at the tape. I look at it all the time on You Tube and I think we did OK (laughs). It was awesome.

SUPREMEWRITER: WHOSE IDEA WAS IT FOR YALL TO BECOME A RAP GROUP?
SWEET LD: It was Hammer’s idea, but at the same time, Little P. was interested in rapping. She actually was, so we all kind of contributed to the songs. Just messing around. He had the idea in his mind to come up with a female group and it kinda rolled into a group and the mixture of her writing, being interested in rap. He had auditioned some other girls and it didn’t seem to work out. Even though P her name was Phyllis and I don’t have contact with her right now, but that was her interest and Tab and I were interested in dancing; didn’t realize we would be able to do anything other than that. It was kind of put together and it came out I think pretty good. Surprisingly I write and Phyllis wrote, so we were able to put those talents together and of course, Hammer writes so he wrote some of the songs as well, so we were able to do the second album and I was able to contribute more lyrically on the second album.

SUPREMEWRITER: I REMEMBER WATCHING THE YEAH, YEAH, YEAH VIDEO AND I THOUGHT YOU WAS A QUARTET AT FIRST.
SWEET LD: Right. We weren’t (laughs). Tabitha and I didn’t have a lot of input per say to say who was gonna be 357. Phyllis decided she no longer didn’t want to be involved. Hammer and his brother had seen the girls doing things and hey had it in their minds they wanted to add someone else, so whatever reason they added two and again, things didn’t work out, so they ended up leavings and we were there like it was always.

SUPREMEWRITER: THERE WAS A STORY THAT LITTLE P LEFT BECAUSE SHE WAS PREGNANT. WAS THAT TRUE?
SWEET LD: No it wasn’t that she was pregnant. There were a lot of things that was going on in the organization that people don’t know about, and part of it was the reason she had left. We had just asked her to come back and they had convinced her things would be different. When she did come back, things weren’t different, and she was done. And top of it we learned she was pregnant.

SUPREMEWRITER: MY FAVORITE SONGS ARE THE “JUICY GOTCHA CRAZY” REMIX WITH B. ANGIE B. AND IT’S NOT YOUR MONEY. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE “IT’S NOT YOUR MONEY?”
SWEET LD: There was a person that I knew and had known for a long time who felt that (because) I was involved with the group. That whatever I had they should be included in that. One day I was returning from the grocery store, I listened to my voicemail for messages and there was a message asking for a certain amount of money for a certain reason to be deposited into their checking account.

SUPREMEWRITER: Wow! I remember those lyrics
SWEET LD: It blew me away. It’s not something that you do generically. I’m thinking to myself as a person, I’m not gonna leave my checking account over the phone because anybody can get that message. So I was blown away that the person who did that; it was like wow. Is it like that? I didn’t realize our relationship had become it’s an expectation; I don’t need to ask you it’s an assumption. I know you have it or I’m assuming you have it, and you’re gonna give it to me for that reason. I didn’t even name no one in the song because I didn’t want to hurt the person’s feelings and I don’t even to this day if that person knows who they are.

SUPREMEWRITER: AFTER YA’LL DROPPED THE SECOND ALBUM A LOT OF FANS HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED WHY YOU AND THE OTHER ARTIST LIKE B. ANGIE B. WASN’T ON THE ROAD WITH HAMMER?
SWEET LD: Well the reality of that came to me later. I thought it was because he was busy and I thought because it was his time and he didn’t want to conflict his tour and us touring. I thought that was the issue, but as the years passed, people have come out and spoken It was because he did not intend to give us that opportunity. He didn’t intend to give us the possibility of coming out and doing something else and that was stated in some of the meetings he had with Capitol Records. So and I’m telling you that because that was told to me, and if he wants to deny that that’s fine. We didn’t understand why we weren’t on tour and when we went on tour, we was told that we weren’t doing well and they took us off the tour and replaced us with TLC. Now that’s the truth. What I learned after the fact that they didn’t intend for to give us an opportunity to give us the opportunity to be larger than we were. And that was deliberate.

SUPREMEWRITER: THAT’S MESSED UP.
SWEET LD: When people ask me, this is what I tell them and they’re like really? There’s been no interviews with anybody else and everybody was like wow this is happening; they kind of left. I know that’s what I did. There was a lot of mess going on and by the time they said ‘we gotta let you guys go, we were like ‘are you serious? We’re the only other group in that entity; You have One Effect One Cause and Special Generation. You had other people coming in, but there wasn’t anybody as recognized as Hammer but 357. So you mean the only group you have that you can utilized to maybe generate some income, you’re gonna let us go? First one there. First group outside of Hammer.

SUPREMEWRITER: WHEN YOU AND TAB DECIDED TO DISBAND, YOU AND TABITHA ENDED ON A FRIENDLY NOTE AM I CORRECT?
SWEET LD: Yeah. We did. I think it’s like you’re dating somebody and that person says I don’t wanna see you anymore, so what’s in your heart and mind is feeling at that time, that’s where we were cause it was like after everything we’ve been through with you guys, this is how you treat us. She and I never had an issue. It was that there was not really that day communicated between the two of us to say what are we gonna do? She got in her car and I got in my car. She drove off. I drove off and that was it. When we say each other it was interesting. She didn’t hate me. I didn’t hate her. We just (really) had to get away from the situation to get ourselves together. But she’s good. She’s married with two boys living in Arizona.

SUPREMEWRITER: I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD WENT TO SCHOOL. WHAT DID YOU MAJOR IN?
SWEET LD: Actually I went to cosmetology school and got my license. I’m still haven’t decided what I want to get my P.H.D. in so I’m working on that.

SUPREMEWRITER: WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO LEAVE OAKLAND AND MOVE TO TEXAS?
SWEET LD: Family concerns. I had a grandmother who was ill and my mom needed to come out here and look after her dad; my step grandmother and my mom’s mom was getting up there in age, so we all just decided to move up here and help them, so when I got here, I met my husband.

SUPREMEWRITER: WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP IN OAKLAND? I HEAR THAT THE CITY HAS A STRONG CONSCIOUS VIBE.
SWEET LD: For me, it was cool. When I think back on it, it was awesome because I was around music at a young age. Even in Houston Texas, so when we moved to Oakland, none of it changed. We met people in the business. My cousin Patrice was in Grand Central Station, so I was around them a lot. I was going to the studio and we always had people in the house having some type of music playing, but you that feel that they were involved in whatever the current issue was. Whether it was politics or power to the people, whatever was going on. It’s an earthy down to earth place. You have every kind of person there. I’m not talking about the places where you have shoot’em ups. That’s another situation. All places have those issues. I kinda feel like on a different vice because of the code when you have people who have a sense of themselves and their history. I like it still. Oakland was really good for me.

SUPREMEWRITER: DEPSITE THE MISTREATMENT, HOW DO YOU FEEL 357 MADE AN IMPACT ON MUSIC HISTORY?
SWEET LD: Ra Shawn, to be honest, I’m kinda just starting that now and that’s the truth. We were never allowed to experience what effects we had. We were never talked to like that. We were treated like employees on a job and this is what you do. Tabitha and I were capable of handling ourselves well in those situations. Whether it was doing performances and doing interviews. None of that stuff would have gone on, if we didn’t have the capability to do it, but even with that being done, we were never talked to say wow you guys just pushed this. I’m just learning this. My son is in the business and people be coming up to him saying ‘your mother’s a Hip-Hop legend and I’m like are you serious? He’s like yeah! You don’t know? We didn’t have the exposure. So now that I’m getting a clue I think it’s awesome that people recognize us and enjoy us and wanna know where we are and how we’re doing? Those kinds of things make you fee like you wasn’t there because someone told you you don’t have anything, but I’m gonna give you what you need and I want you to perform like this. Now we’re viable and so the make it a whole more worth while. I don’t have to be ashamed anymore.

SUPREMEWRITER: HAVE YOU AND TABITHA EVER TALKED ABOUT DOING SOME REUNION DATES?
SWEET LD: We have discussed it, but we didn’t know how it would be received. You know that I’m saying. And that’s only been recently and that’s because we discussed it recently and I think it’s that’s because I’m getting a better picture of some things we need to work on. I’m interested. She’s interested. We just kinda get our old selves out together (both laugh). I’m not old. Just better. She’s excited about it. We’ll see.

SUPREMEWRITER: THERE WILL BE MANY FANS INTERESTED. I WAS AT ONE OF MY BEST FRIEND’S HOUSE WATCHING SOME OF YOUR VIDEOS AND WE WERE SAYING HOW YOU WAS THE WEST COAST VERSION OF SALT-N-PEPA AND HOW YOU CAME CLOSE TO GIVING THEM A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY.
SWEET LD: That was the other thing. Hammer said he wanted. On one hand, Hammer said he wanted an answer to Salt-N-Pepa. I can’t say that that was his only intentions. You see what I’m saying? We were different. The sound was different. The dancing was different. They way we rapped was different. I think Salt-N-Pepa had more emphasis on their lyrics and that the time they were da bomb. Basically and we (I would say) were new jacks, but still are delivery was very good because we had different exposure to the performing aspect of it as background dancers. There was a difference but we didn’t realize we were probably giving them a run for their money. I’m gonna say I didn’t know.

SUPRMEWRITER: WOW. I’M JUST SO OVERWHELMED AT THIS INTERVIEW AND LEARNING HOW HAMMER DIDN’T GIVE YA’LL THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AS ARTISTS.

SWEET LD. This is how it’s gonna be twisted though. It’s gonna be twisted to say I have them the opportunity. I did took them from somewhere to where they wouldn’t have been exposed to Arsenio Hall, or The Apollo. I gave them the opportunity to dance behind me. I gave them this. I gave them that. You see what I’m saying? But somebody told me the other day four months ago I have made a comment ‘I really appreciate what Hammer did for me because I had the opportunity to tour. I had the opportunity to travel. To meet people. I had the opportunity to perform when I didn’t realize I would have loved it as much as I did. I’m so happy he gave me the opportunity and the person turned it around and said ‘yeah, but what about what you did for him? What have you contributed?’ When that person said that it made it think ‘I’m a whole individual in myself.’ Everybody has been blessed with gifts and whether we realize it or not, you have a gift so when somebody puts you in a situation that allows you to

1. Expose the gift
2. Go wow. That’s what it is.
3. And say ‘Oh OK” in this capacity I can do this and take it on all these levels you meet the challenge and you take it on and it’s successful and it’s still received. That’s not just that person who gave you the opportunity. That’s also you. The situation was put in both of your lives to bring you together. That’s God. In that situation, we were both blessed to be able to do what we loved, but in spite of what we were doing, who we were about, he stifled our growth. Period.

SUPREMEWRITER: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEBODY WANTING TO ENTER THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
SWEET LD: I will tell them to know the business. Don’t compromise yourself. You wanna have the cars. You wanna have the outfits. You have to know that contract and know those people you’re working with.

JANET, WHITNEY, REBA & TAYLOR DISPLAYED CLASS AT LAST NIGHT'S AMA'S

When Miss Janet and Miss Whitney took stage to perform, not only did they have the audience and viewers at home out of their seats, they displayed class and let the young kids what it takes to become Icons. Miss Janet opened the show performing a medley of her hits including "Control," "What Have You Done For Me Lately," "Miss You Much" "If," "Make Me" and a touching version of her top charting House hit "Together Again" and what made the performance of the latter touching was the camera shots of Reba McEntire who had lost her band in a plane crash in 1991. When McEntire came to the stage to introduced Carrie Underwood, she looked very graceful and didn't act stuck up. When Whitney took stage, it was a wrap!! Not only did she sounded great, she strolled around the stage in her firece gown as to say, "I'm back and yes I'm a Pop Diva, but honey I will never forget I grew up in the hood, and a real hood chick has class!" It was good to finally see how receive the International award and I loved how she acknowledged her daughter Bobbi Kristina and the fans for sticking by her. Shakira's performance was good and I loved how she had females of different shades and with nice sized thighs, while Alicia Keys did her thing performing with Jay-Z, who failed to mentoned his wife, who wasn't there (I wondering was she upset that she wasn't gonna be the main attraction that night), while Jennifer Lopez gave one of the best performances of her life (It's about tiem she started hiring men of all shades and ethnicities).
It was also touching to see Taylor Swift acknowledging Michael Jackson who she shocking beat out in the Artist of the year category. You could tell by the look on her face that she was shocked, but she acknowledge the family for reaching out to her after the VMA's (It was good that Kanye wasn't there to mess things up).
I also loved the Black Eye Peas' performance, (Fergie showed the world she got some serious pips) and Carrie Underwood did her thang.
As always Michael and Janet's big brother Jermaine, the unofficial spokesperson for The Jackson family accepted the awards that his little brother won, but he didn't even acknowledge and thank his baby brother Randy, who took his spot in the group when he left and co-wrote the family's biggest selling sinlge.
I would love for the AMA'S to have host, because it makes the show more interesting.

KING OF POP'S FALSE ACCUSER'S PUNK AND KRAFTY ASS DAD CHECKS HIMSELF OUT

Motown legend Michael Jackson's fasle accusr's father Evan Chanler was found dead in his fancy apartment. The cause of death was ruled a suicide; the cops had found him holding a revolver to his head when he was discovered dead.
According to the police reports and sources close to the shady dentist and opportunitest, he have had numerous plastic surgeries to avoid being recognize by fans of the late Icon, who wanted to whip his ass for making false charges about the Icon molesting his son back in 1993.
A former dentist and asprinig screenwriter, Jordan hadn't seen his biological son since 1985, and had owed his mother close to $60,000 in back child support. He had also had his medical lisense revolted twice and was hit with several malpractice suits including one by a former porn actress, who received a settlement after he failed to produce accurate copies of her medical records. He began to reconnect with his son after he learned he was hanging with the singer, and decided to use Jordan as a ploy to get the singer to produce an screenplay he had written and when Jackson, who was running his record label and about to embark on the second leg of his "Dangerous Tour" refused. Outraged that he was turned down, he decied to plot revenge on Jackson by claiming that telling him he was going to ruin his career and he did so by claiming that he molested his son, and drugging his son Jordan before meeting with the legal officals. Jackson denied any wrong doing and the unfair media coverage forced Jackson to become addicted to painkillers, and forced him to cancel his tour the second of his tour which he had planned to bring to the US in 1994.
After recovering, Jackson was ordered by Tom Sneddon (Another snake) and the DA to have his body photographed for evidence, which didn't match Jordan's description.
Seeing how it was taking a toll on Jackson's physical and mental state, his insurance company, and legal team including the late Johnny Cocharan advised Michael to settle out of court. At first, Michael refused to give any money to the kid and his crafty father, but after his legal team, who saw that the prosecution wasn't being fair, told Michael what would happen if he went to trail in his state, he decided to settle out of court for an amount of close to $22 Million dollars, leaving many to wonder if he was guilty of the crime.
He told Diane Sawyer that it was his lawyers idea to settle. Not his.
The truth came out about the Chandler's shady idea when G.Q. magazine did an cover story asking Was Michael Framed, and that article spoke about everything that happened includiding how the father gave his son drugs days whenever he was supposed to meet with the attorneys and the social workers, and when the father said he gave Jordan the drug for dental work, many learned that the drug he was given wasn't meant for dental pratices at all, and when the media and fan who wanted to whip his ass got wind, he closed up his pratice and relocated to New Jersey, while he bought a home in Long Island and in Manhattan, and taking his son with him.
In 2005 when Jackson was false accused of molesting another child, his attorney, Tom Messina contacted Jordan and asked him to testify on Michael's behalf, being that he had told Jackson's original legal team that Michael didn't molest him, but he refused and a year later, Jordan had his father arrested for attacking him with mase and a barbell which resulted with him getting a restraining order against him and distaning himself from him.

How did I feel about this? I have some sympathy for Jordan, because at the time, he was being threatned, imtimidated and drugged by his bitch ass father, but he should have came forward after his father assaulted him because he had put Michael through alot of mental and physical pain, and to do that to a person who showed him love is hurtful. That what he should have done instead of taking ski trips around the world and trips to the city rocking a tank top, nikeys and a diamond braclet that you got from a man who worked hard for his weatlth.

As for the father, that bastard gets no sympathy from me! If he really cared about his son, he would have been supporting him after his wife divorced him. Not use him just to get his movie produced!! Granted his father wanted him to pursue a medical career, but he could have retired and did other things to get his movie produced instead of using his kid as a pawn and did he even try to do that when he got that settlement? No!!!!!!! That bitch ass was living the fine life, but had to wind up having plastic surgery to avoid being recognized from being the bitch ass coward that he was/is and to avoid getting his ass kicked by the fans!! And he knew that The Jacksons was going to sue his ass, so he opted to die instead of being dragged to the poor house.
He deseves to rot in hell and that's where he's gonna go for what he did to M.J. Not only did you take money from him, you also inflected pain to a person who did nothing but provide wonderful music and gave back to people and children, who didnt' have the resources to survive, while you was able to make a decent living as a dentist in Florida
You also messed up the life of your son and his relationship with his mother!! You was so pissed at Michael for turning you down that you threatned your ex-wife and husband bodily harm if they didn't go along with your plan and you thank them by keeping Jordan, who she carred for nine months from contacting her?! Plus Jordan had to go under an alias to avoid getting his ass whipped and from the media from following him around!! That's not a life to live, and your deceitful actions caused harm to many so you deserved to rot in hell you bastard!!!!!!

SONGS INSPIRED BY THIS POST

D.S. AND MONEY
PERFORMED, WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY MICHAEL JACKSON
1995 EPIC/MJJ RECORDS

GHOSTS
PERFORMED BY MICHAEL JACKSON
WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY MICHAEL JACKSON & TEDDY RILEY
1997 EPIC/MJJ RECORDS

KARMA
PERFOMED BY ALICIA KEYS

FLASHBACK REVIEW: CHANTE MOORE'S CLASSIC MEN APPRECATION SONG

CHANTE MOORE
CHANTE'S GOT A MAN
WRITTEN MY CHANTE MOORE, JAMES HARRIS III, TERRY LEWIS
PRODUCED BY JIMMY JAM & TERRY LEWIS FOR FLYTE TYME PRODUCTIONS
RELEASED SUMMER 1999

When Chante Moore dropped her comeback single "Chante's Got A Man" ten years ago, not only did it become her biggest selling single to date, it also became a huge hit with the males, who praised her for reconding a song showing men in a positive light.
The sultry singer and songwriter had a huge following with her sexy looks, and her angelic voice, but when she released her gold single, she was able to cross over to the Pop charts. In countless interviews, Moore had acknowledge how Black men have (and still do) thank her for letting people know that there are good Black men in the world, who don't rob, steal and beat women (It's no wonder why Oprah didn't have her on her show). It also became a huge hit with the Gay commuinity as well.

This classic songs has smooth Pop melodies courtesy of the piano and keyboards riffs, soulful vocals from Moore, who sang the hook to The Osmond's top charting classic "One Bad Apple" and heartfelt lyrics about being in love while letting her friends know that she's sorry they're in bad relationships and though she's sensitive to their situation, she reassures them that there are good men out there and she's not gonna allow their situation to persuade her from leaving hers.

Chante's got a man at home
It's hurting me that he's leaving you alone
I can't help it that your baby daddy's
Cheating with you
Creeping on you
Beating on you
Chante's got a man

This classic is timeless and it shows that there are good men in the world and it takes time for you to find your Prince Charming.

UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT CHANTE'S GOT A MAN

1. The song came about during a playful conversation Moore was having with producers Jimmy Jam, who was teasing her about now singing songs about heartbreak and heartache. Chante responded with 'I can't help it if I got a man at home. Jam was excited with her reply he told her that was a hot idea for a song. He gave her the track and she wrote the lyrics that night in her hotel room.

2. The song was inspired by her relationship with actor/writer Kadeem Hardison, who she began dating in the early 1990's. They secretly married in the late 90's but divorced in 2000, and after the divorce she was on tour, and when she would perform that song, she would say 'It's ironic that I'm singing about having a man at home when in reality I don't have a man at home right now. That chagned when she married singer Kenny Lattimore on New Years day in 2002.

3. The song has been became a popular phrase that many writers have used in their stories including Lee Hayes, who used it in his debut novel Passion Marks, but instead of saying Chante's Got A Man, he had one of the character's use his name instead of Chante's

4. Whenever Chante performs at Gay Pride events, she always performs this song as her closing number.

This review is dedicated to all the men in the world who are making positive impacts in people lives and to the men who show their partners love and respect.

SONGS THAT OPENLY GAY & BISEXUAL SINGERS AND RAPPERS SHOULD REMAKE

I'm up now listening to Miss Janet's latest release "Number Ones" which is (with the exception of The Suprmes The 70's Anthology) one of the best greatest hits compliations, and while I have listening to her second Soul Top charting hit "Nasty" I was thinking about the conversation I was having with my friend author Donald Peebles, and we were talking about what songs we would love for Open Gay and Bisexual singers and rappers to remake.

HERE ARE MY CHOICES

1. BWP'S TWO MINUTE BROTHER
2. JANET'S SOMEDAY IS TONIGHT
3. BELL-BIV-DEVOE'S DO ME!
4. SWV'S DOWNTOWN
5. DONNA SUMMER'S LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY
6. MELISA MORGAN'S DO ME BABY
7. RICK JAMES & TEENA MARIE'S FIRE AND DESIRE
8. MC HAMMER'S PUMPS IN A BUMP
9. OAKTOWN'S 357'S JUICY GOTCHA CRAZY AND IT'S NOT YOUR MONEY
10. TLC'S I'M GOOD AT BEING BAD
11. MICHAEL JACKSON'S BREAK OF DAWN
12. TINA TURNER'S PRIVATE DANCER
13. JOHNNY GILL'S MY MY MY
14. BOBBY BROWN'S GOOD ENOUGH
15. JANET'S CONTROL, THAT'S THE WAY LOVE GOES, IF, ALL NIGHT DON'T STOP
16. THE SUPREMES' TOUCH
17. JODY WATLEY'S LOOKING FOR A NEW LOVE AND EVERYTHING
18. BOYZ II MEN'S I'LL MAKE LOVE TO YOU, 50 CANDLES
19. DEBARGE'S A DREAM
20. BIGGIE'S ONE MORE CHANCE & BIG POPPA
21. MARY J. BLIGE'S MY LIFE AND BREAKTHROUGH ALBUMS
22. SELWYN'S CUTIE
23. 50 CENT'S CANDY SHOP
24. WILL SMITH'S GETTING JIGGY WITH IT
25. ENVOUGE'S DON'T LET GO (LOVE) AND MY LOVING (YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET IT)
26. ALICIA KEYS-DIARY AND YOU DON'T KNOW MY NAME
27. ONE CHANCE'S PRIVATE
28. LLOYD'S YOU
29. THE TEMPTATIONS'S JUST MY IMAGINATION, HEAVENLY,. STAY AND TEMP ME
30. LABELLE'S LADY MARMALADE
31. THE SUPREMES' HE'S MY MAN
32. THE HERB ALPERT-JANET JACKSON-LISA KEITH CLASSICS DIAMONDS AND MAKING LOVE IN THE RAIN
33. SMOKEY ROBINSON'S CRUSIN'
34. MARVIN GAYE'S I WANT YOU AND SEXUAL HEALING
35. TEENA MARIE'S OH LA LA LA
36. LAURYN HILL'S THE LOST ONES
37. CHRIS BROWN'S TAKE YOU DOWN AND GLOW IN THE DARK
38. NE-YO'S SAY IT
39. DESTINY'S CHILD'S BILL, BILL, BILLS AND CATER 2 U
40. KELLY ROWLAND'S COMEBACK AND THE SHOW
41. GINUWINE & SOLE'S SEX
42. THE FOUR TOPS' WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL
43. NELLY'S HOT IN HERRE
44. JENNIFER HUDSON'S POCKETBOOK
45. MISSY ELLIOT'S WORK IT AND HOT BOYZ
46. TINA TURNER AND BARRY WHITE'S IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS
47. WHITNEY HOUSTON'S OH YES,M MILION DOLLAR BABY, EXHALE SHOOP SHOOP, I'M YOUR BABY TONIGHT
48. QUEEN LATIFAH AND MONIE LOVE'S LADIE'S FIRST
49. MONIE LOVE'S FULL TERM LOVE
50. LISA STANFSIELD'S ALL WOMAN
51. LE-TOYA LUCKETT'S TORN AND REGRET
52. LUDACRIS'S STAND UP
53. PLEASURE P'S DID YOU WRONG, BOYFRIEND NUMBER 2, YOUR LOVE, UNDER
54. PRETTY RICKY'S ON THE HOTLINE, CUDDLE UP, BEDROOM BEAST, DOGGYSTYLE, MR. GOODBAR
55. NEW EDITION'S CAN YOU STAND THE RAIN, HIT ME OFF, STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU, COME HOME WITH ME, HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR LOVE SERVED
56. RALPH TRESVANT'S SENSISTIVITY
57. THE WHISPERS GET YOU IN THE MOOD, ROCK STEADY, LET ME MAKE LOVE TO YOU
58. SIMON WEBBE'S FREE, MY SOUL PLEADS FOR YOU
59. GUY'S PIECE OF MY LOVE, LET'S CHILL, TEASE ME TONIGHT
60. STEPHANIE MILLS' A COMFORT OF A MAN, SOMETHING IN THE WAY ME FEEL
61. ANGELA WINBUSH'S ANGEL
62. THE ISLEY BROTHERS' BETWEEN THE SHEETS, THAT LADY, FOR THE LOVE OF YOU, SENSUALITY
63. STEVIE WONDER'S AS, PART TIME LOVER, PASSONATE RAINDROPS
64. CHANTE MOORE'S CHANTE'S GOT A MAN

MOTOWN FLASHBACK REVIEW: PHILLY QUARTET'S POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL FOLLOW-UP

BOYZIIMEN
II
MOTOWN RECORDS
ORINGALLY RELEASED AUGUST 1994

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: BOYZIIMEN
PRODUCERS: BOYZ II MEN, WANYA MORRIS, SHAWN STOCKMAN, DALLAS AUSTIN, JIMMY JAM & TERRY LEWIS, TIM & BOB, THE CHARACTERS, TONY RICK & L.A. REID, BABYFACE.

When Philly quartet Boyz II Men dropped their classic album "II" in 1994, it became an istant classic debutting at # 1 on the Pop and R&B album charts and selling over 20 million copies, making it Motown Records largest selling album and one of largest selling follow ups in music history.
The award winning quartet had done well since they first released their classic album "Cooleyhighharmony" three years prior. They've won a large legion of fans with their barbershop style harmony, and classy image, while their top charting ballad "End of The Road" broke Elvis Presley's record by peaking at #1 on the Pop Charts for 13 weeks, and expectaions for Nathan and Wanya Morris, Michael Mc Cray and Shawn Stockman were high, and they didn't disappoint. In fact, teenagers, college students and adults flocked to get their tape when it was first release 15 years ago and many enjoyed playing it during the labor day weekend as well as rewarding the group with two 1 singles, and in honor of the album's 15th year anniversary, here is my review of one of my favorite classic albums, that showcased the group's writing and producing talents.
The album opens with their self-penned track "Thank You" which showcases their tradmark harmony being sung over the Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh classic "LaDiDaDi"
Co-produced with Dallas Austin, the song also features bass singer Mc Cray singing some lines in a smooth bass that adds a spiritual vibe to this uplifting classic, that contains lyrics thanking their loved ones and fans for showing them love and support during the good and bad times. This is followed by "All Around The World" my all-time favorite song by the award winning group, who's known for showing their fans appreciation and love.
What makes this song hot are the drums, percussion, beats, French introduction and outro by Tamara Spinner, Mc Cray's spoken seagments, and call and response between him and the group, Nathan's smooth riff when he introduces Wanya and the lyrics that features all the Cities and states and their love for performing for the fans without any complaints.

Here we go on another tour
On the road again
Feeling good
(Feeling good)
It's alright
(It's alright)
Come and take a flight with
Boyz II Men
All around the world
Back around the world
And we're coming to your town
All we do
All we do
Is for you
Cause you've always been there
and we appreciation you.

"U Know" is a cool mid-tempo song that has a James Bondish theme vibe courtest of the bass and horn riffs, and great rich harmony, also featured on the smooth flowing "Vibin'" which they co-wrote and produced with Tim and Bob. The classic has lyrics about people having a great time dancing and listening to good music, something that's needed instead of people hating and throwing shade at each other.
The Jazzy-flavored Tony Rich penned "I Sit Away" showcases the quartet's ability to phrase, ad-lib and riff. It also contains Jazzy and classy piano riffs also featured on "Jezzebel" which features the group's performing scatting-type harmonizing, and a skit that features Wanya and Stockman wanting to take the B train to the studio, while Nate and Michael decides to the studio. This song should have been released as a single.
Their self-produced song "Khalil" still forces me to hold back tears. This is a beautiful song written in memory of their late road manager and mentor Khalil Roundtree, who was killed in a Chicago hotel elevator while the group was touring with M.C. Hammer in 1992. What gives this song the spirutal vibe is the piano performance by Bob Robinson, who performance a beautiful classy solo on the ballad "Trying Times" which was co-wrtten with group member Wanya who showcases his soulful vocal talents. The classic top charting "I'll Make Love To You" is still a favorite among concert goers, and hopeless romantics (this nerd included) who loves to listen to timeless love songs. This song has timeless tasteful lyrics written by Babyface, soulful phrasing by Shawn and Wanya and strong harmony by the group. A great song for Gay and hetero couples to play while making love along with "50 Candles" an underated classic co-written by Stockman that could have also been a huge hit had it been released as a single. What gives the song sex appeal are the strings, percussion, raindrops, the lyrics about making love under candlights, the group's vocal performance while they're making the uh-ah sound during the second verse.

Take them off
Throw them down
Come here and let 'em down
The outside world is of no concern
Just let our bodies and the candles in the room burn
With feverish passion uncontained

Mike's spoken part
Come and get this
Waited all my life for your touch and soft kiss
And life will never be the same, while ya moan and groan my name
Holding your body like a plastic moaning
Your soul I'll be controlling

"On Bended Knee" is another favorite that will have listeners putting this song on repeat and rewind. Written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, this ballad features touching lyrics about sharing admitting one's mistakes and begging and pleading for their loved ones to return home to make the relationship group. It also features the group singing the chorus in falsetto that gives the song the heartbreak feeling that helped make this song become their third # 1 Pop hit.
The CD closes with an accepella version of The Beatles' classic "Yesterday," which further demonstrates their trademark harmony and capability to sing other genres of music besides R&B, and make them they're own.

I really enjoyed re-listening to Boyz II Men's classic CD. It brought back memories of how music is supposed to make you feel, and though it would have been nice had some of the songs they group had co-wrote and produced became bigger hits, this classic showed that they were more than just singers, which is why this album is the classic that it is today and they showed how to make a follow up album

This review is dedicated to the memories of Khalil Roundtree, former Motown Records President Jheryl Busby and to the memory of Bondy's Records a record store that used to sell tapes and CD's a day (and sometimes) a week before the actual release date

UKNOWN FACTS ABOUT II

1. "Thank You" was originally scheduled to be the first single to be released from the album. On Behind The Music, the group had stated that they wanted an up-tempo song to be released to show their capability of singing other forms of music besides ballads, but Jheryl Busby, then President of Motown Records decided to release the Babyface penned and produced ballad "I'll Make Love To You" as the album's lead single, and this made the group upset because they had shot a video for the song. They got over their anger when the song topped the Pop charts for 14 weeks. "Thank You" was later released as the third single and it became a top 20 Pop hit.

2. While the group was working on the album, they reached out to Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to collaborate, and at first Jam felt that the group didn't need their assitance beng tha they had success with "End of The Road." When the group was in the producers hometown of Minnieapolis for a basketball game, they paid an unexpected visit to their Flyte Tyme recording studios and asked them to work with them on their album. In an interview with the Billboard Books of Number Ones, Jam said how the group told him how they loved the work they did on their idols New Edition's classic album "Heartbreak" and how they took the song "Boys To Men" for the name of their group. They also asked them if they would produce a song for them what would it be. The Grammy Award winning duo came up with the title after looking through a book of titles they keep in their studio.

3. When Motown decided to release "On Bended Knee" as the next single, producer Jimmy Jam wanted Motown to wait another week so the group could break their own record. By that time the group's single "I'll Make Love To You" had been number one for 14 weeks and Jam, who is good friends with Babyface, wanted the group to set another record. Motown chosed to release the single, and it became another historic moment for the group; it replaced "I'll Make Love To You" and topped the Pop charts for 6 weeks.


4. While the group was working on the album, Michael Jackson had came to the studio to work with Jam and Lewis, and when The King of Pop (who was a huge fan of the quartet)learned they were there, he asked them to provide backing vocals on his song HIStory.

ANOTHER RANDOM THOUGHT: PAYBACK IS A MOTHER SHUT YO MOUTH

Have you ever been mistreated by a person, who had things going for them such as looks, body and popularity?
Have you seen the assholes who mistreated months and years later, and they're not as hot as they used to be?
That has happened to me several times in my life, and (with the exception of seeing a person homeless), I've gotten some pleasure knowing that God had punished them for their actions.

A few weeks ago as I was heading towards the Circle of Sisters convention, I happened to see my former church/cult mentor and his wife heading towards me direction, and when I saw him, I was shocked to see how much he put on. He stomach was larger than mines, and he was walking wide-legged, as I crossed the street and watched him cross the street, all I could say was Karma's a bitch.

Last summer, I posted a blog about me being rushed to the hospital for chest pains and how members of a group I used to volunteer with had looked out for me as well as compared the difference between the support I received from them and the lack of compassion one of my former church mentors had for my needs. As I walked around the Javits, I often thought of the way K* mistreated me.

When he told me that he was going to be my DP, things started off good as in most relationships. We had gotten to know each other and I would ask him for his opinons about things, and though I did appreciate his input, by the second month, I had began to noticed his lack of sensitivity.
I had called him to inform him that I wouldn't be able to attend service because of an painful ear infection. "Jesus suffered more pain than you and you need to be at service" he told me
I was shocked. He wasn't being considerate of me being in physical pain to the point where I was holding my head and feeling weak and sluggish.
"You don't understand what I'm going though. I don't wanna come to service being cranky and being in pain."
"I don't understand what you're going through, but you need to be at service because Jesus suffered a whole lot more than you did, and you can't miss service unless you're in a hospital with tubes inside you."
I went to service the next day ill, and got better after I ate, then we went to a friend's crib and afterwards, he said "the next time you get sick, remember the fun we had here."
By the fall he had become obessed with me converting people, that the only time he would speak to me was when I had a person studying the bible and/or attending service.
Towards the end of the year, I had lost two people who I was cool with. The day before service I was providing my friend comfort and helping her with arrangments for her grandmother's funeral, and that nigga called and wanted to know how I was doing. When I told him about the loss, he said 'sorry to hear that. Did you call J* to see if he was coming to service?" When I told him I didn't he wanted to know why, and when I informed (rather reminded)him that I losted a family friend and I was helping with funeral arrangements, that ass didn't show anytype of sympahty what so ever. "You're supposed to be doing your follow ups. Don't use your friends' grandmother's death as an excuse" with an attitude.
I couldn't believe he stooped that low and said that. A few days later he wanted to know what my plans for New Years day and when I informed him that my classmate was murdered and I was meeting with the classmates, did he offer any sympathy? No. He told me to take Phillipe* a Latin clone of his with me and to share our faith and invite the class out to service. I did ask Phillipe* to come with me, but when the class learned that our friend's killer was captured, we were speechless, angry and sad. I couldn't even began to think about inviting anybody out. Especially when I learned that her wake was going to be the same place and time as my friend's grandmother's.
Throughout the year, our relationship had became very business-like. He also began to give me the Sandra Clark from 227 treatment by greeting everybodyelse with hugs, while he would give me an occasion pat on my back and shoulder. I noticed that he began to show favortism for other members in our bible group. He forced and guilted me into sitting a bible study with a student they were trying to convert despite me informing him that I had an upset stomach (which in reality was a slight case of food poisoning), but when Phillipe was suffering from a stomach virus, not only did he allow him to miss a week of service and recuperate, he told me to give him a call to lift his spirits. He also got mad at me for applying for government aid, but when his wife was laid off, he told her to apply for unemployment benefits. He really showed his true colors when I told him that I was going to bring a salad to our park service, because like the sisters, I needed a break since I was doing most of the cooking.
The incident that still upsets me was the day we had a physical altercation on campus.
I had gone down to the basement in the student lounge building, and I happened to see Kyle finishing conducting a bible study. I went over to him to see what was going on as far as the activities for bible talk. I'm not sure whether that jackass was having PMS that day or what, but the way he greeted me was not Christ-Like.
"Did Ollie* tell you about the study?" he asked.
"No" I replied.
"Well how you know I was down?!!"
I couldn't beleive how indignent he was acting. First of all, I wasn't even looking for him, and second, I didn't even know he was on campus that day. I began to pick up a vibe taht something dramatic was about to happen, and I was right. It did. After Ollie came to speak to him, Kyle* wanted me to do a sin and repentance study because I looked down, he (like most legalistic leaders) assumed that I was involved masturbating, getting my freak on outside of the chruch.
"I know something is wrong because you can't even look me in the eye" he said.
(I do have problems maintaing eye-contact with people due to my shyness.
He began to yell and when I looked at the clock and saw that it almost 2, I told him that I had an doctor's appointment, and I had no time to argue with him and as I began to leave, that nigga grabbed me!!
"GET OVER HERE!" He screamed as grabbed my arm.
I was shocked. I got mad and pulled away from him, and when I did that, he got more angry and started saying "You're pulling away from me?!! I'm afraid for you!!"
I went outside and I became Frozen. I didn't know whether to leave or speak to him. I just stood between the mensroom and door paralyzed with confusion and fear as he continued to scream at me.
A few mintues later, one of the female student aids approached me and wanted to know if I was OK
"What's the matter" she asked.
"Are you alright? Please don't cry"
She then stormed over to Kyle* to confront him.
"Alright I wanna know what's going on! He looks like he's about to cry. I wanna know what's going on? What' the problem? What did you do to him?"
"I don't know!" Kyle* replied in an angry tone of voice.
While she was intergating him, I flew out of the lounge and went to my appointment. Later that evening, he called me and told me that was the last time I was going to embarass him. He then said that I was a guy who as on his Heaven, and that we needed to stop arguing and get along.
Did that happened? No. Things remained the same, and it had gotten to the point where I couldn't trust him. I also began to hate him.
The thing that made me transfer to another minstry was the night I (unknown to him) almost smacked him.
Me, him, Phillpe* and Ollie* had went to the movies and to the pizza shop, and when Kyle* wanted to know how was things going as far as studies and covnerting people, I told him that I bumped into a guy who was interested. He wanted to know why didn't I told him.
I forget.
Instead of being cool with it, he had a hissy fit and said that I should have answered him a certain way. This bitch had began to push my buttons and adding insult to injury was Ollie and Phillipe telling me not to be angry with him and to express my feelings.
I told Kyle that he wasn't being fair when I told him that I was only making salad for the park service. I had reminded him that I was cooking for all the services, and that I was tired and I needed a break and he said that he understand how I felt, but the meal wasn't complete. And that when he asked me what I brought, I said salad in a firm tone of voice.
I also told him that he wasn't being respectful to me and that I was getting bad vibes from him and that's when Ollie and Phillpe sided against me by saying that I shouldn't be going by my feelings and I couldn't be getting mad at Kyle, because he was the bible talk leader. He also said that I needed to be grateful about how Kelvon* was patient with me when I was doing a particualar study. That had nothing to do with me and Kyle's issues. I was so hurt and mad that I stormed out the pizza shop and stood outside to get some air. When Kyle and Phillipe approached me, he wanted to know if I wanted to be a disciple. I told him yes.
"Are you sure it's the right thing to do?"
"Yes" I answred.
That bitch then smirked and continued to talk to his clone. I got so mad that I was about to slap the shit out of him, but something stopped me from doing so. I calmed down and said to myself, let me transfer to Harlem before I wind up hurting him.
A month later, I transfered to the Harlem sector of the cult, and though we patched up, whenever I saw him, I still felt uncomfortable around him to the point where I couldn't trust him. I did however decided that since we were moving into the year 2000 to be the mature one and rebuild a decent friendship and when I made that suggestion, he was like "whatever!" That was it for me. But not for him. The following year, he began to call me to ask information about the Tae-Kwon-Do and areobics classes I was taking. Funny thing was Phillip was enrolled for a week, but left, but I never told anybody I was taking areboics. (Things that make you go hmmm). By 2002, I had left the cult and was focusing on my education and moving on with my life, and the following year, I bumped into him one evening.
He had told me that he was going steady with this sister (the one he told to apply for unemployment) and that he was getting married and that he wanted me to be there the day he got hitched. "Let me have your number" he asked in a commanding tone of voice.
"Is your number the same?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"Alright. I see you later" I said as I left the computer lab and headed home.
I hadn't seen him since late 2001 and I couldn't believe he had the audacity to tell me that he wanted me to be at his wedding. I was moving on with my life, and he was one of the last people I expected and ever wanted to see. Well it seemed that God had also wanted him out my life as well, and a few weeks later, he gave me the strength move on.
I was in the student lounge center at a table with D* a fellow student having a late lunch when Kyle walked in and said hello to me.
I waved as he sat at the table with some sisters. I was about to get ready to head to my Latin studies class when he approached me saying he wanted to speak to me. I told him that I was on my way to class.
"It only take 5 minutes" he said.
"I have to head to class" I replied.
Sensing that things was about to get serious, D* excused himself and told me that he would holla at me later. Kyle was adamant that he speak to me and it seemed that he wasn't gonna take no for an answer.
"I'll walk out with you" he said after I told him I had to be at class.
We left the dining area and that's when he started to accuse me of greeting him with waves everytime he saw me.
I knew he was lying because I only saw him once and had to greet him with a wave because I was running late for class. The second time I saw him which was this day I had food in my mouth and I wasn't gonna talk with a mouth full of food.
That's when I told him that I was moving on with my life and was cutting certain people out my life.
He didn't catch the hint.
I told him that we needed to go our seperate ways.
He was shocked. He asked me did I leave the chruch and I finally told him yes.
"Just because you left the chruch doesn't mean I think of you any differently. I still think you're a great guy. You used to keep me up on the latest music. Did I do anything to you?"
I knew that I couldn't remind Kyle of how he treated me because he would have denied and/or justified his actions, and I wasn't in the mood for another episode of an arguement we had in the staircase in the summer of 1997.
"Let's just say that during my last months in Brooklyn in 1998, we did not have a good relationship" was all I could say to get this over with.
This reminds of me of how Puffy felt when Faith Evans told him to let her out of her contract. He was shocked, and tried to get her to stay, but when she informed him that she was serious, he accepted her decision and honored her request, and things between them were peaceful.
It was the total opposite for me and Kyle. He still kinda acted like an moron when I told him we needed to go our ways.
"Can I say hello to you?"
"If you want to?"
"Can I ask you about the latest music?"
"If you want to"
He shrugged his shoulders and walked away. Though I was releived that he wasn't going to be a part of my life, I decided to congraulate him on his upcoming wedding and wished him the best. Was he grateful? That bitch wasn't.
He laughed and said thank you in a nasty tone of voice and walked away.
I wanted to run behind him and slap him, but I chose not to. I left the building, went to class, came home and spoke to several friends about what happened and they were happy that I severed ties with him, but they were also shocked, pissed and appauled for his behavior. I knew that God was going to handle him in his own time and way, and he did.
A few months after I left Brooklyn, he started going out with this sister he had been pursuing, and it didn't last long. Seeing how much weight he put on gave me some comfort and justification that his mistreatment was punished. He used to have an average built and he used to be working out at his home and dressing sharp. I also thought of the times when he wanted me to do things when I was under the weather, and the few times when I told him I had to go home due to illness and he would tell me to go home with an attitude. I'm now blessed with several people who look out for me and if they see or sense I'm tired or under the weather, they'll let me know that I need to take it easy and get some rest.

Songs played and inspired for this post

GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY
PERFORMED BY ROBERTA FLACK
WRITTEN BY GWEN GUTHRIE
PRODUCED BY ROBERTA FLACK AND ERIC MERCURY
1980 ATLANTIC RECORDS

THE POWER OF GOODBYE
PERFORMED BY MADONNA
WRITTEN BY MADONNA & RICK KNOWELS
PRODUCED BY MADONN, WILLIAM ORBIT AND PAT LEONARD
1998 MAVERICK RECORDS

KARMA
PERFORMED BY ALICA KEYS
WRITTEN BY ALICIA KEYS, TENISHA SMITH & KERRY BROTHERS, JR
2003 J RECORDS

LEGENDARY DISCO QUEEN SHOWED BROOKLYN LOVE AND WHY SHE'S STILL THE QUEEN

When I learned that Disco Legend Donna Summer was going to be performing in Brooklyn this past summer, I was excited!! I was finally going to see one of my favorite Divas live for the first time, and I was so excited that I told my friend and fellow Donna fan Rod about it, and he decided to come. Especially after we learned the seats were only five dollars! After meeting in the city, we made our journey to Brooklyn, and when we arrived, we were suprised to see the number of people waiting on line to see the Goddess of Love perform including a fellow from South America.
Summer's show began with her band playing a mixture of Rock and Dance music, while her talented and sexy young dancers Bradley Johnson, Travis Cooper and Randy Mitchell appeared in purple Royal costumes carrying toy trumpets and before you knew it, the 5 time Grammy Award winner began to make her entrance by posing against a revolving wall donned in a sequenced Black dress and proceeded to perform "The Queen Is Back" followed by her classic "I Feel Love" where she performed her trademark robotic arm movements, which earned a loud round applause from the crowd.
"Thanks so much for caring" Summer told the crowd in a Boston accent.
"You're bringing me close to tears."
She then performed a teasing version of her self-penned classic "Dim All The Lights" where she told the crowd "I'm gonna act like a lady" before performing her current # 1 hit "I'm A Fire", where she displayed her Gospel and Theatre training, while her background vocalists sang in different ranges and her dancers rocked red shirts, black slacks and shoes. Giving the performance fire was the graphics of flames against the background. After changing into a flower dress, Summer took the crowd down memory lane with "Could It Be Magic" and spoke about the joy of performing in her husband singer/songwriter Bruce Sudano's hometown.
"I waited so long for you Brooklyn" she said, before sitting on a stool and talking about the joy of watching the beautiful view from her Miami vacation home and without missing a beat, Donna performed "Sand On My Feet" accompanied by her guitarist, who added bits of Accoustic Rock and Latin that had couples in the audience cuddling, and rubbing their partners ears, necks and back. After putting the audience in the mood for love, Donna performed her classic "On The Radio" and asked the crowd to sing the song's chours, before launching into "Mr Music" which had the crowd out their seats dancing and shaking their groove thangs, while her dancers danced behind two card board I-Pods, while her DJ performed the scratches. The crowded also grooved to "Crayons" which had a nice Caribbean groove thanks to her bass player.
Donna returned to the stage for the dramatic part of her show. Dressed in a red jumpsuit and carrying an umbrella, she performed the classic top charter "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" with her sister Mary Gaines Bernard singing Barbra Streisand's part gracefully (it would have been better had they performed the second verse of the song). Summer than performed her first # 1 hit "Mac Arthur Park" with a tribute to Michael Jackson followed with Summer performing the Charlie Chaplin tune "Smile" which had the audience in tears and chanting the gloved one's name. Especially when pictures of him came on the screen.
She further demonstrated her acting skills during a skit that featured her confronting her dancers putting down one for missing the football during a game. When the dancer tried to get loud with the legend by calling her by her first name, she put him in check in a motherly tone.
"It's Ms Summer to you" she said that had the audience (especially the gay men) cheering and snapping. After telling the wounded dancer not to let anybody disrespect him, Donna performed into the album's lead single "Stamp Your Feet" where her dancers performed various forms of dancing includind modern, popping and hip-hop as well as hyped the crowd before Donna empowered the crowd with her 1983 comeback single "She Works Hard For The Money" which contained hot guitar and saxophone solos. While she changed into a brown suit, Summer's music director introduced the band, who played solos, before the Disco Diva returned to the stage to perform her classic "Bad Girls" where her background singer Latasha Alfred dressed in a black sequence dress, portrayed a hooker, while two of the dancers attempted to kick game to her. Summer cut loose while performing the Rocking "Hot Stuff" and she showed the crowd that Black women can rock with her soulful vocal performance, riff and holding the microphone stand up in the air with one hand, while her guitarist played the song's hot guitar solo. Wanting more, the crowd began to chant her name, and after smiling, she performed her upcoming single "Fame" where she worked the stage by doing various diva poses with photos of Hollywood and Marylin Monroe in the background while the dancers posed as British photographers and her background singers wore sunglasses. The show ended with Donna performing her award-winning classic "Last Dance" and what made this performance special was her telling the audience to come towards the stage to take photographs of her while she sang one of the 70's popular dance classics. She futhter demonstrated her comedic skills by pretending to ask a guy for a dance in a high pitch voice.
Donna Summer gave an excellent show this past summer. Not only was her vocals tight, she showed the audience and the wanna divas that a 60 year old grandmother can give a show and be grand at the same time. I wish that she would have performed her classics "This Time I Know It's For Real" and "Dinner With Gershwin." Those would have made the show hot, but Donna did a great job providing Brooklyn with some "Hot Stuff" and great singing. For those who want Donna to return to Sea Gate next year, go to www.brooklnconcerts.com and call the hotline number on the site and leave several messagesl

MOTOWN CLASSIC FLASHBACK: THE TEMPTS CLASSIC ANTHEM FOR LADIES

THE TEMPTATIONS
TREAT HER LIKE A LADY
WRITTEN BY OTIS WILLIAMS & ALI-OLLIE WODDSON
PRODUCED BY ALBERT PHILLIP McKAY & RALPH RANDOLPH JOHNSON
1984 GORDY RECORDS
RELEASED OCTOBER 1, 1984
# 2 R&B/ # 48 Pop
TEMPTATIONS LINEUP AT THE TIME-OTIS WILLIAMS, MELVIN FRANKLIN, RICHARD STREET, RON TYSON & ALI-OLLIE WOODSON.

In the mid 1980's, New Wave, Rock and Rap music started to dominate the music charts and airwaves and as always, The Temptations came though with a classic hit. "Treat Her Like A Lady" which became the legendary Motown's group biggest selling single of the 1980's, amd became a personal favorite of the fans and the group's founder and surviving member Otis Williams who co-wrote this hot track with former lead singer Ali-Ollie Woodson, who's electrifying vocals made this song an anthem for women who wanted to treated with class and for men who wanted to imppress the ladies without being hypomacho.
"This is one of my favorites, and not because I wrote part of it" Williams wrote in the liner notes of the group's "My Girl: The Very Best of The Temptations" and Gold compliations. "It was one of those songs that never seems to fade."
Williams is right; many teenage boys used to perform this song at talent shows and most of the time they wound up coming in first and second place. This song has great music arrangements and melodies courtesy of the keyboards and synsersizers performed by Woodson, harmony by the group which at the time consisted of Williams, Melvin Franklin, Richard Street, Ron Tyson and Woodson, who was able to sing, ad-lib and riff, while blending with the group.

Now I like opening doors
Picking your hanky off the floor
Treat her like a lady
Treat her like a lady
Light her cigarette if she smokes
Even
Help her with her coat
Treat her like a lady
Compliment her on her hair
Even help her with her chair
Treat her like a lady
Treat her like a lady
Now bow you should remember to be a gentleman
Treat her like a lady.

This classic sounds as good as it did when it was first released twenty five years ago, and it showed that The Tempts had the ability to show the males that treating a lady with respect will never go out of style.

RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM DA-PROFESSOR

For years, I have heard many stories about youth pariticapting in negative activies such as crime, shooting, robberies, rape, vandalism and hate crimes, and when people were asked how they did feel about the situation, most have always used the excuse about them not having a father in the home.
Whenever I hear a person use that as an excuse for a person's behavior, I get upset. I do understand that the lack of a positive male figure in the households is high, but that shouldn't be used as an excuse for a person who does things willingly.
I was raised in a single parent household and I wasn't no perfect kid, but I never used that as an excuse; I was able to finish high school, graduate from a Community and four-year college.
Plus I've known kids who come from two-parent homes, who act up, misbehave and partake in just as much negative activities as those who come from single-parent homes, which is something that the media and society doesn't like to acknowledge and accept.

Examples:
I remember seeing this kid named G* smack a kid in the back of his head, and punch another kid, who had back problems in his back, and when they retaliated, G's mother, who saw him hit the kids walked over to them and instead of punishing her son, she chastied the kids, who defended themselves, by asking them their ages, and height, and then they told them, her reply was 'Well, you're too old and too tall to be hitting on my son."
I couldn't believe what I saw and heard. She was saying that the boys couldn't hit her son because they were two years older and few inches taller than him, but it was OK for G* to hit them for no apparent reason? Because he and her husband lived in the surburbs? A few months later, when we were at camp, G* was being disrespectful to our camp leader. He didnt' want to go to bed and he was cursing, and when the leader went to shake his bunk bed, G kicked him in his face and later hit him with his flashlight. After getting a few lickings, the leader told G* that he was gonna tell his father about his behavior, and G8 tried to played Mr. Hardrock by saying' My pop's is gonna kick your ass. Blah, blah, blah"
That Sunday when we returned to New York, G's father came to take him home and when the leader informed him about his misbehavior, his father told G, "You know what? I am going to do some butt kicking. It's gonna be yours!" G was shocked, and before he could say anything, his father told him about himself in a calm, but firm tone of voice and made him apologize. It seemed that his mother allowed him to misbehave, while his father on the other hand didn't tolerate any form of misbehavior at all. A few months later, when the camp leader informed G's mother that he wouldn't be getting any of his awards because he didn't complet the assignments, Miss Thang had a hissy fit saying that she wanted a new Camp leader, and she wanted to get her lawyer.
When I learned what happened, I told my mother who was like 'Don't let me go up there! If he would have did what he was supposed to do, he would have gotten his awards. I had to agree. All he had to do was do the required work, but his mother didn't want to hear that, and her Nasty attitude began to rub off on her son, who was asked to leave the group.

Another example: In the summer of 1994, I was watching the news and they reported a story about a female college student in Virgina being raped by a college Freshman. While the anchor woman's voiceover was being played, they showed footage of the cops arresting a Black 18 year-old and taking him into custody. Many viewers may have thought that the teen, was from the ghetto from the attire he was wearing (T-Shirt, baggy blue jeans and timberland boots), but in reality, he was raised in a middle class Southern neighborhood by two college educated parents, who were deeply involved in their church, and when the news interviewed many of the parents friends, and neighbors, they said that both parents were down to earth and hard work people, who never drank, smoked or did drugs.
I never heard any follow up stories of the case, and I'm not an Thearpist, but I can only give my opinon on what the family situation. His parents, though educated, and were deeply into the church, probably gave their son material items such as money, clothes and anything his heart desired, but didn't give him any emotional love. Or his parents probably sheltered and overprotected him by not allowing him to hang with people other than family or church members, and when he got on his own, he probably didn't know how to cope with life away from his family.

While I'm on the subjects of families, there are the myths about Blacks and Latinos being rude, vulgar and not having class and interests in acheiving their dreams. BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are lots of White people who be acting like a bunch of assholes also and be starting trouble also.

There have been times when I see a bunch of white kids in the city by acting like they own the city. They act like minorities are supposed to kiss they ass, but when a minority puts their ass in check, they cop major attitude and be having fits.
Most white kids' parents spoil them with money, and having them beleive they're superior, and that the world must kiss their asses. When they don't get their ways, they curse the parents out and even whip their asses. That wouldn't happen in a Black or Latin household.
The thought of a Black and Latin kid even attempting to raise their hand to their parents will result in a ass whipping.

Many people think that White girls are submissive to men. That's true, but there are many who are bitchy people.

I remember being in summer camp, putting chairs on the table, when I almost slipped on a small puddle of water, and as a result, the chair slipped out my hand and accidently hit this girl, who didn't give me the opportunity to apoligize
"Bitch! Why didn't you say sorry?" she said as she hit me in my arm. I hit her back a few times and she stormed out the mess hall. I learned that many people (including her own kind didn't like her attidue). When I spoke to this white boy about what happened, he said "She's stupid." A week later, me and that bitch got into another altercation. I was on a hike, talking to my friend Melissa, when that heifer came over to me and asked was Melissa my girlfriend. I told her yes, and she kept teasing us. I can't remember what words were said, but it did invovled name calling and me telling her several times to leave me alone. After the verbal assaults, she came over to me and hit me. I hit her back, She hit me I hit her back. She punched me in shoulder blade, and I scratched that bitch in her neck and in her face. She was shocked and pissed that her so-called beautiful face was maked up that she stormed away screaming "I'm gonna get my brother to kick your ass and you can cry!"
She wasn't the only one who was pissed at me; one of the white counnselors was too.
"I can't beleive you had the nerve to hit on a girl" she said not caring or acknowledging that the bitch had struck me first.
"My mothet told me if anybody hit me to hit them back" I repled.
"I don't care what your mother said
"My mother don't care what you said! I replied as I shock my head in a diva style.

Those are my thoughts, views and observations about reality and I should be posting more pretty soon.

FLASHBACK REVIEW: JACKSON 5IVE ASSISTANT VOCALIST CLASSIC

JERMAINE JACKSON
DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL
ARISTA RECORDS
ORIGINALLY RELEASED OCTOBER 1989

When Jermaine Jackson began a full-time solo career in 1976, many reviewers always comment of his songwriting and his production skills, but when it came for him to record his third solo album for Arista Records, he told Clive Davis that he didn't want to produce his album. Why the famous executive asked why, he explained to him how he wanted to be remembered and respected as a vocalist, so Davis and the A&R selected contacted members of the R&B/Quiet Storm group Surface to create some songs for the Jackson 5 bassist and vocalist, and not only did "Don't Take It Personal" become a hit, it became Jackson's second # 1 R&B solo hit, and it captured his ability to sing and harmonize smoothly without losing his soul roots.
In addition to Jermaine's vocals, the song has a nice smooth groove, and touching lyrics where one is telling his partner that the relationship has run it's course and that they should be able to move while being remaining friends, and that you're still a good person that has alot to other to the next person.

Don't be sad
Don't be blue
You've got your whole life ahead of you
Love was here.
Now it's gone
So it's time you keep moving on
Don't take it personal
Take the bitter with the sweet
Easy come Easy Go

This song really showcased Jermaine's vocal ability and it's a great song to listen to if you have to end a relationship.

UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL

1. This song was originally going to be recorded by Milli Vanilli for their debut album "Girl You Know It's True." In a interview in the Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm and Blues Singles, the songs producer David Conley said that when he was told that the group was going to record the song, their producer Frank Farrian wanted him to send the tapes to Germany, and Conley resisted. He insisted on flying to Germany to work with him, but Farrian refused, and after several debates, he decided to take the song back and give to Jermaine.

2. Jermaine didn't like the songs that he submitted at first, but when he learned that Conley was a member of the group Surface, he changed his mind. He was a fan of their music, and when it came time to record the album, he insisted on recording where the group recorded their now-classic album "2nd Wave" which was in the basement of Conley's home in New Jersey.

3. Conely was impressed with how prepared Jermaine was when he came to the studio. He already knew how he was going to record the song and the record sessions went smoothly.

FLASHBACK REVIEW: JODY WATLEY SHOWS TENDER SIDE ON CLASSIC DEBUT BALLAD

JODY WATLEY
EVERYTHING
MCA RECORDS
WRITTEN BY GARDNER COLE & JAMES NEWTON HOWARD
PRODUCED BY ANDRE CYMONE
FROM ALBUM LARGER THAN LIFE
ORIGINALLY RELEASED OCTOBER 1989

In 1989, singer/songwriter/cheoragrapher Jody Watley had grown for becoming an solo artist to had to proof herself to an cultural and Icon. Her second album "Larger Than Life" was on it's way to platnium status, while her solo tour gained great reviews, thanks to the album's third single "Everything", which became a favorite of fans and a highlight during her concert tours. Known for recording Pop/Soul and Dance tunes, this was the first ballad that the Goddaughter of the late Jackie Wilson had recorded as a solo artist, and it showcase her tender side. Written by Gardner Cole and James Newton Howard, the song has a nice Pop/Soul and Latin feel courtesy of the lyrics about hurting a lover who treated you good, as well as keyboards by Cole, percusion by Paulina Da Costa, and saxophone solo by Larry Williams. It also showcased her ability to phrase while singing mid and high ranges, which makes the song sad, yet beautiful

I know I hurt you when I said goodbye
And I don't know the reason
I never stopped beleiving
I needed any one but you.
I was too blind to see
When you belong to me
You were my everything
(Yeah)
Now I give everything
To feel the love you bring
You were my everything
You were my life
You were my love.

This song brings back great memories for me. This was the first cassette single I brought that I used to play at night when I went to sleep and it's a great song with a message to appreciate the positive people in your life and not cut them off so quickly.