Watch Rihanna and Drake "Work" in their new video(s) !

     Just a few moments ago the internet nearly broke as the video was debuted for all eyes to see. Streaming on Tidal of course, the music video for Rihanna's most popular latest single happens to not a be a music video but TWO music videos. She hit us with the two in 1. Check it out:

    Personally, I prefer the 2nd video. It could be just technical reasons, in terms of editing and cutting to music. The song itself has an interesting beat, the tempo isn't very slow nor is it very sad, it may be difficult to dance to as well as to cut to. More than likely for video #1 they filmed all of these people in this club while playing multiple reggae songs, not just "Work", therefore while editing they had to slow down a lot of the footage that was captured. Also, the second video is just cute. What many may call pointless, is a level of intimacy that provides a more personal touch. Who doesn't want to chill at home with bae and wine up themselves?

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of The Revolution

is an incredible film. The first feature length documentary about the legendary Black Panther Party presented by Firelight media and directed by Emmy Award winning founder of Firelight Media, Stanley Nelson is the beauty of Documentary film epitomized. Now available for streaming on PBS.

     "The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution" was an experience from start to finish. Well executed and equally entertaining as informative. Exceptionally edited, filled with an ample amount of dope archival footage, animated text, and beautiful images. This film guides viewers along the story of the rise and fall of the iconic group, with interviews with Black Panthers as well as archival footage of old interviews, protests, and soundbites of phone calls; as well as newspaper clippings, headlines, and legal documents. Originally called "The Black Panther Party for self defense", we learn the name is inspired by the nature of the Black Panther. The Black Panther does not attack until attacked and then retaliates, as expressed by one of the most famous Black Panthers Huey Newton. The party was originally created to protect Black people from the police officers who were terrorizing them in the streets on the basis of racism. Not only did they protect their people but the Black Panthers provided for the community in ways the government did not, with services such as free breakfast for children. This film does not only introduce to the famed men of The Black panther party Huey Newton, Fred Hampton, Eldridge Cleaver, and Bobby Seal; but the many women who supported the party and fought for their rights as well. At one point there were more women involved than men.

     The film premiered at Sundance last year and has been featured at many festivals including MoMA's Documentary Fortnight 2015, however last night's premiere on PBS could not have been at a better time. Just last month Beyoncé performed her latest single "Formation" on which she declares her love for her Blackness, self expression, and where she is from; at the Super Bowl with an all Black woman dance ensemble who were wearing all Black outfits topped off with Black berets in honor of the Black Panther Party. This performance stirred a lot of controversy unveiling the White Supremacy that runs deep in this nation and the still thriving misunderstanding and hatred towards that Black Panther Party. Hopefully the nay-sayers tuned in because this film presented a large amount of information to properly represent the Balck Panthers.

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of The Revolution is phenomenal. A must-see.

The Life of Pablo

     Yes, I am, as the kids would say, mad late. But I have finally given Mr. West's latest album a listen. First released to public on Thursday, during "Yeezy Season 3" an over stated fashion show and listening party at Madison Square Garden and live streamed on, you guessed it, Tidal. It seems that the prompt to download Tidal along with Rihanna's album release was all to lead us into this. After months of hints, twitter rants, and title changes KanYe West's long anticipate 8th studio album "The Life of Pablo" is finally here.

    Just last night he performed the 1st track of the album, arguably the best track of the album, "Ultralight Beam" with featured artists The Dream, Kelly Price, Chance the Rapper and an entire choir on Saturday Night Live. The new age gospel track on which Mr. West declares "This is a God dream" is just the liberation Yeezus himself needs at this point, and uplift for its listeners. Fellow Chicagoan and one who grew up on KanYe West, Chance The Rapper, nearly steals the show with one of his best verses of his still very young career, nothing short of a testimony. The Dream's soft voice paralleled with Kelly Price's strong voice and accompanied by the powerful choir, followed by a prayer from Kirk Franklin; Mr. West did that. The album takes a slippery slope down into the fluffy bullshit of too many samples and non-sensical song lyrics. Yes, straight like that. Musically each track is well composed and definitely reflective of the times of this new and very weird hip-hop style. Essentially each song is either really short, or 3 songs in one. Mr. West, the producer, has not fallen off and has not been left behind. The features are what make help make this album impressive with everyone on "Ultralight Beam", Rihanna, KiD CuDI, The Weeknd, Chris Brown, Frank Ocean, and more.

   A few standouts include "pt. 2" heavily sampling a song called "Panda" by a young Brooklyn rapper by the name of Designer; and "Famous" with a Nina Simone sample sang by Rihanna, many Swizz Beats ad-libs, and a sample of 90's reggae hit "What a Bam Bam" by Sister Nancy. A personal favorite of mine is "I love KanYe" a short A Capella on which he closes with "and I love you like KanYe loves KanYe"

Overall, this album confuses me. I am more baffled than Yeezus left me (see my review of Yeezus here). I appreciate the effort put into the tunes, the beats are "dude, lock yourself in a room doing 5 beats a day for 3 summers" fire. But I have no idea what this man is talking about. and maybe it's just that, maybe this an album declaring that Mr. West is "free" as he says and can say whatever the fuck he wants. However being free, is not the freedom for being an asshole.

Dat new Rih Rih

     Yes, Princess reggae Hip-Pop, Madam no fucks to give Rihanna has released a brand new album for FREE(download on samsung devices, with a prompt to download Tidal for the deluxe version). Following an announcement of her world tour by the same name, it is entitled "Anti". Having already gone platinum, "Anti" is keeping pop music alive with danceable tracks, catchy lyrics and a few lovey dovey ballads.

     The versatility of this album speaks volumes with the declaritive opening track "Consideration" with a pretty prominent 2,4 beat; as well as tracks like "Woo" and "You Needed Me" with helps from some of most popping' names on the forefront of hip-hop music these day Travis Scott and DJ Mustard; and of course break out track "Work", a reggae inspired tale of love of lack-there-of featuring Drake. The album takes us on not much of a roller coaster but a road trip of the ups and downs of Rih's current mindset, affairs, and spirituality. Starting off with stories that represent who she is and her lack of fucks to give, going into the possible club bangers which are actually songs of love lost, then there is a shift with the sexy "Yeah, I said it". After she's given us slow, moody, hip-hop beats with fall in love with tracks like "Never Ending", "Love on The Brain", "Higher", and "Close to You" on all of which Rih Rih tries her hand at ballads. The bonus tracks, on the deluxe album, are also a must listen. "Goodnight Gotham" a personal favorite of mine, is a trippy mash-up of Florence + The Machine's "Only If For A Night".

     Overall "Anti" is a step forward for Ms. Fenty. Is it her best album? No. Still a solid body of work.  Now available for streaming on Tidal (tidal.com/album/56681092)

You'd be stuck singing ya shoulda, coulda, wouldas...

     Or Would you. Not with this tune from newest music duo Jazze Belle. Harlem, New York based musicians Justin Carter and Taylor Simone have banned together in the name of music in the past year, and their first two singles are quite promising. Just a few months ago they set their first ever recording together free into the world of soundcloud. An alternative alluring merging pop and R&B, basically living without genre, entitled "Jagged Edge".
     Continuously performing at your fave open mics, Jam sessions, and music venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn; such as The Shed, Arlene's Grocery, and C'mon Everybody; Jazze Belle has just dropped their second single "SCW".

Listen:


     "SCW" is a sultry ballad, a love song, or lets say lust song; combining tech sounds, playful keys, a subtle bass line and of course Taylor Simone's beautiful voice. This tracks is even more impressive than the first and builds more anticipation for an upcoming project from Jazze Belle. Seeing these two live is a must. Check the out on all social media as "JazzeBelle" or @JazzeBelleMusic.

Bowery Poetry Club Slam Launch !

The Bowery Poetry Club is an iconic venue for spoken word and slam poetry in New York City having helped catapult this culture we all love so much. After a brief hi-atus for renovations the Bowery Poetry has offered open mic events, writing workshops, and other spoken word showcases but has not hosted a slam for about 5 years. That all changes now.

      Monday night was the first of many slams to be held at the Bowery, every Monday at 9pm. All hosted by none other than former youth poet laureate of NYC Ashley August. August has made a smooth transition from youth poet to an adult having been slamming since the age of 15, toured across the country, competed in the Brave New Voices and National Poetry Slam competitions, been featured of TV1's Verses and Flow, and having two published collections of poetry; the title of Slammaster is rightfully deserved and The Bowery Poetry Club is now her new home.

    The night had already begun with Bowery's currently instated weekly open mic event "PoetNY", guest are welcome to pay one price to enjoy both events. The slam was like any other intense, funny, drama filled, heart wrenching and entertaining. With the greatest 90's and early 2000's tunes spun by (also extremely talented NY Poet) DJ Mega. Well known slam poets and artists Jon Sands, Roya Marsh, Taylor Steele, and MUMS came together for a mock slam, like your average slam however there was no prize or advancement to fight towards.

Slam love! #boweryslam

A photo posted by Bowery Slam (@boweryslam) on Jan 17, 2016 at 5:55pm PST

   These poets came together for an unforgettable peek at whats bound to be a great, inaugural, season. With an in-house, a different renowned featured poet, and of course your lovely hostess every week; if you didn't know what to do in NYC on Monday nights. You do now.

  The slam will take place every Monday at 9pm, at The Bowery Poetry Club, following their PoetNY Open Mic event. For more information follow @BowerySlam on instagram and twitter.

Harriet Tubman responds to talks of her being featured on the U.S. $20 bill

     For the past several months the inter webs have been a buzz with several polls and debates whether or not Harriet Tubman should be on the twenty dollar bill. Harriet Tubman has not actually responded, however I(yes me, Kearmonie) wrote a poem speaking as Ms. Tubman, which I have performed at quite a few places. This piece has just been posted on the SlamFind youtube channel. Slamfind is a cellphone app that connects the people to spoken word venues in their area. I am so very excited to be able to share this, enjoy !

Real Friends?

     Yeezus has blessed us again. Just a couple of weeks ago KanYe West released a single entitled facts. Personally not too great to me, much like "All Day", he did not have much to say; it was a bit of a teaser for us fans. Is he dropping an album or is he isn't? Well the single has shed some light on that. "Real Friends" an account on becoming so famous that everyone around you just wants to stick you for your paper, and so busy that you barely have time for the people who once cared. The slow melodic Drake-sounding track is followed by a preview snippet of another song featuring Kendrick Lamar(Jaw Drop) entitled "No More Parties". This song, or the bit that we hear, has an alternative throwback feel to it. Kane's new album "Swish" is finally set to be released this February, with a series of tracks to be released leading up to it.

"God is Gangsta"

     The latest short film brought to us by none other than Kendrick Lamar, the current G.O.A.T. or I guess G.O.T.T.(Greatest of this time). K. Dot blessed us early last year with his 3rd album To Pimp a Butterfly, a notably iconic piece of work. This video is a combination of two tracks off of the album "U" and "For Sale" both deep thought provoking, self reflection type stories much like the entire album.

Kendrick Lamar - God Is Gangsta from Top Dawg Entertainment on Vimeo.

     This short is quite moving, much like other videos he has released as of late and a clever juxtaposition of one's inner troubles as well as desires. Kendrick's testimony which begins with "I remember you was conflicted..." appears several times on the album stated his mental, spiritual, and emotional state at a certain time and what he has learned. God is Gangsta breathtakingly sums that all up. Another notable aspect is the tile itself, almost to say that this is not a twofer music video, however a short film. At one point "gangsta" was a loosely used adjective to describe something that dramatically great, pushes the envelope, impressive or dope; I guess a way to equate to any gang-related scary aspects of a certain lifestyle. To refer to someone as gangsta is state that the are bold and live without fear. The statement "God is Gangsta" is an almost humorous way to sum up the way the lord works, how he puts us in spaces and on paths we may not understand, giving us tasks and trials that may seem way too hard for us to deal with but certainly something we have the strength within ourselves to get through.

NYE look

Here's a look at my New Years Eve outfit. The romper and the tights are of course from Urban Outfitters.