Loc UPDATE !

"Kiss it Better": Taylor Steele and Kearmonie!

  Last  month a good friend of mine Taylor Steele and I put together a little poetry reading at Father Knows Best in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The intimate performance included a set of poems from Taylor, followed by a set by myself and accompanied by 2 group pieces. Here are a few pieces from the evening

3 Headwrap Styles with Shoulder-Length Locs !

ctrl

   A 20-something's dream formed of romantic nightmares. ctrl is like floating on a cloud of heartache and grief, a melodic journey through one's spirituality. Thematically weaving love, sex, self-doubt, and a carefree attitude our lovely SZA done did it !
Fans have been awaiting a SZA album for the last 3 years. The long-haired freckled face teen queen first hit the scene with a mixtape titled "see.SZA.run" followed by "S" and then a project called "Z" after her signing with TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment), the label that brought us our beloved Kendrick Lamar. She gained most mainstream recognition for her project "Z" and music lovers have been anxiously awaiting more ever since.

   and it is here ! With perfect timing as the pre-summer heat teases all of us. The first track is "Supermodel", a love letter, well a break-up dedicated to a lover who won't claim her. Before the song even starts we hear a voice, that sounds like an older woman saying "My greatest fear that if I lost control, or did not have control things would just, be -- fatal". Listening to the album we hear this voice a few more time discussing things they've learned about life and friendships, listeners later learn that this is SZA's mother, which makes the album even more of a gem. The album also features flawless verses from TDE label mates Kendrick Lamar and Isaiah, both incredibly fitting for each song. Travis Scott is the only other featured artist on the single "Love Galore" which was released just a few weeks prior.

   A few standout tracks include The Weekend, Broken Clocks, and 20-something all sure to put anyone deep in their feelings. Nonetheless, all of the songs are beautiful. Walking down the street, sitting in the park, crying over an ex, cleaning the house? Whatever you are doing ctrl is a great option for just relaxing and getting into some good good. SZA does not shy away from the truth and has probably sparked music festival ticket sales for this summer because I know I NEED to see this performed live, all of it.

BAM Dance Africa Festival - Bazaar

    Every year BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) in Fort Greene, Brooklyn celebrates African Culture and heritage during memorial day weekend. The biggest event is always the street festival, hosting hundreds of vendors (majority Black owned businesses) selling all kinds of handmade clothes and jewelry, among so much more. This time around I went on the first day, Saturday, and I purchased a beautiful long skirt which would the complete my outfit for the next day when I attended with my sister. Between both of those visits I bought the skirt, a necklace, waist beads, two bracelets, and earrings. All a steal and seemingly "one of a kind". For the pst few years I've noticed it is always blazing hot during this weekend but this time around it was rather chilly. However, the cool weather did not stop the crowd, the music, or the fly outfits. Here are some photos I captured :

my look for the day

my sister wearing a SolAfrik shirt

Red velvet funnel cake !

Fly by Knight clothing line

BLCK FOLK at The Nuyo

    BLCK FOLK is a spoken word poetry collective and movement featuring several Black poets representing both the east and west coast. Founded by poets Jasmine Mans and Rudy Francisco after their tour by the same name last year. Last night was their second show here in New York City, as a collective,  at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Café on the Lower East Side.

   Jasmine hosted, Rudy headlined and the night also featured performances from BLCK FOLK artists, Savon Bartley, Chris Lilley, and Avery Sawyer. All backed by the house band for the evening, OJ in the Yams. The words, the music, the stories, and free popcorn ! This event was not one to miss, but if you did it is okay, they will be doing tons of shows, very soon and more info can be found on their website: blckfolk.com/

OOTW

This week I've got some thrift store finds. The jacket and the skinny jeans are brought to you by Beacon's Closet and this look is complete with a sheer top and Timbaland boots from Urban Outfitters.

ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADASS

   Yes, America with three K's. The latest from Brooklyn MC Joey Bada$$, who took the Hip-Hop world by storm just 4 years ago impressing folks with his beats bars and notable fact that he was only 17 at the time and fresh out of high school. As the second track states: "This is for my people, tryna stay alive and just stay peaceful". This album keeps the theme of being Black in America today, as the title and album cover may imply. On the cover, Joey is sticking out of a car window with both middle fingers up, while an american flag made out of bandannas, or at least a bandanna pattern is attached to the car. The bandanna presumably represents the gang culture Black men in America are villainized for, it can also represent that the U.S. is really the biggest gang of all.

 In the land of the free, it's full of free loaders 

Leave us dead in the street to be their organ donors 

They disorganized my people, made us all loners 

Still got the last names of our slave owners

-"LAND OF THE FREE"

    Every song is quite exceptional, from top to bottom this album bumps. With songs that sound GOOD, and raw honest lyrics. Musically this is the pure Hip-Hop you would already expect from Joey, with sounds that are reminiscent of Biggie, The Wu-Tang Clan, and Nas. ALL-AMERIKKAN BADASS is true testimony at its most genuine. There is no fluff, no dilution, just truth. Though, this album is a solid project there are a number of standout tracks. Which include, "TESTIMONY", "LAND OF THE FREE", this first single "DEVASTATED", wait wait wait, Never mind. EVERY song is AMAZING. Every hook, Every bar, every feature. The features also all appear to be a pleasant surprise. Yes, you can just read the titles yet when you haven't and the feature just begins spitting it's like taking a bite out of a fudge brownie lava cake and all the goodness just spills out. Features include SchoolBoy Q, J. Cole, Chronixx, Styles P., and more. I am thoroughly impressed by this entire album, in ways I can not express. Another track to highlight is "Y U DON'T LOVE ME", a direct message to America.

     With the political climate in the U.S., the election of an under qualified bigot as the president, and the Black Lives Matter movement this album is a declaration of what it means to be a Black man in America today, right now, currently. At the oscars three Black films were nominated for best documentary, "OJ: Made in America", "I Am Not Your Negro", and "13th" all providing historical and contemporary facts in regards to the criminalization, the villainization, and assassination of Black Men in America. Also the film "Moonlight" challenging masculinity and the vulnerability of Black men won Best Picture, the most prestigous Academy Award. Not that the topic is new but ALL-AMERIKKAN BADASS is so very necessary, especially right now. This album can easily go toe-to-toe with Kendrick's previous official album 'To Pimp a Butterfly" on the basis of content, context, bars and instrumentation. Not to mention the nod to Hip-Hop legend Ice Cube, who's debut album was titled "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted".

   Please do yourself a favor and listen to this album. For now, check out Joey's latest video, for "LAND OF THE FREE".

Loc Update!

OOTW

   Here I am casual grown-up chic, I think. Mom jeans thanks to Urban Outfitters and long button down top from H&M and Payless shoes, yes Payless. This look is complete with a Silence + Noise longline bomber jacket from Urban as well.