This past Saturday marked the final kickball game of the Summer with Joe Budden and Esther Baxter. It’s been a lot of fun playing out there and documenting it for others to see and enjoy. The most noticeable thing about Joe and Esther is that they really are just normal people who just happen to be very good at what they do. The atmosphere all summer was very loose and playful — it’s something everyone involved will remember for a long time to come.

Joe is currently working on the 4th installment of his Mood Muzik 4 series and Eshter’s modeling and acting career is going stronger than ever, in addition to the work she’s doing for charity.

Thanks for watching and hopefully we’ll be right back at it next year.

Enjoy the video and check below for some photos.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share on Facebook

Ok, here we go. Initially after watching Erykah Badu’s new video on Saturday morning, I thought like most men did “wow, what a nice ass!”. Then eventually I settled down and replayed it to appreciate the true message and there was a lot of it to appreciate. The song is great and the concept of the video is even greater. Basically, from what I gather, Ms. Badu’s goal is to make people aware of the concept of ‘GROUPTHINK’. Simply defined, GROUPTHINK is going along with the masses without thinking as an individual.

Here are some more definitions of GROUPTHINK, as well as commentary on the video from E. Badu and her followers on Twitter. For those not on Twitter, Fatbellybella is Erykah Badu’s screen name.

@moneyfollowsme @fatbellybella groupthink defends current myths, because they know that a challenge 2 their beliefs means danger 4 the group & their safety

@PoeticBluKitti @fatbellybella #GROUPTHINK People who follow whatever story or policy is handed to them without question.

@amanidakar Honestly I do not understand the concept of the video in relation to the lyrics (groupthink vs. escapism) @fatbellybella

@fatbellybella so it is true.being honest CAN get u assassinated.your character,spirt,& sometimes physically.interesting. what drives this? keep dialoging.

@fatbellybella funny , i thought i was outta shape thus encouraging others toward self love .. but they think im showin off . lol . the irony . sheeeezus!

@fatbellybella funny thing is , the physical nudity is nothing lol . i been naked all along in my words actions and deeds . thats the real vulnerable place

@fatbellybella i remember tweeting that day.”okay here goes nothing” i felt like i was going2 do something life threatening.1nce hoody unzip-no tur’n back

@fatbellybella heard people yelling diff things @ me but i held my head up and kept moving.there were children there.i prayed they wouldnt b traumatized…

@fatbellybella GROUPTHINK is walking up and yelling “crucify him” without knowing anything about him or IT

Fair:
Fair #1
In the video, Ms. Badu returns to the scene of JFK’s assassination in Dallas, Texas and walks from her car to a local park. During her 2 to 3 minute walk she removes all of her clothing. Right down to the end when she’s completely naked in front of everyone who was out that day, including several young children. I say fair because she wanted to do it and she did it. Anytime someone is expressing themselves how they want to and not thinking with the group, I’m all for it.

Fair #2
At the end of the video she is figuratively assassinated by those who don’t understand her and her blood spells out GROUPTHINK. Genius; however you want to slice it.

Fair #3
The video has opened up much needed dialogue such as this one on a variety of topics. It’s rare these days that anything captures our attention long enough that we discuss it for more than an hour. It seems Ms. Badu, her critics, and her supporters, are all learning through out this process and that’s always a good thing. If that was her goal then mission accomplished.

Foul:
Foul #1
I believe stripping in front of little kids is out of bounds regardless of how creative or soulful you think you are. I can only wonder how those in support of it would feel if they were at a park on a Sunday with their kids or siblings and a grown man began taking his clothes off in the name of art. You would probably kill him or at least want to. But somehow because it’s Erykah Badu, creator of all things deep, she gets a pass?

It’s no fault of Erykah’s but I believe she is the beneficiary of the same kind of thinking she wants to eliminate; GROUPTHINK. Here group thinks that all things “soulful” and “creative” should be honored. It can’t be wrong. If it’s popular, like a Beyonce, Jay-Z or Lady Gaga, then we can crucify it. Then it’s hedonistic, then it’s demonic, then it’s too vulgar for our children to see. But for as long as you have dreadlocks or a good message then strip away.

Foul #2
The video had absolutely positively nothing to do with the song. It was a genius song about love and she made a genius video for it about GROUPTHINK. It’s her song, her video, and her budget so she has every right to do as she pleases. However, I can’t help but suggest a publicity stunt was involved here. I had no clue Ms. Badu’s latest album was to be released tomorrow until I watched the video which I probably wouldn’t have watched if I never saw a screen shot of her half naked body.

Closing statement:
I’m for the video. I love it and I’ll definitely be buying Erykah Badu’s new album tomorrow. However, I feel the same pass she is being given should be awarded to anyone in the future who decides to take it where she took it. To constantly criticize the Britney Spears’ of the world for artistic expression and then praise the Erykah Badu’s is not only GROUPTHINK but it’s hypocritical.

Furthermore, an adult being naked in front of kids is something I’m not sure I agree with. As a mother, a role model and a responsible member of society I think rather than actually going through with process, she could have utilized modern technology to make it look like she was naked in the park. To really do it and then hope the kids aren’t traumatized, I believe is a bit ignorant.

Lastly, there was some random guy in red following her and picking up all the clothes as she took them. I wonder if he also “got the drawls”.

Share on Facebook

The above photo is a behind the scenes shot of my homie Kunle’s photo shoot for SKC, his company. I was fortunate enough to be asked to take part. The photos were taken by two other friends of mine, Matt and Fresco. Good weather and good people being creative in the most relaxing part of the District of Columbia (Georgetown); that’ LIVING.

Besides taking photos I’ve been able to agree with the engineers mixing ‘Winter Wonderland’. I don’t think such a big deal has ever been made over 25 minutes of music but that’s just how it has to be. My whole life I’ve been so eager to share my art with the world that I often compromise quality. I say something like “people will get it..they’ll know what it was supposed to sound like”. True but not true. Some people can’t appreciate the girl in sweatpants with her hair tied. They need to see her in all her splendor; makeup, fancy heels, purse and the whole nine. So yeah, I’m dressing my music up and you’ll see her soon. It may be 80 degrees then but when has the temperature ever stopped you from admiring a pretty girl? LIVING.

The other day I had the pleasure of seeing Russell Simmons speak. I was about four rows back and it was cool. Cool to see that man that started this whole thing. With no Russell, I’d probably be……I don’t even know what I’d be doing but it wouldn’t be this and I wouldn’t trade this for the world. It was cool that almost everything he said were things that I already believe and actively practice. For instance, he’s currently re-defining the word ‘RICH’. Most people here that word and think of money. Russell is telling us that rich is a state of mind and that each of us already have all we could ever need in this world. Once you truly believe that, the Bentleys and ocean side mansions will find you. In other words, start living and soon you’ll be LIVING.

My official date to start my new life in New Jersey is April 6th. I feel like that’s too much info but whatever. I’m excited and so nonchalant about it. Maybe the reality that I’m moving to new state to live in a bare apartment with no furniture, no internet, no nothing has yet to set in. Or maybe I’m just that naive to believe that things will work themselves out. We’ll see. Either way, I know I’m about to be Jerzee LIVING!

I also hung out in NYC one day last week. Kicked my homie Nisarg’s ass in pool. It was ugly…very ugly. He should have just let me get on the road in peace. He and I, along with another friend ate at this vegan spot in the Lower East Side. Expensive as hell but cool. No cheese, no meat, no dairy. Just straight veggies but somehow they made it taste good. That’s LIVING.

I been listening to a lot of Tupac (2Pac) the last few days. Really vibing out and zoning. I love Pac man. His me against the world but yet, me with the world attitude is something to marvel at. The song I’m listening to as I type this, “Changes”, he says something about we have to “change the way we eat”. Like are you serious? This so called gangsta thug who gets shot up and shoots at cops cares about the health of his people? Enough to say on his song that we should be conscious of our diet? That was Pac for you. That’s why he’ll forever be LIVING.

I’ll leave with this Benjamin Franklin quote I stumbled across today. I read his book and study him almost any chance I get.

“Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.”

Share on Facebook

Okay here we go. The album is called Winter Wonderland: Enjoying Living In A Cold World. Hopefully you’ve watched my videos or you’re at least thinking on a deep enough level to know that it has nothing to do with the actual weather. It’s about life itself and how cold and harsh it can be. How the only way to enjoy it is to sustain through those cold periods and even find ways to enjoy them.
This first picture is probably my favorite. There’s only two times in life where we can experience true Winter Wonderland; as a child, when you’re oblivious to just how cold it is, or as a grown up, when you accept that the world is cold but you embrace it and find ways to make it work for you.

The second and third photos show that it takes a good amount of creativity to enjoy living in a cold world. It reminds me of when kids in third world countries play soccer barefoot or swim like Michael Phelps in the dirtiest of water. The harshness of their surrounding doesn’t bother them. Instead they make the best of it and turn it into wonderland. That’s what we did by turning snow into a baseball and a football.

The final picture simply shows the endurance and patience. It’s naïve to say the coldness of the world doesn’t get to us. Even the strongest of us can crack under the world’s pressures. However, if you endure and stay true to who you are, warmth is usually just around the corner. This is depicted in this photo by the snow melting away and the sun on the horizon.

Fresco, Matt, and Chris did a great job helping me illustrate this concept and I truly believe that I did my best job as an artist of getting this concept across on the 8 or 9 tracks you will hear. I did it in such a way that if you’re the type who skimmed through this entry, you’ll enjoy it, and if you’re the type who read and understood every word of this entry, then YOU’LL LOVE IT.

Whether you enjoy it, love it, or even hate it, which I doubt anyone will, it’s my life and it’s our life on audio so I hope that at the very least you appreciate it.

I appreciate it.

-Phella

Share on Facebook

Sidebar: It bothers me when I read the comments to some of these things. People always call them “rants” and accuse the author of being “depressed” and “angry”. I guess it bothers me because back when I cared enough (I still care) to make the public aware of my thoughts I got the same reaction from some. “Phella is mad”. “Are you ok? Sounds like you’re about to commit suicide.” NO IDIOT. I’m very OK and the only thing that makes me want to commit suicide is that you and your type equate self expression with depression. Look in the mirror, ask yourself what you see and feel, tell a few people, it might help them. Even better, it might help you.

Share on Facebook

Pardon the daily dose of ignorance but this just had to get posted. Watch below then click play on the soundtrack. Wow.

Soundtrack To This:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Share on Facebook

The roster on this song is immaculate. The visuals are stunning. And the cause is profound.

Please donate to the Haiti. The disaster was a month ago but the effects are long lasting.  People need our help.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the original version here it is:

Share on Facebook

DCtoBC has orchestrated a mixtape for those of us on the short end of Cupid’s arrow. Listen to it, throw darts at a picture of the one who broke your heart, then get over it.

Download Here.

Share on Facebook

I haven’t seen an MTV Diary episode in an eternity so when I saw that N.E.R.D had one coming out I was pumped. Unfortunately, the footage is from 2008 so I’m assuming this is just one of those things that MTV shelved for whatever reason MTV shelves things.

Anyway, it’s a pretty good episode. It follows the boys around the UK as they hit the Manchester U. field (check P geekin’ like a little kid), an in-store signing, a mock interview with college kids, and of course rock a few shows.  Enjoy.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Share on Facebook

I guess we’re just going to have to have this racist debate every few days. You make the call. I thought it was funny as hell.

Share on Facebook

I woke up this morning like most of you probably did; thinking where do I start? If you are buried in snow like most of us on the east coast then you were wondering where and how to start digging yourself out. If you were in Florida, California or somewhere without snow then you probably asked yourself the same question but about something else.

We always want to know where and how to start, will we ever be able to finish, how difficult will it be, will we be laughed at etc. It’s a broken record at this point but we need to just get up and do it. Whatever it might be.

People asked me “where will you start?”. They said I should think about paying people because it’s impossible to single handedly shovel 2 feet of snow alone. “It can’t be done”, they said. I even doubted myself. I came up with a million excuses – my bad shoulder, the cold, the amount of snow that’s out there, the fact that I have a garden shovel that’s half of the size of a real snow shovel. Excuses that upon further review made no sense. You don’t even use a shoulder to shovel; it’s more so bicep and wrist. Yes having a small shovel would make it harder but you’re not always going to have the proper resources or help to achieve your goals. Should that stop you? No.

I put aside the doubt and went out there. Yes it was difficult. Yes I slipped once or twice. But the more I went the more my body adjusted. I learned strategies that made it easier and faster. Soon I even began to enjoy the shoveling. Two hours later, I looked up and I could see the driveway and walkway again. It wasn’t pretty, but I got it done.

In life, you can either get up and shovel or it sit back and watch those who have clear driveways.

Share on Facebook

Former senator Tom Daschle was trying to push his car in the snow to no avail when this Fox 5 crew stumbled on him and helped him get back on his way. I just hope he has a good reason to tell his wife why he was on Wisconsin Ave. No grocery stores over there Tom.

Share on Facebook

?uestlove of the Roots took this picture of the menu posted in the hallways of NBC as he arrived to work on the Jimmy Fallon show. Himself, along with many others found it to be offensive.

The chef, who is African American, said she’s always wanted to cook food that represents the culture and the last two years NBC allowed her to do so. “Last year it went over well” she said, seeming puzzled as to why the controversy this time around.

I’m with her. Victims always want to remain victims forever. Just stop it. That’s what we eat. If I see a sign with all of that for only $7.50 I’m not gonna scream racism I’m gonna scream “wooohooo!!!” and gather my $7.50 and throw down. Like Kanye said last week, everyone since Obama won wants to act like black people don’t eat fried chicken anymore.

It’s good that we have pride but we choose the wrong time to show it. The same people that watch these mockery tv shows on VH1 and degrade themselves on the internet all day will scream racism over a simple menu.

Just my 5 cents. Add your $7.45 and let’s go to NBC and get busy!!!!

Share on Facebook