Remembering D'Angelo

 

We lost a giant in the music world yesterday, y’all. And I don’t even know if I have the words to express how saddened I, along with many others, are over the loss of D’Angelo. 

Every now and then you encounter musicians that are so enmeshed in the music, their aura becomes the art. D’Angelo was one of them ones. 

He felt like soul. Felt like sneaking in your aunt’s bedroom to watch that new “Cruisin” video and being serenaded by the saccharine smooth voice belting from the TV screen. Felt like listening to Voodoo for the first time with your cousin, completely transfixed by the melodies hours after the CD stops whirring in your Play Station. Felt like having a mini concert in another cousin’s living room each time the “Send It On” video played on cable TV. 

Experiencing D’Angelo’s music through many pivotal moments in my life feels like a sensual dance some days. Plays out like a spiritual encounter on other days. That’s why every time I hear “One Mo’ Gin,” I mourn a heartbreak from 20+ years ago, but when I hear “I Found My Smile Again,” I’m embraced by a ten-year friendship that comforts me like a wool blanket on crisp winter nights. I will pour libations, set a mood, and get cozy in my beloved plant space playing Black Messiah with no interruptions, lingering in booming instrumentation and larger-than-life sociopolitical rhetoric. I feel the heaviness of the times and consider solutions within my grasp. And still, after all these years, I still choose D’Angelo’s “Cruisin” over the original. Nothing has ever held me quite like that rendition. 

D'Angelo’s music is truly a gift, wrapped in the most intricate bow and ribbons, that lovers of soul music drink deeply from. I never had the opportunity to see him perform live, but I'm grateful to experience his art in this lifetime. As I shared with another neo-soul artist today, soul music like D’Angelo’s transcends space and time. It touches people he may never meet but will feel his essence all the same. I’m glad to have memories of discovering his music, how it feels to indulge in his music now, and to know the genius that was D’Angelo. I send prayers to his family, friends, and all who have been touched by his life in some way. May he rest in peace 🕊👑

I’ll be spinning his music until further notice. 

Cinematic Soul | Sparkle

 Listening to the Sparkle soundtrack reminds me of watching the movie at my aunt's house on VHS, while getting my hair pressed on Saturday night. As the hot comb sat on the stove, I relaxed into the Blue Magic grease-down my aunt administered to my soft curls. The movie played and I pretended to fall into the musical cast, antsy and literally scared of the heat.

The Cover Story | The Velvet Rope by Janet Jackson

For as long as I can remember, I have been intrigued by Janet Jackson. Her presence is electrifying. Her aura is captivating. And when she enters a space, everyone has always stopped to take notice. She's always appeared "larger-than-life," even though she seemed so coy and soft-spoken in interviews.

I've always been soft-spoken and thought that when I was younger, this would cause me to get overlooked. Janet showed me that I could still be a powerful force, even if I wasn't the loudest in the room.

Though The Velvet Rope released when I was in middle school, I grew a deeper  appreciation for it in high school. Listening to this CD after school and late into the evenings opened up something inside of me. Outside of that cherry-cola rinse it had me rocking, it urged me to lean into my femininity in a pure, yet intentional way. I was becoming more comfortable expressing myself in whatever way I saw fit-  Pixie Cuts. Quick Weaves. Micro Braids. Skirts. Combat Boots. It's almost as if this album gave me permission to be myself in whatever capacity I wanted- I didn't have to hide for fear of being seen by the wrong people. I could safely explore what being a young woman was for MYSELF, no matter whose gaze I fell upon.

The Velvet Rope in and of itself symbolizes expressing the need to feel special while still maintaining emotional boundaries. Seeing this cover, this portrait, reminds me that I can show up as myself-- in whatever form or fashion, and still be counted. Whether I look you in the eye or not, you'll still feel my presence. 

[from "cover story" prompt via blackgirlslovevinyl]

WHAT ALBUMS HELPED YOU FIND YOUR SENSE OF SELF?

#SoDreDoesVinyl | Shea Butter Baby by Ari Lennox

Shea Butter Baby celebrated a 4-year anniversary yesterday, but I'll admit it's always been in my rotation since it dropped. We love all things Ari around here, so you know her studio debut album will always get preferential treatment on the spins. 

Vibing with this album always feels like I'm in a cotton candy daydream sequence, draped in pink cashmere, sipping chardonnay in a cloud of spice-tinged smoke. I'm in my own private lounge, and Miss Ari enters stage left, adorned in a white mink fur and endless pearls. She croons the blues front & center, yet her tone seems to fill the room from a faraway place. Her smooth, sticky-sweet voice envelops the space much like the imaginary smoke I'm surrounded by. And as moments pass, Ari sings on about the loneliness that settles in like an uninvited guest once the excitement of buying her new apartment wears off. Even if I don't feel like what she's singing in the moment, I FEEL what she's singing, all the time, if that makes sense. As I've told y'all before--- Ari can sing about bathwater and I'd be with it. But anyways...

My favorites from Shea Butter Baby are "Broke," "Up Late," "I Been," and "Whipped Cream" (if you know me, you know that "Whipped Cream" had a hold on me in 2019 😩). I sometimes add "Pop" to the list, depending on who I'm talking to. Either way, this album rides ALL THE WAY THROUGH for me and I never tire of it. 

Are you an Ari Lennox fan? 

What are your favorite songs from her? 

And do you love Shea Butter Baby as much as I do?

#SoDreDoesVinyl | Crenshaw by Nipsey Hussle

Turntable Tuesday is an IG segment my birthday twin + kindred spirit @lifeaccordingtorhonda and I started to showcase what's hot on our turntables these days. Whether it be our latest vinyl purchase or whatever is getting the most spins around our way, we want to share the deets with you guys every other Tuesday. Check the hashtag #2dopechicksgovinyl to follow along!

In this week's edition of #TurntableTuesday, I'm sharing my latest vinyl purchase: "Crenshaw" by Nipsey Hussle. "Crenshaw" is most known as the legendary mixtape that released 1,000 limited edition copies at $100 each through Nip's All Money In record label. This is one of my favorite mixtapes from Nip, as it illuminates a true talent, master storyteller hustling his way to the top, taking no days off. In the coming years we would realize the greatness that was Nipsey Hussle, witnessing his growth in the rap game as well his dedication to his community. Unfortunately his life was cut way too short, too soon. 

My favorite track from this mixtape is "All Get Right." Not only does it ride heavy, that sample from "Who Am I" by the O'Jays gives this track a smooth, old-school vibe. Nip's dreams were materializing and this was a declaration of sorts, for him and his camp. 

Other favorites are "H-Town," "Summertime in That Cutlass," "Come Over" and "Don't Take Days Off." Quite honestly, the whole mixtape rides for me. Some days "More or Less" is a vibe for me and some late nights I'm really feeling "4 In The Mornin." There's a track for all my moods. 

What records have you been vibing to lately? 

And are you a Nipsey fan, too? 

If so, what's your favorite Nipsey Hussle song?

Self-Love Lessons from Janelle Monáe

There’s a special kind of magic that happens when a woman of color sees a positive representation of her likeness in the media. At first glance she’s in awe, enamored even. She then begins to study said woman, examining her appearance, calculating her movements, and paying close attention to how she carries herself. She watches how she communicates her thoughts, beliefs, and passions--careful to see how others respond to her presence. Next, she makes note of their similarities. See, this part of the magic is key. While many argue that comparison kills confidence, this form of comparison could very well save a life. This woman begins to see that there are others with qualities like her who are not only surviving, but thriving as well. And that if this woman can make it out here in the world, so can she.





At least that’s what I was thinking to myself when I first saw Janelle Monáe dancing across my TV screen back in 2007.

Just to Get By | A Playlist for the Hopeful

Hello friends! Have you ever had a string of never-ending, not-so-good, kinda-bad days? Not so terribly bad that you couldn't function, but just days where you felt like you couldn't get right? You know, those blah types of days when you get out of bed feeling like something is missing but you aren't sure what. You have a hope and a dream for something greater, but have no clue how to get to that something. Or it seems like no matter what you try to do, nothing works out in your favor. You might even feel yourself giving up on your hopes and dreams. But then one morning, things turn around for you.

INTERVIEW | Tempest Walker on 'Being Tina Turner'

Ladies, gentlemen, and all of my fellow Tina Turner fans, I have a treat for you today. There's a Tina Turner Tribute coming up on the horizon by way of Harlem, New York, and I wanted to tell you guys all about it! 

Tempest Walker and Rankin Street Productions in association with Black Noise Media Present 'Be Tina: A Tina Turner Tribute.'

‘Be Tina’ is a musical stage production created by top producers, directors, and executives that celebrates Tina Turner and her legacy through an array of dance and live musical performances covering some of Tina Turner’s greatest hits including “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “Proud Mary,” and “When the Heart Ache is Over.”

‘Be Tina’ features a diverse cast consisting of a five-piece band, three dancers, and Tempest who will star as Tina Turner.  This cast will surely get you on your feet and dancing along to some of Tina Turner’s staple classics.

Right before the show's opening on tomorrow, Saturday, August 15, 2015, I was given the opportunity to have a Q&A session with the 'Be Tina' producer and star Tempest Walker.