First and foremost...we all know that Beyonce is one bad lady from performances to conducting her own business deals. Since my President Barack Obama's inauguration, Beyonce seems to be the recipient of a drink I like to call "Green-eyed Envy."
Why can't the woman just get ready for Super Bowl 2013? Who cares if she lip synced or not? She showed up (and may I add looking gorgeous as always) to pay her respect to President Obama and First Lady Michelle. She was classy, genuine, and a lady. There are other things to concern ourselves with besides whether or not she lip synced the national anthem.
She owes no one ANYTHING. As long as she wasn't hurting anyone, it doesn't matter. People have their minds on the wrong thing. Let's talk about how we can support President Obama to keep moving this nation forward. Let's talk about the gun issues, education, jobs, organic food, supporting our farmers, health, air, you know...stuff...remember those issues?
Whether she did or didn't, it's her prerogative. She has nothing to prove to anyone. Beyonce, please continue waving your star-spangled banner to the bank, and forget what folks are saying.
Let's keep the USA train moving, so this can continue to be the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
LUV The FILM...Support Indie Film Life
So I saw "LUV," and all I can say is STELLAR. Actor/artist Common's performance is nothing less than raw and riveting. Michael Rainey, Jr. is fantastic! I will not be surprised to see this young man at the Academy Awards accepting his Oscar in the future. What a wonderful cast of Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, Lonette McKee, Meagan Good, Charles Dutton, and even the character of "Lil' Baby" served his role, too.
Director Sheldon Candis put his heart and soul into this story. Yes it may deal with the stereotypes associated with Black cinema such as prison, drugs, murder, etc. HOWEVER, the way Candis was able to include the subjects, but maneuver into a totally different angle was phenomenal. He showed the relationship between "Uncle Vincent" (Common) and "Wood" by (Michael Rainey, Jr.) through manhood. Uncle Vincent gave Wood a different education from how to walk like a confident man to being dressed in a business suit to present one's self in a professional manner. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is the bank scene. I will not reveal too much, but I love how Uncle Vincent told Wood to "sit up straight" and "get your feet right." Usually we hear those correction antics from Big Mama or Granny, but it's very rare to feature an uncle being a disciplinarian.
Now please don't get it twisted, Uncle Vincent was not a saint. In some scenes I disliked his character, but I understood it. The ending of the movie was totally not how I thought it would end, in which I would say is a great story. Keep the audience attention with the twists and turns of the story.
If you haven't seen LUV, I highly recommend you do. Support independent film. There is a dynamic surge of amazing directors alongside Sheldon Candis such as Ava Duvernay, Pete Chatmon, Matthew Cherry, Talibah Newman who are creating their own green light.
In the words of Kanye West: "Flashing lights....lights..."
Director Sheldon Candis put his heart and soul into this story. Yes it may deal with the stereotypes associated with Black cinema such as prison, drugs, murder, etc. HOWEVER, the way Candis was able to include the subjects, but maneuver into a totally different angle was phenomenal. He showed the relationship between "Uncle Vincent" (Common) and "Wood" by (Michael Rainey, Jr.) through manhood. Uncle Vincent gave Wood a different education from how to walk like a confident man to being dressed in a business suit to present one's self in a professional manner. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is the bank scene. I will not reveal too much, but I love how Uncle Vincent told Wood to "sit up straight" and "get your feet right." Usually we hear those correction antics from Big Mama or Granny, but it's very rare to feature an uncle being a disciplinarian.
Now please don't get it twisted, Uncle Vincent was not a saint. In some scenes I disliked his character, but I understood it. The ending of the movie was totally not how I thought it would end, in which I would say is a great story. Keep the audience attention with the twists and turns of the story.
If you haven't seen LUV, I highly recommend you do. Support independent film. There is a dynamic surge of amazing directors alongside Sheldon Candis such as Ava Duvernay, Pete Chatmon, Matthew Cherry, Talibah Newman who are creating their own green light.
In the words of Kanye West: "Flashing lights....lights..."
"Don't Let It Go To Your Head, NO..."
One of my favorite songs in hip hop is Brand Nubian's "Don't Let It Go To Your Head." Powerful words when you think about it.
The two words that seem to stick to our minds like a bee to honey is "I can't." The minute that the "t" is finished from the mouth, it paralyzes our dreams. The next thing you know your feet are cemented into what coulda, woulda, and shoulda. Once harden, cement is a hard thing to break. It may crack over years and years, but who has that kind of time? Whatever it is that you dare to do, whether it is swimming, starting your own business, running a marathon, don't let the words "I can't" go to your head. Don't even let them take residence in that beautiful mind.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood in front of the entire world on a speech that we live out daily. It is more than a speech, but when the words rolled "I have a dream," rolled off his tongue, he put peace and love into the atmosphere. His vision for all cultural backgrounds to sit on the same bus, drink from the same fountain, and sit in the same restaurant is lived every second of the day.
Guard your thoughts. Even when someone tries to tell you that you can't finish college or you're too old to start a business, or you can't travel the world, be ready with "I can." The only difference between you and the Oprahs of the world is that they are living it because they didn't let someones negativity go to their head and stop their destiny.
The two words that seem to stick to our minds like a bee to honey is "I can't." The minute that the "t" is finished from the mouth, it paralyzes our dreams. The next thing you know your feet are cemented into what coulda, woulda, and shoulda. Once harden, cement is a hard thing to break. It may crack over years and years, but who has that kind of time? Whatever it is that you dare to do, whether it is swimming, starting your own business, running a marathon, don't let the words "I can't" go to your head. Don't even let them take residence in that beautiful mind.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood in front of the entire world on a speech that we live out daily. It is more than a speech, but when the words rolled "I have a dream," rolled off his tongue, he put peace and love into the atmosphere. His vision for all cultural backgrounds to sit on the same bus, drink from the same fountain, and sit in the same restaurant is lived every second of the day.
Guard your thoughts. Even when someone tries to tell you that you can't finish college or you're too old to start a business, or you can't travel the world, be ready with "I can." The only difference between you and the Oprahs of the world is that they are living it because they didn't let someones negativity go to their head and stop their destiny.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
THE LOC NAZIS
When I started my locs, there was no Internet. No support groups or products geared towards locs. It was just plain ole...plain ole...using what worked for me. When I started way back then, I maintained my locs with Always Castor Oil pomade.
While out minding my own business a lady approached me about my locs. She was also a loc wearer. It was that "loc" connection of conversation. I was use to the usual questions of care & maintenance. That sisterly love changed when I mentioned two words: "Shea butter." She went into a hoopla and a holler. She said, "No! Sis! No! You're not suppose to use shea butter on your locs. It causes build up." I said, "Who said I wasn't suppose to use it?" She looked around. Then responded, "Well, they say..." I said, "Who is they?" She was speechless. I said, "I don't have build up, and I know MY hair. I use what works for me."
I'm so glad to see information on locs that can help people who are interested in starting locs. I think it is a beautiful thing. HOWEVER, I can see how confusion creeps in. It can be a bit overwhelming, but the most important thing is...knowing what YOUR hair likes. Remember just because you have locs, doesn't mean that you forget the texture of your hair. Your hair has a pattern, a texture that responds good to some products and bad with others. Your texture is just matted into beautiful, patient, and unique strands of hair called locs.
Don't listen to the "Loc Nazis" on what you are NOT suppose to use. You will go bald listening to these folks. Listen to the strands on YOUR head. Trust me...those strands will matte into a beautiful story.
While out minding my own business a lady approached me about my locs. She was also a loc wearer. It was that "loc" connection of conversation. I was use to the usual questions of care & maintenance. That sisterly love changed when I mentioned two words: "Shea butter." She went into a hoopla and a holler. She said, "No! Sis! No! You're not suppose to use shea butter on your locs. It causes build up." I said, "Who said I wasn't suppose to use it?" She looked around. Then responded, "Well, they say..." I said, "Who is they?" She was speechless. I said, "I don't have build up, and I know MY hair. I use what works for me."
I'm so glad to see information on locs that can help people who are interested in starting locs. I think it is a beautiful thing. HOWEVER, I can see how confusion creeps in. It can be a bit overwhelming, but the most important thing is...knowing what YOUR hair likes. Remember just because you have locs, doesn't mean that you forget the texture of your hair. Your hair has a pattern, a texture that responds good to some products and bad with others. Your texture is just matted into beautiful, patient, and unique strands of hair called locs.
Don't listen to the "Loc Nazis" on what you are NOT suppose to use. You will go bald listening to these folks. Listen to the strands on YOUR head. Trust me...those strands will matte into a beautiful story.
LOVE'S TRAIN....Con Funk Shun
I read an article about Seattle hip-hop artist Freddy E's apparent suicide, and my heart was heavy. Another young man who cut his own journey short. Another young man whose dreams are shattered. There has been a rise of young men who have fallen into the pressures of life, and taking their life into their own hands. Suicide is NOT the way OUT!
I don't care what has happened, but life is not over. As long as GOD wakes you up to be a breathing vessel, you OWE it to HIM and yourself to be the best you that HE created you to be. You owe it to yourself to put whatever gifts, talents, dreams, goals that you have into ACTION.
This is MY opinion....suicide tells GOD that HE is not GOD. When Leonardo da Vinci created "Mona Lisa" she was beautiful in his eyes. It didn't matter what other people thought of his work. The most important thing was what mattered to HIM. So, when GOD created you, HE saw you as beautiful, and unique. HE gave you your own gift, your own DNA. You may be imitated and duplicated, but the gift that HE gave you is yours! NO person, place, thing, circumstance or situation is worth giving up your gift.
If you feel like life is over, PLEASE seek help. It's out here! Don't leave your family and friends in heartache. Stay encouraged. There is this lyric in "Love's Train" by Con Funk Shun that I truly love.
Sometimes heart strings can be broken, but you just got to keep on goin'
That's the way it goes on Love's Train....
Get on your Love Train. Love yourself....
I don't care what has happened, but life is not over. As long as GOD wakes you up to be a breathing vessel, you OWE it to HIM and yourself to be the best you that HE created you to be. You owe it to yourself to put whatever gifts, talents, dreams, goals that you have into ACTION.
This is MY opinion....suicide tells GOD that HE is not GOD. When Leonardo da Vinci created "Mona Lisa" she was beautiful in his eyes. It didn't matter what other people thought of his work. The most important thing was what mattered to HIM. So, when GOD created you, HE saw you as beautiful, and unique. HE gave you your own gift, your own DNA. You may be imitated and duplicated, but the gift that HE gave you is yours! NO person, place, thing, circumstance or situation is worth giving up your gift.
If you feel like life is over, PLEASE seek help. It's out here! Don't leave your family and friends in heartache. Stay encouraged. There is this lyric in "Love's Train" by Con Funk Shun that I truly love.
Sometimes heart strings can be broken, but you just got to keep on goin'
That's the way it goes on Love's Train....
Get on your Love Train. Love yourself....
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag…Getting Crushed By A Building
Of course when we hear the words pink cookies in a plastic bag, getting crushed by buildings, you can only think of one of the greatest MC's, LL Cool J. One of his classic songs released in '93 from his "14 Shots to the Dome" album. Even though the song may describe some different type of "cookies," but in this scenario, the "pink cookies" are words.
Picture it: You are excited about your day. You are just excited about life, and it shows in your smile. You're smiling not because you received great news or just got a promotion, or just received something tangible. However, you are just excited just to be…ALIVE, and you are in a moment of thankfulness. When suddenly…here comes that building. A grumpy, negative thing trying to crash on your cookies which offer nothing but sweetness, and positivity.
Some people are just like that building. They want to crash on your dreams, hopes, and discourage your faith. They can speak a negative word, and it goes haywire crazy looking to attach itself to shatter someone else's light. It's amazing how quickly negative words and images can be easily recorded in our minds. On the contrary, positive words and images can sometimes struggle just to have a seat in our brain.
What happens if you leave a plastic bottled water in the car in hot weather? When you pick up the bottle, it loses its shape and form. If you drink that water, it will taste like plastic, right? Because the heat has melted the plastic, and that's not good to consume in your body. That good, fresh water that was good for you, is now bad because it wasn't released from the bottle, and it was left in the heat.
It's the same thing that goes for cookies. If cookies are left in a plastic bag for too long, soon the sweet taste of those cookies will lose its freshness and quality. Just like your positive words, hopes and dreams, if you continue to keep them bagged in, bottled in, they will lose their freshness. The more you speak positive and healing words, the more that building gets crushed. Let your words be seeds of life. Your words shape your life.
Words can heal, and words can break. Be a word healer. Don't let the building crush you. You crush the building by speaking words of greatness and positivity. Get out that plastic bag, put it in the recycle bin and keep your beautiful self moving. "Pink cookies out the plastic bag, and its crushing the building."
Picture it: You are excited about your day. You are just excited about life, and it shows in your smile. You're smiling not because you received great news or just got a promotion, or just received something tangible. However, you are just excited just to be…ALIVE, and you are in a moment of thankfulness. When suddenly…here comes that building. A grumpy, negative thing trying to crash on your cookies which offer nothing but sweetness, and positivity.
Some people are just like that building. They want to crash on your dreams, hopes, and discourage your faith. They can speak a negative word, and it goes haywire crazy looking to attach itself to shatter someone else's light. It's amazing how quickly negative words and images can be easily recorded in our minds. On the contrary, positive words and images can sometimes struggle just to have a seat in our brain.
What happens if you leave a plastic bottled water in the car in hot weather? When you pick up the bottle, it loses its shape and form. If you drink that water, it will taste like plastic, right? Because the heat has melted the plastic, and that's not good to consume in your body. That good, fresh water that was good for you, is now bad because it wasn't released from the bottle, and it was left in the heat.
It's the same thing that goes for cookies. If cookies are left in a plastic bag for too long, soon the sweet taste of those cookies will lose its freshness and quality. Just like your positive words, hopes and dreams, if you continue to keep them bagged in, bottled in, they will lose their freshness. The more you speak positive and healing words, the more that building gets crushed. Let your words be seeds of life. Your words shape your life.
Words can heal, and words can break. Be a word healer. Don't let the building crush you. You crush the building by speaking words of greatness and positivity. Get out that plastic bag, put it in the recycle bin and keep your beautiful self moving. "Pink cookies out the plastic bag, and its crushing the building."
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Saying Bye, Bye….
2012
So you're leaving me, huh?
2013
Yeah. Got some gifts GOD gave me, and I don't wanna disappoint HIM by not using them.
2012
Well, take me with you.
2013
Sorry, pal. No passengers allowed.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF WORDS BY LA SHAN….
I don't like to use the word "resolution" so let's just call them…hmm…"promises." I know all types of promises have been made as we embark on 2013. And by the third or fourth day, those same promises stay locked up until December 31, 2013. Promises kept shows growth, wisdom, and discipline. Promises are bonds, not made up of artificial dyes, chemicals, and all other man-made stuff, but they are spiritual bonds that are constantly growing. When you keep a promise, you keep a bond. The saying during nineties hip hop was, "WORD IS BOND." And yes, WORD IS BOND. Once the words roll from the tongue, speak through the mouth, they release a connection. Words are connected to your feelings, emotions, and your heart. So, when you speak something, remember those words are out there flowing, flying, and free.
Any goals, objectives, mission statements that pertain to being a better person, remember they are out there flowing, flying, and free holding you accountable. Stay focused, and make it not only a great year, but a better you.
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