If you’ve visited the other parts of the site outside of BOOM Blog, you should be well aware that Vitalize Entertainment has been working on the other end of the game as well, developing a few artists that we believe in. Here is the first… Meet the duet Nexus. Just a sample of their work to wet your pallette. Tons more to come in the near future. If you like what you hear, please show the young ladies some encouragement. They work hard, have talent and a vision. Much love -Rondel
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Monthly Archives: October 2009
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- Oct
- 24
- 2009
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You Oughta Know: Nexus
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- Oct
- 24
- 2009
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Professional Black Women Need To Reproduce?
There’s a great blog out there called A Belle in Brooklyn, authored by a southern woman who journals her adventures of life in the BK. Recenly she had a very thought provoking post about how women who are financially struggling in the Black community tend to have the most children, whereas the professional Black women have few or no children. She discusses the affect this it is having on the caliber of our youth and essentially our tomorrow. I stand by the Tupac line in Keep Your Head Up “And since a man can’t make one, he has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one.” Especially since I’ve recently been getting more experienced in my professional career, I can’t blame the women who work harder than the average, who don’t want to come home and tend to children. Worthy of a separate discussion in itself, we should consider the fact that the percentage of professional black women who are single is astounding. Single motherhood is not something to take lightly.I would, however, like to open the topic for discussion for our men and women in the Black community and beyond, because this really is a socio-economic issue more than it is a race one, in my opinion. It becomes racial when we (Black people) are looking out for ourselves, within the larger scope of the issue. But it is an issue none-the-less. So here’s the letter…
Last weekend I attended my best friend’s bday dinner (the big 30)! A bunch of us were sitting around engaging in the regular banter of late 20’s/ early 30 young professionals. My BFF segues from into a story about a visit at her Ob/Gyn where her doctor, a white woman, begged her to start multiplying. The Ob/Gyn hoped not to offend, then told her more educated, professional AA’s need to start having babies and need to start having them soon, to balance out the craziness in our community.
She asked my BFF if any of her friends have babies (which none of us do). Upon hearing that we did not, her OBGYN was futher alarmed. She asked what is going to become of African- Americans if all of the educated folks continue to be baby free?
This really got me thinking. at that brunch table were all act right, educated, self respecting AA’s. And we’re ALL baby free? Then I thought about my circle at work and beyond who are mostly baby- free too. The more I thought about it, the more I realized my BFF’s OBGYN may be on to something!
The people in our community that need to produce the most are not and the people who need to stop producing, multiply like there is no tomorrow. What will happen to future generations?? We complain that there is a lack (in particular) of well mannnered, educated AA men. But if we are not getting married and having babies and in turn, raising well-mannered, educated AA men, who is to blame?
Back in the day, WEB Dubois proclaimed that we need to rely on the “Talented Tenth” to move us forward as a community. I would argue that the so- called Talented Tenth is failing our community. We are no longer getting married— or believing in marriage— and we are no longer reproducing (at the rate of other folks in the community).
I know your position on babies, but maybe we should re-think our position on not having children. We need more future Belles than not.
For the Belle’s full feedback on the letter, check her post out here.
I WOULD LOVE TO HERE WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS TOPIC. LET’S KEEP IT CLEAN AND RESPECTFUL!
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- Oct
- 24
- 2009
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THE ULTIMATE TRUNK SHOW: SAVE THE DATE
Do you remember back in August when I interviewed Latoya Gordon, owner of Chrisleeann Boutique? Well on December 5th she is having her second annual “The Ultimate Trunk Show” at The Dumbo Loft … that’s right, right here in Brooklyn. I went to her first joint which featured a tonage of jewels and one of a kind garb for the ladies. Picked up a t-shirt from this dope up and coming mens line for myself. If you’re the type of person that feels good to trendset, rocking something no one else has, this is the place to be. Definitely be sure to check this joint out. We’ll bring you the update in the next few weeks.
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- Oct
- 19
- 2009
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Do Good Guys Like Bad Girls?
By Doll R. BillsI’m sure we are all familiar with the idea that good girls usually fall for bad boys. We’ve seen this happen over and over with our friends, families, celebs. Same old story – the girl has it all together: the looks, the smarts, the drive … and she ends up some good-for-nothing guy who likely doesn’t even treat her right. She’s just “addicted to the thrill, it’s a dangerous love affair.” But have you ever stopped to think about the other way around? If good girls tend to like bad boys, who do good guys like?
Well in recent conversations with good dudes and good girls seeking good dudes, I’ve discovered that many good guys go after bad girls. Before you go refuting the idea, allow me to explain a bit. The bad girls aren’t “bad” in the same way that the bad boys are. Whereas the bad boys likely don’t have a job, stability or social etiquette, these bad girls have all of the above. However, these bad girls lack emotional stability and the desire to please or be devoted to her man. They act out in public and do annoying things to get attention. In other words, good guys tend to fall for the cold-hearted and crazy.
Think I’m lying? Think of two good guys that you know (I know, this may take a minute, so take your time….) Now think about the relationships that they’ve been in. Chances are they’ve been with chicks that you secretly thought to yourself “he can do better.” You don’t gotta tell me, I already know.The thing is, when one person has it all together, even though they may be all smiles, life can get mundane sometimes. When you know day in and day out that your ish is tight, you miss that spirit of spontaneity that comes along with being a bad ass. Whether that means doing wild ish and not caring who’s affected by it or playing with people’s emotions to because you have no control over your own. Or even the struggle of not knowing how you’re going to pay your bills or get out of some illegal bind. You can shake your head all dam day but what I’m saying is true. There are people who crave this lifestyle. It’s like their little project. The same way good girls are there to take care of bad boys, good guys feel like it’s their place to be the rock in these insane women’s lives.
But here’s the gotcha gotcha. Opposites attract and then they attack, hard. So all you good guys and good girls, stop trying to be a super hero! Get with someone on your level. Let these basic people you’re dealing with enjoy the other basket cases of the world, you should do better. The question is, do you want to?
In Love Sex & Magic amy winehouse, bad boys, bad girls, boom blog, celebrity, ciara, entertainment, good boys, good girl gone bad, good girls, good guys, love, Music, rihanna, vitalizeComments Off-
- Oct
- 15
- 2009
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FEATURE: MARS THE PLANET
VE: When did you start making beats?
MARS: 14 YEARS OLD. I TRIED TO EMULATE BEATS THAT WERE FEATURED ON THE RADIO. I GOT GOOD ENOUGH TO WHERE THE TRACKS I WAS EMULATING WOULD SOUND JUST LIKE THE TRACK OR EVEN BETTER. YOU KNOW I MIGHT BE GOOD AT THIS. SO I STARTED MAKING MY OWN BEATS.
VE: Did you always know that you were going to be a producer?
MARS: I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT BEING A PRODUCER ENTAILED. BUT I KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE DOING MUSIC. I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO MUSIC. OCCASIONALLY I WANTED TO BE A BASKETBALL PLAYER BUT I KEPT WITH MUSIC. INSTEAD OF PRACTICING MY FREE THROWS I WAS PRACTICING MY C NOTES.
VE: When you were younger, did you know that you would have this much success by age 25?
MARS: OF COURSE YOU DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH SUCCESS YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE. BUT I DEFINITELY HAVENT EVEN REACHED HALF OF MY POTENTIAL.
VE: Who are your musical influences?
MARS: MY DAD, MICHAEL JACKSIN, J DILLA, QUINCY JONES, STEVIE WONDER, DONNY HATHAWAY, ANITA BAKER, MARVIN WINANS, THOMAS WHITFIELD, MARVIN GAYE, PARLIAMENT, JAMES BROWN.
VE: How did you get your start? Tell me about your come up, working with Just Blaze and Brian Michael Cox.
MARS: I MOVED OUT MY PARENTS HOUSE AT THE AGE OF 17. GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL EARLY. MY DAD TOLD ME WHEN I FINISHED SCHOOL I COULD DO MUSIC. I SIGNED A ONE YEAR INDEPENDENT CONTRACT WITH THIS LADY LATISHA, HAD MY OWN STUDIO OWN APARTMENT. ALL I HAD TO DO WAS GIVE HER 15 BEATS. MY HOMEBOY JONATHAN INTRODUCED ME INTO LARRANCE. WE ALL PLAYED IN CHURCH. CAME BY HIS STUDIO. I PLAYED HIM SOME STUFF. LARRANCE SAID “I PLAY SOME STUFF FOR SNOOP YOU SHOULD COME BY AND PLAY SOME STUFF.” WENT AND PLAYED. SNOOP LIKED IT. SINCE THEN WE BECAME PRODUCTION PARTNERS. WORKING WITH JUST BLAZE AND BRIAN MICHAEL COX WAS GREAT BECAUSE THEY ARE SEASONED VETS AND BIG BROTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY. EVERY TIME I WORK WITH THEM I LEARN SOMETHING.
VE: Do you play any instruments?
MARS: I PLAY THE DRUMS, ORGAN, PIANO, BASS, ANYTHING WITH KEYS, KEYBOARDS, XYLOPHONES, WHATEVER.
VE: Damn that’s a lot lol. What are some of your biggest tracks.
MARS: DOPE BOYS BY GAME, TAKE YOU DOWN BY CHRIS BROWN, STRONGER BY KANYE WEST, WHICH ONE BY SNOOP, SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT BY JAY Z. WE GOT SOME STUFF COMING OUT ON SNOOPS NEW ALBUM. GET THAT. “MALICE IN WONDERLAND.”
VE: Which of your beats if your favorite?
MARS: I LIKE TAKE YOU DOWN. TAKE YOU DOWN MIGHT BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE BEATS.
VE: What was your first major hit?
MARS: GANGSTA LOVE BY BOBBY VALENTINO.
VE: Describe the feeling when you first heard it on the radio.
MARS: I DIDN’T HEAR GANGSTA LOVE ON THE RADIO. THE FIRST MAJOR HIT ON THE RADIO WAS DOPE BOYS. IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING.
VE: What do you think about the current state of hip-hop.
MARS: THERE ISN’T TOO MUCH GREAT MUSIC OUT RIGHT NOW. SO THAT GIVES ME A LANE TO DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO WHICH IS GREAT MUSIC. EVERYBODY EXPRESSES THEMSELVES DIFFERENTLY.. I LIKE THE WAY LUPE RAPS THE WAY HE EXPRESSES HIMSELF. HE HAS STORIES AND CONCEPTS.VE: Is it in your plans to produce other genres or are you content with hip-hop and R&B?
MARS: I PRODUCE OTHER GENRES, I PRODUCE GOSPEL AND LOOKING FORWARD TO PRODUCE OTHER GENRES.
VE: What projects are you working on now that we should look out for?
MARS: SNOOP, LUPE, THE GAME, REDMAN, UHHH MAN JUST A LOT OF THINGS. IF ITS REALLY HOT YOU KNOW I DID IT. YOU KNOW ITS FROM THE HOTTEST PLANET: MARS.
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