#FakeItToYouMakeIt

Hey everybody!!! And welcome to day 7 of the #31WriteNow challenge.  It's only day 7 and I already feel like I am running out of topics.  But I will continue to press on and come up with something for the remaining 24 days. 

You have probably heard the title of this post before, "Fake it to you make it."  This saying has never been more true than in the story I read this week.  A rap group from the Bronx, Da YoungFellaz, has spent $130,000 in marketing loans on weed and 1st class tickets to music festivals where they were not even scheduled to perform.  Even crazier, they spent $25,000 in 3 months and have only promoted one song! To get the details on this story, click here. 

What is this madness? Is this what we have to look forward to for the future of hip-hop?  You got people rapping about having millions but they are basically living off loans.  That sounds like some people that live in my neck of the woods.  This is a perfect example of people that want the lifestyle but do not want to work for it.  They want the fame, cars, clothes, 1st class flights, but they do not want to get in the studio and work for it or hit the pavement and promote it. 

Can I blame them entirely? Well, I will put 95% of the blame on them.  The other 5% goes to those who on a basis highlight the lives of these celebrities.  Believe it or not, there was a time when every moment of a celebrity's life was not splashed on the cover of every magazine.  People knew celebrities were rich but it was not something that everyone was trying to attain.  When magazines are plastered with photos of celebrities private vacation and Forbes comes out with a "Who is the richest celebrity in the world?" list every week, it has made people want to try to get this life also.  The media has glamorized a celebrity's lifestyle.  Now you got everybody wanting to fly on a private jet. 

Now if you have private jet money cool, but if you have Greyhound Bus money at best, you most definitely need not to use other people's money trying to pose. Not cool.  What happen to work hard, play hard? Now, it's work somewhat, play harder. I cannot support this new attitude. 

Do you think the sensationalism of the rich and famous has added to people wanting to act like celebrities?

#MyCrushOnQuestlove

Hey everybody!!! In a prior post I mentioned that I am currently reading ?uestlove's book Mo' Metta Blues.  This is one of the coolest memoirs I have ever read.  I have never read a book written like this.  But that is not even what has me infatuated with this book.  The author has intrigued me in away that I have never been intrigued by an author before.  I have even started to listening to The Roots while I'm reading the book.  I'm half way through the book but I have come to a realization: I have a crush on ?uestlove.

In the beginning of the book, ?uestlove talks about how he was not a normal child and how his parents even had him tested.  He didn't play outside and did not always understand that other children did not live the same lifestyle that he did.  And he chocked when met his favorite musician, Prince.  He was socially awkward!  OMG, is he the awkward man of my dreams?!

I have wrote about how I know I am socially awkward and have come to accept that.  However, I can't help but think that me being socially awkward might hinder my dating life.  To help me from becoming too anxious about it I imagine that their must be a guy out their that is just as eccentric as I am.  So as I am reading Mo' Metta Blues it warms my heart to see a guy that is brave enough to show that side of himself.  Reading this story also showed me there are guys who are aware of their socially awkwardness and have learned to have a sense of humor about it. 

I'm not sure if I'm crushing on ?uestlove or the acceptance of his personality or both but he has officially made my "People I want to meet" list. 

P.S. I think this is the second time I have referenced his book in a post so that means you need to read it. 

Source: pastemagazine.com

#PictureMania

Hey everybody!!! Whoever created the picture phone had no idea what influence this small piece of equipment would have on coming generations.  Then along came MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and pictures became something more than just photos on the walls of homes.  In the last couple of years, certain pictures have become staples on the internet.  I have decided to use this post to explore some of those particular photos:

• The Selfie This is a classic.  You simply turn the camera around and take a snap of yourself.  These are nice right after you do your make-up or got a new haircut. Or in some cases, stand in your bathroom in front of the mirror and take a hundred photos until you find one that you like. The problems with selfies is that if you have too many of them you could come off a little conceited.  So you need to be careful with these.

 

A selfie in its common place: the bathroom

 



• The Album Cover You see this when someone is trying to look like they are in deep thought in a profile pic.  You achieve this pic by looking off while the camera is in front of you.  Some even go further and put a black and white filter on it to make it seem artistic.  The main people you see with these kinds of pics are those who write these long, "deep" statuses everyday.  Too many of these pics and you seem like a pretentious douche.

I'm calling my album Who's Ready for Bed? I Am



• The Goofy When people want to show their personality they will take a goofy pic.  I do not have too much of a problem with these pics.  I actually like it when people stop trying so hard in their pics and just le their guard down.

I'm goofy with  a side of tiredness in this pic because I had just climbed a mountain

• The Infamous Duck Lips Everyone has seen this pic or taken one their self.  I do not know exactly when this trend started but at some point women thought poking their lips out was sexy.  Then you saw on every other pic on your Newsfeed.  You know it was getting out of hand when men finally admitted that it very unattractive.  Women have calm down a little bit on this face but like a dear on a side of country road, you see it every once in a while. 

Yes, I'm guilty of duck lips too

What is your favorite pic?

#2Sequels2Many

Hey everybody and welcome to day 4 of #31WriteNow challenge (that was launched by awesome blogger, Luvvie,)!  Today's post was inspired by some foolishness I saw in Wal-Mart.  Every time I'm in Wal-Mart, I go by the DVD section.  At the moment, we do not have cable and so I like to look for TV series on DVD.  As I am browsing, a particular DVD catches my eye.  The title of it is House Party: Tonight's the Night with younger actors and an older Kid and Play on the cover.  This will be the fifth installment in the House Party series and I wish I could backhand whoever thought this was a good idea.

Yep, another unneeded installment for House Party

Who were the group of executives that said "You know what?  We need another  House Party."  At this point, who are they targeting this movie to?  The generation that remembers the first  House Party could care less and this new generation doesn't have a clue who Kid and Play are or what they did for house parties.  As far as I'm concerned they could have stopped after House Party 2.  The other 2 were a waste of film.  I do not know who to be mad at: Hollywood or Kid and Play for letting Hollywood keep making crappy sequels to their legendary movie. 

Unfortunately, House Party is not the only movie that has way too many unnecessary sequels.  Bring It On, tragically, has more sequels than the Harry Potter series.  And why?! It is a movie about battling cheerleading squads.  Do we really need 5 more movies with the same basic plot?  And then there is Step Up, where there are currently 4 installments (one of the installments being in 3D because what's better than seeing a movie you've seen twice before but seeing it coming at you) and according to imdb.com there is a fifth installment in development.  Like, seriously?! The whole dance movie genre is getting old anyways and then Hollywood says "Forget being innovative. Let's just keep recycling this one movie from 2006." 

Consumers, I beg you to not stand for this.  I do not care if the next House Party sequel has Bernie Mac making a cameo from beyond the grave, please, for the love of good cinema do not buy it.  Together, we can bring a stop to bad, did-not-want-it-in-the-first-place sequels.

#TaxFreeWeekend

Hey everybody!!! Hope you are having a wonderful Saturday.  In Arkansas, it is tax free weekend.  For parents, this comes right on time since fall semester is right around the corner.  But for a single girl like me with no kids, it's an excuse to get a new blouse. 

I actually was going to try to avoid going to the stores today.  I knew it was going to be packed and I did not feel like fighting the crowds (the main reason I do not fool with Black Friday).  But because of boredom I ended up at the department stores.  My first stop was Tarzhay (Target).  Usually, I want to buy everything in Tarzhay, today nothing caught my eye.  I have been wanting to do some new styles with my nails so I brought some nail polish.  I think I will call the nail look I am going to try "Summer Chic" (Pics coming soon.  Follow me on Instagram to see them: @ebonymariere)

My next stop was Marshall's.  Considering my closet is a mess and can barely fit the clothes I already have I really did not need anything else.  However, the rebellious me went into the Devil's Den (Marshall's) anyways.  I have been wanting to do better about saving money so I did not go overboard.  I just got a couple of tops.  I also went to Old Navy where I got some accessories. 

I also decided to stop by the Nike store.  Every now and then like to get some new workout apparel.  But when I walked in the store it was total chaos.  There were people every where and lines going to the back of the store.  I couldn't deal so I just walked right back out the store. 

Some of the stuff I bought during tax-free weekend

Whenever I go on an unexpected shopping spree I just say to myself, "I have been working hard and I need a little retail therapy."  Feel free to use that line when you buy something that you don't necessarily need. 

#PlaylistOfMyLife

Hey everybody!! It is nothing new that music reaches people on a personal level.  Regardless, of what type of music you like to listen to, there is one song that can take you back in time.  While doing my summer reading, I have decided to read ?uestlove's new book, Mo' Metta Blues.  Not only is it a memoir but also gives a little bit of history of hip-hop.  Another cool feature of this book is that
?uestlove describes these playlists that reminds him of different periods of his life. 

Reading his playlists got me to thinking about music that means something to me.  The following are songs/albums that take me back to a special time in my life:

• OOOOOOOOOOOO On the TLC Tip: TLC's first album This was my first cassette tape as a child.  This whole album describes what the 90's were: fresh and different.  I was only 4 when I got this tape but I spent hours listening to it.  At that point in my life, TLC was everything.  They were these cool women that had these independent attitudes. They were not the typical girl group wearing tight clothes.  They were wearing baggy clothes with condoms used as accessories.  I remember I wanted a haircut like T-Boz and her raspy voice gave me life before I even knew what giving me life meant.  Later on, I realized that I probably should not have been listening to this tape at 4 years old.  But when I listen to it today it takes me back to that childish period of my life. 
• I Miss You: Aaron Hall Every time I hear this song, it takes me back to being at my sister's house in Memphis, TN.  Another reason this song clings heavily to my memory is because I actually remember the video.  In the video, Aaron's girlfriend is pregnant and he's all excited.  Unfortunately, in the end she dies from giving birth but the baby lives.  I remember thinking that was the saddest video ever.  To this day if this song comes on the radio, I will think about this video. 
• Everything Brittney Spears did in the early 2000s I was a Brittney Stan when I was in middle school.  She was my Beyoncé.  I watched all her Making the Video episodes and tried to learn her routines.  I cannot explain why Brittney's music hypnotized me.  I remember singing Lucky, Oops, I did it Again, Stronger, and Drive Me Crazy over and over again.  It was crushing for me to see her going through her infamous breakdown.  It was difficult watching that talent waste away.  It has done my heart good to see her do better in these last few years.
• I Will Wait Mumford & Sons: Even though this is a recent song, this song for some reason takes me back to college.  I think because this is when folky/indie music started to hit the mainstream.  You heard it on every commercial and trailer for a rom/com movie.  This might sound cliché but during this time in college I was learning who I was: listening to new music, developing my style, trying to figure out what interest me.  Listening to music from this genre helped me to meditate on things going on in my life during that transition period where you are kind of an adult to becoming a working adult.   To this day I like to listen to indie/folk pop when I just want to think. 

Does this song not take you back to a warm place?

 



I have always loved how music can take you back to a familiar place.  Nothing is better than being on a road trip and a song from the past comes on and it makes you think of your first crush, Friday night football games, or hanging with family.  What songs take you back to your past?

#JayZAndHarryBelafonteGotBeef?

 Hey everybody!!! And welcome to the first post in the #31WriteNow challenge.  This was a challenge that blogger, Luvvie, proposed to other bloggers.  The challenge is to write for every day in August.  I have accepted the challenge and I am going to make a strong effort to write for every day this month.  Enjoy all the posts and please feel free to email me any ideas (ebony.read@gmail.com)!

 

Source: The Root

 Let me dive in to this post discussing the "beef" between Jay-Z and Harry Belafonte.  Nope, you did not read that wrong.  Hip-hop mogul and civil rights activist are going at it.  In an interview, Mr. Belafonte was asked was he happy with the image of minorities in Hollywood today.  He replied "Not at all." (Mr. Belafonte even went as far to say that Bruce Springsteen was blacker than Jay-Z.)  To get his full answer as to why he is unhappy with minority celebrities and Jay-Z's reply click here.  He talks about how they have "turned their back on social responsibility" and goes on to name Jay-Z and Beyoncé as perpetrators. 



Well, you know Jigga was not going for that.  In his reply, he basically says that his "presence is charity" and goes on to kind of compare himself to President Obama.  Honestly, I am not surprised by this arrogant answer.  In one of his stage names, he boldly compares himself to God (Hova=Jehovah).  It goes without saying that Jay-Z is one of the most successful rappers in hip-hop.  But let's not get too carried away, Jay, you ain't no Savior.  I do not care how many arenas you sell out. 

I kind of understand what Mr. Belafonte means by social responsibility.  When in your music you refer to women by the b-word and use the N-word in every other lyric it is not going to be taken positively from someone Mr. Belafonte's age.  In his eyes, Jay-Z is not using his influence to set a better example for the current generation.  But do we need Jay-Z to be the poster child for social responsibility?  We have Gabby Douglas, Dwyane Wade, President Obama, Kerry Washington, and others. 

Also, does Jay-Z have to put solving social injustices on his agenda?  One mistake that I think those from the civil rights era has made is by painting a picture that all black people of the past were freedom riders.  That was just not the case.  My mom lived in that era and did not take part in one protest or demonstration.  Does this make her an irresponsible person? Not at all.  My mom played her part in that era by not carrying a bitterness from that time and evolving into someone that, regardless of the times she lived in, she could still treat all with compassion and respect.  That to me is just as powerful as any march that has been organized. 

Basically, this beef is not even worth it.  It seems there is just a misunderstanding between the two. And I see them probably forming a charity together (or presenting an award at the 2014 BET Awards at the very least) to show they have squashed any differences between the two.  For me, it gives something to cackle about with friends.

What do you think of their misunderstanding?