March 30, 2010

Grooves

Erykah Badu’s “Window Seat” Video

05_Flatbed_2 - MARCH
Late Saturday night while waiting for Erykah Badu, who’s known as @fatbellybella on Twitter, to hit the stage at Good Units, I began tweeting and looking for updates. There were a flurry of messages about her new video for “Window Seat.” Vulnerable. Intimate. Provocative. Butt-naked were tweeted and retweeted. I gotta admit the butt-naked part threw me off. Was the video a mile-high romp with her baby daddy, Jaye Electronica, all while sitting Read more...

March 26, 2010

Grooves

Nina Simone Tribute @Harlem Stage

nina_tut

Tonight at Harlem Stage, the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra presents one of their most captivating incarnations– their all-female tribute to the inimitable Nina Simone. I saw this tribute at the Schomburg and like The High Priestess of Soul herself, it was brazenly exhilarating. It was unmitigated Blackness! The 18-piece ensemble, which also performed in France is directed by Tamar-kali and features Imani Uzuri, Joi, Lisala Beatty, Latasha Natasha Nevada Diggs, Angela Johnson, Toli Nameless, Read more...

March 22, 2010

Best Of, Grooves

GROOVES: Esthero’s “Black Mermaid”

I met Esthero 10 years ago. We were both at a professional crossroads. Do we go left, right or do we stay? Unsure, I stayed. Esthero or Lil Dukes Up as she is affectionately known was a brave bird even back then and took a leap, giving the finger all the while flying through the air. From that moment on I wanted to be just like her.

It was late summer 2000 and the best Read more...

March 18, 2010

Real Talk

Gabby, Mo’Nique & Oscar

monique
Sunday before last many of us watched as Mo’Nique took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. With a white gardenia in her hair and rocking a blue dress by Tadashi Shoji, Mo’s look was in tribute to Hattie McDaniel. Personally I was just watching to check the gowns and the entertainment. I could care less about the actual award because when it comes to Black films they usually don’t see the same beauty, Read more...