Filed under: ATL'S FINEST!, MUSIC, Music is My Life | Tags: atlanta, mary J. blige, Music Video, Remember Me, T.I.
-black girl.
Filed under: Writer's Log | Tags: atlanta, Re-intro, Soulja Boy, Turn My Swag On
So, it’s been a minute since I’ve updated but a necessary break I needed to take. Instead of typing a mile long mini-series on where I’ve been and what’s been happening I’ve decided to begin right here. Today and now. I’ll admit I spent a couple of weeks trying to figure out how to jump back into this and a couple more obsessing on what to say once I actually did.
Things have been happening quickly so it’s been quite a task to keep up with myself let alone the blog spot. Narcissistic perfectionism? Probably but I accept that lol. Eventually I picked up on the fact that my personal campaign for over-thinking had gotten me nowhere, literally. So my only logical solution was to get back in here and pick up where I left off, swag turned on of course. 😉
-black girl.
Filed under: Matters of the Heart., Music is My Life | Tags: atlanta, Frank-Ski, Morning Show, MUSIC, nina brown, Shine Through It, Terrence Howard, v-103, Wanda
Sometimes late really is good. I’m typically not the radio chick but I so happened to catch an interview with Terrance Howard on the radio this morning thanks to the lagging alarm on my drained blackberry. I have a new found respect for this guy after listening to him speak. Highly intelligent, wise beyond his years. If you haven’t heard already (which I’m sure you have) he’s got a new album coming. Didn’t have time to dig up info on it but I had to post one of his songs. Answers may not come right when you need them, but they always come right on time! Shine through it. 🙂
Terrence Howard|Shine Through It
-black girl
Filed under: ATL'S FINEST!, Music is My Life | Tags: atlanta, keri hilson, Lil Wayne, MUSIC, turn off
Ok, there are very few times when I hear a song and get excited about it but Keri’s second single “Turn Off” has just replaced my current # 1 slot. I’m appreciating the creativity in the track but moresoe the writing. Wouldn’t expect anything less from a BGITC. ATL Flavor never dies!
Keri Hilson | Turn Off
-black girl.
Filed under: Music is My Life | Tags: atlanta, Dreamer, Hollyweerd, Staggo Lee, The Love Crusader, Tuki, underground music
I wouldn’t be a real Atlanta chick if I didn’t put you guys on to what’s really poppin on the underground music scene here. Hollyweerd is only one of many groups making good music that rarely gets heard unless you ‘search for it’. But I won’t even get started on that…maybe in a future post. They’re only one of many but I’m biased since they’re my homies lol. This song is the shizzle and one of my all time faves that never gets old. Keep grinding guys, and as for the rest of you music heads… Try something new today.
-black girl.
I was driving home day before yesterday down W. Peachtree, and I always check out the Center Stage (concert/event venue) Board to see who’s coming when I’m passing by. Low and freakin behold! Esthero is in the HOUSE! I’m normally not the ‘fan’ type but when it comes to women making ‘good’ music and the kind I feel she is at the top of my list . Nobody has stolen her four star record in my iTunes yet. Doc sent me the info today and reminded me all over again. I got excited all over again. I thought about my favorite songs all over again. Then I played them over and over again lol. I’m so happy she’s finally decided to come and give the city a little taste of what real music is all about. Black girl has summoned the crew. Saturday it goes down!
Yessir.
-black girl.
This is the kinda stuff that irritates me about my people. When one of us works our asses off to make it, there’s always some bird flying in the rafters trying to attach themselves to the climax without ever having to do so much as offer a glass of water to the person on the grind. It’s laziness. Just as one man has worked hella hard to get to where he is you can do the same exact thing with your own theoretic formula and plan. Man up!
Over and over I hear about this in the entertainment industry and even in the personal lives of family and friends. When you get on, pookie, ray ray, shawn shawn and that girl in high school that you never knew for real for real is tryna get on! Lol. And as you guess there is no exception in politics my friend.
From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
DeKalb County (Georgia) CEO and U.S. Senate candidate Vernon Jones has mailed “thousands” of flyers across the state bearing an image of himself and Obama holding microphones in front of a campaign crowd with the headline: “Yes We Can!”
At first glance, it appears the two men are at the same campaign event. But they are not. The photo of Jones was digitally joined with one of Obama. Jones acknowledged that his campaign combined the photos, but said he wasn’t trying to mislead anyone. His Democratic opponents immediately accused him of implying he has been endorsed by Obama, an idea quickly shot down by Obama’s campaign.
“The Obama campaign was not involved with the use the Senator Obama’s picture in this mailer, and despite what this mailer inaccurately suggests, Senator Obama will not endorse a candidate in the U.S. Senate primary in Georgia,” said Amy Brundage, a Chicago-based Obama spokeswoman. She declined further comment.
“Absolutely not,” Jones said in a telephone interview Thursday afternoon. “What it does say is that Obama and I share a vision for a new America.” He added: “Obama and I represent the future of Georgia and America. We want to balance the budget, create jobs, provide affordable and accessible health care and prevent folks from losing their homes.”
He tells all over himself here…
“I just put a face with a name,” Jones said of his Obama mailer. “I hope every other Georgia will vote for him and support him and be a part of a change in Washington.” That translates into vote for your fellow brown brown too bytches!
“People are already asking me to sign it for them so they can put it up on their refrigerators,” he said. “It’s becoming a keepsake piece.” Dumbie.
Wait. Did I mention he was a republican? Haha. Just because your skin is brown doesn’t mean we’re down. Barak wasn’t hearing it but leave it to the good ole white boys that don’t even hold a position in government to call it out.
“Vernon is not going to be able to erase the fact that he is a Republican and voted George W. Bush twice, I think the people of Georgia will see through this and see that Vernon is a Republican in sheep’s clothing.” -Reporter
“This is a gross abuse and misuse of our Barack Obama’s wonderful success in Georgia,” Knight said. “Instead of running on his own meager record as a legislator, and instead of bringing new ideas to the people, Mr. Jones is using a doctored photo to ride on the coat-tails of our party’s presidential nominee, a great leader who will change our country for the better, but who has not endorsed anyone in our Senate primary.” – Atlanta Business Man
One last note: did anyone else notice how ‘tacky’ the flyer was done as well? Like…how are you gonna run for another term and send out mailers that look like they were done on Microsoft Paint? Mark Star Graphics coulda hooked you up for the low low. Where’s your BUDGET?
If you’re playing the politics, influence and power game I’m gonna need you to be smarter than that and fire whoever your marketing director or publicist would be. Neither one of them shoulda let that shit fly under any circumstance. You already know they are sitting around waiting for a dude mess up and here you go with this shyt.
That move was way too obvious. Go get your shine box and clean it up. Funny…Barack is chillin about 6 minutes from my crib as we speak. I’m just not paying $2,300 – $10,000 to be in the same room.
-black girl.
Filed under: Guest Bloggers, The Fact of the Matter... | Tags: atlanta, nina brown, v-103
I said that once I’d gained enough readership for Black Girl In The City™ I would have other women that fit the mold to guest write for this blog. It would be selfish of me to share this effort alone being that there are so many of us here and in Atlanta doing our thing. Like I said, here we are the majority, not the minority!
Meet Nina Brown. If you haven’t had a chance to read her entire story ladies, you should do so when you get some down time. Nina may laugh when she reads this because I never had the opportunity to tell her that I look up to her and admire all that she does with respect and integrity. All of this time I never knew that she was a writer like myself, but when I found out I didn’t hesistate to ask if she wanted to guest write. I knew it would be great to feature her as our first “Black Girl In The City” guest blooger because she’s making moves and taking names while keeping it fresh and fly. Not to mention the coincidence of her being dubbed, “The black Carey Bradshaw”. Luv it!
Nina’s story goes far and deep. Fast foward to 2006 where she was promoted to the producer of the # 1 Morning Show in Atlanta, V-103. I became familiar with her through my friend Frank, who is one half of the duo that makes the show so great. As producer of the Frank & Wanda Morning Show, she does whatever she has to do to make certain the hosts sound flawless. Often times that entails lots of research, event planning, creative thinking, meeting after meeting, constantly staying on her toes to be bigger and better, non-stop hustling & networking, extremely early mornings, ridiculously late nights and world travel. However, nothing is beneath her! Even though her dresses are always fly, her humble attitude compliments her a heart of gold and fear of God with a magnetic personality that attracts many and spares none.
Today Nina talks about why she’s single. This is only a portion of the full piece because like me, she gets down to it and thoroughly articulates her thoughts to make sure you get it! Thanks Nina for agreeing to do what you do best. I couldn’t have said what you had to say better myself.
-black girl.
—-
Why I’m Single!
Working in Atlanta’s “Black Hollywood” as a young, single female with morals, I face my own set of challenges. However, I never imagined dating would be so high on the list. I have come to realize, just because the industry glitters, doesn’t mean its hardly golden! While I wouldn’t trade my industry experiences for anything in the world, I will admit, it takes a new-age Nancy Drew to crack the millions of mysteries that come with this package deal.In the beginning, I thought it was me. I constantly made excuses why my dating life was on a path of self-destruction. Had I become a bad man-magnet? I considered everything from where I lived (outside the city) to the extra 10lbs I gained, but once I moved downtown and lost 25lbs, things still didn’t change!I then asked myself, was it really me?
- I’m single because I will never allow a man to make me feel like I’m anything less than fabulous. I have an amazing Daddy who raised me well; because of him, I know what a stand up dude is.
- I’m single because I work in a male dominated industry and most men can’t handle the fact I’m around other powerful, popular and well-connected men 24/7.
- I’m single because I have more backbone than a lot of men and I don’t always want to be the “driver”. I expect my man to lead, and quite honestly, the majority of men these days have no idea where they’re going…
- I’m single because I can carry my own weight. Most men have egos that need to be stroked, so they seek needy women to make them feel empowered, looking down upon independent women.
- I’m single because my male mentors expose me to things most men can’t, like fine dining and traveling to new places some only experience thru the Discovery Channel.
- I’m single because I have a zero tolerance for ignorance. Zero! I’m single because I run at the first sight of a “red flag”. I will not tolerate being lied to.
- I’m single because I will not sweat or stalk you, regardless of how gorgeous or successful you might be…
- I’m single because I choose to keep a good reputation, I will not sleep with you because you drive a flashy car, rock $500 designer jeans or have an icy watch and chain to match. Often times, that’s all you’ve got… these 4 things.
- I’m single because I’m attracted to the hip hop culture and often times shy away from everything else.
- I’m single because sometimes I’d rather sleep than be on the social scene.
- I’m single because I was taught the difference between personality and character and I need a man with character.
- I’m single because I’d sometimes rather hang out with my fabulous girlfriend’s then play the “get to know you” game with some new dude.
- I’m single because I don’t want to inherit your baby mama drama.
- I’m single because I was taught life is much like a theater and I’m the superstar on stage!
- I’m single because I refuse to play the sideline chick.
- I’m single because I think male groupies are the lowest form of man.
- I’m single because I understand, what God has for me, is for me.
- I’m single because I realize some men want to be affiliated with my connections and reap the benefits of the many blessings I’ve received.
- I’m single because the most important men in my life told me, I deserve the best, and now, it’s the ONLY thing I’ll settle for.
- And again, I’m single because I have an extreme phobia for the down low. I need a man who digs women only.
- But most importantly, I’m single because I CHOOSE TO BE.
-Nina.
—
Although you may not always be able to hear Nina every morning on the radio, trust that she’s the magic behind the greatness and has no need to be the center of attention or be on the front lines. That in itself is how a “Black Girl in the City” should be. The power behind the machine is far greater than the machine itself.
-black girl.
Filed under: Get it Poppin!, Music is My Life | Tags: atlanta, kanye west concert
Sunday wasn’t the chill day I thought it would be. I’d spent most of my morning jerking around with some work for a client. I say jerking because it was taking way too long to complete a task that should have taken no more than an hour! Try 3 hours to debug one little glitch and still not have the end result turn out exactly how you want it. Talk about annoyed, lol. I let the nuance go though, gotta get outta of that whole perfectionist thing.
After that ordeal I decided that it wouldn’t be cool to spend such a nice day working in my panties, head scarf and a t-shirt so I cleaned up for a day out with my girls. So happen Pippi and her beau called me as I was gearing up…
“Hey where is Mitzi & Romano’s?” It was her beau, obviously the driver, looking for directions to what was evidently Pippi’s boutique of choice for the day.
“Uh, in the highlands. North Highland Ave.,” I said fumbling for the nivea.
I could hear Pippi chattering in the background about the baby’s stroller and where to park. I could tell she was really diggin this guy because aside from the fact that they spent time together heavy, he had a small ‘adorable’ baby girl. Pippi doesn’t do baby’s or strollers so I know…lol.
She grabbed the phone. “We don’t see it. I think it’s further down,” she said.
“Oh well, I probably need to come up there instead of Nordstrom’s,” I said looking for a valid reason to avoid the store I’d spent 2 hours in the day before, and an hour in the day before that, lol.
“Shallie’s taking me to the concert tonight,” I was toweling off and mentally cataloguing my Sunday chillax outfit. A blue wrap dress and sandals.
“Well come up here,” she said.
“Cool. I’ll be there in a minute.”
A minute turned out to be a while, as traffic was hellacious going toward our destination. We eventually made it via back roads and I assumed they were long gone since I’d been held up. The girls ended up helping me pick out a dress from Bill Hallman and we called it a wrap. For their good efforts and great taste in fashion, I took them to Ben & Jerry’s around the corner for ice cream. Then we headed off for lunch and to get their nails done. I wanted to make sure I gave them a good day since I’d be tracing out later that night to go see Kanye, NERD, Lupe and Rhianna….while they whirled away to the movies with Pippi.
If you know me, you know I have an issue with time some days so you could only imagine ME having to wait on someone else to get ready! Lol. When I got to the spot this fool was STILL getting dressed and couldn’t decide what to wear. I ended up making the final choice and before long we were on our way.
There, I saw a few people and business associates. I was kinda quiet and low key though so I didn’t really speak unless spoken to, not to mention I was a little ‘blazed’ lol. Atl’s finest was out, stuntin on em, though! LOL We were maybe 3 or 4 rows from the front, which was a surprise because Shallie mentioned he was only able to get nosebleeds since it was last minute. I was like, “Cool, I don’t care. So long as we go and have fun.” What a liar. But it was a good lie so I won’t complain!
The concert was really on some futuristic, space travel, Dragonball Z type stuff. We missed Nerd because I was trying to stuff my face before going inside, lol. The build out of Kanye’s stage was made like the surface of another planet, and the overall theme was that he had crash landed on somewhere unknown in the universe and was trying to get home. Lots of deep philosophical messages in his set that I bet a lot of people missed. But then again, I was still kinda blazed. LOL! The whole concept sounds trippy I know, but I promise it was pleasantly innovative and different. He did all of his dope tracks and actually went hard! Spazzin out on the stage and giving it 120% effort. Kanye is definitely a creator after my own heart. His boldness and authority to go for his and speak up whether right or wrong is something I admire and am working toward doing more of. I took some pictures with the funky digital camera I despise, and my blackberry which seemed to snap better flicks than the camera! I am SO counting down the days until I get my Nikon D-40. I’ll be the happiest black girl ever. Anywho, here are a few to give you a taste of the experience.
That’s Lupe…
Blackberry Flicks…
So, even though I didn’t get the good editoral quality photos I wanted, Shallie definitely copped mad cool points for this one…and the throwback Nerd CD was on icing on the cake! Black girl gives Kanye an A+ for the show and an A++ for the DOPE azz kicks he donned on stage.
And now back to the grind. Lotsa shyt to do this week.
-blackgirl.
Black Girl In The City. 
