Category: Entertainment

D’Angelo and The Vanguard Present Black Messiah

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D’Angelo came out with one of my favorite albums last year and I wrote a review for it in my local newspaper. Here’s an except:

This month, people of all walks of life organized protests in the Bay Area, taking over the streets, freeways, and city halls in solidarity to fight against police brutality and racial profiling against people of color. Against this backdrop, D’Angelo released Black Messiah, a highly anticipated album with a timely message.

I had just come from a weekend of marching in Oakland when D’Angelo shocked the music world with the long awaited album. It was 14 years ago that he gave us his soulful R&B album Voodoo, so new material was long overdue.

Best known for his gospel roots and soul influence, D’Angelo’s quieter career period wasn’t a completely silent one. He started playing new instruments that helped develop a band, the Vanguard, for his new sound on Black Messiah.

Check out the full article on The Richmond Pulse here.

Labor Day Weekend in the Bay Area – Events

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San Francisco Skyline from Berkeley Hills, Oakland Bay Bridge and San Francisco Bay

If you’re going to be in the Bay Area and looking for something to do with your extended Labor Day weekend, check out some of these events that may be of interest. A lot of people my age don’t know where to look or go so I decided to put together some events that have been lingering in my inbox. I’m no entertainment concierge but I do know where to find some fun. Who knows, you may even catch me at a few of these events 🙂

P.S. If you know of any social events catered to young professionals and/or art, culture, and music friendly, let us know in the comment box!

 
Dancing Under the Stars: Free Dance Class & Party
Date: Friday, August 30, 2013
Time: 8:30 pm
Location: Jack London Square, Oakland Ca.
Free! For more info click here
 
Doin’ it at The Phoenix Hotel
Date: Sunday, September 1, 2013
Time: Noon – 7 pm
No cover, to RSVP click here
 
DopeOnly Presents: Cool Water (Day Party)
Date: Sunday, September 1, 2013
Time: 3-8 pm
Location: The Rock Steady, Oakland, Ca.
For more info & to RSVP click here
 
Open Canvas at the Independent: Hosted Bar
Date: Sunday, September 1, 2013
Time: 9pm -12 am
Live Painting, Music, Warhol to Jay-Z Inspired.
Free! To RSVP click here
 
Oakland’s 3rd Annual Pan African Family Reunion 
Date: Monday, September 2, 2013
Time: 10 am – 10 pm
Location: Mosswood Park, Oakland, Ca.
Friend and Family event, live art for the youth, Music, Food, Games, Dance, and More!
For more info please visit the Facebook page here
 
Hiero Day: Free Hip Hop Music Festival
Date: Monday, September 2, 2013
Time: 11 am – 6 pm
Location: Linden Street Brewery, Oakland. CA
Live Peformances, Food Vendors, and more
Free! To RSVP click here
 
Monday Soul Featuring Adrian Marcel
Date: Monday, September 2, 2013
Time: 9 pm
Location: The New Parish, Oakland
$15 for tickets online here
 

Celebrate Black History Month 2013! (Bay Area Events)

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Hey folks! I put together a list of Black History Month events I find interesting and which I plan on attending in the Bay Area.  I’m always looking for activities to keep my mind engaged so why not go to hair show, network with young black professionals, support black film, and sip cocktails at the same da– … you get the picture!

I  post to twitter of all the happenings I find out about– but here’s what on my #BHM itinerary so far.

Mills College Back History Month – “Please Don’t Touch My Hair”

Feb 11th 7 pm, Student Union

The Black Women’s Collective presents “Please don’t touch my hair,” an exciting and engaging hair show featuring diverse representations of blackness and black hair. A woman’s hair is her crown of glory and we’ll show you why. Join us as we explore Black women’s hair as it relates to their unique sensibility and complex identities. Hear personal experiences and stories from Black women and learn about the complexities of black hair choices and maintenance.

Ernst & Young – Black History Month Roundtable

Feb 28th 6-9 pm, The Kaiser Center — Oakland

African American Executive Business Leaders will join together to share knowledge, discuss diversity and inclusion business strategies and provide insight to their career progression. Pre-event networking includes appetizers, refreshments and entertainment. This is a free community event and all are welcome.

Featured speakers: Gregory A. Adams, President of the Northern California Region, Shellye Archambeau, Chief Executive Officer at MetricStream, Gina Wolley, EVP, RBG Administration at Bank of the West …and more! Great opportunity to network and meet new people!

SF Noir Remixology (for you party-goers)

Feb 21, 2013, Otis SF

Remix•ology is a SF Noir Food & Wine event that is sponsoring an evening where top African-American Mixologists create an original cocktail menu that is influenced by our diverse American culture as well as the African Diaspora. If you’re a cocktail enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this! Free admission!

Angela Y. Davis Book Signing

March 1st  6:30 PM , Marcus Books Store , Oakland

“The Meaning of Freedom and Other Difficult Dialogues”

List of other events going on at Marcus Books for BHM

Oakland Local has a list of BHM events to do for all 28 days here

Are you attending or participating in any Black History Month events this year? Share with us in the comment box below 🙂

Online Petition to Ban Shawty Lo’s “All My Babies’ Mamas”

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If you haven’t heard about the new Oxygen reality series with Shawty Lo “All My Babies’ Mamas” then you must be sleeping under a rock.  I am going to admit today, right here on this post, that I do have my share of guilty pleasures when it comes to reality shows, however, I do feel that Oxygen Media has taken it too far with this reality show that will depict stereotypes and of course give the media another reason to talk about black women and their children.

I honestly think that Oxygen Media makes their $$$ off the most ignorant stereotypes of women and a show with just a title that includes “Baby Mama” is going to get a lot of attention, whether its negative or positive and they DON’T CARE. But.. I do and hopefully you do too.   Shawty Lo should not be proud of a show like this airing his family business and issues that will more than likely make him look like a lousy father. Now, if in fact they do end up airing this in the early spring, and it’s about uplifting black women and children, providing a great example of fatherhood, and it will have a positive impact on its viewers then I will gladly take all that I said back. (…HA!)

I don’t like to see my race continue to fail so I will pass this along in hopes that you share it with your friends, family, and blog circle cause ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Sign the petition here <—–

Also, what are your thoughts on the reality series? How do you feel about the term “baby mama” used to describe these women?

NYE Recap – Erykah Badu @ The Fox Theatre Oakland

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New Years Eve has always been a nervous feeling me. Pondering plans on how I’m going to spend my last few moments of the year gives me anxiety; hell if you’re indecisive like me making plans in general will give you anxiety. While I juggled the club idea, couch potato idea, or the secret destination idea my thoughts brought me back to music. What better way to bring in the New Year in my hometown of Oakland, California with one of my favorite artists of all time, ERYKAH BADU. It was the perfect night to celebrate, dance, reflect, and of course scream and cry tears of joy and excitement.

Photo by Reesa

My best friend and I were front row in the newly renovated Fox Theatre and stood there for hours just five feet away from a phenomenal crowd pleasure, Erykah.   She was mid “yaaaayoooo” when the clock struck midnight and I couldn’t even wish everyone blowing up my phone Happy New Year cause of the musical trance she had put us in. Balloon drop, countdown, confetti, the beat drops, but no New Years kiss this time.  Just happiness and excitement for a new beginnings and another chance to be great!

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I’ve grown to hate writing concert reviews however I couldn’t pass up on this one.  So, instead of a long drawn out description you probably won’t read, check out these moments I’ve captured:

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Erykah9 Erykah10 Erykah5 Erykah

Photo By Reesa

photo by Reesa

Photos by Reesa

New Year, New Me, New You, New Us.  .  . .Can you say that again?

Life is Living Oakland 2012 – (Oct. 13)

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It’s that time of year again, if you’re local check out this free event at DeFremery park in Oakland.  Its a FREE Celebration Of Urban Life Through Hip-Hop, Intergenerational Health, And Environmental Action.  There will be a music concert featuring local artists like Los Rackas and The GetBack Crew, host DJ Talib Kweli and a Nina Simone tribute by Isis Rising.  From 11-6 pm the park will be filled with live demonstrations, art exhibits, local vendors, teacher’s lounge, and a kids zone. So come out and learn, grown, inspire, and celebrate in the community!

Fore more information visit –> lifeisliving.org
(Bio from the website)
LIFE Is LIVING is a national campaign of Youth Speaks Inc. that generates partnerships between diverse and underserved communities, green action agencies, local community groups, urban environmental activists, and the contemporary arts world. Life is Living encompasses a series of six-hour inter-disciplinary, intergenerational, eco-equity festivals in neglected parks in underserved neighborhoods around the country. Previous cities include Oakland, CA; Harlem, NY; and Chicago, IL & Houston, TX.National funders include Columbia Foundation, Irvine Foundation, East Bay Community Fund, Doris Duke Charitable Fund, Center for Cultural Innovation, and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts.

Red Hook Summer – The Church uncensored

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Many of you probably thought you’ve seen the last Spike Lee film, but were soon surprised when he released his newest joint entitled Red Hook Summer in late August. It was portrayed to be about a story of a boy named “Flik” (Jules Brown) spending the summer with his grandfather,Bishop Enoch Rouse  (Clark Peters) .  What I thought would be a coming of age story was actually a rude awakening to the controversies of the church.  However, the relationship between his summer friend, Chazz (Toni Lysaith), eased the tension off Flik making him more aware of his surroundings beyond the “suburban life” in his hometown. Spike Lee did an excellent job at conveying the church setting by captivating the white Jesus, dramatic preaching styles, and the strict rules that Bishop enoch Rouse tried to live by.
Not to give a spoil alert, but this film had nothing to do with coming of age and lot’s to do with family secrets. I’d like to focus on one character, Flik’s mom.  It wasn’t until the end that you find out why she snubbed her father, won’t look him in the eye, and questioned why she even brought him to Red Hook in the first place.  I know Spike Lee made her character undeveloped for a reason but it makes me wonder why a mother wouldn’t want their child regardless of the relationship, to be around a man who has molested a boy in the past.  Many churches put issues like this under the table and try to hush the situation; in this case the preacher was given a “love offering” to go away and never come back.  He then gave it to his daughter to live in Atlanta, where I believe it was as an apology.
I’m not going to use this post to ramble on about my interpretations of the movie, but I’m more curious to what your thoughts are on Red Hook Summer.  What are your thoughts on Red Hook Summer? The Characters? and how do you feel about the overall theme? Share in the comment box 🙂
Check you local listing here for Red Hook Summer

Hiero Day 2012 – Instagram Recap

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If you were in the Bay Area this past labor day weekend, I’m sure you heard of lots of events happening whether through word of mouth or on social media.  The cloudy skies opened up on Monday and not only did sunshine bring happiness to Oakland, but the first ever Hiero Day; a celebration of independent artists in the community, kept us in warm spirits the whole day.  People of all ages, races, and cultural backgrounds gathered in downtown Oakland on labor day for a day of Hip Hop (and no work lol) put on by Hieroglyphics; an indie music empire. I had to do my homework on this one but instead of the normal google search I took to Instagram to find out how you guys enjoyed #HieroDay .

Check out some of my favorite photos from the instagrammers that captured some of the festivities:

Photo Credit by @mofozvisualz

photo credit @fstopssf

photo credit @rakarene

 

photo credit Rod Campbell (Dope Only)

photo credit @timheezy

photo credit @omgadrian

photo credit @trackademics

 

and of course, lima. the peruvian street food.

P.S. You're probably wondering where I've been... had to get my life together as usual but I promise I will post more. Thanks for supporting me and asking about my blog even when I've been ghost!

-Reesa

Flaming Lips & Erykah Badu – First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Cover)

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Wow. I’m going to leave my commentary to myself on this one, however, I will let it be known that I am a Badu fan til the death of me.  Check out this experimental video with the Flaming Lips featuring Erykah Badu and her sister (The naked body) Nayrok.  Badu is known for her controversial videos but I think this one is the icing on the cake. Or should I say the sperm on the booty. Oops! Watch and comment!

Awkward Black Girl 2 on Pharell Williams Youtube Channel (Trailer)

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The wait is over! Check out the trailer for “Awkward Black Girl” Season 2 which will premiere June 14th on Pharell William’s Youtube channel “I am Other”.  Pharell himself makes an awkward appearance on this video which has me even more excited for what’s to come. Sources say that it’s the new partnership with Issa Rae. My Tuesdays exciting once again!