Category: Entertainment

Dispicable Me- Pharell

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Dispicable me.   This movie was the cutest of them yet this summer.  Of Course I’m not into the movie spoilers but I will just let you know that if you are in for a sense of humor and animation make sure you hit your next matinee.  As I was enjoying a laugh or two or three I noticed that the soundtrack was RAW.  Then I googled and realized that Pharell, one of my favorite producers, was apart of this.  He owned this soundtrack with features of The Bee Gees and Robin Thicke.  Hip Hop is making its mark even in the children’s eyes of movie theatre, Who would’ve known?

Terry Kennedy brings Skateboarding to BET

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You may have remembered him back in those Ice Cream days with Pharell, Terry Kennedy (TK) is a sexy professional skateboarder with Fly Society.  I spotted him in the latest issue of Essence Magazine as one of the bachelors of the month.  He’s moved on from previous girlfriend Angela Simmons, and has a reality show to premiere on BET this October.  I can’t wait because I used to have a myspace crush on him in High School, oops! Guess he knows now!

Monday Soul at The New Parish

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Mondays are now the hottest days of the week thanks to The New Parish in downtown Oakland. Every Monday The New Parish teams up with a group of local up and coming artists to put on a weekly event entitled “Monday Soul”. Soul is the perfect way to describe this event as artists with great talents grace the stage and the crowds brings confidence and a good time to the Bay Area.
Monday Soul was originally located at Air Lounge and was moved to the New Parish this summer by JE Media Company founded by Jackson Elis (better known as M. JE), Jareem, and DJ DSharp. These young gentlemen collaborated together to build a platform for aspiring bay area artists specializing in Hip Hop and R&B to showcase their talent in front of a respectable crowd every monday from 10 pm-1:30 am. Artists like J. Myers, Samm, Erk Tha Jerk, and the R.O.D project are amongst the many that share a relationship with the hosts to perform each Monday.
I was immediately drawn in by the New Parish’s lightly dimmed red lights and the diverse and expressive crowd that came out on a MONDAY to share their love of music, to enjoy a signature cocktail and comfortable conversation with their peers. I couldn’t picture a better place for such a soulful meanng. The house DJ (DJ DSharp) kept us vibin’ and head rockin’ to the sounds of James Brown, Common, Drake, and even Slum Village. The guest artist of the evening was the gorgeous recording artist Deja Bryson, Bay area’s own, that graced the stage with backup singers and dancers performing her hit single “I’m Power”. Making sure that she interacted with the crowd, Deja brought audiences to the stage and sang current Bay Area Anthems to keep us interested throughout the night.
Monday Soul is not just another party, what’s interesting about this production is that they value entrepreneurial endeavors as well as community efforts. In retro respect to making sure this event is worth your while, The New Parish provides memberships for $15 to have free entry, discounts, and updates on all events. Monday Soul has also partnered with Oakland Tennis and Macy Gray’s media group “Fusicology”. So ladies and gents, there is no reason why you should be sitting at home watching re-runs on a Monday night when you can enjoy an evening with the up and coming, best looking, well oriented, and influential people at the forefront of today’s Bay Area music.
 

For more information please visit http://www.thenewparish.com & http://www.twitter.com/MrJE

and Email ContactMondaySoul@gmail.com

Usher – There Goes My Baby

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Check Out Usher’s video to “There Goes My Baby”….You cannot sit here and say that you don’t like this song anymore. Even my mother does! Enjoy!

Vodpod videos no longer available.

 

“No Ones Gonna Love You” – Cee Lo Green

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I honestly love this song “No Ones Gonna Love You” by Cee Lo Green. His voice is amazing and he’s one of the greatest artists in my book. Check out the promo video to go with it, I like.

Dwele at Yoshi’s in Oakland

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Tempura Sushi, Sweet Potato Fries, and the clinging of cocktail glasses weren’t the only sounds at Yoshi’s in Oakland on a Friday night.  R&B artist, Dwele opened the beautiful summer weekend with two shows on Friday night, July 9th, in the Jazz Club. With the timeless sounds of his new album and snippets of his old discography, Couple, friends, and families gathered near the stage to experience his live band and vocals.

            I felt the anticipation as the light dimmed and the announcer introduced him to the stage.  Dwele immediately came in, basked in his standing ovation, and grabbed the mic with his neatly shaven goatee, and his laidback Detroit demeanor.  The band responded be playing an all time favorite “flapjacks” with the help of the audience.  Ladies snapped their fingers and the fellas were groovin’ as he went through a few selected songs like “I Wish”, “and a small breakdown from his current album “W.ants W.orld W.omen”.  He introduced the band like any artist but what was so special was Oakland’s own KevChoice was on the keys, a very popular hip-hop pianist that makes appearances in the Oakland nightlife scene.

Dwele became very interactive and strolled through the crowd to “What’s not to Love”, and “How I deal”.  By showing gracious love, he conducted a tribute to Oakland with the background singers “Oaktown” over the instrumental to Usher’s “There Goes My Baby”. Although his selections seemed very new to the audience the show ended abruptly and he exited the stage right in the mist of our excitement.  I was almost upset and joined into the demanding of an encore.  He finally came out and thanked Oaktown with a song that definitely sealed the night.  Whether it was a short evening or one of the first shows of his tour weekend, you would truly have to be a true Dwele fan to understand the experience at Yoshi’s.

Be sure to check out more reviews on music, Arts, and Entertainment at my page on the Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/x-57925-Oakland-RB-Music-Examiner

Date Night?

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As if going on Dates exist these days, I’ve come across some cool spots that you should know about and I should look forward to in my future.  With the single girl woes beyond me, we always find the perfect places to go on dates when were lonely. HA! I’ve decided to share with you the top 3 places that I would take my significant other on a date in the Bay Area.

MUA

2442 Webster St. Oakland, Ca.

(courtesty of Oakland town Art)

This eclectic place has the perfect happy hour. I met one of my girlfriends here for drinks, and despite the hot bartenders that might distract you the have great FOOD! Happy Hour is from 4:30-6:30 pm where you can indulge Quesadillas, Kabocha Squash Tempora, or cripsy Tofu.  If you’re feeling hungry I’d go for their famous Hamburger and fries, all made to order.  The setting is warm and the enviornment is creative, with great music and conversation you will be sure to enjoy ur date.

Exploratorium

3601 Lyon St. San Francisco, Ca.

Okay, call me a nerd but I love going to museums and re living my childhood. You learn so much and it’s very interactive for you and your date.  The Exploritorium is celebrating its 40th Anniversary, you can experience the sound sandwich, cow’s eye dissection, and even a canoe tour. So forget about your dinner plans and hit San Francisco for a day of exploring the human body, culture, art, and science.(Ah, educational).

Yoshi’s

510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland Ca.

So, I’ve been to both the one in Oakland and in San Francisco and for some reason I find it a little cozier for a perfect date night.  If you are anything like me snuggling up to your mate with the sounds of Dwele, Goapole, Mos Def, or even other known jazz sensations would be the perfect way to start your weekend.  Over japanese food and cocktails, if you seem to agree with the nightlife, I’d suggest you get your tickets for your latest jazz, smooth ensemble.

There you have it, my top 3 picks for the perfect date in the Bay Area, I honestly think that couples have no excuse when it comes to places to go and things to do in your location.  I always seem to spot a museum or bar somewhere, get creative and ditch those sorry excuses for boredom.

Hair Spotter: Shingai Shoniwa of the Noisettes

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Lead singer of the Noisettes, Shingai Shoniwa caught my eye with her powerful outspoken mane. This Indie Punk-Rock Artists, is a English native of Zimbabwen descent. With a focus on making the soundtrack of her life, Shingai was featured in magazines like Rolling Stone and the New Yorker as one of the leading artists of the International music industry. With songs like “Scratch Your Name” and “Never Forget You”, the Noisettes have become the forefront of the new punk rock today. I love the fact that the leading singer uses Kinky Curly products just as I, realizing that no matter what nationality or how much fame you’ve aquired we all share the greatness of our naturality 🙂

Here you can see her naturality in action with last year’s video “Dont Upset The Rythmn (Go Baby Go)”

Bay Area’s new Soul- The R.O.D Project

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I’ve been back in the bay for well over a month now and when I first step foot in the bay the song “I Can’t Stand You” was playing on out hottest station KMEL Jams.  It’s been a hit for awhile now, so I was recently put onto the new Bay Area Soul and in previous posts he is well known alongside artists like J. Myers and London in the R&B.   R.O.D has headlined in the past House of Soul with artists like Goapole and Dwele. I have two songs to share with you “I Can’t Stand You” and “Beautiful”…look out for him in the future! 

“I Can’t Stand You”- It reminds me of the hyphy movements favorite soud and of course we all have that one we couldn’t stand, so here’s the anthem

Pharrell- Prettiest Girls

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I’m glad to se that Pharrell back in the studio even though he probably never left.  He’s always doing something for the ladies and keeping it classy.  Check out his released song “Prettiest Girls”…seems like an album is brewing!