The M.A.D. Mic

I am currently seeking story submissions and other interpretations for The MAD Mic. An event, directly related to my autobiography, this spectacle will highlight hurt, pain, sorrow and defeat as well as purpose, success, opportunities and happiness. Via dance, monologues, art and theatrics, The MAD Mic ('Making A Difference') will be a platform for participants to vent, scream, yell, kick, heal and inspire.

Essentially, if you experienced it, then it's adequate material for submission. Further, as this event celebrates and affirms freedom of expression, and as life isn't always 'pretty,' I want 'the real' to be seen and experienced on stage. In other words, bring the pain, the grit, the joy--whatever you witnessed during that moment, revisit it and lay it on the stage. As such, poets, actors/actresses, writers, dancers, musicians, extroverted laypeople, you are welcome to submit your interpretation for any of the following-mentioned themes (or one of your own) to ListeningEarsProject@gmail.com. Please include your name, a means to contact you with additional information, and your performance channel (dance, sing, poetry, etc).

Part One Themes (not comprehensive):

teasing/bullying; molestation; heartbreak; cheating; drug/substance abuse; sexual violence; rape; domestic violence; murder; suicide; debt; obesity; racism; sexism; homophobia; prostitution; 'following the crowd'; abortion; 'cutting'; anorexia; bulemia; HIV/AIDS; STIs; child support; single parenthood; cancer; diabetes; gang violence; hate; stripping; low self-esteem/confidence; promiscuity; dropping out of school; serving jail time; bring arrested; addictions; disease diagnosis; selling drugs; foreclosure; alcoholism; being broke/poor/without resources; death; homelessness

Whether you did the deed or it happened to you, will you share? If you experienced any of the above, will you share? No judgment, just your truth!

Deadline for Submissions: Saturday, January 22, 2011

Venue: TBD in Winston-Salem, NC

Date of Event: March 2011

Part Two Themes: Coming Soon.....

Chrisette Michele: Goodbye Game

Sex Syrup (nuff said)

PUSH PLAY!

Call me insane but.....
the track is kinda kool and I dig the sound of his vokals. Now, content and visuals are a different story.....
*Just saying*
But uhm, who is the dude in the end with the bad weave?--EPIC FAIL! And, try again!

Fabolous: U Be Killn Em

Christmas 2010

Okay, you can come on in.....

Food, family and friends.....

Sharing our favorite 'Christmas' memory.....

Opening last few presents.....

 

(sorry, Sean, I had to.....)

Tis the Season.....

Cheers the Season.....

Bottoms up!

Someone Had A Lil Too Much EggNog

Santa, you should know better!

Grant it, you had to work extra hard this year

as parents were in dire need of assistance--

with all the layoffs, lack of resources and such.

And, yea, I get it, you helped yourself to a

little something something because those

dang blasted reindeer are getting more and more

difficult to steer (uh, perhaps you should get them a membership to The Rush. It's $10/month!)

And, poor Rudolph. His nose isn't as bright anymore so you had to fly all night with a flashlight in your mouth. (I feel your pain!) And, what's up with the same old, red and white suit? It's definitely not so 'fly' these days. (Don't worry, I got something for you in the works!)

So, yea, you indulged! And, who can blame you? Bottoms up, Santa, bottoms up!

But.....I think you 'overdid' it.....

I'm not judging or anything.....

Matter fact, forget I said anything, just give

me my presents.....

Tis The Season,

Davita

Keri Hilson: The Way You Love Me

Uh and a 'Good Morning' to you too.....

Ms. Keri (baby).....who knew? :)

Damali Did It (ewwwww)

Talk about beauty.....
Talk about sweet demeanor and personality.....
Then you're talking about my niece, Damali.
She's 15 and while many challenges confront her, such as dyslexia and ADD, she is awesome! (come on, davita, hold back the tears)

Being a teenager can be difficult (as many of us remember) but to be a misunderstood teen and a 'bald' one at that.....whew! Constantly teased about celebrating her natural beauty, these pictures, tell all those nay-sayers to 'suck it' (sorry, that's totally auntie talking!) Tormented because she takes a little longer and needs extra attention in school, these pictures scream 'not only do i get it, but i'm waiting on you to catch up' (whoops, my bad--smh--that's me again).....

Damali, my love, my heartsong, my inspiration, my definition of beauty (in so many ways), auntie sees and celebrates you.....

Prepare yourself.....

Final images are found here:

http://urcreativedistractionphoto.blogspot.com/2010/12/jet-beauty-of-week-damali.html

Beauty defined.

Model: Damali Tenee' Archie

Photographer: Michelle 'Meesh' Flowers

Makeup: MAC Counter @ Northlake Mall

Background/Wardrobe: Davita 'MissSwatty' Galloway

Prince: Adore

*exhale* biting lip.....

Banging Broads!

On yesterday, we had our last shoot of the year and, needless to say, we went out with a 'BANG!' Starting bright and early (too bad the weather wasn't as bright), we 'haired, makeup'd, wardrobed and photographed' broad after broad after broad after broad after broad. On yesterday, five beautiful gals were transformed and inducted.....

Without getting too mushy, this whole experience has been tremendous--from it's conception to meeting wonderful personalities, learning about the paths of women and their bushes to, not only growing with a super, dope group of naturals, but also empowering and uplifting a super, dope group of naturals. 

To my BushBroads crew, cheers! To those who allowed us to celebrate their 'bush,' cheers! To 2010, it was fabulous! To 2011, here we come! And, it don't stop..... http://www.bushbroads.blogspot.com/

Chrisette Michele: I'm A Star

In.His.View: CedRock Starr

I knew he claimed to be an artist and by the looks of him, one can easily come to that conclusion on their own, but what intrigued me was.....his music. Versatile, he can ryhme over any heavily-detailed futuristic beat or the simplest of arrangements. Versatile, he can lyrically assasinate you while infusing 'shake your ass' and injecting 'give him some [ass]' pieces in his catalog. Versatile, he is.....CedRock Starr*

1) Who is CedRock Starr?
CedRock Starr exists when I am creating, whether that is music, film, fashion, painting or poetry. Tagged CedRock by a band member, the name stuck but the addition of Starr was a product of my own doing. Derived from the current, microwave pop culture where everyone wants to be a reality tv star, rockstar and 'shine' in their own right, I took and turned it around and my many aliases provide depth to this CedRock Starr character.

2) How does CedRock Starr differ from Cedric Matthews?
Cedric is a human being. He's a t-shirt and jeans type of dude, while CedRock is on steroids. CedRock is The Hulk, if you will.  Cedric, aka the 'normal person,' acknowledges fears and doubts but in the entertainment industry, supremely confident and supreme creativity conquers. In this realm, CedRock exists.

3) What inspires your creativity?
While I'm a lifelong student, the golden era of hip hop (say 1988-1997) heavily influences, as does pop culture. Tupac. Nas. Jay-Z. Snoop. Dre. Biggie. The depth, concepts and lyricism of KRS-One, the growth and creativity of Outkast, and the authentic nature of hip hop inspires. I'm also inspired by black people in their prime, doing what they love and how that is communicated.

4) Desribe your style.
Collage and a melting pot. Essentially, I'm a fly on the wall, taking the best parts of what's dope and making it my own.

5) Define the current state of hip hop.
Whack. Dead.

6) Thoughts about women in hip hop?
Women have always been the underdogs and when they were heavily represented, the bitches, whores and excess of sex wasn't as prevalent. There was balance. With Queen Latifah, Lauryn Hill, Moni Love, and MC Lyte it wasn't a gimmick. Today the video chick and artist is 'naked' and 'gimmicky.' Sex and being sexy, however, isn't a new phenomenon. There's always been a Madonna, or Josephine Baker or Donna Summer.

7) Can you even name 5 females in the rap game?
I don't check on the radio but Lauryn Hill still does shows here and there. Nicki is cool, progressing and I've heard some tracks where she's a beast. She's the current 'It' girl. Kim is chilling. Remy is in jail. Fox is on the sideline.
(*sidenote: he couldn't answer the question)

8) What's your favorite line in a song/piece?
I don't know. I don't have one at this moment. I appreciate a lot of people for different reasons but it seems that everyone is a punchline rapper these days. Take Drake and Weezy, for example.

**WORD ASSOCIATION**
Obama: 'the shit'/ West Coast: 'the shit'/ Weed: 'the shit'/ Freedom: 'lacking'/ Black: 'issues'/ Jill Scott: 'queen'/ R&B: 'fucking'/ Old School: 'dope'/ Common: 'sense'/ Politics: 'fucked up'/ Color: 'beautiful'/ Music: 'stevie wonder'/ Life: 'starr'/ Beauty: 'spirit'

9) Favorite curse word?
nigger

10) What makes you happy?
unconditional love

11) What pisses you off?
dishonesty, disloyalty, ignoarance, 'isms'

12) Favorite color?
red

13) What did we lose when MJ died?
A really good, pure soul. The greatest performer, period, his talent can't be overstated. We lost 'The King,' and a genius.

14) What are you fearful of?
Failure. Not living up to my full potential. Not having my mother see the success as she and I both defined it. But more than that, I am fearful of her death. That is scarier than the 'boogieman' or 'being shot on the block.' She was my first lover and teacher.

15) Describe your music.
Organic. Honest. I'm not worried about being the hardest dude or ladies' man. My music is truth. As I began as a poet, there's no 'fly shit' in my creations/pieces as poetry is personal, raw, genuine. Many liken my sound/me to Pac, Tribe, Eminem, Outkast and while I'm flattered, their passion is a 'copycat' but our sounds are original.

16) Do you have a favorite piece?
No, not really, they are all my babies. My music is tailored to real shit and not what's 'hot' because eventually that hot shit cools off. If you hear a piece about an intervention, the love of my mother or a piece about Bianca, Stephanie or how I d*cked this chick down, that shit really happened.

17) What is the purpose of your music?
It's therapeutic. It's a release whether good or bad. Essentially, I want to put things on people's minds, have them listen and leave with food for thought. Reality is what people need so I welcome my audience to laugh, cry, bob their heads, shake their butts, reminisce. And in the same spirit as Goodie Mob, UGK and TI, there is social commentary.

18) What is your response to the statement, 'Hip hop is disrespectful, a waste of time and pointless?'
I would have to clarify the meaning of 'hip hop' as it's more than what's televised. What are we talking about? The music? Are you saying the artist is disrespectful due to content? Are graffiti artists disrespectful in tagging buildings? Is the b-boy disrespectful in laying cardboard and cutting up corners in New York? What aspect of hip hop is being challenged here because many people have a tendency to 'box' hip hop in.

19) Is underground or commercial music more authentic?
Nine times out of ten, underground is. Underground artists aren't as confined or branded and just create based on emotion and their experiences. I can't talk about Bentley's and 'making it rain' and popping bottles when you see me at the club with a single drink, on the bus, when you saw what I drove. In the underground realm, authenticity is forced because people see the truth. Most times with commerical artists, they are 'good' in what they do but their personas are fake.

20) Where can we find your music?
http://www.lifestarrchronicles.blogspot.com/
www.myspace.com/cedrockstarr
www.myspace.com/ceddyrockrock
www.myspace.com/ibinelstarr
www.myspace.com/yukpookielongstockings
www.myspace.com/sirdanzealot
http://www.youtube.com/user/CedRockstarr?feature=mhum

The Temptations: Papa Was A Rolling Stone

McQ Pre-Fall/Winter 2011

CHARLOTTE BENSON from McQ on Vimeo.

RaNDom Pics

as found on 12.3.10

@ the barber shop*

To cut or not to cut? NOT!

business plan...

we're so out the 'box'

family. thanksgiving.

family. thanksgiving.

sister getting her hair 'did'

oooooops. snooze button.

family. thanksgiving.

plate. thanksgiving.