ODE TO 2012

another season has ended, 2011. presently, it's a world-wind because my, how the time flew. this confirms one thing, time waits for no one. but uhhhhh, it must halt a minute longer or two or three as i reflect on the year.... hmmmm, i guess i can share a little:

+relocated back to charlotte

+many business-related opps came my way

+met a slew of interesting characters!!!!

+more tattoos

+fell in love with my family all over again

+witnessed the 'downness' of my friends

+met someone really special

+traveled

+completed book #2

+father remarries

+teamed up with interesting crews

-grandma's dementia worsens

-i had a crohn's flare up

-slightly suicidal (who am i kidding, there is no such thing as 'slight')

-contemplated abandoning my condo

-family bickering

-relationship changed with that someone special

-financial troubles

i can go on and on about the good and the bad, the pretty and the not so pretty but i won't bore you. understand, we all experience 'life' and unless that is taken, i will/you will continue to go through 'things.' what matters is how you face your challenges and how you embrace the successes.....

know that i aint stopping, i aint hiding, i aint punking out of nothing, nothing. know that i am forever grateful, forever getting back up, forever human.

DEAR 2012, I WELCOME YOU.....

i plan to continue to work on me, all of me so.....LET'S PLAY, READY WHEN YOU ARE!

BlackPower

As our reality includes protests like Occupy Wall Street ,Time Magazine’s Person of the Year is named: The Protester, and issues of color and race still exist, a recently released documentary, The Black Power Mixtape 1967 – 1975, offers extremely interesting footage and commentary on a crucial period in America’s protest history. Director Göran Hugo Olsson weaves together footage shot by a group of Swedish television journalists between 1967 and 1975 documenting the Black Power Movement with commentary from Erykah Badu, Harry Belafonte, Stokely Carmichael, Eldrige Cleaver, Kathleen Cleaver, Angela Davis, Louis Farrakhan, John Forté, Robin Kelley, Talib Kweli, Abiodun Oyewole, Sonia Sanchez, Bobby Seale, Questlove, Melvin Van Peebles and many others. Laid over a soundtrack also by Questlove, and Om’Mas Keith, history, culture, philosophy and aesthetics of the period converge in a well crafted and satisfying documentary experience. One that leaves the viewer with much to think about and of 

course experience some slick  seventies style.Now available on Netflix.-Diana McClure.

Credit: HighSnobette

rock and a hard place

as a freelancer, i HAVE to hustle my talent.

HAVE to grind my crafts.

long as the outcome is income.

however, i HAVE tons of ideas for other opportunities and not so much time to dedicate to their development.

what to do?

organization, right?

i wish it were that simple.

my mind is overloaded and in overdrive.

note to self: one step at a time.....

it aint that simple

i am not a saint.

i don't want to be a sinner.

but life is 'trick'y so i'll pimp the sh*t out this b*tch.

how many of you feel like this?

ghetto dreams...

BLUZ

 

i want to destroy something

I Want To Destroy Something

Rihanna: You Da One

such a rose

 

Photo Credit: HighSnobette

This Sh*t Cray (no, for real, it is)

Artist Spotlight: YOUNG LUQ

follow him at: @YoungLuQ

@719musicgroup

@chyskillz

@_duppANDswat

TAKING OFF.....

Artist Spotlight: QUILL

follow him: @quillhiphop

www.quillhiphop.com COMING SOON.....

@719musicgroup

@chyskillz

@_duppANDswat

TAKING OFF.....

Wear It Like U Mean It

bring 'em out, bring 'em out.....

the weather beckons you to!

Model.Call.

SPIDEY_MAN

 

not that i'm first in line at the theaters or anything but this poster design definitely caught my eye! interesting.

It Only Makes Sense

can i get an encore

we're doing it again.....

wednesday. REVOLT @ PopLife!

hair: revolution ego

wardrobe: me :)

makeup: flawless makeup

video: ABlackTV

host: Bluz

d&s

a little swollen but it's straight and so are we..... 
www.duppandswatstudios.blogspot.com

EMI Industry Party

the drive to NY sucked but the reason for traveling was some kinda awesome.

despite the incessant rain, me and my comrades swerved in a suburban from the queen city to new york city to attend the EMI Publishing Christmas Party! yes, EMI, as in  http://www.emimusicpub.com/---- (go there and stay awhile). 

ok, let me slow down a little.....

chyskillz, the award-winning producer behind acts such as onyx, ll cool j, busta, large professor, etc allowed such an opportunity and i quickly jumped---now being his right-hand gal for 719 Music.... 

the drinks were endless and so was the food but more importantly, we were able to network with label execs and dope producers (.....that worked/work with biggie, dipset, trey songz, etc). and, aside from a few minor happenings (uhh i did say the alcohol was free and plentiful), we had a productive night. as VP of 719 music, i will say that my team, my crew is about to go in.....

stay tuned!

Baby talks...

Y U MAD?

Video Provided by DatPiff.com