Put On Some Damn Clothes!

We all have those days when we sometimes feel unattractive. Though the tons of reality shows may tell you otherwise, not one person ever woke up looking like they were ready for a photo shoot regardless of how great their genes may be. Whether if it's due to that monthly bloating, bad hair days, or a those pesky pimples that pop up out of nowhere, no one is exempt from feeling down about their appearance on occasion. 

Most black women I know are very particular in our manner of dress, so much so that we spend millions of dollars each year to look and feel our best. From our hair to our nails, the business of beauty is now and probably will forever be an industry that will flourish.  I remember growing up with my mother and aunties ensuring that our clothes were ironed, hair pressed, and that no sign of ashiness was visible on our brown skin. We would not dare walk out the house in our pajamas or with rollers in our head, not just because it looks tacky as hell, but because we knew an elder would scold our ass. 

Nothing grinds my gears than to see a potentially beautiful sistah out and about looking as if she just rolled out of bed without so much as washing her face (or behind).  Women now proudly strut down the grocery aisle in their Hello Kitty night clothes and even rock their slippers as if they are the latest Louboutins. Isn't slipping on a pair of jogging pants, t-shirt, and sneakers just as quick and simple? 

We all may not give a damn about what they wear from time to time. We all get sick or have more important things to think but having a sense of pride about oneself should be a 365 day occurrence. Like it or not, black people are judged by the way that we dress. Brothas with Timberlands and hoodies will be viewed as a thug even if he has a M.B.A. from Yale. The same goes for a woman walking around in her pajamas, for she will also be labeled as a hood rat or food stamp queen. We do not have to be slaves to stereotypes but we must be mindful of how we present ourselves to the world. 

I beg you to be honest with your friends and family by letting them know when they look a hot ass mess. 

Nipsey Hussle Sells Out of His $100 Mixtape

The hip hop world was on fire this week after learning that Los Angeles rapper, Nipsey Hussle, planned to sell his mixtape for $100 each. Although he planned to offer the "Crenshaw" mixtape online for free, evidently the hard copy of the same thing is much more valuable. In a time where a hundred dollar bill is equivalent to a twenty, it is not very surprising that Hussle's supporters flocked to support the artist. Mind you, he only printed 1,000 copies but that is a quick $100,000 for the slow minded out there. 

I can not proclaim to be a fan of Nipsey Hussle's music but I am a fan of his ingenuity and his confidence that his fans would show up and support with their wallets. I've heard the mix tape and in my humble opinion it is not worthy of the price tag but to the Hussle fans out there I salute your diligence especially when you can cop the same album for free. This says a lot about the commitment of music fans and proves that people are willing to pay for music that they believe in. Despite the grim numbers of physical albums being sold, it is likely that when the music is worth it to people they will support it through purchasing power. 

Let's just hope we don't see too many more $100.00 mixtapes in the near future. 

What are your thoughts on Nipsey Hussle's hustle?

Getting to Know: Foreign Exchange

Producer Nicolay (left) and Phonte
of The Foreign Exchange

Hailing from ties to my home state, North Carolina, the grammy nominated duo The Foreign Exchange may not be well known nationally but very soon they will be. Made up of producer Nicolay and rapper/singer/songwriter, Phonte. This unusual pairing just so happens to make beautiful music together. They  along with a team of artists make up this dynamic and musically gifted collective that includes multi-instrumentalist, Zo!, Wilmington, NC emcee Median, and singer/songwriter Jeanne Jolly. 

The duo of Nicolay and Phonte (member of acclaimed hip hop group, Little Brother) are the most prolific despite becoming connected through the power of online. The two met through a hip hop message board while Nicolay was still in his home country of Holland. They went on to create the album, Connected (2004) together before they had even met in person. They are currently on their fifth album release with their sophomore project garnering a Grammy nomination for the debut single "Daykeeper". 

The Foreign Exchange roots are deeply embedded in the culture of hip hop. Phonte was a member of the critically acclaimed N.C based Hip Hop group Little Brother whose other members included rapper Big Pooh and award winning producer 9th Wonder.  

The recently released album, Love In Flying Colors, features Nicolay's signature electro soul production and Phonte's mix of R&B mixed with meaningful lyricism. 

Take a listen to The Foreign Exchange so you can be the envy of all your friends. 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE LATEST FOREIGN EXCHANGE ALBUM