A Soul Sistah's Life offers the candid view of current events from an urban and southern perspective. Whether there are every day issues, pop culture explosions, or new Soul,R&B, Hip Hop music, Yaya gives it straight with no chaser.
On my way to soak up the sun at Carolina Beach this past weekend the radio finally played a track that immediately caught my attention. During one of those kiss it or diss it segments, the DJ was as shocked as I was that the track he played titled,Life Jackets, was dissed my the audience. You gotta take it with a grain of salt considering this particular station plays Young Thug in heavy rotation. Intrigued, I began searching for the song and artist and was pleasantly surprised with the results.
Meet Luke Christopher, a singer/rapper that can be easily considered the next pre Young Money Drake. The Los Angeles songwriter/producer is only 19 years old and has more soul than many rappers twice his age. His smooth voice and captivating lyricism makes him a stand out and an artist to definitely watch for the upcoming 2015 class of newcomers. His latest single, Life Jackets, is a smooth R&B/Hip Hop fusion that is different but not so much that it can't cross over to mainstream markets. It doesn't hurt that he is a cutie pie also.
Check out his single, Life Jackets, below and let us know what you think.
If you have never been introduced to Bounce music boy are you missing out on one of the most energetic, expressive, and raw musical styles ever created. Distinctively New Orleans based, Bounce music thrives off of losing all inhibitions but more importantly its the soundtrack to ass shaking. Thanks to a musically inclined buddy of mine, I was introduced to Bounce artist Big Freedia and I have been hooked ever since.
Big Freedia, a New Orleans fixture, has worked overtime to bring Bounce to mainstream markets. The towering and fierce Freedia stands out in more ways than one. With his flashy fashion, tall frame, and fly hairstyles the Queen Diva was born to stand out. Granted not everyone will be into a big, flashy dude twerking across the stage but after seeing a show the audience immediately falls in love.
Freedia, shaking it fast.
Freedia began his music career in 1999 after performing backup for best friend Katey Red and was smitten by the rising Bounce genre. Thanks to the Fuse Netork, people from all walks of life have been exposed to a type of music that typically was geographically confined to the New Orleans area. Now fresh off the release of his album, Just Be Free, Big Freedia is aiming to bring Bounce music to the world.
Check out Big Freedia below and let us know if you are feeling it.
Recently a new phrase has been circulating in the world that stumped me a little. Though it can be easily identified as an insult by people cooler than me, I was not quite sure what it meant and after speaking with a popular and social media savvy college student I came to understand that this new phrase is just as deplorable as I figured. It is actually an acronym for "that hoe over there" better known as "T.H.O.T". What the what now?! As if there were not enough degrading words and phrases to describe girls and women. This phrase is far from clever but a bit redundant since "hoe" is already included. I find it to be just another moniker that is demeaning and specific to only females. Even in 2014 where women are the breadwinners for many households, hold executive level positions, and are on a more even playing field than ever before, we are still subjected to critical judgements that seem to relate all our faults back to sexuality. Despite moving out of the Victorian ages, it seems that a woman's worth is still subjugated to who she decides to share her body with. Double standards are nothing new and probably will be around to the end of time, yet it is no less disheartening that women must be bound by more name calling and judgements. Not to say that people shouldn't be concerned with who they share their sexual energy with, however, any word used to degrade or put down anyone should not become popular or be promoted. But of course at this point it is what it is.
I say "buck" it! Mankind will always find ways to make others feel inferior and using words has been one of the most powerful and efficient ways to do so. Words do hurt and ideally young women would not be affected by being called out her name but we know this is not at all true. In today's cyber age where anyone can anonymously post whatever they want about someone, no one is exempt from dealing with the severe mental or emotional anguish that comes with it. To say that it is mostly teenagers and young adults that do such things would be a lie. Immature, insecure, and hopeless people are the ones that find ways to make others feel less than and this phrase along with many others is just an easy means to do so. Prayerfully, this phrase will die a fast death like much of the other vulgar and useless lingo.
Chadwick Boseman as James Brown in Get On Up (2014)
Over recent years Hollywood has been obsessively working overtime to dramatize black history for the silver screen. This can be seen as a good or bad thing depending on who you ask or which way the wind blows. In 2014 alone, there has been the release of the James Brown film and production has been announced for movies about the incomparable Whitney Houston and the tragic death of singer Aaliyah. Unlike in years past, many of these stories are or will be told through the lens of a black person either as director or producer. As happy as I am to see color on the big screen does it come at a price that is harmful to black history? Movies are just that. They are written and produced to entertain not to educate and on several occasions films have failed to convey truth and accuracy for artistic purposes. This is understandable since cinematic value is important but usually it is achieved through embellishing the facts here and there. The problem lies not within the production and release of such films but the lack of education of their audiences. How many young people do you know under the age of 25 who care about the legacy of Mr. James Brown?
Films about black pioneers can be beneficial if they encourage people to seek more information about the dynamic figures outside of the visual aspects. Many a topics I have sought to learn more about after first being introduced to something or someone unfamiliar. Hopefully the influx of films based on black historic figures will serve as a introductory platform for those who have yet to be exposed to the richness and diversity of black history. Another great hope is that Hollywood will seek to provide black films not just based on slavery or musicians as well. We can only dream can't we.
Rolling high off the success of his feature on Schoolboy Q's singleStudio, BJ the Chicago Kid is continuing to pull audiences in with the release of his highly anticipated and soulful track, titled, Perfect. Known for a throwback style reminiscent of Bobby Womack mixed with a touch of Bobby Brown's crass, BJ is increasingly filling the void with his personal spin of urban soul music. Hailing from the Windy City has no doubt had a hand in influencing his passion for soul music like the city's other greats including Donny Hathaway & Curtis Mayfield. The Motown(how fitting) artist has built an avid and loyal following since the release of Pineapple Now-Laters in 2012 and being featured with critically acclaimed artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Big K.R.I.T. Now working to pave his own lane, BJ has officially released his single called Perfect which proves to be all the title says it is. The slowed up hip hop beat provides the backdrop as BJ's voice serenades us about the insecurities that women face in a world that expects us all to be perfect. BJ debunks the theory that all women should have fat asses and flowing weaves. Check out BJ the Chicago Kid's single, Perfect, hereand let us know what you think.
