Meet Bridget Kelly: Taking Over R&B

Man oh man has R&B surely been blessed with an influx of unique and talented ladies taking the helm of a genre that was slowly becoming so infused with Hip Hop that it was beginning to disappear into oblivion. Thanks to the likes of Elle Varner, Janelle Monae, Ledisi and many others the genre is on its way back to the glory it once claimed. In comes beautiful, long time songwriter and artist Bridget Kelly, whose single "Special Delivery" is reminiscent of the golden era of soul music and steadily making its mark on urban radio.

Ms. Kelly could easily pass as another beautiful songstress but the the power and conviction of her voice and the lyrics of her music separate her from others that claim the same title. Born and raised in New York City, the graduate of the famous LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts credits her love of music to her parents who were both avid music lovers and performers. Now signed to Roc Nation, Kelly is hoping to storm the industry by reintroducing unequivocal music performance with the release of her upcoming album that will feature productions by the six time Grammy nominated Frank Ocean, James Fauntleroy, and Ryan Leslie to name a few.

Being backed by Jay-Z's Roc Nation may prove to be a blessing or a curse for Ms. Kelly with the latter being our worst fear. While the label is known for its avid artist development, some of their artists seem like regurgitation of others (Rita Ora reminds me of Rhianna) which often does not sit well with active music listeners. Though nothing is new under the sun, Kelly seems to offer a touch of nostalgia with a hint of 2012 freshness.

To learn more about Bridget Kelly you can visit www.bridgetkelly.com

Why Katt Williams' Breakdown Matters.

Thanks to the prevalence of video surveillance and the rapid transfer of information on social media sites like Twitter or Facebook, we all have front row seats to the gradual demise of beloved comedian and entertainer Katt Williams.  As tales of Williams' erratic and violent behavior become everyday occurrences  laughing at him becomes easy as the one who once told the jokes has now become the "joke".  While others may be able to find delight in another's ills, Katt Willliams' behavior is quite sad and deserves consideration from those who have supported him over the span of his once thriving career.

Speculation of the cause of outbursts have been attributed to drug abuse and from the looks of recent photos/videos showing a haggard looking Katt, that conclusion can easily be drawn simply on appearances alone. Looking pass the superficial, one can simply see that this bad place he is in stems  from something much deeper emotionally and/or mentally which must be addressed to save this man's life much less his declining career. The lack of mental health awareness and treatment in the African American community affects much more than the individual and the stigma attached to having mental or emotional issues have only served to worsen the wound. It is simple to dismiss Katt Williams as crazy or "bout that life" when we only see snippets of his actions. Stepping back to look at the whole picture will reveal that what we are privy to witnessing is only a tiny piece of an entire collage.

It is likely that what Katt is facing (career stoppage, possible incarceration, financial loss) began long before he became a popular comedian and that left unacknowledged has snowballed into a gradual breakdown while in the judgmental eyes of public opinion. As funny as he is, Katt can not laugh his way out of the trouble his actions has put him in and he must do a thorough self reflection to have an inkling of hope of returning to his former self. Hopefully through his resources, Katt will find the help that he needs before he reaches that "dark" place but only time will tell.

Do your think that Katt Williams comedic career can recover from his latest behavior?