Aretha Franklin

Cory Henry

                                                    Corey Henry  

Assassinated 50 years ago today....misssed is an understatement. #martinlutherkingjr

So, earlier this evening my roommate said "the world is crazy". Grandma used to say that when I was a kid, and here we are years later  - guess some things don't change.  I promised myself I wouldn't talk politics in this year's blog.  It's so hard to avoid it, but I will try.

Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook is in the news. Some say his platform is in the middle of the political space, with allegations of selling ads to Russians which my have had a impact on the last presidential election.   As promised, I won't do down that worm hole, However, this is the shit that got me crazy.


"Facebook scraped call, text message data for years from Android phones"
 

Sean Gallagher, Ars Technica story reminds us once again how Facebook is stealing our personal data and selling it for profit.  

It's been a long time......

Uber proud to be a part of Beat Culture Brooklyn.  Congrats to all the beat makers, DJ's, performers and especially the support from those listening. #todaysfuturesound #beatculturefam Todays Future Sound 

This Health is for You

Okay, I'm not going to be an expert on H.R. 3962, the short or long term effects, victories or pitfalls. What I do know is if you like it or not, this President is trying to moved on the platform he was elected on by over 60% of Americans. Take note, he's checking off his to-do-list and his opponents know it. Here's to you President Barack Obama.

Dr. King's Birthday ...we are still hurting.

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. Born on January 15, 1929 he is 81 years old. Sadly, this day is no longer celebrated by the masses. As a national holiday in America, we recognized his birthday this coming Monday. For better or worse, like Presidents Day, & Labor day, MLK JR Day has become just another three day weekend, but wait.

On his birthday, today in 2010, we are awaken by the total destruction of the country of Haiti. Just three days after a 7.0 earthquake rocked the heavily populated capital of Port au Prince. Hundreds of thousands of people are feared dead, and millions of people are homeless, without power, water, food, shelter. Sleeping side by side with neighbors, friends, & enemies, in open spaces as they can't return to homes deemed unstable due to the numerous aftershocks. Many homes in the capital city and surrounding areas, including the Presidential Estate were fattened. Simply reduced to rumble by the force of this quake. The dead lie in the street. What is left of morgues and hospitals, are outdoor triage centers and overflowing. Aid has yet to arrive to all. As relief on the ground or en-route. There's a bottle neck at the airport and ports. I've been riveted to news networks CNN and MSNBC. The images are surreal and something I can't ever remember seeing in my lifetime.

So, on this King's Birthday, I'm reminded of how fragile we all are as humans, but how strong, resilient and of faith we are. My love, heart, prayers, thoughts, time and money go to the people of Haiti, and to many of my Haitian family and friends living here in the US and around the world. May we all find comfort in knowing somewhere in this universe there is peace for all of us, past and present.

We are all hurting on this day Dr. King. however your legacy, vision, determination continues enlighten and uplifted a nation of people. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday!

Greetings,

End of a decade, well not so fast. December 2010 will be the end, but for many anxious people the end of 2009 couldn't have come any faster. It's been the year of change of me. Finding new diggs, renewing old friendships, and open for new a relationship.

Money, Money, Money, let's make it! Education, Education, Education, let's get it. Spiritual, Spiritual, Spiritual, let's maintain it.
Let's build. Let's love, let's listen and let's live.

God give me the strength to make the right decisions. Yield to temptation and judgement. Love like a new born.

I miss you all that left us.

Time is flying

So much has happened this year. I'm a total slave to a job that use to be just extra money to satisfy my love for tech toys, and my bar tab. I removed myself from part of the industry I've worked in for many years. Sold a bunch of my stuff. Moved to the Queens borough with a friend. We both are feeling the financial crunch, so we've come together to work it out by sharing a living space. Boy, that hook up could not come through at better time. Thank the lord, I'm not homeless. In fact, I feel a bit guilty. They crank the heat in this place so hard, i constantly have a window cracked, sometimes open. i've come to find out this is a trend in apartment building. What a waste of energy. With that said, it's already November 2009. Where did it(time) all go.

Kick him when he down?

I was duly corrected this week. It's not money, but the love of money which is the root of all evil. Never a worshiper of money, however it does afford me to do some of the things in life that i love. Number one on the list is sharing. I'm the first, and I'm happy to see my nephew is as gracious, to pick up the check when amongst friends. There's nothing like a good meal, beer and service. Out on the town with the ones I love. Like J D said, money ain't a thang!

I wonder if Bernie Madoff always picked up the check when out with family, friends and fellow thevies. Seems like from his guilty plea to numerous felony charges; money laundering, bank and mail fraud to name a few, that he could afford it. Hmm, I wonder how it feels when you know you have billions of $$$ at your exposure at any time and place in the world. It's no wonder why he pleaded guilty. He the real king of New York.

So, he, his wife, family and cronies have been living the high life of deceit, snobbery and greed. It's now time to kick the man when he's down.

Rush

Politics, the game is at an all time high. The republicans, after taking a brutal beating in the last presidential election is already campaigning for 2012. The problem is, they don't hve a legitimate candidate with any brains. So they've allowed the conservatives with big balls, including Sarah Palin, who out of the bunch clearly has the biggest, to take a shot at the premature election race. One would think that they would lay low for a minute. Nah, black man in the white house is enough to keep their constituents on edge and ready for the take over.

Rush is the latest to rear his head. Form your own opinion, but I beleive Al Franken was right.

It's been a minute...

Hey you'all. Sorry, i been a bit occupied with life. As the year is winding down and life challenges seem to continue. I realize today that I missed writing. So, here we are. I promised to do something more often, even if it's a short post.

R.I.P. Odetta, Miriam McKever, Mc Breed....

m

Mickey for President!

On the eve of the end of the democratic primaries with what seems like a historic evening in the history of America. I can't help but reflect for a moment on a convo I had with a friend just a couple of days ago. It sort of went like this.

Said friend was a little worried because he felt that democratic front runner Barack Obama couldn't win the general election against John McCain.

Wow, here's my thoughts, simple and to the point. If Mikey Mouse was running against John McClain, I'm voting for Mickey. How can anyone who has lived in this country be happy with this administration and it's policies. It's been 8 eights years of buffoonery, blunders and bad karma. The fleecing of America by this administration is historic. J. Mc, 40 years of public service, and ideologies held in the Reagan/Bush playbook breed war, recession, drugs and the destruction of the middle class. It the republican way.

Now, I'm not here to say that Democrats are flawless. Obama or Hillary, it's up to you to make that decision. However, if it was Mickey Mouse vs J. McCain

Mickey for President, Goofy for Vice-President

The "Golden age of Hip Hop"

I was invited to a party sponsored by Red Bull, you know the energy drink. Honestly, I'm not a big fan the those type of drinks, I've got all the energy one needs, you know what I'm sayn'. Anyway, one thing good I can say for the brand is they have hooks into the underground Hip Hop scene & a real supporter of the art. This was my first time to the Red Bull space in tha city on thompson st. I was expecting to hear this band "The Cool Kids" perform and also check in on a friend that invited me to the event. I did my homework the night before. Searched the net for the group and to my surprise, yeah, I had seen the video sometime last year. Reminiscing about this "hot chick" that sent it to me swearin, that it was the next ish, wondering why she's got pissed at me 'bout some stupid comment I made in a joking manner. I guess that why they have smiley faces, huh :-P. Anyway, lo and behold the kids are all up on youtube with vids and interviews. Now months later, I guess there's a real buzz out on them and rightly so. They have re-fresh Hip Hop with honest, raw, and intelligent lyrics, re-fresh the beats from the so called "golden age of Hip Hop." Yo, The Bomb Squad ish never get's old. So, where am I going with this...oh yeah, so come to find, the kids are not performing, just one kid, DJ Chuck Inglish is djing the party, and i'm not a hater but you just have to love djs that are using the back button on Serato to blend and scratch. Damn, i need to have another convo with GrandMaster Flash. But, dude wasn't scare, played Roc a fella all-stars and jade's one hit "Don't walk away" in the same set, very cool.

Let me get to the meat, no kidz, but Blestenation from Mbugout City, wherever tha fuck that is, although they shot a video on the boardwalk on Coney Island, they get props for that...opened the set with a lot of energy and with one if the MC's claiming the be the 'ugliest guy to look good in pictures.' It's too bad the mics were horrible, but i could tell tha fellas had skillz. Next up was Mickey Factz, who? Was introduced to him earlier in the evening. I actually bump into to him as i was negotiating my entry into the spot. You would have thought Jay Z, or better Jay & Beyonce was in the building the way the door man was scrutinizing(some) folks. Dude straight lied and said I wasn't on the list. Had to get my boys to come down and expose his silly ass. Anyway, Mickey(and crew) straight murdered the stage, beat, lyrics, perfomance, XL my man! His crew, just showed their ass on stage, to the point where Mickey got mad, threw them all of the stage, told the DJ, Melo X to bring his shit back "cause that not the way he does it." Then proceeded to do a routine that had all of us in his palm.

I was happy to see some young bucks doing it well. Kinda reminded me of the old days, that "golden age" everyone is talking about.

Shout to Wes, Ran, Rich and 247hh.com, good looking! Oh shout to all the hot chickz in the venue. Nice to see you in the building!!

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the assassination of a great human in our planets history. Dr. King's message still lives on in the hearts and minds of all of us, young and old.

"Spanky" on guitar

Chalmers "Spanky" Alford

I'm a little sad today. I keep on making the same mistake. When you think of someone, then say 'i need to give them a call', do it.

"Spanky" passed yesterday, this after my first thought and conversation I had with a friend about him happening weeks ago. I hear he's on the new Al Green cd, I guess we'll have something new by him to listen to, however, I would have love to had talk with him, just to let him know, that I was playing again, needed some lessons, how are you and the family, i miss you, and when are you gonna be in NY again.

When am I gonna learn my lesson.

A guitar master, wonderful human being, make your soul rest in peace. I'm been blessed to have known you, lucky to have played side by side with you. Thanks for the lessons my brother.

Hot Chicz

Well I don't want to come off like a pig. It's so easy to do in today "everyone is equal" tone that's has been set in the american way of life. All equal, right, even in divorce. Why, I don't get it. What, I must split my mind and heart in half for wifey to have, really. That's that shit.

Anyway, I thought this would be the year I would tie the knot. I'd figure by now I'd would have all the skirt chasing feelings out of my system. However,over the past few years I learned some new lessons from chicz which have brought me to a new understanding about relationships. Game is played by both men and women. It's take two to tangled. But, understand, you can't change me emotionally. Show me how to managed my money better, take me somewhere i've never been, but don't fuck with my mind. That's neither fun or righteous. Just deal my experience as an guide to make a better way. Open to almost anything & sensitive to many. Sure your a hot chicz, and being a little spoiled is cool, but don't be selfish or greedy. There's only so many hoops a brother is gonna run through before he finds the next game.

Chris Rock is for Real!

Hail to the Queen

Before Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, and even Bob Dylan. There was Odetta. Seen in the eyes of many as the God Mother to American folk music scene. Dr. King called her the "Queen of Folk Music". Odetta's performance at the 1963 March on Washington is cemented in the history of the struggle for civil rights.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. King

Thank you for your sacrifice.  You've made our lives rich and reverent.  

King Center