Same Love/Macklemore [video]

A friend put me on to Macklemore a while ago but I only recently got around to listening to him. I need to listen to his album The Heist a couple of more times but I'm digging this song and its accompanying video. I totally should have posted this on Thursday for National Coming Out Day but alas....life gets in the way.

Also, fashion bloggers who are obsessed with Thrift Shop...you know he's totally making fun of you, right? Okay, just checking.

1991/Azealia Banks [video]

I like the Madonna/Vogue, old school Foxy Brown, and even a little Missy Elliot-esque references in this video. Very sleek but I miss the DIY-feel of '212'. Mostly because I adore that Mickey Mouse sweater.

Check out Azealia Banks' latest video for '1991'. Thoughts?

Wut/Le1f [video]

A friend put me on to this video this morning and I cannot stop watching it. This is just fabulous on so many levels.

Angel Haze [freestyle]

Before you watch this video, go and read dashxtrouble's review of Angel Haze's EP. Then, come back, pour yourself a rum + coke and enjoy.



*thanks to dashxtrouble for sending this to UR. Make sure you check out his blog. You know you have some rum + coke left in your glass.

Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up [Throwback Thursday]

The bd and I took the kids on a mini-vacation/road trip earlier this week. While in the car, we heard this song about 4 or 5 times. Each time, I had a moment where I questioned whether we should let it play. After all, we were sitting in a confined space with little ones.

And each time? I let that mothertrucker play. This song rocks my world.

Heavy Rotation [videos]...by pemora

Before you watch these videos, you must understand -- brown people love Hall + Oates. Love. I think we like to claim the dude with the mustache as being Latino. Anyway, the only group we love more than Hall + Oates is Tony, Toni, Tone, hence our obsession with Raphael Saadiq. So, enjoy. I have been enjoying these two videos a lot this week!

Subway Singer Covers Adele....by pemora

There aren't many things I miss about NYC subway life. Actually, between my claustrophobia + germaphobia, I don't miss it very much. Except for 1 thing -- I do miss the various underground performances. From the Michael Jackson impersonator to the group of young breakdancers (although they never really danced, did they? They would always drop a hot song + just rile each other about how they were going to rip it), I was constantly entertained. Check out this video to see an amazing subway performance. 

Throwback Thursday....Afro Blue - American Boy [video]

Okay, not really a throwback. But I just had to show all of you the BEST performance on this season's The Sing Off. Afro Blue is a jazz ensemble from Howard University + they have been ripping it. Check out the video clip + the show.

Someone Like You (Music Video)....by pemora

I know a ton of people were disappointed by Adele's official video for 'Someone Like You'. As beautiful as I thought it was (Paris/her face/that coat....mesmerizing), I could see how folks could find it to be boring. Especially for a song with lyrics that touch everyone over the age of 13.

My cousin passed along this video version of the song and I must say...I am wow'ed. Is that a word, wow'ed? Because I am...this storyline is captivating, surprising + heartbreaking. Whoever you are, Casey Ford Alexander, you are super talented.

Throwback Thursday.....Mint Condition - Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)

While waiting for the bd to come home for lunch (yay for living 7 minutes away from his job!), I decided to let my itunes play dj. First song up + I am thrown back to 8th grade.

And to bring it full circle...I totally remember dancing to this song at a party in the 9th grade + watching the bd hang out with his friends in the corner of the room. 9th grade, people! That's a whole lotta years ago...

Throwback Thursday....Straight Up

I definitely woke up this morning with this song stuck in my head. I even sang it to myself in the shower and tried to reenact the whole tap dance scene. Except...my shower fits half of an adult-sized body and I am 5 months pregnant. But, still.....I was Paula Abdul up in that piece.

RIP 2pac....by pemora

Today marks the 14th anniversary of the death of Tupac Shakur.

I must admit that Tupac's death did not hit me as hard as Biggie's.  Maybe in part because I was totally into the whole East Coast/West Coast shenanigans and felt that I just HAD to like Biggie.  The other part was that the one-two punches of their deaths left Biggie's feeling much more serious and scary.  And, I think, the last reason is that I, like many people, kinda believed that Tupac was alive + kicking it in Cuba (have you heard that theory?).

It wasn't until very recently that I truly realized what a loss 2Pac's death has meant to the hip hop community.  I  was reading some of his lyrics and had to pause because he was saying some ish that was deep on so many levels.  And stuff that feels oh so relevant, even after over a decade of time had passed.

But I think what truly gets me about Tupac is that I could have this revelation about how deep + profound he was, and yet, my favorite song of all-time is "I Get Around".  Yes, the feminist in me is slowly dying, but I bet she is doing a damn good booty jiggle.  I love this song.  Don't hate me.



PS: Shop Free September has been hard.  Today was pretty darn stressful + I came home, excited to purchase something pretty + wonderful.  Alas, nada.  So I poured myself a glass (ahemredplasticcupahem) of wine and called it a night.

Throwback Thursday....You Can't See What I Can See

Sometimes you just wake up the morning with a song in your head and you have to play it on repeat.  53 times.  That is what happened today.  No rhyme or reason to wanting to hear this song, just did.  *shrug*

Although, I must admit to always having a super duper secret crush on Heavy D.

Throwback Thursday.....Cool Like That

I just finished watching a documentary on BET entitled 'My Mic Sounds Nice: The Truth About Women and Hip Hop'.  I might write more about my thoughts/feelings about the documentary, but what I have really been thinking about is how beautiful Ladybug Mecca is.  I know she was a bit of a crackhead for a minute, but I think she is truly stunning now.  And I distinctly remember wanting to be her (right down to being in a jazz/hip hop group with 2 other dudes) when I was in high school.

Throwback Thursday....by pemora

I realize this is a day late. But let me explain. I actually thought that TODAY (Friday) was Thursday. And this is what happens when you wake up on Friday, thinking that it is Thursday, and then realizing that it is Friday:

1. you do cartwheels in your brain
2. you feel like you just found $5 in your pocket
3. and then you panic because you haven't made weekend plans yet, because you thought you had another day to plan

So, this morning while in Dunkin' Donuts, the cashier told me "Happy Friday!" and I was like, "Damn, its Friday!" and immediately thought that this would be a good day. And THEN...2 old Filipinas came up to me and complimented my sandals. I tend to think that I dress like an old Filipina, so it was a true compliment to me.

Despite it being 7am, this is turning out to be a good day. Hence, the (belated) Throwback Thursday....

Throwback Thursday....by pemora

I am not sure if this will actually become a weekly installment, but I had this song in my head this morning and just had to share.  I remember eagerly anticipating to see it on The Box.  I almost got up the nerve to call and request it myself but was too terrified of the wrath of my parents.  So I would just hope and pray someone in my neighborhood loved Michel'le as much as I did to request it.

Side note: if you grew up in the hood, wasn't it the worst when The Box had a string of rock videos?  I remember just scratching my head like, "who the hey is requesting all of these damn songs?"

I also remember not completely believing Michel'le's baby voice, especially when you compared it to her singing voice.  Her baby voice would really and truly irritate me....and I also remember chicks in the hood trying to imitate it.  Oh, hood memories.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Miguel featuring J.Cole - All I Want Is You ft. J.Cole [video]....by pemora

If you have spent more than 45 seconds in my house, office, or car in the last month, you have heard this song. When I love a song, I sweat it for a minute, and then grow tired of it. And just when I was growing tired of this song, Miguel dropped the video. I'm in love again.

~pemora

My Chick Bad remix [video]...by pemora

My Chick Bad remix [video]
by pemora

While driving through the southern states, I heard this song way too many times.  This and that Timberland/Drake song and that other really annoying one by Soulja Boy.  Seriously.  Just three songs.

Now that I am back in NYC, my sis put me on to the Ludacris remix.  I love that my girl Eve ripped it.  And Trina looks fly.  And even that other chick that kinda looks like Solange was pretty darn good.  They all made Nicki Minaj look like the Black Barbie Doll with no talent that she is.

Enjoy the video.

Jackie [exclusive video]

Just one more....happy valentine's day, from UR + The Wellington Papers....

RUALONE [video]

Wow....just love these cats.  Follow the artist (or artists?) at HBWELLINGTON