Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
#HMIC: J.Shannon Aspires To Inspire By Making His Own Lane (TitleTBD Magazine Article)
“My main goal is to give a sense of motivation to people in my area, people in Mass and people all over the world who don’t really have the opportunity to create it for themselves. I had a lot of friends who were on the streets who either end up dead or in jail that didn’t have the opportunity, who were so talented, way more talented than me in everything that I’m doing.”
His aspirations may seem big, but Shannon doesn’t want to embrace this venture as a chance to show himself off. He would rather praise those around him and elevate them, than keep the spotlight on him. His personal documentary, which he will release this June – MYOL Doc: The Other Jay (2010) – follows not only his journey, but the journey of artists, athletes and entreprenuers in the Greater Boston area. Shannon, along with his business partner has been collecting footage of different local artists and of Shannon himself for the last five years. He says that this will be the last time for a very long while that he will put the focus on himself. It is just an effort to show the world what he is about and what he can do.
Snippet of SHANNON ASPIRES TO INSPIRE BY MAKING HIS OWN LANE written by
Rochelle Ballin of titletobedetermined.com
#MsLMstatus: Mother's Day (May 8th-14th)
To me, my mother is the epitome of a strong woman. While living in a household with all males for over 20 plus years she has balanced being a great wife, mother and career woman. She has given her motherly advice, love and support through our numerous basketball games, school meetings and everyday life no matter what she was going through. As a woman and more specifically a Dominican woman, she is the main motivation behind my mission to encourage young women all over the world to become the best mothers they can be while chasing their dreams.
#MsLMstatus: Beyonce Covers Billboard Magazine, Announces New Album Title and Meaning (May 8th-14th)
Beyonce, who will be receiving the Millenium Award on May 22nd from Billboard, recently interviewed with the magazine about her next album 4. She talks about managing herself, where her career is going and how she understands herself as an artist.
Read the interview here:
Whenever you put out a new song, it seems to generate a catchphrase. Is that something you think about?That's what I always want to do - I'm attracted to songs that will become a dinner conversation! [laughs] With "Single Ladies," clearly I'd just gotten married, and people want to get married every day - then there was the whole Justin Timberlake thing [recreating the video] on "Saturday Night Live," and it was also the year YouTube blew up. With "Irreplaceable," the aggressive lyrics, the acoustic guitar, and the 808 [drum machine] - those things don't typically go together, and it sounded fresh. "Crazy in Love" was another one of those classic
moments in pop culture that none of us expected. I asked Jay to get on the song the night before I had to turn my album in - thank God he did. It still never gets old, no matter how many times I sing it.The new album is called "4." Aside from this being your fourth solo album, what significance does that number hold?
We all have special numbers in our lives, and 4 is that for me. It's the day I was born. My mother's birthday, and a lot of my friends' birthdays, are on the fourth; April 4 is my wedding date.How did the creative process begin with the new body of work?I recorded more than 60 songs: everything I ever wanted to try, I just did it. I started off being inspired by [Afrobeat music pioneer] Fela Kuti. I actually worked with the band from "Fela!" [the hit Broadway musical based on his life] for a couple of days, just to get the feel for the soul and heart of his music; it's so sexy, and has a great groove you get lost in. I loved his drums, all the horns, how everything was on the one. What I learned most from Fela was artistic freedom: he just felt the spirit. I also found a lot of inspiration in '90s R&B, Earth, Wind & Fire, DeBarge, Lionel Richie, Teena Marie... I listened to a lot of Jackson 5 and New Edition, but also Adele, Florence + the Machine, and Prince. Add in my hip-hop influences, and you can hear how broad it is. I also gave myself more freedom to really belt out some songs, and bring soul singing back: I used a lot of the brassiness and grittiness in my voice that people hear in my live performances, but not necessarily on my records.This is your first record that you've made without your father managing you. What sort of options opened up that may be different than before?It's not that anything bad happened between us. My family has my support always, and they support me, but when you've been working with the same people for 15 years, it's natural to eventually have your own ideas. I believe that parents prepare their kids for the moment that they're on their own: at this point, I'm taking everything my dad and my mother have taught me, and I'm able to do things my way. We were at a point where we'd learned so much from each other, and now it's exciting for me to do this on my own and hire my own team. I've started managing myself.Your film career recently took an interesting turn. You've gone from "Dreamgirls" to "Cadillac Records" to "Obsessed," and now you're working with Clint Eastwood on the latest remake of "A Star is Born."
It's a dream come true; I'm still in shock that it's really going to happen. Clint Eastwood is clearly the absolute best, and I'm so honored and humbled. I was in no rush to do another movie unless it was the right film, and I didn't even want to touch "A Star is Born" unless it was with him. I actually learned that this project was in existence, and kind of claimed it. I want to get to work right now!"A Star is Born" is an appropriate choice, as it follows the rise of a female singer to stardom. What have been your milestones on the way up?I would say when Destiny's Child worked with Wyclef Jean on "No, No, No Part 2" - we were so young and green and in awe of everything, and couldn't wait to sing for him. And winning our Grammy for "Say My Name" was incredible. I remember hearing the song on the radio for the first time: I felt like "Wow, this sounds like a classic - something that will be around forever." Those melodies and that fast, staccato way of singing created a new style; it inspired a whole movement in R&B. Being part of that was amazing.After all those achievements, what was it like going solo?Scary and empowering! Everyone in the group was very nervous, and terrified to do things on our own. We missed each other; it was hard having to make your own decisions and not have someone there to say, "I agree" or "I don't agree." But going through that is a part of life; it was a big first step for me, but one of many first steps I'm sure I'll have. I kind of feel like that now again.I'm approaching 30, and finally took a break in my life, which I've never had. I took more than a year off: I traveled around, spent time with my husband, woke up in my own bed, ate whatever I wanted, went to museums and Broadway plays, watched documentaries, and just had life experiences. I never get to go to concerts because I'm usually performing, so I saw so many shows - great bands, like Muse and Rage Against the Machine, that also inspired the album. There were a lot of artists I'd never been exposed to: I'm like a sponge and soak everything up, and I learned so much from watching these great performers. Having time to grow as a human being was really inspiring, and gave me a lot to pull from. I'm excited about growing: I can just have fun, and the artistic freedom to do whatever I want. At this point, I really know who I am, and don't feel like I have to put myself in a box. I'm not afraid of taking risks - no one can define me.
-Billboard Magazine
RIP Bob Marley (February 6 1945 – May 11, 1981)
Nesta Robert “Bob“ Marley, OM (February 6 1945 – May 11, 1981) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rock steady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers (1963–1981). Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited with helping spread both Jamaican music and the Rastafari movement to a worldwide audience. He is an icon beyond an description that I could post about him, celebrate him if you know about him and if you don't, you need to explore the life of Bob Marley!
Monday, May 9, 2011
#MsLMstatus: Michelle Obama Does The Dougie, Running Man & Beyonce With Kids For "Let's Move" Campaign (May 1st-8th)
Michelle Obama made a surprise visit to Alice Deal Middle School today as part of her “Let’s Move!” campaign, which meant dancing “The Dougie” and “The Running Man” with a bunch of kids while Bey blared through the speakers. The "Lets Move" campaign is a focus of The First Lady who is encouraging kids to eat healthy and get involved in more physical activity like dancing, basketball (NBA Commercials) and more! Get some kids involved, "Lets Move"!!!
#MsLMstatus: Beyonce "God Bless The USA" (Proceeds to 9/11 Charities) & "Lets Move" Campaign School Visit (May 1st-8th)
All proceeds from "Proud To Be An American" will go to 9/11 charities.
Purchase Beyonce's "God Bless The USA" Single Here...
For weeks selected star students of P.S. 161 have been working it out for fitness. They have taken up the charge lead by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign. The Let’s Move campaign combats the epidemic of childhood obesity through a comprehensive approach that builds on effective strategies, and mobilizes public and private sector resources. Let’s Move engages every sector impacting the health of children to achieve the national goal, and will provide schools, families and communities simple tools to help kids be more active, eat better, and get healthy.
Today, those star students thought they were just filming the moves from Beyonce’s Let’s Move video, based off of her hit “Get Me Bodied” song. They completed a Zumba warm-up and the Let’s Move choreography several times before New York City Chancellor of Education Dennis Walcott stopped by to offer words of encouragement. And while the children were happy to see Chancellor Walcott they were growing tired and maybe suspicious of all the new faces and camera crews evading their gym. However Ling convinced them to give it one more go and no matter what…never stop dancing!
The kids organized themselves and prepared for one more show. The dancing began, the hard breathing increased, and then superstar Beyonce Knowles burst through the back gym doors to give a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Beyonce danced along side the children and then posed for pictures.
#MYOL News: Jay-Z Honored With Emmy Award (May 1st-8th)
Jay-Z received the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition/Direction/Lyrics for his performance of “Run This Town” during Super Bowl XLIV. He continues to break records that many with the game of Hip Hop which there is no competition. Whether its being part owner of an NBA franchise, front row at Yankees/Knicks/Nets games or winning an Emmy for a Superbowl Kickoff Intro he dominates the market whenever Hip Hop and professional sports cross paths. Truly in a lane of his own, Hov epotimizes #MYOL.
Hip Hop: Wale x Meek Millz - 100 Hunnit (May 1st-8th) #SelfMade
"I promised Ricky and Milly that I’ma kill it/Running throughout them digits, and Dollars on me I’m Emmit/I’m run it I’m so 100 with every nillz I run with/Tell them nillz we coming, we f-cking it up this summer" - Wale
"Ha, and I don’t ever ask the price on it/Married to the money hater, throw some rice on it/I told my jeweler get my Mueller, throw some ice on it/I treat that p-ssy like its Tina, I go Ike on it" - Meek Mill
"Hold up/Got the fridgedest temperature on my wrist again/Trying this shit to nillz is like giving children ritalin/Bomo sitting in the front, see you in a minute yo/And them haters went away as soon as I left Interscope" - Wale
“Get your money budget back, fire all your artists’, We be burning everything, they label us as arsonists” - Meek Mill
Hip Hop: J.Cole - Disgusting (May 1st-8th)
"I like em long legged, Mega Thick/Work it out Ya know employ it/You wanna know how I know I’m the shit/Cuz I keep clogging up the toilet"
"Nillz ask bout me, Silly if you doubt me/Close your eyes and see where the game is headed without me/Give you the realest n*****, give you the chills/You looking at the reason the label gave you the deal/You remind ‘em of me, Let’s see how does it feel/To know I fathered you niggas and left you out of my will"
"Nuff of that bullshit cake rap/With your childlike scriptures/I’m busting off n**** take that!/Don’t let the limelight get ya"
"Nillz ask bout me, Silly if you doubt me/Close your eyes and see where the game is headed without me/Give you the realest n*****, give you the chills/You looking at the reason the label gave you the deal/You remind ‘em of me, Let’s see how does it feel/To know I fathered you niggas and left you out of my will"
"Nuff of that bullshit cake rap/With your childlike scriptures/I’m busting off n**** take that!/Don’t let the limelight get ya"
NBA: Tom Thibodeau 2011 NBA Coach of the Year (May 1st-May 8th) #SalemState)
Thibodeau played basketball at Salem State University, and became an assistant coach at the school in 1981. In 1984, he became head coach at Salem State after serving three years as an assistant. One season later he became an assistant coach at Harvard University, where he spent the next four seasons. 20 years ago when Tom Thibodeau became an assistant coach at Salem State he might have not even been thinking about becoming a head coach in the NBA or maybe that was his goal all along. Either way I'm sure that as he began the journey to coach in basketball there were many people along the way who told him he couldn't coach at Division 1, never mind the NBA. After years of hard work and perseverance, those who doubted him along the way must have their foot in their mouths. Thibodeau made his own lane, I'm sure no one ever thought some assistant coach at D3 Salem State would become 2011 NBA Coach of the Year almost 20 years later, except for Thibodeau himself. Congrats to Thibodeau! This story is motivational and supports the theory that if you have a dream you have to believe you can accomplish it when no one else will. I hope you continue to follow my journey and I can follow yours! #MYOL (@makeyourownlane)
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