As many of us who grew up in the 80s & 90s, I was devastated to hear about the recent death of the greatest singer of our time, Ms. Whitney Houston. Her talent was unmatched, a voice like no other woman. Selling over 170 million records worldwide, won 6 Grammies, 30 Billboard awards and 22 American Music Awards, she was a pioneer for women of color around the world. A vocalist, actress, producer, and mother, she was at one time the essence of a powerful woman. The Associated Press coined it best, “She had the perfect voice and the perfect image: a gorgeous singer who had sex appeal but was never overtly sexual, who maintained perfect poise”. Her passing is just as impacting as the death of the late great King Of Pop, Michael Jackson.

My favorite Whitney Houston moment has to be her singing the national anthem in 1991 as well as her Bodyguard years. Who didn’t sing “Greatest Love of All” as a graduation song growing up? That’s how I remember Whitney and will continue to bring her memory with me. In the later years, her career was tainted by her tumultuous personal life. Her 14 year marriage to singer  Bobby Brown, ongoing battle with drug addiction, and bizarre public appearances unfortunately made more headlines than her music. Up until her death, I was still rooting for Whitney to get it together and release a real comeback album.

Although no official cause of death has been made, people are speculating that her drug abuse might have been the cause. I don’t know what’s worse, how she died or how some people are reacting to her death. So because she was addicted to drugs it makes it okay for her to deserve to die at the young age of 48? The hypocrisy of people, when so many indulge in some of the same things she did and flaunt it, yet we criticize how fragile she was with her fight with drugs. We think we know, but we don’t know what was really going on. I honestly don’t care to know how Whitney died, its not going to bring her back, I just want to celebrate her life & legacy. You didn’t need to talk about her everyday and play her music all the time to be a fan, if she touched you with her music one time, that is enough to remember her. So pay your respects and let’s revere one of the greatest icons of our time in the light in which she illuminated the world, with her voice. THE VOICE.

“No matter what they take from me, they can’t take away my dignity” -

Whitney Houston

I wish my generation of 80s babies thought more independently. In the new world of internet and social media, we have millions of new ways to keep in touch with the rest yet we seem more out of touch than ever, especially with originality. I remember we used to fight with school authorities to allow us to wear our own clothes and stop enforcing the school uniform dress code. Yet we graduated and we look more alike now than we did with school uniforms. Same dress code, same music, same philosophies.
Quite frankly where do we even stand when it comes to certain ideas and values? I’m tired of people remaining neutral or not voicing an opinion for the sake of not arguing or someone dare challenging their opinions. When did we become so sensitive that we adjust to other people’s likes and comfortability? Is your standing so fragile? You think your friends won’t like you afterwards? So what if you were wrong? at least you learned something. The whole “I don’t give my opinion on anything” or “Who cares? They don’t pay my bills” its a classic case of it. *YAWNS* Middle men get screwed point blank. In certain situations, sometimes its just not the right place nor time, which Is quite understandable. But people need to be themselves and be okay with that.
I’ve always admired people that have been true to themselves no matter the trend. My closest friends are people whom I respect because they are not afraid to call me out when I’m wrong. Lately it just seems like those people are a few and far in between. If everybody likes you, nobody knows you. That’s how I feel. The key is to respect one another and sometimes just agree to disagree. I’ve learned that sometimes you might disagree with someone at the moment and later on realized they were right. You will be grateful for that conversation then. KNOWLEDGE my people.

Living in an overcrowded apartment, sleeping head to foot with another person, making less that $12/hr and once you get that income tax money, flying out to DR like and acting like a “baller”. MAANNNN DO I HATE EVERYONE OF YALL THAT DO THAT SHIT! That’s why the poor Dominicans that live over there expect extravagant things from us living here. I have cousins in DR that ask me for foams… maaannn I don’t even wear those. GTFOH! Its all of you that go over there and act like ya rich over here that’s lying to them! STOP IT! They never have money but always have enough to drink. When you travel you have to bring an extra bag just for clothes that you’re gonna give away to them. They will never respect our money.

I’m not saying its wrong to give, if that’s what you’re getting from this then re-read. I’m all for giving and helping, but I don’t maintain any adult’s wants. I wake up at 6am everyday in this cold to work for what I have. The natives don’t understand that this NYC life is really living to work if you wanna have anything in this life. So when you go out there and flaunt your nice clothes and treat everyone to drinks, make sure you let them know what time it is over here n stop pretending someone you’re not!

In the months following the execution of Troy Anthony Davis, I haven’t heard much commotion from many people that were extremely upset about his unfortunate death. Many people were so distraught by the injustice this man was going to pay with his life, and now its silence. Did we forget about Troy Davis?

I myself was devastated to hear about his case and the fact that he had to pay for something that was consequence of poor process and litigation. In a case where the death penalty is involved, there should be absolutely no doubt that the person being accused is proven 100% guilty without reasonable doubt. In his case, persecuting him with such cloud of reasonable doubt amounts to a tragic failure in the US Justice system.

Beyond his WRONGFUL killing, I feel we as the people have not stood up the way we should. I would even include myself. I remember when NYC radio personality Charlamagne was being criticized on Twitter by his insensitivity to the issue and tweeted back “Face it. Our generation is a bunch of bandwagon activist. I’m guilty of it too. By Friday we will be on to something else. If you want to change the justice system go to law school, get your degree, become part of the system and be the change you want to see. I can admit I’m full of shit when it comes to issues that matter. I’ll care for the moment, but I move on cause I got my own issues.” As harsh as that sounded, he was somewhat right. Even on that sad day of September 21^st I realized that the media was using this story as a “hot topic” for the time being, when his case was 22 years in the making. To me, that was truly the biggest tradedy in all of this. That us as Americans could forget so easily about someone that could easily be a family member. My condolences to the Davis family who have been living with this catastrophe much longer than the day he was executed. I still think about him. REAL TALK, THAT SHIT WAS BEYOND FUCKED UP!

To me, this is bigger than a Black Man being failed by the obviously defective US justice system. He was convicted of killing a police officer. I believe it could’ve been done by anyone else and the state of  Georgia would’ve convicted them the same because they need to send a message to the public about messing with one of their own. This is more about the invisible class system we have in this country that is financial stature. If Mr. Davis would’ve had the money to hire a top notch lawyer like Jose Baez (aka the new Johnnie Cochran) and the financial influence in his community, he would’ve avoided the death penalty. We need to come to the realization that the US justice system CAN BE BOUGHT.

So what now? What could we do? Honestly I’m not a politician nor a community leader so I don’t have all the answers. But if we elect those into power, they have a responsibility to pressure them into fixing these laws. Unlike Occupy Wall Sreet who have a much long term agenda, I believe we should start small. Writing letters to our leaders and “smart protesting” is a start. Keep bringing up TROY DAVIS, don’t forget!

There are some days that I will never forget for the rest of my life. The day I gave birth to my daughter, the day Barack Obama was elected the President of the United States, and September 11th, 2001. Every New Yorker has their own story of what they were doing the day the towers got hit. This is mine.
It was a sunny Tuesday morning, the 2nd day of my sophomore year in Manhattan Center High School in East Harlem. I was in Mr. Jackson’s gym class. On a regular day he would ask us to change into our gym uniform, but on this day he asked us to stay in our regular clothes. Vaguely, he announced that the Twin Towers had been hit by planes. I remember my classmates whispering and making comments about it but nothing specific. I was wearing a blue Old navy shirt, Polo Jeans, and my blue and white Jordan 6′s.
When I arrived to my 3rd period English class, my teacher set the tone of how serious this “Plane crash” was. She asked all of us to be quiet and she started praying in class. A public school teacher praying in front of her class, that’s a sight you’ll never see. During that class, my principal Mr. Askanazi, made the formal announcement of the events that were going on at the World Trade Center over the school loudspeaker. He excused us if we wanted to leave early, so I left right after that.
I ended up leaving with my friend Diana and her mom 4th period, when she came to pick her up. We stopped at a bodega right across the street from school and everybody was crowding outside trying to see what was going on and how they were going to get home. We had to walk half way to our destination because transportation was limited. I remember getting on the M101 bus on 131st St and that was the most crowded bus I have ever been in til this day. I ended up on 168th St and decided to wait for the A train. I ran into an old elementary school friend, Elisa, at the stop and we waited almost an hour for a train to arrive.
I arrived home around 3pm. My mother embraced me, teary eyed, telling me she was so happy to see I was safe. All the phones were down so nobody could get in contact with their loved ones. She was watching the news and was screaming frantically to the TV. I saw the horror of what was going on. The Twin Towers collapsed after being struck by 2 planes. That’s when it hit me, this was serious. My first thought was “This is the beginning of World War III”. I wasn’t afraid but I knew things were going to change.

My Spanish High School Newspaper "El Intercontinental", an article I wrote about 9/11 a year after it happened. Image in courtesy of my comadre Stephanie she texted me this picture a few weeks ago.

The Summer of 2001 was special to me because that was the summer I had my first job. It was in the Bronx, working for a furniture company. The job required me to travel a lot throughout the city especially the Bronx. I got to see and feel New York. New York was the mecca of the business industry in the world. Things were good. There were jobs available, a lot of money to spend, and booming real estate. Us New Yorkers felt invincible in our safe bubbly haven, or so we thought.
That New York is GONE. Now it’s in an abyss of gentrification during the worst recession since the Great Depression. Downtown Manhattan looks like a Chase bank and Starbucks coffee Disneyland. You can’t even smoke a cigarette with your open Corona beer in a park. Trying to rent an 1 bedroom apartment IN THE HOOD will run you at least $1,200/ month. Many New Yorkers left behind their overpriced hole-in-a-wall in the city, to move further south into more comfortable homes. Don’t be fooled by Sex in the City, there’s no way in hell Carrie would’ve been able to afford that apartment and that expensive shoe habit being a writer.
While I’m not very fond of many changes that New York has gone under, I do agree with the message it has sent to our enemies. Even when you try to bring us down, we will come back bigger and stronger. What was for many years the dark gloomy shadow of the World Trade Center, Ground Zero, 10 years later is a blooming flower of light in the navel of Manhattan. Still under construction, One World Trade Center formerly known as the Freedom Tower, will be the tallest office building in America in the time of its completion projected to be sometime in 2013. A real big “F*CK YOU” to the religious extremists who decided to commit such heinous crimes that have nothing to do with the peaceful message Islam represents. Now 10 years later, we’ve FINALLY captured and killed the mastermind behind the attacks, Osama Bin Laden (THANK YOU BARACK OBAMA).
While the terrorists failed in diminishing the capital of the world, the events left a permanent scar on the city. If you’re not from New York you probably think of New York as Times Square, full of bright lights and thousands of people. Its a promising golden pot of opportunity and booming business. Don’t be fooled, that’s only a small radius inside Manhattan. As much as I love my dear city, this city isn’t for regular folks like me anymore. September 11th, 2001 was the day the Big Apple changed.

Rest In Peace to all the victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks of September 11th, 2001, especially the first responders and men and women in uniform. We honor your bravery in our memories and salute you. Support the troops that are risking their lives everyday for the freedom a few people think we shouldn’t have.

FAN: The people who love and support the artist genuinely. Fans have a real emotional connection as well as support an artist through the purchase of albums, merchandise, or going to concerts. Fans follow the trajectory of an artist and have a healthy admiration for an artist. Fans are able to give both positive and negative feedback about the artist they love.
ex. Mike: “Hey Mike, did you hear the new INSERTNAMEHERE album?”
Mike: “Yessir I bought it”
Jason: “What did you think about it?”
Mike: “I liked the album. I don’t think it’s as good as their last album but it definitely has its bangers. Imma go to the concert they’re gonna have on Friday.”
Jason: “Oh word, I’m going too with my boy . I really liked this album, its a different side of them I never seen.”

STAN: Originally derived from Eminem’s classic “Stan”, but not taken so literal. A Stan is an obsessed fan that goes too hard (overly devoted) for an artist and will make any excuse for an artist even if it’s against proven facts. A Stan doesn’t admit to artist flaws. Stans are hardcore admirers that sometimes can be delusional about their favorite artist and “dickriders”.
ex. Mike: “Yo Jay, you heard the new INSERTNAMEHERE album?”
Jason: “Oh nah I’m at work when I get home I’ll download it. I’ve heard its aite.”
Mike: “Aite? Man u BUGGIN that album is straight fire. They’re a genius ain’t nobody have more power and greater than them. Man you got WiFi at work, download the album, or you’re just another hater!”
Jason: “Fam is NOT THAT SERIOUS. They’ll get my $10.99 when I get home, YOU STAN!”

HATER: Haters are the people that will discredit an artist against proven fact. A hater ignores facts and goes against the artist due to personal vendetta that is most if not all the time unreasonable. Haters slander artists because they usually want to go against popular opinion. A hater is to not be confused for a person who is simply stating feedback about an artist.
ex. Mike: “Yo Jason, you heard the new INSERTNAMEHERE album?”
Jason: “Hell naw, their WHACK AS HELL”
Mike: “Nah homie that album is fire. It even sold 800k the first week release.”
Jason: “So what, that shit is still whack. They need to overdose on pills and die already with that whack ass music. Nobody cares about that shit.”
Mike: “How nobody cares but they sold 800k the first week”
Jason: “Man, you know their family members bought like 20 copies each.”

1. BECAUSE YOU WANT TO
That should be the first reason why you would consider making this decision. It shouldn’t feel forced or an obligation. It ALSO shouldn’t be a step to prevent someone from leaving you. That’s one of the biggest mistakes people make when they see themselves in a down-hill relationship. “Baby I don’t wanna lose you, let get married his weekend”… umm yeah that’s not gonna work.

2. TO MAKE A FAMILY ( HAVE OR ADOPT KIDS)
The Institution of marriage is mostly based on the security of the stability of raising children. Sharing the responsibilities between two adults versus one. You don’t get the dreaded title of “baby momma/baby daddy” and you don’t have anybody’s “bastard” kids. Yes, some people still care about having children out-of-wedlock. That last name is a big reason why people get married.

3. FINANCIAL SECURITY AND MORE INCOME
You have the incomes of two people, therefore, your household net worth is more. Marriage betters your credit score. Also, if your partner has good credit, having that cosign allows you to get more things on credit. You also get less taxes taken off your check when you report yourself as married on a W2. Now more than ever, more women are making more money than their husbands. This especially benefits men because it lessens the stress of providing for everything on the home but allows to keep a certain lifestyle.

4. BENEFITS
You’re officially responsible for each other. So consequently you get to share health benefits, life insurances, etc. Especially if you have a job that doesn’t offer medical coverage but your partner does this benefits you incredibly. You’re children as well are covered.

5. YOU WANT TO DO IT RAW
Its the 21st century, you’re afraid to catch an STD, especially a fatal one. When you’re married you get to come home to someone who’s supposed to (even though it’s not always the case) be FAITHFUL to you. You OWN that ass and you get to have it your way. Plus, you get more sex than most single people because that ass is always there. AND, Some girls are only willing to do anal with their husbands (if you’re freaky like that).

6. ITS A MATURE THING TO DO
Marriage let’s people know you’re not afraid of commitment. Look at the most rich, most powerful men in the world that actually HAVE money they fear to lose, they still get married. So don’t be scared to lose your PS3 and your 2002 Camry to a woman. It means you have accomplished a milestone in your life learning process.

7. BECAUSE YOU WANT SOMEONE TO CHANGE YOUR DIAPER
Unless you die young, you’re going to get old. Old age is depressing. You want somebody to look through your wrinkly skin, fake teeth, grey hair, bengay smell, and crutches and still find you beautiful. You want somebody to call when you’re laying in bed and can’t get up. You want a companion. If you get stuck in the bathtub they’ll come and get you.

8. BECAUSE YOU LOVE THAT PERSON UNCONDITIONALLY
Love. This is why you’re supposed to do it (sometimes). You want to want better for yourself and that person and have them by your side to stick through the highs and lows in life. To make you happy. You need to have them and they need to feel secure about your seriousness in this commitment. Love can’t be measure but it can be proven.

Now Understand, divorce doesn’t mean a marriage was unsuccessful. Sometimes marriages aren’t meant to be forever and people outgrow each other. If you were able to build with one another and had raised a good family I don’t see that as being unsuccessful (unless you were married to Ike Turner). Things happen. Sometimes you have to go through marriage and know that you should try your hardest but it’s not guaranteed forever. But still, divorce should be the very last resort in ending a marriage. You should try together to make it work to the very end.

Finally, know that I AM NOT MARRIED. Reason being because I’m not trying to marry just anybody. But I make some DAMN sense.

I understand, SEX SELLS. Nowadays its a battle of the flesh. Who can show off more and wear less. But is having a nicely proportioned and toned body the only thing that makes a woman sexy? I think her nice smile, her walk, the smoothness of her skin, her stare, and her mind is what makes her sexy. Leaving something to the imagination goes a long way.

So In the Words Of LL Cool J’s classic 1991 Song “Around the Way Girl”, this is an ode to all my cuties that don’t show all their booty lol:

I want a girl with extensions in her hair
Bamboo earrings
At least two pair
A Fendi bag and a bad attitude
That’s all I need to get me in a good mood
She can walk with a switch and talk with street slang
I love it when a woman ain’t scared to do her thing
Standing at the bus stop sucking on a lollipop
Once she gets pumping its hard to make the hottie stop
She likes to dance to the rap jam
She sweet as brown sugar with the candied yams
Honey coated complexion
Using Camay
Lets hear it for the girl she’s from around the way

I need an around the way girl
Around the way girl
That’s the one for me
She’s the only one for me
I need an around the way girl
(You got me shook up shook down shook out on your loving)

Silky, milky her smile is like sunshine
That’s why I had to dedicate at least one rhyme
To all the cuties in the neighborhood
Cause if I didn’t tell you then another brother would
Your sweet like sugar with your gangster talk
Want to eat you like a cookie when I see you walk
With your rayon, silk or maybe even denim
It really doesn’t matter as long as you’re in them
You can break hearts and manipulate minds
Or surrender act tender be gentle and kind
You always know what to say and do
Cold flip when you think your man is playing you
Not cheap but petty
You’re ready for loving
You’re real independent so your parents be bugging
But if you ever need a place to stay
(Oooh you love me)
Come around my way
I need an around the way girl
Around the way girl
That’s the one for me
She’s the only one for me
To the bridge
I need an around the way girl
(You got me shook up shook down shook out on your loving)

Perm in your hair or even a curly weave
With that New Edition Bobby Brown button on your sleeve
I tell you come here
You say meet me half way
Cause brothers been popping that game all day
Around the way you’re like a neighborhood jewel
All the home boys sweat you so you’re crazy cool
Wear your gold in the summer with your biking shorts
While you watching all the brothers on the basketball court
Going to the movies with your home girls crew
While the businessmen in suits be hawking you
Baby, hair pumping, lip gloss is shining
I think you in the mood for whining and dining
So we can go out and eat somewhere
We got a lot of private jokes to share
Lisa, Angela, Pamela, Renee I love you…You’re from around the way

Happy 50th Birthday Mr. President

Today, our 44th President Barack Obama turns 50 years old. Obama’s accomplishments in half a century has inspired a nation and surpassed what most of us thought would be a dream we wouldn’t live to see. His life serves as the resurrection of the American dream.

On Election day 2008, I came out of school around midday and walked to IS 52 in Inwood to vote for Barack Obama. I saw the school gym was packed with voters. Then I rushed to work to start my shift. Everyone at work kept their eyes glued to the TVs waiting in anticipation of the final results. No one wanted to see the same thing that happened to Al Gore back in 2000. Around 11pm est when I clocked out of work, he was declared president-elect of the United States. I felt this peace and joy come over me and I was in a speechless state of shock. I can say I helped vote the first Black man into the Presidential office. I walked to the bus stop in tears and when I got on everybody on the bus was screaming “We did it”. I turned to Hot 97 on my iPod and Funkmaster Flex kept replaying Young Jeezy’s “My president is Black”. I got to my mother’s house and we embraced with such joy. I stayed up for hours watching CNN after that. The different faces of Americans nationwide were filled with smiles, tears of joy, and peace. You couldn’t help but to feel moved, watching history before your eyes. For one night the world celebrated this milestone in social equality. That will forever be one of the most memorable nights of my life.

I feel that he came into office genuinely wanting to help the working class. I think that after he came into office he was smacked with reality about how things really work in the US. I’m sure that he’s had to make many decisions unwillingly in order to compromise with opponents. I’m just unsure if he knows where he stands now that he’s had to compromise so much.

As much as I support and love our president, I can’t say I will be voting for him in 2012 because I WANT to, but because of process of elimination. We are in the worst recession in decades that has affected people like myself, who lives in the poorest congressional district in the United States. Obama made a lot of promises, like the Dream Act, that were important to me but failed to pass. I haven’t found a better candidate for the presidency as of yet, that is the only reason why I’m voting for Obama next year. But if things get worse, and somebody with better alternatives joins the 2012 election, I might swing that way. You better believe that political party won’t affect my vote, because these days Democrats and Republicans are the same thing, Flakes that can’t deliver and care more about being re-elected than the people they represent. But I WILL vote!

Obama, if you ever read this, I hope you know that you’ve made me have hope in the future of myself and my daughter. God Bless you and your beautiful family. Don’t forget about those that helped you get elected. When I turn 50, I want to have the same medical insurance you do, have my daughter’s college paid for like you, and not worry about having to work after retirement age. It’s important to help the world community, but we can’t go cleaning other houses when we have a dirty backyard.

Tonight @CNRush summed up his success better than I could have ever said it. In a total of 15 tweets she wrote:

“If Eminem were black, he’d still be ripping people to shreds on beats, just not selling as many records. Even the record sales are somewhat debatable… SOMEWHAT. But if you’re judging his skill on record sales, you’re off base anyway. I don’t know why people like to act like his skill level would drop automatically if his skin color changed. He blew Jay away on Renegade, came with it on Dead Wrong, got Wayne so excited he turned into a hype man on No Love… was that his race? No. His race explains why his shitty album [Relapse] sold. His race doesn’t explain how he forces people to bring their A game and still lose. Someone asked “If Jay were white, would he still be considered one of the best?” I think that question is just as valid. I hate when people ask that question about Em… that’s pulling the race card to a low point to me. He’s skilled, and this Cannibus thing? You’re clearly mimicking what you’ve heard someone else say….Have I heard some white boys that were pure trash and got away with it because they were white? Yes. They never reached Em’s status. But I guess it makes people feel better to say he’s only good because he’s white…or to tell themselves racism as opposed to lack of talent or regular people appeal is holding them (or their favorite) back. #excuses. Use that argument for Vanilla Ice or Marky Mark and the Fun Bunch… not Emimen. But that’s what he meant by “let’s do the math; if I was black, I would have sold half”. He knows race helped his sales. He knows race got him MTV rotation quicker than black artists get it. But his skill is what allows him to make other rappers sound like ass. Like, if he wants Slaughterhouse to sell, I fully expect him to be on several tracks with them for the album… but bring back Slim Shady.”

Much respect to Christel for her input because she’s right on the money. There’s no way Eminem could’ve survived this long if he wasn’t lyrically talented because other rappers would’ve exposed him and slandered him. But everyone in the industry does not only respect him but prize on having an Eminem feature in their album. People that are still using that “people only like him cuz he’s white” need to sit down and listen to “The Marshall Mathers LP” on repeat for a whole day and watch DVDs of his concerts in different cities around the world and watch the fans react the same way, PANDEMONIUM. Whether he’s in his hometown of Detroit, Houston, or New York, Eminem is King.

Lastly, very briefly, I’d like to add that the reason why I’ll always pick Eminem over Jay-Z in the battle of “Who’s the Best rapper alive?”, is simply this: Jay-Z never made a record for Kia. He never made a real blues song for me when I’ve felt like “Daaaamnnnn that mothafucka hit me right here”. Jay had his couple of bars that touched me but never a full song that I felt he was genuine about his pain. But Eminem made “Rock Bottom”… that mothafucka hit me RIGHT HERE *points to heart* because I understood EXACTLY what he meant and felt the same way. Dammit I love that white boy right there!