These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

I am absolutely horrible at describing things. But I am going to do my best. If you make fun of me I wont be your friend anymore. That's final. I have good taste. We all know that, so you can trust that the stuff is tight. We will see how many times I use the same words over and over again. I do that over and over again (get it?) Anyways. A glimpse into my world...

Books

Jazz by Toni Morrison

This, in my humble opinion, is the best book ever written. Though I am a huge Morrison fan I picked this particular novel because its always new. No matter how many times I come back to the pages I find something new. Her words are beautiful. Her characters are real. What is there not to love?

White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty

White Boy shuffle may be the funniest novel I've ever read. Beatty pokes fun at every African American tragedy in history. From the ballet dancing slave to the suicidal leader of the free world, you will enjoy EVERY page. Plus...Its not long and the writer doesn't use words that are hard to understand. This would be a good book for a journalism major (yea...I came right at yalls necks...Ha)

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley

My inner Angry Black Woman would not let me do a list without mentioning this book. I mean...Its Malcolm X. What more do I need to say?

The Salt Eaters by Toni Cade Bambara

I read this book in my first Women's Lit class. I fell in love with Bambara. She's deep like Morrison without making you feel like you have to read the book 12 times to understand. My favorite character is a black man that looks white. He flips out in the grocery store because hes tired of shiftless Negroes. I felt a real connection with him because I feel like that too. Its a good read.

Bailey's Cafe by Gloria Naylor

Naylor, most famous for The Women of Brewster Place, penned this novel about a diner and all its customers. Its like a good friend telling you about their really dramatic day. The cross-dressing straight man makes you want to laugh but you might just cry. The differences between men and women separate so much...but bring us so close together. Appreciation is the key...

Movies

Eve's Bayou

Samuel L. Jackson, Lynn Whitfield, Journee? Smollet, and Megan Goode. This joint is so old but so wonderful. Coming of age story or something. Its about family or the destruction there of. Southern African Americans with money and problems. I love it.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Awkward murder mystery with Kevin Spacey and John Cusack. Its set in Georgia in this really strange town with strange people that walk dogs that don't exist.

Crooklyn

People always act like this is one of S. Lee's worst but I love it. I enjoy movies that show the strength of the Black family I guess. Plus I sweat the 50s, 60s, and 70s REAL HARD.

Beloved

This movie is not for the weak at heart. Yea. Its Oprah. But try to look beyond that. No, its not as good as the book. But if you forget that the book exists, its a really great movie. Slavery and its after effects. The breakdown of the family. Its deep(i hate that word).

Kill Bill Vol.1 & 2

Gratuitous violence but with women. Tarantino could NOT go wrong. Plus it said "fuck you" on the bottom of the bride's Asics. Who thinks of stuff like that? Only the sickest...Greatness!

New Albums

Little Brother - The Minstrel Show

I got put on to Little Brother from Billy, the realest Hip Hop head ever. Anyways, I blew it off for awhile, but the album is tight. I can listen to it straight through. Further, they have a central theme and actually make it work all the way through the 17 tracks. Its funny and real. Thumbs up from Jenn.

Kanye West - Late Registration

So, I like Late Registration a lot. No, I'm not on Kanye's dick but you must give props when props are due. He pulled a lot of random rappers together and made some real hot songs. A year from today I'm sure I wont still be playing this all the way through, but it is going to last through the fall. I'll be late for that.

Rihanna - Music of the Sun

Who knew that I would actually listen to and like this cd? I mean, Pon De Replay is real tight for the club but is it great for just chillin. No. But the rest of the album is. Its sad Rihanna doesnt get the shine she deserves cause the girl is talented.

Common - Be

Its Common. In my eyes he can do no wrong. I dont care if people thought he had lost his mind after Electric Circus. He was and will always be the man. I love him always.

Eric Roberson - The Vault Volume 1.5

I dont know how new this album is. But Eric Roberson deserves nothing BUT shine. He is smooth without sounding weak. He is loving without sounding whiny. He is just a good singer. His other album is hot too. But The Vault is the best. I dont know if they sell it anywhere but Karibu though (for you non-PG or DC people its a Black Book store).

Classic Albums

Bilal - 1st Born Second

Bilal Oliver is, without a doubt, my favorite singer ever of all time. His album, which came out in the summer of 2001, still gets regular plays by me and probably always will. Hes just tight. He came to HU one year for homecoming and I thought I would die. Bilal's performances are even better than the cd. But its worth the $17 for sure.

Donny Hathaway - A Donny Hathaway Collection

I dont know if gets any better than Donny Hathaway's "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black". That should be some HBCUs alma mater I swear. His lyrics are poignant. His voice is beautiful. And you get the added bonus of repeat duets with Roberta Flack. Old school beauty and talent man.

Fiona Apple - Tidal, When the Pawn

The most soulful white girl on planet Earth. She is so angry (like me) but really just so sad (like me). The difference, she can sing a song and let ALL that out. Kanye used her producer (yes she had him back in the 90s). She has such an edge, but you can see through to the weaknesses. Its hard to explain I guess. If you understand her music you might just understand me.

Mos Def and Talib Kweli - Blackstar

I had to put a hip hop cd. I thought hard about it and this is, in my opinion, my favorite. I thought about putting Black on Both Sides, but I couldnt shaft Talib. I used to hate him but have grown to appreciate him in the last 3 years. Anyways, yes I do own some Jay Z but I would much rather listen to music about something other than cars and bitches. Blackstar...classic..

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

I used to hate jazz. Then I mellowed out and learned to appreciate it. Miles Davis is not my favorite musician. Coltrane is in my heart. However, you can sleep on Kind of Blue. If you arent into jazz and you want to have a starter album this is the one to get. Music without words forces you to pay more attention. The slight changes in tone...feeling moods without speech. Perfection on disc.

Songs

Play - David Banner

The dirty version of this song is so nasty it makes me a little ashamed that I love it so much. I mean wow. The beat though...sick. And the dirty lyrics are great. Hot joint.

Ex Factor - Lauryn Hill

This song is so beautiful. And so real to life. It used to make me real sad. But I'm stronger now. Anyways, at least I know heart break is not just happening to me. And Lauryn Hill can sing. I mean for real sing. Not just carry a tune. She needs to drop another album NOW.

Ms. Fat Booty - Mos Def

This was the very first hip hop song I ever heard that was not about money. I know thats sad right. Well, at least its the first one I remember. I have loved Mos Def since. The song is about him falling for a girl and she playing him. Not my M.O. but I feel where he is coming from.

Stir It Up - Bob Marley

Sultry sounds of Mr. Marley. He needs no description. If you dont like Marley you are flat out a lame.

Mary Jane - BYB

I just couldnt do a list without at least one gogo reference. No this is not their song, but their version is so tight. So chill (like me). So great. How could people not love gogo???

Poets

In October 2004 I went to the Furious Flower Poetry Conference at JMU. It changed my world for real. I've always like poetry and literature, but this really renewed my appreciation for the art form. I encountered all of these poets while there. I was in awe before I saw them and brought nearly to tears after. I am so dramatic sometimes, but it was serious. I always feel like I am alone in my appreciation for the written word. It made me happy to feel like I (here comes the cliche moment) "belonged." So, if you have some time pick up a book or search these poets online. There stuff is beyond Explanation so I wont try. They are all great and deserve recognition.

Sonia Sanchez

I secretly write haikus. This dude did a poem at a Saracen open mic about how only bad poets did haikus (yes he was a hater and SWEARS he is talented and is not PLUS he has a speech impediment). Sanchez does the sickest haikus ever. In 17 syllables she will make your soul ache. Send shivers down your spine. That takes such control and yet such creativity. You cant tell me shes not the greatest.

(when we say good-bye
i want yo tongue inside my
mouth dancing hello)

E. Ethelbert Miller

Miller has this particular set of poems told from the perspective of a little boy. The fact that he can so eloquently speak from the mind of a child and yet be so profound is amazing. I dont use the P word often, but I will with Miller. He also has a lot of sexual stuff, which I dont normally enjoy. But its so sexual without being raunchy. Hes great.

(I wanted to love you
without lust

but I am not the saint
I claimed to be
forgive me for taking
too much

maybe tomorrow
things will be different

it is unfortunate
that the sun does not
travel backwards)

Nikki Giovanni

Giovanni is flat out undeniably gangsta. She will say anything. She will do anything. She does not give a damn. I adore her for that. Giovanni says whats on her mind and does not concern herself with what will follow. Her poems and so tough. She just knows she is one of the Greats. She is right.

(I am so hip even my errors are correct...)

Lucille Clifton

Clifton's poetry makes me cry. She has a poem about abortions and I cried. I've never had an abortion, but her words to describe the loss were just so poignant that I could not hold the tears back. When I met her I almost cried. I was so flushed because Dr. Prince made me go speak. She is the epitome of strong Black woman. You feel it in every poem every verse every line every word. She is the definitive poet.

Haki Madhubuti (Don L. Lee)

When I think of Madhubuti (who changed his name from Don L. Lee) and his work I just see a black fist in the air. This man is great. The best thing about him is that he wants nothing more than to pass on the art form. He wants the next geneartion to know as much as he does. That, to me, is impressive.

So...thats it. My favorite things.