This blog is about anything and everything, some of it factual and some opinion, well most of it is opinion. Basically I'm making my use of my right to freedom of expression from serious to not so serious issues, but nothing distasteful of course. Hope you have a good read!
I'm really loving these videos right now, in no particular order:
Solange - Losing You
Solange Knowles was in South Africa a while back where this video was shot (Cape Town). I'm digging the track as well, the sound reminds of South African music back in the day. Nice!
Solange - Losing You
AKA - Jelousy
The video speaks for itself, international standards, and the track is currently topping charts in SA. Good hussle boet, keep doing what you do, mad skills I tell you.
AKA - Jealousy
Ciara - Sorry
Cece is making a come back, looking forward to it, really talented individual.
Ciara - Sorry
D'Banj - Oliver Twist
This video is not new, but I'm still digging it, white guy kills it.
D'Banj - Oliver Twist
Jimmy Nevis - Heartboxing
I can not get over how talented this guy is. First heard his sound with Elephant Shoes, couldn't get that song out of my head for days. Now there's Heartboxing and he hasn't dissapointed, the music video is just too nice. Doesn't hurt that Jimmy is cute *hides and remembers that I am married*. Mad Love for our South African artists upping their game when it comes to music videos, they are just as important as the track. Big Up Jimmy and Rude World Records for this offering.
At times we tend to forget that celebrities are human, well we know they are human beings but you get what I'm trying to say, with feelings and issues just like everybody else. In fact its worse for them because all the ish they go through is displayed on the world stages. Yes that's the career they chose but it doesn't make them less human or hurt less.
The Chris Brown and Rihanna fight was one that shook the entertainment world. Here were two equally and amazingly talented young individuals taking the world by storm. They loved and cared for each other deeply and they made each other happy, but, when the incident took place the world seemed to forget that and it was as if their relationship was based on violence. Behind all of the attention, media frenzy and millions of questions and poking was a woman who was hurt by the man she loved and had the unfortunate embarrassment of the whole world paying witness to it. And more so there was a man who realised that he had messed up possibly the best thing that had ever happened to him and all over a moments fury, anger and lack of control of his emotions, which is something that happens to everyone. Don't get me wrong I am by no means condoning what he did, there's nothing I hate more than woman abuse, but fact of the matter is this did not happen to us but it happened to them and them alone.
The interview (follow link below) that Rihanna did with Oprah on OWN, Oprah's network, was brave and it reminded us that they are human and this thing messed them up more than we can ever imagine and that there were deep lying issues in the midst of all of it.
Here is the transcript of the interview (heart breaking yet inspiring) Chris Brown's Assault? I was hurt the most. Nobody felt what I felt. I was hurt because it happened to me. It happened to me in front of the world. It was embarrassing, it was humiliating. It was hurtful. It’s not easy. I lost my best friend. Everything I knew switched in a night and I couldn’t control that. I had to deal with that and it’s not easy for me to understand or interpret and it’s not easy for me to interpret on camera with the world watching. So it’s hard for me to pay attention to my mind and figuring things out because now it became a circus and I felt protective. I felt like the only person that they hate right now is him and it was a weird confusing space to be in. Cause’ As angry as I was, as hurt and betrayed, I felt that he made that mistake because he needed help. Who’s going to help him? Nobody is going to say, ‘he needs help’. Everyone is going to say he’s a monster without looking at the source. I was more concerned about him. Current Relationship? We’ve been working on our friendship again and now we are very close friends. We’ve built our trust again. We love each other and we will probably always will. That’s not anything you can change or shut off if you’ve ever been in love.
Rumors of Dating?
No, he’s in a relationship of his own. I’m single but we have maintained a close friendship ever since the restraining order has been dropped. We just worked on it little by little but it’s not easy
Were they together at St. Tropez recently? Yes I did. We went to a mutual friend’s party on a yacht. It’s awkward [when I see him] because I still love him. My stomach drops and I have to maintain this poker face and not let it get to the outer part of me. I have to maintain that and suppress it and interpret it and understand it. And understand that that’s not going to go away. That is peaceful. When you don’t understand those feelings you can make a lot of mistakes.
Chris Brown love for her? Absolutely. I think he was the love of my life. He was my first love and I see that he loved me the same way. We were very young and very spontaneous. We ran free. We ran wild. We were falling in love and going at a really rapid pace that we forgot about ourselves as individuals. We forgot about our personal discipline. We needed something to completely shut that off and show us what we were missing, what we were taking for granted, and if we really care about each other, care about each other’s happiness so it’s not even about us being together. I truly love him so the main thing for me is that he’s at peace. I’m not at peace if he’s a little unhappy or he’s still lonely. I care. It actually matters that he finds that peace.
Forgiveness and moving on? I have forgiven him. It took me a long time. I was angry for a long time. I felt like this is not my fault, this is not me doing this but still I had to worry. I was resentful. I had a grudge. I was dark and it was coming out in my music and in my clothes, it was coming out in my attitude and I didn’t like that feeling. It was heavy.
[To get over it] I had to repair my relationship with my dad. I was so angry at him. I was angry about a lot of things from my childhood and I couldn’t separate him as a husband from him as a father. I felt like if he was a bad husband, he was a bad father. I witnessed a lot as a child in my household. [He was] violent. My family broke up because of his addiction. I remember one day thinking, ‘Why can’t I come to a place where I let someone in. Why can’t I love’. I’d get to a place [with guys] where I really liked them and then I’d change. I would never talk to them again and I wanted to know why. And I wanted to know ‘what is my idea of what’s suppose to happen’? It was because I didn’t have a relationship with my father anymore and so I wasn’t able to connect with a man past a certain point.
Father Issues The minute I was able to realize that my father was probably one of the best fathers in the world…. Like he taught me everything, and as awful as he was to my mom at times, it didn’t compare to how great he was as a father. And I had to come to terms with that and I was able to close that gap with him and all kinds of emotions starting happening after that. All kinds of things started making sense. I thought I hated Chris and I realized it was love that was tarnished. It was ugly, it was angry, it was inflamed, it was tainted and I realized that, I had to forgive him because I cared about him still. And the minute I did that, I started living again. [Once I realized there was a connection between the two [my relationship with my father and my relationship with Chris], I had to go to the source.
I can’t tell people how to feel about it. They are entitled to be angry but I have forgiven him Wishing Riri all the best and continue to being strong...we are allowed to fall and pick ourselves up...we are human after all. This girl is beautiful though (random thought)
Can somebody say Burberry (Madea pronunciation)? If you are a liker of
all things glam and fabulous then Burberry’s 2012 new Autumn/Winter Accessories
will definitely make your winter more bearable and have you looking fab while
you’re at it (that is if you ain’t broke
like some of us but hey a girl is allowed to dream). Here are a few items,
the rest can be seen here: http://row.burberry.com/store/womens-accessories/new-arrivals/
Top Gear is finally freakin HERE!! (Durban) Totally psyched infact I'm beyond pysched!
Location: Moses Mabhida Stadium 44 Isaiah Ntshangase Rd (Walter Gilbert) Durban, South Africa Date: 16 & 17 June 2012 Time: 10:00am-10:00pm
Shows will be shot live at the stadium and presented by the Top gear trio, Richard Hammond (love him), Jeremy Clarkson and James May.
Updates leading up to the event are available on Facebook www.facebook.com/topgearfestivaldurban as well as the Top Gear website - www.topgearfestival.co.za. Ticket and venue details are available on the iTicket website - iticket.co.za or you can send an email to info@topgearlivesa.co.za for more information. Unfortunately tickets are SOLD OUT but you send an email to info@topgearlivesa.co.za to be sure. Now because I love you so much I've went ahead and put up the information for you, seating arrangements etc.
PLATINUM ACCESS
Stadium Show – Lower Level Central seating. Right in front of the action and un-disputably the Best Seats in the building.
Access to the festival – experience the festival which includes exhibition stands with leaders in the automotive industry, Manufacture experiences and the extreme Street Circuit.
Backstage stadium tour – get up close and personal with the cars
Grandstand seating – where you get to watch the morning or afternoon street races in platinum status style.
Morning Session if you book for the Afternoon Stadium Show or Afternoon if you book for the Evening Stadium Show.
Recharge with pre-show snacks and drinks in a special Platinum Ticket Holders area.
Gift of DVD.
Fast Track entry - No Queuing
Reserved Parking.
R995
GOLD TICKET GROUP
Stadium Show – Lower Level or Middle Central seating - Great seating to view the action.
Access to the festival– experience the festival which includes exhibition stands with leaders in the automotive industry, Manufacture experiences and extreme Street Circuit.
Standing access to Durban's first ever Street Circuit
R495
SILVER TICKET GROUP
Stadium Show- Middle Level seating
Access to the festival- experience the festival which includes exhibition stands with leaders in the automotive industry, Manufacture experiences and the extreme Street Circuit.
R395
BRONZE TICKET GROUP
Stadium Show- Upper Level seating.
Access to the festival - experience the festival which included exhibition stands with leaders in the automotive industry, Manufacture experiences and the extreme Street Circuit.
R250
DISABLED SEATING
Stadium Show- Disabled seating is on the middle level
Access to the festival - experience which includes exhibition stands with leaders in the automotive industry, Manufacture experiences and the extreme Street Circuit.
Please Note: Disabled seats can only be booked through our call centre 086 1000 291. Disabled patrons may purchase two tickets, if required, one for themselves and one for a companion. A companion will be seated in a spectator seat next to the Disabled patron who shall view the show from their wheelchair.
FAMILY PACKAGES
Family package includes (2x Adult and 2x Child tickets). Only children between 4 years and 12 years of age. Children will be validated at the gate on entry, Children over the age of 12 years will need to buy an adult ticket. Parental guidance is advised. Please Note: Due to potential noise levels, It is not advisable to bring along children under the age of 4.
Experience the Gold Package for 2 adults and two children under 12 years, subject to availability foronlyR1750!
Expereince the Silver Package for 2 adults and two children under 12 years, subject to availability for onlyR1400!
Our president, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma commonly referred to by South Africans as JZ, has some what always been ridiculed by SA media and artists and understandably so.
I swear at times it's like he deliberately does things so we can pick on him but he is our president none the less, one of the most entertaining we've had by far. I mean really having a president who chants "Leth' umshini wami 'mshini wami, wena uyangibambezela" translated "Give me my machine, my machine gun, you're wasting my time", at almost every public appearance is definitely something...well unique.
JZ chanting Umshini wam' and doing the traditional Zulu dance
He's shower story also didn't help him much. For those of you reading from abroad, our president was accused of raping an HIV positive woman. He was vindicated but not before he had a chance to tell us that he was certain that he was not at risk of getting HIV because, even though they'd had unprotected sex, he had taken a shower afterwards hence he was safe...not the most intelligent thing to say hey.
Left: Zapiro's depiction of Zuma's shower comment
But even with all his shortfalls there's something very charming about the man, that much can not be denied, the man has 6 wives and probably counting and ...well nobody is really certain how many kids he has.
JZ with four of his wives at his 70th Birthday Celebration earlier this year
But even so, I too have to admit that the line has to be drawn somewhere, we need to have some level of respect for our president. Yes we don't agree with some of his moral decisions and well, decisions in general, but he is the head of state and therefore deserves respect from his public.
The latest depiction of our president by Capetown artist Brett Murray, displayed at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, has outraged the ANC and he, along with the gallery, will be facing legal action, understandably so. Murray's painting "The Spear" was sold for R 136 000 and was bought by a foreign buyer.
Brett Murray painting "The Spear" of Jacob Zuma. Previously I posted the original with the jewels showing but thought it best I edit it.
He won't be the first though, Murray can ask fellow artist Zapiro, who has also been sued quiet a few times actually by the president, how to handle this pickle he finds himself...shame neh...and all in the name of artistic freedom/freedom of speech. Kodwa honestly speaking you can't tell me Murray thought the ANC would be ok with this, I mean a waiter was found guilty of assault for accidentally spilling a drink on Zuma at last years Durban July.
Zapiro was sued 15 million for this cartoon of JZ seeing to be raping the justice system.
I've never really been into the
whole debate of freemasonry and artists giving their souls to the devil and
what not. Reason being, not that I don't know it exists, I just don't want to
walk around being paranoid and closing my ears whenever I here a song that
is supposedly by a freemason artist, heck I'm not even sure what this
whole freemasonry thing is about, there are way to many explanations and
opinions it's all too confusing.
I determine what I listen to by the
lyrics of a song. If a song is talking about being cheated on, how life sucks
and getting killed and ish, then I don't listen to it. I'm a firm believer in
"umlomo ayakha" meaning what you say with your mouth comes to pass.
So if you're in a good relationship and you are singing/listening to music
about being broken hearted then that's exactly what is going to happen, you
called it upon yourself. How do I know this a fact? I'm a firm believer in The
Word and God Almighty, not ashamed to say it, and if it says the Lord said with
his mouth let there be light and there was then I believe it. And so since we
are formed in his likeness, like the word says, then surely we can speak things
with our mouth and it will come to be.
There are so many
artists that are said to be freemasonry or have given themselves to the dark
side such as JayZ, Beyonce, Rihanna, Kanye West Alicia Keys, Chris Brown, Snoop
Dogg, heck even Michael Buble and some of our local South African artists, the
list is endless, if I believed it all I'd never listen to music another day in my
life. Think of an artists and I'm sure they've been accused of such, even some
christian are said to be putting up a fer-sad. Even poor Blue Ivy (okay
maybe not poor coz' when you got Jay-Z and Beyonce for parents, there is
nothing poor about you but you get what I'm tryna' say) was accused of
being satan's spawn. The child was barely a day old and people were prophesying
death over her #smh. The way I see it, even if it were true that her parents
play Russian Roulette with dark forces, she's just a baby and people talking
negatively over her ain't right, she has her own life and destiny to
fullfil. As for Michael Buble, I just can't imagine him on the dark
side...he's music is just too good and I mean it's Michael Buble batong!
Below right: Beyonce, Jay-Z and Ivy Blue Below left: Michael Buble
Poor Blue Ivy Carter #smh
I don't know for a fact that the
above mentioned people are what they are being accused of, although some of
their music is just plain scary and nasty.
The way I see it, let the
artist/music speak for itself rather than accusing very artist who makes it big
to have sold their soul, the Lord also blesses with success too you know. *side
thought, there's a movie I watched on e-tv a while back about this guy who
gives his soul to the devil because his life sucks and is willing to sell
himself for 7 wishes to get anything he wants. He makes his wishes and before
he makes the last one he panics because he doesn't want to sell his soul
anymore and sadly he can't wish it back. Then some random black dude tells him
he can't sell his soul because it's not his to begin with. I thought that was
interesting...oh and I loved the fact that the black guy wasn't the evil guy,
lol*
Ok, I know some of this ish is real
but there's always another way of looking at things. We can't hide ourselves in
a closed off because the world is this big scary place full of bad people.
South Africa's main form of public transportation
Now I'm a big fan of good music and
real HipHop, none of that I make it and I'm the ish stuff, and so there is no way
I'm going to close myself up from music, even if I wanted to it's highly
impossible. I mean where ever I go there's always music playing, the mall,
taxi, grocery stores, radio stations, music shows and TV ads and so forth. Now
with so many things raring music all the time, how on earth am I going to run
away from it all. I can't tell a taxi driver nogal to turn off his radio, I'd
be asking to get chewed and made a laughing stock off, if you live in South Africa
you know what I'm on about. Other drivers don't even put down the volume
just for a few seconds while you're on the phone and wena ke you want to tell
him akayivale totally??? You have a death wish.
In a mall I can't go to mall
management and be like I don't like the music you're playing switch it off. As
much as the customer is always right I'm just one in
a gazillion people who go to malls and majority of them enjoy the
music so why mina ke I must think I'm special and everybody else must suffer.
Boycott malls? And then where on earth am I going to do my shopping? Do you
know how irritating West Street
is (Durban
people know). Taxi's honking non-stop and blaring loud music,
conductors screaming "SouthBeach, Wheel,
e-Point", with irritating voices *side thought: they all sound the
same mara, like a mosquito on a speaker phone*. I think you get the
point now. It's a matter of choosing what you indulge in. There’s a whole
variety of chocolates and desserts but they don't all taste good to you, you
choose that which goes with your taste, which might not be necessarily the same
for someone else.
Seeing that I pay so much attention to lyrics, I was listening to some music
on Sunday (best day of the week to indulge and appreciate good music) and
came across a song by this rapper named Bizzile. His song caught my
attention because he's a Christian rapper but in this song he was dissing other
artists *frowns upon*, namely JayZ and Rick Ross (don't
really know Ross's music, all I know he is big, has a huge beard, wears shades
at night and for some reason people love him and he's supposedly the best thing
since spinning rims *hides*).
Left: Kanye West feat. Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj Right: Bizzle
I did find Bizzle's song interesting though. It doesn't matter who you are, if you got good flow I respect you, depending on what you say though. Bizzles song came after Rick Ross released a song called Free Mason featuring the Jigga man, Jay Z (Freemason or not this nigga got
flow and he damn good at what he does.)
FreeMason - Rick Ross ft Jay-Z
And this is what Bizzle had to say
Here's another track where he's dissing Jigga
Ross and Jay haven't responded yet
so I wait to see how this plays out. Or maybe they have and I don't know, so
holla back and let a sister know or if you got valid concrete info about this
masonry ish please do educate I'd like to get proper insight and understanding,
not rumors.
This Bizzle character is interesting though so I'ma watch his space. Get
a feeling he's going to get hammered, we'll see if he can stand his own though.
