Making Dreams Come True

For years rappers have used music an outlet to achieve the unachievable, an aspiration for many that turns out to be nothing but a dream for most. Only a few have been able to live up the lyrics Biggie once so elegantly spoke of on "Juicy," and J. Cole happens to be one of them.

As a rapper Cole have taken the concept of dreams a step further by not only using them to shape his reality but his brand. Since dropping a "Dollar and a Dream" in 2010 Cole's hunger for more has continued resonate with fans. It is this passion to reach for the stars despite the setbacks placed upon you that gives people hope that the fruits of their labor will one day produce a flourishing existence; which brings me the anticipation of Jermaine Cole's upcoming album 2014 Forest Hills Drive.

Since The Warm Up dropped five years ago he has been proclaiming his dream of rap fame to the world. As an artist with each project following including Friday Night Lights and two hit albums, Cole World: The Sideline Story and Born Sinner he has tried to walk the fine line between nepotism and humility.

So far it seems like this baller turned prophetic lyricist has done just that. Cole recently made a childhood dream come true when he purchased his first house in his hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. To the surprise of many, it was not a mansion but the modest home he grew up in.

This past Saturday the place that once served as the catalyst for his vision of rap stardom also served as a listening space for a few lucky fans. The "Power Trip" rapper invited out a few of his most loyal followers to get a sneak peak of his new LP, slated to drop Dec. 9. In this intimate setting guests lounged around his home while enjoying Krispy Kreme donuts, getting an experience unparalleled to any other. To me this speaks volumes to what can be expected from his upcoming project.

After releasing the tracklist Saturday for 2014 Forest Hills Drive, news has already broke that official album has been leaked. According to The Boombox this 13-track effort can now be streamed and definitely will not disappoint. Cole delivers his classic lyricism over dope melodic beats.

Check out the trailer for 2014 Forest Hills Drive below.

Ash Wednesday

According to Buzz Feed I need to give up meat this Lenten Season. I will cut back, but doubt I will give it up completely. Got to have my chicken. So here is the quiz. Find out what you need to give up in preparation for Easter.

Preparing for Lent

It's Fat Tuesday and usually around this time of year I contemplate what negative behavior I am going to give up for the next six weeks leading up to Easter. I've been taught to rid myself of things like processed foods and negative words such as "can't" every Lent in the hopes of making positive lifestyle changes. For much of my childhood and adolescence this meant I gave up things like sweets and candy with the goal of over indulging in a basket full of chocolate bunnies and Cadbury eggs come Easter Sunday. As a young adult it has meant shedding myself of pity, loafing and sometimes fried foods in the attempt to improve my attitude and shrink my waistline.

This year I am unsure of what I want to give up and am more in touch of what my life needs to be given. To put it plain and simple I need a job and so far I'm just trying to hold on to my faith this Lenten Season. So what is it I can give up to renew my allegiance to God and grow confident in my quest for gainful employment? Whatever it is I'm willing abstain if leads to some form of comfort, security and mobility. These are my hopes come Easter.

Michael Nostalgia: Moon Walker

This weekend  I took a trip down memory lane when I indulged my inner child and watched Michael Jackson's Moonwalker. I don't think I can put into words the pivotal role this video/mini movie played in my young life. Between the ages of three and seven I believe I watched this movie a total of 300 times. It was a main stay at family gatherings with my cousins Justin and Courtney as well as a well watched movie at kindergarten and first grade sleep overs. And nothing could beat the sad and scary feeling we would all get each time we saw Michael turn into a robot car air plane thing.

But after watching Moonwalker at my current age I have to wonder why I was so in aww. Besides the fact that Michael Jackson was the most popular artist in the world in 80's and early 90's, what did this over the top mini movie music video have to offer? Was it music? Was it the historical montage of his music career thus far? Was it child actors that included Sean Lennon, The Boys and Brandon Adams? Or his Beatles tribute? Maybe it was a combination. Michael managed to mix his love of Disney, cartoons, music, dancing, 30's gangster movies, children and the supernatural into a body of work that captivated his essence, spoke to the time and promoted his messages for social change. At seven I would have never caught his  subtle protests against drugs, violence and childhood hunger. Even though I did not leave with the initial feelings I had as a child, I appreciate the this piece of work the the late great King of Pop left us.

Fashion and Music Collide at Topshop

Some of the looks TOPMEN fans can expect this spring.

Plaids and pastels along with leather and floral prints are the trend for TOPSHOP this spring.

Got a chance to catch up with TOPSHOP event host and model Shaun Ross.

Luke James shares his amazing pipes with the crowd.

Fellow TOPSHOP Shopping event host Elle Varner got personal with an acoustic performance of her song "So Fly."
 Elle Varner's Acoustic Performance of "So Fly" at Topshop's Personal Shopping Event

UK bred department store Topshop kicked off this season’s Fashion Week with a personal shopping event that brought out some popular faces in both music and fashion. In attendance where Beyoncé’s stylist Ty Hunter, twin sunglasses duo, Coco and Breezy, Love and Hip Hop’s Amina Butterfly, Luke James and even Kim Kardashian’s younger sister, model Kendall Jenner, just to name a few.

That’s not even mentioning the stylish hosts, model Shaun Ross and R&B songstress Elle Varner, who both shared what they’re looking forward to at fashion week and what they love about Topshop clothing.

“I feel like it is the perfect combination of quality and affordability,” says Elle Varner of the Topshop brand. “They do have some pieces that are more high priced but for the most part you can put together the cutest outfit and its not going to kill you.”

Topshop clothing is a mixture of couture fashion and street style. It is in trend with stores such as H&M and Target that have allowed fashion to reach the masses through accessibility and reasonable pricing. For spring, Topshop is highlighting denim, pastels and plaid, a trend model Shaun Ross loves.

Ross’s love for Topshop runs as deep as his love for London. He describes Topshop’s Topmen clothing as “sophisticated, chic and ready to go.” And as far as the rest of Fashion Week Ross says “I’m looking for some new trends, something new, something to be re-invented.”

The night was topped off by a guest appearance from R&B crooner Luke James and an intimate acoustic performance from Varner who sang a song she wrote called “So Fly,” that addresses body image and self acceptance.

Varner says she chose to perform that song at this fashion event to get people to remember, “what’s important is what’s on the inside.”

Gaga for Pooka

Owner and Founder Dawn Fitch and I at Pooka.

I am gaga for Pooka, one of New Jersey's premiere body boutiques that provide's what they call "pure and simple" body products. It runs the gamut from body butters, to soaps, hair butters and lip glosses. Pooka's goal is to have your skin feel soft and luxurious from head to toe. Not to mention the products smell good too.

Dawn Fitch is the woman behind the "ultimate bath and body experience." Since creating Pooka Fitch has been featured in Black Enterprise and has even written her own book titled Moving Through Open Doors that chronicles the "accidental" entrepreneur.

She says her line of body products were born out of her love for aromatherapy and good health. As a kidney transplant recipient I can understand her strive for good health. Since my transplant I have made a more conscience effort to be more aware of not only what I put in my body but what I put on it.
I had the privilege of trying out Pooka's shea body butter in guava mango as well as its hair butter and hair nectar.

 The body butter is thick but goes on smooth and gives off just the right amount of fragrance. It left my skin feeling soft and hydrated a day after putting it on. And you don't need to apply much, thhe heat from your hands allows the butter to melt like silky oil. As for the hair butter it provides the same amazing values as body counter part giving the coiff a nice sheen without being greasy. The hair nectar is a rosemary scented oil that stimulates and tantalizes the scalp, leaving it well nourished.

For more information about Pooka and its products, visit www.pookapureandsimple.com. And if you would like to visit its location, it can be found on 87 Halsey Street in Newark, NJ.

BEYONCÉ

Photo Courtesy of Columbia Records via digital album 
booklet.

King B has done it again, this time catching fans off guard by dropping a full-length album with no promotion or early single release. And I have to say I was one of the guilty few that bought the album when I first woke up Friday morning without washing my face or brushing my teeth. Was the album worth the early morning rush? I'm not quite sure yet.

Titled simply "Beyonce," this album takes on Mrs. Carter’s classic theme of female empowerment with sexy twist, and when I say sexy I mean unadulterated sex. I guess after having Blue Ivy she has no shame in showing more skin or talking openly about what her and Jay-Z do between the sheets, in the kitchen or no floor or in their case on a Warhol or Basquiat painting. This album isn’t for the young; it’s definitely for a “grown woman.” 

For this body of work, King B took a page out of fellow Destiny Child member Kelly Rowland’s book, grinding on wood and launching “rockets.” I would assume this is just another extension of her independent woman mantra. Free thinking about her femininity, sensuality, sexuality and mind. While I like Mrs. Carter believe in that message, I wonder if the way in which she presented it will be read the same by all listeners and in this case viewers as well. 

Along with 14 songs are 17 videos. Each takes on a different story line, some pertaining to the song and others simply showing off visual artistry and what some may consider couture fashion. I originally saw a body of mixed messages. At some points I wasn't sure if I was getting female empowerment or another misogynistic rap video. Now granted I would never accuse Beyoncé of being misogynistic because I too like many other women emulate her moves secretly getting a boost of confidence knowing that we can be like her. But I have to wonder again if the 12-year-old me, 16-year-old me, or even the 21-year-old me, would see the message of the album or miss it all together. Or maybe there is no message, but I doubt it knowing Mrs. Carter's track record of calculation. Everything she does has a purpose and a plan, case and point, her documentary "Life is But a Dream."

Besides the crazy dancing, 90's flashbacks, body licking supermodels, vomiting pageant queens, Grace Jones and Lady Gaga look-a-likes she had great visually appealing videos to follow up an always good body of work (album). My favorite videos were also to my favorite songs thus far on the album. I loved "Blue" featuring Blue Ivy because it's truly heart felt. We also get to see and hear little Blue too. I'm also in love with "Superpower." Besides the fact that I think Frank Ocean is a genius, I throughly enjoyed the video. It seemed like part II to "Girls Run the World." The video featured guest star appearances by Destiny Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, world tour mate Luke James, album producer Pharrell Williams and what looks like a ski masked Ocean. Then there's "Drunk in Love" featuring Jay-Z, which expresses how things get when Beyoncé gets a few too many drinks in her system. The video is shot in black and white and simply shows her and her man having a fun moment on the beach. And my most favorite of all is "Pretty Hurts." Besides the song having a powerful message, the video took pointers from TLC's "Unpretty," showcasing the mental and physical torment women put on themselves to fit society's unreachable image of perfection.

Over all the "Beyoncé" is another classic Mrs Carter album. Despite my questioning, I have been bumping the album non-stop since its purchase. . So listen, watch and fill free to judge, BEYONCÉ.