three little birds.

Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:")

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou:"

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh!
Every little thing gonna be all right. Don't worry!"
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing" - I won't worry!
"'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right" - I won't worry!
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, oh no!
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!

--

thought i'd dedicate today's lyric post to bob marley since it was his birthday yesterday and also because his words are so encouraging.

the world is a better place because of your music, message, and life. we miss you.

rest in power, big poppa.

it's always a tragedy when we lose hip hop greats. we've suffered through the deaths of pac and aaliyah and just last year we lost guru to cancer and Japanese artist, nujabes. it feels like such an injustice. our hearts and souls yearn for more of their presence, their music, their words, and their talent. the world will never know all that they could have contributed because they all died such untimely deaths at such young ages and that may be the hardest truth to swallow.

when big passed, time stopped. no one wanted to believe it and eventually the denial turned into anger and then turned into sadness. what was the world coming to? first pac, now this? it was unsettling. the full realization of big's death was heavy but with every loss, comes a gain and that gain came to us in the form of peace with the west coast and east coast beef ending.

it's such a pity that it took the death of two great rappers to bring peace to a rivalry so unwarranted in the first place. but isn't that how our world works? whatever the case, i would like to personally tip my hat to big, not only to mark the 14th year anniversary since his death, but to also celebrate the 25 years of the life he lived and the music he brought to us and the hip hop community. we celebrate his legacy because it lives on.

always rest in power, big poppa.

xoxox

blackbird.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night,
Take these broken wings and learn to fly.
All your life,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night,
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see.
All your life,
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly..
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night,
Take these broken wings and learn to fly.
All your life,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

what more can i say about the beatles that hasn't already been said?

'til it happens to you.

I know what I said was in the heat of the moment,
But there's a little truth in
Between the words we've spoken,
It's a little late now to fix a heart that's broken.

Please don't ask me where I'm going,
Cus I don't know...
No, I don't know... anymore.

It used to feel like heaven,
It used to feel like.. May.
I used to hear those violins
Playing our strings like a symphony..
Now they've gone away.

Nobody wants to face the truth,
But you won't believe what love can do..
'Til it happens to you..
'Til it happens to you.

Went to the old flat,
Guess I was trying to turn the clock back.
How come that nothing feels the same
Now when I'm with you?
We used to stay up all night
In the Kitchen when our love was new.

Ooooh love, I'm a fool to believe in you.
Cus I don't know...
No, I don't know anymore.

It used to feel like heaven,
It used to feel like... May.
I used to hear those violins
Playing our strings like a symphony...
Now they've gone away.

Nobody wants to know the truth,
Until the heart's broken.
Don't you dare tell them..
What you think to do 'til they get over.

You can only learn these things from experience,
When you get older...
I just wish someone would have told me.

'Til it happens to you...
'Til it happens to you...
--
i can listen to corinne's voice all day. i immediately fell in love with her self-titled album but this song in particular is so beautiful and soft - it really does reflect love in its saddest hour - when it's over. you may or may not know but corinne is a widow, her husband passed in 2008 due to an overdose. even though the song came out well before her husband's death, i can't help but place the sadness of her voice in this song with the sadness of his passing.

it also reminds me to never take the people i love for granted.. something that i do more than i'd like to admit.

xox

dear God,

[Intro]
Dear God, I'm trying hard to reach you
Dear God, I see your face in all I do
Sometimes, it's so hard to believe in...
But God, I know you have your reasons.
(Uh huh)

[Verse 1]

They said he's busy, hold the line please,
Call me crazy, I thought maybe he could mind read.
Who does the blind lead?
Show me a sign please,
If everything is made in China, are we Chinese?

And why do haters separate us like we siamese?
Technology turning the planet into zombies,
Everybody all in everybody's dirty laundry.
Acid rain, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis.

Terrorists, crime sprees, assaults, and robberies.
Cops yellin' stop, freeze,
Shoot him before he try to leave.
Air quality so foul, I gotta try to breath,
Endangered species,
And we runnin' out of trees.

If I could hold the world in the palm of these
Hands,
I would probably do away with these anomalies.
Everybody checkin' for the new award nominee,
Wars and atrocities,
Look at all the poverty.

Ignoring the prophecies,
More beef than broccoli,
Corporate monopoly,
Weak world economy,
Stock market topplin',
Mad marijuana, oxycotton, and klonopin,
Everybody out of it?

[Hook]

Well I've been thinkin' about,
And I've been breakin' it down,
Without an answer.

I know I'm thinking out loud,
But if you're lost and around,
Why do we suffer?
Why do we suffer?
(Uh huh)

[Verse 2]

Yeah... It's still me, one of your biggest fans.
I get off work,
Right back to work again.
I probably need to go ahead and have my head exam(ined).
Look at how they got me on the Def Jam payment plan.

Well, I'm in the world of entertainment and,
Trying to keep a singing man sane for the paying fans.
If I don't make it through the night, slight change of plans,
Harp strings, angel wings, and praying hands.

Lord, forgive me for my shortcomings,
For going on tour and ignoring the court summons.
All I'm trying to do is live life to the fullest,
They sent my daddy to you in a barrage of bullets.

Why is the world ugly when you made it in your image?
And why is livin' life such a fight to the finish?
For this high percentage
When the sky's the limit
A second is a minute, every hour's infinite.

[Outro]

Dear God, I'm trying hard to reach you
Dear God, I see your face in all I do
Sometimes, it's so hard to believe in..

--



probably one my favorite albums from The Roots. i listened to this song for the umpteenth time on my way in the office this morning. i love Black Thought, one of my all-time favorite MCs. this song captures the struggle for a lot of people out there right now during this heart wrenching recession. being in my line of business, i get to see firsthand what it's doing to people and i'm also seeing it on a personal level with my loved ones. i know that a lot of us are talking to God during these times, while our hearts are barely clinging onto our faiths. it's only natural to question the things that happen to us and i'll be the first to admit that sometimes, it's hard to keep believing.. but, i know that believing is so important, especially during trivial times. sometimes it's the only thing you have that can't be taken from you.



so, please keep believing.



and i will definitely be putting in a few prayers this weekend.



xoxoooooooo

my little girl.

Hey, little girl,
You might not know this song,
This is another kind of song that could you sing along..

Hey, little girl,
Maybe some day,
At least that's what all the good people will say.

Hey, little girl,
Look what you've done,
You've gone and stole my heart and made it your own.
You stole my heart and made it your own.

Hey, little girl,
Black and white and right and wrong,
Only live inside a song I will sing to you.

You don't ever have to feel lonely,
You will never lose any tears,
You don't have to feel any sadness.

When you look back,
How can I look you in the eyes?
And tell you such big lies..

The best I can do is try to show you
How to love with no fear.

My little girl,
You've gone and stole my heart and made it your own..
You stole my heart and made it your own.
--
is it every girl's dream to have her dad write a song about her and sing it? or is it just me?

when i picture jack johnson singing this, i imagine him singing it to his wife's swollen belly. and i think how lucky that little girl is to enter a world full of joy and song. and i can only hope and pray that every child could come into the world that way.

"love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart"

i'll start with the bad news: z left for florida this morning. i was barely awake so i didn't give him a proper good-bye. i remember mumbling that i loved him and puckering my lips for kisses, then i rolled over on his side of the bed and fell back asleep.

the good news is that we got to spend his last night in cali watching and listening to jack johnson. i was so mesmerized by his songs the whole night through. i sang along to every song i knew with my eyes closed and my happy heart dancing. him and his band are such great performers, you could really feel the vibe they shined out to the crowd. i was surprised at the big turnout of guys at the show, although z pointed out that the guys seemed to be accompanied by a female, which turned out to be true.

it was such a magical evening, i didn't ever want it to end. i teared up when jack came back out for the encore and sang "Angel" - a short but beautiful melody. i woke up with his songs swimming in my head and his lyrics humming from my lips. it was definitely worth going to even though i could have used the evening to study for tonight's midterm. i'm hoping that some of jack's magic will help me with that tonight. wish me luck.

with z away and my midterm tonight, today officially marks the beginning of the madness that will carry through October and perhaps the rest of the year. i'm looking forward to some of it... others, not so much.

how about you guys? any plans for halloween, or the holidays? hope you all are having a wonderful week while i'm swept into this whirlwind, xxooo.

p.s. sorry for the crummy photos. believe it or not, those were the best out of a bunch of 30 or so, but you know how concert pictures are..

the way i am.

If you were falling, then I would catch you.
You need a light, I'd find a match.
'Cause I love the way you say good morning,
And you take me the way I am.

If you were chilly, here take my sweater.
Your head is aching, I'll make it better.
'Cause I love the way you call me baby,
And you take me the way I am.

I'd buy you Rogaine, when you start losing all your hair.
Sew on patches to all you tear.
'Cause I love you more than I could ever promise.
And you take me the way I am..
You take me the way I am, you take me the way I am.

although i'm not a complete Ingrid Michealson fan, this song with a nice bowl of chicken noodle soup on a chilly day makes me close my eyes and smile while my heart dances.

cocoon.

Well, based on your smile,
I'm betting all of this might be over soon.
But your'e bound to win because if I'm betting against you,
I think I'd rather lose.

But this is all that I have,
So please take what's left of this heart and use.
Please use only what you really need,
You know I only have so little,
So please mend your broken heart and leave.

I know it's not your style and I can tell
By the way that you move it's real, real soon.
But I'm on your side and I don't want to be your regret,
I'd rather be your cocoon.

But this is all I have,
So please let me take whats left of your heart.
And I will use, I swear I'll use only what I need.
I know you have so little,
So please let me mend my broken heart.

And you said, "This is all you have and it's all I need",
But blah blah blah be cause it fell apart.
And I guess it's all you knew and all I had,
But now we have only confused hearts..
And I guess all we have is really all we need.

So please let's take these broken hearts and use..
Let's use only what we really need.
You know we only have so little,
So please take these broken hearts and leave.

for those who don't already know, i love me some jack johnson. i mean... love, LOVE this guy. they say he's the bob dylan of our time - i don't know if i'm ready to make that comparison but i love the message he sends just the same. best of all, i'm seeing him in concert in 2 weeks. i'm preparing myself by waving my hands in the air and screaming like a groupie, "AHHHH JACK JOHNSSOOOOON!!" everytime a song of his comes on. i get sideways looks from my officemate but she knows how excited i am.. and secretly, i think she's a little jealous too. shh.

wonderful.

You are the sunshine of my life,
Another Shakespeare of your time.
You're like a ribbon in the sky,
You are a poet's endless rhyme.
You take me to a higher ground,
Then you knock me off my feet.
Lately I been thinking 'bout you,
cause you been creeping in my dreams.

You inspire me,
the way you make me feel inside is amazing.
Your honesty, your artistry is engaging,
You are everything I hope to be.

You have touch my soul,
I want you to know -
You are my hero.
You got so much soul,
To put it plain and simple,
You are wonderful.

I am the woman in red,
I am girl blue,
I am the black or I am a golden lady too.
You bring the music of your mind,
To elevate human kind.
That's why I share my emotions,
With inner visions I explode.

You inspire me,
The way you make me feel inside is amazing.
Your honesty, your artistry is engaging,
You are everything I want to be.

You have touch my soul,
I want you to know -
You are my hero.
You got so much soul,
To put it plain and simple,
You are wonderful.

You have touch my soul,
You're so divine,
You're so sublime.
You're wonderful.
You have touch my soul,
To put it plain and simple,
You are wonderful.

India Arie is amazing - she's so gifted with words and song. this is her tribute to Stevie Wonder and i just revisited it on my iPod today. beautiful, beautiful lyrics.

do you know what you're singing?

i'm a chorus singer. when the chorus of a song comes on, i sing it out loud and proud.. but when it comes to the verses in between, i usually get in a few words and then hum along the rest of the way. sometimes i'll even make up my own lyrics to what i think the artist is saying - for instance (and i'm totally ashamed of this), Destiny's Child "Bootylicious" - i once thought the lyrics sang, "I don't think you're ready to pop this cherry", when in fact, and you all probably knew this, they were singing, "I don't think you're ready for this jelly." how embarassing is that?

it doesn't help that z calls me out on my lyric screw-ups all the time, which i react to by pretending i'm not offended and mumbling something along the lines of, "shut up, i know the song...".

so, i think i've found a solution, thanks to the greatness that is pandora. i've recently converted to it for office listening and have discovered some beautiful lyrics that i didn't know existed, but was under my nose, or in my ears, all this time. i thought it would be nice to post lyrics here because who knows, maybe you're like me and have been singing the wrong words all along without knowing it. this will help you save face. also, some of these lyrics are so wonderful that it amazes me how beautiful the words of our language can be when brought together the right way. a good example of this would be Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love":

When the rain is blowing in your in your face,
And the whole world is on your case,
I would offer you a warm embrace,
To make you feel my love.

When the evening shadows and the stars appear,
And there is no one there to dry your tears,
I could hold you for a million years,
To make you feel my love.

I know you haven't made your mind up yet,
But I would never do you wrong,
I've known it from the moment that we met,
No doubt in my mind where you belong.

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue,
I'd go crawling down the avenue,
No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do,
To make you feel my love.

The storms are raging on the rolling sea,
And on the highway of regret,
Though winds of change are blowing wild and free,
You ain't seen nothing like me yet.

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true,
Nothing that I wouldn't do,
Go to the ends of the Earth for you,
To make you feel my love.

To make you feel my love.

Adele's cover of this song is so pretty and was actually the one i just heard this morning. consider this my music contribution to the blogging world and hopefully, your day. xox

... but i'm clever

you'd be lying if you say you never experienced a sense of inspiration from Erykah Badu. i just re-acquainted myself with her music and felt like i was seeing snow for the first time. the drivers that piss me off on a daily basis are spared when i'm listening to her voice. here is a song i had on repeat for 2 nights on my way home from class:


Cleva

This is how I look without makeup
And with no bra my ninny's sag down low
My hair ain't never hung down to my shoulders
And it might not grow
Ya' never know

But I'm clever when I bust a rhyme
I'm cleva always on ya' mind
She's cleva and I really wanna grow
But why come you're the last to know?

I got a little pot in my belly
So now a days my figure ain't so fly
My dress ain't cost nothin' but seven dollars
But I made it fly
And I'll tell ya why

But I'm clever when I bust a rhyme
I'm cleva always on ya' mind
She's cleva and I really wanna grow
But why come I'm the last to know?

Alright, alright, alright
Alright, alright, alright
Alright, alright, alright
Alright, alright, alright yeah

eek!!

i'm shrilling delightful squeals because i will be seeing jack johnson live in concert when he comes to the Verizon Amphitheater on Oct. 12! i know it seems light-years away but i'm so excited! i listened to his live concert a few months ago and was convinced that i had to watch him perform in person. i even went as far as making zac wake me up minutes before tickets went on sale saturday morning to make sure i was one of the first to get 'em! hehe, i am one happy chick!

i'm also excited about a wine tasting trip i will be taking with susan in august. we're headed into the sunset of santa barbara and will be touring wine country. my heart flurries with butterflies at the thought :)

my trip to seattle seems to have drifted off into the distance and won't be possible this year. it's a real bummer though because i was really looking forward to it but some things just aren't meant to be. i guess i'll have to kiss seattle on the cheek and promise a visit when timing permits. good bye for now, seattle.

i REALLY miss..

when hip hop was about story telling.

L.O.N.S. (Leaders of The New School) - Sobb Story

DJ Vadim's "SoundCatcher" tour

the flyer kinda sucks, i know. but he's coming to the OC!! seriously, what artist do you EVER see in the OC? (campus performances excluded!) anyway, the album was dope and i'm most definitely looking forward to seeing this live. if you are too, let me know so we can rollll.

details:
8PM @ the Continental Room in downtown Fullerton on October 23rd. (tuesday)

if not, he has a show Sunday (21st) at the knitting factory... but why go there when you can join us? haha. see ya'll there *wink*

--

on a completely different note, this is what my horoscope said today:

Aquarius (January 20 - February 17)

The day ahead is especially important for Aquarius, dear Aquarius. Be on the lookout for clues that reveal how you can improve your attitude toward other people. For example, your partner may let you know that you are too impulsive, or that you lack detachment. Try to be open to what people tell you in the days to come. Likewise, pay attention to your health; your body may be trying to tell you something as well.

seriously, it amazes me how true these things are sometimes.

Blue Scholars August 8, 2007

all right, guys. we're gonna be on vacation this week so unfortunately we won't be able to make it. BUT.. for those who haven't seen Blue Scholars live yet.. GO SEE THEM. what's the hold up here? go gogogo!

if anyone wants to substitute for me and represent the massline crew while i'm out, there are flyers ready to be picked up at the knitting factory! go promote and you can get in for free!! just let me know if you're interested.

so really, what IS hip hop?

i love hip-hop. and here's why: i never heard anything that hit me on such a personal level than i did when i was first exposed to hip-hop. i related to it. i related to its political views, its feelings, its history, and its overall message to the world. and yeah, i know theres a lot of other things involved like beats, production, and etc. but i've always been a lyrical type of gal. and in hip hop, i always felt like it said what i wanted/needed to hear. and hell yes, i was willing to listen.

i stumbled upon this thread, posted by a person who apparently has something wrong with his capslock button but i think the point he brings up is something we all should think about:


WHAT THE F**K IS HIP-HOP?
« on: July 25, 2007, 12:34:50 pm »

THIS IS ALWAYS AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION.... I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO LET IT GO AND LET IT GROW. I DONT LIKE EVERYTHING ON THE RADIO (WITH KUBE WE'RE LIMITED ANY WAY) BUT, TO SOME DIGREE IT HAS ITS WAY OF MAKING THE PEOPLE WHO LISTEN TO IT FEEL GOOD! FOR EXAMPLE, I "HATE" THE SONG "AY BAY BAY" BUT WITH OUT IT I WOULDN'T APPRECIATE THE SONGS THAT I DO LIKE. IF ALL WE HAD WAS GOOD AND NO BAD WE'D HAVE NO REASONING, MATTER OR OPINION AND WE'D TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED.... AND I CANT HELP THAT I MYSELF LIKE WHAT PEOPLE CALL "MAINSTREAM HIP-HOP" BETTER. I LISTEN TO EVERYTHING BUT EVEN THE BULLSH*T IS NECCESARY!!! AND WHERE ITS AT NOW, CONTENT WISE "IS NOT" FAR FROM WHERE WE STARTED... BOASTING AND TALKING ABOUT MATERIALISTIC THINGS, HAS BEEN AROUND FOREVER, IN THE EARLY STAGES HIP-HOP THRIVED ON BEING THE MOST FRESH AND FLY, IT SEEMS THAT SINCE MORE MONEY IS INVOLVED, ITS NOT TRUE HIP-HOP. WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OR PURITY OF WHAT HIP-HOP EVEN IS? CULTURE? ART? "JUST RAP MUSIC"? I ASK BECAUSE IF HIP-HOP IS A CULTURE WHICH MOST OF US WOULD AGREE THEN MOST OF THE ARTIST THESE DAYS ARE VERY MUCH SO HIP-HOP, WHY? BECAUSE THEY LIVE IT, DRESS IT, TALK IT, WALK IT WITH THE NEW TRENDS, STYLES, SLANG AND SO ON. BUT, IT SEEMS TO ME IF WE DONT LIKE THEIR MESSAGE OR CONTENT WE CONSIDER THEM NOT HIP-HOP!!! SO WHAT DOES THAT MAKE US, WHEN THEY WHO ARE NOT LIKE US, ARE MORE RELEVANT TO THE FOREFATHERS OF THIS CULTURE WE CALL HIP-HOP? SO WHAT THE F**K IS HIP-HOP?

----

what i hate about hip hop is the big-headedness it brings. obviously there are the radio artists who are big-headed with their big cars, big booty hos, and dolla dolla bills. but i mean, even those who aren't into "mainstream" hip hop will always have something to preach about what "real hip hop" is. everyone always thinks their opinion of what hip hop is.. is a fact. but how can it be? how can we brag about knowing something that's so diverse and conditional? the people dancing in the clubs to the hip hop DJ are expressing their own form of "hip hop". the one walking the halls with their headphones on listening to Tribe Called Quest find peace in what their hip hop is. right?

i end this entry with this quote:

"Hip-hop is meant to be your own personal expression of how you see the world, and if you stay true to that, then your being true to hip-hop"

blog worthy

Rapper KRS-One's son found dead in Atlanta in apparent suicide

By Associated Press
Published on: 07/10/07

The son of hip-hop legend KRS-One was found dead in his apartment in an apparent suicide, authorities said Tuesday.
Randy Hubbard Parker, 23, died of a gunshot wound to the head and the death was classified as a suicide, said Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office investigator Mark Guilbeau.
Parker had suffered a long battle with depression, his mother, Simone G. Parker, said in a statement on Tuesday. He was found on Friday.
Parker was a graphic designer and fashion entrepreneur seeking employment in Atlanta. His family said a private memorial service will be held on July 18, which would have been Parker's 24th birthday.
A memorial service in New York, where Parker was born, is scheduled for August.
KRS-One is a rap pioneer whose hits include "Criminal Minded," "Black Cop," and "The Bridge is Over."


--

i can't even imagine the horror, the pain, the sorrow, just the overall EMOTIONS that runs through a parent when something like this happens. to have your child take his/her own life... i don't know. it's a sad world we live in sometimes.
anyway.. much condolences to the Parker family at this time.

CONTEST WINNERS

all right, so i didn't win. which sucks..
because i worked really hard at it. and the people who help'd me worked hard too. sorry, guys.

haha just kidding! of course we won. :)

--
And the street team contest winners ARE.....
« on: July 09, 2007, 04:20:17 pm »

SO after review of all of the emails - here are the 5 winners...as well as my personal comments for each....



#2 - Tina aka "dearmisstina" - girl you were amazing! You had no fear going up to record store owners and workers, and even showed amazing initiative when you ran out of bin cards and made your own. Thanks for everything you did down in LA girl...

---

yay! so this has made my day :)
if anyone is interested in my promoting skills, let me know. i charge hourly + gas. haha :x

Bayani Promotion

first up: Stacks Vinyl (Cerritos, LA)

coincidentally bambu was there with his girl, EyeASage, rehearsing:

next up was FatBeats on Melrose:

the worker eyein' the stuff for approval:

off to Amoeba on Sunset in Hollywood:

too bad i only had one CD backing (that i used at FatBeats):

wait a minute, i think i have a solution:

scattered all around los angeles:

ah, the advantages of having a 6'2" boyfriend...

while standing in line at Pink's:

so that's it for the contest. couldn't have done it without my photographer, susan (THANK YOU!) and my boyfriend who used his height to my advantage. :)