"The Misfits"

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Have You Ever Been Lost, But Found?!

Lyrically Speaking XV

Written by: Ccep J. Dew, West Coast Editor



"I never been so lost and found at the same time..." - Judah 1

For the last couple of weeks, I have never felt surer of my calling and more lost in its discovery. It's as if I know what steps to take, but anxiety (and, quite honestly, fear) has leadened my legs and kept me Tin Man stiff with no oil can in sight. Fear of what? I don't know. Perhaps, it's the fear of failure or the fear of succeeding. Perhaps, as I conveyed to my little sister and to my big sister on two separate occasions, it is the fear of becoming "a god". Perhaps, you've been feeling the same way for different reasons.

Recent interactions have challenged me to reveal sides of myself that only a select few are allowed to see. In sharing my fears, joys, goals, and things as simple as my favorite restaurant or color, I have similarly been able to see the vulnerability in others. It is the absence of this innocence and fellowship that chills the heart, cloaks the spirit, and leads to feelings of detachment from those in our surroundings and networks. And it is in these moments where the beauty and intricacies of humanity (others', as well as our own) can be found.

When my mother calls me from Baltimore sometimes, before she gets off the phone, she says, "I miss you," in a tone that is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. Naturally, my response is, "I miss you, too. I'll be there soon," but the recent passing of my grandfather has shown me that no one can be sure when "soon" will come, if it ever comes at all.

These and other experiences tend to leave me conflicted: Do I open myself up to another individual or continue to guard my precious heart? How much do I share? How much of myself am I willing to give (while thinking that the other person may not reciprocate or even care?) Do I break down and have a cryfest over the phone or do I stay strong and save the tears for when we are reunited?

To read more into the subliminal message, click the link below:
http://www.etmmagazine.info/Editorials/2009/11/articles/2009_11_lyrically14.html

Mad Love for the DJ's!


DJ HEROS:
Dedicated to Roc Raida & Mr. Magic
(R.I.P.)

Written by: Slangston Hughes

The foundation of the Hip-Hop culture is without a doubt the Deejay. Way before the emcee ever came anywhere near the mic to recite his first “yes, ya’ll” it was the Deejay who kept the crowd moving and laid the groundwork for the culture and the music that has come to be known as Hip-Hop. And within the past few weeks, Hip-Hop has lost two of its most pivotal historical figures on the 1’s and 2’s: turntablist X-traordinare Grand Master Roc Raida and Hip-Hop Disc Jockey (the very first in mainstream radio, that is) Mr. Magic. May their memory, legacy, and priceless contributions never be forgotten!

Although his family called him “Ant”, Anthony Williams became known worldwide as legendary DJ Roc Raida. In 1999, Grand Master status was bestowed upon him by a group of pioneering Hip-Hop DJs during a conference at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum. With a very aggressive swagger on the turntables, those who knew Roc Raida were floored by his battles, performances, recordings, documentaries, videos, DVDs. and even a Pepsi commercial. Roc Raida influenced thousands of DJs, both to party rock as well as to battle. He began DJing at the age of 12, spinning at local parties around Harlem. In 1991, he won the AS 1 DJ Battle. By 1995, Roc Raida represented the United States at the DMC World DJ Championships and won! He was the first DJ from NYC to hold this title. Throughout his life, he lived his passion being a professional Hip-Hop DJ and was blessed to tour the world. Williams was honored to have worked with artists including Showbiz & AG, Lord Finesse, Kool G Rap, and, most recently, he toured exclusively with Busta Rhymes. As a member of the legendary turntablist crews, The X-Men and later, The X-ecutioners, he along with his brothers in vinyl took the world by storm, innovating, influencing and inspiring at every turn. In 2006, to progress and contribute to the Hip-Hop DJ battle scene, he founded Roc Raida’s Gong DJ Battle, a national DJ battle that occurs annually, combining head-to-head turntablist dexterity with comedy and drama.

Anthony “Grand Master Roc Raida” Williams was born in Harlem, New York on May 17, 1972. He passed away on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from a cardiac arrest resulting from injuries he suffered in an accident while training in Krav Maga, a type of self-defense system that he had been studying weekly for the last two years. Without a doubt, he is one of the greatest turntable experts in the history of Hip-Hop culture and is on any and everyone’s top 5 list of most technically skilled turntablist who knows anything about the art-form. An innovator in the craft of the Deejay who was handed the torch directly by legends such as Grand Master Flash and Grand Wizard Theodore, Anthony “Grand Master Roc Raida” Williams truly transformed the turntable into an instrument in ways that both his contemporaries and predecessors alike could never have imagined possible. To the Grand Master Roc Raida: Hip-Hop is forever grateful and we will forever miss you, a true turntable ninja and vinyl X-ecutioner like none another, the John Coltrane of the zigga ziggas, Roc Raida, Rest In Peace!

To read the entire dedication, click the link below:

http://www.etmmagazine.info/freeyourmind/2009/11/articles/2009_11_djheros.html

Gay Suicide!


The Alarming Rate of Gay Students Who Drop Out of School (28%) and the 30% Who Commit Suicide

Written by: Mister Rowan

Sometimes, parents wonder what happens to their children when they leave early in the morning and go off to school. They even wonder why, sometimes, their children are rebellious or even the slightest standoffish. But, on most occasions, parents have endured the same treatment that their children currently are, so what is to be done to alleviate the situation?

Although many families are accepting of their off-spring’s sexual orientation, there are a large amount of families that honestly don’t want anything to do with that person. It’s sad to believe that some large amounts of people believe that a person’s sexual orientation is a choice and it leaves the person to question their own existence. Studies and personal experience prove that people honestly wonder whether their life is a mistake and if the life they live is really the one that was meant for them.

With all the problems of today, there is one that still exists: teenage death and exile. Ask yourself: did you know or were you the person in school that often faced ostracism? If so, then you know exactly how it feels to wonder why you look at the cards you were dealt. How do we change the remarkable numbers that face us today? Studies show that an alarming rate of High School dropouts is owned by 28% of homosexuals. They also show that of all those suicide cases each year, a mass amount of 30% belong to the LGBT community, as well.

Instead of this problem being faced head-on, it’s been shoved under a rug, shunned, and, even worse, not taken seriously. Is it not important that those of the “next generation” are disappearing because of the lack of assurance in their lives? Media plays a major part, as well. This year in California history revealed that hatred rules the courtroom and the decision to allow same-sex marriage was denied. That thought alone just governs the thought of a young man or woman facing a dilemma of wondering whether their life is in vain.

To check out more of this alarming article, click the link below:

http://www.etmmagazine.info/future/2009/11/articles/2009_11_alarmingrate.html

Do You Procrastinate?


Self-Sabotage:
The Negatives of Procrastination

Written by: ^Northernstar*

Have you ever waited ‘til the last minute to start developing your presentation due tomorrow? Do you ever make excuses not to call the jobs you’ve applied for? Or have you ever said, “I work best under pressure, so I’ll do it the night before”? At some point, we all have & we as humans are entitled to feel “anxious” or “lazy”. However, when a person begins to “put things off” excessively, the final product becomes an epic failure & it hinders the person from living to their full potential.

What is this type of person called? You guessed it. They are a procrastinator and as harmless as it seems… it can be very effective & harmful to an individual’s career and life. In David Glenn’s article, “Procrastination in College Students Is a Marker for Unhealthy Behaviors”, he explains how the biggest procrastinators happen to be college students because their priorities are backwards and they would rather party all weekend than study for a mid-term the following Monday. I am a college student and there have been many times where I would rather talk on the phone or go out to the club than read PowerPoints for a lecture I did not understand. But, in reality, understanding the PowerPoint is more important because if I am tested on the material, I would get a big fat zero. On the other hand, I may miss that party or phone call, but it will always be there! My education could be lost, so why risk it over something that’ll always exist?

“College students who procrastinate in their academic work are also likely to have unhealthy sleep, diet, and exercise patterns.” (Glenn, 2002) And it doesn’t come as a big surprise because college students (people in general), make ideas for what they want to do for themselves, but become lost by distractions & they say, “Well, shoot. This homework isn’t going anywhere. I want to take a break for five minutes”, then they never come back to it. It wasn’t until my mother told me she observed that I start things but never finish it that opened my eyes about how damaging procrastination can be. And no one wants to be perceived as a procrastinator, especially in the world of Journalism.

It is believed by many people that procrastination is stemmed from perfectionism, anger, hostility, low frustration tolerance, self-downing, difficulty levels, fears & too-time consuming. From personal experiences, many of these reasons are very true! But, what a person must keep in the back of their mind is the fact that the more work you put out, the greater advantages you will have. When a person procrastinates their entire life, they will only reach a certain point. The sky is the limit for the hard-worker.

Click the link below to find out the FIVE ways to eliminate procrastination:

http://www.etmmagazine.info/future/2009/11/articles/2009_11_selfsabotage.html

Editors Notes... Three Years Later!


Ccep J. Dew,
West Coast Editor/Arts Director of “Free Your Mind”

Initially, my intention was to simply submit my poetry to ETM. To my surprise, I was thrust into journalism and quickly climbed the ladder from intern to full-time journalist. Though my love is for the arts, because of my age, I graduated to the Youth Director of “The Future” section and, when leadership began to shift, I eventually was able to make the switch to Arts Director of “Free Your Mind”. When our former West Coast Editor stepped down from her position, I stepped into it. And here I stand, two years after submitting a poem, as West Coast Editor and Arts Director of eXcape the matriX magazine…

During my 2 years with ETM, I have undergone changes both personally and professionally. This last year, in particular, has caused me to think about things differently as I have undertaken more responsibilities within the publication and the company.

A shy, introverted individual with leadership qualities, yet a preference not to be in the spotlight, it has been somewhat conflicting for me to be in the positions that I hold. Though I have all the skills to be a phenomenal leader, I would much rather seek comfort in the shadows where I can work my magic and not have people looking up at me with pools of questions about to swell over from their eyes. But, “for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” –Luke 12:48. So, in accepting the titles of my positions, I had to also accept the responsibility and transition myself to be the leader that is required of me.

The most difficult challenge that I have faced this year has been honesty. Not, “telling the truth as opposed to lying”, but “saying eXactly how I feel within the right capacity”. At times, I have feared coming off as too harsh when “reprimanding” journalists or fear seeming too opinionated with matters of the operation of the company. But, with encouragement, I have found my unapologetic voice and, in doing so, have taken an active role in the metamorphosis that the publication has undergone.

I’ve also become more comfortable with the interview process. It is always somewhat nerve-wrecking for me to call someone and the anxiety never truly goes away; however, I have gotten better at concealing the feeling. I have also taken the step to conduct an interview without prewritten questions. I figure, at some point, I may run into someone and that will be my only opportunity to interview them. Shouldn’t I be prepared to do impromptu interviews? Yes, I should.

Though I have come to terms with my responsibilities, I am prepared for all that the forthcoming year will require of me…

http://www.etmmagazine.info/contributors/images/en.jpgEN,
Sr. Editor/Webmaster

It is funny that I always have to stop and take a minute to reflect on the past eXperiences here with the magazine. Things often flow back to back so much that I turn around and it is time for the next “thing”. The past three years have been a growing and stretching process, but truly sometimes “you can’t see the forest for the trees”. So, in true logical fashion, I’ll make a list of ETM effects:

Capitalizing the X’s in words now…
Attending the Transformations event at MICA as a member of the press…
Finally getting business cards for myself (thank you ETM)…
Being on live radio via staff member Catalina Byrd
Getting to learn everyone a little bit more through each anniversary dinner…
Enjoying the group photo shoots…
Having a good time as the doorman for Storytellers…
Seeing just how much behind-the-scenes web work can be done in a day…

I think it is beautiful to see us still moving forward with speed and new ideas. There is a huge pool of dedicated and loving people here, working towards a goal and honing their craft. Setbacks don’t steal our joy, but rather give us more energy to get things right. The biggest trait I’ve noticed is that I have learned to go with the flow in confidence. Everything can’t be planned out in advance and I am starting to implement that in my every day life…

To read the ENTIRE Editors & Directors Editorials, click the link below:

http://www.etmmagazine.info/Editorials/2009/11/articles/2009_11_etm3years.html

Kimora Kimora Kimora!

Fabulosity:
Profile of Kimora Lee Simmons

Written by: Chenita “Infinite Apex” Dickerson
oneandanoi@hotmail.com

Taurean goddess (yes, this is my opinion) Kimora Lee Simmons, born Kimora Lee Perkins, entered this world on May 4, 1975. She was raised and parented by her African-American (Black) dad Vernon Whitlock Jr. and her half-Japanese, half-Korean mom Joanne Kyoko Perkins in St. Louis, Missouri. She was often teased for her height and Asian features and was often called a “chinky giraffe”. Despite being labeled a “chinky giraffe”, she emerged as a fabulous business and fashion professional, supermodel, actress, published author, wife, and mom all to the tune of an estimated $9,400,000 a year! In this case, success is the best revenge.

Kimora’s mom enrolled her in modeling classes at the age of eleven and by age thirteen, she was discovered by Marie Christine Kollock for Paris Agency Glamour and sent to Paris. At age thirteen, as well, she was awarded a contract for modeling under Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld. She was six foot tall by age fourteen. Kimora graduated from Lutheran High School North in St. Louis Missouri. At age fifteen and with no driver’s license, Kimora purchased her first car, a BMW, which she crashed, injuring herself and needing forty stitches in her face. Along her modeling career, she met and is still best friends with Talk Show host and supermodel Tyra Banks, who is Godmother to at least one of her children.

Despite being labeled a “chinky giraffe”, she emerged as a fabulous business and fashion professional, super model, actress, published author, wife and mom all to the tune of an estimated $9,400,000 a year!

Kimora Lee Simmons is a mother to three children; two of her children are daughters with ex-husband Russell Simmons, former owner of Phat Fashions. Russell encouraged Kimora to go out with him by sending flower arrangements to her agency that were so big it took two delivery men to carry them. Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee were married in 1998 and their first daughter, Ming Lee Simmons, was born in 2000. Two years later, the couple had a second daughter, Aoki Lee Simmons. Despite being business partners with Baby Phat, the couple separated in March 2006 and finalized their divorce earlier this year in January of 2009; however, they remain friends and business colleagues. Kimora held the position of Creative Director for Baby Phat (a division of Phat Fashions), but after Russell Simmons sold Phat Fashions and stepped down as CEO, the new owners promoted Kimora to Creative Director and CEO of Phat Fashions where she remains today. Mrs. Simmons’ latest edition to her family, a son named Kenzo Lee Hounson, was born this year in May of 2009 with her new husband, actor and model Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond, The Island) whom she began dating in March 2007. Both of Kimora’s daughters are models for the children’s division of Baby Phat Fashions. Little Kenzo appeared, debuting as the youngest child to ever grace a runway, during the 2010 Fashion Week at the end of the Baby Phat collection debut. Being held by his mom Kimora and with his two sisters walking on each side, he was shown to the world. Kimora was filming a new season of her reality show, “Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane”, while preparing for the Fashion week show.


To see the entire article, click the link below:

http://www.etmmagazine.info/Bizarre/2009/11/articles/2009_11_fabulosity.html

The Apocalypse Dawns at 30: Does Life Really End Here? (Two Perspectives)



The Apocalypse Dawns at 30:
Does Life Really End Here?

Written by: luminoUS; Editor at Large
Photograph (left) by: Edith Williams of Diamond Digital Photography


It seems I have a disease, or at least that’s the way people gawk at me once they find out that I’m swiftly approaching 30, not married, have no prospects of potential suitors, and haven’t laid one egg, which leaves me without a child to proudly say that I’ve carried for nine months and endured 234 hours of labor to see their sweet little face. But, rest assured, people, I’m still alive and well. Although, I have my down days, my modern day leprosy of ushering from 20 to 30 isn’t deathly and I’m actually looking forward to it.

Yes, I look all of 25, which I was told by one of the 22 year-old cubs who recently tried to seek refuge in my den, but, I, my dears, am not a cougar and have no intentions of being any woman identified by the names of ferocious felines. I am simply a woman who will turn 30 this month. I’m single with no children—rare, but not eXtinct. I very much eXist and get tired of people looking down on me because of what I don’t have or haven’t become as of yet. I’m well aware that in many cultures I would have been married years ago. The Japanese woman at the local sushi bar made this known to me once she found out how old I was and then looked at me in astonishment when my response to her question about being married didn’t align with her customs. She even asked to see my ID because she didn’t believe that I was indeed knocking on the doorway to my 3rd decade in life. But, despite the stares and feedback that I receive from strangers, it’s the voice of my family that hit the hardest. These people have known me for 30 years, or at least the elders of the family have, and it hurts me that my mom thinks that I don’t have children because I’m selfish, or that my great-grandma thought that I was too career-oriented to focus on a family. I simply couldn’t see myself having a baby and bringing it into my mom’s home. Personally, I wanted to have a stable career and a stable home in which to place a child in the attempt that I would have to raise it alone. I believe in marriage, but coming from a place where single mothers seem to be as common as ordering a chicken box and half and half as a nutritional dinner, I didn’t want to depend on someone else to look after me or my child.

To read the entire article, click the link below:
http://www.etmmagazine.info/editorials/2009/11/articles/2009_11_apocalypseat30.html


Written By: Raven A. Ekundayo
Photo By: Savhad Lewis


It’s funny. At 21 it seemed like 30 was light years away. If I’m being honest it seemed like it was just as far away at 25. It’s not that far away now. As this magazine goes to cyber print I will officially have 10 days before I turn 30. Unlike most people I know who seem to dread turning the big 30, I’m actually really eXcited.


Each “significant” age in my 20’s came with something special. At 21 I realized my life’s purpose and gave myself my last name. When I was 25 I became a journalist and gave myself my middle name.


Spoiler Alert (LOL) – For those who don’t know, my parents didn’t name me Raven Ekundayo, but for the record, I WAS born Raven Ekundayo. You can figure that one out.


When looking at my 21st and 25th Birthdays I become more eXcited about turning 30. If such important parts of my life took place during those birthdays what can I eXpect from 30?


“My 30’s are when I will appear on Oprah and become close friends with Cornel West, Sean Carter and
Jill Scott.” - Raven


I’ll also be leaving behind my 20’s and boy am I ready to be done with them. The 20’s signify a decade of finding one’s self. I enjoyed the journey and I have more to know about me I’m sure, but for the most part I’m ready for the next chapter in life. I’m ready for the part where I’ve learned the most important lessons and can now move forward and create my proper place in history. It’s perplexing to me that people assume 30 is old; that couldn’t be further from the truth. You have lived but only 3 decades at 30. That’s nothing in the grand scheme of things. We are still quite young, just thankfully not as naïve and immature as we were at 20 (well….some of us anyway).

To read Raven's entire "Apocalypse", click the link below:
http://www.etmmagazine.info/editorials/2009/11/articles/2009_11_dawnof30.html

You Are What You Eat!



You Are What You Eat?!

Written by: Mister Rowan



So, as time goes by, new products are being produced in order to increase sales... even if lives are at stake. But, who cares if a few years are shaved off due to the lack of nutritional necessities in the food we eat? Many different types of research on consumables (anything that can be consumed, depleted or worn out by use) are done every day on food in order to come up with new facts to enrich life for everyone. Since there tends to be a lot of conditions that revolve around unhealthy eating, I thought that I could do some help by researching which foods are the best for you.



Upon research, I found several websites that included information about common foods that we’re brought up on, not really knowing that they are dangerous for us. Now, there are the old folks’ tales that our grandparents tell us and we tend to let it go in one ear and out the other. But, scientists work hard to prove those tales right.



As a security measure in emergency situations, many people are advised to make sure to carry cases of bottled water to remain hydrated. Although that is most important to be hydrated, did you know that bottled water may be a bit more dangerous than your average tap water on top of being more expensive? It’s 2009 and WE ARE IN A RECESSION! We don’t need to spend unnecessary money, let alone get sick from spending that extra dollar or so on “convenient” refreshments.

***Some facts:



Producing the containers for bottled water in that year required more than 17 million barrels of oil and bottling the water produced more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. Are you aware that it takes 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottle water? What happens to the other 2 liters? Now, while we’re trying to quench our thirst, a lot of people tend to drain the earth by liter. The Container Recycling Institute reported that 86% of water bottles in the United States become garbage or liter.



Are the nutritional facts all of the contents in the product? Well, some companies, whose main product is bottled water, contain harmful contaminants, such as arsenic, chloroform, nitrate, TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes), and other variations of Trihalomethanes. FYI: TTHM is the chemical known to cause cancer so, “How you doin’?”

To read the entire article, click the link below:
http://www.etmmagazine.info/wakeup/2009/11/articles/2009_11_youarewhatyoueat.html

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Melanie Fiona bridges Canada with B-more



Written by: luminoUS, Editor at Large

Photography by: Edith Williams of Diamond Digital Portraits

On a beautifully marveloUS autumn day, I sat out to join my ETM family at Gypsy Soul’s monthly Ear Candy event. Gypsy Soul sets out to bring the public responsible music and the event scheduled for the evening of October 20th did just that. Standing room only, people packed the urban chic walls of Teavolve, a local tea house locate in Harbor East Baltimore, for the digital release party of Melanie Fiona’s debut album. During an intermission following the performances of that Rock & B chick, Lydia Caesar and musical prodigy, John Bibbs, I sat down with three other journalist for a round table style interview with Canadian born Melanie Fiona.
How does the music scene in Canada differ from the music scene in the US?


MF: The music scene is really different in Canada because Canada is such a smaller market. We have as many people in the country of Canada; actually you guys have more people in the state of California than we do in our whole country. So, it’s a different market. Everything is taking a lot longer to develop there, on an industry basis. The music industry, eXpecially when it comes to Urban music, is a lot smaller. It’s definitely not at as big on a number sales scale. And then the actual labels up there, we don’t have many. The couple that we do have; Warner, EMI, Universal, you know, much smaller divisions and not as many artist signed. Urban music is a lot more difficult to break in Canada.


Let’s talk about the album, The Bridge, how did you come up with the title?


MF: We did an eXclusive release with iTunes today for $5.99. The album is [now] available and I’m very, very eXcited about it. For me, this has been a life long journey, a life long dream so, The Bridge is more of a symbol for me than it is a track title or a song. Bridges mean something. Bridges mean, to me, something that brings people together, you cross from one side to the next on a bridge, so I wanted my first album to definitely be that. I wanted it to be stories that people could relate to. I wanted it to be about real life, about real music, real instrumentation, real singing, but most importantly I wanted it to bridge things that separate people, because I feel like music should never be one of those things. Music should always be something that brings people together so different ethnicities are going to appreciate this music. For me, growing up in a multicultural city, I pulled from so many different influences from culture to different types of music and food and language so it definitely bridges the gap between genders, cultures and age groups. I’m a young girl with an old soul, always have been, and you know my parents listened to a lot of soul music from Sam Cooke to Nat King Cole and as I grew up listening to pop, R&B to hip-hop, I wanted to fuse the two together, you know the past and the present. That’s what The Bridge is for me and I just want it to be that for everybody else.





BET penned it but do you think of yourself as a “rising icon?”


MF: Oh my gosh! I’m rising, definitely. I don’t know about an icon. An icon comes with a lot of responsibility and a lot of pressure, I’m so flattered that I’m even considered any type of icon; rising, falling, it doesn’t matter. It was such an honor for me because I was like I don’t even have an album out, I’m still developing and trying to promote myself as a new artist and they put me in a category of artist that are established, have albums, people know, support their music and that was a huge compliment because BET is really helping to eXpose me to an audience of new people that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be eXposed to as a new artist. So, it’s a really great thing. We taped the special. It’s getting ready to air. I’m not sure of what the final date is but I’m really eXcited about it. It will probably air close to the release of the physical album, which is November 10th. It was a really great series and hopefully I will get to grow and evolve to think that one day I am an icon in my own right.


I know you come from a musical background but how did you get your actual break into the music industry?


MF: I was working in Toronto, where I’m from, just kind of developing what I was going to do in music and just learning the basics of what it was to recording and being an artist and I stopped working with the people I was involved with and I was like ‘what am I gonna do now?’ A mutual friend introduced me to my, now eXecutive producer, for my production company, Title Nine, her name is Carmen. She had a couple of artist that were signed at the time and was interested in doing artist development with new artist. She was in Toronto at the time that we met and she was kinda like, ‘If you’re serious, I like what I see in you, I love the tone of your voice, I love your personality. Let’s see what we can do.’ So, I packed up and would go to California with her on every holiday and every school break and every week that I had off and I just kinda like thru myself in that way. And then I would go back and forth until it became too much and then I just had to go over there full time.


What is your ultimate goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?


MF: My ultimate goal, well definitely to still have a career in 10 years. That would be nice. I really think I want to make music that people remember and for me, its not about being the most famous artist but it’s about having a following of people that are really down for you and people who really love your music and will support you so that you can have a career to support your life and do the things that you want to do. I definitely would love to be an artist that’s won a couple Grammy’s, I would love to say that I’ve traveled to every country in the world with my music and I have a stamp in my passport. I would, hopefully, love to maybe have a family of my own at that time and start a new generation and leave a legacy that they can enjoy. And definitely for me, in the things that I’ve learned, I really want to in some area, whether I start my own record label, maybe I’ll start a mentorship program, maybe I’ll start something after I’ve gained that type of eXperience to educate new artist that are coming in and being an artist, it really gives you a different insight as to what it takes to break an artist, what it’s like to be an artist, what you need from a label, what you need from a manager, and sometimes artist don’t know that because they get so caught up in the idea of being an artist and being famous. So, I think it’s really important that there need to be more people to educate artist in how to have a good healthy career.



Earlier this year, I downloaded your mix CD with ?uestlove, which I absolutely adore.


MF: Thank you.


You’re welcome. It basically made me anticipate this album. My favorite song is “Cupid.” How did you hook up with The Roots? I know you met them in London, I believe.


MF: I met them in Paris actually. We were both on tour with Kanye West and I met ?uestlove. That was the day, actually, their bus had flipped over. So, we spoke that day and we were sharing the eXperience together and we kept in touch and started working in the studio and then I said, ‘Do you want to help me with a mix tape?’ and he was like, ‘Ok, yeah. Let’s do it.’ I had no idea what I was getting myself into because I had never done a mix tape before and I was thinking about doing some hip-hop tracks with The Roots and he was like, ‘Come to the studio on Sunday and we’ll figure it out.’ I got there and he had the Illadelphonics, Adam Blackstone, Randy Bowland and a keyboard player by the name of Eric Wortham, all from Philadelphia, amazing musicians that he works with and we went into the studio and we said, ‘all right, we don’t have a date for the album, but we want to give fans and listeners an opportunity to get familiar with the music before the album releases.’ So, we started free-styling music and he was like, ‘sing your song on top of this’ and I started following the beat and singing and improvising and changing melodies and changing lyrics and really just making it a really free-styled idea and that’s what you hear on the mix tape. Very raw, very organic, unrehearsed… we maybe went back to fix one line, other than that there was no editing. So, what you hear is really raw and organic and I love it because I did things like the “Monday Morning” version that I did on that, which is so completely opposite because all of the songs are remixed versions of what’s on my album, so they are different. If they were up tempo they became mids or ballads and “Monday Morning” is probably one of the things that I think that I’m so proud of to date that I did just totally free and I think it was the energy in the room that allowed me to go [places] really creatively that I totally wasn’t eXpected to go. We covered “Cupid” which is one of my favorite songs by Sam Cooke, we did “Heartless” by Kanye and that kinda became something that I was known for and then we just did the songs on the album. It was really a great thing and I’m happy that I made something that people can have and enjoy for years opposed to a DJ just spinning songs they’ve already heard.







How heavy was your hand in the writing process of the album?


MF: In my album, before I started this album, I was completely on my own. I was independent. I was writing and choosing tracks and vocal arranging and doing everything myself. When I started working on [this] album, I met Andrea Martin, who is an amazing producer/song writer, who’s written for Leona Lewis, Monica, SWV, all of the LaFace artist; just incredible. We met and we instantly had creative fireworks. She was like, ‘you are the artist I’ve been waiting for. I’m like, ‘you are the song writer/producer I’ve been looking for my whole life. Help me become better than what I am right now.’ And I’ve worked with Andrea almost on every song on the album, the majority of the album. Whether I wrote it and recorded it with her, whether we co-wrote it together, whether she wrote it, we definitely had a great relationship in creativity and it takes a lot as an artist to kind of feel like your trusting somebody to help you to be a mouth piece to tell your story but for me because this album was about telling other people’s stories as well as mine and making an album that was classic and timeless it was only the best eXperience for me to be able to have somebody who took me under their wing and said, ‘here I’m going to take you to another level.’ I think that’s why people enjoy this music so much because I feel like, even for me, I grew so much in doing this album. So for me, definitely, whether I write, which I do write, I’ve written for Rihanna. I have a publishing deal and I’ll be writing for future artist as well. I definitely never sing about anything that I don’t stand by. That is an absolute must for me. I’m not one of those artist that’s like, ‘this is a hit song so let’s just record it,’ and I don’t believe in it. I can’t do that. For me, I feel like my integrity comes so honestly in my performance that the audience will see it right away. So, for me, it’s always about real content that I believe in, that I know people can believe in, that people can believe me telling their story because if it’s not my story and it’s someone else’s I want them to be able to be like, ‘yeah girl I felt you, that was me I was going thru that.’ So, that’s where a lot of the records came from on this album and I’m going to continue to work with Andrea for the rest of my career hopefully.


You mentioned that you wrote for Rihanna, did you work with her on the upcoming album?


MF: I did not [write] on the upcoming album, I did a song on her second album called “Them Haters,” which had a reggae kind of feeling. Rihanna’s from the islands and my families from the Caribbean as well. So, I definitely wanted to have that reflected in my music. I was doing a lot of music that had that reggae influence at the time and I got that song placed on her album.


Are there any other artist or producers that you would like to work with?


MF: I would really love to work with Wyclef Jean because I feel like he’s got a great
understanding of music and he does a great job of bridging music together as well. I’ve been to a few of his shows and it’s totally international. His crowd is all over the place. The music is definitely international. I’d love to work with Kanye. As a new artist, I’d love to work with Ryan Leslie. He’s probably one of my new favorite artist and albums of this year. Love it! Love it! He’s just a musical genius and I would love to see Ryan Leslie put his stamp on Melanie Fiona and see what he can create for me. That would be really great.


What inspiration can you give to other young artist trying to where you are?


MF: Wow, I would say surround yourself with positive people. Your team needs to be your foundation. You cannot do this on your own. It is probably the most difficult thing in the world when you have to pick up and leave and you have nobody who’s fighting for you just as hard as you’re fighting for yourself. So a team, definitely who are out for your best interest and who will keep you on the right path as a person, not necessarily as an artist. Be very clear about what you want to do as an artist. It’s one thing to love music and to sing and to want to be an artist, but really, what it takes to be an artist is a lot of hard work, so be very clear about what you are getting yourself into and just push. Just push. No matter how many times people told me I should have changed the type of music that I do or I need to do more of this type of music or I need to be more of this type of artist or dress this type of way or do whatever, if I would’ve listened to what everybody said I would have no direction as to who I am so if you are sure of who you are and what you want to do, go with that and believe in that and follow that thru because the more you insist on who you are and what you want to do people won’t fight you on it anymore.



Much peace, love and light



*For more information on Melanie*

www.melaniefiona.com

The Jon Bibbs Interview from "Ear Candy" 10/09


Written By: Natalie K. Pinkney

Photography By: Edith Williams of Diamond Digital Photography


Jon Bibbs is a talented artist who has so many skills under his belt, it’s true genius that he can keep up with himself. His new album is set for release in early 2010 and is sure to be what his fans have come to know and love about his music.

 

ETM: You’re a songwriter, singer, producer, and musician. Of all the hats you wear, which is your favorite?

JB: Singing…Definitely. I could be in my room singing and be the happiest person in the world.

 

ETM: You’ve worked alongside some of music’s most coveted artists. What have you learned from those eXperiences?

JB: Well, I’ll name a couple of people. From Ledisi, I learned a really positive view of what we do and a perseverance. From Chuck Brown, I learned a coolness..a calmness, being in control to realize that everything is going to be all right if you just relaX. From Bilal, I learned creative freedom, to be completely unafraid of any subject or any arrangement. I’m not anywhere near where he is [laughs] but I’m on the road to that path.

 

ETM: What can fans and new listeners eXpect from the new album?

JB: They can eXpect a lot of stripped down music. There is not going to be a lot of eXcessive production. Really a lot of live instrumentation. Its going to be very light but sincere. Very clean sound for the record.

 

ETM: Who or what has influenced your music the most?

JB: The 1960’s. I was a history major at Hampton, so that whole decade; creatively, politically, economically, socially. The movements that decade sparked. Even though I wasn’t alive, having studied those periods really resonated with me. That’s one of the reasons why I chose soul music because of that era and what it meant. I love it…I love the 60’s.

 

ETM: What advice would you give an artist coming from a similar background with aspirations to be where you are?

JB: Two things. Number one think less, do more. I spent a lot of time turning wheels in my head making no progress. And I turned the wheels and I stepped out on the plan and I still ended up making mistakes. So I learned I should have just went on my first instinct and even if I would have made a mistake, I would have been making progress earlier. You are going to make mistakes regardless. So don’t be afraid of it, step out there.

Then two, fear not. don’t be afraid. As artists we have a tendency to compare ourselves. The most important thing for us to realize is that the gift we are given is our gift, and our gift alone. No one else will ever be able to sound, sing, write or play eXactly as I do. Because that’s the gift I’ve been given.

 

 

ETM: If you had to pick one song from any of your albums to describe where you are in your life right now. What would it be and why?

JB: Liberation from my second record….I wanna be free. In my life I have a great deal of responsibility and sometimes I feel confined by it. I just want to let go! [laughs]


*For more information on Jon Bibbs*

www.jonbibbs.com/JonBibbs.com/Main.html

The Lydia Caesar interview from "Ear Candy" 10//09

Written By: Natalie K. Pinkney

Photography By: Edith Williams of Diamond Digital Portraits

I had the unique opportunity to sit down and chat with Lydia Caesar before she performed at Gypsy Soul's "Ear Candy", an musical event which all of you EYM Misfits should be familiar with. We talked about her music and her life. Her addictive energy pulled me in but it was definitely her humble spirit that made me even more of a fan. Read on to find out a little more about this beautiful songstress.


ETM: Your genre is self identified as “Rock&B”. Describe in three words the “Rock&B” sound?

LC: I would say…and this may be cheating (laughs). Its Rock-Rhythm-Blues!

 

ETM: In the past you have worked eXtensively in musical theater. Do you see yourself returning to the stage in the future?

LC: Absolutely! I would love to be on the Broadway stage. Actually I would love to be on any stage.

I do a lot; I act, I have an accessories line. There’s a lot going on, but I find that as an artist you can spread yourself too thin trying to do everything at one time. My main focus is on my music right now, and when I get to a place where I’m happy with that, I feel like one hand will wash the other and doors will open.

 

ETM: Your sense of style is very eclectic. Do you think your personality on stage mirror your sense your style and personality in your day to day life?

LC: I do, I do…Honestly its hard for me because I’m so colorful on a regular day. Sometimes I don’t want to look the way I look everyday on the streets, on stage. My mom will say all the time on a regular day, “Where are you going?!”, but that’s just the way I am! So I find myself trying to do more for my look on stage so it doesn’t look the same. Because really its who I am. I’m a colorful person, I’m animated. So even if I didn’t do much I will still be very….who I am.

 

ETM: What responsibility, if any, do you feel you have to the future of the music industry?

LC: Oh wow, good question….I think I can be responsible for bringing an artistry back to music. I think a lot of times people look to the left and they look to the right to see what other people are doing and they see the mainstream. I know its hard to put blinders on and stay true to your sound. I think that’s what makes artists great, when you believe them. When it doesn’t seem like they are faking. And that’s something I would really love to see more of on a major scale. We see that everyday on the independent side because we have the freedom to do what we want. But also there are many people who are talented on majors [record labels] who don’t get to do what we do. That’s a policy of mine to stick to my guns.

 

ETM: What keeps you focused as a mother, student, and artist?

LC: I would have to say my relationship with God. It always comes back to that. He keeps me grounded and as focused as I can be.

 

ETM: If you had to pick one song from your album to describe where you are right now in your life. What would it be and why?

I would say Daughter of a Preacher, that’s because its my bio. If you listen to that song you will know who I am. It tells where I am. Just because I’ve made a song about it shows that I’ve embraced it. It was something that was hard for me growing up but being able to turn it into something that has really shown my growth. I’m at a stage in my life now where I can really own it and love it.


* More information on Lydia Caesar can be found on Facebook/Myspace/Youtube*