Sunday, August 30, 2009
Beanpie – Volume 15 Episode 1: And so it begins
Friday, August 21, 2009
Beanpie – Volume 14 Episode 2: First Sale
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Beanpie – Volume 14 Episode 1: First Sale
Beanpie – Volume 13 Episode 2: Downtown
Written by Shaun Bolden
Scene 3: Beanpie and Tony continue to move around and get kicked out of numerous spots. They find themselves outside of Hank’s store.
Beanpie: I guess we’ll have to set up here.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Is Gay the New Black?
Written by: Liberator
Don’t call it a comeback; it’s been here for years! Not as publicized as it now is presently, homosexuality seems to be like the new iPhone or True Religion jeans. You’re either currently a part of it, was once a part of it, thought about it, or know someone that’s a part it. And I purposely call the lifestyle “it” because homosexuality seems to be more than a lifestyle but a trendy new fashion. Even in political and religious realms, homosexuality is now a highly debatable topic that is currently discussed and publicized a lot more nowadays. With roughly every one in ten people rockin’ a rainbow belt, some studies prove that more people are coming out of the closet because in this day and age homosexuality is no longer advertised as a mental sickness, disease, or illness. That means at least one of your friends, family members, colleagues, or last ten former significant others decided to spend some extra special time with someone of the same sex. Some argue it’s obvious that being involved in homosexual activity is a part of the latest trends or fashions by just listening to different song lyrics.
Pop/rock singer Katy Perry was one the first to talk about homosexuality in a fun, bubbly way in the summer of 2008 when she released her debut single “I Kissed a Girl”. T-Pain produced Ray Lavender’s “My Girl Gotta Girlfriend” featuring T-Pain and Ray J also was released last summer. Plus, new Young Money artist Drake asked ladies in the summer jam song of 2009 “Every Girl”, “And we’re all drunk. Remind us: are any of y’all into girls like I am? Lesbi-honest.” And of course, you have Lil’ Wayne with his occasional homo-referenced lyrics including, “I’m riding with a bad chick and her girlfriend in the back” or “…every chick with a p***y wanna f**k me, but I just feed them drugs and then watch them f**k each other.”
Perhaps some celebrities and artists have something to do with those straight, bi-curious, or closeted folk deciding to now proudly represent the developing land of the red, white, and rainbow. Even award-winning, daytime talk show hostess Ellen DeGeneres publicly came out as a lesbian in 1997 on the Oprah Winfrey Show and has still consecutively been chosen as viewers’ favorite talk show host and funniest female star for the past four years. So, the question still remains: is gay a fashion? Those optimistic lifers in the gay community believe that more people are coming out because it is now being more accepted; so those who claimed to be straight for emotional, spiritual, physical, or professional reasons are now feeling more comfortable about claiming their homosexuality. Pessimistic lifers think homo-newbies are only doing it for attention, a hobby, or just curious to try new things.To view the full article, click on the link below:
http://etmmagazine.info/future/2009/08/articles/2009_08_isgayafashion.html
Healthier America...
Written by: Kenneth-Michael
There stationed at the corner of Baltimore and Redwood Street is a McDonald’s fast food restaurant, local deli-carryout, and just down a few feet a Starbucks coffee house. On that busy intersection, you also have the congestion of traffic coming in from downtown Baltimore. It is 12 o’clock, noon, which means it is lunch-time for those who flood that intersection, dressed in nurses’ scrubs and doctors’ lab coats. That is because many are coming from the University of Maryland Hospital, which is immediately south of the congestion on Paca street. But, on the opposite side of the street, across from the McDonald’s, in the tree shaded plaza of University Hospital, a local community farmer’s market is stationed, sponsored by the hospital, with all the right makings for a healthy lunch-time meal.
Across the United States, thousands of hospitals have started sponsoring their own farmer’s market in support of the National Initiative to a Healthier America. Even First Lady Michelle Obama has decided to get involved; back in March she started growing her own garden on the South end of the White House lawn.
Denise Choinier, a register nurse at the University of Maryland Hospital/Medical Center who runs the farmer’s market, says that it was started to support healthier foods and healthcare, which is a national initiative that has been driven by Healthcare Without Harm. The proximity of the market mainly benefits the staff, patients, and visitors of the Medical Center, but it is opened to the surrounding community. The market, which is only open on Tuesdays, begun on May 5th, 2009 and will likely run until the fall, says Choinier. Offering a variety of foods from locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh, artisan cheeses, marmalades and jams, and ice cream, many of the vendors and farmers come twice month and while others vend every Tuesday.
To view the full article, click the link below:
http://etmmagazine.info/future/2009/08/articles/2009_08_healthieramerica.htmlWishes Do Come True!
Written by: ^Northernstar*
Photography by: Roy Cox
When I first became a member of the addictive network Twitter, many of my friends informed me of a female R&B artist from Baltimore named, Wish. She began following me and we introduced ourselves; her humor & sass drew me instantly to her. Back in April, Wish came home from New York (where she resides now) to go out with some mutual friends and we had a blast. The entire time she insisted on calling me “Chavay” instead of Chavez because it was “sexier” to her. Three months later, I caught up with Wish via cell phone, outside of her busy schedule of promoting & performing live. I found it funny, yet down-to-earth that she answered my questions while shopping in Urban Outfitters. (It’s all good, Wish! We all know you love your clothes.) But, aside from Wish’s outgoing personality, the most important thing she wants people to notice is her voice; and a voice she DOES have!
Hey, Wishbone!
Chavaayyy, I’m doing good… just shopping! [laughs]
[laughs] Oh, ok. And it’s nothing wrong with that. I wish I was shopping. Shoot!
[laughs] But, make sure you don’t include that for the interview, boy.
[laughs] Naw, it’s all good! When did you realize you wanted to be a professional singer, and what lengths would you go to pursue your dreams?
Well, I grew up in church, singing on the choir. Around 7 years-old, that’s when I knew I wanted to be a vocalist. I was in the church’s choir, school choir, two girl groups (they didn’t quite work out)… and now, here I am solo & I love it. I would go at any length to pursue my dream, as long as it doesn’t compromise my morals. You know?
Yes, I completely agree! I mean, you have to have some limitations. So, is this your first solo album?
Yes, this is my first solo attempt. It’s promotional and I happen to still be unsigned (I don’t have a deal)…
Yes, you don’t have a deal and you most definitely deserve one! Someone sign WISH, please. [laughs]
[laughs] It’s my first solo album alongside my best friend & writer, Donny Roc!
How was the process of recording the album? Was it nerve-wrecking or fun? Since you’re used to being in a girl group!
It was fun. It was definitely more pressure because when you’re recording by yourself… you have to do EVERYTHING. From harmonies to everything, it was definitely pressure, but it was so much fun. The process of narrowing down all of the records was exciting from the beginning to the end, and I loved the direction.
“Skoolgurl Diaries” is an interesting title for an album. Tell me exactly where the name came from?
Well, I wanted to channel how I felt in high school because I was the ultimate quiet girl…
Huh? I don’t believe you! [laughs]
[laughs] I know, I know!
Wow.
I was a really quiet & reserved person, and I was never really into all the things adolescents were into. I would go through things, and hold it all in. This album gave me a platform to release all of those feelings I kept bottled in and I’m sure many young people could relate to the songs.
The album chronicles the life of a high school girl, and the music varies from 50’s pop (“H.A.T.E.L.O.V.E”) to classic remakes (“Silly”) to rock (“Koldhearted”) to pop ballads (“Instead of You”). How do you think that works in a society that always wants to place you in a box? They like to classify music by genres. Do you think that has its pros and cons?
Well, I think the album in itself would break all of those barriers because we channel so many different genres. I believe there’s something on Diaries for everyone. Like you said, I have everything from 50’s style to rock influences on here. If you love r&b, then you will gear towards the last half of the album; if you are a pop lover, then you’ll love the beginning; & if you’re feeling funky, you can always listen to the middle. There is definitely something on there for everybody. I mean, someone should be able to like the message or hook to at least one song on Skool Diaries [laughs].
To view the entire interview, click on the link below:
http://etmmagazine.info/freeyourmind/2009/08/articles/2009_08_wishesdocome.htmlIs Drake a Savior of Hip Hop?
Written by: Black Root
Toronto-native Aubrey “Drake” Graham has been given the ultimate responsibility in the form of cliché: “You are the savior of Hip-Hop, aren’t you?”
In order to save something, it either needs to be in danger, remembered, or attached to a bank statement. Hip-Hop is not a monolithic vessel. Hip-Hop is not the Nebuchadnezzar. Salvaging one ship doesn’t save the fleet. Especially not now that Auto-tune and ring-tone sales are at an all-time high. Using the MatriX analogy, however, exposes one truth: even if Drake can be equated with Neo (loosely because I refuse to compare Drake to any savior) there have been several versatile emcees who have laid the groundwork for folks to frame their faces and fantasize of a Hip-Hop hero in the form of a red pill. I’m sorry, a maple leaf? Without the unwavering faith of Morpheus and guidance from The Oracle, would Neo have ever mastered and truly understood his path? Point being, even agents of change need other chemical and/or lyrical components/contributors to form a significant difference in a culture where major labels have restricted quality creativity in an attempt to overrun their listeners with stinky limbs and swagger surfing on a Swizz beat.
To see the entire article article, click the link below:
http://etmmagazine.info/freeyourmind/2009/08/articles/2009_08_drakeisnot.html