Beanpie – Volume 16 Episode 2: Invitation & Preperation

Written by: Shaun Bolden
Illustrated by: Dino Diaz

Scene 4: Beanpie is in his kitchen preparing things with Lisa.

Beanpie: What do you think of these shirts? I bought them for everyone helping me.

Lisa: Why do they say, “I AM BEANPIE”?

Beanpie: I want everyone to know who they are getting products from.

Lisa: That’s fine and dandy….for you to wear. What about everyone else?

Beanpie: I guess I should have thought about that one. Oh well, I think they’ll like it.

*Enter Tailgate

Tailgate: Like what?

Beanpie: These new shirts I got for everyone to wear.

Tailgate: I am NOT wearing a shirt that has your name on it.

Beanpie: The only way we can get into the convention is to wear matching uniforms. It was in the letter little brov.

Tailgate: That is retarded!

Beanpie: And look, I even got you an extra-medium. Just they size you like.

Tailgate: You’d better be paying well once I help you out.

Scene 5: It is the day before the Convention and Beanpie has just stocked up on everything he needs. As he is loading the rented truck, Shaun walks by.

Shaun: What is all of this?

Beanpie: It’s for the “New-Sellers” Convention.

Shaun: This thing is really big news. Congrats man, I really am glad to see this going somewhere.

Beanpie: Thanks govy I appreciate it. Say, you want to lend me a hand?

Shaun: You know what? I think I will.

Beanpie: Why do you always say no? It will be nice and easy for you.

Shaun: I said I’ll do it.

Beanpie: Huh? You’ll do it?

Shaun: Sure. I think you may have a chance with this one.

Beanpie: WOW! Man, I really thank you for your help. All you have to do is meet me here at 9AM tomorrow. Then we’ll leave and head to the convention.

Scene 6: It’s Saturday, the day of the convention. Beanpie has all of his things packed and on the truck and waits for everyone to show up.

Tailgate: Who else is coming?

Beanpie: Ice Juicy and Tony.

Tailgate: How did you manage to convince Shaun to come?

Beanpie: I just used my never-fail sales pitch.

Tailgate: If you had one of those, you wouldn’t need to go to this convention.

*There is a knock on the door. It’s Shaun and Tony

Beanpie: The gang’s all here. Let’s get going so we can make it in time for the registration.

*Just then Lisa calls Beanpie on his phone

Beanpie: Hello.

Lisa: Did everyone get there yet?

Beanpie: Yeah. We’re getting ready to leave now.

Lisa: Hey can you wait 2 minutes? I have something for you.

Beanpie: Sure love. We’re all here early anyway.

*Lisa shows up and everyone’s eyes open wide.

Lisa: Hey, I thought Charlene could help you guys out.

Charlene: I hope you guys have room for one more.

Shaun: Wow, I never expected to see you.

Beanpie: Uh, I guess we do. Let’s get a move on.

Beanpie – Volume 16 Episode 1: Invitation & Preperation

Written by Shaun Bolden

Opening Scene: Beanpie is listening to music and prepping for the next day when he hears a knock at the door.

Shaun: You have a letter that you need to sign for.

Beanpie: Oh really now.

*Beanpie signs for the letter

Beanpie: Who could this be from?

Shaun: I don’t know. I just deliver the mail.

*Beanpie opens the letter, and it reads:

Dear Beanpie,

You have been selected to participate in this year’s “New-Seller’s” Convention. You and up to 4 other guests have been added to the list. Please arrive this Saturday at the Convention Hall at 10AM for registration. The convention will begin at 12PM. Hope to see you there.

Beanpie: Ice Juicy, I just got an invite to the “New-Seller’s” Convention.

Shaun: Randolph, should I be happy?

Beanpie: I have to tell Lisa and Tony about this. I only have 3 days to get ready.

Shaun: So I assume you are not going downtown today.

Beanpie: No time. This could be my big break govy!

Shaun: Whatever. Take it easy.

Scene 2: Beanpie is on the computer typing a list of things that he needs when Tailgate enters the room.

Tailgate: Hey, why have you been so hyped lately?

Beanpie: I have to get ready for this convention on Saturday.

Tailgate: They are having the League of Idiots Convention this Saturday?

Beanpie: Listen brov, I would love to sit here and speak to you in your native language of nonsense, but I have things I need to do.

Tailgate: Whatever, I know you need to hurry up and get off of the computer soon.

Beanpie: Hey mate, what are you doing this Saturday?

Tailgate: I know what I’m not doing, and that’s helping you.

Beanpie: C’mon brov, all I need is an extra pair of hands at the show.

Tailgate: Ha, well you’d better ask another person because I’m not doing it.

Beanpie: I will make it worth your while.

Tailgate: That is the first smart thing I’ve heard you say. Keep going.

Beanpie: I will pay you to lend me a hand.

Tailgate: You’d better make sure you come through with that money.

Scene 3: Beanpie heads out to Mr. Hank’s store.

Beanpie: Hey Mr. Hank, guess what? I got invited to the convention!

Hank: You don’t say? That’s good Bean Paste.

Beanpie: So I have to get ready and have everything set to go by Saturday. Is there anything that I need to know?

Hank: The only thing I would suggest to you is that you don’t get overwhelmed, stay cool, and make as many connections as possible. It’s not so much about selling, it is more about getting in with the right people.

Beanpie: I will remember that. Thanks for your words. I have what I need, I must get going now.

Hank: Enjoy yourself.

*Beanpie is on his way home when he runs into Tony

Tony: What happened to you today?

Beanpie: What do you mean?

Tony: I thought I was supposed to meet you so we could go downtown.

Beanpie: Oh man. I forgot about that. I, I mean we got invited to a Seller’s Convention this Saturday, so no work for the rest of the week. Just meet me on Saturday morning, okay?

Tony: That’s fine with me.

William Soul performs @ The Hexagon

Review Written By: luminoUS - Editor@Large

In a small club located on Charles Street in Baltimore, I was slated to view William Soul in concert. The Hexagon appeared to be a regular store situated among the row home structures on this Baltimore street but once inside, it was a quaint intimate concert space. I was greeted by smiling faces at William’s marketing table and I walked away with a CD and survey form. The survey served as a feedback medium between audience and musician in efforts of giving the musician pointers as to what the audience wished to hear.

Not unfamiliar with William Soul or his band Righteous Soul I settled into the sofa and prepared for some good, soul stirring music. Blending reggae, soul and blues into a sound all his own, William’s voice reminds me of a hearty blend of Maxwell and Curtis Mayfield if you will. Complete with twelve songs listed on the survey, I wondered if every song would be tackled during the show.

Performing seven out of the twelve songs listed, I was not disappointed although I did make a mental note of a few things. At times the high-powered band drowned out William’s voice, which can be very mellow and soothing at times. He started the show with “Walk in Beauty” and followed up with “Practice Love.” The high note that he hit in “Practice Love” was enough to bring a tear to my eyes and he followed up with my all time favorite, “Afro-Cuban.” “Afro-Cuban” has a nice groove and I felt like it was his most powerful and the strongest song of his set. Half way into his set, William did a cover of Maxwell’s “Sumthin Sumthin.” His cover wasn’t bad at all, but considering some of the high notes in the song, I think it would have been easier for him to perform it earlier in his set before his voice was a bit strained from performing the other highly demanding tunes.

Over all, the concert was great and I believe that William Soul is a promising artist. I love his sound and his songs I just want him to find a comfortable balance with his band so that it doesn’t seem like he is being drowned out and over powered.

Much peace, love and light

When A Loved One Is Lost

Written by: Ccep J. Dew, West Coast Editor

Whether to suicide, homicide or natural causes, losing a loved one is never easy. Even when prolonged sickness seems to afford you time to prepare for your loved one’s last breath, you never know how you will react until the moment it hits; furthermore, weeks, months, and years after he or she has been laid to rest, emotions may overtake you like a monsoon.

I lost my grandfather in late August 2009. Though he had been fighting for his life 15 years, none of us was prepared for his departure from our lives. The day I found out about his passing, I cried tears from an ever-replenishing source. I felt numbness, then pain, then numbness again. I laid in my husband’s arms like a defenseless child, then stood up before walking aimlessly around the front of the house, I started washing the dishes; not because they had to be cleaned that very moment, but because I didn’t know what else to do. I wanted to drink (something I do socially, if at all) or take a sleeping aide just to eXcape the tingling ache in my chest and stomach. I started to pop the strap of my tank top against my back, unconsciously attempting to swap emotional pain for physical. Eventually, I folded my hands together behind my back or underneath me. The pain was almost as unbearable as the guilt.

In these moments, we always tend to remind ourselves of what we should’ve, could’ve, would’ve done without thinking instead of all the beautiful memories we have created. The soul of the deceased is not looking down on us, blaming us for not calling, visiting, or doing enough, so why do we torment ourselves instead of playing back all the great times that were shared? Easier said than done, I know, but it helps.

When a loved one is lost, our natural instinct is to withdraw. Though alone time to grieve is okay, you need to continue in your active lifestyle. Prolonged periods of seclusion will only extend depression. Your loved one would want you to forge on! Get together with good, positive people who can respect and acknowledge your feelings while still bringing laughter and enjoyment to your day. Spend time with your family members, either in person or over the phone.

If you live out of town and would like to attend the funeral service, keep in mind that although some airlines offer “bereavement rates” for last minute flights, those rates are not always cheaper than the regular flights. If you do find an airline with a decent “bereavement rate”, you will need to know the name of the deceased, your relationship to the deceased, the name of the funeral home, and the address to the funeral home in order to receive the discount. As with any airline ticket, the longer you wait to purchase your ticket, the more the price of the ticket will increase. Try your best to do adequate research to ensure you are getting the best rate.

Passion Over Money...

Written by: Kenneth-Michael

Dear Youth,

Let me paint this picture: You’ve won the state lottery for $65 million. Now, it is time to ponder, what is your next step? A big pay-day like winning the lottery means, for some people, that they can quit their job. Rarely does a person decide to continue working when they are awarded a large amount of money. This has been the choice of many people that rule money over passion when thrown at them. There is a saying that goes “money makes the world go round”. But, for those that apply passion over money, the saying goes “how bad do you really want this?”

Since Ms. Earl’s second grade language art class, I’ve enjoyed writing. First, it was my teacher’s carefully crafted penmanship that made me write more. Writing wasn’t a passion until the seventh grade where I was assigned my first term paper. The thesis was Tupac Shakur was an American writer speaking on political issues. For today’s masses, there is no denying of his talent outside of the Hip-Hop world. But, in 1999, a few years after his passing, it was difficult to see him as a gifted writer out of the Rap world. The research that went into the paper brought out the journalist in me. I interviewed other writers and intensively analyzed pieces of Shakur’s work.

Forward to 2009, I am two semesters away from graduation. It is time to start looking for work in my field. Journalism is steadily declining and the right job is hard to find. I’ve pictured that my first job, after college, would be reporting for a major city newspaper.

To read the entire article, click the link below:
http://www.etmmagazine.info/future/2009/10/articles/2009_10_passionormoney.html

You Oughta Know... Pete Rock!!!

You Know You Got Soul:
Profile of Pete Rock

Written by: Slangston Hughes



Whether you refer to him as the number one soul brother, chocolate boy wonder, soul survivor, Peter Phillips or simply by the moniker that most know him as, Pete Rock has been, still is, and will undoubtedly remain one of the most influential producers in Hip-Hop history. In the same way no emcee rhymed quite the same after Rakim, in the realm of production, no producer ever produced quite the same again after Pete Rock.



Heralded as one of the originators of that smooth early 90’s Hip-Hop style, layered with hard-hitting drum patterns and head-nodding grooves, fusing Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Funk in new and innovative ways that would forever change Hip-Hop and aid in keeping the soul and the legacy of the music he sampled alive, Pete Rock revolutionized the MPC (mini production center) 3000 beat machine like no one before or after him ever did.

His first major exposure to the Hop-Hip audience was in 1987 with Marley Marl as a DJ on New York's WBLS radio show "In Control with Marley Marl". At only 17, Phillips was recognized by the listening audience for his creative mixing style using double copies of each record to cut up every song he played, when most New York DJs would only use double copies on every 3rd or 4th song. Propelled by the growth of his popularity, he began producing in 1990 and teamed up with CL Smooth to release the EP All Souled Out followed by the classic album Mecca and the Soul Brother, propelled by one of the greatest Hip-Hop songs of all time “T.R.OY.” (they reminisce over you), which was dedicated to his friend Trouble T. Roy (of Heavy D. & The Boys) who had passed away. The song, with its tantalizing smooth bass line and signature horns, would become a theme song for Hip-Hop heads and 80’s babies alike wide and far who had lost a loved one.



Pete also began to produce songs for other acts, such as "Down With the King" for Run-DMC and "The World Is Yours" for Nas, as well as countless classic remixes, such as Public Enemy’s "Shut 'em Down", considered by some to be the best remix of all time.

To learn more about Pete, click the link below:
http://www.etmmagazine.info/freeyourmind/2009/10/articles/2009_10_profileoffav.html

Breast Cancer Awareness...

“See Our Sisters Join”:
Sister’s Network Inc.
Written by: ^Northernstar*



For the “Entrepreneur” Issue of ETM, the director of the “Wake Up” section assigned me to research the Sisters Network, Inc. for cancer awareness. So, I went to the company’s official website and was so intrigued by the information that I took matters into my own hands. I arranged an interview with one of the affiliated members, Peggy Nicholson, from the Maryland division. The interview was very informative & serious, and it made me eager to learn more!


How are you today?

I am very good. And yourself?

I am great! Thanks for asking. I am aware that in between 1996 and 2002, 77% of African-American women survived breast cancer. And in 1994, breast cancer survivor Karen Jackson created an organization entitled the “Sisters Network Inc.”

Can you tell the readers exactly what Sister’s Network Inc. is & what does it represent?

Well, the Sisters Network, Inc. represents education for many of the women who are not insured on breast cancer awareness & to give hope to those women.

How did you become an affiliated chapter with the Sisters Network Inc.?

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 and had no awareness of it at all. So, I decided to do education on the subject since I had no knowledge of it. The only thing I found was Caucasian women in the Baltimore area until I read a bio on Karen Eubanks Jackson.

And what aspects of the chapter encouraged you to join?

Just being around the group of women at a conference back in 2000—it was in Detroit—and I was amazed with what I saw, especially seeing how the women were enlightening their communities about the statistics of African-American women dying, more so than any other ethnic background. So, I was destined to bring that knowledge back to Baltimore!

Are there any financial obligations for a new member?

No, there aren’t any financial obligations to become a member. We’re free!

And how could our readers become involved?

We have two types of memberships! The regular membership consists of those who have survived breast cancer. And the associate membership is targeted towards the non-survivors to inform them about the things we are doing in the community.

And men are able to donate and become members, as well, right?

Yup AND join! Come join!


Okay, that’s amazing!

Yup!

In which ways do you think breast cancer survivors can benefit from the organization?

They can become empowered and discussing the innermost fears about the lack of information out there. Because I didn’t have any information about the cancer when I was first diagnosed with it, and I wouldn’t want anyone to go through the same things I’ve been through when I was 44. It wasn’t a priority to me at the time, even though I had family members who had breast cancer, as well. But we just never discussed breast cancer […] For the most part, I think it can be empowering, and seeing the fact that we’ve all survived, it gives the other women hope they can survive it, too.


You said you were 44 when you were diagnosed with the cancer. Do you think things would be different if you were aware of everything at the time?

Absolutely! Because I was preparing to die more so than to live!



That is understandable because I had a cousin who passed from osteosarcoma [bone cancer] back in 2005. And we had no knowledge of it at all prior to her having it!

I’m sorry to hear that! Bone cancers are some of the most aggressive cancers, and it’s untimely she had to go through that.


Yeah, she fought ‘til the end!

[sighs] Bless her heart… Cancer is difficult period, but bone cancers are very severe. And liver cancer is becoming a huge threat to the African-American community, as well. It’s been growing in the last couple of years.

To read this informative interview in its entirety, click the link below:
http://www.etmmagazine.info/wakeup/2009/10/articles/2009_10_sistersnetwork.html