Neo Soul Saturday

If you're not familiar with this brotha and his work, please check him out.

He's currently on tour with Sy Smith and The Foreign Exchange and the show is crazy!

Hope you enjoy.

African-Americans and High Blood Pressure

Today while I was at the gym doing my 5 miles on the stationary bike (after I did 5 miles on the treadmill and before I walked 1.5 miles at the park), I read an article in a health and fitness magazine that I found very alarming.
The article highlighted the number of African-Americans who take medication for high blood pressure.
The reason the article was so alarming is because it suggested that 35% of those people are under the age of 40.
Unfortunately, I know a few people who fall into this catagory.
Board of Directors, that is NOT normal!
At age forty, you should be in the best shape of your life!
Yes, I know your time may be limited.
Yes, I know you have to take care of the kids.
Yes, I know you work a lot of hours.
But I firmly believe people (especially men) make time for what they want to make time for.
Why not make time to take care of your body?
Last year as I approached my 40th birthday, I made a committment to get in better shape.
Since making that commitment I've lost 15 pounds and I feel great!
Now as I approach my 41st birthday on Monday, I'm determined to stay on my health and exercise kick.
And I'm determined to get as many people as I can to join me.

"Wind Me Up Chuck!"

Hold up!!
Hold up!!

*Doing my go-go dance while watching this video*

Mannnnnn..........what you guys know about THAT??

I got my first taste of Chuck Brown live in Atlanta at Freaknik in 1995.

I think it was 95-my Freaknik days were a blur.
(Don't ask me why).

After that night, I was hooked on Go-Go.

And after that night, I was hooked on Chuck Brown.

His influence can be found in the music of everyone from Doug E. Fresh, to Jill Scott.

The Godfather of Go-Go will truly be missed!

"Wind Me Up Chuck!"

Happy Mother's Day

I hope all of you wonderful moms are enjoying your day.

Saw this brotha in concert last night and thought I would share this with you.


Happy Mother's Day!

Another Thirteen Year Old Is Murdered

Last Friday night, here in my hometown of Birmingham, Al., this young man was murdered.
He was thirteen years old.
He was in the seventh grade.
He was the quarterback on his middle school football team.
Sounds like another innocent life taken too soon, right?

WRONG!

This thirteen year old was murdered by someone who decided he wasn't going to be a victim of a carjacking.
The teen, who was wearing a t-shirt wrapped around his face as a bandana, flashed a gun and ordered the citizen to get out of his car.
Instead of getting out of his car, the would be victim pulled out his gun and fatally shot the teen.
At the risk of sounding insensitive;
I must say that I feel no sympathy in this case.
I mean, sure, it's a tragedy that this kid is dead.
But quite honestly, the quicker we can remove people like this out of our society, the better all of our lives will be.

*Why are you guys looking at me like that?*

Ok, since you think I've lost my mind, let me ask you a question;
If someone tried to carjack YOU at 11pm, and YOU had a gun-wouldn't you defend yourself just as this citizen did?
You should!
I know I would!
In fact, I would shoot first, and ask questions later.
And the question I would ask is this:
What the hell is a thirteen year old doing out at 11pm?
Where are his parents?
More specifically-
WHERE IS HIS FATHER?
(The answer to that question probably has a lot to do with the reason you're reading this blog.)

Listen, at some point we have to come to the realization that our community is under attack.
And the perpetartors come in all sizes, and unfortunately, in all age groups.

It's time to take our communities back.
And if that means taking it back by force-so be it!