Proud Divas

I’m in love with this picture. From looking at both their faces you can see the ‘Diva-ish’ attitude instantly. Seems like you wouldn’t even want to cross either of their paths…hahaha

Jazmine Sullivan Is Preparing To Release New Album!

Jazmine Sullivan is preparing to release her sophomore album. The amazing singer has been in the studio with some of music’s biggest hit makers including Ne-Yo, Carlos ‘Los Da Mystro’ McKinney and Ryan Leslie. The untitled LP hits stores in Summer 2010.

Sullivan has one of those voices reminiscent of those once heard on ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ in the early 1990’s. If her new album is anything close to what she did on her debut, then I am sure that she will have a hit on her hands. I still can’t believe that she did not win the ‘Best New Artist’ at last year’s Grammy Award ceremony, especially after hearing her live vocal performances of ‘Need U Bad’. Shame shame shame.

What are your thoughts?

Robin Thicke- Sex Therapy

Robin Thicke’s back with his latest release ‘Sex Therapy’ which is also the title of his album. This is his fourth album to come to the wood work which is very different to others. I must say on this track the blue eyed soul crooner lets his inner freak out and gets wild..

Have a listen and tell me what you think!!!! 

Ackee and Saltfish!!!

Look at the recipe below if you don’t know how to make it, but want to!!!!

Ingredients:

1/2 lb Saltfish (dried, salted codfish)
1 (drained) can of tinned ackees
1 medium onion
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 tbsp of butter
1 sweet pepper
1 chopped tomato
1 sprig fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme
2 cloves of garlic

Method:

1. Cover the saltfish in cold water. Let soak overnight (minimum 8 hours) changing the water several times (this removes most of the salt)
2. Bring a pan of cold water to the boil and gently simmer the fish for 10 minutes (until the fish is tender).
3. Chop the onion, sweet pepper and tomato.
4. Remove the fish from water and allow to cool. Remove all of bones and skin then flake the flesh of the fish.
5. Melt the butter in a frying pan and stir fry the onion, black pepper, sweet pepper and thyme for about 3 minutes.
6. Add the tomatoes and flaked fish and stir-fry for another 10 minutes
7. Add the Ackee and simmer for another 20 minutes.

Decided To Add Another Category To My Blog! Traditional Cultural Food Dishes!

So basically last night I was up until late cooking food as I was hungry. I had soaked some saltfish in a saucepan from the morning (which you have to do) so had no other choice but to cook ‘Ackee and Saltfish’. As I was cooking I was juggleing both that and my blog which brought me to think about putting recipies and food dishes up to share with you. I cook a lot of traditional carribean delicacies, which some of you may not know how to cook and to provide you with the recipes may help you when cooking for yourself.

‘It’s A Thing Called SOUL FOOD’

Tattoo’s With SOUL

Below are is a picture of the iconic jamaican prince ‘Prince Emmanuel’. Again my partner decided to get him tattooed on his forearm. I have show you a selection of before and after pictures so you can see the progression it took to tattoo this figure. I think the outcome is perfect, the rasta baby looks exactly the same! Thumbs up from me!

Your thoughts?

Jill Scott 2 Release New Album

Neo-Soul diva Jill Scott is preparing to release a new studio album this year.

As one of the most technically skilled singers to emerge in the last decade, to say that I am eager to hear this record would be an understatement. In addition to her lyrical prowess, Scott’s expansive vocal range and power ranks her in the same league as Lauryn Hill, in my opinion. Moreover, ‘The Real Thing’ was undoubtedly a  modern classic, as many of the singles from the project still enjoy heavy rotation on the R&B formats. ‘The Light Of The Sun’ is definitely one to which I look forward.

The singer’s LP will hit stores in Spring/Summer.

New Snoop Dogg Release…I Love It

This song is a different approach by west coast rapper Snoop Dogg, teaming up with Pharell an Brandy was a good look. Sounds like Pharell has been having a few lessons, don’t you think?….lol. All trying to hit them high notes!!!! Brandy also sounds gorgeous on this track, she never fails to impress me after all these years. 

What Do You Think??

Monica’s First Single ‘Everything’

After initially announcing that ‘Love Over Me’ and ‘One In A Lifetime’ were to serve as dual lead singles from Monica’s forthcoming ‘Still Standing’ LP, her label J Records have done a 180 and revealed that the track ‘Everything’ will instead now be the record’s first single. The decision was made after the 29 year old’s fans bombarded label execs with requests for the song to be the lead single, a want shared by Monica herself – as highlighted on her BET reality series also titled ‘Still Standing’.

While ‘Everything’ is undoubtedly a great track, it most certainly doesn’t strike me as single material in the slightest. It’s not because it’s not a good song (though the ad-libbing is a bit much and all over the place at times). However it just doesn’t possess that certain something Monica so clearly needs right now – a radio/chart-friendly track, which manages to sound contemporary, yet also incorporates her trademark sound. She’ll no doubt appeal to her fans with this one, yet as history has taught many an artist, sometimes  fans just aren’t enough to ensure a well-selling record. Ever-important to capture and convert is the casual listener. It’ll be interesting to see how this fares nontheless.

Elaine Brown- Black Panther Power!!! GO GIRL!!!

This book follows her life from childhood up through her activism with the Black Panther Party. In the early chapters of the book, Brown recalls growing up on York Street in a rough neighborhood of North Philadelphia. Due to her mother’s persistence, she is able to attend an experimental elementary school in a nice neighborhood and becomes friends with some white Jewish girls. From that point on, Brown describes being a part of two worlds. She’d act “white” while hanging out with her school friends, and “black” when with the girls in her neighborhood.

At age 19, Brown moves to California, where she has a love affair with Jay Kennedy. She later ends the affair, and through her neighbor begins to meet people involved in the Black Panther Party. Brown describes her experiences in developing a black consciousness, and later, a feminist consciousness. She overcomes sexism in the party as well as her own personal obstacles to be the head of the party from 1974-1977. The book also covers her two runs for councilwoman in Oakland. There is a large amount of writing on friend, lover, and fellow Panther Huey P. Newton, including information on his theory of “reactionary intercommunalism,” in which he foresaw the weakening of the nation-state under the power of the market economy.

I’ve read this book and it’s truly inspirational! Elaine Brown is an icon in my eyes, she represents a strong black women!!