http://www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=8461&SectionName=&PlayMedia=NoClick the above link and then click (watch) to see the show. (panel debate)   Begins right after the (caller) call in ends. (one minute)

2007 Harlem Book Fair: From Black Power to Hip Hop – The Evolution of Grassroots Political Thought        Authors: Herb Boyd; Yvonne Bynoe; Peniel Joseph; Tony Rose About the Program From the 2007 Harlem Book Fair, a panel on the evolution of grassroots political thought.  The panelists included Herb Boyd editor of “Race and Resistance: African Americans in the 21st Century,” Peniel Joseph “Waiting ‘Til the Midnight Hour: A Narrative History of Black Power in America,” Yvonne Byone “Stand & Deliver: Political Activism, Leadership, and Hip Hop Culture” and Thulani Davis author of “My Confederate Kinfolk: A Twenty-First Century Freedwoman Discovers Her Roots.”  The panel was moderated by Tony Rose, Publisher for Amber Communications Group, Inc. About the Authors Author About the Author Book Title   Herb Boyd Herb Boyd teaches at the College of New Rochelle. He was the recipient of the 1995 American Book Award for “Brotherman: The Odyssey of Black Men in America.” Race and Resistance Peniel Joseph Peniel Joseph is an assistant professor of Africana Studies at SUNY-Stony Brook. He has held numerous faculty positions at many institutions including the University of Rhode Island, NYU, and Brown University. Waiting ‘Til the Midnight Hour Yvonne Bynoe Yvonne Bynoe is a Senior Fellow at the Future Focus 2020 Center. Stand and Deliver Tony Rose Tony Rose is the Publisher and CEO of Amber Communications. He also serves as Executive Director of The African American Pavilion at BookExpo America. Publisher, Amber Communications

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THE 9th HARLEM BOOK FAIR IS THE LARGEST IN NYC HISTORY: THE LITERARY STARS RISE & BOOK LOVERS COME OUT IN RECORD NUMBER!

by Heather Covington
See photos by Heather Covington on www.Disilgold.com and additional photos by Seitu Oronde on Event Link!

Commendations: For HBF’s beautiful 2007 Program Guide & Autograph Book (July 20-22)

The 9th Annual Harlem Book Fair brought out the largest amount of attendees in the event’s history according to Channel 7 ABC news on Saturday, July 21st. Hosted by founder and publisher of  QBR: The Black Book Review, Mr. Max Rodriguez (www. QBR. com),  the three day event featured QBR’s “The Wheatley Book Awards” on July 20th at the Schom-burg Center for Research in Black Culture directed by community leader Howard Dodson.

This year’s Wheatley Book Award” recipients  were Eloise Greenfield, Walter Mosley and Amiri Baraka. A tribute was honored to the late sci-fi author Octavia Butler and actor Ossie Davis, husband of actress Ruby Dee. Other notable recipients were Mr. Tony Rose,CEO of Amber Communications Group, Inc. (www.Amberbooks.com)for his work with the  African American Pavilion at Book Expo.

An HBF BBQ Jazz Author Brunch was held on Sunday, July 22 featuring the fine music of the Tyrone Birkett Group with Paula Ralph-Birkett,  New York Times Bestselling author, Omar Tyree (The Last Street Novel) and Zane , slated to have her best selling book, “Addicted” adapted to a movie with producer Sylvia Rhone. She is also publishing over 50 authors this year to give rise to new African-American voices in literature.

Omar Tyree also, held his debut signing for his new book, The Last Street Novel at Hueman Bookstore, owned by Marva Allen and Rita Ewing which brought out many post Harlem Book Fair attendees who got to hear one of their favorite authors on the main author stage among literary bestselling peers like Relentless Aaron (Extra-Marital Affairs) just signed to G-Unit Books, Pat G’orge Walker (Sister Betty is Calling You), Kenya Perry(Game: Get It, Georgia Woodbine (How to Make Big Bucks Without Selling Your Soul),Andrew Morrison, Host of Money Making Modays Radio Show on 98.7 Kiss Fm, Elon Bomani (Dynamic Diva Dollars: For Women Who Aren’t Afraid to Become Millionaires and Wealth Chants), and Renee McCrae, host of Fade to Black Show on QPTV and BCAT.

The stage was opened with community leaders Howard Dodson, Chief, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture; Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President; State Senator Bill Perkins, Assemblyman Keith Wright; Neal Clark, Chair, Community Board 10. These leaders set the tone for an amazing event that was a SUCCESS!

If you watched the crowd very carefully, you may have witnessed many best selling authors casually interacting and walking among the crowd on a say of unseasonably cool weather  like Ghetto Hickson, Kashamba Williams, Darshell DuBose Smith, Cheryl Hudson,Wade Hudson, Kashan , Sha, Dashawn , Marc Lacy, Relentless Aaron , Pat G’orge Walker,  Yvonne Bynoe , Thulani -Joseph Peniel, Eric S. Gray, K’wan, Mark Anthony, Rique Johnson, Anna J., Renee Flagler, Nakea Murray, Chi Chi, Shannon Holmes , Miasha, Assaunta Collins, Ojeda Nin , Milton McGriff, LaJill Hunt, Roy Glenn, Latrese N. Carter, Dr. Ron Daniels, Daryl Harris,  Barry Borne, Jeannine Batiste, RJ Williams, Dwayne S. Joseph, Dwayne Murray,Sr., and Thomas Long.

The Children’s Book Stage brought out entire families and children for panel discussions featuring Traci Lester, Director, Read & Learn, Dr. Loretta Long (Courtney’s Birthday Party); Roscoe Orman (Sesame Street Dad); Sonia Hayes (The ATL Girlz); Dr. Sabrina Martin, Chief of Pediatrics, North General Hospital; Alex Simmons (Buffalo Bill Wanted!); Tia Williams (It Chicks),Patrick Oliver, Founder, Say It Loud! Readers and Writers Series Sheron “Umi” Smith, Andrew Sekou Jackson, Executive Director, Langston Hughes Library and Cultural Centers; David Miller, CEO, Urban Leadership Institute; Professor Griff (Public Enemy) and Cheryl Willis Hudson , the Editorial Director of Just Us Books, Inc., an independent publishing company that focuses on Black interest books for children and young adults. Ms. Hudson has authored many books for young children including Hands Can, Good Morning, Baby, Glo Goes Shopping, Many Colors of Mother Goose and Bright Eyes, Brown Skin (co-authored with Bernette Ford).

One of the top attractions of the Harlem Book Fair are the indoor panels hosted by QBR.com in the Schom-burg Center for Research in Black Culture and aired live to millions on C-SPAN BookTV, to literary lovers of African-American literature to  those who couldn’t make it from around the world. The live taping always repeats its programing in the evenings on the same day of the Harlem Book Fair, and re-airs again during the week online at www.Booktv.org .This year, the Harlem Book Fair panels featured an opening address on The State of African American Literacy by Former Congressman J. C., Watts, A Conversation with Howard Zinn (A People’s History of the United States: 1492-Present, A History of America) and Walter Mosley, (Workin’ on the Chain Gang: Shaking Off the Dead Hand of History), a panel on “Memoir and Remembrances: Making Way Out of No Way” featuring Carla Ranger(Director for Educational Partnerships, Dallas County Community College District, Dominic Carter (No Momma’s Boy), Charles B. Rangel (And I Haven’t Had a Bad Day Since: From the Streets of Harlem to the Halls of Congress), Avie Faison (Game Over: The Rise and Transformation of  a Harlem Hustler), Yvonne Thornton (The Ditch-digger’s Daughter), June Cross (The Secret Daughter, and a panel on ‘‘Post-Black Thinking’’: Where Black Becomes Irrelevant” featuring Moderator: Dr. Anthony Samad (50 Years After Brown: The State of Black Equality In America),Panelists: Dr. W.D. Wright (Crisis of the Black Intellectual); Gloria J. Browne-Marshall (Race, Law and America Society); Paul Robeson, Jr. (A Black Way of Seeing); Dr. Carol D. Lee (Culture, Literacy and Learning: Taking Bloom in the Midst of the Whirlwind).The Harlem Book Fair’s QBR saved the best panel discussion for last entitled: From Black Power to Hip Hop: The Evolution of Grassroots Political Thought, featuring Moderator: Tony Rose (Publisher, Amber Communications) Panelists: Herb Boyd (Race and Resistance: African Americans in the Twenty-First Century, Vol. 1), Peniel Joseph (Waiting ‘‘Til the Midnight Hour), Yvonne Bynoe (Stand and Deliver: Political Activism, Leadership, and Hip Hop Culture), Thulani Davis (My Confederate Kinfolk: A Twenty-First Century Freedwoman Discovers Her Roots.

Author: Terry a O’Neal
Web site: http://www.TerryONeal.com ; http://www.MakeSomeNoise.biz ; http://www.LendYourHand.org
Email: Terryo@poetic.com

Disilgold: What is your latest book about? Author: My latest book In A World of My Own is sort of a memoir with a short story, poetry and photography of my life as a child. In A World of My Own gives readers an inside look on some very personal undisclosed moments that I experienced with older men as a teenager.Disilgold: How long did it take you to complete your book?

Photo provided courtesy of www.myspace.com/universesmusic.com

The World Mourns Passing of Poet Icon-Sekou Sundiatta

Hello Poetry Lovers,

Today I received sorrowful news about the sudden passing of literary great Sekou Sundiatta. Upon researching great men in literature for a book called Literary Dons: The Top 100+ Most Admired African American Men in Literature, I requested from my producers of the Literary Living Television Show (www.blackfamilychannel.com) to permit me the opportunity to meet Sekou Sundiatta in person during one of his performances at the Aaron Davis Hall, for I had missed interviewing him myself for the show.

Magic filled the air as Sekou Sundiatta, a tall distinguished man with smooth charcoal skin  owning the mystique of the late Miles Davis approached the stage with a swarthy- tan leather jacket.

His performance captivated the audience and left an everlasting impact on my reviews of poetry as a book critic ever since. For I have used his poetry as a template for what constitutes great poetry . If you hear Mr. Sundiatta’s work, you will understand.

Poetry is personal and much deeper than one’s feelings against the injustices of the world, but rather how one encompasses the world to make it better with one’s actions. From what I witnessed on the day I met Sekou, was a GREAT MAN, perhaps larger than life. He helped so many poets launch their journeys and gave voice to many spoken word artists.

One group whose  performance was phenomenal was Universes. Sekou Sundiatta declined an interview with me one-to-one so that I would have ample time to interview Universes. This is how selfless this  poet was.

He always put others before himself until he could give no more, and on July 18th, his life ended, but will live on through the people’s lives he touched.

I felt it was my responsibility to spread the word, so this post will be published on the Disilgold.com Literary Dish Syndicate. May Sekou rest in peace. His faraway stare remains forever etched in my mind like a torch has been passed on to me to carry on his legacy, and thus let it be that I give rise to a new nation of poets, their books and voices that have been hidden in an underworld due to sheer ignorance of media who does not understand the art form and too self- absorbed to expose real poets of this era…..

THIS IS THE DAY, January 19th, the day after the passing of a poetry icon… and I promise Sekou’s life with what little I know of this legend (RIP), but  of his performance and support of a nation of poets, will not be in vain.

I dedicate HOLLER: Heather on Literary Lives of Excellence Revisted: The Poetry Anthology of a Decade Project (DISILGOLD, 2009) in honor of Sekou Sundiatta, and I will not be ashamed to promote this work in his honor and the poets he motivated…

Here is a letter from the estate from the group, UNIVERSES… and following a very personal letter from Bruce George, one of the greatest spoken word artists of our era who made it possible for poets like J.IVY, SHOLOVE DA POETIC, PROLIFIC TIM, & EBONY WASHINGTON to battle on the MIC for the Aretha Franklin is Waiting Award judged by Nikki Giovanni on BET’S  LYRIC’S LOUNGE.

Dear Fam,

We regret to inform that our dear Sekou has passed. Today, there are no words. It is a devastating loss for us and the poetry community but even more so for his family. Please keep them in your prayers.
_________________

An official statement from the family:

At 5:47 AM on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, my beloved Sekou Sundiata passed away.

On behalf of Sekou and his family, thank you all for your expressions of love and support and for your prayers. Cards can be sent to 296 Stuyvesant Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11221

Details regarding funeral arrangements and donations will be forthcoming.

Maurine (Kazi) Knighton
________________

Be thankful that we knew him. He blessed us with his voice, his words told our stories, and his energy lit a room the moment he stepped into it. Be grateful. Celebrate his life and expect that we will see him again, one day.

Yours,

UNIVERSES
Mildred, Steven, Gamal, Ninja

FROM THE DESK OF BRUCE GEORGE

www.BruceGeorgeMedia.com

Sekou Sundiata who was a Poet, Activist, playwright, professor etc.. made his transition (passed away) this morning.

Sekou Sundiata was a poet who wrote for print, performance, music and theater. In collaboration with composer Craig Harris, he wrote and performed in several acclaimed theater works. His latest recording, Long Story Short, was released on Righteous Babe Records. He has been a Sundance Institute Screenwriting Fellow, a Columbia University Revson Fellow, a Master Artist-in-Residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts (Florida) and the first Writer-in-Residence at the New School University in New York. A professor at Eugene Lang College, Sekou was featured in the Bill Moyers PBS series on poetry, “The Language of Life.”
Sundiata’s words reach their full power when spoken aloud in his commanding baritone and his concerts are almost always driven by a live band consisting of highly regarded players from the worlds of jazz and R&B.
Predating (but still informed by) the current generation’s embrace of hip-hop, Sundiata came of age as an artist during the Black Arts/Black Aesthetic movement of the 1960s and 1970s. His first album, The Blue Oneness of Dreams, and its successor, longstoryshort, are both rich with the sounds of blues, funk, jazz, and African and Afro-Caribbean percussion. Sekou was a literature teacher at New York City’s New School, Sundiata’s influence is felt both in and out of the classroom. Singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco declares that Sundiata “taught me everything I know about poetry.” No matter what outlet he selects for any given undertaking — theater, classroom, book, or
album — Sundiata brings many years of intelligence, craftsmanship, and intensity to the endeavor.

Critic Greg Tate of The Village Voice says Sundiata, “is the conduit through which the direct lineage of Langston Hughes, Amiri Baraka, Gil-Scott Heron, and the Last Poets shall be maintained. Here is a writer with the bluesy poetic grasp, historical insight, and populist spirit to reach the bourgeois, seminar the politically correct, and still rock the boulevard.”

Quick Facts:

Co-presented with the U-M Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives
Media Partners: WEMU 89.1 FM and Michigan Chronicle/Front Page
Sekou Sundiata previous UMS appearances: Sekou Sundiata first appeared in 2003 in both blessing the boats (three performances) and with his band.
More Information: http://www.righteousbabe.com/artists/sekou/index.asp

Sekou will be dearly missed. Those up and coming performance poets owe it to the craft to study his work. Write On! Sekou. Rest In Peace!

The World Mourns Passing of Poet Icon-Sekou Sundiatta

Hello Poetry Lovers,

Today I received sorrowful news about the sudden passing of literary great Sekou Sundiatta. Upon researching great men in literature for a book called Literary Dons: The Top 100+ Most Admired African American Men in Literature, I requested from my producers of the Literary Living Television Show (www.blackfamilychannel.com) to permit me the opportunity to meet Sekou Sundiatta in person during one of his performances at the Aaron Davis Hall, for I had missed interviewing him myself for the show.

Magic filled the air as Sekou Sundiatta, a tall distinguished man with smooth charcoal skin  owning the mystique of the late Miles Davis approached the stage with a swarthy- tan leather jacket.

His performance captivated the audience and left an everlasting impact on my reviews of poetry as a book critic ever since. For I have used his poetry as a template for what constitutes great poetry . If you hear Mr. Sundiatta’s work, you will understand.

Poetry is personal and much deeper than one’s feelings against the injustices of the world, but rather how one encompasses the world to make it better with one’s actions. From what I witnessed on the day I met Sekou, was a GREAT MAN, perhaps larger than life. He helped so many poets launch their journeys and gave voice to many spoken word artists.

One group whose  performance was phenomenal was Universes. Sekou Sundiatta declined an interview with me one-to-one so that I would have ample time to interview Universes. This is how selfless this  poet was.

He always put others before himself until he could give no more, and on July 18th, his life ended, but will live on through the people’s lives he touched.

I felt it was my responsibility to spread the word, so this post will be published on the Disilgold.com Literary Dish Syndicate. May Sekou rest in peace. His faraway stare remains forever etched in my mind like a torch has been passed on to me to carry on his legacy, and thus let it be that I give rise to a new nation of poets, their books and voices that have been hidden in an underworld due to sheer ignorance of media who does not understand the art form and too self- absorbed to expose real poets of this era…..

THIS IS THE DAY, January 19th, the day after the passing of a poetry icon… and I promise Sekou’s life with what little I know of this legend (RIP), but  of his performance and support of a nation of poets, will not be in vain.

I dedicate HOLLER: Heather on Literary Lives of Excellence Revisted: The Poetry Anthology of a Decade Project (DISILGOLD, 2009) in honor of Sekou Sundiatta, and I will not be ashamed to promote this work in his honor and the poets he motivated…

Here is a letter from the estate from the group, UNIVERSES… and following a very personal letter from Bruce George, one of the greatest spoken word artists of our era who made it possible for poets like J.IVY, SHOLOVE DA POETIC, PROLIFIC TIM, & EBONY WASHINGTON to battle on the MIC for the Aretha Franklin is Waiting Award judged by Nikki Giovanni on BET’S  LYRIC’S LOUNGE.

Dear Fam,

We regret to inform that our dear Sekou has passed. Today, there are no words. It is a devastating loss for us and the poetry community but even more so for his family. Please keep them in your prayers.
_________________

An official statement from the family:

At 5:47 AM on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, my beloved Sekou Sundiata passed away.

On behalf of Sekou and his family, thank you all for your expressions of love and support and for your prayers. Cards can be sent to 296 Stuyvesant Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11221

Details regarding funeral arrangements and donations will be forthcoming.

Maurine (Kazi) Knighton
________________

Be thankful that we knew him. He blessed us with his voice, his words told our stories, and his energy lit a room the moment he stepped into it. Be grateful. Celebrate his life and expect that we will see him again, one day.

Yours,

UNIVERSES
Mildred, Steven, Gamal, Ninja

FROM THE DESK OF BRUCE GEORGE

www.BruceGeorgeMedia.com

Sekou Sundiata who was a Poet, Activist, playwright, professor etc.. made his transition (passed away) this morning.

Sekou Sundiata was a poet who wrote for print, performance, music and theater. In collaboration with composer Craig Harris, he wrote and performed in several acclaimed theater works. His latest recording, Long Story Short, was released on Righteous Babe Records. He has been a Sundance Institute Screenwriting Fellow, a Columbia University Revson Fellow, a Master Artist-in-Residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts (Florida) and the first Writer-in-Residence at the New School University in New York. A professor at Eugene Lang College, Sekou was featured in the Bill Moyers PBS series on poetry, “The Language of Life.”
Sundiata’s words reach their full power when spoken aloud in his commanding baritone and his concerts are almost always driven by a live band consisting of highly regarded players from the worlds of jazz and R&B.
Predating (but still informed by) the current generation’s embrace of hip-hop, Sundiata came of age as an artist during the Black Arts/Black Aesthetic movement of the 1960s and 1970s. His first album, The Blue Oneness of Dreams, and its successor, longstoryshort, are both rich with the sounds of blues, funk, jazz, and African and Afro-Caribbean percussion. Sekou was a literature teacher at New York City’s New School, Sundiata’s influence is felt both in and out of the classroom. Singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco declares that Sundiata “taught me everything I know about poetry.” No matter what outlet he selects for any given undertaking — theater, classroom, book, or
album — Sundiata brings many years of intelligence, craftsmanship, and intensity to the endeavor.

Critic Greg Tate of The Village Voice says Sundiata, “is the conduit through which the direct lineage of Langston Hughes, Amiri Baraka, Gil-Scott Heron, and the Last Poets shall be maintained. Here is a writer with the bluesy poetic grasp, historical insight, and populist spirit to reach the bourgeois, seminar the politically correct, and still rock the boulevard.”

Quick Facts:

Co-presented with the U-M Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives
Media Partners: WEMU 89.1 FM and Michigan Chronicle/Front Page
Sekou Sundiata previous UMS appearances: Sekou Sundiata first appeared in 2003 in both blessing the boats (three performances) and with his band.
More Information: http://www.righteousbabe.com/artists/sekou/index.asp

Sekou will be dearly missed. Those up and coming performance poets owe it to the craft to study his work. Write On! Sekou. Rest In Peace!

DISILGOLDSOUL MUSIC REVIEW: “I GET MONEY” VIDEO by 50 Cent
Reviewed by Heather Covington
www.Disilgold.com
 
It’s Friday the 13th, and 80% of the  Hip Hop  community in New York is indoors listening to 50 Cent’s new heavily anticipated debut airing of  the” I Get Money” Video provided courtesy of Emmis Communications on HOT97fm.com. The DJ creating major excitement is FAT MAN SCOOP! Right? If I am wrong, he sounds like him. (Just in, okay, okay… it was Funk Master Flex)…. I really don’t listen to the radio during the summer! After watching the BET Awards, I practically went to the music store and purchased all of the music I want to hear!
 
 For me, I was rudely interrupted with an IM message from a friend who happens to be a diehard fan of 50 Cent, so I stopped my promotional campaign online for my new urban  novel debuting Dec. 2007 and respectfully entitled, Tekila Nika: The Forbidden Bronx Video Tale Diaries.
 
I tune on 97.1 FM, alert a few of my YOUnity Reviewers to tune in, catch Common’s debut song who I met at Beyonce’s B-Day Bash, and notice 50 Cent has  granted an all access interview with Angie Martinez on the popular Hip Hop station.  This lady has got mad skillz to catch my attention. Enough said.
 
50 Cent doesn’t sound anything like a thug as he also, eagerly  awaits for the release of his own hit that according to his MYSPACE FANSITE is being postponed for release on September 11th, 2007. For those who may recall, this is the day of the World Trade Center travesty.

To add more fuel to the controversy, 50 Cent selects Friday the 13th of all days for his single, “I Get Money”, admits that he’s moving to his late grandmother’s house where he apparently was shot 9 times, but the split second sentimental gesture turns into humor when asked if his grandmother still lives in that crib.
 
He laughs and mentions, “It’s a wax museum.” A moment of silence overwhelms the rap/HIP HOP Mogul who says he’s going to be more aware of his surroundings. In other words, his instinct will be able to decipher foe or friends rolling down his street.
 
You gain a sense of fear for 50 Cent, but he’s got plenty of supporters.  You may hate him one minute and love him the other minute, but he forces folks to step up their game. Can we say split personality or that 50 Cent is really  25 Cent -vs- 25 Cent? Flip the coin!

People are going to have to relax. His latest hit is the number  one club banger that’s got NY hip hop listeners sporting grand pride and unifying. The Summer 2007 vibe is fine and dandy! This is a great year worth 400 million bottles of Vitamin Water. Drink the stuff all the time. Hey Fiddy, I think we are related, for real!
 
Feel good music seems to be back with the wave of summer hits from artists like T-Pain, Ne-Yo, and Musiq Soulchild. Not quite the feel of the 1980′s, but 50 Cent may be the man to bring HIP HOP back with international appeal,  although there are plenty of issues with his new song.
 
Already controversial for its use of  theNAACP banned use of the word “NIGGER,” and “HO”,  two words of endearment usd in the African community and shared by white surburbia, Latino brothers and sisters and even Asian Hip Hoppers for your information, but you better not use them if you’re RACIST, the aftermath from Don Imus remarks has dearly affected the moralistic thoughts of the African American community.

 It doesn’t help that a baby is sipping on “Apple juice?” or is it “moet?” People will imply what they want when they watch the video on HOT 97.com.
 

The video blinds you with an unabashed  green -filled montage of “HIPHOPNOTIC” imagery, classic “hat -to -the- back” brotherhood and fine brothers just having a good time profiling. Of course, everyone is sporting muscles, the V-back, deltoids, and ripped abs. 50 Cent is getting men who thought they didn’t have to work out because they had money, back in the gym.
 
The ladies may not want to admit they are impressed with 50 Cent’s latest albums, but they are… and feeling 50 Cent right down to his filthy rich 50 Cent diamond bling rings. We want to see our black men in charge, large, pockets filled with doe, succeeding, but unfortunately, the message is still disrespectful to women period. This can’t be overlooked by any intelligent and sensible woman as myself. If I had a water gun for every red flag that went off in my mind as I watched the 50 Cent Video, the rapper would be drenched!
 
I particularly liked how many folks were employed to make the video from kids to old cats. See I notice a lot of details. The video does display more scaled down imagery of the video models, so things are looking up for 50 Cent who is slowly cleaning up his videos, but this is just one video. Way too many parents are listening to 50 Cent music.
 
The ladies say he’s built, handsome, a smart business man, but they would not want their daughters around the man whose song “Amusement Park” is built around a “Magic Stick,” and don’t  tell us its a video game 50 Cent is refering to, because that will be something else. 
Perhaps, when people listen to the entire album that folks want right now, than everyone can formulate their opinions, but for now, it’s 50′s world. The YGA has never failed to acknowledge the cream of the crop each year. We call the shots as we see it.
 
Over all, 50 Cent’s album release thus far is the hit of t he summer, THE BANGER. Everyone else’s  rap lyrics sound even better  because 50 Cent style makes you pay attention to the art form. I respect rappers. They are really poets.

Our last reviews were on LLOYD, Mary J. Blige, Corrine Bailey and John Legend and many more hot albums before they took off. So from what I am hearing everyone is in doubt, but DisilgoldSOUL Magazine has no doubt. It’s the mood the song puts you in. MIMS brought back New York pride, and now 50 Cent is glorifying the BIG APPLE. That is true hood pride and on right on time. I still say that Dr. Ben, creator of the Hip Hop Summit should bring 50 Cent and his cute rivals together to do a WORLD ALBUM for peace. Yes, repent your sins and bring all the hip-hoppers together. Now more than ever, there are booming Generation X  millionaires.

It’s our prediction that 50 Cent album will be the biggest HIP HOP album of all time, but he’s going to have to accept the controversy headed his way. There is always an opportunist in media who’s a hypocrite and is going to speak out to bring a black man down. I totally understand the need of artists to come at listeners with authenticity. However, this is one of those situations, where everyone is going to have to let the “FEEL GOOD SUMMER HIT OF THE YEAR” roll.

You don’t see me trashing my beautiful black sisters Karrine Steffans, Heather Hunter, ms. Jones, and Carmen for the JOYSTICK literary productions making bank this year. GET MONEY!
 
Overall, what can I say about the vernacular in GET MONEY!  50 Cent is creative, but hasn’t  quite mastered the art of being able to produce a track without the need of profanity yet. Not everyone can throw down on the hip hop scene with international fan fare like LL COOL J and Will Smith. You’ve got to give credit to these boys. One day 50 Cent will be that reformed rapper with squeaky clean lyrics, but of course, we understand that he’s got to make his bank first before he can experiment. Right?
 
My question is, “If a black man is succeeding and giving back to his community, should our shunning of artists be left up to consumers who have the power to either buy it or leave it in the store?

Same goes for comedy….

Creativity is a major risk once we set restrictions, but most artists have the mentality, “to each is own” and who really cares! Maybe this is why artists go after theirs without fail while they got it. 50 Cent is surely creating a franchise and taking over the most underated letter of the alphabet, “G!”
 
Are you buying 50 Cent’s album when it lands? Let us know?
 
Send your feedback to Disilgold@aol.com or leave a comment on the message board.

Recent silly comments we deleted…..

“50 Cent is my boy. That brother is bad. Luv bad boy.”
“I can out rap him anytime, but he’s nice.”
“Who knew he’d make a comeback like that.”
“50 Cent is my baby daddy!”
Copyright 2007. Disilgold. All Rights Reserved. Disilgold@aol.com
 
Heather Covington Publicity
Editor-in-Chief of DisilgoldSOUL!
President of the YOUnity Reviewers Guild of America
P.O. BOX 652
Baychester Station
Bronx, NY 10469
VOX: 1.718.547.0499

Literary Promotion at its finest!

www.Disilgold.com – HOME OF THE YOUNITY REVIEWERS GUILD
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www.HeatherCovington.net -YGA AWARDS 2007 & NEW FRONT PAGE AUDIO PROMO
www.DisilgoldBooks.com – DISILGOLDSOUL MAGAZINE CATALOG & YOUNITY BOOKCLUB/STORE
www.LiteraryDish.wordpress.com- DAILY LITERARY DISH SYNDICATE COLUMN
www.myspace.com/HeatherCovington- FOUNDER’S FAN CLUB

This is your world! Own it!

Ask about press  and interview services, media mail insert advertising to bookstores & media; advertising on Disilgold.com YOUnity Bookclub Bookstore and registering for YGA Award nominations 2007. Consultation available.  Phone lines now open- Call 1-718-547-0499.

Listen to video here:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1078550025/bclid1111467395/bctid1111461843

Written by Heather “The Literary Heat” Covington

www.Heather-Covington.com

Author of Upcoming Debut Novel: Tekila Nika: The Forbidden Bronx Video Tale Diaries

THE 2007 BET AWARDS, one of the most anticipated  African-American entertainment and music industry  events, capitalized with a successful live outdoor   pre-award show for this years’ “MAIN EVENT” theme starring the dapper don R& B singer, Lloyd,  who is as charming as his young crooner lyrics of his new album, Street Love. Yes, BET chose the right “IT” male singer of  the year.

The new “Brown Bomber” or “Black Charmer”  looked rather country, but in an adorable way, as he sported a long black ponytail looking straight out of a Chinese  karate flick, rugged deep blue denim jeans, and a silver-lined cropped wind breaker to set the pre-award show crowd off into a frenzy.

Upon request from the screeching girls, he took off his jacket, and received kudos from  Rocksi.

Of course, every hostess sets the tone for the show, and Rocksi, a natural beauty who is poised and very sweet-natured as a host on BET’s 106 & Park,  looked stunning in a cool ultra light blue new baby doll styled dress. She didn’t experience any fashion mishaps her way like the zany, but  delightfully funny host, Tocarra, had experienced  while trying to wear a fuschia dress with spaghetti straps that fell off her shoulders as she was speaking on air. She hosts the Black Carpet with Comedian Toure’ and has uplifted BET by 100% as a fresh personality with candor and always ready to take on spontaneous moments without fail.

 Toure’, who I have interviewed has an upbeat charm about him too. The combination between the two works!

Perhaps, Tocarra’s act  was intentional because she knew how to add humor to that moment by acting like a naive black Marilyn Monroe. Expect to see her in a lot of movies soon, and if not, what are producers waiting for?

Comedian Joe Sinclair even noticed the fashion blunder from the monitors. His expressions really added to this humorous moment. That guy is major funny and likeable. I’d like to see him do more solo movies on the order of Eddie Murphy, Tyler Perry and Martin Lawrence.

Dont’ forget the talented and beautiful hostess Julissa, who added sheer class to the evenings’ pre-award show. However, her  petite figure was over-powered by her forever shifting, but beautiful backless white Dolce & Garbana dress with the back seems making its way to the side of her hip. That was a violation. What is happening with designers lately? Clothes don’t seem to fit  petite ladies right anymore? Julissa is a splitting Latino image of the late AAliyah and needs a real wardrobe to accentuate her unique frame without fashion blunder potential. Get it right BET.

Rocksi’s co-host, Kenny, seemed comfortable in his manufactured crisp white Sean John tailor-made tux jacket atop casual jeans. He’s a sweetie. This is the new style that upgrades your thug celebs. You pull this host off of BET, and he is a straight up thug in my opinion.

 However,Omarion just did not wear this style too well this year. He’s way too muscular under his suit and pants that hugged his body like an homage to the Pee Wee Herman look.  Sorry about that Mr. O, but he’s still a hottie according to his million plus fans of his album ICEBOX.  Those braids are tired. Omarion should go for a ponytail and call it a day. I guess his fans prefer him with  no shirt on too. Get it right Omarion.

There were several men on the red carpet who worked the blazer atop rugged jean look. The look works for the thuggish men who can’t go cold turkey suited down from head-to-toe. It’s so hard for most entertainers to do the full tux thang, but big props to NE-YO who did his thing from head-to-toe. What a classy guy.

 Our DLNA polls state that   Mario should not have come on national air in a white t-shirt and casual dark denims to show off his fab arms for the ladies,and make up an excuse that the heat was an issue. 

Noone is mad at Mario.  He is a fresh  face who looks better and better as he matures and a rising movie actor with great potential. His new song, How Do I Breathe from his new upcoming album, GO is a keeper.

 Over all, I liked how Rocksi and her co-host respected one another on the show, and there weren’t any pop-shots at each other as featured often on 106& Park. Personally, I prefer better chemistry between a host and hostess and regardless if the world thinks they are having a torrid love affair off air. Black romance and plenty of flirting needs to be nurtured on air, and what better way than to have two hosts caring about each other enough to say nice things. All right now, moving on…

Well, just 10 minutes before The Main Event, in homage to Barbara Striesand’s past movie I guess, Debra Lee, the stunning lady behind the scenes responsible for the rise in BET status, appeared to discuss very intimate details about the planning of the show. The booking department did their thing because almost everyone who should have been there was present except Gnarles Barkley and a few others. In fact, the 2007 BET AWARD SHOW was the most exciting of all shows from the past. I might add, phenomenal!

Ciara’s dance number was fabulous. That’s right bring back real choreography that gets folks dancing and off their feet.

As far as who were the best dressed ladies on the show, I would have to say Amerie, Tracee Ellis Ross, Nicole Sherzinger, Rhianna and Eva Pigford  who stole the show on the red carpet. Of course, Gladys Knight was a doll! Love here! Her appearance added that classy touch to the show.

Now I am going to critique all performances with extreme honesty. Don’t get offended by what I say. I’m just Heather and when I write, trust, it is the collective conscious of the majority. Sometimes I am wrong, but as a producer of shows in the past with entertainers, models and talent, I think I can assess every artist fairly.

Let’s begin with Beyonce’. That robot intro was off the meter and all of that working out paid off. Did you see her Egyptian toombed  outer casing pop open to expose her new abs? Go get’ ‘em Beyonce. That was a very creative and original opening. I have not seen that kind of opening since attending a Janet Jackson concert and sitting alongside Sean “P. Diddy” whom I did not exchange words with at all. I guess we were able to hold down the best seats at Madison Square Garden, and so, there you have it. 

 Beyonce’s dance moves weren’t out of control and haphazard like in her latest videos. I believe Beyonce’ is taking her dancing ability more seriously. The medley with her friends, Kelly Rowland, Michelle and sister Solange was phenomenal and cra-zee, and Kelly’s supergirl number for her new hit off her album, “Ms. Kelly”  available in music stores right now, shows growth as an artist with equal appeal as Beyonce’, so look out for her album.

Noone ever thought Destiny’s Child would re-unite like that. It may have been the last appearance of all three girls for a while. Beyonce has put out 3 albums in 1 year and taking full advantage of time. I don’t care what people say about her, Beyonce’ is a legend of her time. No artist has been able to accomplish what she’s done and keep it all together with poise and class.

Who’s next? Well, well, well…tsk, tsk, tsk. I am holding my tongue on the duo with Jennifer Hudson and Jennifer ????. Sooo sorry, I can’t remember the original Dream Girl’s name. What I am trying to say here is that it took BET to do the responsible thing and pair these two together to pay homage to the original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holiday  (the forgotten diva) who was snubbed from being invited to the screening party of the movie. I could feel every ounce of pain  she’s endured as she SANG, but for some reason, I sensed pain in Jennifer Hudson’s voice as well. She didn’t ask to be compared to the original Dream Girl or any controversy attached to her role.

Many movies or plays are re-made over with a new cast. Yes, it is pr management’s job to make sure all who made a movie possible both living and deceased be acknowledged. However, I am afraid, that the hype is overpowering and making a parade out of Jennifer’s singing career.  The last time we saw Jennifer, she was losing weight, and now she’s gained it back and more from sheer stress I am sure. She should just break away from all the hype and work on herself, and a new gospel album. HINT, HINT! I just think she is way too talented for all of this media nonsense. Folks bring you up to bring you down. She seems to be a smart camper and just flutters her eyes  with the flow of things to enjoy the ride while it lasts.

However, the ladies sounded lovely. Jennifer Holiday overly exerted herself at the end, and that was painful to watch as well. The only person I can stand tearing up a song like that is Patti La Belle.

Speaking of Patti La Belle, her words in honor of late R& B crooner, Gerald Levert was a tear jerker for me. Her sincerity is so real and geniuine. I am going out tomorrow to buy up any albums I have not added to my cd collection from Ms. Patti. She still looks as beautiful as ever and is a true diva. She acts for us y’all, and she knows it, but who else is going to help a legend be remembered with sincerity. I miss Gerald Levert already. The image of Patti’s tears will always resonate in my mind.

The Diva who was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award was Diana Ross. At 63, she’s defying gravity and still THE BOSS. It’s like Mo’Nique said, “There will only be one boss!” I loved how BET let her entire family come up on stage. She acknowledged her kids from Berry Gordy and other marriages with class. They all looked happy and unified. Diana mentioned Mary Wells, and unlike the controversy over how one of her singing group members was treated and soon died, I still believe there are always 2 sides of every story.

When these singing groups are climbing to the top, they are either going to fall down because one member is hostile or in disagreement, or replace and let that member go to move on to success. So many groups from Destiny’s Child, SWV, TLC, 702, Blaque, Changing Faces and Total have gone through major changes.

The formula has to be right, and it’s just business, but sometimes you are doing everything right, but a main group artist gets one way too. This is why I urge artists to get their higher education first to have something to fall back on, and because it’s so much harder to fall from super-stardom and return to the hood. Once at the top, you never want to go back.

One GHETTO-BABY turned entertainer extraordinaire is 50 Cent. He’s the only artist I  cannot tell is acting in the name of business or is a straight up gangster. Can’t tell, and won’t tell. All I know is that he paced back- and- forth when he missed his lip sync to his album intro. Of course, he was mic’ d to do his thing live so his performance wasn’t a lip synching mishap at all in my opinion as rumored. The song,  ”Amusement Park” is an intricate rap song. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone pulled the feed by accident to try to back track so 50 Cent could catch up with his own song.

What I got was, the rapper  didn’t want to do the song as its clean version or maybe he forgot the words of his song because he was distracted. I also, saw where he took off his jacket because he was hot  on stage and as if to say, “OH well!”

He can do what he wants. His albums will still sell. I believe the Massacre Album has sold over 20 million albums to date,and he’s pushing VitaminWater at a rate of 41 million as a part owner of the company. Don’t forget his shoe deal, book deal, video game  deal, movie  deals, and tour.

What he did  do was face his demons as he literally walked himself right into the crowd with no back-up as if to say, “If there are any enemies out here, come and get me now.” However, noone did.  He looks mean as hell. Got my Vibe magazine here at Disilgold. Get your copy to judge for yourself. As a former psychoanalytic therapist, I am sure he got jumped a lot as a kid. Kids always tried to jump me too, and that made me an aggressive go-getter ever since, so I do know what is driving 50 Cent. It’s not payback or self-esteem issues, but it’s flight response, survival instinct and distrust of people. However, don’t expect anyone to prey in his vulnerabilities.

  His advantage is that he’s built like  a bull dawg, so he’s intimidating, but I am not going to lie, my big brother is 2 times larger than 50 Cent, and he could still use some more work on the V-BACK to stretch out the number 50, and perhaps add the word million, because that’s what he’s banking close of business this year. Very proud of a thug making it to the top and changing his life around.

 I will be honest, I feared for his life at the moment  he walked into the audience because everyone was crazy quiet. You know how there have been other fueds at live award shows. Hatred and jealousy have no fear in these rap wars.

However, do the math, 50 Cent is more valuable alive to all rap artists because when his album drops people come to the store and then they discover other no name brand rap artists. Let me be real here. Forget the fueding and past conflicts between Tupac and Biggie Small’s camp, rest in peace. Rap is under fire with the N-word on the hot seat and use of degrading words like ho, bitches, and you name it, and so the art form is in jeopardy as a whole.

Even his enemies should call a truce and team up with him. The man is making bank, and in order for his empire to grow, he’s going to need to sign more artists.  That’s how THE MACHINE works. I think he’s going to work out his attitude issue very soon. Most people who make it to the top real fast got attitude because all friends want hand outs, and the world seems lonely. They are still bitter, don’t trust anyone and sheer paranoid.

 It takes time. Even T.I . apologized for his behavior at another event. Snoop Dog took a licking on a rap show too on BET poking fun at his retreat from Suge Knight, but I don’t blame these guys. There is so much to live for in the rap game. Feuding and rivalry can be resolved with open dialogue on perhaps Dr. Ben’s Hip Hop summit or radio show.

Now that is being tough and that gains respect in my eye. I admire entertainers who are intelligent, bring on the good music and get along with everyone like MC Lyte. And- I am sure that was her emceeing the show. I remember that voice in Rel Dowdell’s TRAIN RIDE movie on DVD. Much respect to MC LYTE. Speaking of Rel, my boys in pr just informed me that Rel got a huge shout out on WBLS’s Steve Harvey Show as a Director on the rise. Well holler at Rel here: www.Reldowdell.com.

Over all, I don’t like rap feuds. No one wins. Besides, 50 Cent looked his best at the 2007 BET AWARDS. He came out with a powder blue jacket instead of a white manufactured white blazer worn across the board. His transition away from rap should be starring in leading action adventure movies on the order of DIE HARD and Raiders of the Lost Arc. Okay, I said what I felt here about 50 Cent. Enough said. If you don’t know who he is, check him out on my Top Friends Space. I am loving another song by 50 and becoming more lighthearted toward rap as just an art form, mood maker, and motivator. I wrote the last chapter of a book listening to 50 Cent album. Credit due. Millionaire Mind Set Mentality is made from listening to rap music! I mean, music really don’t hurt nobody when you can turn it off.

I know people want to know my take on Mo’Nique’s performance. I will say one thing, she represented for the heavy divas, but I don’t like the Beyonce’ bashing dance numbers. Beyonce’ should be getting respect in this game, not  being bafooned. I would love Mo’Nique’s hosting minus the performance. Really, black folks don’t need all of that hype to watch a show. We watch the Golden Globe Awards, so there is your proof.

If the black community is working so hard to control music lyrics, video content and censorship of the n-word, why are we still allowing degrading acts or performances toward woman that evoke laughter of our  heavier divas. Just doesn’t make sense to exploit ourselves. Mo’Nique is talented enough to just host the darn show, understand me!? I am sure those performances cause her stress too. Why not let some male dancers fan her next year and feed her Ambrosia while Chris Brown does Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time” Dance number and wallah, Michael appears? This is way too much work for Mo’Nique. She’s classy, but steps down a notch to entertain. I see through the act. I mean just imagine Susan Taylor hosting the show. All of these Mo’Niquisms would look ridiculous because we know Susan’s character. Mo is not able to show that consistent classy side of her character, and will lose respect if she keeps getting typecasted with these kind of numbers. She’s gotta’ always tap dance and I am tired of it.

Debra Lee seems like a suitable and classy host of the BET Awards Show. If we want our award shows and winners to be respected, the tone of the show starts from the top.

 For example, The African American Pavilion Awards at Book Expo began with a tribute to Victoria Rowell, a true-to-life photojournalist who survived the foster care system and has a real message to give folks that brings on change. We can’t make children respect history if we are not respecting ourselves.

 You can’t fool the mind of an intelligent audience. Don’t entertain us, educate us! Mo’Nique can do that! The woman is a diva!

Before writing this article, I listed my picks for award categories.  I do know many of the artists were able to solicit pre-show  votes so this may have made the difference.

The winners were:

T.I. for Best Hip-Hop Artist who out polled Diddy, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Ludacris.

Best R& B Artist was , Ne-Yo. He shut down Akon, John Legend, Robin Thicke and rest in peace, Gerald Levert. Next time, a deceased person should not be entered in nominations.

Best Female Artist went to Beyonce’. I was surprised Mary J. Blige did not win that. And- surely know Ciara is popular with my students, so I was routing for her. Jennifer Hudson and Corinne Bailey Rae who, Disilgold was the first to even spotlight her media wise, (A HISTORICAL FACT) hasn’t made any noise lately media wise. Every bit of publicity helps toward getting votes.

I called it right when Kirk Franklin won for Best Gospel Artist, and Ludacris and Mary J. Blige won for Runaway Love.

Best Group award went to  Gnarles Barkley who I love, but I just didn’t think he would nab the vote, and perhaps why he didn’t show up to the show either. That was a surprise. Pretty Ricky is pretty hot right now and off the meter.

 Video of the Year went to Beyonce’s Irreplaceable, and Best New Artist to Jennifer Hudson. Wow, MIMS got aced out. I guess someone was listening to the lyrics of that song, “This is Why I’m Hot!” I urge artists to have 2 versions of their songs, both clean and as explicit as you want to be.

I guess the Best Actor Award to Forest Whitaker was politically correct, but I just admired Wil Smith’s performance more so in the movie, Pursuite of Happyness.  Jennifer Hudson won for Best New Actress.

 It was a kind gesture to give a Humanitarian Award to Don Cheadle, but I was so sure Oprah was going to get that one upon launching a school in Africa. All respect due in order of greatness!

Well, I am back to completing my media kit for my new debut novel, Tekila Nika: The  Forbidden Bronx Video Diary Tales.  JUST IN: www.REZMOB.com did me the honors and sent my media kit to me! It takes a lot of focus and discipline to complete every aspect of self-publishing a book, but even more so, having the endurance to exercise one’s writing skills during break time. JUST IN: TEKILA NIKA BY BABE CHARISSE WORTHINGTON IS LISTED ON WWW.AMAZON.COM. Now how did it get there? Must be that publisher over at Disilgold.com. Do you mind if I take my time folks. If you enjoyed the BET AWARDS 2007 tribute by Heather Covington which is sure to be read by the most important eyes in all industries any minute, feel free to email them to Disilgold@aol.com.

My voice is getting stronger on issues so I launched an advice column on www.Heather-Covington.com.

I dedicate this piece to the late James Brown and also, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Patti La Belle and Gerald Levert (RIP). If you are a music lover, go out to the store tomorrow and treat yourself to quality music that now I know why I am having so much difficulty liking most music…..These icons are simply irreplaceable and what today’s young generation need to listen to and add some substance to their lives. Wishing you Literary success.

HEAT

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