Author: asiamber

Categories
Uncategorized

What Yeezy Taught Us…

Amber and special guest, Solomon, discuss their complex relationship with producer-rapper, Kanye West. Click here to listen. Also, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts, and whatever other podcast platforms you listen to.

My “Kanye Rant” lol

I do NOT like or agree with Kanye West’s current political beliefs or like everything he says or does. Yet, I cannot deny the man is musically gifted and over the years has produced such good music. Can y’all believe it’s been 17 years since Kanye’s debut album “The College Dropout” was released?!

I remember when I first heard the song “Through The Wire” at a leadership conference in middle school. The speaker was talking about overcoming obstacles and how this new producer, Kanye West, recorded his album with his jaw wired shut after surviving a car accident. I remember everybody rocking Polo T-Shirts and backpacks and teddy bears. I remember HBCU bands playing Kanye’s ”All of the Lights” during football games.

Kanye has always been outspoken: from his comments about former President George Bush and how black people were negatively impacted by Hurricane Katrina to him interrupting singer, Taylor Swift’s award acceptance at the 2009 MTV VMA’s to say Beyoncé had the better music video. Many question how Kanye went from being the socially conscious rapper with songs like “All Falls Down“, “Jesus Walks“, and “Heard ‘Em Say” and making appearances on “Def Poetry Jam” and fast forward to present day to Kanye making more controversial statements like saying slavery was a choice and being a supporter of Trump, who has spoken so negatively about so many marginalized groups to include Black and Brown people who happen to have been some of Kanye’s day one fans.

In my opinion, it is difficult to support an artist who praises a political figure that you don’t support, has questionable antics, and who has actions that contradict everything they write or talk about.

Check out a young Kanye on “Def Poetry Jam” circa 2004.

Also, Check out Kanye’s mom, the late Donda West’s book “Raising Kanye“, it’s quite interesting.

Sigh, I enjoy(ed) Kanye’s older music and I can’t deny his talent. I know that artists and people evolve, and I wish him well, but I miss the “old” Kanye West circa 2004-2011. Maybe I get nostalgic because those were my teenage and college years. However, I really am concerned about Kanye’s mental health since the passing of his mother, Professor Donda West, and I am hoping he is getting counseling or treatment. I just feel like “The Current Kanye” is in a trance or alternate universe compared to 17 years ago, yet like his debut album’s ad-lib echoed, “WAKE UP MR. WEST!” Your original fans miss ya! Kanye recently dropped a Gospel type album titled “Jesus is King” featuring his Gospel choir from his “Sunday Service” music concerts. Who am I to say if Kanye’s relationship with Jesus or God is genuine or a marketing tactic? Maybe turning to religion is a source of comfort for him. Who are we to judge?

Anyway, enough Kanye ranting, but what’s your favorite Kanye West song, album, or moment? Click below to listen to the Spotify playlist and click here to listen to the playlist on Apple Music.

image
Categories
Uncategorized

The Mariah Carey Bracket & Playlist

I finished The Mariah Carey Bracket. I didn’t create this game. I just found it on social media and filled it out. As a 90’s baby I love Mariah Carey’s music🦋. I found this bracket’s song selections ranged from Mariah’s ballads to her more uptempo songs. I couldn’t narrow it down to just one song because I have so many favorites. Mariah Carey has been singing songs for 30 years and is a talented writer. This bracket game is similar to the NCAA March Madness Basketball Tournament bracket instead of teams it’s songs. Out of the categories given you pick the song out of the two that you like more and that song advances to another round with other songs. Kind of like 2 basketball teams play a game and the winner moves on to the next level game and competes with other teams. It’s fun! Let’s play! Click the link below to listen to my Mariah Carey playlist on Spotify and click here to listen to it on Apple Music.

Categories
Uncategorized

The South Got Somethin’ To Say!

As part of the NYU: Music Industry Essentials Program I am part of here is one of my assignments talking about the rise of Southern Hip Hop/Rap. Check out the playlist links below and read the article. #MusicUproject

Click here to listen on Apple Music, listen on Tidal, and click below listen on Spotify.

Categories
Uncategorized

Aaliyah|One In A Million

My Aaliyah CD collection.

I often wonder what singer-actress, Aaliyah, would be doing if she was still here. Can you all believe that it has been almost 20 years since her untimely death? The twenty-two-year-old died in a plane crash in August of 2001 after filming a music video in the Bahamas for the song, “Rock the Boat”, off of her self-titled third album. Growing up in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, Aaliyah was one of my favorites. Plus her birthday is the day after mine. Shout out to all the Capricorns!  Anywhoo, there’s no doubt about it that Aaliyah had an impact on millennials and her legacy for us ’80’s and ’90’s babies is unforgettable.  From her signature sleek and straight hair and swoop, shades, makeup, and Tommy Hilfiger outfits, to her dancing and acting she was a standout and admired star whose influence can even be seen in various pop and r&b artists today. Aaliyah’s influence on this current generation is undeniable. Everybody from Normani and Tink to Drake and Jeezy have sampled her.

The sole focus of Aaliyah’s legacy shouldn’t be limited to her being an  underage victim of R.Kelly’s because she was so much more than that. Aaliyah was a trailblazing star from her tomboy chic fashion style, to her futuristic sounding music produced by Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and Static Major, and her songs on 90’s movie soundtracks such as the animated film “Anastasia” and the comedy “Dr. Dolittle” to her budding acting career in films “Romeo Must Die” and “Queen of the Damned.” Aaliyah was on the rise.

A picture from the “One In A Million” album/CD sleeve/liner notes.

However, there is a generation that isn’t as familiar with her music because it isn’t easily available. I feel like not having her music easily available is kind of erasing her musical legacy for future generations to listen to or sample. I still happen to have my old Aaliyah CD’s and imported the tracks to my music library on my computer. Aaliyah’s music is currently only available on physical CD, but CD’s are pretty much antiques in 2021 because most people download music from a cloud or streaming service. There have been rumors for years about all her music being in the works to be released for streaming on digital platforms. **UPDATE: Blackground Records is scheduled to release more of her discography on SPOTIFY starting August 20, 2021! I have mixed feelings. As an Aaliyah fan I’m glad the new generation will be able to finally listen to her music, but still find it messed up how Aaliyah, JoJo, Toni Braxton and other Blackground Records artists got treated and aren’t making money off their art being on streaming sites. The record industry and record labels are at times shady! Also, I wonder if someone or a media outlet has ever reached out Aaliyah’s mother or brother and asked them how they feel about her legacy or something, but maybe her family has declined. Who knows.

The self-titled “Aaliyah” CD/album from 2001.
I purchased the t-shirt of Aaliyah on VIBE Magazine from Etsy.

 I liked the self-titled album and the track “Loose Rap” as well as “All I Need” off the posthumous compilation album “I Care 4 U.” Those happen to be underrated favorites of mine. As well as covers of The Isley Brothers songs like “At Your Best (You Are Love)” and “Choosey Lover.” There are so many tracks in her musical catalog that could’ve been singles and sound like they came out in 2021 instead of years ago. I still remember the Summer of 2001 thinking I was so “cool” being 10-years-old watching “106 & Park” with hosts Free and A.J. where Aaliyah promoted her last album. I was so sad when I learned she passed only days later. She accomplished so much in a short time. She really was “One in a Million.” So much talent gone too soon. May her legacy live on!

Categories
Uncategorized

From Disappointments to Destinations

Ever since I was a young child I’ve been inquisitive about various cultures, writing, music, and different viewpoints on life. I started traveling abroad in college during my Senior year at Fort Valley State University, where I graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications.  I remember during my Junior year of college walking across campus one day and seeing flyers for an all expense paid Study Abroad program to China. So, I got a passport and applied for the program. The semester was coming to an end, but I didn’t hear anything about the study abroad program for a while. I mean for weeks I wondered in anticipation and thought that God had forgotten about me. I questioned my worth and if I was good enough to be selected. I figured the study abroad program already picked who they wanted for the program. In addition to wondering when and if I would be selected I was still trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life after college. I had applied for an internship in another state and was excited about it only to find out that out of all the applicants I was not selected. Even with my 3.5 GPA, prior internship experience, and extracurricular activities I still wasn’t considered “good enough”. I felt so hurt and let down. Rejection sucks, but it’s sometimes a part of life or if you believe in God his plan for your life. So here I am a rising Senior in college with no plans after school was over and going through other life challenges and growing pains. I remember crying and just feeling really down and that’s when I got a phone call from my Spanish professor, Mrs. Dubriel.

I wondered why out of all people she was calling me, especially since I was not the best Spanish student and got a C in her class. Well, little did I know that Mrs. Dubriel was now over the study abroad program. She called to tell me that the Study Abroad program was not going to China anymore. I felt devastated and thought well there goes another rejection for the week, but then her next sentence literally brightened my day. Mrs. Dubriel said, “Instead of going to China, we have selected the country of Italy and are you interested in going because the person we originally selected can’t go anymore?” I said, YES MAM and we talked about all the travel details. As soon as I got off the phone I literally cried and ran around the room like I was at a church revival meeting. LOL! Here I was thinking that I would get my hopes up and I was selected by my alma mater’s Stanley E. Rutland Globetrotters Study Abroad program to travel for free to various Italian cities during the month of September 2012.

FullSizeRender 42

Going to Italy changed my life for the better and I am forever grateful. It gave me the travel bug and inspired me to travel more. So, after I graduated and started working in “the real world” I researched various” affordable” travel groups for young people and heard about the travel group for young adults called, EF Ultimate Break while listening to Spotify. Check them out on www.efultimatebreak.com During September of 2015 I went with EF Ultimate Break to London and Paris, and in July of 2016 I went to Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini, Greece. I think that EF Ultimate Break is the best way to travel for young adults ages 18-29 because everything is taken care of from your flights, food, and transportation and you don’t have to pay all at once. They can break the cost down into monthly payment plans. Also, Go Ahead Tours for adults 29 and above is similar to EF Ultimate Break. All you have to have is a passport and an open mind.  There is nothing like traveling. It’s like once you start you cannot stop. I don’t know where I want to go next, but I am happy that I’ve had the privilege to travel and meet various people in my life’s journey.

Categories
Uncategorized

Sampled Songs Playlist

Vinyl records, cassette tapes, and CD’s are antiques in 2020, but good music is timeless. Below is a playlist I created featuring older songs that have been sampled over the years by different artists. What’s your favorite sampled song? Check the playlist out below on Spotify. Apple Music users click here and Tidal users click here.