Jobs, Ciphers, and goofing off for the cameras

I know I was on some lovey dovey mess before, but it’s back to business as usual…like ALL the way…like I buckled down and got a regular job kind of way. I used to cringed at the idea of having one of those punch the clock thingy’s, but it’s doing a couple of things for me right now… supplementing my income and giving me some kind of structure…which is something I’m JUST now realizing I need, cause’ freelance means exactly that and it kind of resembles “free spirit” which I already am, and a double dose of that looks a lot like laziness…so here’s to all the dreamers out there who have to sit behind a desk…I feel your pain…but I thank God cause’ with employment rates staggering at 10%, me getting a job was an act of divine intervention…so I’m going with it.

But while I’m not there…

I did this cipher about a month ago with my cuz Jon over at Charles David Productions at the M Bar off Peter St. in ATL…great spot …(especially when I was able to do a food review on their new menu... which is coming soon since I’ve decided to have a separate blog for my food endeavors…thinking I’m going to call it “My inner Chubby Kid”…#nodaysoff)

Shout out to Damien Gordon and Marvin Blackwell too, the owners of M Bar. THANK YOU for your generous hospitality! … the crazy part was I wasn’t even supposed to be in the video, I helped Jon organize it came up with the concept…and that was it, but by default I did my thing…a “thing” that I’m embracing more and more each day.

And before that…

I also did a mock interview with my friend DJ Clean ( whose organizing the DC cipher…THANK YOU!) when he stopped through ATL. He hung out with me at OJ da Juiceman’s video shoot …thank God again cause’ if he wasn’t there, I imagine my evening being a tad more difficult to stomach. That interview is coming soon as well…got some technical difficulties with the audio 



 
Got stuff coming up this month too, an interview with Izzy Israel, Atlanta’s go to guy for jewelry. My Pops happens to be friends with him so I figure why not… New York’s got Jacob, L.A. has De Beers…and ATL has …Izzy.


Also, my girlfriend hired me to write her business plan for her modeling agency Belleza, and if you’ve ever written one, you know that it’s no joke, but I’m managing…hell I don’t have a choice.

“Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”



Saint Francis of Assisi

Could the story of Cupid and Psyche be the “blueprint” for REAL love?

So Valentine’s Day is upon us….and believe it or not…I’m single (In my Drake voice). Yup… my relationship ended as soon and abrupt as it began. But I’m not sad, nor are me and the ex on bad terms of any kind. It really goes back to the “tailoring” my life to fit me kinda’ thing, and well…baby boy didn’t fit. And I’m ok with that…and he is too…I think…


But for all the other love birds out there who are indulging in the sweets of Valentine euphoria, I’d like to present the story of Cupid and Psyche, found in the Roman Mythology of Lucius Apuleius, a North African philosopher and novelist. His most famous work is his bawdy novel, the Metamorphoses, otherwise known as The Golden Ass. It relates to the outlandish adventures of one Lucius, who experiments with magic and is accidentally turned into an ass. *hehe*

The common theme throughout the book is “transformation”, hence the name “The Metamorphoses”, but between the books of 4-6 there lies the origin of Cupid and Psyche. I came across this and was so taken aback by the name alone. I didn’t even know Cupid had a boo! Much less with the name Psyche, and they had a kid whom they named Pleasure ( or Bliss depending on what version you read) which in turn got me thinking… with Cupid being the God of desire, affection, and erotic love and Psyche, eventually ( see story) becoming the Goddess of the Soul, isn’t that emphasizing that when desire meets the mind, you’ve found your proverbial “match made in heaven”?

Because let’s be honest, we’ve all had some show stoppers in our dating history, but they never lasted. We need more than physical attraction and a great bed room stroke. If you can’t connect mentally with your significant other, I mean really… what IS the point?

And I pose another question: Could the story of Cupid and Psyche possibly be the blueprint of what REAL love looks like?

With all the metaphors and themes in this story, they’re countless correlations in how we as human beings approach the subject of love even now. Some being relationships between Mother in Laws and Wives, mean girls, how we women will go through hell for the men we love, the maturing of the soul, sacrifice, when men are ready to settle down they do, and the age old adage “If it’s really Love, it will come back.” And I am a firm believer that there is nothing new under the sun, and that literature, especially the Bible, has an example of a problem and a solution, and a logical code of ethics to go about it. Besides, with society looking to social media, speed dates, and THE worse… blind dates trying to seek out love… would it really hurt to look at a little literature to attempt to understand a subject that confuses majority of the population. And if that doesn’t get you: it’s cost effective, time effective, and if you’re anything like me, you can quit asking your home girl to call with an “emergency” thirty minutes into all your dates.

But ultimately what I got from the story was this, and I’m sure you’ve heard it before: Let HIM find you ladies, and in the meantime make sure you’re are ready to receive him.

With that being said…Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Ladies here’s to receiving your Cupid, and men here’s to finding your Psyche. 

As for me, I suppose I’m still in the mirror… getting ready.

Read Full Story of Cupid and Psyche here.

Enlightenment anyone?

So I've revamped my blog...again. I don't know man but this thing is like a work in progress, much like my life, but I'm grateful for the evolution...really I am. So to answer your question...yeah, it's quite possible that I'm on some other ish right now.

Which is also why I changed the name and theme of this blog, because I felt like I had wayyyy too much going on in my previous one and I really couldn't get with the name either..."The Next B Thing"...it's kinda whack now that I think about it, but I felt the "Balancing Act" suited better for the simple fact that's exactly what I'm doing. And I also found out some other stuff along the way...like: 1) how much I actually dislike entertainment journalism and the personalities that that industry entails and in a perfect world I would rather do travel and/or food journalism. 2) That maybe a relationship isn't all what it's cracked up to be 3) I did a piss poor job of balancing everything before because either way something or someone was always being neglected. 4) I dig meditation now. 5) That I HAD to change ALOT if Knight Prodigy Publishing was ever going to see the light of day 6) Finding my focus was half the battle. 7) Ignore negativity...all of it.

I really had to sit down and figure out how I was wired too, which took longer than I expected because some of those wires I had were crossed and others just needed to be cut all together. And I'm proud  that I took out that time to be still and listen instead of always on the go. I can say at 25 I'm taking great joy and pride in tailoring my life like a fierce Prada suit...cause in life, in my opinion, it's really all about the right fit.

2011 = Launch Pad Year...are you on a plane or watching from the tower?

The answer is...I'm on a 747 and I'm bracing myself for takeoff!

So I know I have been out of the loop for sometime and the last thing you guys heard from me was "I have an audition for SESAC..." (http://www.sesac.com/). That was on October 8th...amd I'm pleased to announce that as of December 6th, 2010 I have officially signed with SESAC Performing Rights Organization.

This is a major step for me as I am in the beginning stages of my professional songwriting career...it's kind of cool...ok not "kind of"...but fantastic! :)

A year and and half ago I made the decision that I wanted to be with SESAC as opposed to BMI or ASCAP. Why? Well although SESAC has been around for 80 years, it is the smaller BUT more prestigous of the three, the process is selective and they pay more attention to molding the novice. Other songwriters/producers/artists on their roster include: Bryan Michael Cox, Swizz Beats, Rico Love ( There goes my baby-Usher), Lady Atebellum...amongst so many of our favorites in the music industry. It is a great honor to be on the same roster as these successful individuals. So far I've had the opportunity to submit songs for Kenny Latimore's new album "Back to Cool" and I got a chance to meet him, and he's so much MORE finer in person *heart flutters*


So what does this mean now?

It means that I am on a platform where I can get the songs that I write to actual artists, for them to record.
This also means that I am Owner and CEO of Knight Prodigy Publishing, which allows me to control all my publishing rights. SB: It was so funny when I was signing off on everything, there was a portion that asked what my title was...I was dumbfounded so I had to ask...and when I asked it seemed like the dumbest question ever, but the only dumb questions are the ones not asked, the end result Owner/CEO... at that point it clicked to me that this was serious and if I was going to be successful, it was up to no one else but yours truly.


So here goes...something! and oh yeah did I mention I got a new man too? :) 2011 is starting off pretty good...I hope it stays that way.

Happy Dreaming you guys!

Ha! Now this is something to think about next time you (and I) post on FB Or Twitter how much of a blast we're having in Vegas...

So in the midst of me completing my piece from A3C...editing video as we speak, my Mother brought this to my attention. This is very interesting, and I've always said that everyone doesn't need to know your every move on social networks... and that Facebook, Twitter, and the new Checking In App, allows entirely too much access for strangers and familiar faces alike, especially with that whole "Uber Twitter" thing that gives your locale... geez, if I still had that stalker..I would be SOL...also check out this website hilariously, but truthfully entitled: http://www.pleaserobme.com/ .

This where I'v been for the last 2 days...today is the last tho...video coming soon!

Night Owls Anonymous...

Monday is upon me and I'm a wreck yet again...but a good wreck...if there is a such thing...As you may or may not have known the BET Hip Hop Awards were here this past weekend, and I wish I could tell you "I was all up in that"...but the truth of the matter is, I wasn't. Although, I was promised a ticket and everything...blah blah blah, ATL media really got sh**ed on with their presence, so yeah I was definitely sleeping most of day on Saturday, missed the BET Pre party with Sean Garrett...I won't lie, I was tired and beat from the night before at the Interscope and Belvedere 's



 shin-dig and Clark Atlanta's Alumni Party. You know sometimes I think that I may be a lousy journalist when it comes to this stuff, because I'm not a party animal or anything, (people really don't believe it when I tell them I hate being in the streets, cause' when I'm in my six inch stilettos, I'm really wishing I was in my glow-in-the dark toe socks.)...but then I remember I have two featured articles in Street Report's magazine with Big Boi and Dereck J for October and November, and then I don't feel so bad. :)



Speaking of which, while I was at the Interscope party at Ventana's, a beautiful, breathtaking venue I might add, Ventana's is Italian for "windows" and that's all you see when you get to the high rise spot, and a rooftop set up that will make anyone feel like someone.




Anyways, I got a interview with Lloyd ( "Get it shawty", "Lay it down", although I already know him), Nate Walker ( co-wrote Jamie Foxx's "Blame It", who put me on to my new fav hangout spot for Saturday's..Noni's), and Kenny Johnson A&R for Interscope Records. It was cool even had my brother up in the spot with me.





Terrance and Rocsi came thru, chatted with Terrance a little before they were whisked away to the CAU party. It was really a lot going on that night and traffic was crazy...I even kicked it with my boss a little...trying to see if I could slide a raise into the convo...it got me $50 extra, so I GUESS it worked...                                                                        

 Shantell from Young Money and her Chanel shoes...I'll be honest they were more important to me than her...LOL WHATTTTTT!?

Comedian Alex Thomas (right), cool dude and that's my bro Chris on the left...I swore these two knew each other the way they were chatting it up...I was in the middle of saying something in this pic...I look weird LOL

 So that sums up my weekend... got to submit this write up to my editor and I have another studio session with Skot tonight, he sent me a crazy headbanger track that I can't wait lay down! All I can say is man LIVE.LOVE.LIFE.

Little Ms. Busy "B"

Yeah...guilty as charged I've been sooooo busy it doesn't make any sense! I knew once I picked up doing journalism again that my blog would be like a step child to me *sigh* I didn't mean for it to happen that way, but I've been bringing the sun up for the last 4 weeks now covering various events in ATL (which I'll get to momentarily)  and I'm beat...anytime I do have time to myself...I sleep...and not regular sleep...like coma sleep...like blazing and having crazy sex then passing out sleep...like downing 3 Long islands and...well you get the idea...

RECAP:

I test drove the 2011 Porsche Cayenne at the Porsche Dance at Dusk event, exchange info w/ two super producers there...not really into dropping names like that...just know they're significant :)


I went salsa dancing at Havanna Club, had a blast and the next day I wanted a whole new pair of feet because I thought I was on Dancing with the Stars.

Went the Res concert who is an incredible singer from some time ago and she finally dropped her second album Black.Girls.Rock. (check her out here), did the interview after the show, mind you this was after leaving the Porsche event, my hair was too through!




Interviewed Zo! from the Justice League, which was really cool, went to the listening party, but was late so me and my cuzo Jon-Jon walked around Little 5 points for a bit, met the owner of a tattoo shop who wouldn't mind working w/ us on a tattoo party...more about that later..and of course you're invited :)

From there went to a get together at the Eyedrum in the art district and saw some incredible pieces of work.



... and then to Luckie Lounge for another friend of friend's B-day celebration...by the end of the night I lost that friend because he's insecure...long story thing is we were'nt even dating, but then gained a new one :)

 
Yeah so the guy is mixing a shot called Liquid Nitrogen....yeah...so of course I had to get one...

                              
 It was sweet and very potent...I was hesitant at first...cause' I mean c'mon...there's smoke coming from it!

                                                                                         

Needless to say I had a good time :)....






Had a photoshoot with a couple of associates for http://www.stylesbyteri.com/ for their hair and makeup portfolios...which was fun! I was told to be a sexy, edgy , lesbian...yeah not sure if I pulled that one off but this is what I came up with lol



Caught a cold from my niece...kids and their freakin elementary school germs....ewwww!

I interviewed Derek J ('Hair Battle Spectacular, Good Hair, Real Housewives of ATL...you know the short guy in heels)...he'a a total sweetheart..which reminds me I need to make my hair appointment with him, since he did tell me to bring my butt on down there...and I shall do what I'm told.

Broke the handle on my Louis Vuitton...ughhh

Went to Compound on Friday night, VIP style and was like 3 couches down from Wale...yes Wale, and I'm such a goof ball that I gave 4 of my friends access that I forgot to give myself, so while my guests were meeting him I was stuck with the sercurity guard whose pleasure was my pain...we made ammends by the end of the night though. Can't find the pics for this, the one night I forgot my camera ...which really blows cause' no one could tell me and my girl nothing (in my Kanye voice)

Let's see what else...oh yeah this past weekend was the Atlanta Classics, FAMU and TSU game, so I had friends come up from Tallahassee, as well as an ex *sigh* I do love my Trey, he was like my 2nd love lol
Hit the game up on Saturday, where FAMU lost for the first time in seven years, so that was a bummer...and then got a ticket..jerks...

From the box :)

In all this I managed to make an appointnment with SESAC on Oct. 8th for them to finally hear my work, and I feel pretty good about it, I will be in the studio this week working on that with producer Skot Free (Stankonia),I forsee that being a very fruitful friendship.

I still have interviews to extract and videos to edit....LAWD!

And my editor just texted me asking my availability for this week since the BET Hip Hop Awards are going to be in town...does anyone have a couple of 5 hour energy's? I think I'm going to need some...oh and a hug...

Thank you God for keeping me busy...

check out the rest of my pics here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2150486&id=75304196&l=e5993b9564

The Highlights, The Lowlights, and the ISH we won't remember from the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards

The Highlights

Lady Gaga took home 8 of her 13 nominations, including Video of the Year, proving that her hype isn’t just some fly by night stroke of luck…although her attire would say otherwise (hence the “meat” get up), but you know how the world is…the weirder the better, but the thing about Gaga is that she’s an actual talent, which she proved by singing/shameless plugging her upcoming album “Born this way”…and I honestly think that there is some truth to her logic.

Taylor Swift-Everyone was so hung up on last year’s fiasco between Kanye and Taylor Swift, when in actuality, I think it was publicity stunt…but hey that’s just me, I am a self proclaim conspiracy theorist on special occasions, but Taylor gave a great performance singing “Innocent” , sounding as though she was sympathizes with Mr. West…"Thirty-two and still growing up now; who you are is not what you did," she sang softly, adding: "You're still an innocent." Awwwww

Kanye West Performance- I don’t care how many times Kanye gets diarrhea of the mouth, I still manage to fall in love with him all over again with his lyrical linguistics. MTV was right to save the best for last otherwise I would’ve turned back to the Redskins game long time ago. West’s red suit set off the stage as he sang his new song “Runaway” that goes a something like….
“Let’s have a toast for the douche bags,
let’s have a toast for the assholes,
let’s have a toast for the scumbags,
every one of them that I know
let’s have a toast to the jerk offs….

*sigh of relief* I’m so glad our Kanye is coming back to us :) Message to Kanye: Don’t be so hard on yourself kiddo, without you being a realist and saying the ish that we think all the time…what voice would we really have?

Cher- presented the Video of the Year in the same outfit she wore in her music video “If I could turn back the hands of time’’ in 1989, you know the one that got banned from MTV with the battleship and all, yeah that one, and we all know what she meant by wearing that outfit… “ You bitches aren’t the first to do this ish ok?”; but either way Cher looked fantastic! What is she like 72!? She must have the fountain of youth in her back yard. :)

Linkin Park Performance- at the Griffith Observatory …damn it I love these guys! And this had to have been like the best ambiance for a show….outside while the sun was just setting, up on one of the highest hills in L.A., it was f-ing beautiful! The band performed their new song “The Catalyst” from their forth coming album entitled ‘A Thousand Suns”.

2010 MTV Video Music Awards - More VMA Video

Read more...(The Highlights, The Lowlights, And the ISh we won't remember)

My interview w/ Big Boi during the Heineken Inspire Tour...Music.Recognition.Respect. And oh yeah free beer!

September 4, 2010 was a great day for me...why you ask? Well because Jermaine Dupri and DJ Trauma showed what real dj-ing really is (to all you dj's with the turntable front and just use an Mac book Pro), I got to see Goodie Mob, Bun B, and Big Boi perform, and speaking of Sir Lucious Left Foot, I got an interview with the Southern Royalty as we chatted about how the radio sucks, his current tour, and the work he's already putting in on his follow up album Daddy Fat Sax: Soul Funk Crusader.  Read More...

Moet Rose' Lounge Presents Ne-Yo's "Champagne Life Celebration" for his new album Libra Scale

I went to the Ne-Yo's listening party for his forth studio album entitled Libra Scale the other night (Sept. 1, 2010) at MF Sushi in Buckhead....besides it being one of the most unorganized events I've ever covered, and him being escorted out as my photographer Jay Wiggs and I were about to walk into the media room for our 1 on 1...you know what, I won't lie, there really wasn't an upside lol...that's just the screw side of the biz...

But dont get wrong, I'm a huge fan of Ne-Yo's work, I mean "Champagne Life" is getting all kinds of spins on the radio and I can guarantee that I'll be two stepping whenever it comes on, like most of his tracks. But not only does this album have some bangers on it, but it also visually follows a story plot in six extended music videos...Read more...

This is what my brain looks like when I'm brainstorming...

                                       
Soooo alot has been going on with the kid, I've been getting tracks left and right, one in which I'm super excited about because if I come hard lyrically like I know I can, it can mean something major for me...so actively working on that. I've been getting emails from other publications (The Goods Mag and Street Report), been to Jacksonville and back on some red eye ish without telling anyone for a much needed meeting of the minds, and geez just being in the right places at the right time lol

What I'm learning is that I can't say yes to everything though, I'm going to burn myself out. I used to think that I was this super woman with a cape that could do any and everything, which proved to be my kryptonite, not the kush,  because I hadn't mastered the art of time management.

And speaking of which, I have to wrap this up because I have to be a my girlfriends house in an hour to do here makeup for her photoshoot...yes I'm a guru at makeup application...I'm truly a Jackie of all trades, but without time management...I'm just Jackie...and that just sounds so blah...

Also in this post...

Ent. Purposes Only: New Music-Jack Freeman "Figure it out"

Travel and Food: How to eat a Maryland Blue Crab

Love,Sex,Relatioships: How would you react...

Spirituality: Message in a Bottle

Phene & DJ Dub Floyd Tribute to Pete Rock (Directed by Stephen Philms)

Phene and DJ Dub Floyd are a dangerous duo out here in Atlanta, and it's only a matter ot time before they become a household name. Read More..

Tialiae-New Artist Im working with

This is Tialiae...a new artist that I'm going to be working with... she's from New Jersey and oh girl is only 18 years old! Here she is covering India Arie's "I am ready for Love" .... check her out!





Aslo in this post: Travel/ Food: I ate Caviar for the first time!

Love, sex, relationships: Dear B, Why would she...,

Spirituality: My very own Garden of Gethsemane

Road To 8 Mile MC Battle-Atlanta

I had a blast at the Road to 8 Mile MC Battle, courtesy of Redbull and Emimnem, hosted by D.R.E.S tha Beatnik, whom can put both Dougie Fresh and Razall to shame in the beat-boxing department hands down! The judging was done by DJ Don Cannon, Bun B, and ManChild...and they meant business...read more

Download Kanye West See Now (Feat Beyonce Charlie Wilson) (CDQ VERSION) mp3 // FileZee.com

Download Kanye West See Now (Feat Beyonce Charlie Wilson) (CDQ VERSION) mp3 // FileZee.com

New Music from Andre 3000 "I Do" What cha think?

New music from the incomparable Andre 3000, and long awaited I might add. I heard it last night on Hip Hop 10 XM radio and was blown away, like a legend had step back into the room or something; it's entitled "I Do",and if you're like me, then you've been waiting for 3 stacks to grace us with his signature sick flow for some time now, and he never disappoints. I actually like to think he was talking about me in this song "nothings more attractive than a heavy praying woman..." "we'll call her Love 22,she'll tote a 22"...hey a girl can dream...check it out!





I Do - Andre 3000 by jozenc

In lieu of Wyclef Jean running for President of Haiti... I thought this was appropriate...see how things are spoken into existence

I'm working man! :)

For some reason I couldn't upload this video into the music section of my blog...where it's supposed to be, but anyways this is a snippett of a session with Sommer Melody, a current Universal artist that is recording one of my songs for my SESAC demo entitled "Lose Control". Her voice is so light and beautiful, I thought it would be great for this song and the beat was done by Grammy nominated producer Tai Rotan who you also see in the video...I call this the "Beginnings" :)


I layed this down as well with my brother's friend Alto. It's a Hustle and Flow set up lol, but whatever works man...I'll record just about anywhere lol...The track, although you can't hear it, was done by my homey DJ Clean, its a crazy track too! So shout out to him... I'll post the finished product soon enough :)

#nowplaying Wale feat. Wiz Khalifa-The Breeze...loving this thought I should share :) what you think?