NYC Out-of-Town Girl
Live Your Best NYC Life!
My Teena Marie Ultimate Playlist
GET FAMILIAR! Check out my "Ultimate Teena Marie Playlist!"
"I Need Your Lovin'"-Jadakiss fans will instantly recognize the bassline as sampled for his "Right By My Side" (Feat. Neyo) from his Last Kiss LP, but make no mistake, it originated from Ms. Teena Marie!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxkx-D4veNk
"Out on a Limb"-A staple on "quiet storm" R&B formats across urban radio, Teena's vocals soar as she sings about unrequited love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfJUYlFRfFU&feature=related
"Square Biz"-Before Beyonce and Mary J Blige had rhyming alter egos, Teena Marie rapped as "Lady T" on this funky head-nodder. Re-introduced to younger audiences by rapper Nas' 90's rap super-group The Firm as "Firm Biz", "Square Biz" remains a classic among new and old school Hip-Hop lovers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9wotiDai5U
"Ooh La La La"-Many might remember Lauryn Hill's interpolation of this song's chorus on The Fugees' hit single "Fu-Gee La" but the talented Ms. Hill cannot take credit for penning those lyrics. That's another Teena Marie classic, successfully reworked for the Hip-Hop generation!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZg46VqEk1s
"Portuguese Love"- My ultimate favorite ballad by Ms. Teena Marie. The lyrics are pure poetry and the arrangement is lush yet soulful.
Listen for yourself and fall in love with this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7MJXRIqU7E
Rest in Peace Teena Marie! Your music will forever touch lives and live on!
Pay Homage: Teena Marie
March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010
Rest in Peace Teena Marie
When individuals solely base her musical talent on race alone, Teena Marie is considered by many in Black music as the singing equivalent of white NBA legend Larry Bird.
But any real music lover and student of R&B understands that Teena Marie's talent went beyond her singing abilities. Teena Marie was a self-taught musician who played rhythm guitar, keyboards and conga drums. She also wrote and produced nearly all of her music on all of her releases since her debut on the music scene in 1980. Teena Marie also appeared on Soul Train more than any other white artist, with eight performances to her credit.
She left Motown Records as one of the label's most prosperous artists, despite a vicious legal battle over contracts. The bitter struggle ended with the passing of "The Brockert Initiative", a law that forbades a record label to keep an artist under contract while refusing to release any of that artist's music. In short, Teena was more than just a phenomenal talent; she was an accidental hero as well.
Gone but not forgotten, Rest in Eternal Peace Ms. Teena Marie aka Lady T!
Who is the Out of Town Girl?
“Allow me to reintroduce myself/My name is…”
The Out of Town Girl is a fearless female who lives, works and plays in New York City, armed with determination, dedication and most of all, a dream. She works as hard as she plays and plans to take all, or at least a sizable slice of the Big Apple. Like Tony Montana in Scarface, her mantra is “the world is mine.” And in the words of the incomparable Frank Sinatra, she plans to do it “my way.”
My blog was created to advise and support you, Out of Town Girl, as you embark on your professional and personal journey here in New York City from whatever city you proudly rep! From fashion to dating, from budget beauty to career advice, I have you covered. I want YOU to “Live your best NYC Life!”
“The writer/the teacher/the mentor/the speaker/the people-reacher/advice-giver/listener/the life-liver…”
I am a freelance writer whose areas of expertise are journalism, creative writing, writing press materials and career-readiness materials (resumes, cover letters and professional recommendations). I have interviewed celebrities, rubbed shoulders with some of the urban music industry’s most influential tastemakers and experienced New York City’s music industry and nightlife scene as a professional and a partygoer.
From 2002-2006, I worked in the areas of public relations and promotions within the entertainment and broadcasting industries in NY and PA. I have also worked as a creative assistant in the areas of event-planning and business administration.
Since 2005, I have been blessed with the opportunity to have published articles on websites HipHopDX.com, AllHipHop.com and TheLoop21.com and in magazines The Source and The Ave. I have met and worked with some of urban music’s most important writers and editors who work for publications such as XXL, Vibe, UPTOWN and Black Enterprise.
I am also a career-changer who has reinvented myself, furthered my education and worked as a civil servant amongst NYC best and brightest. At the moment and beyond, I can honestly admit that I am living my best NYC life every day. Are you?
If not, take a ride with me. I promise I won’t steer you wrong!
One Love,
Dani
Top 5 Hip-Hop Whitney Houston Duets
Whitney Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012)
In the span of her near 40-year career Whitney Houston has sold over 170 million singles, albums and videos worldwide. The six-time Grammy Award winner has done it all, from movies to modeling, but has never, ever recorded with a Hip-Hop artist. Here's my wishlist of rappers that I think would have complimented Whitney's sound, style and grace as the superstar talent that she will always remain.
5. Heavy D- The Overweight Lover has collaborated with two of pop’s biggest stars, both Michael and Janet Jackson. Whitney’s was close with both MJ and Damita Jo so it only seemed fitting that “The Voice” work the bum-diddley Heav D. With his penchant for pop-friendly yet substance-filled lyrics and her soaring vocals, Heavy D and Whitney could have made beautiful music together for the grown and sexy set. Hope they are in heaven doing just that as we speak.
4. Notorious B.I.G.-Now I know what you’re thinking…What possibly could Brooklyn’s finest have in common with Grammy winning pop star Whitney Houston? Nothing much except that they were both at the top of their game (also at different times in their careers) before they met untimely demises. Still Big Poppa and Whitney on a track with maybe R. Kelly and Diddy helming the production sounds like money in the bank to me! Think Kelly and Big’s 1995 “(You to Be) Happy” (off of Kelly’s self-titled 1995 release) where the Notorious proved his impeccable hardcore flow could mesh well with an MTV Video award-winning R&B star. Mixed Big’s witty, female-fused lyricism with Houston’s vocal stylings from “My Love is Your Love”, Houston’s first and only foray into a semi-dancehall Hip-Hop styled track and you might just have a hit on your hands.
3. Jay-Z-Similar to Whitney Houston, Jay-Z has always been a class act. Whether admonishing rappers about their choice of luxury automobile (“You bought a 4.0 you better get your change”) or reminding them of his lyrical and commercial success (“Jigga held you down for six summers”), Jay-Z is no stranger to the throne, whether you agree he belongs there or not. Same with Houston; she is not only R&B royalty (reared by musical greats Dionne, Aretha and Chaka, no last names needed) but became a pop superstar with the numerous number one albums and top ten hits worldwide. No need to speculate what these two would record about, let’s just say it’d be appropriately titled “Watch the Throne”.
2. Diddy- Unlike many Hip-Hop artists, Sean “Diddy” Combs was no stranger to Whitney Houston. Some would even call them associates, as they both share a mentor (Clive Davis), humble label beginnings (Arista Records) and ran in similar celeb circles. In recent news following Houston’s death, Puff even recalled his meetings with Houston as always “warm” and also attended her 1992 wedding to Bobby Brown. And with Diddy’s heyday as a solo artist/mogul peaking (he won a Grammy for “Best Rap Album” for No Way Out) the same time as Whitney Houston released her 4 million-selling “comeback” album “My Love is Your Love”, 1998 was a GREAT year for both Diddy and Whitney. Which is why it’s hard to understand why Diddy and Whitney have never recorded a track together. With all of that hit-making ability combined, I smell a Biggie-esque Whitney Duets LP in the works…
1. LL Cool J-As an artist who is no stranger to the trials and triumphs of the dreaded “comeback” album musicians of any genre inevitably face, LL Cool J made an appropriate host to pay homage to Whitney’s shocking, sad death during his hosting duties at this year’s Grammy Awards. Over the years, Cool J has successfully reinvented himself as a rapper, actor and now TV personality and host in both the Hip-Hop and pop worlds. In his Hip-Hop heyday, LL enjoyed the luxury of maintaining a strong male fanbase while being the go-to male rapper for most females due to his pretty boy looks, amazing body and rugged love raps, so it’s a wonder that LL and Whitney never collaborated. Judging from both of their pop-friendly track records and easy ability to cross over, LL and Whitney would have made beautiful music together.
Dearest Whitney, Rest in Eternal Peace. May your musical legacy live on forever. God bless.
Broadway Play: The Mountaintop, November 25, 2011, NYC
Unlike many New Yorkers, I didn't spend Black Friday doing any "competitive sport" shopping or feasting on leftovers while watching TV reruns. I spent my afternoon getting ready to attend the theater to see The Mountaintop. I had been anticipating seeing this play since the summer, when I read Halle Berry was originally slated to star opposite Samuel L. Jackson. Fast forward to November 2011, after months of waiting. New Yorkers can now catch the fantastic (albeit terse) production starring award-winning actors Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre through January 22, 2012.
While most would describe The Mountaintop as only a candid look at the lesser-known human side of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it is much more than that.
Both Bassett and Jackson give stellar performances and involve the audience in way that mimics the testimony at a Baptist church. Their snappy dialogue and onstage chemistry successfully aid in seducing audiences into believing that you are eavesdropping on an actual flirty chat between the married, conservative Dr. King and an outgoing, impressionable young woman. That is, until you have an aha! moment that you are actually watching two of Hollywood's finest portray what could have possibly happened on that fateful night before King's unfortunate assassination on April 4, 1968.
Written by female playwright Katori Hall, the story takes place at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 3, 1968. Here, King (played convincingly by Samuel L Jackson) examines his message, the Civil Rights Movement and even his own morals through an honest and at times, flirtatious conversation with an "angelic" hotel chambermaid (portrayed by Angela Bassett). Ninety minutes with no intermission, The Mountaintop provides an interesting analysis of one of the world's oft-celebrated yet intensely private humanitarians during one of American history's most tumultuous periods.
Even though critics may feel the play unnecessarily exposes personal flaws of Dr. King that may tarnish his image in the eyes of some, I can still appreciate The Mountaintop's story and message. A play written with such candor, wit, insight and emotion can be praised by me, due to its attempt to explore Dr. King's thoughts and emotions as a man, instead of simply the stoic persona who is often-times the Black community's poster child for 1960s Civil Rights and whose oft-misunderstood legacy is quickly celebrated (and forgotten) annually each January. Much like how 2009's FELA! explored the life and times of African musician/activist Fela Kuti, resulting in a newfound interest in his music and legacy, The Mountaintop, though debatable at times, ponders not only MLK's important message of human rights, but also what it meant to be human for the man himself.
Music 2 Motivate-Inspired by Nas, "Stay Chiseled"
"I'm lookin' sharp for the people/Not in my physical form/Strong thoughts/I'm cock diesel/Brolic with knowledge..."-Nas, Stay ChiseledI SAY: Knowledge is power. Too many of us underestimate the power of positive thought and obtaining information to help us understand the world around us. Never let your decision-making be paralyzed by knowledge but always do your homework when it comes to life matters. You can fight and win more battles with the power of your mind than your physical prowess. Learn to train and use your mind regularly.
Music 2 Motivate #10-Inspired by Lloyd Banks, "Good 2 Me"
"A joint account can turn one bum to two bums."-LLoyd Banks, Good 2 MeI SAY: To those in love, this one is for you! Many times when we fall in love, it is natural to want to share every moment and also every thing with our new mate. Time, money and attention are no object. But in the process we can lose ourselves, which is never good for both parties involved.
My most successful relationships always include an element of separation. As my father used to say, "Familiarity breeds contempt," meaning always maintain your individuality and always keep part of yourself to yourself.
While I'm a firm believer in team work for any successful relationship to work, I also believe for any relationship to survive, you must maintain your individuality WITHIN the relationship. Maintain your own friends, finances and family in addition to your relationship. Nothing lasts forever, so never cut ties with the life you maintained before you started your committed relationship.
Music 2 Motivate #9-Inspired by Lauryn Hill
"...Went from 'hood-shock to 'hood chic/But it ain't what you cop/It's about what you keep..."-Lauryn Hill, "Final Hour", The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill LPI SAY: What does it really mean to have "things"? The old adage states, "What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul?" While I am not against material gain and consumption, many of us are pre-occupied with the accumulation of "things", that we lose interest in maintaining not only these "things", but our well-being in the process. There needs to be balance. Work today to achieve the balance of "attaining vs. maintaining." Work hard to attain what you desire, but work just as hard at maintaining the work ethic, determination, faith and radiating the positivity that helped you obtain your desires in the first place.
Today, "ATTAIN then MAINTAIN!"
Music 2 Motivate # 8-Inspired by Nas & Lauryn Hill-ENVY BLINDS the CREATIVE MIND!
"It wouldn't be no such thing as jealousy or B felonies/Strictly living longevity to the destiny..."Nas feat. Lauryn Hill, "If I Ruled the World", It Was Written LPI SAY: How often do we look at someone else and envy what he or she may have? Whether it be a material item, a lifestyle, a character trait or even a mate, we all have experienced envy at one time or another. Envy, in my opinion, is a belief that you lack something and/or a feeling that you are being denied something you feel you deserve but someone else currently has. But if we'd take the time to examine our own lives, we'd realize each of brings unique original gifts to this world that cannot be duplicated; all we need to do is look within and be fulfilled. ENVY BLINDS the CREATIVE MIND!
The only way to obtain fulfillment is to hone our talents, gifts and be grateful for the blessings right here, right now, in front of our eyes. If there is an item/lifestyle/feeling that you want, don't envy another who has it. Find a way to obtain it. Be creative and use what you have to work with life to obtain the life you want. Nothing in this world truly "belongs" to any one of us. You can only create abundance in your life when you decide to let go of the idea of lack and get creative about obtaining what you want!
We may think that someone else's grass is greener and may never know if that's the truth or not. We do not know that individual's journey or the challenges they've had to meet that brought them to their current position in life. And we shouldn't concern ourselves with anyone else's journey but our own. But one thing that we can count on is this: If you nurture your God-given gifts you will never feel the need to trade places with anyone else. You will be too excited by what you have to offer the world!
Music 2 Motivate #7-Inspired by Nas
"Life's decisions/you chose it/You gotta live it/You did it, heaven or hell or prision."-Nas, "Life We Chose", Nastradamus LPI SAY: Growth comes hand-in-hand with change. You cannot have growth without change. As much as we may wish for different circumstances we must ask ourselves if we are ready to grow along with those newfound situations and opportunities?
The fastest way to thwart growth is to be unable to live with our own decisions. When you are able to accept responsibility for your actions (good or bad), only then can you GROW. Acceptance promotes growth!
Hope you enjoyed Music 2 Motivate Inspired by Nas! Catch Nas and Wiz Khalifa tomorrow June 4th in Philly, headlining the legendary Roots crew's Annual Picnic! I will be in the building! This is gonna be crazy! Have a blessed weekend and spread love y'all!
