The MixTape: GhaGeria II

I have always wanted to get the feel of being a part of a studio session. My sis and I used to joke when we were younger of how we would one day get a duet album produced cause everyone seemed to be going into music at the time. At least we had the voices to probably even get it certified platinum.

My 'school son' recently delved into hip-hop music and has a couple of mix tapes to his name. However, he needed a female voice to feature in the chorus of one of his tracks and well, I got the slot.
Nah, no payments nor incentives necessary. Let's just say I did it as a favor and also for the love of music.
Plus, he kind of scrapped one task off my bucketlist so I guess I do 'owe' him one.

The mix tape collaboration titled Ghageria II which is a combination of the countries, GHAna (Kula) and NiGERIA (KelZ, the school son) dropped on Christmas day, the 25th December, 2015 and I just had to promote it in any little way I could.

Need I add that Kula is really cool to work with as a producer. I was kind of nervous at first but he put me at ease. Plus I am more or less a perfectionist and felt I didn't deliver to the 'T' and yet they both assured me my bit was perfect.

There are so many raw talents in Africa yet to be discovered.
Hopefully someone that reads this post who knows someone who knows someone else who happens to be influential would get a hold of it and give them the break they deserve.

Do give the songs a listen by downloading the album through this link.
Of course I would shamelessly ask that you start off with track 4, Holy Matrimony which of course features my humble self *big grin*

Be nice with your comments on my 'not-so-fabulous' voice.

Jeremiah 17 verse 9

"The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure"
- Jer. 17 vs. 9 (The Message)

I love The Message translation of the Bible. It dissects the verses into simple terms that anyone can grasp and understand.
I remember when I was about graduating and my friend-turned-sister and I went to the bookstore to buy ourselves convocation gifts. My bible was overdue for a change (had been using the same one since my first senior year in high school) so I searched the store for The Message version but was unlucky. Guess the last one was bought off before I got there.
Anyway, I opted for the New Century Version (NCV) instead. Good choice still.

Yesterday, I was surfing the net (as is my usual routine every morning. Hmm...wonder if that's a good or bad thing) and found myself on the MSN website. Some way or another I was linked to Brooke Shields' Wikipedia page and got some new information on her as to what brought her into the limelight of her acting career.
She played the role of a child prostitute way back in 1978 in the movie Pretty Baby. She was 13 at the time.

Honestly, I never really read up on child prostitution until then, and it gave me a sickening feeling afterwards. I always thought these children were a little less than teenagers and then I saw this:

                         

'as young as 4 or 5 years old...'

Sometimes, when I think of such evil being oppressed on these little ones with innocent souls I can't help but imagine if heaven forbid, my nephew and niece are mishandled in anyway and it enrages me. And to even think of my own children? Urgh.

I can't fathom how people in their supposedly 'right' minds can take a child in their arms and do insane things to them. Be it an infant, a pre-teen or even one that just hit puberty it doesn't matter. These are children still discovering who they really are.
As far as my opinion goes, such act is linked to a mental disorder. Infact,  it's beyond physical. It's definitely spiritual.

If how I feel can reflect through my words this page would be on fire right now. Somethings are tagged 'unforgivable'. But then, thank God we are not God. He knows how he handles this sort of absurdity. All we can do is work towards making what He wants manifest in any situation as such that we may find ourselves.

Yes, it can be tough. Even our own 'demons' can be the hardest thing to succumb. But then, we have to make the conscious effort..

People may wonder why human rights activists take their beliefs to a whole other level. Most of us don't know what their loved ones, children, spouses even they themselves have been through. And this is their only means to fight and live with the pain of their past. Some, even their present...

If you stand for nothing, you would most certainly fall for anything.

Stand for what is right. Stand for what is just.

ArtTwentyOne:TwentyOneArtists:TwentyFirstCentury

Art.
A simple three letter word that encompasses a million ideas in one.

Sometimes I just realize how awesome it is to have a talent that is so rare but yet spans within the family.

Dated back to primary school when my classmates used to line up at my desk just to get a helping hand from me as regards their art projects.
Then to my brother who made lots of cash off his mates in secondary school for the exact same thing. He and my sister always represented our school in art competitions and won a handful of them. Three of us were also members of an art group in the University as well.
My other brother...well, he is an architect. Need I say more?

And my folks? Mum is super creative when it comes to music (singing to be precise), poetry (she was an English & Literature teacher) and textiles. You should see her 'bespoke' wardrobe.
Dad had the most 'perfect' handwriting I have ever seen till date. It was a blend between calligraphy and just plain beauty. Always keen on dotting all his i's and crossing all his t's.
Even his signature! The time he always spent signing my report card though...(lol)

I was invited for an art exhibition a few days ago at the Art Twenty One Gallery tagged Platform: Twenty One Artists and the scenery really got my nod of approval.

 
The African art culture is so rich! Now I sense why the British were in awe and how the idea of the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture better known as Festac'77 must have come into view.

We must admit that even in this modern day, the African culture truly doesn't appreciate art in general especially, Fine Art. So seeing so many people (even familiar faces from way back in school) at the exhibition really made me smile.
Guess it's relatively safe to say African Art is finally getting her groove back.

I happen to be acquaintances with an art dealer/manager @hrh247 and his artist @johnmadu_art whose works were showcased that day alongside 20 other talented artists (hence the '21 Artists' title).

So without further ado, here are a couple of shots I took of the works that caught my fancy.
Let the art speak for itself...

Yeanzi.

Melted plastic portrait. My best piece...

Dennis Osadebe

Chinenye Godsproperty John

I love the 'irony' of the only female gender picture of this piece. Who says a girl can't aspire to be an engineer or any 'male-tagged' profession for that matter?

I.Am.Isigo

Can conveniently pass as Lady Gaga's preferred designer wardrobe...

Maxivive

I asked Max what sprung up this idea. He said It's the 'Agbada of the future'. 

Well I say, 'Raining season? Problem solved!'

Tokyo James

Yinka Ilori

Can imagine these cute pretty furniture pieces at my sister's. So her.

And of course...John Madu

Always a message behind his works. Love the depth


I for one certainly couldn't leave without a complimentary glass of champagne...and a few tapas to go...
#FoodieNation

The #rePlay Series: ePisode 6

I know. Two posts in one day. Exceptional. Well, not exactly. Simply the effect of sheer boredom, really.

Anyway, I have yet another hit that I can't stop playing over and over.

David Guetta's Bang My Head (Single Version) with Sia featuring Fetty Wap.
That salsa drumbeat just before the hook...love it!!

Sia. Call her the 'Australian Lady-Gaga'

The album version is exactly the same I believe, but I picked the single version over it just cause I like the idea of featuring Fetty, like a blend of two different artistes who focus on two vast types of music.

Plus, it's actually the theme song for the science fiction action horror (I know. So many genres I'm 'typographically' out of breath) movie, Victor Frankenstein which stars James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe. (Already added to my 'To Watch' list)

Guess I'm slowly becoming a fan of the EDM movement. Keeps rubbing off on me.

Music & Lyrics: Vol 3

Honestly, I don't remember what got me singing this song out of the blues recently even though it's been released over a year ago.
But after I did take my time and really listen to it for the first time, I picked up the lyrics and felt Nicki actually made sense and connected well with the words for once. Got me even rapping along feeling all bada** and shiii.
I do miss my tomboy days though. I just couldn't care less about how big my pants and tees were...life was so easy back then. *sigh*

Yo, people will love you and support you when it's beneficial

I'mma forgive, I won't forget but I'mma dead the issue

Soon as you out their little lives that's when they start to miss you

They see you doing good now it's kinda hard to diss you

Yeah, they be sick when they remember all the bad they wished you

Yeah, they be mad when they can't come and live lavish with you

*my best part*

But I sped off in a Benzy

I see the envy when I'm causing a frenzy

So I pop pills for 'em

Cop cribs in the hills on 'em

                 Read more: Pills N Potions Lyrics - Nicki Minaj | MetroLyrics 

Christmas At The Mikaelsons

Julie Plec, if you ever get to read this, I am still extremely upset with you. Extremely.
My eyes are all blurred up with tears as I type. Remembering the look on Klaus' face in so much pain...urgh. I can't take this anymore. Someone pass me a tissue.

The Originals' production crew took it upon themselves to give us a not-so-merry Christmas with the mid season finale this year. It's not like I expected everything to be so peachy with the Mikaelsons, especially not during the 'jolly' season. I mean, come on. Who would the Originals be without a little bit of mayhem on their path?
But this? This was a little too down the drain!

Poor pretty doe-eyed Cami. *sadface*

After watching the mistletoe scene over and over again, (Gosh. It was so beautiful. I would say it almost beat all the Delena scenes hands down) I dashed to the solace of the internet for a sign, a light at the end of the tunnel, anything at all to prove that her character would return someway somehow. In other words, I took it 'P' like my brother said.

And as expected, soooo many Klaus and Camille aka Klamille fans were as devastated as I was. This comment portrayed exactly how I felt;

...and I mean, no one 

Is it just me or is Joseph Morgan so perfect for this character? His eyes! *swoons* 

Chai! When would someone stare at me like this oh?! So much lurrrrv!!! 

Maybe what got to me was the building connection between these two...so intense.

And when it finally got to its peak and avid watchers of the show gave a standing ovation... *GBAM!!!* 

Thank you Julie. Thank you very much *rolls eyes*

I just can't wait for when Klaus gets his hands on Aurora. Oh, what joy!!
And to think there are really crazy exes like this in the real world. *tsk tsk*
Nope. No referrals here. Move along... :)

For The Love of 'Kicks'

About two years ago, the Nigerian hip-hop diva, Sasha P aka First Lady (cause she is pretty much the  first well-known female hip-hop artiste in Nigeria) unveiled her fashion label, Eclectic by Sasha.

Well, I wasn't aware of it till early this year and I kind of just breezed through samples on the Instagram page @eclecticbysasha. Nothing really caught my fancy though.

Then yet again I found myself on the page this afternoon and saw the sneakersssss. Nigerian designed sneakers. Emphasis on 'Nigerian'

Eclectic 'Ice Creams' *YUM!*

The EBS Summer Runners *drool*

Impressive! I literally fell in love. Not that I haven't seen better foreign designs but then, this is African. Nigerian to be precise. It's about time, way overdue if you ask me.
Also, shoes are another one of my 'many' kryptonites. It's a sad sad shoe world when you have semi-large feet though *sigh*

I did take a second look at her bespoke dresses as well. Pretty cute too. Colorful with a summer feel. I bet my sister would love them. She's all about bright colors and floral designs.

Take a sneak peek at the Eclectic by Sasha lookbook on BellaNaija.







One day, when all is right with the world (and my bank account) I shall buy a truckload of Eclectics.
(They had better have 'em in my size...)

#BuyNigerian #ShopAfrican :)

fiftythemovie.com

Been a while I have looked forward to the release of a Nollywood movie in cinemas. And as expected the major perk is Nse Ikpe Etim.*big grin*

Even more so is that my 'bigger' brother actually is interested as well! Trust me, he can't stand Nollywood so it must be worth seeing if he begs to differ with his opinion as regards this one. Plus, he happens to be tight buddies with the brother of the official poster designer. They go like waaaay back.

Fifty. But calling it 'Fifty The Movie' adds a little intensity to it. Kinda rings a bell to the eardrums. Gives you this glam feeling about the expected quality of the whole package.

A premiere would hold this Sunday, 13th December, 2015 at the Eko Hotel and Suites for them 'cash money, young money' folks. We mere mortals shall wait till its out in cinemas however. (This too shall pass)

For more info on the cast and what to expect, check out the official website here.

If I was not me I would think whoever typed this was getting proceeds from EbonyLife Films for 'advertising'.
I mean, this production captured the interest of CNN. It should be worthy enough...

Till the 18th December, 2015, we'll see how that goes. *fingers crossed*

In other news, just look at that face. Gorgeous.

Nse Ikpe Etim #wce

Same Difference

The last time I had on a pair of contact lenses was during my B.Sc. Graduation Dinner (studied Computer Science just in case you're wondering)
They were pretty much 'wasted' cause I hardly ever wore them anyway.
To answer your 'question', no, I don't wear neither do I need glasses.

Fast forward to four years later and I see a sister of a friend of mine wearing a pair of Purple (yep. Purple) recommended contacts. She is dark skinned but it looked real good on her. And I thought, 'Hmm. Been a while I've tried these on. Getting a pair won't hurt'

Thing is, I love to experiment with my looks. Wait. Scratch that.
I love to experiment with my hair. (Yes. Sounds more like it) Kinda surprised I haven't dyed it green or blue already. Well...who knows?

Anyway, the point to my 'story' is I decided to throw in 'experimenting with my eyes' this time around (along with my hair on which I happened to get brown highlights during the same period...plus I got it 'straw-curled'. Google that up) and bought a pair of Hazel colored contacts. Not recommended of course (kindly refer to my prior statement)
Although I wanted Brown ones cause they seem more natural, they had run out of stock and I was left with either Honey or Hazel. So I went with the latter to get a subtler look.

I put them on, get to the office...and THEN the controversy begins.
Should I use the word 'controversy' though? Nah. It wasn't that deep an argument but you get my drift.

The idea behind why people, ladies to be precise make use of 'sakommended' (like we Nigerians like to call it) colored contact lenses has actually been strung along for a while now.
Some people's opinion, if not most, believe those who use them are insecure about their looks, FYI the color of their eyes in this case and I'm thinking, 'How weird is it to 'hate' or be 'ashamed' of the color of your eyes for Pete's sake?'
The shape of your nose...probably. The texture of your hair...possibly. But color of your eyes? Now that's a little extreme don't you think?

So I did a little research and got through to an article on yelp.com titled Guys- Color Contacts On Women, Yay or Nay? and then this comment caught my attention and laid my 'quest' to rest.

Hmm. Now let's get this straight. If I am 'insecure' about my looks now just cause I wear colored contacts, then that probably means my 'insecurity' dates way back to my hair-dying frenzy days innit? Just saying...
Ponder on that for a second.

Uh huh...that's what I thought. *smirks*