Forgiveness: A Christmas Story

First, let me ask for forgiveness. I went on vacation and didn't say peep! That wasn't fair and I should have said something.

This is the last day of the year and my last post for 2007. It's been an interesting year. A hard one. A joyous one. I've had extreme highs and lows, which although very typical in my life, seems to be smoothing out with only minor dips for my future. I thank God that I made it through this year and that you did too.

I was blessed with having an extremely long vacation and I ended up having some family members come down to visit me in Atlanta.This was the first time anyone from my family had come to visit me in my new home. Scribe and I went all out - as much as we could have considering he was going to be going to New York to see his mother and brother and I was headed to Memphis to see my grandparents tie the knot. My brother, his girlfriend and my paternal Aunt T drove from NY and arrived last Saturday. T and I have always had a strained relationship. Similar to the one my father had with his family. Rigid Dominican values and morays allowed no room for error or addictions. T and I spent many hours talking, hugging, and just drinking in the sight of each other. We are the same height, same body shape, same color, and we have similar faces. I would say other than my Dominican great grandmother, Aunt T is the person I resemble most on this earth. It truly felt amazing to see myself reflected in another person. She told me a lot of family history and I came to learn interesting stories about the other side of my family. My grandparents are rich and vibrant characters, my great grandmother was feisty and head strong and my great great grandmother was a proud Arawak Indian from DR. I needed to hear all of it.

I'm sure T was hesitant about coming. To reconnect with someone after 12 years, and sparked because her brother had died, had to fill her with trepidation. It was a case study in family dysfunctionality. When I saw her face, all anger I felt from these long years of wondering rushed from my body with the invisibility of air. The forgiveness fused through my body and affected my brain immediately. Every fiber in my being shouted with joy. It was a blessed occasion.

I waver in forgiveness and I can admit that. Is there someone out there that I haven't forgiven? Yeah, I sure there are a few, but they performed such horrendous acts that they are not even forgiven by God. I started to realize that I had forgiven myself and others for situations we had been in together, like my exes and their spouses. Nothing from my past has the power to hurt me anymore. Forgiving them and me removed the pain from my heart and made room for more love. More love for the people who really need it.

I love the song "Happy Christmas (The War Is Over)" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The lyrics are not your typical Christmas carol fodder, instead it makes you examine yourself and what you have done throughout the year.

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

A new year is beginning. Are you going into it with useless baggage? With people and past hurts taking up space in your mind and your heart? Is there a situation that you have been in where you are still angry with someone for what they have done to you? Where you haven't forgiven yourself for being foolish or gullible or naive or too trusting?

Let it go. Forgive yourself and others. Create room in your psyche by throwing out the things that don't matter and make space for things that fill your heart with joy.

And don't just do it because I said so. If you claim to be a Christian, do it because Christ said so.

In Matthew Chapter 18, It speaks of forgiveness and how important it is:

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’
34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

The parable itself is amazing but when you read Christ's actual answer to Peter it cuts all the more.

7 x 70. 490 times you need to forgive somebody.

I like this verse. I'm reminded of it when I try to hold grudges. I say try because even when I'm mad, I tend to let it go right away. I may rail and moan about how I am through with a person, but it never lasts. I'm at my cousin's house right now, spending the holidays, after exclaiming this summer that I wasn't gonna be cool with her. Everybody in the family knew we had beef. Before long I forgave her and she forgave me and we were able to put stuff behind us and really come together. This was probably the 90th time for me (and probably for her too) so we have plenty more chances to reconcile.

Do yourself a favor in this upcoming year. Forgive somebody. Forgive yourself for something. Forgive some ish. Just do it. Then watch the love grow.

Have a Happy New Year. And remember...

Things Will Be Great In 08!

-Love, DJ Diva

OST Artist Spotlight: Chaka Khan

It's time for the Old School Thursday!!!!!

Some people say I look like Chaka....What do you think?















Chaka Khan has always been one of my favorite singers. She's an Aries born a couple of days before me so I'm sure we share a lot of the same traits. When it comes to R&B, she is among the best that the genre has to offer. I have a nice long bio after the playlist so enjoy!



If you would like to hear each song in it's entirety...Click Here

Artist Spotlight: Chaka Khan

1.I Know You, I Live You - Chaka Khan
2.Papillon (A.K.A. Hot Butterfly) - Chaka Khan
3.Clouds - Chaka Khan
4.To Sir With Love ( Club Mix) - Chaka Khan
5.Love You all My Lifetime - Chaka Khan
6.I'm Every Woman - Chaka Khan
7.Do You Love What You Feel - Chaka Kahn - Rufus
8.Funkin' For Jamaica(Jamaica Funk) - Tom Browne
9.I Feel for You - Chaka Khan
10.Ain't Nobody - Chaka Khan With Rufus
11.Never Miss the Water - Chaka Khan
12.Fool's Paradise - Rufus & Chaka Khan
13.Any Love - Chaka Khan & Larry Levan
14.Disrespectful - Chaka Khan featuring Mary J Blige
15.All Good - De La Soul ft. Chaka Khan
16.Chaka Khan - Tell Me Something Good - Chaka Khan
17.It Ain't Easy Lovin' Me - Chaka Khan
18.Come 2 My House - Chaka Khan
19.Stop On By (You're Welcome) - Paul Young & Chaka Khan
20.The End of a Love Affair - Chaka Khan
21.Maybe I'm Amazed (Live!) - Chaka Khan
22.Got To Be There - Chaka Khan
23.sweet thing - chaka khan
24.Through The Fire - Chaka Khan
25.Love Me Still - Chaka Khan
26.My Funny Valentine - Chaka Khan
27.Secret Garden(Female Version) - Quincey Jone,Teena Marie,Patti La Bell,Regina Bell
28.Festa Brasilera - Chaka Khan & Ivan Lins


Biography:



From the moment Chaka came on the music scene, as a member of the sophistofunk band Rufus, one of the first multi-racial pop/rock/soul bands, it was apparent that someone of vocal importance was emerging. Chaka was a new breed of singer -- self-taught and she bluntly ignored tradition. When it wasn't fashionable for singers to record their own background vocals, Khan made her own fashion statement and arranged her own -- laying down one track while assembling another -- competing with herself endlessly until all of her trademark vocals were seamlessly matched.

Chaka's unprecedented contralto and incalculable vocal range, originality and delivery (not to mention her sublime physical presence!), set new standards in the music world and in recent years, Chaka's style has been emulated by a legion of female singers. Although imitation is the sincerest form of flattery -- Chaka Khan is clearly in a class by herself. Her vocal style, identifiable in a flash, is a major force of nature in music, a sound like no other.

When Chaka first emerged, she was a young girl from Chicago with relentless enthusiasm and a God-given talent for singing. Born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953, in the Chicago suburb of Great Lakes, she formed her first group, The Crystalettes, at the age of 11 and began her professional career at 15. While still in high school, she joined the Afro-Arts Theater, a group which toured with Motown great Mary Wells, and a few years later, while working on the Black Panthers' breakfast program, she adopted the name Chaka, which is African for "Woman of Fire". Her full African name is Chaka Adunne Aduffe Yemoja Hodarhi Karifi. She later acquired Khan from a brief marriage in her late teens.

After quitting school in 1969, Khan joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting to join another dance band, The Babysitters. She worked as a file clerk by day and sang in local clubs at night. At 18, she made her move to Los Angeles and hooked up with a group of fledgling musicians called Rufus. Two years later, in 1973, their self-titled debut album "Rufus" was released. Their second album "Rags To Rufus" (1974) contained the Grammy award winning classic "Tell Me Something Good", and all of a sudden they found themselves being the name on everybody's lips. Chaka had set out to become a singer and instantly became a star.

In the years to come, Rufus and Chaka Khan would prove to be one of the most influential pop, rock, funk and R&B groups around and the central reason was Khan's amazing vocal talents and electrifying stage presence. With a string of classic gold and platinum albums like "Rufusized", "Ask Rufus", "Street Player" and "Masterjam", the band endured as one of music's most popular and successful groups of the seventies. In 1978, Chaka made her solo album debut and had an instant hit with "I'm Every Woman", penned by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. She was now a star in her own right and enjoyed great success with her following albums "Naughty" (1980), "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me" (1981) and "Chaka Khan" (1982).

Chaka would continue to record three more albums with Rufus but it was inevitable that she eventually would step out her own. In 1983, she left the group for good. And after Chaka -- there was no more Rufus. They said "thank you and goodbye" with one of the best live albums ever released -- "Live: Stompin At The Savoy". The album produced the immortal Grammy winning single "Ain't Nobody", which turned out to be one of their biggest hits and a song that, maybe more than any other, defines the inimitable vocal style of Chaka Khan.

Chaka Khan is among the few singers who have left a group and continued to reap ever greater success. Album after album has produced Top Ten hits including "I'm Every Woman", "This Is My Night", "Got To Be There", "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me", and her biggest hit "I Feel For You" -- the rap-tinged Prince classic which scored on the charts in 1984 and earned her a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Female Vocalist.

Chaka has always delighted in working with an outstanding array of talented contemporaries across genres. She has contributed to more than 70 different albums, working with artists as diverse as David Bowie, Quincy Jones, The Manhattan Transfer, Lenny White, Joe Henderson, Eric Clapton, Gladys Knight, Stephen Bishop, Guru, Joni Mitchell and Brandy. On her own recordings, she's hosted guests like The Artist, Miles Davis, Bobby McFerrin, Larry Graham, Queen Latifah, Dizzy Gillespie, Me'Shell Ndegecello and the guys of Toto.

Always searching for ways to execute her originality and inspiration, Chaka recorded a jazz album, "Echoes Of An Era" (1982). This album ran the gamut of musical moods that served notice of a creative giant step for the richly talented and dynamic singer.

1983 saw Khan return to Rufus to record her last contractually obligated album Stompin' At The Savoy: Live. The double album contained live versions of Rufus classics, Khan's solo hits and a handful of newly recorded tracks. One of these was the hit "Ain't Nobody," which returned Khan to the top of the urban and top 40 charts (#22 Pop). To make room for the new studio tracks, Warner Brothers omitted live versions of "Everlasting Love" (which was released on the rare 1983 soundtrack to Night Shift), "The Best Of Your Heart" and "Hollywood".


Her pop career was on shaky ground when she released 1984's I Feel For You, a platinum-seller launched by its title cut, a Grammy Award-winning, hip hop-based rendition of a fairly obscure Prince album track with a cameo appearance by Stevie Wonder on harmonica and rap by Melle Mel, which launched her recording career back into full gear. Produced by David Foster, the popular ballad "Through the Fire" also reached the R&B top ten, setting a record (since broken) for spending the most consecutive weeks on the Billboard R&B chart, made #60 Pop during a 19-week run on the Hot 100, and crossed over to the adult contemporary chart. ("Through the Fire" has since been sampled by Kanye West for his hit single "Through The Wire".) Chaka also recorded "Krush Groove (Can't Stop The Street)" for the movie Krush Groove in 1985. In 1986, she would provide co-lead and background vocals for Steve Winwood's #1 hit, "Higher Love". In 1995 Chaka teamed up with rapper Guru, on his solo jazz/hip hop fusion collection Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality for the track "Watch What You Saying" which reached Billboard's chart at #13.


Still, while subsequent LPs like 1986's Destiny and 1988's C.K. kept Khan high on the R&B charts, her standing in pop's mainstream again began to wane, and by the end of the 1980s she had moved to Europe. Not forgotten back in America, in 1990, she won another Grammy for "I'll Be Good To You," a duet with Ray Charles and another #1 R&B and Top 20 Pop hit.

In 1992, Khan released her album The Woman I Am, for which she received a Grammy Award for best Rhythm & Blues vocal performance. The album's hit single "Love You All My Lifetime" was penned by German songwriter duo Irmgard Klarmann and Felix Weber a.k.a. Klarmann/Weber and was produced by David Gamson. According to the Chaka's World Website, Khan recorded a follow up album Dare You To Love Me which was to be released in 1995. Warner Brothers shelved the project (although several of the tracks appeared on a career retrospective titled Epiphany: The Very Best of Chaka Khan and soundtracks such as To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar and Waiting to Exhale (singing the standard "My Funny Valentine").

Khan soon left Warner Brothers for what she felt was a lack of promotion and after the label had decided to release the Epiphany compilation instead of Dare You To Love Me in its true form.Prince (who also feuded with the company) assisted Khan in leaving Warner Brothers. Khan eventually made a special agreement with "The Artist" (who was then only formerly known as Prince), and recorded her next album on his New Power Generation label.

The Prince-produced Come 2 My House appeared in 1998 and went gold despite little promotion. Khan also appeared on new CDs by Prince and Larry Graham for the New Power Generation Label, and she toured in support for the projects.

Although she sang at both the 2000 Democratic and Republican conventions, Khan says that she is more of a "Democratic-minded person".

In 2001, Khan sang on De La Soul's hit song "All Good?". In 2002 she was an integral part of the documentary about Motown studio musicians The Funk Brothers, Standing In The Shadows Of Motown, which she performed the classic R&B songs "What's Going On?" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (a duet with Montell Jordan). She won her 8th Grammy Award for this latter performance.

In October 2004, Khan released her cover album ClassiKhan by her own label Earth Song Records and Sanctuary Records. An album of standards featuring the London Symphony Orchestra and recorded primarily at Abbey Road Studios in London. The entire album was produced by Eve Nelson of Nelson-O'Reilly Productions.

On December 3, 2004, she received an honorary doctorate degree from Berklee College of Music. She is also active in the autism community, as she has family members who have been diagnosed with this condition. Her EarthSong Entertainment and Chaka Khan Foundation operate from Beverly Hills, California.


In early 2006, she signed with Sony BMG's new label Burgundy Records.

Embracing Christianity, Khan participated in a live all-star gospel concert recording for artist Richard Smallwood's new album Journey: Live In New York. Khan is featured on the song "Oh, How Precious." On her official website, Khan credits singer Karen Clark Sheard with being "the voice that helped me find the Holy Ghost". Khan performed a cover version of Sheard's "A Secret Place" along with Richard Smallwood on TBN's show Praise The Lord in October 2006.

In December 2006, Chaka recorded "Do You Hear What I Hear" on the Christmas compilation Breaking For the Holidays produced by Eve Nelson (who also produced Classikhan). The album also featured Vonzell Solomon, Sandra Bernhard, Ben Jelen and many more.

On February 11, 2007, Khan headlined and performed at the NARAS 2007 Grammy Award official post party held immediately after the event.

Her new album, Funk This, is a mix of cover songs and original material. Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and James "Big Jim" Wright, the album was released on September 25, 2007, debuting at #15 on the Top 200 Album Chart and at #5 on the R&B Album Chart, selling 39,000 copies in its first week. This is also her highest chart position since her first solo album in 1978 peaked at #12. "Angel," the first single off the album, reached #29 and went on become her first R&B hit in nearly fifteen years.

On the Today Show on September 26, 2007, it was announced that she would play Sophia in a stage production of The Color Purple with BeBe Wimans as Mister. She also performed "Angel".


Heavily involved in charitable work, Chaka Khan has established The Chaka Khan Foundation to assist drug and alcohol treatment and/or services for women and their children, to support battered women and those with HIV. Says Chaka: "It's time to build up and time to give back." Her life harmonious and focused, Khan is just as likely to be at a 1PM board meeting about her foundation and starring at a sold out 10PM concert.

Like any other singer, Chaka Khan has been given several more or less fitting nicknames. But no, she's not the Queen of Soul, not the Godmother of R&B nor the Grand Lady of Funk. Yes, she may me divalicious -- but she's not a soul or disco diva. Chaka has perfected a style, a sizzling stage presence and intimacy with her adoring fans that keeps them stuck like glue. The New York Times once wrote: "Chaka Khan's singing is extraordinary. She can coo with a girlish sweetness, cut to the bone with a nasal Dinah Washington, turn, whisper a breathy invitation or proclaim high-flying jubilation." In New York Newsday, the words were equally flattering: "Her huge voice refuses to acknowledge any state other than sheer ecstasy."

DJ Diva salutes Chaka Khan!

Meme Time!

Ladylee of the afgan fame tagged me...and I'se so thankful Celie!

The meme is: Post the first sentence of the first post of each month (something like that). Like Ladylee did...if I had a picture I'll post that too! Also please not that some of these were taken from my old site BossyDiva over at Wordpress where I blogged most of the year...

January:

Wow. This week has been frustrating. I have so many topics in mind to write about. It has been quite a long seven days.

February:

Memphis.I have finally separated from what I thought were my roots in New York City and took a plunge into the unknown yet familiar.

March:

Can I just tell you I'm happy?

April:

We’re baby planning. LOL

May:

I forcibly requested that LADYLEE of the cat and garden fame tag me to do a meme….Nobody hardly ever tags me…and as a result…I hardly do any….

June:

A hodge podge piece of course.
I should have said n*ggas don’t think…nuccas…however you want to say it….but apply it with each section. Got it? Just insert Negroes..etc…you get it….you’re smart if you read this blog LMAO!

July:

My grandfather? I wrote about him back in October 2005, paying homage to one of the most important men in my life….
Upon my grandmother’s return from NY she hit me with the best news of my life. News that made me stop in my tracks and I bursted into tears.
THEY ARE FINALLY GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!!

(Post script...on 12/31/07...yes I will be in Memphis to see this monumental event!)

August:

I love being married.

September:

I am having so much fun digging through my crates!
As Scribe said in his comment on the last post….there is a wealth of music floating around the house….stuff that I put together while I was active in the DJ life…Old School, Rap, Slow Jams, Spanish Music, Reggae…you name it …I played it!

October:

Here's my playlist for new music in October (so far LOL)...

November:

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY? (Written by kids)

December:

Rest in Peace My Wonderful Father

I want thank all of you for your prayers. I believe in prayer and I believe that all of yours helped. In the Dominican republic, they pray for nine days before they close the tomb. Thank you joining us in prayer.

Thanks Lee...That was fun...

I'm tagging: Chokk, Mad Poetic, Nikki (who prob won't do it LOL), and Young Miss....and anybody else who wants to.

(Look Leelee...I got it done on the same day LOL)

Scribe Takeover #10

Are we up to #10 already? It may be more but my husband Scribe deleted his entire "Documenting" blog and restarted a new one called Scribe Professional-The Morning After...Thank goodness I snatched so many of his pieces!

If Anyone is ever wondering how my husband feels about me, feels about being married to me, or feels about being the man in my household...You can read it for yourself. And please remember...I DON'T HAVE TO SHARE HIM WITH ANYBODY! Except for my kids and his momma (You know who this reference is for...I'm glad you're still reading...maybe you'll learn something!)

MY WIFE DJ DIVA-

I've been a cad....Its been too long since I wrote anything of substance in appreciation of my wife DJ Diva--how foolish. Surely by now she must think I have lost something for her. Maybe somehow her words no longer move me. Or maybe her allure has faded in some way. Perhaps she thinks her kisses aren't as sweet, her touch no longer raises my..um....arm hair, yeah, arm hair....or maybe I'm just getting used to her. The answer is no to all of the above.

My wife is my everything. Everything.She's the woman I look forward to at all times. She's the woman whose honor I want to protect. She's the woman I look for in my sleep. She's the woman I lean on in times of despair and the woman I want to impress above all others. There are days I stare at her sleeping gently (Shut up, I know what you're thinkin') and I am amazed how far we have come together in such a short period of time. Through it all, we stared at each other, said "I love you" and moved forward. Real love. I have the kind of love you can't buy, reproduce or fake. You can't produce it with sex alone. You can't entice it with a hot car (unless its a red corvette...damn u Prince!).

My wife looks at me and knows me sometimes better than I know myself. They say women are like that, but none of the women I've been with have been this in tune with what makes me tick. My wife knows me, and she still hasn't fled....glutton for punishment I think....lol. I don't deserve her and that's why I work so hard to keep her. You know, I look at her in royal terms and some have said that I am just plain whipped...perhaps. YAYYYYY TO BEING WHIPPED! Cause I get "it" when I ask and whenever she wants "it". I never feel cheated emotionally in this union. I never feel like there isn't anything my wife wouldn't do for me. My only hope is that she knows that there isn't anything I wouldn't give her. I hope she knows that whats mine is hers and she can bet the house on that. I hope she knows that she is the sexiest fucking woman I have ever been with. I hope she knows that I dream daily about Juicy and the Girls...some of my dreams are wet, others are during the day.

She's one of the few women I've met who would be justified in being a total, complete, snob. Sort of like, um, me....lol. But she's way more down to Earth than I'll ever be. I'm so high-brow the stick in my ass has started to install insulation. But Diva is the life of our home. She is the party, she is the dance, she is the songs. She is the queen and the leader. She is the hell-raiser and the peacemaker. She works hard and expects the same from you. She earns respect simply by being who she is, which cannot be said for so many people I come across. My wife is dynamic. She's a hell of a writer and lord knows I wish she would just write 100 pages of something hot to shut alot mutherfuckers up and put them to shame. She's an innovator and she does it all with positivity and drive. Its a hell of a thing to watch and experience.(Bolding added by Diva)

Because of my wife I am...

Living in Stone Mountain, GA

Working at a HBCU in a position I love

A Father

A Husband

One happy Black man.

I cherish my wife. Sometimes when some of her old flames call (I hate these calls...lame...as my daughter would say) with all that "How you doin'" ish, I get tight. First of all, Negro, you had your time to say all you needed to, now she gone, and here you are calling years later cause in the immortal words of Biggie, "You want that old thing back". Nah Negro. See...this is what happens when Negros think they pimps and then they realize they're not...they just got lucky. I've never had any such delusions. I never wanted to have Diva...I wanted to KEEP her from Day 1. She continues to be the illumination in my life. An angel sent to me to set and keep me straight. I am so grateful and so lucky to be married. With the way people talk about their wives and husbands I wonder if I'll ever be so disenchanted. I can't imagine that ever happening. I love my wife more than anything. I need my wife more than anything.So no, the allure has not faded. No, I am not falling out of love, or have forgotten what she means to me. I am basking in her prescence in my life. Sometimes its enough to just hold her in her sleep. Sometimes its enough to just know she's there.But um tonight....I got an appointment with Juicy! You hear me Diva?!? I may even bring a napkin.

I love you Diva, you can put that on everything. -Daddy

December Jamz

It’s that time of the month again.

Where I remind yall why I’m DJ Diva.

But as in keeping with DJ Diva…I’m late as usual with posting this. Should have been up at the first of the month (like a check)

Oh well....Here's December Jamz

I love the songs…Hope yall do too. Maybe I'll bless yall with some Christmas Carols too...


December Jamz TRACK LISTING


1. Roc Boys (And The Winner Is) - Jay-Z

2. Blow Ya Mind - Styles P ft Swizz Beatz

3. My Drink & My 2 Step (Remix) - Cassidy

4. Fly Like Me - Chingy ft. Amerie

5. Flashing Lights (Ft. Dwele) - Kanye West

6. Superstar Feat. Matthew Santos - Lupe Fiasco

7. I Want You (Feat. Will.I.Am) - Common

8. Sexual Seduction - Snoop Dogg

9. Gucci Mane Ft Ludacris - Freaky Girl Remix..mp3

10.Feelin It .mp3 - Sammie ft[1]. Lloyd, T-Pain

11.Don't Call Me No More-Dirty - Project Pat

12.Pitbull ft.Young Boss Y Trina - Go Girl.mp3

13.Daddy Yankee Ft Fergie - El Impacto.mp3

14.No Air - Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown

15.I Cant Help But Wait - Trey Songz

16.Never - Jaheim

17.Do You Feel Me - Anthony Hamilton

18.Crown Royal(2min) - Jill Scott

3rd Anniversary Worldwide

I want thank all of you for your prayers. I believe in prayer and I believe that all of yours helped. In the Dominican republic, they pray for nine days before they close the tomb. Thank you joining us in prayer.

Grief is a mother. Yeesh. I never knew it would feel like this.

I was very very very close to my father. And he was to me.

My 3rd year blog anniversary has come and went.

Have I ever found my nitch?

I have gone from a commentary...to gossip....a personal dating blog...a Radio blog.

And some of yall have really stuck in there with me.

Jumped with me from Blogger to Blogsome...read my not so secret blog....flirted with me at Vox and spent some time at Wordpress before jumping back with me to Blogger.

I mean there's my Husband Scribe...who is my very best friend in the whole world....who read my blog before he actually met me...and still decided that I was the hottest thing on the planet. Listened to some real bullsh*t...and recognized the hate for what it was. Promised me a way of life...agreed with the vision because it matched his own. Lives and loves with me in this wonderful house. You remember the rent money in the roses? Yeah that ish is still going on. My husband takes very good care of all of us. You remember his post on Trickin? He still thinks that way...read his latest post here entitled "MY Wife DJ Diva"!

But my peoples who been down with me since Year 1....Yeah...you know who you are. I look at your links , your old comments and I see you Nikki..S30/23....Leezie...LB (after I grabbed you)...even Swayzee and Chosen are back and forth on the scene. Once in a while Suzette jumps in and Ms. Tee and I have both grown together on our mutual cross country travels. Cymple and Unforgiving been hopping around too.

Safa has been sticking in there with me for a long time....with of course my baby Sis Sylvia who just had a beautiful baby girl!

My dudes have stuck in there too...EJ Flavors...whom I consider my radioblog mentor..always makes me step my game up. Flavoooor Fave!!!! and his beautiful, wonderful wife Eve.... Prodigal Sun who has been a brother to me...Daveywayne who has become a part of our family. A Gentleman is back on the scene...

I have new friends too. Sherri...running a cool ash site......Southern Black Girl, Sunshine and Sharon...and those who jumped over the broom from Wordpress like Mad Poetic and Chokkklit Soul (who just had bundle of joy) and Erica B whose skills always astound me!

I appreciate all of yall. and the ones that read me and I haven't mentioned...I'm sorry...I truly am. Please leave me a note in the comments so I can add you to the Blogroll which I just threw up over there on the left side. It wasn't intentional...please believe me.

I have no idea what this blog will be like this year. But unlike some of my friends...I'm sticking around this piece. No, I don't make money off this blog....I don't have thousands of readers...I'm certainly no Perez Hilton.

But I got friends. All around the country...and that's the beauty of blogging. I would be friends with everyone of yall in the physical...and it is my intention to meet every one of yall.

S30 has always liked my Worldwide Wednesdays. So in honor of her request to day...I will throw up my very first post. I'm still very proud of it and other Worldwide Wednesdays that I have done:

Friday, November 19, 2004
Brazil U.S. connections

While surfing the net on interesting blogs I came across some fascinating things about Brazil. Noam Chomsky posted a thought provoking piece on the U.S's determination in having Brazil to be chosen as the country to expand the Security Council. Yeah I said it...Brazil! Who in f cares about Brazil? So I read it. What kind of underhanded country do we live in? Chomsky connected dots I didn't even imagine were drawn. Long story short: the U.S can't afford to have Germany or France, who would the most logical choices, gain any type of leverage or even power. From what I see the U.S. is really trying to prevent any real major alliances. God forbid Japan lined up with China! Woe be upon us if France and Germany linked up(though it would be kind of funky in they meetings). Britain and Tony Blair are our boys! Most people don't know that our First President George Washington said in his Farewell Address, "be wary of foreign alliances, attachments, and intrigues". Looks like we have jumped head first into all three. So does this mean the U.S and Britain are the only ones who get to unite and hold the largest voting block in the Security Council? Well, if they gonna expand it, why not Brazil? We been basically helping them out for years. If you read the article on CNN, they basically tell you that Brazil wants to run South America. Which would alleviate our efforts to rule the whole continent. Let Brazil do it since we control them?

Well why is it interesting to me? I am currently taking Latin American Civilizations in school and considering we just finished studying the colonial period of Brazil and the decimation that the Europeans inflicted on the natives. One of the most horrible ways was with the Bible. Nasty missionaries and their smallpox and venereal diseases wiped out half from trying to spread the gospel. When looking at the current census provided by the CIA, 55% of the population is white (European), which also means they have a majority vote from the gate. They oppress the hell out of their minority population. FUN FACT FOR African Americans: According to Philip Curtain, a noted historian, by the completion, the on paper end of slavery in 1870, Brazil had the largest amount of slaves in the entire Western Hemisphere ; a grand total of 3,646,800. The U.S. came in second place with a paltry 1,552,100. Brazil is also one of the largest and successful drug smuggling countries in South America (don't believe all the hype about Columbia).


Seems like we'd make excellent bedfellows, don't ya think? I mean the U.S. and Brazil sound like sibling nations. Brazil, being the younger brother ready to enjoy some serious domination down there in South America. Like the Indians against the Conquistadores, those other countries don't have a chance!


Considering that I wasn't even aware of the flooding in the Dominican Republic that played a part in my father's death....I MUST go back to staying abreast of the news everywhere! Plus this Presidential race is providing great drama...so I'ma have to talk about that as well. I will also continue with my mixtapes and soul stirrings because...well because I'm DJ Diva!

My 3rd Anniversary....I don't know why...but I feel kinda special.