First Lady hopeful Michelle Obama

The speech Michelle Obama delivered on the first night of the convention was phenomenal! I was blown away by her confidence as she approached the podium, with the sounds of Stevie Wonder’s “I Was Made To Love Her” playing in the background. I know now where Barack gets his mean swagger from. She was just stunning. 

She raptured the people with a candid sense of just who the Obama family really was and where they’d come from, making it clear that neither of them were brought up with a silver spoon in their mouths.

“What struck me when I first met Barack was that even though he had a funny name, even though he’d grown up all the way across the continent in Hawaii, his family was so much like mine,” the First Lady hopeful said. 

“He was raised by grandparents who were working class folks just like my parents and by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, just like we did. Like my family, they scrimped and saved so that he could have opportunities they never had.”

Sound familiar?

It does to me.  Sounds like my family and the families of so many other people I know who are scratching to survive but refuse to throw in the towel. But like her husband, Michelle dispatched a message of hope— reinforcing that “America should be a place where you can make it if you try.”

And I think that was Michelle’s point— to paint a picture of her husband and their family identical to the image of the typical American. Her words were transparent and far-reaching.

“I come hear as a daughter raised on the south side of Chicago by a father who was a blue-collar city worker and mother who stayed home with my brother and me,” she said.

“I come her as a wife who loves her husband and believes he will be an extraordinary president. I come here as a mom whose girls are the heart of heart of my heart and the center of my world. They’re the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night.”

Talk about a tug on the heartstrings. And I know she didn’t mention race — which was probably a good idea, given the context and the audience— but I will. Michelle’s speech was evidence that Black families are still as strong as they were 200 years ago when they were brought to America as slaves, and husbands and wives and children were separated by evil spirited masters who thrived off the breaking of the bond of Black families.

The Obama family is representative of the fact that Black love has the power to endure all things and that when we band together, we accomplish anything we set our minds to.

I got all choked up when Michelle brought out her girls, Natasha and Sasha, to say goodnight to their father in Kansas City via satellite. And from the screen, he blew a kiss to the three leading ladies in his life. The screen went Black and Michelle and the girls exited the stage to Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely.”

Awwwww!

…I thought that was so fitting.

—AFRO FLY GIRL

Obama undies for sale!

Yes, ya’ll…They’re down here selling Obama underwear.

The crew went to check out this historically Black neighborhood in Denver called Five Points, and stumbled upon a jazz festival they put on there every year. I went up to this vendor to purchase some souvenir Obama pens to take home to the fam, and bam! Smack dab in the middle of the display were a stack of bikini drawers tagged with “I love Obama” on the butt— in an assortment of colors.

Our people are some hustlers, you hear me? We will sell anything. They were out there selling pocket books with pictures of Michelle Obama pasted on the front. Now she’s fly and all, but I’m not walking around with Michelle Obama pocket book.  A fashion no-no.

I still, for life of me, can’t wrap my mind on the drawers, though. I’m like, ‘What in the world would I do with some I love Obama panties?’” Go outside in a matching bra and campaign? Lol…Patriotism at its best!

They were cute though, I just can’s see a women climbing in the bed with her man with some I Love Obama panties on expecting to get it on. But hey, you never know with the brothers these days; they get turned on by the strangest things.

hmmmmmmmm

— AFRO Fly Girl

…Well, not exactly. My hotel is in a nearby town called Arvada — just 25 minutes from Downtown Denver…And I wouldn’t exactly say I just touched down, I’ve been here for about five hours— But you know what I mean. For the most, I’ve been getting settled. After my colleagues and I unpacked, we went and grabbed some grub and then on to the Super Walmart to stock up on some goodies. So now I’m back in my room — feeling like my eyes are still carrying the groceries bags in from the car — trying to get something up on this blog.

I’m finally winding down from the rocky start of a morning I had. I woke up this morning at 1:50 a.m to Team USA and Japan playing baseball in the Olympics and knots wound up so tight in my stomach feeling like I was about to explode with anxiety. In less than 12 hours I would be boarding a plan to Denver, Colorado. To the National Democratic Convention. Set to experience one of the most defining moments in U.S. history, when in just six days, an African American would accept the Democratic nomination for president of these United States—and I had the job and the privilege to provide coverage for all the folks at home who couldn’t be here to see for themselves.  That’s a major opportunity for a young woman like me. Twenty-three years old, fresh out of college and working for one of the oldest Black newspapers in the nation on an event as big as this…I WAS SCARED OUT OF MIND— and I’m still a little nervous to be honest. But it’s all good.

I had to get it together— and quick. So I turned off the TV and hooked up the Ipod and scrolled down to my gospel playlist and selected Marvin Sapp’s “Never Could’ve Made It” and got it poppin’. Packing and praying. Praying and packing. Asking God to please guide my steps on this mission placed before me and to allow me to perform to the best of my ability. And after that, I cracked open a Red Bull, ate a banana, and sat myself down in front of the laptop until it was time for me to head to BWI…

…And I’ve been up ever since.

So here I am in Denver, preparing to have the time of my life, anxious to see what all the hype is about. Ready to network, write — and of course— PARRRTAAYY. I’ve got some wonderful people in my corner— Sean, Z George and David. I’m learning from the best…And like Mary says, I’ll be just fine.

…As soon as I get some shut-eye.

—AFRO FLY GIRL

Who said hip-hop was dead? If I remember correctly, it was Nas who felt this sentiment so deeply he titled his last album just that.

But despite the drop in album sales over the last few years, and the lackluster lyrics being given the most the most airplay these days, I would say hip-hop is still holding on — with a tight grip too.

And I bet Nas isn’t singing that morbid tune anymore, because his new Untitled album comes in at No. 8 on the Top 200 Album Sales chart for the week ending in 8/27 after reigning in at No.1 the week before.

NAS

And who knows, maybe the fiery LP “Sly Fox” has something to with it. But hey, whatever works. On this track he unleashes his frustration with the media’s slanted news coverage — especially of this historical presidential campaign.

“Watch what you watching/Fox keep feeding us toxins/Stop sleeping and start thinking outside of the box/ and unplug from the matrix doctrine/ But watch what you say cause Fox 5 is watching.”

Yesssss. Nas takes it there. Putting Fox on blast in a major way, calling it “visual cancer” and “digital satan.”

Nas starts lyrically murdering Fox from the very beginning, no bars held:

What’s a Fox characteristic?

Slick sh#t

Sensin’

Misinformation

Pimp the station

Over stimulation

Reception

Deception…

That Fox has a bushy tail

And Bush tells

Lies and Foxtrots

So I don’t know what’s real

And true he’s not saying anything that hasn’t been said before, but  what makes his message so strong is the audience he’s reaching. Hip-hop, like Fox News has an impact on just about everyone, whether through the airwaves or advertising— people are tuning in. Not to mention the rousing among the young people this has caused, and that’s where it counts.

With the backing of 620,000 signatures Colorofchange.org and MoveOn.org, Nas issued a petition to Fox News demanding they but a stop to the “patterns of racist attacks”  on Blacks and Barack Obama regularly spewed through the tube.

This is major for hip-hop. This puts youngsters on point, giving them a perspective from a source they respect — a green light to start being more aware of the information they consume.

“Ya’ll exploit rap culture, then ya’ll flip on us/  Ya’ll own the post, and ya’ll sh#t on us…”

 Truth… I am so feeling this track, cause so many of my peers need to hear it. Too many don’t expose themselves to political commentary outside of hip-hop, so for this to make it through censorship — and not be  labeled “conscious rap” or confined to the underground like the lyrics of MC greats like Mos Def, Tribe Called Quest, Little Brother and others — is big. This reaches the masses in a powerfully, intellectual way. It brings balance to the rift raft in hip-hop, holding true to hip-hop’s original mission: To be the voice of the young people.

Nas really did his thing on this. And the record sales are just the proof in the pudding. It’s amazing what artists can do when they stop moaning and groaning about everything hip-hop is not, and pick up the mic and start saying something.

Honestly though, putting out an album talking about hip-hop is dead, does no justice for the game. And personally, I couldn’t get into Nas’s last album anyway, because the content was too inconsistent with what he’s put in the past. And I understand, every artist is entitled to their BF moments. I’m just glad it’s over. Now back to the business of empowering the people and making hits.

But this here, this Untitled album — which by the way was suppose to be titled Nigger— is the knowledge kicking Nas I’m use to. It’s not another It Was Written or Illmatic, but it’ll do.

During the Rock The Bells Concert, featuring A Tribe Called Quest and Jay-Z, in New York this past Sunday, Nas basically said the Black leaders of today are ineffective and irrelevant and that’s he’s willing to step up to the plate and carry the torch for his community.

“Jesse Jackson, I love you, but his a*% is outta here. Al Sharpton, his a*& is outta here,” Nas said to a concert goers.

NAZ and Jay-Z

And I got to give props the other artists making contribution the political conversation in America like Puffy, who’s has been pushing the “Rock the Vote,” now the Barack the Vote” campaign, for the past four years. And Jay-Z, who while on tour has devoted a substantial amount of time during his sold-out shows to campaigning for Barack Obama and shining light on George Bush, “The Idiot,” and his lack of compassion for Black folk.

T.I.

And T.I., who came to D.C. in effort to increase voter registration. Now I don’t know if that was really something he wanted to do, or something he had to do because of his community service obligations and all— but hey, whatever works.

And Luda is out there campaigning too. Even though he went hard by bashing Hilary, saying: “Hilary hated on you/ so that b#%ch is irrelevant.”

 In my opinion that was a rather low blow. Shame on you Luda. But that’s hip-hop for ya!

…And I’m leave it at that.

Until next time…Stay Fly

Peace, Love and Hip-Hop Forever

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, check out the lyrics to Nas’ “Sly Fox” in their entirety on http://www.metrolyrics.com/sly-fox-lyrics-nas.html.

Now I’m gone for real this time.

—AFRO FLY GIRL

Without a doubt, K-Swift was a lot of things to a lot of people. As the first and only female DJ on 92Q’s roster, she left behind a tough act to follow. People will miss everything about her, from her infectious personality to the undeniable talent and skill she displayed on the “ones and twos” on night shows like “Off Da Hook Radio” or when broadcasting live from Club Choices. Even if you weren’t planning on spending you Saturday night down on Charles Street, you still tuned into K-Swift to get pumped up and ready to party, wherever you destination.

Singer K. Swift

But aside from leading an impactful and successful career — like being responsible for putting Baltimore club music on the map, breaking down barriers for female DJs to boldly and confidently do their thing on the turntables, embarking on tours overseas, heading an entertainment and management company and hustling CDs on a national scale – K-Swift was, in her own unique way, an advocate and role model for the youth in Baltimore. And I don’t feel that the impact of her absence on the Baltimore scene will really be felt until around late August, early September, when it’s time for those teen-only back-to-school parties, where youth are provided a safe, age-appropriate venue to party and bid summer good-bye with all their friends from around the city. Or around Christmas or New Year’s when there are various free activities, sponsored by K-Swift, that youth can get into while out on winter break. Parties hosted by K-Swift at the Paradox on Friday nights gave those youngsters not yet 21 a place to party.

When Easter rolls around and K-Swift is not filling commercial segments promoting a kiddie disco or Easter after party she’s sponsoring, then I think people will really start to feel it.

Swift was about the kids. Even if she wasn’t the one throwing the party, she would attach her name to it just for the cause. I really don’t think people have fully contemplated what the effects of this loss in our community will have. Because of K-Swift, young people had an outlet to socialize in safe environments. They had the opportunity to be a part of the happenings in Baltimore even if they didn’t have a lot of money, because were moderately priced, if not free. In K-Swift, Baltimore’s youth had a role model. In her they saw someone who nurtured her dream of becoming a DJ from the tender age of 11 and saw it all the way through to fruition at 29. They saw in her strength, integrity and character – someone who hadn’t given up on them. She gave a lot of her time to the community and all the appreciation of her efforts was shown last Monday the prayer vigil at the radio station. There were so many young people in attendance; you would’ve thought it was the first day of school, or a T.I. concert or something. But know, it was all for Swift. The parking lot was packed. People came out to Woodlawn from as far as east Baltimore and Cherry Hill, by bus, in 95 degree weather to pay their respects. I just hope the youth will not be discouraged or taken off track by this sudden loss, but use it as inspiration to continue reach for their dreams and aspirations as Swift would’ve wished.

K-Swift touched the lives of many, including those like myself, who never formerly met her but had genuine respect for her hustle and her positive contributions to the community.

Much love to K-Swift, the Edgerton and 92Q family and her young fans. Keep your head up.

…And this is AFRO FLY GIRL signing off.

Until next time, stay fly.