Video Spotlight: Lupe Fiasco - Bitch Bad

My BornTooBlog readers know I've spoken on this occurrence of the confusion between a man wanting a "bad bitch", but also wanting her to possess the qualities of a "good girl".  In my previous post, Men Say They Want A Good Woman, But Chase Bad Girls, I explained my confusion with men who think they can have both and laid out some general definitions of what these perceptions really mean.  Now lyricist/activist Lupe Fiasco has put it in a song called, "Bitch Bad". 

Lupe speaks on this reoccurring contradiction in Hip Hop music as he raps:

Now imagine there's a shawty, maybe five maybe four
Ridin' 'round with his mama listening to the radio
And a song comes on and not far off from being born
Doesn't know the difference between right and wrong
Now I ain't trying to make it too complex
But let's just say shawty has an undeveloped context
About the perception of women these days
His mama sings along and this what she says
"nigga I'm a bad bitch, and I'm bad bitch
Far above average"

First he's relatin' the word "bitch" with his mama, comma
And because she's relatin' to herself
his most important source of help
and mental health, he may skew respect for dishonor

Sure enough, in this little world
The little boy meets one of those little girls
And he thinks she a bad bitch and she thinks she a bad bitch
He thinks disrespectfully, she thinks of that sexually
She got the wrong idea, he don't wanna fuck her
He thinks she's bad at being a bitch like his mother
Just like that, you see the fruit of the confusion
He caught in a reality, she caught in an illusion
Bad mean good to her, she really nice and smart
But bad mean bad to him, bitch don't play your part
But bitch still bad to her if you say it the wrong way
But she think she a bitch, what a double entendre
Check out the video:

I'm glad Lupe has spoken up on this underlying contradiction that has become so popular in rap music these days.  He's received a lot of flack for the song, as well as, his anti-Obama views, but I am still a big fan of this young and talented artist and I'm glad he's sharing his perspective on the subject and various other subjects.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
What did you think about the video?
Do you agree with what Lupe Fiasco is saying?
Do you feel its a contradiction for a man to want a "bad bitch" but also want a "good woman"?
What are your thoughts on the song and lyrics?

Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: Therapy

Well, Mona Scott-Young has brought us the juiciest reality show known to man and it is quickly becoming America's favorite guilty pleasure viewing choice.  Last night's episode of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta was outrageous, touching, intriguing and a *side eye* factor all at the same damn time.  We saw Mimi and Stevie J attempt to bring some sanity to their interactions by speaking to a clinical psychologist.  Although he is the therapist from the infamous Maury Povich daytime talk show, he quickly got to the core of Mimi and Stevie's issues and helped them open up about their pasts.  Knowing now that Stevie J was abandoned by his mother at birth sheds a lot of light as to his faulty dealings with the women in his life and Mimi's Mommy issues also lend to her need to keep Stevie J around.  I'm proud to see Vh1 showing the importance of therapy in this positive light and how it can help heal open wounds.  More couples should be as brave and courageous as Stevie and Mimi...kudos to them.

Scrappy was up to his old shady ways trying to plan and plot a strategy to get off child support.  I understand many young males of color don't like the system/government in their "business", but why is there a need to pay for expensive lawyers if you're planning on paying the child support anyway?  Sounds kind of backwards to me, but I hope him and Erica figure it out.  Although Side Chick Buckey (from Flavor Flav's Flavor of Love dating show) is conniving and ratchet, she has a little bit of sense and may be able to help guide Scrappy to the right course of action.

Joseline aka The Side Chick is quickly claiming her personal power and slowly cutting the strong ties that Stevie J bonds her with.  Sleazy, I mean, Stevie J is quick to always remind her that he will exile her from the music industry and send her packing all her thongs, back to the strip club, but his threats are starting to wear thin on the poor child.  I'm not sure how the season will end between Joseline and her "man-ager", but Lord knows something needs to change.

Benzino and Karlie Redd are just too much and I am really trying to figure out if this is a publicity stunt on both sides to improve their images.  Visions of Benzino figuratively running through The Source magazine offices smacking ass and going under skirts comes to mind (this is not fact), but he now is showing his soft and human side while around Karlie as he spoils her and lavishes her with gifts and attention.  I really can't be mad at the brother though; He's very charming and convincing.

At times I think that Mimi, Stevie, Joseline, Karlie and K. Michelle, who is such a talented artist, are all just great actors, but then I realize that Love & Hip Hop is so ratchet, ignorant, hilarious, addicting and ridiculous that I think to myself, you just can't write stuff like this. 

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Who is your favorite character on LHHATL and why?
Do you feel bad for Mimi?
Does Karlie Redd seem sincere?
Who do you dislike the most on the show?

Frank Ocean Out The Closet, Is R&B Ready For A Gay Artist?

I first wrote about Frank Ocean around this time last year after hearing his mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra that introduced us to an introspective, yet forthcoming new artist that was gifted with the skill of writing and evoking romantic emotion that is often unheard of from artists his age; He's only 25.  The subject matter that he displays through his songs are not only thought provoking, but wildly uncommon in this day and age of music that seems to focus solely on party and bullshit.

Ocean recently came out of the closet (acknowledging his love for men) by featuring songs on his debut album Channel Orange (released online on July 10th and available in stores next week) that focus on love and loss between two men.  This album comes highly anticipated based off his previous work with Jay-Z, Kanye, and Beyonce, as well as, his own mixtape releases, but has left his current and new fans confused on what to expect next out of the newcomer.

I caught his performance on Jimmy Fallon that aired this past Monday and he sang a love song that he wrote about a man called "Bad Religion".  I wasn't too blown away by the performance, but I thought to myself, is R&B/Hip Hop ready for a gay or possibly, bisexual artist? I've posed this question before in a previous blog titled, "Is Hip Hop Ready For Homosexuality?!?!?!."  Personally, I'm not sure if I'm ready to hear love songs about love shared between two men. I am by no means homophobic and I respect everyone's right to live free of persecution or judgement based off of their sexual preference, however, I'm just not sure if I'm ready to cross that bridge.

Below is video footage of Frank Ocean's performance on Jimmy Fallon:

I'd love to hear from my BornTooBlog readers on this one!!!!

What do you think about the performance?
Are you a fan?
Did you know he was gay/bisexual? Does it matter?
Do you plan on copping the album?
Do you think his coming out will help or hurt his career?

WEIGH IN!!!!!

Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta

Well, Vh1 has done it again!!! They've come up with another reality guilty pleasure that will surely keep everyone buzzing throughout the summer.  With the recent season finale of Basketball Wives, we have a new set of ratchet wives (I mean girlfriends and side chicks) to laugh at and shake our heads to in Love & Hip Hop's new installment in ATL.  Mona Scott-Young has outdone herself with this cast of ATLiens that are working, loving and fighting their way through the cut throat Atlanta entertainment scene.

The cast has newcomers like Karlie Redd and K. Michelle, that some of you might've heard of and original players like Steve J, "a three-time Grammy Award-Winning producer who has worked with artists such as Diddy, Jay-Z and Mariah Carey, and his longtime girlfriend and mother of his child, Mimi Faust, whom we are just meeting.  Mimi claims her and Stevie have been together for over 15 years, yet, I'm wondering when he had time to be with her because the last time I checked, he and rapper Eve had a longtime love affair.  Things start off with a world wind between these two and I can't help but think how much more juicy its going to get throughout the season (Did you see the highlights?!?!??! Wow!).

There are other familiar faces via ATL born rapper Lil' Scrappy that has worked with the likes of Lil' Jon and the Eastside Boyz, among many others throughout Atlanta and the mother of his child, Erica Dixon, whom accepted him back after rapper Princess recently broke his heart.  These two seem to be patching things up and are on the road to recovery, while Scrappy's crazy and overprotective mother, whom used to pimp and sell drugs (sigh), has to keep her nose in the business and make sure her son is being well taken care of.  This mother-son-girlfriend dynamic is very reminiscent of Jim Jones' and Chrissy's love triangle with Mama Jones.

Up and coming female rapper Rasheeda and her manager husband, Kirk Frost, seem to have their work cut out for them as they embark on introducing Rasheeda to the world via her new album.  The season opener would not be complete without the fiery Latina rapper, Joseline, whom like Somaya Reese of the 1st edition of Love & Hip Hop, is hungry for her spot in the rap game and will do almost anything to achieve her dreams, which includes, possibly stealing Stevie J away from Mimi.

I already know what you all are thinking: Mimi is a fool, Stevie J is a misogynistic a-hole, Scrappy and Erica are the ride-or-dies who just might make it work, Karlie Redd is messy and K. Michelle is too emotional.  We didn't see much of Rasheeda and her husband Kirk, but I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about in the upcoming episodes.  All in all, this soap opera, drama style of reality TV is just like a train wreck, you can't stand the gruesome and grimy scene, yet you can't take your eyes off it and I'm sure Mona Scott-Young likes it that way.

Check out the cast, photos and clips from the new hit reality show Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta here on Vh1:
http://www.vh1.com/shows/love_and_hip_hop_atlanta/series.jhtml

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about Episode 1 of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta?
Who are your favorite cast members?
Do you think Joseline can make it big?
Will you be watching the entire season?
Who did you like the least?

Hip Hop Power Couples I Love

In the past, I have highlighted Power Couples I Love featuring none other than Michelle and Barack Obama, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Seal & Heidi Klum, David and Victoria Beckham and more.  Now, I would like to shed light on the Hip Hop Power Couples I Love.  Its no secret that Hip Hop has pushed its way into the forefront of marketing, entertainment, fashion and media.  Hip Hop is now a multi-billion dollar industry and many of the artists responsible for pushing the envelope and developing it into what it is today are getting older, settling down and having children, and its a beautiful thing.

Take for instance, T.I. and Tiny Harris, one of my favorite Hip Hop Power Couples.  Not only does T.I. have platinum selling artists like B.O.B. on his Grand Hustle music imprint, but he is also finally getting his clothing line, AKOO, off the ground and into major outlets around the country.  Tiny has shown her boss mentality via shows like "Tiny and Toya", one of the highest rated reality TV shows in BET's history, her burgeoning girl group, the OMG Girls, as well as, her nail bar and upcoming ventures.  I have to give props to this couple because in light of police arrests, jail stints and tons of negative PR, they still find time to run their businesses, raise their children and keep things spicy in their relationship, as is evident on their hit reality show T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle.

Next on my list is Jim Jones and his beautiful, yet gangsta fiancé, Chrissy Lampkin.  These two, like T.I. and Tiny, have been together for several years, but have yet to produce any offspring, until now (she's pregnant).  Jim Jones has been working to pick up the pieces of his now defunct rap group, Dipset, has created a clothing line called Vampire Life and is now the star of the hit reality show on VH1, Love & Hip Hop, alongside his partner in crime, Chrissy.  Chrissy is always there to support her man and will literally slap-a-bitch if they come too close or try to disrespect.  While I don't value the violent and aggressive nature in which these two handle personal relations, I do admire their admiration, loyalty and love for one another.  I wish these two luck on their upcoming nuptials and child.

And last, but not least, the third couple on my Hip Hop Power Couples I Love List is Antonia "Toya" Wright and Memphitz.  Toya is Lil' Wayne's ex-wife and is the mother of his first child, Reginae.  But don't think she has let the divorce from Lil' Wayne and his multiple baby mamas slow her down.  To add to her growing resume and NY Times Best Seller, "Priceless Inspirations", she has opened her Garb boutique located in her hometown of New Orleans. Toya is also the star of a couple hit reality shows, including Tiny & Toya and Toya: A Family Affair, which I absolutely love and have featured on BornTooBlog in the past (see Toya Carters' A Family Affair).  Toya is now married to music mogul Mickey "Memphitz" Wright who is the former host of BET's show "The Deal" and is now the Senior Vice President of A&R at Jive Records. Memphitz is known for signing T-Pain to the label and is now mentoring and developing new Hip Hop artists like Key Swag 3000 who has appeared on 106 and Park's Top 10 Countdown.  I love how this couple shuns the outside drama and continues to focus on their marriage and family, as a unit. I'm excited to see what both of them have in store for the future.
 

I wish the best of luck to these couples in love and their future endeavors and hope and pray that 1/3 of them do not end up on my Hollywood Divorce post in a few months like the last edition. LOL

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you look to these Hip Hop Power Couples as inspiration in your love life?
Is there anything that these couples have done publicly that you would never do?
Would you agree to put your relationship on blast on reality TV, if it meant free publicity for your business endeavors?
What do you think will be the secret to their success and longevity? What advice would you give them?

Jay-Z and Beyoncé Welcome Daughter Blue Ivy Carter To The World Amongst Rumors and Drama

Jay-Z and Beyoncé released the following statement to the world today regarding the birth of their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter:

"Hello Hello Baby Blue!


We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012.


Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven.
...
She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs and it was the best experience of both of our lives.

We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support.

- Beyoncé & JAY Z"

BornTooBlog would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to the Carters on their new edition to Hip Hop/Pop royalty and the Carter family.  There has been so many speculations on whether the baby was actually going to be delivered by Bey, whether she was in fact pregnant, and when the actual birth would take place.  Even further, drama ensued while Jay & Bey rented out the entire floor of a New York hospital and left many parents angry while they restricted access to their children in the ICU unit of the hospital, trying to keep them secluded.  Amongst rumors that Bey had the baby almost a month ago, the baby is officially here and I cannot wait to see pics of her, which I'm sure won't be released for awhile since the Carters are very private.

Jay-z also released a track today called "Glory" with a top celebrity feature, none other than Baby Blue Ivy.  Check out the track of Jay and his first daughter, Blue Ivy Carter below:

What do you think of the track? Are you happy for the Carters on their new edition to the family?  What advice would you parents give the Carters in raising their new baby Blue Ivy?

Love & Hip Hop: Jim Jones Finally Pops The Question!!!

Love & Hip Hop is one of my fav reality shows on TV because it shows the beautiful and glamorous sides of Hip Hop as well as the gutter, ghetto side...I'm all about balance! Well tonight it showed Jim Jones, best known as one of three members of the former cult movement known as Dipset (alongside Cam'ron and Juelz Santana), and his then pseudo-fiance Chrissy being proposed to while on a girls' trip to Miami. I never really cared for Jim Jones until Love & Hip Hop aired.  The reality show displays a more loving and caring side of him.  A far cry from the gun-toting, paparazzi spitting, Jim Jones who sags his True Religion jeans damn near below his knees.  His girlfriend Chrissy has brought out the loving and nurturing side of him in episode 7 entitled "Proposal".



It seems that since the show first aired last year that Chrissy would never stop urging and nagging Jim to marry her.  Well, her dreams have finally come true.  In this episode and previous ones, Chrissy is shown enlisting the help of family members (her Aunt and Uncle) and even going to Jim's mother, Mama Jones, for advice, which is definitely a 180 from based on the previous spats between the two ladies in the past on the show.  It looks like the Jones clan is finally getting things together and on the right track, with Jones' burgeoning Vampire clothing line and Chrissy teaming up with him to further plant their feet in the fashion industry with a line of coats called Protocol.  All in all things seem to be shaping up nicely for the two and the Internet is ablaze with well wishes and congratulations from males and females alike on the proposal.

But one can't help but question when the two will set a date and actually get married.  For Jim's sake, I hope he is sincere and this isn't just a ploy to pacify her. Because Lord knows that once you take her there, there is no turning back for Chrissy.

For this episode and more, check out Vh1 at:

http://www.vh1.com/shows/love_and_hip_hop/season_1/series.jhtml


QUESTION FOR MY READERS:
Were you happy for Chrissy when the proposal aired on Love & Hip Hop?
Do you think Jim Jones is serious about marrying Chrissy?
Do you think Chrissy& Jim Jones make a good couple?
What is one big issue that the two must learn to tackle to keep their relationship healthy?