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?

Helpful Tips on Redesigning Your Home

I've recently embarked on redesigining my apartment and it has been both a fulfilling and arduous process.  Although I have yet to fully complete the entire project, I wanted to share some helpful tips along the way to inspire and encourage others that may be contemplating redecorating or are currently in the process of doing so.

Visualize.
First things first! You must have a vision for how you want your place to look, feel and be perceived before you start.  You can browse through home design magazines, search for looks online or mirror a look/feel that you've seen in a friend's home or on TV.  Whichever way you go, make sure that the picture that you are trying to portray fits your personality and is functional for your lifestyle.

Color.
I believe a great starting point is to go for the colors/paint that will set your intended mood for each room of your home.  The functionality of each room will help you determine the colors you want to set forth.  For instance, if its your bedroom, you might want colors that will make you feel relaxed.  Painting your bedroom bright yellow may not fair well when its time to go to sleep so keep in mind what colors bring about what moods.



Selecting the perftect color for your room can help jumpstart ideas for furniture, accessories and accents.  Let the color be the driving force along with the style you would like to encompass the room.

Style.

They say style is everything so be sure to select a design style that fits your personality.  Are you a modern chick or a vintage guy?  Do you like classic art or cultural offerings?  The style of your room/house should flow throughout so if you have your mind set on having a Japanese style bedroom, you might not want to feature classic/victorian style furniture and pieces in the living room.  Every room doesn't have to be the same, but the themes in each room should complement each other, just as the colors you choose for each room should as well.



French style furniture

Victorian Style Bedroom Set

Modern Style Bedroom



Modern Living Room

Barbie Dream Home Style



Asian Style Bedroom

Be Patient.
Once you've decided on your colors and style/theme, next you have to choose the furniture pieces and accents that will bring this vision to fruition.  There are all sorts of DIY (Do it yourself) projects that can be accomplished with the help of Home Depot or Lowes, as well as, self help guides on how to turn old and outdated pieces into something fresh, new and all your own.  If you are a handy DIY type of person, this should be reflected throughout your home and will give you a great sense of pride once it is completed.

Also remember, your perfect home will not be completed overnight.  It will take time and focus to find the right pieces for each room.  Most importantly, don't settle!!!  Choosing pieces out of convenience and not because they match your dream/vision of your new home is not the way to go.  If you have a certain piece in mind and can't find it in stores, don't give up.  Search online on furniture stores, craigslist and at Goodwills/furniure depots.  Allow yourself the time to find the right pieces and don't rush the process.  Eventually everything will all come together.

Its All in the Details.

Making your home all your own can be one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do.  No piece, item or artifact is too small or insignificant to go unnoticed in the overall theme.  The trick to creating a beautiul style/decor in your home is focusing on the details.  There is no need to match everything to your wall color, but again, there must be continuity.  Accents like throws, pillows, picture frames, art, centerpieces, paintings, drapes, etc. are what brings the character into your space.  Contrasting colors that blend well, but also POP is what you want to focus on.  Be daring and brave and shun colors that are dull and boring.  Instead, let the color do the talking for you to create a look and feel all your own.  Your color pallettes should speak to your personality and style.  Let the color and details speak for you.

 

Ballin' on a Budget.

Redesigning/Decorating your home can be intimidating style wise and financially as well.  Don't let the price tags get you down or discouraged.  There are plenty of affordable furniture outlets that can give you the look and feel you want and not break the bank.  Besides, what's the point of sitting in a beautifully designed space and you're eating Top Ramen for a year.  Again, this is an issue of patience.  There is no rush to purchase all of your items at once.  Create a budget each month on what you have to spend on items and follow your plan.  It will take sacrifice, but the end result is all worth it.

Follow Your Heart.

In your excitement to celebrate your current progress, you might invite some family and friends over to take a look at the place.  Of course we want our guests to love our new space, but you shouldnt feel deterred if everyone isn't as geeked about your choices as you are.  Always remember, this is your space.  You will be the one living in the space so negative feedback should be taken with a grain of salt, unless of course, the feedback is coming from an interior design professional who's work you admire and trust.  This is your place, your vision and your hardwork...make it your own!!!!

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Are you currently redecorating your home and found these tips helpful?

Do you have any design tips for the BornTooBlog readers?

Is there a design disaster story you would like to share?

Has this post influenced you to redecorate your home?

Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: Season Finale

I know we are all heartbroken to see our favorite reality smash hit of the summer go, seemingly just as quick as it came.  It seems as though we were just getting to know the standout characters Stevie J, Scrappy, Mimi, Joseline, and K. Michelle, but the season has now come to a close and the only thing us fans have left is the reunion show that will be airing shortly.  These castmates have been taken through a whirlwind to say the least.

When the show first aired everyone seemed to hate Joseline and Stevie J and were feeling sorry for Mimi.  Now that the season has ended, perceptions and views have changed with bad boy Stevie winning the hearts of many men and women throughout the country.  Now don't get me wrong, Stevie is definitely not the type of character I would look to have a relationship with, but you gotta admit that the guy has personality and a strong magnetism.  I see the fellas on Twitter and Facebook every Monday chanting "Stevie J for President".  He is clearly a favorite amongst the bad boy/misogynistic minded men who have grown to love his swag and confidence, as well as, his ability to attract women and keep them coming back.  Contrary to the masses first feeling sorry for Mimi Faust, we are now somewhat "over" her victim role and I think in the end we might all agree that she is doing this to herself.

Karlie Redd and Benzino were definitely entertaining to watch.  To see Benzino, the alleged misogynist/lady killer show his soft, loving side was definitely an endearing surprise.  Karlie Redd seems like the only one losing in this situation as we have yet to hear any material from her or see her face outside of Vh1.  I think we're all wondering why is this chick so career-centered when no one has ever heard from her or seen her outside of the show.  It might be time to focus on other things than that career boo boo!

Lil' Scrappy and Erica have been through a lot, but I give them credit for airing out their feelings and differences with one another for the betterment of their child, Imani.  Mama Dee needs to permanently take a seat with her no spelling self, "B-I-C-T-H...and in that order". *sigh*  Her meddling and immature/ghetto advice to her son seems to have only hurt his chances at finding true love, which deep down, I think Scrappy really wants.  I won't cloud this season finale post with spoilers from blog sites speaking on what's going to happen on the reunion, but I'm sure we'll all be surprised to see what becomes of this couple.

Rasheeda and her husband Kirk have also been through a lot this season and I'm happy to see them renewing their vows and making the pledge to stay together no matter what in the end of the season.  I wish Rasheeda the best in her career and marriage and I still can't wait to hear her song, "Put it on 'em, make him wanna marry me" on the airwaves.  These two seem to have come out stronger than when they entered and hopefully they will achieve their goals of making Rasheeda a star.

K. Michelle really needs to stop crying and move forward.  I understand that it's probably very difficult to be in the public eye and your alleged abuser has moved on to a new woman and family and continues to deny your domestic violence reports, but what she needs to understand is the fans want to know who she is!!! Not the battered woman, nor the new artist that got screwed out of her deal, but a woman that is resilient, strong, and will fight for what she deserves and wants.  Like she said on the finale, "No more tears".

I can't lie, Joseline Hernandez' personality and swag has continued to grow on me since the beginning.  The girl has the gift of gab and an undrainable source of confidence and perseverance.  If she plays her cards right she might actually achieve her goal of never going back to the strip club.  Fans are still wondering if her and Stevie can put the b.s. aside and just work together, professionally.  Lets just say they both have their work cut out for them.

I don't know about my BornTooBlog readers, but I can't wait to see the finale and the tomfoolery that is sure to ensue.  I must give a big shout out to Mona Scott-Young for giving us our ratchet guilty pleasure and something to talk about throughout the summer.  The Love & Hip Hop Atlanta cast have definitely made a name for themselves in such a short time.  Now the challenge is to keep the fire going and to solidify themselves as genuine actors/celebrities/artists.  Only time will tell if this cast will revisit our homes, radio stations, social networks and give us more drama to laugh, talk and shake our heads to.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you happy with how things ended in the finale between Stevie J and Mimi?
Do you think Karlie Redd and Benzino were good for each other?
Do you think Lil' Scrappy and Erica can make it work for the sake of their child?
Have your views on Joseline Hernandez changed throughout the season of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta?
Should K. Michelle move on from the alleged abuse and focus more on her career?
Does Rasheeda have real potential as a music star if her husband Kirk backs off of her career?

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?

Drake & Kendrick Lamar: You Changed!!!!

Drake and Kendrick Lamar are two rappers that I was listening to before they got BIG, so to speak.  Its been bugging me for sometime now that I'm noticing the changes in their content and persona, now that they've signed on to major record labels with Drake at Cash Money and Lamar at Aftermath.  When Drake first came out he was much more earthy and sensitive and his content was much more "girl friendly", which is what initially attracted me to him.  Kendrick also seemed to be more of a conscious rapper before he teamed up with Dr. Dre to produce his recent musical efforts.

In my humble opinion, Drake signing with Cash Money may have skyrocketed him to super stardom and gained him millions of fans throughout the world, but as far as his musical content, I think it might be the worse decision he ever made.  When Drake was set to go pro (sign on to a major label) there was a bidding war between all of the top labels so he pretty much had the ability to pick and choose who he would officially start his professional career with.  Many artists are not as privileged to be at the center of a bidding war and able to decisively choose the right fit for what they are seeking to accomplish in their musical career.  When I initially heard that Drake had chosen to sign with Cash Money I was weary of what it might mean for his image and sound.  Well, so far, Drake has gone from the sensitive, introspective and seemingly "harmless" Jewish boy from Canada to a bottle slinging, gun toting, entourage accompanying, tough guy that threatens other rappers and dares them to throw rocks at the Cash Money throne. *sigh*

Kendrick Lamar was also a unique and artistic rapper that seemed to shun record industry standards with musical content and artistry that dared to be different and dare I say it, conscious.  If you know the West Coast music industry well, you are well aware that it is very rare to see an artist come from the West Coast that is not a gangsta from Compton or Watts and/or a blood or crip.  Its almost as if Snoop Dogg branded our side to damnation, as record labels refuse to produce any artists that do not fit this stagnant gangsta/thug prototype.  At first, Kendrick was a breath of fresh air, and he still is, but I am wondering just how much Dr. Dre's influence will deter him from his roots of uniqueness.  At first Lamar was beckoning ladies to tear down their masks in "No Makeup" off his "Section 80" mixtape, where he proclaimed:

Damn girl, why so much?
You bout to blow your cover when you cover up
Don’t you know your imperfections
Is a wonderful blessing
From heaven, is where you got it from
I love your smile
You can do it without style
From your lips, all the way to your eyebrows
It’s the beauty in her
But when the makeup occur
I don’t see it, all I see is a blur

Now, I hear Lamar taking on the bad boy/playa role with lyrics like:

My nigga said he wanna fly out to get him some
3ws only for a three day run
Bitch, take the muthaf--king panties off you ain't no nun, shit
I be living in the sky every time i ride by them hoes

The lyrics above are from his debut single, "The Recipe" featuring Dr. Dre where he explains the top 3 reasons why people come to Los Angeles/Cali, which are "women, weed and weather".  This tone of lyrics is a far cry from the newcomer that once talked about the trials and tribulations of growing up in the hood, political activism, the importance of being yourself, etc. etc.  I am in no way saying that Lamar has done a complete 180 on his former views and lyrical content, but one can only wonder if his inner voice will be watered down to package him for the Hip Hop community the way that only Dr. Dre can.

Please don't get me wrong because I still love these two dudes' music and I salute their artistic capabilities.  I just hope that in selling their music through a major label distributor that they don't sell their souls.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you noticed that once independent artists sign onto major record labels that their creative control has diminished?
Have you heard the differences in lyrical content from before Drake and Kendrick Lamar were signed to majors?
Are you no longer a fan of Drake's after he signed with Cash Money Records?
Do you see a change in Kendrick Lamar's lyrical content?

Relationships: Is He Your Type or the Marrying Type?

Too often I find myself attracted to a certain "type" of guy.  My type of guy has swag, style, confidence, charm, etc.  Much more often, I find that relationships with my "type" of man never work out because they usually have many ladies that are fighting for their affection and trust me, I will never fight over a man.  Much further beyond competition is the fact that my type is usually not the settling down kind.

What I'm coming to realize is that for as long as I can remember, my type of guy was only able to fill a temporary void when it came to relationships and never seemed to stick around for the long haul.  Nor were they capable of having a real relationship equipped with ups and downs, growth and sustainability. 

Now I find myself almost 32 years old and single....again! I am now forced to reevaluate the thinking and choices that got me where I am today.  My conclusion is that I've always been attracted to the wrong type of guys.  A six pack and big muscles won't hold you tight at night, nor will it calm your fears and support you through thick and thin.  I am now redefining my type to include qualities that don't address physical attributes, such as a willingness to settle down, build a foundation and start a family.  Other qualities that I am now more keenly focused on are commitment, trust, loyalty and honesty.

People always say you can have it all, but I constantly wonder if that is really the case.  Most of my peers that are getting married seem to have the right idea about what the "marrying type" is.  I do want to get married eventually and possibly have kids and I realize now that my "type" isn't the "marrying type".  I'm ready to shed past hurts, disappointments and misconceptions to find the love that I truly want and deserve.  I am a work in progress, but now I feel I am progressing in the right direction towards the goals I want to achieve in my life.  So I'm saying goodbye to my "type" and hello to the "marrying type".  This will take time and lots of self reflection, but I feel now more than ever I am ready to claim my prize of true love and commitment.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
LADIES: Do you find that your "type" of guy is not the "marrying type"?
Do you see similarities in your relationship life as how I have described above?
Do you often feel you get the short end of the stick in love and relationships?
Are you willing to reassess the "type" of man you need instead of the "type" of man you want?

I Love My Mister Wrong

It seems that every other R&B or Hip Hop song on the radio is about a woman who can't let the man that treats her wrong go.  If its not Mary J. Blige's song "Mr. Wrong" or Jeezy's hit song "Leave You Alone", its another declaration that somehow, women are not strong enough to let go of a BAD THING because the love is so GOOD.  Where did us women get things so misconstrued along the way that we become gluttons for punishment and began to believe that because he makes us feel good in the bedroom, or can possibly deliver emotional feelings for the moment, that he deserves our time or effort?  Why do we as women overlook good men that don't necessarily fit the persona of the man that we think we want and need, that can actually treat us right and do good by us? Instead, we stick around with the players, pimps, or simply, the "emotionally unavailable" men. WHY?

Its not like these types of men show up out of nowhere and don't reveal their true selves from the beginning.  Their aura and persona shines just as brightly as their pearly whites and bulging muscles, and quite often, bulging pockets.  Us as women know what these men are about via our initial attraction to them.  The attraction is electric and cosmic.  The cocky glance and stare get us every time and all of a sudden, splash, our panties are wet with excitement.  Sadly, too often we get the short end of the stick and I'm not talking about their penis size, because usually, that's all they have to offer in the love department.  There is never a real chance at commitment or vulnerability, just a bravado that dares us to leave them, and if we do, they're on to the next leaving us torn and tattered in the aftermath.

Lyrics from Mary J. Blige's "Mr. Wrong":

Bad boys aint no good

Good boys aint no fun

Lord knows that I should

Run off with the right one

 

[Chorus]

Me and Mr Wrong get along so good (so good)

Even though he breaks my heart so bad (so bad)

We got a special thing going on

Me and Mr Mister Wrong

 

Even if I try, no, I never could

Give him up cause his loves like that

Aint no way that I'm moving on

I love my Mr Wrong

How many times must we go through the same thing before we truly realize what is important in love and relationships?  When will we consider loving Mr. Right instead of Mr. Wrong?  When will we love ourselves enough to stop the pattern of self sabotage and self defeat regarding matters of the heart and start fresh with a focused and clear head?  All I know is I can't stand to listen to another woman sing about setting herself up for pain and regret, because she can't see past his huge and tantalizing package, as illusive as it may be.

I'm waiting for the day when the way a man makes us feel physically will always match up with our emotional wants and needs and until that day, we will never truly find true fulfillment in love.  I have been guilty of the aforementioned myself at times, which is why I say "we" and "us".  Its now time for the curse to be broken and for us to break the shackles of the love spell, which we will soon begin to realize, was never really love at all.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you know a woman that always falls in love with Mr. Wrong? Are you one of them?
What about Mr. Wrong attracts you and keeps you coming back for more?
Do you wish you could leave him, but simply don't feel strong enough?
Do you believe you deserve a good man aka Mr. Right?

I would love for the men to chime in as well:
Are you Mr. Right and you constantly get overlooked by women for Mr. Wrong?
Do you find that women say they want a good man, but really chase the bad boys?
As Mr. Right, have you ever contemplated playing the bad guy role to make a chick interested in you?
Do you think good guys ultimately finish last when it comes to love and relationships?

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!!!!!

Do Short Men Have More Confidence Than Tall Men?

I am a tall woman standing approximately 5'11 and I find that I am often greeted and courted by shorter men, much more often than I am by taller men.  You would think that it would be easy for me to find a 6+ footer, but it seems as though all I get approached by is shorter men.  A man recently asked me if short men approach me more than tall men and I definitely told him my experience proved that shorter men approach me more.  I asked him why is that and he explained that shorter men like a challenge.  They like the vote of confidence they get when they can pull or attract a taller woman.  He also explained that tall men don't go after tall women because they are not secure enough within themselves to handle a woman of that stature.  On the contrary, you would think that would be the answer for the shorter guys, right?

I'm sure taller women are used to getting approached by men shorter than them and often hear pickup lines like, "We're all the same height lying down." or "You're a tall glass of water." or even better yet, my favorite, "You're a tall tree that I'd like to climb"...*eye roll*.  More important to me than the actual occurrence is the reason behind it.  Are tall women just trophies that short men use to boost their ego?  Are taller men intimidated by women that stand closer to them in height and would rather date a smaller chick to boost their egos and make them feel like "the man"?

We've seen several cases of this in Hollywood with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, as well as, Kimora Lee Simmons and Russell Simmons

All of this ego boosting and opposites attracting is just too much.  Isn't it harder to kiss a guy if he's 6'5 and you're 5'5? Wouldn't shorter guys look better with short women and taller men better with taller women?  In a perfect world I'm sure this would be the norm, but in our society, things seem to be switched when it comes to the extreme sides of this spectrum.  So my question is, are shorter guys really more confident or are they using this lack of confidence to fuel their "Napoleon complex"?  Do taller guys shy away from taller women whom they are not able to dominate as easily as, lets say, a shorter chick?  I want the feedback from the fellas and the ladies on this one, short and tall and everywhere in between!!!! :-)

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you a taller chick that always gets approached by shorter dudes?
As a taller man, do you prefer a woman that is much closer to you in height or much shorter?
As a shorter man, do you prefer taller chicks and why?
As a taller woman, would you prefer to date taller guys, but find that there is a shortage of taller men that are attracted to you?
As a taller woman, are you comfortable with dating a guy shorter than you?

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?