Will the female Kanye stand up?!

So yes I admit it. I watch Miss Rap Supreme. Sigh (That was hard for me to do). But I have very good reason to. As a fan of hip hop (not a full out fanatic. READ: not like the people who recite rhymes while walking down the street...FOR THOSE PEOPLE: YOU LOOK CRAZY DOING THAT..STOP IT) I would really like to see a talented female MC step up to the plate. Scratch that...I would really like to see a talented well dressed female MC step up to the plate. Sorrowfully, I have not found that in Miss Rap Supreme. As a result, I am now looking for potential. I'm looking for someone they can take to Nordstrom or Bloomies and come out with a female Kanye West. That someone should also have the talent to stand up to the lyrics of the Kanye's, the Lupe's, and so forth. Now, please don't mistake my intent. There are a lot of great female rappers..(I've always liked Foxy, Lyte,Lauryn Hill, Latifah, and even Remy Ma's battles etc.) and I don't aim to insult any of them. I just want more. Or maybe I want less. I want more and less!

Less (in no particular order):

• Gimmicky clothing (lots are guilty)
• Weird hair (Kim I love you but that means you)
• Bright/tacky color combinations
• brand name dropping (especially if you are not going to wear it right)
• wacked out stylists!
• Weak Rhymes
• SEX...stop talking about body parts...when i first encountered the words Ill Nana, it really made me sick : -(

More (again in no particular order):

• metaphors
• story telling (quick acknowledgement to Eve..I did like that Love is Blind song and Kim)
• Believable and blended weaves
• grown up voices ( I cannot listen to the high pitched chipmunk on a record effect)
• Clothes...actual clothes not contraptions. Stop shopping at Vicki's for everything...visit the other stores in the mall. Would it kill you to stroll in Lord & Taylor's?
• songs about anything other than sex, Gucci (usually rhymed with...oh well you know), and/or Prada

The truth is any natural born female has a (rhymes with Gucci) and if she really wanted a Gucci (I mean a bag this time) she could run to the store (given she has the cash) and purchase one. But not every female can step up to a mic in a crowded room and completely move an audience with her lyrics, style and presence. Even if she had all the money in the world.

I know that the rap industry is male dominated and at times sexist but there has to be a greater need (greater than mine) to hear a female rapper that has something inspiring to say.

So far on Miss Rap Supreme, I like Chiba and Reece. However, they fall into the problem of being poorly presented. Chiba needs a stylist that will give her more of a mature look. She can still be sexy just not so overt. Reece is cool too she just needs someone to tone down the platinum blond, give her a precision cut, and arch her brows. Then Wa-la Fabulous!

As an admitted optimist, I hope these two (as well as the other women) are transformed. They all have potential but they are rough around the edges image wise. A little consultation with a true stylist (whose repertoire does not include the Barnum & Bailey Circus) and a touch of charm school and these ladies could truly be what the industry needs more of.

TTFN! (ta ta for now)

video.vh1.com

B.On A.B.'s take on Coffee, Tea and the like

I'm a big fan of S-bucks and DD. With the plethora of locations and yummy selections I often find myself getting up early just to grab a cup of mint "Refresh" tea. Or rushing from work to grab a cup of white hot chocolate before class. The tea calms me before a hectic day and the cocoa coats my stomach (preventing from noisy and embarrassing hunger-related disruptions during class).


Without realizing it, my tea and cocoa field trips became part of my daily regime.
I had a slight epiphany last semester, while in class. A twinge of guilt, embarrassment and remorse suddenly came over me as I picked up my DD cup. There I was sipping $2 Hot cocoa in my management class and realized the depressing irony.


"Who am I fooling? What am I learning here?" I thought. How dare I call myself a student of business majoring in management and I'm mismanaging my own funds. This $4 a day habit is costing me.
I quickly turned to an empty page in my notebook and jotted down the following:


$2 (tea a day) X 5 days a week (no tea on Sat & Sun) = $10
$2 (cocoa) X 2 nights a week (class) = $4
$14 a week X 4 weeks = $56
$56 x 12 months = $672


Yea, that's right $672 a year on tea and cocoa. I suddenly felt sick. I took one long loving look at the half-full lukewarm cup of cocoa and silently bid it farewell. I swore off tea and cocoa as if it were poison.


Okay...that lasted for a whole week. I was running early one morning and decided to drop into Target for a couple of items for the house...and there it was...a gleaming STARBUCKS sign in TARGET. Oh what a lovely sight it was. It was cold outside and I was wandering aimlessly around Target. What better way to start the day and fight off the cold then with a nice tall steaming cup of Tazo tea? ::SIGH:: (Someone cue "I Know" by Jay-Z). So I sauntered over and ordered myself some tea.


At work that day I realized that I didn't have to give up my love of peppermint tea and cocoa. I just had to find a suitable solution to my costly habit. I thought about just buying tea three times a week instead of five times. Nope. That won't work. Okay what about drinking tea at home before I get to work? Hmm. Nope. There was something stylish about having that cup with me every morning as I arrived at work. Could it be that the the coffee cup is the ultimate fashion accessory of 2008? Did it beat out the treo and blackberry of 2007? Or the Sidekick of 2006?


The coffee cup with the safety-sleeve is all over the place...Like leggings (spandex reincarnated!!) and Uggs...



I interrupt this blog for a special message:
Ladies can we NOT wear Uggs in the summer with short skirts? It's confusing and stinky (re: sweaty feet in the summer)...Go get a pedi and wear sandals. THANKS!



I digress..



Where was I? Oh yes my tea habit. There had to be some way that I could have my tea, preserve my precious dollars, and yet remain stylish. Then it came to me. Keep the tea...lose the cup! I could still have my Starbucks or DD or Celestial Seasonings (great mint tea) but I would buy it in bulk, make it at home and put it in an ultra sexy-sleek vacuum bottle (alias Thermos).


Now I know what you're thinking...a Thermos? Yuck!


Oh quite the contrary...my dears I am now the proud owner of an adorable vacuum flask/bottle. There are all different shapes, sizes, designs etc. Designer flasks (yes you read it right).
They range from retro flasks (see picture to the right) to sleek designs.

They cost anywhere from $4 to $30 depending on size and brand. I have a four dollar one that holds about 16 fl oz.

So how much am I saving you ask? Let's see:

$4 bottle (one time cost) + $120 ($10 a month-supply of tea and/or cocoa at one tea bag/cocoa pkt per day) = $124

$672-124= $548 a year!

That's some savings and I'm still drinking the same tea! Now, this does mean I have to make my own tea and it does not account for the cost of sugar. However, one cannot ignore $548 of money saved.

I must say that every once in a blue moon I do go to Starbucks and DD just for sheer convenience. I am not discouraging the patronage of such fine beverage producing institutions but there is a wise saying “Economy is a savings-bank, into which men drop pennies, and get dollars in return.” (Josh Billings)....Every little bit counts.

Til next time :- )


Oh yea!

Check out...
My Vintage Kitchen http://www.myvintagekitchen.blogspot.com/
http://www.thermos.com/