tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80863546783688870272024-03-27T19:53:39.143-04:00The Mofo ChroniclesMy Own Freakin' ObservationsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger353125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-16782886213492379342024-02-13T20:27:00.002-05:002024-02-13T20:27:14.361-05:00Movie Review: Bob Marley: One Love<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk72oBhWgko0YA_nUcnfrSRdrgHgOL9Tef2Jxj8kqx0zKoCmovn0s6o2wdcbpPJPQX8FwUK7iqpZthF5fhw-HLkNsZ13DMda2UvxbsXOnr3orXqhFQWnJUnrogIwFcYs_VrzFpvJE64zyYsFg4Qksa5N7AQgLrL8KLIpH32NFgKyEaXBbBtfC1YNjpvrQ/s990/unnamed%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="792" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk72oBhWgko0YA_nUcnfrSRdrgHgOL9Tef2Jxj8kqx0zKoCmovn0s6o2wdcbpPJPQX8FwUK7iqpZthF5fhw-HLkNsZ13DMda2UvxbsXOnr3orXqhFQWnJUnrogIwFcYs_VrzFpvJE64zyYsFg4Qksa5N7AQgLrL8KLIpH32NFgKyEaXBbBtfC1YNjpvrQ/s320/unnamed%20(1).jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Hey Mofos!</p><p>I had the chance to check out a screening of the film Bob Marley: One Love, it's in theaters on Valentine's Day! </p><p>I will start out saying it was a good biopic, but it wasn't GREAT. I don't know about y'all but I didn't know much about Bob Marley except for some of his legendary music and that he died at 36 years old. </p><p>The film directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, celebrates the life and music of a Reggae icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. During the movie, you get to learn Marley's powerful story of overcoming childhood adversity, political drama, and eventually the journey behind his revolutionary music. Kingsley Ben-Adir stars as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch plays his wife Rita Marley. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="302" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ajw425Kuvtw" width="428" youtube-src-id="ajw425Kuvtw"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The film opens in 1976 when Marley is about to play a peace concert in Kingston, Jamaica to heal the rift due to political ish. There's rival gangs, political parties, and pure chaos at this time. Marley can't even protect himself from the violence hitting too close to home. Before the concert, there's a home invasion and Rita is shot, along with his manager, and Marley escapes with a flesh wound. Marley ultimately decides it's time to leave Jamaica. The film is set against the next two years and ends up recording the iconic album "Exodus."</p><p>It was nice to see a snapshot of Marley in the light of a family man, a devout Rastafarian, a musician, and a man but it paints a picture of how he evolved into a super star with a message. </p><p>Here's my issue.. by limiting us to a 2 year period of his life, we don't actually get to see much of his actual childhood, except a few flashbacks. I would have loved to know how he got into music, and that journey. There is one studio scene with the Wailing Wailers that will have you tapping your feet, but there's still no clear pathway on how reggae became the powerhouse genre it became. Marley spends some of the end of the film planning a concert in Jamaica after learning he's sick with a rare skin cancer, but I also would have loved to have seen how he handled his illness. The movie is named "One Love" and a clip of the real Bob Marley is singing it. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE CONCERT? A true biopic would give us all the tea. This gave us a lukewarm version of his life story. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vdB-8eLEW8g" width="435" youtube-src-id="vdB-8eLEW8g"></iframe></div><br /><p>The music took me back to my own childhood of listening to my dad play Marley's music so the nostalgia was there. The film left me wanting to know more about Marley's life and wanting to know more about the stories behind the music. </p><p>The actors were amazing in the film. I enjoyed watching them--so maybe just maybe a part two could come out? A Netflix series? Something??</p><p>Let me know if y'all go check it out! </p><p>~Meik</p><p><br /></p><p class="paragraph larva // lrv-u-margin-lr-auto lrv-a-font-body-m " style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "IBM Plex Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br /></p><p class="paragraph larva // lrv-u-margin-lr-auto lrv-a-font-body-m " style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "IBM Plex Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br /></p><p class="paragraph larva // lrv-u-margin-lr-auto lrv-a-font-body-m " style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "IBM Plex Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-6417853487842610902024-02-01T15:46:00.004-05:002024-02-02T15:13:45.806-05:00Movie Review: "Argylle" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0rea79RD8Hvt8TMV_Jh6NFc_2Z3V4hbqyzUltqcNheR3tc675JNwXdn4bEmfmKyV1m29ekEsEOTQjENvqm3udrAghb8sF2y_FNo-ThdTIqoO5w2mRvCGhh9m9pymBGz8rjtfLL2YIE7oA4k6593PoCAvI3x8iPh0yqhxQcI0hFZ3fQwBaD_sddseYw0/s1200/unnamed%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="758" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0rea79RD8Hvt8TMV_Jh6NFc_2Z3V4hbqyzUltqcNheR3tc675JNwXdn4bEmfmKyV1m29ekEsEOTQjENvqm3udrAghb8sF2y_FNo-ThdTIqoO5w2mRvCGhh9m9pymBGz8rjtfLL2YIE7oA4k6593PoCAvI3x8iPh0yqhxQcI0hFZ3fQwBaD_sddseYw0/w254-h320/unnamed%20(2).jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br /><p> Hey Mofos! I'm still on the grief roller coaster, but stepped out the house to see the upcoming film <i>Argylle</i>. Let's just say that I was more entertained by the security guards checking for phones and her overuse of the phrase "OVERSTAND AND INNERSTAND." This film honestly could have been a limited streaming series and called it a day. It drops on February 2, in theaters!</p><p>Let me give you the low down on what it's about from the press release cuz I'm too lazy and tired to write it myself lol. </p><p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">The greater the spy, the bigger the lie.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">From the twisted mind of Matthew Vaughn (</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kingsman</em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> franchise, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kick-Ass</em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">) comes </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="il">Argylle</span></em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">, a razor-witted, reality-bending, globe-encircling spy thriller.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Bryce Dallas Howard (</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jurassic World</em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> franchise) is Elly Conway, the reclusive author of a series of best-selling espionage novels, whose idea of bliss is a night at home with her computer and her cat, Alfie. But when the plots of Elly’s fictional books—which center on secret agent </span><span class="il" face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Argylle</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> and his mission to unravel a global spy syndicate—begin to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy organization, quiet evenings at home become a thing of the past.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Accompanied by Aiden (Oscar</span><sup style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">®</sup><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> winner Sam Rockwell), a cat-allergic spy, Elly (carrying Alfie in her backpack) races across the world to stay one step ahead of the killers as the line between Elly’s fictional world and her real one begins to blur.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">The top-flight ensemble cast features Henry Cavill (</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Witcher</em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">), John Cena (</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fast X</em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">), Oscar</span><sup style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">®</sup><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> winner Ariana DeBose (</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">West Side Story</em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">), Grammy winning pop superstar Dua Lipa (</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Barbie</em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">), Emmy winner and Oscar</span><sup style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">®</sup><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> nominee Bryan Cranston (</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breaking Bad</em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">), Emmy winner and comedy icon Catherine O’Hara (</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Schitt’s Creek</em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">), Sofia Boutella (</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kingsman: The Secret Service</em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">), and the legendary Samuel L. Jackson. Alfie is played by Chip, the real-life cat of supermodel Claudia Vaughn (née Schiffer).</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="il">Argylle</span></em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> is directed and produced by Matthew Vaughn, from a screenplay by Jason Fuchs (</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wonder Woman</em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">). The film is produced by Matthew Vaughn, Adam Bohling (</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kingsman </em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">franchise), Jason Fuchs, and David Reid (Kingsman franchise). The executive producers are Adam Fishbach, Zygi Kamasa, Carlos Peres and Claudia Vaughn.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Apple Original Films presents, in association with MARV, a Cloudy production. </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="il">Argylle</span></em><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> is distributed by Universal Pictures.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" /></p><p>Now that's out of the way, the movie itself wasn't awful but it wasn't something I would watch again. I was into it, until it got to some parts that were utterly ridiculous and would never happen in a real spy movie. I loved that the writer transported into her own story, but it got a little hard to keep up with her life or the novel life at some points. What I did love is that Elly Conway isn't a size 2 heroine that we are used to seeing. She had a body that most women can relate to (not me, cuz ain't a hip to be found on my body), but I loved that she looked normal and not like she was starving for carbs. I also wanted to reach thru the screen and throw that cat Alfie somewhere. I'm not a cat nor a dog person, so seeing this cat the entire time made my eyeballs itch. </p><div style="text-align: left;">I wish there was more John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson in the movie, but they do their jobs in the scenes they are in. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">IDK-- I think I'd read these series if it was a novel series. But, I will say this, DO NOT.. leave the theater when you think it's over. Think Marvel-esque type of ish. Stay in yo seat!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Let me know if you enjoy the film if you go check it out! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~Meik</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-52790346049493850722024-01-19T15:20:00.002-05:002024-01-19T15:20:49.537-05:00Interview: Skyh Black <p> Hey mofos!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwSIcrMv1kY6si7PzQnpglE6mB7lKtqbh0eUKItf_RnijidIosFzRaA_JDiVkajRvCZcbw91Zqo82TevOe72ki4vUQ-baKgQmcbIgw78iYAU0u-zKrOJr5BRFmEECjkL5oY7OwQk7HKb-ZPJXriykagwYS_c3H8AS14uQBRnEzRv8l5bS1B0lvvzp9PA/s250/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="200" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwSIcrMv1kY6si7PzQnpglE6mB7lKtqbh0eUKItf_RnijidIosFzRaA_JDiVkajRvCZcbw91Zqo82TevOe72ki4vUQ-baKgQmcbIgw78iYAU0u-zKrOJr5BRFmEECjkL5oY7OwQk7HKb-ZPJXriykagwYS_c3H8AS14uQBRnEzRv8l5bS1B0lvvzp9PA/w220-h250/unnamed.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br /><p>Do you watch the BET+ show "All the Queen's Men?" I LOVE THAT SHOW! Actor Skyh Black plays Amp on the show and joined me on "Check the Rhymes TV" to chat about the rest of Season 3. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yWD5dta7UgA" width="430" youtube-src-id="yWD5dta7UgA"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Chile this man is fine ain't he? Who is your favorite character on the show? Let me know in the comments! </p><p><br /></p><p>~Meik</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-44811134545423613362024-01-07T12:02:00.003-05:002024-01-07T12:02:13.701-05:00Interview: Eshe<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdfw8IYqKh3342S5sCkKuki4vfSDIw3w13CJdJSKFtm3nc6L6kDs6pBzshGzBXpzPnclNjAFQ0UtPnbOYaK6y96yarZi7iYJPAdIZgZag2dE4gX2uAKF8MgDss2MjliFxMWHC6WCIgxn74L9XJ9S6GzZZtKZNnvESPgCt2VRayJQnbC3Oh38CAbpE3gI/s1280/New%20Thumbnails%20CTR%20(13).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdfw8IYqKh3342S5sCkKuki4vfSDIw3w13CJdJSKFtm3nc6L6kDs6pBzshGzBXpzPnclNjAFQ0UtPnbOYaK6y96yarZi7iYJPAdIZgZag2dE4gX2uAKF8MgDss2MjliFxMWHC6WCIgxn74L9XJ9S6GzZZtKZNnvESPgCt2VRayJQnbC3Oh38CAbpE3gI/s320/New%20Thumbnails%20CTR%20(13).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Happy New Year Mofos!</p><p>I'm a bit late, so forgive me. I didn't get to write my farewell to 2023 blog since I was on the sick and shut in list. </p><p>I wanted to share my interview with Eshe Light from the group Arrested Development! I first talked to her waaaay back in 2014 for SoulTrain.com and we've kept in touch since. </p><p>Check out the interview here:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rNn2Fyxabvw" width="461" youtube-src-id="rNn2Fyxabvw"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>She dropped a lot of gems on here! Do you have a favorite Arrested Development song?</p><p><br /></p><p>~Meik</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-84709793304997986332023-12-17T19:40:00.002-05:002023-12-17T19:40:08.595-05:00Interview: Sybil<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zgKLa6We7N2WiTtN0UMZve4fPVv3UCDrXKPSGRkK3KOjCQQxovOVDfYwOgQJUU5KrlOZRFa7pPTjXlC6UofESZQ957eQ4E0DsXLHDHNAASj_HKf_2Bld-nKTYsK2tAKWlDCJzm09QsjiRRZ6MENXerH5ye-s4ypLDBPOgXCAPS99mh0rJxPrmyP-JJ0/s1000/31WCWspSVEL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zgKLa6We7N2WiTtN0UMZve4fPVv3UCDrXKPSGRkK3KOjCQQxovOVDfYwOgQJUU5KrlOZRFa7pPTjXlC6UofESZQ957eQ4E0DsXLHDHNAASj_HKf_2Bld-nKTYsK2tAKWlDCJzm09QsjiRRZ6MENXerH5ye-s4ypLDBPOgXCAPS99mh0rJxPrmyP-JJ0/s320/31WCWspSVEL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Hey mofos!</p><p>Do y'all remember the singer Sybil? I got to wondering where she was and what she has been up to and lo and behold, we live in the same dang state and we're sorority sisters! Small world! She stopped by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/checktherhymestv" target="_blank">Check the Rhymes TV </a>to chat about what she's been up to, new projects, and more! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="304" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LkceZUxHKSk" width="483" youtube-src-id="LkceZUxHKSk"></iframe></div><br /><p>Let me know in the comments, what was your favorite song of hers? </p><p><br /></p><p>~Meik</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-30951812492029103142023-12-02T20:02:00.002-05:002023-12-02T20:02:26.926-05:00Interview: Donnie Simpson<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_H44D2C5gP59sdb2wm7sF195ZHUr8EsTGop598RkIYu8kQM9rCp72K5WJfnMIqycPjUi-iD24l_jV_7N-cyQ4lBrl-oqEvGWtsH9YJlafoS4vpEl6xdRK6IYHyawlgU_byQPIquH3mOSFLg3a-xytAfFpzUDMXy7jMH4el9-ypt0uV8t4G7Q6BSbmJ6w/s6605/_DSC0187-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6605" data-original-width="4408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_H44D2C5gP59sdb2wm7sF195ZHUr8EsTGop598RkIYu8kQM9rCp72K5WJfnMIqycPjUi-iD24l_jV_7N-cyQ4lBrl-oqEvGWtsH9YJlafoS4vpEl6xdRK6IYHyawlgU_byQPIquH3mOSFLg3a-xytAfFpzUDMXy7jMH4el9-ypt0uV8t4G7Q6BSbmJ6w/s320/_DSC0187-Edit.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Hey Mofos!</p><p>I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving holiday. I'm still navigating the holiday season without some loved ones we lost this year. But, before all that, I had the chance to sit down and chat with radio/TV legend, Donnie Simpson. He brought back <i>Video Soul</i> to BET+, plus we took a look back at his career. </p><p>I could have never have imagined having the man I watched growing up interviewing the celebs I wanted to talk to coming on my show, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/checktherhymestv" target="_blank">Check the Rhymes TV</a>, to talk to lil ole me. </p><p>He has so much wisdom to share, and his stories are so amazing. Get to know Donnie Simpson in this interview here:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="310" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bVD0gfB3Rjg" width="438" youtube-src-id="bVD0gfB3Rjg"></iframe></div><br /><p>Do you have a favorite <i>Video Soul </i>memory??</p><p>~Meik</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-82920242395308480702023-11-14T20:15:00.002-05:002023-11-14T20:15:16.835-05:00Review: Napoleon <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkpXEbST1ZNnm_J7T3u0LaBHirx9RXqmYv20ku6YOg7UewEJm15zMN6kxdiMHxgRn8caHEq8eCdD57s9_K52YHKlARCuq6JZdk6daSEvaNtCYvs3j2dK_xwOrXC878eQqrxhPsh3yK3rlwSBq5mAG5ajHSz99KhxDR9oe_NxzCS-AxbTEGpMcfqIYXtY/s1601/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkpXEbST1ZNnm_J7T3u0LaBHirx9RXqmYv20ku6YOg7UewEJm15zMN6kxdiMHxgRn8caHEq8eCdD57s9_K52YHKlARCuq6JZdk6daSEvaNtCYvs3j2dK_xwOrXC878eQqrxhPsh3yK3rlwSBq5mAG5ajHSz99KhxDR9oe_NxzCS-AxbTEGpMcfqIYXtY/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Hey Mofos, </p><p>I just checked another screening, but this time I went to check out a film that is totally out of my wheelhouse. Ridley Scott's <i>Napoleon</i>. </p><p>Chile, the film is basically a look at the military commander's origin and his ruthless climb to emperor, and his codependent volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine. </p><p>I thought this was gonna be all war, bang bang, shoot em up cuz I walked in late and was ready to walk right back out of the theater. But, the moment Napoleon (Joaquin Phoenix) spotted his future bae Josephine (Vanessa Kirby) across a crowded room and decides to creepily stare her down, I was tuned in to see what was gonna happen next. Later, he meets her two kids from her late husband, and it's clear he's already jealous of a dead man. IS THIS WHERE Y'ALL GET "your king is short?" *giggles*</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LIsfMO5Jd_w" width="495" youtube-src-id="LIsfMO5Jd_w"></iframe></div><br /><p>Now ole Josie (my new nickname for her) is clearly ready to slut him out cuz she warned him and there goes the power of the puss, cuz he couldn't shake his love for her for the rest of his life. </p><p>Anyhoo, she seems to be content trying to keep him under her control while he is focused on an heir and his climb to power. Their sex scenes are cringy and what one would expect from a man with his short "king" complex, jack rabbit style and her being over it. But, she does find someone who can satisfy her the moment Nap Nap goes to Egypt or some dang where. </p><p>One scene that tore my nerves up is him tearing into Josie at the dang table amongst other people about not being able to get pregnant. It reminded me of how little men think about fertility issues, all they want is what they want and be damned if there could be an issue. But baby, when she clapped back and called him fat, I let out the biggest screech. At times this film felt more like a comedy versus a historical account of this man's life. The disrespect toxic nature of it all reminded me of how some of y'all let y'alls relationships play out on social media when it's clearly none of our business. </p><p>One other thing that made me cackle and reminded me I need to snatch back my own damn power is when Josie left that ass on read--well as much as she could in the 1700s/1800s by not writing him. WE ARE SICK OF THESE MOFOS. Wait, lemme get back on track. </p><p>He never really interacted with her kids, and even when he had one --we never saw what happened to that child after what looks like a year or maybe 2. </p><p>The battle scenes were interesting, tho I kept forgetting who had on what and what army was fighting who. I clearly slept during history class and this was about the same. Napoleon seemed like a short man fighting to be the tallest giant as the peacemaker and the one who saved France. </p><p>I kee-keed a bit during this movie, but Napoleon made me so mad at times how he spoke to Josephine and other women, especially her daughter. When this mofo told her that he forgives her--I was ready to knock that hat off his head and exile him again. </p><p>It was an entertaining 2 1/2 hour film, but for history buffs this may not be what you are looking for since I'm not so sure it gives the most accurate portrayal of the master of war. But remember I'm also the one that slept during history class so don't listen to me lol. On a random side note, I wondered if all that horseback riding caused hemorrhoids??</p><p>Apple TV and Sony Pictures will release <i>Napoleon</i> in theaters on 11/22. </p><p>Let me know if you go see it! </p><p><br /></p><p>~Meik</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-45735944785931787972023-11-10T19:35:00.002-05:002023-11-10T19:35:48.185-05:00Guest Blogger: Taking a Dive Into the Mofo'n Dating Waters<p>Hey mofos! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnlkoZ1wjc052gN7OFvvb6zrMF4FIk19NQC2Ylm23xbxkcGgQ1_OQrjGRV73gKXwV_-AwHQrDSdYd-m5hq8VD2ZO5deTE__yn7lTUn2G773NhgEZUtkWoGZDloFSpFG_4JdAJWc40JCw0bLmiRi4tbv69UonmOEEGfhqbu8iuMl_26qjaDUL1nAMqcKE/s740/faab0d343d975ba275f61f87449a187c10de0a51405e6e27da826cc36329bf00_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnlkoZ1wjc052gN7OFvvb6zrMF4FIk19NQC2Ylm23xbxkcGgQ1_OQrjGRV73gKXwV_-AwHQrDSdYd-m5hq8VD2ZO5deTE__yn7lTUn2G773NhgEZUtkWoGZDloFSpFG_4JdAJWc40JCw0bLmiRi4tbv69UonmOEEGfhqbu8iuMl_26qjaDUL1nAMqcKE/s320/faab0d343d975ba275f61f87449a187c10de0a51405e6e27da826cc36329bf00_1.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><p>It's been a minute since I've had a guest blogger or talked about the ragglass dating streets. If you are interested in sharing your story, hit me up via email, DM, pigeon, whatever floats your boat! </p><p>So, enjoy this post from a fellow writer who shall remain nameless (but it's a guy, it's not me pretending LOL) </p><p>******************************************************************************</p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">When Shameika asked me to guest blog on the Mofo Chronicles,
I was humbled and excited for the opportunity as we’ve had our discussions and
conversations about what it’s like to be dating in our field and at this stage
of our lives.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Or at least attempting to date, I should say.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I always compare myself to a divorced dad trying to put
himself out there long after the end of his marriage, though in my case there
was no marriage and there are no children; just a guy trying to find himself –
and some companionship – after a long period of being down on himself and
everyone else at the same time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Needless to say, I absolutely agree with the sentiment that
the dating pool is tainted because everyone is either trying to out-slick/out-sly
each other, have unrealistic standards, or just completely out of their minds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have a pair of stories that sum up my Dating in 2023 experience
in a way that supports the theory of not just pee being in the pool anymore.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first takes place in the DMs of the app formerly known
as Twitter. A woman from the Midwestern region of the country (I’m
Mid-Atlantic, just to give full context) likes several of my posts, so a
private conversation begins.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before long, it turns from getting to know each other’s
likes and dislikes to getting to know each other Biblically from a virtual
standpoint. Pictures, videos, messages – you NAME it! Shout out to Shirley
Caesar.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhns85SQkkogImu3nRuAE2LFQoYl1yA1CEm8xVG-jhzrI2lasJsqxtUT_U46oh40nGV2-HML4wbQAJeY2u0O70KjFcT1-klvHz6fhR0mg4XfO4elkgZgIcO6K6wIHD5SiFQaFiHn5Yz6vxj-4fudrP68tgY83ZOcdECQTTwLfkkHAwzlpbnnlOCMle6JV4/s350/umm-you-name-it.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="350" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhns85SQkkogImu3nRuAE2LFQoYl1yA1CEm8xVG-jhzrI2lasJsqxtUT_U46oh40nGV2-HML4wbQAJeY2u0O70KjFcT1-klvHz6fhR0mg4XfO4elkgZgIcO6K6wIHD5SiFQaFiHn5Yz6vxj-4fudrP68tgY83ZOcdECQTTwLfkkHAwzlpbnnlOCMle6JV4/s320/umm-you-name-it.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">So, without any prompting from me, this woman says, “I want
to fly out to you and have you [redacted] me silly.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So we’re off to a good start, right? Wrong. Fly Girl
expressed this desire in November of 2022 to meet in January this year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">January came. Nothing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">February came. Nothing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">March-June came. Nothing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In July, I sent her a text message saying in so many words
that it was rather cruel and unnecessary to gas someone up if you had no
intention of following through. Plus, I didn’t ask her about flying out – SHE
brought it up.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Her response was to mention custody of her children, a job
promotion and that if I couldn’t understand, then there was no reason to
continue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Talk about hurtful. There’s something to be said for people
who volunteer or offer something you weren’t thinking about and then play
victim when addressed about not following up. None of it is good.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As cruel as that situation was, there was an annoying one
that maybe didn’t hurt as bad because I suppose there was success in the short
term.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This next story begins on an app called Tinder, but the prequel
dates back to another, long-gone social media site where this woman and I
connected originally, but signals got crossed and mixed, so we lost contact for
well over a decade.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Imagine my surprise on April Fools Day (which should’ve told
me this was going to be jokes) when this woman liked my Tinder profile. I knew
who it was instantly, so out of curiosity I swiped right to start a
conversation. Either she was pulling my leg the whole way or I just wasn’t
paying attention, but she said she’d seen me improve from a distance (guess she
meant my physical appearance or something) so we started catching up on each
other’s lives and naturally, that turned into “You know…you could’ve gotten it
back then…still can.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Important to note that again, this was something that was
brought up to me; I didn’t bring it up.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This time, no flights or feelings were necessary since she
lived just across the bridge from me, so I drove over to her place because she
wanted to meet before she went to an event. Of course grown folk things did
happen and I thought it went rather well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wrong again.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Later on in the spring we’re texting and she mentions her
demisexuality and how that went against our hookup. I couldn’t believe it. I
already knew what demisexuality was (attraction to someone based on feelings,
for the record) so I didn’t think she had a reason to lie, but there was still
something dishonest about it. She said we could continue chatting and hopefully
meet up, but sex was off the table until I proved myself to her.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrYwMcxLquTdkQ3I4w_YLIq04RyHV651Y7Sq8ADdT2VA_F6eceLz9y0yEVqZgjtKxypiDOS30tHSGEFxu8rlKaFqy-uXpsNHRXjugC4y8D_ye-dDaEF1PeOZWy-GrFGGTRIreFC16dzR7xQZtjIcQWCZZhin8QgIQ8R6i_RT8faeHF-jeAg-D8zcOCmI/s220/every-night-i-gotta-prove-my-love-bump.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="220" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrYwMcxLquTdkQ3I4w_YLIq04RyHV651Y7Sq8ADdT2VA_F6eceLz9y0yEVqZgjtKxypiDOS30tHSGEFxu8rlKaFqy-uXpsNHRXjugC4y8D_ye-dDaEF1PeOZWy-GrFGGTRIreFC16dzR7xQZtjIcQWCZZhin8QgIQ8R6i_RT8faeHF-jeAg-D8zcOCmI/s1600/every-night-i-gotta-prove-my-love-bump.gif" width="220" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">She hasn’t gotten a text from me since.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now here’s where I’m honest to a fault about my faults –
yes, I very much am trying to play ho-phase catch-up for the years I was out of
the game because of a lack of self-confidence and serious self-hatred for
myself, envy of other men and resentment for women who liked the men who
weren’t me. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After physical improvement and inner-improvement that
includes on and off therapy (because healthcare in this country is still
cheeks), I felt like I was ready to see who and what was out there, explore a
bit and hopefully create new memories and experiences that would prepare me for
something different.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Reader, that has not happened.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So as a hot summer turns to a not-as-cold-as-it-used-to-be
winter (thanks, climate change), I’m considering taking a step back from all
things dating and sex because as much as I want to be successful at those two
things, it seems like a long shot at the moment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of course, I say that now, but with one swipe and
conversation, I could be starting this chase all over again. To use the tagline
from the esteemed creator of this blog, “My Nerves Bad.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">*************************************************************************</p><p class="MsoNormal">Whew chile, it sounds like dating ain't been right since.. well ever. Thank you guest blogger for sharing your stories with us! My advice: well, I really don't have any except get back out there and in the words of Aaliyah, "dust it off and try again."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMh6qF9cbRaBSTCT6Hgahp4cdivQZ6yC8n9xyvdeDGFSCkF0VjC30RtifbToWe8hAllwcDIo7rjg09vHrzo6xZdupZD1KIvLPQrHvkeMhrEbXTwZo93VHx04fKPCDPbGw5qx-8tleXvIeMvKx-zqx5H6z037EtVR7jqXv_swwFYADLW-M-9f58V1V0IE/s480/giphy%20(8).gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMh6qF9cbRaBSTCT6Hgahp4cdivQZ6yC8n9xyvdeDGFSCkF0VjC30RtifbToWe8hAllwcDIo7rjg09vHrzo6xZdupZD1KIvLPQrHvkeMhrEbXTwZo93VHx04fKPCDPbGw5qx-8tleXvIeMvKx-zqx5H6z037EtVR7jqXv_swwFYADLW-M-9f58V1V0IE/s320/giphy%20(8).gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>If anyone is interested in guest blogging, don't be shy. Share your stories, we've all been there and some of us hope to never be in those situations again. <div>God, I see what you have done for others, please bring me my husband ASAPINGTON so I NEVAAAAA have to go through the dating trials again and making my nerves bad. Amen. <div><br /></div><div>~Meik <br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></div></div>Meikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06347972470810476035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-65317129385212443592023-11-08T21:12:00.000-05:002023-11-08T21:12:06.883-05:00Review: The Marvels<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQAlHsVDfK0j80A7UCbGlkFMHeRCS7ZR9fn3cQ1UUUsZyFL_PqUCOpBmNFG_GEO8YgD1TuuRE8-0M0HCmlX-CVgL8AhD7nU1nHY8uzG84OhLrDp32yeIRi1n_aXfZXgY_isxlG-e4H9VjoWNFkUr2A1Dr8plsG_Y5cNvN7VWpYVN_v2O2FjT-83HNbPaT/s1250/themarvels_imax_digital_supplemental_tix_v3_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="844" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQAlHsVDfK0j80A7UCbGlkFMHeRCS7ZR9fn3cQ1UUUsZyFL_PqUCOpBmNFG_GEO8YgD1TuuRE8-0M0HCmlX-CVgL8AhD7nU1nHY8uzG84OhLrDp32yeIRi1n_aXfZXgY_isxlG-e4H9VjoWNFkUr2A1Dr8plsG_Y5cNvN7VWpYVN_v2O2FjT-83HNbPaT/s320/themarvels_imax_digital_supplemental_tix_v3_lg.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><p>Hey Mofos!</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">I went to check out the film The Marvels last night and let me tell you, I want to be a super hero. Director Nia DaCosta has me convinced that I just need a knee brace or two, an ankle brace, a power bracelet and some super power then I too can be a Marvel. Let's get into the film shall we?</p><p></p><p>Here's the synopsis: </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Carol Danvers aka Captain </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Marvel</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> has reclaimed her identity from </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan, Kamala Khan aka Ms. </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Marvel</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team-up and learn to work in concert to save </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> universe as “</span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">The</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Marvels</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">.” </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Marvel</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Studios’ “</span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">The</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Marvels</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">” stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton, Gary Lewis, Seo-Jun Park, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, and Samuel L. Jackson. Nia DaCosta directs with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Mary Livanos Jonathan Schwartz and Matthew Jenkins serve as executive producers. </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">The</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> screenplay is by Nia DaCosta and Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>My review: </b><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) shows more emotion than I've ever seen in the Marvel Universe. It's like she's human or something. That cat Noodles, Goose. or whatever its name was, tore my nerves up and maybe that's because I'm not an animal person. Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) was Black Girl Magic personified and I loved her natural big hair, and Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) and her family stole the damn show along with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="263" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uwmDH12MAA4" width="432" youtube-src-id="uwmDH12MAA4"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">The comedy of proportions of Ms. Marvel aka Kamala and her family are hilarious and probably how many parents would behave when their daughter is in and out of the universe and they have no clue wtf is going on. The villain of the film, Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) scared me plain and simple. She is the survivor of the Kree Civil War and her home Hala is dying thanks to Captain Marvel's destroying the Supreme Intelligence. Dar-Benn is with the shits and ready to do whatever she has to in order to bring peace, love, and soul to her beloved Hala. I did feel like the Marvel Universe should have done more with that character and the people of Hala. But she simply served as the reason The Marvels were thrown together by well, you'll see. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">One thing I loved is the diversity of the cast and all of the girl power. I also loved that it wasn't just about Captain Marvel, because let's be for real, her movie was a snore and it took me all of ten tries to get thru it. Sorry but it did. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">But here, all three leads get their chance to shine and we get to see their full arcs come to sort of a completion whether it's peace, turmoil, or utter chaos as this chapter of their adventure ends. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">I haven't seen every single <i>Marvel </i>movie, but what I do know, stay after the credits, because judging from the audience reaction, it's gonna make you squeal with excitement about the next chapter of the Marvel Universe. <br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">I loved the kee-kee's I got from this film and the feeling of feeling like my imagination, just like Kamala's, can take me anywhere I want to go. It also showed the power of compromise, keeping promises, promises (sorry I started singing Christopher Williams' song), and taking a leap of faith into the unknown to help others. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">I think this is a great film and can't wait to see what lies ahead in the future for these three super heroes. Also, please know this film is probably the shortest one in the MU. At least you'll be home early! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">Marvel</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"> Studios’ <i>“</i></span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">The</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Marvels</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">opens in U.S. theaters on November 10.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let me know what you think if you go! </span><br /></span><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">~Meik</span></i></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Meikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06347972470810476035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-4548916863841614072023-10-28T13:16:00.005-04:002023-10-28T13:16:45.575-04:00Interview: Basketball Wives: Orlando<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbi7s-qMTyr9r5yYrTeWY_TGBXt7bce1EULDPNqhXDEOm7e02kVomrCNspcwKPlUxu_g229jGUSa3ryY_d0cjF5KQTsixBizfyHSzFrE1JDOqt3EHUJn60vITke5iE9nrpjqukVwrfxd2dNk9trGjzcHw4WNnlYJvy0N8e8bpPo4QO4OYGci3RevogB4/s1920/mgid_arc_imageassetref_vh1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbi7s-qMTyr9r5yYrTeWY_TGBXt7bce1EULDPNqhXDEOm7e02kVomrCNspcwKPlUxu_g229jGUSa3ryY_d0cjF5KQTsixBizfyHSzFrE1JDOqt3EHUJn60vITke5iE9nrpjqukVwrfxd2dNk9trGjzcHw4WNnlYJvy0N8e8bpPo4QO4OYGci3RevogB4/w266-h400/mgid_arc_imageassetref_vh1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hey Mofos!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you been watching "Basketball Wives" with the OG's? Well there's a new franchise in town and it's in Orlando. I had the chance to chat with "Basketball Wives: Orlando" cast members Mehgan James and Ashley Snell about why they chose to be on this show, and more. It airs on Vh1 on Monday nights! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Watch here on Check the Rhymes TV: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="307" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i_IXXP-evEI" width="410" youtube-src-id="i_IXXP-evEI"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you been watching the show? What do you think so far?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~Meik</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-50551101692941073272023-10-11T17:58:00.001-04:002023-10-11T17:59:59.502-04:00Review: "The Burial"<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZM2gwtdo9-SBePWA6Hi2sFLR7DzyT2lSL8zNnjpT1lEK8WvDGrUMLKRgwwHww6jLTmnPPAfYdwVlcOhyphenhyphenRhywdB8XBA2aH50s0CYhT7wggbVz6MhKykz4wCCvHdmHCQIYTsXj2WSQXKJicpPeTzFQFXF2sCC9HtDE7ojPQqzBMJY4CpMqUpDFSLBcLso/s2880/the-burial-BURI_2023_DigitalOneSheet_BacktoBack_1944x2880_PRE_FINAL_en-US_CPS_rgb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1944" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZM2gwtdo9-SBePWA6Hi2sFLR7DzyT2lSL8zNnjpT1lEK8WvDGrUMLKRgwwHww6jLTmnPPAfYdwVlcOhyphenhyphenRhywdB8XBA2aH50s0CYhT7wggbVz6MhKykz4wCCvHdmHCQIYTsXj2WSQXKJicpPeTzFQFXF2sCC9HtDE7ojPQqzBMJY4CpMqUpDFSLBcLso/w270-h400/the-burial-BURI_2023_DigitalOneSheet_BacktoBack_1944x2880_PRE_FINAL_en-US_CPS_rgb.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><p>Hey Mofos!</p><p>I'm back with another movie review! Let me know in the comments if these are helpful. </p><p>This time I went to check out the new Jamie Foxx film "The Burial." </p><p> Now with it being close to Halloween chile, I thought this was about to be a horror movie so I chose a seat close to the exit cuz I don't play those games. I didn't really look into what the film was about because one, dealing with grief, and two, I figured with Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones, it's gonna be good no matter what. </p><p>What's the film about? I'm glad you asked! Here's the synopsis: </p><i>Inspired by true events, when a handshake deal goes sour, funeral homeowner Jeremiah O’Keefe (Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones) enlists charismatic, smooth-talking attorney Willie E. Gary (Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx) to save his family business. Tempers flare and laughter ensues as the unlikely pair bond while exposing corporate corruption and racial injustice in this inspirational, triumphant story.</i><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="290" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZOhIdaufd3Q" width="489" youtube-src-id="ZOhIdaufd3Q"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chile, at first I thought the film was going to be about Jamie as a preacher because of how the film starts out in the church. But things get to cooking when we find out that Jeremiah O'Keefe has been duped by some shady businessman. Willie Gary is a slick talking personal injury lawyer that showed OUT in the courtroom. So much that I was sitting there like, can I hire this man to be my lawyer for everything?! Anyhoo, the film is set in the 1990s. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jerry, aka O'Keefe, ends up in some financial trouble and his lawyer, Mike Allred, played by Alan Ruck, suggests he sell some of his fune homes to Ray Loewen (Bill Camp), head of the Loewen Group. They shake it out over crab legs and lobster on a boat in Canada. You can immediately tell that Loewen is up to no good and doesn't give a darn about a thing but himself and his interests. The Loewen Group is snapping up small fune homes across the U.S and making money off of that plus high burial insurance. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) is brought on board to help Allred but when the contract and money are taking too long to settle, he sense something ain't clean in the milk. Allred looks like he wants to call Hal, "boy" but anyhoo, he dismisses Hal's spidey senses. But Jerry is convinced so they go looking for a lawyer to guarantee them a win, and they settle on Willie Gary, a flashy personal injury lawyer who hasn't lost a case in 12 years. Add in Jurnee Smollett's character, Mame Downes, and you have a showdown in the courtroom from racism to the audacity, it's never a dull moment. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Gub8EjnO_lcSPHBBTqCH_Mu37WLcO_uGelt3fUGXCINbJzs3EgHhgIaOH0L8uoGwCNp-p92l2Mw6GEXPy5JOJfQUuZnRBDYgnd76hzKv2haS0jpsLbbmhq_gyrdp5t-GiYSOrrCmnZSj-evAJA79cj4RYgNwEe-W70QPQCucXAxB7oHmYZxMlzVO0mM/s3900/the-burial-Jurnee%20Smollett%20as%20Mame%20Downes%20and%20Jamie%20Foxx%20as%20Willie%20Gary%20in%20The%20Burial%20Photo%20Skip%20Bolen%20AMAZON%20CONTENT%20SERVICES%20LLC_rgb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2600" data-original-width="3900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Gub8EjnO_lcSPHBBTqCH_Mu37WLcO_uGelt3fUGXCINbJzs3EgHhgIaOH0L8uoGwCNp-p92l2Mw6GEXPy5JOJfQUuZnRBDYgnd76hzKv2haS0jpsLbbmhq_gyrdp5t-GiYSOrrCmnZSj-evAJA79cj4RYgNwEe-W70QPQCucXAxB7oHmYZxMlzVO0mM/w400-h266/the-burial-Jurnee%20Smollett%20as%20Mame%20Downes%20and%20Jamie%20Foxx%20as%20Willie%20Gary%20in%20The%20Burial%20Photo%20Skip%20Bolen%20AMAZON%20CONTENT%20SERVICES%20LLC_rgb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Jurnee Smollett as Mame Downes and Jamie Foxx as Willie Gary in The Burial Photo credit: Skip Bolen </b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This film is based on a true story. The Loewen Group did offer to buy O'Keefe's fune home biz but proceeded not to complete the contract, so the film is based on the actual case. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I loved seeing all of the Black lawyers and it had me wanting to enroll in somebody's law school but since I just got free of my student loans I ain't doing all that. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also loved how well Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx just vibed together even on the plane listening to 90s music. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This film made me realize that Foxx's character Willie was trying to stay in his personal injury legal box, afraid to take the leap because he wouldn't win. Then once he decided to take on the challenge, he couldn't let others control the ship. It reminded me that we shouldn't stay in a box and shouldn't allow others or ourselves to say we have to be good at only one thing. Step outside the box and GO BIG! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, should you see the film? YES! It gives you a reason to root for the underdog and slide in a few cackles while watching this legal drama. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can watch in select theaters now or on Prime Video starting October 3. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Let me know what you think! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~Meik</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #303030; margin: 14px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-3512907200628847242023-09-30T20:27:00.001-04:002023-09-30T20:27:10.994-04:00Review: MJ the Musical <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fndl7371zN7zPDI85PN_clJX8KZaPCXmhCMHVQEWOEwo598UdmLRHD8e0QnrnWKiAa_aC1fvBnHiSTKyTYZwbi2hwTHxlWlcsgxGnzRmHr8DIQ8_zMB8cZ0Adn-0u4MvwVPUC9XDxs9io2CfbtfyyS3Bhze2HaEJed6qzKUYl0_CbdpZjoBo3ANbzho/s379/MJ_Musical.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fndl7371zN7zPDI85PN_clJX8KZaPCXmhCMHVQEWOEwo598UdmLRHD8e0QnrnWKiAa_aC1fvBnHiSTKyTYZwbi2hwTHxlWlcsgxGnzRmHr8DIQ8_zMB8cZ0Adn-0u4MvwVPUC9XDxs9io2CfbtfyyS3Bhze2HaEJed6qzKUYl0_CbdpZjoBo3ANbzho/s320/MJ_Musical.png" width="222" /></a></div><br /><p>Hey Mofos!</p><p>If you know me, then you know I love me some Michael Joseph Jackson and his entire family. If you've followed my career and this blog, then you know I've interviewed several of the family known as Music Royalty. </p><p>So when I heard MJ the Musical was coming to Blumenthal Performing Arts, you KNOW I had to be there. </p><p>What is the musical about? I'm glad you asked! </p><p>Michael Jackson is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry is traveling across the country as MJ, the multi Tony Award®-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award®-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTir9pQsudlBsbdhyphenhyphenc7-80YwJA7Y4QtdZ90-UkY9zG2wVOp4JNqy-haxHwlIcfKbtghgzdAl2fdzkomifscDOhbbSYF1ByXYd5zFdNBZWFh44gW3F3npvvhyphenhyphenbe6RabnUQZqk-77OlYpJwbHrLYCb5UcsfLdiiZnJPwvDGi4I_47g2BHbBc99wmSqzcYk/s6824/MJ_TOUR_RomanBanks_0129_MatthewMurphy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4552" data-original-width="6824" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTir9pQsudlBsbdhyphenhyphenc7-80YwJA7Y4QtdZ90-UkY9zG2wVOp4JNqy-haxHwlIcfKbtghgzdAl2fdzkomifscDOhbbSYF1ByXYd5zFdNBZWFh44gW3F3npvvhyphenhyphenbe6RabnUQZqk-77OlYpJwbHrLYCb5UcsfLdiiZnJPwvDGi4I_47g2BHbBc99wmSqzcYk/s320/MJ_TOUR_RomanBanks_0129_MatthewMurphy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roman Banks as MJ in MJ the Musical </div><br /><p>Now let me tell you this, as a HUGE MJ fan-- this musical was EVERYTHING. I was smiling from the moment the music started, and while the cast doesn't sound EXACTLY like Michael, they damn sure came close. Roman Banks plays the ish out of MJ, with the moves, the singing, all the things. The only critique I had was MJ wasn't southern, so some words came out with a southern drawl but it was kind of cute! I also wondered if Off the Wall/Thriller MJ (Brandon Lee Harris) forgot to put his wig on towards the end, but either way, his voice was amazing as well. All the MJ's were great! </p><p>The sets were perfection, from the iconic Apollo Theater to the set of Soul Train, it made you feel like you were right there! </p><p>One of my favorite things about the musical aside from the music, was the selection of the songs. While it was centered around the Dangerous Tour, it also brought us on a journey from the origins of J5, including Joe being Joe, thru the Victory Tour, to the Thriller success, and more. I also love it included songs that weren't as mainstream, so you'd have to be a true fan to know those B sides. </p><p>As I watched in awe, I thought about the time I met Joe Jackson and how he truly was a flirt as it played out on stage. <a href="http://www.themofochronicles.com/2012/08/a-chance-of-lifetime.html" target="_blank">Remember the time</a> he low key was flirting with me?! </p><p>I wondered if Jackson's former choreographer and friend LaVelle Smith Jr. had seen this yet, since he was right beside him on the tour. Lawd knows all I could think about was him telling me how he hated performing Smooth Criminal every night LOL. </p><p>Check out my interview with him from a few months ago on Check the Rhymes:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w5wBtNrZNhQ" width="398" youtube-src-id="w5wBtNrZNhQ"></iframe></div><br /><p>Anyway, this musical is a must see! The sets make you feel like you are in the rehearsal space like a fly on the wall, or in my case, a dancer in the corner. I got my choreography on in my seat, with the man next to me, hyping my foolishness and eight counts. </p><p>I loved seeing people dressed in Michael Jackson gear and as I looked around, I realized, despite what is going on in the world, and in our individual lives, music will unite us, especially that of the King of Pop. </p><p>If the show comes to your city, go and come back and let me know what you think! </p><p>~Meik</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-60817359095751995832023-09-13T10:49:00.004-04:002023-09-13T13:44:24.738-04:00Trombonist Jeff Bradshaw is Coming to Charlotte to Middle C Jazz<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrYrBvKMu3bCYfZmMaP5aO9v2hqBqjy0JIdyW752ljUpiRy64V-2pkfz9xzseXU_O4foWwLk-lN6Xu7dUYmqM0c4MzdtmteODqJOdHoVQaWi8Y-Qlxs-7plswx1-cKhANCOR9d6FqvP2klCcMXrllkwT2ZBeq6GhA887fESqZ_oSk7yqoeq33AI9cSF0/s1200/get.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1200" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrYrBvKMu3bCYfZmMaP5aO9v2hqBqjy0JIdyW752ljUpiRy64V-2pkfz9xzseXU_O4foWwLk-lN6Xu7dUYmqM0c4MzdtmteODqJOdHoVQaWi8Y-Qlxs-7plswx1-cKhANCOR9d6FqvP2klCcMXrllkwT2ZBeq6GhA887fESqZ_oSk7yqoeq33AI9cSF0/s320/get.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Hey Mofos!<p></p><p>If you love good music, then you'll absolutely need to RUN and grab tickets whenever trombonist Jeff Bradshaw is in your area. On September 15, he'll be at Middle C Jazz in Charlotte, North Carolina. There are the two show options, one at 7pm and one at 9:15pm. Purchase your tickets <a href="https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1036257/jeff-bradshaw-charlotte-middle-c-jazz-club">here</a>:</p><p>https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1036257/jeff-bradshaw-charlotte-middle-c-jazz-club</p><p>Get cute and come on out! </p><p>Let me tell you, I swear it feels like being at an upscale New York spot doused with southern hospitality. Plus, it's a cute spot for a date night! </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Who is Jeff Bradshaw?</b> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Glad you asked! This if from a press release from Music Matters Entertainment/SRG-ILS Group label imprint: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 15.6pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;">“I’m
not the traditional jazz or solo jazz artist. My father taught me how to play
the trombone. There is no music school, college, or institution that can take
credit for anything that I’ve accomplished with this instrument,” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 15.6pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;">His
first experience in mainstream music came in 1994. Bradshaw began to
meet musicians, singers, and producers on the Philly scene that went on to
become the architect of the neo-soul revolution: Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson,
Tariq ‘Black Thought’ Trotter of the Roots, James Poyser, Andre Harris, Vidal
Davis, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and many others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 15.6pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;">A few
years later, Bradshaw was invited by his dear friend, Jill Scott, to
take part in the recording of her first album and to tour with her after its
breakthrough release. This connection led opportunity to meet with Hidden Beach
Recordings CEO Steve McKeever, who afforded Jeff the opportunity to
record his first album as a solo artist in 2003,<br />
“Bone Deep.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 15.6pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;">“Jill
was with Hidden Beach Records at the time and told Steve McKeever about me and
to check out the music I was working on. I didn’t want to seem too anxious, so
a week later I sent him 3 or 4 songs. He really liked them and asked for more,
so I sent him two more songs, the last of which was a song he asked me about
that was an instrumental and I had told him that Jill was going to sing on that
song. After a month or so, he hit me back, and I met him at Jill’s video shoot
in Long Island, New York. He wanted to tell me in person that he thinks I have
something groundbreaking and that he’s not afraid to sign a trombone player. He
shook my hand and told me<br />
welcome to Hidden Beach,” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 15.6pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;">Since
the release of Jeff Bradshaw’s debut album, he has had 20 years of
valuable experiences that have shaped him into the veteran
multi-instrumentalist, producer, and writer that listeners know and love
today. Jeff’s raw talent and ability to connect with other artists have
led him to work with the likes of Michael Jackson, Jay Z, Mary J Blige, Erykah Badu, Kirk Franklin, Earth Wind & Fire, Musiq Soulchild, and
more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile, Jeff Bradshaw does have new music out. He continues to indulge in the celebration of
the 20th Anniversary since the release of his first studio album. He recently
gave fans a taste of "Jeff Bradshaw:20", with the release of two
official singles from the project. The first offering was the smooth
jazz-infused, "Carrie's Bread Puddin'," </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The second single, is the Eric Roberson featured song, "Make Some
Time." “The song is inspired by people who hustle wanting to date people
who hustle. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 15.6pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's a previous <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChecktheRhymesTV/channels">Check the Rhymes </a>interview I did with Jeff in 2020:</span></p></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IfWwkw3CvLU" width="320" youtube-src-id="IfWwkw3CvLU"></iframe></div><br /><p>Jeff is still touring with Patti Labelle, and doing shows solo. Let me know if you go check him out! That man puts on a show do you hear me?!</p><p>Let me know in the comments if you have a favorite song of Jeff's!</p><p><br /></p><p>Until Later, </p><p>~Meik</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-11214288683872326802023-09-10T15:20:00.000-04:002023-09-10T15:20:00.570-04:00Product Review: Time to Cool Off<p> Heyyyy Mofos!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWwjXWqYmNNW32gu1O7R0vXjvRlD7dZYzhTsJi6a1pb1BxEtZ5qUudhO5wpQEKmPe1_c9jOwUgIL3S80qkAMSvzEwR45KEYhMfXSZ6H3J6OG5D_aQwoREcxfETWEv2uGshxWEQdwGulPZglH1ed2TQPgc6Ggv25cTB-Pxh_xtVcAqj1wkp2LPIMWKb6c/s225/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWwjXWqYmNNW32gu1O7R0vXjvRlD7dZYzhTsJi6a1pb1BxEtZ5qUudhO5wpQEKmPe1_c9jOwUgIL3S80qkAMSvzEwR45KEYhMfXSZ6H3J6OG5D_aQwoREcxfETWEv2uGshxWEQdwGulPZglH1ed2TQPgc6Ggv25cTB-Pxh_xtVcAqj1wkp2LPIMWKb6c/w320-h320/download.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>If you've been paying attention then you know I had a <a href="http://www.themofochronicles.com/2022/03/recovery-chronicles-i-broke-up-with-my.html" target="_blank">hysterectomy</a> and with that comes the fun times of someone pressing the button on perimenopause and the devil decides to turn the furnace on in your body when you are just minding your business. Hot flashes, night sweats, you name it, and for the past year, I haven't slept under a comforter because IT IS TOO HOT. It's hard to be cute and sexy when you're waking up with your bonnet half on, your night clothes wet and not from the secks, but from your own body temperature being raised to a gazillion degrees. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFvQM45j6PfKbYEgYXNsgMMvca1AXWzAjE7SlOK01yxaDSFULRoAKT4asN7Cet8yqpj6O4qWDymXu8-ZYYj5O2wtm2tSZA1Sbnhj86rq2ISO5uLkQEyLoSESu4hOoiSr5j4L_qQSJFJ7VfxhioxYN7hpD0pJZh6CUpYeIfCt4mDrrBrPn8OhU2RUiOqs/s200/200w%20(1).gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="200" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFvQM45j6PfKbYEgYXNsgMMvca1AXWzAjE7SlOK01yxaDSFULRoAKT4asN7Cet8yqpj6O4qWDymXu8-ZYYj5O2wtm2tSZA1Sbnhj86rq2ISO5uLkQEyLoSESu4hOoiSr5j4L_qQSJFJ7VfxhioxYN7hpD0pJZh6CUpYeIfCt4mDrrBrPn8OhU2RUiOqs/w320-h221/200w%20(1).gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>So I jumped at the chance to try out the<a href="https://www.restduvet.com/products/evercool-comforter"> Evercool Cooling Comforter</a> from Rest Duvet to see if this would let me be great while I sleep. This comforter, I got it in Cool Gray, it was cool to the touch when I got it. It feels like a silky something, I'm not up on my fabrics game, but I knew it didn't feel like regular ass cotton. So, I put it on my bed and just laid there in cool comfort. When I tell you, I could actually get under the covers and sleep like a normal person?! WHY did I let this comforter sit for months before I decided to actually use it? Crazy as hell that's why. </p><p>The company says the cooling comforter helps with managing your body temp changes by preventing heat accumulation under the blanket and keeping the skin cool. I don't know about ya'll but to feel comfortable these days, I need to feel cool. </p><p>I recommend at least trying it out to see if it cools you down at night. Listen, your significant other might not want to feel cool but you can get a twin size to wrap up in on your side of the bed and you can turn the a/c back to normal so they won't freeze while you are trying to cool down. Make it work for you! </p><p>Let me know if you try it out and what you think! I'm going to take a nap. </p><p><br /></p><p>~Meik </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-17484153628279934062023-08-17T16:54:00.004-04:002023-08-17T16:54:52.612-04:00Recapping "Claim to Fame" Season 2! <p> Hey Mofos!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjib7clIpFr-VRDPVGu7NZ3furNbxGTqPt4iD7945DxMyuXVC67cPrRmFTCHJedsb_9Gv6HQlKfyWHjZsagBQlEoQfcD70EnzLuep7F2kT64SGLYnKxPK_tEdXrmvgHqFjvVu8_aepqtbDKQ_hThn7RVxXn35hnCLsWeMpDgPrJV0Xv2pCFDc2hzSKmbsQ/s951/Screenshot%202023-08-17%20165402.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="951" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjib7clIpFr-VRDPVGu7NZ3furNbxGTqPt4iD7945DxMyuXVC67cPrRmFTCHJedsb_9Gv6HQlKfyWHjZsagBQlEoQfcD70EnzLuep7F2kT64SGLYnKxPK_tEdXrmvgHqFjvVu8_aepqtbDKQ_hThn7RVxXn35hnCLsWeMpDgPrJV0Xv2pCFDc2hzSKmbsQ/w431-h172/Screenshot%202023-08-17%20165402.png" width="431" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I've been a little busy as usual, but this time healing from grief, which is stirring up other ish but I'll write about that in the next post. This post is about me flexing a whole different hosting muscle and that's by recapping TV shows! It's so fun! </p><p>For <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hollywoodjunket" target="_blank">Hollywood Junket</a>, I have been talking about this season's "Claim to Fame" episodes. If you haven't watched this show, I suggest going to Hulu and checking it out. It's so fun trying to guess who these people are related to! </p><p>Here are a few of the shows! Let me know what you think! </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-6Po_Y9Jyn8" width="320" youtube-src-id="-6Po_Y9Jyn8"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9VuhSiKi7nQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="9VuhSiKi7nQ"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WYRHOFCpVZ8" width="320" youtube-src-id="WYRHOFCpVZ8"></iframe></div><br /><p>I'm hooked on this dang game show now! </p><p>Keep watching!</p><p>~Meik</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-42435023041218327002023-07-30T19:22:00.000-04:002023-07-30T19:22:17.620-04:00What You Need to Know Before Heading to Hawaii: My Mofo'n Trip Recap <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ge4bVh-9WQlkUEGQaRvpqsJFUu2xDcOh_fK5mmNeI6Ztl8ugyzwwdAVFftO_whGeYPeGycpv7W9tQNrQt6KJzuLjNHZhxcrw6mCyI4VqTM-zlYnkLT06zSJdUyNtQj-fE2gqGJG0D7iQKsq5Ed6OU4drfpz5Gpo2qGopwkBU_2gYZfDUEmamoq_mi5Q/s4032/20230713_171405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ge4bVh-9WQlkUEGQaRvpqsJFUu2xDcOh_fK5mmNeI6Ztl8ugyzwwdAVFftO_whGeYPeGycpv7W9tQNrQt6KJzuLjNHZhxcrw6mCyI4VqTM-zlYnkLT06zSJdUyNtQj-fE2gqGJG0D7iQKsq5Ed6OU4drfpz5Gpo2qGopwkBU_2gYZfDUEmamoq_mi5Q/w244-h325/20230713_171405.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>ALOHA Mofos! <p></p><p>I know.. you have probably been like WTF HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MONTH?</p><p>Chile, half the month, I was in Hawaii! I never take vacations longer than a day or two, but this time I had to take a good chunk of time to enjoy all things in Oahu, Hawaii. My sister and her bestie, along with some other members of our group were celebrating birthdays so it was a fun time. </p><p>I'm gonna hit the recap quickly of what you should know if you decide to go because I'm still tired --even after being back a week. That six hour time difference is a whole donkey. </p><p>1. Get a<a href="https://gocity.com/en-us"> Go-City </a>pass when you go because we were able to book our excursions ahead of time with the pass and save lots of money vs paying for stuff at each thing we wanted to do. A 3 or 4 day pass was good and about $280-$300 and saves you about that much PER activity. </p><p>We did a luau, catamaran sail, an all day tour around the island that included snorkeling, site-seeing, coffee farm, Dole plantation, lunch at a shrimp farm, and more.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd_V9YGDY-RoInH3GbWh0oNvjH7fNki6sIciaymNZCHkBXF-PnqDquO3NUFw7thxNzMJFb40giw9zVb1PcGcEMe7-qZnB0Q7SAgfTeEvoc0bfovLeJ5JKmy2l5XVk9oyA-mLC1_nFncatNoC7MHYqIPGOLofnCPslDDLpnGFYlRdlflMmZ5glb1AebD0/s4032/20230715_103639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd_V9YGDY-RoInH3GbWh0oNvjH7fNki6sIciaymNZCHkBXF-PnqDquO3NUFw7thxNzMJFb40giw9zVb1PcGcEMe7-qZnB0Q7SAgfTeEvoc0bfovLeJ5JKmy2l5XVk9oyA-mLC1_nFncatNoC7MHYqIPGOLofnCPslDDLpnGFYlRdlflMmZ5glb1AebD0/s320/20230715_103639.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI_9HItHWGkNfGEgAiiKL4ipW4zIhDXvT--wxjxcUuT1TFsDp9V5EwwtviA-xwn5OoDdSI_1bf-3Us_Y-hzB5nqvV0eQsVFsFi7rlk5PzMeUZjPUefuvMye-rgKChtkPjIsUNENQ0xDgtMtq42Mk-vYMurf-8hZqkFlsyxF1X0c0cj75N2udLN6dqW2w/s4032/20230716_104701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI_9HItHWGkNfGEgAiiKL4ipW4zIhDXvT--wxjxcUuT1TFsDp9V5EwwtviA-xwn5OoDdSI_1bf-3Us_Y-hzB5nqvV0eQsVFsFi7rlk5PzMeUZjPUefuvMye-rgKChtkPjIsUNENQ0xDgtMtq42Mk-vYMurf-8hZqkFlsyxF1X0c0cj75N2udLN6dqW2w/s320/20230716_104701.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> My crew did a hike with their pass--my knees told me to sit my ass down and let them go hike and look for waterfalls. </p><p>2. We all pack heavy cuz you never know what you might need. I only needed tanks and shorts and bathing suits, but bought all these cute clothes that were too damn hot to wear. Oh and take lots of panties/draws cut like I said--it's hot as hell and you gonna be wanting to shower and change multiple times through the day. You can get jazzy and dressed up if you plan to hit up the night life, but it's Hawaii... literally everyone is in sundresses, shorts, tanks, tees, it's RELAXED. It's such a chill vibe that it seems like nobody really has an attitude. My friends told me to pack snacks and you know what.. I brought them same snacks home. BUT don't forget your mosquito repellant bracelets--that's the one thing I'm glad I packed! </p><p>3. We stayed near Waikiki Beach within walking distance to the beach. Our hotel provided chairs and towels, so you can save packing room with that. You can also rent an umbrella at the beach if the hotel runs out of them, and it was like $30 for 2 hours I think. One thing I found is that particular beach--the sand is ROUGH, so you gonna get a workout. If you are like me with bad knees and ankles, then it's gonna feel like you are walking thru hell to get to a nice spot in the sand. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFssOT8snpa2p6LT9RmHzOsGiO29ijHrPr5Hu2lwSJJOcI4AXq-YPBDqxoiKeY9Lo-39Sh_TgqcAKtK5l8b943TMF51xJvpG7Iqv61PQAPmMLUwZ7r78nbXU5tlAOjyAoMa8unjMe-lt1Wl1WXYFWJmdMg9k_UqdZw3y7my0fbyAkMd9Y9b9FiB2XlTrE/s4032/20230713_122358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFssOT8snpa2p6LT9RmHzOsGiO29ijHrPr5Hu2lwSJJOcI4AXq-YPBDqxoiKeY9Lo-39Sh_TgqcAKtK5l8b943TMF51xJvpG7Iqv61PQAPmMLUwZ7r78nbXU5tlAOjyAoMa8unjMe-lt1Wl1WXYFWJmdMg9k_UqdZw3y7my0fbyAkMd9Y9b9FiB2XlTrE/s320/20230713_122358.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>With that being said, wear water shoes (the sand is literally 50'levum degrees hot) and apparently it's lava rock. IDK nothing about that but I do know the tour guide on the Circle Tour told us we were inside a volcano at one point and I thought.. now what you say now bruh? HOW? WHY? WHOOOO? Does the volcano know?! Needless to say, my nerves were tore up. And Hurricane Calvin was a brewing in the ocean, so the waves were wavin' something serious. I can't swim so I know my limits.. stay at the edge and let it get to your knees. DASSIT. </p><p>4. Take cash! Some places on the Circle Tour didn't take cards, so make sure you have cash on hand. </p><p>5. You also cannot take home all the pineapples and mangos you buy-- you gonna have to get that ish shipped to you cuz Hawaii security/agriculture folks do not play them games. </p><p>6. If you go to Waikiki, be prepared to walk a lot so have your sneakers on deck. If you were blessed with good ankles and can rock flat ass flip flops and sandals more power to you. I wore my sneakers whenever we had to walk far and when I gave up on walking, I discovered the shuttle. You pay $5 (cash only) for a pass that lasts all day so you can hop on and hop off as much as you want. That became my saving grace. Now granted, I would melt waiting on the shuttle, but it still helped me out when I couldn't take another step in the heat. </p><p>7. Lava Flow drinks. Pineapple smoothies. Dassit. Dat's all. Drink those for me if you go! </p><p>8. Know if you are in a large group, most places won't split the check 50'levum ways, so make sure y'all set the rules up front-- either pay for what you ordered or split the bill evenly with the tip. You don't want to be sitting there stressed out over who ate what and who didn't pay for what. Trust me. </p><p>9. I was tickled that an ABC store was literally on every corner. It's not just like the liquor stores we are used to in NC called ABC Stores. It was more like a convenience store where you could buy liquor on one end, and milk and eggs on the other, a float, travel items, snacks, and t-shirts. Keep your receipts and when you get to $100, you get a free gift. I was not one to be keeping up with 50'levum receipts. </p><p>10. Yes vacation is for relaxing, so leave your laptop at home. Get out the room and see stuff, experience all of Oahu or wherever you go in Hawaii. I sat on the patio every morning gazing at our view and being grateful for the time I was there and I do miss the view so much now. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv23ylkP7x8I7Shwc6LPKGGZBatQEmkLaBx8Gc_eC2PI1f1rmMTzsc-qLjf4RLn3rFdpSXvy1CbfK3genzmdLGAVzfrE1hWpGbpnIEIXOmBHRl54U4DZxfp_CQhz9gGQI7RfFJYJOeb9XHNmlY_oCERYjM-RwCllZ_Io5R8saemT4oS1dZBzrBhzxGOY/s4032/20230715_075335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv23ylkP7x8I7Shwc6LPKGGZBatQEmkLaBx8Gc_eC2PI1f1rmMTzsc-qLjf4RLn3rFdpSXvy1CbfK3genzmdLGAVzfrE1hWpGbpnIEIXOmBHRl54U4DZxfp_CQhz9gGQI7RfFJYJOeb9XHNmlY_oCERYjM-RwCllZ_Io5R8saemT4oS1dZBzrBhzxGOY/s320/20230715_075335.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Try new foods, new things, and just embrace the culture there. It's an experience and I'm so glad I went. I did a little work, but I did put my phone away and tried to be present and absorb every single moment of new things I may not ever get to experience again. <div>There's so much more I could say about preparing for a trip to Oahu, but I'm sleepy. <br /><div><br /></div><div>My favorite moment of the entire trip? Feeling free enough to wear crop tops and bikinis and not giving a damn who saw my fibroids/hysterectomy scars and belly fat. I was comfy in my own skin. </div><div><br /></div><div>I came back relaxed and apparently glowing because there's something magical about being in Hawaii. I also realized that it's important to unplug and take a vacation. It's important for self-care and it actually helps to clear your mind and give you clarity about things. This trip solidified some things for me that I've been going back and forth about in my head. I wasn't expecting to come back to a stack of rejection letters, but you know what, it didn't even bother me much because I now know what it is I truly want. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can't wait to go back and visit other islands and see what comes out of those trips! </div><div><br /></div><div>Have you ever been? Share your experience in the comments! </div><div><br /></div><div>Aloha</div><div>~Meik<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-69921697314760003582023-06-30T23:15:00.005-04:002023-06-30T23:15:50.679-04:00Black Music Month Interview: Saxophonist Adrian Crutchfield <p> Hey Mofos!</p><p>I met saxophonist Adrian Crutchfield at a Will Downing concert. I was sitting backstage with his mom and aunt watching him perform. Once they started telling me about his amazing body of work, I had to know more about how he ended up working with Prince! </p><p>Watch here: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MYKyUg1mRZY" width="448" youtube-src-id="MYKyUg1mRZY"></iframe></div><br /><p>This interview was recorded in March--just days before my grandfather passed away, so it's weird to watch myself push through this knowing I was on edge waiting to hear of any news of his progress. Luckily, I got to spend some time with him before he passed so anyhoo-- sorry for taking so long to post this interview. </p><p>Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel! </p><p><br /></p><p>~Meik</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-42020804587968416892023-06-30T22:49:00.000-04:002023-06-30T22:49:02.520-04:00Black Music Month Interview: Angie Stone<p> Hey Mofos! <br /></p><p>First, please forgive me for missing ALLLLL of Black Music Month on the blog. BUT, here I am at the tail end and well, at least I had SOME content on "Check the Rhymes TV."</p><p>I had the pleasure of chatting with Angie Stone about her 10th studio album "Love Language," and she even answered fan questions! </p><p>Check it out here: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kkZyfWDabCg" width="472" youtube-src-id="kkZyfWDabCg"></iframe></div><br /><p>What's your favorite Angie Stone song?</p><p>~Meik</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-16685535186559698682023-06-06T21:46:00.002-04:002023-06-06T21:46:54.780-04:00Review: "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts"<p> Hey Mofos!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGB2iAFXUf2GZ42Kp8E_aYC-R48skNFg3lVLpU6QCx_Tffc5SmnxA8G5DFB5YMztMRb8P_7-tNmjJ0ULB2s9ypj2kN2S2vzm_nuootnp_35HnXDyOTUm9BFplQKpVWNiPXHPax-L6RTd7Q01eOFCLWW1cp0GrWq_2XKbzolZ9PZBZC1_Sae4TwJeCcGQ/s792/unnamed%20(10).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="631" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGB2iAFXUf2GZ42Kp8E_aYC-R48skNFg3lVLpU6QCx_Tffc5SmnxA8G5DFB5YMztMRb8P_7-tNmjJ0ULB2s9ypj2kN2S2vzm_nuootnp_35HnXDyOTUm9BFplQKpVWNiPXHPax-L6RTd7Q01eOFCLWW1cp0GrWq_2XKbzolZ9PZBZC1_Sae4TwJeCcGQ/s320/unnamed%20(10).jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br /><p>I had the chance to get a sneak preview of the new film "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" before it comes out on June 9. </p><p>Chile, I will be the first to admit, that I have only seen ONE Transformers movie, and that's "Bumblebee." I just saw it last weekend. Other than that, I only recall Optimus Prime from my days at preschool watching it on television waiting on my mama to come pick me up. Judge ya mammy not me. </p><p>Anyway, I was glad to see ole Optimus Prime in all his rusted glory is still out here battling the other evil bots, making ridiculous decisions, and acting like he's leading something like Tyrese in the new "Fast X" film. Also, why does Optimus drive so darn slow? Let me focus. </p><p>I absolutely love me some Bumblebee and now I love Mirage (played by Pete Davidson)! They have the smart mouths I live for! The two human characters, Noah Diaz and Elena played by Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, were all of us if we stumbled upon a war between Transformers of all varieties, nerves shooketh. They were brave as hell, cuz I would have been like BYE ROBOT ALIENS. I loved seeing a Black woman interested in history and art, but the story was all too familiar, without getting into spoilers, of a white woman taking credit for her discoveries. That stressed me out since I've been there dealing with that same micro-agression and there's nothing you can do. But my girl got her recognition and that's all I'm gonna say. </p><p>Catch a preview of the trailer:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZtuFgnxQMrA" width="430" youtube-src-id="ZtuFgnxQMrA"></iframe></div><br /><p>I loved the introduction of the robotic beasts and hearing their backstory, but some of those characters didn't get enough shine for me, like the Lion. Some of those beasts looked downright creepy to me honestly. </p><p>I loved the relationship with Noah and his little brother. It's not often you see the depth of the emotional bond between brothers especially with that age gap. They encouraged and uplifted each other and it reminded me to do the same with my sister even when she tears my nerves up. </p><p>My favorite part of the film? THE SOUNDTRACK! The film is set in 1994 when Tupac and Biggie were still with us. Anyhoo, I was getting my life thinking I was back in high school crushing over.. never mind. Noah's sidekick with the Acura and Twizzlers is so freaking hilarious--more of these two and their antics please!</p><p>Overall, there's a lot of explosions, fighting, bots, bad bots, bad ass cars, and lessons. </p><p>The biggest one I took away, was DO NOT GIVE UP. KEEP FIGHTING! Also, can somebody get Optimus Prime some oil?</p><p>But seriously, it was nice seeing two heroes of color on the screen, and if you like any Transformers films--I think you'll like this one. </p><p>I can't wait to see more of Mirage in future films. He's hilarious! </p><p>Let me know if you go see the film and what you think! I'll be busy going back to watch all of the Transformers films now! </p><p><br /></p>Meikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06347972470810476035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-66262735338146261782023-05-29T12:11:00.002-04:002023-05-29T12:11:20.936-04:00Interview: The Cast of "Run the World" Talks Season 2<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm3NMs34AQntcTKD7lxY25FHXD_TfqCU-oMDyD8ZANeEhNgx5Oj3XfBlx-b6oFXxCBA-3t0wLamlsz4rXyVMPNs7-J_Lg7MlcRpjFwEU9pGu9bdQx8MA6aX1bK6mexKbi9XRJLmesJzyxnLY4Dj7sTCKWDMBvhTyJOwhuhDvufLHD6SfwjQII1o2I/s1280/New%20Thumbnails%20CTR%20(39).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm3NMs34AQntcTKD7lxY25FHXD_TfqCU-oMDyD8ZANeEhNgx5Oj3XfBlx-b6oFXxCBA-3t0wLamlsz4rXyVMPNs7-J_Lg7MlcRpjFwEU9pGu9bdQx8MA6aX1bK6mexKbi9XRJLmesJzyxnLY4Dj7sTCKWDMBvhTyJOwhuhDvufLHD6SfwjQII1o2I/s320/New%20Thumbnails%20CTR%20(39).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Hey Mofos!<br /><br /></p><p>I don't know about y'all but I love watching a series with Black women empowered and doing their thing. I binge watched "Run the World" a while back and have been waiting IMPATIENTLY for season 2 and it's finally here. It reminds me of a Black "Sex and the City" kind of with a little "Living Single" mixed in for good measure. </p><p>It comes on Starz and well.. check out the interview with the show's stars on Check the Rhymes TV!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AcnXlx37FXs" width="320" youtube-src-id="AcnXlx37FXs"></iframe></div><br /><p>Do you have a character you resonate with? Renee is mine! </p><p><br /></p><p>~Meik</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-25303461437191696772023-05-14T13:46:00.003-04:002023-05-14T13:46:59.642-04:00New Interview: Gina Thompson <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoFlpfuBKhUcCLB6YBXZU8lfuqsjeKzHmlLhfm56ymdlVo0jKaHx45iM5Gi60lg7wqpWGPB9Il5cDnnWm0s_1KPE_2xD6fn1kn5seP-zaJLgB4VwxIqZUZXKT85RsYEhYWXurwNb8zgMVBZBUvSZotuH1EfGLtw8A7q5zPnyWzdJBtS14tP4xKn_5/s2048/IMG_6473.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoFlpfuBKhUcCLB6YBXZU8lfuqsjeKzHmlLhfm56ymdlVo0jKaHx45iM5Gi60lg7wqpWGPB9Il5cDnnWm0s_1KPE_2xD6fn1kn5seP-zaJLgB4VwxIqZUZXKT85RsYEhYWXurwNb8zgMVBZBUvSZotuH1EfGLtw8A7q5zPnyWzdJBtS14tP4xKn_5/w180-h320/IMG_6473.png" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Hey Mofos!</p><p>I was super hype to chat with Gina Thompson! Talk about a throwback! I actually met her in 1997--she was one of the first music artists I had been around because she was in the building the day I interviewed Case, which was my very first celeb interview everrrrr. The place: East Tennessee State University and I was in college and sooooooooooo unprepared LOL. But, both her and Case taught me and my classmates an important lesson-- make sure all of your equipment is working, and control the interview. </p><p>Anyhoo--I was wondering where she was, and she just happens to be back with some new music! So, here's the Check the Rhymes TV interview:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="294" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OvPaYo-HA3Y" width="442" youtube-src-id="OvPaYo-HA3Y"></iframe></div><br /><p>I love how she stresses the importance of mental health! </p><p>As always, leave comments on the YouTube channel and subscribe! </p><p>~Meik</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-7805290545507922822023-04-23T21:04:00.003-04:002023-04-23T21:04:27.635-04:00Interview: Bowlegged Lou <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceK4kXX_ASfmhwEDT8Al4EqqIdKHmmcPrleOSGcW_D652Fnkyw-ik-GZQMmCghJUxSFdvIAOr2J059CHTBSauVbeM0mQ3eUsi6HrnVTTPmReELfNBcSI-3LyNxCInl3G9nxYFpZIH8mzWe1qN48pjgAIbnWx-zBVE262NCAff54ElHduMMULUmHgX/s1280/New%20Thumbnails%20CTR%20(3).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceK4kXX_ASfmhwEDT8Al4EqqIdKHmmcPrleOSGcW_D652Fnkyw-ik-GZQMmCghJUxSFdvIAOr2J059CHTBSauVbeM0mQ3eUsi6HrnVTTPmReELfNBcSI-3LyNxCInl3G9nxYFpZIH8mzWe1qN48pjgAIbnWx-zBVE262NCAff54ElHduMMULUmHgX/s320/New%20Thumbnails%20CTR%20(3).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Hey Mofos!</p><p>I haven't recorded any NEW interviews since my grandfather's passing, but I did forget to share this one. The original length was over two hours! Bowlegged Lou of Full Force is such a fun person to chat with, so he came on Check the Rhymes TV and gave me all kinds of tea! </p><p>Check it out here:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KqOV8l8hz5M" width="463" youtube-src-id="KqOV8l8hz5M"></iframe></div><br /><p>What Full Force jams are your fav??</p><p><br /></p><p>~Meik</p><p><br /></p>Meikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06347972470810476035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-83128537875478517432023-03-28T12:18:00.003-04:002023-03-28T12:18:41.444-04:00In Memory of My Grandfather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLta8AVZ9KqPGrqXBOkVOOuXDwyTFyBRKQZtFGMQioA7s9OKaMoIMPdd2pASsM1VH1s68eOeKTL-FW5TSSdilDSEdynTf7PCmO51Uqj3l_MLFyux2fBuDoI98NhYJ56ArsuD1SriitlMKZ_oxw5Ebk2KyLE0Gi_kiWbSzU12vKKES_bVLOojWBCbz/s375/Candle_400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLta8AVZ9KqPGrqXBOkVOOuXDwyTFyBRKQZtFGMQioA7s9OKaMoIMPdd2pASsM1VH1s68eOeKTL-FW5TSSdilDSEdynTf7PCmO51Uqj3l_MLFyux2fBuDoI98NhYJ56ArsuD1SriitlMKZ_oxw5Ebk2KyLE0Gi_kiWbSzU12vKKES_bVLOojWBCbz/s320/Candle_400x400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p> Hey Mofos, </p><p>I am absolutely heartbroken. My grandfather passed away on 3/23 at 95 years old. He was my everything. If you follow me on social media, then you know how much I adored him. I am grateful a few days before he passed, I was able to tell him thank you for everything he has done for me and thank you for loving me unconditionally. I like to think that he heard me. </p><p>During his fune, I read a tribute that I wrote to the man that was a father figure to me and helped shape me into the person I am today. I'm trying not to be sad since I know he's with my grandma in heaven, but it has been rough now that they are both gone. </p><p>I thought I'd share the tribute here:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><i><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0a0a0a;">“I think a hero is really any
person intent on making this a better place for all people.” – Maya Angelou<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0a0a0a;"> </span><span style="color: #202124;">My granddaddy is my hero. I know I
wouldn't be the person I am today without him. The fact that he's not with us
anymore breaks my heart, but I’m forever grateful that he was a positive
motivating force within all of our lives.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124;">As a child, I knew that he was the ideal
example of what a family man and father should be. Not only was he the leader
of our family, he was an incredible man who left his mark on everyone he met. I
want to tell you what kind of person my granddaddy really was. To me, he wasn’t
just my granddaddy– he was the father figure that my sister and I needed in our
lives. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124;">He loved his family: especially when we
would all gather together, you could see the joy on his face as love and
laughter filled his home. He would put himself last even if he was under the
weather, to make sure we were all okay. He was proud of all of us and our
accomplishments.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124;">He loved his best friend: my grandma Sue.
I know they are in heaven holding hands now that they are finally reunited.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124;">He loved his cattle: he couldn’t stay
anywhere overnight because he said he needed to take care of them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 23.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124;">He was passionate about being outside, staying busy, and moving around.
He always told me that being able to get out and “work” is what kept him going.
His work ethic was in a class of its own.
My grandma always said he was outside breaking stuff so he could go
outside to fix it so he’d have something to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 23.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124;">He had a great sense of humor and was better at shading someone than the
Real Housewives. I told him I was turning 30 last year and he said “you won’t
see 30 again unless you look at a picture.”
The sound of his laughter after he said something like this was
priceless. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 23.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124;">He was very giving: he had a garden and a variety of fruits– if you
asked for a pear or tomatoes or anything, you’d leave with bags full. He took care of the cemetery and on Veteran’s
Day he would place flags on all of the veteran’s graves. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 23.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124;">He loved the Lord, was a faithful servant, he was a deacon of the
church, and until the pandemic never missed a Sunday. He always praised God
throughout his life–even when there was trouble in his way and he knew Jesus
would fix it. I still remember holding
his hand walking up the hill and being dropped off at Sunday School and he would
give me a few coins for the collection plate. He taught his kids, grandkids,
and great grandchildren to pray for others and do the right thing in life. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 23.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124;">He was my publicist, manager, career advisor, accountant, and
cheerleader: when I had an article printed in Ebony magazine–he brought it to
church and told everybody–he also made sure to ask me if these magazines paid
me for these articles, and always
reminded me not to accept any wooden nickels. For all of us, his advice was, “do good.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124;">He was all of those things, and so much
more. While I may not know what the future of our family looks like without our
patriarch, I know that I am a better person because I was loved by him. I only
hope that we all can live up to the example of love, strength, character,
faith, and integrity that he set for all of us. When his house burned down in
2018, and people donated and helped him get back on his feet, he said “I must
have done something right in my life for people to be so nice.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124;">He definitely did a lot of things right–
job well done granddaddy. Everything you taught us will live on–that’s your
legacy. We will love you forever. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>-------</p><p>I want to thank everyone for their condolences, prayers, and checking in on me and my family. </p><p>For now, I'm taking a break from writing, doing interviews etc until I can wrap my brain around my biggest fan being gone. </p><p>Until later</p><p>~Meik</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-89460528591488044442023-03-10T13:35:00.000-05:002023-03-10T13:35:01.776-05:00Women's History Month Spotlight: Jala Wright<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXf-I7ZVjpRjpxU2T1NOHTOUHiHWY466718Wm48CHGGdlT6jY4IPh16VJWTnUa_NXJXV-2cKGuRelXygDAZp06RKBc7uXu95sKeViODIz1-uxFl5zJrnnjgpmhZs-nAyguRHYHak_vr9yoPmhYPyD63fZVdB5v8_HqrW-ABwiqTGOOl7KDKzbos0H/s540/419259.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXf-I7ZVjpRjpxU2T1NOHTOUHiHWY466718Wm48CHGGdlT6jY4IPh16VJWTnUa_NXJXV-2cKGuRelXygDAZp06RKBc7uXu95sKeViODIz1-uxFl5zJrnnjgpmhZs-nAyguRHYHak_vr9yoPmhYPyD63fZVdB5v8_HqrW-ABwiqTGOOl7KDKzbos0H/s320/419259.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Hey Mofos!<br />Since it's Women's History Month, I wanted to shine a spotlight on a young lady that I have watched grow up from her mother's lenses. Her mom is my sorority sister and I kept hearing all these great things about Jala Wright, and to actually see her shining bright in her sport, is nothing short of amazing. </p><p>Jala is a pitcher at Duke University. I don't know much about softball, but I do know this is a BIG DEAL. During her senior year in high school in Charlotte, North Carolina, she committed to play at Michigan State but after her freshman year she transferred to Duke. She threw a no-hitter against Army West Point, pitched in 27 games, threw 13 consecutive scoreless innings last February, and was named to DISoftball's TOp 150 rankings at the end of the year. GO HEAD JALA! </p><p>So I love her newest venture is wanting to reach back and mentor young women who are wanting to follow in her path. Learn more<a href="https://chasinggreatnessmentorship.com/jala_wright" target="_blank"> here to register </a>for her mentoring service.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlJWRJlKq1u_GsP7beKS-JnLGwtt4hsdqTFyrCowePSARi1H6qYhQ9gMTPo9OKtlOq3Pj92VhaHB5FaN24ROVti7nSVMy7UDrMzvcUOBDXGGLHP0NFvNzBPcqWyhXOh2UNvifJfsBiQc47P6W5B0CDWsLye4Y-6edk35xN9HFrbcYzcgKBOwI_Dvn/s1080/419261.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlJWRJlKq1u_GsP7beKS-JnLGwtt4hsdqTFyrCowePSARi1H6qYhQ9gMTPo9OKtlOq3Pj92VhaHB5FaN24ROVti7nSVMy7UDrMzvcUOBDXGGLHP0NFvNzBPcqWyhXOh2UNvifJfsBiQc47P6W5B0CDWsLye4Y-6edk35xN9HFrbcYzcgKBOwI_Dvn/s320/419261.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Read more about Jala <a href="https://www.softballamerica.com/stories/love-of-family-leads-jala-wright-to-duke/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>Let Jala help mentor your up and coming softball players! </p><p><br /></p><p>~Meik</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086354678368887027.post-83704460671217299472023-02-24T10:38:00.001-05:002023-02-24T10:39:00.608-05:00Movie Review: "Creed III" Shows Men Can Share Their Emotions <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wTTAU_cPmSVipN7ifv0ldcLBgoRKG9A4wLDwuC5h5-KeQ9jAHW4jAoc0dSHFedqsBzvW2IK-ybxr78-ypxETYkPpMZwg91-ozLRIfawxXWms-KNX7A0IMY2IvsFRrKMz1pMPDvX_9Q3yY9tiOkc-8Qg9PgMW3CObWGlyI3bUfBQZtkiYJ5Aw5i3m/s1000/unnamed%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wTTAU_cPmSVipN7ifv0ldcLBgoRKG9A4wLDwuC5h5-KeQ9jAHW4jAoc0dSHFedqsBzvW2IK-ybxr78-ypxETYkPpMZwg91-ozLRIfawxXWms-KNX7A0IMY2IvsFRrKMz1pMPDvX_9Q3yY9tiOkc-8Qg9PgMW3CObWGlyI3bUfBQZtkiYJ5Aw5i3m/w400-h224/unnamed%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>Hey Mofos! </p><p>So I got the chance to attend a media screening for "Creed III" and let me tell you, I left out of the theater ready to enroll in a boxing class again. </p><p>That's another story on the boxing class again part, but if you have seen the first two installments of the film, you will only be slightly disappointed in the 3rd one, so let's dig into the deets. </p><p>Spoiler alert: Rocky aka Sylvester Stallone is not in this film and to me, that was the major piece that was missing. I <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/why-sylvester-stallone-not-creed-3-rocky-sequel-115615122.html" target="_blank">read</a> he didn't like the direction of the storyline and I can kind of guess on what parts he may not have liked, but I'm not a screenwriter nor a director so I'll just hush. Does the film address the void left by him not being there? NOPE.. so make up whatever story you want in your head for that, but I will say there are moments and references that still pay homage to the Rocky franchise. I'm glad that leaves the door open for Rocky to return in later films if they continue doing these. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AHmCH7iB_IM" width="393" youtube-src-id="AHmCH7iB_IM"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p> I thought Michael B. Jordan did the damn thing in his directorial debut with this film. Lil Reggie done grew up (that's an old school "All My Children" reference for the soap opera fans out there). There were details that stood out that had someone else been directing, they may have made a different choice. I always think acting and directing in a film gives it a certain perspective that someone who isn't on both sides of the camera will ever understand. </p><p>Can we pause here to reflect on the glistening sweat and rippling muscles and the close-ups of him and Jonathan Majors? Thank you Michael B. Jordan, because I think you KNEW what some of us ladies and some men came to see. </p><p>That aside, the story line--it was the tried and true story of two brothers battling for the championship, the underdog, the anger, the jealousy, and the only way to handle it is with fists. </p><p>Sigh, I really didn't like Majors' character, but I digress. What I did like with this installment was the fact we got to dig into the emotional weight that Black men carry and see when they won't let anyone else help, we got to see Black men cry and show emotion, and be vulnerable. That spoke volumes, because in our community, men aren't supposed to show emotion (who the hell made that rule up anyway??), and men are supposed to be strong and not share past things that may have affected who they are today. So I appreciate the film for shining a light on that. </p><p>My favorite character tho-- Creed and Bianca's daughter Amara. Her little cute self played by Mila Davis Kent, is older now and able to understand that her father is a boxer. I don't want to give it away, but I think the words he spoke over here in Creed II are at play in this installment. </p><p>"Creed III" will make you laugh, want to box, shed a tear, and make you check in on your own mental health. It's a definite must see!</p><p>It is in theaters everywhere on March 3. Let me know what you think! </p><p><br /></p><p>~Meik</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0