Hey Mofos, 

Let's inhale, and let out the biggest exhale ever. This year has absolutely been a roller coaster and a half. I don't know about y'all but I definitely have learned some lessons this year and took some chances that I normally wouldn't have. 

I wanted to share some of my highlights from this year. 

I kicked off 2020 with a vision and a rebrand from MofoChronicles to Check the Rhymes on my YouTube channel, (shout out to Will Downing) as an effort to brand myself as a journalist separate from a blogger. Overall, I did over 80 interviews on the channel and signed a 2 year licensing deal with Zone.ify. I got to interview some of the most amazing people from Ananda Lewis to Ralph Tresvant, Shawn Stockman, folks from my fav shows, and ask the most ridiculous questions to Roy Wood Jr., because, this is my show. 

I got very clear on the direction of this show and once I did, things took off.  I'd say this was a pretty bad ass year for my first venture into video. Make sure you hit subscribe on the YouTube channel! 

I even decided to sell some merch. Thank you all for your support and you can still buy it here:

On my vision board, I put two words: COVER STORY. 

I was not expecting the universe to show up and show out with 3 of em this year. Tia Mowry for the Back to School issue for USA Today Magazines, I penned the all Black IT List for SouthPark Magazine, and then chatted with Jordin Sparks for Modern Woman Magazine--another USA Today Magazine. 

I shifted gears from writing about entertainment, to embracing a whole new lane of health and wellness, lifestyle, culture, and weddings. I wrote 50'levum stories for new outlets and learned a lot. I also learned that I so prefer being assigned ish rather than pitching. 

 Yes. You read that right.. I said weddings. MANIFESTING HONEY! LOL 

On the relationship front--well, let's skip to the next subject shall we? 

We all had to make the shift into attending virtual well.. EVERYTHING. For me, it was a chance to go to red carpet events that I wouldn't have been able to attend in person-- like the Stellar Awards, and get clowned in front of 50'levum media outlets by Kirk Franklin. 

Being virtual allowed more doors to open for me under my own brand, Check the Rhymes. I didn't have to ask someone else a coverage plan because I AM THE COVERAGE PLAN MAKER! So it was a chance to wear many hats and I have loved every single minute. Even the parts when I'm frustrated, I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I can finally say, I am fulfilled. 

I hope 2021 brings you joy, laughter, love, and lots of abundance. Stay safe and healthy!

 Happy New Year! 

~Meik

Hey Mofos! Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know--I'm trifling as hell for not blogging but one time this entire year. A sista has been booked, busy, and well none of your biznass. So I figured, might as well do my usual end of year post right?



This year started out rough and ended well, not AS rough, but still rocky.

What you mean Meik?

I'm glad you asked! On January 2, my grandparents home was destroyed in a fire and luckily my grandfather made it out safely. So many of my friends and acquaintances came through and donated clothes, money, gift cards, prayers, food, any and everything to make sure my granddeddy was ok. I love you all for that and even today he is still so thankful as he sits in his new home at 90 years old. It is an absolute blessing for real! It brought my family closer together and I think my grandma is smiling from the heavens about this.



The year continued to unfold in some unexpected ways in my personal life--for the first time in YEARSSSSSSSSSSS--I mean damn DECADES--I uttered the L word--and felt feelings that I had no idea of what they were--hell for a moment, I thought I had the flu or some ish, but when you go thru some things with someone you start to realize how much they mean to you. Now before you scoot me on down the aisle, this is still a work in progress and my overthinking and anxiety is a problem :). That's step 1, admitting your own foolishness. I've learned to finally let go of the past and to live in the now and look forward to the future.



Anyhoo, this year started out on a high professionally and ended on the lowest of lows with me feeling like what's next for my writing career?? Is there a writing career? Several of my long-term contracts ended, editors left, outlets stopped using freelancers, and my pitches seemed to fall into the abyss of well hell, I don't know where they are, but it seemed like I just couldn't find my footing until I turned back to the local side of things and I have enjoyed writing about stories right here in my own backyard. I realized that writing about music was no longer my focus or passion, that telling the stories of people that have made an impact in our lives in some form or fashion is what I love. I love hearing about their journey to get to where they are now, and usually I take away a nugget or two to stick in my own journal for future reference and breakdowns. I love feature/entertainment stories (take note in case you are hiring! LOL). I couldn't and still haven't been able to land a full time gig, but thankfully God has allowed my part time job to pay my bills and keep a roof over my head. I even waltzed my arse down to the dealership and got a new car--now that's some big energy right there ain't it? It never occurred to me--how the f am I about to pay this car note?



But the pile of rejections from employers has done a number on the ole ego, so while I slide down the wall and throw a temper tantrum every week--I allow myself one hour okay---- maybe 4 to sulk--then I shake it off and get right back to Operation Meik Needs a Damn Career RIGHT NOW movement.

This year I had my first PAID speaking engagement. Yes y'all, someone paid to hear ole Meik Meik talk about pitching to the media and it was so much fun! I felt so important yet empowered speaking to a room of professionals about my experience in the newsroom and as a writer. I also spoke to more students and hopefully impacted their lives in some way.

2018 was my first year on the NC Music Hall of Fame Advisory Board and I threw myself into all things Induction Ceremony by editing bios, writing video scripts, and doing the voice overs for each video for 7 inductees. This process was so fun and I added another notch to my resume. It was so awesome sitting in the Gem Theatre hearing my voice on the big screen and being complimented by the artists--especially John Tesh! Yep THE JOHN TESH.



I of course kept up with interviewing some amazing people this year from Jody Watley, James Mtume, Ananda Lewis, Cynthia Horner, Melba Moore, Mara Brock Akil, Yvette Lee Bowser, and more. Ya girl even did a few Facebook Live interviews!

I almost crawled my arse back to TV News but then God intervened and said BUT GIRL... and I realized that won't make me happy and now that I've learned the joy of sleep, I'm not ready to give that up.



This year with lots of time on my damn hands, I've learned a lot about myself and what I will and won't tolerate. I've learned that you can't surround yourself with toxic people, because their negative thinking will rub off on you. I learned that I do know how to be there for someone and actually mean it and want to be there as support. I learned all about self-love and embracing who you are. I've learned that love looks different for everybody, and nobody follows the same blueprint. You do what works for you. Same as the career path--everybody's journey is different. It took me a while to get to that point. I might be growing up ya'll.

For 2019--I wish for a damn job and a husband, but I also wish for happiness, success, love, peace, and soullllll wait.. I admit I miss Soul Train, it slips out every now and again.



Happy New Year y'all. I can't promise I'll blog more in 2019, but we can pretend I will. :)

Hey Mofos! You know I had to come back and close out my triflin year of blogging before we head into 2018! Don't look at me like that.. just don't.



This year has been one filled with anxiety, change, faith, lots of writing, opening up the mind, and rekindling.

What you mean Meik?

I'm so glad you asked and I shan't be going into the one that's none of your biz :)

However let's just take these one by one as lessons that I learned in 2017.

1. Anxiety:
Chile when I tell you working in a toxic environment will have your nerves completely TORE up.. I spent the past few years, including the majority of this one filled with anxiety and dread over having to work 40+ hours where I wasn't happy and was being belittled and treated like an uneducated unexperienced stepchild. I didn't sleep, I just worried, and prayed, and cried and stared into space. But God heard my cries and I was able to be set free! AMEN!


2. Change:
This year was also about changing who I had become. I had let my anxiety from work carry over into my personal life and was destroying relationships with friends and family because I was so miserable. My first name became Smart Ass and while I am a work in progress, I see that the biting tongue I needed in the newsroom to defend myself isn't what I need outchea post news. I also made the decision to change and accept what it is I truly wanted from a career and a relationship, and I'm even thinking of changing the city and state where I live. In a nutshell, I'm starting to find my happy again and I can't even put into words how it feels to start to feel normal again!

I also got my arse in front of the camera on a web series called The Date Sheet. It's unfiltered convo about dating and relationships. You know.. all the ish I have not an ounce of experience in.



3. Faith:
When I made the decision to leave my job, the job I had worked for 12 years-- I initially had not one ounce of a back up plan. I just knew that if God brought me to this, HE would see me through it. The week before I quit, I landed a part time job at a non profit and while it isn't bringing in the big bucks, it is keeping my bills paid and allows me time to write. I know when it's time God will bring the right position/opportunity into my life. I have faith that things will continue to work out.



4. Lots of Writing!
This year I was able to write for some of my dream publications and outlets. I was published in Ebony Magazine (that I did get paid for..now the online ish is another story), and I started writing for Essence, Entertainment Tonight, and Shondaland.com. Yes--THE SHONDALAND that is of THE SHONDA RHIMES. I created my own opportunity and started writing for the National Museum of African American Music and got to cover the Black Music Honors show and interview THE JACKSONS! This year has been a great one for interviews and I can't wait to see what 2018 brings!



5. Opening up the mind:
Chile I am the Queen of NOPE AINT EVAAAAHHH GONNA DO IT. I decided to take a chance and open my mind to the possibilities. I never thought I'd write an essay but yet I wrote one on pumpkin pie for Shondaland. I never thought I'd quit my job without another one lined up, but look when you are fed up you just do it and hope for the best. I never thought I'd hop in the car on a whim and drive to..uhhhh nevermind. But you get the point.



6. Rekindling:
This one ain't your biz lmao!! JK.. I've been able to breathe life back into some friendships that I put on the back burner because I tend to be tunnel vision when it comes to my career/writing. I've also... *signal drops*



These are just some of the lessons that 2017 handed me, and I'm sure 2018 will bring on a whole new set of lessons and hopefully love!

Happy New Year dear Mofos! May your 2018 bring you everything you wish for and nawl I prob still won't blog much LOL! At least I am consistent! :)

Always in Gratitude,
~Meik

2016..what a year.



I debated on blogging on last time for what most of can agree on a ragg-lass kind of year. I thought there's not much else for me to say, my heart was shattered this year over and over.. and I just fell into a funk so deep that I wasn't sure how to snap out of it. Until I learned exactly how to have gratitude and appreciate the things and the people that I have in my life.

How so Meik?

I started the year with a present from a friend which was a gratitude jar. The jar's purpose was for me to write down something daily or weekly that I was grateful for. At first, I went through the motions, but as things started changing this year, from my last living grandmother passing away, to my steady writing gig at SoulTrain.com getting snatched, to losing my beloved Kashif and some other friends, I realized that I indeed have a lot to be grateful for.

So for my last post for 2016--I thought instead of sharing lessons I've learned, I would share a few things from my gratitude jar.



1. I am so grateful for my granddeddy- his laughter and shade thrills me so.
Since my grandma passed away in 2013, my granddad has become my phone buddy and can throw shade with the best of em. He makes me so proud.

2. I'm grateful for being able to spend time with my family on an actual vacation.
This year my family and I went to Charleston, South Carolina for a family vacay..our first since I was in high school and lawd help us we all survived and didn't scratch each other's eyeballs out. We enjoyed each other just grateful to be able to spend time together.

3. I'm grateful I can walk even when my leg aches and hurts like the dayum debbil.
Nerve damage is everlasting it seems and I still have my good and bad days, but when those aches and stabbing pains set in, I can now thank God that I can walk without a cane, and I can wear my baby wedges amen!

4. I am grateful I have been able to re-introduce my first love of cheerleading back into my life.
I tumbled back into the cheer world as an All-Star Cheerleading judge in Dec 2015 and the experience this year alone of being picked to judge the Summit (which is THE BIGGEST competition for these gals) in Orlando was amazing especially for a first year judge.

5. I am grateful for my freelance hustle.
This year alone, I have had some of the most AHHHHHHHmazing interviews. Being able to talk with the very ones that inspired me still has me on a level 1000000000000+. I chatted with Arsenio Hall and Donnie Simpson! I interviewed folks like Deon Cole, Patti LaBelle, Melba Moore, Tevin Campbell, Vanessa Bell Calloway and my uncle in my head Tito Jackson! So I am super grateful that JET Magazine gave me an outlet and a chance once SoulTrain.com shut down. I also rocked a piece for Vanity Fair this year! WOO HOO! More things are coming in 2017!

6. I am grateful for my friends.
I keep my circle small but those I let in are the ones that keep me grounded, keep me laughing, sane, and ain't afraid to check me when I'm going left.
I found one slip of paper dated Feb. 17th and it must have been after a convo with Kashif. It reads: I am grateful for friends like Kashif.
I am just so glad I got to know him and be considered a friend. I will love this man forever and ever. Rest in peace friend.

7. I'm grateful to have a job.
This is important because I have fought and struggled with not growing where I am professionally. I realized it's not the job's fault. I should embrace the lessons there--so I learned how to make my interviews more concise, learned how to network better, learned how to share my knowledge, and accept criticism and feedback. Now.. 2017 MOVES NEED TO COME THRU! LOL

8. I am grateful that my sister and I can hang out with out fighting all the time.
We used to go IN.. and couldn't stand each other but our weekly sister dates make me so happy :)

9. I am grateful that I finally learned HIM DON'T WANT ME!
Finally, in the latter part of 2016 I have FINALLLLLLLLY learned that if he ain't interested, you ain't gonna make him interested. After yearssss of holding onto this crush and dropping bread crumbs hoping he'd follow em and pick up on what I was dropping, to finally sliding in the dm's only to be curved repeatedly.. yeah I got me some self respect, picked up my face and realized.. move on sis.

10. I am grateful for my supporters and readers.
Without ya'll I don't know if I would write as much over here (ok don't do that, I know I don't write much as is LOL) but I really do appreciate all the comments, shares, retweets, requests, and ideas. It truly means more than you know. When I was going to stop writing completely a few months ago, it was YOU that kept me going. Thank you!




I hope you all have a blessed wonderful gratitude filled 2017! Happy New Year!

Always in Gratitude,
~Meik