Hey Mofos! I wrote this out on Linkedin and decided as long as it is, it's a blog. So sharing it here to spark you to think about who has inspired your career?
Who is a woman who has inspired your career? #IWD25
When I decided to step in front of the camera after experiencing numerous rejections in the newsroom, I couldn’t help but look to women like Ananda Lewis for inspiration. I vividly remember watching her on "Teen Summit," where she effortlessly connected with young people and I was locked in when she went over to MTV. I followed her journey as she transitioned to hosting her talk show, and I admired how she built a career that not only entertained but also empowered others. That was the kind of career I wanted, a career that inspired and impacted people.
In 2020, as I rebranded Check the Rhymes TV, Ananda was one of the first to encourage me. She graciously agreed to be my first guest and her support meant the world to me. She taught me the importance of staying true to your passion and purpose, even when things don’t go as planned. Ananda’s belief in me, even when I was just starting out, continues to fuel my journey today. Shoot, her hair was the inspo for my Check the Rhymes wig lmao.
What speaks volumes is that, when Ananda has news to break, she comes to whatever platform I’m on, always reminding me that I’m on the right path. Her encouragement and trust have been a guiding force, and I’m forever grateful for her support.
Another woman I have to shout out is Cynthia Horner.
When I think about women who’ve shaped my career, Cynthia Horner, the Editor-in-Chief of Right On! Magazine, stands at the top of the list. Growing up, Right On! wasn’t just a magazine; it was a voice, a guide, and a window into the world of Black culture, music, and entertainment. I admired how Cynthia was able to balance the responsibilities of an editor while serving as a role model to little brown girls like me that wanted to interview the stars.
Having the opportunity to connect with Cynthia later in my career for Shondaland, it was a turning point. If you let her tell it, I revived her career, but no, she gave me life and an opportunity. When I decided to venture in front of the camera for the first time doing a satellite media interview, I had nowhere to place it, not a YouTube channel, nothing. She let me use her platform to share that interview and I'm forever grateful.
She not only encouraged me to keep pushing forward, but she also gave me the invaluable insight of an industry insider who had seen it all.
Cynthia’s ability to navigate the fast-paced, ever-changing entertainment world with grace and wisdom is something I strive to emulate every day and not let folks play in my face.
Her leadership in journalism, particularly at Right On!, has shown me the importance of storytelling with integrity, amplifying voices that deserve to be heard, and maintaining authenticity while moving with the times. I am so grateful to both of these women for their guidance and for being a constant source of inspiration.
~Meik
Interview: Nephew Tommy Talks New Season of "Ready to Love"
Sunday, February 16, 2025Hey Mofos!
I finally dusted off Check the Rhymes TV and actually did an entertainment interview! This time with Nephew Tommy. He came back thru to talk about SEASON 10 of OWN's "Ready to Love" series.
It sounds like it's full of surprises and of course, I was all in for the advice he gave us singles! Yep y'all I'm back in the game. That's a whole other story. UGH. But I'm realllllly trying hard not to give up on love.
But for now, get into this interview with Nephew Tommy!
Would you go on the show?
Lemme know!
~Meik
Hey Mofos!
One of my favorite people stopped by Check the Rhymes TV last month to chat about his 28th project. Yep, you guessed it, Will Downing. He released the album "Luscious" last month and after writing that title 50'levum times, I think I finally know how to spell it LOL.
As always, we cut up, cackled, and had a serious moment.
Catch the interview here:
Have you listened to the album? What did you think?
~Meik
Hey Mofos!
Remember the song "Tender Kisses?" Chile, I done found Tracie Spencer and had her on my lifestyle show "Soulibration" a couple of weeks ago! Don't judge me for forgetting to come over here and tell y'all! She was so transparent about her grief journey and so many could relate. Grief is rough and you never escape it, you just learn to live with it looming in the background.
She also answered fan questions and we kee-kee'd a lot, so it wasn't all doom and gloom. She also shared about her career in healthcare and more!
Catch the interview here:
Now, so you don't miss an episode --I always stream Soulibration to Check the Rhymes TV--so you have ZERO excuses for missing it!
I'm excited about upcoming guests, so stay tuned!
Let me know, what's your favorite Tracie Spencer song?
~Meik
Exclusive: Ananda Lewis Clarifies Her Breast Cancer Journey on My Live Show "Soulibration"
Sunday, October 20, 2024Hi Mofos!
Last week, I had the chance to sit down with my friend, former Teen Summit host, and former MTV VJ, Ananda Lewis on my new lifestyle show "Soulibration" on the BlackDoctor.org platform. On Tuesday 10/15 CNN dropped an interview where she revealed she was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer last October, and that she was doing much better, BUT the headline made everyone believe it was the end. Without anyone confirming anything aka folks watching the ish for themselves--a media fear frenzy started on social media and the blogs and we knew we had to clear some things up. So she came on the show, on 10/16 with a live audience, answered my questions and theirs and was very transparent. I'm so thankful that Ananda trusted me again with her story, my goal was for her to be heard and I'm so grateful to the media that walked back their headlines and reported the clarifications.
When Ananda initially announced her breast cancer in 2020 on IG, she came to Check the Rhymes TV the next day with the exclusive. Y'all slept on it, but my channel was pretty new at that time, so I get it. BUT be clear, SHE HAS BEEN talking about her holistic treatments and the importance of early detection. Here it is:
Support her rather than attack and dump negative opinions in her comments. She has enough to worry about don't you think? Support her by checking out her course on aging ageslow.co and buy some of the Fear Over Faith merch on shoploveananda.com
It also tickles me the media called "Soulibration" a radio show..cuz whet? LOL
Be well and be nice!
~Meik
Interview: Maahra Hill and the New Season of "The Irrational"
Sunday, October 06, 2024Hey Mofos!
"The Irrational" is heading back to NBC on 10/8! Ahead of the season 2 premiere, I had the chance to chat with actress Maahra Hill about what twists and turns lie ahead.
The show follows a world-renowned professor of behavioral science, Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) as he lends his expertise to high stakes cases and mysteries. Maahra stars as Marisa on the show.
Catch the interview on Check the Rhymes TV!
Let me know if you love this show!
~Meik
Hey Mofos!
If you are into faith based films then this is one you need to RUN to the movie theaters to see on 8/23! "The Forge" is an excellent reminder of the power of prayer.
From the press release:
Hi Mofos!
It's been a minute, I KNOWWW lol. I've been insanely busy with Check the Rhymes TV, the Ladies Edition Podcast, and now my new show, Soulibration!
What is Soulibration?
It's a lifestyle show that's rooted and grounded in health and wellness on BlackDoctor.org's Facebook and YouTube channel. It streams LIVE (yes y'all me.. LIVE) on Wednesdays at 7pm.. give or take a couple times we had to push it to 8pm. It's been a fun time doing shows that contribute to the culture and help with healing. It kicked off in May and it's honestly, one of the things I didn't know I was missing.
I feel like God had me in boot camp tho, going from ET Canada Live, the lesson was how to handle the comments, then I went over to TMZ Live to learn how to think on my feet quickly, then over to The Grio for a longer show which helped my stamina and ability to be ON for longer than a few minutes. Here I am, flexing now over on BDO.
There's a playlist on my Check the Rhymes TV YouTube channel, but for now, I'll just share one of the episodes here that I think you guys will enjoy--it's all about finding your true authentic self with therapist Paul Williams.
Anyhoo, check out the show and let me know what you think or if you have any topics you want us to explore!
See ya on Wednesday!
~Meik
Hey mofos!
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.
Chile this man is fine ain't he? Who is your favorite character on the show? Let me know in the comments!
~Meik
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Happy New Year Mofos!
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.
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.
Check out the interview here:
She dropped a lot of gems on here! Do you have a favorite Arrested Development song?
~Meik
Hey mofos!
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 Check the Rhymes TV to chat about what she's been up to, new projects, and more!
Let me know in the comments, what was your favorite song of hers?
~Meik
Hey Mofos!
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 Video Soul to BET+, plus we took a look back at his career.
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, Check the Rhymes TV, to talk to lil ole me.
He has so much wisdom to share, and his stories are so amazing. Get to know Donnie Simpson in this interview here:
Do you have a favorite Video Soul memory??
~Meik
Hey Mofos!
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.
So when I heard MJ the Musical was coming to Blumenthal Performing Arts, you KNOW I had to be there.
What is the musical about? I'm glad you asked!
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.
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!
The sets were perfection, from the iconic Apollo Theater to the set of Soul Train, it made you feel like you were right there!
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.
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. Remember the time he low key was flirting with me?!
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.
Check out my interview with him from a few months ago on Check the Rhymes:
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.
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.
If the show comes to your city, go and come back and let me know what you think!
~Meik
Trombonist Jeff Bradshaw is Coming to Charlotte to Middle C Jazz
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Hey Mofos!
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 here:
https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1036257/jeff-bradshaw-charlotte-middle-c-jazz-club
Get cute and come on out!
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!
“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.
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.
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,
“Bone Deep.”
“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
welcome to Hidden Beach,” he says.
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.
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'," 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.
Here's a previous Check the Rhymes interview I did with Jeff in 2020:
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?!
Let me know in the comments if you have a favorite song of Jeff's!
Until Later,
~Meik
Hey Mofos!
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!
For Hollywood Junket, 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!
Here are a few of the shows! Let me know what you think!
I'm hooked on this dang game show now!
Keep watching!
~Meik
Black Music Month Interview: Saxophonist Adrian Crutchfield
Friday, June 30, 2023Hey Mofos!
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!
Watch here:
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.
Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel!
~Meik
Hey Mofos!
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."
I had the pleasure of chatting with Angie Stone about her 10th studio album "Love Language," and she even answered fan questions!
Check it out here:
What's your favorite Angie Stone song?
~Meik
Hey Mofos!
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.
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:
I love how she stresses the importance of mental health!
As always, leave comments on the YouTube channel and subscribe!
~Meik
