Freakin' It: Betty Davis Retrospective at Schomburg

Hello, everybody! Sorry I have been missing in action for a while, but this semester was really hectic. But I am back and also with a new blog, Futuristically Ancient. Go check it out! I will be cross-posting that blog with this one. This one of the first posts:

Let's talk about Betty Davis. I know I should have posted this in March, but as you know school distracted me until now. But better late than never, right? Betty Davis is one of my favorite artists and when I heard about the concert on March 7th at the Schomburg Center, I jumped at the chance to go. Even better, my class happened to be canceled that day, so I didn't have to skip (Lucky me!).

As part of the Black Rock Coalition's spring music tributes, the lineup for the night included Tamar-Kali, KimberlyNichole, Joi, N'Dambi, Nucomme, and Alkebulan. The band included guitarists and singers Kat Dyson and Jerome Jordan. This was one of the best concerts I had attended; it was a beautiful tribute to a woman who has inspired many and receives little attention. The entire band sounded amazing and after a while I did not even care that the singers were reading the lyrics on the stands. All the performances were fierce, but the two singers who were the most fiery were Tamar-Kali, who was the co-musical director with Victor Axelrod (keyboard), and KimberlyNichole.

And for those of you who do like these performances, this saturday the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra is doing a tribute at the Schomburg Center to another singer I love, Sam Cooke. Just click on his name to buy tickets. Enjoy!

Here is Tamar-Kali, KimberlyNichole and Kat Dyson performing "Game Is My Middle Name"


"Game is My Middle Name" featuring Tamar-kali from Bill Bryant on Vimeo.


KimbelyNichole performing "If I'm In Luck, I Just Might Get Picked Up"

"If I'm Lucky I Might Get Picked Up" featuring Kimberly Nichole from Bill Bryant on Vimeo.

Tamar-Kali performing "When Romance Says GoodBye"

"When Romance Says Goodbye" featuring Tamar-kali from Bill Bryant on Vimeo.

Joi, N'Dambi and Tamar-Kali performing "Steppin' in Her I. Miller Shoes"

"Steppin' In Her I. Miller Shoes" featuring Tamar-kali, N'dambi & Joi from Bill Bryant on Vimeo.

Joi performing "Nasty Gal"

"Nasty Gal" featuring Joi from Bill Bryant on Vimeo.

The Art of Music: Where Music and Art Collide

This special post will combine art from Dawn Okoro and some of my favorite songs that I think the art goes with:

Some Information on Dawn from her website:

Dawn Okoro's work is informed by the composition techniques used in fashion photography. Using oil, acrylic and pencil, she incorporates photography, collage, and ideas from popular culture. Her artwork embodies space, movement, pattern, design, texture, and color; as well as lived experiences and self-reflexivity. Self-reflexivity is a process by which she critically examines the experiences (exterior and interior) that shape her everyday life and those that surround her.

Dawn Okoro holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from Texas Southern University. Her work has been exhibited at RFA Gallery in Harlem, Texas Southern University Museum, Rice University, and the Texas Biennial.

1) Shine

Dead Prez - The Beauty Within

2) Get Up

Mary Mary - Get Up



3) Fearless

Tarrus Riley- She's Royal

4) Frame

Stevie Wonder - You Are the Sunshine of My Life

5) Blue Necklace

2Face Idibia- My African Queen

6) Desert Dress

Richie Spice - Brown Skin



7) Is That A Real Gucci Bag?

Erykah Badu- Bag Lady



8) Breathe Easy

The Commodores- Easy



9) Careen

Shorty Long- Devil With a Blue Dress



10) Prop

Joi- Lick

To view more artwork from this beautiful artist: http://www.dawnokoro.com/

"Earworm 3"

Outkast ft. Joi- Moving Cool (After Party)

This song is from the movie Idlewild, which starred Andre 3000 and Big Boi from Outkast and Paula Patton (married to Robin Thicke). If you all knew the real me, you would know that I love Jazz and so I love the Jazzy sound of this song. Also, Outkast is one of my favorite rap groups of all time.