You can now get a free download of "If I Knew" from Femi by visiting her official website to download or if you are a fan on Reverbnation you can get the track as a fan exclusive! Just visit her profile, become a fan and it's yours --FREE.

Thanks so much for the support and add your e-mail to the mailing list while you are at Reverbnation to receive updates from Femi Music!

My show is for roots lovers - it airs Sunday nights 9-midnight (NY time). I welcome your feedback!

www.rootsdeucation.blogspot.com

www.rootseducation.podomatic.com

www.globalvortexradio.com 

Bless

Blessed love family. Once again NYPD has attacked one of our brothers and we need your help.

My sistren and her mother is holding a benefit concert to raise funds for her brothers defense. Below is the detailed story of what happened.

"

Greetings friends:

I'm stopping through to tell you that SisterSpeak Online Magazine is giving away 4 free CD's of songstress Jean Baylor's new solo album 'Testimony: My Life Story'!

Those of you who remember the soul duo Zhane' (pronounced Jah-nay, i.e. Hey Mr. D.J., Groove Thang, Sending My Love...) will remember Jean, the shorter of the two songbirds. Well, Jean has spread her wings after years of time off to re-assert her love of song with her inspiring new album.

Visit SisterSpeak Online Magazine to enter for your chance to win one of four copies.

Go to http://sisterspeakonline.com/SongstressJeanBaylorSpeaks.asp
to enter today. It's quick and easy!

Then stay tuned for our interview coming soon!

Be well...

Lisa
www.sisterspeakonline.com

Too many of our ancestral mothers have suffered in silence…through the humiliation of being forced into the dark side of a capitalistic structure - trading their beautiful bodies for even the hope of staying alive on this side of creation. My foremothers’ tears ran inside as their blood swallowed the anguish - giving life to a wail that traveled through our generations. Tempted to escape and/or anesthetize the pain, the choices made by many of the women in my matrilineal line prove that these cries need to be expressed because they need to be heard.

Wow Thank You! I have been really into relaxation music as of late. I have lots of stress going on right now and it keeps me from unraveling . I especially like that you have Norah Jones I forgot all about her . I have to break out my CD and slide her in the player on the drive home today!

Thanks!

I was up and caught David Letterman last night, right before it went off and the night's music guest was on. I saw this pretty sistah playing upright bass, singing jazz and was intrigued. I had never seen or heard of her before, so I did some research (google and wikipedia) and this woman is fascinating. Check her out on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7jZCjNz_kQ
I plan to buy her albums tomorrow when I get paid!!

Don't cha love music artist that step outside the mode, especially when it comes to video expression?Who wants to see the same ole popping champagne bottles in the club scene, video girls shaking that big ole' thang,all-star divas rolling their perfect bodies around on bear-skin rugs? BORING!! These vids kind of take it out of the norm, and I dig 'em, you may too>>>

I love this very sarcastic clip of Erykah talking about the industry...she is so funny in her delivery...

If your not aware of this sista's fya music from the U.S. Virign Island, then your in for a treat. She intruduced herself to the reggae scene with her first album Fya then followed by Gracious Mama Africa. She took a long (too long) hiatis and has blessed us with Eaz the Pain.

I think back to when I was younger coming up in the 90's. Much of my growth occured during this time and I love reflecting back on this time. But, while I get mushy gushy and nostalgic, I remember that I was what most people feel is deprived of much. I never learned to ride a bike, skate properly (and I bust my behind this past Sunday at a roller rink 3 1/2 times, so I really can attest!) or do any of those things. Living with a Caribbean mother in Brooklyn, NY... I wasn't going anywhere. However, the first few years of my life was spent with my older brother who is 18 years older than I am. HE taught me over those early years that music was of great importance. He may not have even known that he taught me this. Goodness, thinking back, I was exposed to so many varieties... Anita Baker to Zhane. And its all helped me. Helped me grow and so many other things have happened. I love that it has done this. I have a song for every mood. From some old school house music with Ten City when I wanna dance to Teddy Riley Rumpshaker!!!

Please listen to the song "Beautiful" on my playlist. The song is by Ise Lyfe, a brother out of Oakland with much maturity and truth!I dedicate it to the youth.
There is a short poem that he says before the song that's not on the playlist. It goes...

She is so beautiful
But don't know she is beautiful (2x)

She look in the mirror
Pretty eyes, lips, and nose
She looks in the mirror but don't see her soul
So out the door she go not knowing her worth
All that she knows is her shoes match her purse.

To get the rest of the poem....pick up his CD. Money well spent!

A reminder to you - You are beautiful! Please pass the message on to the young people in your life...they may not ever heard that they are beautiful. Much love. Let me know what you think!

Been listening to NOTHING but Badu's newone since last Wednesday.

then I think you will enjoy reading this article...

Are you feeling New Amerykah? Coz I have that on repeat, along with Mama's Gun!! The Wombman in revolutionary fi real

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/arts/music/02ryzi.html?pagewanted=3&_r...

Just took this awesome test! Go see what your musical taste says about you and what it tells others. Here's my result:

http://www.outofservice.com/music-personality-test/results/?complex=65&e...

take your own test here: http://www.outofservice.com/music-personality-test/

And I should say this test is a real measure used by psychologists not one of those fake fun ones.

What songs remind you of Summer? I'm in love with the season and feel that its the best time for everyone to shine. Living in NYC, I remember so many songs from summers past that automatically put you in that summer groove...
Speaking of that summer groove and vibe... Summer in NYC is amazing. Once your hear that ice cream truck outside, you know its warm. Where I live, there is a band that practices for the West Indian Day parade on Labor Day. They play the steel pan... It rocks me to sleep every night. Then there's the little cart with the shaved ice with condensed milk... or even Gino's ices on Flatbush and Lincoln Rd. Or the fact that I don't have to wear 5 million layers... I wake up, shower, brush my teeth, lotion and throw the clothes on... takes no more than 20 - 25 min... them walking down Church Ave. is another thing, Mangoes sold with salt and pepper sauce... Straight Caribbean and lovely. Notice, I talk about food mostly. I live to eat, sistahs
*SIGH* I cannot wait till summer...
Here are some songs that remind me of summer:
*****Summertime - Fresh Prince****
I Get Around - Tupac
My Boo - Ghost Town DJ's
Rock the Boat - Aaliyah

At work today sisters check out Big R Radio website and enter the Neo Soul Cafe. Definte break from the normal office music. Old Songtresses and New ones you may not even heard of yet. From Jill Scott to Goapele, Rashan Patterson, Van Hunt and more ! CHECK IT OUT and SPREAD THE WORD

www.bigrradio.com/asx/neo.asx

Markeysha E.
Imagine U~ Image Consultant/ Fashion Stylist

Iam my sisters keeper, I keep her in my heart

Contact : Imagineu365@gmail.com

( ImagineU~ Blog Spot Coming Soon ! )

Music.

I am a creative spirit who until recently was very unfocused and a little lost. Without my passion in life helping to drive my goals, I felt unfamiliar to myself. What prompted the change, almost 4 years ago, was finding out I was with child just 3 weeks after my 27th birthday. I'd just performed my first solo gig at this place called Nikolai's On the Roof. Moso-Monday, Soul at it's best... I didn't have any children or thoughts of having any before I found out I was pregnant so the news was a shock to say the least.

After telling a couple key people in my life the news, the advise started pouring over me like a mud-slide. You should.. You shouldn't... What about your music? I thought, well I found my love for music as a child, how could having one change my dream.

Written: Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008

If you've been reading my blogs lately you'll see that I was kind of on a music kick for a minute. Recently, I've been feeling the need to reunite with my first love, writing about music that is. During high school I'd often daydream about what my life would be like. I initially wanted to work for a record company. I didn't know what exactly I wanted to do at the record company but I just knew that I land an awesome internship at a label and eventually become a large female music executive. That is, until I felt like the music being released was really starting to suck and I didn't want to have any part of it. So I figured I'd be like Sidney, the character Sanna Lathan played in the movie Brown Sugar. I could do one of my favorite pastimes, listen to music and get paid for writing about it! I'm not actually getting paid for typing my rants and raves in my blog but I enjoy it so here's my blurb about the current state of music. If you want to pay me I promise I won't turn anything down but my collar.

If you are a music fanatic like me let me tell you that I found this really cool site that I became so addicted to. The site is www.last.fm and it is awesome. Just sign up, it's free, type in your favorite artist or song and it pops up. The coolest thing to me about it, well, one of the coolest things about it is that you're also able to find local artist as well. I have my new playlist from the site on my page. Check it out and let me know if you feeling it!

Bigotry, Injustice, Oppression, Pollution, Poverty, Racism, Sexism,
War....Oh no! You can't tell me that Hip Hop has caused all of these
issues in America.

Even though Hip Hop has it's negatives you can't blame
the nation's issue's on one genre of music. That's just
ridiculous. Myself being a feminist,at one point I was sick
and tired of hearing songs degrading women and seeing videos
with half-nakedwomen all of the time. At the same time women
have a choice. Every human being does. You can choose to become
a run-way model or you can choose to become a video-vixen.
Just as you can choose which type of model you would like
to become you can choose tobecome an Optometrist or a Dentist.
It all depends on your interests, preferences, and taste. The bottom
line is as an adult we all have choices and free will. Who are we
to judge anyone on what their personal preference is as long as they
aren't hurting anyone?

I would say that most Hip Hop videos that are played on television
should be viewed by adults. There is another opportunity to make a choice.
You can choose to watch music videos or you can choose to change the channel

I was shocked to hear about the death of South Africa reggae artist Lucky Dube. I last saw him live in concert in Boston, MA. He was shot & killed in an attempted carjacking right in front of his two kids!

For those of you who don't know Lucky was the biggest-selling reggae singer in South Africa and has won over 20 awards locally and internationally. The lyrics to his music are entrenched with issues of equality, spirituality and the scourge of poverty and deprivation.

My favorite (and his biggest hits) included Slave, Prisoner and Remember Me. I highly recommend him if you are looking for something different. His website is http://www.luckydubemusic.com/