Radio Silence, Dead Air and No More Nonesense

For over two decades, mainstream radio has been damn near dead to me; its heartbeat--rhythm and beats, has been beeping away on life support. Earlier this month, I finally killed it. It no longer exists in my life. It is now a, "was." 

What caused me to finally to finally end my relationship with the talking musical box? iHeart Radio's decision to remove The Tom Joyner Morning Show from its Savannah station, Love 101.1. All is not lost, because the TJMS does have an app. But in Zarmunda, a.k.a., Savannah ('cuz it's hot as Africa during the summer), wi-fi can be a sticky situation. And for those living in the outer counties, suburbs, etc., it can sometimes be non-existent.

While at first extremely displeased, disgusted, disheartened (pun intended) and downright ticked that iHeart Radio would pull the Hardest Working DJ from the airwaves in Georgia's First City, their decision gave me cause to pause. I've been a loyal TJMS listener for about 17 years (except for the 2 years I listened to Frank Ski in Atlanta, and the Pre-App Days when I was stationed in Germany). After some serious thought, I admit I have become dependent upon radio--too dependent.

Actually got to thinking about how much more time I would have in the mornings if I took back the four hours I faithfully, and freely gave to Mr. Joyner, Sybil and Jay. While they are on, I get some multi-tasking in, but not to my satisfaction. And carrying them around so as not to miss Chris, Huggy, Jackie or whatever guest is on, is not always the best idea; I've almost dropped my iPad in the shower twice.

And, whenever possible, afternoons for the past seven years have belonged to Michael Baisden (when his show was on), Doug Banks (alson on Savannah's Love 101.1) or D.L. Hughley. But I recently confided in a close friend that more often than not, I find the topics on these shows adolescent and repetitive. In the paraphrased words of Dead Prez, I had become a radio freak, mindlessly allowing myself to be programmed.

Yet even in my Drunk In Love with Radio Haze, I clearly recognize mainstream radio's horrible demise and that entities like iHeart Radio do not have the listeners' best interest at heart (again, a weak, yet painfully true pun). They are supporting area favorites like the late great Frankie Crocker, who blazed trails in NYC on WBLS (in stereo). Or, Donnie Simpson, who has a 35-year radio legacy in the greater Washington, DC area. Best known as the longtime VJ of BET's Video Soul (1983-1997), he started as a DJ in the DMV back in 1977. Simpson has managed to stay on the air despite all the bullshit (Note: Simpson officially retired in 2010, but returned to the airways August 2015).

In my humble opinion, iHeart is all about cookie cutter stations spinning whatsonever it takes, regardless of content to have butts shaking, and minds empty.

Moreover, I find iHeart Radio's mini-audio documentaries on various artists of color a joke and insulting. Most, but not all, artists of color featured has one issue or another, which is highlighted at some point in the audio piece. For instance, Kelly Rowland's absent father is said to be an alcoholic and abusive. The tragic automobile accident that Luther Vandross caused back in 1986 is damn near front and center on two of his three iHeart audio docs. The one on Marvin Gaye explains how the R & B singer's father murdered him, Gaye ran off to Europe to avoid tax evasion charges and mentions his drug problems--things we already knew, but damn! And at least two of iHeart Radio's mini-audio docs on hip-hop artists state that they have fathers who, "left the family."

We should never sugarcoat, or omit the facts. Ever. But these iHeart Radio produced pieces do little to inspire or uplift the race. They appear to have a slant that says, "Yeah, they made it despite all the bullshit." Maybe I'm too thin skinned, but I find that to be a backhanded compliment.

It has only been a few weeks, but so far, the limited sounds or silence in my hooptie has been a welcome challenge. I check out non-iHeart Radio stations, such as Savannah State University's WHCJ, or go through what's on my iPad. And out of sheer coincidence, I've cut my Pandora time in half.

But it's during the quiet that I am most creative. Driving through the south, that silence is eerie, especially for a Native New Yawker. While driving, I am usually accustomed to the sound of somebody else's vehicle bumping, sirens, subway trains, or something! No noise is quite overwhelming; but I dig it. 

♫Twenty Questions To The Beat (PT. 7) ♪

1. How many of us are still digging, “Hello,” like a fresh glass of cool water in the middle of the Sahara Desert? Who, “knows that they know, that they know,’ as it were—every time Lionel hears it, he mutters, “Dayum,” in admiration? 

2. Who can legitimately brag that they have been an Adele fan since, “19”? 

3. By a show of hands, who was glued to their TV during the live performance of, “The Wiz?” and could not help but sing along to almost every single song? Thoughts of Michael, Nipsey, and Luther cross your mind during the performance of, “You Can’t Win,” “Slide Some Oil To Me,” “What Would I Do?” and “Brand New Day,” respectively? 

4. Who thinks Ne-Yo needs to do whatsonever he has to in order to get, “What Would I Do,” on his next CD? 

5. How many of us are disappointed, but not surprised that with the exception of Kendrick Lamar and a few others, most modern day artists are not speaking to the times, like Marvin Gaye, Public Enemy, Gil Scott Heron, KRS-One, N.W.A., or Sister Souljah? 

6. Did we not dig Eddie Levert’s performance during the Soul Train Music Award’s Cypher moment? 

7. By a show of hands who deems the Chrisette Michelle/Laylah Hathaway, “Cypher Moment,” reminiscent of the Badu/Scott moment in, “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party (“You Got Me”)?” Who is earnestly waiting—arms folded, for a Chrisette Michelle/Laylah Hathaway post-Cypher duet? 

8. Have we gotten used to auto tunes? Or, still holding out hope it will eventually die a terrible death and we can act like it was just a bad dream? 

9. Still vibing off the sultry sounds by The Weekend, but aching to know what, exactly, he tells his stylist when he sits down in the chair? His success a true testimony of not judging a book by its cover? 

10. By a show of hands, who has spent half their house note, or all of their car note to go see Janet (Ms. Jackson if you nasty!) in concert? 

11. Has soul music been officially revived by Laylah, Andra (Day), The Weekend, Sam (Smith), Marsha (Ambrosius), Christette, Daley and Emeli (Sande)? 

12. How pray tell, did radio show host Tom Joyner get both Patti LaBelle and Diana Ross to perform on his 2016 Fantastic Voyage? Why can’t he get Prince to agree? 

13. Saddened, surprised or simply disgusted that the press is not flooded with news about Chris Breezy donating a small portion of his new CD’s proceeds to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital? Will the press remain radio dead-air-silent if he winds up in trouble again? 

14. Because he is talented and was found not guilty, are we earnestly going to give R. Kelly a pass? Or will we forever deem him the creepy uncle you cannot leave alone with the children? 

15. Will recently engaged Cee-Lo Green get a pass? 

16. Was the overdosing of Aretha Franklin tracks on this season’s, “Scandal,” a Jedi Mind Trick to make viewers forgot that the plotline has become critically weak and the episodes have all lacked Olivia Pope actually, “fixing,” stuff? 

17. Disappointed, betrayed or not surprised by, “Empire’s,” lack of musical punch and semi-predictable storylines this season? 

18. By a show of hands, who is impressed with, “Being Mary Jane’s,” diversified, sensual and soul massaging soundtrack? Who has to Google every episode because Mara ‘n ‘em spin artists that mainstream radio sleeps on? 

19. Were we surprised that after only 2 years on the air in the DC area, Frank Ski unexpectedly, unceremoniously and immediately dipped when legendary DJ/VJ Donnie Simpson made his return in the same area?

20. Digging the talent, and creativity, or lack thereof on Spike TV’s, “Lip Sync Battle?”

♫♪ Twenty Questions To The Beat (PT. 6) ♪♫

1.  Are you motivated, moved, mesmerized or feeling, “meh,” over Beyonce’s latest musical feats?

2.  By a show of hands, how many of us think that folk—specifically Harry Belafonte and other African-American activists/critics, hold Jay Z to a higher standard and rake him over the coals more than they do Sean Combs? By a show of hands, how many of us could give less than two damns what Jay Z does politically, for, “The People,” mankind, etc.?

3. Excited or not impressed with the comics turned afternoon Radio Show Hosts DL Hughley, and Earthquake?

4.  By a show of hands, how many of us think that Radio, in general is truly dead and resurrection is out of the question?

5.  By a show of hands—and this is for the old schoolers and true lovers of music, how many of us wish that Hip-Hop would just go ahead and die, too?

6.  By a show of hands, how many of us think that Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O’Connor (a.k.a. Lorde) is wise beyond her years and boldly speaks-the-truth regarding today’s music via her cut, “Royals”?

7.  Do the continuous sensual and hip-shaking hits by Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke have African-American women doing a double-take and whispering, “All White, now…!”

8.  By a show of hands, how many of us think that no matter how many hits he has, Robin Thicke does NOT get a pass for claiming he did NOT sample Marvin Gaye on, “Blurred Lines?”

9.  Wasn’t the GoldieBlox versus The Beastie Boys fight both sad and insane? Moreover, was it not the PERFECT example of how simple disagreements can get out of hand?

10.  Is Pharrell Williams the quiet, but infinitely talented, non-drama dude you would want to invite to the crib for drinks and have long discussions about real life situations and shit?

11. By a show of hands who believes the rumors that OutKast will finally release a project together in 2014?

12. Sad, disappointed, not surprised, or just don’t give a damn, that Nikki Minaj’s minimal talent was overshadowed by classless behavior and disrespect for her elders on American Idol? How many think the entire rift and subsequent disses-slash-on-air disagreements had to be a publicity stunt staged by Fox and Nikki was paid to behave that way?

13.  By a show of hands how many of us think it was not a coincidence that both Michael Baisden and Frank Ski were removed from the airwaves just months before the George Zimmerman verdict? Excited, “meh,” or “whatever,” that Frank Ski has returned to WHUR?

14.  By a show of hands, who is waiting on the Pope to open up his own club, offer Communion and Blessings at the entrance, and confessions with a complimentary mix CD at the exit?

15.  How cool was it that out of all the people to sing at President Nelson Mandela’s funeral, they called on Kirk Franklin?

16.  By a show of hands, how many of us, from the first note to the last, are digging, “The Best Man Holiday,” soundtrack?  Is the 2013 movie and soundtrack better than the first (1999)?

17. Inspired, intrigued, or feeling, “meh,” that Steve Harvey has transformed from Standup Comedian, to an Original Kings of Comedy, to actor, to radio show host, to author, to movie producer, to Family Feud host, to TV talk show host in just under 25 years?

18. By a show of hands, how many of us will admit waiting on bated breathe for the, “Strawberry Letter,” along with the response from Steve, his crew and callers?

19. Excited, or feeling, “meh,” over the return of Arsenio Hall’s TV show? By a show of hands, how many of us love Aresenio but are just too worn out to stay up that late?

20. By a show of hands, how many of us simply wish for love, peace and soul in 2014?

STICK AND STAY

(Or the Highs and Lows of Driving A Manual Vehicle)

While weaving through DMV traffic yesterday evening, I realized I absolutely love that I know to drive a manual vehicle. It’s the little things like this that make life seem a bit more, “grand.” Not a superior skill, but one nonetheless, that I am proud of.  

And although I am glad I acquired said skill before I turned 21, there are both ups and downs to driving a stick…

PROS

1. Very few requests from friends to borrow the whip.  Keeping it real—this is, in fact, the official Number One reason people buy sticks instead of automatics. We just never say it out loud.

2. For whatever reason, manual vehicles are cheaper than automatics (standards). Don’t hate the game…

3. In the right setting, such as City Traffic with stop lights and stop signs, you can put tailgaters in check. Simply wait for an uphill slant. When taking off, “accidentally,” roll back, get close enough to touch said tailgater, but avoid a collision (barely).  And yes, I do that to everyone, including cops. My feeling is, if we are not dating, stay off my ass!

4. A woman who can stick, is considered, well, versatile…so I’ve heard!

Seriously, though, I might have been on the medium bus, as it were (that means I am a tad slow and thick in the head), and I cannot dance as well as Janet Jackson (damn her!). But I can get behind the wheel of any manual vehicle and shift gears gracefully and expeditiously.

5. Peeling away from an ex-boyfriend’s place post-argument looks and sounds so much cooler in a manual vehicle.

CONS

1. Maneuvering through chronic Stop & Go Traffic cities like, L.A., DC, NYC, Atlanta and some parts of Europe (including Germany) can drive one batty.

2. Driving a stick and trying to eat—not a good look. Stuff like ice cream, even a cone, is no fun at all.

3. Um, it is not a good look when one has an, “off moment,” and grinds gears because of hasty shifting—so I’ve heard…

4. er’ once in a while, especially when first learning to drive a stick, one will happen upon a hill that tests true balance and the ability to shift without panicking.

5. If one gets hurt or incapacitated and needs someone to drive your vehicle for you, the choices are infinitely limited…

6. One of these days, I will be too old to drive, let alone, “stick…”

...BLESS THE CHILD WHO HAS A PARENT THAT GIVES A DAMN!

Full disclosure: I was whipped as a child—didn’t like it much, but I’m not mad at all. And yes, I whipped my two children, too; both are now college students. I’m sure they didn’t like it, either.

So why, pray tell, am I defending a man who did the same to his children, but got, “extra” with a whipping and is now looking at jail time? Because, dammit, I understand; I say again, “I understand.”

No, being a parent does not give you the power, authority or right to brutalize, bully or torture your children; does not.  But being a parent means you have a responsibility to protect your children by any damn means necessary.

Greg Horn’s two daughters disobeyed him. He decided to make them more afraid of him, than of the danger he was trying to keep them from. Hence, he resorted to whipping them. (Note: it is unclear whether the girls were, in fact, Twerking or they went out without permission).

There are bad people in this society—pimps, drug dealers, human traffickers, gangs, boogie men that go, “bump in the night,” and predators of the very twisted kind. And they are just waiting for children who do not listen to their parents and cross the proverbial line that has been set forth. Horn, did what he thought he had to do, to keep his daughters from harm—direct, indirect, as it were.

Regrettably, in his overzealous attempt to protect them, he actually hurt them. That is unfortunate. However, I support a parent—any parent, who opts to keep their children in line instead of trying to be their friend. In these bizarre times where kids are competing to show who is the, “biggest and the baddest,” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc., parents must be vigilant, firm and show no fear. Sure, not every kid today will want to run for political office in 20 years. But soon, acquiring a job at Mickie D’s is going to be a challenge once Ronald McDonald starts to Google every applicant that walks through the door to see what kind of smut they posted on the world wide web, “back in the day (mark my words—it’s coming!).”

I have a friend who contends that Horn’s actions are just an example of a man trying to control a woman’s body. Furthermore, said friend implies that Horn is ignoring the fact his daughters are in fact, sexually active. Hmm…

Maybe, just maybe this man’s head is buried in the sand about the sex lives of his daughters, who are already, “doing grown up things.” Maybe this public, humiliating whipping will push these girls further away from their father and they will indeed follow a road of degrading, self-deprecating, dangerous and deadly sexual acts; maybe…

But what if this is the teaching moment the Horn family needs? Perhaps this is what pushes Greg Horn to sit his daughters down and say, “You may be having sexual feelings and urges; and that’s normal. But you must be responsible with your bodies. Do not let any man take advantage of you, disrespect your body or make you feel less than the beautiful women that you are.” 

Then to let them know how much he really cares, he should add, “And the man who treats you ‘ill’ will answer to me.” Powerful shit, right there, since they know their father can whip some ass!

Furthermore, Mr. Horn can be an example to other parents of how, “keeping it real with, ‘Old School’ punishment,” can go horribly wrong. In my opinion, his punishment should be to explain to other parents who are also struggling with their teenagers how he might have handled this differently.

I have one last suggestion to Greg Horn, and all parents. Always keep the phone numbers of Big Mama, Uncle James, a few “true-blue-and-tight-like-glue” best friends, etc. on speed dial. This is so that when the children, “test” you, there is another responsible adult who can help you to, “pull up,” “pull back,” and calm the hell down, as it were.

In a society where absentee fathers are the norm, I trust and pray the Horn sisters are grateful that they have a father who is present, and more importantly, one that actually gives a damn.

SAY WHAT...? Pt. 2

Just a few, “quotable quotes,” that always stir my spirit when I hear them. What’s yours?

God told, and explained to Jonah , that the essence of love is to labor for something. One loves that which one labors for and one labors for that which one loves.

--Coach Odom (Ossie Davis), School Daze

You’ll be dead in a year.

--Principal Joe Clark (Morgan Freeman) Lean On Me

Cottonpicker!

--Nigerian Drug Dealer (Lord Michael Banks), Sugar Hill

Are…you…Black?

--Leeds (Samuel L. Jackson) School Daze

This part of my life…this part right here? This is called, “happiness.”

--Christopher Gardner (Will Smith), Pursuit of Happyness

It costs $150 to get in the game. Now if you haven’t got it, agitate the gravel…and take this lame with you.

-- (Enforcer at Zenobia’s) Uptown Saturday Night

You were your ignorance like a badge of honor and you call that being cool. That’s called masturbation. That’s right. It may make you feel good, but it does not produce life.

--Manny Durrell (Sidney Poitier), A Piece of the Action

If you ain’t scared, then you don’t got no need for guts.

--Claudine Price (Diahann Carroll) Claudine

You talk more shit than a little bit.

--Julian Eaves (Giancarlo Espisito) School Daze

Don’t jive me.

Ray Charles (Jamie Foxx) Ray