♫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…”