The 56th Grammy Awards

Now with the Water Cooler Buzz and India Irie streak to Tumblr it was obvious something went Down at the Grammys!!.....

When it comes to this years 56 Grammy Awards.... I didn't watch it, but I have been hearing the buzz around the water cooler that pretty much everybody is talking about a "Good Kid" from a" M.A.A.D City" Kendrick Lamar. Now, don't get me wrong I didn't watch it, but I did watch clips from the event and did some of my own research and this is what I found out.....

Kendrick Lamar 

 Kendrick did not win in any of the following categories which includes Best New Artist of the Year, best rap performer, best rap song, or best rap album in which  a lot of people think he should have won, at least in one of the categories, however instead McLemore and Ryan Lewis won, sewing up all the categories!

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Then India Arie went to Tumblr expressing her feelings about this past Sunday's Grammy's awards, which she did and according to thegrio.com and Ms.Arie expressed: 

 " Kendrick was robbed, but he was not the only one who was robbed. Personally, I was pleased he was able to perform and they Killed! It! one of the few moving moments of the night for me"....

She further express:

India Arie

"Though it’s called “Music industries biggest night” the #Grammys are NOT about the music, it’s a popularity contest. The voting process allows people, to vote on name recognition alone – the music industry politics is a whole NUTHER conversation.Too much to get into here. 

If the hip hop and R&B Community voted the same -for each category -we'd see winners that reflect the Music Itself we all know that's just not the way it goes".

 So, maybe her  point is valet but either way I think if the Hip- Hop and R&B Community would have been able to vote, Kendrick most certainly would have won as Best New Artist in my opinion, but let's let the music speak. Rollingout.com makes a great point out the situation.

 "Musically, The Heist was tailored for the radio with pop hits such as “Thrift Shop,”  “Can’t Hold Us” and “Same Love.” Mackemore, who is an independent artist, also went after the major label system with the song “Jimmy Iovine” and touched on the sneaker culture with “Wings.” 

"When compared to Kendrick’s good kid, M.A.A.D City, The Heist doesn’t come close. Instead of leaning on radio singles, Kendrick created a cohesive album that told the coming of age story of a teen experiencing life in Compton, Calif. In an age where rap singles and mixtapes rule...."

But was Kendrick robbed of a Grammy!? Was the Buzz True?And from what I do know and have come to find out is that,  it's a matter of your own opinion, and yes the buzz was true. None the less my opinion is Kendrick wasn't going to win period. Like rollingout.com mentioned and I agree... Kendrick Lamar wasn't "leaning on radio singles, Kendrick created a cohesive album that told the coming story of a teen experiencing life in Compton,Cali. in a age where rap singles and mixtapes rule."

 But, that's why the VH1 Hip Hop Honors, Source Awards, BET Awards and the Soul Train Music Awards and so forth are held, to be able to show Acknowledgement, Respect, and Honor to those who are really doing it Big in the Hip Hop, Rap and R&B industry. Some people take the Awards I just mentioned above more seriously than the Grammy's when it comes to Hip Hop, Rap & R&B, but then you have others who feel the Grammy's are more important. 

Moreover, rollingout comments "Macklemore shouldn't be blamed. He did put out decent music and he's a decent artist who released a decent album and he even suggested that Kendrick should win the award for Best Album before the ceremony began." Now, I don't know if he suggested Kendrick should win, but I can agree Macklemore and Ryan Lewis has released some cool tracks. 

Now with that being said...What did K.Dot have to say about Macklemore winning? Well, according to pithfork.com Kendrick Lamar responded:

"It’s well deserved; he did what he did, man... He went out there and hustled and grinded. Everything happens for a reason; the universe comes back around, that’s how it go."

They go on to share.... 

 "XXL the site asked Lamar for his opinion on the Grammy's treatment of hip-hop broadly, and whether it is undervalued?" And I'll close with Kendrick's opinion to the question:

 "I definitely feel like they should always have  more of the culture up in  there, for sure,  because we definitely stand out just like any  other genre..We part of the world.,We part of  the movement. So I think any awards, including  the Grammys, should always push for more hip  hop because it's music as a whole, its not just  splitting different regions. Everything moves as  far as sound and vibrations, and thats how it  goes. And we are a part of that."

The Pan African Film Festival Featuring Kevin Heart, Mo'Nique and A host of Others!?

 The 22nd Annual Pan African Film Festival will be held February 6-17, 2014 in Los Angeles..... 

The Pan African film festival is the nation’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival founded by Danny Glover, Ja’net DuBois (Good Times) and Ayuko Babu.... 

DannyGlover, Ja'net DuBoise & Ayuko Badu

PAFF.org reads their ready again to "take movie goers on a cinematic journey with international film screenings from around the globe."  Some of the actors/actress featured in this years films will include the ever so funny Kevin Hart the well known Mo'Nique, the very talented Isaiah Washington, along with a host of new faces and familiar faces as well!

The PAFF site reads..."Over the years, it has showcased films from all parts of the world, representing such countries as Angola, Austria, England, Bermuda, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Nigeria, and of course, the United States. With the pulse on the international film market, PAFF has opened the minds of its audiences, and transported them to lands far away and back home again." 

As mentioned earlier some of the stars that will be featured in  film's 

photo courtesy PAFF.org

include the well known Ms Mo’Nique and Isaiah Washington whom will be featured in the closing film titled"Black Bird" which is a film directed by Patrik-Ian Polk based on the novel by Larry Duplechan about a devout high school choir boy, named Randy who is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality in a small, religiously-conservative Mississippi town he calls home.


In conclusion The Pan African film festival will end the festivities with a film synopsis titled "About Last Night." It will be featured in the Pan African film festival as the center piece gala event which will feature a red carpet, movie screening and an after party following . 
                

Directed by Steve Pink "About Last Night" features Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall, Joy Bryant, Christopher McDonald and Paula Patton. 

"This film is a very hip re-imagining of the classic sophisticated romantic comedy, this contemporary version closely follows new love for two couples as they journey from the bar to the bedroom and are eventually put to the test in the real world ," the article reads.

MORE ABOUT THE PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL 

The site reads it's "Gearing up for its 22nd anniversary, the Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF), is America’s largest and most prestigious Black film and arts festival. Each year, it screens more than 150 films made by and/or about people of African descent from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific, Latin America, Europe and Canada. PAFF holds the distinction of being the largest Black History Month event in the country.

PAFF was founded in 1992  by award-winning actor Danny Glover (“The Color Purple,” “Lethal Weapon” movie franchise), Emmy Award-winning actress Ja’Net DuBois (best known for her role as Willona  in the tv series, “Good Times”) and executive director, Ayuko Babu, an  international legal, cultural and political consultant who specializes in African Affairs.  PAFF is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of ethnic and racial respect and tolerance through the exhibit of films, art and creative expression.

The goal of  PAFF is to present and showcase the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images, help to destroy negative stereotypes and depict an expanded vision of the Black experience. PAFF believes film and art can lead to better understanding and foster communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while at the same time, serve as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times."

Tickets for the event and more information about the Pan African Film Festival can be found at http://www.paff.org/

Staying Hydrated With P.Diddy And Marky Mark!?

It's Tuesday the time of the week where I turn up to not only get my day started, but my week....

So, as I share my Turn Up I welcome you to get it in with me!! Turn Up it's Tuesday..

I wanted to share some new info that I came across as I was standing in the check outline... Alright, so I was standing in the check out line and as I'm standing there I see P.Diddy pop up on the screen promoting his new water Aqua Hydrate which made me Lol, because all water hydrates and Aqua means water, so I did a little more research about P.Diddy''s new water Aqua Hydrate to see what actually makes it any different from all the other water bottles in stock and I found the following....

 According to uproxx.com 

 P.Diddy has also joined in the venture of this fitness and wellness brand sport drink AQUA hydrate which name translates roughly to “Water Watered.” with no other than the man of fitness himself, the very talented Mark Wahlberg who per the arrangement, "Combs and Wahlberg will oversee business strategy along with CEO John Cochran, formerly President of Fiji Water." 

"It is a high performance water without the sugar and calories found in traditional sports drinks or vitamin enhanced beverages.  The product’s combination of performance-grade electrolytes and a higher pH level of 9+ has caught the attention of elite athletes, active health-conscious consumers, and celebrities looking to perform at the top of their game, in every aspect of their life.  In addition to the brand’s existing athlete roster, AQUAhydrate recently inked an official partnership with the Los Angeles Clippers wherein the product will be distributed to the team on and off the court." 

So, I guess we now know that P.Diddy has joined in a venture with Mark Wahlberg overseeing business strategy when it comes to Aquahydrate, as well as finding out that Aqua Hydrate translates roughly to meaning "Water Watered", which makes me think of getting a water hose and watering a swimming pool, but none the less I've found that overall AQUAhydrate is suppose to be a high performance water without the sugar and calories found in traditional sports drinks ;.p

So, for all those looking for a new high performance sport's drink maybe Aquahydrate might be the drink for you....

Thank's for taking the time out to read my blog! Until Next Time " Stay Hydrated My Friends"