R&B? PBR&B? Who cares! It's Music!

I just want to say that I’m feeling Frank Ocean and The Weekend’s new direction of R&B music. The reason is they are blurring lines of what is considered R&B. Some people on the Internet are even labeling them as “PBR&B.” In other words meaning that this R&B music is more hipster friendly. Many people think that the labels “R&B,” “PBR&B,” and “Hipster” in it selves are derogatory but I don’t have the time or enough research to defend those arguments. This is not some type of sociology assignment. I’m just discussing two artists who have my full attention, and they just so happen to fall in some obscure R&B category. All in all it’s just music that some people like and some people don’t.

Now back to my original topic. I like R&B. No wait let me rephrase that. I love R&B music. It was the first type of music that I remember ever hearing when growing up. It has come a long way and again this is not going to be a history lesson of R&B music. That would take another 20 pages or so. We all know how R&B evolved, perfected, peaked, and maybe losing a little luster. But I’m in no way bashing on current R&B artist for they have definitely set a foundation and are still successful.

However, through my ears I feel The Weekend and Frank Ocean are creating fresher sounds and using samples that cross between a few musical tastes and genres. One example is from The Weekend’s song “What You Need,” off their mixtape “House Of Ballons.” They pay a nice homage to R&B princess Aaliyah by sampling a few lines from her song “Rock the Boat.” It’s a slow song about a love triangle, with a catchy chorus, a haunting singing voice, backed up with soothing keyboard and drumbeats. ‘They also sample from Beach House with “Loft Music” to the British rock band, Siouxsie and the Branshiee’s “Happy House” sample on the titled track, “House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls.” (via MTV) The Weekend is definitely more in touch with their rock and roll side and makes me respect them more as artists. They opened up a few musical directions and sounds I’ve never myself took a chance to listening to and blending it with their own R&Bish way. They creatively introduced a die-hard R&B fan like to be more conscious of some great indie rock.

Another example is From Frank Ocean’s current Mixtape “Nostalgia/Ultra.” He samples artists such as MGMT, Radiohead, Cold Play and a few others. He turns these songs into his very own. It’s something a person would have to listen to other than me trying to describe it in words. All I can say he is a very clever artist and has an amazing talent in writing songs, creating images, and nuances. Frank Ocean aka Christopher "Lonny" Breaux has written songs for artists such as Brandy, Beyonce and Justin Beiber, so he is definitely part of the Top 40 R&B world. Basically he has a talent that can cross over and reach out to listeners who are not that much into R&B music and then the even more beautifully thing, vice versa!

Isn’t that what music is all about anyways? Finding someway to express a feeling or a sound that can blur lines of segregation and connect people together. I think so.

Poetry...Shhh don't laugh

Feeling like I want to share some old poems I've written a while back...they're pretty rough and may change over time but enjoy anyways.

"Working Title"

I rather just lock myself in my bathroom and look upon the pictures you took

but they are all of her now

It could of worked if you wanted it to
I know it seemed impossible but it could of worked
if you wanted it to.

And when I go to sleep you're in my dreams
I'm sure I hold my breath
hoping you breathe it back into me

I hold my breath every time you talk to me
Cuz I'm hoping that you will breathe it back
into me

Words can't even begin to explain the pain
u left me with
Your presence in my life has left an imprint

If only the sun was around when you were around

Instead we hid between my sheets
during the time when rain hit my window

I still hold my breath every time you talk to me
I'm hoping that you'll someday breath it back into me

Words can't even begin to explain the pain
u left me with

Your presence in my life has left




come back...



"Before I Could Regain Myself"


Before I could regain myself again
You intervined
I knew it was wrong
But I'm blind to most
of my mistakes

Was it the real me you fell for
or did the lusty pressure reveal
only a wonderful idea of me?

And before I could justify myself
We were strangers

My love became some foreign island
surrounded with dark and heavy
waves, too deep
A voyage not worth the trip

Not even the crack in you voice
or the mist in your eyes
could comfort the blow
to my ego

I didn't let you give me one last kiss
goodbye

because it would have erased
all the others that came
before...

R.I.P. Nate Dogg

Pac Div - Nobody's Perfect - Mania!

Nobody's Perfect

On March 5th 2011 yours truly turned 25 freakin' years old!

A long time ago when I was an infant—like 7 years old, I dreamed of becoming a school teacher, married by age 24 and to be pregnant by 25. PPPPSSSSHHHHHHH!!! I am faaaaaar from any of those expectations. I no longer have an interest of becoming a teacher, my love life should be tapped, and there's no way in H E double hockey sticks I plan on having a kid any time soon.

So what is this 25 year old woman doing? I'm still living in the city of San Francisco. I graduated with a degree in Creative Writing and I'm currently slangin' designer jeans at BloomingHELL (Bloomingdale's). I live with 3 home boys/brothers, and recently bought turn tables. Let's just say I'm living day by day.

Turning 25 however made me feel like time is running out for finding a real career. I moved to San Francisco in hopes of finding one of course but thanks to the horrible job market and economy my B.A. means squiddle lee dee. All last year I sent out numerous resumes and cover letters to different job posts for a writing gig. However, no one wanted to give me a chance not even Twitter. :( Needless to say I became discourage. I was tired of being rejected or feeling no one was giving me a chance, so I just gave up. I eventually got comfortable with my job and stopped looking upon pages and pages of Craiglist for job posts that weren't going to give me a chance anyways.

Last week after recovering from my crazy birthday party, I had an emotional breakdown. (usually happens once a month when my little fiend visits me). Something inside of me wanted to go home. All I kept thinking was I am not where I want to be. I don't have an amazing writing career, I'm not making my name known out in the world, and I'm still working at a stressful retail job. I was convinced that retreating back to Stockton my home town would be a better option to help me save money and start over.

Yesterday, I decided to give home a short visit. All I did was watch reality T.V. and eat stale cereal. It was lonely and boring and all I wanted to do was be a vegetable. All I kept thinking was I'm going to miss all my friends, the amazing SF food, and the fast pace life of the city.

On the drive back to S.F. I was still undecided of what I really wanted to do. However, as I got closer and closer I felt happy because I was coming home. As I crossed the Bay Bridge, I realized I can't give up. Nobody's perfect. I just need to get back on track and keep searching for something out there for me. I fell back in love with the possibilities of the city. So today I made my decision that I can't return back, I came too far to just return home and start all over again.

I was glad to find my friends and roomies with words of encouragement and support on my decision to stay and stick it out. Everything that I need for inspiration, encouragement, and opportunity is here and inside of me. I just keep getting in the way of myself.

Again nobody's perfect and it takes time to find where we all belong in life, and for now I do feel like SF isn't ready to give up on me yet.

Curren$y - Roasted (feat. Trademark Da SkyDiver & Young Roddy)

J.Cole - Higher

"You may not be the one, but you the one that I desire..."