Sunday, November 30, 2014

Affirmation

Affirmation - Im thankful to GOD from where all my blessings flow. I rebuke the Devil and I rejoice in The Lord. The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost are my walk in Faith. I live in gratitude, and Im thankful for everyday of a graceful life.  Through it all. Im a BELIEVER.   He is worthy to be praised.

May God Bless Us All!!


Friday, November 28, 2014

Ascend/TGIF

Happy Friday everyone, ... Let's Talk about It!!!

Some key factors to know for a successful life, never forget where you have been, do not lose sight of the direction in which you're traveling and always acknowledge the people who are with you, on the journey.  Sometimes we tend to lose focus, occasionally we let good ones get away, for silly reasons, tolerance is great attribute to master.  We are all different people. When you find friends and lovers who accept you for being you, those are keepers. understand we aren't perfect beings, but wonderful works in progress.

This life is yours, stop looking to everyone else to save you, take accountability for self.  You will get out, whatever you've put in.  Often we take for granted our health, is a blessing and a luxury, be mindful and thankful.  We are so quick to look and find the bad, but on any given day, Im certain that the positives out weigh the negatives. Continue to Champion the good fight, the media will try to tell you that a life doesn't matter, do not buy into that madness.  Its time that we ascend, to a higher plane, there's many more mountains to climb.
 
What Are You Doing With Your Life?


Best'


Kevin Knighton

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Flashback Who's That ...

Singer Deborah Cox got her start singing background for Celine Dion in the early 1990's.  In 1995, Clive Davis signed Cox to Arista Records, and she released her first single 'Sentimental' from her self-titled debut album the same year. Her debut album went gold. Cox was compared to one of her Idols and label mate superstar Whitney Houston.   In 1998 she released her sophomore album One Wish, it contained the monster hit 'Nobody Suppose To Be Here' which held the #1 spot on the r&b charts for 14 weeks and 8 consecutive weeks at #2 on the pop charts.  'One Wish' went platinum after that, her future album releases failed to catch on.  Her dance remixes were highly successful with the gay community, so much so, she's planning on releasing an all dance album in the future.  Today Cox is a wife, mother of three (1 boy, 2 girls) and an Indie artist with her own label, who sings and acts on occasion.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ...

Happy Thanksgiving Day everyone. Thanks be to God from where all Blessings flow. For the beauty of his work, that he richly affords us with. The opportunity that abundantly falls on our doorsteps. Let's give thanks and rejoice and be glad in it. Amen~

To God Be The Glory ...

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Happy (75) Birthday Proud Mary

75 - Happy Birthday Tina Turner and fellow Sagittarius.  Proud Mary keep on rolling ...


AnnaMaeBullock ...


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Multi - Tasking ...

Lunch, Laundry AND desert!!!

Nancy Wilson A Class Act ...

Struggles and Triumphs:

In music. with musicians there's a saying 'give the drummer some' for Legendary Song Stylist extraordinaire Nancy Wilson she literally did that:-) her first husband was drummer Kenny Dennis, they were married a little shy of a decade and from that union came a son name Kenny Dennis.  Nancy was born in Ohio, the oldest of six siblingsz. She began singing at 4 years old.  She worked with jazz legend Cannonballl Adderly, who gave her the break she deserved.  Being a beauty got her a lot of attention, she was a trailblazer having had her own variety series in the '60s, the Emmy-winning The Nancy Wilson Show.  With success demons lurk, she battled a heroin drug addiction and overcame.   In 1973, she married a Presbyterian minister, the Reverend Wiley Burton. She gave birth to Samantha Burton in 1975, and the couple adopted Sheryl Burton in 1976. Choosing to move away from the busy life of Hollywood,  she relocated to Pioneertown, California, to raise her children in a rural setting.

The American singer has more than 70 albums, and three Grammy Awards. She is Idolized by singers such as Chaka Khan, Regina Belle and the late Phyllis Hyman( who viewed Nancy as a best friend).  Having been labeled a singer of bluesjazzcabaret and pop; a "consummate actress"; and "the complete entertainer." The title she prefers, however, is Song Stylist.  


August 2006, Wilson was hospitalized with anemia and potassium deficiency, and was on I.V. sustenance while undergoing a complete battery of tests

March 2008, she was hospitalized for lung complications, recovered and claimed to be doing well.   In the same year, her husband, Wiley Burton, died after suffering from renal cancer.  

In 2011 Wilson confirmed that after 60 years, she will perform on a public stage for the last time at Ohio University, giving her final show in the same state that she gave her first.  Thanks Ms. Wison for always being a class act, exuding 'style and grace'.

Monday, November 24, 2014

A murderer walks AGAIN

Some will try to convince you that a Black life doesn't matter, don't you let them!!  GOD see's all!!
My heart goes our to the family and ferguson community.  One day the bleeding and tears will stop.  The Grand Jury did  NOT indict the police officer in  Fergusion.


#Healing #InSearchOfTruth #BlackLifeMatters #Fergusonshootingcase

Some Cocoa in 2015

Magic Mike ... We see you!!!

Diana Ross ...

Slaying - Legendary Diana Ross at the AMA's last night, she always slays on the Red Carpet.  Showing that at 70 she still reigns SUPREME!!  Pictured with Selena Gomez.  Ross presented Taylor Swift with the Dick Clark Award of Excellence.

Icon Diana Ross & Selena Gomez

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Affirmation

Happy Sunday - Giving GOD the glory!  Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of Life, The Blessings  and Purpose.

For all the many blessings ...

Friday, November 21, 2014

Battle Cries ...

Bill Cosby's name is EVERYWHERE this week, does anyone wonder how Camille Cosby is feeling; or what does she have to say?   With the molestation of Bow Wow, Usher, Aaliyah, Tevin Campbell, Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Taylor Lautner and countless others in the Entertainment Industry, whose parents choose to take a blind eye, for fame and fortune.  When will it end? Is it ever worth it? The scars and damage are unrepairable.  


Lets add racism to the mix, such as Powerful Entertainment Caucasians who exercise lewd acts of misconduct.  Why are they viewed as brilliant artists; flip the switch, when the same act is done by an African American, they are considered monsters.  Its the same act people.  The sickness needs to end.  



Janet Jackson AND Justin Timberlake created the Nipplegate incident together,it was career suicide for her, while his career still thrives.  If that exact same thing happened and it was Britney Spears performing in the Janet role, and 50 CENTS in the role of JT, the media and powers that be would have spent it totally differently, it would poor little Britney and 50 would be the bad guy.  


Michael Vick goes to jail for the cruelty of animals, while George Zimmerman goes free for murdering Trayvon Martin.  Robert Blake and O.J. Simpson both were found not guilty of killing their mates, public opinion ridiculed one and not the other.  


If these allegations aren't true against Bill Cosby, guilty or innocent his career and legacy is over, just like Michael Jackson.  Roman Polanski, Woody Allen _____________ (many names) continue to receive Awards, and still get work.  It just doesn't add up.  Society make victims feel ashamed about the misconduct of others.  No one asks to be raped, molested   

or victimized.  Clearly silence isn't the answer, we must support these victims, by allowing their stories to be told.  Parents protect your children at any cost. The motto of the Entertainment industry is the show must go on ...

Ingenuity/TGIF

Happy Friday everybody, ... Let's Talk about It!!!

STRENGTH: I was born to overcome, you were too, let's move on.   We are consumed with questions and unyielding answers.  The 'wait' process always proves the most challenging, in that stillness, evolution occurs.  The unknown is where opportunity awaits, to thrive, the door is open.   Its a great big world, your contributions are key factors.  There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the ill will in your life, and the persons who are creating it.  GROWTH: a simple word, but a horrific task to conquer.  

Karma has no menu, you get served what you deserve.  That fact can be a hard bill to swallow, when you are afraid of truth.   When trying to reveal the true colors of someone,  you come to realize, its not worth sacrificing your peace, trying to point the inadequate ways of others.  Worry about the walls, that are blocking your sunshine.   Stop subscribing to insecurities that keep you walking in mud, when you are capable of walking on the moon.  Deep down inside, the truth always rises, and lack of character reveals itself in the end.

What Are You Doing With Your Life?


Best'


Kevin Knighton

Thursday, November 20, 2014

How To Get Away With Murder ...

TONIGHT - 'How To Get Away With Murder' ... Viola Davis is a critically revered award-winning actress of film, television and theater known for her intriguingly diverse roles.


Her character Annalise Keating is everything you hope your Criminal Law professor will be brilliant, passionate, creative and charismatic. She’s also everything you don’t expect – sexy, glamorous, unpredictable and dangerous. As fearless in the courtroom as she is in the classroom, Annalise is a defense attorney who represents the most hardened criminals – people who’ve committed everything from fraud to arson to murder. Annalise seems like she has it all, a successful career and a loving husband, Sam but soon she will be forced to confront secrets about her life she never saw coming.  The Winter Season Finale airs tonight, secrets unfolding ...

Flashback Who's That ...

Stroll with me to 'Brewster Place' the mini-series a song with no words just 'moans' and you're drawn in to the vocal stylings of Vesta Willams, then flash to singer Sting's song 'We'll Be Together' you hear the background vocals of 'again' Vesta Williams 'wailing'.  As a session singer she sang jingles for 'Revlon', 'Diet-Coke', 'Nike' and backed Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, StingStephanie Mills, Anita Baker and Gordon Lightfoot.


Her debut album was released on A&M entitled 'Vesta' was warmly received.  Her followed album '4 U' featured the single 'Sweet Sweet Love'.   She was known for her four-octave vocal range.  Although Williams never had any albums certified gold nor any Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, she scored six Top 10 hits on the United States Billboard R&B chart.  Williams was known for "Sweet Sweet Love", "Special", and her signature song "Congratulations".  During her A&M records stay, she released four CD's.  Weight was always the issue that her label focused on instead of the voice, which made things difficult, for Vesta at times.   In A&M last stitch effort they teamed her with then 'new' comer Brian McKnight and Anita Baker's producer Michael Powell for her 'Everything-N-More' though a 'very' solid offering, it went nowhere.  


After being dropped from her label, Williams very frustrated lost over one hundred pounds (going from a size 26 to 6) thinking that she would satisfy label and marketing heads.  A few years later signed to a new label Williams released her 'Relationships', another stall.  Needing to bring money in, she became a radio jock.  It would take almost a decade before she recorded another CD on ANOTHER new label 'Distant Lover' was released, Vesta was older, and her audienced was older, the climate had changed.  Yes STILL a great singer, with no airplay.   Later years found Williams depressed, she lost her residence after 18 years of living in the 'Miracle Mile' section of Los Angeles, 

On September 22, 2011, Williams was found dead living in a hotel room in El Segundo, California, coroners ruled 'her passing by 'natural death' from 'hypertensive heart disease'.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Mr Bill Cosby ...

Im guessing legendary comedian, actor Bill Cosby must have REALLY pissed someone or many people off.  This rapist, date drug story seems to be growing by leaps and bounds.  At the height of his success, someone killed his son Ennis, now maybe Im just a conspiracy theorist, but it didn't add up then and this 'new' story doesn't add up now.  Cosby has been in negotiations for quite sometime to return to Television.  If you will recall, he was the cash cow for NBC during the 80's.  
A womanizer I would be inclined to be believe, drinking and drugs maybe, but RAPIST??? Recently three women have come forth with rape allegations, one saying that it happened twice, call me crazy, but If someone raped me once, 911 would be on my speed dial, and I certainly would not be in that persons company again.  The latest victim is big blabber mouth model Janice Dickerson, who said that the incident happened in 1982, when she was trying to launch her singing career.  Dickerson is known for running her mouth, so why the silence for so long?  She said that she wanted to include it in her 2002 memoir 'No Lifeguard on Duty' but that Cosby and his lawyers pressured her and the publisher to remove the details.  Cosby's lawyer Martin Singer said that Dickinson's claim was an “outrageous defamatory lie.”


I keep coming back to the question of why now? Who did Bill Cosby piss off?  Could one of America's favorite father figures, really be a date drug rapist?  My gut says no, but only time will tell. I would never condone these actions, if its true.  Will this be his legacy; after a lifetime of good deeds?   Your thoughts?

Familiar Faces ...

Dennis Dexter Haysbert is an American film and television actor, with a net worth of $42 million. Dennis Haysbert has earned his net worth from major roles on popular TV series like portraying baseball player Pedro Cerrano in the Major League film trilogy, Waitibg To Exhale, Love Field, President David Palmer on the American television series 24, and Sergeant Major Jonas Blane on the drama series The Unit, as well as his work in commercials for Allstate Insurance.


Haysbert was born in San Mateo, California, the son of Gladys,  a homemaker, and Charles Haysbert, Sr., a deputy sheriff. He is the eighth of nine children, having two sisters and six brothers. He was struck by an 18 wheeler that ran a red light at an intersection. After high school, measuring 6 feet 4.5 inches tall, Haysbert was offered various athletic scholarships, but instead chose to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Haysbert is a divorced father of two. He announced in April 2009 that he was starting a TV, film and documentary production company. Haysbert was recently cast in Ted 2, and Zombie movie Dead Rising.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Germany wins ...

Germany has beaten the US to be named the best country in the world, according to a survey that rates nations on how they are perceived by outsiders.

America has topped the charts for the past five years in the annual Nation Brands Index produced by Anholt-GfK, which carried out more than 20,000 interviews across 20 countries.

The UK successfully held onto its third-place performance from last year, while France was ranked fourth and Canada came fifth.

AMA's snubbed Grande ...

Huh - Pint size Diva in training singer and actress Ariana Grande was SNUBBED by the American Music Awards association.  Grande didn't receive any nominations this year, after taking home the coveted 'Best New Artist' award 2013, from the same association.  Adding insult to injury Grande was asked and accepted to perform her monster hit 'Bang Bang' with Jessie J. this Sunday night (Nov 23) when the American Music Awards airs on ABC.  Other performers slated to perform are One Direction, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, Fergie, Selena Gomez, 5 Seconds of Summer, Charli XCX, Lorde, Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons and host Pitbull.


Best New Artist 2013 at the AMAS

Monday, November 17, 2014

GQ ... Men Of The Year


Rising - Michael Sam, the first out GAY professional football player. Whether a Saint Louis Ram or Dallas Cowboy, Sam is in the history books. The reality of it all is this, Sam makes more of the Sports world uncomfortable, far more than who, will ever care to acknowledge. Truth be told gayness in sports isnt new, its just not talked about. I salute GQ for featuring him on the cover in their 'Men Of The Year' series. Here's little background on Michael Sam.
Early projections had Sam as a third- or fourth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. However, his performance in the NFL Scouting Combine in February 2014 was seen as disappointing, which lowered expectations on whether or not he would be taken in the draft. He was seen as too small to play defensive end and too slow to play outside linebacker. He showed improvement at a public workout a month later, but his pre-draft rankings ranged from 12th to 25th among defensive ends. At the 2013 draft, 33 defensive ends were selected overall, with 23 taken in the final four rounds
.
Sam made his professional debut on August 8, 2014, during the first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, where he made one tackle in the game on quarterback Ryan Griffin.

After being let go from the Rams, On September 3, Sam was added to the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys. On October 21, the Cowboys waived Sam from their practice squad, making him a free agent. The record is not over yet, stay tuned to see where Mr. Sam will land next.


Saturday, November 15, 2014

Winter ...

Winter and Layers ... My favorite time of year. Though a few days shy of the official day, Im ready, and this gear right here ... Is FIYYAH!!!

Swan Song ...

Swan Song - LOS ANGELES, Calif. - BET says its long-running music-variety series "106 & Park" is airing its last daily episode next month, then going digital.

BET said Friday that the "106 & Park" brand is moving online to BET.com. It will also remain part of the cable channel with occasional specials, including its New Year's Eve show.


BET executive Stephen Hill says in an internal memo released by the channel that the move online will bring "106 & Park" to where its audience connects with music the most.

Details of the online show, including its frequency, start date and hosts, are still being developed.

"106 & Park" debuted 14 years ago, and its guests have included first lady Michelle Obama, Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise.

The show's final air date is Dec. 19.
#ShadMoss #106andPark #Bet

Friday, November 14, 2014

Anecdote/TGIF

Happy Friday everyone, ... Let's Talk about It!!!

A true hero, is one of courage and humility.  True heroism is remarkably sober, very non dramatic.  It is not the urge to surpass or be seen by all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.  Getting close to the light is a brilliance, and a honor.  What we give back, shouldn't be self serving, sharing is the ultimate unselfish act of kindness, very priceless.

For some the aging process Is frightening, though not afforded to all, many would agree, it beats the alternative.  Reality attests that constant work is required, you must teach your flock and plan for your harvest.  For every situation that has us convinced that we can't go 'through' the unbearable, yet we make it through, its all adds to what is revealed, not by chance, but fate and destiny.  A life transformation happens, when we can rid the chaos, and own our baggage.   We must be willing participants to muddle through to achieve the proper anecdote.

What Are You Doing With Your Life?


Best'


Kevin Knighton

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Whores in Hollywood ...

DUMBASSES - Hollywood  continues to 'pick' and choose what new 'assholes' make it into the Entertainment industry.  The KRASHIAN gang, famous for what??? Three Ho's turning tricks for pay in  Hollyhood.  Careful people what you to choose to lay day with ...



Khloe K illustrated once again how she strives for attention, truly fodder of what a life can be liked when your African American father (O.J. Simpson) denies your existence.   Ugh smdh

One to Watch ...

Jack Falahee was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and graduated New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where he performed in the several stage productions. Since graduation, Falahee appeared in the films and television shows, before his breakout role as Connor Walsh, a gay law student, in the Shonda Rhimes-produced ABC series, "How to Get Away with Murder".


Falahee made his television debut in 2013, with guest-starring role in The CW teen comedy-drama series, The Carrie Diaries, and later appeared on the short-lived NBC series, Ironside. He starred opposite Haley Lu Richardson and Mary McCormack in the Lifetime movie Escape from Polygamy, which premiered on August 24, 2013. Falahee later had roles in a number of independent films, including Hunter,Blood and Circumstance and Slider. In 2014, he appeared in action-thriller Rage opposite Nicolas Cage and Aubrey Peeples.  Also in that year he had a recurring role of Charlie McBride on the ABC Family teen drama series,Twisted.[8]

Breezy 'STILL' has it ...

The Soul Train Awards 2014 will air Nov 30th on Centric.  The show was filmed over the weekend.  The show opened with Chris 'Breezy' Brown who went into the event with seven nominations, he opened the show with some hits including "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)," "New Flame" and "Loyal.", and that bruh didn't miss a beat.  Clearly he is the modern day King of R&B, shaming his contemporaries such as Usher, Trey Songz, August Alsina etc., Chris Brown, the R&B superstar alsowent home with the awards for Best Collaboration and Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year for “Loyal.”  Nico & Vinz, went home with Best New Artist.


Other highlights was 80's superstar Stephanie Mills bring the house down with a powerhouse performance of her classic 'Home'.  90s R&B icons Jodeci reunited for the first time in years to perform a nostalgic medley of fan favorites including “Freek’n You,” “Come & Talk to Me,” “Stay,” and “Forever My Lady.” The North Carolina quartet also debuted its new single “Nobody Wins” with help from B.o.B.

Wendy Williams hosted the show which honored R$B group Kool and The Gang.  Singer a Eric Benet sang the hook to Gang's 'Ladies Night' followed by Lil' Kim, DaBrat and Missy Elliot for their mid nineties classic 'Not Tonight' which featured the late great Lisa 'Left-Eye' Lopez on video monitors.  Their performance was BANANAS ... Truly a must see. 

Flashback Who's That ...

Can you imagine being offered the opportunity. to be the First Lady of a 'then' new label 'LaFace' records, and turning it down (Toni Braxton thanks you) only to sign with another start up label 'Silas' records.  Thats the kind of 'questionable' choices that singer, songwriter Chanté Torrane Moore made coming into this industry.  We were first introduced to this lovely beauty's voice on the 'Candlelight and You' duet with singer Keith Washington, from the House Party II soundtrack.  Her silky voice wet our appetite for 'more' from MOORE!  She grew up in San Francisco, California, gigging around the Bay Area.  In 1992 she released her debut album 'Precious' and released her first single the seductive 'Love's Taken Over'.  Her debut went 'Gold' and to this day remains, a quiet storm staple.  Moore never received the attention that her voice and face deserves.  A fews years after her debut 'precious' we saw the lukewarm reception to her followup album 'A Love Supreme' which went nowhere. 


Silas records was trying to convince Moore that she made the right decision by choosing Silas, mind you by this time Toni Braxton was now a bonafide SUPERSTAR.  Her label decided to hire 'hit' producer Rodney Jerkins, everything he touched turned to gold and platinum.  Her third album 'This Moment Is Mine' was completed, Silas tried to decide on the first single between 'If I Gave Love' or 'Chante's Got A Man', they opted for the latter.  Jerkins  being the hot producer, everyone wanted him, to work with their artist including Sean Combs' who was working on Jennifer Lopez's debut. 


Puffy heard and loved the track 'If You Had My Love' and wanted it for Lopez, only thing was, that track belonged to Moore. Combs insisted that Jerkins write a track like that for Lopez, it was entitled 'If You Had My Love' it was the 'same' song.  Silas was still working 'Chante's got a Man' for Moore, Lopez's label Columbia records serviced her debut single to radio, it went to #1 in June 1999, before Silas could release Moore's second single, talk about bad timing.  It was downhill from there.  Her fourth and final release for 'Silas' records was entitled 'Expose', Moore had married and divorced actor Kadeem Hardison and was clearly 'bitter'.  Three years later Moore was happy about life again, she married singer Kenny Lattimore and released a duets album 'Things That Lovers Do' on Arista records.  It was was well received, their followup tanked, so did their marriage.


Since then Moore has become an Independent artist releasing two self financed projects and a victim or ratchet reality television, starring in Hollywood Divas:LA.  One thing that can not be denied is Moore's dynamic voice, she's one of the most talented vocalist in the business, with a great  work ethic.