FEARLESS - Jazmine Sullivan Album Review

Finally! I haven’t done a week-in-review album review in a minute and what I’m about to talk about is like the dopest LP I’ve heard in a long, long, long time. Jazmine Sullivan’s debut album FEARLESS is insane. Released last Tuesday, September 23, 2008, I like to refer to it as a woman’s audible journal. Besides the girl having a Kim Burrell kind of flavor (gospel artist), she draws solely on personal experience. It’s not a superficial album that appeals mainly to club mixes and cloud nine love effects that most artists – especially new artists – gravitate towards when trying to appeal to and build a new audience. Nah, homegirl talks about it all. Even though the content is heavy at times, it’s still something that’s a pleasure to listen to. She doesn’t rest on a groove so you have no choice but to listen to the lyrics. The music is “off” and unexpected and the lyrics are genius. Of course, we all know, NEED U BAD, which was built around a reggae vibe but the second single released just recently is BUST YOUR WINDOWS, the opening track of the album. It’s a dramatic illustration of a woman scorned. The track is laced with the sounds of a score from a major motion picture. I’m tellin’ you, I wrote a chapter off the top of my head just from hearing the song once. I’ve since listened to it over and over and over again. Talk about needed inspiration. Jazmine took the high road and decided to illustrate with words while allowing her voice to carry a crazy melody. Between riffs you inevitably recount the things that have happened to you in your life as it pertains to relationships. I may have never busted a dudes windows but damn if I wasn’t talked out of it by my girls! LOL!!!! Some of the other tracks that will keep you listening: MY FOOLISH HEART, LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS, ONE NIGHT STAND, IN LOVE WITH ANOTHER MAN, and my new favorite track (today at least) LIVE A LIE. The chorus says it all . . . “If a lie gon’ get me through, I’d rather not know the truth. If the truth gon’ make me cry, I’d rather just live a lie.” Ugh! And to think, I was skeptical because I just thought this was gonna be one of those dope first singles that left little for the consumer to enjoy once the album was finally released. Not this time. Jazmine Sullivan did her thing! If you don’t have it . . . go cop it! I’m a sucker for a good quote and she did that too. There are a few that I can’t seem to get out of my head.

“Why do we love love when love seems to hate us?” From the track LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS

“We ain’t human without fear.” From the track FEAR

"I'm scared of love 'cause I'm scared he'll leave." From the track FEAR


So if you’ve got any feedback on this newbie, hit me up!

The Weighting Game (Another Ashley Poem)

Hey guys! Damn I've missed ya'll. Listen . . . real quick. I just wrote this so, tell me what you think and I'll holla as inspiration hits. I'm learning to write from inspiration and not situation. Thanks V!

The Weighting Game

September 25, 2008

Poem by: Ashley McCann

Last night I waited for your call and in the interim I began the weighting game

A solo act to evaluate where things had left me

I thought of you all the while but this inevitably had nothing and everything to do with you

Similar to the time lapsing entertainment of a mind-numbing game of solitaire

I waited for you and weighted solely for me

If I wanted us to really get together, I needed to get me together

The things that I’d put on the backburner – neglected because I’d succumb to something new

Something that left me weightless and I waited

I put that lonely feeling that I felt on and that emptiness that had gone untouched . . .

I draped it over my shoulder

The confusion that a past lover had forced on me, I wrapped that around my mind

The weighting game, no longer weightless because of you

I was weighted because of my past and I waited . . .

I continued dressing and draping myself in all the things that had caused such a rude awakening

The irony – this was the only way to heal . . . to address the many issues that had tainted my capacity to love again

Tainted, yes but not obliterated

To get us together, I had to get me together

So I stopped waiting on you and I weighted on me

I confronted the trust trigger and draped it around my waste . . .

The residue of acrimony crept in and settled where I was . . .

Where I weighted and I had to own that too

I weighted and waited and weighted and waited and . . .

Acknowledged why each article had caused me to look at YOU in the same manner

Almost making you pay for something that you really knew little about . . .

I didn’t want to slip up and allow a misunderstanding between us be a trigger for me to . . .
Have to wait again so . . .

I weighted in my hearts weighting room . . .

My period of weighting isn’t over but it’s not as dense as . . .

And now I’m waiting on . . . you . . .

Nothing but words . . .

Just wanted to share the lyrics to this awesome song. If you haven't heard it it's by Anthony David and features my girl India.Arie. It's been on repeat like all day . . . so enjoy.

I believe that
Heaven must be like this
Ray of sunshine
Kissed upon your skin
Just say you love me
Make my day go good
Pot of gold at the
End of the rainbow

Can't tell you nothin you aint already heard
No matter what I say it's nothin but words
Just let me prove to you what I know is real
Let me express to you the way that I feel

[India:]
I believe that
Love is synonymous
With heaven
Such a sensual bliss
The way you touch me
Makes this life so good
A reward at the
End of the long road


[AD:]
Fairy tales can be
Real if you just believe
Go my mind made
I don't plan to leave
Cuz you were meant for me
Simple that may be
Why be complex
Loving you is so easy

Have a good weekend guys!

Soliciting Comments

Did anyone have the great pleasure of watching the Sarah Palin interview last night? If you did . . . . any thoughts?

September 11 - Need I say more?

Take a look at today’s date and remember where you were seven years ago today. Remember how our country was affected and how it changed for some better but mostly for WORSE. We need change in this country and we haven’t gotten the change that we needed in this eight year period of national demise. Gas prices, unemployment, record-breaking home foreclosure (in two income households). The McCain-Palin camp seems to me to be a reincarnation of the Bush-Cheney camp . . . . so not cool. Right now all we have to go on is HOPE and PROGRESS and I personally don’t believe that we have that in the Republican party. This may seem a little over-emotional but our country is desperate for change. If you’re not registered to vote, I won’t beat you up over the head about it but we have the keys to make a change. Most of my readers are African American and what I'm about to say isn't even about OBAMA. Our suffrage was fought for by OUR forefathers. People that didn't even know us. Nixing it off is a HUGE slap in the face! You have less than 55 days to get your act together! Yes, I know this was a bit scatter-brained but I’m just really emotional today and we need to keep in mind that this is one of the most historic elections . . . . EVER! Peace out!

Finally . . . the WHY?

About a month or so back I did a series entitled Love - Ex, Why?, Zzzzz. Remember? It was a reader questions series and we took time answering each others questions. Before I begin today’s post I wanted to preface it with a couple of things. I know that I said that I wasn’t going to be documenting my life anymore, but what I’m about to discuss I feel is a legitimate topic. Yes, Libra is involved . . . I mean, how could he not be. In my last “relationship” I was told that all men cheat. It’s just in their nature. They can’t be faithful and that doesn’t take away from their love for you but hey, just deal with it. I even did a series entitled GET LIFTED a couple month’s back dedicated to how infidelity was the norm and a natural human occurrence. But we sat down and started talking the other night. I’m not exactly sure how we got on the subject but he broke down a man’s “inability” to be faithful in a different way. He said, “As a little girl you were taught to go to God for everything. So if you’re tempted to do something or you’re having issues in your relationship, prayer is the avenue that most women take to “save” them from doing something they don’t need to do. But men are the opposite.” He said, “Little boys aren’t always reared as girls are (religiously speaking). Rather than take the avenue of safety and refuge, men take an avenue to facilitate their need to cheat. So, rather than going to church, they go to the club or go hang out with their boys (who, no doubt, will encourage the act if they’re single, if they don’t like his girlfriend, or if they’re just plain immature). So rather than work on it spiritually first, emotionally, and then physically . . . they hastily jump into the physical thing with someone else.” Ain’t he somethin’? The last thing he said was . . . “Relationships are only solid when God is present.” Gotta love that man! LOL!!!! But I wanted to hear what you all had to say about his philosophy. Ya’ll know I’m a little partial, but I want to know what you all think (especially the men). Can’t wait . . .

Countdown to November 4!!!!

So, last night we watched two interviews on two separate news stations – both bias but one swings a little more in our favor (by we I mean, me and Libra). Both interviews featured the same interviewee but the interviewing styles are drastically different. When I name the news station you’ll understand completely. First, we turned on MSNBC and watched Keith Olbermann interview the Democratic Presidential nominee, Barack Obama. Then we flipped to the infamous Fox News and witnessed an interesting interview conducted by Bill O’Reilly. One style is professional and more factual than the other style, which seems to attack and be much more cutthroat and have an attacking sort of undertone. We talked about both interviews for a while but if you watched either or both, or if you have any input on either of these journalists, give me some feedback. I don’t want to say too much and then really make this a biased post but it’s kind of difficult. I will say that the Senator, when being attacked by O’Reilly, commanded the conversation WITHOUT raising his voice. He exuded authority without becoming belligerent, causing O’Reilly to ease up and talk to him with more respect. Keith just knows how to interview but I want to know what you all think.

Well . . .

I don't really have anything to talk about today so I just wanted to give a BIG shot out to one of the awesomest (yes, I know this isn't a word!), funniest, deepest, and most honest bloggers in the universe. Happy Birthday Big Jerz! Live it up, dude! Peace out!

Change of pace . . .

This is the end of Ashley's life being documented like it has been for the past month. I think I can take it from here, guys. This has been an interesting process and I've gotten some positive feedback from many of you. Thanks for all the love, support and advice! I think I'm ready to try out my sea-legs all by myself. YAY!!!!! By Monday or Tuesday I'll have something really good and deep for us to discuss (and you all can participate rather that just listen to me rant and rave about my personal problems) so have an awesome weekend. Thanks for listening and emwha . . .