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Monday, January 31, 2011

Taxi Driver From Brazil Sounds Just Like Michael Jackson!!




This is funny and is another example of  Michael Jackson's influence on the world. It's also proof that music is universal.   He can't speak much English but he has MJ down!! LOL  I enjoyed this.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

New Music: Walking by Mary, Mary



Gospel group Mary Mary is back with a lovely new single titled Walking.   I heard this song for the first time last week and was hooked immediately. I bought it from itunes that same morning, nice groove, great vocals and very inspirational.  This is the first single of their upcoming album Something Big which drops this February.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Damn More Snow!

I don't know about you but I have just about had it with all this damn snow.  Where are my snow haters at?    I wish I could write a letter to mother nature and tell her to please chill with all this snow.   I know I am not alone when I say I am sick of shoveling snow and wobbling down the street because the sidewalks are not completely cleared.  Enough already.

I have a friend who is in complete heaven right now,  she loves this snow.  As for me I haven't liked snow since I was a child.  Don't get me wrong I think it's beautiful from my window but stepping out there is a different story.  Maybe I wouldn't have such a problem with it if I didn't have to take my ass out there.  Who wants to commute to work in weather like this?   If I had snow days like the kids then maybe I would be happy about this. I guess I need to just shut up about it and  deal with it.   It's going to be a long winter, somebody please get me a ticket to a tropical island.


I have to go down these stairs in the morning.


View from my house.


Teena Marie Remembered

Teena Marie Memorial Service


On January 10, 2011, a private memorial service for R &B singer Teena Marie was held at Los Angeles' Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Motown legends Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder paid tribute to the former Motown star.   Other stars in attendance were Queen Latifah,  Shirley Murdock,  Shanice Wilson, Flex Alexander, Deniece Williams , Kim Whitley and Tichina Arnold. Reports say that her daughter also spoke at the service.

Teena Marie died on December 26, 2010 at age 54.  It was reported that a public memorial is in the works for this awesome artist.  Teena Marie has left a string of soulful hits such as Square Biz, Ooo La La La,  Behind the groove, I need your loving and Fire & Desire the awesome duet with Rick James. RIP Teena,  thanks for inspiring us through song. Your music will live on!

 
The late Teena Marie

Smokey Robinson & Wife

Motown Founder,  Berry Gordy
 

Stevie Wonder

Tichina Arnold


Queen Latifah

Shanice Wilson & Flex Alexander

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Mother Nature C'Mon Son!!

Me freezing my ass off  lol
I crawled out of bed on my way to the sweatshop  job.  I got dressed open my damn door to more effing snow.  (trying not to curse).  Come on mother nature what are you trying to do me?  I don't know about everywhere else but it's freezing in New York City.  Yesterday was like 2 degrees it's been snowing almost every other day.  A brother can't take all of this, take me back to Africa!!  lol     I am getting cold just thinking about it.  Weather like this makes me want to stay in the house but I can't do that I got to pay the bills.  It looks like we are in for a rough winter. Stay warm people.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Her Story: Talk Show Host Mecca James shares her story with Capricorn Groove.

As part of the Your Story series where I profile independent artist etc, I sat down with blog talk show host Mecca James.  Mecca the host of  The Mecca James Show, shared her inspirational story on how she decided to make a way out of no way.  Check out the interview below.


Capricorn Groove:  I would like thank you for sitting down and allowing me to be the first to interview you. What made you want to go into radio?

Mecca:  Well it was my love for journalism period. I remember when I was in junior high school and this is so funny, I used to go to sleep with the radio on listening to the DJs. I was always so fascinated with the DJs and said. “Wow that is something I always wanted to do.”  I just loved it.

CG: Who was the first radio personality or DJ that got you hooked, who was the person that you listened to that made you say "Hey this is what I want to do?”

Mecca: I don't think that it was one particular person. When I was younger I used to listen to 98.7 Kiss FM (R &B station in New York) and was blown away by all the radio personalities.  When  my mother was alive she used to keep the radio tuned into the Jazz stations. They would play people like Sarah Vaughn and The Ink Spots. Those hosts had such soothing voices.

CG:  Let's talk about your journey. Growing up did you think you would make it as a radio personality? I know for me being a singer, I always knew it was something I wanted to do but I was never sure how to reach that goal or obtain it.  I felt like it was too far away and out of reach.  Did you always know you would be doing this or did you think it would be just a fantasy?

Mecca: Well, I think it was half and half because I know I always had the passion but then there's a certain part of your life when you say, “How am I going to make money doing this?”

When you are coming from an environment where people think inside of the box, saying you have to have a 9 to 5 sometimes your thoughts can get a little cloudy.  But it was always in the back of my mind, even while working a regular job. I knew working a 9 to 5 was not for me.   I knew I needed to be in entertainment. I didn't know how I was going to obtain it but it was something I wanted to do.

CG: What was your major in college? Did you major in broadcasting?

Mecca:  I attended SUNY College of Old Westbury and I studied Media and Communications.  I am also very political and when I was in high school I wanted to be a lawyer.  I wanted to be in politics. Then I got into college and I majored in politics. I did one semester and I knew it was not for me.  But I did have some communication classes and realized that was where I needed to be, so I switched majors.

CG: How did you come about getting this show on Blog Talk Radio and when did you make the decision to do the show?

Mecca:  Before the show, I did a lot of networking and freelance work.  I just imagined myself being on radio. I used to call a lot of radio stations and always get through. I got the chance to ask questions to a lot of celebrities.  I would call so much that I became a regular caller on the station.  Due to the fact that I would always call, I thought maybe they would offer me a job. Well it didn't happen that way and that's when my frustration came. I knew I had the potential and people saw the potential.  The passion was there but I was frustrated working a regular 9 to 5.  I had to do something.

CG: So basically you took matters into your own hands?

Mecca: Yes a friend of mine, Mr. Ty Harrell suggested I do Internet radio. I thought about it and I was nervous. I always saw myself on someone else's morning show or being a part of a team and then the fear came in.  I thought to myself, “Well how are you going to get the momentum going, the topics, how are you going to advertise?”

I thought about it and did nothing at first. Then I started a blog just to get my feet wet, so I did Mecca's Point of View on BlogSpot.  I had several ideas, I just sat down and things just came to me.

CG: And now a year later you have been doing the Mecca James Show on Blog Talk Radio. In this short period of time you have managed to snag some impressive guest, such as R &B singer Lil Mo, Radio & TV personality Egypt, and relationship coach and co-star of VH1's What Chilli Wants, Tionna Smalls. I admire that. How did you manage to get those people?

Mecca: I think it was quality over quantity. I think people just saw a movement. If you are a stellar performer people will research you and want to find out more about you.  Maybe they listened to my  shows and saw something in me.  Everybody wants to be with the winning team. People just rocked with me.


Mecca James with radio and TV personality Egypt

CG: Did you go after these people?  Did you reach out to them?

Mecca: Absolutely! I do all my marketing, booking etc.

CG: Your story is very inspiring; here is a woman who had a dream of doing radio when she was in Junior High School. The doors weren't opening for you but you didn’t give up.  You did everything on your own. You created your own path, created a show that expressed your views and you made your own rules.  That's what I like about your story. That’s the very reason I started this blog because I wanted my point of view heard. Tell everyone when your show airs.


Mecca James with singer Ginuwine at a Charity Event in NYC

Mecca:  The Mecca James Show airs live on Tuesday Nights at 8PM on Blog Talk Radio. You can also go to www.blogtalkradio.com/mecca1 and listen anytime.

CG: Will there be any exciting big name guest this year on the show?

Mecca: Well I just had cast member Tami Roman from VH1's Basketball Wives and I am in the process of interviewing  a major R&B singer. I don't want to say who just yet. I also have a website coming out. 2011 is going to be a great year.

CG: Well thank you very much for sharing your story and much success in the future.

Mecca: You are welcome, thanks for having me and supporting my show. This was fun!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Keep The Dream Alive.



 Today we celebrate the birthday of a man who died fighting for the rights of all people. Martin Luther King has always been a hero and a true inspiration and I would like to salute him for never giving up and dying for what he believed in.  I remember as child  wanting to follow in his footsteps learning all I could about him. One year I even asked my mother to make a birthday cake for both me and him because our birthdays were so close and she did it.    Today I ask myself has his dream been realized?  We have come a long way with a having our first black President, Barack Obama but the tea party rhetoric, the senseless violence in Arizona and across the country still reminds that we have a long way to go.  Keep the dream alive.


























Thursday, January 13, 2011

COMING SOON: YOUR STORY!!

Capricorngroove will be showcasing independent artist that are following their dreams and creating their own path for success. So far we have stories of independent singers, actors and  radio personalities that we plan to share.  Be on the look out of our first interview with blogtalk radio host Mecca James. If you are  singer, actor, writer, dancer, poet etc wanting to tell your story to inspire other dreamers this is the place to do so.

King of Pop's Doctor To Stand Trial For Involuntary Manslaughter.



After six days of preliminary hearings, Conrad Murray better known as Michael Jackson's doctor will stand trial for involuntary manslaughter charges.  Murray 57 years old is accused of giving Michael Jackson a lethal dose of propofol and other sedatives without proper follow up and care. It's been reported that the King of Pop was already dead when Murry finally called for help.   Murray, whose medical license in the state of  California has been suspended, plead not guilty.  Michael Jackson died in the summer of 2009. I am sure MJ fans will be following this case closely, some have questioned why Dr. Murray hasn't been charged with murder. Meanwhile others feel Jackson was responsible for his own death.  We will see how this one turns out. I still can't believe Michael Jackson is gone.

Working It Out: My Journey For A Sexy Six - Pack!!

Many of you said that this was the year you got in shape.  I bet many of you paid for that gym membership and probably went once and have never looked back.   I am not making fun of you because I have been down that same road.    I have been trying to get sexy summer abs for the past six years.  I got tired of looking in the mirror and seeing a grown man with a little kid's chest, so I joined a gym.  From there I took kickboxing classes, bought the Wii fit and every fitness magazine you could name and I still did not have sexy abs. DAMMIT!


My main problem was that I wasn't consistent. I was either working out too hard some days and too little on others.  I hadn't found my groove. The thing about working out is you have to stick with it.  As the years went by I eased it into my daily routine.   I now feel guilty if I skip a workout.  Another thing is you have to slowly change your eating habits.  If you are eating fried chicken and drinking soda after a workout you are defeating the purpose.   You have to slowly change your ways.  In the beginning start small, do short sets and gradually build up. Try to work out every other day. If you don’t have a gym membership, exercise at home on your free time.  Do it while you’re watching television or before you take your shower.  I am still on my journey and things are starting to look good. Soon I will start posting my progress right here so you can see how I am coming along.  If I can do, I know anybody can!    Here's a cool video I saw on youtube check it out.


Tuesday, January 11, 2011

I don't owe you Shhhhhh.

I will never understand why those who have contributed nothing to society feel like the world owes them everything. I have a relative who sits on his ass rent free in his mother's house and it is pissing me off. Not because he lives rent free (well maybe a little lol) but the fact that he has the biggest chip on his shoulder and is the most ungrateful son of a bitch I have ever met.  (Excuse my language)

He's upset that his life isn't where he thinks it should be he's constantly complaining how his mother does not support him and the family doesn’t care about him.  Did I mention he is living rent free in his mother's house?  How much more support do you want? Sheesh!!!  Most of us work a  nine to five and have to give most of our paycheck, to rent, bills, college tuition, food etc, and this fool is sitting his too grown ass at home rent free complaining about life.  I tried to help him find a job but his taste was too high for a person with zero experience.

He looked at me and said.  "I want to work in the big leagues like you and then I want to start my own company like P. Diddy!!" 

Does this fool not realize that it took me several years to get to the position that I am in? (I am still not rich) Does he not realize that I had part time jobs in college, worked every retail job you could name and did temp work when I graduated college?  Success does not happen overnight!!! You think P. Diddy didn't work to get where he is? Do you think he was sitting in his mother's house and Clive Davis just knocked on the door and offered him an opportunity to run and create Bad Boy Entertainment?

"Hey Puffy here's a zillion dollars go start a label!"

Hell no he worked his way from the bottom as an intern at Uptown records. He had a vision and stuck to that vision until it came true. I couldn't believe what this fool was saying to me.  How in the hell does he think he's going to make it by sitting at home watching Ellen?   One day his mother will not be there, what is going to do then?  When will people like this learn to stand on their own two feet and start contributing to society? If you don't like how things are going in your life, stop complaining and do something about it.

Back to school.

 Today I started my first day of graduate school and I was beyond excited. I have been trying to go back to school for quite some time, finally that time has come.  I am attending the Berklee School of Music, majoring in Music Business and Technology. (online of course)   My first class is Music Publishing 101, we already have two assignments due by the end of the week!!  I'm not stressing it though, I am ready for the challenge, I already did the first assignment before the due date.  I hope I can keep this up. LOL  I am just glad that I am taking steps to doing what I want to do in life. First the blog, now school. Two thumbs up for me. LOL

Thursday, January 6, 2011

The Game Returns: Cancelled sitcom gets new life on BET.
















The Game, a spinoff of the long running UPN/CW sitcom Girlfriends created by Mara Brock Akil returns for a fourth season on BET.   The beloved comedy focuses on the life of struggling medical student Melanie Barnett (Tia Mowry) and her trials and tribulations with her athlete boyfriend Derwin Davis (Pooch Hall).  The show debuted on the CW network in 2006 and was canceled after just three seasons in 2009.  The well written show struck a chord with fans blending humor with serious issues such as divorce, steroid use, and homophobia.  The cast also includes Wendy Raquel Robinson as the hilarious Tasha Mack, Hosea Chanchez, Coby Bell and Brittany Daniel.

Fans of this sitcom were outraged by its cancellation and signed many petitions to bring it back.  Lucky for us BET has resurrected The Game, season four starts Tuesday January 11, 2010 at 10pm.  The end of season three brought the wedding of Melanie and Derwin, now we get to see life after marriage. Welcome back!!!

The Muppets spoof of Kanye West's "Monster"



I am sure that Jim Henson's productions had nothing to do with  this but damn this is funny.

The Queen is alright!! Aretha Frankin says she's recovered from her illness.





In an exclusive interview with JET magazine, the Queen of Soul  Aretha Franklin says she has recovered from her illness.  Last month it was reported that Ms. Franklin had terminal pancreatic cancer, and the soul legend's  rep slammed death reports.  The very private diva still refuses to discuss exactly what she has recovered from.

“I am not going to even deal with that,” she told JET. “I don’t have to talk about my health with anybody other than my doctors. The problem has been resolved.”

Ms. Franklin says that she appreciates all the love and well wishes she's received from her fans.

 "I want to thank my fans and friends and supporters who have prayed for me and sent me beautiful cards and flowers. Please continue to respect my privacy as I continue to recover."

I am just so glad to hear that the Queen is on the road to recovery.  Long live the Queen!!!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Stop Power Trippin' you ain't nothing but a hall monitor!!

I can't stand nor do I respect a person who gets a little title behind their name and loses their damn mind.  You all know the person I am talking about, every job has one.  These special people are called team leaders, supervisors or managers. I personally like to call them hall monitors.  They micro manage and blow the smallest things out of proportion.  "Please see me before taking any pens from the supply cabinet.” or “I'd like to call a meeting about the proper use of the copy machine."    Okay maybe I am exaggerating a little bit but not so much.  I just don’t understand why they are walking around with huge egos. That promotion has gone to their heads.
  
Before you say "Oh he's just being jealous." let me point out that I like my position but it’s not my career. It is simply a means to an end until I become the SUPERSTAR that I was born to be.  (I get excited just thinking about it LOL).  These people need to understand that because you are now a manager does not mean you are my parent.  It does not give you the right to talk to people any way you choose.   There are no children on these jobs; last time I checked we were all adults.  Most people work very hard, have families and other issues they are dealing with outside of work. They don’t need to come to the office to be treated poorly.

My personal favorites are the email gangsters.  The ones that like to send outrageous emails the first thing in the morning. In the email they usually accuse you of something without checking the facts or make tough demands.  The email gangsters will carbon copy the director on the email, trying to prove to him or her how they have the team under control. Then when you step to them (in a professional manner of course) they become sweeter than sugar.  I can’t tell you how many times I have had to put one of these ego maniacs in their place.

I want to say to all the managers jack asses that behave in such a manner, come back down to earth.  Being a manager does not make you super human, you are not the chosen one, and the CEO does not give a damn about you either.  If the company merges and or has budget cuts most of the time in my experience, you are the first to go. Yes it’s true you can be replaced too.  Please learn how to treat people with respect and relax because you are not that big of a deal.