YahZarah

As an artist, I have to say there are few independents, especially
female artists, that have inspired me the way that she has. I mean,
YahZarah stepped onto the stage with the audience already in the palm
of her hand.

Today was an awesome surprise! I am in my second week back home in
Atlanta, and most of my time has been consumed with networking and
brand building. (Sorry I didn't finish the countdown!) My Internet has
been down the last couple days. So, I was in the library just earlier
sending off some emails, and once I was done, I picked up a Rolling
Out paper and began casually flipping through. Just a few pages in, I
found myself face-to-face with a familiar presence from DC's
independent artist scene, who would be performing in just a few hours.
So, i decided to shoot her a friendly message letting her know I'd be
in the audience. (If you don't know her from her own work, you may
recognize her voice on the racy track "Lights On" from my album
LOVOLUTION: The Urban Alternative.)

First of all, I already knew she'd be "up to it", because I never
really know what to expect from YahZarah, except that it will be
something hot! After arriving a little early, I got a little face time
with her, and we caught up a bit. Finally, she said, "Let me head
backstage so I can get painted." From my experience in entertainment
(music, theatre, modeling, film, etc) I understood that to mean that
she's going to get her makeup done.

Little did I know, she meant that literally! This hot little five-foot
numba came out on-stage in full body paint and a mask!! The design of
it was something you might expect of a Jackson, namely Michael or
Janet, featuring black, gold, and, of course, purple. Though some
might also say her costumery was somewhat Gaga-esque, who can she be
called but YahZarah?

This was on top of the INSANE vocal performance she delivered!! I
heard someone in the audience say, "Minnie Who??" I had to agree. She
definitely holds her own and come second to no one.

I am honored to call her a friend and one of the hardest working, well
presented, and humble independent artists on the planet! I only hope
to be such an original and polished talent in my lifetime.

DO YOU REAL HARD, and folks have to respect it, love it or hate it!
It's time out for mediocrity, no matter what the calling. Either go
hard or go home!

Respect to Darien Brockington, who really did his thing on the
opening, Killa on drums, and Brandon on guitar! The band was on POINT!

Peace.
KEV.O

..:: IMUNURMe ::..

SUITE202Ex - 2001

I initially came to Washington, DC from Atlanta, GA in 2001 as a bass
player on scholarship at Howard University. This was an interesting
time for me. After all, I was barely an adult leaving all my family
and friends behind, and I was preparing to take on a new chapter of
life.

Not to mention, this transition was a hot one! I stay in Charles R
Drew Hall, and it had no air conditioning! Again, this was 2001.
Needless to say, by the time I was out of there, I knew precisely how
to place the fan, crack the window, and crack the door so that room
felt like heaven! That is until I tried 'hell wings' from Cluck-U
Chicken, the first and only time I ever had to sign a waver for some
HOT wings! This was also the first time I had ever shared a room with
someone I did not know. Weird!

Anyway, what made the transition a little easier, was that I looked at
DC as a slightly more urban version of home. I mean, folks are
hospitable and all, but don't let me walk up to somebody I don't know
and say hello. DC is a metropolitan, intercultural place, but I had to
learn that I'm just not gonna catch a cab in sweat pants.

I also remember being intrigued by the activism in DC. I think the
first display I saw, as I was waking up Georgia Ave on my first day of
class, was the Black Panther Party standing in the parking lot of
McDonalds. Who'd have know I would go on to be involved with some of
these movements?

2001 was the year I met some of the foundational members of my circle
of friends. I think Taylor Pace and Muhsinah were the first two people
I met - Taylor during placement exams and Muhsinah in the practice
rooms. 'Til this day, I still regard them as two of the most talented
people I know.

As months passed, I met more and more people to call my closest
friends. Since my DC experience had started out on the upside of
interest I knew I'd have some good times ahead of me.

..:: IMUNURMe ::..

SUITE202Ex - My Transition

I've learned that there is a time/season for everything. Some things
are meant to last five seconds, while others are meant to last five
years. That said, my experience in Washington, DC area over the past
nine years has been amazing, and I've grown to call it my second home.
However, that experience has been had and is coming to an end, and now
it's time for me to make room for a new one. Really, it'd be an old
one as a new man.

September 1, 2010, will mark the beginning of a new experience in my
hometown, Atlanta, GA, as adult. Why, you ask? For a few reasons.
It'll give me an opportunity to not only spend some much-needed time
with my family, who I miss immensely, but also to further pursue my
musical career. Atlanta's so different these days from the way it was
growing up. So, it'll be a much-needed change of scene for me too.

While Atlanta is where I was born and raised, DC is where I became a
man. With so many memories that make up my DC experience, I thought
I'd share some of my biggest and most treasured DC moments. Starting
September 22, as a countdown to my departure, my blog will feature a
special segment called SUITE202Ex. As I share, please join me on this
trip down memory lane, and share your stories with me.

Peace.
KEV.O

..:: IMUNURMe ::..

Drowning

Feels like I was trapped underwater all night
And I couldn't breathe
Drowning in hugs
Drowning in kisses
Drowning in love
Drowning in gifts
Drowning in romance
Drowning in fragrance
Exercising my patience
And I'm so glad that I'm finally up for air
I guess I love the ones who don't love me
And hate the ones that do
Life can be so unfair.

..:: IMUNURMe ::..

Wow! Did you just clutch your purse???

As if clutching your purse would keep me from getting it if I wanted
it! Ladies, let's be smart here. Demonstrating fear in this kind of
manner only escalates the situation. I may not have even been thinking
about your purse until you grabbed it.

Besides, who am I to be afraid of? Of course, I don't always look like
a rockstar, but I don't imagine I ever look like a thug. I mean, the
closest I get to that is a white tee and a pair of Howard University
sweats! Right now, I'm wearing fitted jeans, a fitted polo, and chucks.

All this is to say DON'T DO THAT!! It's offensive. If your purse is
gonna be taken, it's gonna be taken.... PERIOD! Thieves are not
gentlemen, silly!

..:: IMUNURMe ::..

The New Nightmare on Elm Street movie

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a huge scary movie fan! I'm not into unnecessary gore or monsters - gore is cheating, and monsters are just stupid - but an honest, scary, it-could-happen-in-real-life story in film form is a treat for me. Of course, as an 80s baby, I grew up watching movies like Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and movies like that. So, when I went to see the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, I had a particular perspective.

My first thought, when watching, was that the recasting of the teenagers was great! The casting directors obviously paid close attention to the physical details of each character, and tried to replicate the looks of the original characters and did a great job! Even with the modernization, anyone who is familiar with the characters from the original would know right off who was who.

I did, however, have a problem with Nancy's mom. She wasn't deep enough for me. Granted, the original was attempting to shelter her daughter and came off pretty fake, but the duality of the role came across as well. Somehow she was able to convey the concern of a mother while also revealing to the audience that she had a secret. The new mom honestly should have been the redhead from Desparate Housewives. The oringal mom was a very neat and polished woman, which did not come through in the remake.

One thing that kind of annoyed me about the story line is that they tried to make the audience feel compassion for Freddie Krueger! WTF??? There at least 13 movies in the original series. THAT MEANS HE'S KILLED AT LEAST 13 PEOPLE!!! HE'S A VILLAIN DAMMIT!!! I'm sorry, once you've killed that many people your compassion card has been maxed out, remake or not! 

I may be old school, but Robert Englund will always and forever be the best Freddie! The new guy wasn't bad, but his Freddie swag was just different.    

Lastly, I think CGI is ruining visual effects artists creativity! Though someof the effects in the original were kinda cheesy, there were some that were phenominal, and they didn't spend much money creating them. Like the part were Freddy leans through the wall while Nancy is sleeping, the original is very minimal an effective while the remake looks absolutely ridiculous and overdone.

Of course, there's always the part in the movie where the characters do things that just wouldn't make sense in a real life situation. Who "kills" Freddy and decides they also need to burn the body but throws the lantern to the far corner of the room, as opposed to throwing to at (or at least very close to) him, so that he has time to resusitate and excape before the fire consumes him??? If you gon' burn the motherfucker, BURN HIM!! If I'm ever afforded the opportunity, I'm gonn make the first scary movie to feature characters with common sense.

Overall, I give the movie a C+, and that's largely due the fact that I'm a fan of the series of movies and that that they explained some things from the original. 

..:: IMUNURMe ::..

Dreaming of Cake

I had a pretty weird dream last night - not the weirdest I've ever had but weird nonetheless. Perhaps you can help me figure out what this means.

The dream was set at a party, a somewhat formal party. I'm not sure who was the honoree, but after walking around and greeting some of the guests, I noticed a slice of the richest and moistest chocolate cake with a drizzle of cream cheese on a small saucer. It had a big chunk taken out of it. So, I assumed it belonged to someone, but the search was on to find the source of this amazing looking slice of chocolate cake. 

My mother was there. So, I asked if she knew where it came from. I also asked a few others, but no one seemed to know. Finally, I had gotten some food on my face and noticed a pile of napkins on a large silver platter. After taking a few napkins, what did I find beneath? CHOCOLATE CAKE!!!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to consume any because I immediately woke up. What a weird and unnecessarily torturous dream! Any thoughts?

..:: IMUNURMe ::..