I've Got A Love Jones For Nia Long!

MY NIA LONG INTERVIEW


Last year, a friend of mine gave me tickets to a fashion show at Bryant Park's Fashion Week. I've never been one that was into fashion, but I wanted to see what the hooplah was all about, so I took the tickets. Boy was I happy I did! There was so much excitement in the tents, but also so many wannabes (which is what usually keeps me away from that world.) I got to the show & found out that I was FRONT ROW. For those of you that don't know, front row is usually reserved for big deals. & boy did I feel like one!



I sat & patiently waited for the show to start and noticed a few famous reality show faces in the crowd. Of course people were asking for autographs and pictures with the reality stars. I didn't make any moves to do that, until Nia Long walked in & sat directly across from me. As a journalist, I get to meet celebrities all the time, interview them, connect with them--so I try my best to remain unphased--or at least try not to be starstruck.



That's a hard task to do when you've loved someone from afar for YEARS. I have been a fan of Nia's since she was on Guiding Light. Love Jones is also my favorite movie of all time! So, I sat there and composed myself, waiting for an opening in the limitless requests for pictures with her and autographs. Then, there was one. I walked over to her, introduced myself & told her that I work for Honey & that I wanted to include her in Honey's relaunch. (At that time, Honey was working hard a recreating their presence). Nia was a Honey covergirl back in the day before Honey folded, so I knew she would be excited about being a part of the new & improved Honey.



I was right. She gave me her publicist's info, we shook hands again & that was that. It took some time to get the interview, but once I did--Nia reached out to me personally. (Which means I have her phone number--you couldn't have told a 14 year old Danielle that she would one day chop it up with her favorite actress or even possess her number!) We conducted the interview over a couple of days and built up a bit of a repore. She's so refreshing.



Well, I then gave the finished product to Honey & they let it collect dust on the shelf, printing stories on Nicki Minaj, Trey Songz & whoever else they decided was better than Nia Long. An entire year later, (the present) Nia starts getting recognition for her role in Chris Rock's "Good Hair" & I notice that she is on ESSENCE'S November cover. I tweet about it and inquire in a sarcastic way if Honey';s going to use the interview I did on Nia.



The very next day, I get an email from the features editor, saying they want to print the story & need to me resend. I kindly oblige because that's what I was waiting on, but that doesn't mean that I wasn't the least bit peeved about it. Even though I have been there from the beginning of Honey's relaunch (helping them with focus groups, meetings, whatever they needed), I feel like they treat me like just another writer. And that, I am not. I bring them stories, featuring A-listers and I support them like you wouldn't believe. You would think that they'd give me some recognition or at least a position at the magazine.



Then, on twitter, I noticed that TheYBF.com was featuring my interview on their site. I got no individual credit, (not even a shoutout on Twitter) however when you clicked on the link for the interview & it took you to Honey's site, my name is there. I guess I should be grateful for that?



I am all about paying my dues, but I believe I have at this point. How do you know when it's time to move on? How do you know you're being used in a freelance situation, rather that utilized? Should I just suck it up & be gratfeul that I am a working journalist with incredible clips?

MIKE SHOREY-Changing Rhythm and Blues to Realness and Brooklyn

Mike Shorey-Changing Rhythm & Blues to Realness & Brooklyn
Back in the day R&B music wasn’t even called R&B—it was soul. It was Motown. It was classic before it even paid its dues. These days, our R&B crooners tend to lack creativity, singing the highest praises of a woman’s curves, sex and there’s so many “ooh ooh baby please,” I’ve lost count. Yeah, Marvin used to beg to get it on, comparing the appeasement of his manhood to being sanctified, but he didn’t let the world down when he showed compassion about the issues of that time—asking, “What’s going on?”

What I’d really like to know is, where is our Marvin? What soulful vocals are going to take the torch that’s been dangling midair since Marvin let it go? Even though I go hard for R. Kelly, he’s lost me almost amongst his Pied Piper, golden-haired, golden showered mystique. I also love Ne-Yo’s multifaceted talents, but sometimes he fails to give himself hits. However, he’s one of the closest vocalists to singing outside the box with songs that wonder if his ex ever thinks of him anymore or songs that explain how he doesn’t want to go to bed being mad at his girl. I feel you Ne-Yo, but who’s going to dig deeper and give our generation a crash course in what’s going on?

Mike Shorey may just be our knight in shining armor, coming to rescue us from the begging and pleading of today’s R&B and bring us safely into the real world and what’s going on out on the streets today, but with a hip hop twist. It was that same twist caught the ear of lyrical storyteller Fabolous and gained Mike public attention on a few of his tracks.

I recently got a chance to catch up to Mike, because—let’s face it—it’s been a while. And the last time we did hear from him, he was lacing hooks and backing Fab up, urging, “Baby Don’t Go.” Well, we didn’t go anywhere, but he did. Where’s he been?—Working on new material, a label and just trying to come back as hard as possible with hits that will remind us that R&B can be as real and as raw as hip hop.
-Danielle Young

Where have you been?
[laughs] Everywhere. I’ve been all over the place—Atlanta for a couple years, just working on my music, honing my craft.

I’ve heard rumors about an album coming...
Yeah, I’m working on it right now. I’m not too sure on the features yet. I want the people to focus on me. I’m being greedy right now—not too many features. There might be a couple.

Personally I feel as though R&B is missing something. There are a lot of copy cats out there and it’s losing a lot of the rhythm and blues that makes it what it is. What do you feel like you are going to bring to R&B that hasn’t been brought?
The realness. I’m going to keep it real with y’all. I’m from the streets. I grew up in the hood—Crown Heights, Brooklyn. I’ve been through a lot of situations, trying to feed my family and make money. I feel like a lot of people can relate to that situation. I noticed that—besides R. Kelly—a lot of R&B artists hardly ever touch those topics. A lot of R&B dudes out here are just doing love songs, we all know that that’s not what it’s all about. I speak on the realness—real situations that we go through—personal issues and all of that.

Do you feel you paint pictures and tell stories like lyricists do?
Definitely. I can tell a story. I focus a lot on wordplay which is mainly a hip hop thing. Rappers are known for their word play and R&B singers are only recognized for their vocal ability, which I have too. That’s the difference between me and them. My wordplay is crazy too.

How did you get your start in the music industry?
To be honest with you. I would consider myself one of the lucky ones. I was singing in the neighborhood. I would sing for my friends, girls around the way and I ended up linking up with dudes that knew Fab’s manager. I never did too many shows or anything like that. I was nice.

Do you feel that that may have stunted your growth as a singer?

Probably. I think that it contributed to that. I didn’t get a chance to experience the grind like a lot of ther artists do. I got a quick shot. That’s why I took so much time off. I needed to really learn the business, hone my craft and get myself together when I come back, I’m here to stay.

Are you signed right now?
We’re in negotiations. We have a couple labels that are interested. Right now, I’m talking to Def Jam and it’s looking good. They got the vision and understand where I’m coming from.

Which do you consider yourself first? Songwriter or singer?
That’s hard. Singer. I love to write, but it’s mainly for expression. I feel better when I am actually singing. I would consider myself a singer first.

Tell me about your company—Crown Town Entertainment.
Me and my partner, Asa have a company called Crown Town. We’ve got a couple artists, a couple rappers—Price P, Rock Lo, Live Wire, Reefer—she’s an R&B singer and writer. We’ve got a couple other people that write.

What inspired you to be a business man?
First, if you’ve got talent—I’m into art—and you’re good, I’m interested. I love to hear other people perception of life and how they express themselves and secondary is the money. I’m keeping it real. That’s what it’s about at the end of the day. It starts with passion. It has to.

When can we start hearing some stuff?
You’ll hear by the top of 2010. Right now, I’m on a couple of mixtapes—The Wave Game mixtape. That’s Gain Grease. I’m on The Street Smart mixtape, hosted by DJ Seiko. I’m featured on French Montana’s mixtape Mac and Cheese. If you go on Youtube and type my name in, you’ll hear a bunch of new music, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Where do you see your career going?
To the top. [laughs] Outerspace and whatever is past that. I’m here to stay.

[This is an interview I did with Mike Shorey. For those of you who haven't yet figured it out, I am a journalist. :) Duh, right! Well, I am working on some ideas of either revamping this bog or creating a new site altogether to host my work. Not only do I write articles, but I write short stories, TV blogs and poetry. I am trying to see if I can merge my professional writing with my personal. So bear with me, while I try a few things out and see what works. More importantly, thanks for reading!]

25 & counting...

So, I was thinking. I interview a lot of people, all the time. Most of the time, I am landing these interviews on my own through connections I've made in networking. Why am I constantly busting my butt to get these interviews to magazines and online blogs that underpay me or don't pay me at all? What should I do about this?

Well, I've decided to start posting up some of my interviews on my very own blog! Innovative, right? Ha! I mean, it's time for Danielle to start doing for herself. That way, I can market myself as a brand, grow, learn, fall flat on my face, get up and keep working hard. I know I was born for a special purpose and just because I am 25 & haven't figured out that purpose yet, doesn't mean that I should kick myself daily or feel useless.

So cheers to finding myself more & more at the tender age of 25. I ain't gonna lie, I'm freakin' out. I'm five years away from being 30. Not that my life is in disarray, but I pray that it's much better and stable by 30. So again, cheers to life! And hows about an extra shot for a flourishing writing career!

Newness

Yours truly got herself a digi camera. I am no professional, so I'm not caught up in name brands, mega pixels, zooms, resolutions, etc. I just like taking pictures, that's all. Expect more pictures with my blogs, but don't expect photography quality shots. PS Jake took all these!

Jake, Chad & myself decided to take the new cam for a spin at our last Sunday dinner. Here are a few of my sort-of-fave shots.

Yeah, so some of them, you're gonna have to tilt your head. I guess I should learn more about computers & such. LOL But this one is the bestie getting his laugh/drink on because we like to make each other laugh in the midst of drinking. Always makes for extra fun.

We've got a thang for karaoke, so sometimes we go out for it, other times, we stay in for it. This is a little diddy we like to call Charieoke--I think the name is pretty self explanatory.

So, the pics will only improve in time. You know, once I learn more about the camera and what all the silly buttons mean. Oh and when I actually load up the camera's software.

Fin, for now.

FREE!

So I haven't written a personal blog in a minute and that is because I have taken to not sharing all my personal feelings and such because for the first time in....forever...I am being selective with the content of my blog. I am very open with my thoughts, feelings, inner workings of my mind and I love that about myself. But sometimes, everyone doesn't need to be in your biz. But in typing this, I'm thinking...EFF that! It's my blog and I write what I want. If I offend you...oh well. If you're disgusted with what I write about...oh well. If you're stalking me and find something that disturbs you...oh well. It's called freedom of speech and dammit, I love being free.

The recession has given me a quick one two in the jaw. I lost my job on Tuesday and yeah it hurt, but you know what? That was my first position after college. I am taking this as a blessing in some weird disguise. Why? Because I had gotten to a point where I was comfortable. You never want to be comfortable, because the grind halts. My grind was going, but it wasn't strong. My creativity was stifled, constantly worrying about what I needed to get done in my day job, as well a having to wake up in the butt-crack of dawn everyday and having to engage in at least 4 million phoney convos daily.

Now that I am free, I feel like I can focus more on me and where I intend on going in my career. Maybe I don't even want to be where I am right now in my writing. I love entertainment journalism and interviewing celebs and such, but what if I am here because I got lucky and now comfortable? There are so many forms of expression when it comes to writing and I have a lot of talent. So, why not take the time to explore? Maybe travel writing, food writing, playwrighting, poetry, hell...maybe I can beef up the plots in porn? Right now, at my young 24 years...I'm OPEN for exploration.

Bon voyage :) (to myself of course)