Free Concerts Make Life So Much Better!

Sometimes I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I get to go to these amazing industry parties, networking & schmooze amongst the fabulous, have free cocktails & sometimes food, & if I'm really lucky--free entertainment. NYC, you do incredible things to me every now & again. I remember now, why I love you so much! This kind of thing would never happen in NC.

After meeting my new friend, Christian & having countless Henny cocktails with him, a bouncer invited the both of us inside this "D" shaped cutout in the stage. I wanted a front row seat, so I happily accepted. First to hit the stage was the legendary Roots crew! They were amazing!

I mean, just look at Black Thought!

Don't shoot me, but I've never taken the time nor had the interest to learn anything about the rest of the Roots. (You know, outside of Black Thought & Questlove). However, dude with the Tuba was rockin' out!

Black Thought got more comfortable & started takin' it off! Well, just the leather. I was hopign he would do like they do on TV & throw it, but it didn't happen.

I was trying to get a nice shot of Quest, but this is all I got. I couldn't focus with all the feature performers that kept showing up. I have better pics of himon my iPhone though.

Tuba dude again. He & guitar guy had the most energy, for sure!

Then, Common comes out--all the women near me (including myself) LOST it.

I was the only person that was excited when Bilal came out.

Then, out comes Q-Tip. I actually got a chance to see Tip this past summer, but it was a nice surprise. We even jammed out to Bonita Applebum together. Really! I actually found a vid of it on You Tube.

P.S. That's me in the red hat. :)

Just look at this man! How could you not want a piece? I mean, love his music.

Q-Tip, right before or after our moment together. He killed it!

Yo, everyone went NUTSSSSSS when Queen came out!

Then she showed us why she was the Queen. She sang, she rapped, she freestyled, threw in some reggae--this woman is an artist!

I've been to some amazing concerts, but this one had to be one of the most minimal, but high energy & star-studded shows I've seen in a while. And I didn't pay not one penny. You've gotta love NYC, right?

Heartbreak(up)

I hardly ever title my pieces. I'm not even sure if this title will stand, but I needed something to title this blog with! I hope you like/understand/comment. :) It's catharsis for me & I should def write poems more often than I do. Enjoy.

We thrived in the freedom of our friendship

Flirty smiles morphed into full laughs

Heads tited back, mouths open--

There was delight in our infidelities

The whispered apologies on our lips

were hushed by our own mouths filled with sweet nothings

I held each & every nothing in a locket around my heart

It was sentimental to me because it was all you'd ever given me that wasn't soaked in pain

I clung to every promise that passed those parted pink lips

Devoured the morsels of lies like my just desserts

Because I just deserved to have someone who loves me

Like you do

Like I thought you did

Like you made me believe you did

Leading me right into the thick of love

with no compass or North Star

to guide me safely home

where I sit alone...in the dark

& between shuddering sobs, I reach--

Hands blindly patting the walls, searching

for that switch you used to turn your heart off

Instead, I find your discarded crown

The one I struggled to hold high atop your head

because you refused to wear it on your own

I needed you to be royalty, robed in purple...noble

because that's how I treated you

You were always more than a Queen to me

You were the entire castle...a Kingdom

What a royal flush you turned out to be

But I clung to the perpetual pain you presented me with

Rocking back & forth, like a pendulum

& I hung on, pretending it didn't hurt

Gripping tight, knuckles white

Face pale, sweat shining like diamonds...

Except, it's worth nothing.
Worthless.

The way I saw it, nothing could be worth more

Which is why I compromised everything within me, for you.

I was too busy giggling about your previous chick's insecurities & insanities--
Those secrets you shared about her that should have been silenced

But I listened, too preoccupied in you that I never realized

you weren't to be trusted

I just wrapped all of that in the butterflies you gave me & called it love

Thinking a pretty package could conceal what was real

Maybe I wouldn't have held on so tight, white knuckles & all if you didn't make me all those promises

Premises built on a shaky foundation--

We were destined for failure & I believe you knew that

& used that--

I was pawned in your strategic game of love.

Checkmate. I guess.

I sound bitter as all hell in this piece, but truth be told it's been a few months in the making & at this point--to that love--I'm over it. I'm over the agonizing pain of it. I realized the stupidity that I was succumbing to by being in that relationship. I'm not even mad at said person, I still love this person & always will. Love isn't immature--no matter how irrational it makes you feel at times. And in my own journey through emotional growth, I've learned that even the bad ones teach you something. Lesson learned.

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?

Blood Manor NYC

It's October folks. Already! So you know what that means, break out the sweaters, candy corn, and Halloween costumes! Here in NYC, there are whispered rumors about which Halloween party is going to be the best and what slutty costume is going to be the most seen. Truth be told, we host one of the largest Halloween celebrations that there is--the Halloween Parade in the village--not to mention the various costumes parties from the Bronx the Brooklyn.

One of my favorite parts of Halloween--other than free candy--is haunted houses. I love being scared out of my wits! NYC offers up Blood Manor for those brave enough to walk from one spooky scene to the next. A week or so ago, Blood Manor hosted their preview night--a chance for the media to get a taste of their ghoulish maze. Of course yours truly couldn't pass that up. I was also allowed to take pics, so enjoy. Don't be scared!

The goblins outside Blood Manor were allowed to heckle & heckle they did.

This was the first site upon enterting Blood Manor. I love when bloody people get in my face & scream at me.

Aww, marriage!

She was not happy about us being there. Love the hair color though! ;)

I don't really remember this guy. I was just trying to snap pics without getting harassed too much.

Not only did he not give a rat's ass about his makeup, but he actually wanted to pose for this pic. Smh.

Some crazy Dr. action going on here. Some of the rooms in the house were actually designed by some of the same designers as the Saw series. It showed!

Careful! Mary's off her meds!!!

So is this guy! Look at the commitment to his role in this pic!

This pig chick really looks like some spooky shiz from Saw. This room had countless bloody pigs hanging from the ceiling. I could hardly get out of there.

This scary reptilian lady was whipping snakes & screaming...

See, screaming & all up in my face. They aren't allowed to touch, but...

She for sure whipped my BFF with a snake. Look at his welt!

Now this little guy wasn't even scary. Not because he was little, but because of the lame stuff he'd yell on the megaphone. "Hey baby!" --uhmm, I'm supposed to be scared, right?

She was shouting out obscene sexual favors & requests. Dirty broad! This is actually a fierce picture of her zombie ass!

Who doesn't want to see an undead cross dressing stripper? Work that pole!

Don't really remember him, but I didn't want him near me.

I don't know how I got this shot, but I thought it was hilarious.

Sometimes they'd get sooooo close!

Freddy's always been someone I try to avoid. Ugh, he's my biggest nightmare.

These people just kept shouting at us. I don't know what this room was about, but I didn't like it one bit.

See how close they come? They aren't allowed to touch, but they can get just close enough.

Some type of bondage situation. I didn't stay long enough to find out.

...And that was because of this guy.

This bloody mess kept touching me with his instrument & I couldn't really do anything about it because there was something scary crawling around on the floor & I was scared to run.

So things got a little brighter with this guy, but that didn't mean it wasn't equally as scary. He's the guy that handed out the 3-D glasses. Yes, Blood Manor went 3D on us.

I wish my camera took 3D pics. The way they did the paint made it super scary & fun.

She thought so too.

She played a fun game with everyone that came through her hallway. Yeah...lots of fun. o_O

My BFF posing with one of the ghouls.

Another surprise around the corner. I don't like it when they do that in the hallways. I'm trying to mosey from room to room & BAM...up runs this crazy clown.

More hallway creepers. Remember we had on 3D glasses. So we could see her face coming towards us, but not her body. That was a great effect!

Ok, it's almost over. This clown just collected glasses & directed us into the next room. But we were hestitant because it was wayyyy to calm & quiet in the other room.

We convinced the people behind us to go in with us & lo & behold--a chainsaw comes out. I never screamed so loud!

That was the end of Blood Manor and in my opinion, it's worth the walk to 11th avenue. Blood Manor is located inside the M2 Lounge at 542 West 27th Street (btw 10th & 11th avenues). It is open now on Sundays-Thursdays from 7:30-12:00 am, Fridays & Saturdays 7:30-2:00 am, Tuesday Oct 27th-Thursday Oct 29th 7:30-1 am until November 7th. So even if you don't make it before Halloween, you have some time after. Tickets are $25 & up. Make sure you check out www.bloodmanor.com for more info!

I Want to be EVIL!

My girl Jazzy Baby--who's pretty much an online success for being fab, an exibitionist, designer, artist, model--she's the Renaissance Pin-Up. I just made that up & I like it. Well, she posted this video up of herself lip-syncing Eartha Kitt's "Evil" on her blog & I loved it so much, I decided to share.

Enjoy! & if you want to check her out, do so at www.vintagevandalizm.com. Tell her Danielle sent you! ;)

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!]