Friday, August 26, 2011

The Amy Post

FINALLY my post about the death of the late Amy Winehouse. No surprise as 80% of my posts were influenced by her.

The news of her death upset me on such a level that I even ventured into a little twar (I got a lil defensive, I'm a fan ok). I could probably go on about a what a HUGE fan I am (like a million people are all of sudden) but aint got to prove nothing to nobody. Overall being a fan is a little of an understatement, I was obsessed..... addicted to her music, voice, style and damaged soul. I was fascinated by her incredible talent.

The truth is I knew she was going die sooner or later, about 3 years ago I still told my mom she is a time bomb. All in all she was a deeply troubled soul and through out her music career, I did not  judge her bad judgements in life on the quality of her talent or herself as a person. Though the media play such a large and vital part in our perception of celebrities, we need to realize that celebrities are equally as human as we are. We make mistakes, bad choices, good choices, live successful lives and some of us suffer in silence with the our daily struggles in society, and  its normal. Amy Winehouse and many other celebrities dont have the luxury of making normal life decisions in private instead it is put on public display for our entertainment.  While some of us think we can handle it all we are human, Amy being on of them. Put yourself in her shoes and imagine what it must be like for your personal weakness to be exploited everyday while the world  judges you.... yeah its a scary. We are too often so quick to judge, forgetting that EVERYONE has a story.

You know you a fan when your family and friends call you to find out if you ok after hearing the death of a celebrity. LOL. Her death reminded me about  the similar obsession I had with Michael Jackson and Aaliyah. Theses artist all had a significant impact in my life and through my many many phases of growing up, they inspired me in different substantial ways on my road to self discovery.May their souls Rest In Peace.
Aaliyah
 16/01/1979 - 25/08/2001 )
   
Michael Jackson
29/008/1958-   25/06/2009
Amy Winehouse
 14/09/1983 - 23/07/2011
I am still deeply sadden by her death, I guess in my heart I always hoped (assumed), she'll get into rehab(one day) and beat her addiction, you know like most of the celeb stories you hear. I suppose I was naive in hoping that she would be the ultimate survivor come out and prove everyone wrong. However the reality of her death left me numb. Her music was an escapism for me and though she is physically gone but her soul is in her music.
A beautifully humane tribute by Russel Brand :
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jul/24/russell-brand-amy-winehouse-woman

                                                                   Amy was my drug.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Dread Obsession

Okay confession time: I am obsessed with dreadlocks.... guys with dreads, kids with dreads, the longer the dreadlocks the better. Sigh.......... is there any hope
for me? I just think it's incredibly sexy and different. 





Whoopi - My look Alike (apparently)
Lauryn Hill - Effortless
Now obviously I don't have dreads, the thing with dreads is the commitment you have to make, especially for a long period. I LOVE HAIR WAY TOO MUCH! I love styling hair, blowing out hair, GHDing; I am a tart like that. My fascination with dreads has come a long way with my love for hair. So in effort to not let his obsession consume me, I decided to do something close enough to it. BRIADS. Surprisingly my inspiration came a picture of Solange Knowles( Beyonce sister) she had braided her hair and went old school with it, really thick and very long braids. I thought it looked dope and I loved the 90s feel of it. Then later inspired by the 90s I then went for a shorter style, this time round, Jada Pickett Smith Set it Off vibes. Feeling very Lauryn Hill......... my friends put me my place and said I looked like Whoopi Goldberg. Smh, LOL. Oh well. Anyway I finally got me some dread looking braids. Stoked about the whole thing, trying something different, but I had not anticipated that I would indirectly be involved in a social experiment.
   
Jada Pickett Smith 

My modern twist to Jada Pickett Smith
After getting the braids(Long thick ones) I understood that it was a rather drastic look and would get attention for the length of the braids. Therefore resembling dreadlocks, I experienced the two connotations of dreadlocks in society:

  1. Bad, Dreadlocks are seen as taboo in society, only done by Rastafarians or pot heads.
  2. Respected, as a 'sista'
Me with the long braids
Solange Knowles with Braids
Now it was the 2nd point that made want to write this post. Besides all the dirty looks I got from the conservative folk who in the past treated me different. It was the amount of respect I got just because I had 'dreads'. People would walk pass me and give me a respectable nod, raise their fists, peace signs and whatever else you do to an "Iya"( a nickname I learnt to respond to). All of a sudden my hair had some kind of political and symbolic meaning, I felt like I was representing the opposed society and standing up against 'The man'. Now as cool as this sounds and fun it is to play along like I'm some kind of Rastafarian poet but this is not relevant to me. All I did was change my hair. Now being the fruitcake that I am, I was a little overwhelmed and had to keep jumping into defence mode......... I'm NOT A RASTA!!!(Being a vegetarian didn't help convincing people) I don't smoke pot and most importantly believe in the religion. Now don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against Rastafarian culture/tradition, like any other religion I respect it and do not judge it. But it's just hair!!! And in my case a hairstyle.

Here is the most bizarre thing, people were now more willing to listen to my views (as if I was going to say something spiritually poetic and liberal)...........  Truth is I would have said something worthwhile anyway regardless of my hair. I consider myself to be a deep person of some sort, and have very strong moral, political and liberal views in life. Look ima Keep it REAL here .......The keyword here is 'listen' people started to take my opinions more seriously, assuming from my look (hair) that I am a liberal being and would say something uplifting. This is what upsets me, the mere fact my hairstyle gained respect from a community to only then acknowledge my spiritual and intellectual capabilities, is fucken pathetic. Come on people, this kind of stereotyping is soooo old; it has no real relevance in the 21st century. Can we please let this go? Thanks
On the real: Lastly this was my personal experiment, it does not mean that anyone who gets braids will get the same reaction from society that I experienced, this was something I picked up and thought I would voice it. 
*FYI: I'm back to my roots (kroes kop) and loving my natural hair, but can't wait to braid my hair again, it was fun experiment... wouldn't you say? 
How Amazing is this red......... I Want 

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Public Enemy!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah boi

Ah so this post might be a bit to late but here it goes:

So the legend of Hiphop PUBLIC ENEMY came to the mother city aka Cape Town for an incredible exclusive concert at Assembly! But of course your gracious had to attend the event but nothing could of warned me for the illest experience.

Now ya'll should know by now Hiphop is my first love. For many people hiphop is either just the music they listen to, they way the dance, the way they speak, they way they dress, but Hiphop is indeed a culture. there has been countless debates on the culture of hiphop and in these modern times, as everything else in life, hiphop has evolved. Like a culture it has its history, history being a vital part of its origin, but this does not define it in all its being. Many people say " Yo hiphop is dead, real hiphop is artists like the legends Public Enemy, now thats real Hiphop" Hmmmmmm i dont disagree completely but then again we have to look at what essence Public Enemy define their sense of HIPHOP.

I have been to a couple of hiphop concerts and have enjoyed myself excessively, but it took public enemy to make me look at hiphop from its orgin. An maynnn was it beautiful. The scene:  An underground feel, little crowd (exclusive). The beat: DOPE! and most importantly the lyrics: Inspirational.
Ok firstly how insane is  Flava Flav!!! Ya'll can say what you want bout flava flav, but hiphop runs through his blood. Its the realist thing I've seen in a while!!! Chuck D stepped to the mic and it was OOOOooon. He spoke about, war, poverty,racial issues, politics, Africa as a nation, hiphop as a culture.
It was something  out of this world. Now a days hiphop has evolved into a more personal approach. Rappers either express their insecurities, fame, sexuality and personal issues/daily struggles. LOL yeah i know this sounds a lil rah-rah but if you listening carefully to the modern day rapper, in between all the bitches,hoes, niggas, crack, pussy, motherfuckers................................. the expressions mentioned are in fact what they saying.
At the public enemy concert, i didn't hear one negative cuss about women, personal shit that i couldnt care less about. They rapped about society. Not only could you relate to them on a social level but a personal one aswell. Public Enemy in the time that they evolved, the voiced issues of the society who didnt have a voice. Rap was a form of empowerment, yeah them being rebels would of seem appropriate at the time but the sense of power they gave a society, a nation to rise above the society's issues and give it a voice with HIPHOP music......................... is so incredible. Now my people this is what hip-hop is all about. Bringing people together, making them stand together as one nation and FIGHT THE POWER!

Now i aint trying start some Malcolm X riot, I am just trying to express my love for the power of hip-hop music that many people have forgotten about.This is they type of Hip hop I prefer, one that speaks of issues that i can relate to and make me feel like I possess that power to make a change in my life as well as others. This was definitely an experience the REALIST one I have experience in a while!!





                           YEEEAAAH BOOOOOOOIIIIII
                     GO FLAVA, GO FLAVA, 
                     GO FLAVA, GO FLAVA

On set.....A Seductive Industry

Wow!!! What a turn around my life has had!!! Dayum ppl, life has been surreal.
Ok so im finally employed(well kinda) and a GRADUTE!!! I am finally living the life i choose, ie the life i studied.
I finally get to go on set and my experience is one that i will never forget.
So firstly i have ZERO experience, lets say  i know as much as a business student when it comes to the practicalities of filming. So here I am first day on set, excited as fuck! But for some reason I don't wana look like a stupid lil intern I some how manage to put on this persona where instead of being intimidated by people with more knowledge in this industry, I step up to the plate on another level.
I act like Ive been there before, (WAT!1 damn straight son) LOL its so funny I have people coming up to me introducing themselves thinking I'm someone important, he he he he. Now its not completely untrue I'm not THAT important but I'm not insignificant either. You know that's the thing about this industry,which many people don't know or realize is that you have to you have to start at the bottom( like any other job), thing is here you can have your honours in film, and sadly it doesnt really mean anything. (yeah i said it) Now don't get me wrong, I will take my degree as an achievement and even if i knew all this before I would still do it all over again. The power of education is something that should never be underestimated, it installs so many values in you that you dont realize in your studies. But lets keep it real.....

Starting at the bottom of the food chain, is rather tough, people dont give a shit bout u( Welcome to the real World Annocha ) but its how you choose to be treated and how you treat the opportunity, because ultimately thats what it is, an opportunity for you to learn your strengths and to make something out of your strengths. People will try to put you down and treat you like shit BUT I believe i draw the line on self respect and dignity even when I'm at the bottom. Yes i understand that I am a learner, but I'm Nooo stupid and being a learner does not come with disrespect. I respect you not because of your status but because of the person you are, and I demand the same respect in return. But if you disrespect me then don't expect me to kiss your ass for respect........it does not work like that! This is the approach I have chosen, and I will take it day by day, seeing each day as a blessing.



Being on set was defiantly like an Epiphany, not only am i learning alot but i finally feel like this is where i belong. I was made for this. I know I might sound corny and even vain. But being someone who has always struggled to find a sense of belonging, to find it is SURREAL. I was on between wardrobe(shocker) and cast and art department, behind the scenes guy and even a 2min chat with one person I learnt so much. But let me tell you, yeah i studied film theory.............no where in my text book did it tell me how to handle clients, lol. But it was great I had an opportunity in which I had to step up and shine, and yesss sir, i stepped up. Truly an amazing experience. After 4 days on set, just throwing myself into the work and absorbing the lifestyle, we have a wrap party in Sea point. The  fact that we all come together(with some slight intoxication) and spoke to each other, ot via our status but as people who share the same passion and work ethic. It was at that moment that THE BOSS came and sat next to me and we had a chat for a half and hour. A defining moment in my life, not because he pays my bills but because, the inspirational person that he is, made me realize that this is what I aspire to be. As he sat next me ( sipping on sum bubbly) he takes a look around at the crew having a good time and says : " This is a seductive industry hey" HA ha ha ha ha ha indeed!!! And a choose to be seduced.