Organic/TGIF

Happy Friday everyone, ... Let's Talk about It!!

I look to the Hills, taking it all in and I bask in the glory of all that has been afforded to me.  As I walk in gratitude, I am grateful and I'm humbled.  Still on my quest, I know that more is required to get to all that is glorious and righteous.  Faith is tested daily, its the valleys that truly prove beneficial in achievement of the peaks.  Stumbling blocks will arise, but they are not a dead end roadblock, its a wake up call!  I've grown accustomed to the true friends in my life who allow me, to be me, through my faults, heartaches and triumphs.  For me fair weather friends are old habits broken.  Pay attention the truth always rises.  

This time of year, I tend to miss my mother the most, and no matter how old I get, I still yearn for her hugs and kisses, to see the beauty of her smile whenever she would greet me, the simple pleasures that we often take for granted.  Alone in my solitude I have my private conversations with GOD, trying to be what he wants me to be, in his time, not mine.  Some days I master that understanding, better than other days.  This week everything but the kitchen sink was thrust at me, and STILL I rose above it all, Doctors tried saying one thing, God said another.  Its gratifying when prayer is joyful, instead of panicked, which speaks to lack of Faith.  You must be genuine, organic and not hypocritical when honoring our King.  Faith must be a mainstay in our lives or it all falls apart! 

What Are You Doing With Your Life?

http://youtu.be/w5z5vulgiGI

Best'

Kevin Knighton

https://www.facebook.com/KevinKnighton360

www.Instagram.com/KevinKnighton_Callins

Flashback Who's That Thursday

Zhane' members Jean Baylor, Renée Neufville were a refreshing duo in the 'Neo' Soul movement.  It was 1994 when their 'Hey Mr. DJ' (which peaked at #6 on the Hot 100) blasted through the airwaves, it was such an infectious groove.  Jean and Renee' met at Temple University, and use to sing at Talent shows, which caught the attention of Philly resident 'DJ Jazzy Jeff' and their first professional recording together was "Ring My Bell" on the same album that featured DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s “Summertime”.   Former Warner Bros. executive Benny Medina suggested they become a group.  For the name, Neufville had the idea of using the French pronunciation of their first names Jean and Renée, which sounded like “Jahnay” she played around with the spelling and added a 'Z' for a little flavor and came up with Zhané."   Unfortunately the duo only released two CD's on Motown, before parting ways leaving our appetite hungry for more, which wasn't to be.

http://youtu.be/v9KbIDJSnX8

http://youtu.be/9oLV7mc8BBE

Happy (70) Birthday ....

Gladys Knight was my first musical love and the love affair has never ended.   Knight possesses one of the strongest instruments in the business.  She clearly ranks amongst the 'creme dela creme' like Barbara, Aretha, Patti ... truly in great company.

Happy Birthday Ms. Gladys Knight

Reevaluation/TGIF

Happy Friday everybody, ... Let's Talk about It!!

Some things that I use to do, I no longer do.  People will come and go, the stable friendships go the distance.  No longer in life should you be afraid to stand firm by a decision and in your convictions .  Not all things are meant to last, we must learn from every situation, and the most painful, will be the most groundbreaking.  Its essential to form a strong unit around yourself, those who can be honest with you, no matter what.  Though we would love to think every day will be perfect, and that flaws dont exist, please do not fool yourself.  Make sure that your house is in order, and that you're chopping away at your bucket list.  Reevaluation is a must, times change, people change and situations change.  If you're not doing your own inventory, someone else of no authority is surely doing it for you.  Clever is a nice attribute to possess, but graciousness is even better.  In your approach, let you motives be of a well intended nature.

This life goes by very fast, the older you get, the closer the other side is, often you find yourself pondering over where did the time go.   We continue to collect our thoughts, and still make promises to ourselves, that aren't always realistic, yet we must have a goal to strive for, something to push us, to create, and co-exist in a world that never promised to be fair, but we stay steadfast, to fight for equality everyday.  The good book teaches that the race is not won by the swiftest, but by those who endure to the end.  Make sure that your moments are enduring and that you find a stable state of mind.   Live your truth with grace and gratitude.  If you find yourself ending chapters, its not that you no longer love, or remember, you have just elevated yourself to a higher consciousness, of what works for you and what does not.

What Are You Doing With Your Life?

http://youtu.be/SVbqTcRtbRU

Best'

Kevin Knighton

https://www.facebook.com/KevinKnighton360

www.instagram.com/KevinKnighton_Callins

Flashback Who's That ...

Before Nicki Minaj..... there was Foxy Brown and Lil Kim who were trailblazer in the rap game, both were two successful crossover female rappers, who were holding their own in a largely male dominated genre.  It's been 20 years since Case's 'Touch Teach Me' , Toni Braxton's 'You Makin High' and Jay Z's 'Aint No N*gga' so from the jump, you knew that Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand aka Foxy Brown, was something far different from the average female rapper, she could 'spit' with the fellas and hold her own. PLUS she was a 'banger' (gorgeous).  She caught the eye of many labels, which lead to a bidding war, Def Jam was the victor.  She released her debut CD entitled the 'Ill Na Na' in 1996, which sold over three million copies.  On the heels of her success, she joined rappers Nas, AZ and Nature to form the supergroup 'The Firm' on Dr Dre's' Aftermath label, then came her next solo masterpiece 'Chyna Doll' in 1999, and Broken Silence in 2001.  Her star was constantly rising, which led to more collaborations.  I think her rival with 'Lil Kim' though friends in the beginning, both wanted to be the 'Griselda Blanco' of the rap world.   After 2002, she continued recording verses for herself and other artists but did not release any albums; she left the Def Jam label in 2003, thus canceling the release of her Ill Na Na 2 album.  Mixed in with her personal demons, which landed her in jail for assault and nearly going deaf.  She returned to Def Jam in January 2005 after then-Def Jam president and CEO Jay-Z signed her back to begin work on her new album Black Roses. In December 2005.   A fourth studio album, which originally was a mixtape, was released in May 2008.   It's now 2014 and we're 'still' waiting for the return of Ms' 'Ill Na Na' and the bigger question is ... does she still have game?  I say yes! Come back to us Foxy Brown, when you were on the scene, you kept things interesting.

The Ill NA NA ... Ms. Foxy Brown