This year marks the 20th year for the Essence Music Festival!!! An INCREDIBLE FUNKIN’ event, it started out as a celebration, for Essence magazine’s 25th anniversary. After the first year, it was clear, at the very least another was required.
UBER has been consistently growing city to city and around the world since its inception in 2009. Today I saw a sign as I was on my way to the supermarket, where they were offering “Free Gas,” for their drivers and as a means of recruiting new drivers.
“What Now?” is Kevin Hart’s fifth major LIVE stand-up outing. I had the fortune to attend the second set on his stop in Boston last night at TD Garden — he killed it. I LOVE comedy shows! Over the years I’ve seen Paul Mooney, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle, each of them two or more times.
The Museum of UnCut Funk (TMOUF) supports The Universal Hip-Hop Museum (UHHM), as it seeks to open the doors of an actual facility, in the Bronx this September. Like TMOUF, UHHM, currently lives and operates online.
On Saturday, June 7th of 2014, Tracy Morgan’s limo bus was pulverized by a Walmart tractor trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike, as it was in route to New York after a performance in Delaware. Morgan’s friend and comedy writer, James “Jimmy Mack” McNair, was killed in the accident. Morgan himself experienced brain trauma, a broken leg and broken ribs, from the tragic occurrence.
Saw a story on Atlanta Blackstar’s website about black film directors. A good overview of these mavericks, I wanted to share and archive it, here in the Funkalicious blog…
Louis Johnson, of the Brother’s Johnson discovered by Quincy Jones, passed away on May 21st. Truly one I was blessed to have met, and got to interview about his life and music, he was unquestionably one of the FUNKIEST to ever hold a bass guitar.
Many of the lessons Malcolm X taught, were for the benefit of all Men then, as well as today. A Man that was Marveled, and yet Misunderstood, Malcolm Little was the son of parents Earl and Louise Little. He Married Betty Shabazz in 1958, and is the father to Qubilah, Ilyasah, Attallah, Malikah, Gamilah Lumumba, and Malaak.
Liken to my PSA blogs, “Evergreen Funky Clips,” will be videos regarding aspects of society that are Funked Up. Best case scenario, a new day will dawn, however considering we have to address these issues… Unfortunately despite the realization, while some issues will ideally cease to exist, little to nothing will be done about most of these atrocities.
“It Comes in Threes” is a phrase you’ll hear, usually by way, of unfortunate circumstances. Nothing could have prepared me for the recent tragic events that I’ve experienced. Two people that I had the fortune to work with, and one that I have been inspired by, passed on within three days of each other.
This is the best collection of T-Shirts I’ve seen that honor the legend that is Jimi Hendrix. A lover of his music for years, I wanted to bring this incredible website to the attention of those, that regularly and/ or periodically read this blog.
Amy Winehouse was born on September 14, 1983, in Southgate, London, she departed on July 23, 2011, in the Borough of Camden, London. In a short period of time, she made a mark in music, that will span beyond our lifetime.
April 7th, 2015 would mark the 100th birthday, of the legendary Billie Holiday! Born on April 7th, 1915 in Philadelphia, her innovative vocal style has influenced a multitude of singers around the world, over the past century.
When I think of a movie that’s done multiple sequels, the first one that comes to mind is “Rocky.” After that, there’s “Star Wars,” and it’s now forthcoming follow-ups; the “Star Trek” franchise; Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” prequel flicks; “Mission Impossible” (MI5 out 7/31); “Godzilla” movies and “The Fast and the Furious.”
In the wee hours of the morning DC Comics blanketed any one who “Likes” Marvel Comics with their timeline for upcoming films. I was having a bit of insomnia, and happened to catch it in my peripheral vision, while posting “Happy Birthday” to friends on Facebook.
In the midst of societal ills and personal challenges I look to family and music for solace. Holy Moly! There are a few things that I am remiss about discovering at this juncture and some new releases and tunes forthcoming that I’m very excited to hear. Music serves as therapy for me, and is and will always be, the universal language that conjoins the hearts and minds of humanity.
This is not a review, just an announcement, the new Kendrick Lamar is here. Lamar gave hip-hop a long awaited FUNK injection with his debut release “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City” in 2012. His new CD “To Pimp a Butterfly” is a Funkalicious follow-up.
Filmmaker Alex Garland will make his directorial debut with “Ex Machina”! A Sci-Fi flick, he also wrote the screenplay for it, which follows his previous works “Sunshine,” “Never Let Me Go” and “Dredd.”
On the day after Eric Holder announces the results of the Federal Investigation on Ferguson… Shonda Rhimes incorporates the essence of current events on “Scandal,” presenting the horror of the Michael Brown case and addressing the issue of “illegal immigrants”, via “Olivia Pope” ala Kerry Washington.
According to CBS’s website: 25-time Grammy Award winner Stevie Wonder will be honored in a star-studded musical primetime special “Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life — An All-Star GRAMMY Salute.” It airs on CBS next Monday, February 16th at 9pm/8pm central.
