The
Caribbean influence, L Boogie’s tantalizing flows & stunning voice, the deep
thoughts behind each and every word, the intention behind each and every beat...Fugees
was such a brilliant group. I really miss them.
October 11, 2011
October 2, 2011
The GOOD Life: Nikia Phoenix
“…We were
born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in
some of us; it is in everyone. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” –Marianne Williamson
Know yourself. Love yourself. Be humble, because you didn't get where you are all by yourself.
This is an excerpt from one of my favorite pieces of writing
in the world, Our Deepest Fear. I’m sure that most, if not all, of you are
familiar with it as well. It is so easy to forget how much of an impact we are
capable of having on other people’s lives. Even the smallest, most subtle, most
unconscious gesture has the power to leave a lasting impression. The question
is, what kind of impression do you want to leave upon others? How do you plan
on shining your light?
I had the absolute privilege of interviewing Nikia Phoenix, a
model & blogger from Los Angeles, California. Nikia is one of those rare people you come
across who are just as stunning on the inside as they are on the outside. I am
one of her blog’s loyal readers and I am always so inspired by the brilliance
and positivity this woman radiates just from simply being herself. The
manner in which she completely embraces who she is as a person which is
something I know a lot of people, including myself, have difficulty doing is admirable. As
she states in her bio, “Being a freckled-faced, natural-haired girl isn't easy.
I've always felt different. Because of faith, I've been able to embrace who I
am and prosper. God created me this way for a reason, and everyday I thank Him
for that.” One of the most beautiful occurrences in life is when you are able
to look at yourself in the mirror and love the person looking back at you.
Nikia is a testament to this; she has liberated herself from the fear of being
different and, in doing so, shines her light for others to see and be impacted by.
What is your
definition of a “good” life? Do you feel as if that is what you are living?
I used to think that a good life was about
perfection, but I know better now. A good life is a happy life that still
has its moments of anguish and strife to help you appreciate the brighter
moments. I think I'm living that.
How important do you feel it is for people to
follow their passions, even if following those passions may not seem like a
"secure" life choice?
There was a time, about a decade ago, when I
focused more on security than passion. It drove me into depression. If you fight
against the talents you've been blessed with, then that sense of security is
just false. I still struggle with this myself, but I'm persevering. Don't be
the starving artist. Profit from your abilities. Find the balance and I do
believe you can be successful.
What are 3
personal characteristics that you possess that you feel have helped you in your
modeling career?
Spunk, drive, and faith.
What aspect of
your work makes you the happiest? Which aspect do you like the least?
I love working with really talented, humble
people. Inspiration is infectious, so when you're creating with certain artists
the possibilities are infinite. I do not like wasting time and talent on
someone with a sour attitude. That bitterness will leave a bad taste in your
mouth, and I can do without it.
Is there anything you know now that you wish you
knew a few years ago that could have helped you along your life path?
I wish I had known that you need a really strong team to keep you going. You need a coach, cheerleaders, teammates and fans to keep you amped up for those tough times. You can't do it by yourself.
I wish I had known that you need a really strong team to keep you going. You need a coach, cheerleaders, teammates and fans to keep you amped up for those tough times. You can't do it by yourself.
What is it like being a woman of color in the modeling
industry?
It's a
challenge to be who I am in this business. The opportunities are limited. I've
been turned down for jobs because of the color of my skin. But I think all
women of color encounter similar situations. I feel like I have a duty to try
my hardest and represent for us.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years?
Oh my goodness, I don't know. I hope that wherever I am and whatever I'm doing, I am content. All I really want is to be happy, fulfilled, and blessed.
If you could give someone a quote to live by, what would it be?
September 15, 2011
She's Got That Good Good: Chioma Wodu
Hello! I apologize for
leaving you guys high and dry without a ‘He/She’s Got That Good Good’ feature
for over a month now! Believe me when I say, the drought is over. I will be
bringing you all fashionable faces from all over the world every other Thursday,
like I used to do, from now on. Today’s feature is not only extremely well
dressed, but she is incredibly talented as well. This girl has got angels in her
throat! Her voice is absolutely stunning. Chioma is 1/3 of the brilliant music
group known as A Yellow Man. I remember the first time I heard of A Yellow Man
and watched their promo video; I was so excited by how eager they are to
glorify God’s name through their music. It is rare to find people my age who
are so on fire for Christ and are unashamed to let other people know about it. That
type of boldness is one of the most beautiful things on this planet. It is my
absolute pleasure to introduce you to..
Chioma Wodu from London, England
How old are you?
I’m 19
What do you do for a living?
I'm student studying Fashion Design women's wear and also part time musician (A Yellow Man)
What 3 words would you use to describe your style?
Practical, simple, sometimes
unpredictable
Where are your favorite places to shop?
I plead guilty but I think
everybody should some pieces from Topshop in their wardrobe. Also, my grandmothers
60’s trunk box and a charity shop on Wembley Highstreet.
What is the 1 item you can't leave home without?
My mother’s precious stone necklace
A Yellow Man is currently working on a small EP that should drop later this winter. Make sure you 'like' their facebook page to keep up with the latest news!
September 13, 2011
Throwback Joint: Cherish The Day by Sade
“You’re ruling the way
that I move.”
I never
realized the degree of power behind that simple statement until recently.
Sometimes we listen to a song so many times over and over and over but it isn’t
until we reach a certain point in our lives that we can fully appreciate just
what the artist is saying. Cherish The
Day has always been one of my favorite songs by Sade, if not my favorite.
The effortless manner in which she was able to tell of this strong, burning
desire she had inside of her is astounding. She did not feel the need to use
verbose and complex love language in order to get her point across, and she
didn’t need to. Those simple 7 words she says in the beginning of this song are
more powerful, to me, than anything I have ever heard in any other love song.
Another line in this song that always sends chills up my spine is “If you were
mine, I wouldn't want to go to heaven”. I can only imagine a love that deep. Sade definitely knows what's good. I also wanted to share this video because this past Sunday marked the 10 year anniversary of September 11th and you can catch quite a couple of glimpses of the World Trade Center in the background.
September 10, 2011
That GOOD GOOD Around the Web
I know I always say this, but I have fallen deeply in
love yet again with yet another street style blog. CURB APPEAL is a gorgeous
street style blog started by the lovely Shanita Sims who manages to capture flawlessly fashionable
individuals from Atlanta and beyond in a simple yet brilliant way. It is definitely worth a moment
of your time so click here and check it
out! Here are a couple more of my favorite shots:
Have you been watching the herd?
I don’t know about you guys, but Herds of The Fathers’ latest bag preview has me speechless. This jumbo sized leather backpack has my name written all over it. I can’t wait until this new line drops! To see more of this beauty and to keep up with the latest Herds news, click here.
I just realized that I have never talked about Jesse Boykins III’s lovely mixtape ‘Way Of A Wayfarer’ and I’m sure a lot of you have already listened to it. For those of you who haven’t yet had the pleasure, click here to listen and/or download. I really love the magically mellow sound of the 6 tracks on this EP. I’ve had it on heavy repeat this past week because school is starting to stress me out a bit! Here is my favorite track:
Click here to listen as Erykah Badu
reflects on her first album, Baduizm. It’s always so interesting getting to
hear the artist’s side of the story.
September 2, 2011
When I'm Not Listening to Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul, and R&B...
It is no secret that I
am a lover of hip-hop, a neo-soul junkie, and an old school R&B fiend (I
believe that basically every song I have ever posted on this blog belongs to
one of those three genres). While there is nothing wrong with loving certain
types of music more than others, one has to be open to hearing and appreciating
other types of music as well. I’m not going to lie, I am extremely, extremely picky about the music I listen
to, my friends & sisters can attest to that. However, for the past year or
so I have been making a concerted effort to open myself up to the various
wonders that the music world has to offer. In doing so, I have fallen in love
with a host of different musicians from several genres and have decided to
share a few of these finds with you all. Enjoy the music and tell me what you think!
August 26, 2011
Gold Coast Trading Co.
I’ve had my eye on
this brand for quite some time now.
What
initially drew me to Gold Coast Trading the first time I came across them was
their beautifully simple and refreshingly clean aesthetic. It was one of those situations when I could’t pull my eyes away from what I was seeing
because it was just so perfect. The clothing this company creates manages to
capture the brilliance of both Africa's fashion and history in such a simple yet effective way.
And as if having an aesthetic to die for and creating amazing clothing weren’t
enough, Gold Coast Trading’s back-story gave me a million more reasons to love them. The
vision behind this brand is nothing short of exceptional. I feel that it is the
same vision that many Africans who find themselves living away from home have. Emeka
Alams, the creator of Gold Coast Trading, takes us back to 1444 -the point in
time when Africans were beginning to be taken from the Gold Coast and traded by
Europeans. As the Gold Coast Trading website reads:
“This trade has changed our
world and reshaped our thoughts. Living by European standards throughout the
African Diaspora we have forgotten what makes our culture powerful, rich and
unique. Here we strive for riches and neglect our families, we smile upon others
while wishing for their demise, all things associated with the mind frame of
those who began this trade.”
Although
the people of Africa have been displaced and dejected, Africa itself is still a
land overflowing with love and hope. It is this brand’s aim to take us back to
those days before 1444 when we weren’t so concerned with living by “European
standards”. Emeka’s devotion to Africa is commendable; I admire how deeply
invested he is in the continent’s past and how he is able to draw inspiration
from moments in history such as the Soweto uprising. Although he is no longer
living in Africa, it is quite easy to see how much he still cares. No
matter how far you travel from home, it should always have a place in your
heart. Gold Coast Trading is a testament to that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
