South Africa and the World Cup

Nichelle Gainey launched a new blog entitled, "Sports Woman." Though she will write about various sports, her first blog entry is dedicated to the World Cup. Nichelle was tapped by the World Cup 2010 committee to represent U.S. interests in marketing and international development.

PAVO magazine highlights Birmingham's Art Scene

On Saturday night I had planned to drop by Rojo for an hour to celebrate the launch of PAVO Magazine. They advertised free food and discounted drinks so I thought, "The James' are watching the Alabama game, so why not drop in." I saw a couple of people I knew including a person who I practiced Yoga next to every Sunday for several years, but we had never had a conversation.

After I spent the first hour killing the fajita bar and drinking unsweet tea, the publishers started the program. It started as a traditional, let me thank everyone yada yada yada and then some poetry reading. Then a woman who had interviewed me for the magazine pulled out her cello and started rockin' with a band. More poetry reading. Then Sharrif Simmons entertained us with spoken word and his acoustic guitar.

A guy who I had a conversation with while standing in line for the bathroom, got up with a thick stack of papers to read his poetry. I was thinking, "This would be a great time to leave." However, I was intrigued by this hip hop group that was setting up while he was talking, so I stayed. To my amazement, the poet's piece was called, "Duran Duran Buttons" or some other eighties reference that intrigued me. It was great.

The hip hop group had a DJ whose set up seemed elaborate to me. He had two turn tables, an equalizer, a Mac laptop. Eventually, the place exploded with a house mix and samples from the Transformers. I was thinking I'm not going home anytime soon. One of the emcees introduced the group as he revealed a green t-shirt. "Hello. We are The Green Seed. "

So an hour "let me show my face" turned into a three hour experience. Good luck PAVO. If your magazine is anything like your parties, we are in for a treat.

Female Beatmakers

I've had the pleasure of finally interviewing someone who I think is an amazing artist(musician and graphic designer). Ry Nea Sol! (aka MsBeatJunkie), she's a female producer/beatmaker from Birmingham, Al:

Aquarius Rising: So, when did you start making beats?

MsBeatJunkie: In 2000, while I was in college at Jacksonville State University.

Aquarius Rising: You majored in Psychology with a minor in Communications. Did you participate in any extracurricular activities that involved music?

MsBeatJunkie: Yes, I was a member of the Jacksonville State University Mass Choir and also the Campus Ministry worship leader.

Aquarius Rising: Wow, so what was your motivation to start producing your own music?

MsBeatJunkie: I didn't hear any music that sounded like what I felt, what I heard in my thoughts on the radio and i hadn't heard of any female producers out there.

Aquarius Rising: What devices did you start out with to create the beats you wanted to hear?

MsBeatJunkie: (She smiles) Fruity Loops aka (FL Studio) and a keyboard.

Aquarius Rising: What did your first beats sound like?

MsBeatJunkie: They were actually dirty south hip hop beats because that's what I heard around me at the time. The word spread that I was producing. I started to get calls and requests to make beats for national and local christian hip hop recording artists.

Aquarius Rising: Do you still make dirty south beats?

MsBeatJunkie: My music changed when I
started listening more closely to what was inside of me. I am far from the commercial tones of crunk and snap. To me, my music is "organic soul, futuristic boom bap" (laughing). I am influenced by many genres. I also implement the art of sampling like many producers, but did not always sample.

Aquarius Rising: Which artists influence your creativity?

MsBeatJunkie: Pete Rock,Madlib,Jdilla,Tonex,Sun Ra...

Aquarius Rising: Sun Ra was a very eccentric musician. Why Sun Ra?

MsBeatJunkie: Sun Ra made music based on what he felt whether you liked it or not. J.Dilla was the same way; both were led by the music.

Aquarius Rising: Technology has become so advanced now. Are you still using just the software and a keyboard?

MsBeatJunkie: (laughing)Yes, but I have other toys too. I love software though, and mixing it with various hardware allows me to be even more creative.

Aquarius Rising: Are there any female producers that you admire?

MsBeatJunkie: The Angel, she is a female producer that you dont hear alot about. I discovered her years ago while watching this movie called "Boiler Room". I was intriqued because the beats in every scene were so tight and organic; so hip hop that I had to find out who produced them and when I found out the producer was a "girl" I really got on it because I dreamed of producing movies for film and tv as well. She's really talented.

Muhsinah (mu-seen-nah), Georgia Ann Muldrow, and Angie Stone are other female producers that I like as well.

Aqaurius Rising: Have you worked with any Birmingham artists?

MsBeatJunkie: I've produced some tracks for spoken word artist Shaun Judah and have had studio sessions with Byron The Aquarius; both are very talented artists. I am currently working with other artists in the city and outside of the city.

Aquarius Rising: Have you faced any challenges as a female beatmaker?

MsBeatJunkie: Of course! Being dismissed in some way or another because of my gender.

Aquarius Rising: So, where can we find evidence of your skills?

MsBeatJunkie: http://www.myspace.com/offbeatmusiq

The Historic Fourth Avenue District is Alive!

The Historic Fourth Avenue District in downtown Birmingham is alive. Neo-Soul, hip hop, jazz, spoken word, and visual art will converge in a unique series at Suite 204. The Renaissance Era, an Urban Arts Series, promises a mix of art forms from Birmingham's past and present. Patrick "S-Fly" Johnson and Thed Weller will be hosting some of the events. Click here for more information.

Healing Like Kudzu

In presentations about the benefits of globalization and diversity, I frequently include advances in medicine. Transnational practices such as Yoga and Tai Chi are often recommended to U.S. American patients to improve strength and balance. Now I can also include a plant in the discussion.

It appears that perhaps all the pain and suffering endured by plant lovers who have encountered Kudzu infestations can now feel that they have not sacrificed their foliage in vain. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has discovered health benefits of Kudzu. Kudzu, a plant that is indigenous to Japan, has gained a reputation of growing uncontrollably and strangling other plants. Alabamians often use the phrase, "...growin' like Kudzu" to refer to rapid growth. However, Kudzu may become synonymous with health.

Kudzu could be the key to controlling conditions that plague many southerns. In a UAB press release, Dr. Michael Wyess is quoted as saying, "Our findings showed that puerarin helps to lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol," ... "But perhaps the greatest effect we found was in its ability to regulate glucose, or sugar, in the blood."

So perhaps instead of thinking of Kudzu merely as parasitic vine introduced more than a century ago is the trend of the past. It will be known by future generations as a miracle plant.

More information about Kudzu:

The Amazing Story of Kudzu
Visit Kudzu World

Ready for the World Cup?

After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, I vowed to be competent in all things World Cup. My sister and her friends were throwing parties. I saw people stopping their entire lives to watch matches in the lounge outside of my office. Though I had been a host for Olympic soccer in Birmingham and had a brother who played high school soccer, I still can't hold a decent conversation about international football. I pledged not to let that happen in 2010. I have invited friends and family to give a clep course via this blog. Care to give your two cents?

This post was inspired by the following headline, "Nigeria Suffers Tunisian Blow."

Southern Culture and Football

Trying to figure out southern culture? As Alabama and Virginia Tech kicked off the season (from the perspective of our household), I heard one of the newscasters clarify where football fit into southern culture...God, football, family...Nuf said.

Where does college American football fit into your life?