BEAUTY SUPPLY STORE ROBBERIES!!!!

Hello Hon-Tey's!



It been so much going on in the world these last couple of weeks - from Donald Trump talking smack about Obama...to one of the Guardsmen being banned from attending the Royal Wedding...to BEAUTY SUPPLY STORE ROBBERIES!


Yes, you read right!  Thieves who broke into a Chicago beauty supply store made off with nearly $80,000 worth of human hair.  The store owner, Jay Han, said he believed the thieves knew just how valuable the hair could be on the black market.  "The tresses are used to braid hair and for hair extensions especially in the African American community", he said.  Videotaped surveillance outside his shop showed a white van driving up to the back of the store on Sunday morning.  Three men used a metal bar to pry open the door.  The men left the shop with large plastic bins full of the packages of hair and other items including wigs with natural hair.  Mr. Han, stated, "they didn't take any money."


I guess this is becoming a TREND in the urban community.  Chicago is not the only city to fall victim to WEAVE JACKIN.


Nashville, TN was where another incident occurred. However, the suspects didn't make it far.  One was caught and the other is still on the loose.


Montgomery, AL.  The suspects are still at large.


Dearbourn, MI - Approximately 80 Velvet-brand hair extensions were stolen from the store.  Unfortunately, The owner of the store was shot and killed.


This is ridiculous!  Is getting your weave done that important?  Well, to some I guess it is.  So much so that one will LIE, CHEAT, STEAL AND KILL for a new do!

Lady/Water No Get Enemy by. Fela Kuti

Hello Hon-Teys!

I've been gone for a while, I was gathering my thoughts and focusing on my bread and butta!  However, I'm back and I wanted to share with you a legend that was known by some but has inspired many.  I am speaking of Fela Anikulapo Kuti!  Born October 15, 1938 as Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, a Nigerian musician, activist, composer and politician whom was famous throughout Nigeria, Europe, UK and United States in the late 1950's up until his death in 1997.  

Fela sang about political issues throughout the world and abroad.  As his music became more popular he used it as a soapbox to voice his political opinions, which in turn made is recordings more politically motivated.  Fela's music became very popular among Nigerian public and Africans in general.  In fact, he made the decision to sing in Pidgin English so his music could be enjoyed by individuals all over Africa, where the local language spoken were very diverse and numerous.

Afrobeat is the muscial style performed by Fela Kuti.  Which is a complex fusion of Jazz, Funk (espeically the music of James Brown)  psychedelic rock and traditional West African chants and rhythms. Some elements often present in Fela's music are the call - and - response within the chorus and figurative but simple lyrics.  Fela's songs were also very long, at least 10-15 minutes in length, and reaching the 20 or even 30 minutes, while some unreleased tracks would last up to 45 minutes when performed live.  This was one of the reasons that his music never reached a substantial degree of popularity outside Africa.  His LP records frequently had one 30 minute track per side.  Typically there is an instrumental  "introduction" jam part of the song, perhaps 10 - 15 minutes long before Fela starts singing the "main" part.

THE SHRINE (named after the famous nightclub in Lagos, Nigeria) is located in Chicago, IL and NYC is dedicated to Fela Kuti and his sons Femi and Seun Kuti among other groups or individuals that play Afrobeat music.

Some of my favorite Fela recordings are:

ZOMBIE

LADY/WATER NO GET ENEMY

EXPENSIVE SHIT

LADY

SHUFFERING AND SHMILING
YELLOW FEVER

2000 BLACKS GOT TO BE FREE

NO AGREEMENT

Well Hon-Teys, thanks for tuning in to my world...and I hope I have opened a new window for you to view music to.  Until we chat again...CIAO BELLA!