True Blizzity

Snoop Dogg might be my favorite person right now. We just have so much in common! His love for True Blood obviously rivals mine, and I'm thoroughly impressed. If this isn't an argument to watch the show, then I don't know what is. He references so many details from the show, and pays tribute to protagonist Sookie Stackhouse in this catchy little diddy. You have to see it to believe it:

Have You Heard?

Janelle Monae has been on my radar for a few years now, thanks to TRACE's preemptive obsession with her. She really is the whole package - beautiful, talented, opinionated, and definitely not the typical pop princess. Her new record Archandroid delves into so many different genres it would be unfair to categorize it as a hip hop/r & b record. The album reflects Monae's aesthetic perfectly. A little glam, a little soul, and a whole lot of attitude. I'm loving the latest video for her single 'Tightrope' featuring none other than ATL's Big Boi. Gotta love that fancy footwork!

Déjà Vu: Good Golly Miss Dolly!

Dolly Parton is the kind of Diva that I can get behind. She's not just any run of the mill Diva - her bubbly personality, music and style have made her a legend. It's obvious that I abide by her cardinal rule (which inspired the name of this blog), but what's not obvious is my current obsession with classic country. I never gave country music a second thought until this year, and sweet sassy molassey have I been missing out! Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette - the list of classic country crooners goes on and on. And apparently I'm not the only one that's been sneaking in some country behind closed doors. Check out the 1983 country hit "Islands in the Stream" by Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers and the Bee Gees, and then take a listen to the 1998 hip hop hit "Ghetto Superstar" by Pras, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and Mya. It's like hip hop is giving classic country a solid fist pump!

All Eyes On Precious

So much has already been written about Precious, that writing another positive review seems redundant. With that said I'll just keep it simple: see this film. You won't regret it. Like a Zora Neale Hurston novel, the film is rife with despair, introspection and despite it all a good dose of hope. The performances are utter perfection. From newcomer Gabourney Sibide to Mo'Nique, Paula Patton and Mariah Carey, this film showcases the thespian within them all.

Killing It

While all the other teenagers at my high school were tagging the Wu Tang symbol on their lockers and kicks, I was busy crying listening to Nirvana and the Pixies. It took a while for me to warm up to hip hop, and I have to admit that The Fugees, however mainstream they became, were a part of that process. Lauryn Hill's creamy voice is haunting, and The Fugees unique take on hip hop was more accessible than the gangster rap hitting airwaves at the time. After "Killing Me Softly" began playing at every school dance, it was obvious that they had hit it big. So once you have the fans and the budget, of course the next step is to make a blockbuster video complete with explosions and helicopters. "Ready Or Not" is another classic off of their 1996 record The Score, and the video really captures the vibe of the track: dark, and moody like a stealth submarine.