Note: I tell people to refresh their pages because I am always changing things. However, keep in my mind, I have to protect my writing so the words that are not visible are on purpose! Smile. Copyright law Shila style! Embrace the digital art. Peace and love.
Snippets of my writing. Enjoy.
Shila aka Queen
P.S. We must read! On Friday, November 15 I had the pleasure of experiencing this very beautiful sister at Case Western Reserve University’s Think Tank hosted by the lovely Ms. Rhonda Williams.
Seeing Usher on the cover of the November 2013 Men’s Health Magazine reminded me of the highs and lows of R&B music over the past decade or so. For me the music used to be all about the experiences of life and love, but now it has more of an egocentric nucleus with artists lashing out and praising themselves rather than the aforementioned. Call it evolution, but I call it disappointment! R&B was so pure, fun, mellow, groovy, enlightening, and worthwhile. I turn to the past to get stimulation…
Resurrecting the past is not always a good idea, but in 2013, it seems to be my only option when it comes to music. So, I turn to the men I loved in the 90s and early 2000s. I always get a kick out of these videos because they portray honest emotions, attitudes, and dress codes.
Donell
Musiq
D’Angelo
Usher
Yasiin
CLICK ON THE SONG TITLES TO VIEW THE VIDEOS VIA YOUTUBE.
#1 Usher: You Don’t Have to Call Usher has a lot of music that I like., but this is one of my favorites from him. Why? Because he was having so much fun in the video! He is constantly smiling (1:03, 2:03, 4:01, 4:40, 4:55) and he has some cool dance moves. I especially like when they are in the car and do the bounce! I also love the parking lot dance and the way the crew walked into the party! Hilarious and so cool. He had skates on his heels… oh my! I cannot get enough of this video. It always brings my mood up. Enjoy.
#3 Musiq Soulchild: HalfCrazy You think that you are crazy? No, I am crazier Musiq! I love this song and I will always cherish your music because it helped me to understand a lot about emotions. Also, that kiss he delivered at 1:36! Whoo hoo! Makes me wanna…
#4 D’Angelo: Lady I am waiting for the day when I can see a D’Angelo concert. You just don’t understand. And yes D’Angelo, I am your lady for life!
#5 Mos Def: Umi Says Now known as Yasiin Bey, he is probably my mos fav lyricist of all time. Amazing at any thing he practices.
In the Midwest weather used to be simple. We would have cold Winters, warm Springs, hot Summers, and moderate Falls. Times have changed and sometimes the seasons blend. I have no complaints! I actually love the complexities of weather. Everyday is an exploration. I no longer pack away my winter or summer clothes for storage. Everything stays in the closet year round. Sunday I wore shorts and today I had on heavy socks and insulated shoes. That’s how it is these days!
Just go with the flow of the sun. Since, the seasons can no longer dictate the dress code, wear what is befitting of the day. This is a wardrobe check to help you transition into “autumn-like” weather…
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One of my favorite pairs of earrings.
I really love mustard colored clothing.
I normally wear wine colored lipsticks. The only color I really like.
I adore wooden and feathered jewelry.
WHAT I AM WEARING FROM HEAD TO TOE
My natural hair is permanently dyed using Silk Elements Santa Fe Bronze. I normally only dye my crown once every 4-6 months. Recently I decided that I wanted to grow the color out and focus on my original hair color of black. The dye is $4.
The shirt is made by a brand called Angie from Dillard’s. It was originally $32 but I bought it for $10.
The denim skirt is originally made by Mossimo for Target. I got it brand new from a thrift store for $3.
The stockings are from Target..maybe $4?
The fringe boots are from Sears/Kmart online. I caught them on sale last season for $10. The quality is fine. No visible wear or tear. They were originally $30. I noticed that these stores offer cheaper items online. What’s the catch? I don’t know! You can get fringe boots from Kohl’s, Nordstrom’s, Macy’s, etc. I am not sure if they are the trend this year… but of course on African Essence we don’t follow trends, we set them!
Left arm bracelets from Glitter 3 for $3. Right arm leather bracelet from City Buddha for $4. The wooden necklace might also be from City Buddha for maybe $3?
CONSUMERISM. I went to Forever21 a few months back and was amazed to see that the clothing store had expanded to twice its size. It was ridiculously overwhelming so much that I vowed not to return! It was just entirely too much clothing. It looked like a sweat shop had thrown up in that place! I decided then that I would wear what I have and try not to spend any money on clothes. People think that I buy buy buy, but I have had most of my wardrobe for years. I was the same clothing size for about 10 years. Recently this changed and I had to buy a few items. Before this, my clothes lasted… 🙂 Honestly, I admit that my closet is stretched so I am not going to be doing much shopping until at least Summer 2014. I am saving for some trips/vacations so I will see how this balances out.
Peace and so much love!
The Kush Queen for African Essence
P.S. As much as I am drawn to some decorative clothing, we have to be careful not to become wasteful, penniless consumers. Check out Lauryn Hill’s new song called CONSUMERISM. I love her. If you don’t see the track below refresh the page. 🙂
This is Oprah on the cover of the September 2013 issue of The Oprah Magazine. I am really digging her boldness these days. She is fun, open, and risky! That is a great way for a woman of her age to be- ageless at heart! The point of it all: Tressed to Impress, all about the hair. I really just think that she is visually showing what it feels like to experiment with and to explore hair. I love the textured fro. Beyonce’s stylist allowed her to borrow it and it weighs in at 3.5 lbs. Wow! It is reminiscent of Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, and Ms. Badu:
Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Erykah Badu with Chaka Khan
Erykah performing a tribute to Chaka
Love it!
Esperanza Spalding’s lovely big fro’
Oprah says that she wish this wig were her own hair. I love it! She talks about hair because she wants to know why it has such a hold on women. I agree. Oddly, I asked my friend yesterday what he thought about my hair over the phone. I dyed my hair and the roots had begun to show and I wanted to know what he thought about that. He said to me: you are focusing too much on it! You have good taste and it’s beautiful any way you wear it. I believed him. He isn’t shallow at all (but he cannot stand weave!). I could come out any way that I pleased and he would not care. Gotta love a good friend! This is the biggest my hair has been. I only wore it like this for a photo shoot. I couldn’t handle it the next day day. The Afro pics were of me in Vegas at an NBA party! It was so much fun!
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Well, I believe that the hair/head is a crown and it should be cared for with love, but, if it becomes consuming then think about a cut! For me, hair is most beautiful in its natural texture. Not chemically processed or dyed. What you were born with is what you must love. Everything else is just temporary decoration. Colors and weaves should not define a woman. We must show our own hair and love it. I love my bush. Do you?
The Kush Queen aka Queen Duafe aka Shila Iris aka ishilai aka The Fifth Element for African Essence Blog
There are so many beautiful women singing beautiful music! I love it. I am so high on this song. A friend of mine suggested this and I am so glad that he did! This song reminds of a time in my life when I was truly alone, but not lonely. I needed to be alone. I was a young (er) woman, growing and learning and in need of solitude. Thank you Ntjam for the great vibes.
I used to hear music like this in my mind when I lived in DC. I would ride the Metro around the entire city until I got tired.
Queen for African Essence
P.S. Looking for a book to read? I came across this book on Toure’s website. I really want to check it out. The story sounds so interesting: Soul City by Toure.
Today I was introduced to Omar. I really like the sound of him. I visited a bar on Cleveland’s west side and he was set up to do a video interview on Skype for fans and in promotion of his new album. He was really cool and laid back. The bar played the whole CD and I really dug it. Check it out.
I am looking forward to dissecting this CD. I will probably get it in a few weeks. It sounded so good at the bar! Omar seemed grounded and pure during his interview.
I really like Natalie Stewarts’ poetry. I prefer this type of deliverance more than others such as slam or spoken word. This is slow and sensual, allowing us to think and grasp the words. I dig.
Being Free – It’s Poetry
The reality is that sometimes I am open
I am open to the world around me
The people I see inspire me to be the best that I can be
I am open to the man or the woman that is aware of my love vibrations
Understanding that I am not moved by lust or lack of trust
I am moved by the soul acceptance and the humility that oozes out of your heart
Judged mistakes make it seem like you think that you are better than me
It’s a sad reality that you choose to be bothered by my freedom
Your troubled glances, take me out of my natural high trances and you leave me wanting to abandon your community
I want to be so far away from your ego and your drunken stupors that I am willing to leave it all behind
Just so that I can breath
Mother nature is calling me and urging me to spread my wings
But I am here, trying to fight and win back the time when I was your native queen
My heart is not under lock and key
My mind is not hard to decipher for the person that is meant for me
I respect myself, I respect my growth, I respect the yellow brick road that goddess has paved for me. My journey is golden no matter how low I am or how high
It’s all a part of the beautiful image of me that sits on your mantelpiece
If I never told you this, let me be clear what I am and what I am not
I am water
I am constantly flowing creating a vortex around the minds of people who choose to receive me
I am not too proud yet I do not possess low esteem
I am well versed on where I come from and I intend to share that world with anyone who crosses my path
I am uncompromising when it comes to my values and I will not be told that I am anything less than great
I am the spitting image of what it means to be human
I am good I am bad I am love I am hate
I use the scales to weigh the situations that bind my mind
I get confused when you decide to use me and walk all over my ability to remove myself from harm and chaos
I am not a cheerleader, I am more like a friend who is not afraid to tell you that you are wrong and dead wrong and you need to go home, maybe be alone
to reflect on what it is you really want
I don’t want to drag my feet across filthy floors and be defined by my ability to please you, and inability to see you through a storm that might last forever
I don’t want to scream and shout about love, there should be no doubt
I don’t want to paint beautiful pictures of people who cannot see me, will not see, and refuse to stop killing me over and over and over, it’s not softly
It hurts to be stabbed and jabbed with words that are meant to pierce my soul and destroy my freedom
I do not comprehend waiting, when momentum is now
I am not interested in missing any chances I have to eat, pray, and love
If I am not eating with you and if I am praying with you than love is cancelled out and it’s time to move on
I am not easy in any manner and I am not unreasonable banter
I am just a woman who is interested in the real thing
Ladies and gents, will you sleep or will you preach? Pass this music on.
Janelle Monae and Badoula Oblongata launch project Q.U.E.E.N. – A 21st century musical weapons program a.k.a. the Freedom Movement: disguised as songs, emotion pictures and works of art. Can you dig?!
“even if it makes others uncomfortable, I will love who I am”
Why is this song so great? The LYRICS and the ARTISTIC ANGLE! These two ladies continue to raise the level of CONSCIOUSNESS. Most won’t accept, but many will. I am not surprised to see them together because they both seem to refuse to sell out!
SOME OF THE AWESOME MESSAGES IN THE SONG
It’s hard to stop rebels that time travel.
I can’t believe all of the things they say about me
Walk in the room they throwin’ shade left to right
They be like ooh, she’s servin’ face
And I just tell em, cut me up, and get down
… Badu’s verse and Monae’s ending rap is great! The whole song is so wonderful and uplifting… “here comes the FREEDOM SONG! Testify!” Monae said “give me back my pyramid!”
Chrisette Michele is looking pretty fly these days. I like that she explores hair color. I’m feeling colorful too!
I am not sure what happened with her music. I purchased her very first CD and it was really good. Ever since, I haven’t been able to get into her lyrics. Her voice is amazing, though. It’s mature and sophisticated. The songs she did with Jay Z and Nas were the best collaborations I heard from her. On her debut album, Love is You was my favorite song and Let’s Rock which had a Wu-Tang beat was nice as well.
All of her looks are pretty hot. I assume she has a wonderful stylist. Hope to hear some good music from her soon.
POETIC FACES IN APRIL – My favorite picture of the “mos-eccentric” Erykah Badu… really love the simplicity in this photo.
POETIC FACES IN APRIL- Erykah Badu is lovely, not just because of her wonderfully HomemadeVINTAGE&eccentric look, but because she is an exceptional artist with some of the best lyrics I’ve ever heard. Every single album is greatness!
Chaka Khan & Erykah are great!
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC – NNEKA
Nneka is a very hot artist! Her lyrics are expressive and socially relevant. I admire that she is not “contemporary- sounding” and she has a very distinct voice. She can sing, rap, and do poetry- I’m all on board the Nneka train! I love her album cover for SOul Is HEaVy
She’s got a lot of FLAVA!
Nneka is deep.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC – THE FLOACIST
The amazing voice of NATALIE STEWART
The Floacist- I follow Natalie because she is one of the most successful female recording and performing poets I know of. Her lyrics mean a lot and I really appreciate her level of consciousness. She always looks so comfortable, no matter what look she takes on. Money doesn’t seem to drive her- the art does. Peace to this QUEEN. I dig. (I’ll have to blog about her body art later on- very nice!)
POETIC FACES IN APRIL- These are great photos of Natalie. Have you listened to her CD? It’s really nice.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC – LIANN LA HAVAS
POETIC FACES IN APRIL- I am lovin’ this chick right now! Her LYRICS ARE awesome as is her voice- Extremely and soothingly POETIC! My favorite pic of her.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC – the LES NUBIANS will never die!
Have you seen them? I remember going to their concert and being completely amazed by their voices and their movement. I felt like I was in a cyclone of culture! It was such a HIGH. If you can ever catch them in concert, please go. They give a great show.
The Les Nubians have so much style and flava. Amazing looks.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC FACES
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC
JANET’S POWERFUL VELVET ROPE YEARS& THE DESIGN OF A DECADE
How can we ever forget the wonderful Velvet Rope years of Ms. Jackson? She was at her peak during this time. Her movement and vintage beauty brought the world to tears.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC – L. HILL
Yesterday and Today
POETIC FACES IN APRIL. The misunderstood Lauryn will forever move me. The MisEducation was awesome! Every word and every song. I have yet to hear an album like this. I even loved loved loved her MTV Unplugged. She was so beautiful and humble. We remember you Queen!
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC – GOAPELE
Goapele’s music continues to be wonderful. I even enjoyed her last album which she added a bit of a “neo-pop” twist to a few of the songs. She is powerfully POETIC.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC – JANELLE MONAE
POETIC FACES IN APRIL- She is extremely expressive and animated and I love every bit of it! Her lyrics are amazing as well.
I use NATIONAL POETRY MONTH to teach people about poets and writers who have influenced and ARE changing culture. I practice different forms of poetry and study vocabulary words and expressions that will help me in storytelling. I find things that are “poetic” in nature and I try to help young people understand what it means 2BaPoEt. I define poetic as having the power to be persuasive, and get people to support your messages.
These are the FACES of the wonderful women who have influenced me artistically.
It is National Poetry Month and as a verbal artist, I love it!
These boots are amazing! I would wear them in the summer with shorts! Yes, I sure would. What do you think?
I love these amazing riding boots!
They were posted on Etsy, but sold. Do you know of any boots that are similar? I would love to have them. I cannot seem to find anything like them anywhere.
Storytelling is a creative art form that dates back to the beginning of time. It has been one of the most effective methods in communicating and in sharing history. It allows us to break down and let it all out! I personally love to share my stories with people as part of my cycle of growth. I have loved and been loved; I have hurt and been hurt- telling these stories are liberating!
No one can tell you how to tell your story. You have to decide on the best way to share your life. Some people will like what you do, and many won’t, but if you keep a clean heart, the world will return the positive energy to you.
I most often choose to tell my stories using poetry. I look like this when I do (lol).
I find it refreshing and it gives me a crazy boost that flows through my entire body! It’s hard to explain. My style is at best rhythmic, but the cadence changes just as the temperature of my stories change. My pulse goes up and down and through the roof! Even when I’m calm, I’m excited inside. I tell women’s stories because I AM WOMAN. Some of these stories are bright and cheerful, and some are deep and dark, but in the end everything is good.
In storytelling, I have learned that denial is not an option. The truth sets me free. My perspective is what’s most important in my art of storytelling. I mesh together what I have learned with what’s happening now. The past, the future, and the most important- THE PRESENT! I am here RIGHT NOW! Not tomorrow or yesterday- now!
In my continued celebration of women I would like to share with you a small gift that a very special person gave to me … Nikki Giovani’s book “My House.” Published in 1972.
The guy that gave me this book is someone that I talk to in passing, but he’s almost a stranger. Somehow he understood that I adored poetry and he decided to give me this book as a gift for Women’s History Month. Much love to him for thinking of me. What is so special about this gift is that pages 25 and 26 are missing! The poem that is supposed to be on these pages is called Just A New York Poem. This is weird for me because New York has been on my mind for weeks now. He gives me this book with the poem ripped out! Interesting. I feel like I needed that poem to be in the book, but it is not. Well, the rest of the book is great. Check it out if you can.
I like Nikki’s poems. I met Nikki Giovanni during my undergraduate studies at Fisk University. She once attended Fisk and she was a visiting professor for some time. I really dig her evolution as a woman. Her stories travel deep into the soul and resonate. She tells the truth. I appreciate Nikki Giovanni and all the women who boldly tell stories of hurt and triumph without placing blame or pointing fingers. Peace to all Queens who have stopped hiding. Peace to you.
Akua Naru, lyricist, is the definition of femininity IN poetry at its finest. Redefining hip hop, her lyrical prowess is a sultry caress to my ears- so much soul.
Aziza Yasmine, natural hair stylist, softly caresses the tresses to bring out the best in every woman. She has been transitioning women back to their natural roots since the 90s after returning from a trip to Africa where she learned many hair techniques.
These two women visually remind me of one another. They have similar spirits and do a great job at their crafts. Upon listening to Akua, I get butterflies. For me, this means that I am learning and believing and feeling a kindred spirit. When in Aziza’s chair, I feel a level of trust that I have not felt with many others. I adore these women and in celebration of WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH, I want to honor their contributions to WOMANHOOD. They are very much alive and moving and are helping women to define what they are. Choose to cherish your true identity, and not live in vain. BE YOURSELF. Start listening and start appreciating what you are. Check out the video below to hear what Akua has to say about telling stories and about womanhood. I like her message. What we must realize is that the way we talk, the way we look, and the things we do, define us. Your physical identity tells the story of your existence, just as your words and actions do. Make sure you’re living righteously and putting out love. What you give out is exactly what you will receive. Live, learn, and change. Grow up, not down. Peace!
I was browsing and I found this wonderful shop that I want to share.
With the spring and summer approaching, you’ll want to invest in additions to your wardrobe. I do not think these clothes are too expensive because of their design and exclusivity.
Earth & Ether 