Ashanti celebrating album 20 years rerecording, new star for 2022 on Hollywood Walk of Fame, and new music coming

 

Songwriter, Actress, Singer, Producer, Fashion icon, fellow New Yorker, Ashanti known as the “Princess of R&B” she came out of the gate in 2002 debuted her first single, “Happy” you see this bubbly, beautiful young woman singing about her love in the song. How he makes her feel overjoyed, elated, the euphoria, and positive vibes from their relationship. Every girl who saw the video wanted to be her when she was singing, beami

ng proudly with her friends, and everyone in the video. She became the young girl next door the one we admired, wanted to follow in the footsteps, and she continues to do so. Her fashion game is incredible she’s gone from the cute girl next to door. To a fashion and glamour icon in the 21st century reminded ladies who love fashion, styling themselves in the entertainment industry and outside that it’s ok to love fashion. I personally love when celebrities look like “stars” they look like they are ready to own the streets, the red carpet, and they are aware of the cameras by the official paparazzi. 

I love when a star looks like they know their purpose, they have followed their passion, they’re ready to share their taste of fashion and more with their fans. This is something that they need to aspire to do. I remember sitting in the hair salon as a little girl wanting and emulating my favorite stars. So, people are probably wondering why 20 years later did she wait so long to rerecord her album again? What’s the difference well she was about 21 or so when the album first debuted, she had been working since she was in her teen years. The difference is she didn’t own her masters to all of her records, her original recordings, and publishing from her music. 

That’s why it was so important for her to actually rerecord the music and take ownership. It’s so important for all artists to express, own, and produce their own creative genius, ideas no matter how minute or lavish their ideas maybe they want to convey to their audience and listeners. It’s important for them to own creative influence of their work and to earn their royalties as an artist. So now that she is rerecording her debut album, “Ashanti” she will be able to use her music not just only for her ownership as an artist but for generations to come other artists and she will be able to use it however she sees fit in commercials, promotions, events, personal use, documentaries, and other artist will have that opportunity as well. Recently on April 7, 2022 in honor of her debut album Ashanti received her walk of fame star in Los Angeles, California by the walk of fame streets and her mother/manager presented the award along with her collaborator, Hip-Hop legend, star, Ja Rule, actress, Tichina Arnold, Ashanti’s family, friends were all in support of the event. This is major the stars are lining up for her even more. I just saw one of Ashanti’s latest projects which I thought was insanely genius, “Honey Girls or La Miel Femme” the film is on Netflix is where her art imitated her real life and she discovers three unknown talented girls who have something special as a group and are multitalented she steps in to mentor and guide them all the way to success. Ashanti has seen success in film with movies like “Coach Carter”, “John Tucker Must Die”, “The Muppets”, “A Christmas Winter Song”, and “Mothers & Daughters” and of course most recently “The Honey Girls” so with that being said this songwriter, dancer, singer, actress has truly personified that you can do it all and you can voice your opinions on anything that is rightfully yours and you will succeed when you fight for what you have created and more. Congratulations to one of our top R&B artists on her work and what she has accomplished and we will all see more from her in the future as an artist, a mentor to others, and a top female in the music industry. For more information follow her on all social media YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok and more. Stay tuned for more news and upcoming shows. Visit http://www.ashantithisisme.com

or upcoming shows. Visit http://www.ashantithisisme.com

Wendy Williams a new chapter and beginning as she's steps down from national talk show

Wendy Williams received her Walk of Fame star in Los Angeles, California on October 17, 2019

 

I am so proud of this incredible woman she’s a fighter, no matter how you look at her story she keeps on pushing over and over again. For the past 12 years since July 2009 when her show became official after a 6-week sneak preview. She has had everyone in pop culture 21st century on her purple couch and sofas. She has become a force of nature branching off into different sides of media, television, entertainment, and more. How can you deny what she has done as a radio broadcaster, now television show host, a pop culture icon, businesswoman, opening doors for many young-talented stars, up and coming entrepreneurs, chefs, television, internet, radio personalities, newscasters, bloggers, and more. She has done an incredible job with showing the world, young inspiring broadcasters you don’t limit yourself to one thing. One job no you do everything by any means and continue on when everything but the kitchen sink has been thrown at you. You fight to the end, you continue finding people who you can aspire and open doors for too at the same time. 

 How has she impacted pop culture well she created a catchphrase every knows, her famous words from her radio show on WBLS in New York City, Pennsylvania, and many contributions she has made in the radio business industry. She has broken down doors for so many women because she showed them all that all of us can have a voice, you can speak your mind, we don’t have to be censored. You are allowed to be on radio, television, digital media, social media, and be free within your individuality, your being, your truth, and not give a damn about anything the critics or even people who may work with you have to say. She’s gone against even opinions of people who were apart of her journey in the beginning of her career. Yet she kept pushing because she knew her voice was going to carry their airwaves and hit people. That she has done consistently for the past 30 plus years in her career. I can only imagine what she’s going to do next in her career when she is 100 percent her best healthy, complete self. 

 She may have stepped down from that famous purple velvet chair but I don’t believe she is done quite yet. Wendy you have made an incredible mark in the media, business, pop culture, entertainment industries for women of all walks of life. I remember she said in one of her books she considered herself “A misfit”…well let’s just say this misfit the tall little girl from Ocean Township, New Jersey became a media conglomerate star with books, television shows, movies, comedy shows, fashion line, wig line, and yes a talk show that has changed the whole trajectory of how to connect with her audience and teach us all “Just be me, just be free, and just live without limitations”. Wendy congratulations on your 2021 Crain’s Business award for one of the most powerful women in New York City. I haven’t met her one on one but I have been to her show one time, I watched her show almost every day, and couldn’t be more proud of this amazon woman. Powerful, Fearless, Strong, Sensitive, Empathetic, Honest, Vulnerable, and Raw. You can’t deny that she shared every piece of her life with us. She has opened so many doors for all of us who may be in media, journalism, broadcast, and pop culture industries. She is opening a wide door for new talent to come in, new producers an era of new producers, new talk show hosts, new stories to come to the television and radio broadcast industries. It’s time for more new voices to be discovered on mainstream media and all over the globe. Very excited to see this new era of talk radio and television of new voices, new experiences, and new opinions on how we can improve our lives especially at this time too. For more information visit http://www.wendyshow.com on her show, and more information on the next and new beginning of her career and journey. We love you Wendy, I love you Wendy thank you entertaining us these past 3 decades and with your television show for 13 years has been amazing.

Struggling to let someone you still love go....

 

Struggle of letting something or someone you still love I am struggling like hell in the relationship and love department Finding someone isn’t the problem. It’s keeping them engaged, stimulated, happy, because every person who I was with wants something else other than me. They want people who they had long-time relationships with in the past. I have kept a lot in my heart throughout this pandemic it’s crazy how a global pandemic not only affect the matters of our livelihood but the matters of our heart caused a plagued on our love lives. The truth was revealed and people were hiding so much in their relationships and marriages that were kept hidden in their minds. I have dealt with the constant highs and low of relationships. Jealousy, Heartbreak, Confusion, Hope, Promise, Happiness, Desire, Pain, Betrayal, Lies, Deception, Disappointment. There is a song when I was a teenager I remember the video and words clearly by this singer, Vivian Green, “Emotional Rollercoaster” , “If I was your woman” was originally written by Gladys Knight and later, Alicia Keys reproduced and sampled the song with her own hip-hop/r&b twist in 2001 with her debut album. That song resonate with me now definitely because I am in not a love triangle but I am in a damn square. There’s 4 people in this situation 2 of them is me and ex-boyfriend, who happens to be a long-term off and on relationship with his baby mama. By the way not my first time dealing with someone with children. 

This is my fourth or fifth time either talking to someone, dating, or being involved with a person who has kids of their own. This person as I said I have written about him many times on my blog but never revealed who he is, my friends, some family members know who I am talking about. I was crazy in love, infatuated, and just was drawn to this person. I knew he was incredibly special and just was hooked. I was so damn mesmerized I was running to see him. I want everyone to keep in mind a couple of important details one we lived out of state from each other so it was a long distanced relationship, two we were young in our 20s we were both fresh out of college, not settled yet, and the third we both have dated other people since we broke up. 

We were really together only for a few months. It was short but I always wanted us to stay together longer. Our connection, our chemistry was strong that kind of chemistry you can feel the electricity between the two of us standing in the room. Now fast forward 12 years we both have dated other people, he got into a long-term relationship with a woman he met in his hometown. The last time we saw each other was January 2010 he dropped me off at the airport on his way to take his grandmother to see his late grandfather. Now there’s a couple of plot twists in our connection that are interesting. The first connection is his grandmother was married to my mother’s half-brother’s father. No blood line, no relation. So he is my biological’s uncle’s “step-nephew” they’re not related at all. No blood line, no connection accept through his father getting married after he dated by grandmother. Funny I know I am sharing this part because of course in every relationship there is a backstory. Now that’s not the part that’s the issue. Here’s the problem from my perspective….my timing has been off. I have kept myself distracted, entertaining some friendships, “situationships”, relationships that were not beneficial for me in the romantic, healthy, thriving way. The way where you see things blossoming to the next level and the next. That’s what I wanted for us it took me a long time, a baby girl (his daughter), and failed relationships to realize that you still are crazy about this person. I turned into that “crazy ex-girlfriend” behind the scenes. Even when I was dating other people I compared them to him. He wasn’t aware of this I hate to admit it but I did even though I would move on, get into a relationship, date someone, go on with my life. People don’t think I wasn’t living I was living long after we broke up believe me. We split 2010 so in between that time a lot of life happened he graduated a year earlier than myself, I graduated June 2010, was working for a real estate law firm, doing internships, and focusing on my next move. He was struggling for work because of the economy I remember it was vicious for both of us trying to get stable jobs in our field. Eventually we both did it took time but we did. I landed with an internship a year later with Black Enterprise Magazine. Some of you know how the rest of that story if you revisit my “2011” tab in my blog. I was moving forward I was also ready to get into a serious- committed situations or even living situations. There are a few times I was ready to leave move out, go further with these people. To my detriment some of these situations didn’t pan out because we wanted other things. I always kept feeling like there was someone else, something drawing me to another soul another person. In 2014, I got my answer actually ok so I am in St. Louis, Mo because my paternal grandmother and my great-grandmother both passed the same month, a week a part, and year. We all flew in some of us stayed at his grandmother’s house. Which was a huge help and blessing really. So while we are out visiting our family members and so on. I get the news his girlfriend’s pregnant. Talk about crushed, I was sitting there with my face plastered with a smile but underneath I wanted to sink into a dark cave. I was hurt, jealous, and felt like she gave him everything I actually wanted to give him. Did the thought cross my mind about being the first to give him a child. Absolutely yes! I did he was one of the people I had on my radar actually. So I was happy for him but inside my heart was churning like damn he’s really in love with this person. Their baby girl arrived beautiful, happy, healthy, and spitting image of her father. He was perfect for his new role as a father he always wanted to be one. I knew in my heart he would be great because of how he gravitated towards children. He was a natural and he's a big brother too. Comes from a big family so I wasn’t surprised he wanted children. So I was happy but I still felt this sting in my chest like “Dream deferred…not going to happen”. After we split the first time….a year later it’s funny I dated someone with the same name just to “replace” him. I didn’t realize it until years later I replaced someone else with a “doppelganger” a “copycat” version of him. Sort of but this doppelganger became a local news reporter. Interesting right? 

So it took me a few years to really heal, like truly heal my heart and the pain I felt. I dated here and there…..I met a lot of interesting characters throughout (2010-2015). 2015, I fell into a committed long-distanced relationship until my ex boyfriend moved back to our hometown New York he was from Jamaica native but his family resided in from Brooklyn. I met my ex-boyfriend you all know the rest of this story. I dated other people as well but I felt like there was always still something missing. This piece of the puzzle that wasn’t quite filled yet. As if I was missing a limb. I realized that a lot of it had to do with this longing for someone else I thought I was completely over. 

I realized my feelings still lingered for this person. After some really serious situations that occurred in 2020. I realized earlier this year I wanted to kind of just silence myself for a minute. My ex and I took a break in November of 2021 and I decided to focus and reach out to the ex I still really had feelings for. Success occurred I had reached out to him in December of 2020 actually and he was doing his thing at that time. He moved to a new place, a new job, settled in, and for me I was also working and trying to get things ready to see him. 2021 went quickly and we both wanted to see each other but the timing was kind of crazy I ended up getting back with one of my exes for a little while (messy I know) and then we split as I said officially around my birthday. We are good friends still but I think he and I we both know I want a family, to settle into my adulthood, expand my family. I also want to focus on business plans, my passions writing, screenwriting, designing clothes, some other projects and businesses too. He’s more passionate about his own business ventures, goals, he has accomplished some great things too. However, I realize when someone doesn’t want what you want at that moment. You go ahead and you must revaluate yourself, reevaluate what happened. Take some time and just think about how to compromise, do you want to move forward, can you compromise?, can you have that conversation, or can you go on a new journey to find someone new when you are forced to let someone you love go. I have come to realize that everything has a beginning to a story even before you meet the person you will fall in love with or begin a relationship with too. They have a beginning of love stories prior to you, some stories they may still be writing with someone else every story has a low point, a high point, success, and different themes that come with that story whether it’s a love story, a friendship, or even in your family. It’s all up to what is best for you, your life, and what makes you happiest. Sometimes it’s also about what you need as well.

R&B KING, USHER IS COMING BACK FOR RESIDENCY IN SIN CITY THIS SUMMER

 

Usher Raymond nearly 30 years in the music business songwriting, dancing, singing, acting, and never missing a beat within his career. He was just in high school learning how to manage classes when his talent was first discovered. To this day now in 2022, Usher continues to evolve, adapt, and take in everything in this current generation to make sure he is giving his fans great R&B music that will make people party, get pumped up, blast in their cars, make love to, inspire them, and most of all enjoy everything life has to offer. I can attest to this because seeing his growth from the teenage superstar at 14-year-old stepping up and taking his place in the music industry. He continues to blaze a trail from the next generation. He proudly and he owns that he has to set an example to his little brothers he calls them, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, August Alsina, Ne-Yo, Kevin Ross, all of the R&B new crooners who have a new example to set in Pop, R&B, Dance, and other genres of music they need to inspire artists, aspiring musicians, singers, songwriters, and their fans as well to continue to get out there and create. I have seen the growth I remember I was a little girl around 11 years old one of my girlfriends was telling me “Do you know him? Do you know his music?”. 

They knew how much I loved music and I wanted to be a singer/songwriter growing up as a kid. My friend had the album she’s like you have to listen to this one song I love. Mind you we are in junior high school we don’t know anything about relationships, dating, just tween little girls drooling over our favorite pop and R&B stars. She told me to listen to this song called, “Bedtime” she’s like that’s how you feel about your my crush he was a grade older than me. I had a crush on this one guy in middle school. The lyrics and the song yes I could identify with the feelings he was expressing to his lady love. The only difference is I was 11 and he was 19 years old a young man getting ready to step into his twenties. He was a young man on his way getting ready to embark on musical success. He was getting ready to become not only musical influencer but also a musical mentor to many others. The millions of his fans feel the same way it’s not just a song when it comes to Usher. You feel his passion, his love, his experiences through his music. You know this is someone who’s not just singing a song, he’s lived through these romantic spirals the highs, the lows, and he knows how to repair and rebuild his relationships too. Continues to show nothing but admiration and respect for all of the women in his life. They have helped him create some of his greatest hits in the music business. So with that being said he continues to top his reputation in the music business time and time again. 

He shows he can make collaborations and hits on an album with artists like Lil Jon, Ludacris, Rick Ross, Will.I.Am, Alicia Keys, Ella Mai, and so many more that will continue to stand the test of time as he grows as an entertainer and recording artist. Get ready to see Usher this summer he’s coming back for us with new music, get ready for the second part of Confessions Part 2 the follow up of his multi-platinum, Confessions Part 1, and his new 11th album coming later this 2022. For more information on Usher, the tour, new music, and many more of his upcoming film projects, and news. Please visit http://www.usherworld.com and http://www.livenation.com and www.ticketmaster.com begins in July!

Remember it all started when he was a teen heartthrob now he's become an R&B/Pop King in his own right. 

  

Atlanta Album 2018

Let's all fall in love and see "Marry Me" this Valentine's Day 2022

 

Maluma and J-lo promo photo

Owen Wilson and Jennifer Lopez a photo from their new film Marry Me coming Valentine's Day weekend 2022

She’s a romantic by nature, optimistic, enthusiastic, and genuinely loves relationships. I saw the promotion and anticipation for this movie for Jennifer Lopez it seemed perfect for her to be in this role. We have seen her in other romantic comedies starring in , “The Wedding Planner”, “Maid in Manhattan”, and “Monster -in-Law”. This movie I notice though is a bit life (or perhaps J-Lo's life) imitating art somewhat in certain ways because we know she’s an international pop/Latina star and someone who loves romance. I am not surprised that this person who is a true believer in love would want to be apart and star in this film. How can we not want to see J-Lo win in a movie? Just as she does in her real life. She puts her heart, her soul, her business-savvy, and more into all of her films. 

Just as she does in her relationships. This film stars international pop star and multi award winner, Maluma, Jennifer Lopez, and Owen Wilson in the film. Jennifer stars as an international pop star and discovers her that her love interest is with someone else right before she hits the stage. She discovers it and after breaking up realizing she wants to still give love a try. So she finds a way and solution “Let me try something different”. So she spots an innocent, average Joe who was just enjoying the concert himself and sees him holding a sign saying “Marry Me” from there the movie takes off bringing up the question is it better when celebrities date someone within the entertainment industry? Or is it simply more quiet, more normal, and better with anonymity, a normal life not being in the spotlight. We have seen J-Lo with high profile stars, aspiring dancers, entertainers, and men who may not be in the spotlight. Who are more low-key and behind the scenes. So will this film imitate life or will there be quite a pleasant surprise? 

We all won’t know until Valentine’s Day 2022. Go check out her latest film, take your friends, family, your significant other, and everyone else you want to love up on that fun and special day. Valentine’s day is just an extension of how we all feel about our loved ones and friends. So make your people feel special and have some fun.

Casey Crew elevating their love to new heights with new book this spring 2022

 

 

 

 

Once upon a time....5 years ago, summer of 2017 I decided to take love classes, yes, I went to love school there is a thing as love classes. It’s when you listen, watch, and study positive relationships to see how your relationship with yourself, your potential future mate, your family relationships, and friendships change or need to change all around you. How you need to work on or develop different skills to make yourself, your partners, family, and friendships stronger. I found 5 couples on YouTube I loved and I have spoken them about them before on my blog. Some of YouTube's breakout stars,   The Caseys, The Grimwades, the Lokkos, the Ellises, and the Edwards. They really did open up my views on relationships, marriage, growing, changing, and more. I have seen all of these couples have been blowing up and it’s amazing to watch. I think for me I realized there was something happening in my personal relationships that was affecting me from getting to the next or a higher positive level in my relationships. I have been dating since I was 16 years old, I didn’t really start getting into more serious relationships I would say until around 23 I knew I wanted something more serious back then. I have dated multiple people and I have been through many different dating experiences. I have also met people online dating too, and I have done speed dating (when’s the last time people have done that in person it's been a while for us?). I split one of my long-time boyfriends in February 2017 after a break-up with one of my exes after 1 year and a half in a relationship. It was lack of communication, him not being open, more honest about his feelings, and vulnerable with personal things in his life. He decided to just end things abruptly. 

 We were long distanced and then a year later he came back to New York to live here too. We split but we reunited a few years later and have decided to remain very good friends for now. We got back together in 2021 but I realized he wants to put a timestamp and a time frame  on having children and I am someone who wants a family now and commitment (He kept saying "2 years...2 years again" for me just seemed unrealistic cause when you know you're ready you know. I realized I needed to look at every aspect of this person and people I have dated too. To really look at who could be a long-term partner too. 

So long story short the first time we split I dug deep within myself really deep my intuition told me you need positive influences. I have had some positive examples to look at with my parents when they were together, my mother and my stepfather, my closest friends who are all in long-term relationships and marriage. So I had positive examples. I needed to surround myself with positive people and positive relationships. As a single woman who has never been married or does not have children yet it feels great to have people around me whether virtual or in person who are positive and helpful. It gives aspiring singles, those dating, in relationships, and more a sense of hope and positivity You can survive anything and everything with the right person by your side. So thankful for these two and the other 10 couples I have been watching behind the scenes. 

I needed to get it into my psyche you need healthy relationships to get you to a healthy, long-term, intimate, and happy relationship too. So I realized let’s look around at all relationships…“Ok Chloe, look at positive relationships, black relationships, interracial relationships, people of all lifestyles, and backgrounds. What are they doing? What was I not doing? What makes me feel secure in my relationships and made me feel like I needed to get it blossoming, growing, and changing. I took notes, mental notes, and even wrote down things too. I looked to these couples and 5 years later I can say I know I should get some kind of love certificate because I feel like I am in such a better, positive place now when it comes to the hope and future for close relationships, my family, friendships, and the future in my own personal life. I have watched podcasts, vlogs, videos, and more from my favorite couples. They are all blossoming, flourishing out they are changing people’s lives and inspiring them to better in their own relationships too. One of the couples as I mentioned was the Casey Crew. I admire them 26 years of being in a friendship, relationship, they met as teenagers in high school around 15 and 16. Gia and Raashaun first met and were easily captivated by each other a long time ago and have developed into a power couple. Most of millennials and generation-X and Y, Z will know Raashaun aka “DJ Envy” from “The Breakfast Club”. 

 I listen to their podcasts frequently and they are probably one of my top 10 podcasts I feel like an extra member of their growing family and millions of followers. Here are a  few things I learned from all of these amazing couples and people… 

 1. There is no perfect relationship….everyone especially the longer you are together. The longer you will experience situations where issues will arise. There will be some tests that will come out of left field and out of the blue. You have to stay united together as a couple with trust, honesty, transparency, loyalty, and need to know the truth when lies may come into play too. There is no perfect way on how to meet someone. You can meet your mate at a restaurant, store, church, post office, down the street, at a meeting, online, school, wherever God places you. He or She will come into your life. If you’re lucky you can meet your potential wife or husband as babies, children, high school, or college. It’s all designed by God I believe and if you believe in love and that person. You both will work it out and will allow your religious and spiritual faith to be the center of your relationship from outside noise and distractions. You will ultimately will fight for your love. 

 2. Keep God and your faith at the center of your relationships and potential marriage. If God brought you two together on purpose he will make sure that the two of you will come out on top of the situation together collectively. He will make sure that no matter what the issue or problem may be there will be a solution fit for that couple if that is what they both want and need to get to the next level in their relationship. 

 3. Lean on your support system. Sometimes you will be surprised the people rooting for you will push to make sure you both stay together.  I say definitely rely on the people who know you best and know your partners the best too. They will have your back. I remember listening to one of their podcasts where they were discussing a major issue that came up in their marriage. They separated but then mentioned how their support system their closest friends pushed and pushed for them to reunite. They both sought out not only support from friends and family. They also leaned on outside support with counseling and help. We often do not see things in ourselves or partners may be missing. We might get a little “tunnel vision” when we are in love and enamored by our partners. So, it is always helpful and essential for people to go to a third-party to say “I need you to take a look at our relationship/ marriage we need help”.

 4. Vacation together the family that vacations together aside from praying stays together. I have done many family trips with my parents and extended family and friends. I think this is something that should be reinforced in your family. Those dinners, breakfasts, meals together at night whether you do a cruise together, go to Disneyland, Disney world, Six Flags, and other places around the globe. Everyone can still have their own space and still enjoy family time at night or morning. I think those trips left a big impact on me and my family still today. To see the world and other opportunities. So, I would say they reinforced that to me how important we need those trips from time to time together to reconnect. To remember what binds us and keeps us loving each other too. 

 5. Self-Love is necessary in order to be present for your significant other I learned this from them when they talk about finances preparation for the future, the presentation of yourself, speaking up about what you want for yourself in all areas of the relationship. Self-Love, self-care is important it rolls over into other parts of your relationships and friendships too. You see it with the Caseys and hear it with them. They look out for each other as individuals and as a couple too. Always making sure you are ok with you first that includes your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. You need to make sure that you are your best if you want to be present and there for others too. 

 6. Forgiveness whatever the issue may be in your relationship or marriage is that one thing we all probably ride the fence on when it comes to a small or major problem. I admire Gia Casey’s strength and forgiveness when it comes to her husband and children. You hear them sharing stories of their teen years, their 20s, when they first got married and even stories today now with their 6 children. That they truly have learned every level of forgiveness, how to stay committed to one another, and make sure their family got stronger, tougher, more united together. They leaned on their support system to get through tough times to both learn how to forgive one another. Now with a few of a little tools I learned from them. I hope you will take notes and will be reading 

Their new book, “Life Lessons: Real Life, Real Love Life Lessons on Joy, Pain, and the Magic that holds us together” by Raashaun “DJ Envy” and Gia Casey will be out this spring on April 19, 2022 which will be in honor of them celebrating their 21st wedding anniversary in May. I think this is a great read for everyone who is just starting out with dating, in serious relationships, and newlyweds. Also look out for live events from the Caseys you will see them back in action with special guests from all over hosting events. Follow the Casey Crew on http://www.apple.com on the Podcasts section, www.YouTube.com, and www.iheartradio.com

Janet Jackson documentary coming to Lifetime this 2022 in honor of 40th anniversary of debut album

 

As a little toddler I got my musical education very early. The Jacksons were introduced to me at a very early age. I had to be about 31/2 almost 4 years old. My mother, father, family friends introduced me to their music…the first Jackson was Michael who I knew about then I learned about the woman next in line the Queen of R&B/Pop of the 1980s and 1990s his baby sister, Janet. The title was turned over to her when she Janet you say her name whether her first name solely or you add her royal household last name Jackson it’s like a bomb goes off in your brain because she’s part of the royal Pop/R&B family the Jacksons. The baby girl, the youngest of 3 girls, LaToya and Rebbie (her older sisters) and 6 brothers (Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, Michael, and Randy). Janet has changed and left a mark for women in R&B, pop, soul, contemporary, and dance music for the past 3 decades. 

Her debut album came out in 1982, "Dreamstreet" was first.  She will be celebrating the 40th anniversary this year in 2022. To kick of a year of Janet we are going to go back down memory lane to celebrate her, her impact in the music industry, pop culture, the entertainment industry, fashion, hairstyles, as a humanitarian, an African American woman, a singer, dancer, and as the youngest Jackson. Janet has influenced me since I was a kid I first heard her song, “Alright” when I was about 5 years old I knew about Michael Jackson one of her older brothers but then listening, watching Janet I was instantly hooked. It was a natural attraction to her music, her song lyrics I felt like I knew her, I can feel some of her experiences, especially as she matured as an artist. I am able to get Janet’s music now as an adult in my mid-thirties. 

As a kid I got some of what she was talking about in her lyrics. She celebrated life, embraced it, saw goodness in others, having a great time no matter what in her songs. Songs like “Escapade”, “Alright”, "Runaway",

“Pleasure Principle”, “Rhythm Nation” a songs you want to party, dance to, enjoy the moment in the music. Songs that make you feel empowered like “You Want This”, “Nasty”, and “What have you done for me lately?” give you the extra boost of confidence, sassiness, and empowerment for yourself. Songs that demand respect like “Control”, “If”, “Let’s Wait A While” are songs that were written to show young ladies and men that you can demand respect, appreciation, and reciprocity in your relationships. My personal favorite love songs to play for your lover and significant other from her there are too many I listen to and still listen to as an adult. “Come Back to Me”, “That’s the way love goes”, “Again”, “Every time”, “Funny How Time Flies (When you’re having fun”, and “Anytime, Anyplace”. These songs are timeless and they make everyone’s hearts swoons, everyone’s legs want to get up and dance, and she takes you back to a certain time in your life whether it was the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s or currently. Janet’s music continues to inspire us, make us want to party, and so many people are influenced by her. Her last major tour for Black Diamond Tour in 2017 is the one where we saw our Queen of Pop immerse herself into her music from a 2-year period her last album, “Unbreakable”. Her most recent album released during the pandemic “Black Diamond” right when she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. She has influenced a generation of musicians and dancers for these last few decades. Her style, the way she has flipped, moved, and more. It all has made us inspired, her warm smile makes us feel “Alright” no matter what is happening at that current time. Janet’s documentary is going to take us all on a inside magical ride about the living legend, the queen of pop, and recording artist who continues to reinvent herself over again and keeps up with the current generation. That’s why she stays relevant with the entire music and entertainment industry. For more information on the documentary and Janet Jackson’s music, film, or television projects and upcoming tours visit http://www.janetjackson.com and follow her on all social media platforms. Also visit http://www.lifetime.com for more information on the airing of the documentary.