"We are the sum total of the choices that we make in our lives, and what you think of me is none of my business..."
People who challenge me, people who are confident (remember... it's an inside job), and people that generally enjoy life! You don't have to be just like me or even like the same things I like. Consistency is cool; bringing something new to the table?... even better! If you're too neurotic, "Later for that, I got another show to do!"
Seriously, I usually find something I can appreciate in all genres, even classical (you won't find a lot of heavy metal or opera in my collection - that does not mean I dislike it). Let's see... for starters: The Roots; Beck; J. Dilla; Van Hunt; The 88; Chaka Khan; Prince and the whole Paisley Park camp (Vanity 6, The Time, Jill Jones, Sheila E., Madhouse, et al); Nina Simone; Curtis Mayfield; Dionne Warwick; Gorillaz/Danger Doom/Gnarls Barkley; Miles Davis; Marvin Gaye; Minnie Riperton/Rotary Connection; Etta James; Vikter Duplaix; Jamie Lidell; DJ Spinna; Kim Hill (Kimmy Kim); Teena Marie; Johnny Cash; Sly and the Family Stone; N'Dambi; John Coltrane; Roberta Flack; Sa-Ra; Zero 7; Aaliyah; George Michael; Sy Smith; Lewis Taylor; Self; Air; Ray LaMontagne; Q-Tip/A Tribe Called Quest; Portishead; Patrice Rushen; Robin Thicke; Nickel Creek; Olivia Newton-John; N*E*R*D/The Neptunes; Meshell Ndegeocello; Ani DiFranco; Extra Fancy; Dusty Springfield; King Britt; Ursula Rucker; Andy Gibb; Jill Scott; Kelis; Jazzyfatnastees; Gil Scott-Heron; Everything But The Girl; Donny Hathaway; DJ Premier; De La Soul; MC Lyte; Chic; Beach Boys "Pet Sounds"; Madlib; The Brand New Heavies; Kruder & Dorfmeister; Gabriel Faure (my favorite classical composer); Sade / Sweetback / Cottonbelly; Rahsaan Patterson; Trina Broussard; Malik Pendleton; Goapele; Alice Smith; Shalamar; Tori Amos; Mary J. Blige; Parliament/Funkadelic; Timbaland; early-Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis; Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers; Gamble and Huff; Leon Sylvers III and the "SOLAR" sound; Bernadette Cooper; Coldplay; Kenny Dope; Amp Fiddler; The Rolling Stones; Millie Jackson; Patti Smith; Elvis Costello; Nirvana; Erykah Badu; Massive Attack; M.I.A.; Boom Bip; India.Arie; Janet Jackson (up to The Velvet Rope); The 5th Dimension; Bee Gees; Billie Holiday; Stevie Wonder; Michael Jackson "Off The Wall"; Garth Trinidad; Gilles Peterson; Radiohead; The BMC's; Richard Pryor; Phoebe Snow; Bjork; Macy Gray; Saul Williams; Isley Brothers (up to 1984); Ike and Tina Turner (and some solo Tina)/The Ikettes; Jody Watley; Grace Jones; "Exit Music For Radio Heads"; "Rewind 5" "Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited"... I think that's enough for now.Favorite album(s) of 2007 (tie): Radiohead's "In Rainbows" and Saul Williams' "The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust". Who knew that the two best albums of the year you didn't even have to pay for??!!!My current playlist:
OK - way too many to mention, but this should give you an idea of what goes on in my head:Favorite movie of 2007: ? (verdict's still out - in my opinion, it was kind of a weak year movie-wise...
Law and Order SVU; Weeds; Pushing Daisies; Battlestar Galactica (shocker!); The Office (that is some funny sh*t!); Kathy Griffin - My Life On The D-List; So You Think You Can Dance; Project Runway; Ugly Betty. More into movies, though.
Let's try authors: James Baldwin, Nikki Giovanni, Shakti Gawain, Langston Hughes, David Sedaris, Augusten Burroughs, and Dr. Wayne Dyer (to name a few). Don't have as much time to read, though I love any good music or movie reference book...
My friend Brian Green ("Just a Penny waitin' for change!"), who passed away in 2003. If I can channel a fraction of what he stood for, then all is right in my world. His heart and spirit is never too far away. My best friend Van, who always remind me to follow my dreams (even if I am a little slow at doing so). Also, my mom, Prince, Pam Grier and God...