Wow, where does the time go? It's been about 2 years since I updated this blog and I have to say my life has been a whirlwind. I transferred schools and graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia. Now I'm out here like the rest of my graduating class, looking for a job. The job search has been anything but easy. My major, anthropology, is one of the hardest to find a job in with just a B.A. SO far no luck. But who knows what tomorrow will bring....

Perfect Day...Almost.

On a brief summer vacay before the start of the Fall semester. Summer just FLEW by. I didn't want to waste a beautiful August stuck in the swamp of D.C. so I decided to make the trek back home to Philly aka Iraq with hip hop. Today I went with the sis and Sherria to Ocean City and it was gorgeous! Not as trashy as Wildwood, not as dirty as AC, and not as disgustingly elitist as Avalon, Ocean City is the perfect place to go "downashore" if you're just looking for some R'R with GREAT boardwalk food, CLEAN beaches (no syringes), and massive waves. The fried oreos were off the chain! Now to the bad part of the day...


Oh, and btw, the girl my roommate subletted the apt to was a complete nutjob. She had a pet RAT and a WILD TURTLE living in her bedroom. I told her to get rid of the turtle and she HID it in her bathroom,LIED to me and told me she had gotten rid of it. I really think she had a bunch of screws loose. Now she doesn't want to pay to get the apartment steam-cleaned. She was lucky that I was in Philly when all of this was found out because I would have readily whooped her A**. Who the heck gets a TURTLE out from the woods?!?!?!?! Turtles carry so many diseases and bacteria on them, it's not sanitary. She's a disgusting tramp and on top of that, she was clingy and very annoying all summer. I'm not your babysiter, your'e 25, go drink or something if you're bored. Life Lesson: DONT SUBLET YOUR APARTMENT TO ANYONE.

Later I shall be back with a complete review of "Kelis Was Here,"

-QoS

Kelis. 1/2 Black, 1/4th Puerto Rican, 1/4 Chinese. All Good Music.

I love her music! However, The entire Hip-Hop community has this twisted love/hate relationship with this chick. Right now I have her second CD, Wanderland, pumping on my Itunes. The one that wasn't released in the States, yet managed to go Platninum in Europe. While heavy on Neptunic production, it manages to stay fresh throughout, thanks to some cameos by The Clipse, No Doubt, and Roscoe P. Coldchain. I want to take the time today to delve into why her musical personality has so far been rejected by the mainstream hip-hop communty.

1999-Kaleidoscope

This album introduced the world to Kelis. Her lead single had everyone screaming "I HATE YOU SO MUCH RIGHT NOW!" (the hook from the song "Caught out There"). With her wild multi-colored hair and flashy style, Kelis distanced herself from the Pop N B clones that were saturating the market. Her music, thanks to Pharrell and Chad of the Neptunes, has a signature shizchophrenic sounds that makes you indeed feel as if you are in a musical kaleidoscope.She had some good sings besides caught out there (Mars, Suspended, Mafia, Get Along With You, Roller Rink, In THe Morning, Wouldn't You Agree) but it was clear that an album completely produced by the not-then-all-mainstream Neptunes was too repetitive, as the album only pushed around 250K copies. It cemented Kelis as the standard-bearer for Alt-R &B, but unfortunatlely the lack of success from this album pushed her career away from mainline stardom.

2001-Wanderland (Europe Only)

As Kelis was unsuccessful in gaining wide appeal for her type of music in the States, her record company decided to release her second album, Wanderland, in the European market only. The title was appropriate, as her rock-jazz-r&b fusion style had yet to grasp on to any particular audience. Europe has long been known to appreciate the finer things in life, and the music of Kelis was no exception. Finally, she found her niche, as her album went platinum. Even though it was produced in full by the Neptunes, it showed maturity in Kelis, one that comes with more advanced songwriting and better musical arrangements.
She also branched out into different styles (See the No-Doubt "Perfect Day" collabo ,or the Chinese-twinged "Scared Money"
as an example.)Other good tunes are "Shooting Stars," "Junkie" or "Little Suzie". Interestingly enough, the best song on the album, "Flashback" was recycled for Kelis second stateside album...which brings us to

2003-Tasty

Also known as the "Milkshake" album, the esplosive (literally) third track of of this album was suspiciously the only single released for the album, but it didn't matter, because this WAS the party song of 2003 and 2004, no more has to be said :). Actually, this was a very well rounded album, which only half was produced by the Neptunes. Raphael Saddiq, Andre 3000, Da Rockwilder, and even Kelis herself contributed to production, which broke up some of the monotony that many complained was stating to become her signature sound. "Glow", "Attention", 'Sugar Honey Iced Tea", and "Protect My Heart", are all standouts on the album, but curiously, "Flashback" from the Wanderland album was also included on this project. Personally, I don't mind the double cut, but perhaps the powers upstairs didn't think that her album would be a success, and that diehard Kelis fans wouldn't notice. Even with the success of "Milkshake", the album barely went Gold (500K sold), and it would be another 3 years until we would hear from Ms. Rogers again.

2006- Kelis Was Here

A new husband+ a new label+ new production= better recognition? Kelis, now the wife of one of New York's finest MC's (NaS), finally cut ties with her old label and the production of the Neptunes. Her new single, "Bossy" has been simmering on the radio for some time now, and it's one of those songs that definitely grow on you. "80's Joint" is her follow up single (Think The System a la the "Don't Disturb This Groove" era). Everything sounds tight, but will Kelis be able to capitalize on the over-saturatization of the current R& B market? I think she can. There are too many Beyonce-Janet-Mariah-Rhianna-Christina Milian types out there who just want to "sing" (Only Mariah and Beyonce can) and dance/hump on cars. Kelis has a bold, brazen streak and a history of going against the grain. She's like that girl in high school who would come to school everyday in the thrift store clothes listening to Jimi Hendrix. And in a world where everyone is so obsessed with grills, rims, and dom p, that's like a breath of fresh air. Hip-Hop limits itself when it doesn't allow EVERYONE to participate in the growth of the music. So, maybe it'll just be me, but I'll definitely trek down to the record store to get this CD at full price.

Until Later

QoS

Maiden Voyage

So I've joined the masses to post my first blog. I knew this time was coming, I just didn't know when. So far this summer,I've watched my beloved Flyers get knocked out AGAIN in the first round of the playoffs, watched France almost shock the workld with a World Cup win (Zizou, c'mon!) gotten downright political with protesting for thepassage of the Voing Rights Act, and now have seen the Middle East go up in flames. I wonder what August has in store. But here are 5 Lessons I've Learned:

5. Dead-End Jobs get you nowhere.

I ended up taking a summer class, and to help pay for it, I took on job as a photo technician at a local drugstore which shall not be named. Big mistake. Long hours, rude customers, and coworkers so vicious that the breakroom should have doubled as a boxing ring. These people were jealous of me from the minute I walked in there, because I was actually going to school and preparing to graduate on time and not be stuck in a dead-end job my entire life. Bottom line: Work with people who share your life goals and interests, life is only harder when you don't.

4. If you want less stress, take a summer class.

They're shorter, easier, and tend to have fewer people, giving one individualized attention. Also, the professor will usually have some sort of big research project that he/she cares more about than actually teaching undergrads, he/shewill be trying to teach as little as possible to you. Also, your TA will stink and not even care, because he/she will perobably be out partying the night before and be hungover and none of the labs will be done right. But if you can sit there and persist throughout all of these obstacles, you are all but guaranteed an A.

3. The DC Metro Sucks.

It is inefficient, packed, and while base fare is tolerable (1.25 on buses, 1.35 on trains), the Smart Trip cards are a horrible idea. Unlike in New York and Philly, where you pay a set amount (say 70 dollars) for an unlimited amount of rides for a given month, DC makes you pay a set amount (70 dollars again) and DEBITS that money from the card everytime you get on a bus or a train (plus a 5 dollar activation fee.) Oh yes, and you can only pay to park in the Metro parking lot. If you commmute from the suburbs, or do a lot of line-switching downtown, you could be spending 10 dollars a day on Metro. Just another way to suck all the money out of us.

2. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington....

Is packed with Bad A** kids. These kids make your suburban ADD friends from middle-school look like angels. They can't sit down for one second, literally. When you turn your head to write something on the chalkboard or whiteboard, they are up, trying to get at the pool table or on the computers. Now I can't put all the blame on the kids. I blame the parents, they don't instill any home training into these kids from an early age, therefore the kids think that they can act wild inside and outside the home. Also, the schools don't care about them at all. The only thing that's important to the D.C. public schools is the # of kids passing onto the next grade, not if they've actually learned anything. Plus they cut the recess, the gym time, art, and music. There's nothing for them to do, so they go off the walls. Just another reason why we need to close the education gap.

And the #1 thing I've learned living in D.C.:

Get out and enjoy the free Smithsonian museums. A perfect way to spend a lazy summer day, especially in the heatwave. And please, when you go out, do not look a hot mess. Sandals and socks, big no-no. Manpris? NO. Bad weaves? You need to fire your stylist. And PLEASE remember, spandex is a privilege, not a right.