Tha ish: Monica: Still Standing

 

I don’t watch that much prime-time television, however, I am hooked on late night talk shows.  (sidebar:  I think that Conan was royally screwed by NBC.  True, he was nervous and jittery in the beginning, but he needed time to get comfortable with his new job.  I hated Jimmy Fallon’s show in the beginning, but now I can’t miss it.)

Besides getting my daily late-night fix on, there’s a show that I am currently loving.  I looove Monica’s reality show, Still Standing.  Most celeb reality shows are pure crap (ahem, all reality shows!), but I like how Monica’s show walks the viewer through the creation of her album.  We are privy to the behind-the-scenes view on the birth of an album and her struggle as an artist.  In a few episodes we were able to see how Monica questioned how she would grow as an artist but still be true to herself.

I appreciate how her show is not an embarrassment like past reality television.  If you saw Keyshia Cole’s show (The Way It Is), you know what I mean.  The show had less to do with her music and spent way too much airtime on her dysfunctional family. (psst...I have no problems with having a dysfunctional family, but her family’s issues should not have aired on television. They need counselling.  Especially Frankie!)

I like how we get to see a very sensitive and vulnerable Monica. Sometimes we forget that artists are people too, and they aren’t as in control and confident as we think. I think it’s refreshing to see her being real.

I just wanted to say that I love the show and looking forward to the album.

Tha ish: Good Hair review

This review might be a little late, but I was compelled to speak about Chris Rock’s documentary, Good Hair.   I finally saw it over the Christmas holidays and I had to provide my 2 cents. 

First off, I liked it. I enjoyed it sooooo much that I actually watched it two times within a span of 24 hours.  I identified with most of the content that I felt l like I could have been a participant in the film.  Being a black female, I am a bit preoccupied with my hair. I.can’t.help. it. I am a black female!!!  There is so much we as black women need to do to make our hair manageable (by manageable, I do not mean straight—I’m a happy nappy girl). 

Though I found the movie immensely entertaining (listening to the black actresses talk about getting their hair wet was priceless—I was the same way when I had permed hair!), I did find some of the information a little insulting and misleading.  After watching the movie, I found that it made us look as though we hate our (natural) hair and crave long straight hair.  It also made it seem as though all black women are willing to torture ourselves with perm to achieve a specific image of beauty. That soooo ain’t the case with me.

Throughout the film, Chris Rock mentioned that we (black women) permed our hair, wore weaves and wigs to look “white”.  I am personally offended by that statement.  I don’t think that I’m trying to look white by the hairstyle I choose.  I wear what I find appealing. (FYI, I wear my hair in twists with the aid of extensions. And I’m not shy about rocking a shoulder length ponytail either!).  I like both long and short hairstyles and I don’t judge someone if their hair is natural, permed or whatever.

I had a talk with a friend who is in the black hair industry and he did not like the film at all. He felt that it was a little deceptive. The scene that really bothered him was when Chris and the scientist watched a pop can disintegrate in a vat of sodium hydroxide—one of the chemicals used in relaxers/perm.   My friend said that perm is a mixture of carefully measured chemicals and that the scientist ONLY put the can in a tub of an isolated chemical to show the bad effects of that chemical which he kept calling "perm". He found that misleading, because perm does not consist of that one chemical. Although I won’t ever rock a perm, I thought my friend raised a valid point.

Overall, I liked the film.  I just didn’t appreciate how the film made black women look insecure, frivolous, and willing to sell their soul for some “good hair.”

p.s. wasn’t it funny to hear Ice-T speak about perm?  He reminded me of ME when I used to perm my hair.

Tha ish: Forever, Drake f/Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem

Man, I love it when you hear a song and it triggers a fun memory.

Last night I downloaded Forever from Drake..... just because. I wanted some new music and I randomly chose that song. Okay, it wasn’t totally by chance; I actually like the song, but I wasn’t planning on buying the single. But once I found a clean version (I can’t handle listening to all that profanity), I bought it.



As I was getting ready for work this morning, I heard Forever blasting from my ipod speakers. It immediately reminded me of New Years Eve. I went to a hotel party with one of my fave cousins and I seriously got my party on. I killed the dance floor (or so I think) and I distinctly remember dancing to Drake’s song (well, I sorta remember. I unfortunately indulged in a little too much a-a-a-alcohol!). A huuuge smile formed on my face as I heard the song. It made me remember the great time that I had partying with my cousin. I only get to see my cousin once a year, so I was trying to savour each moment with her. Thanks for the fun night out, S.B!! I miss you!! : (

Tha ish: Happy New Year!

Hope you have a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!