Articles
A Eulogy For Lil Wayne (Even Though He's Not Dead Yet)
Category: Lifestyle Written by Dion Rabouin
I'd like to take a moment to remember Lil Wayne. He's not dead yet, physically speaking, but his brush with death on Friday reminded me of what we'll be losing if and when he is gone.
On Friday, TMZ reported that the legendary New Orleans rapper had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after being discovered "shaking uncontrollably" and "unconscious" on a jet flying out of Los Angeles.
He reportedly almost died, and even if Lil Wayne's latest seizure doesn't kill him, which from all accounts it won't, his behavior suggests he's lucky to have made it this far and his luck may be running out quickly. The codeine-saturated syrup that has become synonymous with Wayne's name and music has previously taken the lives of hip hop legends Pimp C and DJ Screw.
And it's already affected Wayne's music. The Lil Wayne whose music and lyrics mesmerized myself and millions of other hip hop aficionados has been dead and gone for years.
He was, for a time, the best rapper alive and one of the most astonishing and impressive lyricists in the world. He put together similes and metaphors like a wordsmith and at his absolute best no one could touch him, not another rapper, not a journalist not a poet not a novelist. He was that good.
He had an ability to move from witty and humorous to devastatingly serious on the same song, often in the same verse and occasionally in the same line. Almost all of that is missing in his music today.
That's why when the world erupted over his indefensibly foul and deplorable lyric about Emmett Till recently, I wasn't surprised. The line wasn't intended to be offensive or even controversial, it was just lazy. Wayne needed a new metaphor for being good at sex so why not take a stab at the long dead civil rights legend?
That's his signature these days – sloppy wordplay, thoughtless rhymes and an often crude obsession with female genitalia.
In his heyday, Wayne incorporated elements of pop culture, underground street life, Christian imagery and boss-level braggadocio into his rhymes. He was, as Time Magazine hailed him in 2008, "a savant who merges sex, drugs and politics with a sneaky intellect, a freakish knowledge of pop culture and a voice out of the Delta."
In addition to being a more than capable lyricist, Wayne was a marvel of musical endurance. He's recorded and released more music than seemingly any artist in the history of the recording industry. In 2007, Billboard reported that he released 77 songs. That didn't even include guest appearances on other artists' music.
A lot of Weezy fans haven't even heard his most impressive rhymes because much of his best material wasn't found on his albums. He put it on rare and obscure mixtapes that he gave away for free on the internet. Some of the best rapping he ever did was released digitally on compilation series like "Dedication," "The Leak," "The W Carter" and "Da Drought," all of which had at least one sequel. He released more than 20 official mixtapes and there's an almost infinite catalog of unofficial releases online.
Despite his penchant for giving his work away, Lil Wayne's ability to churn out quality, thought-provoking and popular verses time and time again still made him the undisputed king of Billboard. In addition to all the mixtapes, during his 14-year career he also released nine major label solo albums and seven others with groups like The Hot Boyz and Young Money. In September he passed Elvis Presley as the man with the most entries on the Billboard 100 chart with 109. The designation happened on his 30th birthday.
At his apex, his rhymes were a mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar, a fusion of the many worlds in which he existed. There was the world of high society and lavish expenditures; the world of his gritty New Orleans upbringing; the world of his inner circle, the Cash Money/Young Money family whom he often referenced; and the world of sports, celebrities and current events that fill news headlines.
I'm not sure whether it was drugs, fame or his obsession with money and rap's number one spot that took him from us, but the man whose ability to fill a 16 with lyrics that left us all awestruck has been gone for some time.
I hope Wayne can kick his syrup habit, get back to making great music and live a long, healthy life. Unfortunately, we've seen this movie before and it seldom ends with the protagonist having an epiphany and turning it all around.
He suffered multiple seizures a few days before the one he suffered on Friday, according to a number of sources quoted by TMZ, and even that wasn't the first time.
"Wayne's latest seizures follow an unfortunate pattern – he dealt with seizure-like symptoms while traveling on a private jet last October. The plane made an emergency landing in Texas, and Wayne was taken to a local hospital," reported Rolling Stone.
TMZ also wrote of this latest incident that "sources say there's evidence Wayne went on a Sizzurp binge after being released from the hospital on Wednesday, because doctors found high amounts of codeine in his system. Wanye's stomach was pumped 3 times to flush the drugs from his system."
Things don't look bright for Wayne, but, in truth, they haven't for some time.
But here's hoping that he makes it, and if he doesn't, I hope history at least remembers the brilliance of who he was, because at his best he was one of the best we've ever heard.
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Last Updated on Monday, 18 March 2013 15:19
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Fashion Watch: All eyes on the April Vogue
Category: Lifestyle Written by Debbie Norrell
After weeks of speculating (and speculating), the first lady's second cover for the fashion glossy has arrived -- and it's absolutely stunning. As expected, photographer Annie Leibovitz shot Michelle, who wore a blue and purple Reed Krakoff sheath plucked straight from her very own closet. The green background, the cool color palette and the choice to wear Reed Krakoff definitely reminded us of FLOTUS' official portrait.
Vogue's fashion editor Tonne Goodman led the team styling Mrs. O and the president, who appears in a photo inside the mag with the first lady. Also in the editorial is a third shot of Michelle wearing an elegant Michael Kors ball skirt and sweater. To accompany the shoot, the first couple was interviewed by Jonathan Van Meter, discussing parenting, marriage and their duties while presiding in the White House. Of course, since this is Vogue, they also talked fashion.
“If you’re comfortable in your clothes it’s easy to connect with people and make them feel comfortable as well,” Michelle said. May sure to pick up your copy as soon as it hits the stands, this issue will fly out of the stores, feel lucky if you have a subscription.
Last Updated on Friday, 15 March 2013 09:06
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Versailles ‘73
Category: Lifestyle Written by Debbie Norrell
STRIKING A POSE—Deborah Riley Draper with Pat Cleveland (Photos by Debbie Norrell)
On March 3, the crowd that attended “Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution” very likely did not know what they were in for. What they did know is that their presence was requested by Demeatria Boccella, founder and artistic director of FashionAFRICANA for the Pittsburgh Premiere Screening of “Versailles’73.”
Guests knew that they would be in the presence of fashion royalty, super model Pat Cleveland; Nikki Taylor, Editor at Large of the iconic Essence Magazine; and Deborah Riley Draper director of “Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution.” The film follows the iconic fashion effrontery at the Chateau de Versailles in 1973 between five American designers and five French designers. The event began as a fundraiser to raise money to restore the Palace of Versailles but became a fierce competition. America with great clothes and a color barrier-breaking collective of Black models who sashayed down the runway, won over the crowd and secured American fashion’s place on the world stage.
After the screening the audience was invited to ask questions of Cleveland, Taylor and Draper. Draper said when she was invited to Pittsburgh; she thought Steelers and steel town, but not fashion. She says she was pleasantly surprised at the fashionable side of Pittsburgh.
The crowd loved the film and was excited to have witnessed this important piece of Black history and American history. Guests enjoyed a dessert reception catered by Savoy restaurant and thanked FashionAFRICANA for another unique evening.
Spotted: Janis Burley Wilson; Kiya Tomlin; Jarvis Powers; Carol Neyland; Yvette Flaxman; Miyoshi Anderson; Jovon Higgins-Mitchell with Nate; Orlana Darkins Drewery; Darnell McLaurin, co-founder FashionAFRICANA; and Sabrina Clark.
Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 09:26
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Don’t be afraid to shine
Category: Lifestyle Written by Debbie Norrell
DEBBIE NORRELL
When I was approached about joining Toastmasters I asked the sponsors if I could win any awards and they said yes, I was in. I like winning and the thought of receiving a trophy or plaque excites me. I love to see people receive accolades. When I was a student in school I couldn’t run or play sports and I didn’t think that I would ever be able to do anything that would earn a trophy. Now I have so many trophies that I am running out of space. They reside in my home office, living room and on my desk at work. It feels good to win and you should never feel bad about winning.
At the time of joining I didn’t think I needed much help speaking, but I have learned so much as a member of Toastmasters. As a member of the communications business in my outside life Toastmasters has expanded my horizons. I can now master the entertaining speech, the humorous speech and love to do impromptu speeches also know as “Table Topics” in the world of Toastmasters.
I have been speaking professionally since 1975 and truly enjoy it. My first time as a public speaker was a scary time, but via self talk I told myself that I needed to get my butterflies flying in formation. It worked and I’ve been speaking every since with confidence and panache.
Reportedly speaking in public is one of the most difficult things for some people to do. Being a good speaker gives you confidence and people will like to hear you talk. Don’t fall into that trap you may have fell into in high school or middle school where you don’t want to outshine your peers. You are an adult now and it is all about you. If you see someone that you admire their speaking ability ask them to be your mentor.
I’ve always worked on changing things that I don’t like about myself, from my fear of speaking in front of crowds to being a better friend and co-worker. Oh yes, people can change, they just have to want to change.
I have a quote on my wall at work, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take!” I first saw this quote about 14 years ago and now look at it daily. It reminds me to stop talking myself out of opportunities and to go for the brass ring every time. I am a big fan of motivational speaker, Les Brown. He can speak extemporaneously and that was a goal of mine to become a speaker of that caliber, I am proud to say that now I am a graduate of Les Browns’ “Speaking for a Living” workshop and he considers me a friend. I am a much sought after speaker in my community and circle. I’ve introduced some very famous people and emceed events in the tri-state area. Toastmasters has enhanced my speaking abilities and it is wonderful to add my Toastmaster accomplishments to my bio and resume.
Shine on! Debbie Norrell is an award winning speaker and a Toastmaster Competent Communicator.
(Email the columnist at debbie
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Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 09:27
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Sgt. Pierre first class contributor to country
Category: Lifestyle Written by Courier Newsroom
SGT. ELITE PIERRE
Sergeant First Class Elite Pierre, born and raised in Pittsburgh and a graduate of Peabody High School in 1998, has become a first class contributor to his community and his country since joining the National Guard several years ago. After serving as a specialist he was promoted to sergeant and moved to Fort Dix in New Jersey to train soldiers for overseas combat. After three years he was promoted to sergeant first class. Some of his significant achievements:
•He made the front page for “Army Times” Magazine A Gannett Company in Springfield, Va., in July of 2011.
•He spoke at the Steve Harvey Mentoring Program in Chicago, October 2012. His video is posted on YouTube.
•He won Human Recourses Command, Non Commission Officer awards for 2012. His video is posted on YouTube.
•He spoke at the Brother to Brother Academy in Elizabethtown, Ky. His video is posted on YouTube.
•He recently established his own business called “Only the Elite.” His video is posted on YouTube.
His parents, Rosemarie and Erie Pierre and other relatives are still in Pittsburgh.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 March 2013 09:56
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