It’s been a long time. I shouldn’t have left you….without a dope drink to sip to. Sip to. Sip to. Sip to. If you know, you know lol. Alright, well it has been a while since I’ve done a Thirsty Thursday drink review. Today’s feature is a worthy cocktail from a few weeks ago while visiting J Theodore Restaurant & Bar in Frisco, TX. If you’re ever in the area, check it out (and see the amazing mural featured there by my brother, Desmond Blair).
The vibe and the ambiance at J Theodore is inviting, cool, and trendy. While I was there, I decided to try a drink (they have great cookies too). I wanted something with a kick but not too heavy. The waiter suggested I try the Frose. I was hesitant, but I must admit it was a nice surprise. The mix of vodka and rose is what peaked my intrigue about the drink. It also includes fresh strawberries and a hint of simple syrup.
The taste is a refreshingly smooth, strawberry-infused drink with a mean bite. There’s more vodka than rose but it’s just enough to know there’s a union of the two present. Although I’d say the drink is more suitable for summer, it’s safe to drink year-round in Texas (we rarely get frigid temperatures). I’m looking forward to visiting J Theodore again and experiencing more of what their menu has to offer.
Bottoms up….it’s Thirsty Thursday! Oh, while you’re here, make sure you head over to the Peauxetic Expressions shop to check out the latest releases.
“What happened to Mike?” This is the most popular question from readers after finishing the Fortune Cookie novel series. I purposely wrote his character to be elusive and allow people to draw their own conclusions. Little did I know how interested people would be in his final fate. I’m a firm believer that everything happens in its perfect timing (if you let it). I finished A Swipe in the Wrong Direction (formerly titled One Wrong Swipe) at the end of 2018.
The premise of the book centers around a man who is recently single. His friends believe he needs to date multiple women to get over his ex. So, they set him up on a dating app to find a new fling. The only problem is the woman he chooses to date has a few screws loose.
Ring. Ring. One of my favorite authors, Akela Renae, called me within days of finishing A Swipe in the Wrong Direction with a great idea. A collaborative novel. We quickly started writing and less than a year later, Only for One Night was released. During that time, I kept thinking A Swipe in the Wrong Direction was missing something. Something that would really connect with new readers but still engage my previous ones. Mike. I tweaked the story a bit and changed the names to complete the revised version of the book.
Since March, I’ve seen so many memes and posts about people trying to date during the pandemic. Do you date virtually? Are in-person meetups safe? If you cough, will the person abruptly end the date for fear of catching COVID-19? Although I’ve dated here and there this year, I can say I have never tried online dating. I know plenty of people who have. Some have horror stories and others are happily married to this day. Honestly, I think it all depends on your comfort level.
With the current state of the world, online dating doesn’t appear to be going anywhere soon. What are your thoughts on online dating in a socially distanced world or in general? Have you ever tried it? If so, what was the outcome? Text Swipe Left or Swipe Right to 474747 to determine Mike’s fate or click here to choose for yourself.
The tail end of the summer has been a comeback season of sorts for several R&B heavyweights. Gone are the glitzy days of million-dollar music videos and monstrous marketing budgets that peppered the 90s. Now, social media has allowed the artist to become the machine and given record labels less power. Let’s take former R&B/pop heavyweights, Monica and Brandy. Both women are now independent artists and calling the shots in their musical careers. Following their record-breaking Verzuz battle (or “celebration” as they dubbed it), they earned a combined total of well over 20 million streams. Monica took the opportunity as the perfect platform to launch her new single, “Trenches”, which received the highest streams of any Brandy or Monica song, following their Verzuz battle. The spike in music had nothing to do with a record label push, but everything to do with a longstanding history of hits…and a few feuds along the way.
It’s no secret that record sales are nowhere near as high as they were twenty-plus years ago. However, artists are benefiting from getting a larger slice of the pie for music released through their own labels. Take Ledisi for instance. Her latest album, The Wild Card, sold over 38,000 copies (including streams in its first week). The sales landed her a top 10 Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart debut. On the other hand, Toni Braxton’s first venture on her new label, Spell My Name, faired much lower in sales (just over 7,000 sales and streams). Both albums were stellar and despite heavier promotion from Toni Braxton’s label, it didn’t translate into sales.
Prince was far ahead of his time with his struggle to be an independent artist. Remember the strange “slave” marking across his jaw back in the day? He was very vocal about why artists should have control of their own music. This notion may be especially critical for R&B music, as it hasn’t seen some of the mainstream/Pop success it once had long ago. Time will tell, as other R&B artists like Mary J. Blige and Anthony Hamilton prep new albums set to release soon (the latter being another independent album).
What are some of your favorite label-driven or independent R&B releases lately?
I know it’s been a while since I’ve done a Thirsty Thursday review. However, with COVID-19 still rearing its ugly head, I haven’t had a chance to frequent too many restaurants. When I do, I make it a point to try a new drink I’ve never tasted before. This week’s feature is brought to you courtesy of Zanata Restaurant in Rockwall, TX. The food here is AMAZING….and that’s saying a lot coming from me because I’m a picky eater. Their lobster ravioli is….umph….well, you just have to try it for yourself to see what I mean. I digress….back to the drink.
The last time I visited Zanata, I tried their Heatwave drink. I love a good mix of salty and sweet or sweet and spicy. So, I thought this would be the perfect drink to try. Little did I know how right I would be. The Heatwave is a relatively small drink with a mighty punch. The drink includes house pineapple-jalapeno infused tequila, topped with a dash of chili lime salt. All of my senses were awakened immediately. Besides the clever mix of the ingredients, the proportion of each ingredient is really what sets this drink off. It’s the perfect amount of sweetness, with a smooth tequila kick and a spicy aftertaste. In short, it’s almost as amazing as the lobster ravioli….almost.
If you ever find yourself in the Rockwall area, you should try Zanata or even attempt to make the drink in the comfort (and safety) of your own home. Bottoms up….it’s Thirsty Thursday.
Ledisi’s latest album, The Wild Card, marks 20 years since her debut. For this reason, it may be hard for some to believe that her ninth studio album is also her first independent project in over a decade. Honestly, I think this is a great move for an artist like Ledisi. She has one of the most underrated voices in music and with live concert shows nowhere in sight for the near future, an independent move will at least help her capture more money from her sales. Oh, but then there’s the downside. Often times, artists lose some of their flare and fire when they switch from a label to independent status.
Within the first couple of minutes of The Wild Card, Ledisi proves why she’s such a musical powerhouse and how she still has something fresh to offer. The “How Does It Feel” esque opening track, “Anything for You” is a bluesy, soul-stirring number that finds her declaring her effortlessly declaring her love. The instrumentation throughout The Wild Card is raw, yet crisp in a way that’s previously unheard on much of Ledisi’s prior catalog. Her voice marries with the production on tracks like “Next Time” and “WKND” so well that it sounds like she’s singing right next to you. The latter is one of the brightest, most upbeat songs on the album. It’s the perfect Friday feeling track that would make Frankie Beverly and Maze proud.
“Same Love” is audible honey that drips all over your eardrums. Her vocals are as pristine and beautiful as ever. “Now or Never” finds her singing in a slightly higher register and really showcases her vocal range over the jazz-influenced track. Don’t mistake her soulful melodies as an indication that her sass has been erased. She demands the respect she deserves on tracks like the dismissive ballad, “Stay Gone”. The stutter-step lounge vibe of “What Kinda Love Is That” featuring Cory Henry is easily another standout track that adds depth to the album. Nonetheless, with only two features on the entire album (listen to “Wake Up” featuring Sa-Roc), Ledisi could have easily carried this album all by herself.
Perhaps the percussion and horn-heavy track, “In It To Win” describes it best. This song alone arguably embodies the essence of The Wild Card with its unpredictable hip hop flare and surefire confidence. Yes, in it to win she certainly is. Hopefully, The Wild Card will allow Ledisi to finally receive the flowers she so desperately deserves…..on her own terms again.
Brandy is back with a vengeance promoting her new album, B7. The singer and actress has focused more on the latter in recent years, as this is her first studio LP since 2012’s Two Eleven. Fans have been anxiously waiting the return of what they call the “Vocal Bible”. Brandy herself admitted she was skeptical of releasing new music for that title alone. However, she’s been moving full steam ahead this summer, starting with the Chance the Rapper assisted lead single, “Baby Momma”.
I must admit, I didn’t have extremely high expectations for B7. “Baby Momma” has a knocking beat and a stellar feature from the Chance the Rapper, but lyrically the song failed to move me. Throw in the fact that the album’s release came the same day as Beyonce’s Black Is King visual album and I thought it might be curtains for a successful B7 release. After all, an eight-year break in the music industry is an eternity. Oh, was I wrong. By multiple accounts, critics and fans alike have been praising Brandy’s new music.
She is still representing for the artist she draws most of her inspiration from, Whitney Houston. The album’s cover art and opening track title, “Saving All My Love”, are just two examples of nods to the late icon. After just three tracks in, it’s clear to see that Whitney would be proud. Brandy dodges trendy conformity and instead opts for a cohesive sound and one of her best albums to date.
“Rather Be” finds her daydreaming about a lover that she can’t be with at the moment. Conversely, “Borderline” is a desperate plea to her new lover to not leave her Brokenhearted. If he does, she just might go crazy. Songs like “No Tomorrow” could give off stalker vibes during any other time, but in the midst of quarantine it’s perfectly placed. The song finds her cooing in her lower register (as she does for most of the album) with lines like “I’m gon blow your phone up in case there is no tomorrow”.
Brandy experiments with some edgy sounds, which can be heard on tracks like the rock-tinged, “I Am More”. Here, she vows not to be the other woman over jagged guitar riffs and a pulsating hi-hat. “Love Again” her, Grammy-nominated duet with Daniel Caesar is more than just clever marketing or an album filler. The song sits comfortably next to the rest of the tracks on B7.
Her daughter makes a noteworthy appearance on the sassy “High Heels”. “Bye BiPolar” closes out the album and dismisses a bipolar relationship full of ups and downs. Somehow, the song seems to also symbolize the release of Brandy’s own personal demons as well. Nonetheless, the answer is clear: yes….she’s still got it.
I think we can all agree that 2020 has made us need a drink or two…or three…who’s counting? But seriously, I’ve learned to take great joy in the simple things I failed to appreciate before the troubles of this year. Since we’re still (mostly) stuck inside, I haven’t been to many bars or restaurants to try new drinks. However, I have tried a local drink (sorry if you’re not in the DFW area) that amazing to say the least.
Allow me to introduce you to Porshae’s Liquor Goods. The drinks come in sealed plastic pouches with fresh slices of fruit inside. Initially, I expected the drinks to be tasty but somewhat lightweight. Oh, how wrong was I. The drinks are more than tasty – they are delicious. Plus, they pack a mighty punch too. I’ve tried a couple of flavors so far, including a blueberry with orange slices and raspberry with lemons.
Although the drinks are sweet, they have just the right amount of vodka (or rum, depending on the drink). One pouch equals a large glass (about 16 ounces). Trust me, one is enough to get your fill of great taste and knock the chip off your shoulder from the weight of the world. If you’re in the Dallas area, contact Porshae at 469-569-2665.
July 4th is always a nostalgic day for me. Of course, it’s a national holiday but it goes much deeper than that. Although 2020 has ushered in a different type of aura around the 4th of July than we all expected, I’m still grateful for the celebration. Nine years ago today, I launched this very website that you’re reading from right now. The website came just months before the launch of my first poetry book, Blurred Vision, in 2011.
In the beginning, my site started out as a fun hobby to try for a couple of months. Soon, I started blogging and sharing my thoughts on various topics including life lessons, music, drinks, publishing, and of course, poetry. While I’ve never had thoughts of shutting down my website, I did originally plan to switch my publishing company, 7th Sign Publishing, to a consulting only business after it reached its seven-year anniversary in April. However, God had other plans. 7th Sign is now preparing to release three new books before the end of the year, including a real estate how-to guide, a children’s book about breast cancer, and a Christian devotional.
My site wouldn’t have ever been created without my love for poetry. More importantly, I could not have made it this long without you – my readers. While everyone is hopefully enjoying a socially distanced but enjoyable holiday, I simply want to say thank you. Your reading, shares, dialogue, support, and words of encouragement mean more than you know. As a gift to you, all of my poetry books are on sale now through July 11th for only $9 (including free shipping).
Oh, and for those of you who have asked what happened to Mike’s character in the Fortune Cookie novel series (which included Fortune Cookie, No Cream in the Middle, and When the Cookie Crumbles) – your answer is coming very soon. Look out for my first novella, A Swipe in the Wrong Direction. The book is a spin-off from the novel series and details Mike’s unfortunate sequence of events after his friends set him up on an online dating site.
The year was 2000 and everyone was cautiously celebrating the Y2K craze. That year marked the end of a golden era for R&B in the mid to late 90s. So, it shouldn’t have been that surprising that members of each of the biggest R&B/Hip Hop groups of the 90s decided to join forces as they ushered in the new millennium. But it was, mainly because the group seemed to have formed overnight.
Dawn Robinson was the sexy, sassy songstress from En Vogue. Raphael Saadiq was the smooth-toned frontman from Tony Toni Tone. Ali Shaheed Muhammad was a part of rap royalty in A Tribe Called Quest. D’Angelo was instrumental in the group’s inception, but he backed out due to scheduling conflicts. Singer Joi also briefly replaced Dawn Robinson after she left the group. However, the chemistry between Dawn, Raphael, and Ali is the lineup a few twentysomethings can appreciate, let alone even know about.
The group was captivating from the beginning with their Grammy-nominated lead single, “Dance Tonight”. The carefree groove of the song was the perfect end-of-the-week jam. Then, they followed-up their lead-in grown and sexy club hit with the cautionary message to a troublesome ex, “Don’t Mess With My Man”. Dawn Robinson and Raphael Saadiq’s vocal blends were the perfect mixture we didn’t know we needed. Ironically, the blended harmonies on their self-titled debut (and only) album are primarily only heard on the non singles.
Songs like the comically clever, “I Can’t Stand Your Mother,” the razzle dazzle shunning “Hollywood”, and the sultry lullaby, “Good Love” rounded out one of the most slept-on (and best) albums of the early 2000s. If only Lucy Pearl would have kept it together for a sophomore album. Sigh. For now, let’s reminisce on a rare R&B jewel that shines just as brightly as it first did 20 years ago.
I’ve been a fan of Run the Jewels since their debut album in 2013. In fact, to go back even further, Killer Mike (one half of the rhyming duo), has never received his just deserts as a hip hop artist. Who could forget his show-stealing flow on OutKast’s 2001 hit, “The Whole World”? Even back then, he was politically astute, lyrically fierce, and unapologetically defiant. Similarly, El-P (the other half of the potent rhyming duo) has played a large part in alternative Hip Hop sounds for about two decades. As a former member of the groups Company Flow and The Weathermen, he also produced and released four solo albums of his own.
Ironically, both of their solo efforts have not made as large of a splash musically as their powers combined. With their new, hurried release (two days before the original June 5, 2020 date), RTJ4, already set to make a debut in the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, their unique brand of hip hop is still gaining momentum. The album comes just days after Killer Mike’s heartfelt speech in Atlanta, GA, regarding George Floyd. RTJ4 is just as piercing and relevant to today’s climate.
“yankee and the brame (ep. 4)” bulldozes in with a heart-rattling machine-gun boogie. Killer Mike and El-P exchange rapid fire flows that set the tone for the tracks to follow. The Greg Nice & DJ Premier assisted “ooh la la” is less bombastic in its production, but just as militant. “Warmongers are dumpin’ a pointed click at your pumpkin – look out,” El-P raps. The boldest track is perhaps “out of sight” featuring 2 Chainz. The lyrics are still poignant, but the song’s sample of “Misdemeanor” by The Sylvers was a bit arrogant, and hugely successful. Dr. Dre used the same sample in the D.O.C. classic, “It’s Funky Enough”.
Although a couple of RTJ4’s tracks literally sound like they are out of this world (listen to “goonies vs E.T.”), they land just as precisely. The album is just as equally jagged as it is polished. A stellar example of the latter is “JU$T” featuring Pharrell Williams. The men all collectively chant “Look at all these slave masters posing on your dollar”. Expect this song to make some major waves (and enemies) this summer.
Gangsta Boo stops by to add her southern flare on the dramatic, call-and-response riot, “walking in the snow”. Mavis Staples even joins the duo on the Capitalism critique, “pulling the pin”. The most chilling line of the entire album can found in the song’s chorus, stating, “There’s a grenade in my heart and the pin is in their palm”.
RTJ4 may incite some riots and ruffle some feathers (to put it mildly). If that happens, then the work of Run the Jewels will not be in vain. The duo is offering the album for free on their website, with the option to download it and donate to the National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Fund. This is activism. This is artistry with a voice. It is Hip Hop that marches in protest right out of your speakers.
