Aug 20, 2015

Thick Neck Thursday: Professional Choreographer Oscar Hernandez (via @Samoarico)

This Thick Neck Thursday goes out to Oscar Hernandez, the thicker than a snicker professional choreographer twerking all over your timeline.

Hernandez has been catching press since stealing the halftime show at the Arizona Rattlers (arena football) game. At first I really thought he was one of the players, but then realized he was a professional choreographer. Still, the way he threw his thickness around, stayed on count, and had technique better than the rest of the team... y'all, he's the real MVP this week. I think this is also a reminder that size doesn't have to limit you in life. He's a big dude and owning those 8-counts.

I danced and cheered in High School and one of my biggest pet peeves was watching folks 1) Not go "all out" during performances and 2) have noodle arms!!! Ugh. Noodle arms and sloppy technique make my skin crawl. Hernandez made me wanna stand up and do a slow clap as I watched him hit each move. And that slow grind/dip? Yep! He did that.

Start the video at the 0:45 mark to see Hernandez flex his dance skills and stay updated on his life force via Instagram.




Aug 19, 2015

"Hell You Talmbout?" #BlackLivesMatter (@JanelleMonae)

Not only is she gorgeous and insanely talented, but Janelle Monae manages to continuously drop dope, meaningful music and move with grace and poise that is both enviable and inspiring. In short, Janelle Monae is a breath of fresh air!

"Hell You Talmbout" is the latest release from the musician and Wondaland Records CEO, and folks are deeming it the #BlackLivesMatter protest song. The song has a powerful message and is worth a listen. Let me know what you think!





Aug 14, 2015

"Straight Outta Compton" -- a remarkable, must-see film (@ComptonMovie)

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Straight Outta Compton and the movie was awesome! I laughed. I cried. I wanted to stand up in the aisle and c-walk. I felt so many feelings, but pride was high on the list.

I was born in the mid 80s and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, so I was too young to understand N.W.A.'s impact during their prime, but the movie did a wonderful job telling the story in a captivating way. The cast of mainly newcomers allowed me to easily see them in their roles as members in N.W.A. It should also be noted that Ice Cube's son, O'Shea Jackson Jr., did a stand-out job playing the role of his dad. Nepotism was NOT at work as O'Shea proved his worth and ran with the role.

I can't speak to the overall "accuracy" of the film and what was included vs. left out, but keep in mind that they're trying to condense over 20 years of history into a roughly 2 hour film. You can only do so much. I promise that you'll enjoy the movie, find it both refreshing and timely, and walk out of the theater glad you came.

This isn't about supporting black films, but supporting the art of story telling and telling stories that NEED to be told.

A few things I walked away learning (no spoilers):

1) I didn't realize how much Ice Cube wrote! His talent is remarkable.
2) Dr. Dre was gifted from the start and blessed with the ability to really nurture the talent in himself and others.
3) Eazy-E was never a real musical talent, but he had SO much raw business talent, hustle, and personality!
4) Suge Knight was always a dusty ass dude whose only talent was the art of intimidation.


Icing on the cake? Check out the interview Kendrick Lamar (one of my favs) did with N.W.A.




Aug 13, 2015

Performance. Music. Art. #SamRemix (via @iheartSAM)


If you're looking for an event that will flex your artistic muscle, the Seattle Art Museum will be hosting their annual Sam Remix party next Friday, on 8/21. The event will take place at the Olympic Sculpture Park from 8p - Midnight and feature performances, live music, artist-led tours, and some art DIY. The best part? I'll be guest tweeting during the event from the Seattle Art Museum twitter account (@iheartSAM) using the official hashtag #SAMRemix! Be sure to follow along with me as I share highlights from the night.

Of course the event wouldn't be complete without food and drinks, so be sure to come equipped with CASH so you can indulge in tasty treats from Monster Dogs & POP UP (think: fancy, hipster ice cream on wheels). The venue will also have ample CASH bars. 

Note: This isn't an event where you'll get full off the food, so if you're prone to becoming hangry or can't pace yourself with drinks, please do everyone (and most importantly yourself) a favor and grab some food first. 

Tickets are $25 for non-members and $12 for members (click here to purchase).
Use PROMO CODE: twitterremix0821 to save $5
It's kinda like I'm buying you a drink, so if you use the promo code tweet me a pic of what you use that extra $5 on!

I'm currently most excited about the art performance by The Internet Cat Video Festival. I mean, cats x online videos? This is sure to be epic! Seriously you all ... I've wasted countless hours of my life indulging in online cat videos. Those "epic cat fail" video compilations give me life!



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