What A Tangled Web We Weave...

"Lies, lies - using lies as alibis..."  Lies - En Vogue

I am a person who is fortunate to say that I have worked in two of the best places in the world. One - a record store and two - a book store.  Besides the amazing books, I was able to make a lasting friendship with one of my coworkers as well.  And the books??!!  That was a big part of the joy of working there.  I like to consider myself an avid reader.  Although I must admit that it has been a while since I have held a jewel worth discussing in my hand.  With school reviving my thirst for literature, I find myself compelled to visit a Barnes and Noble very soon.  But the question is - what to look for?  What do I feel for?  I was fortunate back in September, to receive an advanced copy of "Them" by Nathan McCall.  Is the author ringing a bell?  He would be the author of the memoir "Makes Me Wanna Holla."  It was a memoir recounting his days as a young gang banger, right to his adult days as a prolific journalist.  That was a great read for me at the time.   And now here I am with his new novel, but have not passed page 35 as yet. However,  I am not sure that this is what I feel for at the moment.  

The lies seem to be flowing to and fro in the literary world lately.  Reading my daily listing of online newspapers, I came across an article about another author caught in a lie.  Apparently there is or should I say was a memoir by Margaret B. Jones called "Love and Consequences" that was released recently.  It was about the author growing up half-white and half-Native American in South Central LA.  She wrote about living with Big Moms - her black foster mother, loosing her brother from the bullet of a Crips' member's gun and selling drugs and possessing illegal firearms for the Bloods.  Now here's where the lie comes in - girlfriend is WHITE.  Not half white as stated, but Caucasian.  She was never raised in poverty, but grew up in a well to do area of San Fernando Valley, CA - with her biological family may I add.   She also lied about the university she attended!  And would you like to hear the kicker?  The person to tip off Riverhead Books (affiliated with Penguin Books), the person who put her on blast, was her SISTER.  How did she find out you may ask?  By reading an article in the New York Times.

The author then had to reveal to the Times that her "memoir" was fully fabricated (no, really?) Yet, she had the nerve to say "For whatever reason, I was really torn, and I thought it was my opportunity to put a voice to people who people don't listen to."  is what she told the Times. Well Ms. Jones, if that was the case, why didn't you just say that it was a work of fiction rather than lie to everyone and say it was a memoir?  Why lie time and time again, to the publisher, to the editors, to the book company and to the readers, about it being your life story?  You could have been straight forward and say that it was a fabrication on your part.  But it is a mesh of stories from people's lives that you have stolen to make your own.  Yes, they are true stories, they are stories from experiences friends had from an anti-gang outreach program that she used to take part in.  And now from all of your lies and deceit, there is no book tour for you (cancelled) and no book deal for you (book has been recalled).  Too bad, so sad.

And ladies and gents, she's not the only compulsive liar on the market right now.  Another author Misha Defonseca, claimed that she was Jewish and wrote her memoir "Misha: A Memoir of the Holocaust Years".  I think the title speaks for itself.  However the difference here is that the book has already been translated into 18 languages and was being prepared for a US release.  Because the genealogical researcher was finding discrepancies in his research, is the only reason Misha De Wael (her real name) came forth to finally admit that she is not Jewish and her whole story (living with wovles after her parents were abducted by Nazis and murdering a German soldier) was fabricated.  Her excuse?  She started to identify with being Jewish because of the mistreatment she received from her grandfather and uncle.  They saw her parents as traitors, because her parents where resistance fighters who were killed by the Nazis.  Ummm...SAYWHHAAT??

So obviously absolutely no one has learned from the James Frey "A Million Little Pieces" debacle, not that it wasn't a good book, because it was.  So much so, that I ended up reading "My Friend Leonard" too.  But what I am saying is, why the lies?  Can this be avoided?  Obviously in the long run, the truth will come out.  The truth, if stated right out of the gate could have prevented public humiliation, standing by hopelessly while your "creation" is being torn apart to shreds and massive recalls and apologies.  

Lies...they always have a way of playing catch up.

On that note, here is the incontestable video of the day:

See you soon...

Tha Connoisseur 

En Vogue Videos | Booking Calendar | Marblehead vacation rentals

Somebody Pass Me Some Smelling Salts!

"Right now I'm missing music..."  Music - Leela James

My people, you will have to excuse the short entry today.  I will get to the reason in one minute, however just a couple of points on this glorious Sunday (it is Sunday right??):

I really think it is a guilty pleasure, but I love Chris Brown's Stargate produced track "With You".  I say guilty pleasure because of a few reasons.  One - it's a pop song.  Chris' first album was more of a hip hop infused get-your-ass-on-the-dance floor kind of set.  But then again you may disagree with me in a moment.  My other reason for calling it a guilty pleasure, is because the song seems to be a collection of the left over guitar riffs from previous Stargate produced songs.  That takes a jab at my musical taste, it actually makes me want to re-evaluate it and that drives me absolutely insane!!!!

There's nothing wrong with guitars, I love guitars! (But not as much as a really nice drum set!)  However, with tracks such as "Hate That I Love You" by Rhianna feat. Ne-Yo and ESPECIALLY "Irreplaceable" by Beyonce out there in heavy rotation, didn't they think that we would catch on?  It may not be the exact riff, slowed down or sped up, but it's pretty damn close!!!  What irks me is that as a music critic, I have to sit down and question if these producers think that we, as the consumers, are that oblivious to their actions.  And not to insult anyone, but we really are.  We are the ones who go out and purchase these albums and support the songs.  Whatever happened to making a fresh new sound?  Isn't that part of the challenge of being a producer?  They are good at what they do, because I always complain when the song comes on the radio.  But I always end up singing the song word for word.  Isn't that what always happens?  Go figure.  I assure you this is not the first time this has happened and it sure will not be the last.  Listen to the songs and let me know what you think.  Of course, I could just be having one of my crazy over analyzing moments.  

Also, if anyone is in the New York City area, the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is running at the Broadhurst Theatre.   The powerhouse of actors listed on the bill are luminaries such as Terrence Howard, James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Anika Noni Rose.  Support Black Hollywood at it's best please.  And just in case it does matter to you, Terrance will not be performing from April 15 - May 4th.  Boris Kodjoe will be filling in for him.  The reviews that I have read have been quite positive and that's amazing for an all black Tennessee Williams play.  Well the only successful one anyway.  I unfortunately have not seen it yet, however you will be the first one to know when I do get around to seeing it.

I thought I would finally get to the reason why this entry was so short.  Although looking back now, it doesn't seem short at all.  Anyhow - last week was a week to contend with.  Had a few roadblocks along the way, but such is life right?  For me, the only way to get out of that funk was to get into some funk.  I was in desperate need of a good ol' school soul party.  Being in the city, sitting in the car with my cuz, we both couldn't figure out what to get into.  So we ended up going to a restaurant, eating a fish that I absolutely HATE (that would be salmon, but ended up loving their dish), turned the car around because the night was already done to my chagrin and came back home.  That was last week, this is this week.  Well did I make up for it last night!!!

Last night my cuz and I ended up at a club called Hiro in Manhattan.  The line was long, but we all know it's always good to have a hook up.  So with hook up in tow, we ended up inside the beautiful Asian inspired club.  The club came complete with a winding orange wood staircase and Cirque de Soleil-esque women hanging from the ceiling doing acrobatics with white sheets.  Quite entertaining indeed.  However, the highlight of the night for me is when we discovered who was on the one's and two's.  One of the most influential dj's in funk and hip hop, yes yes y'all, the one and only:

Mr. Afrika Bambaataa himself!!

Ladies and gentlemen, did I get my funk ON!!!  With Bambaataa dropping tunes from Prince, SOS Band, Funkadelic and James Brown to name a few, the party had just begun.  But when he dropped "The 900 Number" by The 45 Kings?  It was o-v-e-r.  The party was exactly what I was calling on my musical gods for.   A night for me to break out in my best Kid 'n Play impersonation and do the damn thing!!!  I danced all night in my heels...well until Bambaataa was off the turntables that is.  It was a night of sweating, dancing and soaking in the soul.  And not to mention to celebrate a friend's birthday.   So here I am after walking through my doors at the wee hours of the morning (close to 6 am may I add, I am really getting too old for this!), plugging away at my blog.

And this would be the time for me to give you your shot of the video flashback, before I start divulging hot steamy secrets from my devilish past to you.  Anything is possible in this fog around my head.

Here is a true diva representing back when all you needed was a stage, stage presence, a mic and a VOICE.  I am sure that many of you will remember this:

On that note, see you soon...

Tha Connoisseur