Chemistry (Originally posted on 10/11/2010)

Hello friends, how are you? I hope you experienced a fun productive weekend. Before I begin, I want to shout out a few good people: the frat brothers (Alpha Phi Alpha) from my home chapter, my good friends and sorority sisters Mikki, Crystal, and Imani, kids who listen to their parents, and my home girl Amanda. “Braceface”, you’re a bad girl.

This weekend, I visited my alma mater, Cheyney University, the oldest historically black college in the nation, for Homecoming Weekend. The trip was filled with good friends and great times, but also opportunity to do a research project on the event. Yes, I get my investigation on. So here are my top three observations about homecoming, black college style:

1. Older People Like to Wear Velour in 80⁰ Weather.

In an amazing turn of events, the 50+ male demographic opted not to wear linen (their signature cloth) and selected velour from various early 2000s designers, including Sean John, Rocawear, Phat Farm, and yes, FUBU. Not to stray too far from their style, they still use Bluetooth Headsets at an all-time high.

2. People are Drawn to Power (or nice cars)

Though I pride myself on already doing it big, this weekend I was introduced to a higher status of celebrity. With the help of Pick 6 popularity and my “mistress”, a 1986 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate, I posted a Kardashian-esque stat-line: 6 new haters, 3 converted haters (Back then, they didn’t want me; now I’m hot, they all on me), 2 extra soft hugs (that girl was softer than cotton), a girl grabbed my butt, and I got stopped by the cops. Yes, young people have fine taste too, jerk. Now that I have reached this status, I plan to release a single produced by Kanye West, and date Nicki Minaj. My back-up is Amber Rose.

3. There are Few Things More Fun than Homecoming.

The memories, the band, and the horrible football team combine to create one of the most aesthetically beautiful environments known to man.

On to the main “thang”; Homecoming allowed me to catch up with my frat brother and his girlfriend, who share one of the most dynamic relationships I’ve ever seen. While I’m not envious of my bro, I’m definitely inspired to recreate the bliss he and his boo-ski (also a good friend of mine) share. On the low, I’m pretty sure I introduced them, but that’s neither here nor there. Any who, the two have dated for almost 2 years, but their bond possesses important attributes that put them on the path for a long successful tenure: Chemistry, Aspirations, Respect, and Love.

1. Chemistry. They work very well together. It’s so important to compliment your partner, and vice versa. A relationship can be viewed as a team, and team chemistry is a key component of any team’s success.

2. Aspirations. My good friends both desire to accomplish great things. Let your goals steer your decision-making in a positive direction. Secondly, support your partner in their quest for greatness, through your words AND your actions.

3. Respect. Just a little bit. One of the most important features of any relationship, respect is similar to intensity in sports: even when you’re not at your best, respect can pull you through. Respect keeps you from embarrassing, disrespecting, and cheating yourself and your partner.

4. Love. The two really love each other. You recognize it immediately after meeting them. They are happy around each other; they stick up for each other, and show public affection in a classy manner. Seeing it in action really reminds you what love should be. It’s not a sickness; it’s not what you blame for hurting someone. Love is that immense, incredulous, indescribable feeling which arrives on sight or sound of that special person.

It’s always good to see that “young love”, as Chris Brown used to say, and I hope that many more people experience that feeling. I’m out. Whop bop a loo bop.

"What's Up, Youngblood?": A Deeper Look At The Old School Player

They are found pretty much everywhere: at the supermarket, on the second floor at your job, and especially at family reunions. Though conspicuous in nature, this species is easy to spot. No I'm not talking about roaches, you heathen; I'm talking about the "Old School Player", aka a "piiimmmmp". Now it is important to differentiate between an Old School Player and a man who is simply "old school". My father, known affectionately as Charles Perry (please say the full name), is old school; he has traditional values, rough hands, and watches westerns like "Gunsmoke". An Old School Player (O.S.P) is different; they are commonly outlandish, shifty, and laugh really weird. These well-tenured romeos carry great influence on the youth of America, specifically young males. Coming into contact with old school playas brings guys to a critical transition in life: the older men become an example for their younger counterparts. Gentlemen decide f...

Choose Your Artist- Future vs. T-Pain

Voice alteration is by no means a new tool to music, but in recent years we have seen a renaissance in its inclusion. Undoubtedly, the Hip Hop and R&B genre have lead the way in including these tools, primarily through its use of the Auto Tune digital processor. Artists such as Will.I.Am, Chris Brown, and Drake have utilized auto tune to create dozens of hits. In our latest installment of Choose Your Artist, we visit the world of Auto Tune as we pit one of the most successful users of the tool, T-Pain, against the recently crowned champion, rapper Future. Tale of the Tape: Singer T-Pain emerged on the scene in 2004 with unique style and voice that fans had not heard in many years. T-Pain's surge to stardom was spearheaded with his use of the largely underutilized voice adjustment tool Auto-Tune.Originally used to disguise and hide off-key discrepancies, T-Pain used Auto-Tune as a device to assist in his melody. The technique would lead to such hits as "Bart...

What The 'Yeezy: Our Obsession With The "Old" Kanye West

"Hov on that new sh*t n*ggas like how come N*ggas want my old sh*t, buy my old album N*ggas stuck on stupid, I gotta keep it moving N*ggas make the same sh*t, me I make the blueprint" Jay-Z, "On to the Next One" This past Saturday, comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live featured a guest appearance from Kanye West, who debuted two songs from his upcoming album, Yeezus . West perfomed "Black Skinhead" and "New Slaves" (posted below), two songs that drive us through the introspective, darker mind of Kanye. The star rapper and producer continues to travel to different worlds with his music; while his production remains stellar, his sound is a far cry from his 2004 release of The College Dropout. With Dropout, Kanye West established himself as one of the premier artists and producers of the industry. His sound was an incredible fusion of joy, family values, rebellion, spirit, and drive; West's lyrics and beats were a stylish struggle sp...

CEDTalks

Search This Blog