Weekly Shoutouts …

Each week, God willing, The K.O.pe would like to “shout out” a local, or somewhat local, artist, poet, photographer, etc. We’ve got to get our people known!

This week, let’s give a round of applause to LaKaye Mbah. Miss Mbah is a photographer based in Baltimore, Maryland. With over a decade of photography experience, her photos have touched the hearts of many, and her work is truly one of a kind. Her photography has been featured in Urbanite magazine, Renovating Woman Magazine, Baltimore CityPaper, and Baltimore.Metromix.com.

Along with her many accomplishments, she also published Soulstice Cit Magazine, an arts and entertainment publication. You can view some of her work on her blog, established in 2009 at: www.lakayembah.com

The K.O.pe is proud to present such a talented black woman.

A picture is worth 1,000 words, and each day, you create millions. Best wishes on all of your future endeavors.

Wordplay Wednesday: Lupe Fiasco

I’ve decided that from now on, every Wednesday (God willing) I’ll do “wordplay wednesday,” a snippet of a musical artist, famous person, poet, etc who has said something that I (and hopefull you as well) find witty. This week I have a few bars from Lupe Fiasco’s “The National Anthem” off of The Enemy of The State mixtape. Peep this:

School of Hard Knocks, I dean it
I done it, as well as a celebrated alumnus
I donate to the campus and my name’s on the arenas
But you can’t bring it to my court not even with subpoenas
Cause you can’t play my sport but you can still cheer-lead us
And you can’t sit there, that section’s for the seniors
And the sexy senoritas so just move up to the bleachers
How you going to school me when I grew up with your teachers?

Tell us how you REALLY feel Tavis…

For those of you who are unaware, Black journalist Tavis Smiley recently took to the Tom Joyner Morning show to express his concern and confusion over fellow black leaders (Michael Eric Dyson, Angela Glover Blackwell, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Cornel West just to name a few) suggesting that President Obama has no need for a “black agenda.”  At this point in time, only the Rev. Al Sharpton has chosen to publicly respond to Smiley, and the exchange was not exactly warm and friendly, in my opinion.  Below is the audio/visual of Smiley’s commentary, and you can find the link to the visual AND transcript right here.

We’ll always love Big Poppa….

With today marking the 13th anniversary of the slaying of a Hip-Hop legend, Christopher “Notorious BIG” Wallace, many have taken to their twitters, blogs and other outlets to show love and respect to the legend..here are a few (and only a few) of my personal favorites by Big Poppa himself…

AV in 3d

The 757′s own AV Babyy has just dropped his new mixtape, “AV in 3d,” so show him some love and check it out!

THE KING IS BACK….

Just when all of the wack rappers thought that Lil Wayne’s jail bid meant they would get some shine, T.I. dropped this beautiful jewel on us . Listen and download

Is that in or it’s out?

Although most of us aren’t married, despite the rather immature annoying facebook and myspace marriages (by the way, it’s 2010, myspace is OUT), it has come to the black community’s attention that some of our favorite celebrities are all in for the “Open Marriage.”

Some of us grew up watching the handsome Will Smith on tv’s “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” and never imagined he would become to successful, sexy man he is today. He was one of the FIRST black celebrities to admit that he shares an open marriage with his wife, the beautiful Jada Pinkett Smith. The two find that sex doesn’t “make” their relationship, and if they feel the need to have “relations” with someone else, it is perfectly ok.

On the other side of the spectrum, Mo’Nique has also said she and her husband, Sidney, also share an open marriage, but she has NEVER had sex with anybody else. Most people are finding this very controversial ….

however, I just have one question..

is that in?
or … it’s out?

OJ the Vice Lord?!

In an effort to educate teachers about the signs of gang activity, gang specialists (for a lack of a better title) are exposing different hand signals, colors, and yes, even rappers whom identify with specific gangs.  I was expecting to see Lil Wayne or maybe even Snoop Dogg or The Game, but instead everyone’s favorite Atlanta rapper/trapper OJ the Juiceman got a special shout out! AYE! OKAY!

Since it’s Saturday….

Thought I’d give you a little theme music for the day… Enjoy

It all comes down to …

Sunday, March 7th, 2010, is the big day for top black actors and actresses in the world, the Oscars. 2009 was a breakout year for some and the cherry on the ice-cream sundae for others.

One of 2009′s most powerful movies, “Precious,” starred an amazing cast of men and women who delivered a very intense movie; the leading actress, Gabourey Sidibe, plays Precious, a teenager who struggles with not only her image, but painful abuse she suffers from her parents behind closed doors. Viewers are drawn in by her uplifting story to make a great deal of change in her life, and provide for her children. Sidibe has been nominated for Best Lead Actress and her co-star, Mo’Nique, has been nominated for Best Supporting Role, while the movie itself is up for many more nominations.

After years of little girls dreaming of Pocahantas, Cinderella, Snow White, etc, Disney finally released their first movie about a black princess, “The Princess and the Frog.” Starring the voice of Anika Nani Rose, who plays Tiana, on a search to break the spell that has been set upon herself and Prince Naveen, before it’s too late. The movie is nominated for 3 Oscars.

Also, congratulations to the wonderful Morgan Freeman for his nomination in “Invictus,” an inspiring movie portraying the life of Nelson Mandela after spending decades in prison. His struggle to end the apartheid and bring people together is an amazing story.

I don’t know about you, but I will be watching the Oscars! To check out a full list of nominations, click the link.