Happy Birfday, Big Sis!

Enjoy a classic remake.
Oct. 5 is a day we celebrate the birth of a true original!
Tanwi Nandini Islam, She da best!
Love and then more.

Undercover Brotherz Tryna Holla

Do ya’ll remember New York Undercover? Michael DeLorenzo and Malik Yoba were undercover detectives for the NYPD and were always finding themselves in disturbing and elaborate criminal schemes. I remember watching the show, but I don’t remember actually caring about it. It wasn’t a sick addiction like Law and Order: SVU became for me, during my last years in high school. Maybe it was the lack of consistent marathoning that prevented that from happening.

A couple years ago, my friend Ngozi and I friended Michael DeLorenzo on MySpace and he accepted!! Michael DeLorenzo is apparently trying out his luck as a pop sensation now so… good luck with that, Mike!

Noteworthy: NYUndercover was the first American police drama to feature two people of color in lead roles. And it lasted for longer than a year! Holla! I guess people were really committed to the life and work of Julius Clarence “JC” Williams and partner Eduardo “Eddie” Torres. Delish.

From a previous post, ya’ll already know that Michael used to be a dancer. He totes held his own with the King of Pop as a dancing gangbanger in the epic music video, “Beat It.” Love his muscle tee! And pirouettes! He was also the object of drama, Private Santiago, in one of my fave guilty pleasure courtroom dramas, “A Few Good Men (1992)” with Tom Cruise (I want the truth!) and Jack Nicholson (YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!), Demi Moore, and cameos by Noah Wylie (ER blog post coming soon!) and the ubiquitous KEVIN BACON!

Now, the other dude, Malik Yoba (I should totes friend him on MySpace too. hm) … I unfortunately haven't kept up so much with his career. My aforementioned friend, Ngozi (who has great New York Undercover celeb luck!) had an interaction with Mr. Yoba when she was living here in Fort Greene, recently before she peaced to OR.

It seems that the ashy lipped homeboy stopped the strikingly attractive Ms. Gozanne on the street and said, “I’m sorry but… do I know you?”

Now Malik, we know she’s magnetic and all, but you really need to stop tryin to act like the real question you were asking wasn’t…

“Do you know ME?”

!!!!!!!

Womp (x3).

don't need no hateration, holleration

In this aftermath of graduation, I’ve really been trying to unearth the things that make me feel happy and good, solid yet powerful enough to move. And musically, this has drawn me back to Mary J. Blige.

1994 Mary. Holla!

Mmmm some of that shiyet is Just. So. Good. This is Mary before she sampled the theme song from Young and the Restless and made up words for lyricslets get it percolatin it why you waitin so jus dance for me?”

Also way before she was just fine fine fine fine fine fine fine fine!

Just fine fine fine fine fine!

This was Mary at her life’s lowest. Drug addicted and new to fame and fortune. Her music relationship with Puffy (now: PDiddy) ending and her life getting away from her. I watched a lot of Behind the Music in my day.

Anyway. Mary J. Blige’s album “My Life” is so beautifully real, and raw. It is the output of a woman who’s falling but trying to fight gravity to keep herself alive long enough to get her message out, and hopefully and thankfully, come back up and out, happy and strong. Sometimes, the lyrics don’t even have to be desolate or sad to get across the breadth of emotional weight that someone is carrying on their own. Just listen to her voice. Shit is deep! Mary J.’s popularity and her talent is rooted out of her uncompromising and sortof mindblowing conviction, as an artist, and as a creator. I love her. Mary, U Bring Me Joy!

Can't Hold a Candle to the JET

I was talking to one of my lovebugs the other day, D-Moneyyy, and we were conferencing about the unveiling of my blog and the maturation of MIKE VITAR (who, bt dubs hasn’t yet hit the BIG 3-0! After alla that!). And homegirl had these pearls of wisdom to share:

It’s not like he turned out that bad. I mean, he’s no RALPH MACCHIO. Now, that’s a lost cause.

HAHAHA

Firstly, can I just say how much I love how my friends are so on top of their shit! Loves it, D!!! Such a throwback, aimed to perfection!

Secondly, to give ya’ll a refresher course, Ralph Macchio was the star of the ORIGINAL KARATE KID (that is, pre-Hilary Swank). He was just so adorable in all the right ways, athletic AND working hard to achieve a goal, with Pat Morita, and most importantly, AGAINST ALL ODDS.

Damn. So good. So wholesomely good.

This is how Ralph turned out:

Dizzamn. Do we agree with D- Money?

also - there have been rumors that CHUCK NORRIS was supposed to be in this film as the evil John Kreese. wow. can you imagine the pop culture repercussions of such casting!?

Action Jackson!

Poppin that cherry.
What kind of nostalgia blog would this be, if it didn't include recurring and permanent mentions of the epic JACKSON FAMILY. I love the Jacksons, from top to bottom, front to back. I love how crazy they are, how they all look strangely similar even after all of their plastic surgery pursuits, how fiercely loyal (except for LaToya!) they are to each other's crazy! It's such good stuff. EPIC.

Every week, I'm gonna offer a head to head video challenge for the two Jackson Titans. Sorry 3T (re: Tito's kids, "Anything" 1995 international R&B hit). This is all about Michael and Janet.

So. for the first ever ACTION JACKSON post, I offer my two favorite vidz! Now, these might be a little too mainstream for you hard core Jacksonites (esp. those that I have subjected to my MJ #1's dvd on too many an occasion), but we start big and then move into the obscure. enjoy!

Beat It lyrics - Michael Jackson lyrics

Beat It Video - Michael Jackson Music Videos

Music Videos by VideoCure

If lyrics - Janet Jackson lyrics

If Video - Janet Jackson Music Videos

Music Videos by VideoCure

• check out the cameo by Michael DeLorenzo of NY Undercover fame as a dancer in MJ's Vid.
• Eddie Van Halen was the guitar soloist for Beat It, but refused to appear in the video because he "didn't think it was a hit." Herb.
• also - love janets tight black vest/pants look. she fly
• i had never seen the full version of the "if" video. awk racial representations happening... hm.
  

thats it lovelyz. you're welcome!

how did you get here??

nobody's supposed to be here!

ps. count the amount of times she says "no"... i dare you.

Give it that extra umph

I had one of these....

Did you?

The possibilities are endless.
Just Ask Lenny