Amy Nicole – Page 8 – The Double Scoop

Ray-Vaughn

Author: The Double Scoop

Working as a police officer and personal trainer by day and an R&B singer by night, Ray-Vaughn proves he is a man that can juggle many hats. The Mississippi native is breaking his way into the music industry and he is not letting anything stop him from sharing what he calls his “God given talent” with the world. Born into a family of singers and musicians Ray-Vaughn discovered his passion for singing at the ripe young age of 5. His talent allowed him to sing with several choirs over the years and even landed him a 4 year choir scholarship to Mississippi Valley State University. He recorded with the Mississippi Mass Choir as a child and in college he recorded the first album with the Mississippi Mass Adult Choir. Determined not to become content with mediocre success he moved to Dallas after college to join the police department and to explore more opportunities for his music career.

We were able to catch up with Ray-Vaughn to ask him a few questions about his life and blossoming career.

TDS: When did you decide to pursue singing professionally?

RV: During my 5th year with the department I was teaching a boot-camp fitness class and one of my clients asked “What would you be doing if you weren’t an officer and a personal trainer?” My no hesitation response was “I would be performing!” That lit a fire inside of me. Upon exploring the opportunities further my client introduced me to my first producer. It took off from there.

TDS: The music industry is very competitive. What distinguishes you from other artists?

RV: I am real. My music portrays me exactly who I am. Hence the name of my debut album Experience RayVaughn. When I perform or sing I don’t do it for the fame. Instead, I do it to show the world that YOU can do ANYTHING that you desire. I do it to add to the validity of my story when I tell the youth to shoot for the moon. I follow my heart, beliefs, and love for the craft.

TDS: You will soon be dropping your first album “Experience RayVaughn”. How long have you been working on this album and what should listeners expect?

RV: I worked on that project for a little under a year. My recordings were done in two months but I was extremely critical on myself and re-recorded everything over twice. Lol. My listeners should expect to hear and understand the sentiments of my heart in some tunes and life from my perspective in the others. Originality is my forte. I’m an emotional writer who has experienced my share of sunshine and more than my load of heartaches. My tunes are not only timeless but relatable.

TDS: Many say there is not much quality R&B out today. What is your response to that statement and describe your style of R&B.

RV: R&B still lives! Many R&B artist change to keep up with the times. That was my biggest battle. Do I keep R&B rhythm and blues or do I forfeit my feelings to attract the new age listeners? To stay booming in business, you have to transcend to the auto-tune and other modern day cliché approaches to music. I chose to experiment with the some of the modern to stay relevant to society but I don’t abandon my roots. I also like to put my own unique feels in each song.

TDS: You recently released a music video to your single “Smile” which featured your wife as the leading lady. What was that experience like shooting the video and including your wife?

RV: Smile Forever was written to compete with the “Bad Bi###” mentality. I’m a country boy with the heart of a gentleman. I still believe in real love and think that class is the sexiest thing about a woman. Chivalry isn’t dead….Women can still be catered to! Having the lead be my very own wife was interesting… Let’s just say, I’m embarking into a new realm of my life. No matter what life deals you, stay true to who you are and don’t allow pitfalls to hinder your progress. Instead use them as lessons and blessings or song lyrics lol!

Listening to Ray-Vaughn’s music you can hear the diversity in his sound. There are elements of pop, a little country and of course some sultry R&B. Some have compared his sound to artists like Chris Brown, Trey Songz and Usher. Ray-Vaughn definitely has a promising career and we wish him nothing but love and success on his dream chasing journey.

Check out more of his work here.

RayVaughn “Smile Forever”

Little Five Points Mural

Atlanta, GA 3/28/15

At the end of last month we took a trip to ATL for the Atlanta Film Festival. After leaving 7 Stages Theatre we came across this dope mural outside of Rag-O-Rama in Little Five Points. The artist behind the mural is Patreece Lewis. Her artwork highlights “Fashion Through The Ages” and it showcases paintings of cultural and fashion icons throughout the years. MJ and Left Eye caught our eye right away.

TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY

Author: Amy Nicole

One word to describe Kendrick Lamar’s latest album is conscious. The album titled “To Pimp A Butterfly” touches on topics like institutional racism, consumer capitalism, and justice. Ironically his album was released in the midst of racial tension between white police officers and the African American community. Walter Scott joins the rapidly growing list of African American men being killed at the hands of white police officers. Unlike the cases involving Eric Garner and Michael Brown the officer responsible for Scott’s death was indicted but many believe that he was only convicted due to the fact that the incident was recorded on camera.

The recent deaths of African American men have lead to protest and riots all over the country as thousands (famous and non-famous) have taken a stand to call out our flawed judicial system for its bias protection of black lives. With all of the attention that this issue has garnered, it is definitely time to address those uncomfortable topics that many want to overlook and ignore.

At the end of the song “Mortal Man” Lamar uses an unreleased 1994 interview with the late rapper Tupac Shakur and incorporates himself asking the rapper questions.

KL:: I wanted to ask you about a metaphor. You spoke on the ground? What does the ground represent?

Tupac:: The ground is going to open up and swallow the evil. The ground is a symbol for the poor people. The poor people are going to open up this whole world and swallow the rich people because the rich are going to be so fat and appetizing, wealthy… the poor are going to be so poor and hungry.

KL:: I can truly tell you there is nothing but turmoil going on. What do you think is the future for me and my generation today?

Tupac: I think niggas is tired of grabbing shit out the stores and the next time there is a riot it’s going to be bloodshed, for real. I don’t think America know that. I think America thought we were just playing. It aint going to be no playing, it’s gonna be murder.

At the end of the interview Kendrick reads a metaphor to Tupac which describes the title of his album.

KL:: I wanted to read one last thing to you, it’s actually something a good friend had wrote describing my world. It says the caterpillar is the prisoner to the streets that conceived it, its only job is to eat or consume everything around it in order to protect itself from this mad city. While consuming its environment the caterpillar begins to notice ways to survive. One thing it notices is how much the world shuns him but praises the butterfly. The butterfly represents the talent, the thoughtfulness and the beauty within the caterpillar.

Could the caterpillar be a representation of the African American man in society today trying to survive within a judicial system which was never made to protect him? According to recent statistics African Americans now constitute nearly 1 million of the total 2.3 million incarcerated populations. African Americans are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of whites. Due to the consequences of incarceration many black men are unable to obtain stable employment which in turn leads them to a lifestyle of crime as a way to make ends meet. Unfortunately prison has not been proven as rehabilitation for behavior, as two-thirds of prisoners will in fact reoffend repeating the oppressive cycle. How ironic that a 1994 interview from the late rapper Tupac Shakur is so relevant to what’s going on in society today.

Source:

NAACP

Empire Season Finale Leaves Fans Eager For More

Author: The Double Scoop

Many people are suffering from withdrawals on Wednesday nights since the first season of Empire has come to an end. Whether you love the show or hate it people can’t stop talking about it. Over 16 million viewers tuned in to watch Empire’s season finale according to Nielsen, and the show is already set for a second season.

The two hour season finale was packed with so much fast paced drama and suspense that viewers didn’t have time to process everything. When you’re competing for money and power even your family and closest friends will become your enemies; there was a lot of backstabbing, jealousy, deceit and manipulation. Lucious found himself all alone from burning so many bridges with people close to him, but he fell back into good graces with Jamal (his least favorite son) and in turn Lucious gave him the key to the empire. Out of spite Andre and Hakeem are ready to see Lucious head to an early grave and even his most loyal supporter Cookie has a change of heart about Lucious after she discovers he is the one that killed her cousin Bunkie. When Lucious finds out that Cookie has been giving her “cookies” away to one of his top security officers (Derek Luke), he banishes her from the company that she helped build. The tables turn when Lucious is informed that he was misdiagnosed with ALS but before he can celebrate the good news he is arrested for the murder of Bunkie. Ironically the key witness to the murder (Vernon) is killed accidently by Andre’s wife.

Lee Daniels, one of the creators behind Empire has come under attack by some who criticize the show for promoting a negative stereotypical image of black people. The show gives viewers a peek into the dark side of the music industry; it shows how money, temptation and greed can destroy a family, and it also shows how hard an artist must fight to stay relevant and current in an ever changing industry. Aside from music the show also highlights topics such as homophobia and mental illness. In contrast to the negative criticism of the show, Empire shows a black man rise out of poverty to establish a successful million dollar company and in turn he has established something that he owns and can pass down for generations to come. The show also provides a platform for a diverse and talented black cast.

FOCUS MOVIE REVIEW

Author: Amy Nicole

Will Smith shines in the new drama-comedy Focus. In the film Smith portrays Nicky, a con man who scams and steals millions of dollars from people with the help from his team of fellow cons. From the outside looking in Nicky seems to have access to the perfect life, but as the film later reveals the life of a con-artist is a very lonely one as Nicky is always on the move and in constant need for new victims to keep the cash flow coming.

Nicky meets Jess(Margot Robbie), a beautiful young woman who is intrigued by Nicky’s lifestyle. She convinces Smith to train her to become a part of his team. Despite his own advice of not having a heart in his line of work he falls for Jess which ultimately leads to his downfall when he encounters a criminal named Garriga(Rodrigo Santoro).

Smith delivers his usual Fresh Prince humor combined with his undeniable charm; and at the age of 46 he continues to give the ladies some very tasty eye candy with his super toned physique. The movie is definitely packed with lots of unexpected twists which leaves the audience guessing about who is the con and who is being conned. Although somewhat lengthy, Focus is a decent movie and a cool date night flick.

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

Author: Ashley E.

Who wants that perfect love story anyway?………………………… I think most people whether they want to admit it or not long to experience love with another person. We want to find our better half, a companion, someone to experience the highs and lows of life with, and someone that will bring us more happiness. But what exactly is love? Is love a feeling, a choice, or an action? Is it a combination of the three? How much does love play a part in making a relationship or marriage last? Love is just a four letter word but it has so much depth. I reached out to several men and women to get their opinions on love. Some were married, single, in relationships, divorced and remarried so they all offered diverse and interesting perspectives.

I had a conversation with a coworker a few months ago about what it meant to love another person and he told me the only woman he truly loved was his ex-girlfriend. I asked him why he loved her and he started listing things that she did for him like cooking, cleaning, giving him massages and bathing him. Oh and mind you, her English was limited so she barely communicated; he did the majority of the talking in the relationship. I couldn’t help but laugh and question whether he actually loved her or did he love what she was doing for him. The men that I cared about the most in my life were the ones that did the least for me in terms of giving me material things. I was more drawn to personality, the connection, communication, and how they made me feel or what they brought out of me. The majority of the people I interviewed agreed that what a person did for them was only a small measure of why they loved someone. They agreed that what a person did was more of an expression of their love and a way to show they cared. I guess you have to ask yourself if a person stopped doing certain “tangible” things would the love remain.

“I think the things you do is more so the expression of love. I don’t think you can rely only on what someone does for you to tell if they love you though. But it’s a good way to show you care.” ~JD

I think most people including myself think or at one point thought of love and marriage as having butterflies, passion, and being on an endless high. For some people love might be those things, but how long will that sustain a marriage or a relationship? What happens when that wears off? What happens when the relationship hits a roadblock? I remember having a conversation with a friend about not having passion in a relationship. We were both talking about the men we were dating at the time and I told her I wasn’t crazy about the guy that I was dating. I complained about how he annoyed me the majority of the time, how we didn’t have a deep connection or strong communication but on the contrary he was a good person and he treated me right. She told me in the past she based choosing a potential man off of those same factors but found that most of the men she felt “passionate” about were not right for her or didn’t feel the same way about her. My relationship ended a few months later and the guy she was dating at that time ended up proposing a week after our conversation. That was the first time I questioned if my idea of love was unrealistic.

“In dating people put too much emphasis on how someone makes them feel and generally the good long term relationships aren’t based on how someone makes you feel because feelings change daily or even minute by minute.” ~DG

“Butterflies in your stomach ain’t go pay the bills. Yea it’s cute in the beginning but it’s not sustaining. I wouldn’t say I tolerate my husband’s flaws… I don’t really see his flaws because what one may consider his flaws is what I love about him. Diamonds have flaws but they are still beautiful.” ~AS

I think many people imagine a special person walking into their life who will complement their personality so well that they will be perfect together. The truth of the matter is that love sometimes doesn’t happen instantly; it tends to develop over time. Everyone you meet is going to have flaws but being able to accept or look past a person’s flaws and love them despite is the key. In my mind the perfect guy for me would be a combination of Lance Gross, Morris Chestnut, Idris Elba, Hill Harper, Michael Ealy, Malcom X, Don Cheadle, Jamie Foxx, Big Krit, Denzel Washington and the list goes on. I’m fully aware that I will not meet a man that will have every single quality that I desire, and I know I won’t have every quality that some men might desire. I don’t think anyone should settle when it comes to love but at the same time you need to have realistic expectations. Television tends to glamorize love, marriage, and relationships without acknowledging the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make it work. From the feedback I received from the married individuals I learned that your heart isn’t going to skip a beat every time you see that other person and you can’t let how you feel define the relationship because feelings change constantly.

“Having been married before, I would say that no one should expect perfection. Marriage is about a relationship, respect, responsibility, and ultimately building a life with someone. The person you will marry will not be perfect, but you also need to accept that you’re not going to be perfect either. Accept that both of you will have flaws but that’s why communication is so important in a relationship as well” ~DR

My parents have been married over 30 years and I know without a doubt love is not what kept them together all of these years. They are two people that chose to stay committed to one another throughout the ups and downs of their relationship. I do want to get married one day but at the same time I fear marriage. I fear not being a good wife, I fear falling out of love, I fear not knowing how to be fully committed to another person, I fear losing myself in another person, and I fear the marriage failing. Love is a gamble and relationships and marriage require 2 committed people to make it work. I think people get excited about the idea of marriage not fully comprehending how much goes into making a marriage work. I learned from the people I interviewed that love alone is not enough to make a relationship last. It takes sacrifice, commitment, compromise, and being unselfish.

“Marriage is a business. Has to be based off love but it’s a real deal commitment and a lot of people underestimate it.“ ~EW

“If you can still love someone despite their flaws & that love is reciprocated despite your flaws your well on your way to a long term relationship and possibly marriage. If your only basing the relationship on love alone, you may be in for a setback. Respect, loyalty, honesty & more should also be attributes to a relationship or marriage” ~RH

“It’s about balance. No one is perfect. I say that with respect to having flaws. It’s about being complementary. We are people, not robots. No one is exactly alike, so really a flaw isn’t necessarily a flaw. It’s just a way of how someone may identify themselves.” ~UO

This article was also featured in Inspire Magazine and on Confessions of An Ambitious Girl

Is The Tassel Worth The Hassle

Author: Amy Nicole

After I graduated from high school I wasn’t given the option of not going to college. My parents told me that earning a college degree was a necessity in order for me to have a successful future. Now after finishing college and grad school I beg to differ. I believe that a college degree does make a person more competitive in the job market but when you end up graduating with more student loan debt than you make as an annual salary, a college degree isn’t all that helpful.

With a slow economy and a lack of jobs many young adults are starting to ask themselves is a college degree really worth obtaining. Like I always do when getting feedback for my blog topics I hit up some of my friends on social media and got their opinions on the issue. I asked the question “Was getting a college degree worth the time and money?” and these are a few of the responses that I received.

I do believe my degree in broadcast helped me get my foot in the door, but once I got in it was all about learning to do things their way. Very little of what I learned in college translated to my job now. As for whether or not it was worth it…I can honestly say I like my job, but I do have loans out the ass that I will be paying back forever. I made the conscious decision in college to do something I would enjoy rather than something that made a lot of money…so mission accomplished I guess. But there are people working in TV without degrees that are doing just fine, so I do wonder was it even necessary.

“If I only knew then, what I know now. I am too glad that I have a degree, not even for a job, but for me. Although it has not been a job gainer, it has been a job keeper. Having worked a little in HR, I know that I sought others who were educated because it meant that they could be dedicated. It is not truly about the degree I feel though; it is about what and who you seek. Success is a journey and trust that I know people with degrees, who are just as well off as if they never went to college. So I say, get a degree ‘cause it can never hurt, but take the journey, complete the cycle; it only just begins after graduation. “

“At a young age, I noticed there’s a bias against hiring black men whether they had the proper qualifications or not. So I knew in order to have a decent chance of living a life of financial stability, I had to start and build my own business. Before starting my business, I was working in retail. There are very few black male managers in the industry but the ones that did make it up the ranks and make a good salary, they’re working on their feet every weekend, every holiday, and over fifty hours a week. That life seemed like a dead end to me. I had nothing to lose, so I took a chance. I only have a high school diploma, and I have independently published three books, started a photography business, and a magazine which I’ve had successfully for three years.”

One day I was looking at videos on YouTube and I came across a spoken word poet named Suli Breaks. I watched a video of him performing a poem called “Why I Hate School But Love Education” and it profoundly changed my views on the importance of higher education. One line from the poem that really stood out to me was this, “If you don’t build your dreams someone else will hire you to help build theirs.” This statement really stuck in my head; I thought to myself why invest so much time and money in school and still end up working for someone else at a job that you really don’t even enjoy that much.

I’m currently in the process of starting my own business because I want my independence from corporate America, and because I want to get out of debt. My goal in the next few years is to become financially stable and until that happens marriage, kids, and buying a home will definitely have to take a backseat in my life. I believe being college educated has provided me with the tools to become a successful business owner, but on the other hand I could have easily started a business without even having a degree. I know plenty of people who have done just that.

So back to the question at hand, Is the Tassel Worth the Hassle? I guess that depends on the person, the situation, and what a person wants out of life. A college education can provide a person with valuable information that can definitely help him/her to become successful in life, but on the other hand a person can become just as successful without going to college. I’m not trying to tell people don’t go to college but rather to explore other options to success before investing so much time and money into an institution that really won’t guarantee a job or a decent paying salary after graduating.

This article was also featured in Inspire Magazine.

Jay Smith

Author: Ashley E.

When you decide to pursue your passion or dream, it can cause you to make some serious sacrifices. You might risk losing relationships, stability, income, and even peace of mind. Jay Smith is an upcoming comedian and actor who decided a few years ago he wanted to pursue his passion. He got his start in the industry as a student at Jackson State University when he joined the MADDRAMA Performance Troupe. Over the years he has made a name for himself in his hometown and has also built a pretty large social media following. You can even catch a glimpse of him in the latest James Brown biopic Get on Up.

The Mississippi native recently moved to Atlanta, Georgia to broaden his career, but his journey to chase what he loves has been met with some highs and lows. I caught up with Jay recently to ask him a few questions about his dream chasing journey.

AE: When did you realize you were interested in comedy and acting?

JS: I always liked pretending as a child, making up little stories in my head and acting them out. I played Joseph (Jesus’ father) in a Christmas play when I was five haha..I guess it’s been a while.

AE: Does anyone in your family have a background in either of the two?

JS: My dad and his whole side of the family are funny. My dad has a dry wit/ asshole-ish in a nice way personality. I definitely inherited that personality. I have a cousin who does standup. As far as performing period goes, my dad was in a funk band in the 70’s and 80’s called Freedom so performing is in my blood.

AE: Do you think people underestimate how difficult stand-up comedy can be? I remember seeing you for the first time probably about a year ago at a show and thinking I would be so nervous. You have to stand in front of a room of people and demand their attention. I’m sure a 10 minute show could feel like an hour when all eyes are on you especially if the crowd isn’t feeling you.

JS: DEFINITELY….comedy is so hard, so hard that I don’t even tell people I’m a comedian…I say “I do comedy” lol. When a show is going well every second feels better than sex. Well not better than, but AS good as some good sex…and that’s really all you can ask for. When it’s going bad, the worst part is that you already know it’s going bad. It usually doesn’t get better when it’s bad, and that’s the worst part…knowing that it might get worse.

AE: What has been your worst show so far? I’m pretty sure you feed off of the crowd’s energy so I can imagine if the energy from the crowd is low than your performance isn’t the best.

JS: YEP…I was doing a contest to perform for Katt Williams when he came to Jackson. My material was geared toward people around 25 -40 years old. Everybody in there was way older than that and I wasn’t comfortable enough with my act to deviate from it. They didn’t know nothing about the stuff I was talking about. My neck was burning and voice was shaking. It was like being in a burning house. I just cut it short and said “that’s my time.”

AE: Are there any comedians in particular that influence you?

JS: Yes. Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Louis CK, George Carlin, Paul Mooney…man Paul Mooney is that guy. I listened to Paul Mooney going to sleep every night for like a year and some change.

AE: Explain T.R.U.S.T and F.I.N.E. You use those 2 words a lot in your videos.

JS: So, TRUST is something that came from a crazy teacher at JSU I had. He stuttered severely and had a very smart mouth. After he made a point he would say “TRUST”. It turned into a hashtag on twitter, lol. Me and my classmates all followed each other and made fun of him on twitter and always ended the tweets with #TRUST. It then turned into something deeper after a few life experiences along with people outside of our class wondering what TRUST meant. TRUST then went on to mean having peace and TRUSTing the process of getting down whatever road you’re traveling in life. TRUSTing your intuition, TRUSTing the struggle.

F.I.N.E. is something that started with me and my friends at Hinds Community College in Raymond back in 2005. Basically a daily mantra to live by in acronym form. (Focused Intelligent Negro Excelling).

AE: I watched your most recent you-tube video and I see that this past year was pretty challenging for you. You ran into a lot of obstacles: being broke, not having a job, having to move back in with your parents, a failed relationship, being arrested and moving to a new state are major life events. Do you ever feel discouraged about following your dreams and question if what you’re sacrificing is worth it?

JS: Honestly yes, I don’t know if that’s something that’s going away anytime soon. I have a feeling I’ll be by myself because my dreams aren’t the most secure career path to go about. Chicks don’t really line up for unpredictable situations. Sometimes I wish I’d be happy living a “regular” life but I know I wouldn’t be right now, at this point. I just try to look around and remember how unhappy other people are with everything that society says you should have and it reminds me I’m making the right choice. I pray. I know my personal relationship with God and I feel like I wouldn’t have the urge, gift, or opportunities to do this if it wasn’t meant to happen.

AE: How far do you want to take your comedy and acting career?

JS: I just want to reach my full potential. The goal isn’t to be rich or famous. The goal is to make a living doing what I love to do.

AE: Being that so many people are in those fields of work, do you find it difficult to find a place in the industry?

JS: I think if you truly are yourself and no one else then there can’t be another you. Thinking like that, I don’t really think about trying to find a place.

If you want to know more about Jay and his work check out his sites below.

Instagram

Twitter

Youtube

SEXLESS

When I tell guys that I’m abstinent the most common response that I receive is, “How do you do it!?”

No, I’m not a virgin but believe it or not sex is something that I really don’t have a strong desire for. To be quite honest a large part of it is due to the fact that I’ve never just had great sex! When I talk to other women about my lack of good sex they look at me in pity. The most common response that I receive is, “Girl I feel so bad for you! I love sex!” Men on the other hand take my predicament as a challenge in hopes of being the guy that will make me change my mind.

I’ve gone months, even years without having sex and when I finally give in to the temptation the experience just isn’t worth it and the moment isn’t very memorable. One issue that I might be having is that most of my sexual experiences have been more on the casual side. Not that I’m going around having one night stands but I haven’t been in a relationship in a while so most of the guys that I end up having sex with are just guys that I’m randomly dating. The older that I get I’m definitely realizing that I’m not a casual sex type of person. I know most guys can have sex with a woman and forget about her the next day, but with me I feel like if I’m having sex with you I’m giving you a part of me, and that’s not something I want to share so freely.

I spoke with a lot of guys regarding the subject of sex and the consensus of most men under the age of 40 is that sex is definitely a deal breaker in a relationship. When I asked guys if they would date a female who was choosing to be abstinent most either said no or that they would date her but would definitely be getting sex from someone else on the side.

When I asked women how important sex is in a relationship most of them said it was important but that they were willing to compromise having great sex in exchange for a great guy with a good personality. Most women who are in a good relationship, said that they have faked having an orgasm to stroke their man’s ego.

I’m not saying that I’m going to wait until I get married to have sex again but I do want to have a deep connection with the next person. Some people might call it old fashioned but to me it simplifies things so much. Sex in a way complicates relationships because it makes you feel like you are so attached to this person but in reality you are really not. From a biblical perspective when you have sex with someone it causes a soul tie which makes it hard to break away from them. A perfect example of this are couples who fight all the time but they stay together because the sex is good.

My advice to any single person practicing abstinence is to set your boundaries. If you tell a person you’re abstinent and they still try to pursue you sexually you should cut that relationship off immediately because they obviously don’t respect you. You can tell when a person is genuinely interested in you because they will actually take the time to get to know you without rushing things. Also don’t let people intimidate you. I’ve been told by other women that the right man may not wait around for me but I believe if a person is right for you, you won’t have to compromise your morals or standards to be with them.

Jazmine Sullivan Shares Her Pain In New Album

Author: Ashley E.

I got so excited when I heard Jazmine Sullivan was dropping a new album at the beginning of the year. The Philly native took a 5 year hiatus from the music scene and her presence was definitely missed. There aren’t too many female artists in the music industry right now with a unique and distinct sound like Ms. Sullivan. During an interview with Hot 97 Jazmine described how her label Jive Records dropped her when she was 18 years old because they couldn’t figure out where her sound would fit in the industry; now it seems as if people are longing for that familiar sound.

The singer admitted that her absence was largely in part due to her being involved in an abusive relationship that brought her to a very low point in her life. It is said that an artist sometimes produces their best work when they’ve experienced pain and Jazmine showcased a lot of that pain in her latest album Reality Show.

She described her album in a recent interview:

“I feel like with this particular album I was really done with trying to impress, I just wanted to do me.”

Overall I liked the new album. It was different but familiar at the same time. She did a lot of storytelling and played with various sounds, and I feel like she challenged her vocal ability. I remember instantly loving just about every song on her debut album Fearless when it dropped back in 2008. Reality Show was a bit different; there were songs like “Dumb” and “Forever Don’t Last” that I liked immediately, but a lot of the other songs had to marinate in my ears before I could really appreciate and feel what she was singing.

In her track “Mascara” she sings about the stereotypical video vixen, Instagram model and reality show female who has to keep up this certain image and appearance in order to maintain a certain lifestyle. She discussed in her interview with Hot 97 how overwhelming and exhausting that could be to have to “stay on” at all times.

I absolutely loved “Forever Don’t Last” because you can literally hear the pain behind her words in the track. So many people can relate to giving so much of yourself in a relationship only for it to end leaving you drained and broken.

“Mona Lisa” is a track that has become one of my favorites off the album. I love it because she talks about dealing with insecurities and so many women deal with them, even the ones that seem to be the most confident. It’s about looking in the mirror, accepting your flaws and embracing and loving what you see. You have to love what you see when you look in the mirror before anyone else does because you will find yourself seeking validation from others in order to love yourself and the way that you look. In the interview with Hot 97 Jazmine discussed her body image and how she knows she doesn’t reflect the typical standard of beauty. She said she wants to represent for the regular women.

Jaz kicks off her Reality Show tour next month. I’m so glad she is back and I hope she is here to stay for a while.

Jazmine Sullivan Performs Forever Don’t Last as part of the Dreammakers Series in New York City