Rest in Peace Don Cornelius

Don Cornelius, who famously created the landmark television series "Soul Train," died yesterday in his home in Sherman Oaks, CA. At around 4AM Pacific time, it is reported that law enforcement officials discovered his body with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

"Soul Train," changed the landscape of not only black television, but national television when the show made it's debut in 1971. The man who preached "Love, Peace, and Souuuuul," at the conclusion of all of his broadcasts brought the black version of "American Bandstand," to millions of television sets every week.

Although Cornelius was admittedly not a Hip-Hop fan, his show was essential to the careers of those like Public Enemy, Kurtis Blow and more.

In his much later years, Cornelius was battling a very bitter divorce from his wife and during the proceedings in 2009, notified judges that he was sufferent from "significant health issues," and wanted to "finalize this divorce before I die." The divroce was finalized in 2010.

In 2008, Cornelius was arrested for domestic violence against his wife and pled no contest to the misdemeanor. HE was placed on three years probabtion, which was terminated at the start of this year.

In later public appearances and most notably at the 2009 BET Awards while presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to the O'Jays, it was obvious that the Soul Train creator's health was fading. Cornelius had suffered a stroke that required brain surgery and that had took its toll on the TV icon.

Questlove of the roots pays homage:

Don Cornelius was my first non musical non celeb non blood related hero.

its amazing timing that my arrival on earth and his greatest creative manifestation came within 9 months of each other. both symbolizing a new hope for urban America. most won’t get it til now (especially now that he’s gone) but i pray that Don knew of the appreciation he had in all of us born after 1968.

you people will have to forgive me…im just kinda writing from the heart….sporadic thoughts tears and snot are spilling out and whatnot. im certain dream and toure and nelson will do his legacy justice in print….

i just felt the need to write something.

Influential Black Figures: Reggie White

(December 19, 1961 – December 26, 2004)

White, who spent two seasons in the ill-fated United States Football League, made a memorable debut in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4 of the 1985 season. He collected 2.5 sacks, and deflected a pass that was intercepted and returned for touchdown. Despite the fact he played in only 13 games that season, White tied for the team lead with 13 sacks and was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year. The following season, White picked up 18 more sacks to earn his first of an astounding 13 straight Pro Bowl trips.

In 1987, White recorded one of the finest seasons ever posted by a defensive lineman. In the season debut against the Washington Redskins, he sacked quarterback Doug Williams, stripped the ball, and then picked it up and raced 70 yards for the first of his two career touchdowns. In just 12 games during the strike-shortened season White amassed 21 sacks to earn his first of two consecutive league sack titles.

In 1993, after recording 124 sacks in 121 games over eight seasons in Philadelphia, White became the first big name free agent to switch teams. He joined the Green Bay Packers and instantly helped turn the fortunes of the once-proud franchise.

The team steadily improved and, in 1996, returned to glory with White leading the NFL's topped ranked defense to playoff and Super Bowl victories. In Super Bowl XXXI he recorded a record three sacks.

Reggie played two more years in Green Bay. During that period he added 27 more sacks to his repertoire. After a one-year "retirement", White returned for a final season with the Carolina Panthers in 2000.

White retired as the NFL's all-time sack leader with 198. He was named to the NFL's All-Decade Teams of the 1980 and 1990s, the 75th Anniversary Team, and was voted first-team All-Pro 10 times in his 15-year career.

Reggie White earned the nickname "The Minister of Defense" as a senior at Tennessee. The moniker surely had to do with something more than the fact that he became an ordained minister at the age of 17. That became instantly apparent when he began his pro football career.

If anything, Christianity in our major professional leagues has become even more forceful, and more problematic, since White retired from the National Football League for good after the 2000 season.

White apparently came to believe, blending faith with pro sports and commerce might not, in the end, be good for religion. Is justice done for the purpose and power of faith when victorious players claim that God intervened so one Christian player might outdo another? Or when ministries put biblically illiterate celebrities on a pedestal to promote religion as though it were just another product endorsement?

"I used to have people tell me, 'God has given you the ability to play football so you could tell the world about him,' " White said shortly before his death. "Well, he doesn't need football to let the world know about him. When you look at the Scriptures, you'll see that most of the prophets weren't popular guys. I came to the realization that what God needed from me more than anything is a way of living instead of the things I was saying. Now I know I've got to sit down and get it right."

Unfortunately, death allowed him very little time to do that.

As we reflect on White on the occasion of his induction into the Hall of Fame, let's remember his legacy in its fullness. Yes, he was about family and faith. He cared about his teammates and his community, and he played the game with a unique talent and passion. And, yes, Reggie came to reject the very faith-in-sports movement he did so much to advance.

Let's remember Reggie's story — all of it.

Shafiq feat. Bilal - Cheeba (Official Video)

Extended web version music video for "Cheeba" by Shafiq( from the group Sa-Ra) feat. Bilal that incorporates several pieces of music off of Shafiq's debut solo album En A-Free-Ka. Pure soul music

J. Cole x The Roots – “Can’t Get Enough” on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

21221136 by YardieGoals

Misconceptions of Africa

Africa Must Wake Up

Many many misconceptions of Africa! I agree totally. And at one point in time I was naive enough to believe that some of the comments I heard reflected the whole continent. But as I grew older, and more mature my whole outlook as changed dramatically.

The people that I know who visited come back with so many stories of how beautiful it is. Like anywhere else you have good and bad, but with not much support, aid or living assistance, how can any human being survive?? I would love to visit one day for myself and put all the speculations to rest...

What you looking for? You the question and the answer......

"...we were scholars way before colleges...."

Taking out time to reflect back a few years ago on how Nas was brave enough to take it there with his own thoughts on the racism that still exists around the world, and put it on wax for his true fans. More people should not be afraid of criticism and say whats real. He took alot of slack from people because of the album title, but its a shame that half of his critics probably never took the time to listen to the realness he delivered. Some of that can be blamed on the mainstream media feed that pollutes your ears on a daily basis with nonsense. Our youth really need to be educated on our real history, as well as some of us adults..and I dont mean the mess you learn in history class either.

Influential Black Figures: Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk was born on this date in 1917. He was an African-American jazz pianist and musical genius.

Monk was from Rocky Mount, NC, and moved with his family to New York when he was five. In his preteen years, he took piano lessons and later played house parties and church revivals. Teddy Wilson and stride piano players influenced him. In the early 1940s, he frequently gigged in New York, scoring his most important gig with Coleman Hawkins. He later played with Dizzy Gillespie and formed his own band in 1947, using the talents of such players as Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, and Milt Jackson. Other band members over the years included saxophonists John Coltrane and Charlie Rouse.

While Monk made his recording debut with Blue Note in 1947, it was during his long association with the Riverside label and co-owner Orrin Keepnews, that he made his mark on the jazz world. In the ‘60s, he recorded widely with Columbia. Each of Monk's albums proved to be an adventure in listening. Though he reinterpreted many of his best-known and favorite pieces including "'Round Midnight," "Straight, No Chaser," "Ruby, My Dear," and "Epistrophy" on his later recordings. Each visit was so charged with imaginative impulses that his music teemed with surprises, never sinking to the level of bland predictability.

During his early days as a bandleader, he was ordained the High Priest of Bebop. Monk's radical playing was more driven by stride, blues, and swing influences than by bop. While he gained recognition from his musical peers and eventually the record-buying public, Monk was often misunderstood and unfairly castigated as a neurotic for his idiosyncratic behavior and newfangled tunes.

In his final years, Monk was nearly invisible. His last recording was the 1971 Black Lion sessions and one of his last appearances took place at the 1974 Newport Jazz Festival. Although when he died in 1982 he was almost forgotten, his music in subsequent years became extremely popular as young jazz upstarts began to comprehend the wit, poetry, and genius in his compositions.

http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/thelonious-monk-high-priest-bebop


His musical touch has had a very profound impact on the sounds we listen to today. In a sample-heavy era, the influence he has has goes on without saying. Ask Madlib, Dj Exile, Jazz Liberators, MF Doom......should I say more???