Maybe Hip-Hop IS Dead After All?

The other day, I was listening to one of the newer hip-hop "artists"  - and I use that term only for lack of a better one...and I was more than mildly disturbed at his "lyrics." Not because of the profanity or any of the other criticisms many have of hip-hop, but because of the lack of clarity, originality or plain old sense of the "lyrics". As someone who grew up during the dawn of hip-hop in the late 70s/early 80s, I am offended by many who call themselves rappers. Offended because they have failed to honor the origins of hip-hop. I advise the youngins to at least read some kind of history to help understand that hip-hop is not just about the bling, the limelight and other perks, but it is about the music and art form called hip-hop (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip-hop might be a nice easy place to start).

I love listening to lyrics of KRS-One, Jay-Z, Run DMC, LL Cool J and others who paved the way for these new guys and gals who are desecrating the sacred ground of hip-hop. I dare any one of the newbies to battle them...oh wait, do the youngins even "battle" anymore? Used to be a time where the true test of an MC's mettle was in the lost art of "freestyling" - where rhymes were spit on the spot, off the cuff, with a back and forth battle between MCs. Now true, every old school artist couldn't necessarily freestyle, but most of them could. Don't get me wrong, there are a few mainstream artists out now who are okaaay. Drake probably has some skills, if he could peel himself away from Weezy and get rid of the Auto-tune. Oops, did I say that out loud? No disrespect...I actually like Drake.

In fairness to the new jacks, I invited a few young people to tell me what they and their peers thought of some of today's emerging artists. Interestingly enough, they admitted that their younger peers loved the newbies, but the older teens didn't seem to care much for most of the mainstream artists. "Their lyrics don't make sense, and these kids are singing the words without knowing the true meaning behind them," offered one of my young friends. I felt comfort that errybody is not falling for the new hip-hop okie doke.

So is hip-hop dead? I don't know...the hip-hop I knew and loved is in the past, and much of what is taking its place is not fulfilling the original mission of the genre. Or maybe the new jacks are taking it to another level that I just don't understand. Maybe I'm just an oldhead! Feel free to disagree if you like. But I will leave you with the words of one of the original hip-hop philosophers, KRS-One [Step Into a World (Rapture's Delight)]:

Step into a world where there's no one left

But the very best

No MC can test

Step into a world, where hip-hop is me

Where MC's and DJ's

Build up their skills as they play every day

For the rapture

...and in the words of Rakim...PEACE!

(...and by the way...shouts out to Afrika Bambaataa, Kool DJ Herc, and the Sugarhill Gang - and all the other REAL OGs!)

Embraceable You

Good morning! NO MORE APOLOGIES for lagging in my blog posts! I've embraced the fact that I will only say something when I really have something to say. If that means a month or two in between, then so be it. This morning, I was feeling quite empowered - for no particular reason. I kept thinking of adding these things to my Facebook status, but realizing I had too many things to add, the light bulb flickered and I remembered my blogspot. So on that note...

Ladies - embrace yourself today. Last week I unashamedly celebrated my 41st birthday.  As long as I feel I've grown to be better and wiser than the year before, I will always embrace my age. I am thankful for wisdom, and continue to strive to gain more. I feel especially strong today...and I want you to feel strong as well - in mind, body and spirit!

When I was a VERY little girl, I had this strange misconception that it was much harder to be a "boy" than a "girl". I thought that only boys went to jail, could join the army and had to do "hard" labor. I thought these were horrible things and so I was thankful to have been born a girl. Of course, I quickly learned this just wasn't true. However, I am still thankful to have been born a "girl", just for different reasons. This is no disrespect to the fellas out there - neither gender is better or worse, just different. And different is good, as long as we understand the differences...but that's for another blog on another day! I LOVE being a woman. I love knowing that I have "woman's intuition", and a nurturing instinct. I love the fact that I have been blessed to give birth to two beautiful, miraculous children. I often think of Lauryn Hill's beautiful lyrics in To Zion:

And I thank you for choosing me

To come through unto life to be

A beautiful reflection of His grace

See I know that a gift so great

Is only one God could create

And I'm reminded every time I see your face

I embrace my life...my spirit...my choices...my ability to love - and I love HARD...my inner voice...my intelligence...and yes, I even embrace my CURVES! 

Dr. Angelou said I am PHENOMENAL. The Bee Gees said I'm MORE THAN A WOMAN. WAY before Whitney said it, Chaka said I'm EVERY WOMAN. The Psalmist said I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY MADE! The Commodores said I'm a BRICK...HOUSE (OWWW)! India.Arie said I have STRENGTH, COURAGE and WISDOM. And back in the day, even Helen (Reddy) said...I am STRONG. I am INVINCIBLE. I am WOMAN!

Be it girl...then EMBRACE IT! Peace.

I'm Back...Again!

Thanks to all my followers for hanging in there with me! Finally checking back in, and I'll probably be starting my next post with an apology...again! Blogging is still hard for me, but I'm committed to press on. A few things on my mind...

Mother's Day
I Hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day and a Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the Moms out there. I was thankful to be sharing it with my Mom, visiting from Florida, and my Mother-in-Law aka "Second Mom."  I am blessed to have these two incredible women in my family. I was reflecting on their amazing strength, as I watched both of them care for ailing loved ones over a long period of time. Mommy took care of my Dad in his final days and although she is a nurse by profession, it makes looking after a loved one no easier. The strength I saw in her in those difficult days, as well as those after his passing, has and continues to be inspiring to me. And then I simultaneously watched Mom (my MIL) traveling from work to the Nursing Home, to all her other obligations and back again every day to care for her ailing mother, staying by her side until she drew her last breath. I remember praying that I would always be as dedicated to my mother as she was to hers. I pray that soon, the wisdom imparted from my "mothers" and grandmothers will finally "kick in" and I can feel that same kind of wisdom flowing through me to our children. Motherhood ain't easy, but it's worth every minute of it, and I wouldn't trade it for the world! Keep loving and honoring your mothers.

"I'm a hustler, baby..." (a la Jay-Z)
Well I'm selling Avon...slowly...but I'm sticking with it. And I'm also a Cookie Lee Jewelry Consultant. I LOVE their jewelry!! I'm so excited about having my jewelry business, and I'm doing quite well, if I may say so. Please check out my website - you can view the catalog online. It's just a side gig, but it's turning out to be quite rewarding. Aside from my initial enthusiasm over sales, what's amazing to me is that several of my customers are already promising to come back for more orders - practically setting aside budget money for next month's purchase. I love it! This jewelry is amazing! Did I say that already? Well, it is. I am so NOT a salesperson, but the product - excuse the coming cheesy line - really DOES sell itself! I'm including a few pieces in each of my YouTube videos, so I'm learning how to work the hustle! Never knew I had it in me! Who knows what the future holds... Check me out at www.youravon.com/cbranch and www.cookielee.biz/calandrabranch.

My Baby Can Read
OK, I know I'm just rambling at this point and there is no continuity in this blog, but remember...it's called "'This and That' with Calandra" for a reason! Anyway...I'm not one to brag about my children (smirk), but The Boy (I always loved when Homer called Bart "the boy") is now 3 1/2 and already reading! I want to make a Public Service Announcement...Please do not spend money on the "My Baby Can Read" DVD. First of all, how good can an educational product be that just costs $20? Shucks, "Hooked on Phonics" was like $200 when it first came out and that was a sound investment. Phonics are the way to go!!! When The Boy was a baby, someone from church gave him a toy called "Alphabet Pal" - a big catepillar who taught letters and phonetics. This was the best toy he had, and now The Girl is learning from it as well. I firmly believe that because The Boy learned phonics, he is reading now...give him any word and he can sound it out. The joy of phonics. Sight reading, the premise behind MBCR, just teaches memorization of words, so children only recognize words they have memorized or seen before. What value is that? Just something for the parents of a 6 month old who can "read" to brag about at dinner parties and family reunions. Sight reading vs. phonics  is like the difference between giving a man a fish vs. teaching him how to fish. The Boy will be reading like a champ in no time. Just in time to give us some good bragging material at the next dinner party or family reunion! LOL - just kidding.

Until next time folks...Love Y'all!

Quick Update

Hey y'all! Two posts in the same week?? Kinda frightening, eh?

Anyway...just a quick note to say thanks to all of you read my posts and to those who have dared to follow me! Please check out my YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/cybranch - I just posted two new videos, one of which is a contest/giveaway. But I'm not gonna tell you what it's about - you'll have to head over to my YouTube channel and find out! ;-)

I'm entering two new ventures, hoping to earn a little gas money, which these days is actually a lot! I'm now a Cookie Lee Jewelry Consultant (shout out to my Sistafriend Melanie from BxSci for hooking a sista up!), and an Avon Representative (shout out to the lady at my local Starbucks who kept harassing me...no just joking, she didn't harass me, she was 'mildly persistent'). So please check out www.youravon.com/cbranch and place an order, and http://www.cookielee.biz/calandrabranch to check out the jewelry. Give me a shout out if you're interesting in hosting a jewelry party - there's some cool stuff for you if you become a hostess!

Until later...peace and blessings y'all!

To Breastfeed or Not to Breastfeed?

I know...it's been more than a minute since I've blogged, and my re-entry into the blog world is about breastfeeding? What's up with that? Well, remember we talk about a little bit of anything and everything here, and parenting issues are near and dear to my heart. This is probably the most widely discussed parenting topic out there, right next to "cloth vs. disposable" (diapers, that is).

This afternoon, I was reading this blog/article on parentdish.com (http://www.parentdish.com/2010/04/13/baby-formula-is-not-rat-poison/), written by a woman who actually DID breastfeed her children, but was also a supporter of formula. I thought I'd add my two cents for all those moms-to-be out there. Be careful, I also feel a rant coming on! It's been 3 1/2 years since I first had to contemplate the breastfeeding choice and that's exactly what it was...a choice. I am so very sick of mothers (and fathers for that matter - contrary to popular belief, men need to be able to at least voice their opinion about anything that concerns their children. And no, I will not duck when you all throw the tomatoes at me for that statement. I'm not afraid to stand up for the Dads out there) being chastised for the decisions they make concerning their children. The bottom line is, any parent worth his/her salt is a "real parent" not because they conceived and bore a child, or not because they chose one form of something over another, but because they have made a commitment to put the welfare of their children before their own. And that they have committed to being the best they can be for their children. Now that's a pretty tall order - we are selfish by nature, so even though they're real cute and cuddly, it is sometimes difficult to put their needs before our own.

But as usual, I digress...I was talking about breastfeeding, right? Actually, no. This blog is more about choices and the consequences of the choices we make for our children. Well...I guess I'd better stick to the breastfeeding issue and I'll come back to choices later. (Note to self: Start a series of blogs on parental choice - public vs. private school, to spank or not spank, hmm...)

OK - I'm focusing, I'm focusing...Breastfeeding, right? It saddens me that a woman's motherhood is tested by her decision to breastfeed. To me, breastfeeding is not the end all. Yes, there are health and nutritional benefits, and bonding opportunities, and all that other good stuff. But when we put that kind of pressure on mothers, especially when there is a perfectly legitimate alternative, it makes non-breastfeeding mothers crazy! When I was pregnant with my son, I actually read the benefits of breastfeeding, and I decided to give it a try, but had also decided what formula we would be using, just in case. I chose to breastfeed because of the health benefits, and the bonding opportunities, but did not think formula was the devil. I did not think that breastfeeding would make me feel like more of a mom. I knew my baby would love me whether I gave him breastmilk or formula - as long as he got fed!

The irony is that we still put pressure on ourselves. I had difficulties breastfeeding. When I came home from the hospital, I was so obsessive about getting Izzy (our son) on a schedule, I didn't like the arbitrary-ness (yeah, I know that's not a word) of the breastfeeding schedule. If I couldn't measure it, I didn't know if he had had enough, and I was just a hot mess. After a month, I decided to stick to formula and after a few days of grieving my decision, I got over it and moved on. I was disappointed because I felt I had betrayed my commitment to breastfeed. I wasn't worried about losing any health benefits - there are perfectly healthy formula-fed children out there. So by the time our daughter was born 2 years later, there was no choice. I didn't want to go through the emotional struggle again. We were going straight to the formula. Enfamil had served us well.

So to breastfeed or not to breastfeed? The purpose of this blog is not to provide you the answer. There is no correct answer. My only answer is to do your homework and make a wise decision. But also realize that sometimes biology is not in line with our decision, and you may have to go another route. Just know that if you make parenting decisions with love and due diligence, then don't let anyone get on your case about them.

Let me get off my soapbox, before someone knocks me off! Love y'all!

Young Adults and the Church

I read an interesting article this morning - www.politicsdaily.com/2010/02/25/young-adults-doing-religion-on-their-own-blame-it-on-politics/%2F. [NOTE: The link may only take you to the main Politics Daily page. Enter "pew center young adults" in the search box, and it's the first article that comes up.] The article briefly discussed the Pew Center's recently-released report, "Religion Among the Millenials." Please read the entire article, but in short, Pew indicated that the generation of young adults aged 18-29 are leaving organized denominations and churches, but have not abandoned their faith to embrace secularism. They are not worshipping in the way of their parents and grandparents. They are leaving the church because of the church's role in politics. I do find it interesting that the early church was always involved in politics - as with the Civil Rights Movement - but perhaps the church was dealing more with social politics as opposed to the extreme right- and left-wing issues being fought across the country today. This blog is not a review, or even a discussion about the Pew report. However, this article had me revisit the question many of us in the church have been asking..."Why are young adults leaving the church?"


We must be very careful with information found in surveys such as the Pew report - I think that too many of our churches take this information as a cue to "re-vamp" the church. Speaking as a Methodist, John Wesley (the father of Methodism), Richard Allen (founder and first Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church), James Varick (founder and first Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church), and all our other forefathers and foremothers, along with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gave us all the tools we needed, and still need, for effective ministry. What we need to do is just sharpen the tools for today's times. Too many ministers and laity feel it necessary to "change" the church drastically in order to attract, or re-attract young adults. Many want to write-off the "traditions" of the church, citing them as being outdated and irrelevant. However, in terms of Methodism, the "tradition" of John Wesley WAS preaching to the people in the streets, at risk of being stoned and ridiculed for his faith and public proclamation of the Gospel. It was the tradition of John Wesley and his brother Charles to "preach" to the local pubdwellers by putting Christian lyrics to the tunes of popular bar songs. Now if that wasn't an example of bringing the Gospel to the people...!

Please...let's not start trying to take the "church" out of the church - restructuring pulpits, taking down altar rails, taking crosses off the wall and not using the word "church" in the names of our ministries. These are not the things that turn people away from the church. What turns young adults away is the church that preaches the Gospel, but fails to LIVE the Gospel. The church filled with people who have forgotten what it is like to be young in age, or young in Christ, and forget to be patient and loving to those who are growing up in the faith. We must stop trying to give people what they WANT and remember to give people what they NEED, according to the Word of God.

The true church is made up of the hearts of the people. If our hearts are right and in tune with God, and we continue to preach, teach and live the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ, and continue to allow God to give our leaders vision and share that unaltered vision with the followers, then our churches will grow and reclaim its place as the true beacons in our community and in our world.

Time Flies

Wow. I can't believe we're more than halfway through February, and I haven't posted a thing since the beginning of the month. Bad blogger! In all honesty, I haven't had much to say lately-just busy with work, home, etc. I know, you don't feel like hearing me complain. I guess there's nothing worse than a whiny blogger!

Still trying to get ideas for my next vlog on YouTube. I have some ideas, but can't seem to flesh out anything substantial to talk about. My next one will probably be on teens and sex - I think that's my roadblock. I have a lot to say, but I'm a bit reluctant - it's one video I want to really be prepared for and not say things off the cuff. I say it's a roadblock because I'm starting to believe that "ain't no good gonna come to me" until I do right by the subject of teens and sex.

To all my friends from Facebook who may be reading this...PLEASE subscribe to my YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/cybranch). I know you've been watching my vlogs, and I suspect you don't subscribe because the system forces you to sign up/register with YouTube. Trust me, it's safe and there are no downsides to registering with YT. Would I lie to you? LOL.

Thanks again for everyone's support. Please remember to send me comments to let me know what's on your mind, and what you'd like to see me talk about. Let's make "This and That" with Calandra a fun place to hang out!

Peace and blessings.

Black History Month

Welcome to Black History Month! I can't promise I'll post a fact every day, but I'll try to share a few each week. I was so proud of our 3 year old son, Izzy. He had colored a picture of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. several weeks ago in school, but I didn't know he had a little speech to go along with it. It went something like, "This is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a civil rights leader who fought for peace and equality." It was a beautiful moment. He has so much more history to learn, but to know that he learned this at 3, we look forward to the journey of teaching him even more.

I can remember in college being a bit annoyed that BHM always seemed to just mean Dr. King, Harriet Tubman, and a handful of others, when there were so many more people and facts to know. But now seeing my son learn about Dr. King, I look at it as his first step in learning about all, and I mean ALL the others who came before and after Dr. King to shape our legacy as African Americans. Let us also be mindful that history is being made every day, so don't complain about Black History Month only being 28 days. Take this as an opportunity to get the ball rolling towards a 365-day celebration of Black History. Celebrate every day! Find history living in your family, in your church, in your community. Let's learn and celebrate the past, but don't forget to understand the present so that we can begin shaping our future.

Facebook and the Grammys

I love, LOVE Facebook (a.k.a. FB)! Since around this time last year, I have reconnected with friends from High School, college and church and become even closer to people I was only loosely affiliated with. It's amazing how many people really remember you - genuinely remember you. It's pretty cool. Another cool thing - no more birthday cards. The birthday reminder helps us to remember/find out friends' birthdays and now instead of a card, or one of those email greetings, we can post a happy birthday message on our friends' wall, and even send a cute little virtual 'gift' - all without guilt and with great satisfaction. Nowhere else can we reach out to so many, so effortlessly and for FREE! Who doesn't love that?! LOL

But tonight was really fun - I 'watched' the Grammy's right along with a bunch of my FB friends - giving play by play commentary, joking on the festivities, and on each other. This is my 2nd or 3rd different awards ceremony that I have watched in FB parallel. If you haven't tried this yet, please do - it's so much fun! It's like having a virtual viewing party without the cleanup, drinks and food! So to all my FB friends who watched the Grammy's with me tonight - love y'all and had a blast!!

Pilot blog

Wow - my first blog EVER! This is Calandra and welcome to my blog - "This and That" with Calandra, where we will talk about a little bit of this and a little bit of that! (obviously!)

I just started vlogging (check me out on www.youtube.com/cybranch) and I have finally ventured from "reading others" to "being read by others." Hopefullly I can keep up. So come with me on my journey and let's talk about...

...a little bit of this and a little bit of that!!