Last Night A DJ Saved My Life

"So - when did you fall in love with HipHop?"

It's my favorite line from Brown Sugar. For obvious reasons, of course. My house was definitely multi-ethnic growing up. We listened to anything from Blues Traveler, Celia Cruz, Bunny and the Wailers, Sheryl Crow, to Anita Baker. One thing you very rarely heard though, was HipHop or Rap music. My parents just weren't into that.

It's funny, cuz we lived in the hood (4th Street) - and when I got to school, I didn't know any of the new rap songs. Everybody was gettin into Biggie and Ice Cube and all that, and I was humming Melissa Etheridge songs under my breath. Kids used to laugh at me, cuz I was so out of the loop. I didn't really want to know any of the lyrics - until one day.

After school program at the YMCA - 1996 - we had an African Dance instructor who looked like Debbie Allen. She had a change of plans that day, and we wouldn't be learning any new dances. Instead, she had us sit in a circle, and she sang Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly", a capella. She explained the lyrics, talked about the mood - then she brought out her tape player. Mentioned something about young people doing covers of older songs, something about a rap group - and pressed play.

The song filled my ears, and I instantly wanted to hear more. I was one of the few kids actually listening to the words. Y'all know I'm super emo - so it hit a chord with me. The last set of notes Lauryn hit sent tingles through me for some reason. That weekend Mom took me to The Wiz (what y'all know bout that? Throwback, lol) and bought me the album on cassette. Played that tape until it popped.

Now - I can't get enough of HipHop. I find myself constantly searching for new artists, new songs to bump on my way to work. Music is my life, and HipHop is the artery leading to my heart, lol. Lauryn Hill got me interested in Erykah Badu, she put me on to Common Sense - who got me listening to Mos Def. Mos Def got me into The Roots - and the vein continues. The years go by, the beats change - but our relationship stays the same. I can't sleep without HipHop, there's always music in my head. No matter what type of music I choose this week, Hip Hop is the guy I always run to in the end. I love him.

So - what's you're type? What gets you in the mood? What soothes you? What hypes you up?
Most importantly - when did you fall in love?

{{Life}} In HD.

I've been playing with photography for a few months now. Nothing serious, but I realize the therapeutic properties it has. Focusing on angles, lighting, colors - it takes my mind off the things I'm trying not to think about. I've been compiling my pictures in a little folder, and I'm plotting on making a portfolio - just for my own pleasure. It'll be nice to look back on later in life.

Anywhoo - here's some of it so far. I've come a long way from my 6megapixel camera from years ago...














I think I'm gonna start throwing these up here every week. I take so many pictures and reject so many snapshots - I'm actually starting to get self-conscious when it comes to them. Maybe I'm getting too attached...

Financial Woahs

||Zune Says - Vybz Kartel - Dolla Sign||

After deciding to allow my job to schedule me four days a week instead of five, someone looked at me and said, "Oh, you can do that because you're rich."

Me? Rich? Seriously?

Have you looked at my car lately? If I were a rich girl - nanananananananananananana!!
I wouldn't have a suped up 93 Civic as a dream car. Yeah, I bought it cuz I wanted it - I could have gotten something else, but times didn't call for a brand new whip - so I didn't get one. I let my job cut my hours, because it increases our labor budget, and I get paid for it in our bonuses. I'm no fool - and I need my money.

Have you seen my list of hustles? I won't even bother to list them, cuz if you know me - you know all the things I do in my spare time. Which is exactly why I have no spare time. If I'm not doing your hair, I'm watching your kids or typing up those documents you never got around to. I'm your neighborhood Ms. Fix It. That's what I do.

I'm not rich, I just think I'm smart. I may have nice things, and go places, and do stuff that most people don't do - but it's because God has blessed me with the ability to do so. If I can't do it - I won't. I'm not gonna break bank to get that, or to go there - because I'm not about impressing people. Trust and believe, the people you impress today - won't be impressed when you can't afford it tomorrow. I can't live my life for everyone's entertainment.

My family's not rich, either. Okay, so we're not poor - but I've never had a silver spoon in my mouth. I've been working since I was nine - and people look at me like I'm crazy when I say that. "Your Mom had you working so young?" Uhh, no. I asked my Mom for something one day - she told me she couldn't afford to buy it for me. I got up the following Saturday, planned some ish with my little brother - and that weekend we were cleaning people's houses for money. At nine years-old, I was under your couch - sweeping out dust mites and ish. By the next weekend, I had what I wanted. Didn't need Mom to make up the difference, or anything. When I was twelve, I wanted my first pair of cool sneakers. Mom definitely wasn't payin for that - so I watched someone's toddler for a night - and had fifty bucks (yeah, Nike's were a bit cheaper back then). I realized how good the money was, and by the time I was 14, the whole hood had me watching their kids.

What part of that sounds like I'm rich?

I just like to work. I like to know that my bank account isn't empty. And don't get it twisted - sometimes my checking account is extremely dry. I mean, right above my email alert dry. And my email alert is at $25. That's the point where I skip the party, I fill up the Civic and stop eating the expensive ish like sushi for lunch (sushi's $8.00). I make sure my essentials are present, I have enough money to eat with - and I keep pushin.

I'm not like a lot of these females out here. I dont' waste money on certain things, like fake eyelashes and big hair and stuff you have to maintain every week. I get my nails done, and sometimes when money's tight - I do my own toes. Woah! Crazy, right? Nobody can tell the difference. Cuz I've mastered the art of spending less. That way I can afford to spend more a little later.

And let me tell you - I am exhausted. Working like this takes a toll on my body, my mind - everything. Which is why I take it to heart when people make comments about my finances. "You always look nice, look at your clothes, your jewelry - stop sayin you're broke." I deserve to look this way - cuz if I didn't keep it up, I'd be run down. You don't know what my life is like - so don't judge me.

I keep my money right so I can help the people in my life who need it. If you short on rent, if you need gas money - I got you. Not for everyone, though. Those people know who they are. If I got it - you got it. Even when I don't got it. That doesn't make me rich - that makes me a decent human being.

People Watching - Fort Lauderdale Int'l Airport

So - I've been stranded here since 10am, so naturally, I have been people watching. It's been quite interesting so far. Three people with surgical masks, all unrelated, all found throughout the airport. I had to get security checked for my bag, which was interesting, cuz dude definitely sifted through my skivvies - just to find out that it was my big tub of cocoa butter. He let me through with it, but I had to switch airline carriers, and go through security again. The lady was nice, but she wasn't lettin me through with it.

Both times, though - I got through with my stun gun.

This week seems to be "Kim Attracts All the Strange White Guys" week. I first had a redneck dude blow kisses and follow me in his van yesterday. I caught an older white man stealing some glances earlier, and an old white guy straight up stared me down as I sat down with my laptop. Very interesting.

Now, I am propping my phone charger up with my back, cuz the outlet is too big for my charger, and my phone is dying. I need to fly to ATL and then to NY - I am jetlagged and I haven't set foot on an aircraft yet. Needless to say, I am excited.

Be right back - bout to board.