“Single Ladies” Season 2 Episode 1 “Slave to Love”

(l to r) April (Charity Shea), Raquel (Denise Vasi), Keisha (LisaRaye McCoy)

At last one of my favorite shows is back for it’s second season Vh1′s Single Ladies ! I have been extra thirsty waiting for its return and I am very pleased with it’s season premiere.  The character’s Val (Stacy Dash) and Christina (Kassandra Clementi) did not return this season but, I am glad to see that Keisha (Lisa Raye) is now officially the ring leader of the cast.

I definitely sense another great season, courtesy of show creator Stacey A. Littlejohn, producer Queen Latifah and their team.

The show opened with a sexy and may I add classy tango dance routine that takes place with Raquel and her fiance at their engagement party. In conclusion of their dance Raquel (Denise Vasi), notices her friend Keisha in excitement and greets her and April with introduction to her fiance and of course  the ring. We find out through this interaction that Keisha is from Inglewood (I’m gonna assume California), which can explain a lot about why she is the woman she is in regards to any Californian.

We also find out how Miss “Well-To-Do” Raquel and Keisha know each other in the past because its very apparent Raquel has never been in a music video let alone in that entertainment profession like her friend Keisha.

Personally, I’m glad to see the show didn’t jump too far ahead in time. We learn that only two weeks have past since the season 1 finale and now the the season 2 premiere.

AS the show proceeds we notice that Jerry, Val’s former beau is present at Raquel’s engagement party which seemed to be the perfect opportunity for April and Keisha as friends to ask Jerry to forgive Val for her actions that we saw in the season 1 finale. We see both conversations with Jerry take place during a tango dance and then leads into another conversation as well.  We learn that Val is in Milan later on and has plans on not coming back.

However, the writers of the show do leave a bit of room for Val (Stacey Dash) to come back if she wants *wink wink*

We find out that April is in desperate need of some dick like any normal divorcee. She could’ve been with Reed, but declined an A&R position tied into his record deal position ending both a work and personal relationship. Her former boss Wes turns out to be the bitch he was last season and begins bad mouthing her all over Atlanta professionally which isn’t helping her new gig as a club promoter either. We also find out that she can make a mean sweet potato pie via Big Boi. April’s also ready to be a “kid in a single ladies candy store.” I say ‘Go Girl’!!!

The new girl, Raquel, is the straighlaced, eduated, corporate, well-off young woman finding herself unhappy with aspects of her life that seem mundane life. Her “perfect” life takes a fast turn when she catches her fiance banging another woman, doggystle, in their hotel room during their party.

Raquel calls off her engagement on stage in the beginning of the episode- thank God for my girl Keisha or she wouldve given the ring back.

“Oh no! You earned this bitch, let’s go!”-Keisha after catching the engagement ring Raquel threw at her fiance.

From there she quit her job, meets a new man, Leonardo, in Val’s shop. Her awakens the woman in her with an impromtu photoshoot. Only to decline on being her rebound man a few days later. May I also add Raquel has “officially unofficially” become Keisha’s new roommate.

I was unsure if I would like this new character, but I can definitely relate to her. As an twenty something year old woman who has done what society has said is right, you’re left only to wonder ‘what else does life have to offer?’ because living by the rules is unfullfilling even with all its trappings.

The trappings are nice but they’re a trap -Raquel to Omar (he’s in love with her like she’s the new Beyonce)

Now, Keisha, her past and future collide in a serious way. Being a ride or die chick for her man, Malcolm, has revealed her issues and her owing the government $200,000 in back taxes and jail time if she doesn’t let the feds know where he is. We find out that all this mess with Malcolm leads back to the mayor and Malcolm’s ex-wife, Ashley (who is now fleeing to the Ivory Coast). I enjoy how they tied Mayor Howard back into the story line with this interaction.

With all this going on, Keisha still finds herself getting some dick (you go girl! two weeks can be a very long time). May I add she and Malcolm are very much in love still.

When Keisha got arrested April and Raquel decide to call Sean (her ex who happens to be a lawyer) to rescue her. We meet him and find out the real story between the infamous Sean and Keisha. They dated for six years, he cheated once got the girl pregnant, and Keisha left his ass. Yikes! Oh and he has a son.

The way Keisha has been angry, bitter, and bad mouthing Sean since season one I thought he did something a little more incriminating than this one time affair. Part of me understands where she is coming from and the other part of me wants to give her a side eye.

Raquel also ends up telling Malcolm that Keisha is in trouble and he comes to her rescue. I have to give it to Keisha, to be living in Atlanta she has some great men by her side. I’m definitely interested to see how this plays out. Let the record show I’m rooting for Malcolm.

Side Note: Who knew that Rick Fox could really, really act?! He is very believable as a federal agent in this episode. Vanessa Williams must’ve been teaching him something while they were married. lol

Omar, is still very gay and working at the boutique, but alone now that Val and Christina are gone. He may be unemployed now that Val has decided to stay in Milan. Gotta love Omar!

In the end, the ladies are all ready to take on Atlanta… and I’m defnitely going for the ride with them this season.

Tell me your thoughts on the episode.

-TheJournalist25 xoxo

Crispy Chicken Wraps In Post Racial America

“What’s in the new chicken wrap?!”

In early April everyone seemed to go crazy about the Burger King commercial with Mary J Blige singing about the new crispy chicken wrap. I actually enjoyed it and thought it was catchy, not to mention she was looking beat in that all black. The media and others went irate about it because they were offended that as a black woman she was singing about “fried chicken”. My girl, Mary, apologized and Burger King pulled the commercial.

As the weeks have gone by Burger King has been releasing more of their commercials promoting their new menu items featuring various other celebrities such as Steven Tyler, David Beckham, Jay Leno, and Salma Hayek (to name a few) and we see that the commercials are intended to be funny. I really, really wish that the African American community wouldn’t have made such a big deal about Mary J. Blige singing about their chicken wraps because now we have no representation of us, even though they are still promoting those wraps and other menu items. Like my mom always says, “you cut your nose to spite your face.”

Racism is just a lot to deal with in the “post-racial” society. I feel like we have to be on edge about everything that can be misconstrued as racism. Are we doing ourselves more harm than good as community this way? Let me know what you think.

-TheJournalist25 xoxo
*singing* “crsipy chicken, fresh lettuce, three cheeses, ranch dressing, wrapped up in a tasty flour tortilla…”

Lent Lessons

I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend.

Now that easter is over so is lent. Yay! I see a lot of people are excited to have completed the forty day fast from their various vices… and so am I. Those last two weeks were a struggle for me. *wipes forehead*

I wanted to share with you what I learned from my particular lent commitment. No, I’m not catholic and although I knew the basic concept of lent this year I was curious about its true purpose and why people are suppose to participate. So, like any person would I took to google for the answers.

After my research I chose something in hopes of it becoming more permanent in my life and that would strengthen my spirituality. I chose to give up television, phone calls/text, and computer use after 8 p.m. everyday. In place of these things I embarked on reading Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren all the way through. I tried several times in the past to read the book in its entirety only to be defeated by day four, but this time things were different.

Purpose Driven Life (for those who don’t know) is a book that teaches you about what you’re place on earth is through five purposes in life as a Christian- believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior= the reason we celebrate easter- and you read one chapter a day for forty days.

I only told maybe two people about my commitment for lent. I felt it was better to keep it to myself as a true test because I could tell all my friends not to call me after eight, but that would’ve been too easy. During the last forty days I’ve learned a lot and wanted to share with you the top three things.

1) It Can Wait Until Tomorrow

Sometimes with all this technology nowadays we feel that we need to be available at all times, even when were sleep, but we really don’t. Most of the time it can wait until the morning. What is more important is clearing your mind and resting it. My thoughts seemed to just be so fluid at night with ideas, what needed to be done the next day, and with my true emotions because there was no pressure to keep up with television dialogue, a constant moving timeline, or the sounds of my phone going off. This allowed me to sleep better too and be rejuvenated in the morning.

2) Sometimes Its Better To Write It Down First

Its good to talk to friends about the different situations in your life, but its even better to write it down in a journal or something first. This allowed me to communicate my thoughts better and be sensible about how I felt because I didn’t have others to validate it or tell me their opinion first. It allowed me to be truly honest and unadulterated with myself. The time also allowed for me to be uninterrupted in my thoughts. I found myself able to tell my friends something instead of questioning them about the issue or not mentioning it to them at all.

3) Willpower is NOT Enough

I read this in the book and it just clicked like a light bulb. So many times I tried to have willpower in fighting against my normal habit when it came to diet, cursing, going to class, etc but this is when an attitude/mindset change from the inside out needs to occur. This is especially true if you’re looking to make permanent changes in your life like I am. The strength is within to change but you also have to apply practical things to replace the old mindset like bible scriptures, quotes, maybe even different people and places that you may frequent. This moves you out of your comfort zone but into a new way of thinking. It can be scary because it isn’t easy, but its worth it.

As mentioned before I learned a lot over the last forty days and I’m sure it will reflect in my future writing and actions.

What did you give up for lent and what did you learn from it? What have you learned from recent changes in your life?

-TheJournalist25

It All Belongs to… Me?

In this day and age of the side chicks #winning and the power couples building, why the hell is Brandy and Monica singing about this foolishness- especially at their age- It All Belongs To Me?

Women are not tricking off on men right now they’re getting tricked on. I mean seriously -__- If you’re giving gifts, extravagant ones at that, as a woman you should be receiving grand gifts in return. Its only right! It helps you to not be bitter when things go south because you have just as many gifts, if not more to take with you.

If you are stupid enough to trick on a dude the way they’re singing about then you might as well let him keep the stuff and call it a lesson learned hunny. Apparently, you have money to blow anyway. #itainttrickinifyougotit

My biggest qualm with this song is that Brandy and Monica are too grown and too classy to even be singing about this silly stuff. Like wtf?!!! I have no time for this seemingly “childish” song. Monica you’re happily married now and Brandy you’re in a happy relationship. #getyourmindright

Monica, you’ve already sung this song back on Makings of Me in 2006. Beyonce did too on Irreplaceable. Why aren’t Brandy and Monica doing a song like the one Monica did with Keyshia Cole a few years back- Trust? Now that would’ve been hotter than this bitter woman sing song they have going on.

I hold them to a higher standard because of the quality music they’ve been known for since I was a little girl. This song is beneath them. Point. Blank. Period.

Why does it all belong to you anyway? Seriously? What message is being sent with this song? Don’t use discernment when dating? Its okay to trick on a man but when you break up take everything back? How can you be mad when you gave it to him? Especially if he never asked for these gifts. Maybe, it all belonging to you caused him to do what he did.

At the end of the day, I believe that we need to learn to let things go. I know were all human and its easier said than done but  it doesn’t benefit us to hold on to the baggage of a failed relationship. Just let it all go! The sooner I move on the sooner the next man can walk in my life. Now that’s what I’m talking about! #bow

Overall, they look fabulous and sound phenomenal, but I can’t get with the lyrics at all, but as we all know the songs you don’t care for gets stuck in your head…. the irony! What are your thoughts on the subject?

Start Your New Year With A Laugh

Happy New Year, Everyone!

I’ll let you all in on a little secret… I brought in the new year with Peaches.

I was elated to see on my twitter timeline only minutes before the new year began this video by Billy Sorrells. I already loved watching “Shit Black Girls Say.”  Here he is again with his second effort at things black girls say.  In case you missed the first one or just want to watch it again really quick, its right below.

OMG! Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock you’re probably wondering like me where did Billy Sorells come from? Ever since last week or so I find myself infectiously watching “Shit Black Girls Say” over and over and over… and over again.

Apparently, I’m not the only one watching this video because he has over one million hits on youtube and it’s continuously popping up in my news feed on Facebook.   Its not a slap on your knee, hilarious type of funny, but a “whaaat? did he really just…” I gotta watch this again kind of funny. It’s like a Lays potato chip, you just can’t watch it once. There’s no way.

There are too many memorable parts for me to quote them all. I must give props on the wig and hoop earrings he had on, it totally distracted me from his mustache, eyebrows, and goatee. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Peaches and Billy Sorrells in 2012.

 

Leave your favorite line in the comments.

And I said hell yea, hell yea…
-TheJournalist25 xoxo

Is Your Life A Tyler Perry Movie?

Is your life a Tyler Perry movie?

I know you’re probably thinking “NO” … or maybe you said “YES”

I get so tired of us (black people) bashing Tyler Perry saying this and that about his movies being coonery and misrepresenting the black community. I’d like to beg to differ.

First of all, movies and television shows are life exaggerated, please understand that people.

Second, as much as you like to think your life isn’t a Tyler Perry movie it is… and there’s nothing wrong with that. The only thing you’re probably missing is a Madea and that my friend is questionable.

If your parents are divorced- your life is a Tyler Perry movie
If anybody in your family has had children out-of-wedlock or is raised by a single parent…
If you made it out the hood and now act like you don’t know you’re family and are too good for them…
If you have a family member on drugs or incarcerated…
If your life is like anything other than The Cosby Show before Denise married Raven Simone’s daddy…. well your life is a Tyler Perry movie

…and you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that.  Atleast at the end of a Tyler Perry movie there is some form of a happy ending.

We spend so much time bashing the image Tyler Perry presents, but these depictions are true. We need to support him, whether it be by going to see his movies and shows or just not bad mouthing him because guess what?! White people are dysfunctional too and they make movies and shows about it then win prestigious awards for it.

Another issue I have is that we talk all this stuff about Tyler Perry, but when was the last time black people in droves went out to see a Spike Lee film and it became a box office hit in the theaters? There are children who are attending college that never saw School Daze or Mo’ Betta Blues or She’s Gotta Have It, but have seen every Tyler Perry movie.

We need to face reality and understand that his movies represent real life… but exaggerated. If you have a problem with TP’s films then you should have a problem with Jumping the Broom, The Best Man, The Wood, Waiting to Exhale, Nutty Professor… the list can go on and on and on. If this isn’t your life it is someone you know life. Just be real.

Black people have many varying life’s and representations and we can’t shun out the ones we don’t like instead we need to find the beauty in it because this is your life and the first step to changing it is to be real with yourself.

If don’t have anything good to say about TP, then don’t say anything at all because while you’re bashing him he’s laughing all the way to the bank.

Speak your peace in the comments sections.

TheJournalist25 xoxo

P.S. Get Yo Mind Right!

A Love Like This: Teenage Years

Burr... I really really like you in the cold

Oh boy! Has it been cold in Los Angeles lately or what…

This weather has me all bundled up before leaving the house…

One evening, my teenage neighbor was out on his lawn with a girl all cuddled up. At first, I was like ‘hell naw its too cold out here for that’, but I had to refrain from my judgement because I quickly remembered being a teenager sitting outside in the cold (and the dark) without a care in the world but my beau. It brought about nostalgia for me living at home again.

Then I really had a flashback once I got into the car and Dru Hill was on the stereo. For some odd reason… actually because I have an active imagination “These Are The Times” began to play in my head (although that wasn’t the song playing) as I backed out of the driveway. It was like something out of a music video. LOL (I can’t help but to laugh at the images that were in my head).

I had to smile reflecting back to when dating seemed so simple and talking on the phone til the wee hours of the morning wasn’t a problem as long as your mother didn’t wake up. It wasn’t about marriage as much as it was about the moment(s).

Personally, I had some of my most romantic moments in the winter (now that I think about it). As adults, we consider this time of year cuffin’ season and cuddle buddy time, but as a teenager it was just about I like you, you like me, lets talk about God knows what all day. I feel like Dru Hill’s “These Are The Times” captures those moments best with its lyric.

There’s nothing comparable to teenage love and its simplicity. It definitely served as a great precursor to dating as an adult.

Would you agree or disagree? Speak on it!

Season’s Greetings,
TheJournaist25 xoxo

Why Olivia Isn’t Succeeding…

Reality TV Yessss!

 

When it comes to guilty pleasures, reality television is mine.

I hate to admit it but it is. I will pick a reality show over a scripted show any day, and as a educated, uplifting, advocating black woman I feel bad about it. *covers face* I feel like I’m not suppose to choose Bad Girls Club over Grey’s Anatomy but I do it anyway.

See, reality tv and I go way back to my adolescence when I would sneak and watch MTV while my mother was gone. I couldn’t get enough of it; Real World, Road Rules, True Life, all the spring break shows, etc, I would be fully engaged. I loved talk shows too, except Jerry Springer.

After, a light discussion with a friend about my television habits I got to the core of my love for reality over scripted television. Although, I love sitcoms and dramas on television and reality television is scripted to an extent, I connect to the human side of reality tv.

I have this thing about people and have since I was a child. I always want to give people the benefit of the doubt and try to find the good in everyone. Overall, I find people interesting. What can I say? People are the reason I’m a journalist and minored in psychology during college.

Gotta Love The Drama, Right?! *shrugs*

As an adult I find it interesting to see other adults handle adult situations. (I hope that wasn’t a tongue twister) There is a lot you can learn from reality tv and recently watching VH1s Love and Hip Hop I learned that people suffer from illnesses that I would like to talk about in:

The Reason’s Why Olivia Will Never Succeed… and You Wont Either

-She’s Delusional
I noticed that Olivia likes to live in her past. And makes up this imaginary life. Last season, she lied about being with her ex-boyfriend still and got caught up. When she got caught she still didn’t admit that she was lying instead she just said something hurtful to Emily about her life. This season, she keeps mentioning her career as if she was really successful in the past, which she wasn’t, she just rode on the back of successful people until they dropped her dead weight (i.e. Clive Davis and 50cent).

-She’s A Liar
The truth will set you free… and because she holds on to lies about  her life she will never be successful. Also, what ever she is hiding is not allowing us to know who she really is, which is another reason why she remains the chick who was in G-Unit. Nothing is transparent about her or relatable… except my next point.

-She’s Bitter
The way she talks about her past is in a very bitter way. Her mouth gets tight, her posture is no longer relaxed and her mood is heavy. She clearly hasn’t gotten over numerous things in her life when she really needs to let it go… or at least try. She is pointing more fingers than owning up to her mistakes and moving forward in a positive way. The bitterness oozes through her pores especially when she is faced with conflict. Nobody really wants to deal with that especially when it isn’t transferring over into her music. Stop with the excuses.

-She Isn’t Worth What She’s Holding Out On
She wants to revamp her career but she has yet to release a mixtape worth listening to let alone an album. If you want a lucrative record deal you have to get it poppin in these streets. Even Teedra Moses had to put out plenty of GOOD mixtapes before she got her deal with Maybach Music Group (MMG). I haven’t seen a tweet or heard one person talk about her music, besides her single December, and you think you’re worth a $500,000 record deal because of your past history that went nowhere, LIIIEEEESSSS!!!

-She’s Hard Headed
She walks away from conflict. Talks over conflict. In this instance she doesn’t want to face the reality of the situation or admit fault. She thinks she knows everything and has done everything. If this is your best then you might as well stop now. Even when Wayne Williams, A&R at Sony Music, tried to give her real advice she was getting defensive when the proof was in the pudding and her numbers just didn’t stack up on the charts.

Overall, she has been reduced to just a pretty face and no one takes her serious nor have a reason to. I think we all could look at Olivia’s situation to reevaluate our own life. People don’t connect to an object and can only connect so much to technology, we connect to realness. I want her to succeed and everyone else, but these are some of the obstacles we have to go through internally in order to be a better person.

Do you have any of these traits? Is there anything that should be added? Give me your feedback in the comments.

-TheJournalist25 xoxo

Homecoming Part II

If you missed part one of Homecoming, click here

We were just…

getting to Samson’s car.

“So, where are we going to get something to eat?” I said as we jumped in the car.
“I know you want a Jumbo Slice from Adams Morgan,” he says sarcastically, “too bad they’re closed!”

I blushed and shook my head as he started up the rental car. “You don’t know me!” I retorted, “I actually want some breakfast food. Its six in the morning anyway, duh its closed!”

He gave me the side eye before pulling off the curb. “You know you want one though, don’t front with me shorty.”

“I do… and a ginger ale,” I admitted hating that he knew me so well. I wanted to be mad, but couldn’t help but laugh. “So where are we going? The Diner?” I pestered him.

“We bout to just hit up this McDonalds drive-thru ’cause I never really f’d with The Diner,” he replied.

We reminisce about random things on the way to McDonalds on Georgia Ave across from campus. I lean back in my seat to relax. He slaps my stomach and pokes my side. “Look at you all grown in your freakum dress,” as he laughs hysterically. “Why is that so funny, jerk? You know I look good,” as I roll my eyes. He changes the subject “so you know Reggie got a girl now?!” we both start laughing at the thought of our old friend, Reggie, no longer being a whore.

We order our food and head back Downtown. “Where are we going?” I ask.
“Don’t you want to eat in my hotel room?” he replies.
“Hell No!… I’m just playing. Your room better be clean though. I remember what your room in the Towers use to look like,” I say jokingly.
“Come on now shorty, don’t start talkin out the side of your neck like my room wasn’t straight.”

I just laugh while looking out my window. I’m thinking about how comfy this bed is going to be when I fall asleep. We make it upstairs to his hotel room at the Marriott. He scarfs down his food and strips down to his t-shirt and boxers while I finish eating at the little, wooden, round table by the window.

I’m ready to fall asleep, its 7:38 am, but these block-out curtains make it midnight all over again. I take off my earrings, necklace, and shoes next to the bed. I find a ponytail holder in my purse and pull my hair up into a ponytail in lieu of not having a scarf.

Samson is laying on his back and flipping channels until he finds ESPN on the flatscreen across from him. I crawl next to him in the queen size bed. I feel him looking at me in his peripherals. “Aren’t you going to turn the light off?” he ask.

I stick my tongue out at him and get up like a brat. I go to the bathroom first to wash off the make-up I didn’t sweat off earlier at the club. He yells something but I can’t understand the words over the water running. When I walk back out to put my eyelashes in my purse he repeats himself “you washing that thang for daddy I see?”

I throw a pillow at him, “Shut up, fool. I was washing my face. You get on my nerves,” I say.
“I don’t wanna see no eyelashes or hair tracks in my trash when I wake up later,” he laughs at his own ignorance joke.
“Whatever Samson, I’m going to sleep” as I crawl back into the bed with my dress on to get warm and comfy. As much as he got on my nerves I couldn’t help but imagine him climbing over to my side and kissing me passionately.

He cuts off the television. There’s an awkward silence. Our backs are facing each other.
“Goodnight,” he says.
“Goodnight,” I reply.

With my eyes closed I bend my legs then back kick him in the butt and laugh. “You play too much!” he mutters.
“Goodnight,” I snicker. Now I’m ready to get some rest.

Four hours later I wake up from a good sleep. I get up to check my phone and have two missed calls from some guys I met last night and seven text messages from Ashley, three guys, and three of my other friends. Ashley made it home from the guys hotel last night and was wondering where I was.

“I’m with Samson still. I’ll text you when I’m on my way home,” I text her back.

My battery was almost dead. Good thing Samson and I both had an Iphone. I was able to use his charger. I laid back down while it charged. Samson was still sleep, or so I thought.

“What you doing?” his groggy voice managed to get out while turning over to face me. We chat with each other while laying down. He’s suppose to meet his friends on the yard around two or three later on. I still have to get home to shower and change, but we’re in the moment.

He gets up to use the bathroom. When he comes back he sits on my side of the bed and says “Believe it or not, I’m glad you’re in my bed and not some random chick.” I begin to blush and roll my eyes. “Give me a hug girl. I’m so glad to see you.”

I sit up to hug him. He kisses me on my ear. Then my cheek. Then my nose.

Then my mouth.

I smile in amazement. He kisses me again, passionately. His eyes are closed. He pushes me backward on to the mattress. I relax my muscles and wrap my arms around his neck. Suddenly, we stop.

“Let me get freshened up so I can take you home,” he says.
“Okay,” I reply bewildered by his sudden change of heart.

While he’s in the bathroom I start putting on my jewelry. I’m standing against the wall after putting on my heels right as he walks out the bathroom. He walks over to me while I take my hair down from its ponytail and begins to kiss me. I push him away.

“Look, what’s the deal? I don’t have time to play games with you,” I say.
“I’ve always wanted you since we met, but felt you were too special for me,” he says as I look him dead in the eye. He continues to say ” I never wanted to be the guy that hurt you so I never made a move.”

I felt the sincerity in his words and kiss him. In a moments time he picked me up by my buttocks. My legs wrapped around his waist as we passionately nibbled on each other. I could feel him protruding through his pants with excitement.

He spun us around and threw me onto the bed. I’m pleasantly surprised and let out a giggle as I land.

He takes off his shirt quickly then bends his knees onto the bed. Grabbing my left leg he begins to plant his soup coolers vigorously, as he works his way up. The further up he gets I become weak. He finally reaches up and pulls off my panties. My dress is already around my waist as he kisses around my stomach and rubs his finger along my wetness to tease me.

I pet his head and shoulders from the sensation as he pleases me below. I whimper. His tongue swiftly goes up, down, and around my clit. Ecstasy is rising up in my body as he has his head buried between my thighs. My moan turns into a scream as my body trembles. I had no idea he was this talented.

Samson makes his way up to my face then pulls off my dress, my body is lifeless and completely exposed. We make eye contact revealing our desire for each other. I pull him in for another kiss as he palms my breast. We find comfort in our awkward position.

“Where do we go from here?” he ask after taking notice of my naked body again.
“I don’t know, lets just enjoy this moment,” I reply back. He places a peck on my forehead.

He slaps my a$$ and we laugh continuing our playful moment naked. Rolling in the sheets I realize my heels are still on. As he’s on top of me I try to kick my shoes off, he looks at my feet then back at me and says “naw, I need you to keep those on.” I bite my bottom lip, smile and say “okay daddy.”

He gets up to grab a condom out of his luggage by the window and comes back to me on the bed. In no time he is strapped and ready to go. I let out a heavy breathe due to his girth as he penetrated me.

I was engulfed in the strong yet playful energy and passion in the room. This was more than just a hook-up but us finally acknowledging our feelings for one another. His stroke was undeniably great and we had a nice rhythm as our bodies intertwined back and forth, up and down.

As I look up at the six inch heels on my feet still I couldn’t help but laugh (in my head of course), hands clinching the sheets with my legs bent over my head and moaning “oohs” and “aahs” I don’t have a care in the world.

After, two more rounds, foreplay included, were about to fall asleep. My head on his chest and naked body wrapped up in his arms. I finally kick off my heels under the covers and wrap my left leg around him. I can’t help but wonder…

I was just trying to find a vending machine… #howmybootyendupintheair?

Happy Homecoming!
TheJournalist25 xoxo

A Lesson In Acceptance via J. Cole

This thing has been bothering me for a while now.

This summer I kept hearing this song that was sooo west coast, the beat, the vibe, even the way it was rapped, but I didn’t know who’s song it was. At first, it was very seldom it would come on the radio. Gradually, I began to hear it more and more. I thought it was some new artist from out here in LA, but to my surprise it was J. Cole. WTF?!!

The funny thing is that I kept rejecting the fact that it was him every time someone would tell me this. I would ask my friends who are always up on the latest music and they would tell me the same thing every time; in the car or at a party, it never failed. After a while I started to get the side eye -__- from them in my confusion. I have to laugh at myself right now just thinking about the numerous times I heard the song and sincerely thought “hmm, I wonder who this is rapping?” This has gone on for about four months now.

Everytime I hear it in the car I would feel so good and bounce to it as if it were a Dre and Snoop Dogg track from the early 2000s, or even a DJ Quik song. I felt taken advantage of and used when I kept hearing J. Cole’s name. I have nothing against him, after all, he is college educated, from an HBCU at that (I love my HBCUs), and somewhat handsome, but at the end of the day he is not from Cali.

I feel like I sound narrow-minded about this song, but I hold west coast music dear to my heart because it is a specific kind of beat and feel to it. A dip, bounce groove to your two-step happens when you listen to a west coast beat no matter what the song is talking about. The RnB vibe is always tied to a west coast song, even if its subconscious. So, here I am doing my sacred west coast/Cali groove to J. Cole’s “Work Out” and I feel deceived deep in my heart.

Finally, this week I received it in my spirit that this was J. Cole’s song. LOL

*Side Note: I’m not a huge music person, but I do feel that sometimes California rappers don’t get their just do and then here comes J. Cole benefiting from us. I’m not even going to mention Wiz Khalifa’s “I Roll Up”…*

Okay, so after accepting it in my heart that this is J. Cole’s song I go to my Dell Notebook, in hopes that the video has some palm trees and a beach in it. I even cross my fingers for a low-rider or two. Once again, I’m thoroughly disappointed while looking at the video on YouTube, this negroe is on a basketball court in grimy a$$ New York- Brooklyn to be exact. Once again, WTF?!

Hold up! I have love for New York, don’t jump down my back. I’m actually trying to live there, but that is neither here nor there. The video just hurt my soul, slowly; seeing him on the basketball court, then that house party scene (not even at a club) #Icant. I guess I should appreciate the Los Angeles Raiders snapback he wears in the video though, right?

All jokes aside, the video doesn’t do the song justice at all anyway. Let me retract that house party scene comment, I understand the logic behind it now.

I have love for J. Cole and his recent come up. This is in no way a diss to him or his music. This is merely about my love for my city, Los Angeles, and how near and dear it is to my heart, especially the music.

The reason for this tangent is to also let you know that I got over all my preconceived notions about the song, finally. I can now fully enjoy the song and dance/ groove to it because I have accepted it for what it is, a great song by J. Cole. I can’t lie, I really enjoy the song and feel good while listening to it, although the lyrics are slightly distasteful- talking about a one night stand smh. So, don’t be surprised if you see me dancing to it at a party or gathering.

P.S. the song was produced by J. Cole and samples Kanye West “New Workout Plan” and Paula Abdul “Straight Up”

What have you had trouble accepting? How do you feel about the song “Work Out” and its west coast feel? Any other feelings come to mind with this song?

-TheJournalist25 xoxo