Real Music is On It's Way Back In Style!

We can't help but bask in the fact that REAL music is finally the newest trend.

This year alone has seen the emergence of some powerful, artistic vocalists/songwriters.

We love Solange, Jazmine Sullivan, Duffy, Amy Winehouse, Chrisette Michele and Janel Monet.

Please check them out!

Check Out The Review of Janet's Concert

Check out my review on the Janet Jackson Concert published in Say It Loud! and look for the printed version soon.

We also pray that Janet gets well, as she had to cancel her 2 performances and has been hospitalized! We need you back.

CBC ALC

We are back from the Annual Legislative Conference in Washington D.C.

The conference was phenomenal. Look out for my reflections coming soon.

We're Ready to Meet Janet Jackson!

We are so excited about going to the "Rock Wit U Tour" tonight.

Janet Jackson has over 10 multi-platinum albums and we wonder which songs she's going to perform.

We have favorites from every album including:

Control: Funny How Time Flies, When I Think Of You, Let's Wait A While

Rhythm Nation: Come Back To Me, Alright, Love Will Never Do

Janet: If, Again, Anytime Anyplace

Design Of A Decade: Runaway, Twenty-Four Play

Velvet Rope: Ropeburn, Everytime, Go Deep, Got Til It's Gone, I Get So Lonely, Together Again

All For You: Someone to Call My Lover, Doesn't Really Matter, Truth, Son of A Gun

Damita Jo: I Want You, Spending Time With You, My Ex

20 Y.O.: With You, Call on Me, So Excited

Discipline: Luv, Rock Wit U, Can't Be Good

We will give a song by song update after the concert!!!

Beyonce's Back!!!!!!

We love us some Beyonce!

She has finally come back to make it rain on all of the current singers out there! I'm so excited about her new music video for "If I Were A Boy".

It should be wildly interesting to hear Beyonce's perspective driven in this song. I'm sensing that it will fall in line with her neo-feminist framework catalog, but we'll see soon!

Tyler Perry Redeems Himself!

We walked into "The Family That Preys" with very low expectations due to Tyler Perry's signature poorly developed scripts, over or underacting big-name actors, and oftentimes "coonish" characters (i.e. Madea).

But were we surprised! This film knocked us out!

It was the perfect combination of a well developed, multi-layered story and outstanding acting!

First and foremost... We have long listed Vanessa Williams as the best actress in film and placed Alfre Woodard and Lorretta Divine at a close #2. This stellar performance elevated Woodard to the #1 spot. Her performance was just stellar (refer to the phone call scene).

Sanaa Lathan did an outstanding job playing Woodard's daughter (as she has done before in Love & Basketball).

Even Taraji Henson stepped her game up and pushed emotions in her role as Lathan's sister. Interestingly enough, Henson stole this role from Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson by giving a tremendous audition.

Although our main criticism in the film was that Perry overcompensated a bit by making all of the men unbelievably weak. Yet in still, Rockmon Dunbar (Soul Food) was great. And... we think Tyler Perry should hire experienced actors rather than place himself in roles by which we still hear him using "Madea's" dialect.

Overall, I enjoyed this film much better than the ridiculousness of "Meet the Browns".

Welcome Back, Tyler Perry!

Brandy Returns With Freshness!

Brandy has finally returned from her 4 year hiatus!!!!

She is definitely coming back ready to "make it rain" on the charts. Her single "Right Here (Departed)" was just released and is already heard in Los Angeles nightclubs. BET even looped the video a ridiculous amount of time last week.

We have always loved Brandy because she ALWAYS gives us music ahead of its time, period.

Her album titled Human is due in stores on Nov. 11th. It will be great to have simultaneous releases from Brandy as well as our favorite singer Whitney Houston this November.

Check it out!

Just Stand Up...To Cancer Performance!

It was wonderful to see our favorite contemporary female singers on stage singing one song for cancer: "Just Stand Up".

Beyonce, Mariah, Sheryl Crow, Keyshia Cole, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Ciara, Melissa Etheridge, Carrie Underwood, Ashanti and other women performed the Babyface/LA Reid-written song at the 5th Annual Fashion Rocks Concert this week.

Standouts in the song were Beyonce (of course), Mariah and Fergie.

This is such a great standard for a great cause. But we're missing three valuable ladies from the lineup - Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys and "the voice" Whitney Houston

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3656472908667180882&ei=RBPLSKHbKJTaqAOO28DCAg&q=just+stand+up&vt=lf

Eric Benet Releases Love & Life

Eric Benet has been one of our favorite singers since 1996. He has released his 4th studio album titled Love & Life.

Our favorite records are Chocolate Legs, Spanish Fly and Everlove (a duet with our friend Terry Dexter).

You should definitely grab this album off the shelf today!

On The World Trade Center

On this very sad day in our histories, may we forever remember and honor those who were tragically murdered in the World Trade Center Bombing.

With the current happenings of nation, we can look forward to a much brighter day when we finally see Senator Barack Obama triumphantly win the race and become the first non-white-male entity in the Oval Office.

It's been a long time coming, but I KNOW a change is gonna come. Thanks Sam.

Kwame Kilpatrick To Resign

"Ending a seven-month political soap opera that has consumed Detroit, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pleaded guilty today to felony charges related to his affair with a top aide and will resign as part of the agreement struck with prosecutors.

Kilpatrick, 38, who pleaded guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice, will pay the city $1 million, have his law license revoked, serve four months in jail and give up his state pension." (Los Angeles Times)

We certainly feel for the family of Kilpatrick. We must continue to walk the path toward greatness without being sidetracked.

He certainly deserves a second chance (as do we all).

Happy Birthday Beyonce!

Our #1 Lady, Queen B, turns 27 today! We are so proud of all of her accomplishments as a powerful leading trendsetting Black woman.

Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference

We are in heavy anticipation of the CBC-ALC, which is to be held at the end of September in Washington D.C.

Everyone who matters in Black politics will be attending and we expect to mingle and meet most of them!

Solange Releases Sol-Angel & the Hadley St. Dreams

Solange has finally found her place in the music industry. For many years, she was fashioned in the image of her older sister, 10 time Grammy Award winner Beyonce Knowles.

On Sol-Angel & the Hadley St. Dreams, Solange fuses live instruments with the hottest digital tracks to create a 70s inspired album.

Our favorite records this week are: T.O.N.Y, Sandcastle Disco, 6 O'clock Blues, and God Given Name.

Although we love Beyonce, this album is much more creative and uses a wider range of elements than the Queen B.

If only more artists were this creative in the studio...the music game would be much more interesting!

Golden Rating: 4/5

Brandy Wilson Gets Baptized

Brandy Wilson, one of our dearest friends, was baptized this evening. We were so honored to be there for such a monumentous declaration.

Congratulations Brandy!

Returning From Salinas

We just made it back from Salinas, CA to the Los Angeles area.

It was a pleasure to reunite with old friends and relatives. In these times, it is family that will pull us through.

Rest in peace Uncle W.C.

James

Golden's Bookclub - Keep the Faith: A Memoir

We have so much respect and adoration for Faith Evans. Her new memoir entitled "Keep the Faith" is flying off of bookshelves across the country.

We won't give away the story too much, but will say that anyone who was born after 1980 must purchase this book.

We can't begin to tell you some of Faith's early drama with Mary J. Blige. Thankfully, the two talented women have reconciled their differences.

Sean Combs was highly demanding and "straightforward" with his artists (similar to his "Making the Band" persona).

Lil' Kim had some rough comprehending dealing with Biggie and Faith's marriage. Junior MAFIA. As a matter of fact, she confirmed that Biggie wanted to replace her with Inga (i.e. Foxy Brown).

There were man sides to Biggie. He had several negative experiences within the marriage, but there was always a love present.

Faith has been responsible for writing some of the biggest hits for Usher, Mary J. Blige, Al B. and so many other artists. She was instrumental in bringing Missy Elliott to fame as well as 112, Total and several other 1990s Hip Hop Soul acts.

This book is certainly a must read for everyone. It follows my life-long assertion that Hip Hop has long strived on and sustained a femaleless power structure.

Being Bobby Brown: Getting Hitched!

Bobby Brown's no child support-paying self is getting married again. This time, Whitney won't have to suffer from his rock usage. His new lady's name is Alicia Etheridge. We sincerely hope Bobby get's his mind and spirit together this go-around.

From the Desk...

I often fail to write lies. It's too hard for me.

But I will say: "my time with the pen is far too valuable to waste on nothingness."

So, I will be presenting the gospel truth on politics, entertainment, world affairs and the happenings of the Black sphere. Come down every now and then to catch the latest news from the desk and pens of James B. Golden.

Some upcoming posts to look for are:
My discourse on "Tropic Thunder"
Why Obama? Why Now?

But for now....that's all.