AUTHENTIC Associates: The Peace and Love Movement

Hey Ladies! A little reminder from a special friend, Semira Fuller.

Peace and Love Day!!!!

Peace and Love would like to announce the creation of Peace and Love day....
Feb. 1st would have marked the day Theresa "Reese" Davis was born. For those of you who are unaware Peace and Love was created by Rochelle Davis, Reese's younger sister. Davis, after many years of working as a community activist for several different organizations felt the need was greater for her to raise the awareness in regards to the violence that plagues our neighborhoods, cities, states, and nation, by creating her own non-profit organization. We ask you that on February 1 that you make our image your profile picture, and spread the word to as many of your friends as possible

Please keep in mind that....
-Every 8 seconds 1 out 4 women is a victim of domestic violence.
-Violence is the #1 killer of African-American men.

By influencing the mind of one, we can ultimately change these facts!!!

Join the MOVEMENT.. www.weneedpeaceandlove.com

(if you would like for me to send you Peace and Love image please feel free to send me a message and I will do so).

Thanks so much,
The Peace and Love Team.

You know AUTHENTIC goes hard for Peace and Love. Not JUST because it's based in Philly! But because anyone DOING THEM while affecting national and international change is worth our support!



p.s. if you click Semira's image ... it'll take you directly to the Peace and Love Cause on Facebook.

AUTHENTIC WOMEN: Corinne Stevie

Corinne Stevie is a lover, a cynic, an intellectual, a fighter, an extremist, and an optimist. But above all she is the epitome of the word "artist." From her studio apartment in the heart of the Midtown area of Atlanta, surrounded by unfinished canvases and paint brushes dipped in cloudy cups of water the emcee/painter jokingly explains, "Corinne Stevie is none of the things you've seen at the same time."

Clearing her throat she asserts herself and says, "Corinne Stevie is the oddity."

An oddity she is indeed. From the epicene beauty of Grace Jones to the sheer lyrical genius of Lauryn Hill, Corinne Stevie is exactly what fans of Hip-Hop have waited patiently for while Foxy and Kim flirt with jail time, Queen Latifah and Eve flirt with Hollywood and Missy Elliot and Ms. Hill herself flirt with obscurity. Corinne Stevie is the difference between rap and Hip-Hop. But, don't think you'll catch her dissing the current music scene. Corinne is more than content reveling in it, whether true to form or not.

"Hip-Hop right now is just in a different place," Corinne explains. "I'm bringing back a memory of a feeling of a time in Hip-Hop."


Striking a conversation with the Miami native will reveal at least one thing, she's always eager to speak about her love for art and music. In fact, it's this strong devotion that drives her whether she's creating visual art or a song. As different as these mediums of self expression may seem, for Corinne they become intertwined one constantly fueling and pushing the other. So much that when she's not painting or studying illustration at the Atlanta campus of Savannah College of Art & Design she's using her Mac mini to record music in her home studio.

"When I can't write a song, I'm drawing," Corinne explains. "My art is very intertwined with my music and if I didn't draw I don't think my music would be as creative and if I didn't write [songs] I don't think my art would be as creative."

It's these creative songs—each essentially pieces of artwork—that find a home nestled together on Corinne's debut album, The Oddity. Synthesizer heavy dance tracks juxtaposed with nostalgic Hip-Hop odes create a unique sound that permeates through the 11 track project. From dance music ("Time Travela" "Set Me Free"), to old school Hip-Hop ("I Can Go Across The Globe" "Mornin' Sunrise"), and new school hipster rap ("Hackerz" "Club_Kidz") Corinne does it all with a lyrical skill of a polished emcee not afraid to transcend genres.

"I want to do something else, I want to create my own genre," Corinne says of the sound ofThe Oddity.

The Oddity, will be released online using the Radiohead "pay what you want format" October 23rd by Nouveau Music the music label division of Art Nouveau Magazine via her website www.corinnesart.com. She plans to release a mixtape entiled "The Other Sister," immediately after and will also continue selling prints of her artwork.

Finding a purpose or a mission is something every artist tussles with at some point. Bouncing her head to her theme song--Santogold's "L.E.S. Artistes"--Corinne's mission is simple. She looks to the future and hopes for two things: money and that her work will inspire others to be themselves.

"I want my work to be inspiration," Corinne says. "I want to encourage people and say you can just be everything, just express yourself and be who you are and not be afraid to see your different sides."

Well, mission two accomplished.

myspace.com/seestevie
www.corinnesart.com

But ... you can ALWAYS catch her at AUTHENTIC


Visit AUTHENTIC

Wednesday's Word of Wisdom

"I said nothing . . . . She was looking at me, expecting something. She wanted me to tell her that I knew what it was like, but I wouldn't tell her." - Corregidora, Gayle Jones (1975 , 64)

Gayl Jones (born November 23, 1949) is an African American novelist, poet, playwright, professor, and literary critic from Lexington, Kentucky. [1] After earning the Frances Steloff Award for Fiction while attending Connecticut College, she graduated with a Masters in creative writing at Brown University. The same year, she published her first book Corregidora.

Silence is an oft forgotten skill. In a day of internet, e-mails, text/instant messaging, smart phones, and the like, we're all innunadated with the need to speak, most times saying needless nothing. As in the scene above, Women of AUTHENTIC, we "[look] at you, expecting something." Unfortunately, in today's male-dominated, heterosexist, etc. society, sometimes the fear and discomfort of your powerful silence creates unncessary and fruitless action that manifests as

women putting in work to be, and aid in, the exploitation of a man's fantasy of womanity and beauty.

Don't just say anything. Say something from head to toe, from heart from soul. Be heard AND listened to.

It's Hump Day, ladies. Take a moment to shut yourself away and embrace the power of your silence. Like granmamma used to say (and all ya'll granmamm's used to say this),

"Think before you speak."

You may find that you're speaking much without uttering a sound.

AUTHENTIC Women, you are brillant and strong and beautifully vulnerable and intelligent and great...without uttering a sound.

Happy Hump Day!

DO YOU: Lend a Helping Hand

So ladies! We got a lil' factoid from an AUTHENTIC supporter ...

There's a project called 'Point-In-Time'; it's basically volunteering to go out into your city and count the homeless population. You'll have surveys; some might fill them out, some might refuse. The results are sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development so that they can provide proper funding for shelters and medical care for the homeless and improve ways to keep people off the street. Ideally the goal is to eradicate homelessness.

The date is Jan 28 and Jan 29. It's important that it happens on the same date nationwide to get as accurate a count as possible.

I'm having the darnedest time finding a general website for it, but they have them for a lotta counties, so here's a general overview of it:

http://www.pbcgov.com/communityservices/pointintime.htm

If you're interested you should be able to find out about it through your city's United Way. I don't know a whole lot about it but I figured I'd pass the word on.


Thanks chick! Any of you other ladies have something you really need to get off your chest? You have a super hot artist or musician or generally talented female you feel needs props?

Send them over to AUTHENTIC and email us at authentic.famc@gmail.com.

muah! love you!

Free! I repeat: FREE!

In today's economic climate aka the recession aka ain't nobody got money, it's comforting to know that there are still precious little things that are free or, at least, cheap. This post concludes "The Happiness Chronicles."

Basically, chirren, maintain your happiness at all costs. However, this does not mean maintaining your happiness at someone else's expense. Bear the great fruit you're rooted to produce. Lend your hands & your mind & your heart when you can...& you can always lend yourself in some respect. Do not deny yours or another's humanity. And lastly, love freely. Be but a vessel through which great & positive energy flows. True growth yields no stagnation.

Share YOUR gifts.

& remember:

envy loves you.

CHI-TOWN!

A winter block party for Chicago's hip-hop arts.

Victory Gardens Theater
2433 n. lincoln ave
FREE
noon-6
curator: Kevin Coval
featuring: Rebecca d. Crouch and many more!

EXPOSE YOURSELF!!!

We're creating an opportunity for YOU
Authentic members- to expose yourself via our blog and "ning" platforms.

Send us pictures, websites, flyers... whatever information you have that you need the world to know about!

Every week we will feature a different member....with a brief bio along with whatever you submit.

Don't be shy...we support you as you support us!!

Send in your submissions to authentic.famc@gmail.com

ease|kholi

SCHEME Mag....The Floacist and more

Ciao!
ease here...the one on the left...the other is kholi.oliMost of you may not know that along with AUTHENTIC, I'm the editor-in-chief of Schememag.com and I wanted to promote our latest feature..THE FLOACIST.

Many of you know Natalie Stewart from FLOETRY and after their split..she renamed herself The Floacist...continunig with her sultry rhymes and seductive voice, her energy is exactly the same....just a little more refined. As she states in the piece...she's where she needs to be..and i hope you join her on this musical journey in finding self love|identity|and respect.






Her tour dates are the following...starting with TONIGHT in Atlanta!
Thu Jan 22nd Atlanta, GA
Apache Café
64 3rd St NW
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 876-5436
TICKETS: $8 / $10

Fri Jan 23rd Raleigh, NC
The Brewery
3009 Hillsborough St
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 838-6788
TICKETS: $8 / $10

Sat Jan 24th Washington, DC
Black cat
1811 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 667-7960
TICKETS: $15

Sun Jan 25th Philadelphia, PA
The M Room
15 W Girard Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 739-5577
TICKETS: $10

Tue Jan 27th New York, NY
Highline Ballroom
431 W 16th St
New York, NY 10011
(212) 414-5994
TICKETS: $15 / $18

Wed Jan 28th Allston, MA
Harpers Ferry
158 Brighton Avenue
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 254-7380
TICKETS: $10

Fri Jan 30th Pittsburgh, PA
Belvedere’s
4016 Butler Street,
Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville), PA 15201
412-687-2555
TICKETS: $8 / $10

Sat Jan 31st Detroit, MI
Magic Stick
4120 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 833-7665
TICKETS: $12

Sun Feb 1st Chicago, IL
Empty Bottle
1035 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 276-3600
TICKETS: $10

Mon Feb 2nd Minneapolis, MN
Triple Rock Social Club
629 Cedar Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(612) 333-7499
TICKETS: $8 / $10

Tue Feb 3rd Milwaukee, WI
The MOCT
240 E. Pittsburgh Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53204
(414) 273-6628
TICKETS: $8 / $10

Wed Feb 4th Iowa City, IA
The Picador
330 E Washington St
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 354-4788
TICKETS: $8 / $8

Fri Feb 6th Denver, CO
Marquis Theater
2009 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80205
(866) 353-5167
TICKETS: $10 / $10

Sat Feb 7th Salt Lake City, UT
Urban Lounge
241 S 500 E
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
(801) 746-0557
TICKETS: $8 / $10

Mon Feb 9th Seattle, WA
Nectar Lounge
412 N 36th St
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 632-2020
TICKETS: $12 / $12

Tue Feb 10th Portland, OR
Berbati’s Pan
231 SW Ankeny St
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 248-4579
TICKETS: $10 / $13

Fri Feb 13th San Francisco, CA
Slim’s
333 11th St
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 255-0333
TICKETS: $15

Sat Feb 14th Los Angeles, CA
Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA, 90026
(213) 413-8200
TICKETS: $10 / $12

Sun Feb 15th San Diego, CA
Casbah
2501 Kettner Blvd
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 232-4355
TICKETS: $12 / $14

check out her myspace as well for music, pics and much more!

Wednesday's Word

(on Thursday ... Whaaaaaat?!? who ain't got no life?)


Anyways ... Wednesday's Word comes from a woman i respect mucho much ....

Barbara Smith


Barbara Smith (born December 16, 1946) in Cleveland^[1] is an American, lesbian feminist^[2] who has played a significant role in building and sustaining Black Feminism in the United States. Since the early 1970s she has been active as an innovative critic, teacher, lecturer, author, independent scholar, and publisher of Black feminist thought. She has also taught at numerous colleges and universities over the last twenty five years. Smith’s essays, reviews, articles, short stories and literary criticism have appeared in a range of publications, including The New York Times Book Review, The Black Scholar, Ms., Gay Community News, The Guardian, The Village Voice, Conditions (magazine) and The Nation. Barbara has a twin sister, Beverly Smith, who is also a lesbian feminist activist and writer.
(source)

So ladies, i know it's supposed to be like one quote right? Because it's Wednesday's word? But what I'm trying to tell you is that you're lucky I didn't submit an entire article!!

This woman had some awesome one-liners! ONE in particular I absolutely adore! But I won;t even tell you ... I'll let you pick your own! Girl, I know you got your own mind!

“This invisibility, however, means that the opportunities for creative research are infinite.”


“One of the greatest gifts of Black feminism to ourselves has been to make it a little easier simply to be Black and female.”

“You can only paint through your experience and sub-consciousness.”

“Black women as a group have never been fools. We couldn't afford to be.”

“Trust is to human relationships what faith is to gospel living. It is the beginning place, the foundation upon which more can be built. Where trust is, love can flourish.”

mmmhmmm ... I knew you'd like them! See how AUTHENTIC is always looking out for you!

OK OK! QUICK! TELL US! Which one was your favorite? WHY?!?

Virgin no more but Jeezy needs a reality check

Hello ladies!!

So this is my first time...blogging that is. Be gentle. Carrie (a.k.a. Kholi) says people of the world should hear the silliness that comes out of my mouth on a frequent basis...so here it goes :-)


I was listening to the radio on my way from class on Inauguration Day. So the DJ comes on and acts like the song he is about to play is the anthem for the day and somehow describes this amazing moment in history. He came off like this was about to be some deep shit...prophetic even. I should have been suspicious at this point (being that this was 102 JAMZ and all) because this hype was coming from a fool named "Tap Money."


You know what it was folks...Jeezy's "My President is Black."


AAAAGHH!!! Wake up people!! This is not okay!


Let me 'splain son'ting to ju...

Any song with these lyrics IS NOT a good representation of the change that has come to our nation. You cannot in the same breath talk about the all the "white" you sell and then turn right around and say "Obama for mankind." I repeat...this is not okay! And never ever ever ever is it appropriate to reference Dr. King like he would even approve of such tomfoolery. Jeezy goes on to say, "Stuntin on Martin Luther, feelin just like a king / Guess this is what he meant when he said that he had a dream." I say...NO! You simple bastard!! Perpetuating the image of the black man as an uneducated criminal is not what Dr. King had in mind, nor is it what President Obama meant when he spoke about reaffirming our enduring spirit.


So...if you ever meet Jeezy, tell him... "Shut the hell up while we're trying to make some damn progress!"

And for those who haven't heard the song or have never paid attention to the lyrics, I've posted a link to them. And now...

COONERY AT ITS FINEST

AUTHENTIC CHICK of the MONTH

Sooo ... for those of you who haven't looked over to the left side of your screens recently ... the AUTHENTIC CHICK OF THE MONTH issssss .... *****dunh dun dun dunhhhhhhhh***** (extra)

Fiona Simone



Fiona Simone solely relies on her own perceptions and theories on how her reality is defined, manifesting her ideals through music, fashion, and vernacular. She is everything the game has been missing. Being multi-faceted and multi-dimensional are synonymous with the Female MC. She is more than a critically acclaimed rapper. In addition to rap, she produces, engineers, ghostwrites, and is adept in graphic design.
Fiona Simone is not a novice when it comes to the music industry. She has been rapping since the age of 15 and began experimenting on making beats shortly thereafter. In 2006, Fiona launched Open Mind Music, her own production company and signed her first artist. A Miami native, she has been living in Atlanta for over 10 years.

For those of you who didn't catch the writeup about Fiona on Kholi's Blog a couple weeks ago .. DON'T EVEN WORRY! We have something even better than that!

Soooo ... you know AUTHENTIC is always stalking talent ... so we somehow (never under estimate the power of big words and batted lashes) convinced Fiona to get us an interview! GIRL! Read BELOW! ... as ALWAYS ... take notes, chicks!

TELL US WHO YOU ARE ... USING YOUR FAVORITE LYRICS.

"What don't kill me builds me/

What don't break me makes me tougher/

There were many times when I felt it couldn't get no rougher/

Times I rather died than to suffer/

Engine still gunning, tank on empty/

Me against the world, all odds against me/

Ain't no love, it took a lot to convince me/

Now I'm like fuck em though, I'm-a keep trucking yo'/

If you ain't feeling me, what is all the fronting for/

I'm-a do Fi, nothing less and nothing more/

Tell 'em don't get comfortable cause I'm on they're ass/

And I'm-a prove I ain't gotta change my swag/

Critics so blind, when they gone see/

That it's a million Tomboys just like me/

And I'm the leader of the movement, I gotta keep it moving/

How you gonna refuse it, when it's excellent music/"

-Welcome Back Ladies Room 2.5

I know that's like an entire verse but that's the best I can describe myself and how I feel. It's pretty much self explanatory. It tells my struggle and frustration as a talented artist that has faced a number of adversities due to how I choose to present myself visually and verbally.

WHO HAVE BEEN YOUR TYPE FIVE INFLUENCES? ... MUSICALLY?

My top five music influences are Tupac, Outkast, Lauryn Hill, Marvin Gaye, & Jay-Z.

HAVE THE INDIVIDUALS YOU WORKED WITH INFLUENCED YOUR WORK IN ANYWAY? IF SO ... HOW AND WHO?

The people I've worked with have definitely influenced me and my music. I would have to say I'm more influenced by producers and engineers than artist because they play a major role in over all production of the music. A great producer and engineer can make an amateur artist sound advanced. I learned how to produce and engineer by observing them over the years.

BESIDES OTHER MUSICIANS, WHAT HAS HELPED YOU EXPAND YOUR ART THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER?

People who have helped me expand my art over the years would have to be a collection of investors, producers, managers, dopeboys, friends, and fans.

WHAT'S THE PERFECT FIONA SIMONE SONG FOR ....

The perfect Fiona Simone song for the club would have to be "Limelight"...

Limelight - Fiona Simone

for the car would be "My Car," lol....

My Car Feat. Bandkamp - Fiona Simone

for the bedroom, "Give It To Me".....

Give It To Me Feat. Chu & St - Fiona Simone
(A PERSONAL FAVORITE ... :-) ... HEHE)

for the kitchen, "My Place" ...

My Place - Fiona Simone

for an early morning jog, I would say, "Keep It Moving" ....

Keep it Moving Feat. Bandkamp - Fiona Simone

and for shopping, "Feeling Some Type Of Way."

Some type of way - Fiona Simone
(FAVORITE OF ALL TIME!)

For those of you feelin' some type of way right now ...

maybe we all need a couple more pics of what this AUTHENTIC hustler looks like ...

I mean ... who doesn't love a chick on her GRIND?

... ready to reconvene? cool. pens poised. notepads at hand?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR THE WORLD IN 09?

My plans for the world in 09 is to instill hope and faith in female rappers again. I will prove that females rappers can be just as prominent as any successful male rapper by displaying the creativity, content, and lyricism.

WHAT'S THE SOUNDTRACK FOR YOUR LIFE? PICK 7 SONGS.

I - Crumbling Herb (Outkast)

II - Me Against The World (Tupac)

III - A Change Gone Come (Sam Cooke)

IV- The X Factor (Lauryn Hill)

V - What's Going On ( Marvin Gaye)

VI- Grind From The Bottom ( Fiona Simone)

VII - Song Cry (Jay-Z)

FINALLY, TELL OUR LADIES HOW TO KEEP THEIR HUSTLE REAL AND AUTHENTIC IN 09.

The best way to keep your hustle Real and AUTHENTIC in 09 would be to do it yourself. I learned from 08 that if you want different results then you must do things differently.


...

For those of you who can't get enough of FIONA SIMONE ... click HERE to hear The Ladies Room 2.5 on IMEEM.

OR JUST CLICK HERE FOR HER MYSPACE!

Well Ladies? What do you think? ( I mean ... and of course the gentleman too ... ;-) ... hehe)

The Happiness Chronicles: Service Before Self

Hey, AUTHENTIC!

I'm a bit excited today because we are one step closer…to being AMERICA'S NEXT MODEL! Wait. I apologize. We are one step closer to officially having Barack Hussein Obama as our Commander-In-Chief! Yes We Can/Did/Will Do. However, as we learned every year in elementary school, the calendar is only big enough to include one Monday that is dedicated to one black man and his service and greatness and story. Greatness thy name is Martin Luther King, Jr. And this is where today's history lesson stops. Dr. King did wonders for America. And I am not uninterested in MLK 101, but it's been my experience that people remember and embrace and practice what you preach when that preaching can be enacted in a tangible way. Thus, how will we make change and create progress in our lives? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Obama both encourage a life of community service. Which brings us to our newest installment of "The Happiness Chronicles!"

[INSERT ROARING CROWD  & APPLAUSE HERE].

My ridiculousness aside, AUTHENTIC is dedicated to uplifting women of color and all of the wonder and greatness you possess. Happiness is but a reflection of your efforts made manifest in your works. Thus, community service is three fold: it yields purpose beyond ourselves, connects you to your community, and ultimately makes you (that's right!) HAPPY because of the sense of pride and progress you'll experience as you see your involvment grow and manifest change. And like my girl Kholi says, "There's no small change." At least that's how I think it goes.

With Obama Nation a day away, service is pivotal to aiding our new administration in succeeding and reviving our economy and strengthening the ties of diversity. For many of us who wish to/and do serve our community, the pressure to be part of something big can be overwhelming. Although starting at home may seem small, it is reasonable and more personal. You can really put your stamp on local projects by volunteering at local Boys & Girls clubs, YM/YWCA, Big Brother/BigSister, local nursing homes, youth book clubs, and even soup kitchens. You might even tell your friends to tell their friends about checking out AUTHENTIC and her various connects on Facebook, MySpace, and the Ning network. You may donate money to your causes, but in today's economic  climate,  finances may not be your first choice of service. I advocate volunteering your time before giving your dime.

Here are a few volunteer ideas that make a great difference with little to no charge to you. They may even make someone else happy…and that's the business we're in, at least for January.

1.smile at a stranger

2. hug a friend

3. pay a compliment to someone with whom you rarely speak

4. offer to clean an elder's front yard

5. spend some time with a local youth

Check out the video below. The First Lady in Chief Michelle Obama declares Monday, January 19, 2009, a day of service. Get involved. Get AUTHENTIC.

This Girls Guide to DC Inauguration Weekend

Kholi - since you suggested a girl contribute to the blog; I thought I'd help myself! This is KrisH; entertainment and fashion blogger for Gay Girls Guide (http://thisgirlsguide.blogspot.com) and Cocolah.com (http://cocolah.blogspot.com) - I'll be hitting the streets of DC to capture the madness that is Obama Inauguration Weekend; it should be a fun time.

Here's a couple photos of President Obama at one of DC's most famous locations, Ben's Chili Bowl - he is killing that chili dog - damn! Also make sure to check out Gay Girls Guide to Inauguration Weekend - event listings, art, fashion, music, parties that won't break the wallet. If you aren't able to make it down for the events; no worries - check the blog for news and event photos.