Want an AUTHENTIC New Year's Evening?

Well, one of AUTHENTIC's fly friends FlyGirrl will be here!

AUTHENTIC EVENTS: Solo Show

So ummmm ... wanna go to the laundromat with me?

No?!? Why?!?! Where else would YOU find cutting edge artwork and live music?

Oh! I get it! No laundromat on the corner has swagger like my laundromat, huh?

Well just in case your laundromat is suffering from a case of the whack attack ... you can come on out to Tenth Street Laundromat: The Coolest Laundromat in Philadelphia, and party with us!

Solo Art Show with Live Music by Brown Recluse Sings and DJ Under.
Drinks and snacks will be served...
Come Check out the first art show at 10thstreet laundromat of 09

Time: January 17, 2009 from 8pm to 11pm
Location: 10th Street Laundromat
Street: 1141-43 S 10th Street
City/Town: Philadelphia PA
Website or Map: http://10thstreetlaundromat...
Contact Info: (215)240-1572
Event Type: Art, Show
Organized By: 36kolks

find more info @ AUTHENTIC

How to DO YOU with YAH

So ... it seems that we've all reached a sort of .... [ ] ...... exactly ... that's it ... that's what we've reached during this holiday season. And yet somehow ... we @ AUTHENTIC find the time to give and give and give to you! Why? Cuz you make our hearts smile! duh! (or something like that) ... anyways ... if you're wondering how to DO YOU better in 09 ... what can I say? Pay attention ... and as always ... take notes.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

You'd think I'd go out with a BANG

Truth is I've been starting, restarting, staring at this screen, at my pictures, at the time, switching screens from Facebook to Youtube. Barely watching the House marathon and wondering why I enjoy the show.

Thinking I'm hungry but it's too late to eat considering I'm working on a flat tummy for May/June.

Oh....I can tell you how I should've started making my NYE top days ago....that if I don't start tonight it's not going to happen. How Ima be mad if I have to end up wearing something else.
grrrr!!

:( damn. what's happening to me??!? I'll tell you if you promise to keep a secret. shhhh.

I think I'm falling in love. wow. Act like I ain't just say that. WHOA.

Oh. I can tell you how I made the t shirt in this picture from a 5-step, rip, dye, bleach, dye, distress process. How they were part of my first tshirt collection the summer of 07. How I envisioned myself selling it at Barneys for $180 but really sold it for $50 on the street.

How it was waaaay too much work for what my market was willing to pay. How I later discovered the art of silk screening and felt cheated but felt better cus I hand drew the artwork. wooo! That was close.

I can tell you I made the necklace and the bracelet and if you give me 10 years I'll make my own jeans AND boots. So when the revolution come you build the house from floating wood planks, and tin ceilings and I'll raise our 5 babies, make all our clothes, grow our food and....okay. DON'T get me started on that.

The Parables of MY Talents

Here's to being on the path to collective self sufficiency.
Wild Seed.

Hmmm....

Maybe I've squeezed out everything I can for 2008.
Can I just say that recognizing the power of FOCUS has changed my life.

How ACTION IS MAGIC!

YES!

PS. I'm addicted to hairspray the movie and now the styling agent.
My hair be looking SLiiiiicK these days....what a change!
If I don't say so myself. I feel brand new.

Thank you for all the love and support this year. I'm sooooo flattered.

Here's to reinventing, challenging, amazing SELF.

Closed till 2009.

Champagne wishes and Caviar Dreams.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yacira "Yah, Yacque, s'aint yacque, "the yak" in YakBlak, La Cocolah" Valdez

get more of the above @ cocolah.com

Next Year's Stocking Stuffer

Hope you all enjoyed your various holiday celebrations. For me, the holiday season is a great time to check in with the parentals & get some feedback on life. There are always the usual questions that all parents ask: "How is your job? School? Have you met anyone? How is your mate? How are your finances?"

However, this year I was thrown a curve ball: "Are you happy?"

Huh? What? Peas & carrots?

After realizing that this was not a trick question & that my parents were serious, I was saddened. I couldn't answer the question with a confident 'Yes! I am happy.' I couldn't say no either. It frustrated me that this notion supposedly bestowed upon me by our nation's Founding Fathers (though the jury is still out as to whether or not I am included in that 'We the people') seemed so hard for me to readily locate in my life.

I immediately took a breath & took the most logical action: I did a quick recap of the Cosmo mag "Pillars of Happiness" quiz.

1. Friends: I love all my ho's.
2. Family: Sly & the Family Stone said it best: We are family!
3. Career: It's getting there...
4. Romantic Life: eh? Next question.
5. Health: Call me Fergie, 'cause 'I be up in the gym just workin' on my fitness...'

Four out of five isn't too bad. But am I happy? Cosmo didn't help. My happiness was still suspect, & maybe M.I.A.

I haven't given my parents a reply. I want to think this through. I want to know, be sure.

So, my plan for 2009 is to find my happiness. It has to be present because I smile. I laugh. I love. I write. I dance. I sing. I cry. I live.

Where is your happiness?

Find your happiness in 2009.

See you next year!

Just being authentic,
mic

PUNK ' PAINT New Years Eve BALL in NYC

For those of you who plan to be in New York City on NYE: let's finish off the year right & kick aside all the worries of yesterday...this party is gonna be jumpin! I (Lichiban) will be live painting on (that is if you want) your face at the Afro Punk & Coup D'Etat NEW YEARS EVE loft party along with my illustrious painter comrades Concep, Dister, Geeta Khanna, Ibrahim, Livingroom Johnston, Sonny Bombs & Yang-chi doing murals & body paint.. and yummy food by the famed Dante's Fried Chicken! You don't want to miss this

Afro-Punk & Coup d'etat Brooklyn Present:"The Punk-N-Paint Ball"
9pm-3am Sly Art vs. Robot City (425 Broadway btwn Canal st. & Howard st. NY, NY, 5th floor )

DJs: DJ Tahleim, Synapes, & DJ Soul and live performance by Game Rebellion , Izza Kizza
Cover: $50 Advanced Tickets (includes plate of food & Champagne toast)
$60 @ the Door ///// Open Bar from 10-11pm & drink Specials. Pay Bar after 11pm.
Expected Guests: 500 guests – Artists, Art Enthusiast, Afro-Punk supporters, Trend-setters, & Tastemaker

get your advanced ticket HERE while it lasts!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

From AUTHENTIC to YOU and your family :D
Thank you for your support and participation in AUTHENTIC activities, blogspot and ning
Stay locked on this blog and our ning for upcoming events and information!

Until next time...have a safe and blessed Holiday season!


ease/kholi :)

Sistahs Survive and Thrive

We at AUTHENTIC work hard...very hard! So much, that if it wasn't for my partner..posts wouldn't be as frequent ;) thanks ma!
...however, i'm interested in passing this information along to our audience..and because you know that our focus now is AIDS, specifically women of color and AIDS..this documentary/digital quilt became of interest. This is all the information if you're interested in attending a screening:

Sistahs Survive and Thrive is an online digital living AIDS quilt that features videos of women and girls who are infected and impacted by HIV/AIDS (have immediate family/friends/lovers who are HIV+). This will include women & girls of all ages, ethnicities, & sexual orientations and will be interactive so that females can upload videos of their personal narratives of living with/being impacted by HIV into this living HIV/AIDS quilt. This project is the brain child of filmmaker Hima B.

for more info, visit our website: http://www.sistahssurviveandthrive.org

Sistahs Survive & Thrive
www.myspace.com/sistahssurviveandthrive

Everyone is welcome to attend a free screening of the first collection of videos to launch the Sistahs Survive and Thrive online digital living HIV/AIDS quilt. This body of work features 10 women who are HIV+ and was launched in partnership with members of New Jersey Women and AIDS Network (NJWAN).

Thursday January 15, 2009
6:00pm to 9:00pm
Newark Screens
360-394 Springfield Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103

please RSVP with the # of guests you will be attending with to:
info@sistahssurviveandthrive.org

Sistahs Survive and Thrive is funded by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. Artists & Communities, a program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, is made possible by major funding from Johnson & Johnson, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, & the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

We're going to be making a documentary as well...soon :) but in the meantime..stories of women living with this disease need to be heard! so support if you can...

ease.

FIRST OFFICIAL "Mic on Monday's" post: come get some!

Good day, Authentic! I’m Mic (pronounced ‘mike’) aka Mikey aka the envy of the world aka that Authentic man. And, well, it’s Monday, so I suppose today marks the first OFFICIAL “Mic on Monday’s” post. For more about me, check me out here and here and here and definitely here. Now, let the games begin!

We’ve all heard and seen the commercials and the billboards telling us to check the HIV status of our partners. But, I have found, too often, that this is where we stop. It is as if our other loved ones are not in danger of contracting HIV. Don’t they matter, too? (This is a rhetorical question. If they don’t, please suspend your disbelief for all practical purposes of this conversation. Thank you.)

We should have a little talk with everyone about whom we care.

“But, Mic,” you say, “how do I talk to those other than my partner/boo/boyfriend/girlfriend/booty-call/bedfellow/STD perpetuator/[INSERT YOUR LABEL HERE] about HIV and protection or worse…ABSTINENCE till commitment?”

Wherein, I will politely reply, “I dunno. But thanks for asking.”

However, since I am here. I suppose we can delve into this a bit more.

It always catches me by surprise that even in our arguably sexually liberated 21st century society, parents are still uncomfortable speaking with their children about sex and protection. But, what is more puzzling to me is the fact that many children are uncomfortable speaking to their parents about this issue. Yet, we all know how to Supaman dat’ ho. Things that make you say, “Hmmm.” It’s as if this little ditty is really about superheroes and our bootylicious music videos and magazines only give us that funny feeling below our tummies because they’re so wholesome and remind of us of grandmamma’s biscuits and our favorite Saturday morning cartoons (Smurf’s and The Snorkels were mine…but, I digress.)

So, in whose lap does the responsibility fall in regards to sex education and STD prevention? I am going to upset many of you when I say this, however, you’ll love me in the end (If not, this, too, is another one of those places where you suspend your disbelief. Thank you.).

The responsibility lies with the children--us. Why? Well, a wise prophet once said that “the children are our future.” That same wise prophet said that “crack is wack.” The jury is still out on said prophet. But, nonetheless, the responsibility is ours because these are our bodies, our lives, our futures that are being shaped right before our eyes and at the rate that our world is changing, our parents may not be equipped to navigate the slippery slopes of sex in the 21st century. Seriously, some of us aren’t even equipped and we’ve been riding the rides in this amusement park called post-9/11 America for almost a decade.

Now, there aren’t many tools available kosher enough for us to interrupt Sunday dinner with an impromptu slideshow or hand puppet production (my personal favorite!) that discusses the humps and bumps of sex education. Pun intended. But, if your family is like mine, and it probably isn’t (Again, my friend, keep suspending that disbelief. Good job. Thank you.), you can all appreciate hearing stories about real people living real lives.

Billboards have models. Commercials and public service announcements have actors. Both are important; but, the visualization of people who share your experience is always more gripping and lasting. Think about it: when was the last time you appreciated a man telling you how to be a woman?

Dear Bush Administration, this is my mother/sister/homegirl’s uterus. It’s hers. Not yours. So, beat it…and not like that, silly.

"So, Mic," you say, "what the hell is your point?"

To which I will politely reply, "Watch your tone."

But, I do have a little tidbit to share with you:the website A Positive Life.com is a great example of how multi-faceted the face of HIV/AIDS is. Each testimonial expresses the great need to self-educate and to share that education with your loved ones…even your drunk, stank-faced, wig-wearing, too loud, nosey auntie who gives you the same oversized red sweater every year at Christmas (I apologize. I may be personalizing.).

These are our stories told by a new generation of story-tellers. There is someone with whom everyone can identify. Parents, children, friends, and lovers share their stories of living with HIV/AIDS. They share their stories of empowering their loved ones who are HIV positive. They share their stories of supporting those who have full blown AIDS. You cannot deny the amount of courage, faith, strength, and, ultimately, love conveyed in each video or voice recording. I encourage you to take some time and check out this great website. It’s easy to navigate and one of my favorite parts of the whole site is that people look like me. Of course, they’re nowhere near as fabulous; but, they are brown-skinned and black-skinned and red-boned and yellow and well, not melatonin-less.

Good day, ladies. See you next week! Enjoy life. Enjoy you. Enjoy just being authentic.

Ciao,
mic

P.S. She supports HIV/AIDS awareness, too.

Sound ADVICE

DO YOU KNOW THIS WOMAN?

(click the pic for her MySpace)

"Georgia Me a mild-mannered, full figured, around the way girl from the Westside of Atlanta who received a standing ovation from the world when she exploded on the national scene while appearing on Russell Simmons’ Presents HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. She was loved so much that the producers invited her to return for a second season. And she received another standing ovation!Now she stars in the stage adaptation of Def Poetry in San Francisco. Writing became an outlet to express Georgia’s deepest desires, fears and concerns. As a child, she became aware of the balance of power, the ignorance of people and the love of God that heals all. ‘My purpose is to inspire, uplift, and motivate my people. My people are God’s people’ says the performance poet. Poetry may not be the only platform she uses to inspire."

CLICK HERE FOR SOME SOUND ADVICE.

AUTHENTIC FASHION: "How to DO YOU with Yah"

So, awesomeness is awesomeness, and you know we at AUTHENTIC are always willing and ready to recognize. Well, we've been stalking Yacira "Yah" Valdez who is making her own AWESOME statement on the fashion scene right now. If you don't know you bettewr ask ... well actually ... don't ask! SEE and DO! There are about a MILLION ways you can stalk this woman ...

but we thought we'd help you out by bringing her right here to you!

So, be prepared for your weekly fashion DO's and DONT's ... so you can DO YOU ... BETTER.

Why do we care so much?!? Because AUTHENTIC wants you at your best ... ALWAYS.

I'll stop rambling now and let you learn a thing or two.

Sound Advice: TAKE NOTES.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Combatting Snow

When the night has come

And the land is dark

And the moon is the only. light we'll see
Stand by Me
-Ben E. King

Did I mention that Cocolah.com loves you.
No. Really, really loves you.
Just checking!!

STOP!!! Do you see me poppin' my turtleneck. Yeah kid.
Upgrade your colla?! Then POP IT!!!!

So the snow was coming down all day and every hour I'd look up at the clock and think.....
Hmm I should really head to the supermarket.....yeah i still do my own grocery shopping...keeps me humble.

Finally at about 6pm...lol...yeah I know. I finally decide to get dressed and brave it through the snow cus I'm hungry, gotta make dinner and definitely don't wanna go tomorrow morning.
In my fantasy....ok, close your eyes and picture this, tomorrow morning "insert name" will make me breakfast in bed mmmm yes..... I'll eat, roll over into a fetal position and fall back to sleep...ahhhh. In my dream-state I'll listen to the sound of dishes being washed, closet being reorganized and the bathroom cleaned. siiiiih.

Reality check!! tomorrow morning I'll still be on this computer working...but let's move on cus that's a sensitive subject. AHEM.
As I mentioned in an earlier post I do not own a pair of rain boots so you KNOW I don't own snow boots....really makes no sense cus it's pretty much a necessity if only to ensure the safety of the shoes you do love. I'm still in search of a fly ass pair hold up....let me rephrase that.....A fly ass pair I can afford.

Snowboots for the snow? I said NO!! NO! NO~
AyO NatuRe! You wanna battle me?!?! Let's go! Meet me outside....I can take you. ESPECIALLY in my combat boots! wut?!

I'll throw the snow right back up at cha!! In yo face fool. uh oh...

No offense Mama Nature i was jus jivin'.....eeek!
Respect!

SO!!! I put on my boots and go get a tail to hang on my belt loop but no decide to throw all em on. UH OH!!!

s'aint yacque Cow horn necklace, s'aint yacque linx fur necklace, s'aint yacque exclusive 3 finger ring, onyx and silver ring, mess of black and silver bangles bang bang go bangles.
A vintage HOLSTER, Yakblaks of course and then kids...THEN!!!! I pull out this silver grey cropped motorcycle jacket....this is the moment the jacket was waiting for!!!
That's all she wrote. It's done.

Something on your chest? Better get it off!!
Go comment!

http://www.cocolah.com/

Sooo ...

this made me happy this morning!

Don't really know why. Doesn't really matter!

I think they're hot! And they were dancing to MUFFY! Which only made me happier!

Check them out here!

HUH??? o_O

Sooo ... random ... but when I googled "black women aids" and "black women aids facts" and "women of color aids facts" ... the most recent research done was in 2004.

Was that like the last time some black woman died of AIDS? Is that when AIDS stopped in the Afro/Hispanic community? Is AIDS no longer an issue?

I have no idea.

psssh ... maybe my google's just broke. I have no idea. YOU TELL ME!

I KNOW I COME HARD ...

so ... you want to see more of MC Lyte? Stay tuned to AUTHENTIC ...

EXPOSE: ART FOR AIDS AWARENESS
March 13-14, 2008
Get Real. Get AUTHENTIC

just a tad bit frisky...

...and we like frisky!
AUTHENTIC is everything candid, raw and unapologetic. We like artists that hold that stance as well...representing nothing by themselves and their skills...so that's why BOXING KITTEN

is our favorite right now! Not only because this designer..featured here... represents women of the past, such as Billie Holiday, including fierce attributes from such women within her designs, her clothing line is more than a fusion of color and uniqueness...here's an excerpt from her website: "The vintage inspiration behind Boxing Kitten celebrates the spirit and lives of women who have come before, and the playfulness and vibrancy of each piece captures the women of today and the future. Although inspirations are constantly being drawn from various sources the collection is rooted in the political and cultural elements that women faced during the Civil Rights movement. Each garment is carefully produced in bold and fearless print combinations, and then fused with charmingly flawless and demure patterns. Maya Amina, designer of Boxing Kitten, embraces contradiction and simultaneously understands how interconnected everything is; this is what makes her vision unique and infinitely approachable. “The cleverness of the marriage between fabric and pattern is essential to my process. Contradiction, hypocrisy and the willingness to accept the inevitability of the two are at the core of my inspirations. This is what designing for Boxing Kitten embodies"


Support Boxing Kitten! We ladies at AUTHENTIC will be commissioning some dresses! TRUST ;)

In photo: director Melina Matsoukas

About to EXPOSE: Touring F.U.E.L.

So, I knew a long time ago that Simone and I were going to be together in the future ... I mean like partners ... like business partners silly! She was just too much of everything I loved ... I mean really if MySpace could do "wall to wall" like Facebook ... our wall history would read something like Kim and Cheree's conversations on The Real Housewive's of Atlanta.

"I love you! No! I love You! ... No Really! You're so pretty and smart! No you're so pretty and smart! You're my favorite! No! You're MY favorite!"

You get the picture. lol

Anyways ... the point is ...as most of you already know ... Simone and I have merged Authentic and PR+ ... and together (mostly under AUTHENTIC) ... we are establishing some pretty awesome partnerships with artists and musicians and promoters along the east coast ... AND A FEW ON THE WEST COAST TOO! lol... you know who you are ... and we love you for it!

ANYWAYS ... so we may have something special on VDAY FOR YOU! (but you will have to stay tuned for that ... lol)

But as of right now ... our biggest event coming is

EXPOSE: Art for AIDS Awareness.

Who: AUTHENTIC is working with several key sponsors and artists to bring you a weekend promoting AIDS Awareness. Invited guests are MC Lyte, Salt 'N Pepa, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Cheryl Clarke, Angela and Vanessa Simmons, William Brawner, Angie Martinez, DJ Dimples, DJ SheRock and many more.
What: A weekend of art and music provided by AUTHENTIC women ... and the "who's who" of Philadelphia. Invite only Reception / Conference / CONCERT

Where: Philadelphia, PA ... African American History Museum, F.U.E.L.

When: March 13-14, 2008

So anyways ... after that too long schpeel (and you know that's not how you spell that word right?)


Simone and I went to tour F.U.E.L. yesterday ... if you don't know about it ... don't be afraid to click the link. We won't tell. Educating one's self is vital for the revolution. -_-


(beware ... Simone's a shy one ... go 'head and turn that volume ALLLL the way up!)


So, We really wanted to share the space with you guys! Clearly we're just a 'lil too hype.

ART:::THE SECRET LIVES OF SAMURAIS:::art by LICHIBAN :::December 13, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

YUME GALLERY * 925 Bergen St, bw. Franklin & Classon (C to Franklin)
13 December, 2008 8pm-12am
ON VIEW: December 13, 2008 – January 9, 2008 FREE ADMISSION

you
& all fellow ninja lovers are
invited to

A. L. I.E.N. , Audio Aesthetics, YUME, the Brooklyn Tee Party, Shadowplastic & Lichiban present
“THE SECRET LIVES OF SAMURAIS FROM THE LAND OF ETERNAL LOVE”
“The Adventures of LOTUSHEART”
with a special guest appearance by cosmic lover, HARAKITI

an art exhibit by
LICHIBAN

featuring collaborations with fellow ninjas
Quan Luv * Diamond Girl * Jelsen Jargon * Mega * Pesu * Sarah White * Concep

“The Buddha Dharma is nowhere remote. It is close to us, in our hearts. Suchness is nowhere external. If not within our bodies, where can it be found?”
- Secret Key to the Heart Sutra by Kukai, Founder of Japanese Shingon Buddhism

Meet shapeshifter LOTUSHEART and become part of her journey to discover the Hidden Flower guarded carefully by the Challenger. On her magical journey, she encounters new, as well as old friends such as HARAKITI, who help her to visualize the glowing blossom of the Flower.

“This show is the fruit of numerous all-night-till-the-sun-rise painting sessions of the last two months, many of them spent with fellow artists who labored with me, kept me inspired and helped me to sharpen my vision. Taking the Japanese samurai and ninja tradition as a visual reference, I have tried to illustrate a number of spiritual concepts I have been meditating on for years and place them in a dreamlike setting of love and chivalry. I also wanted to make this solo show into an opportunity to honor my friends -my Brooklyn fam- by inviting them to be part of this fantasy heartland of lovers and secret monk-warriors that we created as we were preparing for the show.” Lichiban

HOSTED BY: RAYE 6, THEOPHILUS LONDON, JESSE BOYKINS III
QUAN LUV, MEGA, DORJAN, LAURA DEE & CHARLIE BROWN

djs DHUNDEE & MELO-X
playing unreleased tracks of the Brooklyn fam (CONTINUE)
Nikki Ntu * Raye 6 * Rucyl * Sarah White* Dhundee * Theophilus London * Waajeed/PPP* Kon & Amir * Melo-X * Jesse Boykins III * Kiva * Print

Featuring limited edition tea-dyed LICHIBAN X SHADOWPLASTIC tees
+special guest appearance by CRAZY 88s skate crew

Supported by: A.L.I.E.N, Format Magazine , Audio Aesthetics, Shadowplastic, YUME, The Brooklyn Tee Party, Good Sex, WRONGLIPS, Fusicology, The Minority Report, Coup d’Etat BK, Old Soulz, Voodoo Ray, Sugarcuts Inc., Crazy 88s

CLICK HERE for more info

lichiban.blogspot.com
myspace.com/lichiban
yumebyny.blogspot.com

DAYTRIP: F.U.E.L.

Well we have a couple pics and some brief footage from our day trip to share ... but clearly I'm exhausted ...PROMISE ... i'll post tomorrow! Muah! Love You!

AUTHENTIC Women: Queen God!s

Do YOU know this woman?




If the answer is "NO" ... SUCKS for YOU! [everyone boo now!]

Luckily, AUTHENTIC is here to save the day for you ... AS ALWAYS! AND ... we do it out of Love!

Click the bio to visit Queen God!s's MySpace.

And if you just can't get enough of her ... Well, I've shown you a little more love below.







What do you think? Can you stand the reign?