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Amanda Diva Needs Your Help

 

Life as an independent artist is challenging enough without life kicking in and serving you up a healthy dose of reality. Sadly, Amanda Diva got a taste of real life when her purse got stolen last night, and that's after getting into a car accident last weekend. (Damn, yo.) Diva posted a blog this morning detailing the ordeal and everything that she lost:

Hey folks. This is really not my week. I got in a car accident last weekend and last night my purse was stolen with my ipod, phones, camera, wallet, ticket to the Roots & Erykah Badu, basically my life. Contrary to popular belief, I am FAR from rich. But I need those things to continue to forward movement of my business. The phones for obvious reasons, the camera is how I shoot a lot of DivaSpeak TV and if you're a music lover, ESPECIALLY if you're an artist,a you completely understand how difficult it is to live without an ipod. So, if you were thinking bout buyin "Life Experience" off my Myspace page, or a hand-painted bag, or mixtape, or print hopefully the spirit will move you today to purchase an item from DivaWorks to bring some goodness to you and also help me get back in the swing of things. Hope this finds everybody well.

As anyone who has ever had their purse/bag/backpack/luggage stolen can attest, this seriously blows. I speak from experience and can truly feel her pain. I just saw Amanda over the weekend in Philly where she held it down as emcee for the Black Lily Film & Music Festival awards ceremony/concert and blessed the audience with a few songs. Her performance (video after the bounce) was so impressive that I went ahead and bought her Life Experience CD after the show. In the event that it's not yet a part of your collection, now would be the time to add it. Diva is also a visual artist with some stunning original artwork for sale on her MySpace page just in time for Mother's Day. So get some Amanda Diva in your life and hook a sista up at the same time.

Even a "Supa-Woman" needs a little help sometimes.

Amanda Diva [Official][MySpace][Blogspot][YouTube]

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Butta  |  05/09/2008 at 4:30 PM  |  Comments (4)  |  Permalink

Alicia's Journey to the Motherland

 

Say what you want about Alicia Keys (and believe me, we have), but the work she's doing in an attempt to stem the AIDS crisis in Africa is not only commendable, it's downright inspirational. The hardworking R&B singer, in partnership with Keep A Child Alive, took a film crew to the motherland earlier this year to chronicle the trials of families struggling to survive the epidemic. 

The result is the documentary Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland.  

A portion of the film aired as part of the Idol Gives Back special on FOX April 9th. Our friends over at Clutch are now offering a chance to see it in its entirety via a free online download here. Please pass it on and, as the tag line reads, "start a virus to stop a virus!"

Alicia in Africa [Official]

Harlem  |  04/25/2008 at 1:00 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

Amy Winehouse Gets Naked

 

Maybe three or so years ago when Amy Winehouse was thicker than a Snickers that headline may have had people clamoring to get a peek, but slim shady Amy? Um, not so much. But our girl Wino has taken it all off for a purpose in the April issue of the UK mag Easy Living in a photo spread to raise breast cancer awareness amongst young women. Other British babes to appear in the glossy include actress Helena Bonham Carter and singer Sade. Now that's who I'm sure a lot of folks are trying to see in her birthday suit...again.

And for those hoping to get the full monty from Ames, her naughty bits are covered with black duct tape and a guitar. Sorry to disappoint. I guess. Check out the photo in full after the bounce.

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Butta  |  03/21/2008 at 3:35 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

Angie Stone's Diabetes Awareness Campaign

 

Over the weekend, Grammy-nominated Angie Stone kicked-off her diabetes awareness campaign in conjunction with FACE (Fearless African Americans Connected and Empowered) at the Southside YMCA in Chicago. The campaign was launched to inspire behavioral changes in African Americans, who are disproportionately affected by diabetes. "The main reason most people aren't getting tested is fear," she said in regards to us taking the initiative. "Fear of the unknown keeps people from taking care of their health." For perspective's sake, here are some facts about African Americans and diabetes from the American Diabetes Association:

• 3.2 million or 13.3% of all African Americans aged 20 years or older have diabetes.
• African Americans are 1.8 times more likely to have diabetes as non Hispanic whites.
• Twenty-five percent of African Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have diabetes.
• One in four African American women over 55 years of age has diabetes.

Stone, who appeared on season 4 of Celebrity Fit Club, was diagnosed with the Type II diabetes in 1999.

Grammy-Nominated Singer Headlines Diabetes Campaign [CDN] 

nOvaMatic  |  03/18/2008 at 11:01 AM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Casamena Refixes 'Yes We Can'

 

Just yesterday we featured the new video for "Yes We Can," a mash-up of a Barack Obama speech with vocals provided by a host of performers. I have to admit, the song didn't really move me upon first listen. I loved the concept, but it wasn't exactly my cup of chai. But then I came across this remix by Bay Area producer and DJ, Carlos "Casamena" Mena, and it took the song to a whole 'notha level.

Casamena flipped "Yes We Can" and put a house beat behind it, but if that wasn't enough he also mixed in some of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream Speech." Bangin'. I don't know about anyone else, but this joint right here makes me want to "Barack my body" all the way down to the polls.

Barack Obama: "Yes We Can" (Casamena Basement Remix)


Casamena [MySpace]
Casamena Radio Hour [Podcast]

Butta  |  02/05/2008 at 1:00 PM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

'Yes We Can' Vote Tomorrow

 

Tomorrow is Super Tuesday folks, so please remember to vote in the Democratic primaries. In the meantime, some of SoulBounce's previously featured artists, like John Legend, Common, Esthero, Will.I.Am and others, have gone all "We Are The World" and made a video featuring musical accompaniment to one of Barack Obama's speeches. Entitled "Yes We Can," the message is pretty simple, yet makes me wonder if just by saying "yes" will society's ills be eradicated. One can always hope, right?

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ill Mami  |  02/04/2008 at 4:00 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

Toni Braxton Is M'm! M'm! Good! For A Purpose

 

I know what you're thinking (because I was thinking the same thing), but Toni Braxton isn't up to her usual tricks in the clothing or lack thereof department. Toni actually wore this eye-catching dress at last night's Woman's Day Red Dress Awards for a good cause. She has teamed with the Campbell Soup Company for their Go Red With Campbell's Address Your Heart campaign to combat heart disease in women. This dress was the winning frock chosen by an internet vote out of three dresses designed by Lisa Perry for Toni to wear to this event (and also on The View this morning).

Braxton was diagnosed with heart disease after the birth of her second son while she was on Broadway starring in Aida. With her itty bitty body, she was the picture of health on the outside but inside was a different matter. She has since made a complete recovery and she is now raising awareness about this movement toward healthier hearts.

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Butta  |  02/01/2008 at 1:25 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

World AIDS Day 2007

 

Battlelines shift, but war against AIDS far from won [AFP]
World Health Organization HIV/AIDS Programme [Website]
UNAIDS [Website]

Butta  |  12/01/2007 at 12:00 AM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Waxploitation Takes Up Some 'Causes'

 

Today Waxploitation launched its inaugural Causes album series with Causes 1, which includes exclusive and rare tracks donated by numerous artists to benefit the victims of the ongoing genocide in Darfur. One hundred percent of the proceeds from Causes 1 will be going to three non-profit organizations performing relief work in Darfur: Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Watch and Oxfam America. Although estimates of the number of people killed by the conflict vary widely from 200,000 to 400,000, it's been confirmed that more than 2 million people have fled their homes because of the fighting, and currently over 4 million are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Causes 1 is available now on iTunes for only 90 days beginning today and a limited edition CD can be ordered directly from Waxploitation.

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Butta  |  11/27/2007 at 11:00 AM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Walk With The J. Dilla Project

 

J. Dilla may no longer be with us in physical form, but his legacy lives on not only in his music but in the J. Dilla Project, which hopes to raise money for and awareness about the Alliance For Lupus Research and their "Walk With Us To Cure Lupus" walkathons throughout the country. Prior to his death in February 2006, Dilla had been diagnosed with lupus in addition to suffering from an incurable blood disease. The J. Dilla Project is seeking the support of Dilla fans whether it be through giving donations, sponsoring walkers, volunteering at an event or participating in an ALR Walkathon under the J. Dilla Project umbrella.

Upcoming walks will be held New York City on Saturday, October 13; Chicago and Atlanta on Saturday, October 20;  and Washington, D.C. on Saturday, November 3, to name a few locations. Visit the J. Dilla Project page on Fusicology for the complete schedule of this year's remaining Walk With Us To Cure Lupus walkathons.

J. Dilla Project [MySpace] [Fusicology]
Alliance For Lupus Research [Website] [Walk With Us]

Butta  |  10/12/2007 at 1:34 PM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink