I try to write a new year reflective post every year to post on January 1 since I actually started this blog on New Year’s Day 2009. But dah well, didn’t happen.

I actually wasn’t sure when I was going to blog again because I really had no desire to at all.  Today’s song brought me out of my hiatus I suppose.

I declared 2011 the “year of friendships” and I successfully actualized that goal. Last year I spent time nurturing and loving those close to me, and I will continue that in 2012. It wasn’t the easiest year emotionally: I spent more time than necessary doubting myself, confused about the actions of others, and just all around a bit more unsure than I had been in my personal life in a long time. DESPITE all of that, I had some REALLY good times. I finally found my footing in a new city, and had one hell of a summer. I turned 30 years old, which ushered in the fall season in style as I celebrated with loved ones and have memories that will last a lifetime.

The last month of 2011 was probably the hardest of all, as I lost a very close friend of mine to complications from Sickle Cell. I had never lost a close friend before and its still very hard for me to accept at times, but we said our final farewell,  in this lifetime last Wednesday.

My heart is still heavy, but my spirit is no longer unsure. She is Home, she is no longer in pain, and knowing that makes me smile. And even through the tears, I DO SMILE.

While doing my morning rituals this morning, I happened upon the Steve Harvey Morning Show, and as soon as I heard the horns come in on this song, my eyes filled with tears. This was OUR song, one in particular I avoided listening to since I first heard my Cryssy left this earth. I wanted to share it with you all today because despite how it makes me miss her so, it is an excellent song. It is a song I have always loved. At first it reminded me of my childhood, but from now on it will remind me of her.

She and I bonded in many ways, but one way in particular was through music. She also was a regular reader and commenter of my blog. Today’s post, and song is for Cryssy. in 2011 we spent lots of time together, and I’m grateful for those experiences, those moments. The last was at her 32nd birthday party. I let her know how much she means to me, and for that I have no regrets.  This extended version (our favorite) is just for you.

I may be just a foolish dreamer
But I don't care
'Cause I know my happiness is waiting out there somewhere
I'm searching for that silver lining
Horizons that I've never seen
Oh I'd like to take just a moment and dream my dream
Dream my dream... 
Zoom
I'd like to fly far away from here
Where my mind is fresh and clear
And I'd find the love that I long to see
Where everybody can be what they wanna be
I'd like the greet the sun each morning
And walk amongst the stars at night
I'd like to know the taste of honey in my life
Well I've shared so many pains
And I've played so many games
But everyone finds the right way
Somehow
Somewhere
Someday...

Cuz I’ve been holding back what I feel
Love’s so real
But I can’t wait another minute
I can’t wait another minute
Cuz I’ve been holding back all I feel
I’m for real
Cuz I can’t wait another minute
I can’t wait another minute for your love…

I love this song. Came on last night while I was in the midst of my nightly beauty rituals and I had to put it on repeat. I think I may have featured this on a previous Throwback Thursday post but so what. It’s my favorite Hi-Five song and reminded me how much I miss boy bands/groups. I miss the 90s (and previous decades) when it was cool to sing about how much you liked a girl, and wanted to get to know her better. Not just how much you would like to see her naked…but I digress. Those harmonies were awesome.  RIP Tony Thompson, you and the rest of Hi-Five definitely remain a force in my life’s soundtrack. 20 years later this song still does it for me. Thanks for the memories and the feel good vibes.

You can tell all videos during the early 90s had that same “look” about them. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was filmed in that same alley way as MJB’s “Real Love.” They both were Uptown/MCA artists.

This is hands down my favorite Heavy D song… how can you not want to dance when you hear this?!?!

Do you remember when MTV was actually a music channel? And it was a cornerstone of your youth (depending on your age) and your musical exposure? Well, they used to have this CD series called Party to Go. The club version of this song was on Volume 2.

As I mentioned in previous posts, I was a member of Columbia House and BMG in high school so I had/have CDs for days. I dont know why I even remember this, as I haven’t seen this CD in years. but I do know that this song has always stuck with me (yes it is on my iPod as several other Heavy D songs).

I will never forget his music as a part of my youth and more than anything it was clean so your parents liked it too, and made you want to dance. Just feel good vibes.

I also have this joint on my computer:

Click the cover and thank me later.  Below is another favorite by Heavy D & The Boyz thats featured on this album.

And just because, another featuring a group I ADORED back in the day, some of Heavy’s protege’s. Soul For Real. this was a party jam as well!

and another 90s jam featuring the Overweight Lova

RIP Heavy D.

Me and you is like peanut butter and jelly! 

I want it all or nothing baby, cuz I will always love you baby. cuz you’re my future… 

I dare you to listen to this song only once!!! Marsha Marsha Marsha!

she did that. Well, she and 9th Wonder. If you haven’t copped The Wonder Years yet, please do. Its a great listen.

my other favorite new boo love song is by the homie Jermaine. featuring one of my favorite VA artists, Missy “Misdameanor” Elliott.

This song gives me an old 90s vibe, but I dig it. I could tell from the Missy sample on Friday Night Lights with “Best Friend” that he was a fan, so I’m glad he was able to get the feature. Especially since Missy hasn’t had any new music or features in awhile.

all I’ve been listening to in terms of new releases, has been The Wonder Years, Cole World: The Sideline Story, and Phonte’s Charity Starts at Home–I told yall a long time ago I loved me some him, so that’s a given.  Keeping with the theme of the post, one of my favorites from that project here:

I know most of yall have heard these CDs–right? if so, what are your faves?!

This song still goes hard.

Funny how ten years later nobody in this crew still rocks. Armadale no longer exists. But Hov is still going strong. He’s now a married man, about to be a father. 10 years is a long time. The decade between the 20th and 30th years old has been probably the most significant in my life thus far. That is when you go from kinda sorta like an adult to a real adult.

This song was played during my morning commute this week and got me a lil hype. I’m turning 30 on Sunday. Wow. Well, not really wow. I knew the day was coming long as the Lawd saw fit to wake me up each and every day!

But seriously. I’m happy to have lived this long. I  know quite a few that didn’t make it. Not doing any dramatic reflective bday posts because its a “landmark” year so if you’re curious to know what will be going through my head, peep my previous birthday post here. Ain’t nothing changed! I’ll be rapping that Nas lyric until the day I die.

Maybe I’ll do another celebration soundtrack post like last year. I started the festivities Wednesday night and I already have a few songs in the mental rotation!

Now, a random age rant: In my opinion 29 is a funky age and I’m glad to be leaving it behind. 26 is a throw away year, like just one more than 25. 27 rolled off the tongue real cool–youre over 25 but so much BETTER!!!! 28 sounds great–I mean its like the epitome of “late 20s” to me, not too young or too old. If I was the type to lie about my age, I’d probably always say 27 or 28. And 29–well 29 is just eh, IMO. I’m so ready to say goodbye to my 20s. They say you are only as old as you feel. WELL! I  feel every bit of 29 about to be 30 even though people tell me I still look 17 They also say with age comes wisdom. While that not true for everybody, with age does come more experience and that is always something worth living for and learning from!

So that’s all I got. A random Jay song thats 10 years old that reminded me of the next journey of my life. Felt like talking about it a lil bit…

Also, I contributed to a post today over at Single Black Male. check it out!

have a good weekend! I will

and I keep her up like no doze

I give her that insooooooomnia

the more I give, the more that she takes…

giving her insoooooooomnia…

listen. (no really listen, click the picture above to hear) its not even Friday. But this song right here?

so I’ve stated several times on this blog that Raheem is my favorite male singer. On my commute today, this song came across my ipod while on shuffle. Prior to it, I was listening to my other fave Teedra Moses.  I was reminded how in high school my ABSOLUTE favorite singers were MJB and R. Kelly. Anything I could even imagine I was going through in my teenage angst or jubilance, these two would have a song about it, and I could find a track to fit any mood I had.

In my more recent adult life, I feel like that void has been now filled with Teedra and Raheem. Neither of them have that “worldwide, mainstream” appeal of my fave 90s R&B artists, but they both have good followings, and decent sized catalogs of material.

With Teedra, she’s had label issues that have hindered her 2nd studio album production, but Raheem just genuinely enjoys putting out music! 3 studio albums–all of which have had to grow on me since I hold The Love Experience to SUCH a high standard. But the mixtapes–THE MIXTAPES? usually I fall in love with on immediate listen.  Its easy to do especially when he covers current and older popular radio hits. But in the case of The Art of Noise, its original music.  I’ve reviewed a few on here before, but honestly its not until I listen to his music in shuffle format on my iPod that I am really able to digest lyrics with fresher ears, revisit melodies and remember why it is I love him as an artist so much. He is just that talented. The song above inspired my ability to do that.

Yall remember how he had the internets going nuts with that “She’s Single” joint–I won’t subject anyone to that kind of heat today–it is still early in the work week, so below is a more upbeat track not quite as “freaky”.

Featuring fellow DC artist Tabi Bonney.

please don’t be distracted by this video (lol–which I didn’t even know existed) this song BUMPS!!!!

maybe yall are familiar with these joints, or maybe not. But if you are a fan of Raheem you need to cop that The Art of Noise. It was a nice addition to my Radio Rah collection in 2009.  The “Fever” was featured on Mr. February x March Madness. 

This song says it all. Goodbye summer.  Also speaks on how my man Hov still is doing his thing and holding us down summer after summer *cues Heart of the City* But until next time. Farewell.

Now we must move on to one of my favorite seasons. The air, the fashion, my birthday–LIBRAS!  and homecoming season! You can’t beat it! I’m ready…

I just love this sample. I recently saw Lupe live and was reminded of his older music and how much of a fan I used to be. “Dear Fall” reminds me of the Food & Liquor days. I’m locked in, looking forward to a great season.

Are you excited about fall? 

Listen. I know we have Aubrey jokes for days, but every so often he sets a sexy verse off right. I’ve mentioned one of my faves by him from So Far Gone Before, and also I dug his addition to my lightskinted crush J. Cole’s joint In The Morning.

This verse is so perfect because on first listen the beat loops for awhile and with over 4 minutes already in you think the song is over, but then he starts flowing and its like OH OK!

plus he has that forceful thing I dig from a man–most women don’t mind being told what to do, you just have to say it sexy! Towards the end of the verse he speeds his flow up, and I’m like “I see you Drake”. Wery well done,  the type of music I think he shines on.

This is one of my faves from The Weeknd’s latest EP Thursday called “The Zone.”  He does the whiny voice thing that annoys me after about 3 songs in, but this song was a pleasant surprise with the Drake feature and makes it worth it to me…

Why you rushing me baby
It’s only us
I don’t wanna die tonight baby
So let me sip this slow
I’ll give you what you called for
Just let me get me in my zone
I’ll be making love to her through you
So let me keep my eyes closed
And I wont see a damn thing
I can’t feel a damn thing
But if I touch you right
I wont see a damn thing
I can’t feel a damn thing
But I’ma touch you right…

“Let me get inside my zone…” And that’s all I got. Enjoy. Happy Friday

this song came on as I stepped off the train to head my way home and I got filled up! filled up with that great extraordinary feeling  that comes with a song you can’t help but exude good memories, good vibes, just a GOOD MOOD! There are some songs that just DO IT for me, another I featured awhile back  includes “Stay” by Ne-Yo. no matter how I’m feeling in my present moment, it just makes me happy and hopeful and epitomizes what life is about—those joyful, fun moments.

Ain’t no you without me
And that’s for real baby
And ain’t no you without you
So what’s the deal baby
And I got five little fellas trying to talk to me (say what)
But see my mind is on you so it don’t matter to me

This lil rap verse by Missy was so “young” but I love it though. lol

This song featured I actually have mentioned on a throwback thursday post before with a few others. It deserves a solo post today because it actually is the song I designated as “our song” for myself and my high school boyfriend wayyyyyy long time ago. *giggle* Back then, I had Nicole’s debut CD Make it Hot on repeat. Released in 1998, she was one of the many protege’s of Missy Elliott which was enough for her to get a purchase from me–plus back then I was in BMG and Columbia House music club heaven. While this song was never a super popular single, it was one of my favorites immediately. *sigh*  The lyrics, however simple, still express some 13 years later a great sentiment.  I have listened to this song non stop since I’ve gotten home as I write this post. I LOVE THIS SONG! I have no idea if I ever even told my then bf if this was “our song” and as time has gone on, it doesn’t even so much remind me of the relationship, as it does my youth, my hopeless romantic spirit, and just happiness.

I can’t see, I can’t see, nobody but you and me… 

What about you: do you have a song that reminds you of  your “puppy” love? A song that no matter how you’re feeling, fills you up and takes you to that place?

I think the vid does a good job of capturing fun times with friends. I also happen to like videos with tour footage for some reason. I don’t go to a lot of concerts at large venues really, maybe thats why. but I will be WATCHING THE THRONE in November (just had to put that out there! lol)

Cheers to the freakin weekend! Those of us in the path of Hurricane Irene–be safe! stock up on your vices.. I’m making my wine run ASAPtually!