Purple Reign

It rained for the better part of the week, here in NYC. And after, what seemed like a pretty soulless week, in which I would not have much to rant and rave about, I've found some topics to touch on. The cousins never fail to come through.

Parade report: The Baltimore crews worked it as they do every year, and without seeing them, this would have been the wackest parade EVER; even more wackadocious than the one last year. Again, this is the only parade in the nation that allows you to cross the street in the middle of folks marching (or aptly put--parading about). The only parade that has such huge gaps that you can literally go home, go about your business, leave and come back and not miss a beat! And all the random folks. Just sad. Have you no pride my people? Oh well. Maybe next year.

On the week in soulfulness. Hum. The debates; clearly we know who's angry and carries a huge chip on his tortured-soul shoulders, and would have us fight every person on earth who remotely reminded him of his prisoner of war days; who thinks Wall Street is greedy and that smirking your way through a debate and avoiding eye contact is the way to win friends and votes. And they say Michelle and Barack are angry! Soul Brother numero uno is eloquent, poised and clearly prepared to lead us to the semi promised land. Let's see how Palin and Bidden fare. Big knuckle pound to Brotha Barack.

R.Kelly--O brotha where art thou good sense? and did you not pick up one of those teenage girls you were dealing with's biology books to tell you what age range a teenager falls in? Toure asked an ill prepared Robert (if not clearly one french fry short of a Happy Meal),to answer the question on everyone's mind: "So you like teenage girls?" only to have Robert ask the question: "How old is a teenager?" WTF? I'm done. And in true let's give the brotha the benefit of the doubt because the white man is always trying to beat a brotha down fashion, we'll continue to support and applaud his child-molestin' behind. Come on out that closet bro and maybe instead of making bad porn tapes you'd consider going back to school with one of your under-aged love interests. So not soul brotha cool-like.

Vivica Fox- Glam God? When did she become an expert on style and fashion? Since she covered Lisa Raye's lingerie line coming out party 3 years ago? And who styles her for the show? and who scripted her lines? Why do sistas always have to be sassy? Speaking of sisters: bring back Jackie Blue, ousted contestant Joaquin's alter ego. VH1 you get a soul slap.

And while were on VH1, when did it move from Adult Contemporary/Pop Chart video countdown and Behind The Music channel, to mostly Black Reality TV and Hip Hop has-been wasteland? Can't Black folks produce some of these shows or have some treatments worth picking up? Season 3 of I Love NY is what I have to look forward to? I'll give Diddy credit for his I Want to Work for Diddy show. Well done and Tivo worthy, although Laverne should be offered a job just on the strength of her great attitude and diplomacy. How she managed not to take one her size 12 (men's) stilletoed feet and firmly wedge it up Poprah's --I'm too old to be working for Diddy as an assistant's-- behind for calling her a joke, is more than my size 7 1/2 foot having behind could have done. Kudos.

Speaking of Old School soul shows- Keith Sweat, Bobby Brown , Rakim, KRS1 and some other once was relevant artist, are performing together in what is being billed as the Retro Jam. Now, I'm a huge Rakim fan and Bobby can bring it (or at least he used to) and Keith whines like no other (although I can't stand a whining, begging brotha) and KRS still is dynamic--who the hell thought that this would make a good show? We're talking Jeri curl crew vs. fist pumpin' rebels; the ultimate rhyme master sharin' a stage with the blast master and the bump and grind king. Folks won't know whether to throw the panties or burn their bras in protest over the man's oppression. Do I wear my throw back hammer pants, fat gold chain, Gumby cut or dashiki and combat boots? So not fair folks. I got soul and love for all these cats, but this was on some-- brotha trying to come up on a few dollars that this got put together-- tip! Promoting ain't easy, people. Do not attempt on your own.

Soul Glo award of the week? David Allen Grier who returns to TV with his Comedy Central series. Looking forward to some funny moments and memorable character who got soul.

Until next week: I got soul and I'm super bad.