Daily Archives: 26 Dec 2012

Artists on The Verge

YCMG – In GOD We Trust – Cover Artwork

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Itunes Artwork 2

YCMG “Young Conscious Music Group” is releasing their first original single entitled “In GOD We Trust.” We happened to get a look at one of the versions of the cover artwork for the single. Check it out.

  1. YCMG Who?
  2. YCMG First Orginal Track
  3. Bring Forth The “Triple Threat Holy Redemption Volume One” Mixtape
  4. 2 Chainz Def Jam Conference Call
  5. Dirt [Gangster Disciple] – Six [Rick Ross Diss] December 2012 CDQ Dirty NO DJ
NBA

Tight-knit Clippers rolling along

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LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers‘ Christmas sweaters were terrible. Hideous actually. Each one uglier than the next. Chris Paul walked into the Clippers’ locker room with a sweater vest stitched with a Christmas tree and ornaments. Blake Griffin rolled in with a knitted vest over snowman pajamas. And Matt Barnes looked like a walking Christmas present with ribbons and bows placed on his sweater by his twin boys. Christmas Day games have become old hat for the team down the hall. The Los Angeles Lakers have played on Christmas Day every year since 1999. This is only the third time the Clippers have played on Christmas Day since 1992. What was once viewed as a nuisance by players and coaches is now viewed as a sign of respect from the league. “It usually means you’re doing something right,” Paul said. “You’re on a guy like Blake Griffin’s team.” There was no way Paul was going to let this day go by without doing something to commemorate the occasion. Not only did every player arrive to Staples Center wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, but they all brought “Secret Santa” gifts for one another as well. These aren’t activities in which most NBA teams partake. Then again, the Clippers aren’t most NBA teams. They are, at least according to the standings, the best team in the NBA. After beating the Denver Nuggets, 112-100, for their first home win on Christmas Day, the Clippers are not only a league-best 22-6, but they have won a franchise-best 14 straight games, the longest streak in the NBA this season. Calling the Clippers the best team in Los Angeles, let alone the NBA, used to be the setup to a played out punch line. Anyone who has watched the Clippers this season, however, realizes they’re far from a punch line and their success this season is far from an aberration. After the Lakers defeated the New York Knicks earlier in the day at Staples Center, Dwight Howard smiled when he was told the Lakers were now 14-14 after winning five in a row. “We’re .500?” he said. “Yes! I knew this day would come.” While Howard was celebrating the Lakers’ 14th win of the season, the Clippers were trying to keep their 14th consecutive win in perspective. The Clippers didn’t begin this season with aspirations of winning 14 straight or starting 22-6 or winning on Christmas Day. Their expectations have always been much higher. CONTINUE READING

African American Issues, Culture

Kwanzaa Begins

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KwanzaaGraphicKwanzaa is a week long celebration observed by African-American and Pan-African communities. It begins on December 26 and ends on January 1st. It is a celebration of family, community, and culture.
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor of African Studies at California State University. It was created as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African culture and historical heritage. It is based upon ancient African “first fruits of the harvest” celebrations and incorporates the strong work ethics, values and practices established within the African culture. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning first fruits of the harvest. 

Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa focuses on one of the seven principles (or values) of Kwanzaa as established by Dr. Karenga. These seven principles are:

  1. Umoja (Unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
  2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
  3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together.
  4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
  5. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
  6. Kuumba (Creativity): To do as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and  beneficial than we inherited it.
  7. Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.