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Honey B's Hip Hop Holidays - The Playlist!!!

12/25/2014

In the spirit of the #Holidays and in the spirit of #HipHop - I compiled an playlist of some of my fave Hip Hop Christmas songs! Feel free to add more to this commentary if you have a favorite I missed, and I'll add it for other people to download! Happy Hip Hop Holiday's Ya'll!

TRACKLISTING:

honey_bs_hip_hop_holidays.zip
File Size:	57476 kb
File Type:	zip

The Miss and Re-Education of Hip Hop

12/22/2014

What does Hip Hop have to do with Economic Affairs? What does Hip Hop have to do with Racism? Hip Hop is about partying and bullsh*t right? Or is it? There has and always will be controversy over race. Who is allowed and who is not allowed in any given circumstance. And there is no limitation when it comes to #music. Whites are as accepted in #HipHop as Blacks are in #Country music. No, not something you see every day, but is it okay for this intertwining to occur? Pose for a moment if Kendrick didn't spit, but had a twang with an acoustic guitar? Or Rah Digga belting out Voi Che Sapete (An Opera Song)? Can an artist who doesn't typically fit the "mold" of a particular genre, still rock that genre? Hip Hop is my life, so I can only speak on it as a culture and my relation to it...But Hip Hop seems to have a particular "negative forcefield" toward a white artist receiving true credibility as an emcee. Why is that, do we think? Do Country or Emo Artists feel the same? Recently Q-Tip took to twitter to speak directly to Iggy Azealia with some education on the origins of hip hop and what that means to the black individual.

Breaking down the socio-economic factors that contributed to the formation of Hip Hop and into a culture whose foundation was such. So what about today? Does the music we hear today have that same kind of plight? Is it okay for Iggy to win the Hip Hop Album of the Year? Is it lyrically based, is it album sales based or is it culture based? Or does that matter to the masses or just the "backpackers"? Depending on your knowledge of the culture of Hip Hop, and your relation to it, are where your views land.

(CLICK HERE TO READ QTIP'S ENTIRE MESSAGE)

Now TI has responded on behalf and in defense of Iggy noting that some white artists merely wish to contribute to Hip Hop rather than infiltrate it and steal from it. In my eyes, TI kind of missed the point of what Q-Tip was saying. Do your art, but remember that your art has a voice and its roots are deep within a culture steadfast built on creativity, strength, hope and determination.

(CLICK HERE TO READ TI'S ENTIRE MESSAGE)

But this is just one woman in Hip Hop's opinion. I truly believe that the voice...the rhythmic vibrations...they have power and authority in the world, and our whole culture was based upon that premise. So ANY artist who delves into this particular genre should understand that as core and key. It was a chance to be free, to express the soul, and evoke those emotions as well. Black, white, woman, man....I don't really care who you are...
your WORDs determine OUTCOME...your WORDs have POWER....your WORDs CREATE.....

What Are YOUR WORDs Doing?

What do you think about the subject?

5 Vocal Exercises that every Emcee should at least try!

12/6/2014

You Voice is All YOU GOT!
It's a largely spread myth that only singers need to exercise their throats in order to perform. However, EVERY vocalist should stretch their vocal chords and exercise accordingly to not cause damage from overuse or improper care.

Okay, okay….I know what you're thinking…I (as in you) am WAY TOO COOL to stand here and make motorboat sounds with my lips…BUT….motorboating can make it better! lol. As an emcee myself, I find it necessary to "stretch" my voice especially when I've got several gigs coming up or know I'll be utilizing it a lot. There are plenty more tips, but here are a few starters to help an emcee get limber!

What Can You Do?
Here's 5 Exercises YOU can do
to prevent your voice from failing when you grab the mic!

Play motorcycle. Vibrate your lips, making engine sounds, taking the pitch up and down. Pretending to ride the road is optional, but makes it more fun.

Sustain your breath on a hum. Play with the pitch, up and down the scale, feeling the vibrations resonate through your body. As you get more adapt at feeling the resonation, try and move it deliberately, through your chest, your jaw, your nose, your sinus cavities, your forehead, the top of your head, then back down again.

* Enunciation/Tongue Twisters:

Be sure and say these in only one breath!

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

A tutor who tooted the flute,
Tried to tutor two tooters to toot.
Said the two to the tutor,
"Is it easier to toot,
Or to tutor two tooters to toot?"*

Bobby Bibbit bought a bat.
Bobby Bibbit bought a ball.
With the bat, Bob banged the ball,
Banged the ball against the wall.

Amidst the mists and fiercest frosts,
With barest wrists and stoutest boasts,
He thrusts his fists against the post,
And still insists he sees the ghosts.**

*The difference here is tutor and tooter. Tutor has a long "u" which is very different than the "oo" in tooter, but Americans tend to pronounce them the same way.

**The difference between "st" and "sts" is almost a syllable. Make sure you aren't cutting that final "s" off or adding it where it doesn't belong.

BREATH CONTROL 1:
The point of the exercise is to be able to say the entire piece in 1 breath. Work up to it by doing 1 breath per stanza, then 1 breath for 2 stanzas, etc. When you've mastered it, move on to "The Modern Major General" Fear No More the Heat o' the Sun

Shakespeare

Fear no more the heat o' the sun,
Nor the furious winter's rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Fear no more the frown o' the great,
Thou art past the tyrant's stroke;
Care no more to clothe, and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning flash
Nor the all-dreaded thunder-stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan:
All lovers young, all lovers must,
Consign to thee, and come to dust.

BREATH CONTROL 2:
The point of the exercise is to be able to say the entire piece in 3 breaths. It can be done, but it takes practice. I would recommend starting withFear No More, which is the same idea, but with shorter stanzas. When you have mastered that, move on to this one. Learn the pronunciations and remember to enunciate! It doesn't count if you slur your words."The Modern Major General"

from Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance

I am the very model of a modern Major-General, I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral, I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical; I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical, I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical, About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news, With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.: I'm very good at integral and differential calculus; I know the scientific names of beings animalculous: In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

I know our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's; I answer hard acrostics, I've a pretty taste for paradox, I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus, In conics I can floor peculiarities parabolous; I can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows and Zoffanies, I know the croaking chorus from the Frogs of Aristophanes! Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din afore, And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore. Then I can write a washing bill in Babylonic cuneiform, And tell you ev'ry detail of Caractacus's uniform: In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

In fact, when I know what is meant by "mamelon" and "ravelin", When I can tell at sight a Mauser rifle from a javelin, When such affairs as sorties and surprises I'm more wary at, And when I know precisely what is meant by "commissariat", When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery, When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery- - In short, when I've a smattering of elemental strategy, You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee. For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury, Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century; But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

Flawlessly flawed or nah?

8/4/2014

After listening to this song a few times and having brief discussions with a few people about it, I wondered what others views were on the subject. The new track Flawless by Beyonce and Nicki Minaj is creating a buzz because its the first time these two have connected on a track together. Off tops, I like the song, but it started to take some listening sessions into conversations about life, feminism and the power of "the voice".

I've actually had several people give me several reviews of this song. Some completely love it and others say its lackluster coming from two such stellar artists. Whether you love the song or not, isn't really what the focal point is. As two powerful women representing women and being role models for so many, are they keeping up to their responsibilities or does that matter to you? In a world where beauty has become a driving force, yet seems to only be seen when its over processed, photoshopped and facaded….the new definition of flawless. We gawk and awe when they show us the "untouched" versions of photos and make it a huge campaign to ask women to show their natural selves "if they dare".

Or wait….is it just music? Is it something that we just rock out to at the club, or does it really have some sort of affect on our lives and how we view ourselves and each other? Hmm…these are things I ponder upon while I analyze…i mean listen to…audio creations. Audio journeys into the inner being. What really is a flawless creation? Are we creating a standard? If Nicki's Anaconda cover wasn't so provocative, would you have listened?

These are just some of the comments that came up, feel free to chime in and express your thoughts here! I want to hear what your mind has to say!!

#Beyonce & #NickiMinaj - What do YOU think?

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On The Tanning Of America…who's Got The SPF50?

3/3/2014

Watch All Episodes Here!

Okay so, let me be the first to say…Hip Hop is everywhere and has been for such a long time. I am elated that it's had such a large impact on todays cultures and birthed some very influential individuals and entities.

With that said, let me ask…with all of this tanning going on, who's got the SPF50? When out in the sun, you've got to protect the skin. Just as with life, you've got to protect the mind. So now that Hip Hop has such a powerful voice in the world….WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH IT? Sunburn or Sunlotion?

We've got the ability to change lives and empower and teach just as Hip Hop began, but nowadays the overall theme is the party life, the baller life, the…rich life…the twerk life. Which, okay, we all like fun now and then. We all like to let loose. But has it gone too far? Have we lost the true meaning of what music was created for? Not to mention the habituation of misogyny. That's a whole other post, lol.

We are bombarded with messages of being out for self, and survival of the fittest, yet we forgot that we were built upon unity and empowerment. Hip Hop has got SO much power to influence generations, build multi-million dollar businesses, and infiltrate every single culture it touches. If you had that kind of power, what would you do with it? Who is holding the suntan lotion in this mass "tanning" of the world? I don't know about you, but I've seen a lot of sunburns out there.

I ask you all….where do we go from here? Now that we have seen Hip Hop touch the lives of every individual it meets in so many different ways. Now that we have seen Hip Hop create a culture of followers that will live and breathe it just as they see it. What sounds will come next?
Where is Hip Hop Headed?

Please Comment!

How Do You Love Your Hip Hop? - Next Chapter

11/23/2013

After polling 100 women that I know have a love for Hip Hop (THANK YOU LADIES, YOU HAVE GIVEN ME LOTS TO REVIEW!!), the results have shown an interesting turn. You are definitely passionate about what you want out of Hip Hop and it's status quo. In order to fully understand the results so far, I'd like to poll some more of you! Is there a difference between Hip Hop and Rap? What makes an artist one you want to buy in the world of downloads? Where is your Hip Hop and what, if anything, is missing from it?

Ladies, Lend me Your Brains! lol…Questions like this and more! Please take a short survey and let me know How You Love Your Hip Hop! Thank you in advance!!!

Check out this video for a little insight into what this is about and how YOU can get involved! Chyeaaaaa!

Click Pic Below To Enter Survey or Hit Page Link in ToolBar Above!

We Want More, We Want More…There's Only A Little, We Want More!

11/8/2013

Okay so just like that cute little kid in that commercial….when they only give you a little, you want more, you want more! lol. Seriously though…nights like Black Girls Rock 2013 should be more common. There were a plethora of women who have done amazing things, not only being honored, but in the audience. I couldn't take the time out to cover every single thing that happened, but here's a short recap done by yours truly.

Let's continue to uplift each other, ladies….and motivate each other to be the outstanding beings we truly are! Be sure to comment, share, talk, and let me know your thoughts too! Wouldn't it be great to see this kind of empowerment more often? #Dope

Shout out to the M.A.D. Girls too…Brooklyn Wright, Mary Pat Hector, Ty-Licia Hooker...I love that there are girls and women of all areas, locations, ages, statuses…can take it upon themselves to begin change. Know you can make a difference in the world. Just depends on what you wanna do!

B #HipHop, #NoSubstitutions

Full Performances/Acceptance Speeches

Janelle Monae

Jennifer Hudson

Ledisi

Amber Riley

Patti Labelle/Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland

Alice Smith

Tracee Ellis Ross/Regina King - Switch Roles!

Venus Williams

Marian Wright Edelman

Mara Brock Akil

Kelly Rowland

Ameena Matthews

Queen Latifah

Patti Labelle

Oh For The Love Of Hip Hop - 2013 BET Hip Hop Award Recap

10/17/2013

Ahhhh, Here It Is! How Honey Sees Hip Hop!

I took a few short moments to highlight the female edge within the BET Hip Hop Awards.
A few thoughts I had, so to speak, lol. If it seems like I am biased, well.....thats because I AM! I am a female emcee, so I can but only give you the rip raw rugged right outta my mouf with a Hip Hop Chick's perspective...naw mean? Go on now, Take a look!

You know me, I live #HipHop with #NoSubstitutions! I can never help what this mouth will say!

Full Video Clips From Cypher/Mc Lyte Speech

Rapsody

Lil Kim

Tiffany Foxx

Mc Lyte Acceptance Speech

Did you see the awards?
What did you think about the females that repped?
What do you think about MC Lyte's thoughts and message?
What would you like to see in next year's show and other representations of Hip Hop?
TALK ABOUT IT! COMMENTS ARE ENCOURAGED AND APPLAUDED YO!

Happy Birthday, Mrs. Hip Hop President!

9/6/2013

Well if you know me, then you know I like to celebrate my birthday for....like a month....lol. And this year was no exception!

I just wanted to take the time out to say thanks to everyone who wished me well, got me gifts, sent cards, pictures, texts and phone calls!
It really means a lot!

This year I was excited to receive a special audio gift from one of my friends (also one of the 12 Pack - I'll explain what an awesome crew of women we all were and why I called us that in another blog...dopeness). Crystal Nebalasca is her name, and a birthday song is what I got. Loved it so much I wanted to post it on my page for everyone to peep. Dopeness yo! Had me feeling like Mrs. Hip Hop President ala Marilyn Monroe and JFK lol.

S/O to Crystal and much success in all of your singing endeavors! Links to her below yo!

Crystal Nebalasca

Thanks SO Much C! The Leo Luvs it! RAWR!

Links to Crystal - Hit her up for features and other biz!

Crystal.Nebalasca

Crystal_April

@Crystal_BJK

New Kid, New Block - Do You Know Breathless?

4/27/2013

Thats totally how i feel yo. Like a new kid, on a new block, in a new school, with some new peers, and some new teachers, and some new books, with some new pencils, and some new shoes, and a new backpack, and a new road, and some new....you get the point! Coming from Omaha and establishing such a career there...I now find myself out here in The Bay in Cali feeling like a brand new artist. Out here like I just released my very first cd and did my very first show, because these cats havent had the pleasure of watchin me rock or hell even knowing who Breathless even is. Unaware of what it sounds like in ya ear. No idea of how wild it gets on stage. And so on. I am finding this quite exciting to say the least!

I find myself on this new journey, feeling like my career just started, but having all the years of wisdom and experience behind me.

I love it yo.

My hunger has changed,
my focus has changed,
and so have I. You can't
expect to grow without
change!

I am essentially starting
brand new with a brand new fervor!

I've been involved with new ventures and meeting some incredible people to add to the already amazing list of crony's and associates i know!

Is it a little scary starting over again? Not knowing anybody and being the shy little girl that I've always been? DUH!

But how could I let that stop me?
I have too many people to connect with in this world and have been given a purpose I am elated to uphold!
So allow me to reintroduce myself... Im Breathless aka Honey B!
And I am here to stay! So be prepared to get to know me. Let's go on a first date together. lol. Lets get to know each other for the first time, and for some of you, lets reacquaint ourselves!
There's a new kid on the block....little 5'2 chick who spits like crazy.....
I guess what Im asking you is......
#DoYouKnowBreathless ?

If you don't know now, you're gonna! Stay tuned!
I love ya'll to pieces! Until next time!

introducing a lil something new for us to play with!

hey honey!

anything you want to know about me?
Want to know my opinion on something?
want some advice?
got a business question?
wanna talk about current events?

let's do it together!

I am starting a new series called....Hey Honey! You ask me, I'll answer...I dont care what it is...current events, music, life, about Breathless, business, food...lol...you ask, i'll tell! Send your questions in an email to HeyHoneyVideo@gmail.com. You can email your question/comment in text form, record audio, or send in video form!

Looking forward to talking with you! YAY!
Honey

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