Board of Education

One day while I was on Twitter I received a message from this boy named Darryl Watson. Who introduced himself to me and started to speak on how much he like my blog. Couldn't help but to smile, because it is greatly appreciated to see that my blog is also receiving great reviews from people outside of CT. He then begin to let me know about his group called Board of Education. The group consist of Darryl Watson (rapper, keyboardist), Ryan Teodoro (guitarist), and Priyal Seebadri (drummer). The Board of Education is from out of the suburbs of New Jersey. Their influences include Outkast, Jay-Z, The Roots, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime, Kanye West, The Cool Kids, A Tribe Called Quest, Radiohead, etc. They're currently doing shows in New Jersey, and soon plan to make their music nationally known for the world to listen to. Darryl recently sent me a new single of theirs. It's called Blow Up. Check it out and tell me what you guys think of it. You could also listen to more of The Board of Education by checking out their Myspace page www.myspace.com/theboardofeducation, and also staying updated by adding them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Board-of-Education/129338857078648

Interview with Poet Jasmine Mans

Recently I had the opportunity to interview poet Jasmine Mans. Jasmine Mans poetry was brought to my attention when I was viewing this website called WorldStartHipHop. She had a video of her up there doing a poem that she had written about Nicki Minaj called "The Mis-Education of a Barbie Doll". Viewing the video I was left speechless, all I can say was this nineteen year old poet is very talented/gifted. In the back of my mind I was like I must hear some more of her pieces.

Going on YouTube I typed in "Jasmine Mans" and found a few videos of some of her other work. Listening to those pieces I was just blown away by how powerful her words are. These words are least expected from a nineteen year old.

Me as a fan of Jasmine Mans...when I was given the opportunity to interview her for my blog site I was ecstatic, yet anxious. It was an opportunity that I had to take, and that I did. If you read below here are some questions I asked Jasmine:


1. To the people that don’t know you, can you explain to them who is Jasmine Nicole Mans?
Jasmine Mans is a 19-year-old student from Newark, NJ who attends the University of Wisconsin- Madison. I am an African American Studies and Sociology Major. Poetry is my first love and God-willing I hope to pursue it for the rest of my life and use it to create change around the world.
2. At what age did you discover your ability to write?
I can’t really give a specific age but I remember wanting to perform and seek excellence in the 7th grade when my English teacher heard my work and encouraged me to continue writing.
3. Growing up or even now who are some of the poets that you are inspired by?
Amiri Baracka, Tupac Shakur, Assata Shakur, and Maya Angelou to name a few. 
4. What is the inspiration behind most of your poems?
My Peers, current events, life, and the art of other people. Breathing and imagination are inspiration enough for me to write.
5. The poem written about Nicki Minaj…only a few understand the purpose of why the poem was written. Can you please explain the purpose of writing that poem to the majority that didn’t understand it?
Artists should take responsibility and be held accountable for their art. If each song an artist made was critiqued by a fan, would it sound different, I think it would. It is important to hold up a mirror to our artist, especially as fans, If we don’t who will. I believe that Nicki Minaj can be the revolution hip-hop is in dire need of but I just want to remind her that she’s greater than the Barbie.
6. For the people who think your poems written about Nicki and Wacka are just you hating what you have to say about that?
I’m a fan of Hip-Hop before I am a fan of Waka and Nicki. At the end of the day art is to evoke passion, emotions, and questions. If my piece did that and if some still believe that I am a hater so be it. But I did not write the piece with hateful intentions.
7. When can we expect some more poems?
I try to write everyday. But you can expect a new piece bi-weekly on Youtube, Facebook, and Jasminemans.blogspot.com. 
8. In your poems you express a lot of emotion. Personally I think you have wonderful acting skills, can we see Jasmine Mans possibly doing “acting” in the rear future?
Yes, I am an actress. I am a Star Ledger Drama Scholar; I’m apart of the first Hip-Hop Theatre collective and recently did The Knicks Poetry Slam on Broadway, so yes acting is certainly in my future.
9. Any closing words?
W.E.B. DuBois said all art is propaganda and should be used to uplift and challenge the African American community, and if art does not do such it is useless. We are too powerful and talented of people to be useless. Time of hold ourselves and our art accountable for what it says and silence

Once again I just would like to thank Jasmine for this wonderful opportunity, it was a pleasure interviewing her. I look forward to hearing much more from her.To those who are interested in hearing more about Jasmine Mans you can do so by going to http://www.jasminemans.blogspot.com/. To hear some of her pieces you can go to YouTube and type in "Jasmine Mans".


Thanks for reading,


Hattie Brooks

What we been anticipating...Nicki Minaj "Pink Friday" album

Personally, me I'm not a huge fan of rapper Nicki Minaj. But, I enjoy listening to her craft. It's obviously known that Nicki is one of the most talented female rappers of this time. Don't agree? Well all I can say is everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I mean look at Nicki fan base. Nicki has been in the game for more then two years without an album. We only received a few mixtapes from her and a lot of collabs on tracks with other artist in the industry. How can one be so successful for more then two years and just now dropping an album for all her fans. I admire her creativity how she can switch up her voices and how she acts (face expressions, etc). Not a big fan of her clothing and how she portrays herself as a barbie, but I mean it's all cool I could deal with it. "Pink Friday" the most anticipated album of this year, it's finally here for us to hear. I'm sure it was a lot of pressure on Nicki to come out with this album. Listening to "Pink Friday" I could honestly say the album is awesome. Some people would say wrong choice of word being that "Los Angeles Times" gave this album only three stars. But I'm using the word awesomebecause the album is more then what I expected. I was expecting for this album to be one of those albums where its only two or three good songs up there, and majority of the good songs usually be the singles. But I was shocked, popping in the album I actually found myself liking more then 3 songs up there (not including the singles). The three songs I like up there is the songs featuring Rihanna, Drake and Kanye and maybe with time as the album grows on me it would be more songs to add to the list. If I was to rate this album I would most definitely give it:

4 stars

Check this out: Upcoming Poet

In the process of getting an interview with her. I absolutely admire her work, she speaks the truth and keeps it a real. Please feel free to give your perspective on what you think of Jasmine Mans. This is just one out of many pieces she did.  Check it out.

New Female Artist: Patwa

Patwa, A female rapper from out of Bronx, NY. You might have seen her video on WorldStartHipHop. Patwa's music speaks for itself. She is a talented artist, with some powerful lyrics that catches everyone ears. She has her own identity when it comes to her sound with the mixture of reggae and hiphop/rap. I admire her music...her nice, cool, laid back demeanor works for her style. You look at her and never expect such hard lyrics to come out her mouth. The old saying what is it now? Oh, "Looks could be decieving". Yes! Indeed it could be and her looks decieved me...not for the bad but for the good. Keep doing what you do Patwa we need more female artist like you. You could check out her music and all at www.patwamusic.blogspot.com

Ashton Travis x Cruisin' On a Cloud

Shoutouts to Ashton Travis for this amazing mixtape ;)

Shoutouts to O TV Live