Sacrifice and Victory - A Great Easter Message, Even If You Are Not Christian

For those who celebrate Christianity, today is a special day. Easter represents the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and paid for all of His followers sins through His tragic death and resurrection. Because of His sacrifice, Chrisitans can live a victorious life and have a shot at making it to Heaven.

Of course, with any holiday, there are people who don't buy into the "hype". We live in a world with many different religious beliefs and people are entitled to believe what they want. And, to me, that is okay. I am an accepting and loving person by nature.

Even if you do not celebrate Easter, there are central themes in the resurrection story that are applicable to ALL of our lives: Sacrifice and Victory.

Today, think about what you want from your life both in the present moment and in future endeavors. Whether your goal is to finish college, write a novel, or lose weight, there will be some sacrifices that you have to make to get there. The question is, how bad do you want it? Are you willing to lose some sleep? Are you willing to give up negative self-talk? Do you have the drive and strength to power through roadblocks and rejections?

No Sacrifice, NO VICTORY. Just like Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to save those who follow Him, you have to make some serious sacrifices along the way to follow your dreams, including giving some of yourself to help others along the way. When you bless others, those blessings come to you. It's time to hang up the excuses, get rid of fear, and discipline yourself.

Discipline determines destiny. Attitude alters altitude.

With Love,

T. Amour

Just Leave Them Alone: 4 Singers People Should Stop Harassing

The over-the-top attacks on these singers need to stop. Whether it has been a controversial tweet, a picture, or a not-so-good single by them, many people have dismissed the ladies below as "flops" and "haters", among other derogatory terminology.

In my humble opinion, it is one thing to dislike an artist. We are all entitled to that right. But, it is another thing to spew hateful, harmful, and heinous words toward a person. Yes, they are people like us and they get their feelings hurt, make bad decisions, and cry like we do. Imagine that...

Some of you may not like me for this. But it's all good.

Here are 4 singers people should stop harassing:

1) Keyshia Cole

Yes, I am serious. I know Keyshia has said some pretty wild stuff concerning 2/3 members of Destiny's Child. And, supposedly it is a grave sin of some sort to dislike Beyoncé, her songs, her actions, or anyone in her "circle". Most people believe that Keyshia could learn to state her opinion in a less harsh way. 

While that may be true, you have to look at who Keyshia is as a person and how she grew up. Girlfriend had a rough life and more than likely had to be straightforward and cutthroat just to survive. All the money in the world is not going to change who she innately is. And, is she not entitled to her opinion like we are? And, is it really necessary to send her hate messages and death threats on Twitter? If you don't like her, ignore her..

2) Ashanti 

Come one people. If you were a female under the age of 40 in the early 2000s, you know damn well you were down with Ashanti and the Murda Inc crew. Yes, her career has taken some negative blows in the past few years, but is it really necessary to call her a flop all the time? And, can we ditch the sideburn jokes? No, she may not have the vocal prowess of some other female singers, but she has set Billboard records and a reported net worth of 40million dollars. Sounds like a good life to me. Leave her alone...

3) Keri Hilson

Keri is yet another victim of the infamous Beyhive. Since she reportedly threw some shade at Bey, Keri has been under constant attack every time she gets on Twitter. If she really doesn't like Bey, maybe there is some reason why (outside of "jealousy"). Who knows? But it is to the point now that the constant jokes and tweets that tear her apart are really starting to hurt her. Enough is enough people, leave Keri alone. 

4)Ciara

Ciara and Ashanti pretty much have the same thing going on. Ciara was wildly popular and helped usher in the Crunk n' B era in 2004 with "Goodies". She was everywhere and blowing up super fast. But, in the past few years, she has had a few shaky singles in her career and some people have dubbed her "C-Error". SMH. I like Ciara, she is gorgeous, can dance, and has gracefully avoided tabloids. And, I had the pleasure of seeing her in concert and she puts on one hell of a show. Leave her alone please 

Instead of wasting time messing with people you don't like, focus your energy on positive things :)

-T. Amour 

4 Songs to Cure Your Post-Work Monday Blues

Monday gets no love. For most people, it signifies the end of a weekend free of obligations and the beginning of a yet another dreaded work week. Even the most positive person has cringed at the thought of a Monday.

The good thing is, its no longer Monday morning (at least not in the US anyway). But, after a long day of getting back into the rhythm of your work grind, it may be hard to relax knowing that you have 4 more days of labor.

Here are 4 Songs to Cure Your Post-Work Monday Blues:

• Chic - "Good Times" (1979)
• Classic tune that changed music.

• Michael Jackson "Off the Wall" (1980)
• Life ain't so bad at all...live your life off the wall!

• Aaliyah "It's Whatever" (2001)
• Her voice is so soothing.

• Maze feat. Frankie Beverly "Before I Let Go"
• This cures the blues any day, any time. Anyone feel like cooking out all of a sudden?

Have a Happy Tuesday tomorrow!

-T. Amour

New Music: India.Arie "Cocoa Butter"

Soulful, spiritual singer India.Arie released a new song via ThisIsRnB just in time to help you unwind from a long work/school week!

"Cocoa Butter" sounds like a signature India.Arie song: full of Earthy, infectious melody and poignant lyrics. For India, her man's love is as soothing and velvety as cocoa butter.

According to her Twitter page (@indiaarie), "Cocoa Butter" is the first single off her upcoming album entitled SongVersation. There is no word on the release date yet, but I will be ready for it!

Check out the smooth sounds of "Cocoa Butter":

-T. Amour

Blazin' Video: Tinashe "Who Am I Working For?"

I am loving Tinashe. A former model, actress, and girl-group member, Tinashe (which loosely means "God is with us") recently began to forge her own path as a solo singer. Last year, she released two mixtapes and built a strong Twitter following.

Last week, she released a video for her song, "Who Am I Working For?". Don't be fooled by the sexy beat and her breathy, enticing vocals, the lyrics are something serious! The video provides a great accompaniment to the socially conscious lyrics by mocking businessman, displaying bold statements, and showing the effects of never having enough money.

Tinashe combines beauty and brains and she joins the ranks of Bridget Kelly and Jhené Aiko on my "dope chick" list.

Check out the video here!

-T. Amour

Throwback of the Day: Beenie Man feat. Mya "Girls Dem Sugar"

Today was a pretty crappy day. Sorry, I know I am a typical ray of sunshine, but not today.

I was listening to an iHeartRadio station and heard this song today. Good times, good vibes, good music. For me, it was the beginning of my teenage years, before life became too complicated.

* nostalgically looks at the the moonlight*

Can someone drop me off in 2000 for a while?

-T. Amour

Individualism, Groupthink, and Stans - What do we REALLY want?

Twitter is an interesting world. Within this cutthroat and callous world lies a multitude of colorful personalities. Hipsters, posers, philosophers, writers, thinkers, bloggers, and instigators populate the virtual landscape.

But, the craziest clan of all is without a doubt the crusader "stan". For those not familiar with the popular phrase, a "stan" is a hybrid of stalker and fan. This phrase was coined when Eminem released a song entitled "Stan" about an over zealous fan who committed suicide.

There are two types of stans. First, you have the ones that go hard for their favorite artists. Their handle name is related to the artist, they often mention and RT the artist, and their focus is on supporting the artist's career. These fans are A-OK in my book.

The second type of stan is what I like to call the crusader stan. They do everything that a Type 1 stan does, BUT they also feel the need to put up a valiant virtual fight against anyone whom they deem a "hater" of their fave. They search their fave's name and Twitter handle, and attack the mentions of people they don't know nor follow. It's almost as though the artist has paid these people to "defend their honor".

This is what I don't understand. In a world where we stress individualism and we promote the idea that it is okay to be unique and special, why do some of us get SO offended when someone has a different music or fashion palate?

As a blogger, I blog about artists and songs that I like. Some people disagree with my choices and I am perfectly okay with their opinion. For example, I love Jhené Aiko. But, I don't feel the need to seek out her detractors and verbally abuse them because they don't like her. 

Remember: Not liking or agreeing with a certain artists music, fashion choices, or life decisions does NOT mean a person is a "hater".

Are we really for individualism? Or are we actually enslaved by groupthink?

-T. Amour

Song of the Day: Fuze the MC "Angel in a Blue Dress"

I will admit, I just discovered Fuze the MC. I was not privy to his music until we followed each other on Twitter. My faithful readers know I am always on the hunt for lyricists and singers who define music's future and Fuze the MC is that kind of artist.

He is not only a lyricist. He is also a computer and graphic design whiz and HBCU college student with a love for music and poetry. For more information about him and his music catalog, visit his website: Fuze the MC's Official Site

Today, my song of the day, "Angel in A Blue Dress" comes from his album The Legend of A King. The smooth track is backed by a sample of Duke Ellington and John Coltrane's "In a Sentimental Mood", yet the true focal point is Fuze the MC's flow. 

Let me know what you think!

-T. Amour 

Happy Friday!

The weekend is finally here!

After a long week of stressful work days and busy nights, let's just take a moment to slow down and focus on all the positive aspects of our lives.

For me, one of the positive points of my life is this blog and YOU, especially my Twitter followers! You all encourage and motivate me every single day.

Think of one thing that illuminates your life and focus your spirit on it.

Remember, our state of mind becomes the state of our lives!

With Love,

T. Amour

Video of the Week: Trey Songz "Fumble"

This week, R&B heartthrob Trey Songz provided a striking visual for his latest single "Fumble". Once again, "Mr. Steal Yo Girl" laments his bad decisions as he reflects on fumbling a good woman's heart.

The video juxtaposes him on touring and on stage in front of thousands as Trey Songz and moments in solitude as Tremaine Neverson.

For a good throwback read, check out my album review of Chapter V:  Trey Songz Album Review

Let me know what you think of his new video!

-T. Amour

Dope Music: Bridget Kelly feat. Kendrick Lamar "Street Dreamin"

If you read my blog, you know I adore Bridget Kelly and I am a HUGE Kendrick Lamar fan ( see Dope Artist Alert: Bridget Kelly and Most Interesting Rappers Pt. 1 ). So, to me, a joint with these two rising superstars from separate coasts (she's a NYer and he is a good kid from the mad city of Compton) together is like a match made in heaven.

Bridget Kelly made a huge move and brought Kendrick Lamar along for the ride with her latest single "Street Dreamin". A perfect combination of 90s summer sounds, Bridget's jazzy yet infectious vocals, and Kendrick Lamar's signature flow, this song is a WIN.

What do you think?? Comment below

-T. Amour

Hiatus and Meditation

Hi Guys,

As you noticed, I took a couple of weeks off from blogging. Since I am a new blogger (less than one year), this was a hard decision to make. I am still arduously working to build a following, and in today's society of "24-hour insta-information", it is hard to go a day without updating or promoting Love Poetry. Love Music. Love Life!!

But, sometimes a hiatus is needed to refresh and refocus our minds. So, I took time to make advances on my pending novel, learn the art of meditation, and think about what I want my blog and writing career to be.

For me, meditation is now a staple in my daily routine. Like brushing my teeth and eating dinner, I will not go a day without taking just 15 minutes to clear my mind completely and just BE. The great thing about meditation is that it is free and truly for everyone. It does not matter if you are rich, poor, religious, atheist, or unsure about a higher power. We ALL need to unplug from the constant barrage of "reality" TV, social media, personal responsibilities, and everything else that distracts us from tapping into our inner peace.

Starting tomorrow, I am going to join Oprah and Deepak Chopra (a well-known physician and spiritual guru) in their 21-day meditation challenge starting tomorrow, March 11th.  It's a free program and I hope it helps me to deepen my connection with myself and my purpose. For those who want to join, the link is here:(Chopra Center Meditation Challenge)

How do you recharge and realign yourself with your destiny? Comment below!

With Love,

T. Amour

RIP to the Notorious B.I.G.

He had the world wrapped firmly in grasp. He was only 24 years old, yet his classic first album, hauntingly titled Ready to Die, was a radical and rhythmic hip-hop experience. He was widely regarded as the face of the East Coast rap scene. And his star power was destined to increase with a highly anticipated second album, Life After Death. Unbeknownst to Christoper Wallace aka The Notorious B.I.G., the album would truly be a channel for him to live on after an untimely and cataclysmic death.

On March 9th, 1997, 18 days before the release of Life After Death, we suffered a huge loss. The Master of Multi-Syllabic Rhymes and the Imperator of Imagery was gunned down in Los Angeles. I was a 10 year old kid who loved hip-hop and I mourned openly with my then 15 year old sister.

As the years have passed and I have continued to watch hip-hop music morph, I realize how Earth shattering his loss was. I realize how his gifted storytelling, smooth flow, and heightened sense of awareness was revolutionary.

There is only one Biggie Smalls.

With Love,

-T. Amour