Yasmin Shiraz

Here’s a great interview clip of singer Fantasia on Oprah.

Robby is on the far right.

It breaks my heart to see anybody losing their life force to alcohol addiction so when I saw Robby, former singer of the 90’s group City High, I knew I had to post this video. City High was signed to Wyclef’s record label.  In the video, Robby’s mother said, “I gave the music industry a cub scout and they gave me back an alcoholic.” Having been in the music industry, I know how hard it is. You are always seeking approval, but approval is something you must provide for yourself. You cannot seek stardom believing that all your demons will go away, if you do not deal with your demons, your demons will find a way to deal with you.

Robby- I pray that you get better and realize that you’re better than the life of an alcoholic. On a side note the video says a lot about how his mother treated him… SMH. And another note, it appears that Robby really has a broken heart. The girl in the center of the video used to be his girlfriend and then broke up with him and started a family with the guy on the left. Sometimes, life sucks.

Here’s the full episode of Intervention of Robby and his family.

Here’s the link to their #1 song, What would you do?

http://popup.lala.com/popup/432627047854252742

I know all the 16 year olds in the US want Diddy to be their Daddy, now that they’ve seen son Justin has gotten a $360k Maybach for his birthday! My goodness. What is he gonna get for his 18th birthday? It’ll have to be worth at least 500k! And for this 21st b-day, that gotta be a gift worth at least 2 million! That’s what I’m saying. Anyway, happy birthday Justin. Drive safe. That Maybach is like a young limo so make sure you look thru your rear view mirrors!

I tell you with all the serious stuff going on, I probably shouldn’t even post this story. But, I must say that I appreciate a person who will speak their mind and not be pressured by what’s popular. R&B singer, Nas’s ex-wife and babymama recently received a personalized letter from PETA telling her not to wear fur. So, she responded to the letter and posted it on her myspace site. And I mean it’s hilarious but really full of good points. Here are some excerpts:

There is no humane way to kill anything, let me start there. It’s unfortunate but it’s part of life. With that being said, I would eat pterodactyl if you found some and you told me it was meaty and delicious…

Btw it’s not just the look of fur. It’s warm as hell and feels glorious, ever rubbed faux fur on your body? Nothing luxurious about that…

If I started wearing endangered animals like polar bear or orangutan then talk to me. (Which btw for the record I would not – I do believe in the preservation of endangered species) But the minks and chinchilla that quite honestly are rodents and if weren’t in the form of a coat I would demand they be put to death anyway are not an issue to me…

Kelis goes on and on in her letter, but I must say I like her spunk. She said she’d eat an extinct flying dinosaur. She may have a career  yet as a comedian. To say chinchilla and minks are rodents–that’s just a classic. LOL.  I don’t wear fur but still its funny. hahahahahahaha And Kelis ended her letter with ‘x’s and ‘o’s…. again, funny. I like her.

I know a lot of serious things are going on right now, but sometimes we gotta enjoy the simple things in life–laugh a little. Kelis, thanks for the haha.

You know I had to go there! RIP Teddy!

The Philadelphia born, R&B soul singer, Teddy Pendergrass passed away yesterday at the age of 59. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Pendergrass had colon cancer surgery 8 months ago and had a difficult recovery. He will be sorely missed but definitely not forgotten. My favorite Teddy Pendergrass cuts:

1. The Love I Lost. (Performed by Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes)
2. I Don’t Love You Anymore.
3. Close The Door.

Wanna know how I know those Teddy Pendergrass jams? My parents raised me listening to good music! That’s what’s up. Rest in Peace, Teddy, we’ll miss you!

One of my readers sent me the link to Charles Barkley dressed as Alicia Keys. It was for SNL. I don’t know if everyone else saw this already, but I didn’t. So watch it, laugh and then weep.

Charles Barkley needn’t try this again. Big ol’ Charles as an R&B Diva=NOT!

I like the fact that Trey Songz has been in the music business for a minute and he hasn’t given up. He stays on his grind. I also love the fact that his manager went to Hampton! I also love the fact that Trey is from Virginia. But besides all of that he is also doing good music. So here’s something for you to look at today!  **PS. Fab hasn’t lost a step. Good look Fabo!**

As a parent, I hope I never have to address or experience any situation like this. I had been hearing that 80/90’s super producer Teddy Riley was in the news for allegedly attacking his two daughters. TMZ.com caught up with Teddy and asked him about what happened. He discloses it in the video below.

Watch the video before reading my comments.

1. If I have to tell a child of mine to leave my house and they won’t then I know I’ve missed something in the child’s formative years.  Something clearly was missing –like respect for the parents or honor thy mother and father–something to that effect.
2. If I collar you and put you outta my house AFTER I’ve politely asked you to leave and you come back to swing on me– then I know there is some real problem with you as my child.
3. If I physically collar you and throw you out and you come back and hit me in the face–a grown person who is your parent–then I know I have woefully dropped the ball in parenting you. Why on earth would Teddy’s daughter hit him in the face?
4. If my other child is watching nearby and instead of saying, “Hey let’s go,” says instead, “What are you doing to my sister?” and begins to attack me as well, I am writing both of them outta my will, calling the police, getting restraining orders and never seeing them again. There’s a line of things that children should not do to their parents. If Teddy’s account is true, Teddy’s daughters crossed the line.
5. People will say that Teddy should have left the house, but if it was his house, why should he have left?

I don’t know what happened in Teddy Riley’s household but attacking your parent? That is so uncalled for I can barely stomach it. If you can’t resolve an issue peacefully, step off. There needs to be no physical fights between parents and their children. SERIOUSLY. And may this be a wake up call to parents! Parent your children when they’re young so you don’t have to fight them off when you’re older. Invest time and respect into your kids and they will return it to you.

Drake is all the buzz in 2009 on the hip hop scene. With his singing and rapping ability, he has songs with Lil’ Wayne, Trey Songz, Timberland and a bunch of others. I have his “So Far Gone” set of extended mixes. I love it. But after seeing him on DeGrassi recently my interest was piqued to really see what this young’un was all about. Below is a revealing interview that he did a few months back with ABC. In it he reveals that his mother is white and from Canada and his father black and is from Memphis, TN…. See for yourself.

I had seen an interview with Drake in which he mentioned that being on the DeGrassi show and also being ‘lightskinned’ were strikes against him. SMH. A young person getting an acting check is not a strike in my book. And as far as being ‘lightskinned’ is concerned, there are plenty of people who are fine and are lightskinned. So, I wouldn’t sweat that either. Here’s a clip of Drake acting in DeGrassi. Drake mentioned that he was 14 when he started in DeGrassi.