Substance… The Lack there of…

Lately A LOT of people are saying they’re looking for something with substance. Whether it’s in music, life, love and entertainment. Substance is lacking in A LOT of areas.

When it comes to music, I hear the cry for substance so much more often than the rest. I’m not a full hip/hop music head like most but I do know good music when I hear it. I remember when music whether it was hip/hop or RnB, told a story. It had meaning to it. Now it’s “teach me how to dougie” and “pretty boy swaggin”. Don’t get me wrong the music is catchy and it will have you in the club tearing the dance floor up. But that’s all it is… CLUB MUSIC. Now for some reason rapper EVE has been on my mental for a while. So I will use her as an example. EVE in my eyes is the best female rapper… Hands down no questions asked! Why? EVE has substance. Take any one of her songs and really listen to it. (Dissect it like ya’ll do Jay-Z’s songs in search of illumanti and devil worshiping bits) After you do that listen to Nicki Minaj. Need I say anymore?! Again, don’t get me wrong Nicki will have you hyped in a New York minute but she lacks substance. (My blog my opinion you don’t like it… Oh well! Closes your eyes!) What is she really talking about in her songs like Massive Attack and Itty Bitty Piggy? NOTHING! Young Money buy Nicki some substance please!

Now some of you are probably saying “How does life and love lack substance?” Pull up a chair and let me tell you how. How life and love is now compared to how it use to be… Obvious case of lack-a-substance. Back in the day before my time and some of you all time, people lived and died for something. Living and loving meant something and all the material things meant nothing. Living now is all about getting rich or die trying. It’s about how much money you make and how much you spend. As long as we’re cashing big checks and dropping “stacks” on this and that, then life is good. Loving now is all about the physical and the now. (As stated in Old School vs New School) What is the substance that life and love lacks? Meaning, value and the drive to progress.

I don’t have to touch on entertainment too much. We all know movies are put together as follows: stupid story line, slap a well-known actor in the mix and outcomes bummy entertainment. Movies these days aren’t worth the $10-$13 dollars you pay to go see them. There’s always that 50/50 chance that you might not like it. Need I say why there’s a 50/50 chance why you might not like it?? For you slow joes I will. Movies/entertainment these days lack originality aka SUBSTANCE!

So how do we feed our appetite for substance? Simple: STOP PROMOTING AND ENCOURAGING THE FOOLERY THAT LACKS IT! Demand what you want! #fistpump

Signed, Tink- The Word Vixen

The Old School vs The New School

First off let me start by saying I am not the oldest chic on the block, and I’m damn sure not the youngest. I do however see the HUGE difference in what I like to call “Old School Love” and “New School Love”. Me, I’m the “Old School Love” kinda girl. I guess hanging with the old bitties aka “The Wisdom Women” has rubbed off on me. So here’s my take on the Old School verses the New School…

Some of us (including myself) may be a bit too young to know about “Old School Love” and never experienced it. “Old School Love” is like the those Al Green and Marvin Gay songs. When you love… YOU LOVE! That OSL (Old School Love for you slow ones) is the I can’t eat, I can’t breathe, I NEEEED you love. (Pardon me I got chills typing that) OSL is when you go out on a date with your guy or lady to the ice cream polar or to the movies, and catching the bus or walking was the most romantic shit ever! You know nothing too major, nothing too fancy, and you had the best time ever. “Old School Love is that passionate beyond measures, that build and grow love.

Now… The love most of us know these days is what I like to call “Teeny Bopper Love” aka “New School Love”. NSL is the complete opposite of OSL. It’s not genuine love. It’s how much and what I can get out of you before you can “milk” me. It’s “Nigga you better not pull up in anything under 4 years old” love. NSL is all about what material possessions you have instead of who you are as a person. It’s all about the here and now with ”New School Love” instead of starting a foundation, building and growing like “Old School Love”.

As you can obviously see there are many differences between “Old School Love” and “New School Love”. The one difference that will always stick out like a sore thumb is the actual loving and caring part between the two. In my opinion (and it’s just an opinion if you differ good for you) the lack of love and caring (Aside from the cheating hearts) is why most relationships don’t last. If you looked at the “life span” (for a lack of a better word) of  “Old School Love” relationships compared to “New School Love” relationships, there’s a HUGE difference.

Just some random food for thought…..

Signed, An Old School Lover: Tink- The Word Vixen

A hoe is a hoe

So I was laying across my bed and as always I had a random thought. So I tweeted this random thought…. “Whether a hoe is a messy hoe or undercover hoe… A hoe is still a hoe right??” I laid and thought about this random thought and about all the females who has called another female a hoe. Here’s my thoughts…

What makes an “undercover hoe” better than a “messy hoe”? Is it because the “undercover hoe” is not out in the open like a “messy hoe”, so that makes her more respectable? I would have more respect for the “messy hoe” than the “undercover hoe”. Why?? Good question and it requires a good answer. Why respect someone who has to hide who they are? At least the “messy hoe” know who she is and knows her role. (Or at least she should.)

Does an “undercover hoe” have the right to call a “messy hoe” a hoe?? INDEED NOT! I was always told “Those who live in glass houses, should not throw stones.” That’s like a crackhead calling another crackhead a crackhead. It just doesn’t make any sense. If anything the “undercover hoe” should be calling the “messy hoe” homegirl, sis or something like that. They both do the same stuff, one is just insecure with her’s so she hides it. *tink shrug*

Finally question before I leave these hoes alone. (Insert chuckle) What makes a hoe, a hoe? Is it because she likes to sleep with different people? If that’s the case why isn’t she considered a “go getter” or someone who knows what she wants?

Signed, Tink-The Word Vixen

The Other Man/Woman… How do you know that’s you…

Ever wonder why he/she turns their phone off at night or always has their phone on silent when they are around you? Realistically he/she is hiding something, and that’s either their “main piece” or their “side piece”. I’m aware that there are like hmmm… TWO people in america who turns their phone off at night or constantly has their phone on silent. In this 2 out of a trillion case you that it’s very rare.

In the a world of many cheating hearts and lies, how do you know when you are the “other” man/woman?  To some the signs appear to be so much clearer than to others. Then sometimes we see the signs but just want to ignore them.  Here are signs that I think should say “HELLO GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND! YOU AIN’T THE ONLY ONE!!! HE/SHE HAS A COUPLE OR A FEW!”

1. The constant turning off of the cellular device when you are either together or not together. He/ she could be doing this for many reasons. These reasons being they don’t want you the “side piece” or the “main piece to interrupt the time that they are sharing with the other. Who wants to wake up to their main/side piece fussing about “Who is he or who is she?!” In their eyes turning the cellular device off is being “sneaky”. Well it’s not! All you are doing is making the other person suspicious. *Sidenote: Turning off the cellular device is the oldest trick in the book please retire it.

2. Ask yourself “Does his/her story add up?” If you have to think long and hard on that question… YOU’RE THE OTHER MAN/WOMAN. If he/she is telling you one thing one breath then telling you another in that same breath, 9 times out of 10 they are lying. Something is going on and questions need to be asked! People are too scared to ask questions these days. Let it be me and I feel like there is a discrepancy in your story… I’m calling you out on it! But that’s just me.

3. With the new technology these days and millions of apps that you can download, cellphone users have discovered what we call blacklisting. If you ever owned an android powered cellular device you should know about this. If not then Ooops my bad, I guess I gave you cheaters another way to “sneak”. Blacklisting is when you block a persons calls. When they call the call goes straight to voicemail. However, (insert chuckle) the call still appears in your call log. The phone never rings. If you call and this happens, and the person calls back, and says “Did you just call me?” Ask questions. i.e. “How do you know I called if the phone went straight to voicemail?” *Super side eye* Now there could be two reasons why you are blacklisted. 1. Because the person is mad at you and don’t want to talk to you or 2. Because they are out being “sneaky” but don’t want to turn their cellular device off because they are expecting calls, and don’t want to take yours. Since we are talking about being the other man/woman I choose #2 for 500 Alex!

If the signs go past the 3 listed above and you are still questioning whether or not you are the other man/woman, you’re a lost cause. I’m sure at this point someone is screaming at you “YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE! HE/SHE IS CHEATING ON YOU!” Please listen to them. I know at times that thing called love AND lust can pull those blinders down on us, and we don’t see things clear like we normally would. Know that the people or person screaming at you and slapping you around, hoping you will snap out of it, is only doing it because they love and care about you. If they didn’t care they wouldn’t say a thing. So save yourself from the other man/woman embarrassment and make it known NIGGA/CHIC you busted!

Signed, The Word Vixen

The “Working Girl”

Everyone knows one… two or a few, some of them are close friends of ours. These people I’m talking about are your modern day “working girls”. You know the one’s everyone at the office turns their noses up at. Not because she’s full of confidence but because she sleeps around with EVERYONE. You are probably nodding your head saying “Yea, the office hoe!” Or “Yea, (insert name)”. Married, single, gay she throws her “love box” to them all.

I understand that most people spend majority of their day at work. So sometimes the people at your job are the only ones you see. This however, guys and dolls does not mean go sleeping with everyone you lay eyes on at your job. I think dealing with one person at your place of employment is too much, let alone dealing with 3 and 4. At what point do you draw the line? Better yet at what point do you say I respect myself, my job and other peoples relationships?

I suppose the young nieve me didn’t think things as such actually took place. At least that was until I welcomed myself into the new millennium and century. These “working girls” are in pretty much every office across America. The next time you go into your mates/mother’s/father’s/friend’s office know it’s at least one of them in there.

Are these “working girls” working to “get ahead” or really the tawdry little whores they are making themselves out to be? TALK TO ME PEOPLE! What are your thoughts on these working girls?

Signed, Tink- The Word Vixen

London BRIDGES BURNING Down

We’ve all heard the saying “Never burn your bridges”. Our parents and grandparents have screamed this at us for years. What is burning your bridges? How should you not burn your bridges? What happens after a bridge is burnt? These are just some basic questions that people need to know answers to. Apparently it’s okay to burn bridges these days because the bridge can be rebuilt just as quick as it was burned. Just a friendly F.Y.I… IT DOESN’T WORK LIKE THAT!

What does never burn your bridges mean? All in all never burn your bridges mean value your friendships/relationships that got you to where you are. As mentioned in “Friends, How Many of Us Have Them?” friendships/relationships are a privilege. The bridges built from these friendships/relationships should be treated the same. Yes, friendships can be rebuilt just like the bridge but is it really still the same after? (HELL NO!)

I know two young ladies who have been friends for years. Apparently one of the young ladies do not/did not value their friendship because she suffers from extreme LLS (liquid lip syndrome). LLS is a cause of a bridge being burned. LLS is a classic bridge burned for these reasons of 1. I trusted you enough to tell you something in confidence and you repeated to persons who needed not know. 2. You don’t value our friendship. 3. If I can’t trust you with words how can I trust you with anything else?. (This isn’t law, this is just how I feel about this particular situation) Burning bridges isn’t limited to just situations as such. There are many situations that will cause a bridge to go up in flames.

The hardest question of them all. After a bridge as been burnt, what’s left?  Depending on the people and their relationship/ friendship determines the “where do we go from here”. I have had many people burn “our bridge”. Some of those bridges can not and will not ever be rebuilt. Then there are some who time and time again burns “our bridge”, and time and time again rebuild them. As I stated before things are never are the same after a bridge has been burnt and rebuilt, but those bridges are between myself and people I truly love. ( For the record just because I love them it doesn’t make their arson tendencies ok.) So before you go and devalue your friendship/relationship think about how much that person and their friendship/relationship means to you. Burning bridges can often be avoided. It’s up to the little fire bugs to want to avoid it.

Signed, Tink- The Word Vixen

Have we met???

9 times out of 10 if you are dating, the male/female has kid(s). It’s very rare that they don’t. Welcome to 2010, what can I say! When dating your future partner (assuming that’s why you are dating them in hopes of them becoming your partner), when do you think it’s an appropriate time or time frame for them to meet you kid(s) or you meet theirs?

Me being a single mother with a young child, I do not allow my son to be around any and everyone I’m dating. As I don’t allow them around him either. Kids (especially young ones) get attached to people and things quickly. It’s confusing to them to see you with “Mike” one week and then “Tony” the next. As a parent period it looks bad. I’m even borderline skeptical on allowing certain associates around him because like relationships, “friendships” aren’t always guaranteed.

I have met several other parents who feel the same way I do about this. Some who shall remain nameless refers to them as “possible killas”. Which is true you never know. But if they are I’m sure you will see those red flags long before the relationship gets to a deeper level.Then some say they have to know that the person is going to be around a long time before the introductions can take place. Do you ever really know someone is going to be around for a while? You could date that person for years, get married then get divorced. And well after that divorce they are no longer around right? I’m not suggesting parents who date should introduce their kid(s) to the person or person(s) they are dating days after they start dating. I’m not saying weeks either.

What do you think is the appropriate time frame for your “mate” to meet your kid(s) or you meet theirs? 3 months? 6 months? A year? TALK TO ME!

Signed, Tink- The Word Vixen

Do You Trust Me?

Trust (noun): a : assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something b : one in which confidence is placed.

Trust is something that we as people truly lack these days. This massive lack of trust has come from experiences that one is not ready or willing to grow from. Trust is something that should be earned from individuals just like the title of friend and friendships. If you continuously give people your trust with out them earning it, you will end up one of the tons who have trust issues.

Who deserves your trust? Again like the title of friend and friendship(s), trust should be given to those who constantly shows and proves they can be trustworthy. If you have to ever questions ones trust(even for a mere two seconds) they do not deserve your trust. I’m well aware of the snakes that may be in everyone’s  grass (we all have them), but you know those who are genuine.

When do you award them with your trust? Yes, trust is earned therefore it is awarded. You “test the waters’ sort of speak. How do you “test the waters”? Give the person or persons a small task, or even tell them a “secret” that “no one knows”. Make it seem so much more than what it is. If they can handle this task or not blab your business all about town. They may be trustworthy. Slow but surly feed them things you think you might can trust them with. Those who are not trustworthy will show their true colors during this period. When you see those colors, don’t ignore them. Know you are seeing them for a reason. Handle things accordingly.

In relationships, how do you move forward and allow yourself to trust again? Tink says, in order for you to trust again (just like loving again) you have to be willing. Willing to allow that person in and be open. Keep in mind that person might have minor/major issues with trusting as well, but may be willing to trust you. We can’t make our future pay for our past mistakes. It’s the past for a reason. As mentioned before you know who is truly genuine. If that wolf is deep in sheep’s clothing that you could not see that they’re a wolf… that person is a bad mother shout yo mouth. Those who are waiting for that someone to trust you and let you in, BE PATIENT. I can say this because I’m experiencing this first hand. Be patient and just continue to SHOW them that you CAN be trusted.

In a world of “I have to screw him over, before he screws me” can we ever trust again?

Signed, The Word Vixen

City Too Small for a Talent So BIG: Introducing Prop

As said by a fellow blogger Hip/Hop isn’t dead it’s on life support. All the hip/hop heads of America are searching for the artist(s) that will help revive the game. Nurse it back to when hip/hop told a story, and made you want to actually by the album verses downloading it from mediafire.com. If you miss those days of hip/hop, let me introduce ou to someone who I think would be a great asset to TEAM REVIVE HIP/HOP.

Meet Davon “Prop” Tatum, 20 year-old aspiring rapper from the DMV. Being introduced to many musical genres, Prop took an interest in the Art of Rap. Writing since his middle school years, he did not pursue actual rapping until 2007. Every since pursuing his passion, Prop has been writing daily to improve his raw natural talent.

3 years and 2 LP’s later Prop formerly known as Prophecy has a versatile style. Inspired by the world around him, his storytelling has made him an exceptional lyricist. He says is biggest supporter is his girlfriend. “Sometimes I think she believes in me more than I do.” Prop says. He also says blogs such as www.dcmumbosauce.com supports him and also helps promote his work.

When asked where did he see his self in the next 3 years, Prop says he feels he will be signed to a major label releasing his first album. “If you hear me, you can see the talent is there.” Meeting the right person who can open doors for him and allow his light to shine, Prop may just be one of few who can actually revive hip/hop. If Prop’s dream of signing with a major label does not come true, he sees his self traveling oversees pursing his music career. “Matter of fact I don’t even need a major label because I record my own music, push it myself and its pretty good.”

So what’s next for Prop? Follow him on his journey via twitter at www.twitter.com/ProPIsMusic. To check out and download Prop’s latest LP Perfect Thought go to http://limelinx.com/files/197502c58260c3ceb12e7249aabb6b5a.

FawkYoInk, Mine is Better Than Yours!

Some look at tattoo’s as vandalizing your body sort of speak, where some like David “FawkYoInk” Daniels, look at is as “creative expression”. Having “creatively expressed” myself 8 times and counting, I will take “creative expression” over vandalizing for 500 Alex! (Tattoo’s can be beautiful art)

Native of Dallas, TX, FawkYoInk is a blogger of music, fashion and of course TATTOOS! He hopes of one day working for a tattoo magazine. FawkYoInk’s first tattoo was a cross on his right arm. A gift from his mother on his 18th birthday. I’m sure it’s safe to say, every since getting inked is a guilty pleasure of his.

Out of the 17 tattoos he has, FawkYoInk’s favorites are the Dallas piece on his chest (pictured above) and the rose on his left arm barring his mother and grandmother’s names. (Pictured to the right)

Having frequented other tattoo shops and tattoo artist, FawkYoInk says his go to guy for his tats is Ed Reyes of Blach Springs, TX.

So what body part will be inked next and with what? Check out FawkYoInk’s blog at www.famstarink.blogspot.com and also follow him on twitter at www.twitter.com/FawkYoInk to find out more and to also keep up with Team Ink My Whole Body.

Signed, Tink- The Word Vixen