Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Beat.
Hickory Dickory Dock
Everything begins with an ending. ~ A blank page. A new start. That is what I desired most. You know how the saying goes: be careful what you wish for. You never truly understand it until you find yourself living what should have been the most wonderous dream but has instead become your worst nightmare. Wow, I’m already getting side-tracked can you believe that when I began with such a clear purpose in mind. It has become muddled and dreary like the cold September morning which cloaks this godforsaken world. Even now my fingers are faltering on the keys, trying to find the right ones to play you their story in the dark.
Powerhouse Black Female Singers
Ok, so I didn’t grow up WITH THEM. But I grew up listening to them and I wanted to share my memories about them along with some quick research I did as well...because I realized I didn’t really know a ton about their personal lives. (Ok, some more than others depending on their age...like, I remember when Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon got married and I thought that was the most bizarre marriage, sorry Mariah, you’re a bombshell beauty with an enchanting voice that can attract all the children of Salem, you can do better. Side note: That was a Hocus Pocus reference in case you live in the dark ages)
Vanessa R. PowellPublished 3 years ago in BeatSongs I love that reminds me just how lovesick I am
I’ve never been in love with anyone in my life. At least, I don’t think I have...If I have, it’s probably been with someone who doesn’t even know I exist, and it’s been a long while since I’ve even deeply connected with another human being, romantically or not, outside of my own family who I see everyday, and am constantly amongst, EVERY SINGLE DAY. I know, pretty sad, huh? Well it’s not like I don’t love my family, because I’m pretty sure I’d die for them. It’s just that I have reached this certain point in my life where I’m extremely tired of being alone, even when there are frequent times when I actually enjoy it. The thing is, I’d tell myself I’m happy, and that I’m perfectly fine with not having friends, or a boyfriend, when in all actuality, I want it more than anyone could ever imagine and I’m crying because I believe that I would never find it, or have it find me.
Down to Earth
“Look it happens, you have fallen off the treadmill of this pretend normal life. There are so many cracks in this delicate, false reality that it’s easy to fall through one if you’re not careful. Suddenly, right now, you can’t find any meaning or value. This for you is the first time you have discovered that the life you’re living sucks, but you are lucky because most of us have always known that. You can just as easily have everything you ever wanted except now you know it has absolutely no meaning. You may feel these enormous waves of sadness, emptiness, futility, and terror. You might look around and wonder what you’re doing here. You suddenly don’t feel a connection to anything. Nothing gives you pleasure. You think nothing ever will again. There is nothing to strive for, nothing you can get or experience to fix it. The pointlessness of it all is crushing. Now you have two choices you can keep following that lie you have told yourself forever. About having to always be ‘the best’, where you follow the standards of everybody else. Or you can make yourself answerable to no one but yourself, always striving forward and only striving to ‘be better’.”
Whitney Houston & the American Gold Standard
There she was, standing in the belly of packed stadium, waiting in the dark, in the silence. The static squawk of a nearby walkie-talkie makes everyone jump: “CZZHK…Standby for Whitney….Standby for Whitney…CZZHK.” She loosens her muscles as her flanking of 6 bodyguards do the same. She shakes off her nervous energy and savors these last couple seconds of silence, waiting for that specific noise. That special sound they’ve been waiting for. That special sound that means it's time to go to work. She looks at the walkie talkie. “CZZHK!” She smiles, here it comes. “CZZHK…and its a green light for Whitney Houston, green light for Whitney Houston.”
Jerson AmbionPublished 3 years ago in BeatTina Turner - Queen of Rock And Roll
“I wouldn’t have ever danced, if it wasn’t for you” “I am inspired by you and your great courage”.
Cathy DeslippePublished 3 years ago in BeatLady Day
I can’t understand the hurt and pain of the people in the black community. I’m an old white woman. I read about what is going on and what has gone on for so terribly long. I watch what is happening on television and I cry but I really can’t know what it would feel like to be black. The closest I can come is when I hear Billie Holiday sing ‘Strange Fruit.’ For that short time, I get closer to understanding that pain than at any other time. The depths of her emotions while she sings that song permeate my soul.
Son of the 215
Philly’s own Son of the 215 carries the city on his back with the release of his latest album Veterans Day 2. With hits like Trap Keep Winning, S.O.E. featuring Freeway and GoodFellaz featuring Dutchieman, Son of the 215 brings the anticipated heat. Notably, Son of the 215 has been making heads nod as Veterans Day 2 boasts over 70,000 streams already.
Tammy ReesePublished 3 years ago in BeatGregory Stuart Lake
I’ve been stuck in the denial stage for over 2 years now. I am finally ready to enter the anger stage. Why? Why do amazing people contract fatal diseases while disgusting rats live on? I realise that life isn’t fair, nothing about it is fair. I wish we could make trades. It would have been an easy choice in December of 2016 for my nominee for exchange.
Armond BlackwaterPublished 3 years ago in BeatMy First Professor
Occasionally, my folks would scrape together enough extra money to head to a country bar on a weekend. I remember one bar in particular by the name of the Gaiety, which was a honky tonk east on Chef Hwy. It was a long drive to near or maybe over the Mississippi line. (M I S S – I S S – I Pee Pee In Your Eye – that’s how I learned to spell it.)
Armond BlackwaterPublished 3 years ago in BeatErykah Badu
My #1 Pick When I was (first) notified about the opportunity to honor a 'black woman's contributions to music’, Erykah Badu was the first name in my thoughts. She influenced me as a creative artist, a musician, a writer, a singer and a free-thinker. I’d be remised if I didn’t nominate Erykah Badu on this platform—where being 'VOCAL' is an admirable characteristic. I didn’t need to look any further for a woman who encapsulates divine femininity and whose name wreaks of honorable principles. Erykah Badu is not just one of my biggest influencers, when I found out she's keeps a low-key second career as a Doula (and more recently, as a certified midwife). I was blown away. She's even known to her clients as "Erykah Badoula". I’m a writer. My 390K-word novel series INEFFABLE is based on the natural birthing of the main character - Michelle. So much of Erykah’s energy and ethics revolve around who I am and how we should (all) see the world. Erykah Badu has always inspired me and her music is very therapeutic to me. No other artist can compare to her.
R. L. LASTERPublished 3 years ago in Beat'UK Hun?' A Campy, Fun 'Drag Race UK' Hit
If you haven't already, you really need to "clap for the bing bang bong." The most recent installment of #RuPaulsDragRaceUK saw the queens being told that they had to suspend filming immediately and go home due to the #COVID19 crisis. There was a seven-month hiatus where the queens had to determine other means of making money, if they didn't have a day job, before filming resumed in late 2020 with safety protocols in place. As they returned, they noticed they were one short - #VeronicaGreen, who had tested positive for #coronavirus - and had the opportunity to vote to bring one of the queens back, and #JoeBlack was the lucky winner and got to participate in the RuruVision contest. It was a parody of the Eurovision Song Contest, and the queens were split into two different groups - the United Kingdolls (#Tayce, #LawrenceChaney, #BiminiBonBoulash, and #Awhora) and Bananadrama (#TiaKofi, #JoeBlack, #EllieDiamond, and #SisterSister).
Christina St-JeanPublished 3 years ago in Beat