New Jewelry Sponsor - Natural Beauty

I'm excited to announce that I have been endorsed by a beautiful Jewelry Designer based in Jackson, TN.  Her name is Jacqueline and she is the founder of Natural Beauty - a jewelry and accessory company.  I love her products because they have something I value in jewelry - BANGLE & DANGLE!  Plus, they are handmade!  You will see me showcasing her jewelry during my performances, in videos, and promo shoots forward going.  Click here to go directly to her site and see what all she has to offer.

I caught up with this busy entrepreneur for an interview.  I was completely inspired by her work ethic, the way she thinks, and her ability to evolve even through the fear, pain and suffering.  Find out how she did it, what makes her tick, her thoughts on the recent #ferguson and #rayrice events, and more...

If you had to describe yourself in four words, what would you say and why? Fun, Creative, Deep, Multidimensional. I would say that I am fun because in everything I do, I try to make it fun or into some kind of game. I have always been creative. I write poetry, books, draw, paint, make jewelry (of course, LOL!!!), and I can even sew some stuff. I have always been introverted and whenever I feel strong emotion, I have to let it out in some kind of creative form. Many people don't know this, I guess because I look like a teenager, but I am like super duper deep! LOL!!!! I love reading the Bible, I speak in tongues, I am a deep thinker. I almost majored in Philosophy in college. Multidimensional kind of sums up everything about me. I am so multifaceted and I hate to be put in a box. I am logical as well as creative. I am deep as well as fun.

Tell us about a childhood incident that shaped who you are today. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago poor really shaped who I am including my "hustler" mentality. We didn't have much food, so I figured if I saved my bus fare and walked to school by Friday I would have $10 which would be enough to buy food for the weekend. I also bartered, sold paper, pencils,  pens, drawings I made, and candy.This is why I am so passionate about business as well as education. I feel like business in the vehicle in which anyone can monetize their gifts and talents to make a way for themselves and their family. Education is what levels the playing field so each party has equal opportunities.

What led you to start your company? When I got married, my husband moved to the town I stayed in (DeKalb, IL) from Chicago. His job did not transfer him. Shortly after I had two slipped discs in my back and could not work. We had no money, we had no idea how it was going to work. I had a lot of Shea Butter and African Soap since my family has eczema and that is all we use. I packaged it up and started selling it to my friends and family. Eventually, it began to grow. I incorporated my handmade jewelry a few months later.

My husband started selling baked brownies, cakes, and cheesecakes he made from scratch during the week. He also would go job hunting during the day, then switch clothes and pick up cans to take them to the junk yard for money to wash clothes and get on the bus. We made it work. Once my husband got a job, he stopped his business, he is not a businessman at heart. I, however, continued and launched beautybuttersweet.com 3 years later to start selling my products online.

What is the significance of the term Natural Beauty and what led you to use the term as your company's name? Growing up, I watched a lot of television and music videos. I did not have an accurate view of what it meant to be a woman or beautiful. It wasn't until 5 years ago when I went natural that God challenged my warped idea of beauty. The tagline of my company is Psalm 139:14 which says, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." When I started to think about that scripture over and over, I realized, how many people in this world do not accept themselves the way God made them. Some people think they are too dark, too light, too tall, too short. What I realized is that when I called myself too skinny and said my nose was too big, I wasn't just stating my opinion. I was critiquing God's creation. I want Natural Beauty to be a company that asks the question, if we can revel over other things God has created like flowers and the solar system, why can't we be amazed and grateful when we look in the mirror. It's far beyond natural hair, it's about embrace the you God created you to be.

What is your take on recent controversies like #rayrice and #ferguson? The Ray Rice situation is very complex in my opinion. At the heart of it, it is about a couple who is married with an unhealthy way to deal with their anger. What it has turned into is an avenue for people to push their own agendas and cover their own tracks. The commissioner supported him until the women's rights groups started to put fire under him. The commentators never mentioned it until recently, although the tape was leaked a while ago. The women's groups have started a campaign around the situation that Mrs. Rice isn't even supporting. Everyone else is on their own platforms, which is fine. But let's not forget, this is your platform, but this is their lives. They are still married, they still have a child, and she still wants to stay. I am praying for their marriage, for him to be the man and the protector over his family, and for both of them to see that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. It isn't until we see ourselves through God's eyes that we start acting like He wants us to.

The Ferguson incident is heart breaking. At the heart of the situation, a mother has lost her child. No matter the color, race, creed, or even who did it or why, it still remains a mother who lost her child. Her child was murdered. But as always I feel we forget the fact that this is a moment for us, but it is life for Ms. Brown. Looting isn't going to bring back her son. Only supporting black owned business isn't going to bring back her son. Do I think race has something to do with it? Probably so. But if it was, I believe it is a manifestation of the standard we have set for ourselves as African Americans. Growing up in Chicago, and even since I have moved to Mississippi, there are not a lot of White people who lived around me. A lot of neighborhoods are segregated, which means the only education each race gets about each other is through television and social media. Through those outlets, we share street fights, twerking, sexual, and violent behavior about ourselves. If that is the only view of African Americans that is shown, then surely a young black man with his hands in the air looks like a threat. I think it is time we as African Americans stop sharing ignorance on social media. I think it is time that we stop voting, with our dollars, for individuals who are not helping the image of African American progression. I also think we need more fathers who raise their children and we need to end this no snitching code. The more fathers walk away from their children and we are killing each other, there will be no value seen in our culture. When there is no value seen in our culture, there will be no justice. I am praying for the African American people to take a higher road than looting to show dissatisfaction for injustice. But rather, graduation rates increased, test scores off the charts, and taking responsibility for educating other races about who we are. We cannot stop racism, but we can do our part to end the ignorance that racism feeds off of.

What do you do in your spare time? In my spare time, I try to spend as much time with my children and husband as possible. With school and my business, I am pretty busy. Every chance I get I try to have movie night with the kids or play board games with my oldest son. My husband and I watch movies together and play Uno, even though he never wins. LOL!!!!

What is your favorite Natural Beauty product and why? I love everything in my product line. The Shea Butter has me and my family's skin so smooth and soft, you cannot tell we have eczema. The African Soap is so gentle, our skin loves it. The Peachwood combs makes it so easy to comb through my hair (and you know my hair is course)! LOL!!!! My jewelry is amazing. I love the ideas I get when I make my pieces. Best of all, all my jewelry is one of a kind. I do not make duplicates. So whenever a customer buys a piece, they will be the only ones who own it.

What advice would you share with other women looking to start a business? Treat your business like a priority. Yes, you have to take care of your family. Yes, you have to take care of the house. Yes, you have to spend time with friends. But, if you don't at least try and give it 110%, you will regret it. We as women are nurturers and supporters, but I have learned to support and nurture myself as well.

What can we expect from you in the future? My blog is transitioning into a Vlog that will launch the first week of October. I am also going to be integrating a new ordering system where people can text their orders in (for my local customers only). Personally though, I graduate this Decembet with double Bachelor's degrees. One in Business Administration the other in Finance. I am definitely in conversation with a few grad schools. I'm going to get a PhD in Finance & teach people how to save, manage, and make money.

Where can we find you on the interwebs? Instagram: ms150jobs YouTube: Jacqueline Childs Facebook: Jacqueline V. Childs

10 Questions with Joy Ike

What do you get when you mix a beautifully talented artist with a piano and a pen?  Joy Ike!!!  I caught up with Joy Ike in between her busy show schedule to get the dish on her life as a touring artist.   There's a whole lot of interesting things I can say, but I thought she could tell it better...

What made you want to become a singer/songwriter?

I felt like I had so many words just waiting to come out. That feeling kept following me around for years and I remember being frustrated with the fact that it wasn't happening. I knew I was already a singer. I was singing in church all the time. But I specifically worked to be a songwriter because I knew I had something to contribute to the world. I had this idea of wanting to heal people with music, and to add to culture in way that I felt wasn't being done based on what i heard on the radio when i would hop into my car on an average day. When i picked up the piano after so many years of quitting, it was like a well spring burst, and the songs that had been waiting to come out finally did.

How would you describe your music using just 3 adjectives? pensive. passionate. fun.

Describe your very first stage experience.

My very first show was at a coffee shop on my campus called Kiva Han. I spent all my time telling everyone to come out to this show and the room was packed. I was scared out of my mind. I just remember being nervous and asking my sister to join on percussion because I didn't want to play by myself. I don't remember much else except a dimly lit room, lots of faces, and being nervous.

Tell us about your African roots and how they inspire your music.

My parents came here from Nigeria 38 years ago. They raised us very strictly in a Nigerian culture even though we were in the States.  I guess I never fully realized how much this has effected me until some 3 years ago when my upbringing started to work its way into my songs. These songs tend to be about being hard-working, proud of where you've come from, and allowing God to take the drivers seat in your life. All three things are the very cornerstone of Nigerian (Ibo) culture.

What is your songwriting process?

It changes from song to song, but it normally begins with a melody, that turns into a hook or chorus. I let that linger and simmer for as long as it needs to and then begin to work on the verse. Somewhere in the process of songwriting, I need to step back and ask myself, "what is it I'm trying to say with this song." I continue writing once I've determined my message. I don't like to be stuck in a place where my song makes no sense and is so abstract that it ultimately means nothing. I'm not that kind of writer.

What was the inspiration behind your album, “All or Nothing”? 

It's a love album, so the majority of the songs have to do with some aspect of love. I guess the inspiration lies in my relationships with people and also with God. What does it mean to love others fully. You'll hear the response to that questions (and the heartbreak of that) in this album.

If you could perform with any mainstream artist (living or dead) who would it be and why?

Mainstream? Hmmm...probably Aretha Franklin. That woman is classy. I'm a big fan of her song "A Rose Is Still A Rose".

What are your hobbies outside of music?

Movie watching. HA! Is that a hobby? Probably not...but I wish it was. I also loooove cooking! I love how creative it is.

What's next for Joy Ike?

Touring. My goal this year has been to tour the butt off this new album. So I'm excited for summer dates and the fall when college shows kick back up!

Where can we find more information about you?

www.joyike.com

www.facebook.com/joyikemusic

www.twitter.com/joyike

www.youtube.com/joyikemusic

Music Interview - Brandon O-Soul Medlock

Please allow me to introduce you to Brandon O-Soul Medlock, a seasoned hip-hop/neo-soul fusion artist.  Below is an interview about his music and a very eye opening account about his take on mainstream music and hip-hop.  Read on to learn more from this creative artist and rediscover the true meaning of hip-hop.

Describe your music.

My music is a mixture of hip-hop, neo-soul, and spokenword. My music comes from thought, and from the heart…from my surroundings…from reality. When I was growing up and understanding what the hip-hop genre was all about, I began to appreciate the message and how well one person could have influence on the masses. When I rhyme, I remember what hip-hop came from and what it truly means. I live the culture of hip-hop, which includes all of the elements of breakdancing, graffiti art, the deejay, and the words. As I evolve, my music has to evolve and sound mature. I call it ‘Grown Man Music’.

Who do you speak to with your music?

My music is geared towards those who still appreciate traditional hip-hop sounds. The mature audience. I would love for the younger audiences to really grasp how the older hip-hop heads do things, and to understand that real music comes from the soul and not from the almighty dollar.

What are your inspirations? What are your influences from the old school?

Since I do a lot of reality-based music, I like the artists that make you think. I like the artists that see the world and its surroundings for what it is. And it doesn’t just reach hip-hop. It’s global to me. I listen to a lot of music for ideas and just to feed my mind and my heart. I indulge in lots of ‘old school’ soul music and some classic rock. I appreciate traditional jazz. I listen to gospel quite a bit, because of the raw emotion and the power in the vocals. I love the wordsmiths such as Common, KRS-One, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Outkast…I love the true voices of R&B and I’m happy that many of the younger artists are going the extra mile to put that extra ‘uumph’ in their vocal and their writing. See, I remember how Earth, Wind, And Fire sounded back in the day and still sounds today. I remember WAR. I remember Maze. I remember Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Prince. My music has to have an adult sound to be believable.

Do you make your own beats?

I do make my own beats, and also have access to other artists who do production. I have been producing music since 1997, and everything is tailor made to fit the emotion of the song that the production will go with. There are no over-saturated, cookie-cutter sounding tracks. I do tend to use a simplistic, minimal approach to production, so the words get an equal amount of attention to the ear. If you’ve ever been to a hip-hop show and see the artists with very little to say or that can be heard, because the production stands out so much that you miss the point of what the artist says. There has to be balance. But, how can it be considered hip-hop if you miss the element of the word?

Which producer/beat maker today would you most like to spit rhymes over?

Kanye West, for all his rants and arrogance, can produce a song that embodies the words, while remaining true to what music is all about—entertaining. DJ Premier is the same way. The Soulquarians. I would also love to work with music legends Jam And Lewis as well.

What drives you as an artist?

I love music. I love words. I love to write. I’ve always wanted to share my talents with the masses. If I have a gift, I have to use it or risk losing it. I’ll never let the power of the word escape me.

What is your opinion about mainstream artists in your genre today?

Honestly, I hate listening to the radio in Dallas. But, I know that it’s a worldwide trend. Where back in the day, one could hear their favorite artist’s song on the radio once every three hours or more, it’s not like that today. One artist may have three or four songs played within the same hour, every hour. It’s as if the listening public is hit over the head with the same club until they are knocked unconscious. It’s really sad. There should not be a such thing as an ‘underground’ artist; it should all be equal and all artists should get some equal playing time. It’s an unrealistic approach, but it evens the playing field. If there was a more even playing field, then today’s youth would have more to choose from when it comes to music. The music industry has turned into a monopoly, with the most popular artist taking up most of the real estate of the industry. It’s as if the music industry professionals do not care about what the listener wants, and has made the assumption that if they play certain stuff numerous times, the listener has no choice but to love it. I feel it’s a sad ordeal because the legacy of the originators of the genre goes out the door. As an artist, I cannot lessen my style for a dollar. I do this for the love of the art. That’s where the heart comes in. That’s where it should be. I just don’t get that from many mainstream artists, even if that’s not the case.

What sets you apart from other artists?

I go against the grain. I’m different. I write different because I think different. If you’ve heard it before, what difference would I make if I did the exact same thing as everyone else? I pay attention to detail. I talk about what I see as opposed to telling you what I think you want to hear. Hip-hop is our voice; our way of getting a message to the people. I thrive off spokenword. When you speak from the heart, you never have to worry about if the listening public will like it. People don’t want to be lied to, but they want to be entertained. There is a place for all music, but I choose to speak on reality and stay a hip-hop purist.

What's the next big project you're working on?

I’ve just released my 12th studio album and making plans for the follow-up. My next major project though, is an artist development program which will be geared toward young aspiring artists, and will teach them how to become better writers. I will teach them how to produce tracks, how to create poetry, grammar and phonetics, basic studio techniques such as how to position yourself in front of a microphone, how to find shows, how to perform in front of an audience, and marketing techniques, as well as other aspects of the music business. I hope to give birth to better music and it has to start from the youth.

Big thanks to Brandon for his thoughtful and insightful answers.

Hear more from Brandon on his website:  http://www.originalsoulonline.com/.