Music Passport

Dedicated to Birchbox’s favorite guilty pleasure playlist

We don’t know about you, but we can’t get ready for a big night out without some catchy tunes. Team Birchbox has compiled a list of our favorite guilty pleasure songs but we also want to hear yours! Send us a blog post withyour best going out playlist. We’ll share our favorites here next week and maybe add some of your songs to our list!

We can’t wait to hear what you are listening to! Send your blog posts to birchbloggers@birchbox.com by Thursday, May 17th!

1. Danza Kuduro- Don Omar

1 song, over a million hits, hot track, brasilian pop star, reggaeton idol! Need I say more…

2. Vybz Kartel- Clarks

This song hit big in Jamaica and was featured on an episiode of So You Think You Can Dance

3. Jamiroquai- Canned Heat

Well, of course, it is Jamiroquai. Like you didn’t expect them to make my list… especially since this song is the concluding dance scene in Napolean Dynamite

4. David Guetta ft. Usher- Without You

The video is phenomenal and reminds me of a rave for humanity… almost like that Coke Commerical “I’d like to teach the world to sing”

5. Sergio Mendes ft. Mr. Vegas- Bananeira

Gosto muito dessa musica I love this brasileira banger especially since it displays the strong comraderie reggae music shares with genres worldwide. Mr. Vegas fuses well with the brazilian beat.

6. Lloyd & Lil Wayne- Girls All Around the World

One of my top collaborations, an old summer anthem of mine

7. Dré- Don’t Sweat My Technique

This song is a personal favorite of mine considering that my close friend and local Atlanta artiste Dre does a fun and contemporary remake of — classic A must listen to for Hip-Hop fanatics

8. Shakira- Loca
Ella me vuelve loca, Shakira drives me crazy with this tune. The video is fun and features U.K. rapper Dizee Rascal on the track.

9. Pitbull- Bon Bon

It is Mr. Worldwide! I like Pitbull’s international appeal, as he tends to do alot of cross-over tracks demonstrating his talent in Pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop. This club banger is one of my favorite to play especially with the fun nuance of Renato Carosone playing in the background! You are trying to be american!

10. Tito El Bambino- Flow Natural ft. Beenie Man

It is now obvious my obsession with Reggaeton. The fusion of reggae and latin influences in this song amazes me!  A large cup full of native american and hindi are just another ingredient to the melting pot known as South America and the Caribbean.

Owl Alive

My VOICE resounding and triumphant ; I hear it playing over my  favorite songs on my ipod. Not that I can hear much when the tone of my voice talks. It constantly speaks in various languages when I sleep. fico pensando em voce quando duermo. It jokes, it critizes, it analyzes,  it conceptualizes thoughts into reality. All while I am sleep, how can you imagine I rest? I don’t. I am repeatedly traveling, thinking, recreating cells, exchanging molecules, sending neurological signals, be-ing who I am.

Color & Abundance

Camaca Folk  camacafolkdesigns.com 

Imagine waking up in the morning to the sound of birds chirping outside of your doorstep, the sun beaming warm rays through your window, and the cool tropical breeze blowing in from the nearby coast.

This is the ideal scene described by Marissa, the business savvy daughter of Camaca creator Marie-Ella. She admits taking such  moments for granted, but is happy to be able to share these memories with the audience and onlookers of the art exhibition. Her beautiful mother has taken images such as the one described and encapsulated them in a montage of hand-colored motifs, hand-cuts, pen and inks, quilts and screen prints. A keep-sake tradition she has entitled Camaca after the Camooka tree, a plant given to mankind by Ancestors in the beginning to bring color and abundance to the barren planet Earth.

We all sit huddled around inside of Marlee’s Coffee House, a quaint and comfy hub located on the outskirts of the grand Atlanta metropolis. Each person listens attentively as the Artist shares tales of  family and culture back home in the Caribbean. The walls are adorned with nostalgic art dedicated to the Home of Trindad and the folk stories they’ve carried with them. The artist is friendly and embraces me and my guest upon our entrance, we automatically feel at home. Light food and beverages are served, another reminder of the strong Ameri-Indian presence in the room, while the spirit of our forefathers hover as spoken word orator @Naja_music recites poetry of culture, identity, and her favorite pastimes.

Tie die fabrics take form in the shapes of hummingbirds, female fruit-bearers, pan drum players, butterflies, and exotic flora.

This exhibition is truly a marvel and a must see for art enthusiasts and Caribbean lovers everywhere, just in time for the seasonal arrival of Carnival festivities within the month.

Hello Kitty

picture purrrfect

Happy Self-Discovery Day

I enjoy a good fairy-tale just as much as the next chap, and to commemorate a holiday such as today the history book tale of Christopher Columbus is the ideal fiction to recollect.

Once upon a time there was a daring conquistador named Christopher. After begging the King & Queen for permission to go outside and expore the ocean blue his Highnesses granted Chris and all his friends a charter to find the mythical land of silk and spice.  ELATED, Chris set sail to the ends of the Earth, where he would soon plumit into the abyss of dark universal nothingness. But Alas! After many nights of navigating the oceans, our hero arrived to his nirvana. INDIA! Fascinated by the inhabitants of his newly discovered land Chris invited all the members of his exhibition to hang out and chill with their new buddies. The Indian natives admired their distant relatives and shared the treasures of the earth and soil with them. Chris loved his new home and departed promising to return with more friendly Old World settlers to inhabit their New World of goods and gold. . .

Of course I could continue to share the ri¢h history of Chis & his comrads and how they went on to  discover and conquer what they believed to be India, but that would be trivial considering that the place he really sailed to was the islands of the Bahamas and the polite hosts that he happened to meet were actually quite upset after they realized that Chris’ arrival marked the genocide of their population.

History happens after all, and I am not here to point fingers or chastise someone’s decision that was made  500 years ago, especially considering that his discovery has allowed me to be right here where I am centuries later. I just want to call to the reader’s attention the importance of Columbus Day, and why  we shut down schools, banks, and other public institutions to commemorate such an occasion. Columbus, as any living being, is liable to fall short of perfection. We are all susceptible to human error and must come to grips with this reality at some point of our lives. What we choose to do today, effects people years from now and even right this instant in corners all over the world. The purpose of this holiday is to reflect on how important each and every single one of us is to the future of this country and how one decision, one change, one discovery can alter the lives of an e n t i r e generation. Although we may not always see the difference we make, it is occuring right under our noses and may come to haunt our descendants years from now.  So no matter how small the act of kindness or minor the human error we are all connected and matter in the larger scheme of things. Remember this brothers and sisters and enjoy the rest of your Self- Discovery Day… Thanks Uncle Chris for starting us all off on the right foot.

IRIE Revelation

A special snapshot from my evening

Special shoutouts to @jasonwalker_ & @JahPrince <- Reggae Ambassadors

I would describe my experience as nothing short of irie.

The vibrations could be felt from the tips of my toes to the very gland of my brain. I was filled with exuberant joy the moment the band preluded the entrance of Stephen Marley. The saxophonist, guitarist, keyboardist and percussionist played in harmony as a young Marley son paraded on the stage waving the Rastafarian flag high.  Two divas followed behind him, harmonizing with the melodies of the live band as the crowd cheered expectantly to the rhythm. The strobe lighting glared as the Marley prodigy galloped forward center stage. He opened his mouth and belt out his tune, the message loud and clear: REVELATION

“Corruption of  Your Thoughts, Destruction of Your Soul” Stephen Marley:Mind Control

The songs that followed captivated not only me, but the many supporters in the audience; a vibrant mix of Stephen fans, reggae lovers, Rastas, and advocates of the late Marley legacy. Together we jammed to conscious tracks like Can’t Keep I Down, Made In Africa, & Mind Control as well as classic Bob hits like Pale Moonlight & Could You Be Loved. The performances included fun surprises like appearances by Stephen’s children, guest emcee Spragga Benz, and Emmanuel Lewis who just so happens to be a reggae fanatic!

“Never tell a woman that you love her when you don’t really care that much” Stephen Marley:She Knows Now

What I enjoyed most was the ambiance set by the performers. Although the concert was set in a small loft in the heart of midtown , the music filled the room with life, igniting the crowd as they moved and sang along to the songs they knew. The incorporation of Stephen Marley’s children into the stageshow displayed his dedication to family and the involvement of the kids in their father’s career.  The showcase was nothing short of inspirational, riveting, invigorating and energetic (I.R.I.E.)

“Hey Baby, don’t you worry even though the road is rocky I’ll be coming home to you again” -Hey Baby

The splendor created in that evening was one I will cherish for years to come. Even after the music ended and the team packed up the equipment to haul the luggage onto the tour bus and depart, the Marley legacy was still a glowing aura in the room. I’m sure anyone who walks into it thereafter will know something special happened in that place.

” We are Soldiers In Jah Army…” -Stephen & Damien Marley

M.A.D.

So yes I admit I get #mad sometimes, but don’t we all. The way we chose to express our frustration often determines the power of our emotions, and because I refuse to succumb to anger, I choose another outlet to relieve my anguish.
Music,
Ambition,
Desire. my serenity . The antidote to all venomous thoughts that plague my mind and the remedy for any affliction I’ve been caused. Instead of getting #mad I just get M.A.D. It is way that I deal with my life, through music that evokes thought, emotion, and action. These songs inspire me, for one reason or another and it is always best to share your feelings to prevent internal overload, which only results in anger and stress.
Therefore, I encourage you to make a M.A.D. list like mine to awake your ambitious musical desires. Don’t get #mad get M.A.D.

 My M.A.D.

Seasons come and go april showers may bring flowers, spring doesn’t guarantee
And if there is ever any reasonable doubt for the way that you feel, I plead with you to set me free
Patriotically, I pledge allegiance and I really mean it when I say
When swimming amongst the sharks be careful not to fren fish in a bed of quick sand is where you shall lay
a robbery has occurred, After I procured all the mortifying evidence, I found that you had incurred a number of casualties, and was sure you were the killer. Kiss of Death you hold my last breath.
After resurrecting my feelings from the tomb, 3 days in from the grave, fresh from the womb like heaven sent,Micheal Jackson’s thriller.
Feeling like a kid again: tiny tot; my imagination has me atop the highest of elevations
Through innocent eyes, I cannot hide my disguise and I refuse to continue living lies
Ether or either now or never it is unpredictable, but evident, you determine the precedent

Reggae Sampler Edition 1

This playlist is inspired by a request from Twitter follower: @Waiting2BlowUp

Everyone deserves a little Reggae in their life.

This sampler, a mixture of  reggae, dancehall, caribbean, latin, techno, and hip-hop influences, will be sure to satisfy your appetite for something different.  Depending on the vibe you like best, I will be able to recommend more songs of that genre fusion.

Enjoy. 1Love

1. Sizzla- Be Strong(Drop Leaf Riddim)

2. Spragga Benz- More Life feat. Stephen Marley, Sizzla, Queen Ifrica, & Jah Cure

3. The Mission- Stephen and Damien Marley

4. Jah Cure- Like I See It feat. Rick Ross & Mavado

5. Busy Signal- Peace Treaty (Advocate Rididm)

6. Aidonia-We Sick (Outbreak Riddim)

7. Vybz Kartel-Calambria feat. Natasja

8. Pon Di Floor- Major Lazer feat. Vybz Kartel

9. Clarks- Vybz Kartel

10. Shaggy- Every Gyal Love Wi feat. Mavado

**I used links to YOUTUBE to introduce the songs, I encourage you to purchase & download the tracks from a mp3 server or other RELIABLE source

Our REGGAElution

  The timeless teachings and tunes of Robert Nester Marley continue to reverberate throughout the ears of a new generation even after the 30 years of his death, marked May 12th, 2011.

When I met Marley, he was introduced to me on a record playing from the basement of my family’s suburban residence in the heart of Stone Mountain, Georgia. His young and raspy voice rang throughout the halls of the house as the lively rhythm and smooth lyrics motivated my mother and father to sing and dance along. Marley helped narrate most of my childhood and was often there for the most memorable moments of my life. We had become so close that I could say the words of his lyrics before he had begun the sing them. Whenever I woke up in the morning smiling with the rising sun, Marley was there to tell me every little thing was gonna be alright . While in the kitchen mixing rum spiced fruits with spelt flour for my mother’s scrumptous Jamaican Black Cake, Marley was there to help me stir it up. While reading in my American History classroom, Marley was the Buffalo Soldier that stood glaring back at me in the pages of my text-book. When overcoming my adolescent bondage and embarking upon the exodus of childhood, Marley’s words reassured me No Woman No Cry and lead me through the roads of creation down the path of my chosen generation.

His prophetic lyrics and Rasta style revolutionized the way in which I saw the world. He challenged humanity with his socially empowering lyrics. The words were truthful, relatable, and enlightening to a world lost in the depths of strife, political unrest, greed, self-hatred, and fear.  He believed that every person was entitled to be loved and taught people about unconditional love. The messages interpreted through the music of Bob Marley continue giving birth to new hope for the future and converting mainstream music into an art form worth praising.

Honorable art in all forms probe thought, action, and movement among willing and passionate individuals. Bob Marley was one of many musical activists who stood up for what he believed in. In the days where the end seems imminent and a new age is upon us, we must assemble and prepare ourselves for a new reggaelution. What contribution will OUR generation add to the legacy of predecessors like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Alton Ellis, Garnett Silk, and Gregory Isaacs? How will we choose to change the corrupted world that we live in and transform the art known as Reggae into an international beacon once again? Remembering the stanza of one of my favorite Marley songs, I urge for this next generation to live in One Love, One Heart, Let’s Get Together and Feel, All Right.

Ghetto State…of mind

Interestingly enough , while taping the Urban Rundown my co-host E.O. and I got into a heated debate on the basis of the ghetto world & word. We argued that “ghetto“, having many meanings, often is interpreted as a negative word because of the place and conditions it is often associated with. E.O. educated me on the origins of the said word and how the term was used to refer to early communities of confined Jews during the 16th & 17th centuries as well as during World War II.  Unknowledgeable of this fact, as many Americans are, I insisted that ghetto is a condition where people of color tend to enclose themselves. What I failed to realize is that even though ghettos do typically tend to be an area for minorities facing complicated conditions, PEOPLE have created this negative stereotype that this place is a hub for negative things deeming ALL Ghettos BAD. In reality, like any place in the world, people create the culture of the area not the title. It is these broad titles like project, ghetto, and hood that continue to separate us as a nation and human race. Even more so when we insist on associating these places with negative thoughts, people, and occurences.  Reality TV, sitcoms, music, television, and the media tend to spread these stereotypes and epithets, creating a comfort zone for society to approve of the word’s misuse. The usage of such a word would probably go as follows:

EXAMPLE: “That is Shanequa- she is so ghetto.”

Shanequa could be described as an ignorant, poorly dressed, and boisterous young lady, but should we bring down an entire community because that individual chooses to be that way? Certainly not. The usage of ghetto as an adjective needs to be limited to the area in which it surrounds specifying exactly the region, because not every ghetto or hub is the same. Just like not every individual or resident of that area is the same. Next time I will be more mindful…