I did something new last Saturday. If you live in Baltimore, sometimes you’d consider this city as a place where it’s pretty hard to find something new to do as recreation. I spend my summers looking for places to go. It’s really hard to find something fun to do without having to repeat the same activities over and over. But there’s warm weather on the rise so I should be able to do a lot more this season. This Saturday was officially the kick off to my season full of events, starting with the Boulevard of Chic Fashion Truck Rally.
I had fun experiencing, for the first time, shopping from a fashion truck. It was indeed a moment of discovery. Imagine all the goodies a girl can buy from a truck that’s similar to your neighborhood’s infamous Ice Cream truck, except all your fashion treats can be found there. Yup, this is what I was apart of this weekend.
I met the owners of some of Baltimore’s local small businesses, exchanged some business cards, took some photos and bought some jewelry. It was cool. I hope that there will be other fashion truck rallies in the future. If there should be, I’m in there like swimwear! Check out my video of all the nice things I saw this weekend.
Yet again, I bring you another War Drumz Audio Art artist straight from B-More city. This time around it’s Tony Bonez Sinatra.
This is his latest music video for his single “Mask Writter.”
I like this song because it reminds me of the music I grew up on. You know know 90’s babies love when they hear something that sound similar to anything 90’s or early 2000’s related. Tony Bonez’s music reminds me of some old Redman and Method Man hits. Check out the assets of the video! Can you tell it’s Baltimore? Stand up!
About the Artist:
Tony Bonez started rapping at a very young age as a result of dealing with poverty during his childhood. Music became his getaway from all the issues that revolved in his life. But it wasn’t until the early 2000’s, he started writing his own rhymes and joining cyphers at school which helped gain him much respect as a fierce MC who is not to be messed with. Inspired by Redman (see, I told you it was something familiar about his style haha), Tony took up the name KidBlaq, and was later signed to an underground label Monsta Money at age 19 and took up the name Tony Bonez but shortly left to join a group known as DaUnion. A year later Bonez parted from the 4 man group after issues amongst the group and went solo. Over time he encountered SmokingAces counterpart Fly Fonzarelli. They instantly clicked. Fly introduced Bonez to the Baltimore hip-hop scene on a whole new level. Bonez since then has gained experiences with some of Baltimore’s top artist including learning from Skarr Akbarr, battling King Los, recording with the late Smash, Tiara Laniece and Yea Lano. More recently, Bonez has taken on the position as the sixth addition to the War Drumz Audio Art music label.
Earlier this year, Tony Bonez released his first EP Welcome to the Boneyard: The Rise. The mixtape is composed of 13 tracks that’ll get your head nodding to the beat for sure. My favorite track is “Do Ya Like” mainly because I love the sample of Adele in the song, but he speaks volumes in an audio picture about being intimate with a woman. I’m a woman so…do you catch my drift? Ha-ha! I’m sure he has more goodies to come along with the rest of what he has to offer. What do you think?
To hear more from Tony Bonez Sinatra, be sure to follow him on Twitter at TonyB0nez, Instagram at LongLiveBoneyard, and Facebook at TonyBonez Sinatra. Don’t forget to check out his EP Welcome to the Boneyard: The Rise on Datpiff.com.
Do you like this music artist? Leave your comments below.
Do you have what it takes to be the next music highlight? Send me stuff! You might just become the next highlighted artist on Doc’s Castle Media.
The Maryland Live Casino’s Rising Star Live contest for best vocalist ended March 31st. Contestants entered in this singing competition for a chance to win $10,000 and studio time with Wright Way Studios in Baltimore. Though the chance to enter has surpassed us, Maryland Live is still in the mists of narrowing down their contestant pool. As for Doc’s Castle Media, we’ve continued to accept submission from contestants until April 10th.
One of Maryland Live Casino Rising Star contestants is below…
My name is Alaina Delucia, I am a newly 21 year old and this is me singing Hurt by Christina Aguilera!
Beautiful voice! You’re very welcome. Thank you for showing Doc’s Castle Media support by submitting your contest video to us. I wish you the best of luck in the competition. I’ll be rooting for you!
Congratulations to Akintunde Ahmad for being accepted into multiple Ivy League colleges with a GPA of 5.0. He’s able to do anything he puts his mind to, and so can many others do the same. I’m proud but this shouldn’t be taken in such a surprising tone.
Akintunde is black, obviously. I believe that’s majority of the reason for how he made the news this month for being accepting in such prestigious schools. I’m upset that his skin color has to be the reason. Come on now, there are so many white children who achieve this goal yearly, but it’s when a black male reaches this level of success the world stops.
See what the media portrays us as? See what the world does to black people? They highlight our success like we’re incapable of achieving a goal as being accepted into these select few of colleges. There’s so much that should be said about how the media molds people’s perceptions of black people because not only is it making us proud to see something like this happening, it highlights that there are so very few black people doing it.
There has to be a way to keep black people motivated to showcase to society their possibilities. Times where there use to be civil freedoms that we once would fight for are often forgotten in my generation and it’s sad. What’s more sad is the fact that we know there’s a lack, and people continue to not make an effort to change society’s views. We glorify ratchet mess and seek only to get faded off substances while continually digging us a hole to indulge further into our poverty. Someone please elaborate on how this is a good thing to see everyday?
Blacks need more people like Akintunde in the media achieving positivity so that there will be others who will be inspired. I want to hear more positive success stories!
This is your time to shine. If you know of anyone who’s achieving something positive in their life, comment below with their experiences. Lets change the medias perceptions of us starting today!
“The early bird catches the worm” may be one of my most favorite phrases to say. I wake up saying the quote each morning to keep me motivated in completing my daily tasks. Sometimes I may slip up but what brings me back to tackling my duties is that quote, which is my daily Tweet on Twitter that many of my followers Retweet as motivation for themselves. I like helping keep others stay motivated, and as they’re motivated by that morning quote, they’re bing backs become my Popeye’s spinach.
BuzzFeed presents a youtube video which gives people a plethora of other motivating hacks to starting their day the productive and right way. If you’re caught doing these things, you might just be a morning person.
Do you do any of these hacks as your kick start your morning routine? Leave your comments below.
Saturday, March 29, 2014 marked the first American Basketball Association tryouts for Baltimore city’s new team, the Baltimore Hawks. The turnout of the tryout was bigger than expected. Over 30 prospects attended this Saturday to compete for a spot on the professional basketball team. Such event would have you proud to see a group of guys pursuing a career in what they dream.
I had to the opportunity to chat with both owners of the Baltimore Hawks. As I spoke with the power duo for the team, Gregory Brown and Quentin Harper, they discussed with me their expectations for the players.
Even as a spectator, it was easy to find those who were hungry for their opportunity to shine. Strong-willed players put in work to be noticed for a shot that could change their future, for they knew the decision was in the team officials’ hands. As I watch these men condition, I spotted a few individuals with heaps of determination. For readers to get an understanding of the possible talent, I interviewed Dominic Thompson, Jason Sharp, Dashawn Bradshaw, and Lamar Bentley. Listen to the audio below.
One quality the Baltimore Hawks expects their team members to have as perseverance for excelling in this sport is a strong mental. Players need to be able stand out in times of adversity. Many of the prospects were able to do this while also showing great collaboration in teamwork. While players seemed to struggle with a task, others were generous in showing respect through applauding to support one another. It was extremely encouraging for others to learn to not quit and to do their best, though this may be a competition for a position on a team. By simply watching these guys, I was encouraged do my best. I had to “Turn Up” for my interviews. Ha-Ha! They were so hungry for the opportunity. Who could help but be inspired by the positivity.
There definitely is potential in this city. Baltimore will have a great future with players that keep the drive and determination to reach success. The Baltimore Hawks will make sure of it.
There’s another chance for players who didn’t come out to the first team tryouts. Come out to St. Francis Academy on Sunday, April 27, 2014 to get your spot on the Baltimore Hawks roster. More details at www.baltimorehawks.com.
Did you read about Energy Drive Motivation Management’s basketball exposure camp coming to Baltimore? Listen to the interview with the owner of EDM on Doc’s Castle Media.
Are you a music lover? I found another music blogger in Baltimore that could possibly address your craving needs for the love of hip-hop and R&B. I interviewed AmirahRashidah Blog’s very own Amirah Muhammad as another addition to my Blogger’s Rundown. It was a fun experience, indeed. I’ve known Amirah personally for quite some time now, and I’m pleased to say she such a wonderful person to talk to. I can always expect a conversation full of laughter when spending it with Amirah.
This interview was not like others as I had a special appearance from Shareese Williams, former beauty blogger of Doc’s Castle Media. She joined in my interview with Amirah to ask a few questions about Amirah’s love for singing. (Special audio is at the end of this post.) Amirah, Shareese, and I spoke of how AmirahRashidah started, Amirah’s plans in the future for her music blog, her participation in Janelle Monae’s Instagram contest, and her passion for the art of music alone. I learn a lot about AmirahRashidah, though I also am a contributing writer for her site, as well. It’s good to be refreshed on someone’s vision. She’ll reach a lot of success in the future. I’m definitely rooting for this one.
Doc: What’s the story behind AmirahRashidah? Where did it all begin?
Amirah: It all began in 2008. I started another blog, a personal blog, called Amirah the Uncool. Yes, I was into Lupe Fiasco. (Laughs) It became more of a blog where I posted music instead of for personal. I decided to take Amirah the Uncool to the next level by creating AmirahRashidah. I started that in 2012.
Doc: Awe, okay. What is your motive to keep AmirahRashidah going?
Amirah: So I have a huge passion for music. I sing and actually play two instruments. It’s something I’ve always loved. Eventually in the future once I get my law degree, I want to practice law and protect the rights of musicians and their work. That is what keeps me going. I have a good ole fan base and people to go to and say, “Heyyy, you need representation? I got chu!”
Doc: Right. It gives you more experience, too. So how many contributing bloggers do you have for your site currently?
Amirah: I have, right now, four. But three are active. That includes you.
Doc: (Laughs) Yes.
Amirah: (Laughs)
Doc: Are you looking to have more contributors soon?
Amirah: Yeah, I’m definitely looking to have more contributors.
Doc: Is there a way anybody can contact you about that?
Doc: In the meantime, do you accept guest bloggers
Amirah: I do. I do. They may contact that same email, as well.
Doc: So what made you decide to use your name as the name of your site?
Amirah: HA! Me and my lack of creativity. (Laughs)
Doc: (Laughs)
Amirah: I had Twitter before I had changed my blog name to AmirahRashidah and I just liked that name. It rang so I ran with it.
Doc: Okay, cool. I mean, I would have done the same thing.
Amirah: (Laughs)
Doc: I like my middle name. I use to use it a lot on stuff. So yeah definitely see what you were doing. (Laughs) Do you accept submissions from local artists?
Amirah: I do. I’ve actually posted a couple of submission for some local artists. I’ve done an interview for a local artist, too. I’m always looking for local artist to submit to the blog.
Doc: But with all of those emails coming to you at one time do they must have a specific subject line so that you can organize it differently?
Amirah: Yeah, with any email you send it should be like that. (Laughs)
Doc: (Laughs) I know but some people are oblivious to that. Sometimes they don’t. They just think they can contact you on anything and be like, “Hey! I got that fire!”
Amirah: I got a couple of those and I was just like, “NEXT!” (Laughs)
Doc: See? (Laughs) I like when people are specific so it can be filed somewhere nicely, you know.
Amirah: Yeah, on my website, I have a contact form. But on there I also have if you’re submitting music, make sure you email me at this email. You could use either or.
Doc: Alright. Umm, I recently saw some promotion on your Instagram about something new coming this summer to AmirahRashidah. Do mind letting us in on the scoop with what’s going on with that?
Amirah: Yeah, I’m so excited! Umm, I decided to do a video platform for AmirahRashidah, which it’s going to be called AmirahRashidah TV. I hope to have interviews mostly with local artists because they’re nearby. I’m not traveling too far. (Laughs) I ain’t getting paid for this yet.
Doc: (Laughs)
Amirah: It’ll be interviews and just random discussions about what’s going on in music. I’ll even have my guest contributors and bloggers do videos, too.
Doc: So you’re blog isn’t just for local artists. It’s for others too?
Amirah: Yeah, it’s for national artist and indie arts.
Doc: That’s good to know because people will be all over it. Do you have a favorite local artist?
Amirah: Ahh, lord! (Laughs) I so want to give the political correct answer.
Doc: (Laughs)
Amirah: My favorite local artist just might be this producer by the name of eu-IV. He does really well at mixing up R&B tracks. It’s this one track where he covered SWV’s Rain. He transformed it and I loved it. He’s one of my favorites. It’s another person. His name is Jonny Graham. He’s a Jazz musician. He plays trumpet and writes his own music. He gets people to sing on his mixtapes and albums. I like him, too.
Doc: Have you written about them on your blog?
Amirah: I’ve written about Johnny. I haven’t written about eu-IV yet. But I’m actually about to do an interview with him. Look out for one in April.
Doc: You should do a video interview of him.
Amirah: I know. If I do it then it’ll be pushed back to the summer to be on AmirahRashidah TV.
Doc: Is AmirahRashidah TV just interviews?
Amirah: It’s interviews. If we can get concert footage, concert footage.
Doc: …if it’s legal. (Laughs)
Amirah: Yes, legal footage. (Laughs) I’m not going to get in trouble for people posting stuff they not supposed to be posting. And…conversations about what’s going on within the music industry. I know you like to rant about certain things. (Laughs)
Doc: Yeah, I like to rant.
Amirah: (Laughs) So it’s a good platform for that, too.
Doc: Okay (Laughs)
Amirah: I can see you doing a video or two. “I just hate how R&B…” (Laughs)
Doc: HA! I like music rants. People listen to me. Hey, sometimes I make a lot of sense. But thank you for doing this interview with me.
Amirah: Thank you!
This is the point where beauty blogger Shareese Williams jumps in. Ha-ha!
Shareese takes the initiative to ask when Amirah will be dropping an album and doing a collaboration with her. Listen to what she says…
To view some of Shareese’s work, follow her on Instagram at @Uhhh_Shareese.
Did you read my last Blogger’s Rundown Interview? Check out my last interview with Shae of the UncommonRealist.
I’m glad to have had the opportunity to interview someone who’s working to encourage our young black men to do something positive. Enrico is working to bring back hope for a lot of young men who inspire to pursue a career in sports. Check out my interview with Enrico of Energy Drive Motivation Management as we talk of how he brings his Pro Basketball Exposure Camp to Baltimore in these next coming weeks.
Register for Pro Basketball Exposure Camp in Baltimore Saturday, April 26-27, 2014 on the Energy Drive Motivation website, www.energydrivemotivation.com.
Previously featured artist Champ The General released his music video to mixtape single “All I Know” 2 weeks ago on his YouTube channel for the world to see. The update was submitted to us to promote his show on March 24 at Monumental Mondays at The Depot located in Baltimore’s Art district, Station North. Check him out.
If you were given $84,600 every morning, how would you spend your day, knowing that you had to use it by the time the day was up?
This video starring successful graphic designer Elvis De Leon has been circulating the Internet inspiring people to make the best out of their lives. He explains with an estimate of that much money being given to him, he’d spend his day making it his best! Come on, why waste it? Every minute of your life should matter.
If I was given that much money on a consistent basis, I’d give a lot of it to my loved ones. I’d also quit my job if I was guaranteed that amount everyday. What’s the point of working anymore?! Doc’s Castle Media would be bomb, though! There would be so many changes. I wish this could happen now.
