I’m about to join the rest of the world outside and partake in some of this good ole ATL sunshine. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this back in the day flashback video of Xscape (Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, Kandi Burress, Tamika Scott & LaTocha Scott) covering the Clark Sister’s “Is My Living In Vain” acapella .
TV One has this incredible series called Unsung about old school music groups and artists whose careers experienced premature endings. It?s pretty good stuff, but not too revelatory to The Smaaawt One (a pet name given me by one of my oldest buddies). It just so happens that most of the acts have always been counted among my favorites ? except one.
I never really knew a whole lot about The Clark Sisters. I was a child of hippies in the 70?s who wasn?t really raised in church in the 80?s. To be honest, the first time I ever remember actually going into an Atlanta church for a service with my mother voluntarily was when she got cancer and started bargaining with The Father to spare her a premature smite. She might have been a hippie, but she wasn?t no fool and knew exactly where to appeal when times got tough. I had more than a few friends, though, who were all up in the sanctuary singing at every opportunity they could find back in the day. Choir rehearsal to some in Atlanta was like working out ? they sweat through it daily, for long periods of time, diligently. So, other than listening to them on WCLK?s Sunday gospel show and listening to those friends try to approximate those lush harmonies, I never knew anything about that family, that group, until that show. What I did know was that Xscape did a rousing rendition of one of their most popular songs on their first album that still stands as one of my favorite remakes of all time.
When you?re a teen (as a few of them were when they made that album) you tend to think that everyone will live forever. Even if yo silly behind is playing chicken back on a still-undeveloped Kimberly Mill Rd. in ?80-nunnayobusiness Continue Reading…
Check out the newest video from the Grand Hustle camp, Young Dro’s “Take Off” featuring Yung L.A.? The song’s title has taken on a different meaning in light of all that whole Alfamega/snitch controversy.? Lately these A-Town streets have been buzzing about the whole situation. Word on the street is Alfa may have TAKEN OFF…right into the witness protection program:
Now they say once a federal snitch, always a federal snitch. Soon after Alfa?s arrival in Atlanta, certain rappers and industry execs started getting busted by the feds left and right, and no one was the wiser. Especially T.I., who seems to be a very trusting sort. Bless his heart.
Anyway, now that Alfamega?s cover is blown, AHH?s purveyor of gossip, Ill Seed theorizes that the feds had to ghost Alfa out of town expeditiously. So Ill Seed claims the feds concocted a scheme to bust Alfamega publicly so he could go deep under cover into the witness protection program.
I was just having the same conversation the other day. Having grown up here I’ve managed to experience quite a bit. Over the past few years, Atlanta has grown full of “transplants,” a ton of whom tend to make up their history. It’s amazing how people will just “appear” in your circle from God knows where. Not saying that I’ve ever *cough* kicked it with gangsters…but er ummm. Let’s just say them Feds are some sneaky momo’s…
Super celebrity photographer Derek Blanks is a beast with that camera! He’s shot Monica, Lisa Raye, TLC’s Chilli, NeNe Leakes (Real Housewives of Atlanta), Diamond (Crime Mob) and the list goes on and on! Derek sent over these new shots of Jennifer Hudson the other day. Check out the amazing images below:
Peep more of her photoshoot as well as her recent performances on NBC’s Today Show under the cut:
Check out this fresh leak from DJ Drama’s upcoming Gangster Grillz: The Album Vol. 2 entitled “A-Town”. Tip raps about bankhead, MLK & Adamsville while Dro and Sean Paul cover the southside and college park. Dontcha just love all these Atlanta anthems?? Just in time for summer…
Who’s Talking?