Naturally Random

I Love This!

This is such a beautiful pic.(taken from here) The hair, the sentiment, all of it.... Do you agree?

Jah Bless

Naturally

Its in the words....

 Amen.. 

Jah Bless

Naturally

Its in the words....

 Amen.. 

Jah Bless

Naturally

YahZarah & The Foreign Exchange

I first of all have to thank my Girl Sensibly Stupid  over at  stupiddopegalaxy for introducing me to these guys.

I am now hooked and they have both been on rotation in my car. It has been my 'clean the house' music for that last few weeks. I am soooooo sick of comercial rubbish, its great to listen to some REAL music every now and again.

YahZarah used to be a back up singer for Erykah Badu. She was born and raised in Washington DC. In 2000-01 she took the name YahZarah which means "Queen Mother is the brightest star".

Did someone say beautiful!?!?

YahZarah has released two albums: Hear Me (2001)  and Blackstar (2003) and EP The Prelude (2008)

The Ballad of Purple St. James (2010) Has just been released.

Click here to listen to a taster of her latest album.

The Foreign Exchange. Wow is all I can say. Although the last album, is 2 years old it is still fantastic (imo) I am eagerly awaiting the next album. I will keep you posted.  The FE are Phonte and Nicolay originally from The Netherlands. They met via the online hip-hop community Okayplayer.com in 2002. After trading files through Instant Messenger for over a year, Nicolay (living in his native Holland at the time) and Phonte (a Raleigh, NC resident) completed their debut album before they ever met each other in person. The album, "Connected," was released in 2004 to positive reviews, and was praised by legendary DJ's such as Jazzy Jeff, King Britt, and DJ Spinna for its inventive mix of hip-hop, R&B, and electronica

 Their sophomore album, "Leave It All Behind" (2008) found The Foreign Exchange much closer in geography (Nicolay becoming a resident of Wilmington, NC), but located much further from their hip-hop origins. On the strength of their exhilarating live show and several nationally programmed music videos, "Leave It All Behind" became the group's most successful album to date, culminating in a Grammy-nomination for the album's first single, "Daykeeper".

Info peeled directly from here

Simply Wicked!!

Jah Bless

Naturally

YahZarah & The Foreign Exchange

I first of all have to thank my Girl Sensibly Stupid  over at  stupiddopegalaxy for introducing me to these guys.

I am now hooked and they have both been on rotation in my car. It has been my 'clean the house' music for that last few weeks. I am soooooo sick of comercial rubbish, its great to listen to some REAL music every now and again.

YahZarah used to be a back up singer for Erykah Badu. She was born and raised in Washington DC. In 2000-01 she took the name YahZarah which means "Queen Mother is the brightest star".

Did someone say beautiful!?!?

YahZarah has released two albums: Hear Me (2001)  and Blackstar (2003) and EP The Prelude (2008)

The Ballad of Purple St. James (2010) Has just been released.

Click here to listen to a taster of her latest album.

The Foreign Exchange. Wow is all I can say. Although the last album, is 2 years old it is still fantastic (imo) I am eagerly awaiting the next album. I will keep you posted.  The FE are Phonte and Nicolay originally from The Netherlands. They met via the online hip-hop community Okayplayer.com in 2002. After trading files through Instant Messenger for over a year, Nicolay (living in his native Holland at the time) and Phonte (a Raleigh, NC resident) completed their debut album before they ever met each other in person. The album, "Connected," was released in 2004 to positive reviews, and was praised by legendary DJ's such as Jazzy Jeff, King Britt, and DJ Spinna for its inventive mix of hip-hop, R&B, and electronica

 Their sophomore album, "Leave It All Behind" (2008) found The Foreign Exchange much closer in geography (Nicolay becoming a resident of Wilmington, NC), but located much further from their hip-hop origins. On the strength of their exhilarating live show and several nationally programmed music videos, "Leave It All Behind" became the group's most successful album to date, culminating in a Grammy-nomination for the album's first single, "Daykeeper".

Info peeled directly from here

Simply Wicked!!

Jah Bless

Naturally

Janet cuts it all off!!

I do try not to jump on bandwagons and post what everyone else is- but I couldnt help myself on this one. So the weave is all gone! I like it.  It interesting however that the 'Black' press have been generally quite positive about this. The Daily Express has these photos under the headline 'Bad hair day for Janet' mmmmmmm. Can she only look good when she looks like them............

What say you?

Jah Bless

Naturally

Janet cuts it all off!!

I do try not to jump on bandwagons and post what everyone else is- but I couldnt help myself on this one. So the weave is all gone! I like it.  It interesting however that the 'Black' press have been generally quite positive about this. The Daily Express has these photos under the headline 'Bad hair day for Janet' mmmmmmm. Can she only look good when she looks like them............

What say you?

Jah Bless

Naturally

I Like it!

I saw this and it touched me, not sure why. There is just something about it....

I know its probably an old pic, but enjoy anyway.

Jah Bless

Naturally

I Like it!

I saw this and it touched me, not sure why. There is just something about it....

I know its probably an old pic, but enjoy anyway.

Jah Bless

Naturally

Beautiful...

I saw this over on The Feel of Free. Something kept me looking at it for ages.

What do you think?

Jah Bless

Naturally

Beautiful...

I saw this over on The Feel of Free. Something kept me looking at it for ages.

What do you think?

Jah Bless

Naturally

Minnie Riperton 1947-1979

 Minnie Julia Riperton is probably best known for her 5 octave voice range and the song 'Loving You'. She came to mind as I was watching a documentary about breast cancer recently. I did not realise  that is how she died. It is an issue quite close to my heart at the moment as a good friend and colleague has just finished her chemo for the disease. She has been an absolute soldier as far as I am concerned. She came to work everyday-except when she had her treatment, then she was back straight afterwards. She just shaved her head to save 'the fuss'. She just gets on with it. I admire that.

Anyway, I digress. Minnie had an amazing voice and as it happens,  always had amazing hair!! enjoy the pics.

She was very photogenic, no matter the occasion, that smile was meant for the camera!

   Pics taken from here. also lots of excellent photos and info on Minnie.

Jah Bless

 Naturally

Minnie Riperton 1947-1979

 Minnie Julia Riperton is probably best known for her 5 octave voice range and the song 'Loving You'. She came to mind as I was watching a documentary about breast cancer recently. I did not realise  that is how she died. It is an issue quite close to my heart at the moment as a good friend and colleague has just finished her chemo for the disease. She has been an absolute soldier as far as I am concerned. She came to work everyday-except when she had her treatment, then she was back straight afterwards. She just shaved her head to save 'the fuss'. She just gets on with it. I admire that.

Anyway, I digress. Minnie had an amazing voice and as it happens,  always had amazing hair!! enjoy the pics.

She was very photogenic, no matter the occasion, that smile was meant for the camera!

   Pics taken from here. also lots of excellent photos and info on Minnie.

Jah Bless

 Naturally

The Amazing Angela Plummer

Angela Plummer

For this months Foxy Features we have an amazing lady from North London (woo woo!) who I first saw over on BGLH. She jumped out at me as what she does is soo unique.  I have to say I didnt think I would ever appreciate Hair Art, but Angelas stuff is so unique, that I felt compelled to contact her straight away. You can see by the accomplishments list on her site, how good an artist she actually is. I wont spoil it for you I will let you see for yourself.

Q1. Your work is amazing. I have never seen anything like it-how did a girl from North London get into this?

Im sure so many ladies can relate to this story LOL!

I grew up in North London and started braiding my own hair at the tender age of ten, the reason I started braiding my own hair was due to the painful experience of a typical West Indian ritual, the weekly braiding or even worse twice weekly torture and trial of washing and braiding the afro kinky locks of my hair.

The ritual consisted of my mother combing and pulling on my hair causing me to jump with pain, and then proceed to tap me really hard on my forehead with the comb in order for me to keep still (or better know by West Indian’s as konking or chopping me in the head!) One day after this weekly ritual of Jumping and chopping, I declared to my mum “This is the last time you are braiding my hair!” and so from that day every two weeks I braided my hair myself. Over the years I developed a very distinctive style of braiding which is both unique and creative as it turned out my mum was aiding me on this Journey in life.

AFRICAN WARRIOR

This Adornment was made for empowerment

Q2. Was/is your work well recieved by those around you?

When I first started 2001, I was once told that doing Natural Hair alone “I will not become anything in the industry” I don’t know if that was a negative or positive thing to say to me, but I turned that comment into something positive and every day since then I always turn a negative into a positive. I guess I can say that I’m a walking example of never letting other people's negative views hold me back for this industry is a hard one, it can break or make you. If I had listened to all the negative things that were told to me I would not be the person that I am today being true to myself and expressing myself through my Art.

To this day I still face negativity

Q3. Do you think there is a natural hair revolution going on in the UK or is it just a fad?

  Hell yes, bring on the NATURAL HAIR REVOLUTION AND KEEP IT MOVING.When I first came into the Hair industry I would braid / cane row a lot of ladies hair that was relaxed and who once said “that there would never go natural” now those same ladies have discovered the beauty of there Natural hair and would never relax their hair again some of them have even locs there hair

We still have a way to go in terms of embracing natural hair.

NUBIAN GLADIATOR

This Adornment was  made to reflect strength

 Q4. Tell us about your own hair-Have you always been natural?

No I have not always been Natural, as a child I had my hair relaxed and curly perm just so my beautiful mum could stop knoking me in the head with the comb at that age I did not know any better, the only reason why my mum aloud me to relaxed / curly perm my hair was because she could not take me wining and moaning anymore,soon realized I had done the wrong thing,  I went back Natural around my twenties

Three products you could not live without

1 Morris Roots Natural Hair Care Range

2 Sahara Single Bible

3 Coco Butter

Below is a question I get asked all the time, just thought you would like to know.

The story Begins

Angelas creative process

Bonus Q. Describe the creative process in making your braided pieces.

I always visualise my styles / creations, then I work in one of two ways. I free style the collection improving on it as I am going along or I will sketch the styles first then put the collection together according to the sketch. 

NUBIAN QUEEN

  This two piece Hair Adornments highlights the essence of beauty

THE STORY ENDS 

Thank you soooooo much Angela for taking the time out of you busy shedule to answer my questions. Your journey is a unique one, and I for one will be following you from now on. Check out the website below, or on the sidebar.

 Jah Bless

Naturally

The Amazing Angela Plummer

Angela Plummer

For this months Foxy Features we have an amazing lady from North London (woo woo!) who I first saw over on BGLH. She jumped out at me as what she does is soo unique.  I have to say I didnt think I would ever appreciate Hair Art, but Angelas stuff is so unique, that I felt compelled to contact her straight away. You can see by the accomplishments list on her site, how good an artist she actually is. I wont spoil it for you I will let you see for yourself.

Q1. Your work is amazing. I have never seen anything like it-how did a girl from North London get into this?

Im sure so many ladies can relate to this story LOL!

I grew up in North London and started braiding my own hair at the tender age of ten, the reason I started braiding my own hair was due to the painful experience of a typical West Indian ritual, the weekly braiding or even worse twice weekly torture and trial of washing and braiding the afro kinky locks of my hair.

The ritual consisted of my mother combing and pulling on my hair causing me to jump with pain, and then proceed to tap me really hard on my forehead with the comb in order for me to keep still (or better know by West Indian’s as konking or chopping me in the head!) One day after this weekly ritual of Jumping and chopping, I declared to my mum “This is the last time you are braiding my hair!” and so from that day every two weeks I braided my hair myself. Over the years I developed a very distinctive style of braiding which is both unique and creative as it turned out my mum was aiding me on this Journey in life.

AFRICAN WARRIOR

This Adornment was made for empowerment

Q2. Was/is your work well recieved by those around you?

When I first started 2001, I was once told that doing Natural Hair alone “I will not become anything in the industry” I don’t know if that was a negative or positive thing to say to me, but I turned that comment into something positive and every day since then I always turn a negative into a positive. I guess I can say that I’m a walking example of never letting other people's negative views hold me back for this industry is a hard one, it can break or make you. If I had listened to all the negative things that were told to me I would not be the person that I am today being true to myself and expressing myself through my Art.

To this day I still face negativity

Q3. Do you think there is a natural hair revolution going on in the UK or is it just a fad?

  Hell yes, bring on the NATURAL HAIR REVOLUTION AND KEEP IT MOVING.When I first came into the Hair industry I would braid / cane row a lot of ladies hair that was relaxed and who once said “that there would never go natural” now those same ladies have discovered the beauty of there Natural hair and would never relax their hair again some of them have even locs there hair

We still have a way to go in terms of embracing natural hair.

NUBIAN GLADIATOR

This Adornment was  made to reflect strength

 Q4. Tell us about your own hair-Have you always been natural?

No I have not always been Natural, as a child I had my hair relaxed and curly perm just so my beautiful mum could stop knoking me in the head with the comb at that age I did not know any better, the only reason why my mum aloud me to relaxed / curly perm my hair was because she could not take me wining and moaning anymore,soon realized I had done the wrong thing,  I went back Natural around my twenties

Three products you could not live without

1 Morris Roots Natural Hair Care Range

2 Sahara Single Bible

3 Coco Butter

Below is a question I get asked all the time, just thought you would like to know.

The story Begins

Angelas creative process

Bonus Q. Describe the creative process in making your braided pieces.

I always visualise my styles / creations, then I work in one of two ways. I free style the collection improving on it as I am going along or I will sketch the styles first then put the collection together according to the sketch. 

NUBIAN QUEEN

  This two piece Hair Adornments highlights the essence of beauty

THE STORY ENDS 

Thank you soooooo much Angela for taking the time out of you busy shedule to answer my questions. Your journey is a unique one, and I for one will be following you from now on. Check out the website below, or on the sidebar.

 Jah Bless

Naturally

KELLY Moreira

This young beauty was born and raised in France. She is relatively new on the scene and was signed by for Elite model agency in 2009. She is simply stunning.No more words.

Enjoy

Jah Bless

Naturally

KELLY Moreira

This young beauty was born and raised in France. She is relatively new on the scene and was signed by for Elite model agency in 2009. She is simply stunning.No more words.

Enjoy

Jah Bless

Naturally

Mariam Malenty Baldé

Mariam Malenty Baldé is a dancer who has appeared in the stage version of The Lion King in Germany for almost four years.

She is half Guinean and half Nigerian, she speaks fluent French and Portugese.

Mariam is a trained Balerina, she can sing, she plays the Violin and she acts! Multi talented sister!

Find out more about her here

Jah Bless

Naturally

Mariam Malenty Baldé

Mariam Malenty Baldé is a dancer who has appeared in the stage version of The Lion King in Germany for almost four years.

She is half Guinean and half Nigerian, she speaks fluent French and Portugese.

Mariam is a trained Balerina, she can sing, she plays the Violin and she acts! Multi talented sister!

Find out more about her here

Jah Bless

Naturally

Sanaa Lathan

I first saw Sanaa Lathan alongside 'Ole fish eyes' {Omar Epps} in Love and Basketball. You must understand my excitement here. I went to see this at an 'underground'  we call it independent these days, cinema in the west end way back when.

She has had a steady flow of films that I have seen. I consider her a 'Black A lister'.

My Husband took me to see the theatre produvtion of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof on my birthday a few weeks back.Sanaa starred alongside the amazing James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Britians own Adrian Lester. Truth be told, I was not even going for her- it was about 'Uncle' Jones- But I have to say that she gave an outstanding performance.

The pics below are from a recent photoshoot, obviously taken at the theatre. I had forgotton how stunnning she was. I didnt really appreciate her beauty until I saw her in the flesh.

If you ever het the opportunity to see her live, I thoroughly recommend her.

Jah Bless

Naturally

Sanaa Lathan

I first saw Sanaa Lathan alongside 'Ole fish eyes' {Omar Epps} in Love and Basketball. You must understand my excitement here. I went to see this at an 'underground'  we call it independent these days, cinema in the west end way back when.

She has had a steady flow of films that I have seen. I consider her a 'Black A lister'.

My Husband took me to see the theatre produvtion of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof on my birthday a few weeks back.Sanaa starred alongside the amazing James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Britians own Adrian Lester. Truth be told, I was not even going for her- it was about 'Uncle' Jones- But I have to say that she gave an outstanding performance.

The pics below are from a recent photoshoot, obviously taken at the theatre. I had forgotton how stunnning she was. I didnt really appreciate her beauty until I saw her in the flesh.

If you ever het the opportunity to see her live, I thoroughly recommend her.

Jah Bless

Naturally

Goapele

This is Goapele.

I must admit that I dont know too much about her- so I did a little research. She is from Oakland CA and her father is South African (hence the name which means To go forward in Tswana) and her mother is Jewish. 

What I do know for sure is that this lady is so photogenic! I dont think she can take a bad picture. I would put 50 pics on this post and still want to keep looking.

You can see in these pics- which are old she has beautiful locs.

Rockin those locs well! Below is her latest video- Milk and Honey

I am digging her deep sultry voice. I will check out some more of her stuff before I confirm myself as a fan.

All the locs are gone. I am lovin her original style.

More great pics... could look at these all day.

Jah Bless

Naturally

Goapele

This is Goapele.

I must admit that I dont know too much about her- so I did a little research. She is from Oakland CA and her father is South African (hence the name which means To go forward in Tswana) and her mother is Jewish. 

What I do know for sure is that this lady is so photogenic! I dont think she can take a bad picture. I would put 50 pics on this post and still want to keep looking.

You can see in these pics- which are old she has beautiful locs.

Rockin those locs well! Below is her latest video- Milk and Honey

I am digging her deep sultry voice. I will check out some more of her stuff before I confirm myself as a fan.

All the locs are gone. I am lovin her original style.

More great pics... could look at these all day.

Jah Bless

Naturally

Nneka

Nneka Egbuna was born in Nigeria to an Igbo father and a German mother. She sang at school and at church so her talent was recognised early. She relocated to Germany when she was 18.

I think this lady is 'real' I have heard some of her other songs, some political- some about love, but all from the heart.

Her first foray into the lime lite was opening for Sean Paul in 2002 in her then hometown of  Hamburg. Since then she has released three albums. The latest of which, Concrete Jungle, was released this year and is her first US album.

She has worked with the likes of the Roots, Gnarls Barkley, Femi Kuti and Bilal, so she is in very good company music wise.

Did someone mention Hair? her hair is crazy, I love that.

Look her up youself- its worth it.

Jah Bless

Naturally

Nneka

Nneka Egbuna was born in Nigeria to an Igbo father and a German mother. She sang at school and at church so her talent was recognised early. She relocated to Germany when she was 18.

I think this lady is 'real' I have heard some of her other songs, some political- some about love, but all from the heart.

Her first foray into the lime lite was opening for Sean Paul in 2002 in her then hometown of  Hamburg. Since then she has released three albums. The latest of which, Concrete Jungle, was released this year and is her first US album.

She has worked with the likes of the Roots, Gnarls Barkley, Femi Kuti and Bilal, so she is in very good company music wise.

Did someone mention Hair? her hair is crazy, I love that.

Look her up youself- its worth it.

Jah Bless

Naturally