serendipity...

ser⋅en⋅dip⋅i⋅ty: \ser-uhn-dip-i-tee\: the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something entirely unrelated.

syn·chro·nic·i·ty: \ˌsiŋ-krə-ˈni-sə-tē\: the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality

now I watched The Secret a couple of years ago, and whether or not you believe in it, adhere to it or think it's a bunch of hooey is up to you. but I do believe that thoughts and desires have power, especially when you give them energy.

now as you all know, I'm gearing up for this thursday's "She's So Fresh" Showcase II and all that goes along with that, including promoting it like a crazy person..lol. now that's all good, b/c this is my baby. I love it b/c I gave birth to it. so needless to say, I think about it. alot.

so, yesterday on 11/1 myself and the ladies of SSF Showcase II hit up Circa 95 Radio for a bit of promo and a bunch of fun! we hit the BX at the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective and being the true Hip Hop love that Rebel Diaz has, they happened to have some old Source mags, like from '89. and this one particular issue that they had, had me just...smh, stuck on stupid, sighing from a broken heart and unfulfilled promises and at the same time remembering why I embarked on this journey to contribute something lasting to Hip Hop for all my sistas, past, present and future.

the issue was from September/October 1989. the Queen was on the COVER! with her two dancers from "Ladies First". aside from the fact that she was fully clothed, what struck me even more was when I actually looked inside the issue. the mag had chart listings from all over the country. and on almost EVERY CHART Queen Latifah and MC Lyte were in the top 5. TOP 5! not too mention MC Trouble and Antoinette were also on those charts. and MC Lyte had the #2 single in the country at that time. but yet, I've heard tales since about '96 about some mofos going around saying Female MC's don't sell records or chart. and that's why labels stopped supporting them. um..yeah, not so much with the Jedi Mind Trick.

then in paging through the magazine, I came across something that sent me to silence again. The Source Magazine used to do a segment called "The Hip Hop GODDESS of the month". GODDESS! not "Honey" or some other pet name given to sistas by brothas with the best of intentions to show love and not realizing the undermining going on in the process. it would have stopped me in my tracks had I not been stationary on the train. I looked at Eagle Nebula, DJ Chela and TastyKeish, who were also on the train with me and said, "I knew there was a reason I supported this mag for so many years". sigh.

so what happened? who knows. who can really put a finger on exactly what social, moral, financial reasons anyone could have for participating in the exploitation and hypersexualization of a culture. we are here now though. and seeing what we were and how deeply we were apart of this art of Hip Hop, staring me in the face from the pages of what was considered a Hip Hop bible by some, well...I just want you all to know, I'm just getting started. I'm on no one's bandwagon and this is personal for me. I don't know about anyone else, but I deserve to be considered a "GODDESS" again. all women, in Hip Hop or not, deserve to be the "GODDESS" of the month, of the year, of life. I don't want waste anymore time debating the why's, the how come's..the facts are, that is where we were, this is where we are. my challenge to all Hip Hop lover's out there: where are we going?

well, on thursday, I'm going to Karma Lounge. I'll start there. you can start there with me if you like. if you're not in NY..you can start by attending and supporting the sistas in Detroit at The Foundation at the 5E Gallery every tuesday. or finding the event in your city or town that is supportive of women in Hip Hop. or if you're not a night life kind of person, support a blog. you can support this one and tell a friend. or gangstarrgirl.com b/c she's celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Queen's debut album this week. or iheartdilla.com b/c she hearts dilla like most true Hip Hop lovers. are you seeing a pattern here? my overall point is that this art is something WE created. urban black and latino youth, MALE AND FEMALE, in the BX. and it spread like wildfire. b/c it spoke to people, with a voice that was universal. so as much as it was talking to young males of all races, colors, creeds, so it spoke to me and countless other sistas all over the world.

so serendipity. we were there to promote "She's So Fresh" Showcase II. the ENTIRE purpose of which is to promote women in Hip Hop. if someone can tell me the odds on finding THAT issue on THAT day, please do.

so, know what: let's take it back. I'll see y'all thursday.