The Art of Poetry: 'I'm Here for You'

Hey Y'all,

       So I’m back with a fresh new piece entitled, “I’m Here for You”. I wrote this piece a while back as an ode to Black Women highlighting all the wonderful things that we as a collective bring to the table and shedding light on our everyday qualities in a world that constantly finds ways to tear us down. The poem itself is a play on the colloquial phrase, ‘I’m here for it’, which is generally said when someone wholeheartedly stands for or is in agreement with something. I personally use this phrase a lot myself *laughs*, so I thought it would be interesting to write a piece reflecting my unconditional love for black women playing on the phrase. In a society that perpetuates negativity surrounding black women’s relationships to one another, I wanted this piece to be a break from that and note the qualities that generally aren’t applauded or noteworthy and illuminate their importance. There isn’t a more beautiful or inspiring sight to behold than Black Women coming together and uplifting one another. I look around and find myself surrounded by awe-inspiring Black Women and Women of Color who love and uplift one another, who take on various tasks daily ensuring their survival in this world, who chose to live, who chose to love, and who chose to be fully themselves and take up space in a way that allows them to thrive in the face of hardship. I constantly feel inspired by that and I wanted to see if I could capture those things in words and “I’m Here for You” is that piece.

            I’m all about uplifting and empowering Black Women and WOC and I hope this poem does its part in aiding in that mission. I wrote this poem as an extension of my own self love to other Black Women and WOC. You can literally think of it as one fat compliment to all Black Women and WOC in general *LOL* With all the divisive tactics in the world (colorism, beauty standards, preference, money, etc.), I felt it was important to write a piece that reflected otherwise. On my journey to self love I find it very important and therapeutic to compliment myself as well as others. As I’ve said before my love for others is just an extension of how much I love myself. I write for myself first and foremost from a place of love and sincerity, that typically manages to resonate with others, and I believe speaking from this space is what makes my pieces relatable and soul stirring. It’s not easy being a Black Woman or a WOC for that matter because you are easily erased, marginalized, unrecognized, unheard, or your stories untold, so this poem is supposed to shed light on your other unrealized or unnoticed qualities that go outside of the physical or stereotypical. This piece is to illuminate that we have more high points than we do lows and acknowledges our existence in a way that most people won’t. This is a love letter from myself to you. This piece pays homage to your existence in this world and thanks you for the good deeds that you do that tend to go unnoticed that merely come with you living your everyday life. This one’s for you…

Hit play to check out the piece below :)

Well I hope you’ve enjoyed the piece. Please pass this on to another Woman of Color you love and care about or keep it as a reminder for yourself. I hope it reminds you that you matter, you’re important and you mean something. Remember the world couldn’t thrive in the way it does without your presence…

Until next time y’all…

Peace & Positivity,

Dij…

The Artistry Corner Featuring... Evangeline Elder

Hey y’all! We’re back and this week we have our third featured guest/artist here at the Artistry Corner. I am so blessed and so honored to introduce you to my homie, dearest friend, and magazine editor, Ms. Evangeline Elder! A while ago, around the time she first started her trendy online editorial, REHAB Online Mag, I had a chance to sit down with Vang and discuss how she got her start. The result was this dope interview revealing the ups, downs, behind the scenes details, and eventual success of the innovative online publication with an urban edge. If you want to hear the whole story behind REHAB’s birth, check out more about her and the publication below…

This Week's Featured Artist...

~Writer/Editor~

Evangeline ‘Vang’ Elder

Small Bio:

An Oakland Native and UC Riverside graduate, Evangeline is an ambitious and goal oriented young woman with an eye for style, an ear for good music, and a voice for the urban community. During summer 2013, she began working on a new editorial project to put her dope trendsetting skills on display for the world to see. The end result was REHAB Online Magazine, a trendy, edgy, and fashionable publication to draw attention the style, music tastes, and art within urban communities of color. Stylish and dynamic in her own right, Vang has worked tirelessly to launch this editorial and each month ceases to amazes its readers with the latest news, fashion, music and now, food! Now a little more than a year in the game, REHAB has more than dozen issues under its belt and recently celebrated the 1-Year Anniversary of its launch this past November. I’m so honored to have been able to conduct the first of many interviews that I KNOW she’ll be doing in the future. Please join me in welcoming, Ms. Evangeline Elder…

 Q&A

1. When did you first start writing?

“I started writing when I was 6 or 7 years old probably. My mom has this funny story that I used write 11-12 page stories when I was like 9 or 10 about animals and they’d be going through these deep scenarios and situations. So I’ve always been writing as long as I’ve could and I’ve also done things like the Oratorical Fest in Oakland, a lot of Black History Poems and reciting and stuff, so like whenever it’s been *pause*, when it came to articulating myself, it’s always been a part of my childhood.”

2. What inspires you?

“I think what inspires me is anything that’s passionate, and I know it sounds cliché but, *pause* and I hate to be cliché with this, *laughs* but I’m a Cancer and I feed off a lot of energy and emotions and sensitivities, so passion usually recognizes passion and I’ve always been a passionate person. So for me if it interests me and if it’s visually appealing, you know that’s why we have the website stuff, because anything that’s visually appealing, anything that looks interesting or intriguing even if it’s conceptually just really grabs my interest, you know? So in general I’m really interested in people who have stories behind them, you know? What they’re portraying like a lot of the features we choose, a lot of them have actually cool and interesting stories. And you might not think that but, if you go back to a lot of the things they’ve said in the interviews, a lot of things come from their pasts and their childhoods. I’m inspired by a lot though. I love music, I’ll say that I really love music and I really love fashion, those are probably two of the biggest things that attract me and those probably resonate throughout the website obviously. *Laughs* I try to mix it up and I’m getting better at being more diverse when it comes to the different aspects, but music and fashion probably trump everything.” 

3. So what makes you write?

“I would say what makes me write is just this feeling I get where I need to purge my emotions. It’s kind of just… writing at this point is almost like a ritual, you know? When I go through something or when I’m mad, sad, angry, or it could even be when I was writing an essay back in undergrad it’s really just a matter of this process that writers have I would say. Whether you’re a trained writer or not it’s just that you consider yourself someone who can articulate themselves on paper, you get what I’m saying? It just happens. You know, like, I can’t explain it.”

4. What is REHAB?

“I love this question. *Laughs* REHAB is a place where you can go and take in this huge urban eco-system, it’s just this place where you can absorb so much stuff, you know? And it’s like typically, traditional obviously what ‘rehab’ is, it’s like a therapy for people, it’s where they go after they’ve overdosed or where your family sends you when they think you have a problem *laughs*, it’s a lot of things. So I wanted to build this site for personal reasons, but in terms of a broader perspective, I built REHAB based off of the fact that I felt urban people needed REHAB, I felt like we needed quality content whether it’s trap music, whether it’s Balenciaga, whether its Prada, whether it’s a recipe for a new smoothie that helps your skins, whether it’s Men’s fashion, style, sneakers, whatever it is I wanted to create like I said just this sort of urban eco system that you can expose urban people to our own culture. I think culture for especially, primarily African Americans, and Latinos, and you know, Filipinos whoever, like minorities in general, I think that they leave a lot of things out like beauty, you know? They [Society] don’t think that black women or Mexican women can care about beauty products, they don’t think that black men can be into fashion and style, they don’t think that we can be into Balenciaga or this and that, I hate to name drop, but you get what I’m saying? They don’t think we can be into those things, unless you’re like June Ambrose or something. *laughs* So for me it’s like REHAB meant this place where you could go and get all the things that society tells you, you normally shouldn’t be interested in, you know, so of course we include staples of urban culture like hip-hop, R&B, rap, and all that, but at the end of the day we try to obviously use the website, we mix it up a lot because we want to expose urban people to other culture verses them being told this is the only thing you can like.”

5. How did you come up with the concept for REHAB and why?

“It’s funny because I got in this really bad car accident and it was really by the grace of God that I made it out of the car accident. My car was totaled on the 10 E freeway getting off Crenshaw and I had also gone through some serious heart break and those two together made me just feel something or feel type of way, you get what I’m saying? I want to sing the song for that by the way, but I won’t *laughs*

Those two things, events together made me feel some type of way in terms of what was I doing creatively, I wasn’t exercising my mind.  I’d always heard from people ‘oh you’re so smart, you’re so creative,’ but I hadn’t done anything with it, you know? So it was just kind of like, I was sitting on my bed one day after the car accident and after all the heart break crap and I was chillin’ with Leah, who is our graphic designer (and she went to UCR, so you probably know her), and I was like I need to start something. And 3 or 4 days before the car accident I was like I should start a magazine called Rehab, something, I need to start something, I was just bored and then after the car accident I was like, you know, F this I need to start something. So then I went to use my home girl’s computer, her Mac, Leah’s Mac and just opened up a program and started editing and just playing around and stuff, next thing you know, three hours later she gave me a logo and I was like I think we should do REHAB and then make syringes for the ‘A’ and she was like oh that’s cool then she created it, next thing you know I got a logo. And then the next thing you know, 10 days later I buy the domain and buy the website and give me REHAB and then next thing you know I’m in Watkins at UC Riverside on campus building a website for a month *laughs* henceforth we birthed REHAB. All because I was mad at a, you know, certain person.”

6. Are you still a poet?

“Umm yeah... I actually wrote a very, I actually wrote one of my deepest poems probably 2 and a half weeks ago. And this was one of those poems where sometimes being in poetry clubs and being in English and stuff, you’re creative you take advantage of the fact that you can write and you kind of abuse it. But this time the emotions were flowing and I literally just wrote a poem that was really special to me.”

7. 5 facts about you?

1. I used to golf, five or six years and it’s very rare for a black woman from Oakland * laughing* to be a golfer, you feel me?

2. I love Scandal. You cannot, Scandal cannot be replaced *laughs* If Scandal’s on I’m not talking to you, I don’t talk to you if Scandal is on. If I were married to you, I wouldn't talk to you if Scandal was on.

3. Sometimes I listen to really harsh gangsta music. It’s not really a secret *laughing*it’s just something, a different side of me where it’s just like I feel like a guy sometimes. It’s like certain artists bring it out of me.

4. I really wish I could paint and sing. Those are two things that I’m extremely jealous of, like I’m actually really jealous of singers and painters. I would love to be able to, like, serenade someone, but it doesn’t quite come out like that when I sing *laughing* I’m just really jealous, I think I want to take vocal lessons when I get more money, you know? Just something like that.

5. Despite some of the content that I’m interested in I’m probably a really religious person. And I think a lot of people that I went to college with and people in general don’t know that I grew up in the church and that my parents grew up in the church and my whole family grew up in the church. And really didn’t stop going to church until I came to college, so I’ve always been a baby in the choir, playing my instruments at church and stuff. So that’s just something that people don’t see that side of me often. I’m not really the biggest poster child about God or Jesus. I just feel like I’m kinda young and don’t want to come off as a hypocrite in anything that I do, but I know personally that I carry my faith with me, you know, when I go to sleep at night.

8. Ways to connect with you?

-IG: _vang

-REHAB IG: rehabonlinemag

-YT: REHABonlinemagazine

-Email: rehabest2013@gmail.com

Now go head and head over to REHABonlinemag.com and for all your latest fashion, music, and art needs in urban culture, and tell ALL yo friends! You won’t be disappointed :)

Hope you’ve enjoyed this week's feature, stay tuned for our next artist spot, until next time beautiful people...

Peace & Positivity,

Dij :)

The Art of Music: Underground Hip-Hop- Iman Omari

Hey y’all

I know it’s been a minute but I’m back with a new artist for y’all to check out, by the name of Iman Omari. Earlier this year I had the pleasure of hearing this talented artist first the time on Solange’s most recent compilation album, Saint Heron, put out by her personal record label Saint Records. On there was when I first heard his single, ‘Energy’, but it wasn’t until this past summer before my departure to Brazil, that my brother put me on more of his work. When I tell you this young artist has got some talent that borderlines on musical genius, I mean it! You know I don't play when it comes to my music :)

Still not convinced? Check out more info about him and a few samples of his work below.

~IMAN OMARI~

     The Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and producer has got sounds that will truly nourish the heart and soul. His dreamy melodic Hip-hop/R&B tunes have a hint of spaced aged soul and jazz fusion with lyrics reflective of life experience reminiscent of Stevie Wonder’s story-telling ability and A Tribe Called Quest’s innovative beat production. He’s produced works for other underground West Coast artists such as PacDiv, Dom Kennedy, and OverDoz. He even landed co-production credits on Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed 2011 mixtape, Section .80. His encapsulating sound is truly groundbreaking, innovative and awe-inspiring. The makings of a true artists in his own right, his beats and sound draw the listener in with magnetic pull only your soul will understand. His discography consists of 9 different EPs and LPs completed over the last several years since the age of 17, with his most recent work, Samadhi, having been dropped this past summer.

So if you dig dope beats with a new aged west coast sound and slick vocals then this young artist just might take you on a ride your ears will quite possibly thank you for. Check out some of his latest stuff for yourself below:

Sites:

imaniomari.bandcamp.com

soundcloud.com/imanomari

twitter.com/IamImanOmari

I hope you’ve discovered something new to enjoy, as usual to continue to spread peace and positivity and as always, remember to pass it on.

Until next time y’all

Peace,

Dij

The Art of Fashion & Natural Hair: Head-wrapped!

 Hey Y’all!

So I know it’s been a minute but I’m finally back after finishing up my first year of Grad School. I have a little bit more time on my hands now that I have escaped its academic clutches. But it feels good to be back, and I promise to be better guys. Forgive me for my bootsy absence!

Now that I’m back I thought I’d hit you with a dual topic for this post, relating to both fashion and natural hair. I am talkin' bout HEADWRAPS! I know I sound overly excited, but when I tell you this is my favorite thing and my scarf collection is out of control I mean it, so I figured why not? I call this Headwrap post both fashion and natural hair related because it literally makes a statement while protecting your hair, so in theory it doubles as a fashion statement and a protective style!

  

While I have been covering my hair over the course of my life because of my religion, I didn’t get creative with it until recently. During my 3^rd year in college, I started experimenting with my scarves and different styles and BOOM a style staple was born. Sometimes I like to throw one on when I’m deep conditioning or my hair is in complete disarray, other times I like to draw unnecessary attention to my outfit, either way it’s really handy and accentuates your face. I also get asked a lot questions about them, and I figured since it is summer time why not style and wrap my friends’ hair, do a photo shoot, and then post about it? My fellow queens were nice enough to let me utilize their heads for this post, so shout out to them! *Laughs* Each look was styled and wrapped with love by me (#WrappedByDij), all the scarves and necklaces are mine (all from various places, some thrifted, some made by my mother, some bought), but I will make sure to let you know where I got everything under each photo, so you can go out and find some headwraps of your own :)

So with that being said here it is, the moment everyone who constantly asks me questions about my headwraps has been waiting for! The Infamous Headwrap Post! Enjoy!

Look #1: Criss-Cross Wrap

Model: Yolanda "Yoli" Redd
Instagram: @one_and_yoli

Headwrap : Made by my mom

Necklace: H&M

Curls: Naturally Paawpin'

Look #2: Partial Top Knot Wrap

Model: Mallorie Eckley

Instagram: @_olive_ilove

Headwrap/Scarf: Goodwill

Necklace: Urban Outfitters

Brows: Naturally Paawwpin

Look #3: Cross Over Wrap

Model: Surya Dennis-Young

Instagram: @surya_bean

Headwrap/Scarf: Nordstrom's Rack

Bone-Structure: Naturally Paawwpin'

Look #4: The Bow-Tie Wrap

Model: Mallorie Eckley

 Headwrap/Scarf: Eco-Thrift

Looks #5 & #6: The Turban (Yolanda) & Cross Over (Surya) Wrap

Models: Yolanda Redd & Surya Dennis-Young

       

Headwraps/Scarves: #5- ASOS #6- Nordstrom's Rack

Necklace: ASOS

Look #7: Partial Top Knot

Model: Mallorie Eckley

Headwrap/Scarf: My Great Aunt's

Necklace: Forever21

Look #8: The Wrap-Around Wrap

Model: Surya Dennis-Young

 

Headwrap/Scarf: H&M

Necklace: Nasty Gal

Look #9: The Crown Wrap

Model: Dij (Me!)

 

Headwrap/Scarf: ASOS (Altered by my mom)

Watch: eBay

So those are just a few of the Headwraps that I do regularly. I did them on different hairstyles so you can have the option of leaving your hair up, down or out depending on the style. I've been asked to do tutorials, so if this gets enough publicity and enough people request it, I'll suck it up and go head & put up a tutorial on my channel on how to do these styles and more. Well I hope that you've enjoyed the post and that you've gotten some inspiration in the meantime, if you have any questions, comments or requests feel free to leave them below or contact me via social networks (IG, tumblr, etc). And as all always feel free to share and spread the positivity :)

Until next time y'all...

Peace,

Dij