DYNAMIC & VERSATILE - SIZZLA!

Album cover from his 2K5 Release, one of so many releases.

I gotta tell ya, I was deliberating what picture to use for this story.  I choose the album cover Soul Deep because 1.  I can relate to that statement & 2.  That album was tuff!  I remember riding through Church Avenue in Brooklyn, making my rounds to various record stores, shops and studios in the neighborhood BLASTING Sizzla.  

Sizzla is another impeccable musician that embodies his craft and delivers outstanding pieces of work that can be considered collectable items if you are a lover of Reggae music and a lover of conscious lyrics.  His talent is unmatched and he is in a class by himself.

Being an advocate for Positive lyrics, images and music; Sizzla falls in with other Reggae Artists who understand the impression they leave on society as a result of their work.  The following are a few things that you may or may not know about Sizzla.

• Sizzla Kalonji was born on April 17, 1976 in Kingston, Jamaica to devout Rastafarian parents his birth name -  Miguel Orlando Collins.

• Sizzla has 21 albums that have made it onto Billboard's Top Reggae Albums music chart.  He has released over 45 solo albums and over 15 combination albums.  According to Wikipedia he has released over 70 solo albums as of 2011.

• The record lables that Sizzla have been affiliated with include Greensleeves, VP, Digital B, Xterminator Records, Damon Dash Music Group and of course his own Kalonji Records.

• Sizzla Kalonji established Judgement Yard, a community center in August Town which also houses his recording studio and record label.  Youth and Artists alike seeking guidance and help with their careers find that and more at Judgement Yard.

I could go on and on about Sizzla - he's just super talented and could flow to any rhythm or beat that you drop on him.  In recent years unfortunately, Sizzla has not been able to perform in the United States.  His last major public performance in the United States was in 2008 at Irie Jamboree at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens.  After that I haven't seen him since.  No more bumping into him in Brooklyn at Bruk Down Recording Studio which incidentally is no longer on Church Avenue either.  

From time to time I do speak with people from the Judgement Yard Camp and until the red tape is all cleared and his legal team continues to do their job with respects to coming back to the U.S. and working again - we just have to catch him outside of the U.S. - plan a trip to Jamaica! He just did Sting 30 :)

Thank goodness for the airwaves, internet and networks in keeping up with Sizzla Kalonji.   The last tune I got from his people was a tune called "Love Connection" that was a minute ago.  We all can't wait for the stamp approval back to the U.S. his return will be a win win.  His back account will increase with all the bookings & his fans get to experience him live & direct again. Not through a screen - the physical is SO MUCH BETTER than virtual.

Ok, you dragged it out of me - just to give you an example of how powerful, Word, Sound & Power is - several years back I had collapsed from a coughing spell that came over me.  I was in a coat room filled with about 5 nurses.  One of the nurses ran all the shots once they located where my asthma pump was they administered it.  They didn't want to give too much because that would have negative results.  While all my other senses were failing me, my hearing was just fine - what kept me going throughout this ordeal was lyrics to a song.  The song that I was singing in my head was "You can't keep a good man down."  you know "Cause I'm so solid as a rock you just can't get me down."  You know the rest, the bass line and those words held me until I came to.  I just shared with you my own personal Sizzla moment :)

To stay in the know with all things Sizzla - he's on all major social networks so search for him.   Judgement Yard Family, feel free to post all of Sizzla's latest bookings and his itinerary for 2K14 in the comments section below or just email me the info.

Till my next entry....

One of my all time favorite albums from Sizzla - a MUST HAVE for your collection!

 Last pic for this entry:

Sizzla Kalonji - don't sleep he's a 70's baby talent to di WORLD!!!! 

BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE

"Our aim must be to create a world of fellowship and justice where no man's skin color is held against him."

 

As we enter into a new year, this weekend I am focusing on education.  Simply Said Media puts the spotlight on Educator and Civil Rights Activist, Mary McLeod Bethune.  

As I look back into her story of struggle, triumphs and outstanding achievements it reinforces the simplicity in taking hold and putting to action the words "determination."  Also when someone tells you that you "can't" and you prove to them and yourself that you can, will and go beyond anyone's expectations of you - that is sweet victory!

When Mary was seven, she picked up a book in the house where her mother worked.  The white owner's daughter snatched it from her and said "You don't need that, Negroes can't read."  From that moment on Mary was determined to learn to read.

I encourage you to google or do some research on our past great accomplished Black Pioneers.  Below details a few important moments in her life.

Born:  July 10, 1875, Mayesville, South Carolina to Samuel and Patsy McLeod.
Family:  Married Albertus Bethune, in 1897 they separated but did have one son, Albert.
Education:  Trinity Presbyterian Mission School, 1886; Scotia Seminary, 1894; Moody Bible Institute, 1895.
Awards:  Spingarn Medal, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 1935; Frances Drexel Award for Distinguished Service, 1937; Thomas Jefferson Award, 1942; Medal of Honor and Merit (Haiti), 1949; Star of Africa (Liberia), 1952; honorary degrees from several universities.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1904:  Founded Daytona Normal and Industrial School.
1920:  Vice-president of the National Urban League.
1923:  Merged her school with a boy's school to form Bethune-Cookman College.
1924-28:  President of National Association of Colored Women.
1935:  Formed National Council of Negro Women and became its president.
1936-43:  Director of Division of Minority Affairs, National Youth Administration.
1945:  Special representative for U.S. State Department at the conference that formed the United Nations.
1952:  Traveled to Africa to represent the United States at the inauguration of William Tubman as president of Liberia.
1974:  A seventeen-foot statue was erected in Washington, D.c., in her memory and honor.


Mary McLeod Bethune past away on May 18, 1955, in Daytona Beach, Florida, she was 79.  She was buried on the campus grounds of the school she founded.  She believed that every child should have a good education.  This belief is something that should resonate in the minds of all parents continuously.  

When looking back at her story I find a strong black woman who made a way out of no way to accomplish the desired goal.  For example, when she opened up her school, there were no funds to run it.  She baked pies and sold them to railroad workers to cover the rental expenses of the building.  She made ink from wild berry juice.  She made pencils out of charred firewood. She even picked through the town's garbage dumps to help furnish the school.  She went door to door to get donations to help support the school.  As the school grew more buildings were needed to house the students.  Mary got support from two white millionaires with their help her school remained opened even through the Great Depression.

Her story is remarkable, her accomplishments amazing and inspiring to all.  No matter what color you are education is essential to the advancement of self.  Dare to explore and challenge your mind to learn new things.  Look at your obstacles as an opportunity to overcome, because in the end your determination, hard work and efforts will pay off in ways you've probably could never imagine.  Mary is still considered one of the most powerful black women in American history.

Simply Said Media Salutes Mary McLeod Bethune!

Till my next entry...

Statue honoring her memory in Washington, D.C.