Black Tie Lounge

I'm so glad that I found out about this organization. I'm also glad that after close to 6 months of trying to connect with someone there--mostly out of my own laziness and schedule conflicts--I have gotten through. Words, Beats & Life is an arts organization that uses hip hop to mentor and empower youth. Those are my words about the organization and not the official statement as written by WBL Inc. I'm big on the arts so I'm glad to have found one in the D.C. area that has a focus on hip hop. Now onto what they do. Through what is refered to as the Urban Arts Academy , WBL Inc., offers courses in hip hop elements such as DJing, graffitti, emceeing, and breakdance for youth as young as 5 and as old as 23. From what I've learned these courses are more than just a hobby, but a way to emphasize literacy, push the youth to get better at their craft, and find ways to use that craft to seek higher education. I think it's pretty sweet. I also learned about opport...

For the record, I don't drink coffee. It makes your breath stank. Yes, I meant to say stank. I started my week off with a little bit of Hip Hop Harmony at 18th Street Lounge in DC on Sunday night. This was my first visit to that spot and I can say that it is not for everybody, but I was digging the eclectic atmosphere and sheek setting that it offered. I was primarily there because I wanted to check out the indie acts that were performing. Fatso Skinny, who I learned about last week and posted his single on my FB wall, was in the house. Dude is mad versatile. You'll catch the dude spittin' hard one minute and then crooning out smooth vocals the next. He's an all around artist, which I deeply respect. I only caught half of an acapella track that he did. Unfortunately his people dipped before I could cop a disc. Oh well. I'll have to catch dude at his farewell party, which I think is next week. Peep more tracks from him here . On My Knees [the haiku] by Fatso Anot...