It almost that time of year …

Time for freaky dolls in the windows of the premier department stores (yes I walked past some yesterday), Christmas music playing everywhere and with that the annual lighting of the tree at Rockefeller center.

I’ve played the game of going to see the live tree lighting one time only and vowed never to do it again. It was beyond crowded and the acts that performed were never really that appealing. But when I got an email this year to come see  a taping of the Roots perform as part of the festivities I decided to give it a go.

I waited on line for about three hours thanks to a cute lil Colombian chick named Shakira. She apparently was running late for her taping and on top of that needed to have 6 takes of the same song. Please say it isn’t so, is Shaki a- gasp – diva??

Regardless, being the true fan I am, I held on in the cold for literally 3 hours. This ended up  ended up being 2.5 hours longer than the actual taping. All to see the Roots perform ONE Christmas jingle with Jane Krawkowski (30 Rock)??? I was a lil perturbed. But nonethless I am happy to even see The Roots get invited to an event like this. They deserve the shine. And luckily, I was able to befriend a nice group of frat boys in the crowd that told me the Roots were headed to their weekly  Tues. jam session right after at the Highline Ballroom. Thanks guys!

So all you Jane Krawkowski fans out there, catch her along with The Roots, Alicia Keys, Shakira and more when the “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special airs on Dec 2nd @ 8 pm on NBC.

Anyone that is frustrated with the state of hip-hop need only look in the most unlikey of places these days: The sunshine state. 

Living in New york City we tend to  believe we are the center of the universe and that nothing exists outside of our city limits, especially when it comes to hot music. I recently had a wake up call when I went to visit some family in Florida. 

There, my cousin introduced me to the underground hip-hop scene of Orlando – one that is reminiscent of what hip-hop here used to be. It seems him and his cohorts keep the essence of hip-hop alive in tight lyrical retreats over self-made beats that they do simply for the love of music. This scene encompasses every aspect of hip-hop from freestyling, producing, DJing (DJ SPS – 2008 DMC champ also resides there) and animating. Yes, these brothers are truly artists. 

The 5th annual Anti-Pop Music Festival that kicked off last night in at the Backbooth in downtown Orlando captured the momentum of this scene showcasing the local indie talents of artists like Amiam, Grey Matter, DJ SPS, BC and my peoples Orign. It proved that hip-hop is alive and well in the sunshine state.

Check out Orign, whose style is reminiscent of  Native Tongues/Tribe Called Quest as he hit the stage.  Peep more videos at sexybeasttv, including one of my faves, “Dream” featuring my cous, I. 

I’m looking forward to Orlando being put on the map for something other than Disney World and Boy Bands. And with the rustlings of the underground scene getting louder coupled with the talent from the music school Full Sails, I’m sure that thing will be hip-hop.

It’s that time of year again….

No, I am not talking about sun block and bbqs and all that cliche stuff that goes on this time of year. I am talking about the time when NYC becomes home to A-list Latinos in film and we get to celebrate a week of movies made for us, by us. For the last 10 years the New International Latino Film Festival (phew, try saying that five times fast) has been bringing together the best in Latino and Urban films, giving us and our stories a voice.

This year I am especially excited about the fest for a few reasons:

Calle 13: Anyone that knows me knows I’ve made a career out of covering this Puerto Rican duo’s every move. Now the rapperos are adding films to their grammy lined resume with their film Sin Mapa premiering at NYILFF on Wednesday, July 30th.

A Kiss of Chaos: What is life without a little bit of calamity? I am looking forward to Judy Marte’s (Raising Victor Vargas) return to the big screen in this drama about cutting ties with a chaotic past to make room for a better future. we find it’s not so easy in this flick. Catch Kiss of Chaos when it makes its NY debut on Friday, July 31st.

Juan Bago on the red carpet: It always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside when I see people I know doing big things. This year my homie juan Bago will be dishing all the chisme from the red carpet and speaking with the stars. Check out his little PSA right here for more info on the festival and what to expect. Don’t forget it goes down July 27th-August 2nd.

Life works in mysterious ways, especially in the way it brings the people you need most into your life. I learned this recently when I went to VONA – a creative writing workshop for people of color (AKA no white people). I was so excited to go and work on my personal project in the company of other well renowned authors of color (Junot Diaz, Asha Bandele, Willie Perdomo, Thomas Glave etc.). I just knew that I was going to get into my first choice of memoir writing. When the application asked for a back up, I just threw on there a aother class that wouldn’t require me to submit a whole new manuscript and would still cover nonfiction – which seemed to be the LGBTQ narratives class with Thomas Glave. 

I had no idea what LGBTQ even meant until I recieved my acceptance letter from VONA stating that I didn’t get into my first choice, but welcome to my second choice. I googled the meaning of the acronym and freaked out. “I’m not GAY!!!” I thought. EVERYONE IS GOING TO THINK I AM GAY.

I am embarrased to admit how I reacted. But I spoke to my friend about it and we both agreed that writing is writing and so who cares? I just wanted to write and meet other writers and this was my chance to do that. So I put the label aside and agreed to continue.

I am so happy I did. I got to have the best teacher ever that week, Thomas Glave. I immediately explained to him how my work didn’t really fit in with the class but he didn’t care, he still welcomed me, as did my whole group. Besides being extremely smart and knowlegable about writing, he was the sweetest and most polite person I’ve ever met. AND, he put us to work! Which was exactly what I needed. And he isfrom the Bronx, so of course we bonded over that. But what I gained most that week was he forced me to overcome my fear of how to begin. He made me just do it. And it was uncomfortable and annoying but it was what I needed. And I had a whole community of writers along side me that was doing the same thing to gripe about it with and learn from. 

With that I learned that my obession with labels is an uneccessary one. And I let it go that week. I didn’t feel the need to explain myself to everyone that saw my name tag that week and made assumptions. I am who I am, and a label doesn’t change that.

That lesson carried over when I returned to the real world and was laid off from my uber cool job at MTV. I was letting this label define me for so long and when it was taken from me at first I was knocked totally off kilter. Then I remembered that that label didn’t make me who I am. Regardless, I am still a writer. That is the only label that matters. 

And when I moaned and whined to my super cute, classmate Mario about what I was going to do with my life, he looked at me and said so nonchalantly, ” Well, you are going to write, right?”

It finally hit me, it really is that simple. Thanks VONA for showing me that.

While Wilmer Valderrama is best known for  his role as “Fez” or his player ways, I recently learned there was another side to this Venezuelan cutie. I ran into him and a host of other Latino celebs while attanding the annual Cielo Latino AIDS fundraiser gala. That’s right, gala AKA I had to get all dressed up.

Cielo Latino is an annual event thrown by the Latino Commission on AIDS to raise money and awareness about AIDS as it affects our community. It’s the largest fundraiser event trageted specifically to us and it was an honor for me to attend and rub elbows with the likes of Rosie Perez, Wilmer Valderrama, Dayana Mendoza (Former Miss Universe), Lupe Ontiveros and MTV Tr3’s own Carlos Santos.

Ok, so I had a start struck moment with Wilmer AKA Fez. He’s so friggin cute in person (though a lil short for me). I harrassed his bodyguard relentlessy until he took a picture of us together. Then I realized the flash wasn’t working and I started all over again with someone else’s camera (pic coming soon). But long before those shenanigans, I did actually speak to Wilmer on his activism and his message for our youth regarding AIDS. Check out what he had to say under after the jump…How do you feel about being picked to co-host the event?
It’s really an honor. Rosie Perez and Dayana Mendoza are great friends of mine. It’s very special to come together to not only celebrate our Latin culture, but also educate the public about the importance of HIV awareness.

Have you been affected personally by the disease?
Yes. I have done volunteer work and met countless children that have the disease and who have touched my heart. The majority of the people affected aren’t just getting the disease through sexual relations. There are a number of ways to be contracted with the illness and for me it’s important to support events like these to come together and try to take everything seriously.

Speaking of visiting hospitals, do you have any upcoming volunteer work you want to talk about?
No, not right now. I have traveled to Iraq and several countries to do volunteer work and right now I am working on a movie about post tramatic stress syndrom, which is a very important topic as well. There are a lot of soliders that are coming back from war with a lot of mental and physical issues. The movie follows two soliders that are battling to get adjusted to life in the States after war. We filmed in New Mexico with America Ferrera. It’s a very important movie titled “The Dry Land.”

Any other projects?
Yes. I just wrapped a movie that comes out in September called “Days of Wrath” with Lawrence Fishburne. The movie talks about violence in our neighborhoods.

What was the best part of filming it?
Playing the bad guy. I was the villian in this movie.

You like playing the bad guy?
Well in the beginning of my career I always did comedic roles. It’s important for me to keep it different.

Do you have a message for the youth?
Yes. Be strong. To help each other and educate each other. We are all in this struggle together.

Photos via Getty & Yanira Arias

 I thought a lot about how birthdays would be after the anxiety of turning thirty lately. Would they be as exciting and anxiety filled? would it still feel like a “big” deal? I found out today when I turned thirty-one. The verdict is in everyone: it felt like any other day. Nothing special. I started going about my day just like any other too when suddenly the thought came into my head – where was I a year ago today?

I realized besides the obvious – I was on a beach in Punta cana  last year at this time – so much has changed in one year. I don’t live in the same borough much less the same apt. I upgraded to a bigger place and somehow managed to pay less. I am not at the same job I was last year, I am actually doing what I love for a bigger and better company. And I am not in the same relationship as I was i.e. the same cycle of drama. I have a totally clean slate in the dating department (phew). Going down the list I happily realized this was no ordinary day afterall. This marked a new day and a new phase of my life. 

This is the day I recognize how much I am still growing and learning new things about myself. I am still deciding what it is I want in life and choosing it, over and over. I have the power to choose and that makes all the difference. The best part of this process is learning to trust myself again and to enjoy the journey. I no longer feel the need to judge myself for not doing things a certain way or for the things I cannot control. I’ve learned there is no right or wrong, things just are. That has been the best gift I could ever give myself. With that understanding and newfound gentleness I find myself contently in “the flow” of life. And one step closer to being whole.

What a truly happy birthday, indeed.

If you are like me you probably find yourself wondering “what happened to hip-hop?”

Tired of the radio. Tired of Mainstream hip-hop in general. Wondering where did it go? Especially if you live in NYC, the mecca of this genre. Well fear no more! Now there is an answer. There is still good hip-hop out there – you just have to find it. And that’s where I come in. Well not just me…I am just a teensy tiny part of

THE CULTURE VAULT RADIO PODCAST SHOW

(Phew, try saying that 10 times fast)

I had the honor of being invited to co-host a brand new podcast show along side Kinectic (The Arsonists) and Divine (Rise Up Radio).  The main goal is to be a place for people to find good hip-hop that doesn’t make it on the radio. A place where everyone (that has talent) can get shine, whether you are a signed mc or just recorded something in your basement.

We are currently seeking fresh new talent for our bi-weekly radio show. If you have some tracks you want to expose or can suggest artists that are missing from our awareness, please send it over to me at Navanio@gmail.com.

And because I am representing the female voice, I especially look forward to hearing from the ladies.

Photo via Google

I have only faint memories of speaking and thinking in Spanish. I spent most of the first two years of my life around my Spanish speaking grandmother, and subconsciously must have took it all in. Then I was ripped from her arms (literally) and moved upstate to a small suburb and said goodbye to any hope of continuing my Spanish lessons. I remember vaguely in Pre-k thinking in Spanish and having to stop my myself from ordering  jugo and leche on the cafeteria line. But that was all lost quickly as my parents chose instead to make English my first language. – a choice I questioned and detested to this day. Until I saw the new movie Sugar recently.

Sugar tells the story of   Miguel Santos, a.k.a Azucar, a Dominican pitcher from San Pedro de Macoris, who struggles to make it to the big leagues and pull himself and his family out of poverty. Playing professionally at the Kansas City Knights baseball academy, Miguel finally gets his break at age 19 when he advances to the United States’ minor league system. But he learns there that all that glitters isn’t gold. There are many challenges facing a young immigrant player. One being a huge language barrier  and racism that comes with it. Secondly, the pressure of playing your best for fear that at any moment you can be replaced. Watching that fictional character live through that gave me a new respect for those who do it now in real life.

Watching Azucar order french toast unwillingly everyday because it is the only thing he knew how to say jabbed me softly in my heart. Seeing how Americans ridiculed him for trying hit me harder. I finally understood what my parents meant when they thought teaching me English was the best way for me to survive here. They were trying to protect me from the hardships and discrimination they faced growing up, and saw their parents face. I could finally appreciate the choice they made without my consent.

Whether you are a baseball lover or not, Sugar has something to offer everyone. For a first time actor, Algenis Perez Soto (Miguel) does a great job and I hope to see more from him in the future. Check out Sugar when it hits theaters this Friday, April 3rd.

When I first heard that my job would be sending to Miami to cover the Pedro movie screening event at Florida International University, I was elated. Most likely, because this is was the first time I’ve ever traveled on the job’s dime, AND to glamorous Miami at that. Besides that was the fact that I would be staying at the Shore Club AND interviewing Residente of Calle 13 which was of course, the icing on the cake. Although I work for a Latin entertainment company, I rarely like a lot of the artists that come through our doors. This was one exception and I was thrilled!

The Shore Club did live up to it’s chic expections with every room and lobby space adorned in all white. When I saw a member of INXS checking in next to me and Floyd Mayweather chillin with his entourage in the cut, I knew I had arrived. But it wasn’t that aspect of my trip that would be most exciting. Nor was it dining at Nobu, or popping bottles with Venezuelan pop stars, or hanging out with the cast of the Pedro movie themselves (although everyone was totally cool don’t get me wrong).

No, I think as far as touching moments go there are two that are most memorable for me and are tied for first place.

First off, interviewing one of the few Latin rappers I actually LIKE, Residente of Calle 13. And not because he is super cute and Puerto Rican (well a lil bit), but because I got to see a different side of  him when I asked how he has been affected by the AIDS epidemic. Always a fan of his socially conscious songs, I expected his interview to impress me. However, he earned a whole new respect from me when he candidly opened up about his family members living with and dying of AIDS. He spoke about the importance of safe sex as someone who actually meant it. And he showed me getting tested is so important he carries around his results in his wallet.

So I don’t know which moment wowed me more – that conversation OR hearing an audience full of students sniffle at the end of the Pedro movie. I was so touched to see that Pedro’s message and life still can inspire so many people after so many years – especially with his entire family sitting right there in the audience with them. SAdly, the AIDS epidemic is only growing but I think we’ve just recruited a new league of soldiers in the fight against it.

Check out what else Residente had to say in my interview on Blogamole. Catch Pedro when it airs on MTV Tr3s on April 1 at 8pm.

I first realized I wanted to share myself via the written word when I picked up Maya Angelou’s I know why the Caged Bird Sings. It was 7th grade and I read like nobody’s business in an effort to escape my world. A world I wanted so desperately to pretend didn’t exist. I saw the same kind of anguish in Maya Angelou’s book and quickly identified with it.  I put that book down and felt so empowered by it. If she could unleash herself freely like that and make me feel so much better, I wanted to do that too someday.

I first believed I could actually make this idea happen last week when I attended a “Latinos in Literature” reading event at Powerhouse books last week. There, Latino authors like Ivan Sanchez, Linda Nieves-Powell, Kim Osorio, Daniel Serrano and Joe Conzo gathered to read and discus their work. More importantly, they spoke about how and why they got published.

As I sat there and listened to them each read I got teary eyed, because they were telling a story that was part of mine. Ones I could relate to. These were people that looked and sounded like me and I could identify with, it is not often I have that opportunity. These are people I know on facebook and talk to regularly, that are from New York. To see my peers be able to live this dream reminded me that I could too.

Daniel Serrano stated that he wrote because when you discover you are a writer, its part of your identity, it’s who you are plain and simple. And you are frustrated as a person when you don’t write. I can attest to this sentiment.

Linda Nieves-Powell admitted getting her book deal with only 50 pages submitted.

And Joe Conzo exclaimed that your dreams can come true, no matter what they are. Just hold on tight to them.

I am so thankful for that simple reminder. And so thankful there are more Latinos gracing our bookstores now. Let’s make sure more of us will get the same chance by supporting them now.