I chilled at home the next day, gardening, listening to music and writing. I knew Love, Peace and Harmony was having a party later, so I planned on going. I left my house around 1:30 and noticed the new Associated... Grand Street has definitely changed...
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| GRAND ST NEWNESS |
DJ Siren was rocking L P and H when I arrived at 1:45am. Leesah was getting her groove on. We talked, danced and had a great time! She had her photographs on the wall. Very nice.
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| DJ SIREN AND LEESAH |
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| MY EYE ON LEESAH'S PHOTOGRAPHY ABOVE |
The DMV's DJ Lickashot arrived in NYC that morning and we had breakfast at Kellogg's Diner. After breakfast, we drove to Cynical's rest. Finsta was there and we talked and laughed about a few things.
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| CYNICAL AND THE MAMA WIZE |
Since we had all day to chill, I suggested he see the Biggie Mural on Dekalb and Franklin Avenues, across the street from Lafayette Gardens Projects in Brooklyn. You know we had to profile!
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| LICKASHOT ENJOYING BROOKLYN |
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| YEJIDE AND BIGGIE CHECKING YOU OUT |
Since we were in the 'profiling with Brooklyn's finest' mood, we headed to the Smif-n-Wessun Mural on Woodbine St and Broadway in Brooklyn. These murals are amazing. This is how you beautify Brooklyn!
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| LICKASHOT POSTING WITH THE SMIF-N-WESSUN MURAL |
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| TEK AND ME |
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| ME AND STEELE |
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| PRIMETIME |
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| DJ LICKASHOT AND DJ BUTTA L |
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| DJ BUTTA L ON THE ONE AND TWOS |
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| DO YOU KNOW THE WAY? |
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| BUSHWICK REPRESENT! |
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| A FEW COLLECTIBLES... |
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| YOU ALREADY KNOW! |
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| FINSTA AND LICKASHOT WITH THE HOT TALK |
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| SUBWAY MAP ART |
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| THE ILLEST ANGLE FLIK |
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| I'M ALL FOR TAGGING! |
Finsta and PrimeTime had Lickashot spin a few joints on Bushwick Radio. After spending time in Bushwick, Lickashot was tired. He's not used to how we run non-stop in New York City. Before he went to La La Licka Land, I corn-braided his hair. He took a nap while I tended to my home and family. I'm still on an hours, sleep, y'all...
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| LICKASHOT ROWS VIA HAIR BY NATURE |
Let the fun begin with Da Beatminerz Family!
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| AT VON BAR WITH THESE DUDES: MR BITO * DJ EVIL DEE * DJ LICKASHOT |
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| WE ALWAYS HAVE FUN BECAUSE THESE GUYS ARE FUNNY |
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ME, UNKLE DEX AND FOREVER PHOTO BOMBING
DJ EVIL DEE WITH THE THUMB OF MR. BITO |
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| BACK TO BACK GULLY LOVE: GPOS AND THE MAMA WIZE |
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LICKASHOT * NINA AZUCAR * UNKLE DEX * NAPOLEON DA LEGEND
DOPE PIC, DJ REDBOY!!! |
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| VON BAR'S SET UP DOWNSTAIRS WITH THE FLY KICKS |
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| DJ EVIL DEE ON THE SET |
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| THE MAMA WIZE AND DJ REDBOY |
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| DJ EVIL DEE AND THE FLY KICKS PHOTO BOMBING |
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| THE GULLY TEAM WITH THE BECKY'S |
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| JAPANESE HOMIES KNOW THE DEAL. SALUTE! |
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| DJ EVIL DEE * YOSHI * THE MAMA WIZE |
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| GOOD NIGHTS END WITH FAMILY |
Monday through Wednesday is a blur except for my landlord finally moving their ass to repair things in my apartment. They were consistently calling and plea copping to make arrangements to come and fix things that should have been repaired months ago. My letters always put a fire under their butt. Points for my pen!
I spread the word via social networks that I needed a logo for my Wearbable Art, Balance. The contest was over July 24th but I still don't have what I need. If you want to submit a picture, sketch, drawing, etc., Please email it to: balance@wemanifest.com.
There were two other challenges held online! Take a look below... It's not just for DJs. It's for anyone who loves vinyl and loves great music. I picked some goodies, too.
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NAME THE B SIDE OF THESE 3 45s AND YOU'LL
WIN A 4-OUNCE BOTTLE OF LAVENDER MASSAGE OIL!
EMAIL: balance@wemanifest.com |
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CONGRATULATIONS, CEDRIC HAWKINS! YOUR 4-OUNCE
BOTTLE OF EUCALYPTUS OIL IS ON IT'S WAY! |
****************************************************************
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| STARTING THE ROCK STEADY WEEKEND OFF CORRECTLY! |
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| PEARL HARBA * CRAZY DJ BAZARRO * BUNDY * FINSTA |
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| DJ KAOTIC BLAZE |
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| TOMMY * LOU * MIKE |
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| ALLEGRA GIVING CRAZY LEGS A NEEDED MASSAGE |
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| FINSTA * GMS * MR. MECCA * BLITZKREIG * KARNIEGE * HOMIE |
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GULLYGAL SALUTE! DJ NINA AZUCAR
TERRI * KIMMY * TERRI P. * YEJIDE * BLESS |
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| YOU ALREADY KNOW! |
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BMZ FAM: TERRI * UNKLE DEX * BAZARRO * KIMMY
GPOS * THE MAMA WIZE * PEARL HARBA |
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THE MAMA WIZE * GPOS * CRAZY LEGS * TERRI P. * PEARL HARBA
THANKS, DJ REDBOY FOR THE PHOTO! |
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HAD TO GET REDBOY IN THIS ONE!
TERRI * UNKLE DEX * BAZARRO * KIMMY *
REDBOY * YEJIDE * PEARL HARBA |
That night, after DJ Evil Dee hit the tables, the place lit up and some of the Gully Gals had to exit to VIP to get their dance on! He played Hip Hop like only Da Beatminerz can. I stayed in VIP getting my Hip Hop ON until Evil Dee's set was over. I hadn't danced to Hip Hop like that in a long time and I needed that Hip Hop cleansing. It was very appreciated.
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TERRI P. * BLESS * SHANI
DANCING IN VIP |
I'll be good for months, but luckily, Beatminerz Radio is on 24/7 and every show has an array of Hip Hop that exceeds expectations of the average radio station. I know you think I'm just bigging these brothers up because I've been a fan and family since the nineties, following their parties and dancing to my hearts content, but that's the very reason I give props to them. FM/AM radio doesn't do for me what Da Beatminerz DJs do for me and that's take me to the heart of Hip Hop.
If you don't believe me, go into the chatroom on Ustream and talk to others who are entertained and reminiscent of true Hip Hop, not just 90's Hip Hop but TRUE HIP HOP. You'd be amazed at some of the conversations that let loose in there pertaining to the music being played. That's what unites us - The music! And if you have the gift to move the crowd with two turntables, CDJs and or Serato, then do the damn thing. They do the damn thing, correctly and consistently!
Friday, the 25th, I finished up some administrative work at Beatminerz Headquarters. I had a good time with my brethren, talking about music, the website and things that can be improved. Intelligent people create great conversation and it's a pleasure to dialogue with like-minded beings. I always learn something when I go over there and I always see heads I don't see often and would like to.
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| BRAVE DAVE AND LONGTIME FRIEND, ROSA |
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| DJ SYLK * DJ JOLLIROCKA * DJ EVIL DEE |
We had an in depth conversation about the state of Hip Hop and House music and how it changed for the better and worse. The highs of digital age versus the deepness of analog technology and our preferences regarding both were discussed. If radio wasn't going on inside, we could have started a forum outside in the front of the stoop. I think we were outside for 90 minutes shooting the gift about music and the state the club scene is in. Whew! We covered plenty ground with input from them, the DJs and me, the dancer and party goer. Dialogue with respected DJs is SOOO refreshing!
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| DJ JOLLIROCKA CALLS ME THE HIGH PRIESTESS AND I'M HONORED |
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TOONCES HAS BECOME ACCUSTOMED
TO COMPANY AND LOUD MUSIC |
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LUC OF THE MOODDOCTORS AND
DJ MISHIGAN OF REGGAEBOYZSOUND |
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| THE BIG BAD MON OF DA BEATMINERZ TEAM |
There was more knowledge to gain sitting with ReggaeBoyzSound's DJ Mishigan, DJ Evil Dee and Luc of The Mood Doctors. There's always something to learn from these brothers and as a showcase producer, performer and entrepreneur, I feel the need to be anywhere valuable information is being disseminated. That distribution of informaton ended about 12:40, when everyone left the BMZ HQ. I was already late for the Gully 6th Year Anniversary Celebration at Skybox, so I texted the brothers my apologies and well wishes. They know I wouldn't have missed that on purpose.
I have an app called Roadify and since I've been using it, I've been catching my trains and busses with ease. I submitted the bus number that would take me to Skybox and I had a 37 minute wait. I wouldn't be on the bus until after 1am and the party was over at 2am. I waited anyway and caught the bus, but I took it to Frank's, downtown.
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| DJ DONNA EDWARDS |
I was pleasantly surprised to see DJ Donna Edwards at the helm upstairs where the House music is played. She gave me love and appreciated my presence after 2am. She went in and I enjoyed her set. At the end of the night, our old friend, DJ Keith Porter (from Caviar Studios near the Navy Yard), came through and got on the wheels for about 20 minutes. He smashed it. He was always a good DJ but he was letting us know he didn't lose his skills on the wheels. All he did was blend and that was so rejuvenating, even for a 20 minute run. I went home content.
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DJ KEITH PORTER
FORMERLY OF CAVIAR STUDIOS |
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| FULTON ST AND LAFAYETTE AVENUE |
I chilled on Saturday, doing what I do best on the weekends, administrative work, cooking and gardening.
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| OSMIN BASIL |
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| RED SWISS CHARD |
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| QUEEN SIAM BASIL |
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| SWEET BASIL |
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| ITALIAN PARSLEY |
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| KALE |
I have many different issues that require my handiwork with paper, organizing, notarizing (Yes, I'm a Notary!), legal research, creating my crafts, new marketing strategies and branding ops. I tore through a heap of paperwork and cleaned a few more 45s before I made it to bed.
I met DJ Evil Dee and Terri on the L train where we proceeded to the C train and inadvertently, met up with DJ C Rich and his homeboy. We all walked through Central Park to Summerstage, and Thurstin Howl was finishing his set. Evil Dee went backstage to get his pass and more BMZ family came through. The sun was definitely a major negative today because it was shining so bright and hot, that you heard complaints from people more than you heard the performers. The sound system was up to par but it could have been better. I saw Smooth Da Hustler but after the first song, I was looking for shade. The focus of the event became shade.
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GULLYGAL SALUTE!
KIMMY * FATALE * TERRI * YEJIDE
WE ARE EVERYWHERE! |
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| CHEV AND B-NICE |
I appreciated the fact that I saw many people I haven't seen in a minute. It was dope to run into Hip Hop heads and families with their children in the park to experience the 37th Anniversary of the Rock Steady Crew. Some of my video can be found on my Instagram account. But Das EFX and Smooth Da Hustler was cool. The sound system was getting worse.
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| MAISHA AND FAMILY |
Slick Rick's performance was fun. You know we all sang Ladi Dadi. He said, "I'm 49!" The crowd answered back, "Stop Lying!" Onyx was dope and M.O.P. murdered the show. DJ Red Alert and the Rock Steady dancers were dope! DJ Jazzy Jay was cool, but I was looking for DJ Evil Dee to rock. If I'm not mistaken he's rocked for the last decade. What I didn't expect was Rahzel the beatbox dude to come on stage in a velour sweat suit doing the beatbox while singing, "If Your Girl Only Knew". I expected him to rock something new. But I guess when everybody else is doing what made them famous, he chose to do so, as well.
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| B-NICE * CHEV * YEJIDE |
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| LEOLA AND YEJIDE ~ SEE YOU SOON! |
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| CORREN * QURAN * YEJIDE |
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| MY LONG LOST BROTHER QURAN AND ME |
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| THESE DUDES: QURAN AND TC ISLAM |
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| LOOKS LIKE DJ EVIL DEE'S SECURITY UNIT IS HERE |
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| FINALLY A PIC WITH ME AND MY BROTHER MAZZI |
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| LOOKING FOR GRUB IN ALL THE CLOSED PLACES |
Me, Evil Dee, Terri, Quran and Kimmy took the bus downtown to get something to eat. While riding, I called Roots and let him speak to Quran. They were both grateful for the verbal reunion. We ate Wendy's at Union Square and Quran, Evil and I reminisced about old times and crazy situations we were in during the nineties and early two thousands. I called a few old friends to let them know that Quran was alive. He ran out of Wendy's with my phone, talking to Donnie from Mount Vernon. I had a lot of good times with Quran and Evil Dee and I was truly thankful for these friends I've grown to love over the years.
After we ate, Quran and I walked to SOB's to pick up Tree, the promoter. Tree said he needed to get something from Bar 13, so he paid for a cab for the three of us to ride to Bar 13. We got in free and ran into LSD from the original Melanin 3000, Quran's old MC crew. Because the Den closes at one and I told Donnie and his people to meet us there, I jetted to the Den and left Tree and Quran. I took the 6 train to the 4 train to the 46 bus and got there in about 25 minutes, miraculously. I do miss coming to The Den. They stayed open until 2:15 and Quran, Donnie and Tree never came. I enjoyed my time 'back home'. I caught the 2:34am bus home in the rain. Today was a great day!
Tuesday, July 29th I had a fabulous photo shoot with my sister, Pri The Honey Dark. She's an excellent photographer and I love her new studio. It's not as spacious as her last one but it suits her purpose and she can do everything she did in there and process administrative and refinish work in this new spot. She's such a professional when it comes to picture taking. Check her out: www.playhousepinup.com or playhousepinupphotography.
I wanted to try something different, so I made my citrus ribs with mango and some basil and parsley from my terrace garden. I had a ltaste and it was delicious. The next day when I looked for the pan, it was drying in the rack. My sun ate all of it. So I made another pan this time with green cabbage, too. It was so delicious! There are more goodies shown on my tumblr page. Food and Wize words!
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PURPLE CABBAGE * BELL PEPPERS *
GARLIC * MANGO * 4 BASILS |
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| MANGO BASIL CITRUS RIBS |
I went to Beatminerz HQ, Friday, August 1st, to get some work done while listening, live. I was glad I went through. I saw my #GullySister4Life, The SideBar Hostess, Carmen B. We had tea and talked and laughed with all the Beatminerz DJs. Carmen, Yani and I were getting our talk on about random but thought-provoking issues. I wish I was videotaping us because that would have been a dope forum. All the DJs did the damn thing, as usual. But DJ Mishigan took it to the extreme with the 90s Reggae and DJ S1 was open. We had a ball in there! Check my IG, people!
I wasn't sure what to do after 10pm but I know I was amped from what I was listening to all day. I remembered DJ Sylk said he was spinning at Frank's Lounge tonight and Saturday. So I hopped on the bus and went to Frank's Lounge to catch my brother on the wheels. He murdered downstairs and Melvin and Eman discombobulated upstairs. I had a great time, as always when I go to Franks.
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| DJ SYLK ON THE WHEELS AT FRANK'S LOUNGE |
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| DJ SYLK KEEPS THE DANCE FLOOR MOVING |
There was some crazy happenings at Frank's downstairs, though. I won't go into details but ladies, when you deal with married men, don't look to be treated like the wife. And understand, if he can cheat on his wife, you may not be the only sidekick. And if you know this, act accordingly. I'm just saying. And a note to Frank's Lounge security: Lock the door after the last party-goer leaves. Let's avoid all bullshit and chill after the party. Whew!
Me and Sylk chilled at Frank's until Academy Diner opened across the street. I remember when I was a student at Brooklyn Technical HS and Academy was built. Nice to see it hasn't been sold. We had breakfast, reviewed our day and night with laughter and left. It was raining so we were still talking, standing under a canopy.
One of my HouseHead, associates, Rachel, walked up on us. (And I say associates because I don't know her well enough to say friend, but I know she's at the good parties and when we cross paths anywhere else, she's sweet, respectful and considerate.) We started talking under the canopy in the rain and we wound up continuing our discussion over coffee at Connecticut Muffin 3 doors down from Academy. She treated me and Sylk. I should've taken a pic...
Like her, I considered her another cool HouseHead that always had a good vibe. We had great conversation and I found out that she truly is a stand up, on point, been there-done that, hard working, spiritual, natural, mind-body-soul-conscious, sister. It was a pleasure talking to a sister in the House scene about other things than the House scene or House music. I learned a lot about her. We didn't get out of Connecticut Muffin until 9:35am and I wasn't mad at all. She went to get her laundry, Sylk hopped in a cab and I caught the G train. It was sitting there waiting for me.
I got home and did a load of laundry, cooked, listened to music, completed this blog, but never took a nap. I tried to take one earlier but I was still wound up. I had every intention to get dressed and get ready to go to Frank's and catch Sylk again, but fatigue set in and I passed out by 8pm. I woke up Sunday morning at 8am...
August promises to be a greater month and I'm ready for the challenges ahead. So many dope events in August, it's crazy!
Thank you for reading my long ass blog! LOL I hope you enjoyed it in it's entirety. I've been busier than usual and I thought I should put in as much as possible for you to know, instead of breaking it up. It's like you just read a chapter of a book with lots of pictures. I can be very detailed sometimes. Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Add them to the end of the blog. I promise to read them all. Enjoy your week! Are you trying to reach me? Find me here:
Peace, Love, Resilience, Strength, Blessings, Progression and Respect! Yejide The Night Queen aka Storm The Mama Wize
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