2D
A & Ci^arlotte
Thursday, April 20, 2006
BET doles out campus reality at Grambling
Continued from page ID
liomecoming-the sodal event
of the season. That means
extra practice and extra pain.
It’s an especially challenging
time for the Tigers' startup
quarterback, who is trying to
prove he stUl has it’ coming
off last year’s season-endit^
knee injury
It’s no cakewalk for some of
the musicians either. The
female master drill sergeant
can’t get any respect, one of
the best sax players has been
kicked out of school, and a
talented freshman is growing
impatient over having to
watch the band’s perfor
mance from the sidehnes-
But they endme it all
because they want to be part
of -something great. And in
doing so, “Season of the
Tiger’s” members have
successfully divorced them
selves from the stereotypical
urban youth who adults often
complain want to emulate a
bUng-rich lifestyle, but are
seemingly reluctant to put in
the hard work required to
achieve it.
“Black kids are often criti
cized for being low adiievers
or materialistic,” notes Regi
nald Hudlin, BETs president
of entertainment. “But in
this show, we see them trying
to measure up to the exacting
standards of two great black
institutions, Grambling State
University football team and
marching band.”
The cast mdudes:
Shunnie, the female master
drill sergeant of the band who
has to fi^t for respect. Her
goal is to become the first
female drum major in HBCU
history
Eva, a homesick freshman
and the only girl on the drum
line. Her goal in life is to be a
rapper and she’s involved
with another member of the
drumline on the down low.
ManceU, a white sax player
in the band who has been
kicked out of school and sub
sequently the band over a
dn^ possession bust. His Hfe
is the band and his dream is
to become a director.
Bruce, the star quartebach
fixim the hood with his eyes
on an NEL career. But Bruce
is coming off a season-ending
knee injury, his father is in
jail and his home was
destroyed in Hurricane Katri
na.
Blue, a junior walk-on run
ning back who also has hopra
of making the NFL. He’s the
practical joker and is also tiie
father of a newborn who hves
with his baby’s mama.
During the series, Shunnie
realizes her dream of recoi-d-
ing a single; Eva strug^es
with academic issues; Man
cell faces jail time if he can’t
come up with the cash to pay
his fine; Blue and his family
face eviction; and Bruce is
forced to confront weight
issues, having gained 30
povmds while on bed rest
recuperating from his knee
surgery
Melberg exhibit focuses on the natual
Continued from page 1D
paper painting, ‘Big Chair
#2.” Mnton, of New Mexico,
is a master of the surreal and
hCT dog sits in the diair
while a bird perches above.
Sitting on the floor next to the
chair is a large vase of calla
lilies.
Donna Phipps Stout of
Arkansas paints dreamy stiU-
hfes. H^ “Climbing Rose”
has a most unusual perspec
tive as if it is upside down.
WeU-known contemporary
New York artist Donald
Baecher and Donald Sultan
are here.
Baechler shows bold black
silhouettes of potted plants
against a white field. His
works are made of handmade
paper on hnen. These works
have such a strong 3-dimen-
sional quahty that they
almost look like sculpture.
And Sultan, who is original'
ly fix)m Asheville and studied
at UNC Chapel Hill has a
stunning large hand-made
paper pulp piece, ‘YeUow
Flower” which may be an
homage to Andy Warhol but
upon careful study we see it
has its own unique character.
Melberg Gallery is open
Monday-Saturday from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. For informa
tion, call (704)365-3000.
Ancient as rapper, LL Cool J going strong
I Winfred Cross
2©
LLCoolJ
Ihdd Smith
Various producers
DefJam Records
LL Cool J must be
approaching 40 or so, yet he’s
still a viable rap act for some.
I have to qualify that state
ment because LL has a lot of
detractms these days. He’s
not as hard as he once was.
He’s lost a step on his deliv
ery He’s soft. That’s the stuff
that comes up. Few folk say
that to his face because the
boy is still diesel.
On the surface, some of the
criticism could be viewed as
true. The simple truth is that
this is an ddm*, wiser LL.
There’s no need to talk about
some of the old stuff because
he’s grown lyrically - but
more importantly - spiritual
ly Sure, he talks about some
of the stuff record buyers
want to hear in “Freeze,”
“Control Myself” and ‘Best
Dress”. But LL can do tilings
that require a bit more
thought as well.
The latter part of this CD is
more introspective. LL
sounds almost hke a stalker
on ‘Tve Changed,” but a good
listen shows a determined
man rather than a kook.
“Down The Aisle” is a com
mitted LL settling down.
“We’re Gonna Make It” is LL’s
Troops ease tension with rhymes
Continued from page 1D
AC, a nonprofit group that
provides care packages to mil
itary servicepeople overseas,
responded. Her son, Tbmlin-
son, won military talent
shows with his poetic skills
With Tbmlinson and Mayo’s
help, notice of Spiehnan’s
effort spread through the
cyphers—rap wordplay cir
cles—that spontaneously
spring up at military camps
in Iraq.
There’s ample rap talent in
the war zone, says Tbmlinson,
who also goes by the name
Prophet. TVoops get togeth^
and create impromptu raps
over beats played on laptop
computers, CD players or
Xbox game consoles. Some
times it’s a competition, oth^
times if s just to cope.
‘“We rhyme for hours upon
hours about anything and
everything,” Tbrnlinson says
on the CD. “All your emotions
can come out and everybody’s
equal. Ain’t no ranks, ain’t no
seigeants or privates. Every
body’s the exact same.”
He adds that he can express
feelings in rhyme that he
couldn’t in conversation.
“Rap music became my
diary” says the 24-year-old,
who now works as a recruiter
for the National Guard.
“We’ve been given a gift to get
to speak our voices for those
that don’t get a chance to.”
PoUard, whose rap name is
Miss Flame, speaks for
female filters in her song
“Girl at War.”
‘T could get shot, too, just as
well as a boy” she raps. ‘You
look me up and down ‘cause
you’re thinking I’m weak,
until you see me in Iraq,
patrolling the streets.”
PoUard, who joined the
Marines at 19 because she
“likes the uniform,” started
rapping in elementary school.
She used to rhyme about ‘hfe
and everything with growing
up,” she says. Now she focus
es on her e^qjeriences in the
Middle East, with the hope of
educating listeners and
improving her prospects for a
career in music, modeling and
acting.
Marine Cpl. Michael Watts,
Jr., who goes by the rap name
Pyro, has been rhyming since
he was 10. Back then, it was
about “fancy cars, money and
women,” he says. Now it’s aU
about Iraq.
His songs help fill in what
news reporters might leave
out. Watts says.
“They know what it’s hke to
be in Iraq but they don’t
understand the brotherhood,”
spiritual side. It’s from
“Medea’s Family Reunion”
and features Mary Mary
This CD has its share of
guest appearances. Jamie
Foxx, Mary Mary, Teairra
Mari, 112, Jennifer Lopez,
Ryan Tbby (fiem City High),
Juelz Santana, Freeway and
Ne-Yo make the rotmds. It
would seem LL has little to do
but show up, but 12 releases
deep into the game he’s still in
full control of his own work.
This may be a hard sell. LL
is older and the rap audience
only gets younger. Crunk and
gangsta rap rule the day so
LL’s 12tii may be his last. But
Tm not counting him out just
yet.
CxteliSior Club
921 Beatties Ford Rd. • 704-334-5709
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• WEDNESDAY “Whv Not Wednesday?”
Martinis and Live Music with
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April 26tb, 8pm, Doors Open at 5pin
“Members...It’s Renewal Time"
• THURSDAY “DIRTY THIRTY THURSDAY’
Lets get this party started right now!
• FRIDAY & SATURDAY The Best “DISCO” In Town’
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tAe OTHER
COCA-COLA “TEACHER” OF THE MONTH
“Tanya Pitts”
First Grade Teacher^
Winterfield Elementary School
Motto:
“Practice doesn’t make perfect,
it mak^ permanence. .
- Tanya Pitts
Our “Teacher of the Month,” Tanya Pitts, was selected 2005-2006 “Teacher of the
Year” at Winterfield Elementary, which speaks loud and clear to her gifts and talents as an edu
cator. A chip off the old block, Pitts is following in her mother’s footsteps. She’s aspired to
be a teacher since childhood. Watching her mom interact with students laid a solid founda
tion. In fact, she would line her dolls and animals up in classroom style while she gave instruc
tions. It has all paid off, and Winterfield Elementary children are the beneficiaries. Involved in
Wincerfield’s advancement, Pitts serves on the faculty advisory council,
A native of Cincinnati,-Ohio, Pitts is one of five children born to Lynn and Marjorie Pitts.
She has two sisters, Tracy and Tricia, and two brothers, Tony and Timothy. She graduated
from Cincinnati Christian High School in 1994, received her BA in elementary' education in
2000 and masters in education in 2001 from the University of Tennessee. Pitts began her
teaching careen in Nashville, Tennessee.
Committed to spiritual growth, Pitts is a member of City of God Ministries, where she is
active as the teacher of Children’s Church. And, as a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc..
She finds many opportunities to give back to the community. In her spare time, Pitts enjoys
reading, movies, shopping, eating and hanging out with friends.
Best Wishes “Tanya” from
Coca Cola Bottling Company Consolidated of Charlotte
Coca Cola !Reaf