queen latifa

Russell Wilson is on Brand, Amanda Gorman is on Point and Their Passion is on Game!

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Well, lots of ground to cover, buzz to breakdown and chatter to scatter after the Superbowl. Alright, not everybody was happy about how things went lopsided in a hurry. Some think the refs were off their game, but that The Weeknd as halftime performer made up for all the things that were missing due to Covid.

Some frontline workers and health professionals were honored to see the game in person. But after the post-game interviews fans at home were glued to see Queen Latifa as ‘The Equalizer’. She was kicking butt, taking names and getting high praise for her new breakout show.  

Leading up to the big game was word that Russell Wilson won the Walter Payton Man-of-the-Year Award. That’s something many in the game aspire to get because of who Payton was to sports fans. When you think of Payton (aka “sweetness”) there’s a similar suave and swag that Wilson brings to the party.

We saw Amanda Gorman give another world stage performance. She’s the youngest poet laureate to speak at a Presidential Inauguration. It’s as if she’s poised to be like a Maya Angelou of our time, having recently made the cover of Time Magazine. She combines words with delivery into an inspiring story.

Folks say the TV commercials had some of the old and more of the new, with lots of celeb cameos. What we might get from watching the Superbowl is like what we get from watching Wilson and Gorman. He’s on brand, she’s on point and their passion is on game. They show how folks can get there too by how they:

1. Work

Wilson shared a few tips on how he gets ready for each season. He’s big on putting in the time, not for the crime but for the climb. It’s the things he does in mind, body and spirit that carry over to the things he does in pass, run and score. If his body is his temple, then the field is his place for getting fan praise.

2. Sacrifice

Gorman stays on point by remembering the part that sacrifice plays in one’s journey. To us it might seem like she came out of nowhere. But to her it’s been a slow and steady march towards a brighter day. Sacrifice for her in a sense means giving up something without giving up on yourself.        

3. Step

Ever watched the foot work of a quarterback while in the pocket? It’s a kinda dance with a backstep here or a leap step there. Every QB probably has a certain rhythm and flow to how they step to their game. He’s in the socket and in the pocket before passing like a rocket. That’s how you step to your game.

4. Represent

How does she at such a young age have the calm and composure of a seasoned veteran? How does he go from amazing on the field to a servant in the community? It’s how they pull it together to represent their brand, their talents and their love for what they do. To represent is to know how to rep your presence.      

So history was made in all kinda ways at the game. There was the first female on a referee crew in a Superbowl. The first team to play in the game as a home team. But even when you’re not in it to be making history, there’s still the chance to work, sacrifice, step and represent in giving it your best.        

Tip: In order to represent your best, you have to rep your presence in a way that is like sunshine of your essence.

Talkback: Who’s ready for more Queen Latifah or Amanda Gorman?

Tracks: Shalamar  – Right In The Socket – https://youtu.be/sNGyMe3bu1E

Fat Joe ft Amorphous – Sunshine – https://youtu.be/kuO9OC2H9Qs

Tyler Perry & Jamie Foxx on Becoming a Hollywood High Roller and Holly-Hood High Achiever

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The end of year awards season is about to jump-off and it seems GQ Magazine got things rolling. They named Colin Kaepernick their Citizen of the Year. He’s been a trailblazer for social justice issues. There’s also Blake Shelton being named Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine. Fans are spreading the love.

Tyler Perry and Jamie Foxx might find themselves on a different list. They’d at least get honorable mentions in discussions around Funniest Man Alive. A few other names might depend on the ‘type of funny’ category. Perry & Foxx certainly have cred as Hollywood high roller & Hollyhood high achiever.

They’ve been in the public eye for a while but for Perry the road to Tinsel-town wasn’t always a song and dance. He describes his story as one of always believing that Higher is Waiting. This mindset helped him in getting through the dark times, appreciating the good times and celebrating those high times.

It was more about chasing the dream than chasing the fame. This balancing act started with a showbiz project that kinda got them in the game. Some will remember Foxx from his In Living Color days. But for Perry it’s been a journey that got started with his urban-styled stage plays.

Some teary-eyed times are usually when talking about special people in their lives. For Foxx it was a grandmother who took care of him after adoption. With Perry there were folks who helped him connect his faith to hopes for a brighter future. They’re grateful for the advice and support they got along the way.

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Their road to success was first nurtured by close family members or friends. But it seems there’re moments in life that are set aside on our journeys where people show up as strangers. Sometimes their presence is about getting to the next point. Other times it’s about getting the point in life’s journey.

It’s like when I first read the book of a famous media personality. It describes his journey of going from average kid to getting a Star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Two particular factors mentioned in the book related to certain aspects in my own journey. It’s the kind of thing that’s used as a bookmark of life.

Well if not as a bookmark then there’re those situations that are more like milestones. We appreciate milestone markers on a long road trip. One reason for those markers is letting us know where we are on the highway stretch. But another is to let us know how far we’ve travelled since the starting point.

Foxx and Perry are making the most of the journey by turning their bookmarks into a grander sense of purpose. They’re also turning milestones into ways for helping others get to the next point. That’s the balancing act they try to manage in chasing the dream without getting distracted by chasing the fame.

So let’s get back to the idea of Funniest Man Alive. In terms of being among the super funny, it probably takes having a certain punch to the flow of funny. Then the punch-line will be more than just scripted. Well in chasing the dream it takes having a certain punch to the flow of whatever makes us razzle dazzle.

Tip: In chasing the dream it takes having a certain punch to the flow of whatever makes us razzle & dazzle.

Talkback: Who’d be on your short list of Funniest Man Alive?

Tracks: Empire Cast ft Terrence Howard – Dream On With You – https://youtu.be/XNkmI8nnMVY

Joyful Noise Soundtrack – Higher – https://youtu.be/VShyvXuJBQ0

Shanice Williams & Tori Kelly go from Unknown to Household Names in Blink of a Dream #BigTimeUniversity

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This production of “Wise-up Wednesdays” Blogcast by Douette ‘Doc’ Cunningham is a presentation in “social media entertainment from the groove-track of life!” #WUWECAST

LOL Tube – Got Funny?

 

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Theme:– “The Year of ‘Uppertunity’ – Get Lifted!”
With Higher Hopes, Bolder Dreams and Greater Teams (Old-School Flava)

NBC’s doing more ‘Live TV’ magic with The Wiz. Its star, 19 year-old Shanice Williams. She isn’t the only new face in entertainment. Recording artist Tori Kelly is being named Billboard’s breakthrough artist of 2015. Williams and Kelly are going from relative unknown to household names in the blink of a dream.

On landing the role Williams tells the NY Post “It wouldn’t process in my head, for some reason. I had some Chipotle after that and then just wanted to go to sleep and wake up so I knew I wasn’t dreaming!” Reality is what happened to her from dreaming about being selected best-in-class for a major project.

They spent years dreaming about being where they are today. Kelly started out on Youtube and was later discovered. For Williams it was in watching others perform on stage and seeing herself. After the past year in LA theater school she returned to her NJ home and auditioned for the role, beating-out 300 girls.

Pursuing our dreams is a lot like watching the TV weather map projected on green screen. There’re seasons, patterns and flows along with Highs and Lows. But a click can make things change on screen in the blink of an eye. Williams might say it’s a God-click that’s changed her situation in the blink of a dream.

Above all, their dreams took strength, courage and homespun wisdom. So they’re now working at a higher ‘jet stream’ with other big names in showbiz. A radiant smile and seasoned performances will make them ready for more big things. That’s why it’s not over until the phone rings or dreamline blings.

Groove-Track: India Arie – ‘Strength, Courage and Wisdom’ – https://youtu.be/LzUTZUONyms

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Uppertunity’ – Get Lifted!”
With Higher Hopes, Bolder Dreams and Greater Teams (New-School Flava)

The magic of ‘Live TV.’ In The Wiz on NBC. Shanice Williams the newest star. Ready to takeoff and go far. Not only new face on the block. Artist Tori Kelly set to take stock. Being named Billboard’s artist of the year. With some new music to hear. From relative unknown in talent. To ‘blink of a dream’ in their assent.

Williams landing lead role. To NY Post she shares her soul. At first not able to process in her head. What the show’s caller just said. Needing to grab a bite and take a nap. Before seeing if dream was in her lap. Reality is what happened after that. Her dream selection for best-in-class project stat.

Spent years dreaming about a day. When they wouldn’t have words to say. Kelly, first as a Youtube standout. Being discovered was her handout. Williams watched others on stage. Before seeing herself on cover page. The past year in LA theater school. Then back home to audition and beat the pool.

Pursuing dreams like heard on weather call. Or TV’s green screen forecast wall. Having seasons, patterns and flows. Along with nature’s highs and lows. But a click can make quick change. In blink of an eye a new range. Williams saying ‘Big Daddy’ got her ready to blow. Blink of a dream becomes a show.

Strength, courage homespun wiz-dom above all. Things that make dreams stand tall. Reaching a higher ‘jet stream’ in fame. Working with others having big name. Radiant smile, seasoned performances in their game. For new things above the same. It’s not over until the phone rings. Or at least the dreamline blings.

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Tip: Our dreams take strength, courage and homespun wiz-dom or a magical audition for the good life.

Talkback: Who would it have been great to see perform in the latest re-do of The Wiz?

Groove-Tracks: ‘Empire’ Cast – “Bout 2 Blow” – https://youtu.be/ClC-5j23Flg


One Republic – ‘Good Life’ – https://youtu.be/jZhQOvvV45w

This production of “Wise-up Wednesdays” Blogcast by Douette ‘Doc’ Cunningham is a presentation in “social media entertainment from the groove-track of life!” #WUWECAST