In the midst of all these birthdays of icons( Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Aaliyah, me-(j/k--one day),I've always been fascinated with how our astrological traits somehow paint this portrait of who we are, maybe not all of who we are, but in doses at least. I've also wondered, 'Who is it that was wise to assign each and everyone of us distinct personality traits, better yet was able to write a book about it?' To my luck, someone did actually. Their names are Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers and they wrote The Secret Language of Birthdays: Personology Profiles For Each Day Of The Year. A friend of mine put me on to this book and it's awesome. Each page is dedicated to a different birthdate and gives detailed insight of character traits that come with that particular day of the year--from a person's offbeat routine to their sexual appetite. It's a cool read and it gives you an excuse to be self-indulgent.


NOTE: If you like that, also check out another interesting read (it happens to be my favorite.) Sextrology by Starsky and Cox

This is a very dope illustration book, there are a lot of talented artisits in the book who find inspiration for there art from the craziest places. I've actually shared some artists with you throughout my blog specificallly in the art section. If you're looking for a nice book to add to your collection this is definitely it. So go cop it at Amazon!

This is my "You know you want the book" face lol

It seems that everyone and their mother has read The Coldest Winter Ever, the classic novel that pretty much help pioneer urban fiction. Now, Sister Souljah brings us Winter's follow up, Midnight, and she's getting up close and personal with her new book. Souljah will be appearing at the Free Library of Philadelphia on Saturday, December 20th for an in-store book signing and a Q&A Session. She'll also do a reading from the highly-anticipated book, and get this, admission is FREE.





For more info, check out: The Free Library of Philadelphia online.

In a first for Columbia University, the school pulls off its Ivy-league blanket this semester, and uncovers a more seductive edge with the help of a new student-run publication. Columbia University student and Editor-In-Chief Hoang Jessica Tang of C-Spot offers the student body--more body, with her erotic monthly. Featuring a double cover with a bare bones anonymous ms. on one side, and a mr. in the buff on the other, the premiere issue of C-Spot, whose tag is, "The New Erotic Review," consists of poetry, art, essays, reviews, and arousing articles such as "The Origins of the Vibrator" and "Youporn.com" where the writer gives the reader a guide through the free, adult site. Although the C-Spot isn't supported by Columbia, according to Fox news, it's clear the campus mag. has no plans of watering down their enticing content. In fact, Tang's recruiting an array of creatives to contribute to the sultry literary. Yup, I think I'll have to make a little trip over to C.U. tomorrow, for a little "quality" time.

Want more info, indulge over at the C-Spot, online.

Book launch party of Martha Cooper’s Tag Town.
@ Alphabeta
70 Greenpoint Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11222
Thursday October 23 from 7-10 PM

If you are in the New York area make sure you attend this party because Martha Cooper is one of the best photographers to have wittness the birth of Hip Hop behind the lens. I have one of her latest books "Hip Hop Files:1979-1984" and its definitely a dope read with exceptional pictures. I'm more than positive that this book will be the same.

Check out the interview that my dope lady friend La Star Noir ( J. Smith) conducted with Kim Osorio on her new book "Straight From the Source" which gives a behind the scenes look into "The Source" magainze and all the grit and grime that came with it.

Hip Hop advocate Dr. Michael Eric Dyson's upcoming book will be focusing on one of the illest albums to ever "Illmatic"

"Every song on Illmatic will be analyzed, interpreted and then re-articulated in a kind of intellectual sense from his own base in Hip Hop and we’re trying to deal with that seriously."

Illmatic dropped in 1994 and according to Amazon, Dyson's book, formerly titled Born To Use Mics: Reading Nas' Illmatic, is planned for January 2009 publication.

This is a very good book. Its small but packs a lot of information on how to put your vision intro fruitition whether it regards something personal, physical, or political everything is straightfoward. The author offers a new approach to social change and it overflows with a plethera of possibilities. So to the "typical" visionary this book is for you!

As a generation who wants to get their own personal taste of a Hip Hop era that birthed many great artists like Dougie Fresh, LL Cool J & Monie Love, we set out to rock the dookey rope chains, bamboo earrings, high top fades and fly gear. But that only uncovers the top layer of what the era is truly about.

Its been several years since ive read Sista Souljah's "The Coldest Winter Ever" which had me on edge through every chapter and now Sista Souljah is blessing us with a sequel to the book titled " Midnight; A Gangster Love Story" which is scheduled to hit book stores October 14,2008. And ever since the deal with Jada Pinkett Smith fell through on writing the film for the movie the film rights are still up for grabs so SOMEBODY needs to hop on that!! *hint hint* Spike lee... Gary Gray... Hype Williams.. somebody...anybody??