3

Tiffany “New York” Pollard has a twin!!!

Yall can’t tell me that chick don’t look like Janice from The Muppet Show!  Siiigh….I’m not gonna roast her today.

2

Mi casa es….mi casa

My apartment is one of those that walks the line between nice and almost-suspect.  I mean, the grounds are kept very nicely and for the most part, it’s always quiet and peaceful.  Every so often, you get a random lame who thinks that riding with your trunk rattlin’ is what’s poppin’ in the streets (NEWS FLASH: that hasn’t been poppin’ since “Menace to Society” was out, homie).  It’s cool, but not exactly the type of place I’d invite ALL my friends to.  Not because I’m embarrassed (hey, I just spruced up my spot!), but you know….it isn’t the flyest place in Atlanta.

I was thinking about this the other day and remembered this “adventure” from about 2 years ago…

Me and my home girl YV (who is doing her damn thing right now on the Latin scene!) had taken the train from the Bronx to go to an underground hip-hop concert at SOB’s.  She was doing an article for her school’s paper, and I was there to support my cousin, who was rapping that night.  The main group performing was Black Moon, so you know the crowd….straight hip-hop heads.  I guess because of that fact, we stuck out like sore thumbs, sitting there all glammed up.  She was busy taking notes and pictures for her article, while I was just sitting, probably sipping on something.  Halfway through the show, this older guy walked up to us and asked, “What do you two ladies do?”  Funny that I always get that question…people don’t know WHAT I do at times, but they know I do SOMETHING (lol).  “We both sing,”  I responded.  After a little conversation, he’d learned that we’d both just come off Making the Band not too long before, and we’d learned that he was a label exec (who shall remain nameless) who’d worked with Puff numerous times.  From how he smirked when he said it, I don’t think the blood between them was too good, but at that time, me and YV wasn’t really feeling Diddy either (smile), so hey!  I’d never heard this dude’s name before (we WAS an older cat), but I didn’t think he’d have a reason to create a story.  He sure didn’t sound or look like he’d just normally be at this type of function if he wasn’t there for some sort of work.  He asked if we wanted to go to another spot because SOB’s wasn’t really poppin’ like that, and we said sure.  He told us to meet him outside and he’d pull his car around.

I downed my drink and she gathered her notebooks and camera, and we walked out the spot.  Since I’m not too much of a car person, I don’t really remember what he was in, but we’ll just go with a BMW convertible 2-seater, since I remember it looking Batman-ish and me and YV had to lap it up.  We pulled up to Marquee, he paid the valet, and we were immediately ushered in the club.  “Okay, guess he really IS an exec,” I thought.  We walked straight to the VIP where he was greeted by some even older white men.  Hmm, perhaps folks who sit behind the desks in the big offices?  They had on diamond cuff links and watches, Armani suits shinin’, just looking like money.  And they were all with chicks at least half their age (lol), dressed in fly boutique dresses with Fendi and Louis bags.  One of the guys asked “our dude” who we were and he told him, “These are some of Puffy’s girls.”  The older dude responded “Fuck Puff!”  and they all started laughing.  Me and YV looked at each other with raised eyebrows like “huh?!”  They all commented on how pretty we both were and how we were gonna make it big anyway.  Whatev.  As though good looks always equals success.  We took a seat and the old dude with the diamond cuff links ordered like 5 bottles of Cristal and we commenced to go through it like Aquafina.  (sidebar:  I think those bottles were like a stack each.  Yikes!)

The whole scene was weird…It was some famous models bday, so there were tons of amazon chicks I’d seen in ads, magazines, and billboards, just walking around looking zooted.  Yeah, I saw coke.  Yeah, everyone was drunk.  I felt crazy out of place.  We’re pretty girls, but aint nothing like being around a room full of REAL models- 6-foot-plus, flawless makeup and designer gear models- to make your buzz go away.  That paired with the fact we were with some random rich dudes who, apparently, liked the company of fresh young things, I was over it.  After we’d had our fair share of Cris, we decided it was time to go.  “Our dude” looked wasted, so we told him we’d catch the train back to BX.  We were big girls and it was definitely nothing new to hop on that train and catch a cab home on a late night.  “Naw, naw, I’m good.  I can take yall.”  Maybe we were sleepy or too tipsy, but we agreed and we all hopped in the Batmobile to head Uptown.

YV’s place was not as far as mine, so she was going to be dropped off first.  The closer we got to her place, the more panicky she got.  She’s naturally a really bubbly and happy person, but her mood was going down quick.  I thought maybe it was the alcohol getting to her, but she started saying, “Man I don’t want him to drop me off.”  I was like “Why?  You don’t want him to know where you live?  He’s drunk!  He’s not gonna remember anyway.”  “Noooo!  Because I don’t want him to know I live in the projects!”   I’ll chalk some of that emotion up to the Cris, but she was serious.  We pulled up in front of her building and she whined, “Oh, I’m so embarrassed!”  I doubt dude even knew where he was in the world.  She hurried to get out the car and he asked “You want me to walk you up there?”  “No!  Call me when you get home, My!”  and she moved as quick as she could to her building.  I didn’t know why she’d care if anyone knew where she lived….she was (is) beautiful, talented, and besides, almost ER’BODY in NY lives, or has lived, in the projects.  I guess coming off a night of models, money and champagne, reality was a bitch.

We then headed to “my fun reality”…the couch in my uncle’s living room (lol).  I thanked dude for the ride and he mumbled something and laid his head on the steering wheel.  I went inside, washed the paint off my face, changed into my pajamas and came back downstairs.  I peeked out the window and that fool’s car was STILL sitting there.  He was knocked out.  I almost felt I should invite him in, but hey, it wasn’t my house, and nobody told him to drink a damn bottle of champagne dolo (lol)!  His reality was gonna be sleeping in the Batmobile!  I closed to blinds and went to sleep.

I didn’t get YV’s reaction then, but i guess I do now.  Where I live now is definitely not the worst at all, but I’m not always eager for someone to come over here! (lol)  At the end of the day, though, none of “this” makes who a person is.  I still count myself and my life fab even when a boomin’ system makes its way past my apartment (haha).

2

Oh, I think they like me

Sometimes we all need a little inspiration and some “oomph” to keep on doing what you do.  Especially when you work in an environment where the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t always visible.  I’m not going to repeat things I’ve said numerous times before…I’ll just cut to the chase.  For the last lil minute, alot of “what ifs” have been running through my head.  Like, is anybody really listening/caring/paying attention?  My answer is yes and it came in the form of an e-mail from a  young lady in Holland.

So, the new Making the Band season has just started and of course before they do a new cycle, they do a massive set of reruns, which has made alot of people come up to me and ask, “Hey, did I see you on tv?”  It’s a cool thing, but also an annoying thing because it reminds me of alllll the time that’s passed since then and a chick STILL aint released a project.  It’s always a “close-but-no-cigar” situation.

Frannie, Me, Aubrey, and Martii

Anyhoo, I got this e-mail from this lady telling me that she’d loved my voice on the show, and I guess she’d be encouraged by the reruns to find a way to contact me.  Lo and behold, the wonders of youtube.  She found my page and sent this:

hi mylah
I’m a girl from holland (25) and when i saw making the band on mtv i loved your voice. And i love your name. When my baby was born in august 2006 i named her Mylah. And she is still the only Mylah in Holland.

greeting from Linda.

my e-mail is (NONE OF YA BIZ!)

Maybe when you have some time you can send me a message for my baby girl.

Whaaaa?!  She named her baby Mylah?  How cool is that?  So I emailed her back saying thanks for the compliment, support and all that.   She responded:

Re: Re: hi mylah
Hi Mylah,

Thank you very much for your respond.
I’m going to save this message for when Mylah is big enough to understand who you are. I can’t buy an album from you here in the Netherlands. I hope once you album will come out here in Holland.
Then i will absolutely buy it for my Mylah.

Your great.

Lots of love from Linda and Mylah.

Awwww.  It’s kinda odd to think that someone is going to save an e-mail from me so that their child can one day understand where their name came from.  I’ll just say wow!  My whole thing is to inspire folks and if I touch one (or many many more!), then I’ve accomplished something.

Made me go back to some of those old blog sites and comments…which, strangely, was like 95% positive.  Cute stuff like this:

mylah definitely had talent n i was oh so sad 2 c her go. i think diddy made a big mistake letting her go. she was a good dancer/singer n she was pretty too. i hope she gets recognized and blows up.

mylah is a sexy R n B diva and she got talent

My Dad always tells me, “I don’t think you realize how much you’ve accomplished, My.”  It’s kind of hard at times, I’ll admit, because the goals and standards I set for myself are sky high.  In my book, I say, “I don’t have a Grammy,”  “I’m not on top of the charts,”  “I’m still working a regular job!”  I gotta remember, though, even the mightiest of oak trees start from a tiny little seed.  Long as I stick and stay, I think I’m gonna be okay.  In the meantime, it feels good to know that there are people out there, outside of my circle, outside of Atlanta, and outside of the states (!) that dig what the kid does =)

4

THE. DUMBEST. ISH. EVER.

Leave it to BMC to hip me to some crazy youtube video.  This has to be the WORST song/performance/video/artist ever in life.  I can’t even give an E for effort….this is just terrible.  But a great laugh!  Boy….just watch.

Bim!  (Sidebar: “How the fuck do we ‘posed to keep peace?!”  Ummm, yeah)

2

Music Makes Me High

This week has been like part 2 of LaLa Land, in that I didn’t really work at all.  I just did music.  And it was lovely!  Too bad it had to end yesterday when I headed back to the world of cheesecake, bread baskets, indecisive  guests.  It’s all to the good though.  We got some good music written and recorded and I even got the “thumbs-up-you’re-super-hot” signal from a person I really admire who gets a “thumbs-up-you’re-beyond-hot” from me, so fannnnnntastic ish!  I got a feeling that I really won’t be slinging slices for much longer.  I’m on some other stuff.

Some new vids came out this week, too.  “Green Light” by John Legend ft. Andre 3000.   Check it….

Hotness!!!  Someone please give me a party dress and a fly spot so me and all 5 of my friends (lol) can dance on tables to this.  So grown.  So sexy.

Also, Cassie’s “Official Girl” ft. Lil Wayne premiered.

Man, if this song aint like church!  (hahahaa…..personal moment needed…thank yoooou!)  Yeah, I loved this song the 1st time I heard it.  Not necessarily cause she kills it.  She kills small dresses, mirrors, and photo shoots and that’d be about it.  But Danja did his thing on the beat, Cassie rode the beat nicely, and as always the Clutch came through with a dope concept and some hot ass lyrics.  It doesn’t hurt that a chick can lightweight relate.  But only on some days.  My wishy-washy butt is only 50% trying to be anyone’s official.  Ask me tomorrow how I feel (smile).  Sidebar: those boots she has on at the beginning of the vid- YUMMY!!!  They’re the same ones that Tyra’s rocking in the new Top Model promos.  I so need those in my life.

And I bought my current favorite song from Itunes this week, too.  Yaaay, “Addiction” by Ryan Leslie.  I abso-freakin-lutely love this ish!  There’s no official video for it., but yall know Ryan’s good for a youtube special….

This dude has me lovin’ him at the moment, and that’s so weird because I was never a TEAM LESLIE person.  I don’t know….”Diamond Girl”, now this one….two bangers in my book, and both of them have been my favorites all summer.  I know I’ll be buying the album when it’s ready.

Okay, let me get myself ready to go to church…..if I make it   Laterssss.

2

Hi, Hater :)

If I ever decided to write a biography or do a movie on my life, that junk would be such a fun ride, I’d probably be paid a nice lil’ penny for the story.  I promise, who would’ve thought that past high school, people have suuuuuuuper petty dramas poppin’ off in their lives on the daily?!  I’ve refrained from blogging for the past few days because I knew that if I just started typing what I was feeling, I was going to go in on a few people.  I may not have named their names, but if they read it (and their uber-wack a**es probably would) they might feel some kinda way (which I don’t care) and possibly go in even harder- thinking that I CARED about the crap they were talking.  I mean, I DO care to an extent….because I really didn’t think that men….oh, excuse me…HUMANS WITH PENISES….acted in such vaginal ways.  (My dad is a man, and I can’t put “them” in the same category as him.)  The fact that people really sit around and talk about stuff and people that don’t even concern them was really bothering me.  I do believe in the phrase, “where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire,”  but these fools had just decided to concoct a story.  Booooooo!  As Jay loosely said, “being gossipy is a female trait,”  but I have come to realize that bitches come with both sets of equipment.  So why give the energy?  Me and my dude sat and had a good talk and laugh about it and I let my almost-anger simmer away before I blogged.  And here I am…Teflon Don-Diva…with a smile on my face and in my heart, a middle finger to “them”.  All the while singing “Hi Hater.”  All this drama and I aint even famous yet!   How they gonna feel when THAT happens?!  (lol)

This week, my group has been in the studio for the first time by ourselves, writing and recording material for ourselves.  I’ll admit, it feels hella weird without Adonis guiding the sessions.  He’s just so good at what he does and he makes us better at what we do.  But at some point, the baby birds gotta fly on their own and see how to make their own way.  So we’ve been feeling it out as 3 this week.  So far it’s been good….and a learning experience.  Learning new ish is always a good thing and helps set you up to be waaaaay greater later.  I set up the sessions with the main goal of helping my girls get that needed experience.  I hope we take away more than just some music away from the week.

Wednesday, Kelee, Vashti and myself went to Opera to the Heineken Red Star Soul Show to watch our boy BMC perform.  He rocked, indeed!

It’s always funny to be that fly on the wall, though, and listen to what people are saying about other people.  While standing outside the venue, a few people were trying to figure out exactly what B was gonna do in the show.  They thought maybe he was just hosting because, as one girl put it, he’s JUST a producer, and surely he couldn’t be performing.  I guess people like Sean Garrett have the public shook (lol) and they’re unsure that producers can be legitimate artists, too.  I know those people were pleasantly surprised by B’s performance.  You can check it www.myspace.com/therealbryanmichaelcox.  And one of my favorite ladies, and a serious role model, Joi Gilliam won the Independent Achiever award before the show started.

Yaaaay, Joi!  She’s one of the coolest artists I’ve ever seen and one of the coolest chicks I’ve ever met.  Wanna be like her when I grow up (lol).  I actually think we’re related (hahahahaaa).  Check her at www.myspace.com/joi.

What else….I also bought some furniture this week.  Whoo-Hoo!!!  Now that may sound like nothing, but ya girl hasn’t had furniture of her own in I don’t know how many years!  I’m good for rocking with a completely bare living room in an apartment.  But I got sick of living in my bedroom, so I broke down and went to IKEA and bought something cute.

Got my little Handy-Hilda on and put that ish together and, TAH-DAAAH, I now have a new living space!  Got some pictures and lil decorations….it almost feels like I have a home now (smile) except this will not be my home for very long.  It does have a good vibe, though.  Now if I could just get a dinette set, some kitchen skills and food in the fridge, I’d be in homemaker-biz!  Hmmm, somehow that feels less than likely   RIght now, I’m quite good with where I am…on the verge of major change and greatness.  And can’t no wack losers, dramas/rumors, lack of furniture or homemaker-tendencies kill that!

2

Day in the life…

4:15am- Alarm goes off and though I immediately pop up out of bed, I say a  cuss word in my head just to let the universe know that I’m not happy about getting up at this wack a** hour.

5:45- Get to the airport and I’m greeted by not 1, not 2, but 3 rude airport employees.  Siiiiigh.  Let’s refer back to my “Such a F**kin’ Lady” blog.  It’s not cute, people.  Really.  I’m asked where I’m flying by one employee.  I respond Indianapolis.  She says “Are you going through Charlotte?”  I think to myself- Is this like a set-up question?  So I say no…far as I know, it’s a straight thru flight since my itinerary says I’d be in Indy in less than 2 hours.  So she pulls out her lil flight sheet and inspects it stating there are no straight  flights to Indy.  That there are NEVER any nonstop flights from Philly to Indy….they ALWAYS go through Charlotte.  Bop, why did we even go thru that conversation!?!?  You work at the airport…you know the schedules.  I don’t.  Boooooo!  (Sidebar: my flight WAS, in fact, non-stop).

6:20- I’m sitting at the gate wasting time until we board the plane and watch a man eat a salad (yes, it IS 6:20am!) with an open and juicy mouth.  Gaaaag….I almost lose the bagel that I just finished eating.  And he was so committed to this salad.  Staring it down like it was a naked woman.  Eating it with a fork and his fingers.  Picking up the lettuce that fell on the floor and stuffing it in his mouth.  Only pass I could give him is that he was trying to be healthy, which was cool ‘cause he had a big booty for a dude.  He could’ve been eating  a big frosted cheesy Danish or something.  Still….

6:35- I’m jamming to my new songs on my ipod and happen to look at the clock on the wall.  My flight is supposed to be leaving at 6:45, and though I can’t hear anything that’s going on around me, I notice no one at my gate has stood up or got into line to board the plane.  I go to the desk and ask, “Is the flight to Indianapolis still on time?”  The dude smiles and says yes, and I walk to the window.  No plane at the end of the walkway at my gate.  No lines.  I go back to the desk again and say, “Is this the gate I should be at for Indy?”  Another lady responds, “No, it was changed to gate blah-blah.”  By this time it’s 6:40!  I walk down to the correct gate (though clearly  printed on my boarding pass is the incorrect gate) and they’re literally closing the doors.  I BARELY make my flight!  Damn you, you fly a** songs for stealing my attention (lol).  Orrrr, God could’ve been scolding me for laughing at that man’s big butt

8:45- In the car with my uncle, my grandmother and my niece and nephew heading home to quickly get ready for the funeral.  It never ceases to amaze me that Indiana always looks the same.  My niece, however, does not look the same.  She’s up to my shoulders and she’s only about to be 8 years old!  Craziness.

1pm- Seeing my mom cry over her mother’s casket is killing me.  Though I’m happy I could make it to support, I’m wishing I could be anywhere else.  I start thinking about my grandfather’s funeral.  I’m feeling very, very bad….but strangely happy and grateful that I’m around a bunch of people I haven’t seen in a long time.  It was almost like having my childhood years play over again.  My mom’s old friends were there.  People from my old church.  Family members I hadn’t seen since I was in elementary school.  Me, my dad, grandmother and niece and nephew scramble to find a seat in the packed church.  Dang…..Grandma V must’ve really been loved by alot of people.

5pm- I’d gotten a semi-random call from an old “friend” and we decide to go see a movie.  Coincidence that he just happened to call when I landed?   Not sure, but I take it as a sign (lol).

9pm- The sign proved to be non-life-altering.  He’s was, and still is, simply my homeboy who I’ll probably always link with until I’m married (lol).  That good ole’ comfort thing, I guess.  He takes me home and I watch cartoons with the kids.

11pm- Hit those sheets and think, even though I love seeing and being with my family,  it’ll sure be great to get back to the A =)

Next day…MY DAMN TRUCK DIED!!!  Booooooo!  Anyone wanna sell a car cheap?

3

La-La Land

This is my last day in Philly.  Awwww.  Tomorrow, it’s back to reality.  Well almost. Tomorrow, it’s actually get on a plane to Indiana and go to a funeral, then back on a plane to Atlanta in about 24 hours.  THEN it’s back to reality. Hope my electricity’s still on when I get there (lol).

My time in PA was quite productive.  I did 6 songs total, 4 of which were completely new, 2 I just re-cut.  And of the new ones, I’ve got 2 that wowed ME! =)  I can only imagine what a foolish-beast I’d be if I really had time to sit and write and vibe most days.  And speaking of foolish-beasts, the guys who did the production on the songs- Jason and Justin (no crew nickname necessary)- DID THEIR MUH-F***IN’ THING!  Yeah, I love their ish.  We make beautiful music together.  I love it when I find music that “makes” me write better.  One thing this week did show me is that I can perform under (slight) pressure….lol, I made a deal that I’d do 3 songs in a day…and that, my friends, has your girl feelin’ like her pen swag may just be a-ok.  I think the confidence has grown a lil.  Stay tuned….

Moi

And as I’m laying here in bed with some funny respiratory issues- my throat, chest and lungs are playing tricks on me- I’m a lil nervous being that one of our comedic greats just passed from complications with pneumonia.  Bernie Mac was only 50 when he passed away on Saturday.  It was one of those times where I felt weird because, though I didn’t personally know him, I felt like I lost someone close to me.  I felt that way when Aaliyah passed, and I’m sure alot of people were touched by hearing about this loss.  It’s crazy because I’d read that he was sick, but they said he was much better and would be released from the hospital soon.  I guess when it’s your time, though, it’s just that.  I still watch the Bernie Mac Show reruns faithfully and crack up.  I still mock his character from The Player’s Club (“That’s good…..you quick on your feet!”).  He will definitely be missed by many.  R.I.P. Bernie.

On that note, I think I’m gonna drag my lazy, semi-sick butt out of bed, and go get some food and meds.  Latersssss…..

P.S.  If you’re reading this- THANKS FOR CHECKING OUT THE SITE!!!  BE SURE TO TELL A FRIEND!  I’ll love you for it!

01

So you had a bad day…

These last 24 hours have been soooooo odd, up and down, and extra.  It’s funny how many different things can happen within the span of a day.  Tuesday, I had a 9:25am flight scheduled to Philadelphia for some writing sessions, but at the last minute, I changed my flight in order to take a meeting with my group and a prospective new manager.  The meeting was for 1pm, so I figured I could hop on a 5:30pm flight and still get to PA before night fall.  Due to some….extra-curriculars on Monday nite (lol) I didn’t go to sleep ’til really late and I didn’t pack for my trip.  Figured I’d wake up around 9-ish, pack my bags, go get my nails and lashes done, pick up some ish at MAC, hit the meeting, hit the airport…smooth as satin.  Errrr, of course it didn’t go that way.  I woke up about an hour and a half later than planned and had to break my neck to get ready =(.  Hair was still in a wet bun from me washing it the night before, most of my clothes were dirty (cause I didn’t do laundry), blah blah blah.  I figured packing and looking polished for the meeting were the priorities of the moment, so I threw my staples- jeans and tight tees- in a suitcase, threw on my “star hair” (lmao), and headed to Midtown to meet my group members and AD at a certain famous singer/songwriter’s studio for our meeting.

As I was pulling up to the spot, one of my group members called me, upset because she’d just walked off her job in order to make this 1 o’clock meeting.  Understandably, she was stressed and worried….we make crazy sacrifices for this music ish all the time.  I tried to reassure her that it would be cool and that today was gonna be a turning point.  All of us were changing ish up to accommodate this goal, and for that- it had to work.  She said she’d pull it together and would be there shortly.  In the meantime, my other group member pulls up, we go in the spot and are politely told that the gentleman we were there to meet was not going to be able to make the meeting because he was “tied up.”  Como?!  I just changed a flight, and one of us just probably lost a job…..and we aint meeting?!  And I definitely wasn’t trying to call this girl who’d just walked off her job and tell her that the meeting was a no-go.  This was not cool…

Long story short, I decide to stay in Atlanta even longer, take an even later flight, and stick around so we could get the meeting out of the way that day.  Four hours-one job lost- 2 out of gas cars- and 3 hot, sweaty aggy chicks later, we FINALLY  had our meeting and it was GOOD (Lol).  All that drama was worth it, I guess.  So Melrose has a *tentative* manager now.  Yippee!

I hop in Big Shirley (my truck’s nickname) and head to the airport to catch my flight.  As I’m standing in line to get my tickets, my mom calls me and tells me that my grandmother is dying.  Now me, I’m thinking, “Dying like….she’s still sick or like hospice is there….like what?” (I’m forever the ice-kid….emotions are usually the last reaction)  She tells me she’ll keep me posted but it isn’t looking good.  She’s been sick a long time, so this isn’t the first time I’ve heard this.  My main thought was, “Damn, tomorrow’s Mommy’s bday…I hope that day passes without any bad news.”

Well that didn’t happen.  My Grandmother passed away this morning on my Mom’s birthday.  My mom seems okay, but now I have to figure out how to get from Philly to Indiana and back to Atlanta by Tuesday for work and vocal rehearsal.  Hmmmm……the life.

So after another restless night, I went on through my day as planned.  Went to the studio to listen to some tracks- which I’m about to listen to again right now- and went to get some Thai food.  Now I’m back at the hotel with all these different emotions and dynamics going on in my head.  Excitement, frustration, feeling lonely (but thinking it’s definitely okay), confusion, sadness for my mom…I doubt I can be too productive tonight with the songwriting. As they say, though, it gets greater later, right?  I’ll figure it out.  I always do.