Kentucky Fillies head coach, Tamika Townsend, has one piece of advice for all track & field spectators and competitors – “Follow the Pink.” Townsend, the head coach and CEO of the pink uniformed Kentucky Fillies, is a former track star who has coached youth track & field for the past nine years. In 2011, she decided to create her own lane by establishing the only all-girls track team in the state of Kentucky.

The Fillies are based out of Louisville and compete in the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) and USATF (USA Track & Field) leagues. The Fillies are geographically located in Region 6, which represents athletes from KY, IN, OH, TN, & IL.

In the five years of existence for the Fillies – the club has racked up some pretty impressive stats. The newly formed all-girls squad has forced many of the well established national teams to “Respect the Pink” by dominating the gold, silver and & bronze medal counts at many district, regional and national track & field meets. In addition, the Fillies have been invited to the Jr. Olympics (Nationals) – all five years that the club has existed.

“We go to the Nationals every year. All five summers, all of my girls have went to the Nationals and actually ‘metaled’ at the Nationals – and you have to be within the top eight in your age group in order to get on the podium. Last year I took six girls and we brought back eight metals. So I have two national champions on my team and I have six girls who go to Nationals in all three of their events, every summer.” – Tamika Townsend

Being invited to the Nationals isn’t an easy feat. Runners must first qualify by ranking within the top 16 (in their event & age group) – within their district (Kentucky). They then advance to the Regionals. Next they must finish within the top 2 in their heat or the next four best times – to advance to the Junior Olympics (Nationals). Once the runners arrive at the Nationals, they run a preliminary race against approximately 100 or more girls (in their event & age group) from every region across the country. Only the top 24 girls advance to the next round. Next is a semi-final heat, which lowers the pool of athletes to the top 8. All of the final 8 athletes are classified as the top 8 in the nation (in their event & age group) and will compete against each other in the final heat. The outcome of the event will determine who receives the gold, silver, bronze etc., but all the top 8 finalists receive medals. Being that Townsend runs a small independent track team – funding is often an issue. The larger, more established teams are often backed by corporate sponsors – whose funds cover travel, uniform and coaching expenses. Townsend makes due by charging a reasonable membership fee for each child, requesting donations from the parents, receiving partial sponsorships from local small businesses and earns the rest by holding fundraisers. Some parents can’t afford the membership fee, so their children compete on scholarships provided by fundraising. Townsend is also very fortunate that her church, Pleasant View Missionary Baptist Church, has donated funds to the Fillies throughout each of their five seasons. Despite the local fundraising – the Fillies often come up short of revenue and Townsend is forced to pay out pocket for expenses. In turn, sacrifices have to be made but Townsend uses these obstacles as bonding moments with the girls. For instance, instead of having the luxury of traveling in luxury conversion vans or chartered buses to out-of state track meets – Townsend, her assistant coaches and a few parents, transport the girls across the country in their personal vehicles. The girls love the experience with “Coach T” as they call her. For many, it is their first time leaving their home state, lodging in motels and experiencing different cultures. When on the road, Townsend always finds the time to treat the team to recreational entertainment, as long as they keep up their end of the bargain when they compete on the track. Townsend runs a tight ship. She requires that all her athletes give 100 percent on the track. They train and practice extremely hard in preparation for their meets. The hard work isn’t just for vanity and bragging rights – it’s to possibly secure college track & field scholarships for the girls. Coach “T” constantly reminds her girls that there are plenty of “full-ride” college scholarships available from prestigious schools, for elite athletes. Understanding that college is expensive these days and many of her athletes come from low-income or middle-income households that may not be able to afford college tuitions – Townsend emphasizes the importance of “giving it your all” to the girls when they compete.

“I prepare my girls for life after track & field because they can’t run forever… They are to use their trade, which is track & field, to get them to college. All of the girls on my track team have to maintain good grades… My goal is to have them all run in college and allow track & field to pay for that.” – Tamika Townsend

Not only is Townsend a coach to the girls – she is also like a mother figure and a friend. On Saturday June 26, 2016 – I traveled from Louisville, Ky to Lexington to watch the Fillies compete in a District meet. I was amazed at what I witnessed once I arrived. I walked over to the Fillies pink tent – and most of the team of 22 were getting a break from the 90+ degree heat, by relaxing under the tent, drinking Gatorade and water. Many of the girls were awaiting their next event, so this was their downtime. The track team ranges from ages 7-17, so the younger kids had grouped themselves together, while the older girls relaxed on the opposite side of the tent. Everyone was all smiles and the younger girls were playing among themselves goofily like kids their age often do. However, once they were notified that it was time to compete in their event – they switched into a totally different gear. The smiles left their faces and were replaced with the serious look of competition mode. It was now all business. I asked one of the young girls if she was ready to compete and she replied with extreme confidence, “I’m ready to win… We don’t come here to lose.” These girls meant business. As they entered the track, Townsend began giving them love and advice at the same time. In one breath she would say “Don’t worry, you got this – we trained for this” and in the next breath she would follow with, “Make sure you push through the curve”; translation: “Make sure you accelerate hard through the curve.”

After the race – Townsend greets the girls at the edge of the track and gives them words of encouragement, followed with constructive criticism – despite the outcome of the race. Even the first place winners were lovingly given tips on how to perform better. This approach seems to bring the best out the girls – while still allowing them to have fun and enjoy the sport at the same time.

“I am impressed with the caliber of talent in such young girls… Their drive… It’s so hard to see youth these days actually be motivated for something – and to see all these girls come out and like literally leave it on the track is very impressive… These girls are here to work. It’s like a job. They clock in and do what they are supposed to do – and they take the criticism well and they’re always trying to push themselves to be better.” – Shia Daniel – assistant coach of the Ky Fillies

After each event, the Fillies would all return to the tent – crack open bottles of Gatorade and water – and return to the goofy little girls that I witnessed prior to the race. These girls really seem to enjoy the camaraderie of being on a team and they seem to really enjoy being good. All in all, the Fillies would have a pretty impressive day. The team left the Lexington, KY meet with ten – 1st place wins – twelve – 2nd place wins – and seven 3rd place wins. Townsend explained to me that initially the other teams didn’t necessarily respect her club due to it being an all-female, all African-American team. She says that the all-female criteria was by design but being all African-American wasn’t part of the plan.

The Fillies welcome all nationalities, but thus far – only African-Americans have applied to join the team. Regardless, Townsend has forced the other teams to respect her movement.

“When you see pink out in front – then we’re respected. We do a lot of work at practice so at this meet today, I expect every last one of them to qualify for the Regionals. I don’t have anything less of a goal for them. They all know that in all the races, they are to qualify for Regionals because we put in the work at practice.” – Tamika Townsend

Townsend emphasizes that the girls have an academic goal and a track & field goal to achieve each week. Even though they compete during the summer months – education is still the number one priority in her coaching repertoire.

“What I enjoy most about coaching is helping the girls reach their goals and helping certain girls that may have low self-esteem, as well as building my program to be empowering for girls.” – Tamika Townsend

The relationship between coach and athlete isn’t limited to the summer track & field season. Coach Townsend routinely checks up on the girls during the school year and many of the girls invite her to their school events. The impact that Townsend has on these young ladies will most likely create a bond for life. 15 year-old Kaleb McDonald has run with the Fillies for three seasons and has drastically seen herself improve after working with Townsend. She is currently the third fastest female freshman in the state of KY, in the 100 yard dash, and appears to be on a path to win a national title before she’s 18 years-old.

“My best time in the 100 is a 12’1. I was running a 13 when I first started running. I came in with undeveloped talent. I had it but it was hidden…The most difficult thing for me to learn was technique. I used to keep my head down, fist balled up, knees not getting up… I’ve been to the Jr. Olympics all three years that I’ve been here. In my 7th grade year I medaled in three events.” – Kaleb McDonald

The Fillies practice at Fairdale High School in Louisville, KY from 6pm-8pm, Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri., during the months of May – August. Coach Townsend believes that participating in track & field, or any sport for that matter, helps keep young people off the streets and out of trouble. She wishes that her girls were able to practice year-round but unfortunately Kentucky does not have any facilities available for year-round use. This summer the Fillies have athletes competing in the 100, 200, 400 & 800 yard dash – the hurdles, shot put, long jump and high jump. To enroll or for more information about the Kentucky Fillies – please access their website at kyfilliestc.wordpress.com The Fillies are also in need of sponsors and/or donations. If interested, please access the “Contact Info” section of the website kyfilliestc.wordpress.com.  

As the city of Louisville, Ky approaches the last week of June – the murder count has climbed to 49. In 2015, the numbers didn’t reach this magnitude until the first week in August – closing that year with 84 murders and 348 gunshot victims, which was a 28 year high. As police and city leaders scurry to find solutions to the violence – many residents have begun stepping up by providing recreational options for young people. Taneka Bryant – owner of F3 Dance Chambers – opened a professional dance studio at 1003 East Broadway, in Louisville, that teaches young people the art of organized dance.

Her studio specializes in teaching hip-hop dance, ballet, modern, lyrical, jazz and tap. The studio is also home to three F3 Entertainment dance teams that compete on a professional level. Bryant is a veteran dancer with over 25 years of experience. In 2004, she established F3 Entertainment which she operated out of St. Stephen Church. She quickly assembled a team of dancers and they put in long hours of practice – perfecting a signature style that would soon captivate the world. Bryant’s tremendous talents began to yield results almost immediately. Her dance teams were invited to compete at several major dance competitions across the nation – including BET’s 106 & Park.

“We were actually titled Louisville’s Top Dance Crew. We were on BET’s 106 & Park three times. We placed 1st, two out of those three times. We performed at the BET LIVE competition in LA and we just travel across the country and we always place in the Top 3 wherever we go.” – Taneka Bryant

Over the years, F3 Entertainment has produced several successful dance teams – which led to an internship for Bryant at a major dance studio in Atlanta. Armed with the knowledge and experience from that internship – Bryant returned to Louisville with plans of owning her own dance studio one day. After years of practicing at local gyms and performing across the country – Bryant was finally able to secure a location for her dance studio in November 2015. F3 Dance Chambers offers classes teaching different styles of dance to the public as well providing dance teams (F3 Entertainment) for those who enjoy the thrill of public performances and competition. Currently, F3 Dance Entertainment features a hip-hop dance team – a majorette team – and a 18 & over team. The teams routinely perform at most urban functions throughout the metro Louisville area, as well as selected national competitions. F3 Entertainment received a huge surprise in March 2016, when they performed for Louisville native Bryson Tiller. The platinum selling R&B singer was in town for a concert and made plans to speak to the students at Foster Elementary School before hitting the road to continue his worldwide tour. A parent of one of Bryant’s students and councilwoman Jessica Green, convinced school administrators to allow F3 Entertainment to perform for Tiller. Bryant says that Tiller thoroughly enjoyed the performance – making it one of the highlights of her career.

Inspired as a child by Janet Jackson – Bryant says that she knew at a young age that she was born to dance. Learning the art of dance impacted her life so dramatically that she is now dedicated to using her passion to inspire others.

“If I can give back doing something that I love to do – I’m going to do that. It keeps the kids off the streets, it’s something positive for them to do and I just love giving back.” – Taneka Bryant

In the spirit of giving back – Bryant insists that the prices for classes at F3 Dance Chambers remain affordable (as low as $10 per class), to allow all children the opportunity to learn the art of dance. Her long-term goal is to own her own major dance company/school. Contact Taneka Bryant by visiting the F3 Entertainment website at www.f3entky.com.  

The Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) – Muhammad Ali passed away in Scottsdale, AZ on June 3, 2016, at the age of 74. Ali struggled with Parkinson’s Disease for the last 30+ years of his life. Ali will be buried in his hometown of Louisville, KY on Friday, June 10, 2016 during a private burial service at Cave Hill Cemetery. A public funeral service and viewing will take place at the KFC YUM Center at 2pm on June 10, 2016, to allow the people of the city he loved so much – a chance to say their goodbyes. Being a 20 year resident of Louisville, KY, the only appropriate way to begin this article is by stating, “The city of Louisville loves you Champ – and thanks you from the bottom of our hearts for standing up for humanity, in and out of the ring.” If you’ve ever visited Louisville, you are aware of the significant influence that Muhammad Ali’s life has had on this city. Sitting on the edge of Louisville’s downtown skyline is a luxurious six-story, 96,750 sq ft museum boasting the name the Muhammad Ali Center. The structure was built in 2005, to honor the Champ and his personal values of respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, charity, and spirituality. From a very young age, Ali inspired many around the world to stand up for what they believe in, despite the consequences. To further honor Ali, the city changed the name of Walnut Street to Muhammad Ali Blvd. This memorial passway begins in the eastern section of downtown Louisville and travels through the city’s predominantly black West End, before coming to an end at Shawnee Park. In 2012, the Kentucky Historical Society and then Councilman David Tandy officially dedicated a historical marker at 3302 Grand Avenue – the childhood home of Muhammad Ali. The home has since been purchased by Pennsylvania trial lawyer George Bochetto and Las Vegas-based investor Jared Weiss, who invested $300,000 in its renovation to open it up for ticketed tours in March 2016. Ali was born in the West End of Louisville as Cassius Clay on January 17, 1942. He would later join the Nation of Islam and change his name to Muhammad Ali. The West End of Louisville was predominantly black while Ali was growing up and remains that way to this day. According to the 2010 Census, the West End of Louisville has an estimated population of 90,110. Of that population – 79% are estimated to be African-American. Although Louisville didn’t officially have Jim Crow laws like many cities in the deep south – racial segregation and discrimination was still a reality for the city’s black residents – and Ali would grow up in that world. At a young age, Ali would experience racism and segregation which would later fuel his passion to fight for equality worldwide.

• In 1941, “sit-ins” become a common practice to protest the segregated Louisville public library.
• In 1945, Eugene S. Clayton becomes the first African-American ever elected to the Louisville Board of Aldermen.
• In 1948, black Louisville resident Lyman T Johnson files a federal lawsuit against the University of Kentucky challenging the state’s “Day Law” which prohibited blacks and whites from attending the same schools.
• In 1954, a white couple, Anne and Carl Braden, purchase a home in Louisville’s suburb of Shively on behalf of a black man, Andrew Wade, because realtors routinely wouldn’t sell property in that area to blacks. Once the Wade family moved in, they were immediately harassed by their white neighbors. The Braden’s were later charged with “Communist Conspiracy” for selling the home to a black man and the home was eventually bombed.

As an adult, Ali would state during an interview that as a small child he would often ask his mother why black people were treated differently based on the color of their skin. At 12 years-old an unfortunate event would change Ali’s life forever. His bicycle would be stolen from his West End neighborhood and during a conversation with police officer, Joe Martin, he said that he wanted to beat up the thief. Martin reportedly told him, “Well you better learn how to fight before you start challenging people.” In addition to being a police officer, Martin also trained young boxers at a local gym. He invited Ali to come and train with him and within a few short months, Ali won his first amateur bout. In 1956, Ali would win the Golden Gloves tournament for novices as a light heavyweight. The kid was a born natural. From that point his career spiraled into a series of undefeated fights which would eventually lead him to winning a gold medal, as a light heavyweight, at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. He returned to the states – now as a celebrated world champion – and quickly turned professional with financial backing from the Louisville Sponsorship Group. Ali’s lightning speed and agility, combined with his massive 6’3 frame would prove to be too overwhelming for most challengers. In 1964, Ali became the heavyweight champion of the world after defeating the reigning champion Sonny Liston. After the fight, the world got a chance to hear Ali boast and brag in classic Ali fashion – which would become one of the trademarks of his career.

“Oh I’m so great…Oh I’m so great… And what makes it so good is all these hypocrites can’t call it a fix because I didn’t stop the fight – the doctors had to stop it… Oh I’m so pretty. I’m champ of the world.” – Muhammad Ali

At this point Ali was still going by his birth name of Cassius Clay. However, his upbringing in Louisville never left his mind and because of it – he was constantly seeking spiritual understanding. Later in 1964, he decided to dedicate his life to the Nation of Islam, become a black Muslim, and change his name to Muhammad Ali. The Nation of Islam is an African-American Islamic religious group founded in Detroit in 1930, by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad. In 1934, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad would take over leadership. The goals of the religion are to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African-Americans in the United States and all of humanity. The Nation of Islam became very popular during the 1960s -1980s amongst blacks who began searching for a religion that they felt resonated with people of African descent better than traditional European Christianity did. As a Muslim, Ali began to speak out against the Vietnam War. In 1967, he was drafted into the war himself. Still harboring his childhood experiences from West Louisville – Ali refused to go to war, citing that he was now a practicing Muslim minister whose religious beliefs forbid him from fighting. He famously made this speech while defending his decision to avoid the draft.

“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?… Man, I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet Cong ever called me nigger… I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters over the darker people of the world” – Muhammad Ali

One thing is for sure. The discrimination that Ali faced as child in Louisville helped instill inside him, a distinct love for black people as well as for all disenfranchised people across the globe. As a result of refusing to enter the draft – Ali was stripped of his heavyweight boxing title, thrown in jail, and stripped of his passport so that he wouldn’t have the opportunity to box in any other country. During an appearance on the William F. Buckley Show, he was asked why he didn’t escape to Canada after being brought up on charges and being stripped of his title. Ali responded;

“I could be a millionaire fugitive if I was greedy and worrying about myself… I would like to say this… The flesh and the blood of my people is more important… What I’m doing is for myself and for justice for black people. Running will kill it all and make me a coward, so I would rather go to jail.” – Muhammad Ali – 1968

Ali’s stance against the Vietnam War was said to pioneer the practice of fighting for religious freedoms and is also credited with inspiring Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Martin Luther King Jr. Being leery of losing support for the Civil Rights Movement from the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, King reluctantly avoided addressing the war. Once Ali became vocal, King began to voice his opposition of the war as well. Ali was sentenced to five years in prison for avoiding the war but was able to remain free on appeal. After missing three years of boxing, the Supreme Court unanimously voted 8-0 to overturn his conviction in 1971. Ali regained his title for the second time in 1974, against George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. The legendary fight was dubbed “The Rumble in the Jungle”. In 1978, an over-confident Ali would lose his heavyweight title to Leon Spinks but regain it for a third time by defeating Spinks unanimously just seven months later. Muhammad Ali ended his boxing career with an impressive 56-5 professional record which spanned over three decades. Not only was he loved and adored in the boxing ring but his neverending fight for equality caused people all over the world to fall in love with his spirit. Over the course of his lifetime, he gave many speeches around the globe, inspiring those to fight for what they believe in. After retiring from boxing, Ali spent a great deal of his free time performing philanthropy work across the globe. He supported the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation as well as many other charities. He traveled to many third world countries and donated millions to help those in need. Creating a monumental moment in sports history, he lit the Olympic torch in Atlanta in 1996, and in 1998, he became the United Nations Messenger of Peace due to his charitable work in developing nations. In 2005, President George W. Bush awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his lifetime commitment to equality. But overall, the most honorable attribute in Ali’s catalogue is his compassion. Despite being a boxer, Ali never physically challenged or threatened anyone outside of the ring while pursuing equality. He used charm, charisma and his naturally acquired intelligence to fight against racism and religious discrimination. Louisville has always been a tight-knit community that is the epitome of pride and compassion. So much so, that on 11-11-11, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer signed a resolution committing to a multi-year Compassionate Louisville campaign – making Louisville an international compassionate city, the largest city in America with that distinction. Muhammad Ali shared the compassion and pride that he learned in Louisville with the rest of the world – and that’s why “You Can’t Mention Muhammad Ali Without Mentioning Louisville.”

Photography studios are a dime a dozen in Louisville, Ky. The market is very competitive and there is no short of talented photographers in the metro area. One of the city’s newest photography studios has taken a new approach to the industry and is literally turning its clients into stars. Echilann Images, located in the Professional Building at 3934 Dixie Hwy suite #440, hosted its Grand Opening on Saturday May 21, 2016 and has already taken custom photography to new heights. Their unique combination of photography and graphic design is like photography on STEROIDS! Owners – Milann Miles, Michelle-Lock Miles, and Shantel Wright have created customized imagery professionally for a little over a year and have now officially opened their first photography studio. The team decided that instead of photographing their clients in front of traditional style backgrounds – they would custom create memorable moments that cater to the personalities of those being captured on film. The imaging process entails conducting a photoshoot with a client (in or out of studio) and then the team uses composite photography to add a detailed custom background. Composite photography is the act of forming a single photograph by superimposing two or more separate photographs. Shooting a composite image is a skilled technique which requires shooting multiple shots from multiple angles.

“I am a self-taught photographer but I kind of went from a backwards standpoint. I actually got the compositing part down first and then I started focusing more and more on actual photography.” – Milann Miles

At Echilann Images, an in-studio photoshoot can be given the appearance that it was taken in front of the Eiffel Tower in France or anywhere else in the world. The process is so detailed that birds, clouds, sunsets or any other imaginable object can be incorporated into the image. Once complete, the images are so life-like that it’s impossible to determine what objects in the background were added.

“What separates Echilann Images is that we concentrate on creative photography. We like to do things that are a little bit unorthodox… We like to do things that incorporate a little bit of imagery with the actual photography background.” – Milann Miles

Custom imagery takes on an entirely new meaning at Echilann. For example; Echilann Images has created a group of sessions entitled the “Love In Hip Hop” series. The concept of these sessions is to recreate memorable scenes from some of hip-hop’s most celebrated classic photos and videos. The infamous “drop top” image of The Notorious B.I.G. & Faith Evans was recreated by Echilann with a twist. The photoshoot took place in the parking lot of a Louisville, Ky bowling alley, in the backseat of a blue convertible. Graphic designing allowed Echilann Images to change the color of the vehicle, add a lakefront scene in the background and change the hair color on the female in the photo to match that of Faith Evans at the time. The original photo with B.I.G. & Faith is the upper image and Echilann’s recreation is the image on the bottom. Other recreations from the “Love In Hip-Hop” series include Common & Erykah Badu’s “Love of My Life” video as well as Method Man & Mary J. Blige’s, “All I Need”. Legendary Louisville rapper Father Jah, portrays Method Man in the “All I Need” image. In just over a year, Echilann Images has created custom work for high school students who wanted something out of the ordinary for their Senior Pictures – as well as provided composite photography for the Kentucky State University Dance Team and the choir of St. Stephen Church. Over the past year, the team has been essentially working out of their vehicles and conducting photoshoots in the homes or on the property of their clients. The team was reluctant about acquiring a photography studio after only being in business for a year but Michelle-Locke Miles convinced her two partners that based on her husband’s skill set – it was the best move.

“The fact that nobody else is doing this… He’s [Milann Miles] like Louisville’s Derek Blanks when you think about…Doing composites, alter egos and we haven’t seen that here until now. I think that there’s a huge market for our work” – Michelle-Locke Miles

Milann Miles handles most of the photography and graphic designing while Wright handles the PR/Marketing for the company. Michelle-Locke Miles and Wright also assist with the concepts and ideas for the images. It is not uncommon for Michelle-Locke Miles and Wright to be on the location of a photoshoot and alter the concept of the session based on the personalities of the clients or due to a new vibe that they feel from the experience.

“We always ask people to give us about two-and-a-half to three hours… We never need all of that but we always ask for you to give us that window to shoot the photos so that we don’t feel rushed – you don’t feel rushed – and we can give you good quality work.” – Shantel Wright

Pricing is reasonable but varies depending on the concept and detail involved in creating the images. All packages come with the images installed on a 8gb usb flash drive as well as the printed images that are included with the specific package. All shots from the photoshoot that do not make the cut of printed images will be installed on the usb and all the rights are released to the client in case they want to have them printed elsewhere at a later date. Contact Echillann Images at  EchilannImages.com… Echilann Images on Facebook, and @echilannimages on Instagram.

Jack Daniel’s sweetened up a Kentucky Derby weekend party with a touch of Honey. On Saturday, May 7, 2016, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey sponsored Art-Beats & Lyrics at the Ice House in Louisville, Ky.

The free event was the first of its kind to take place in Louisville and was uniquely different from the hundreds of other parties that took place in the city over Derby weekend.

JACK DANIEL’S TENNESSEE HONEY PRESENTS ART-BEATS & LYRICS IS AN EVENT WE’VE SPONSORED FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE’VE BROUGHT IT TO LOUISVILLE… WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE SO GREAT FOR DERBY BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS SO USED TO THE TRADITIONAL DERBY PARTY – AND THIS IS REALLY THE NON-TRADITIONAL DERBY PARTY. ONE OF THE OTHER FUN THINGS ABOUT THE EVENT ASIDE FROM THE ACTIVITIES IS WE HAVE GREAT DRINK MENUS SO PEOPLE CAN ENJOY JACK DANIEL’S TENNESSEE HONEY COCKTAILS.” – TRACEY JOHNSON (MULTI-CULTURAL MARKETING FOR BROWN FORMAN)

The theme of the event was to essentially capture the original “4 Elements of Hip-Hop” which were established by 80s hip-hop pioneers such as KRS-One and Afrika Bambaataa to name a few.

Those 4 elements are:

1. MCing – master of ceremony or rapper
2. DJing – the art of Djing a party with two turn-tables (record players)
3. Breakdancing – the art of breakdancing
4. Graffiti Arts – the art of “tagging” (graffiti style urban spray painting)

Atlanta natives Dubelyoo and Jabari Graham created the concept of Arts-Beats & Lyrics out of their deep love and admiration of modern art and the hip-hop culture.

“THE EVENT IS A TRAVELING URBAN ART EXHIBITION THAT FEATURES HIP-HOP ART- URBAN ART – GRAFFITI – STREET ART MURALS AND MIXES IT WITH LIVE PERFORMANCES AND DJS.” – DUBELYOO (ARTIST & CURATOR OF ARTS-BEATS & LYRICS)

Blossoming from its modest beginnings eight years ago – Art-Beats & Lyrics has grown into a major platform for many urban artists and Djs to display their talents to the masses nationwide.

Dubelyoo and Graham decided to create the artistic musical collaboration when Graham was abruptly laid-off from his marketing position with a circus group. Instead of wallowing in misery – the pair got together and decided that they both were in search of new careers.

Graham formed a collaboration comprised of a group of local artists and Djs from the Atlanta area and started putting on shows. Dubelyoo quickly realized the growth potential and gave the venture a boost by booking future shows at local museums.

Eight years later – Art-Beats & Lyrics has expanded and is currently touring across the country, hosting shows that feature established urban artists as well as major label rappers & Djs.

During the Louisville leg of the tour – popular urban artist and Louisville native, Charles Rice, had several pieces of artwork on display at the event.

“I HAVE A FEW ORIGINAL PIECES OUT HERE… I’M JUST TRYING TO SHOW MY SKILLS… SINCE I’VE BEEN ABOUT FIVE, I’VE BEEN INTO PAINTING… WHEN GOD BLESSES YOU WITH THE TALENT AND YOU DO IT FOR THE LOVE THEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS GOING TO COME INTO PLACE AS LONG AS YOU GET YOUR EDUCATION TO SUPPORT WHATEVER YOU DREAM OF DOING – AND THAT’S WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS PAINT.” – CHARLES RICE

Art-Beats & Lyrics essentially turned Louisville’s Ice House into an urban art gallery featuring urban artwork from local and national artists. Many of the pieces were murals of popular hip-hop artists or tributes to hip-hop culture.

The doors opened at 8pm and partygoers were provided two free Jack Daniel’s mixed drinks to sip on while viewing the art displays. To further infuse the hip-hop culture – seven Djs captivated the crowd throughout the evening with popular hip-hop records from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.

Louisville residents Felisha Short and Kendra Sweatt stopped by the venue to check out the artwork and were so blown away that Short purchased a piece.

“Jack Daniels, Art and fun brought us out tonight” said Sweatt. Short added, “Well I actually brought a piece of a young lady with some bad shoes on – holding a bottle of Jack.”

Around 11 pm – the dj’s cranked up the music and the dance floor instantly became flooded with people elbow-to-elbow, jamming to old school classics like Doug E. Fresh and Dj Kool’s “Let Me Clear My Throat”.

Other highlights of the evening included musical entertainment and comedic relief from the event’s Master of Ceremony D.R.E.S. tha BEATnik as well as a performance from Chicago rapper Twista.

Louisville’s Soul Lounge was also a contributing sponsor of the event.

 

The Kentucky Derby is much more than just the 2 minute horse race that takes place on the first Saturday of each May. For the city of Louisville, it means a massive celebration which consists of two weeks of festivals, events and parties. For Louisville’s black community  – one of the more anticipated events is the Slice of Louisville. The “Slice” is an annual event that showcases Soul Food, black fashion & entertainment. Slice is an official Kentucky Derby Festival Event and is the only one of its kind that takes place in Louisville’s predominantly black West End. Historically, the event has taken place under tents on the parking lot of St. Augustine’s Church on West Broadway but due to poor weather conditions over the previous years – Slice relocated indoors this year, to the Kentucky Center For African-American Heritage. The event took place on Saturday April 30, 2016, from 6pm – 9pm and allowed patrons to sample Soul Food & beverages provided by prominent chefs, restaurants and caterers from Louisville’s West End and other areas of the city. Several local African-American vendors had their products on display – including Robyn C. Stuart – CEO of DbBourbanCandy LLC.

Small boxes of Stuart’s chocolate “Bourbon Balls” were placed on every table at the venue – giving partygoers the opportunity to sample the product at no-charge. DbBourbonCandy produces a variety of edible candies that are available at retail outlets throughout the state of Kentucky.

“These Bourbon Balls and other candies that we make are available at Kroger stores as well at the Kentucky Derby Museum.” – Robyn C. Stuart

Several local politicians also attended Slice. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer walked out to a standing ovation and took a few moments to address the crowd while waving his hand “side to side” to the music.

“I’d like to say, what a great time to be in a wonderful city and what a great time to be here at the Heritage Center. Everybody, Happy Derby Week – Just enjoy it like nobody else does in the world. I love you guys… God Bless You.” – Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer

Democrat Barbara Sexton-Smith, who is campaigning for the 4th District Metro Council seat which represents much of Louisville’s predominately black West End, Smoketown, Downtown and Shelby Park, was also in attendance.

“I love coming to events and hanging out with the people of Louisville. I always have a great time. I’m not a stranger to the people of Louisville… They know me well and know that I love them and this city.” – Barbara Sexton-Smith

One of the highlights of the evening were the spectacular musical performances from the Unlimited Show Band. Their renditions of Alexander O’Neal & Cherelle, The Gap Band, and Maze ft Frankie Beverly were outstanding – but they brought the house down with their “Purple Rain” tribute to the late Prince Rogers Nelson.      

For the 2nd year in a row, Keisha Johnson, hosted The Taste of West Louisville, in Louisville, Ky’s predominantly black West End of town. The annual event allows local food vendors to set up booths at the venue and serve speciality dishes from their menu. Many of the vendors are caterers or restaurant owners from Louisville’s West End. The event was held on April 16, 2016, at the Shawnee Arts & Cultural Center and over 300 patrons purchased tickets to get a “Taste” of the food from West Louisville. When the event debuted last year it must have made a lasting impression because tickets to this year’s event sold out nearly a week in advance. Johnson emphasizes that the event is designed to give exposure to local businesses and to also raise money to provide college scholarships for high school seniors who reside in Louisville’s West End.

“FROM PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT, AND THE HELP OF SPONSORS, WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE AWAY THREE $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO DESERVING STUDENTS. ALONG WITH THE SCHOLARSHIP, SIMMONS COLLEGE OF KENTUCKY WILL MATCH $500 FOR TWO STUDENTS IF THEY DECIDE TO ENROLL AT SIMMONS.” – KEISHA JOHNSON

To apply for a scholarship – send an email to TWLscholarships@gmail.com, and a representative from The Taste of West Louisville will reply with an application. Students applying are required to complete a 500 word essay. All applications must be received by May 7, 2016. The scholarships are slated to be given out at the Scholarship & Appreciation Banquet – place and time is to be announced. Like the “Taste of West Louisville” page on FB & follow on IG @tasteofwestlou, to stay up to date with future events. Be on the lookout for the 3rd Annual Taste of West Louisville, April 15, 2017 (location TBA).

With concern growing of the possible side effects related to pharmaceutical drugs and cosmetics made with chemical additives – many Americans are turning to natural health & beauty products as a safer alternative. The African-American community is no different. Many black people have recently embraced the trend of wearing “Natural” hair styles – as opposed to using relaxers to straighten the hair. Dr. Rachael Ross M.D., PH.D. (Family Medicine & Clinical Sexologist) appeared on an episode of the “Doctors” daytime television program and stated:

“There was a study that linked relaxer use in African-American women to a higher incidence of fibroid tumors… Which are non-cancerous balls of muscular tissue that form in the uterus – but is actually the leading cause of hysterectomies here in the country.” – Dr. Rachael Ross M.D., PH.D.

In response to the growing demand for natural health & beauty products in Louisville, KY, – many local African-Americans have created businesses that cater to those needs. On Saturday, April 23, 2016, the Manhattan on Broadway, in Louisville hosted the 1st annual African-American “Earth Day Celebration” – which was an event that allowed African-American natural health & beauty product vendors to display their goods. The event was sponsored by Rooted Natural Toothpaste, Melodic Elements, Infinite Yoga, and Natural Logistics – which are all Louisville based black-owned businesses. The various vendors offered natural products and services which ranged from handmade soaps and deodorants – to belly dancing, vitamin supplements and a senior concierge service. One particular vendor – Precious Kentle Powders – manufactures handmade skin care products for men and women which include: natural soap and body butters, shea butters, and men’s shaving kits & beard balms.

Another impressive display booth was operated by Lailah Hampton-El who is the director of the Kuumba Youth Liberation Academy (KYLA) – which is Louisville’s only Afrikan-Centered home schooling academy. KYLA specializes in math and science and also offers a youth chess club. Retired veterans, Retha & Joe Williams, manned a booth that provided information about “Alleviate” – which is their senior home healthcare business.

“Alleviate is a non medical private homecare service, helping seniors to be able to stay at home and help them with their daily living. We also have a concierge service for seniors as well.” – Retha Williams

The celebration featured several other local African-American vendors who provide natural products and services to residents in the metro Louisville area as well as to customers nationwide through online purchasing. Deanna Coles – owner of Melodic Elements – manufactures an all natural line of body deodorants that are available in a variety of different scents. In addition to manning her own booth – she was also a sponsor of the event.

“We just wanted to celebrate Earth Day because this is the weekend of Earth Day 2016, and we also wanted to showcase local black-owned businesses who are making all-natural homemade products and handcrafted items as well.” – Deanna Coles

Organizers are planning other natural health & beauty product events in the near future and also plan to bring the Earth Day Celebration back next year.  

The “Turn Up Show with T-Made and Friends” hosted its first annual Birthday Bash at the Hard Rock Cafe located in the heart of Louisville’s “4th Street Live” entertainment district – on Sunday April 24, 2016 from 5pm-11pm. The celebration included live performances from the following: Poet: Robin G Inspirational rappers: Dominique Dixon, Deuce Juice, 2 Deep, C-Tez, Lul Flex R&B singers: Kriss Liss, Kori Black DJ’s: Dj Lil Carl, Dj Colossus Comedy: Kim Vaughn Keynote Speakers – Minister Jerald Muhammad, Christopher 2X The “Turn Up Show” is a radio program headed by Antonio “T-Made” Taylor that airs from 8pm-9pm ET on Friday evenings on Louisville’s 104.7 FM. The show also has an online version which airs on Monday evenings at 10pm ET on the Truth Network and Saturday afternoons at 3pm ET on SoChristlike.com. The six member crew uses wit and humor to discuss pertinent topics and current events surrounding the African-American community nationwide. Commentary typically revolves around the latest news, gossip and current trends circulating throughout pop-culture as well as the hottest topics on the blogs. However; the staple of the radio show is that ONLY “positive” hip-hop and R&B music is aired. The concept of the “Turn Up Show” is to provide an alternative to the explicit content that often floods the airwaves of mainstream radio throughout America. The crew believes that young people are continuously subjected to unhealthy media material which often influences poor choices and bad decision-making. Instead of marketing their show around the music that’s most popular today – the “Turn Up Show” decided to compile their playlist with modern hip-hop and R&B music that promotes positive messages and images.

“The vision that we have for the “Turn Up Show” is to create a positive and inspirational platform for not only our community – but communities worldwide.” – Antonio “T-Made” Taylor

Popular Christian and inspirational hip-hop artists such as Lacrae, Bizzle, and Kirk Franklin are in regular rotation on the “Turn Up Show” as well as a host of local and independent artists from the metro Louisville, KY area. Much of the music that is played on the program sounds very much like the hip-hop and R&B played on mainstream radio stations – without the negative content.