BKS1 Radio Network

Civil War in Urban Communities Can a Truce be the Answer?

Many communities are faced with it's young people from rival gangs declaring  war on one another.  Many of these young men and women are from the same race, have gone to the same schools, played on the same sport teams only to be separated and turned against one another based on their gang affiliation.  In this 21st century we are witnessing modern day Civil War in our Urban Communities.

Plainfield, NJ with approximately 50,000 residents has experienced a rise in shooting deaths many which have been contributed to rival gang violence.  The residents and City Officials have been working to provide solutions to stop the violence, but without much in the way of results.  Meetings after meetings filled with facts and opinions of what the cause of the problem is and how to handle the problem have varied from curfews , to better education and employment opportunities.  Finally we are able to go directly to the nucleus of the source.  Tonight on bks1radio.com We will hear from the very  young men that called the truce between rival gangs. . This maybe a new beginning and a model for other communities facing similar issues.  Join us "Live in the Vocal Booth" Tonight as we seek peace in our streets.

Tonight's LIVE In The Vocal Booth Show we rate and review along with YOU the listener  Raphael Saadiq's new CD release "Stone Rollin"

Here is our rating system: 5 Stars: It's blazing hot – on fire
4 Stars: It's a hot song – pump it up
3 Stars: It's alright-good song
2 Stars: Thanks for the album cut-what's next
1 Stars: I won't tell nobody about that if you don't…lets keep that a secret

Raphael Saadiq | Stone Rollin

"I can see my name written across the sky," Raphael Saadiq sings on "Go To Hell," from his stunning new album, Stone Rollin', as a B3 organ swells, cymbals dance, and a fluttering string section spirals towards the heavens. "Victory is near... I can feel it getting closer, closer every day."

Since Saadiq's early days with the groundbreaking 80's soul trio Tony! Toni! Tone! the Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and record producer has carried the torch for old school R&B. In addition to releasing critically acclaimed solo albums like Ray Ray and Instant Vintage (nominated for five GRAMMYs), for the last two decades Saadiq has worked behind the scenes as a celebrated producer, collaborator and sideman for big-time acts like D'Angelo, John Legend, Joss Stone, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, Stevie Wonder, the Bee Gees, The Isley Brothers, Mary J. Blige, TLC, Whitney Houston, Snoop Dogg, Earth, Wind and Fire and the list goes on and on. Now, at the peak of his creativity, Saadiq is finally ready to soak up the spotlight alone with Stone Rollin'.

Stone Rollin' - written and produced by Saadiq, who also plays bass, mellotron, keys, guitar, percussion and even drums on most of the tracks -- is even more powerful, urgent and bold than it's predecessor. The new songs are firmly planted in classic R&B, and nod to Saadiq's heroes like Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Little Walter and Sly Stone. However Saadiq offers his own contemporary spin, one born out of a combination of his recent touring experiences, as well as inspiration derived from indie acts that hold regular rotation in his ipod."I still want to be a throwback artist, but with a futuristic twist," he says.

Stone Rollin' does feature it's share of special guests. Robert Randolph dropped by Blakeslee to lay down some nasty steel guitar on "Day Dreams." Saadiq opens the track -- evocative of a Dixieland rag. Also guesting on "Just Don't" is one of Saadiq indie rock favorites, Swedish-Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano, from the band Little Dragon. "She put some great vocals on top," he says. "On that song I also had the chance to play with one of my idols, Larry Dunn from Earth, Wind and Fire. He played piano and took a long, epic Moog solo. That's why the song is so long, because I wanted to give him the space and the respect on my record that he truly deserves."

Tonight's Topic: Does Purposely Pregnant equal Husband and Financial Security?

Possibly one of the oldest tricks in the book, trap your man by making him a daddy. Do women still unleash this weapon of choice to cement the man in their lives for happily ever after or at least until the child’s 18th Birthday?

What kind of women would seek to keep a relationship by trapping a man into being a father?  If the man is not in love with her before the baby, what would make his feelings change after the baby?

Wealthy men are clearly a target for this purposeful plan, what better way to create a lifestyle with little hard work or creativity. Have you known of a woman to trap her man with making him her baby’s daddy, if so how is working for her?

Purposely pregnant whether for financial security or to keep a man you felt was pulling away seems like a desperate trick. But will it work in the end? Let’s discuss this “Live in the Vocal Booth”. Special thanks to Bubblez Is Trubble for inspiring tonight's topic

Whether it’s your best friend, sister, brother, mother or mother in law how do you keep people from getting between you and the one you love. We know that all these people mean well and have your best interest at heart or at least they think they do, but how do you shut down their meddling without hurting them and the bond you have?

Tonight's LIVE In The Vocal Booth Show we rate and review along with YOU the listener  Musiq's new CD release "Musiqinthemagiq"

Here is our rating system: 5 Stars: It's blazing hot – on fire
4 Stars: It's a hot song – pump it up
3 Stars: It's alright-good song
2 Stars: Thanks for the album cut-what's next
1 Stars: I won't tell nobody about that if you don't…lets keep that a secret

Musiq's | Musiqinthemagiq

It’s hard to imagine a performer working today with more heart and soul than Musiq Soulchild. With over a decade on the scene, the multiplatinum singer/songwriter brings a new depth to his meditations on life and love with his sixth studio album, Musiqinthemagiq. Could he be the hardest working man in the business? At the very least, he’s got to be the most soulful.

“Soul music is something that you can’t fake. You’re just expressing yourself. That’s the magic in my music.” —Musiq Soulchild

A lot has changed since Musiq first hit the scene. He’s no longer that talented cat from Philadelphia who just wants to sing. Since then, he’s made the shift from his native Philly, where he honed his skills among the city’s prolific music scene, to Atlanta. He’s gone platinum not once, but twice, and performed with everyone from Mary J. Blige and Carlos Santana to Estelle and The Roots. As he readies the release of MusiqintheMagiq, he is eager to show fans yet another side, and perhaps let them in on the secret to his unforgettable blend of magic.

Tonight's Topic:Happy Mothers Day Daddy

There are many men raising children alone whether the other parent is absent by choice or by circumstance. How are these men handling the responsibility of being the single parent and attending to the many needs that children have?

Single mothers raising children by themselves seem to be able to switch gears when needed. When mom needs to be loving and caring she is and when mom needs to be firm and stern she can be. What about dad’s? Reasonably speaking can a father ….mother? Simply put can a man handle the nurturing and loving care a child needs as they grow that typically would come from their mother?

When children grow up without their mother should dad try to fill both roles or should he operate as he would if mom was involved? Women almost always instinctively provide that nurturing that comforts a child. What happens when a man can not tap into the nurturing side of himself?

Do men have the same ability to switch gears as women do? Would it be fair to say it’s more difficult for men to raise children solo than a woman? If you are raising children without the other parent what advice can you lend to another single man raising children alone?