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Nadir Omowale

Take My Funk To The Ballgame – Nadir in Tigers Spotlight

Peanuts, popcorn, crackerjacks and THE FUNK!

Nadir’s distorted soul music was featured at Detroit’s Comerica Park on Sept. 8 as part of the Detroit Tigers’ Detroit Music Spotlight.

This new musically based feature provides a chance for Michigan-based artists to showcase their music in front of thousands of Detroit Tigers fans.

This project combines the efforts of Detroit music scene and social media enthusiasts Tracy Lindsay and Hubert Sawyers III, along with the Detroit Tigers, to expose local music artists, while providing unique and interesting entertainment content at Comerica Park.

Nadir’s music hit a home run with baseball fans and the team as the Tigers beat their division rival Chicago White Sox 5-1.

SoulFood Quest: Motor City Soul Food

Being a small town boy who grew up in the country, one thing I don’t think I’ll ever get used to about the inner city retail experience is bulletproof glass.

I first experienced this phenomenon as a pre-teen visiting my cousins in Chicago. I’m aware that it’s a normal part of life in the city, but the thick, cold windows create a discomforting atmosphere in any retail environment, especially in restaurants.

While the offerings at Motor City Soul Food, 12700 West 7 Mile Rd in Detroit, were pretty decent, the glass box that surrounds the cafeteria table and workers detract from the overall customer experience. At least for a country boy like me.

I went to Motor City on the recommendation of a fellow traveler who shared my quest for good chicken and collard greens. We had both been examining the menu at a newer restaurant a few blocks down 7 Mile, but decided to exit that establishment and go for something more familiar.

I was pleased to see my friend, Oya Amakisi of Detroit Women of Color International Film Festival, in the line when I arrived. Oya shares many of my dietary idiosyncrasies, so I felt even better about my decision.

“I’ve been eating here since I worked at Aisha Shule,” Oya informed me. She had already ordered and was waiting for her whiting to cook, so she stood in line with me for a moment to catch up. I explained my soul food quest and that I was tired of mediocre food and bad service.

“Well, the food here is good,” she said, “but the service is another story.” Continue reading

A Summer Visit to Detroit

Bee Bee White has produced Sharing It With Bee Bee for over 16 years spotlighting organizations and causes that she believes deserve more attention.

On August 14 Bee Bee took her first trip to Detroit where her tour guide, entertainment consultant Gisele Caver, showed her Berry Gordy’s mansion, Hitsville and the Heidelberg Project’s Dancing on the Street Festival. Along the way she meets Judge Craig Strong, Heidelberg Project mastermind Tyree Guyton and some dude named Nadir.

SoulFood Quest: Search for The Best Soul Food

After several years, I’m finally fed up with my favorite Detroit soul food restaurant.

My wife, Akanke, and I live in the often soulless Detroit suburb of Westland. The relatively quiet bedroom community is devoid of any real culture of its own beyond the Westland Mall and the city’s well maintained parks. (There is a lot to be said for tree-lined streets though.)

The best aspect of Westland, however, is that it lies halfway between Michigan’s two cultural meccas – Ann Arbor and Detroit. We always end up driving a half hour in either direction to get our culture on. Concerts, real shopping (in non-mall boutiques) and good (non-chain) restaurants.

Because of our southern upbringing, good southern cooking, aka soul food, is an important part of our lives. No, it isn’t the healthiest food in the world, but it is comfort food. You can’t eat stir fry and tofu every day. When it comes down to it, every once in a while, you’ve just got to have some cornbread, fish and collard greens. Continue reading

SoulFood Quest: Search for The Best Soul Food

After several years, I’m finally fed up with my favorite Detroit soul food restaurant.

My wife, Akanke, and I live in the often soulless Detroit suburb of Westland. The relatively quiet bedroom community is devoid of any real culture of its own beyond the Westland Mall and the city’s well maintained parks. (There is a lot to be said for tree-lined streets though.)

The best aspect of Westland, however, is that it lies halfway between Michigan’s two cultural meccas – Ann Arbor and Detroit. We always end up driving a half hour in either direction to get our culture on. Concerts, real shopping (in non-mall boutiques) and good (non-chain) restaurants.

Because of our southern upbringing, good southern cooking, aka soul food, is an important part of our lives. No, it isn’t the healthiest food in the world, but it is comfort food. You can’t eat stir fry and tofu every day. When it comes down to it, every once in a while, you’ve just got to have some cornbread, fish and collard greens. Continue reading

Michigan Chronicle: Majorly Independent Soul Artist Nadir To Perform At Jazz Fest

Nadir Photo by Lisa Luevanos

Written by Contessa Porter

Nadir is a movement and his biggest hope is that his listeners will find their own rhythm and march beside him. Multifaceted musician Nadir says since (he) can remember, music has been an important part of (his) life.

And he has used it to inspire people to action with each lyric. To label Nadir as a neo-soul artist would be neglecting his rock roots; to call him a rock artist would be overlooking his hip-hop and jazz influences. Fully encompassing all the talents that Nadir possesses would be comparable to expanding the mathematical term Pi to its last digit.

Read the Entire Article HERE

America’s Imperial Misadventure in Iraq

I have nothing more to say about the war in Iraq that I haven’t said many times over the years. On the eve of the invasion I wrote a piece comparing the invasion to past imperial misadventures by the very powers who sought to divide and conquer the nation.

Now that the US occupation of Iraq is kind of, sort of, almost over, what is there to cheer about? Nothing. We shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

This BBC piece sums it up pretty well.

BBC: Assessing America’s ‘imperial adventure’ in Iraq

“This,” a leading American supporter of President George W Bush wrote in a British newspaper back in February 2003, just before the invasion of Iraq, “is our imperial moment”.

He went on to argue that the British had no right to criticise America for doing what they themselves had done so enthusiastically a century before.

But America’s imperial moment did not last long. And now, seven years later, the US is criticised for just about everything that happens here.

Opinion is evenly divided between those who are glad to see the Americans go, and those who criticise them for leaving too soon and potentially laying Iraq open to fresh sectarian violence.

It is a pattern that every occupying power becomes used to. America, it seems, cannot do anything right – not even getting out.

Read the full article HERE

Fight Terrorism: Stop Watching Fox News

You see? This is why I get my news analysis from The Daily Show and not Fox News.

Fox News has stoked the fire of the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque” controversy by demonizing Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, a respected clergyman who is noted as a model of moderate Islam, and who helped the FBI with counterterrorism efforts. They have done so largely by emphasizing one of the Islamic Center’s funding sources,  Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal’s Kingdom Foundation.

What Fox New neglects to mention is that Al-Waleed bin Talal is the #2 shareholder of News Corp, Fox’s parent company! So much for journalistic standards and full disclosure. Check out Jon Stewart’s scathing segment below:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
The Parent Company Trap
www.thedailyshow.com
http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:351494
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

I suppose Fox should also question the terrorists at Harvard University. Those jihadist Ivy Leaguers had the audacity to accept bin Talal’s money when they founded The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program. Here is what they say about their benefactor, Forbes Magazine’s 22nd richest man in the world:

Committed to making the world a better place, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal of Saudi Arabia is known for a wide range of philanthropic activities around the globe. He seeks to promote change through mutual cultural understanding. Continue reading

Fight Terrorism: Stop Watching Fox News

You see? This is why I get my news analysis from The Daily Show and not Fox News.

Fox News has stoked the fire of the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque” controversy by demonizing Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, a respected clergyman who is noted as a model of moderate Islam, and who helped the FBI with counterterrorism efforts. They have done so largely by emphasizing one of the Islamic Center’s funding sources,  Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal’s Kingdom Foundation.

What Fox New neglects to mention is that Al-Waleed bin Talal is the #2 shareholder of News Corp, Fox’s parent company! So much for journalistic standards and full disclosure. Check out Jon Stewart’s scathing segment below:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
The Parent Company Trap
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

I suppose Fox should also question the terrorists at Harvard University. Those jihadist Ivy Leaguers had the audacity to accept bin Talal’s money when they founded The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program. Here is what they say about their benefactor, Forbes Magazine’s 22nd richest man in the world:

Committed to making the world a better place, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal of Saudi Arabia is known for a wide range of philanthropic activities around the globe. He seeks to promote change through mutual cultural understanding. Continue reading

In Case You Missed It: Nadir Recorded LIVE on New Soul Sundays

Nadir and Distorted Soul laid it DOWN at WDET’s Studio A for their live performance on Nick Austin’s New Soul Sundays. If you missed the performance and interview you can check them out here.

NADIR & DISTORTED SOUL LIVE AT WDET – CLICK HERE TO LISTEN NOW

Check Out Photos HERE

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