Month: December 2006

2006 has gone very fast. One of the wishes I made last year has become true: I now do live in an English speaking country.
I still have several wishes I’d like to see fulfilled, but I think that this year, my priority goes to writing and music journalism.
I think that I’d be delighted if my genuine passion for the music could be rewarded with some good money.
I have good projects in the making and I will work hard towards my goals in order to achieve something concrete in this precise field.
Of course, I’d also be delighted if some other wishes came true. But I will let God decide what is good for me anyway.
My wishes for you all, dear readers, are wishes of health, prosperity and peace. May the threats of war and terrorism weaken in this world. May human beings realize in the end that they are all brothers. It might sound a little bit like an utopia, but I hope that men and women all over the world will give peace a better chance!
May God bless you all. Happy New Year 2007!
Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

A while ago, I had written an article about the benefits of monoi oil for your hair and I’d like to confirm what I said: monoi oil is excellent for your hair and not as damaging as any chemical hair mask (I’d really like to warn all of you against chemical hair masks. While your hairdresser will always advice you to buy them, I can tell you that those masks do have very negative effects on your scalp PH and create an imbalance, which makes the scalp become real itchy after a while. Moreover, you take the huge risk of deshydrating your hair on a long term. Why? Because most of those masks contain cetearyl alcohol which dries hair awfully. I can tell, by experience, please believe me.)
I thought that everything was ok since I used monoi oil as a mask, because my hair really looked shinier and was much more manageable. However, since I moved to London, I noticed that I started losing big amounts of hair. Luckily, it wasn’t noticeable, because I have always had a huge mass of hair since my childhood. I was very worried. Each time after I applied my chemical dye, my hair became drier and drier again. My scalp was ichting as hell. I was had rashes on my scalp that drove me literally crazy. I was sure about one thing: I couldn’t go on like this. My hair looked horrible again and my scalp was suffering very much.
Like 6 years ago, I was using henna. I always had good results with henna. But it was bright red. It didn’t really fit with my skin and general appearance, so I decided to dye my hair blonde- and to leave henna which pleased my hairdresser very much.
Hairdressers will always try to badmouth henna, because it is cheaper than their own products and it coats hair ways better than any of their luxury products and treatments. I recently discovered through google search that chemical hair dyes can lead you to bladder cancers- and worst to collapse due to a bad allergic reaction.
I am not the kind of person who likes to put her health at high risk. I try to take care of myself the best I can. I really thought that my hair deserved better, so I decided to go back to henna. Not red henna, of course, but blonde henna.
When you’re used to dying your hair chemically, many people will warn you that you cannot go back to henna easily, which is partially true.
You must first ensure that your henna pasta is a 100% made of lawsonia inermis (organic henna plant or a mixture of lawsonia and indigo leaf for black henna).
Then you must make it sure that the product allows you to dye your hair directly when chemically dyed (those products exist, so don t worry).
Haidressers will try to scare you and to tell you that henna can cause severe allergies. Lies! Allergies to organic henna are very rare and don’t have major consequences on your health. Only henna that is mixed up with chemical products can cause SEVERE damage to your health, so please verify the composition of your henna product before buying it. Remember that many shops sell the product under the name henna when it isn’t pure henna.
Another thing to remember is that, before using your organic henna shade, you need to dye some of your hair that remained in your brush, in order to be totally sure of the final result! Don’t take any risk, because you might regret it.
I went back to henna since September. After three months of organic blonde henna treatment (I use the golden shade) , I will let you judge by yourself of the good results :

On a side note, if you want to detox your scalp, use some Indian Chikakai plant instead of your habitual shampoo. It actually works!
Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Global rating of the product: 4.5 stars
Proof s Hand To Hand mixtape allies Detroit s hottest talents. You will meet Proof, the whole IF crew ( Purple Gang, Woof Pac, Supa Emcee), the hot I-Mac group, Quest Mc Quody, Slum Village and many more good Detroit names such as Marv Won of the Fat Killaz on the CD. The mixtape s assets are certainly brushed up productions: Sick Notes, BR Gunna, J Hill, Jay Dee, DJ House Shoes, Trick Trick , Swifty Mc Vay’s Fire Department contributed to a high quality production.
Hand To Hand will allow the listener to appreciate a full range of various artistic talents.
IF Soldiers fully represent on Times Up: an incredible flow delivery, a murderous spirit, spicy and well thought lyrics, rhythmic drum beats combined with various instrumentals make this track particularly hot. IF soldiers are taking over: Purple Gang, Woof Pac , Supa Emcee and their CEO RIP Proof show some unity. Back is the meaning of raw: opponents better not mess with the IF crew. The track is pure fire.
Don t miss Supa Emcee s Play With A Nut. Built on claps, piano, violins and dark basslines combined with Supa Emcee s powerful lyrics, the track will offer the listener a real perspective about the Detroit hood. Supa Emcee is a real busta . I highly recommend you the song.
Woof Pac s Western style 1 + 8 N Us song is based on a guitar notes and rhythmic drum beats song. I enjoyed the real OG dimension of the song brought to you by three merciless players in the game.
Macks And Pumps is a beautiful Purple Gang Trick Trick collaboration. The Trick Trick produced song leads you into a menacing, dark atmosphere. Little by little, you will feel the upcoming tension. Time for overheated speech and gun talk.
Bells, a dark bassline, violins, claps, keyboard sounds mixed up with the menacing voices of the artists will reinforce the scurrilous intent of the track.
Coming Up With Lent has a little bit of Promatic spirit in it. Proof and Ameer s rapid flow delivery totally matches with the bass sounds and the dope ass beats. Enjoy both players know how.
Don t underestimate Swifty Mc Vay s talent! The skilled emcee with smash you up lyrically in no time with his Fyre Department Team. You will find the Lawsuit song on Swifty s Forest Fyres mixtape, a very valuable solo piece of work that I highly recommend to all of you who haven’t listened to it yet.
Heart Of The Streets combines pan flute and heart beat alike drum beats. Feel the coldness of the streets, the pain of the numerous losses of the street soldiers. One slug will tear people s lives away.
Wot I Look Like fully describes hood fights. Violins, claps, rhythmic beats totally intensify the harshness of the hood context brought to you by the Woof Pac crew.
Quest Mc Cody s Detroit City gig will barely leave the listener indifferent. The track welcomes you into a quite euphoric ambiance that is enhanced with harpsichord and keyboard sounds. Detroit City fully comes to shine. Let’s stand up and take part to the rhythmic and festive gig!
The DJ House Shoes produced Remember When is definitely worth your attention. The swinging track featuring Marv Won of the Fat Killaz will take you back to the golden age of hip hop.
Wudd Up beautifully fits into the Hands Up mixtape. Originally from PG The Mixtape 2006 will allow you to appreciate Purple Gang’s lyrical skills and nice flow delivery. Purple Gang has an obvious passion for rhyming that will shine on the well handled track.
The Beats, The Rhymes featuring Proof and Chino XL is a classic if you ask me. Thanks to Big Proof’s unconditional love for hip hop, the days of the hip hop shop have been kept alive. Guitar notes combined with rapid drum beats will suggest the enthusiasm and the huge passion for a non commercial hip hop that is all about the beats, the rhymes and the mic.
While the artists spit on the rap game’s hypocrisy, they will totally convince you about their genuine love for a subtle art called hip hop.
How I Got Over enlightens local Detroit artist J Hill s talent. Dark bass lines contrast with soft female vocals, while electric guitar sounds will enhance J Hill s confident voice. I liked the opposition between light and dark, night and day, as suggested by the complexity of the instrumentals.
Russian Roulette allows the listener to step into a dark and menacing atmosphere provided by electric guitar and keyboard sounds. The song teaches you about the fragility of life. Well done, Kuniva.
This That Heat is a beautiful Supa Emcee/ Konflikt collaboration. Organ sounds are mixed up with rhythmic beats. Both artists are lyrically superb. I loved the mixture of scary/ murderous/ gangsta atmosphere of the track.
Royce da 5.9 and Proof worked on a Girls With Da Boom Remix. I recommend you the variation on the Girls With Da Boom Theme that will allow to discover another face of the track.
I highly enjoyed Mr Hash s Talk Over song. The song s theme explains the state of mind of a man who has always been determined to do what he was the best at it: rapping. It eventually paid off.
Anybody should take advice from Mr Hash s mouth. Don t listen to the people trying to discourage you and to convince you to abandon your way. Do what you re best at, and most importantly, go to the end.
Globally speaking, the Hand To Hand mixtape is worth your deepest attention. Not only does it feature valuable emcees from Proof s IF label, it will also allow connoisseurs and non specialists to appreciate tight Detroit talents such as Mr Hash of I-Mac, Trick Trick and less known however non less valuable Detroit emcee J Hill.
The mixtape summarizes the enthusiasm, the passion of local Detroit artists for hip hop and for their hometown Detroit City.
Explosive, incisive, raw, rhythmic, lyrical: one could barely stay indifferent in front of so much raw energy and the many talents that represent REAL Detroit hip hop. Hand To Hand is the diamond in the dirt. Cop it with no hesitation.
Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

I might not be posting for a few days, but I can ensure you that there will be some intense musical reads when i will be back…i have a Proof Hand To Hand mixtape and an Eternal E CD reviews in the making…stay tuned and Merry Xmas to you all:)

Do you miss the golden age of Maurice Malone s hip hop shop in Detroit?
Many Detroit emcees talked about it and still talk about it in a nostalgic way. RIP Proof named one of his mixtapes I Miss The Hip Hop Shop. Not only does this mixtape carry the battling spirit of Detroit hip hop in the early 90 s, it also revives the passion for an art many artists claim to be gifted for, but that a chosen few really master.
Maybe some of you are not aware of it, but Maurice Malone s legendary hip hop shop reopened recently in Detroit.
If you re not from the D town, don t worry: the Hip Hop Shop has a my space account that will allow you to explore what the famous house is really all about.
While featuring a lot of familiar and less Detroit faces from the Detroit underground scene, it will allow the viewer to penetrate into the hot atmosphere of the freestyle battles. Watch Eminem at his early beginnings of listen carefully to underground legends such as Slum Village, the Hip Hop Shop s my space account will ignite the passion and allow you to enjoy emcees spitting pure fire to the fullest.
Have a look.
You are all about hip hop? Don t sleep on that place, then. Rather spread the word around you!
Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

This Macomb Daily article gets more into detail about the Court hearing of December the 19th, 2006.

Global rating of the product: 4 stars
Since his recent release from jail, BG Knocc Out hasn t been sleeping. In fact he has been rather musically active. One of Compton s true OGs is back, with a killa track: Tha Known.
With his partners in crime, King T and his brother Dresta, BG Knocc Out will hit studio gangstas hard with his lyrical slugs.
Time for some serious gun talk. BG Knocc Out and his crew are running the streets. Meet them at the street corner.
Gunshots, trumpets, keyboards, rhythmic drum beats will allow the listener to step into the terrific Compton universe.
The track is all about street credibility and real skills. It cuts snitches and paper rappers neck off.
BG Knocc Out, known as the baby gangsta who worked hand in hand with Compton legend RIP Eazy E in the early 90s, is taking over with authority.
The skilled rapper and his associates collaboration totally enlightens flow, lyrics, instrumentals.
The crew wants nothing in life, but to be legit. The three men manage revive the spirit of Compton.
You should definitely listen to that song, because it is really worth it!
Copyright © 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Although I am not the kind of person who likes to complain for every little thing I disagree with, I personally think that the British government is pushing it too far this time, mixing political and religious issues.
It looks like Tony Blair’s unintelligent decision to debaptize Christmas into “Wintervall”, “Winter Party”, “Luminos” or whatever is motivated by the will not to offend other religious communities, Muslims in particular. Scenes of the nativity have been banned on purpose from stamps while Christmas school parties have been named “Winter party”.
Seriously, I am angry. Not because I am a Christian fundamentalist. No, that’s definitely not me. I am not into corporate religions and I am rather in favor of a positive spirituality involving permanent positive thinking (well, that’s my own way of living it up, you don’t have to adhere to my way of thinking).
I am angry, because Christmas is a celebration that has more than 2000 years of tradition in countries with a Christian cultural background. I am angry, because the original meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus, no matter if you believe in him or not. Historically speaking, one could barely deny that Jesus actually existed.
Symbolically, the birth of Jesus is God’s present to humanity. That’s also the main reason why people started gathering and offering each other some presents. Christmas is all about sharing and forgiveness. I can remember the wonderful Christmas I lived as a kid, following my granny’s German tradition.
Never has Christmas Celebration been very much of an issue in other European countries, but Tony Blair decided to make it one.
Look: Great Britain is a country that is rich of many cultural backgrounds and I like it. I am very much tolerant about other religious traditions. I have been close to the Jewish and Muslim community in the past. But I can’t figure out why Muslims, for instance, should be offended about the word Christmas or the scene of the nativity pictured on a stamp, that’s just plain ridiculous!
Should I be offended when Jews celebrate Pessah? Or because Indians have fireworks at Diwali? Should I get mad because Muslims have their Aid El Kebir celebration?
Come on, people, the question whether Christmas should be removed from our calendars is irrelevant! Christian countries have a christian cultural background. Should we apologize for that? I think that Tony Blair has a few screws loose. He should rather put major efforts in fighting terrorism instead of breaking his head on inexistent issues.
Merry Christmas! Don’t let politicians spoil yours for political correctness purposes.
Copyright © 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Charles E. Ramirez / The Detroit News
MOUNT CLEMENS — Eminem and his estranged wife, Kim Mathers, were granted their second divorce today after appearing in Macomb County Circuit Court.
The rap star, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, appeared with his wife in court this afternoon for a short settlement hearing before Circuit Judge Antonio Viviano.
The couple answered questions from the judge in court indicating they understood the divorce was final and that they agreed to divide property according to a private settlement. They left the courthouse after the brief hearing without speaking to reporters.
“Both conducted themselves with dignity and respect,” Viviano said after the hearing. “They were a pleasure.”
The settlement comes three months after attorneys for the couple failed to reach a divorce settlement and the case went into mediation.
Eminem’s second marriage to his high school sweetheart ended just 82 days after a wedding ceremony at Rochester’s Meadow Brook Hall on Jan. 14. He filed for divorce in Macomb Circuit Court.
The rap star requested the divorce because of “a breakdown in the marriage relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved,” according to court documents.
Eminem has also asked the couple retain joint legal and physical custody of their daughter, Hailie Jade Scott.
The couple was first married in June 1999 in St. Joseph, Mo. Eminem first filed for divorce in August 2000, and the divorce was finalized in October 2001.