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Richmond Virginia’s Pevolution: Ladies Showcase Was A Success Filled with Inspiration and Empowerment

Posted by I'esha GaptoothDiva ⋅ July 15, 2011 ⋅ 2 Comments

Where in the world can you walk into a nightclub holding 95% females and feel the support of family and friends, while you sing and dance your heart out? If you said nowhere but heaven, you would’ve been right. However, on July 13th, I had the chance to host one of the hottest all females showcases in Richmond, Virginia, The Pevolution: Ladies Showcase!

It was a spectacular evening filled with Hip-Hop, Gospel, R&B, Rock/Jazz, Spoken Word, and even Comedy. Richmond, Virginia is saturated with raw talent and these women were not afraid to show it off that night. This event was all thanks to Pink Lady Promotions, Tameka Pleasants. Her goal was to provide an outlet for women to not only display their God-given talents but also support and empower other women in their own style. The support and empowerment was truly evident. Grown women came to me and mentioned how motivated and inspired they were to not only support other women, but also pursue their individual dreams.

Of course, if you have been following me for a while, you already know that this is my type of party. It was important to me that people didn’t just view this as a female showcase. As the Host, I wanted them to gain some perspective on just how it feels to not just watch your fellow woman give the crowd her all, but to give her all the praise and accolades she needs to feel confident enough to continue on her journey in finding her purpose. I started the show saying; I was going to point out any haters not giving the love that I felt each performer deserves. I hadn’t met most of the performers before the show, but after everything was complete, it felt like family in that nightclub to me. Women shared their stories and testimonies in an effort to motivate each other, people networked and exchanged numbers, and we all laughed and brought joy to each other. No one even thought about the fact that before 7pm, we never even knew the other existed.

There aren’t many events where that empowering energy is in the air. I don’t know if it’s the season or what, but I’m so proud of the women that attended the event that night. We even had women come out of the crowd wanting to release their gifts on the audience, and the crowd was more then willing to see more. I remember when Tameka asked me to host the event I had some small concerns. I was worried about there being a tough crowd, it’s the middle of the week, and Richmond women are sometimes known for being a little hard on other women. All my concerns were laid to rest when I made it clear we were about inspiration and having fun, and the crowd responded, letting me know that’s what they paid for.

Every performer came with their diverse brand of inspiration from the soulful, to the lyrical, and the party girl attitude to the funny girl swag. The Canal Club was on fire with passionate women, all in love with the idea of sisterhood and respect. During the intermission, a few people demanded that we do it again and again, and I couldn’t agree more, it truly was remarkable. I haven’t felt energy like that from a pack of grown women in a long time, and that right there is saying a lot.

Tameka ended the show by delivering beautiful roses to all the women that performed, even the lovely one from the crowd. She gave her heartfelt appreciation to those involved in the process and promised everyone it would happen again.

People left with tears, saying they felt emotionally moved by the display of togetherness and the actual beauty and talent from the stage. I felt it too, but you know I was not about to cry, with these lashes on my face. I digress. LOL. After the show I was totally amplified and excited, I raced to my mother’s house. I just needed to spread love to the women of the world. Since it was almost 11:30 pm, my mother was the only one who was going to allow me to wake her up with that mushy-girly craziness.

It was a wonderful opportunity, and if given again I would jump on it just to experience that feeling of maybe we really can change the world and run it. One woman at a time.

I’m posting a Youtube video very soon of the footage from the show, so be sure to subscribe to my channel (www.youtube.com/gaptoothdiva) to get the latest of The Baddest Creative Motivation.

Love ya xoxo

For more inspiration and motivation, please follow me on http://www.Twitter.com/GaptoothDiva or @GaptoothDiva

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GaptoothDiva TV – Interview w. Francoise Hamilton, R&B Artist in Richmond, Virginia

Posted by I'esha GaptoothDiva ⋅ July 5, 2011 ⋅ 21 Comments

GaptoothDiva interviews R&B Performing Artist, Francoise in Richmond’s Off The Hooka right before her LIVE performance at The Current. Francoise talks about inspiring her fans through love and laughter and how she plans to put a positive mark on the world through her career. Take a trip down memory lane with us as we listen to her talk about her down home inspirations and her love for music, family, and support. Follow her on www.twitter.com/francoisesings

for

more inspiration and motivation
follow me on www.twitter.com/gaptoothdiva

GaptoothDiva TV – Interview w. Virginia Female Rapper Ms Proper of So Proper Ent. (gaptoothdiva.com)
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GaptoothDiva TV – Interview with The Alternative Queen Of Richmond & Roving Reporter for Hustler Magazine, Sun Karma (gaptoothdiva.com)
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Why Real Hip Hop Fans in Virginia Should Have Been At The Almost Famous Showcase in RVA

Posted by I'esha GaptoothDiva ⋅ June 23, 2011 ⋅ 3 Comments

If you missed the Almost Famous Showcase and you claim to be a real VA Hip Hop Head, please smack yourself in the jaw! No just kidding, that’s why I covered the event – to share all the motivational creativity and true ish with you.

From the moment I walked into H.A.N.D (Have a Nice Day Café), I could hear the sounds of people being blessed by the lyrical prowess of an artist passionate about putting his ideals on the audience. The engagement of an artist and a captivated group of people is like a battle, words being spewed to individuals holding on to punch lines, similes, and metaphors. Everyone desperate to not allow a single great quote fly past their judgmental heads. It’s beautiful, although the artist wants to get a point across, they can only do it in their own way. You either get it or you don’t. Yesterday, was a day… we got it all.

I couldn’t fathom a negative thing to say, except I really wanted to see that freestyle cipher that was promised. However, with so much “ill ass goodness” thrown at me during this event, I almost forgot it was supposed to happen.

From Destiny Da Chef, saying “I’m broke now, but you’ll get the last laugh..” to Kleos making an announcement before his set that his passion and love for what he does made him come straight from work to perform… I was inspired.

I laughed and enjoyed High Skool Heroz’s lyrics and musings about “splitting” on a chick like a banana, and I threw up middle fingers in the air when Artik Phreeze said, “F*ck your swag!”. I felt alive. The music , the words, the performers were all speaking a language that I could understand and identify with. Often times life makes us older than we have to be, thinking everything is supposed to be said like the masses want, but yesterday I said fuck that. Yesterday, I felt almost famous.

The crowd was trying hard to resist the urge to not get up and dance and be motivated. Everyone wants to be cool and not look like a groupie. But the true fans forget that they’re even there, standing up against the stage while singing every lyric right along with the performer. By the end the showcase, no one was really sitting down anymore.

I must admit that for every performer, I can’t say I knew all the words to their songs. However, I can say for the ones that I didn’t, they have just gained a new fan. It’s not a bandwagon type of situation, even if you want to… it just want feel organic. These people that got on the stage yesterday, had a way of transforming into your voice, only the parts that you have unspoken. As I sit here and write this… I’m amazed at how much attention they took from the sweltering heat inside the club, or that I didn’t look at the time not even once while I was there.

Every performer from T-Money & B.A.S.Squad to the last feature of the evening, the infamous Ms. Proper of So Proper Entertainment … I heard every raw emotion that I could identify with through their lyrics. Every smart ass comment or feeling that you don’t always convey was displayed on stage and made me want to jump up and scream “ME TOO!”.

Mr. Oh Yeah co-hosted with Ms. Proper and even he had the energy required to get the job done. For an event that had it’s bumps and issues, you couldn’t tell it. Yes there was a fashion show promised, but who was thinking about a fashion show with all that incredible talent on the stage. Ok, GaptoothDiva was thinking about a fashion show, LOL. But I quickly forgot about it when every performer came on and gave the audience 100% of what they had to give.

Supporters clapped, they sang, they laughed, and screamed in support of lyricist that have identified their feelings and put it against some of the hardest beats I’ve ever heard. So much emotion and love for self-expression conveyed through music, the people could only wish they too had this talent.

Overall, the Almost Famous Showcase was a hit.

I was so proud to have been their capturing the atmosphere of several hungry, dedicated, and talented professional young people not fearing judgment or persecution for their words. All deserving the respect and acknowledgment of the audience they speak towards. It was amazing to have witnessed this, and I can only pray they do it again and again.

You can’t say you love hip hop, rap, or even RVA if you don’t come out to events like this. Stepping outside the realm of what is expected of you and diving head first into what you really want, this is what life is all about. In my journey of self-realization it’s not often I’m surrounded by people feeling and thinking just like me. Yesterday at the showcase it was different. I was surrounded by a bunch of people who were exactly like me. Everyone was almost famous and just wanted to be heard.

Whether they wanted to or not, the audience heard it all. It was amazing!

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