The Beginning Of The Bacchanal

It all began last week, when Philly-born rapper Meek Mill took to Twitter to accuse Drake of not writing his own songs. He even stated that if he had known that Drake used ghost writers, he would have taken their collab song “R.I.C.O”, off of his latest album.
And apparently, not even a lil boy from the suburbs of the 6 taking that. So to retaliate, Drake released a song called “Charged Up”. However, Meek then returned to Twitter to give his own review of the Drake diss track. Meek Mill called it, “baby lotion soft”, and jabbed that even if he did write this song, that it was still weak.

But don’t think that Drake is the only one being clowned in this drama. In fact, after being accused of being “too emotional”, several comical tweets were sent out under the trend #MeekBeLike, mocking Meek for being so sensitive on social media.

The birth of Back to Back

Yet, it seems that despite Mill’s continuous attempts to lash out at Drake and call him out on his weak game, Drake has released yet another song aimed at his rival named Back to Back. And Mill, who is currently performing with his girlfriend Nicki Minaj on her Pink Print tour, seems to have given Drake enough material. In fact, in the song, he goes as far as questioning Mill, “Is that a world tour or your girl’s tour?” This diss goes along with several other jabs, including Drake boldly stating that Mill was being “bodied by a singing n***a.” Yikesssss!

So…#TeamDrake or #TeamMeek?

However, while it seems that so far Drake is winning when it comes to “who could throw more fruit at the tree with the best/ripest fruit”, perhaps Meek does have a point. In the rap/hip hop genre, originality is something that should not really be praised, but expected. The fact that ghost writing is something that can be argued about, or even discussed, goes to show that there is clearly a decline in the quality of music since the days of Tupac.
Drake, who is claimed to be one of the best in the industry, cannot rightfully be given such a position when, in fact, he may not even be writing his own lyrics. Whilst the supposed ghost-writer has denied any allegations that he has written songs for Drake, he has been given credit on Drake latest mixtape for co-writing. One of the things that makes someone a great artiste overall, comes from being a great lyricist.

On the other hand, there can be the argument of whether it truly matters who has written the music, once it is performed well. Some may agree that while Meek can boast of writing his own music, it doesn’t go much further from there. Drake, despite all the fight down, is more or less a strong musical artiste. Whether it be that he’s not a rapper, or more an R&B artist, he has been known how to sell his music and make a brand for himself. So perhaps, being a strong artiste is more than just having original lyrics.

So tell us what you think, which side of the debate are you on? And as for Meek Mill….well the ball is now in your court. Our guess? It’s either he’s finally working on that comeback song, or a reaaaaal fire tweet.
Stay tuned.

But wait, let’s backtrack a bit. Bland was pulled over by state trooper, Brian Encina, on July 10th for failing to use a signal before changing lanes (sounds familiar?). Bland, obviously vex, began to quarrel about how ridiculous she found the ticket was, Encina repeatedly screamed at her, ordering her to step out of the vehicle. As Bland refused to co-operate and continued to argue her case, Encina replied with “I’m going to drag you out of here,” and reportedly took out a taser and threatened, “I will light you up” ,before arresting her.

After her arrest, police stated that she continued to protest her arrest, whilst Bland complained of mistreatment from the police. Videos are even surfacing around the Internet of her arrest, where she clearly states that the police have slammed her head on the ground.

While her autopsy reports her death being due to self-inflicted asphyxiation, there are many suspicions surrounding this case. However, it is said that Bland had previously suffered from depression and had even attempted suicide before, and had even reported this upon arrival at the jail. So in that case, should she then not have been put on suicide watch? Instead of placing her in a cell, usually fit for four, alone?

On the other hand, she was said to be found hanging from the plastic from a garbage bag, which she tied to the partition of her shower. But….apparently garbage bags are not even allowed in the cells of inmates, neither did she have any lacerations consistent with a hanging. Thoughts?

Something isn’t adding up. What do you think? Is it just a plain case of negligence? Or do you sense foul play? When you dig into your inner Mariska Hargitay, comment and let us know what you think. But for now, from this view, it seems that being black is another thing that needs to be legalized in the US, apparently.

To give you further insight of the f*ckery, here’s a brief list of only a few of the remaining 28 demands:

• Power to refuse moderator.
• Wants questions placed in a guarded box at CNMG.
• Wants to be referred to as Prime Minister.
• Power to refuse panel.
• Power to approve backdrop of the debate 1 month in advance.
• Freedom to choose her attire.
• 2 preparation rooms.
• Debate must only be located in POS. (Like somebody wanna use dey helicopter boy)

Sounds pretty much like an Anal Annie to us. What do you think of these demands? Justified or not?

Next it’s really important to begin sifting through what is white noise and what is factual. A lot of money has been spent to keep us distracted from the real issues. We are too busy waiting for the next Sunshine bomb to ask the pertinent questions. As such, I’ve compiled a quick list of things we should all be paying attention to:

• The National Budget: With elections being held a mere month from budget month, you would think there would be some kind of plan in place to hit the ground running. As it stands, with no due parliamentary process, there is no account for the spending being done by the current government in the interim months. If we do see another 5 years of UNC rule, what things are in place to ensure a successful budget? If we go into a PNM government what have they been doing to ensure they have a clear grasp on the country’s financial standing before executing any plans?
• Unemployment: Anyone who is friends with a recent graduate knows how hard it is to find a job in any field that doesn’t require sandwich artistry or any use of a hair net. While we completely respect our hard workers in Customer Service, ’tis a bit discouraging to spend 3 – 5 years working on a Bachelor’s degree to have your only option be in the Fast Food or night life arena. We need our next government to stop lying too us and start working to create genuine jobs in various fields.
• War on Crime: Drugs and illegal arms are rampant on our little island. Pair that with a number of disappearances and we definitely need a serious plan for border control.
• Immigration: globalization is great but the legal movement of immigrants in and out of this country is one of the key stones to addressing a number of larger issues. We need to crack down on persons living and working illegally and pair it with realistic solutions to afford them proper integration. This is a plus for everyone as a lot of illegal immigrants are being taken advantage of by employers and family members in some cases.

This list is just my initial thoughts on what needs to be dealt with in the coming five years. Head to Facebook, Twitter or the comments below to share what you think should really be discussed on the campaign trails.

One of our main issues as a society is that we constantly fail to hold those we’ve placed in office to their word. I find it hard to believe that despite the very apparent minus column in our pay slips we continuously forget that it is OUR money which funds the government. I’ll repeat it for the people in the back; the billions of dollars being spent on failed initiatives, incomplete plans, repaving ALREADY PERFECTLY PAVED ROADS comes from YOUR paycheck. A portion of the money you generate with every sent email and pointless meeting goes towards ensuring that our Prime Minister has a private helicopter at her beck and call , the cost of which usually runs between 5 – 10 THOUSAND USD per hour.

Added to this egregious spending we then have the friends and family syndrome so common to our shores, contracts are awarded to persons affiliated with government officials, companies often run by their families or those who have been open financial contributors during the party elections. So why are we allowing this? We are aware that this is the time where a high of number of Trinidadian nationals are going into business for themselves and diversifying the monopoly we’ve felt in a number of fields for several years. Then why is it that the same companies continuously hold government contracts? How is it that persons have made mint off no other business than that paid for with our money?

Consider simply nothing more than due process being afforded to us in the dealings of this country’s finances? Why can’t we have open tender processes and transparent selections? It is time that we move away from the Banana Republic image that the financial world has of us and the only way we can do that is to start taking steps to reduce the amount of corruption we have. With a clearly failed Intergrity Commission, what is going to be put in place to level some semblance of fairness?

Understanding that we can never truly eliminate corruption is it still totally utopian of me to think that we could at least try to limit it? This is a discussion that needs to be mentioned and needs to be given a fair amount of thought or we’ll be stuck in the same old cycles no matter where we place our X. Politicians only do as they please because we allow it, we have no one but ourselves to blame for the multitude of issues we presently face. What do we, the consumer, who place our government into office plan to do? How are we planning to get better not just for ourselves, but for the better use for our taxpayers’ dollars, instead of it just being used to give them nice things?

The ‘Date Rape’ Drug

Also known as ‘roofies’, these are actually a wide range of drugs which all produce the same effect on its victim. Some effects include uncontrollable sleepiness, nausea, slurred speech and loss of consciousness/resistance, making victims easy targets for kidnappings or sexual assaults.

From listening to the countless lectures given by our mothers such as “Doh let nobody bring yuh a drink” or “Be careful tonight eh”, us girls always feel we know everything and often spit a reply like “Oh gosh I know, I know”. However, according to the video below, it is shocking just how easy it is to be roofied.

Quick tips to prevent being ‘roofied’

Although we may see it on television and may even sometimes steups at the naivety of the girls(“Hmm, dah could never be me nah!”). Locally, we think that frankly, not enough precaution is taken with regard to spiked drinks. Living in such a country where the crime rate is particularly not the lowest, caution must be taken, in every aspect. We cannot afford to slip. So these are some quick tips to avoid being that girl on television.

• Do not accept drinks from others, sometimes, even yuh friends. (We know, the free drink does be nice)
• Do not share drinks with anyone, think of it as more for you.
• Don’t drink from common beverage, like a fruit bunch bowl.
• If yuh feel like that Rum n Coke hitting you harder than usual, seek out help immediately.
• If you left your drink unattended, leave it right there.
• Make sure you are drinking around people you trust, and that you keep your hand over your drink.

Ladies, we can be seen as very vulnerable and thus are often targeted as the easiest prey. So, after watching the attached video, we hope that it opens your eyes, and makes you more aware the next time you takin’ a lime at Brooklyn Bar or Coco Lounge.

Feeling yuhself syndrome

These days it seems like we don’t only want to be accepted, but to be constantly reminded by those around us that we are the sh*t. Our generation has reduced itself to measuring our self-worth by the amount of likes and retweets that we get. It goes to the extent where some people even try to define themselves online, instead of their profiles complementing who they really are. It not that serious, jus be yuhself.

Most Coas’

So yuh ex now like a picture of your bestie on Maracas in her thong Rebel swimwear, and all of a sudden you changing yuh status to “These hoes aint loyal nah”. Some things that others do/say on social media do in fact tend to make others feel some type of way. So what better way to deal with this than jus taking a breather and stepping away from it every once in a while. Just had a bad break up? Doh go and stalk. Know yuh f*ck up over the weekend when you were drunk? Stay low. Cause else, if yuh can’t handle the heat…you get the idea.

Caring about the wrong things

So churches around the world are mysteriously being burnt down, poverty, plane crashes and widespread diseases…..but somehow all we can find ourselves talking about is Caitlyn Jenner and she mixed-breed cyat. Social media has made everyone, us included, victims of marginalizing…well, bullsh*t. There are often more serious issues than can be addressed and that need to be discussed on a global scale, but yet we still remain on the small minded chatter. Although the ole talk does be sweet, maybe it’s time we try to keep the other things in mind.

TMI

Fun fact: whatever you post online, whether you delete it or not, can always be recovered. Many do not seem to keep this in mind and do not think before they click send or post. We understand, yuh body sweet like molasses, but that does not mean we have to see every nook and cranny EVERY post. Leave a lil for imagination nah. Same speed, be careful what you share about yourself. You never know who’s watching, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to find out the hard way.

Being Idle/Wasting time

Trust, we love a scroll through as much as everyone else, but we spend too much time doing just that. Ever pick up yuh phone and only realize later that you’ve been reading through Trini Twitter bacchanal for over an hour? We know the feeling. So put down yuh phone and keep it down, you would be surprised how much more productive you are. Keep it for more convenient times, like when yuh hadda hit the throne.

Cyatfish

Well, this is self-explanatory. Not everyone is who they say they are online, and it is very easy to get the chain up. If you think filters are your only worry, boo boo, we are in 2015. There are now apps which apply make-up and shrink waists, etc. Yuh understand? Stay aware, or rather, beware.

Stuck to yuh phone

Well this can be seen anywhere. A group of padnas, if you check 2 out of 4 of their status, it reads “Chillin with the bredrins”, yet they are all dowwwwwwwn in their phones. Social media has made us, ironically, less social. Just now we will see children learning to type before they learn how to speak, because at the rate we going, who needs to talk right? (Well, maybe to talk to Siri). Bout time we got serious and learn how to appreciate the moments with those around us. Rather than those in the cyber world who we, in reality, just don’t f_ck with.

Homegirl boxed up the “B*tch”s wife in an ole grip and hauled that thing around like she just came back from Guyana with clothes to sell on Charlotte Street. ( oh yea the b*tch she refers to in the song happens to be a dude ) Whilst her two disturbing-looking side-kicks torture the trophy wife to nights end, she made several calls to the damn bitch who to no avail refused to pay up! And in keeping with the good ole kidnapping regulations 101 she’d have no choice but to get rid of the wifey right? … Nah, too easy for badgalriri. There is a PLOT TWIST ….

Like a modern day feminist mafia movie.. there’s ass, nipples, busted heads, potential drowning, high b*tches and RiRi’s naked body covered in blood ..If you’re into that sorta thing.

So If you haven’t already, take a look see at the bad-assery before it’s permanently banned from Vevo (and by the looks of it, we’re guessing you don’t have much time)

Let us know what you think in the comments.

P.S – Rihanna had some trouble with her accountant some time ago, leaving her almost close to bankruptcy in 2009. They settled out of court for less than she would have hoped for. We’re guessing she’s finally getting payback by directing and blatantly calling them out in the video.

We’re legit concerned for their well-being right now.

However, lately, traveling to and from Tobago seems to be harder than getting a clear word out of Jack Warner.
With only one boat in operation, and our one beloved airline available to fly us out to Bago, you already know how airport and port lookin.
People standing in airports on standby since 4AM. Port looking like a sell out fete. People cannot find their way back to work in time. No more boat tickets available until July 8th, whyyyy doin it??
So amongst all of the bacchanal and quarrel, as you can imagine, here are some fascinating tips and musings we overheard from our fellow flustered Trinis:

• “CALL KAMLA!!”
• “Bess we build a damn bridge oui”
• “Tell Kamla stop buy weed and buy plane nah”
• “How it go have one f*ckin boat?!”
• “Lewwe jus get a blasted train between the two islands nah”
• “Aye! I openin ah business call Standby, all of alyuh getting flight, who dey??”

…You get the idea. But on a serious note. This has not been the first time that an issue with travel arrangements between our islands has arisen. It is about time that something is done. Some of you may think it’s not that serious, but believe it or not, people don’t just go between Bago/Trinidad to lime. What yuh really feel we could do about this?

If you were also caught in the Tobago Trap, share yuh chronicles with us! #TrappyBusiness

Dreadlocks

This famous  trend  of  locking and twisting of the hair and in many cases an actual religious hair requirement will probably never fade, and whilst some of the good ones have bidded RIP to theirs and have pieces of it wrapped up in a plastic bag tucked away in a drawer at home. There are still the few endangered species that walk amongst us. We’ve seen you turn your locks into beautiful mane art, by crimping it, wearing it with updos and decorating it with beads. Rastas we love yall,  all of yall. But when you’ve finally appeared to have more forehead than locks then the time has come for you too to bid farewell to yours.

The High Top & Fade

Not sure if you want to keep that growth or if you want to have a fade and sculpt your scalp like the true artist that you were born to be? Then opt for the high top fade.  Grow out that hair to any length and you can then get super creative with the fade. We’ve seen many versions of this, (hightop mohawk fade et al) on many a different hair types and the looks are all dope.  We’re exempting the ones who overkill on the abstract art on their scalps from dopeness. Let’s keep the doodles for kindergarten and this trend right here would remain a keeper.

The Messy Fro

Possibly  the hair movement that gets the question “when yuh cutting it” the most. Because, let’s face it people aren’t exactly sure where you’re going with this, it just grows and grows. But, that’s the point, the hair grows out without actually ever having to have a visit by a comb …or a barber.. Just imagine, that annoying call you make ahead for your barber to give you a specific time to arrive and when you do, you still have to wait for hours, meanwhile your girl is steady textin you convinced that your barber time takes up quality time. Having a messy fro eliminates frequent salon trips, fights with your girl and ever having to look for a writing tool again, as it also transforms into your very own pen/pencil holder.

The Man Bun

Got a surplus of hair and not exactly sure what to do with it? In appears the man bun. It’s little to no maintenance and literally combines a ponytail and a hair knot. It can be grown to any desired length (once capable of actually being held together) and you can even get crazy with it and have the sides shaved and the rest go into a topknot. You may get a hate it or love it reaction from the general public but who cares? It’s your man bun, own it! And anyone who ridicules your man bun secretly wishes they can grow one too.

The Bald Head and Bearded

If you’re a baldie dude , most likely you’re already confident and would need something to spice up your bald look as to prevent yourself from looking too clean (yes there is such a thing). In our opinion, most bald guys look tons better when paired up with facial hair. So pop those hair pills, haul around that tiny comb and start growing and grooming that beard. Or perhaps, you already have a full on beard? Well, because your beard is so full of secrets it’s only right that you get candid with us at the top of your head. Pair it up with some mean dark shades and hat and you’re instantly the mysterious Heisenberg (Breaking Bad fans get with us), or just Rick Ross ..UHHHHH

The Pompadour Cut

Go from  0 to Pretty real quick with this edgy do. Maybe you’re a wildchild stuck in the 60s, or perhaps you would like to step your chic magnetism capability up. Either way, this style works on anyone with a face and hair that moves. If you don’t have moving hair, run to pennywise and buy yourself a relaxer.  Just keep in mind, this trend is particularly high maintance as it requires the back and sides of your hair to be trimmed pretty often to keep up with the look.  It also requires you to invest in a new wardrobe to match your new do. Preferably retro shirts  and eyewear, and maybe even a leather jacket and a motorcycle. You can go right ahead and keep your selfie instagram filters on ‘willow’ and ‘inkwell’ also………you’re welcome.

The Buzzcut

Not exactly bald, Don’t exactly have much hair either. This is a classic do and will always be the  hairstyle that most men revert to when they are done experimenting. Or just haven’t yet.  Or  maybe they work at the bank? It is probably the most acceptable style in history of male hairstyles and freshest of course. As you can diversify your buzzcut in many ways with a good shape up or lineup. Think rapper Drake and his oh so splendid part that splits deeper than the red sea that Moses parted. No weird stares, No disaproval letters from your manager at your office job, Nothing. So if you’re a borderline boring Barry or semi safe Simon, this will always be the hairtrend for you.