3/18/22 O&A NYC FASHION: The Surrealist Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli

The surrealist fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli makes us think of fashion as an art medium. Elsa Schiaparelli’s fashion emerged in the 1930s, rivalling Coco Chanel. Schiaparelli’s friendships with surrealists like Jean Cocteau and Salvador Dali resulted in fashion partnerships. Continue reading

3/5/22 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Shenseea – Deserve It (Jimmy Kimmel Live 2022)

Dancehall’s princess Shenseea performs Deserve It on Jimmy Kimmel Live 2022. Shenyeng is in full promo mode ahead of her upcoming album titled Alpha which will be released on March 11.  Continue reading

3/3/22 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Fabolous ft. Tamia – So Into You

Into You is the third single from Fabolous second studio album, Street Dreams featuring Tamia. The song also appears on Tamia’s album More. Continue reading

3/1/22 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Halle Berry Wins Best Actress: 74th Oscars (2002)

“I wanted to believe it was so much bigger than me,” said actress Halle Berry of becoming the first (and still the only) Black performer to win a Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Monster’s Ball at the 2002 74th Academy Awards. Continue reading

3/11/21 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Toni Braxton – Just Be A Man About It

Toni Michele Braxton born October 7, 1967, R&B artist, songwriter, pianist, actress, and television personality. She has sold over 70 million records worldwide as of 2020, including 41 million albums, and is one of the highest-selling female R&B artists in history.  Continue reading

3/10/21 O&A NYC WALESTYLEZ HIP HOP WEDNESDAY: Lil Kim ft. Sisqo – How Many Licks?

How Many Licks? is by Lil Kim featuring vocals by Sisqó from her second studio album, The Notorious  K.I.M. It was released as the record’s second single in 2000. Mario Winans and Sean Combs produced How Many Licks? and wrote it with Lil Kim and Sisqó.

Lil Kim ft. Sisqo – How Many Licks?

3/9/21 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Marian Anderson Lincoln Memorial Concert- Voice of Freedom American Experience PBS

Marian Anderson stepped up to a microphone placed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and stared out at a crowd of more than 75,000 people. She had been barred from performing at Constitutional Hall, but thanks to clever advocacy by Walter White of the NAACP and the aid of high-powered allies like Eleanor Roosevelt, the concert was now set to make history. Continue reading

3/30/20 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Moms Mabley – Don’t Sit on my Bed (1948)

Moms Mabley performs Don’t Sit On My Bed form the 1948 all-Black cast film Killer Diller. Continue reading

3/28/20 O&A NYC THE MORNING FUNNIES: The Terrible Awful- The Help

Minny tells of the “Terrible Awful” and the secret ingredient in her special revenge chocolate pie.  Continue reading

3/22/20 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Alvin Ailey’s Cry With Yolanda Adams and Jacqueline Green (Black Girls Rock 2018)

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancer and Baltimore School for the Arts alumna Jacqueline Green ’07 performs Ailey’s iconic solo Cry (1972).  Continue reading