Farewell Donnie Simpson

Everyone hit the studio and the phone lines today to wish Donnie Simpson a farewell as he departs WPGC 95.5. After dedicating 32 years of his life as the worlds most renown radio/TV personality, Donnie Simpson leaves behind a legacy of extraordinary excellence.

He has paved the way for many African American media broadcasters. From hosting Black Entertainment Television's (BET) "Video Soul," serving as a sports anchor for WRC-TV and paying your bills on Washington D.C's Donnie Simpson Morning Show.

During his career, Donnnie has picked up many awards including Billboards "Program Director of the Year," Billboards" 1998 Air Personality of the Year," Black Radio Exclusives "Drummer Award" and is nominated for the National Radio Hall of Fame this year.

Donnie's authentic and genuine love for people, music and his community makes him an irreplaceable icon that will forever be missed. We LOVE Donnie and all that he has done. While there are no details about his upcoming venture, we wish him the best, and will continue to support his movement.

Donnie will be holding a farewell luncheon today at Ben's Chilly Bowl in Washington D.C. from 12-2p.m. Come down and enjoy lunch on Donnie, and wish him the best in his future endeavors. If you can't make it out today, you can contact Donnie by sending an email to: donnieonair@gmail.com.

Behind The Scenes with Que

Yesterday I interviewed Que, former member of Day 26, at his new home studio with Global Soul Entertainment. Que informed me about his upcoming projects and cleared the air about the issues between him and the band, his relationship with Dawn, and so much more!! Check out the broadcast below!

Hope For Haiti Telethon Raises $57m

If you missed the LIVE special "Hope for Haiti" concert and fundraiser, you missed an opportunity to witness true STAR POWER!!

A number of celebrity musicians, athletes, actors and even the former President, Bill Clinton, were in attendance to help raise money to rebuild the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. With moving performances, speeches and live reports from the field, the fundraiser was nothing shy of amazing. Celebrities took to the phone lines to accept donations from callers, sending a heartfelt message that Haiti, is not alone.

Donations are still being accepted at www.hopeforhaitinow.org or by calling 1-877-99-HAITI.

Here are a few highlights from the event:

HU Hands for Haiti Concert

DC's hottest rapper, Wale, takes the stage in concert today, to raise money for Haiti survivors.

The concert will take place tonight at 7p.m. in the Crampton Auditorium of Howard University. Concert tickets are only $20 for general admission, and $10 for students. The funds will be used to help the relief efforts in Haiti, so get out there and show your support.

Click here to purchase your ticket in advance, or call 202-806-7194 for event details.

Remember KeKe Wyatt?

The R&B singer who served jail time for stabbing her husband multiple times on Christmas?

Well KeKe has put down the steak knife, picked up the mic and is ready to drop her second LP. Out of prison and back on the scene, Keke has released the first single off her upcoming album, "Who Knew" and let me just say, she looks and sounds better than ever!!

Who knew jail does a body good?

Tune into Real Talk Radio with Mz. Monique, Thursday, February 4th @2p.m. to find out what KeKe has been up to, and what you can expect from her new album.

Laura Izibor Comes to D.C.

For all of my neo-soul junkies, you might want to march down to the Birchmere tonight to witness a LIVE performance by singer/song writer, Laura Izibor.

She will be performing alongside on my newest favorite soul artist, Alison Carney. The dynamic duo is definitely going to set the stage on FIRE. If your not familiar with their music then you might want to get acquainted.

Laura hales from Dublin, Ireland and is on a world class tour to promote her new album, "Let The Truth Be Told." and let me just say....her talent ain't nothing but the TRUTH.

Her music ability is making headlines all across the US. Check out her LIVE performance from NBC, Philadelphia. Get into the groove, and purchase your ticket for tonight's show.

For more information, check out the Birchmere Legendary Music Hall of Alexandria, Va.

Cassie Wants to "F!ck You Silly"

New music from Cassie, featuring Nick Minaj, "Fuck You Silly." Check it out!! If you were wondering how Cassie was able to hold on to Diddy for so long, I think you'll get the point by the end of the song.


Cassie is definitely a freak behind closed doors, and this song is only one of many that describes her freakish ways (Remember her first single, "Me & You")

Anyway.....I'm usually not a fan of Cassie's music, but this track is HOT!! It gives me an Electric Pop feel, with a little Hip Hop swag. Niki definitely kills it on this one...Let me know what you think.

Looking for a JOB??

Then mark your calendar for January 26, 2010, 11 a.m. - 5p.m. for the Washington Post's Mega Career Fair!If you are looking for employment in the following areas, then you don't want to miss this opportunity to meet face to face with recruiters and employers. The following careers in demand include:

• Health care
• Engineering and Technology
• Government Contracting
• Administrative

Job seekers are encouraged to bring several hard copies of their resume for on the spot interviews, critics and recommendations. The event will be held at the Dulles Expo & Conference Center (North Hall) @ 4368 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20153.

Click here for questions or more information.

MLK Free Concert

The Kennedy Center and Georgetown University are hosting a musical celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. The concert featuring two-time Grammy Award–winning, platinum-selling singer-songrwriter India.Arie also includes the Let Freedom Ring Choir with Music Director, Rev. Nolan Williams Jr. and Mistress of Ceremonies Andrea Roane.

Free tickets will be given away two (2) per person in line in the Hall of Nations at 10 a.m. on Mon., Jan. 18 on a first-come, first-served basis. Get out there and get your ticket. If you miss the show, don't fret, I'll be covering the event and will have footage for your viewing pleasure, so stay tuned!!

Help Haiti

The search for survivors continues as rescue teams from China, France, Spain and the U.S. search under the rubble of collapsed buildings, days after an earthquake hit the world's poorest country, Haiti.

January 12, 2010 was a tragic day for millions across the world, as a 7.0 convulsion hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti, destroying monuments, hospitals, prisons and neighborhoods, taking the lives of more than 70,000 people.

While rescuers are frantically working to save the trapped and injured, wreckage and destroyed airports and roadways make relief efforts difficult to if at all possible. Haitians have taken it upon themselves to search for survivors. With little supplies, medicine and food, the death toll drastically increases daily.
The people of Haiti desperately needed aid from EVERYONE around the world. There are a number of non-profit organizations that are working to assist relief efforts with monetary funds and goods. Whatever you can contribute will help someone in a great way.

Here are a few creditable organizations that you can use to contribute what you can to the people of Haiti. Remember we are all brothers and sisters and we only have each other in the mist of crisis and ANYTHING you can do to help is worth giving.

Human United for Action
www.hufac.org

Community Coalition for Haiti
www.cchaiti.org

Doctors without Borders
www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Donate through your At&T cell phone:

• Wireless customers can donate money to the Red Cross International Relief fund by sending a text message with the word "HAITI" to 90999.
• After a confirmation message arrives, the customer must reply "yes" to finalize the donation, which is added to their bill or deducted from the prepaid account.
• AT&T said 100 percent of the money will be passed onto the Red Cross although standard text messaging rates apply.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

On Monday, January 18, Greater DC Cares and 3,000 community members will unite in service to reflect the legacy of social justice of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

All projects will focus on youth and education. Some of which include:

• Paint college-themed murals in a public school classroom
• Create safe, healthy play spaces for area children
• Prepare meals for hungry youth
• Create educational packets and kits to support area schools
• And more!

Join Greater DC Cares by volunteering your time, or by making a donation. click here to register for the event. There is a $25 registration fee, per person, that covers the costs of the event (paint, trash bags, brushes, t-shirts, project development, etc) and makes this event possible!

If you have any questions? Email Billy Fettweis at wfettweis@greaterdccares.org.

DMV Video Contest

Calling all video producers.....

Its time to put your skills to the test and make some money off your talent. DJ Quicksilver of 93.9 WKYS is having a video contest for his solo single "Where They Do That At." The top five videos to receive the most hits will be nominated for best video. Prize winnings include a $500 gift card to DTLR (Down Town Locker Room) and $1,000 cash prize. All contest submissions need to be in by Sunday, January 31st, so get your cameras ready.

To give you a little motivation, see below for Quicksilver's official video for the song. Click here for more detail about the contest!

Lights...camera...action!!

Rafeal Ross Album Release Party

Award winning Christian vocalist, Rafeal Ross will be celebrating the release of his album "New Creation, "LIVE" Saturday, January 30th at his home church, Mt. Pleasant Baptist, in Herndon Virginia.

Tickets for the event are on sell, and are moving quickly, so get yours before they sell out! Everyone will receive a FREE CD with every ticket purchase, so get yours today by logging onto www.rafealross.com.

Rafeal will be featured on Real Talk Radio with me on the 21st of this month. We will be sampling clips from his album, so don't miss it. I'll be sending out reminders next week, so stay tuned!

Spread the word and let somebody know that good music is being released in the DMV!!!

Join The Lookie Looky Movement

D.C.'s up & coming rapper, Don Juan, is doing big things this year as his hit single "Lookie Looky" was officially released off his Jive Records/Battery record deal.

Don Juan will be celebrating his success with a release party tomorrow, January 12th at the Eyebar in Washington DC. Guest appearance will include: Dawn Richard (Dirty Money), Que (Formerly of Day 26), Autumn Joi (Thisis50.com), Hot Wings (VH1's Real Chance of Love Winner) and many more.

For information on the event check out Eyebar and Don Juan's webpage, and check out the official video of "Lookie Looky" below!


D.C. Don Juan "Mr. Lookie Looky" | MySpace Music Videos

Derrick Marquis Performs LIVE in DC

The first round winner of the Underground Music Mix, Derrick Marquis, is taking a major leap in his musical career this year. Performing in a monthly concert series alongside Nia Simmons, D' Marq is sure to become the heart throb of the DMV.

The event is going down at the EFN Lounge in DC and concert tickets are on sale. Get out there and show your support and represent for your community. If we don't support each other...who will?

Click here for more information on how you can purchase your ticket!

Arenas Suspended Indefinitely

If a federal and local investigation wasn't enough to stop Arenas from joking around, then being suspended from the league might!

According to WTOP, NBA Commissioner David Stern, suspended Gilbert Arenas yesterday, stating the Wizards Point was "not currently fit to take the court."

The news came on his 28th birthday, a day after Arenas gave his teammates a two-handed gun salute during the Philidelphia 76ers game. While Arenas thought it was funny, the Commissioner wasn't laughing.

Arenas was suspended indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately. With each game he misses, Arenas will lose about $147,200 of the $16.2 million he will earn in the second season of a six-year, $111 million contract, reports WTOP.

Times couldn't be more difficult for Arenas as his personal life unraveled just a few months back. Arenas, along with the entire world, found out that his fiance and mother of his children, Laura Govan, had been carrying on a 5 year affair with a rival NBA player, Shaquille O'neal. To add to the fire, Govan is pregnant with Arenas's third child, but there's speculation as whether or not the baby is his.

I guess Shaq made a good decision when he decided not to appear at the Wizards vs. Cavaliers game. Who knows, Arenas probably would popped a few in Shaq's ass.

Oh well!! I guess Arenas as a lot to think about as he keeps the bench warm. Perhaps getting suspended wasn't such a bad idea....now he won't have to pay as much in child support.

P. Diddy & Dirty Money Come to DC

P. Diddy and his new group "Dirty Money," featuring Dawn Richard and songwriter Kaleena will be in DC next Saturday for a Bad Boy filled weekend.

Diddy gave the heads up to all his twitter fans earlier this week. I wonder if Que will be present to greet his former boo (Dawn) and manager Diddy when they arrive.

Anywho..Diddy is working on promoting the new group and their new single "Love Come Down" which is featured on his new album “Last Train To Paris.” The song is FIRE!!! and the girls look fly. Too bad you don't hear them on the radio, but I'm sure that will change after Diddy makes his appearance.

If you haven't heard the song or seen the video, check it out!!

2010 DMV Music Awards

Its that time...the 2010 DMV Music Awards is going down Sunday, January 17 @ The Hampton Conference Center. Recognizing DMV's hottest hip hop, R&B, Spoken Word, and Comedy artists, you can expect to see your favorite "celebs" including DJ Quicksilver, Angel Lola Luv, Don Juan, Billy the Kid, Rare Essence band and much more.

The event is brought to you by the man of the community, Brother Maniac, who's always representing the DMV!! Do your part and get out there and support the talent from your city.

For more information about the event and how you can purchase your tickets, call 1-888-961-0111 or visit www.dmv202.com

DARE to LIVE in 2010

Let me guess...if you're like most people you made a list of New Years Resolutions that probably included: less drinking, lose weight, save money and drop fake friends...right?

Well while your subtracting things from your plate, why not add something new?

Make 2010 a year of new beginnings that not only involves being a better person, but being adventurous. Think about what motivates and makes you happy....even things that intimidate or scare you. Myself for example, I"m afraid of heights, but this summer I've dared myself to get on a roller coaster or two ;-))

Step outside the box and live a little.

You don't have to break the bank to be adventurous. Use those creative juices and find a unique experience to share with your family and friends. We only get one chance to live our lives, so why not cease the moment and dare yourself of LIVE?

Just to show you how much I care...I've given you a sneak peek at some of the things I plan to do this year. Check it out...

1. Visit a Museum

• The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
• African American Civil War Memorial
  
• African American Heritage Trail
  

1. Take a Dance Class

• Latin Dance
• Poll Dancing (don't ask)
  

1. Outdoors Around Town
   

• Rock climbing
• Hiking
• Learn to ride a bike (motorcycle)
  

No Record Sales = Write a Book

Rumor has it that Rihanna is writing a "Tell All" book that is expected to drop this summer. With only a 10th grade education, it'll be interesting to see how she pulls it off. Anyone who's read books by Superhead (Karrine Steffans) knows what its like to read through grammatical errors....PAINFUL. So I assume we shouldn't expect much more from Rihanna.

Anywho, the book is supposed to rock the industry as Rihanna reveals hidden secrets of her love life, relations with celebrity men and altercation wth Chris Brown. I can't deny that I'm intersted to see what she has to say....I just hope she doens't take it over the top and reveal things that might damage her character.

So Long Jim Zorn

Washington Redskins head coach, Jim Zorn, was fired yesterday, according to Channel 4 News.

Zorn only lasted two seasons with the Redskins, compiling a 12-20 record, after Sunday's 23-20 loss to the San Diego Chargers.

General Manager, Bruce Allen says " the status quo is unacceptable" and they can't waste anymore time.

Zorn learned about the decision shortly after the team returned to Redskins Park earlier today. A news conference will take place at 12:30 p.m. to officially announce the news.

This will be the seventh head coach the Redskins have had since Daniel Snyder purchased the Redskins in 1999.

Little Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse released her first artist, Dionne Bromfield, off her new record label, Lioness Records last month. This little bundle of joy is only 13-years old, but has the voice of an adult, and the swag of her godmother, Amy.



Dionne's first single " Ain't No Mountain High Enough" dropped last week, and she's already become London's sweetheart. I've sampled a few of her songs and my favorite would have to be her remake of The Shirelle's "Foolish Little Girl."

Amy found herself a keeper. Little Ms. Dionne is not only adorable, but she's intelligent. I think she'll go far in her career, and will top the charts in the UK and the United States.

I'm looking forward to Amy's new album which will hopefully drop sometime this year. I've played out "Frank" and "Back to Black" and I'm in serious need of a new LP (Don't leave us hanging Amy).

By the looks of Amy in recent videos she has definitely gotten her act together and appears to be in good health. Perhaps Dionne was more than just an artists for Amy, but an angle sent to help her focus on her passion, music, and motivation for Amy to be a good role model for her followers.

Check out Dionne and Amy perform LIVE on British Television.

MTV's Real World Comes to DC

The 24th season of MTV's Real World was filmed here in DC this past summer. Pictured above is the cast of the new season, and while they say you should "never judge a book by its cover"....this crew looks WHACK!

I'm a little disappointed that there's only one person of color in the cast, but the only thing that makes the show worth watching is to see the beauty of my city and all that it has to offer.

If you missed the premier episode, check it out below! DMV STANDUP....and take pride in your city!

Real World XXIII: Washington DC - MTV Shows

Arenas & Crittenton Draw Guns

Washington Wizards point guard, Gilbert Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton, could both face suspension and/or hefty fines, after a "standoff" that took place in the locker room of the Verizon Center.

According to the Post, the two players got into an argument over an unsettled gambling bet that Gilbert refused to pay.

As the argument escalated, Crittenton and Gilbert pulled guns on one another. It is unclear how the dispute ended, or if anyone went to jail. But what's definite is that authorities are investigating.

It is reported that Gilbert had three pistols stored in the safe of his locker at the Verizon Center. He told authorities that he moved the guns there after the birth of his last child. Although the guns were not loaded or stored with ammunition, Gilbert and Crittenton have violated the NBA's Bargaining Agreement. This agreement allows for players to legally possess firearms, but prohibits them at league facilities or when traveling on league business.

It will be interesting to see how authorities handle this situation, and what Gilbert and Crittenton's interaction will be like on the court, after its resolved. Not that the Wizards were doing well anyway, with a record of 10-20, I suppose they could use a little heat to make it to the basket.

VA Tolls Increase

You might want to keep some extra change handy when driving through the Virginia Dulles Toll road. As of Friday, January 1st, 2010, toll fees throughout Fairfax County have increased by 25cents. That translates to 1$ for the main gate and 75cents for the off ramps.

This increase doesn't come by surprise, considering the County was denied its $44 million request in Federal Stimulus money. So now commuters will have to annie up to make up the difference.

The extra revenue will be used for the construction of Metro's Silver Line extension to Dulles International Airport. Until construction for the Sliver Line is complete, commuters can expect a toll increase over the next two years.

If you are a frequent traveler of the Dulles Toll road and like many commuters, are annoyed with the increase, I would suggest looking into an alternate route.

Click here to find your way around the Dulles Toll road.