Cristina Renee Hamilton Simmons: My-Ami Closed Out

Simmons Money!

Russell Simmons has been instrumental in bringing hip-hop to every facet of business and media since its inception in the late 1970s: in music with the co-founding of the immensely successful original Def Jam Recordings; in the fashion industry with the trail-blazing Phat Farm, BabyPhat, Run Athletics, and Def Jam University clothing lines; in film with Simmons Lathan Media Group; in television with HBO’s “The Def Comedy Jam” and “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry”; on Broadway with the Tony Award winning stage production “Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway”; in the financial services industry with UniRush and its RushCard and Baby Phat RushCard; in fine jewelry with The Simmons Jewelry Co; in video gaming, mobile communications and other industries utilizing the internationally recognized Def Jam brand through Def Jam Enterprises; and in the community with Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. Russell is a sought-after public speaker and regularly addresses audiences ranging from public school children and university students to corporate executives and community leaders.

My-Ami Closed Out

For the first time in a long time I am so nervous about writing this blog. I know yall like, "not Arra Da Flygurl, Ms. Mouth of the South". But yes people I am nervous because this is blog is so special.

Can I ask you a question... When you think about Miami what's the first thing that comes to mind? For many of you it's probably fun in the sun with a bunch of "model" type people walking around as if they have nothing to do but live on South Beach! Wrong! The media has the world brainwashed!

Take it me from me Baby cuz I was born and raise! Yup born and raised, in the county of Dade!!! Yes, yes, yall!!! Miami-Dade county! There's so much more to Miami than Ocean Dr., Washington Ave, Bal Harbour etc.... Let's take a trip across those bridges where it all goes down. The real Miami, where people are working daily to make ends meet, where talented children and adults are "looked over" because they don't want you to know the Real Deal!!!
My Miami is a garden filled with flowers from all over the world living, working, and learning in harmony. My-Ami!

Food and music are the two most significant things about Miami, I mean the fact that you can go to a store in one of the neighborhoods (across the bridge) and get a meal, a mixtape, a bootleg DVD, your car washed, some weave for your hair, and a pack of Arab t-shirts, socks, and a hat, makes My-Ami so special to me. You can't find that in every city.

Hanging out at the Flea Market (79th and 183rd street), getting braided, faded, and upgraded for the weekend... Hanging out on 119th, Miami Knights, Studio 183, The Rolex, Bootleggers, Pac Jam, The Bass Station, The Tree, John Walsh, Madjacks, CoCo's, Tuckers... Yall remember...

Now let's talk about My-Ami's Food, Jumbos, Burger King on 54th stayed open just for the kids that partied, Shaker's, Miracles, Jahnet's, Hammond's Bakery, The Bar-B-Que stand on 183rd (cross the skreet from Carol City High)... The Cuban Restaurant all I can remember right now I was on 57th Ave, in Hialeah close to Westland on 103rd... Man I could go for a lil pechuga de pollo con arroz y frijoles negroes.. Plantains and onions on da side (no pun intended)... Ester's...Man it ain't nothing like Miami hood Chinese food... The rice is brown not yellow or white and it has bean sprouts, eggs, shrimp, chicken, pork, beef, onion (authentic like a mug)... No P.F. Chang's type of party like you can't have birthday party's in those types of joints. Get it and go. "China City". Francos stayed open late as hell and they delivered I use to called in for that lasagna and baked spaghetti, dog, them garlic rolls... was off the chain... Yo!! Francos!!!

Again back to the Music, Miami does have a sound like no other... From Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine to Luke Skywalker and the 2Live Crew! What about the very Talented artist they're not exposing... We all know and love Trina, Tricky Daddy, and Rick Ross but check it there many before them... The were people like DJ Uncle Al, The Poison Clan, Anquette
just to name a few....

So the next time you go to Miami for a visit and you're looking for a story to tell that won't sound the same as everybody else who only visits South Beach... Here's a challenge take a trip across the bridge and learn what the real My-Ami's about and stop being so closed minded and thinking when a person says they're from Miami they grow up on Ocean Dr. dummy.
I want to Close this blog out with a song from my dear friend and sister... One of Miami's own home-grown Mrs. Khandia Diara Folk-Pinkney!
Closed Out!

1 comment:

Cary MichaelApril 25, 2010 at 8:42 PM
Very interesting blog Cristina! Thanks for the tag and hope all is going well for you :-)
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Red, White, and Who?

I am a big fan of Keeping up with the Kardashians. Tonight's episode struck me in so many ways. Khloe was having issues with her weight and of course the jealous and envious people who have nothing to do but hide behind their insults on the internet, said some pretty hurtful things in a blog. Well Khloe received a call from PETA to do an nude ad protesting fur. Khloe was a bit apprehensive about doing the ad because she was having weight issues. So sad that in this world we live in "we compare ourselves amongst ourselves". Which keeps us always trying to fit into a standard. Well at least what society considers "the standard" Khloe is always being compare to her sisters Kim and Kourtney which is so not fair because each of them are beautiful in their own way.

So Khloe goes and speaks with Bruce Jenner her stepfather. Seeking advice when she told him about the ad. He responded by saying "that's good but don't you think you should lose a few pounds". Typical thing for a insensitive man to say. No disrespect to Bruce... Then they wonder why their wives seek attention else where . I will tell you why, some of you with money think that you can speak to people any way no matter who it is: family, the fake friends you have and the slaves you hire to work for you. But instead of congratulating her, he insulted her. Then he went on to say after she had explained to him how she was offended by his comment. He said "is that why you wear black", Khloe's response was "I am wearing black because I am depressed." Say What!!!!

: I wear black because it's represents change... Positive Change!!!

See people where did we get this misconception that the color black represents oppression, depression and sadness. Our country's colors are red, white and blue. Now lets break that down red well that represents the blood that was shed to create "one nation under God" but whose blood was it? Who was that actually fought. Hmmm? Then there's white (well we all know what that suppose to represent) pure, cleanliness and honesty (mhmmm) and then there's blue. Blue represents the actual things this country was founded on (the pain, the deceit, the lies and the trickery) the trickery bestowed upon the enslaved. When I speak of the enslaved I must make it clear I am not speaking only of black people. (The fungus has spread) To me the color blue represents the oppression, sadness, and fear. People black represents change. Things to come that we all struggled and worked so hard for. When I say "we" I mean those who understand what it means to fight the good fight and stay strong.

So people get it out of your minds that black is a color of depression and oppression. It is time for change. Trust me everybody can't be saved. But those of you who can. Let's make it happen. "Animal conditioning to keep me as your slave! I get out!" Thanks Lauryn.

Explain this line "You should know I bleed blue but I ain't no crypt though"- Jay Z... I'm waiting.

: Red White and Blue... Stars and Stripes

My interpretation for "Bleed blue" is the colors for the Illuminati Red, white, blue... Those colors of the American flag mean something and those stars on the flag represent something too... Think about it... The stars are in the BLUE section of the flag!!! Ask somebody... This is the stuff they don't teach you in school so when that when the message starts coming at US we will be confused and distract with things like gangs (Crips, Bloods) and not pay attention to who's really behind all the American Chaos...Red and white stripes... The white represent the lost, confused and uninformed... Entangled in the red's web....

I would like to close this out with a message from Hova featuring Mr. Hudson

Forever Young