News

Help Us Promote #Heaven 

#Addicts, we want you IN ON THIS! We're promoting the release of Shy's 1st official LIVE music video, #Heaven for six days straight of 2/18 - 2/23. Then on 2/24/15 the visual will premiere on Rapzilla.com & YouTube.com/ShySpeaksTV. Subscribe to the ShySpeaks YouTube Channel now, to be notified when this and other new videos are released. Meanwhile, if you want in on this promo/campaign action, we've provided a download link to the official #Heaven Social Media Kit. Just click the picture below and it will take you to a link to download ALL of the official content! Just like that, they're all yours! Be sure to use the hashtag #Heaven & #Up  
 

RANDOM: Top 10 Reason Why You Are NOT Bored 

One of my pet peeves is hearing people say the phrase, "Im bored". Let's be clear, you are NOT bored if the following productive task remain incomplete:
 
1. CLEAN - Have you tidied up your room, closet, and all other uncommon areas and spots that you don't normally clean but could use a touch up?
2. EXERCISE - Where are you on your health & fitness goals?  Have you did 30 mins of cardio today? Hit the gym for some weight training? Or did some at home exercises like sit-ups, push-ups, stretching?
3. ORGANIZE - The bookshelf, your key ring, your collection, your storage closet, etc.
4. READ - What books, articles, or blogs are you currently reading? Have you finished every single one of them? Any new knowledge, information, or insight that you could use? If so, identify it and find something to read pertaining to it. 
5. PRACTICE - What gifts, skills, talents, trades, or other languages do you know? Spend time rehearsing & exercising those.
6. STUDY - The Industry that you are in & the others directly effected by your industry, study your craft for things you can practice next time. I highly recommend studying the Bible. Always be studious, to show yourself approved, having no need to be ashamed because knowledge is confidence. The more you glean in study, the closer you are to becoming an 'expert'. Plus learners are earners.
7. PLAN - "If we fail to plan, we planned NOT our time wisely but wasted it being bored." Do you see how I just rearranged that quote in my spare time? :-) Take some time to write out your 1 year, 2 year, 5 year goals. Go as far as 10 year goals. Be sure that you are charting out measurable goals not your "wildest dreams". Plan out the steps that it would take to reach each goal. Write it down, or type it up! Save it. Refer to it often to ensure you are on track and Revise it (as needed) when the vision & purpose for your life becomes clearer.
8. SOCIALIZE - We are suppose to cherish every moment with our loved ones. Did you spend quality time with or talking to any of your family, mentor, friends, mentee, clients, partners for the sake of bonding and relationship building? 
9. PRAY/MEDITATE - There's peace & tranquility available to us when we draw away from this temporal world that's constantly appealing to our 5 senses. It is in those times that we can revive the inner man through stillness and communication with our creator.
10. CREATE - We were intelligently designed in the image of our creator, which makes us inherently creative. Use your down time to Write, Draw/Paint, Be Crafty, Cook, or decorate. Let your imagination design a masterpiece.

Now, If you have done all of that, then you indeed, just might be bored. :-) If not you are likely just another "L" word that rhymes with crazy. Lol. Seriously, time is the most valuable commodity known to mankind, let's take dominion through productivity with the portion we have been allotted. Hopefully this helps! 

P.S. - If you don't see any other tips that aren't listed above, feel free to share with us, leave a comment below. 

EVENTS: My East Coast Weekend Experience 7/25-7/28 2014 

Special, Awesome, and Refreshing are a few words that describe the experience I had on my mini East Coast Weekend tour! New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia! I had the opportunity to present new music and poetry from my Invited EP in each state! We were also able to grab a bite to eat from a signature restaurant in each spot. Jerrod (my cousin) was my roadie on this trip! He's a "foodie" by his own admission and wouldn't have had it any other way. Many of you have asked "how was the east coast trip" so, here's a Day-by-Day Recap of the trip:

Fri - 7/25/14 - New Jersey - I performed at a Youth Conference! The kids were HYPE! The crowd had a spirit of expectation! It was so much fun! 
Restaurant: SABRINA's - (Brunch)

Sat - 7/26/14 - New York - I hit the stage at a Hip Hop Outreach Event in Brooklyn, sponsored by Kingdom Time Ent. I also met the CEO Marcus Hall who invited me back to Brooklyn to be a performer at the Kingdom Choice Awards that will take place on 9/27/14! Peep the Tweet below! #Nominated 
Restaurant: John's Pizzaria - (Gotta have Pizza in New York Right?)

Sun - 7/27/14 - Philadelphia - I was privileged to be the musical guest for Master Builder's Church morning Worship Service! It's always an honor to encourage the Body of Christ to continue growing! S/O to MBC's leader, Christian Winters and the entire church for their hospitality! 
Restaurant: Warmdaddy's - (Soul Food & Live Music is always a winner!)
 

AWARDS: Homegrown Honors 2014 - Top 5 Reasons why Dallas' HHA's Matters + my 2 Noms 

The Homegrown Honors is an award ceremony hosted annually by Dallas' KHVN Radio Station. The awards exist to honor those leaders, be it, musicians, artist, or trailblazers who contribute to Dallas' Christian Arts scene. This year, I'm a Top 5 Nominee for TWO categories, Rap & Spoken Word. I've been nominated in one or both categories for the past 3 years.  I'm completely honored by that! But this year, I am all the more humbled because I have been extended an invitation to be a performer at this years Homegrown Honors Award Ceremony at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters on 7/19/2014 (see events section for details later). For now, let's look at my Top 5 Reason why Dallas' Homegrown Honors Matter...



1. The HHA's are for the people by the people. 
Most award shows are ticketed and voting is mysterious. In this case, the artists are nominated by votes from the community and thus the ceremony is a community event, open to the public free of charge! Often times those who should win are never even nominated. But that's another blog. Side Note: 1x for India Arie & Kendrick Lamar who've both been snubbed by the Grammy's. 

2. The HHA's honor God as the ultimate Gift-Giver. 
People are God's "workmanship", his artistic masterpiece if you will. How marvelous are you when your art creates art?! 
By acknowledging people for the gifts they possess and thanking them for offering that talent back to their community is really praise to God.  

3. The HHA's reminds us to appreciate those who we co-labor with and receive from on a regular basis. 

4. The HHA's are a WIN for Independent Artist. 
Let's face it, the major labels OWN the mainstream. Indie Artist often work hard, to consistently fill what would be an artistic void locally, in venues, churches, and community events if these leaders did not give of themselves.

5. The HHA's can foster creative collaboration among artist who may not have known of each other otherwise. 
The Homegrown Honors raises the awareness of artist about other artist outside of their niche. Dallas is a BIG city and even if you have a broad reach, not everyone knows everyone. When the Top 5 Nominees for each category is announced every year, I've seen it on more than one occasion, the nominees are being introduced to one another for the first time, resulting in new fellowship that would have never emerged. Also, as an artist/musician/leader, when you see the Top 5 Nominees in another category, it gives you a name reference of other individuals you can collaborate with for future songs or events. 

I'd like to say congrats to ALL of the nominees! A special shout out to some of my friends who are nominated in the categories you see below: Phea Kennedy (Poet), Mark Ayers (Musician), Eva Mcculler (Singer), Adrion Butler (Rap), and Dana Hemphill who also has 2 Noms!!! 











 

New Website - 10 Reasons Why I Switched 

As an independent artist, proficiency is key!  There's so much to do, communicate, and manage in order to maintain an effective online web presence.  Because after all, people need to be able to connect with you and you need to be able to ensure that connection with as few "log ins" as possible.  Yes, "Log ins"!  Because when it comes to the internet, there is a log-in requirement for every service. Just imagine what this is like for an artist who has a website, a web-store, sends an email newsletter,  has a blog, uses social media, and the list goes on...! So I've listed 10 Reasons Why I Switched web host before I launched my re-branded and revised website!  I now have a ONE stop shop with the following:
  1. Flexible Design Options including Mobile Friendly Layouts
  2. Promotion Tools - I can send out professional email blasts and track their effectiveness. (Text blast coming soon)
  3. Store - Allows me to sell music and merch directly from my website
  4. Inventory Assistance - I can manage order fulfillment & delivery tracking
  5. Interactive Reports - Full breakdown of site traffic to know how to engage fans geographically
  6. Fan Community - Allows fans to contribute & create a community, right on the website
  7. Blogs - I can build a full feature blog with RSS feeds, commenting, and categories
  8. Social Network Integration - I can post news and gigs instantly in sync across multiple social platforms
  9. Fewer Log-Ins - Items 2 thru 8 are services that would have otherwise come with 7 separate Log-Ins
  10. Did I mention fewer log-ins equals increased proficiency and more time to CREATE ART
Hello Bandzoogle, goodbye Hostbaby! :-) Welcome to ShySpeaks.com! 

RANDOM: 20 Desires of my Heart 

 DESIRES of my HEART: To purchase a new car with cash.

DESIRES of my HEART: A husband who initiates prayer & devotion time with me.

DESIRES of my HEART: To see India Arie live in concert from an upclose & personal seat.

DESIRES of my HEART: A man who I find equally attractive, physically & spiritually.

DESIRES of my HEART: To lead someone else to Christ, disciple them, and help them start their new life.

DESIRES of my HEART: : A husband who’s priorities look like this: 1. God 2. Wife (Family) 3. Work/Ministry 4. Everything Else. ;-)

DESIRES of my HEART: To visit, Paris, Jerusalem, Iceland, Cuba, and more.

DESIRES of my HEART: To have friends, genuine friends who see me as peer, sister, and accountability.

DESIRES of my HEART: To be refreshing artistically.

DESIRES of my HEART: A husband who leadership makes submitting to him feels like a privilege.

Go on...read the remaining 10.....

DESIRES of my HEART: To ALWAYS be connected to LaQueata, @I’Shanique , Ebony F. #GoldenGirls

DESIRES of my HEART: To affect change.

DESIRES of my HEART: To have character worthy of being a role model.

DESIRES of my HEART: To be an Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, and Philanthropist

DESIRES of my HEART: Be the type of woman who is a…mother to many. (Not literally)

DESIRES of my HEART: To be an ambassador and translator of the Kingdom of God

DESIRES of my HEART: Someone who is never content with NOT growing in godliness & wisdom.

DESIRES of my HEART: Create a scholarship fund.

DESIRES of my HEART: To make it to heaven.

DESIRES of my HEART: For the desires of my heart to ALWAYS be in alignment with HIS WILL.

VLOG: Burden Behind the Bars-Women in Hip Hop/Ministry 

Before you snag your FREE DOWNLOAD of Shy's 16 bar verse to producer Steve T's A-1 beat, take an Inside Look at the recording process and ShySpeaks discuss taboo topics -Women in ministry and/or Hip Hop. 

Free Download Here -- http://goo.gl/tcEDGr

Before you snag your FREE DOWNLOAD of Shy's 16 bar verse to producer Steve T's A-1 beat, take an Inside Look at the recording process and ShySpeaks discuss taboo topics Women in ministry and or Hip Hop. 
Free Download Here -- goo.gl/RtPJR

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