I get to positively surf the internet, especially YouTube for work and the daily. My new Chrome-cast device, a gift from a fellow Googler + Surfline (Ghana's 1st 4G LTE internet), also enables me watch videos on a large screen at my leisure.

I'm biased towards impressive Ghanaian music videos and lately, Sarkodie doesn't disappoint.

His track "Special Someone" produced by fellow Ɔdadeɛ Jayso & features one of my favorite Nigerian artist Burna Boy (see post about why Burna's my homeboy, here), and South Africa's latest hip-hop phenom Aka.

While watching the video though, I noticed prolific Ghanaian musician and hiplife artists Castro's cameo which led me to believe that this video was shot much earlier this year, or conspiracy theorists remarks that Castro isn't dead *side eye* . As much as I'd want him alive too, what would he have been doing all this while then? So many questions, so few answers.

For all things YouTube though (see what I did there), check out the HuddleGH YouTube online community I curate, here. If you are able to come through to the YouTube Huddles at iSpace on Thursdays, let us know huddlegh@ispacegh.com

Whistling to Sark's "Special Someone" as I exist stage left.

The first time I saw Sarkodie in concert was in DC, I remember wishing a lot more people had attended the event, I blogged about my first Obidi Pon Bidi live performance here: Sarkodie Rappaholic Tour - DC Edition. I did get the chance to take close-up pictures of the young Ghanaian rap phenom as he'd been nominated for local and international BET awards. In recent times, Sarkodie has carved a niche as the best wordsmiths in Ghana rap. The free concert in Kwahu during Easter was a reminder that he's still on top of his game and the crowd couldn't agree more.

 

 

 

More pictures here: 

Originally uploaded by itakephotos1985
I've been a fan from afar of "Obidi" for a long time and when he came to the DMV for his concert I was front and center.




Follow my man @Sarkodie on twitter and my alter ego @KomlaRadio

If you're really interested download the interview I had with Sarkodie on the Drive Time Show here @Sunlightradio

2 out of the 3 times when I've taken photos of prominent black people, President Barack Obama and Donna Brazile it hasn't been premeditated. This time though a friend gave me minutes notice and thanks to my lowepro back pack that I carry around everywhere, I had the opportunity to get blog-worthy pictures of Rev. Jesse Jackson at the Willard Hotel at a media and telecommunications conference on Thursday. My thoughts when I saw the famous African American...He must be at least 6'4": that's a tall dude, TV doesn't do him justice (pun intended) :-).





I guess I can officially say I'm now about-that-DC-life.

Earlier on in the month, my frat brother who works for the Tulsa Shock reserved tickets for the Shock/Mystics game at the Convention Center in DC. Jumping on the opportunity to fellowship with Gator alumn, I was more excited about the stories to share post-undergrad than the WNBA basketball game....and then it happened. Outside the Convention Center word spread that President Obama and his youngest daughter, Malia would be in attendance!

My priorities changed as I wanted to get my first one-on-one opportunity shoot (ahem a picture of) the president of Kenyan (and Hawaiian) origin. Realizing how far away from the court side my seat was and how ill-equipped I was to get decent pictures, I grudgingly took out my camera in hopes of getting any pictures of him to share with you all.



The Mystic mascot mistakenly shook hands with almost everyone on the first row except Malia, and was quickly reminded by the audience to go back and greet the Commander and Chief and his daughter.



Possibly one of the more famous back-of-the-heads ever photographed. I was envious of how close buddy had gotten to the prez.



The decent 'money shot' of the day and I'll explain why in a bit.



Just before this picture, I froze...sigh. I was close enough to President Obama and he seemed to stretch out his hand toward me! So instead of taking possibly my rendition of the HOPE poster picture of my own. I ended up with another pass-me-by picture.

Now if that isn't the presidential effect, I don't know what is. I couldn't beat myself down for too long though, at least I got a handshake from the most powerful man in the world. What did you do that was awesome this month?

Last Friday night, I got hopelessly lost on foot by 8th N.E. and Connecticut in DC. I was on my way to an Africare colleague's birthday party.

Fuming and cursing myself for having the knack for wandering around in unfamiliar neighborhoods, even with Google maps on my phone...I suddenly realized I was walking side by side with a TV personality. Stuttering and gladly holding myself in check... I quickly introduce myself ...star-struck while instinctively reaching my back-pack for the D80.

Here I am with Donna Brazile, a friend and her dog Chip - who happens to love posing for my camera- and I start my schpeel about working with Africare ('cos of my t-shirt), being from Ghana and to my amazement Donna shares how 'Ghanaian' she is and how she loves my country! She recounts here visits to Aburi and is gracious enough in allowing me to photograph her and Chip for a blog post.

Now, I look forward to hearing her counter-argue conservative points on CNN, all the while remembering her parting words "...I'm from Ghana too."

Angelique Kidjo a Grammy Award-winning Beninoise singer-songwriter interacting with a fan during her performance.



Angelique interacting with the crowd and getting the audience to croon to the hook of her song.



John Legend, bottom right, applauds Angelique Kidjo after her outstanding performance.


Angelique Kidjo's phenomenal performance at the Africare Bishop Walker Dinner to honor John Legend.
I intern with Africare a non-profit that serves 25 countries in Africa and the dinner is one of the end-of-year programs to honor outstanding contributors to Africa's cause. Of course the D80 came along, it would be a travesty for me not to have taken pictures!

I didn't know I was a Maxi Priest fan till I was actually bobbing my head to familiar hit songs of his during the performance this past Saturday. The non-conventional Reggae artists with #1 hits including "Wild World", "Just a little longer" and "Close to You", had middle-aged women crooning to all his songs at Zanzibar On the Waterfront.
He's one of my dad's favorite artists and of course pops was shaking and bopping to all Maxi had to offer as well, sigh. Considering this was the first time I'd ever seen Maxi Priest in person, I could not help but find some resemblance with him and Ice Cube... Maybe a 'dreaded-up' Ice Cube could pass for a Reggae artist.

Bob Marley & the Wailers are iconic and so were Al and Junior Marvin, I prayed my pictures would do them justice. This is my first reggae concert without my dad and I hope these pictures express my ten thousand words.

My homeboy Neil, prez of Caribsa, invited me to a concert his organization and SGP hosted at the Phillips Center on Friday night. I could not pass on the opportunity to photograph two former members of Bob Marley's band, Al Anderson and Junior Marvin. They are talented and the event was packed. I just had a nagging feeling that the music was good, but could have been better. Maybe it was because something was missing--perhaps, the rest of the group. (more pictures to come)