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Hats off to Sister Souljah.
The former rabble rousing self-proclaimed "raptivist" proved to be no fluke in the literary world with her latest book, 'Midnight,' which stormed 'The New York Times Bestsellers List' entering at Number 7 in its first week of sale. That's higher than a hip-hop hoe who is cashed in on the sexual exploits of famous black men, and even better than the former super-sized talk show host selling fairy tales of her success and marriage.
With very scant media attention, 'Midnight' --published by Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster -- was released on Nov. 4. It serves at the much anticipated follow-up to Souljah's massively popular debut novel, 'The Coldest Winter Ever,' which was published in 1999 and is now in its 20th printing with one million copies in print.
But as Souljah (born Lisa Williamson) told BlackVoices.com's very own book blogger Karen Hunter, this book (which also topped the BV Bookshelf list) is NOT a "sequel."
The College Survival Guide
A Fridge
Regardless of whether you have a wonderful sized meal plan, your fridge may come in handy with leftovers or when you feel like stocking it with bottled drinks.
Computer
The convenience of a computer is essential when sending your kids off to college. Forget the hike to the computer lab across campus students need a computer in the comfort of their room. A printer comes in handy as well. Depending on whether your child plans to carry his laptop around campus, you might opt for a desk top since they're lighter on the pockets.
Snacks
You will surely survive with off of a meal plan but it doesn't hurt to stock up on snacks when you don't feel like leaving your dorm room. Bottled water, pop corn, cereal and Ramen noodles are all low budget snacks to stock up on. Just be weary of the freshman 15.
Things from home
Some college students suffer from homesickness the first year. It's best to surround yourself with things like photos of the family, pillows or even stuffed animals. Anything that reminds your child of home.
MP3 Player
With all the stress that comes from school and exams, sometimes it's nice to block out the chaos in your life and even your roommate with music. It's nearly impossible to find students walking to class who aren't jamming to tunes.
Budget
Students who enter college often come in at the ripening age of 18. A great time for credit cards. Parents beware, your child may end up ruining their credit at a young age
Alarm Clock
When you're in college you don't have the luxury of getting awaken by your parents. It's now your responsibility to get to class on time so alarm clocks are a must. But keep your roommate in mind. You shouldn't wake him up ever morning with a blow horn alarm.
Cleaning supplies
Now you don't necessarily need to bring in the rubber gloves, mop and gas mask but it doesn't hurt to bring along Clorox all purpose wipes for spills or dust. Vacuums and brooms come in handy too depending if you have a carpeted dorm.
Bedding
What most parents aren't aware of is that most college beds are twin sized but extra long and require special sheets. When shopping keep your eye open for sheets that clearly state 'extra long' or else your child may come up short.
Shower shoes
You really don't know what some people do in the shower these days. College showers are known to be creeping with germs so spare yourself the fungus and purchase flip flops for the shower. You'll thank us later!
"I loved 'The Coldest Winter Ever,' I would be a fool not to love it. I wrote it. I imagined it. I put it into circulation. But I wrote it in a complete form -- a beginning, middle, and an end. (Read More Here.)
Whatever it is, it's an instant success.
The book revolves around Midnight, a secondary but intriguing character from 'The Coldest Winter Ever.' For this book, the former Epic Records rapper conducted extensive research and reportedly traveled to three continents to flesh out the story.
'Midnight' was acquired and edited by Souljah's long time editor, Emily Bestler -- the Vice President and Executive Editorial Director of Atria Books. "Since the publication of 'The Coldest Winter Ever,' readers across the country have had only one question, 'When is the next one coming?' We're thrilled to say now, that it's here," said Bestler.
And speaking of 'Coldest Winter Ever,' which many consider to be the book that jump-started the street literary scene, the film rights are up for grabs.
.
According to Souljah's website, the film rights "are owned by Souljah Story Inc. and are available for purchase. All rights to The Coldest Winter Ever are owned completely by Souljah Story Inc. This includes film rights, television rights, theatrical rights, and all ancillary rights. Rights are now available for purchase. All serious offers should be directed to Sister Souljah. All violations of The Coldest Winter Ever copyrights will be vigorously pursued, legally."
Actress Jada Pinkett Smith once owned the options for project with plans for development at HBO Films.
Sisters In The Name Of Rap
Yo Yo
Birthname: Yolanda Whitaker
Origin: Los Angeles, CA
Affiliation: Ice Cube
Hot Track: 'You Can't Play With My Yo Yo'
Factoid: Yo-Yo is an on-air personality for the Los Angeles hip-hop radio station KDAY.
Cool Vision
Lil' Kim
Birthname: Kimberly Denise Jones
Origin: Brooklyn, New York
Affiliation: The Notorious B.I.G., Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Hot Track: 'Not Tonight'
Factoid: The reality show 'Lil Kim: Countdown to Lockdown,' which was filmed before Kim headed to jail, became the highest rated premiere in BET history at the time, with 1.7 million viewers.
Atlantic
Lauryn Hill
Birthname: Lauryn Noel Hill
Origin: South Orange, New Jersey
Affiliation: The Fugees
Hot Track: 'Doo Wop (That Thing)'
Factoid: Before she made history as the front-woman of The Fugees, Lauryn starred in the hit movie, 'Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit.'
Columbia
Nikki D
Birth name: Nichelle Strong
Origin: New Jersey
Affiliation: Queen Latifah
Hot Track: 'Daddy's Little Girl'
Factoid: Nikki D was the first female rapper signed to Def Jam Records.
Def Jam
Salt-N-Pepa
Birth name (s): Cheryl James, Sandra Denton
Origin: Queens, New York
Affiliation: Kid-N-Play
Hot Track: 'Push It'
Factoid: In 1995, Salt-N-Pepa won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for the single 'None Of Your Business,' making them the first female rap group to win a prestigious honor.
VH1
Bytches With Problems (BWP)
Birth name(s): Lyndah McCaskill, Tanisha Michele Morgan
Origin: Queens, NY
Affiliation: Marc Sexx
Hot Track: 'Two Minute Brother'
Factoid: Reinventing herself as an actress, Morgan has starred in films such as 'New Jersey Drive' and 'Bulworth.'
Rasheeda
Birth name: Rasheeda Buckner
Origin: Decatur, Illinois
Affiliation: Lil' Jon and The Eastside Boyz
Hot Track: '(Got That Good) My Bubble Gum'
Factoid: She started out as a member of the teenage hip-hop trio, Da Kaperz; which led to her signing a solo deal with Motown Records, who released her debut, 'Dirty South,' in 2001
Leo Marshall
Roxanne Shante
Birth name: Lolita Gooden
Origin: Long Island, New York
Affiliation: The Juice Crew, Marley Marl
Hot Track: 'Roxanne's Revenge'
Factoid: Shanté retired from rap when she was 25 she went on to receive a Ph.D. in psychology, eventually running her own practice in New York.
Da Brat
Birth name: Shawntae Harris
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Affiliation: Kriss Kross
Hot Track: 'Funkdafied'
Factoid: A protégé of Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat is credited as the first solo female rapper to go platinum.
Tonto RegginRazzi
Bahamadia
Birth name: Antonia Reed
Origin: Philadelphia, Pennyslvania
Affiliation: Gang Starr, The Roots
Hot Track: 'Uknowhowwedu'
Factoid: Her stage name is reportedly a combination of the Arabic words "badia" meaning "original creation" and "hamd'allah" meaning "thanks be to God."
Def Jam
Comments: (17)
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By: Jessica on 11/23/2008 7:59PM
This is in response to Duchess Soule's message. What you are failing to realize is that the point of view that this book is written from is that of a muslim man. Their values, beliefs, and principles are different than ours. And truth be told, some of us should have a speed-o-meter on our foreheads. And if you feel the book belittles you, then maybe you should change some of your morals.
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By: Marylou on 11/24/2008 4:40AM
To #9 jesscia--ain't that the truth ruth!! Watch your morals so others don't judge you and you don't judge yourself in the eyes of those same folks
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By: Liquan on 11/26/2008 8:32AM
I liked the "Coldest Winter" better. Winter seemed like a more believable character. The situations she was going through seemed more real. In "Midnight"I really wasn't feeling the whole "14 year old ninja assassin in the projects" thing. It just wasn't believable.
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By: Fierce Reader on 11/29/2008 2:26AM
Visit http://whereismymidnight.blogspot.com to discuss with others who luv Midnight's character.
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By: M3shagurl on 12/04/2008 7:32AM
Okay, I just turned sixteen a few weeks ago and i must say as a young black girl I am truly hurt. I read the C.W.E. when i was in the 4th grade, and even though i gotta whuppin for it, i read it again, and i loved it.So six years later when I hear that sister souljah is coming out with another book, I'm elated because it's about midnight!The man of my dreams! Best believe, i was the 1st one to check it out at the library. Before hand, I had read reviews on amazon.com that said winter wasn't in the book and neither were any other characters - except midnight-from Sis' previous book. So that didn't piss me off.
But what caught me off guard was all the negative comments and talks about americans in the book, especially black americans. In a way, I don't want to feel any hatred against Sister Souljah because those were midnight's and his family's thought...but it is evident that sister souljah must feel that way also.
In the book, midnight was very hypocritical and contradictive. He says and believes that black women and girls are loose whores because they don't save it until marriage- not in those exact words- but he makes it clear that they are unworthy of him. And some of those black girls in the book weren't, with the exception of Bangs. To say, feel, and belief that about black females and then go in the woods with a Japanese girl and play touchy feely? And the only reason they stopped was because her cousin called! Don't mean to give away the book but that just ain't right.Another thing that tee'd me off was how he dogged Bangs. I don't think i want to read anything else sister souljah writes....because not all black women are evil nasty women.People act like black females do things that other women don't, but quoting Midnight and his Father: "women are 100% emotion". And if that is true, how can you put black women below other races of women? I just hope all african people don't see black americans in the way that was portrayed in the book. We didn't ask to be born in america,but we did, and that doesn't make us unworthy of loving african men or women, because we all come from the same mother: AFRICA, point blank.
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By: Fly on 12/08/2008 5:02PM
I bought two copies Midnight on November 4th and read it in two days. I am a huge fan of Sister Souljah, with that been said I can understand some of the disappointment that some of the other readers expressed. Weeks prior I went on Sister Souljah’s official website and there wasn’t an article stating the novel was not an actual sequel to The Coldest Winter Ever, which would have avoided the anticipation of Winter’s appearance in the novel and that added to my frustration. I think that the novel lacked the brutal honesty that we’ve come to expect from Sister Souljah, the prejudice, and hypocrisy of Midnight was not addressed, and the way the novel ended suggests that there will be a sequel to this novel. No matter how mature Midnight appeared to be in the book he is still a teenager, trying to be a man without the wisdom of age, hopefully when we meet Midnight again his views of the world and woman would have grown. I look forward to reading the sequel to this novel. In reference to the viability of having a sequel to the Coldest Winter Ever it could definitely be as hot, maybe the characters will speak to their pen-mother and she will be able to let Winter the woman with all of her life’s experiences teach Midnight compassion and show him the insight of a real man. Still a fan the novel definitely sparked up deep conversation amongst my girls, daughters, and nieces.
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By: Tina E............... on 12/15/2008 2:12PM
Hello all,
I am half way thru Midnight. I am so into the book that decided to find a blog on it. I stumbled on Black voices and read some of your feed back. for one, I am so suprised by the opinions. Overall, i think thjat the book/fictional character is mis-interpreted. So dont spoil it for me guys.
Thanx,
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