50th Anniversary Charger Block Party

In honor of the San Diego Chargers 50th anniversary, the prestigious organization held a block party in the heart of the Gaslamp District to celebrate with fans and players alike.

Thanks to Eric Edwards, host of The A-List Televison show, I was granted VIP backstage credentials to photograph the VIP reception lounge.

Current Charger stars such as Antonio Gates, Shawne Merriman and LaDainian Tomlinson could be seen shaking hands and fraternizing with the Old School players such as Charlie Joiner, Dan Fouts and Kellen Winslow. The night was filled with high energy, catered food and stories of Charger player's memories to last a lifetime.

*Photos courtesy of ISH for A-List Televison

Crazy Night..

"Whew, wow, what a crazy night!"

I think anyone and everyone that has ever gone out with their friends on a Friday or Saturday night can relate to this quote. And rest assured you can leave it to R. Kelly to sum up that feeling in the form of a song.

This is my "I'm Focused" song for the day. I feel like in order to have a great night you have to have something to celebrate, right? Well, I feel like if I work hard during the week, I can party hard after the work is completed.

Crazy Night is dedicated to all my hard workers out there! It's Monday so let's work hard this week so we can have a crazy night!!!

R. Kelly - Crazy Night Featuring R. City

Team Captain, World Champion, Sportsman Of The Year...

I feel a special "congrats" are in order to Mr. Derek Jeter. I also feel its only fitting that the starting shortstop and team captain of the 2009 World Champion New York Yankees should be named sportsman of the year by Sports Illustrated.

Honestly, this is good news for everyone. Why? Because for fans, its shows the appreciation for the team captain by honoring his leadership, knowledge and sportsmanship.

For the haters it gives them a new goal to work towards by working hard to overthrow the king.

I say, its motivation either way to be the best at what you choose to do. Hate it or love it but finish strong whichever road you decide to take! Ha...

10 Years In The Making...

There is a lot of good news for the world of music right now and I am happy to say this is a great time for R&B music as well.

Why!? First off, Beyonce shows her true vocal range live in Vegas for an intimate concert and has released a DVD capturing the moment for all to enjoy.

Next, R. Kelly has brought back the grown and sexy, slow groove music with his latest album "Untitled" and...

Sade returns to finally drop a new album after almost 10 years.

I know a lot of people including me were very happy to hear this news. Right about now 3 quotes come to mind. "Patience is a virtue, Good things come to those that wait and Better late than never. Good Morning!

February 8, 2010 - Sade - Soldier Of Love

*www.sade.com

Snoop Dogg in San Diego...

Wow, what a month of fun. #Scorpioseason is definitely in full effect. First off, Mya comes to San Diego to host my 30th birthday party and then Snoop Dogg comes to town the very next Friday.

Thanks to A-List Televison, I got back stage access to the Snoop Dogg show at the House Of Blues San Diego. Much Love to the TV host, Eric Edwards.

I was only going to go to the afterparty for Flaunt Fridays, but since its Scorpio Season, everything works out perfectly.

Anyway, The Dogg Father rocked the house by bringing out his Uncle, Tha Dogg Pound and Lady of Rage. This show was hot and it took me back to '95 riding in my Lincoln Continental...of course the Good times continue to roll from then until now.

*photos courtesy of I.S.H. for A-List Television.

About My B.I....

When I found out Mya was gonna host my "dirty 30" birthday party, I knew I HAD to be on point with her music. I've been a fan of Mya's since...I'm focused man, tell Stout to holla at me man!!!! and probably even before then.

ANYWAY... I started doing some research to catch up on Mya hits and not just my favorites. I won't sell you any dreams and say I know every single new and old song of Mya's, so yes, I had to dig in the crates and I'm so glad I did because Mya has a song with Shawty Lo, called I'm about my B.I. (meaning I am about my business).

This is today's get focused song. Some of you may have heard it, and to others it may be new heat. Either way...you know I have to share the heat and also, when it comes to the artistic journey, (for me its music and photography) being on top of your game is a must if you're going to succeed. So in the words of Mya and Shawty Lo, Let's get on our B.I.! (B...I...is...nezz!)

Shawty Lo - I'm About My BI feat Mya

*song courtesy of www.yoraps.com

Side note...Mya already sang happy birthday to me at my party, WHOA!!! I am forever thankful and so pleased, but really, Mya, if you ever want to get me another gift, REDO THIS SONG by yourself without Shawty Lo, just like Drake did when he REDID Page's Song Still Fly! HA!!!

It's My Birthday and I'll Dream If I Want To...

Something people may or may not know about me is, I am a music fanatic. I am addicted to music, I need it around me at all times. Some of my favorite artists have to be attached to my hip because I never know when I'm going to need a fix.

I have found there are certain people that share this addiction with me and as soon as we hear something, hot and new it's like..."Yo, did you hear this!!!?" That's why I love art so much because, art is full of passion and passion needs to be shared. So, being up early, I feel the need to share something with you.

The reason I am a huge Beyonce fan is because I fell in love with her voice on her ballads, such as Killing Time, Crazy Feelings and Dangerously In Love but it seems that my favorite song on I Am...Sasha Fierce has become a ballad as well. Hmmmmm...Bey, you never cease to amaze me.

Sweet Dreams, The Ballad...

*Song courtesy of imeem.com

Chopper Style in the city

Surprise, surprise! San Diego, got a last minute surprise from former Da Band member, Chopper. Thanks to Chris Jones of Ridiculous Entertainment, my access was granted backstage to his impromptu performance.

What's funny is I hadn't heard anything about him still working but apparently, Chopper a.k.a. Young City has been touring with a new group, the M.O.E. Boys, since the split of Da Band.

I guess Chopper was the only group member actually listening to Diddy when he said "we can't stop, won't stop".

Either way, Chopper was my favorite member of the group so it's good to see him still grinding.

Chopper Young City Photos Here...

Video Phone...the extended mix...

Happy birthday week to me!! Seriously, it must really be #scorpioseason if Lady Ga Ga and Beyonce team up to take sexy to the extreme by making the extended remix video for "Video Phone" ... W. O. W. ...

Beyonce - Video Phone Extended Remix Ft Lady Ga Ga

*Video courtesy of Worldstarhiphop.com

Ivan S. Harris "Dirty 30" Hosted By Mya

After the month of November 2009 comes to an end, I will have reached a milestone by turning the big Three Zero.

Now depending on which side of the age spectrum you're standing on, you may think age 30 is either still very young or very, very old, but for me personally, I don't feel young or old.

Quite frankly, what I do feel is just very wow. Seriously, it's wow to the effect of me just talking to my mom about how we BOTH could not believe how I am turning 30 years old on the 18Th.

To be honest, there are certain things I specifically remember as if they happened yesterday.

I remember actually being 6 years old wondering what I wanted to be when I grew up.

I remember the real Saturday morning cartoons. I remember graduating Jr. High School thinking is high school going to be as hard as the stories claim to be.

I also remember graduating my 3 different levels of education including from high school saying, "oh that wasn't so bad at all." (I still have all of the tassels hanging on the mantel at my Mom's house if I ever need a reminder).

I remember that my first real punch-in-the-clock job wasn't until I went away to college, and I remember being in the Drumline for Santa's Marching Band in the 1998 Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade.

I remember having my own talk show in college and I definitely remember graduating from that same college, Illinois State University.

I also remember my Jerry Springer internship and how much fun that was. On the flip side, I remember meeting Ice Cube and then getting laid off on my day off. Although it wasn't on a Friday, it did happen to be the very next day after meeting Cube, Ha!

There is no way in the world I could ever forget that cold night I decided after weeks of debating that I was going to finally pack up and "move to California" to pursue my dreams.

All of these things really seem like they happened yesterday. The fact that the month of November has come around for my 30Th time still amazes me.

I do have to say thanks to every single one of my life's occurrences, great friends and the opportunity of a lifetime, because I will always remember my 30Th birthday party.

Why?

Because Ridiculous Entertainment (Chris Jones & DJ Ironic) got the beautiful R&B Singer/Dancing With The Stars 2009 participant Mya to host my Dirty 30. Wow, what a life right?

Hopefully, God will bless me to see another 30 years full of unbelievable memories. Thanks to everyone that came to celebrate with me on my special day.

I.$.H.'s Dirty 30 hosted By Mya photos Here...

*Birthday Photographer for Dirty 30 Event: Ebony Taylor

P Cubed...

Patience, Perseverance and Perseverance = P Cubed (P3). This is the equation for success and if you remember this, you will indeed achieve all of your goals.

What is sad is the media portrays people in the spotlight as if to say they became successful overnight. In reality the media/spotlight doesn't show all of the hard work that happens beforehand.

We see these images of celebs at their peak, but what we don't see are the beginning years and what it took for them to get to the top. After repeatedly hearing these "Cinderella" stories, if "the success" does not happen immediately, any particular person may become discouraged and give up right before the miracle happens.

My mom always used to say, "some jerk will take advantage of your hard work if you quit or don't keep working hard." That phrase sticks to my ribs and in my heart (Thanks Mom) so I keep striving, besides the fact that I was sold a dream on achieving my dreams, so I won't let all those teachers, friends and nay-sayers become liars.

Malcom Floyd, #80 San Diego Chargers wide receiver, is a perfect example of P Cubed. I remember meeting Floyd 4 years ago when I first moved to San Diego to pursue my dream of photography.

We were both "rookies" in our perspective fields, but it was something about Floyd that stood out to me. After meeting and working with many high-profile "celebrities", Floyd came across as very humble, very chill and always friendly person when we would cross paths.

After Chris Chambers was benched and eventually released due to his less than great performance, Floyd was given his opportunity and what an opportunity it was. By catching a 51 yard Bomb from Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, Floyd solidified his starting position.

I know for most people, as the economy has struggled, so have people's desires, dreams, "needs" and "wants". I can honestly say, even I was dealing with the everyday woes of owning a business, following your dreams and wondering if the journey is worth it, but after seeing Floyd work hard, keep positive and follow his dreams, I had to say to myself as well as to everyone else, don't give up because you are only a 51 yard catch, 1 song, 1 photograph or 1 opportunity away from your dreams!

So keep working hard and in the immortal words of Sean "Diddy" Combs, "Can't Stop, Won't Stop, Don't Stop!!! Un uh!"

World Series Champions...Already Home...

"Oh they want me to fall (fall), Fall from the top (top), They want me to drop (drop), They want me to stop (stop), They want me to go (go), I’m already gone (already), The &*%* that I’m on, I’m already home (Hey, I’m already home yeah)." - Kid Cudi/Jay-Z.

Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees 3rd Baseman, chose to use Jay-Z and Kid Cudi's Blueprint 3 album track Already Home as his batting music. It seems like this was the greatest choice seeing as in order to score points in baseball you have to get to home plate!

Through my life, a lesson I continuously tend to realize is sometimes you just have to look deep in your soul, stop worrying about what others think and do what's in your heart. 2009 must be the year that Alex Rodriguez has chosen to do so by snapping out of his post season slump.

In the past, A-Rod has come to be known as a postseason slacker because of his less than great performances due to all of the underlying pressure people, media and nay-sayers put on him to achieve.

This year changed everything because he had no pressure to succeed or achieve. After coming back from hip surgery, the only pressure A-Rod was under was pressure to be himself, and not to be who someone else wanted him to be. No Pressure!!!? That's food for thought.

Congratulations to the 2009 World Series Champions.

Flaunt Fridays Presents...Halloween

I usually don't dress up for Halloween but in the spirit of Michael Jackson and an ode to paying homage I decided to get my "Off The Wall" Michael Jackson on! I had a good time and except for a few people, most of them could tell who I was off top. Oh well RIP MJJ You will always be the THRILLER!

Flaunt Friday Halloween Pics Here...