Freestyle Blogs

Hi Everyone,

For those who didn’t know, four years ago my family and I relocated to Charlotte, NC. Though NYC will always be in our hearts, we thought a change was due, and to be honest, we couldn’t have picked a better City than Charlotte, North Carolina to make that change. 

 I continue to travel around the country, performing all of my Cover Girl hits during the weekends, but I recently stumbled upon an opportunity to do something I’ve always wanted to do during the weekdays, and that’s be a host on a major radio station.

96.1 The Beat Of Charlotte has an opening, and I must say, the competition out here is going to make it tough. You would think that my status as an artist might give me a bit of an advantage over the competition, but on the contrary, not being a native Charlottean is giving me a huge dis-advantage.

Due to the huge response, the station has decided to allow the public to choose the top five potential host, who will then go into the studio for a day.

I feel confident that once I am in the studio, I’ll be okay, but gathering the votes from the locals might be more of a challenge, so I am reaching outside of Charlotte and asking all of my fans, friends and family to please vote for me (entry #4) to get into the top five.

As always, I appreciate all the support you all have given me over the years, and whether I get the spot or not, thank so much. And if you can, please forward this to everyone you know.

Love&Blessings

Angel OCG

I’m entry #4

Angel OCG for The AM Mayhem in Charlotte, NC

I woke up on August 22, 2009 incredibly anxious, I would be going back home to perform. I rushed to get ready, I did not want to miss my plane. As soon as we landed I had a million things I wanted to do, lucky I had Latif to keep me grounded. He wanted me to rest up until showtime. We decided not to stay at a Hotel so we would be able to spend more time with our friends. As usual Manny stepped in (one of Latifs very best friends) he offered us his house in Staten Island, we were set!! I got  there and jumped into the pool, I wasted no time. Manny fired up the grill and made the most incredible spread, I didn’t know where to start. I had a glass of wine and I spent the next couple of hours on a floaty device in the pool. All day Mannys phone was ringing, the crew were on there way, woohoo..I love my girls!  At 6pm I started to get ready, my hair takes FOREVER!!  I was still anxious though seeing as I was keeping a secret from everyone. Their was one person I had showing up no one knew would be there. I’ve been communicating with her for over 1 year now and the vibes were always great between us. I felt it was time she came back out and did her thing,  and so did she!! I had never met her in person even though our lives were so parallel. O.K. it’s 8pm I’m ready… I’m on point …I’ma  do my thing. We couldn’t leave till she got to the house. In the back of mind I have a million thoughts swirling in my head, OMG is this gonna work, are we gonna click when we finally meet, I had nothing to worry about..we were more than good!!! She drove up , got out of the car and we hugged , this was a long time coming. We were meant to connect. My first thought was damn she is really pretty, do I really wanna put her on,lol. (I’m only kidding) We had no time to waste we were supposed to be onstage by 9:30, we rushed to the venue. Most people were doing their thing so they didn’t realize she was there, the people I did introduce her too were wondering why she was there. Alright it’s showtime. Latif comes up and preps me, he is so efficient, love you, mean it!! I get on stage it is so freaking on!!! The crowd is great I ‘m having an awesome time,  but I knew I had my surprise waiting . O. K. I finished “My Heart Skips a Beat” , I hit the last note and put my head down . The lights dimmed OMG I did not see that coming “Go Latif ” it looked awesome. I heard the first notes of her music. All I did was pick up my head , look at the crowd and introduce her… Ladies and Gentlemen… please give it up for …Michelle Valentine. As I was walking off and she was walking on she had a look of determination, she was gonna do her thing . She wanted me to come back onstage during the adlibs at the end, I refused, I wanted her to shine like I knew she could. The crowd had a look of awe they didn’t know what was going on, she rocked that stage like she was just on one yesterday she totally killed it. The crowd lost their minds when she hit her note in the middle of the song. I was so proud of , it’s not easy coming back out after 10 years. Alright she finished her song I had to go back out and bring it all home “Show Me Show Me” yall!! After I finished I called Michelle back out,  so she could thank her fans for such a warm response. This was something we never practiced and we put together in only two days, when it’s meant  to be it’s meant to be. We both let our fans know we would be working together alot in the future, and were already making plans. For those of you not familiar with “Michelle Valentine”  she is the vocalist on “Wishing on a Star” By “The CoverGirls”.

Are looking hotter than ever!! I keep seeing magazines with over 4o and hot actresses. Granted they look good, but they also have alot of help. Most, if not all of them are botox queens. Unlike the ladies of freestyle who are aging very nicely I must say!! Don’t get me wrong I’ll be hitting the botox needle in about 5 years, (yes i’m that vain). For now I think we’re all doing our thing. I do shows with some of the artist and I’m amazed at how good they still look, I feel like I have to step up my game!! Take Brenda K. Starr for instance, I cannot believe she has 4 kids she looks incredible. Shannons new pictures look like she took them 20 years ago, flawless!! I passed right by Judy Torres at the last show, you looking hot Mama!! Gioia from Expose knows she’s my Idol, I aspire to have those arms girly. Sinoa from Seduction is still breathtakenly beautiful. Company B has got to be the hottest trio over 40! I haven’t seen Cynthia in a while, but damn that girl has hair straight out of a shampoo commercial. Fascination has the abs to die for. Last but definitly not least Lisette Melendez, you’re just supa dupa fly!!!!  Suzanne (Lil Suzy) before you let me have it, I did not mention you because you are still no where near 40.(But you are a hottie). O.K. ladies September is coming… I gotta get my butt back in the gym. Who’s with me??

I remember 2002 like it was yesterday. It was a great/horrible year rolled up into one. I started a wonderful journey through life with my husband Latif Mercado. He’s been my rock, my soulmate, my bestfriend and my knight in shining armour. He has always encouraged me to pursue my dreams,  and always helped me to reach my goals. He’s always been an honest and trustworthy person, so when I hear people spread lies and slander and gossip about him, and never call him and confront him, it makes me question their integrity. The truth is all he has ever done is help out a few of the artist who were being shut out and blacklisted,  just like they tried to do to me.  Latif never had an enemy in the freestyle world until he defended me. He knew it was unfair when past management put three girls on stage to sing and perform the songs I recorded and made famous. Then claimed to own the name to stop me from performing. He was there when I would turn on the radio and hear commercials with my song and voice and someone else would be performing, it would make me sad. Sometimes I think that’s why he started laradiolive.com so I could listen to freestyle music without the bullshit,lol. I remember when people who knew nothing about me but (were down with past management) were bashing me on the internet, Latif defended me. I hate that looking out for me and artist like myself makes him enemies he doesn’t deserve. I remember the most insane thing was when people I knew for over 20 years looked me in the face and said “It’s just Business” Oh shit,,??.. that was crazy!!!  At that point I knew I had two choices;

1.) I could start crying and screaming and bitching and moaning and sending around letters (like some people) OR

2.) I could “man the fuck up” and do the shows I was booked for and sign autographs and be happy and grateful I’m still able to connect with so many of my loyal fans.

Love&Blessings

Angel OCG 

I go to check my e-mails and I have a whole bunch of e-mails from fans. I kept getting a blurry pic of Me Caroline and Margo under the caption “The Cover Girls”. It was really strange everyone kept telling me to check out this website. Normally I don’t just go on any website but these were my true fans insisting. OH Hell To The No!!!!! Another Freestyle concert using our pic… but this time it was blurry!!! If you are going to book  “The Phony Girls” use their pic. Let the fans know what they are paying for, and it aint the real thing. Are the promoters here trying to insinuate Freestyle Concert audiences are dumb?  I think “The Phony Girls” should be ashamed of themselves, you would never catch me trying to deceive the freestyle audience the way they do. I personally insist on Angel OCG pics for all my shows. I apologize in advance to all of my fans who think I’ll be there performing.

I have so many fans who e-mail me asking when I’ll be performing in N.Y., I usually tell them “soon” with a heavy heart. I miss N.Y. so much just the energy of the people can excite me. Well the time has finally come. I’ll be making my triumphant return at the “Freestyle Blast” concert. I’m so happy I can hardly contain myself!! The lineup is awesome so I’ll be watching the show as well as performing. I always knew I would be back in N.Y. but it had to be at the right show, at the right time. Summer in N.Y. is “The Bomb”  from Central Park to the coquito stands in the Bronx to South street Seaport to Orchard beach. Their is always something going on. I can’t wait!!!!

“The Freestyle Blast”

August 22nd 2009

at the College of Staten Island

2800 Victory Blvd, S.I. ,N.Y. 10314

for more info call

646-784-6131

I can’t stay away from CNN, it’s like a horrible car crash, you can’t take your eye’s away.  I can’t believe the financial crisis our country is in right now. How can the greatest country in the world be in the risk of another depression? This is the worse time for it to be an election year, I can’t concentrate on the candidates because I’m to worried about the economy. The gas shortage is blowing my mind, I’ve never in my life gone to a gas station and been told “sorry theirs no gas”, OH Shit that’s crazy.  We have to get on line at the gas station by 7 am and wait an hour or two for gas.  I noticed the mortgage problem about a year ago.  Houses all over our subdivison were going up for sale, I thought it was cause we moved into the neighborhood(The P.R.s) yeah kid lock your doors before we rob you.  Latif made sense of it all for me,  he explained to me how these were people who they gave mortgages to they did not really qualify for, and adjustable mortgages that would change in a few years and be to high for them, (My husband is so smart).  Latif told me this a year ago and now is when the government is admitting the mistakes that were made and trying to find a resolution. I hope they find one soon, God help us all.

More and more of my friends are getting in touch with me through the internet, and it’s so nice hearing from them. Since I moved to N.C. I lost touch with some of my girls, one friend in particular I go way back with, and everytime I think about her or hear her voice I jump up and down like I’m 13 again. Her name is Maria and she is one of the coolest chicks I know we have so much history. I can go on and on but one story about us always cracks people up. I met Maria in the ninth grade ,first day of high school, homeroom class .I walked in and sitting in the front is this girl with a big kool-aid smile ( I’m thinking do I know her?) but I didn’t she’s just that nice and friendly, we hit it off right away. Fast forward one month later I’m on the bus it’s saturday 8am I’m on my way to work (hell yeah I was lying about my age at 13 and working) the bus stops Maria walks on I’m like “hey girl what’s up “. I’m talking a mile a minute she’s just smiling my stop comes so I said Maria , I work at the makeup counter come in and get some free samples , she smiles I got off the bus. Fast forward it’s about 2pm I’m at the counter ,I look at the door …OMGoodness you could have knocked me over with a feather. Coming through the door are two Maria’s!  That’s right she has a twin Rita, who went to a different school . I was on the bus that morning with Rita, when she told Maria the story she knew it was me . So those are my bestest twin friends Maria&Rita. To all my other friends who are getting in touch with me Love&Blessings Kissie, Wandalee, Theresa, Eric/Womina, Michelle, Priscilla and of course my sisters Caroline&Sunshine.

Their were so many highlights at the FMA’s,  but what had to have topped it all was seeing Caroline and Sunshine again. We’ve been talking for a while now but we haven’t had the time to hook up, (we’re all married with families and very busy lives). When the FMA’s became a reality Latif told me maybe the girls would like to come down and celebrate with us, I thought oh awesome idea. “The Cover Girls” were always a big part of the freestyle movement. I was excited about seeing Caroline and Sunshine, I figured o.k. I have to set aside some time for us to have lunch maybe do a little shopping just catch up. You could never have told me seeing their faces would make me so emotional. Sunshine flew in Tuesday night their was a pre-party I’m just walking around making my rounds saying hello someone called me and told me too step outside and look around the corner I looked up and Sunshine turned the corner my heart soul and body did emotional flip-flops I didn’t know were possible all of a sudden I couldn’t see tears were flowing down my face I was so overwhelmed I didn’t realize how much I missed that girl. We didn’t get to hangout at the party as much as I would have liked to but we had a blast. Latif and I got to our suite at about 3 am, as usual I was hungry so Latif ordered pizza for all of us. We didn’t get t o bed till 5 am and had to be up for sound check at 7am. In the middle of soundcheck my voice completely went I was so scared I ran and got it checked lucky me I was developing laryngitis. I had to try and be quiet until show time, anyone who knows me knows that’s hard. I got back to the hotel ready to grab a bite and get ready for the awards, Sunshine was in the lobby so I sat down for a second to chitchat all of a sudden Caroline was standing there I couldn’t stop the waterworks Caroline and I have so much history together I didn’t realize how much I missed her I couldn’t speak Caroline had to calm me down just thinking about it I feel tears in my eyes we sat down together to grab a bite I couldn’t even eat. I was so nervous about so many things it was great having Caroline there to calm me down. Most people don’t know I have horrible stage fright It hits me for the first couple of minutes I’m performing after that I’m cool. After I performed we received a Cover Girl award and I received an Angel OCG award life couldn’t get any better. I was so dazed from performing I didn’t get to thank everyone I wanted to thank. So My heartfelt Thank You’s go out to My sister Mari her kiddies BeBe and Nico, My parents Louis and Lucy, My in-laws Cindy Dennis and Al, My kiddies Adam and Erica. Caroline and Sunshine didn’t get onstage to receive “The Original Cover Girls” award with me because when I said My girls had to come up and share it with me they didn’t know I was talking about them, lol. So on behalf of Caroline and Sunshine I would like to thank all of our fans, for those of you who don’t know Caroline and Sunshine continue to support Freestyle music they are both very involved in the myspace and youtube clips Latif post for “The Original Cover Girls” and Angel OCG so I’d like to thank all of our fans for their comments. Now that I got my girls back (yes Caroline you are my girl, lol) my heart is just so full. Thank You Caroline and Sunshine for being so wonderful. Most of all Thank You Latif, Ovidio, Lily and Leonard for making all my dreams come true.

I’m in a real unique position when it comes to the Freestyle Music Awards. It’s been a dream Latif has had for years, and knowning him, I knew it would just be a matter of time before he made it come true.  Being the supportive wife I am, while my mind is saying “here we go again”, My heart tells him, go head baby, I know you could do it! Having worked on a couple of successful events with  Lily Bolden and Ovidio Santiago,  Latif felt that they would be the perfect partners, and he was right. I saw the beginning stages where the DJ turned into a band which turned into a freakin Orchestra.  Where it went from being video taped to a full film crew out of Los Angeles. I saw a lightman turn into a Laser Light presentation.  Latif, Lily and Ovidio are getting about 2-3 hours of sleep each night because their making sure everything is on point for us so we can have a new beginning to freestyle music that we can be proud of. I personally see all the payments being made for this event.  It is no wonder why LILY BOLDEN is called the Fairy Godmother of freestyle, she believes in the artist and music even if they don’t. As always good overturns evil and this event is turning out to be the most important event Freestyle music has ever seen and it is being done with dignity, honor and respect. My hat goes off to all the Managers who called Latif and asked to have their artist perform, they’re obviously managers with a vision, artist, hold onto them. They have your best interest at heart! Those artist who are as excited as me I can’t wait to see you at the FMA’s all my love and blessings.