"Hard Knock Life"

This one goes out to the one and only Amy Winehouse. The young and restless English child who took the world by storm with her uniquely powerful and amazingly soulful voice. I was in the studio with Memphis producer MaxPtah and emcee Knowledge Nick when I heard about her death at the age of 27. We all had to really take a moment. Having problems with drugs and alcohol abuse, violence, and self-destructive behaviours, many of us knew that she was headed down a dark road that would eventually lead toward disaster if she didn't change her ways. However, I don't think ANY of us actually wanted to see it happen. 

Yea, she was in her own league. Amy paved the way for many artist after her. British singer Adele had credited Winehouse's success in the United States for making her and fellow British singer Duffy's journey to the United States "a bit smoother". American singer Lady Gaga credited Winehouse with making it easier for unconventional women to have mainstream pop success. She has been seen as one of the major artist responsible for the revival of soul music since 2000. At the very least, her death highlighted her music, talent and how important GOOD MUSIC really is. (Sorry, but if KE$HA died, it would be a shame, but... ::shrugs::) More importantly also showed that LIVING FAST and DYING YOUNG is OVERRATED!! It's a message to the younger generations. The lifestyle Amy Winehouse lived wasn't/isn't GLAMOUROUS. It's DESTRUCTIVE. There are many trying to live this type of life as a trend. Her life wasn't. Hers was real. Moreover, I am sure she didn't want her life to be the way it was. But, we can learn from others mistakes and there's definitely a lesson in this one. Amy, we miss you already.

R.I.P

"I don't ever want to do anything mediocre. I hear the music in the charts and I don't mean to be rude, but those people have no soul. Learning from music is like eating a meal.. you have to pace yourself. You can't take everything from it all at once...I'm a musician. I'm not someone who's trying to be diplomatic, you know, trying to get my 15 minutes. I'm just a musician who is honest." -Amy Winehouse

"The Newness"

Have you ever done something for so long that it just got kinda old? Almost to the point of you not wanting to do it at all, at least during that time? Well, I got to that point a few days ago. After designing non-stop for weeks, I was feeling drained, uninspired, uncreative, and stuck. Of course, there was a build-up to get this point. I realized it while working on a recent project. The only thing I did for almost 2 hours was stare at a blank computer screen..............(Btw, this is NOT A GOOD THING). It was definitely time to do something different.

I needed a break from the mundane.

I was looking to do something else. So, I looked in books and magazines for hours to find something to inspire me. Then, I ran across a really interesting illustration........It was the inspiration I needed. I immediately got brushes, paint, water, and everything else I needed. It had been a while since I've painted. I was excited to "get my feet wet" again. As soon as I started, I felt free and as I continued, I started to feel lighter. My vision seemed to even get clearer. It was THE NEWNESS. It felt really good. It may not last long at all. However, it got me out of the rut I was in and it allowed me to get re-inspired.

We all get into situations where life seems so "run of mill". At times when things seem stressful, tense, lifeless, stale, boring, etc. all we really need is a BREAK. Take time to re-energize yourself. You'll thank yourself. This is what came out of my break...

Kevin Sandbloom - Singer/Songwriter

Siphne - Artist/Musician

Jason Da Hater - Emcee

"Time's A Wastin"

What if the larva said that it didn't want grow anymore? Or, what if the caterpillar was okay being just that? If that were to happen, it would be a shame. It's no different than one not further developing themselves to become who they were meant to be. The process of going from one stage to another is somewhat difficult already without resisting the transformation. We all have dreams and desires that we ask for earnestly with our hearts, but don't always want to do what's necessary to achieve them. It hurts to see people with so much potential do absolutely nothing with it. I have a destiny. That, I know. But in order to achieve it, I have to do what I have never done before. Albert Einstein states that Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Each stage of growth includes some initial discomfort and struggle. I know what it is I should do, have to do to make it to the next level. The question is,"Am I willing to do what it takes to get there?". Not taking that chance is not an option. I've taken this journey with a mission.  It's time to keep moving on.

Time's a wastin... 

"You Can Do It Too"

Not too long ago, I had a convo with Fathom 9, a dope Memphis emcee and producer, about great music writers. We went back forth sharing stories. I shared one about singer and songwriter Darnell Levine and how I thought his music and writing was really great. My good friend Just Cindy, singer and poet from East St. Louis, had shared his first cd "We 'Gon Use What We Got" with me back in '08. "I was hooked. I couldn't stop listening to it." I told him. The more I discussed him and his music, I had the epiphany that Darnell Levine re-inspired me to get back to music. Sure there were others, but I remember distinctly that he was the first. Shortly thereafter, me and Fathom 9 parted ways. I thought more about our convo and realized now important it is for people to use the talents they have been blessed with. If it hadn't been for the people before me to inspire me by their gifts and talents, where would I be? I read a poster that read "You are responsible for the talent that has been entrusted to you." As people and especially as artists we have the responsibility to inspire others with the gifts and talents that have been given to us. Not doing so would be a shame. We have gifts and talents to inspire and uplift not just ourselves, but others. Something as simple as smiling will inspire someone else to at least want do the same, if not actually do it. While writing this I'm reminded of a track from Dwele entitled "Some Kinda Prelude". It is a short poem, delivered by Dwele, that reminds me to keep following my dreams and pursuing my desires. I'll share it with you.

*******************
And so it is.
You're already one out of a million before you even take your first breath.
See your very own personal SOME KINDA...So keep on.

And she will let you know daily....
I brought you in, and I will take you out. (Laughs)
But, she won't though.
'Cause she herself believes that you have your very own special SOME KINDA
that you can bless this world with someday one day and thats for sho'...
How the sayin' go, momma knows...

If you are blessed with dance...
And when you do it the concrete that holds your feet
slides and adjust with your every movement
as thought it's trying to keep you afloat
just to see what you gonna do next?
That might be your SOME KINDA...

Keep on with your SOME KINDA music,
your SOME KINDA art...
Your seed might be the first president of your kind...
When he or she gets here, don't give up!
Nurture their SOME KINDA...

You may birth the next promoter of world peace.
World please
In your lives imitate this art that I have spoken
And keep on.. .

-Dwele
Some Kinda Prelude (from the Album, Some Kinda...)



I want to leave you with a line from the poem "Our Deepest Fear".


"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

"Appletree"

For the past few years I have been secretly examining my relationships with people I used to know well, who I have come to know, and how they interact with each other and myself. People from high school, from the neighborhood, your family, from team sports, etc.  It is interesting to see how life can either pull you closer or further away from someone you knew very well or hardly at all. I've had relationships to slowly fall apart due to certain circumstances. Distance and time has played a part in some of those. I'd like to rekindle a few of them because I believe that those particular relationships are worth keeping. Although, doing so with a few may be detremental for my well being. At the same time, I have developed a few relationships that I believe are going to be around for a while. Some of which have replaced the previous ones that had faded. I've noticed that the majority of the relationships that I have and don't have now are because of the development of myself and the path that I've chosen to take. I've changed. So, my environment had to change as well. So did the people I associated with. At times I wish that I could bring some of the people from my past with me on my journey, even though I know I shouldn't and/or can't. It is true that people come into your life for a reason and for a season. As I've analyzed my experiences with people, I have realized why certain people had to leave and why certain ones stayed in my life. I believe one should do a check on the people they associate with or classify as "friends". They tell a whole lot about "you". "Friends" shouldn't HAPPEN to you. You shouldn't get into a position where you don't even know HOW you became friends with someone. They should be a choice and conscious effort. Just like Ms. Badu said, "I picks my friends like I pick my fruit. My ganny told me that when I was only a youth." The people I have in my life now are there because I chose them to be there. I am thankful for them for even tolorating me. ;) At the end of the day, God and your relationship with people are THE MOST IMPORTANT thing...period. So, just stop and think about that everytime you come in contact with an old classmate, or a cousin, or a good friend from college...Just a thought!!

"Where I Wanna Be"

Ok. I do some major thinking before I write these. This one again is an introspective RANT. However, hopefully, you can somehow relate. If you really don't care, that's kewl, too!!...

I've been known my entire life as being a "Jack of all Trades". I do many things outside of the "Arts", but they are my primary "go-to's". I can draw and paint, and design, and act, and sing and yadda yadda yadda. Others tell me that I'm really good at each and I agree. BUT, I feel as if I haven't tapped into that "genius" or that "Gold Star" quality in any of them. When I do something, I do it to the best of my ability during that time. Sometimes when I don't do my best, others consider it to be superior. I don't know if it's because they are uninformed of the skill or craft, or if my work is really as good as they say it is. I'm not putting any of my talents down. I just believe that if I dedicated my time and energy to just one of those talents for about a year or two, I'd REALLY be a force to be reckoned with. I always aspire to be better than what I am. I don't want to get into the position of being complacent. When that happens, the growth STOPS. I can't let that happen. There are many artist whom I admire. My MOST RECENT interest is Esperanza Spalding. She's a jazz bassist and singer, who draws upon many genres in her own compositions. She just recently won a Grammy for "Best New Artist", making her the first jazz artist to win the award. She's also a teacher at Berklee College of Music, from where she graduated. She's taught there for 5 years. She's 26.............You do the math. Music was her focus. She may not know HOW to do ANYTHING ELSE. But, there's no denying that she is incredible at what she does. I know there's more to the story, but I would like to be THAT focused on ONE talent and make it exceptional. I know I have the potential. I even believe that I do. I'm just kinda TIRED of only HAVING it. Being the "Jack of all Trades" is starting to get old. I do, however, enjoy being able to have the ability to do multiple things well. I would just like to be a master of one of them. Is that asking for too much? I don't think so. My goal is to focus my attention on one of my talents. Which one? The world will soon see. And I'll keep the others up to par in the process. ;) I just think that it's MY TIME. You know?

I don't want to come off like some pretentious jerk. I am genuinely concerned about this aspect of my life. I have a problem with mediocracy. So when I see myself slip into it, I'm not ok. I just gotta get this outta my head. Thank you for your time if you've read along this far.

"A Peace of Light"

I am in a very inspired season in my life. I'm able to see importance in things that seemed to not get much of my attention at first. People, in general, have always been important to me. However, understanding how people become who they are is just as important, if not more important to me. It has become very intriguing. Not just people based on their immediate family structure, but over time from generation to generation, from century to century. I want to know how people have been transformed into what they are, and why they react to the things that make them "tick" or not want to do anything at all. History has a way of telling "stories", decode that anyway you want, about what has happened in the past. Much of that is based on where and when it was written, who it was written for, and why it was written the way it was.

For instance, the "story" of the Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima is told VERY different in the U.S. than it is in Japan. The U.S. is "told" that it was when America ended the war and won WWII. In Japan, it was when the U.S. destroyed the city of Hiroshima with the Atomic Bomb, left people deformed, diseased, and emotionally traumatized, and caused the many generations later to develop physical as well as mental defects. It's all in who you ask.

I'm highly fascinated by this power of voice and how it's used. This is why MEDIA is THE MOST INFLUENTIAL device on EARTH. It has become a MASTER of sorts. I don't want to become or stay enslaved to what I'm just TOLD. However, at the same time, I am somewhat fearful of the knowledge beyond what is seemingly forced-fed to me on a regular basis. I want to know more and understand, because I know that I don't. That is what sparks my curiosity. I know that I don't know or understand. Ironically, because I know the fact that I don't know or understand, I do know more and understand. Which is making me more receptive to the world around me and causing to me seek and find more information about my interest with people...However, this is all bias based on how I was raised and my beliefs.

That is all...