Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Almost There


Greetings, ladies and gents. I hope that all has been well with you. I’m getting over a cold, but I’m alright. As I write this, I’m listening to the speeches from today’s 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Fifty years. It’s so easy to forget that only a generation or two separates all of us from a completely different American landscape. The fact that I can share laughter, love, etc. with friends from all over the economic and cultural spectrum is not lost on me. It’s something that I’m thankful for, and I know that the price for that exchange has been paid with blood. We still have so far to go though, but it’s amazing to look back and see what strides have been made to get us this far.



I am SO anxious because within a week, I’ll be sending everything off to have my record manufactured! We are almost at the finish line, and I’m pleased, nervous, excited, etc. to be so close to Between Beauty & Bedlam being out. It’s wild for me to think that the majority of the year has been spent bringing this thing to fruition. It’s clichéd to say, but there’s been a great deal of sacrifice, sweat, and faith to make this project happen, and there’s just a little ways to go!

 



As I’ve been waiting on the last few bits of EP biz to get finished, I’ve been keeping busy (big surprise there, eh?). I’ve been doing some remixes, shopping beats to rappers, developing a few programs, etc. I’m really excited about what the next few months hold. There’s so much potential and so many things that I wish I could blab about right now, but, I shall spare you for the time being. Mua ha ha!

Switching gears, I’m very pleased to be sharing the stage on September 6th with Ms. Janelle Jackson, who comes to us by way of the great state of TX. We’re performing in an event about eliciting social change. I’m always interested in hearing what comes out of Janelle’s mouth, so I’m definitely looking forward to the evening.

Well gang, that’s all I’ve got for now! Stay up, stay loose, and I shall be in touch in the near future!
 
Blessings

Saturday, August 17, 2013

One Week


Greetings,

This past weekend was such an experience. I had the opportunity to be around family (some of which I hadn’t seen in years) and just being in an environment where everyone was happy and reflective truly touched me. It was a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the moment and the people I’ve loved most of my life.

 



I wrote on here before about the passing of my friend Cynthia. On Sunday, a tribute was held for her and her family, and I was asked to perform. I was out of town all weekend, and ended up getting back pretty much just in time to jump on the microphone, so there wasn’t much prep time. In fact, I was fighting an asthma attack when I arrived.

Last Friday night, the thought hit me to try to perform my Nina Simone piece for the occasion. When I performed at The Hunter in July, Nikki Ellis, who is an amazing singer collaborated with me on the poem, so I asked her if she was interested and available to do it at the event. Fortunately, she said yes.

It was really heavy to be inside the room and seeing so many people grieving. Before we took the stage, I heard a number of testimonials of how Cynthia had impacted people’s lives. I was both touched and really happy to hear that.

Eventually, our time came and I still couldn’t breathe very well. However, when we started the piece, everything came together.

I truly felt honored to have been able to celebrate Cynthia’s spirit. Also, I’m happy that so many people came out to show their love and support. I honestly believe that she was in that hall with us, and I hope that we made her happy.

Switching gears, last night, I performed with some phenomenal poets in Dalton, GA. It was SUCH big fun. In a way, it kind of was like a poetic family reunion. Most of the acts were people I’ve known and performed with for at least four years.

Well, that’s about all I’ve got for now, brothers and sisters. Be good, stay dry, and I’ll be in touch before too long!
 

Blessings

Saturday, August 3, 2013

The Goings On




Ladies and gents, we are now in the month of August (I’m sure you’ve noticed by now though). July really seemed to fly by, but it was a pretty pleasant time for the most part in my life (and, hopefully, in yours as well). Let’s talk shop!




 
I’m dangerously close to having the last few things squared away for the EP. If everything goes according to plan, Between Beauty & Bedlam will be available by the end of this month! I’m so excited to be this close to the finish line. I’ll finally be able to stop telling people about the record and can transition to letting them hear it for themselves. Soon!

 
I’ve been cooking up new music lately, too. This time of the year tends to be when I kick out the jams on the production front, so if I do decide to pursue making a full-length album, I should have some pretty interesting material to work with (literally). I’ve also wanted to shop more beats around, so I’ve got a wealth of stuff to circulate.

 
Switching gears, on August 16th, I’ll be making my performing return to Dalton, GA. I’ve performed in Dalton on a few occasions before, and it’s always made for an interesting affair. I’ll be rocking out alongside some uber-talented artists, so if you’re in or around the area, feel free to bring yourselves out to Dalton’s Creative Arts Guild. I believe we’re running from 7 to 11.

 
As always, music has been playing an integral role in my life. Here’s a list of some artists you should check out if you’re not familiar with their work:

 
  1. Nosaj Thing
  2. Free the Robots
  3. Ta-Ku
  4. Teebs
  5. Mono/Poly
 
Well, that’s about all I’ve got for right now. Be on the lookout for news regarding my EP’s release and the performances that’ll be accompanying it. Also, my Spoken Word Rockstar shirts have been selling well. If you’d like to purchase one, or even a few, contact me or just place your order in my Products section, and I’ve got you covered. Until next time, be good, boys and girls.
 

Blessings