Category Archives: Observation

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May 3 2012

Observation 101: When Social Networking Gets Sinister

For most of us, the term ‘social network‘ means nothing more than the place where you spread the word about your latest article or the place where you connect with someone who could be useful if they were apart of your network of contacts. To the rest, the term ‘social networking‘ means extended family, cyber rants, self gratification, self loafing, the pursuit of praise and constant attention seeking. Everyone is guilty of at least one, everyone who has ever setup a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr account. I guess we’re all vying for a piece of attention, we’re all trying to shout over the next person to get our ten seconds of recognition, we’re all trying to get you to ascribe and connect with our way of thinking.

More likes, more reblogs, more comments equate to more recognition, more praise, more ‘web’ time but what happens when it gets sinister, what happens when you’ve posted so much pics of yourself, you’ve location tagged ever status update and tweet and let the world know your deepest and darkest thoughts?
What happens when seemingly out of nowhere, someone in your friends/follower/fan/subscriber list becomes your stalker, what happens when you think you’ve met the perfect person as they seem to be a totally compatible match when all they’ve done is study your social networking patterns?

All of this ‘user generated content‘ is a double edged sword because not everyone has the best intentions. Someone you’ve never met can know everything about you in a few clicks, someone with sinister intentions can know what makes you tick in an instant to work their way around you because they know what you’re interested in, what you like, what sort of people you associate with, where you’ve been and what you look like.

I find the prospect of these encounters quite frightening so I try to keep myself detached. You never know what I’m thinking, you hardly know what I’m into, you wouldn’t know who I associate with and what they look like, you can’t see me because there’s next to none floating about for you to see and notice me when I’m out and about.
I feel that whilst the interweb can be totally innocent with folks sharing information about themselves and often using it as a substitute for physical interaction, I also feel that it’s never great to reveal yourself in great depth because there are a lot of unsavoury and sinister folk with less than decent intentions who can use the information you disclose so trivially against you.

Be wise, be safe and be careful because there’s more to life than numbers and statistics that mean nothing outside of your IP connection…

Ghost.

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Apr 23 2012

Happy St. Shakespeare’s Day?

It’s the 396th anniversary since Shakespeare’s passing so today shall be spent being dramatic and talking like a Shakespearian Elizabethan. It also falls on the same day as St. George’s Day, which many of us know is the ‘English’ saint but according to research scholars the story of George and The Dragon goes back to Scandinavian folklore -we are an island in the midst of the French to the south, the Danes to the east, Germania to the south east and the Nordic peoples of the north so it’s no surprise that they’d often jump inside their war ships and venture to our shores.

Give me some music; music, moody food
Of us that trade in love.
(Antony and Cleopatra, 2.5.1-2)

I’ve never celebrated St. George’s Day but I’d jump at the chance to honour Saint Shakespeare’s Day because this guy created the modern English language through creative writing, if that’s not someone who is an example of a creative writing wizard who can be aligned to the likes of Homer and Muhammad [Allah forgive me in this context] then I don’t know what you deem as an aspiration of creative writing prowess. Shakespeare laid the foundations for a beautiful language by writing plays, poetry, and interpreting history for the stage, by doing so, he not only displayed languages versatility but he also provided us with a demonstration on how language could be used and how we can use it to express ourselves. Before Shakespeare I can only guess the people of England were split between French -in the higher classes and nobility- and what we now know as English in the lower classes -an amalgamation of West Germanic, Anglo-Frisian and Old Saxon Dialects brought to Britain by settlers from Germany, Denmark and The Netherlands, acrolect Latin -acrolect meaning the most prestigious part or variety of a particular dialect/language, and Celtic language Brythonic -thought to be the native language of Britain in the time of Roman occupation.

I say celebrate Shakespeare because he brought language to the masses, he united all Elizabethan class, race and culture under one open top roof, -aptly named- The Globe Theatre, where all could understand and learn a new language being acted out. I’d say a trip to the theatre was more of a language lesson on how to ‘speaketh’ this new language rather that watch a play, The Globe was also somewhere people unconsciously learnt about contexts of the words, how wide a variety one could use one word or many for the same meaning, entendre, puns, similies [ecetera], Shakespeare revised the rules on self expression…

  1. So I say this and this only, why do English citizens continue to honour George when we have a patron saint who kick started the English language, who made it most versatile, poetic and beautiful?
  2. Why don’t we honour Shakespeare with a public holiday or at the very least acknowledgement on calendars?
  3. Why isn’t Shakespeare honoured with a place on the Google homepage?

The answers are pretty simple, Shakespeare died on the same day that we celebrate St. George’s Day so unless we politely acknowledge that two great examples of fearless and intellectual Englishmen share the same day, we may forget what Shakespeare did for the hearts, minds, creativity and communication strength of the English people. Imagine if there were no Shakespeare, we’d probably be doing business in French -with all it’s poetic airy fairy romanticism or Chinese -with it’s bluntness and straight to the point nature where there’s no room to dance in it’s beautiful complex or simple intricacy. We need to give respect where it’s due, and Shakespeare deserves so much more than most, if not with a sainthood at least with calendar recognition -where there is space of course so we don’t upset the lovers of the Dragon slayer.

Ghost.
(exeunt)

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Apr 16 2012

Alexander Hughes – Brother Shabazz (Limited Edition T-Shirt/Packaging)

In a day and age where everyone and their nan have their own line of mediocre t-shirts, few actually have a deeper conceptual meaning, but many if not all use their produce as a means of raising awareness for their ‘brand’. Contrary to this mediocre movement within the apparel market, a seasoned ‘street’ artist, Alexander Hughes, has decided to launch the first phase of ‘Steady Pushing Dope’, a collection of T-Shirts and screen prints influenced by prominent role models that inspired Alexander’s artistry.

Malcolm X is a hero and role model to me. Never have I heard a greater story of change…

Malcolm X, May 19th 1925 – February 21st 1965, was an African American Muslim minister and a courageous human rights activist for the rights of African Americans at a time when racism, prejudice and segregation against blacks in the United States of America were the ‘norm’. Malcolm’s father and uncle were lynched by a brigade of White Supremacists from an infamous terrorist organisation, the Ku-Klux-Klan, after which he was placed into a string of foster homes after his mother was sectioned at age thirteen. In 1946, whilst serving a prison sentence for ‘breaking and entering’, at age 20 Malcolm embraced Islam, becoming a member of the Nation of Islam -then a controversial group- before departing in 1964. (wiki 2012)

After extensively travelling throughout Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East, he founded Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity to heighten both spiritual and political consciousness, and promote Pan Africanism -a movement that seeks to unify people living in Africa into one African community- in order to empower African Americans. Leaning more towards a ‘Global Perspective’ by identifying a direct connection between the domestic struggles of African American’s for equal rights and the liberation struggles of Third World Nations, Malcolm X’s beliefs changed over the years from black supremacy and the advocation of the separation of black and white Americans -until the African Americans could return to Africa, which was in direct contrast to the civil rights movement -who he often referred to as stooges for the white establishment, criticising their 1963 march on Washington because it was run by whites in front of a statue of a dead president who didn’t like nor respect the blacks whilst he was alive. Malcolm X soon become a sunni muslim and disavowed racism, expressing a willingness to work with civil rights leaders -previously prevented from doing so in the past at the hands of Elijah Muhammad- but still maintaining black self-determination and using any means necessary to defend themselves. Malcolm’s speeches had a profound affect on his audiences, especially those who were tired of waiting for freedom, justice, equality and respect because he articulated their struggle better than the civil rights leaders. (wiki 2012)

Click To Purchase

Malcolm was not only an eloquent great orator but a man of great intellect, but inspired many with his passion and determination to make a change ‘By Any Means Necessary‘. These are four words which are applicable to all aspects of our lives, our daily aspirations, these four words ‘By Any Means Necessary’ make our dreams possible once implemented. It’s not quite as catchy or contemporary as ‘YOLO’ -Rapper/Singer Drake’s 2011 remix of ‘You Only Live Once’ had everyone ‘gassed’ by creating the acronym which leads people to do the stupidest things under the guise of a frivolous acronym, it’s not as classic and airy fairy as ‘Carpe Diem’ -seize the day in latin, but these four words are as blunt, powerful, and simple as a direct order can be. By Any Means Necessary, do what it takes to achieve your dreams, do what it takes to defend your position, to fight all injustice, discrimination, segregation. These four words are revolutionary, they’ve always resonated deep within to the point that I say ‘By All Means Necessary‘, why? Because whatever opportunity I spot, I’m taking the chance to roll that dice and advance forward. In February 1965, less than a year after leaving the NOI, he was assassinated by three of it’s members -rumoured to be at the hands of the CIA and every other etcetera type of global elite governmental oppression organisation.

Each T-shirt comes packaged in a limited edition ‘paper toy’ New York subway carriage. The toy is handmade, featuring exclusive artwork, with each print in the series coming with it’s own subway carriage collectible, covered in Alexander Hughes’ illustration and artwork. The significance of the ‘Subway Cart’ dubbed with ‘Tags and Burners’ is a direct reference to New York City Graffiti artistry in the mid to late 70s throughout the 80s when graffiti legends such as Dondi, Seen, Zephyr, Lady Pink, Futura, Duro, Cap, Skeme etc ruled the subway lines and metro network of NYC by employing guerrilla tactics to the NYPD and subway maintenance workers who’d stop at nothing to ensure these artists can’t distract commuters and the general public from their humdrum existences with colourful and vivid artworked snaking it’s way through the poverty stricken crevices of the big rotten apple.

Alexander was born and raised in South East London. I met him briefly whilst doing a stint at 6th Form but whilst I was into Beats, Rhymes, Graffiti and Blunts, I had no idea that Alex was cooking artwork up in the notepad. Fast forward ten years and he’s turnt sketches into a clothing line ‘New Crack City’, a toy manufacturer ‘Hip Hop Toy Shop’ and an active street artist who showcases his work at many exhibitions. Alexander Hughes is a self taught artist, teaching himself how to paint graffiti, tattoo and animate. Drawing inspiration from meditation, philosophy, renegades and the rise of the downtrodden to places of prominence, he has a passion for directing projects creatively as a means to materialise his imagination. I respect what he’s doing creatively because it’s not just an empty logo on a t-shirt, it’s something steeped in depth, it’s conceptual creativity.

Store | Hip Hop Toy Shop | Facebook | Behance | Linkedin | Twitter | Tumblr | Website

Ghost.

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The Proshot
Feb 28 2012

Observation 101 – The Roc Nation vs. YMCMB debate

When Jay-Z ‘signs’ someone to Roc Nation no one says anything but when Baby ‘signs’ someone to Cash Money, everyone’s got an opinion. Why is that?

It’s a lot to do with perception and presentation. For the most part Cash Money is a record label known for artists such as Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicky Minaj, and Hot Boys (Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, Baby, Turk, BG). Cash Money isn’t an independent entity from what I understand, it’s a joint venture subsidiary of sorts as Roc A Fella, Death Row, Ruff Ryders etc were in the 90s. Cash Money are renowned for their vulgarity: jewellery, flaunting their riches, hypersexual imagery.
Roc Nation on the other hand is an administration company. It boasts a whole lot of affiliates and members but there are only a few signees. Wale is signed up to a Roc Nation management deal but he’s signed to MMG, Rick Ross’ joint venture with a major record label. Roc Nation’s artist roster covers a wider artistic spectrum having acts as diverse as J. Cole, to Chase & Status and The Ting Tings. There’s also a songwriting and talent development division and booking agency.

Roc Nation is a new business model within the ever evolving music industry, it’s a partnership between Shawn Carter and Live Nation. It’s also a no brainer to cut out all of the bureaucracy surrounding the artistry, the major record label, resulting in a great slice out of the meatier side of an artist -creative content. If an artist parts ways with their record label, they’ll still be able to fall back and earn with Roc Nation. The artist will still be able to record new material, collaborate and go on tour to maintain a buzz whilst negotiating the right distribution deal elsewhere.

If we compare this to YMCMB, we begin to notice that Brian ‘Baby’ Williams’ record label is in the midst of transition, it’s trying to diversify in order to survive. A lot of people question YMCMB’s recent signees Christina Milian, Busta Rhymes and most recently Limp Bizkit, but they fail to focus on the bigger picture. All three have had major success; Christina Milian has written tracks for J-Lo whose track Play went to Number 1 in numerous countries worldwide, Limp Bizkit already has a core fanbase of followers who will buy any new releases and concert tickets when it’s tour time, and Busta Rhymes is the feature man of the moment who seems to disappear every few years and come back with a hit, a new flow and sound which goes straight to the top of the charts -Busta also has been in the industry for nearly 20 years and is well ‘respected’.

In the context of the bigger picture, YMCMB are simply signing artists who’ve already got a proven track record, artists who could have sold out tours, number 1 records and feature hype revenue in comparison to Roc Nation who focus is on developing new emerging artists and finding them distribution deals with major record labels but also look after the creme de la creme of touring entertainers such as their recent signee Shakira. The reason why people have an issue with YMCMB moreso than Roc Nation is that they feel YMCMB is trying to sign everyone to spin a profit, as I once thought they were doing. I have ignorantly compared it to the final hours of Roc A Fella Records when Damon Dash did the same thing. What I once deemed ‘trying to find Jay-Z’s replacement and potential cash cow’ was simply what Birdman is doing.

As much as I can find a reason to justify YMCMB’s actions, even if it’s just a theory which puts my ignorance to rest, I can’t help but feel that this plan of rebranding its services through diversification may fail in some respect. I also wonder how long Drake will stay around before he defects to Roc Nation after a long spell out in the administory wilderness when he finally airs his grievances about the amount of artists he has to share the roster with and financing the revival dead rappers’ careers and Nicki Minaj’s outlandish tryhardery to outdo and become the black Lady GaGa -but little does she know she’ll always be three steps behind…

If you’re going to rebrand and diversify, start afresh or as they say in Rap ‘Go hard or go home‘ because you need people to take you seriously. That’s exactly the difference between Jay-Z and Baby. One is perceived as a business man and the other as a someone you can’t really take seriously although his business survival and diversification acumen speak for themselves.

Ghost.

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Sep 3 2011

Saturday Sabbath? – Israel (Back To ’97)

Back in ’97 I spent the whole summer in a Dimona kibbutz in Israel‘s Beer Sheva desert. I stayed with the Hebrew Isralites, a movement of African Americans who trace their roots back to the original Hebrews who settled in the ‘Holy Land‘. They practiced the ‘Shabbat‘, where there’d be no electricity or food to be eaten from friday sunset til saturday sunset. I thought it was weird at the time but looking back, it was great to practice spiritual abstinence and observation. I’ve actually been thinking about applying this to my lifestyle…

A whole lot has changed in the fourteen years since I visited, but here’s part of a documentary filmed by South African film director, Tarryn Crossman of Black Rage Productions. Tarryn travelled to Dimona and stayed for three days, hardly enough time to win their trust to get a well rounded story but more than enough time to document parts of the culture. Having lived with the Hebrews in that very settlement, I wish she would have buried her western perspective and observed using the ethnography approach -participant observation, rather than ethnology -constant comparison to western culture and stating obvious self absorbed opinions. As I said before, three days is hardly enough time to carry out a socio-cultural anthropological study.

My life’s always led me on somewhat of a spontaneous path because it’s always been openly diverse and spiritual: Rastafarian Father, Christian Mother, Parents embraced Islam in the early ’80s, didn’t force us into any particular path but instilled a sense of self exploration to find our own truths through getting to know ourselves and the spirit externally and within… I have a great set of parents.

At the moment I can’t exactly implement my ‘No business on weekends’ policy because I’m not in a position to take days off yet. When I’m on my feet I shall simply switch off all technology such as the phone and laptop on 00:00 on a saturday, and switch back on 09:00 monday morning.

I can’t front watching that vid brought back memories but my biggest regret, if I ever had one would be missing the coach trip to the Dead Sea…

I’ll be back soon.

Peace

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Jul 28 2011

Blonde or Brunette?

I’ve been doing a whole lot of speculating recently, much of it has to do with my pending career but a significant part has to do with the question that has alluded many of the gentry for centuries:

“Blondes or Brunettes?”

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I myself happen to prefer Brunettes. I love the whole dark brown eyes, the wavy curls, I love the mystery as opposed to the siren that is the Blonde. Maybe I base my opinion off of something which has become a folklore of old:

“The way to a mans heart is through his stomach.”

Perhaps this didn’t just mean to feed him good food but if he fux you around pour copious amounts of salt onto his food and watch him slowly deteriorate from heart disease and death as the result of a heart attack at 26. Who in hell knows, well the lady who used to casually sprinkle sodium-whatever-ulphate to her husbands food til he ended up in hospital, check his blood and realized what happened… Possibly a blonde who, by the way, is not dead yet but serving a jail term for being a cunning cactus.

If I were to put this argument into a culinary context and base it off of two fairly recent ex girlfriends, who each represented Team Blonde and Team Brunette, Brunettes would win by a rather astronomical margin because my although my ex girlfriend who was blonde ensured I were fed, she only used to cook fry ups -eggs, beans, toast and a cuppa. I’m not really fussy, but she didn’t add any salt or pepper to the eggs when cooking nor did she do so with the beans. I was also too polite to hurt her feelings or jeopardize my chances of having sexy time on that day, weekend, occasion so I endured the blandness and took my frustrations out in other ways. *laughs to self

The fact that the eggs nor beans were seasoned was problematic because I grew up in a Carribbean household and every time mother or father did a fry up (Jamaican style) the beans weren’t bland but had onions, peppers, tomatoes, whilst the eggs were seasoned with salt and pepper to accompany the plantain and fried dumplins. I’m not tryna say the Blondie should of tried to compete but it was near enough hell enduring the same bland fry up meal for all of three months, gotta be the main reason for the breakup -I think it went something like:

Babe, you’re a lovely lady but I can no longer eat a bland fry up every time I come over. I don’t even know if you can cook anything other than eggs beans and toast but since you have never cooked anything else these past three months I’m better off moving on because my Gran seems to think my Mums not feeding me properly because I look malnourished. I really can’t let mother take the blame for me always being at yours eating your bland food. All the best, I think can’t cook won’t cook is available to watch on YouTube.

In contrast to Blondie, the Brunette was master chef. Never being one to eat salad she converted me with her homemade concoctions. I’d get breakfast in bed, literally waking up seeing her with a tray and a cuppa as if she knew I was waking in the next few seconds, her timing was on point. She taught me how to cook tuna pasta over bbm, and chicken and rice whilst I watched her prepare the lunch. There were never any qualms about this lady’s cooking because she was thorough with the seasoning, even using some of Daddy’s specially imported liquid chicken stock to prepare my meals, vegetables grown in the allotment, and the special homemade pepper sauce and balsamic vinegar, which had been imported all the way from her island to these shores. Fact of the matter is, there were so many parallels in the Brunette’s cooking methods and those at home, I’m not sure whether it was an island thing or simply that she was an exceptional chef. Either way I’ll always prefer an olive skinned Brunette with big brown eyes and light curly hair over a blonde bombshell because there’s this air of intrigue to be found, the air of intrigue which draws you closer…

“What The Fuck?!”

One must stop because all this talk is making me wonder why she’s an ex rather than a wife, and if truth be told I’m slyly getting moshi because her salads were untouchable -cue dramatic violins and the stroking of beard as I look up into the sky. I guess my next debate will be about where the Redhead fits into all of this because I’m feeling the freckles and and the fact that some of you remind me of Spiderman’s missus Mary Jane and Jean Grey from the X-Men. (I’m totally into my Graphic Novels -clever way to describe a comic book)

Brunettes rule from my culinary experiences, how about you?

  1. Are you a Blonde lover?
  2. Are you a Brunette who can’t cook?
  3. Are you wondering why I didn’t mention the Afro’s?

K O

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May 14 2011

Jay-Z: ‘Can I Live’ (Video)

First and foremost, Reasonable Doubt is my favourite album in the whole of existence because that was pretty much the soundtrack to the best part of the noughties. It dropped in ’96 and I would see the videos here and there on Yo! MTV Raps, and listen to the music over the lyrics. In the noughties I was going through old cassette tapes and heard ‘Politics As Usual’, I went to the record shop and purchased the CD and listened to it on loop before progressing through every album. Why did I decide to do that, because Jay-Z announced his retirement after dropping The Black Album so I wanted to appreciate his lyrical prowess as well as his music.

When listening to Reasonable in the noughties, Can I Live always stood out because there were so many levels and entendres. Even to this day, I have moments like ‘rah, so that’s what he meant’. That happened a few minutes ago when I watched the clip where he says:

Streets school us to spend our money foolish, bombed with jewellers -watch for intruders.

The fascinating thing is that I had never noticed the link between the jewellery shop and the watch. It may seem like the most obvious line in the world but for the best part of thirteen years, I had no idea.

I’d rather die enormous than live dormant.

My favourite Jay-Z line of all time, in Rap and lyricism period because he summed up everything in seven words. No one wants to die in the gutter, we all want to be victorious; success, wealth, freedom, happiness, love, adventure, we want it all and this line sums up the mantra that provides fuel for the struggle to get to the stars in the nether regions of outer space. This is a serious line, its more than those seven words can be interpreted because it connotes passion, tenacity, ruthlessness. That’s what I love about Reasonable Doubt, it’s one mans quest to follow his heart in search of paradise, in search of a way out of his environment littered with obstacles designed to make you spiral into traps.

Reasonable Doubt is the album I listen to when I feel like the walls are closing in, where you’ve gotta remind yourself what it is you are fighting for and why. Can I Live is a song full of insightful lessons, which either remind you of the world you hath left behind, or guide you unto a path where you can best avoid those trappings because of Jay-Z’s retrospective content. If you haven’t already listened to the track or the album in full, I suggest you do so without delay because this is not another Gangster/Mobster Rap/Hip Hop album, this is an insight leagues beneath the tough guy exterior to reveal the vulnerable side of someone battling with two extremes of their consciousness. We all can relate to this battle, no matter where you’re from, going, or currently at.

K O

Apr 9 2011

Observation 101 – Counsel

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A lot of people in the field fail to acknowledge the pearls of wisdom:

“A wise man keeps his own counsel.”

Napoleon had Talleyrand who turned on him as Talleyrand believed:

“Regimes may fall and fail, but I do not.”

Now in the case of Jay-Z, he’s social and financial mobility is parallel to Napoleon but he maintains ahead of the curve, by having Sean Carter as his counsel. Sometimes it helps to split your personalities in order to separate your endeavours.

Sean Carter&Jay-Z (Talleyrand&Napoleon) = Success

Best of both worlds, a wise man keeps his own counsel.

K O

Uwsu
Apr 5 2011

El Presidante – UWSU 2011 ELECTIONS

This election caused quite a stir in Uni last month. There was a whole lot of slanderous propagation and widespread student-lecturer panic. There were also some voting discrepancies that caused for a revote but when you take other factors into consideration, I can’t help but feel the whole thing was orchestrated to benefit the motives of those higher up in hierarchy. As much as this sounds like a big conspiracy theory, it’s just my observational point of view. I was out there speaking to candidates, getting to the root of things. I heard the whispers, and witness the widespread panic on a much smaller level than that of politics on a global scale. Moral of the story: politics is a pantomime filled with characters, it’s entertaining from a far yet it affects us all in many ways… Anyway, I know who I voted for and I know who I gassed, I know who kept their word and was sincere, I also know who cheesed for the most votes. My solution would be for all the candidates to come together and form a coalition of students because ‘We all we got’. It seems like the winner will be the ones favoured by those higher up rather than those who would like to make a difference, fair enough as I refused to vote Lib Dem in the last election because it was a wasted vote. Look what you gullible twats got us into: cuts, cuts, broken promises, cuts, job losses, cuts!!! It’s probably the reason why so many students march and turn nasty to smash things up because they all got spun round and fucked in the ass by Citizen Clegg because he aligned himself with Citizen Cameron, and held two shit stained middle finger up at the have-nots with hope of social and financial mobility. We are faced with a future of cuts, media manipulation to cover up the cuts, and desperate attempts suppress the minds of the masses -continually numbing their senses by desensitising their emotions…

Better the demon you know rather than the one you don’t

The funny thing about these marches is the marchers outnumber the pigs by several miles, think how different it’ll be if these people had nothing to lose i.e. If they were from an estate after they cut off all the benefits, all the resources, everything. People from the inner city areas wouldn’t think twice about bodying pigs or becoming martyrs because they have nothing to lose, these people already have a mind state where they accept death at the next step, whether it be from the rival dealer on the estate or the next gang across the borough who need more stripes.

Listen I could go on all day but I just wanted to show you some of the candidates, and some of their attempts to gain support in the election. This really did get nasty beneath the surface, I really wished the three brothers done a rap song, the four sisters made pop, and jade did some sort of deranged crazy hardcore/drum and bass number.

I can’t help but find all politicians annoying, however these students all want to make a change. I really hope that whoever gets in will give their running mates some sort of responsibility or counsel.

Peace and Love

K O

 

 

Kendrick-Lamar
Apr 4 2011

Kendrick Lamar – The Heart

I love this guy -pause- musically, lyrically, artistically, and content, I’ve got his music in heavy rotation at the moment. It all started when I heard my brother, @AbsoluteBombs, playing The Heart Pt. 2.

I heard this passion in the rap spiralling with energy until Kendrick coughed at the end. The intro to part.2, featuring an excerpt of a Dash Snow interview, summed it up so I went and copped the tapes.

Listening to the tapes and seeing the visuals inspired me to get back on my grizzle because I had seen my vision realised, I couldn’t help but think that if I stuck to the script in 2010, rather than get sidetracked, I could of made a whole lot of progress. I was onto something special when I begun my secret project; I didn’t care about misconceptions, preconceptions, contemporaries… I really didn’t give a fuck about anyones expectations because I was just being creative, in it’s purest form, my first offering would become a foundation for all else which followed. I have the freedom to do whatever I want because I have no body of work which listeners could compare it to.

It’s funny because I tried to run from a dream for so long until I realised I’d become a robot. I didn’t want my energy to become dark, bittersweet, and grey, I wanted my heart and my overall spirit and aura to remain radiant. This was the point where I began to fear my own fearlessness, after much deliberation I stopped fearing my own fearlessness and decided to plough on with my plan.

I sat down and reevaluated because I had told more than a few people about my blueprint, I had to switch lanes and meditate. I realised that it made no sense in me giving my blueprint to others when they neither understood nor implemented any of my counsel. I eventually got fed up when I analysed the operations of others, and decided to apply these strategies to myself immediately rather than look upon my creative energy as a mere past time. As much as I enjoy being creative, both musically and literally, I really see myself doing nothing else so rather than run away from a dream, I thought I’d embrace and make it happen.

What have I got to lose?

There’s nothing to lose in honesty, integrity, and going after your dream, it’s pretty much like faith, it keeps you going on the darkest days. Dreams are what keep you alive, they give you a purpose to live, and share your vision with others who can relate to your honesty. Many people lose their integrity, or sell it for less that it’s worth, along the way but it’s priceless. Integrity and honesty are two things someone should maintain throughout a lifetime, never falter, fuck what all else is doing, fuck what all else thinks, just be yourself because if your energy is honest, you’ll attract honest people, energy, and support far from the fickleness of bandwagon jumpers who are out to make a quick earner.

This is a lifestyle of thought, it’s within the soul, I plan to keep it that way, I don’t fear my fearlessness, I embrace it…

K O

Apr 1 2011

Choices 101 – Change?

It’s an odd time for everything taking place in all parts of the empire at the moment. The charts have become a melting pot of polarities, an amalgamation of the underground music scene of the past twenty years with sprinkles of fairy pop dust. One can’t help but notice the domino effect taking place, some of the hardest and most gritty mcs of old are becoming more vulnerable; ditching everything they built a strong foundation -reputation as opposed to income stream- on, turning to the charts for an earner. What once were lyrics littered with criminal references has turnt to champagne, partying, and the woes of bubblegum romance. Nothing wrong with the subject matter however, I’m witnessing too many gangsters going moist.

Let’s be real honest for a second, speaking of romance is never moist but raised on a diet of gangster films in an environment where a good 85% of your peers, and role models, are involved in some kind of criminal activity, you’re taught from the get go to never change, whilst also walking the fine line of being yourself and doing you. Your roots are what keep you grounded, they form the foundation of the thoughts telling you to stick to the guidelines; go hard, go h.a.m, go in -and whatever else- keep it gangster.

Going soft is a habit, you have to keep yourself mean.

So what’s the problem in going soft, what’s the problem in change, life is an ongoing evolution, we all change right?

Well it may seem so but there’s plenty of olders from my neighbourhood, and others all over, who still wear tracksuits, still on the grind, still juggling wraps, these guys don’t change and they don’t understand why people change their ways. These guys are trapped inside the confines of their own prison, they still don’t step foot outside of their three mile radius because they believe that it’s rival territory. These people don’t believe in social mobility.

I think we can all spot the contrived from a mile off, we see the transparency, we see clearly through the mist of bullshit to the figurative intentions all to make a quick earner, there’s no staying power in the plan, just a quick hustle to earn a quick £.

A G, I’ll ride with you for free, I want the long term riches and bitches.

Contrary to this statement, some new artists don’t think of the longterm when approached by label execs, they all seem to focus on their current state of affairs: getting their mother back home -in reference to the generation who migrated to Britain from overseas, the snakes in disguise, the opportunity to escape the box of a house in a 40 storey tower block surrounded by crazy energy on all sides, not to mention the endless fiends, threat of attack from the rival estates, gangs, dealers, stick up kids on the hunt for stripes and ghetto mobility… The list goes on.

As a crab in a barrel, how’d you expect me not to grab the check being waved over me with both claws?

That’s the dilemma because if you don’t, there’s always someone else who will, as we all know. Opportunities don’t come around often so it makes perfect sense to take them right?
Correct on many levels, but if you don’t know how to pick the right opportunities for you, you’ll never win. It seems to be a case of creating your own opportunities so when the right one arrives from outside, its on your terms and its you who holds all the strings.

K O

Mar 14 2011

OI 101 – The First Offering

I don’t know what I should expect from a free mixtape, is it bad to expect a perfect offering as if it had been sent from the Gods on Mt Olympus, with lines delivered on papyrus scripts, as if the ink of the punchlines were penned by the high priest Imhotep himself?

As dramatic as the opening paragraph sounds, that’s exactly what I expect, I expect the truth. No fronting, no rush, but outstanding quality over quantity because it’s something you must be proud of. A free offering is nothing short of priceless because you are offering your unbridled creativity, and integrity. It’s your platform, the stage where you get to showcase your skills. The free offering is the ring where you battle for the ears of the masses against the pre-established artists: Jigga, Kanye, Biggie Smalls, MJ, Bob Marley, Thelonious Monk, you’re basically vying for my attention amongst some of the greatest LPs ever released, so please get your definition straight; is it an album, LP, EP, mixtape, promo?
Please ask yourself before starting or putting it together because an EP to me is 7 tracks, an LP is 10, an album is 12-13, a mixtape is 20+, and a promo is a bunch of whatevers on whaddevas.

Conventions… Who needs em?

I’ve downloaded a lot of the free music being pushed around, both here and overseas, and I’m not really satisfied with what I’m hearing. There’s a few artists, one or two, that’s had me captivated, and a lot of others where I’ve actually forced myself to listen. It’s hard because I’ll be the first to admit I’m a snob, I hardly feel anything because it’s see through, transparent, there’s a lack of substance because the formula is all too apparent.

Break the rules much?

I actually wish more people would. I wish a lot of artists stopped caring about earning an income and put their craft first, I admire a ‘I don’t give a fuck’ attitude, when it comes to creation and self expression, also none of the greatest to ever do it gave a fuck anyway, they ploughed through and blazed their own trail rather than standing on the shoulder of a giant to follow suit.

I feel that the reason why a majority of people fail to stand out is because they aren’t doing anything different, fair enough they act like it, but they aren’t being themselves, they simply play up to who they want to be. I feel like with the rise of social networking platforms it’s much more simpler to control how you are perceived, the existence becomes hyperreal because in that cloud of activity everything seems so real when it isn’t, it’s all fake, smoke and mirrors.

Sometimes I wish that the time spent wearing the mask and parading around on the catwalk was spent creating for the love, fuelled by the naive passion to let loose rather than conforming to the conventions of a 3.5 minute pop song. I wish artists would concentrate on a legacy rather than signing a deal, I wish artists would deliver something I can relate to rather than all the jewels, money, hits, and girls they have.

We live in times of environmental, spiritual, political, and social unrest, I just wish artists would give us an honest account of what’s going on in their lives, make it socially and culturally relevant. Sometimes these artists exist but the music isn’t there, the soundscapes to which they lay their lines isn’t compatible, it’s hardly the type you’d want to wake up next to in the morning, just the type of music that you lash and dash…
Analogies aside, everything acts as a sign pointing to a course of action that shall be taken.

This is as real as it gets…

I just kept hearing my brother playing this over and over and it left me speechless. The passion, the pain, the emotion, the content, it’s all inspiring and thought provoking. I went out and got his mixtapes, and album. I suggest you do the same because listening to Kendrick Lamar and his content gives us all hope that there’s some rappers left who can rock it at all levels. I’ve literally had this song on repeat all fucking day whilst moving around, check how he climaxes, passion.

Be Inspired.

K O

#blueberrymuffins