_ Disclaimer: I don’t claim to be an expert, just an observer..
Recently President Obama came forth and stated that he was for same sex marriage, one of the more controversial debates going today. Now whether it was his honest opinion or a ploy to attract some of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) communities votes, who are not voting for Mitt Romney who opposes it, is a question we may honestly never know. This is a debate that will rage on for the rest of all of our lives whether it is fully legalized or not. There will always be people for it and against that will think it’s asinine the other side doesn’t agree with them.
On one side you have the LGBT community that believes it is only right for them to get married. They’re human just like us and just want to be treated fairly. They believe their lifestyle choice is just that, THEIR choice and no one should be allowed to oppose their beliefs on them. Many believe it isn’t even an argument of a lifestyle choice but indeed who they were born as much like that of being born with a certain skin tone or hair color. Some are religious and some are atheist or agnostic. They believe it is a civil rights issue much like those of African American’s in the 1960’s who just wanted to be treated as equals and the woman’s suffrage movement at the beginning of said century.
The other side is mostly the religious community who thinks it is an abomination for two people of the same sex to get married. They will bring out many quotes from the Bible stating why it is wrong and should not be allowed. Many believe that the issue will affect the youth to make the same choice and possibly lead to more people turning from the word of God. Many believe it is not a lifestyle choice but a chemical imbalance, an act of defiance, Satanism, etc. Many believe that America, which was created on Christian beliefs, is starting to turn against said beliefs for capitalism and corruption. The same corruption that caused the mighty world leader of Rome in during the times of antiquity to crumble to the hands of God.
Maybe it is the Gemini in me, but I can understand the complaints and pleas from both sides. I myself being a straight man cannot speak on the trouble of leading a gay lifestyle in a country that is primarily against what you feel is in your heart. I can see the parallels though in the argument of the black community fighting for their own rights just some decades ago. We as African Americans can understand what it’s like for someone to use to Bible to dictate why we can be treated unjustly. Many slave owners quoted scriptures from the Bible as to why it was only right for them to enslave us and keep us uneducated for over a century which I honestly feel still affects us today, as many within the African American community find themselves still a step behind other cultures and in a steady struggle to find the black man’s identity in America.
On the other end I can understand the religious community being opposed to it. If you rest your heart & soul from here to eternity on the word of God, which you believe clearly states, is against homosexuality it is only right for you to be passionate and vocal against it. We as Americans have the right to free speech and if you don’t agree with something you’re legally allowed to say so. From a religious stand point this isn’t just a life issue, but it goes above and beyond and far past the reaches of this lifetime and you will not stand for any “New Age” concept to jeopardize your forever by keeping with the times and going against what you feel is right.
I find myself undecided. I am a God fearing man that will not change my beliefs for anyone or any concept. With that being said though I cannot condemn someone for being homosexual when I myself have a child that was born out of wedlock and I live with a woman I am not married to. He who is without sin shall cast the first stone..
I also can’t say marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman when over 50% of marriages end in divorce and people get married for 72 days for reality tv shows, money and fame even more so making a mockery of marriage. How can I say to hold something scared that heterosexuals no longer hold scared.
Many simply want the ability to have their love recognized, and to be able to be insured and file taxes together. Who am I to judge?
But on the other hand if it is God’s word that homosexuality isn’t right those implications could be of a metaphysical nature that we will not understand until we get to the other side..
If we our products of evolution why didn’t nature allow us to reproduce with those of the same sex..
Why does it take male sperm to fertilize a female egg?
These are all questions, no matter what side we align with, will honestly never truly figure out in this lifetime. We as humans are addicted to our beliefs and it is those beliefs we should stand up and fight for. As right as the LGBT community has the right to fight to get married, people have the right to disagree. In the end the only thing we should not be allowed to do is get violent with one another or try to break one another down. Times are indeed changing, but maybe not for all us. Instead of insulting the intelligence and character of one another let’s come to the conclusion that we as humans will always agree to disagree on something…
The video below has an interesting take on it though I don't believe they gave the preacher ample amount of time to plead his case..
_
I just read a very interesting article about a letter sent to a Hip Hop website from an anonymous industry insider. Whether the man's claims are true or not, I myself can't prove. All I can say is its very plausible and if true should be thoroughly investigated and criminal charges be brought up against all involved.
The man claims to have worked in a high position for a major recording label during the late 80's to early 90's. In 1991 he was invited to a top secret meeting, with fellow music executives and a group of unknown men to discuss the future of Hip Hop, or better yet rap music. In the meeting the idea was posed to discontinue the promoting of socially conscience Hip Hop and bombard the mainstream public with gangster rap. The idea was proposed that with the creation of privately owned prisons (prisons that are profitable and funded due to the amount of prisoners jailed at said prison), the promotion of a music genre that glorified a criminal life style could lead to a rise in criminal activity and therefore make prison owners and prison shareholders very wealthy.
Now before this is written off as an conspiracy theory, it honestly is possible. Music has influenced cultures since the inventions of radio and TV, i.e. from the Woodstock/Hippie movements and the protests against the Vietnam war in the 1960's, to disco and the rise of the club scene/cocaine abuse increase of the 1980's. Hip Hop since 1994 has been the leading genre of music and what has been presented to the mainstream public has gotten more and more ignorant over the years. The result? A steady increase of gangs, teen pregnancy, violence, drug dealing and minorities being jailed left and right. Being 28 growing up in an era where gangster rap was the norm I've seen the mentality of a good majority of my peers. "Get money, bitches ain't shit and you ain't real unless you did some dirt." These are the values today's youth grows up with and ironically enough these are the themes of many of the rap records that have been promoted by major labels over the past two decades. Being a person who doesn't believe in coincidence, I can see how this could all possibly connect. Not necessarily the result of a secret organization like the Illuminati set out to take over the world, but simply out of an act of capitalism and the steady need as Americans to make as much money as possible no matter who gets hurt in the process.
The reality of it all is we make our own decisions in life, but many decisions are dictated by our subconscious. Our subconscious views can be manipulated by what we allow into our lives through various means of entertainment and what we find socially acceptable. What we find socially acceptable can be altered through the process of desensitization, in which after viewing something horrible enough times in life over the course of many years can eventually be deemed normal. What is normal becomes committing criminal activities that in the end through fines, arrests and jail time makes someone behind the scenes investing in the jail system and awful lot of money.
Just think, we was just trying to be some niggas with attitudes..
The original article can be read here..
While your at it, check this out..
For those who haven't seen this video this song review is insane. Dude checked out the new Kanye West record and went nuts over it... Hilarious..
Check him out on youtube at the following link..
http://www.youtube.com/user/MaximBady
It's March 5th, 2012 and I find myself in an odd predicament. One I've witness other people go through, but never thought in my wildest dreams it would happen to me. That, ladies and gentleman, is filing for bankruptcy.
Now I haven't done it yet and it's not due to being an over spender, or having a ton of credit cards that I poorly managed. No, none of that. It's due to a single act of kindness, and some ignorance on my part. I simply co-signed on a vehicle.
It's wasn't for a flaky family member or an estranged friend. It was for girl I was dating. Now the initial co-sign occurred fresh into the relationship at the age of 18. I honestly at that point didn't quite understand what in fact it meant. I figured I'd have my name on the insurance, drive it here and there. Hell at the time me and this chick were living together. My car was done for and I had no means of purchasing a new one so why not. I didn't see it as anything major.
Fast forward, 2007, we had been through a rough break up and were now back together. I was enrolled into school and close to graduating. After classes are done we are required to do an on the job internship and a chance to intern in the Mecca of entertainment Hollywood, California has now been presented to me. It was once in a lifetime opportunity that I had to take. Now I'll give it to my girl at the time, she was willing to quit her job and help me pursue a dream, but she was concerned. The car wasn't in that good of shape to make the trip, plus we're in a entirely new environment with no one to call for help. She wanted a brand new car. So we traded the car in for something new, which also comes with the need to sign a new lease.
Fast forward again, the California Incident (Blogs: Dream Deferred 1-3) and I find myself back in Arizona. Though I know it wasn't anything she did purposely, at that moment in time, I can't help but to harbor resentment towards her. I can't help but to not look her in the eye when I say it wasn't her fault. I can't help but to lose more and more interest in being in her presence with every waking day. I can't help, but to no longer be in love with this woman.
I felt bad. I had moved on and she only wanted to make things better, but it was too late. I guess as an, "I'm sorry, let me not be too much of an ass", I left my name on the car in fear of her losing that as well. I assumed it was the least I could do.
There's an old saying, "No good deed goes unpunished." and I get it now. Apparently she eventually filed for bankruptcy and moved out of state only for me to get served with papers one Saturday afternoon. After months of emails and phone conversations with lawyers I have no other options. Either continue to let my check get garnished for over $500 a month for the next four years or wave the white flag. I tried to hold off for as long as I could, but now the garnishment has put my student loan in jeopardy of going into default because it is at the bottom of the bill priority list. When it rains it pours and I'm left with out the umbrella.
All I can do is let go and let God because this round is out of my hands..
To Be Continued???
If it's one thing anyone who has ever been around me knows, I live & breathe Hip-Hop. It is my passion, my culture, my language, my life. I'll admit over the years I have complained about the state of the music, the overall direction of urban radio, etc, but I must admit 2011 was a good year for Hip Hop albums. I've learned over the years that if you want good music nowadays, you have to look for it, plain & simple. There is a lot of young talented artists paving the way on the indie scenes that are being innovative, creative and original, that simply just don't have the financial backing to getting radio spins or video airtime. One artist in particular that caught my attention in 2011 and now has my fandom is Childish Gambino.
Donald Glover a.k.a. Childish Gambino is a Hip-Hop artist, producer, actor, stand up comedian and comedy writer (former writer for 30 Rock and plays the character Troy on the NBC sitcom Community) that apparently has been around for a while. I had never heard of him until I heard his album recommended on one of my favorite podcasts, "The Black Guy Who Tips". I was already planning on picking up some new music that week so I decided to give dude a shot, and I'm glad I did.
What I like about Childish Gambino is he's very honest and he has a unique story to tell. His background goes: his family saved up to move out of the hood to get him in better schools, he in turn grew up going to white schools but never quite fit in, his friends and family from back home turned their back on him for leaving the hood, so he rode a fine line of being too black for the white kids, yet not black enough for his own kind. This odd scenario lead him to branch out and pave his own path without following stereotypes. "There's a world we can visit, if we go outside"
On the album CG shines in all categories showing his punchline ability, wittiness, and incredible ability to tell a story. Be it about the kid that once told him he wasn't really black because he had a dad, yet he still wasn't white enough to swim in the kid's pool. Or the story of the chick he feel for one summer in camp that he finally got the gall to admit how he felt only for her to embarrass him in front of the entire bus. This in turn taught him a harsh life lesson. Tell everyone, everything, that way no one can ever use your secrets against you. He is a multilayered artist that I expect to see release a lot of good music over the years. One of these days I'll probably sit down and do an actual full album review, but for now, check out a couple of videos off of "Camp"
They keep calling me a product of my environment
But truth is I ain't buying it, this product that your trying to pitch
See I was raised in the Slums, dog
Without a chance to be a millionaire
Cuz there's millionaire's round there
But they don't come round here
Ain't no heroes round here
So we idolize the rappers, the ballers, and entertainers
Cuz in the valley of the lost, they do more then entertain us
They the only ones who made it that talk like us, walk like us
See'em on the tv, and damn don't they look like us?
So we say we wanna be like them, cuz our fathers our MIA
But we really can't blame them for not being here today
Cuz they hit the road to get that money, there was none back home
And when things didn't go they way, they was on the road, all alone
So they take a sip of that liquor to ease the pain,
Take a sniff of this....... its just cocaine
Before you know it, they forgot to come back
So now his son is by himself, surrounded by roaches & rats
Following in his daddy's footsteps, trying to escape the trap
In the hood we call it the Circle of Life
Even questioning our religion, cuz we don't look like Christ
Please forgive us, for we know not what we do
We got our smarts from the streets, turned away from the schools
Not to be cool, shit ain't no hope for us
Ain't much changed since the 50's except the rope for us
To be lynched by no longer hang in the trees
It's now metaphorical, attached in these impossible to obtain degrees
But even thru all that, and no matter the outcome
I will never, and I mean never, forget where I came from..
_
As another month of February arrives I am constantly reminded by mainstream media that it is black history month. As much as I despise the idea of using one month, the shortest of the calendar year mind you, to try and sum up the entire history of African-Americans, that's not what I'm here for. I am here to speak of my undying dislike of Tyler Perry movies.
This is a picky topic within the black community. Tyler Perry has an incredible rags’ to riches story of going from being homeless to arguably the most recognized African American writer/director of current times. He does a lot for his community, is a God fearing man and for the most part a positive influence. I'm all for that. But in the end, it doesn't make up for his lack of range in films.
I'll admit I hopped on the Ty Perry bandwagon when he first emerged on the scene. We as African Americans don't get a lot of positive representation on the big screen. Your average African American actor is always type cast in one of a few roles. The "tired of being in these streets" ex hustler, the athlete, the token black friend amongst his group of caucasian pals, or my favorite, the take no shit horror flick Negro that never makes it past the opening credits. So to see a new black director with the power to tell his own stories to movie goers across the nation was empowering and refreshing. What we've gotten though time and time again is the same melodramatic, male hating, made for TV special, keep hope alive Negro spirituals.
Now that last statement may be a tad harsh and opinionated but I feel as if Tyler Perry has found a niche, a comfort zone and he will not challenge himself to step out of that box and try something innovative. I applaud Spike Lee for stepping out of his comfort zone many of times throughout his career. After constant tales of race relations within the inner city of Brooklyn, Spike branched off and tried new things. I remember when I went to see "Inside Man" starring Denzel Washington in theaters, because it looked like a bad ass bank robber movie, and was blown away when the credits rolled and stated "Directed by Spike Lee".
In the end, that's all I ask of Tyler Perry. I know you can write "that" story, show me something new or find yourself holding the next black director back from having the chance to show what the African American culture can truly bring to Hollywood.
So Tyler Perry I will not be spending any money on your upcoming film Good Deeds, because I'm pretty sure I've seen it already. I much rather save my money for Hungry Games...
That is all..
-adVerSity
_Your the chick in my 5th hour history class, that has turned into more of a study hall because our original teacher is on the run from the cops for having sex with underage girls. We go to this class everyday after lunch and everyone just goofs off and shares gossip. We have a new substitute teacher everyday that is simply there to babysit and make sure the students aren't fighting or smoking weed in class. We're half way done with the school year, so the board has practically given up on teaching us anything this year. It's right around the time when school starts back up after Christmas break, and your the new girl.
I'm not sure of your background story, where your from, why you transferred to this school and I have no idea what your last name is but none of that really matters. Because your beautiful and your nice to me. See all the guys in school are trying to become your friend, and secretly fighting behind your back to see who can sleep with you first and then dump you to gain more cool points in this crazy world we call High School. But I'm different, and I'm not 100% sure if you know that or if you know that I think that you know that I think that. Wait.. I know, I'm starting to confuse myself also now as I get lost in the moment. All I know is when I get out of school I race my 1965 Shelby Mustang that I named after you. No, I'm not rich, I'm actually quite the opposite. I just have this game called Gran Turismo for the Playstation that me and my best friend play everyday and we just saw this movie called Gone In 60 Seconds where they steal cars and name them after women. This Shelby is the most prized possession in my virtual car garage so I thought it would only be fitting to name it after you. My nerdom is starting to seep through, but none of that really matters though, I'm just trying to avoid the inevitable moment when I will have to approach you and confess how I feel.
Valentine's Day is approaching, I've let some time pass and I still haven't told you what's on my mind. We've developed a friendship during this time though and that's pretty cool. I even once borrowed your homework off of you to copy it even though I think I have a higher grade then you in this class. I just wanted to have a reason to interact with you tomorrow but your handwriting is incredibly bad, so I just wrote the paper myself and thanked you anyway the following day. I enjoy our friendship but I want more then that. I'm starting to think I have a chance because many of the guys have given up because you've turned down every advance they've made towards you. Maybe its because you didn't come to this school to become the cliched, new popular slut, or maybe you were waiting for the right person. Maybe I was that person, I don't know, I tend to be over analytical but this time I think I'm on to something.
Today is now Valentine's Day and I got you a teddy bear and a nice card and I have it in the back seat of my 1983 Cutlass Supreme. I wait until lunch is nearly over, I get it and slowly approach class. I'm nervous as can be because not only our some of the cool kids in this class but also a couple of the guys you turned down so if this goes wrong I'll be the laughing stock of campus until the next unfortunate individual does something incredibly embarrassing in front of a larger group of students. I have it stashed and I'm pretending as if it doesn't exist. Before I know it the bell rings, class is over, I'm having second thoughts but forget it, I have to do this. As the class leaves I catch up to you in the hallway and give you your Valentine's gift. "Here, I got you something." Your eyes light up, you give me a hug, along with your number and you walk away glowing as all your friends smile and ask what the card says. The guys in class frown as they head to their next hour, and I feel as if I just scored the 3 that clenched States for us. #Winning
That evening we talk on the phone and.. everything kind of falls apart. The mystic of who you are and what your about fades as you have absolutely nothing to say. I sit on the other end of the phone and I have nothing in return of interest to talk about. I'm not sure if it's because neither one of us are nervous, their is simply no chemistry whatsoever between us. After about 30 minutes of a very awkward telephone conversation consisting of many yeah's, uh-huh's, and umm's, I pretend my mom needs me to do something and I say that I'll call back, but I never do. We continue the rest of that school year as if that moment never happened, were still friends but that's it. And you know what, that's also ok. For that moment I was the envy of the school's entire male population. I got the number of the girl with no last name.
I learned that year that sometimes you chase things, obtain them and their not quite what you expected but the true joy comes from the chase and your vision to accomplish the impossible.
-adVerSity
_adVerSity is an American Hip-Hop artist based out of South Phoenix, Arizona. He started rapping at the age of 11 when he was approached by his cousin to start a rap group. He had never considered rapping, due to not being a huge music fan at the time, but decided to take it up. He was already a short story writer as well as into poetry so he figured it would be an easy transition. After recording several songs under the moniker K.A.$.H.I.E. K.A.I.N.4e and releasing his first album “Thugs Vs. Drugs” in 1997 he decided that rapping wasn’t quite for him. He continued writing lyrics during this time but rarely recorded.
In 2001 he linked up with a couple of local producers and got back into recording under the moniker Omni X. During this time he also joined a rap group by the name of Diverse and started performing locally. After a couple of years of bouncing around and recording at various recording studios on other people’s schedules he decided to start his own recording studio to be able to record at his own leisure. In 2005 he started a Pro Tools project studio by the name of Eye 4 A Eye Studios and started recording vigorously, recording 11 albums within this time.
In 2007 he joined a local promotion company by the name of Non-Stop Promotions and started performing all over the state. During this time he started to gain a local buzz and got invited to perform at a yearend A&R showcase for four prominent major recording labels. Along with roughly 15 other Hip-Hop acts, he performed for the A&R’s in attendance and got a chance to speak with one after the performance. The A&R informed adVerSity he was a very talented recording artist, but his image wasn’t marketable in the current state of Hip-Hop. He was devastated by this. Having come so close to his fulfilling his dream but being shut down due to commercial images and the current Hip Hop marketing strategies, adVerSity stop performing as well as recording for a while.
Shortly after the showcase he enrolled into The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences to pursue a career in Audio Engineering. After completing the course he moved to a city just outside of Los Angeles, California and started an internship for a Hollywood production company run by a platinum R&B producer, professional basketball player and a Hip-Hop legend. The internship never turned into a full time position and after becoming victim to an international check fraud ring, adVerSity lost his California home and was forced to move back to Phoenix, Arizona and start over once again.
While back in his homestate he decided to give his dream of becoming a Hip-Hop artist one last run as he hit the studio with a new passion as well as an education in Audio Engineering, mixing & mastering. In 2010 he released his first complete studio album “To Whom It May Concern” as well as a mixtape by the name of “Writerz Block Vol. 1: Almost Famous” detailing the trials and tribulations he has faced chasing a dream within his grasp but running into impossible odds at every corner.
In 2011, adVerSity hit the studio to record his highly anticipated follow up album, “Inspired: By True Events”. During the recording of the album he found a new source of inspiration as he became a proud father to his first child, his son Kaiyon. With this new found love and inspiration in his heart he recorded an upbeat yet socially conscience album detailing many events he has experienced as well as seen in his lifetime. From becoming a father, to difficulties growing up in the ghetto, to dealing with self doubt, racism in Arizona, adVerSity gave listeners a trip into his world for 60 minutes.
adVerSity has also found a passion for screenwriting in between projects. In 2011 he finished penning his first script entitled “Freedom” about a man similar to him chasing a dream while trying to escape his past to better his future. In 2012 he plans to continue this new found passion as he is already brainstorming as well as working on 5 new scripts ranging from the sequel to “Freedom” entitled “Freedom Reigns” to a semi-autobiographical drama “The Boy God Forgot About” to a post apocalyptic sci-fi thriller entitled “Neaveh’s Story”.
His next musical steps will be in the release of an EP by the name of “Freedom” to be released as the soundtrack to his screenplay of the same name, as well as a follow mixtape “Writerz Block Vol. 2 How I Met Your Mother” detailing his journey into fatherhood.
"In your battle for success, time is your true enemy…" -adVerSity
Love, it's much more then a four letter word, ya heard
It be absurd to say I never observed this emotion first hand
No I ain't the first man to say that it isn't all I need to quench my thirst man
See us men want more, money, success and fly rides
Necklaces to make our eyes wide, deuces to ya girlfriend, she coming with me, bye bye
But..
There comes a point in every man's life, that he's ready for something bigger
See the liquor filled the void, but now I'm a man, not a boy I'm done with toys
Settle down, when? I guess right now,
It happened at the first mention of my unborn child,
As you develop in ya mothers tummy, I plotting ways to get money to purchase everything you will ever want from me,
Gotta do it the right way, can't be no dummy,
Cuz see the cops see the color of my skin, and say I fit a description, can't give'em a real reason to lock me in, amen,
See I'ma take'em to church with this verse and tell'em why it hurts,
I'm trying to be the better man, and see past this storm like a weather man,
And live happily ever after forever and.. a day, but I'm not sure if I know the way,
This is the story of how I met your mother, filled with love and lust, heartaches and bad days, good decisions, and questions, Bad ones and everyday lessons, party's and confessions, tears and stressing, and in the end, you.. a blessing,
My only concern is will you learn from my mistakes and pave a better way, cuz I know I ain't perfect in no way
Some say, we have kids through karma, to relive the drama we delivered to our mothers and fathers,
But I refuse to think negative, we haven't even met yet and I know your better kid,
Your the product of two intelligent, free thinkers, sharper then meat cleavers, who stay on point like heat seekers and until the day we finally meet Jesus,
I leave this memento, verbally inscribed in the air, for me to lie about my past would be unfair, so this is ya Pops, in his truest form, rhyming is my duty, no uniform,
Just know no matter what happens, I'ma keep it real, like no other, Writerz Block Vol. 2 this is "How I Meet Your Mother"
Coming 2012
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