Got Hops?

I Gottah Lose The Weight from Conscious on Vimeo.

Golden Mountain

Golden Mountain from Conscious on Vimeo.

RIP - Frosty Freeze

I think it's kinda ill that this kat passed away 2 whole weeks ago and I actually didn't find out till a couple days ago, sheerly by accident while on Youtube.

Anyway, I was thinking about how you have a dude like this that basically was an integral part of breaking history and contributed to it's evolution, by inventing moves but he never really got enough props as far as I'm concerned. Never heard him making so much noise about what he did and what not while a few other dancers deem it necessary to stake their claim with every single opportunity given, just like a number of DJ's and emcees. (I rarely see aerosol artists come out like that. They always seem much more humble though I'm sure there are those who aren't that spray as well.) Anyway this is just a reminder that often times people ain't got nothing to say about you till your dead. And even when they do, it's for more selfish reasons. They wanna get props for giving you props. If they really felt you were so dope and important they would have given you your props while you were still breathing and possibly helped you out when you were sick and falling on hard time..

Just a rant. Whatever...

RIP Frosty Freeze...

Tupac: The Leader That Almost Wasn't.

Recently there's been a stir about some things Alicia Keys said in a recent interview with Blender Magazine. The discussion is everywhere online, especially on message boards. The responses are wide ranging, a lot of the ones I've seen though are pretty vulgar. One described her as a 'dumb ass dyke bitch'. It never ceases to amaze me the way people react to the opinions of others or the statements they make not only directly, but most importantly when taken out of context. Calling people names has nothing to do with anything. Anyway, this post is about Tupac because on one message board (Philaflava) that started off talking about Alicia's comments some of which mentioned Tupac, detoured into a conversation about whether or not Tupac was capable of being an affective strong 'black leader'. After reading a few comments namely this one posted by Philaflava:

'I just want to know who was the great black leader the goverment stopped. 2Pac was a 26 year old loose cannon who flipped his script from a ballet dancing aspiring actor. A leader is Colin Powell. 2Pac was a talented guy who acted in some great b-movies and could rhyme words together'.

I decided to add a response as follows:

Tupac did have potential that would have ultimately been realized over time if he chose to go the route all the way. He didn't (or did not get a chance to) so it did not happen. The proof is in his influence beyond people saying they loved his music. People's lives have been literally changed because of his existence, his music and what some would call his moments of profound outspokenness. How many Hiphop artists have actually been responsible for definite progressive movements globally where people actively pursue change in their way of living in an effort to change the state of chaos that surrounds them. He was a spark. Everyone isn't a spark. Perhaps most are not actually aware of the magnitude his life has contributed to the possibilities... Or some just refuse to see him as anything but some nigger that rapped. Some men have an inherent ability to affect the minds of people naturally, to rally their inner spirits and help to reverse the bullshit that man creates to destroy himself. Any person male or female that has the power to affect change in a major way also in most cases faces an extreme where the demons pull at him or her to keep them from making those move at their fullest potential.

On another note the greatest type of leader is a man that can influence those followers to be leaders in their own right. Great changes happen to come when individuals realize their own strengths and do not rely on orders from some 'leader' be he black white or green.

People are detached from their internal natural sense and socialized to not believe they can make a difference., never to take initiative to just stand up for themselves let alone anyone else.

Question. Why aren't white men that lead, called white leaders?

Shout out to all spooks that sit beside doors!

In conclusion, though there are quite a few issues apparent on this message board beyond the actual post, I just wanted to focus on this thing about Tupac and express my feelings as to the statement made that denied the potential he had to be an affective leader had he lived long enough and chose to follow through with some of the plans he spoke about.

http://www.philaflava.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=92203

Five Things That Are Still True About Music [PDF] By Andrew Dubber

Music online is different. It’s not just ‘new format’ different — it’s ‘new ballgame’ different. But some rules still apply.

Here's a great short and informative e-book that may spark some ideas in your mind for your musical pursuit.
Download Link.

A Poem A Day - Poem #1

on this life's stage, frightened
no guidance for this one...
only part written in this play
was 'pucker up'...
first kisses tied to butterflies
stitched into stomachs

explaining the uneasy feeling inside

Journal: The Next Expedition

Sweet - Download [Click Here]

In the middle of the night I began to craft the idea for a sequel to the first album I ever recorded. Seven years ago I put together an album entitled, 'Journal: An Eklektik Journey'. It was a mixture of Hiphop Spoketry. Indeed, I did make up that description. As of late I've been inspired to write poems again. This project will consist of poetry pieces written during my wee hour madness with interesting backdrops of chopped and mangled record samples. Let's see what regions of your mind and mine will be tapped during this new expedition.

days vanish..

nights cover blemishes..
sun shines brightly
when your eyes is open... to the possibility

bright star
inside

in moment with present
present in moment

flickering, flashbulb
wide eyed shutter speed
pause tap makin
photo matte
match heart rate
pulse
numbers flashin on screen

hueman beings
just being

...

fuzzy... focus clear
clearly no focus
can't hear

touch time
invisible

aquatic math in queue
counting lil fishies...

golden tube..
gloss

land of lost
found truth...
bundled up...
frostbitten
nearly dead

finger nail grew long
manicure necessary...

let's meet again soon
to discuss the rest...

a rhyme

chillen and illen, and willen to fly.
i, building wit pilgrim, plus villain spillin duh wine.
fillin in blanks, blanketed talk, chalk walk definitive lines..
sunshine and aqua replenish this unlimited mind
subliminal, crime - lab, line stab'em in eye
show'em the point, point blank mey siah arrive in the sky
i turn pages, rip stages, navigate life's mazes...
at the same time 'wondering why'?
what does it all mean, he fabricated a dream involving a spleen
and irene cryin over some cream
these sheep asleep, get herded 2day
she just missed the beast nourished by curds and some way...
marketed by the beast but that's awful cliche...
thumb out and about hitchikin, a dj
serato to scratch, soundwaves over digital wax
poetic with vets, the religion war is over,
an avatar never forgets, dem properties of we
minuscule pieces of god's debris

new - poem - inspired by new friend

been long time since i penned
poems...
been sown seeds
sans rhyme
for life moments
in life poses
like still life animated
fusion
of my previous thoughts..
with acrylic.. nervous twitchin
accidents
there are none

sunny day dream

her sun dress complemented her skin tone..

goose bumps.. singing..
stomach stirrin love at first right
turn corners and hide
neath sheets

speaks...
easy...

she please me
like water drops
dew touch famished tongue pierced..

Music: Conscious & Thinker - Basement ?

[Click Here] to download Basement - Conscious & Thinker

Here's something my friend Thinker just emailed me a few minutes ago. I assume we recorded this 3-4 years ago. Not really sure. Anyway, it made me think about the fact that Thinker and I have a project we talked about doing together a long while ago and we ought to make that happen. It's honestly a great thing to be able to record and create music with a person that you find agreeable. Surely we do not agree on every single thing but we get along and work well together. Look out for some more Conscious, Thinker collaborations.

Here's a few links to past collabos, they go back a few years:

Time Is Of The Essence - Thinker shot the video. And actually recorded the track. Track produced by Provide records.

Sessions - ft. God's Chocolate - Thinker produced the track and recorded it as well.

Spinnin ft. Thinker & L - Star - Thinker recorded this one.

Scrub Handz ft. Kaleal Crooks & Thinker