J Dilla - Yancey Boys (Instrumentals)

One of the things that make me irate is that people don’t appreciate great talent while they are here on this earth. We always want to pay homage to a person until they have pasted away. You have a lot of artists that were so ahead of their time that people did not get “it” until they die. The Notorious B.I.G, Kurt Cobain, and Jimi Hendrix just to name a few. Jay Dee aka J Dilla is no exception in this case. I remember when I first heard Jay Dee it was on the second Pharcyde album called Labcabincalifornia and I was blown away by his sound. It was very different from any other kind of hip hop beats I was listening to at the time. I think what stuck out the most was his drums were off key. His drums sounded like somebody with a drum kit was playing them instead of a drum machine (even though he was using a drum machine). I investigated more about him and found out that A Tribe Called Quest hired him to produce their long awaited fourth album Beats, Rhymes, and Life. I was ecstatic, my favorite hip hop group and my favorite new producer combing forces to make an album. When it came out I was a little disappointed at first, but in hindsight it was a great album. Modern day hip hop (mid-90’s), with it’s watery landscape and radio friendly mixes, got beat down when Jay stepped behind the boards. He was working with Janet Jackson, Mad Skillz, De La Soul, and Keith Murray at the time too.

Let’s fast forward to 2009 with this great instrumental album release by Stones Throw. These beats are between the years of 1995-98 during the time Jay Dee was working with Delicious Vinyl Records. The beats on this record are the types of beats that made me know that Jay Dee was ahead of his time. I would here a lot of naysayers talk about how his beats were too R&B or not “hard” enough. I felt like that was the whole reason why his beats were slamming. He put the SOUL back into hip hop.

For more info check out Yancey Boys Instrumentals

Superman Analogy

When I was young I was into superheroes. I was big fan of Batman, Spiderman, the Fantastic Four, etc. Yet, my favorite superhero was Superman. I mention that because within the Superman story is truth. That truth is how you can lose your power when faced with Kryptonite. The reason why I am writing this is because of observations I have been noticing in the last few weeks. It’s women who are over the hill and can’t get the men they used to.

You know the girl who dissed you, didn’t call, played games, etc. The girl, who called you a loser, didn’t want to marry you because she thought she could find someone better. These women don’t understand that they lose value as they get older. Men are attracted to visual stimuli. Therefore, men will look at a woman’s looks before her personality. That might sound sexist, but it’s just the way it is. Men on the other don’t have to deal with that. Not to say that women are not attracted to looks, but status is far more in important. Look at athletes, rockers, rappers, doctors, lawyers; the list goes on and on. They get the hot girls because of their status not their looks.

Now a lot of guys out there are frustrated when it comes to hooking up with chicks, but the reality is that you are not missing out on anything being single. Being single is the best way for you to achieve goals, live your dreams, and become the man YOU want to be. Once you invest time in yourself and you become successful. All those chicks that said “no” will be saying, “yes” in a heartbeat. Women kill me with that line that goes “they’re no good men left”. I can tell you where they are. You told them NO! When men become successful in doing what they really love to do. We are Kryptonite to women. But the funny thing is that by the time you hit your mid-thirties and you are on the way to fulfilling your dream. You are not going to want the women that told you no. You want the cute twenty something that’s saying yes being allured by your status.

Accusations, Encouragements, and Insults

The most important thing to know is that accusations, encouragements, and insults are all the same thing. They’re just opinions! The person that says you will never make it, is the same dipshit who says “I always believed in you”. The same kids, who insulted you when you were young, wants to know "How you are doing?” while you are an adult.

I mention this because during this crazy election Barack Obama is seen by the mass media and society as this deity who will change the world. He is just a man that can only do one thing at a time. I could not imagine what he must be going through, but I think he will be just fine.

I am very happy that he won the election, but now there is a lot of work do. And I am afraid that the same people, who put him on this glorious pedestal, will be the first people to bring him down. I hope it does not happen, but I seen it so many times before.

Define Your Own Life

Like usual I am always on the internet looking up information about anything that comes to my mind. I was looking up Quentin Tarantino's movie Kill Bill Vol 1 to find out who did the music in the film. I accidentally click on Lucy Liu's name and came across some quotes that imdb.com posted. This one I found was very interesting. I think she just wants to be recognize as a great actress without all the adjectives place in front of the word actress. If you know what I mean.

"I'm so proud of my heritage, but yes, I think there's always a danger when people put you on a pedestal. Especially when you're just trying to live your life and pursue your dreams. The intention is not to represent Asian Americans, but to be an Asian American who is working as an actress. People often confuse the two. When you are "representing," you have the burden of some people projecting their hopes onto you. This can eventually lead to a certain amount of disappointment. I strive to not deny myself experiences that open up to me. I hope to live without looking back in regret. If people want to join me on the ride, then I'm happy to have them along". -Lucy Liu

Tori Amos & Creativity

Tori Amos is a well known singer and song writer. She is also a gifted artist. I read a quote of hers online that I thought was very interesting.

“There’s room for everybody on the planet to be creative and conscious if you are your own person. If you’re trying to be like somebody else, then there is isn’t.”- Tori Amos

Decisions

Every human being is faced with agonizing decisions. They might be moral decisions or decisions of little significance. A human being is defined by the sum of his/her decisions. Events unfold unpredictably. Human happiness is not included in the design of creation. It is only ourselves that can give our capacity to love in this indifferent world. But most human beings still keep trying. Even if they find the simple joys of life in the smallest things like family, work, and with the hope that future generations will learn more.

How do we know if we make the right decision? The answer is simple, we don’t. That’s why life is a gamble. It is not design for happiness. It is design for confusion and suffering. That’s why the only way to keep sane in this world is to have a path and stick with it. I feel like I am giving up because I am choosing to pursue teaching out of conformity. But conformity pays the bills. I can’t afford to be in writing workshops hoping I get a job or have a book out. Writing is not about that. Writing is not about how a medium is applied. It is about how to understand the world through words. It is a process. Since I just got started, I feel like I have a long way to go before I can call myself a good writer. That is why I think that having a job to take care of my living expenses is imperative.

The decision to teach is not out of passion, but necessity. I don’t want to come of as being to attach to one particular field because I can write and teach. But if I decide to go into teaching the creative writing will have to be put on the back burner for a while. I feel like shit having to do that because once again I started something and didn’t finish it. It’s my life story. What makes it even worst is that I actually like writing even if I don’t get paid for it.