"Focus on the journey not the destination ". I've heard that many times but i never got it .We all are striving for our goals under the notion that life will be better once that objective has been met, and and i trust that we work hard towards them. But sometimes it can be a bit draining,
especially when you feel like that end goal is so far away.It dawned on me that we achieve more with no goals in mind, and your work should be your satisfaction.When i got involved in with my current endeavor i thought that i was going to be rich within 1 year (How foolish of me),now fast forward 4 years later i'm grateful that didn't happen because i would've lost my money and my mind (what's left of it). It's important to focus on the journey because there will be time when we take a wrong turn or get stuck somewhere, it would count as lost time. Frustration and increasing pressure will get the best of you if don't love the process,and you'll quit (i don't know what that word means).
Focusing on the process is the way to success and i know people with great goals that gave up when their enthusiasm depleted.Goals might motivate you to get started with something, but they aren’t sufficient to keep you motivated.Success = hard work + preparation+ persistence, luck only shows up at dessert,and you'll only pass out if you attempt to sprint in a marathon.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Rapping over a College Degree: A Young, Black Man's Priorities
I think that it is funny how young black men would give up going to college and getting a degree, just for a rap career that may not happen. What is more funny is the fact that most of the past and present rap artists, that these black men look up to, actually have some type of degree. Most young men don't realize this simply because of the whole "Fuck School" mentality. So for those hard-headed black men that think that a college degree just isn't necessary, the artists, that I am about to name, beg to differ:
1. J. Cole has a Bachelors Degree in Communications, with a minor in Business from St. John's University.
2. David Banner has a Business degree for Southern University.
3. Ludacris has a Bachelor's degree in Music Management from Georgia State University.
4. Ice Cube allegedly has a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Phoenix Institute of Technology.
5. Ryan Leslie has a degree in Government and Economics from Harvard University.
6. M.I.A. received her degree in Fine Arts, Video, and Film from London's Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design.
7. Talib Kweli has a degree in Experimental Theatre Design from New York University.
8. Both Flava Flav and Chuck D (from Public Enemy) have a degree from Adelphi University.
9. Guru (from Gang Star) received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Morehouse College.
10. Phonte (from Little Brother and The Foreign Exchange) has a Bachelor's Degree in English from North Carolina Central University.
And if that didn't convince you to obtain a college degree, even as back-up, here are a few others:
2 Chainz went to University of Alabama. Common went to Florida A&M University. Kanye West went to Chicago State University. Lil Wayne went to the University of Houston. And last, but not least, Rick Ross went to Alabama State University.
Still think that a college degree isn't important? If so, know that a college degree is very important. I understand that college isn't for everybody, and that is true. Not everyone can take on a heavy responsibility such as college (and college life), but to choose something so temporary as a rap career over furthering your education says a lot about the priorities these young black men have. My opinion? Not everyone can rap, just like not everyone can deal with college, but don't ever think that a potential rap career is more important than a degree that you can use at any given time....even if it's something to fall back on. If you want to rap, do that. Follow your dreams, but have a back-up plan just in case that dream is deferred.
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/22270400/why-is-teen-giving-up-college-free-ride-to-pursue-rap-career#.UzK1FFZfRIx.facebookJames
1. J. Cole has a Bachelors Degree in Communications, with a minor in Business from St. John's University.
2. David Banner has a Business degree for Southern University.
3. Ludacris has a Bachelor's degree in Music Management from Georgia State University.
4. Ice Cube allegedly has a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Phoenix Institute of Technology.
5. Ryan Leslie has a degree in Government and Economics from Harvard University.
6. M.I.A. received her degree in Fine Arts, Video, and Film from London's Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design.
7. Talib Kweli has a degree in Experimental Theatre Design from New York University.
8. Both Flava Flav and Chuck D (from Public Enemy) have a degree from Adelphi University.
9. Guru (from Gang Star) received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Morehouse College.
10. Phonte (from Little Brother and The Foreign Exchange) has a Bachelor's Degree in English from North Carolina Central University.
And if that didn't convince you to obtain a college degree, even as back-up, here are a few others:
2 Chainz went to University of Alabama. Common went to Florida A&M University. Kanye West went to Chicago State University. Lil Wayne went to the University of Houston. And last, but not least, Rick Ross went to Alabama State University.
Still think that a college degree isn't important? If so, know that a college degree is very important. I understand that college isn't for everybody, and that is true. Not everyone can take on a heavy responsibility such as college (and college life), but to choose something so temporary as a rap career over furthering your education says a lot about the priorities these young black men have. My opinion? Not everyone can rap, just like not everyone can deal with college, but don't ever think that a potential rap career is more important than a degree that you can use at any given time....even if it's something to fall back on. If you want to rap, do that. Follow your dreams, but have a back-up plan just in case that dream is deferred.
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/22270400/why-is-teen-giving-up-college-free-ride-to-pursue-rap-career#.UzK1FFZfRIx.facebookJames
Monday, March 24, 2014
Nation Building
Most American Blacks are descended from Africans, who were brought
here hundreds of years ago through no will of their own. Having their
cultural identities stripped away, the descendants of these Africans
have vague – if any- social and historical perceptive.
Without first-hand knowledge of their roots, many American Blacks can only shape their views of Africa based upon what has been said and written in both the media and distorted history books, which tells us of a continent full of war-torn countries, starving people and corrupt leaders, who continue to profit from the betrayal of its people. I didn't understand why a lot of blacks born in America had a issue with their heritage. In the early sixties it was insulting to be called black. But in the late nineteen sixties we were wearing our African clothing, our African head-dress. Too most people the Negro and colored phrases were dropped, black was most definitely in, and that's what most of us wanted to be called by other races.
Still today, some of the southern states and rural areas still call us coloreds or Negroes. While these phrases are insulting to most young and middle-aged African-Americans, there are older African-Americans that would prefer to be called colored or Negro. To be called black is insulting to them.
Then there are those "African-Americans or blacks" that are ashamed of being called African-Americans. If you ask them they will tell you they are not ashamed to be African-Americans. They say they would rather be called by their name than to be called a race.
On the flip side are the migrant Africans, from various parts of the continent, who are either unfamiliar or ambivalent with the past and continued struggle of American blacks. In some cases, these native-born Africans carry some of their own prejudices, which too have been perpetuated through the media. For example, believing that African-Americans are too racially ambiguous to be considered “full-blood” Africans or believing that Blacks harbor a deep-seated “chip on their shoulder” syndrome about slavery, which has prohibited them from fully taken advantages of the land of opportunity.
The result is that many native-born Africans and African-Americans have become ignorant to each other’s complex realities, choosing to maintain a separate identity and not fully capitalizing of each other’s various strengths.
However, while cultural differences remain, our shared future in a country, where racial discrimination and intimidation still exist, have a greater power to unite both sides of the same black coin. In other words, while we may continue to divide intra-racially, there are others, who only see “black” and will react accordingly – just ask the likes of Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell.
To bridge the divide, there must be a collective effort to develop a mutual respect and understanding of one another’s struggle, strengths and triumphs. Our people, collectively, have to understand that colonization in some ways was no different than slavery and its impact of how we view ourselves, and each other, is all relative. Perhaps we are in need of another “Back to Africa” movement, like what was started by Jamaican-born Marcus Garvey, in which the primary focus is on educating, outreach and reconciliation of all people of African descent worldwide.
One could hope that African Americans and Africans alike will someday realize the importance of economic, political and cultural linkages with our brothers and sisters and embrace the term “African” no matter where they may reside in the Diaspora.
Without first-hand knowledge of their roots, many American Blacks can only shape their views of Africa based upon what has been said and written in both the media and distorted history books, which tells us of a continent full of war-torn countries, starving people and corrupt leaders, who continue to profit from the betrayal of its people. I didn't understand why a lot of blacks born in America had a issue with their heritage. In the early sixties it was insulting to be called black. But in the late nineteen sixties we were wearing our African clothing, our African head-dress. Too most people the Negro and colored phrases were dropped, black was most definitely in, and that's what most of us wanted to be called by other races.
Still today, some of the southern states and rural areas still call us coloreds or Negroes. While these phrases are insulting to most young and middle-aged African-Americans, there are older African-Americans that would prefer to be called colored or Negro. To be called black is insulting to them.
Then there are those "African-Americans or blacks" that are ashamed of being called African-Americans. If you ask them they will tell you they are not ashamed to be African-Americans. They say they would rather be called by their name than to be called a race.
On the flip side are the migrant Africans, from various parts of the continent, who are either unfamiliar or ambivalent with the past and continued struggle of American blacks. In some cases, these native-born Africans carry some of their own prejudices, which too have been perpetuated through the media. For example, believing that African-Americans are too racially ambiguous to be considered “full-blood” Africans or believing that Blacks harbor a deep-seated “chip on their shoulder” syndrome about slavery, which has prohibited them from fully taken advantages of the land of opportunity.
The result is that many native-born Africans and African-Americans have become ignorant to each other’s complex realities, choosing to maintain a separate identity and not fully capitalizing of each other’s various strengths.
However, while cultural differences remain, our shared future in a country, where racial discrimination and intimidation still exist, have a greater power to unite both sides of the same black coin. In other words, while we may continue to divide intra-racially, there are others, who only see “black” and will react accordingly – just ask the likes of Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell.
To bridge the divide, there must be a collective effort to develop a mutual respect and understanding of one another’s struggle, strengths and triumphs. Our people, collectively, have to understand that colonization in some ways was no different than slavery and its impact of how we view ourselves, and each other, is all relative. Perhaps we are in need of another “Back to Africa” movement, like what was started by Jamaican-born Marcus Garvey, in which the primary focus is on educating, outreach and reconciliation of all people of African descent worldwide.
One could hope that African Americans and Africans alike will someday realize the importance of economic, political and cultural linkages with our brothers and sisters and embrace the term “African” no matter where they may reside in the Diaspora.
Message to the Sideline Hoe
There is nothing okay about being someone's back-up, or most widely referred to as "The Sideline Hoe'. Sideline hoes take this role way too serious. For all women with this role, you are not important. You have no power. These women have the idea that a man, who doesn't even belong to her, wants to be with her. My question is well, what makes you think he wants to be with you? Because he has sex with you, or he runs to you when shit just isn't going right at home? Let me tell you something. Real men only need one female. Real women only want to be the only one, not the main one and certainly not the main squeeze. It's a sign of pure desperation when a woman wants to lay next to a man knowing that that same man is going home to lay next to his wife. If this is you, you are stupid. See, it's a reason why you are just the mistress. He won't take you out in public. Why? Because he has a woman for that. He takes his wife in public just to make sure people never find out about you. He won't spend Christmas or Valentine's Day with you. Why? Because he has his own family. Don't ever think that holidays are to be spent with you. It hasn't, and will never, happen like that. He only calls you after 12 am. Why? Because 10 pm is the time most families are sleep, especially families with children. Oh, he won't give you children. Why? Because he already has is own family. He doesn't want from you what he already has at home. It just wouldn't make sense. There is no room for you. You are the female he calls when he can't deal with the real woman he has at home....the woman you want so bad to be, but simply can't. Otherwise, he'd be with you and not the woman he already has. Let this be a lesson to all women: If you are not a sideline, don't ever put yourself in a position to take on that role. You have too much self-worth and dignity to creep around with a man who can't even be faithful at home. If you are a sideline, you are a fool and you need to find your own man. Why? Because 1. You'll never have that luxury of being his woman. He will not leave his foundation for what he considers the hoe of the night. And 2. Because how you get him, is how you will lose him. If you don't know what I mean, I mean if he will cheat with you, he will most definitely cheat on you. Now, there are some men out there that are generally unhappy, and will decide to step out and find a replacement. Maybe he is planning on leaving his wife for you. But, why take that risk? Why risk him leaving you for someone else when he finds himself unhappy again? Don't waste your time, and don't end up the SIDELINE!
Saturday, March 22, 2014
The word "Thug" is replacing the "N Word"
So Bill O' Reilly strikes again. First Ludacris loses his Pepsi Endorsement because of this asshole and now Beyonce is a target. I encourage everyone to watch carefully and pay close attention to Bill's comment. "For some of these thugs, thats all they can talk about" So the new word for successful African American entertainers is now "thugs". Be careful because if your black and singing or rapping about anything other than Kumbaya, your a thug. "People that idolize Beyonce are the children of irresponsible parents"? Really Bill? thats how you feel...I didn't know that my multiple college degree holding, business owning ass was irresponsible because i bought my 14 year old daughter a Beyonce CD...I didnt think that qualified me as a bad parent...OMG i'm so awful lmao!! Obviously Bill O'Reilly has an issue with african american entertainers or people, either way his comments are disrespectful and appalling. Truth be told........Entertainers are not role models, great parents are!
Friday, March 21, 2014
I Can't Smoke Pot....but I Can Carry a Gun in Church :)
I know that most of you haven't been paying attention to your dearly beloved government. I mean, it's no secret that they are some of the shadiest people on earth. The very men that preach life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are the very same men that are denying us our freedoms. I recently heard about this gun bill and this whole "medical marijuana bill", and quite frankly, the word "PISSED" does not quite cut it for the situation. In case you guys don't know, I'm about to fill you on in. I just had to express the dumb nature of this situation. So, majority of the House voted in favor of the Medical Marijuana bill being passed. If that wasn't the best part, Majority of the Senate voted in favor of the Medical Marijuana bill being passed. So I ask you, WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED? The bill did not pass. It was denied. Like, its over with until next year. Parents have cried.....shit is brutal. Unlike the the Medical Marijuana bill, guess what bill was passed? The Gun Bill!! This is where anyone can bring their guns into schools, churches, restaurants, the list goes ON! CRAZY SHIT! Niggas forget that 28 people died in the Sandy Hook shooting. 26 elementary school children, lives disrupted by violence! Oh, and do you remember the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007? Yeah, 33 people died, including the shooter. Maybe the government has forgotten. I'm praying that this is all so new to them because anyone, knowing all of these events, would've never made it okay to carry guns virtually everywhere. Frankly, it's the dumbest shit ever. You are asking for that one out of control teenager snatch their teacher's gun, and create another Sandy Brook situation. Maybe, a teacher with a messed up home-life, comes to school and takes it out on the students and teachers. But you thought this was smart idea though, right? Laws that want to condemn gays? Prime example of the lack of separation between church and state, but THESE NIGGAS want to make it okay to carry guns into churches? The fuck do you mean??? As you can see folks, the country that we live in is nothing but a visage of what they think life is like. The reality is it's TOTAL BULLSHIT! But that's just my opinion.....*shrugs* Signing off :P
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
The Greatest Emcee!
There is some talk about who the best mainstream rapper is. I've heard everyone from Lil Wayne to Jay-Z to Wale to Eminem. There is talk that Wale may be, and then there is Kendrick Lamar. My opinion? You just can't create such a broad category because there are two different categories that determine whole the best rapper is. Don't know what I'm talking about? I'll explain it like this....
Let's look at lyrical inclination, meaning how well a rapper can put words with words and lyrics with lyrics, and how an artist can convey emotion behind the rhymes. In my opinion, some of the greatest go as far as Tupac and Biggie. There is no denying that. But if we are to fast forward to today's mainstream media, it can be said that Lil Wayne or Jay-Z holds the crown. Lil Wayne has been blessed with the talent of putting words together. My problem is his words just don't make sense. He went from rapping about life in the streets, to rapping about nothing (basically!). There is no poetry, no linkage, no meaning. They're just words strategically placed into sentences that end up making no sense. See, I like Wale, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, B.o.B., and Eminem. When I'm listening to a Wale song, or a J. Cole song, I feel like I'm listening to Def Jam Poetry, and I love that.
We can look at individuality. I'm talking about rappers that have their own distinct style of rap. Something that can't be copied. Most rappers today rap about cars, hoes, money, popping bands, strippers, shit that has no importance in life at all. Then there are those rappers that rap, and they bring a certain extra to their rap. That extra can't be duplicated at all. I'm talking about rappers such as Nicki Minaj, Childish Gambino, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop. The songs are consistently different. You never see the same style being done twice. Wiz Khalifa has his own style, and has created a few fashion trends along the way. I like to call it the "Wiz Khalifa" swag. He, along with Snoop Lion, made it okay to smoke weed on a daily basis and not have to hide it. Nicki Minaj's style is so far fetched from reality that it is ridiculous. However, it's so ridiculous that it works! She took the idea of characters and she turned it into a brand, a trend. She made it her own. It's important to dare to be different.
There are many good rappers out today: Future, Rocko, Pusha T, etc. However, when it comes to Hip-Hop music, good just isn't good enough. A great rapper has Individuality and Excellent Lyrical Content. Honestly, I haven't found that artist yet!!
Signing off :P!
Let's look at lyrical inclination, meaning how well a rapper can put words with words and lyrics with lyrics, and how an artist can convey emotion behind the rhymes. In my opinion, some of the greatest go as far as Tupac and Biggie. There is no denying that. But if we are to fast forward to today's mainstream media, it can be said that Lil Wayne or Jay-Z holds the crown. Lil Wayne has been blessed with the talent of putting words together. My problem is his words just don't make sense. He went from rapping about life in the streets, to rapping about nothing (basically!). There is no poetry, no linkage, no meaning. They're just words strategically placed into sentences that end up making no sense. See, I like Wale, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, B.o.B., and Eminem. When I'm listening to a Wale song, or a J. Cole song, I feel like I'm listening to Def Jam Poetry, and I love that.
We can look at individuality. I'm talking about rappers that have their own distinct style of rap. Something that can't be copied. Most rappers today rap about cars, hoes, money, popping bands, strippers, shit that has no importance in life at all. Then there are those rappers that rap, and they bring a certain extra to their rap. That extra can't be duplicated at all. I'm talking about rappers such as Nicki Minaj, Childish Gambino, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop. The songs are consistently different. You never see the same style being done twice. Wiz Khalifa has his own style, and has created a few fashion trends along the way. I like to call it the "Wiz Khalifa" swag. He, along with Snoop Lion, made it okay to smoke weed on a daily basis and not have to hide it. Nicki Minaj's style is so far fetched from reality that it is ridiculous. However, it's so ridiculous that it works! She took the idea of characters and she turned it into a brand, a trend. She made it her own. It's important to dare to be different.
There are many good rappers out today: Future, Rocko, Pusha T, etc. However, when it comes to Hip-Hop music, good just isn't good enough. A great rapper has Individuality and Excellent Lyrical Content. Honestly, I haven't found that artist yet!!
Signing off :P!
Monday, March 17, 2014
The Moment Of Reckoning
You have good ideas but no money, you have a creative team that does everything right (it could be
worse imagine if all the partners hated each other ), but can't get a loan. You have to either pay rent or
pay your sales team. Oh yeah your bills are piling up (yay) , people that owe you money won't return
your phone calls, you can't even buy food, and the money does come it barely covers overhead while
you're missing out on all the good things like birthday parties,funerals ( i missed a lot ),traveling,no
social/dating life (your money will be tied up in your venture so you won't be taking anybody out
might as well get Netflix) , your friends will start to avoid you thinking you would ask them for
money or they're just tired of hearing you talk about things that seems like alien cuneiform.
Welcome to Entrepreneurship 101 where these scenarios happen over and over, and you have to have
a strong determination and persistence to execute the planned objective. Oh poor baby, you thought
that you could half ass it for 6 months and then you'd be rich (i did, but that's another story) or the
world owed you something because you want to be a success, or they would just give you their
money just because you pitched a great idea or blah blah blah. I've realized that it's a long process
and you just have to focus on the work and everything else will come......I got ice cream in the fridge
will talk later .
worse imagine if all the partners hated each other ), but can't get a loan. You have to either pay rent or
pay your sales team. Oh yeah your bills are piling up (yay) , people that owe you money won't return
your phone calls, you can't even buy food, and the money does come it barely covers overhead while
you're missing out on all the good things like birthday parties,funerals ( i missed a lot ),traveling,no
social/dating life (your money will be tied up in your venture so you won't be taking anybody out
might as well get Netflix) , your friends will start to avoid you thinking you would ask them for
money or they're just tired of hearing you talk about things that seems like alien cuneiform.
Welcome to Entrepreneurship 101 where these scenarios happen over and over, and you have to have
a strong determination and persistence to execute the planned objective. Oh poor baby, you thought
that you could half ass it for 6 months and then you'd be rich (i did, but that's another story) or the
world owed you something because you want to be a success, or they would just give you their
money just because you pitched a great idea or blah blah blah. I've realized that it's a long process
and you just have to focus on the work and everything else will come......I got ice cream in the fridge
will talk later .
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Medical weed? What about the rest of us??
I've spent numerous hours talking to friends and family about the government legalizing marijuana. While doing so, I came across some information about Georgia only legalizing marijuana for medical use. I just have one thing to say..........WHAT THE HELL?? Yes, I went there. What sense would it make to only legalize marijuana for medical use??? I mean, I understand the fact that marijuana helps tremendously in the medical field, helping to cure cancer, asthma, glaucoma, and many other illnesses. However, there is money to be made through recreational use as well. Let's face the facts. Everyone smokes me. Everyone has no reason not to. Why? Because unlike cocaine, alcohol, and tobacco, NOBODY HAS DIED FROM SMOKING WEED!!!! Come on people! There is no real reason why the legalization of marijuana in all aspects of life should not be happening in 2014. Not to mention, the lord himself put it on earth for use to utilize, just like we utilize every other resource we have. You don't have to add chemicals to it because THC is naturally found in marijuana. This is not something you have to buy ingredients for just to create the high. You just pick it, grind it, roll it, and light it. You can smoke it via vaporizer, in a bong, a hookah, a gas mask, or a bowl. You can even put it in food. Worried about the side affects? No need! Hunger, drowsiness, and extreme deep thought are the only "side affects" you'll experience. My suggestion? Legalize weed distribution for a certain amount, maybe an ounce or two. Anyone caught with more than one ounce, you can safely assume some type of illegal distribution is in progress. This will weed out the actual smokers from the drug dealers. All in all, it is high time that the Georgia government quit stalling over a harmless plant and legalize. Who knows! This could bring the peace on earth that everyone wants, but no one is willing to work towards.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Random Thought
Ever had one of those moments where you wish you did things differently to change your present situation ? I used to, until i realized that it's pointless and that you could do is to move on.
Life throws a curveball whenever you think you're making headway and that could be devastating for the weak of heart.All you could do is to maneuver through the nonsense,and live in the present. You have to learn from the past but don't dwell on it.
Life throws a curveball whenever you think you're making headway and that could be devastating for the weak of heart.All you could do is to maneuver through the nonsense,and live in the present. You have to learn from the past but don't dwell on it.
Monday, March 3, 2014
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