Music Therapy

I can honestly say that without music, it would be real hard to keep my sanity. Lately, I haven't been one of those people who constantly have headphones on and bumpin' shit (being that my itunes and computer are completely worthless), but music is a big part of my life. At least good music. (fuck the radio) As I type this now, I have my headphones on and pandora doing its magic.

There's something about music, or at least the music I listen to that calms me down. And this is where the "producer" in my takes over. Drums, basslines, horns, strings, piano loops, samples. This is probably what I get lost in. Admit it, if the beat sounds whack, youre not listening to it.

Secondly, there is a sense of respect/admiration to an artist that can actually deliver. I cannot reiterate enough how much I hate the trash ass radio. Real recognize real, I can give any music a chance, but talent is noticeable and the radio is not where it is found. No, I'm not hating. Just my opinion.

Thirdly, I have to steal this part from Ryan's thoughts, only because I have the same thoughts. Music that you can relate to will always make you feel better, unless you're one of those people who like to listen to emo songs to make them feel even "shittier" Any rapper, singer, artist, band that has a song that can directly connect to a feeling that makes you happy or sad or whatever, you connect that much more to that artist.

In all seriousness, if your ever having a bad day, shit not going your way, the world coming to an end, find your ipod or run to your computer, throw on some headphones, and blast YOUR favorite shit. You will get lost in it for hours. Your mood will change. If not, your obviously not human, or youre just a heartless, feeling-less animal. Get a heart, tin man.

Thanks for reading.

Now playing: The Alchemist - Backwards

Cam up.

So i bought a new video camera and lately Ive been kickin it with me friends constantly smoking. (yeah Im not bragging or anything its just kinda a side story) It gave me the idea to video tape shinanigans that me and my friends get into (conversations, outbursts, trippen out) basically a v-log instead of text since ive been kinda dry on my blogs. If you follow this blog Ill try to make it so that you have to come back for more.

Caution tape

Keep away. Do not approach. Do not speak to. Drama waiting to happen. This is what comes to mind when I see any decent girl at a party on their phone. Thats just me. I mean, 6 times out of 10 on the other side of that phone is a boyfriend. 3 times outta 10 theyre texting their exes drunk as fuck tryna get attention. Its just drama waiting to happen. Because people dont really wanna go anywhere looking for drama. Unless you get off to that sorta shit. Say you do get through to them, no boy friend, no problem. Do what you do. All Im saying is cellphones at parties is just kinda suspect. Again, that just me.

In connection to that and speaking from prior experiences, I think its healthier that people start getting over the past, start being more mature, and really stop getting butthurt old relationships. (this is not pointed at no one specific so dont start thinking all vain) Relationships end for a reason, people will always act the way they are and all these little subrelationships are just experiences so people dont fuck up their marriage. Live, love, lose, learn. Thats how it is. Move on, look ahead or the side, and never look back. Then again, if its meant to be people come back. Just dont make the same mistake twice, and dont force anything to happen. Thats how you end up looking stupid.

I lost my train of thought. The end.

Go DJ.

so i went to a spring splash concert with Common headlining and this DJ just blew my mind. He did a different set but he still used the 10 crack commandments. Watch and learn. If you dont understand or like this, you dont like hip hop. 'nuff said.

Poem for a Future Wifey

My girl.
You see, your some sort of special specimen to walk this planet
and i thank your genes for giving you what you were handed
branded with unbelievable features
lips, eyes, nose, ears, face of a creature
so divine and thankfully your mine
and fuck them other dudes hatin, sayin, debatin
that were not meant to be
and i honestly i dont care what they are compared to me
cuz we fit, like a glove and a hand, woman and man
and im happy that your cool enough to put up with my shit
if i forget to put up the seat when i take a piss
or if i dont clean up after my mess, thats my bad
but best believe im the man to turn the frown upside down when your sad
or mad, but im glad thats we work to compromise
to organize a bond that cant be seen with the naked eye
make sure you keep that lovely smile on your face
and make sure every moment never goes to waste
and when i put it down take it slow cuhz its not a race
cuhz to me your first second and third place
through smooth times and rough times
easy and tough times
cuhz we dont have enough time to count times where time flew by
or those times i made you cry
cuhz we'd work it out and work you out and that ass was mine
and im not tryna be a rude dude
and you dont have to lift a finger, i can cook food
and ill treat you like a queen like a girl should
and i would give you the world if i felt i could
cuhz your a special specimen, baby your the best
and theres only so many words that can express
my girl.

Sick and Tired

A Love Like This

Microwave Dinners and First Impressions

This is an older blog.

Honestly, i find it funny. Relationships that is. How people find themselves compatible with other people for all the wrong reasons. How girls can go for the baller kid in opposition to the kid whos kinda caught in the middle of the background and crowd. Stereotypes of cheerleaders going for jocks, white girls going for surfers dudes etc. Thats seems all to high school to me and baby im strictly college minded. I was having an early dinner with a friend of mine and she happened to say that she wanted to learn how to cook so she can be prepared for later in life. Being a person who wants to cook professionally, i offered to teach her but also recomended getting a husband who can cook. (not hinting anything at all really) Thinkin ahead i just think our generation is reletively screwed when it comes to having our families. Alot of my male friends process of cooking is popping a microwave into a microwave or heating up some leftover shit they had the night before. As far as girls, i know a lot of girls who are good at baking, but not knowledgable enough for me to ask them to make me dinner anytime soon. This means when people end up hooking up and getting together, having families etc. i expect to see a lot of them on their way to a local restaurant. Hopefully their parents teach them how to cook shit. Dont be scare of fire, fire only hurts when it touches you.I just think the whole process of finding a person to be your counterpart is kind bogus. People tend to have high expectations, high standards, high everything. Basically if your not good lookin, cute, hot, sexy, big titties, fat ass, big wee wee (no homo) buff, athletic, baller, laced up, fresh kicks fresh shirt, fresh pants, nice car..... its pretty much slim pickin's. Not to say that all people are shallow that way, but its true. Admit it. With a first impression, you may pay attention of the small things (taste in music, personality, all that good shit) but you wouldnt really find talk to them unless you dig deep in your shallow side and find them whichever of the list above. Ill be honest, first impressions are usually based on "damn shes cute" or "damn baby got cakes." dont lie. its been said. its been noticed. I just think thats how life is. If it werent meant to be that way, people would lower their standards, go on a blind date or go on one of those matchmaking websites. Ill just hope that never happens to me or anyone i know. Your better than that. Go to a party or a club or some shit, go get fucked up and find the balls to say wsup to your local fine ass beezy or dude or which ever way you swing. no homo. People tend to either send or recieve mixed messages. Whether its some guy or girl that wants to hang out frequently (sorry man i had to bring it up) or people getting too clingy, people leading other people on, people just need to communicate. I was never one to completely communicate but i guess thats key to developing friendships and even relationships with people. Tell that girl that your thinking something else or tell that dude no homo or tell that one person something you need to tell them. If it affects your friendship, relationship, or whatever, then they werent good friends with you in the first place. But theres a time or a place. You never know what will happen anyways until you pull the trigger and do it. (which reminds me to stop being a hypocrite)You find the best of friends in the most unlikely situations. You find so much in common with people or generally you just enjoy their company and its funny to see that you never really expected it and always wonder why certain aspects of your life isnt like that. You never have those best times with your good friends and the friends that you thought were there slowly but surely drift away into thats one person you once know or once had something with or whatever. In a sense its really sad that neither of you have time for each other or maybe just that one person doesnt really talk that much anymore but its just something you have to live with. A learning experience for that matter. Typically, people you had earlier in life and your experiences wiht them shape you to be the kind of person you are right now. Whether your time with them way hell or the greatest time ever, their distance just changes you to either be more cautious to make sure the friends you have now dont leave or make you care less and less. Either way, after it all goes down the only person you can trust is yourself. Its sad to say but only you can make it happen when nothing is going your way. Have you left on the kitchen floor after yakkin your brains out the night before. Find those friends that put you on the couch and take your shoes off so they dont draw on your face. The ones that will drive you all the way home and put your in your bed but not really putting you in your jammies cuhz that would be kinda weird. Just keep track of those friends, those are keepers. On a last note: if your anti drug is drugs, either you were too high to stop or you were too stupid and lazy to figure out something else to do. Drugs arent supposed to be a necessity, just for holidays, parties and road trips. LOL jki kinda ran out of shit to say. Be easy, stay up, and stay away from dirty places. Thats how people get the swine flu.

.. and the crowd goes wild

I dont know if its genetics or something, and it might not seem like it, but i kinda like being the center of attention. I find it kinda ironic because i give off a vibe of the kind of timid shy type. But my dads side of the family is known to be the outgoing, performer types in the Philippines. I know, I know, this isnt the Philippines but still. Im just amazed at the idea of being at a place where everyone is there for you. It sounds hella sick to me. Im not a FAMOUS musician or a 3 sport athlete or anything. The closest thing I've experienced to a crowd is a low end club performance, a senior vs staff basketball game, and emceeing a school talent show. They were all pretty exciting but none of these comes close to the type of sensation that I have in my head.

Although I would love to be, Im not a frequent concert goer. Ive seen concerts on DVD and TV and Ive been to 2 concerts in my life. The first one doesnt really count cuhz I was basically dragged to it by one of my friends. Switchfoot. Not really my band of choice. It was still pretty sick. Crowdsurfing is a blast. The second one I actually made an effort to go with my friends all the way to Riverside from San Diego. Wale. Ehhh, hes new he needs to work on his stage presense. But Common Sense. Mos Def worth the trip there. And this is where I make my point.

For the duration of that 1 hour performance, there was a couple fights (that was hilarious btw. Chris knows what Im talking about and your lucky you got a better spot because of that) There was a lot of bass bumping, weed smoking, a lot of hands waving, bodies bouncing to the mutha fuckin beat. And it was packed. And it was pretty outstanding to that fact that for the people who were actually there for Common, were singing every single lyric of every song the whole time. Well the parts where he wasnt doing cover songs or freestyling. But the fact that all those people are there for you to perform to them. And they know all your lyrics. And they appreciate the whole performance. Not a hater in the crowd and that idea just attracts me. The crazy thing is that this was only a college concert. Imagine sports arenas full of people singing your songs. Madison Square Garden. Staples Center. MGM Grand in Vegas. Wow is the only thing I have to say really.

I guess I just have that performers mindstate. Its funny to say that I wish I could be in that position rockin' the mic. Maybe if Im lucky and people stop hatin' on the Movement. HAHA.
Fuck it check it out anyways. Our music isn't bad at all. It just needs to be appreciated. I mean, people like soulja boy. Try something new. www.myspace.com/manzanamovement

Money, Poets and Rappers

Really, I'm nothing near a hater. But I'm tired of the same club based, mainstream radio music that is overplayed every single day. I completely understand that people are hustlin and that type of music is what people listen to. Maybe I'm picky. Maybe I expect everything to be to my liking. Thats totally unfair but at least play some decent music from time to time.

I have come to the conclusion that what attracts people to a song or artists is beats. Whether it be a laidback beat, bass knockers, sampled beats, club music, the beat is what keeps the listener hooked to the song. Take for instance, Dipset. Not to diss them, but they probably aren't the type of lyricists that i would enjoy listening to. To me, they're just another group of artists of bling bling, money spending rappers like everything else on the radio. But as far as beats, Heatmakerz gets it done most of the time. I say whatever gets your head nodding or foot tapping is pretty much on point. Most of the time, the delivery or lyrics just kill it. But beats are far from the point I am trying to make.

What brings me in usually is an artists way with words. Their delivery, rhyme scheme, the content of what theyre saying. The artist has to make me believe that he feels what hes spitting. The reason that I "dislike" most of the music that is released recently is because these artists have lost the passion for music. I have a reason to believe that more than half of the artists now-a-days are doing it for the money. Hence, this "ballin" rap that we hear every single day of our lives. I have fallen in attraction for "old school" rap. Im not saying that its better. Im just stating that it has more depth and reason to be listened to than this other music. Story tellers, spitters, ARTISTS painting pictures with words. There is a difference between "artists" and "rappers."

Way before I was a supporter of "intellectual" rap, I started listening to and watching Def Poetry Jam on youtube. People with a way of words that can sway a crowd with their delivery. Id like to think of it as music without the beat in the background. I was always inspired while watching these videos at the way you can feel that these poets feel every single word they are saying. Even got me at a point where i would blog poems that i would come up with from time to time. But thats the stuff i like to hear. ( This is the part where i name drop people to look up on youtube so you can see where im coming from. Poetri, Shihan, Gemineye. There you go) On a sidenote, I find it sick that Mos Def hosts that show. What a great idea.

In that comparison, I dont really suggest that all rappers start rapping like poets or start telling stories or anything like that because that would just take away the whole culture of hip hop. There is a reason that there are different genres and types of rap making it what it is today. What Im posing is that artists should start start making music for a reason other than financial gain. I find myself respecting underground artists more in a sense that they arent making anything close to what these mainstream artists are but they are still making soulful songs from the heart. Spit something meaningful. Its possible to be mainstream and something worth listening to. The rap in the early '90s were all about having fun, telling stories, having something interesting to say. An example of a good mainstream artist is the group Outkast. In my opinion, you could say theyre in a league of their own. No one is really spitting anything like them. Beats nothing like them. But at the same time, you can still see them on BET and MTV. Well not now, but they got better shit to do. Haha I dont believe hip hop is dead, I just think it has formed into something that people who know what real hip hop is cant really recognize. Its sad to say but its true and being that were in our current recession, people are still gonna be greedy in getting more money. And still gonna be spitting their bling rap that people like to get their money.

Im still hoping for glimpses of the past. Hopefully it comes back. Until then, the only radio Ill be listening to is Pandora.

Intro to Greatness

I've been kinda addicted to blogs. Not just because its the thing to do or I'm copying people or something. Not just its something to do. Me, I'm all about expression. I don't find reason to blog unless I have something to talk about. Spit some knowledge. I've always wanted to spit knowledge that people actually read and kept track of. Take for example, Rev Run. This dude blogs almost everyday, or at least as it shows on his "Run's House" show. That's every single day and people keep track of it. That's knowledge. Blog about something interesting, about your hopes, dreams, and insight of the world around. Not about how boring your day was.

And this is how my blog starts.