The Power of the Mind

    What's good fam? I know two posts within hours of each other... What happened is I havent had much time to really reflect on whats been happening in my life lately. I've been fed alot of information this past week, but havent had time to digest it. Well, it finally took hold of my mind tonight - tried falling asleep - music playing, my eyes overlooking the peaceful street outside my window as the cool breeze blows in my face giving off a scent of serenity - Just how I love falling asleep (no joke). It's then that I've started to think about recent events and how much my life is changing at this very moment. How much it changed from just the beginning of the school year, a year ago, back in high school, middle, elementary - and down the chain. Just the thoughts, memories, and everything flying before my eyes, and I lie there wondering - why life goes by so fast? 

    It's funny - we have one life to live and yet we spend it struggling to survive, or survive in this society I should say. If we have one life to fully live out - why dont we spend it doing something we enjoy everyday? Honestly, I dont need to goto college to be producer - you really dont, and I'd prob reach my goals faster If I dropped out of college and worked at the studio I'll be interning at in the summer. However, I can't do that because if my parents are forking out the amount of $ for me to be here, I owe it to them that I atleast leave here with a degree and put all my effort into school. Furthermore - college is all about the experiences, people you meet, new thoughts, delve yourself into new cultures/settings/lifestyles. Quite honestly, as I reflected tonight - I wondered if I truly was taking advantage of the opportunities that lie in front of me. I've been thinking bout this for some time and asked others on their thoughts. But, I feel that If i were to graduate tomorrow and someone asked me what I did in my college times - i really wouldnt have much to say that's interesting, and I dont want that to happen. My biggest failure in high school was I didnt get involved until the end of junior year, missing out on a lot of great times I could have had, but I didnt know it until it was too late. 

      What I'm trying to get at is make most of this life. Take advantage of everything that comes your way, you never know what might be a blessing hidden behind the surface of things. Always remember your past, and learn to live with regrets. Let life unfold itself on this journey, and never be afraid to take risks...It's 5:30 am, have yet to fall asleep.  I decided to clear my thoughts by embedding the emotion into a beat. After 20 minutes of work, I've came out with a beat that captures the essence of this reminiscent night of mine. I'll post it up later for yall to hear... Good Morning.

Wake up Mr. West! 

*RIP to the man who got me into hip hop - Christopher Wallace - 12 years has past - we wont ever forget you*

Craze week...

     Ok - so I got my internship all straightened out. It seems like it's going to be legit - hours are whenever I want them to be (haa gotta love that right?!). Line of work: Clean toilets? Make coffee? Get lunch? No, no, and no (well maybe?). It actually consists of me sitting in the studio doing one of the following: A) making music B) mixing my music (or others) C) helping either Tony or Bobby with their music D) being in studio sessions - names of who that will be is TBA (currently Bobby workin with Bun B and Goapele), or E) maybe even working on the projects that Bobby or Tony working on. In all - it's going to probably be the best internship anyone can have, and Im lucky for this opportunity - Im actually looking forward to it alot. So expect alot of music updates in the summer - and possibly even studio sessions.
     But before I get to that - as mentioned prior - Im moving out of my studio due to some reasons I rather not put out on the net. Let's just say I got a phone call last tuesday saying I got the boot and I must move my stuff out when I go back home during spring break. That's quite unfortunate, because my whole musical history began in that studio. My evolution all occurred in that room - the vibe - the studio sessions - the songs/albums I worked on all happened in that room. People might not understand the attachment producers have with their beloved studios - think of it like your baby/security blanket. You had so many great times with it - but at one point you must give it up - and thats difficult times for anyone...(if I recalled being told, I named the corners of my blanket...or maybe that was my older bro? shoot one of us did haa). Anyways - yes... it's going to be a sad moment for all of us here the day i get back and move my ish out... I first will make a beat and document it as the final one in that room (i hope it's bomb - otherwise i'd feel let down), then the first thing to go out is my beloved triton studio... then - the turntables. We'll see where I can set up shop next - perhaps I'll move into the studio I'll be interning at - or lug it down to SC and officially have no space in my room to walk. Hey there we go - cuz we pay a crap load of money for a room that fits a ten year old kid and his lego collection. All I know my record collection cant even breathe in the room Im in haa...
     Alright- well you are up to date as to what's been up. No new music due to long week of school, midterms, and cousin stayin this past week. I did however make a mix for a dance crew at USC called Chaotic 3 (C3 for short). They used it this past week for the newly accepted High School seniors visiting SC to get a feel for it, and will use it again this coming week for an event. Hopefully more work will come from them (I havent done a mix in a year - and I miss doing them). But, I'll leave the mixing to my Dj friends - Shout out to DJ Ka$h, Dj Triple S (Steven Le - you still go by that?), Dj Blade, and DJ Alsius. Thanks for the love and support over the years - much appreciated!

Peace and Much love to ya fam

After Re-thinking

Hey fam, I just wrote out a huge long rant about how im feeling about this music industry what not. Clearly I had too much to say, wasnt being very concise or organized with my thoughts. Thus i decided to scratch it, and be more collected about this post. Few things to say:

1. Not feeling how everyone and their moms claims to be a producer or rapper (game over saturated) - im walking a thin line on this one, because I could easily be classified in this category - but I hope those that know me as a producer, know that I have some authenticity to me. They know I have a passion/love for what I do, and dont do it for any fame or fortune. I hope they also know that I carry alot of technical knowledge on my profession (thanks to my mentor, USC, and of course years and years of learning on my own - reading anything i can get my hands on, and just experimenting on my own).

2. What separates me from the rest? Thats the biggest question I've been facing for years now - and especially the past year and half. This is where doubt comes in - and where one must remove doubt to obtain truth. Kanye says it best "Dawgg, i was having nervous breakdowns - like man these guys that much better than me?!"...

3. Im working on a beat - my roommate claims it to be "one of [my] better works" - i semi agree. After Listenin to my beats tonight - i figured that - if i work at it - it could be, but i got alot of legit stuff that hasnt surfaced in years (look at number 4)

4. Since I have so much legit stuff that hasnt been released in years - Im going to be spending my spring break (besides movin my studio out of my current room :( - story in itself) re-making these old beats - build them up and make complete songs out of them. Alot of ideas that have potential, and alot of tracks that lost their potential in the execution of remaking them. So I'm going back to square one with those tracks and re-working them till I get them right. Current tracks out now - im just probably going to get them mastered and call them finished for now...I want to build up a catalogue of radio ready material (which is why Im going back to my older beats cuz if I dont now - i probably wont ever). Be nice to have 20 radio ready tracks that I feel are all major artist worthy.

5. Videos of beat making will be up soon i promise (spring break - 2 weeks cmon).

6. My cousin is over for the week - thus why havent done much updating. Been hosting him, and I have alot of work to get done before break - bear (or bare? never remembered which is correct for this phrase) with me.


Until next time - peace and much love to ya!