Learning to master your emotions

This is an excerpt from a conversation I had recently that I felt I should share with everyone b/c she spoke on this topic I frequently speak to others about so well. What she says is a quote from Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom pg.103-104


Calliope:  I'm learning detachment

me:  detachment?

Calliope:  "To be able to realize the emotion so fully that you can detach from it and realize its true existence , it is not a part of you

Learn to detach...Don't cling to things, because everything is impermanent... But detachment doesn't mean you don't let the experience penetrate you. On the contrary, you let it penetrate fully. That's how you are able to leave it... Take any emotion--love for a woman, or grief for a loved one, or what I'm going through, fear and pain from a deadly illness. If you hold back on the emotions--if you don't allow yourself to go all the way through them--you can never get to being detached, you're too busy being afraid. You're afraid of the pain, you're afraid of the grief. You're afraid of the vulnerability that love entails. But by throwing yourself into these emotions, by allowing yourself to dive in, all the way, over your head even, you experience them fully and completely. You know what pain is. You know what love is. You know what grief is. And only then can you say, 'All right. I have experienced that emotion. I recognize that emotion. Now I need to detach from that emotion for a moment."

Ultimately I think it all goes back to putting things off out of fear.  The longer you fear it and avoid it the more time you actually spend dwelling in it. It's as simple as that.

HallaH

Some things to look at in the mirror.

Think back on the true friends you have.  How many of them "offered" friendship and how many just evolved into it?  I find that people generally do not expect their own future.  By this I mean that those who offer friendship are usually seeking something else while the people who simply evolve into your friend did not see it coming.


I am very mindful when I meet a new person but even I do not often expect the buds that will one day become a great friendship.  Some of the best friends I have began in an unlikely place.  These friendships usually began with people who cared as little about making a new friend as I did.  When I look back on the birth with a now old friend, we often remark on how random our friendship is...or the odd circumstances that initiated it.


The dirty dirty...


I believe that relationships are reactive...COMPLETELY REACTIVE.
-This means that a relationship whether friendship or otherwise is not something that can elude you.  People are in no short supply...and being that we live in a world of general free will (when it comes to relationships) if you find it hard to make friends or find it hard to meet a good man/woman, that is mostly your own fault.  People are as varied as the stars in the sky and just as similar.  They are there and, like everything in the universe, they are attracted to what compels them.  "Water seeks it's own level"

In short:
-don't trust people who try to sell you friendship.
-your friends are and will remain a reflection of you.

DJ Premier- one of the best to ever do it.

This is the second time I have told yall about this Blogsite. True thoroughbred shit. I had to repost this because it is such an amazing collection of jewels from the legendary DJ Premier and the jewels that helped him build his amazing catalog. I highly suggest all readers check out SOMETHING so you can either re-experience or learn about this Hip Hop ICON.

Click the picture to travel to this blog.

Shout to Etalon for the hard historical work. 

~Hallah @ Etalon,  He has everything but my album.

G'head

People live life as if they are jumping from one building to another.  It takes them so long to actually move forward because they are afraid of the time in between having their feet on the ground.

People's tastes are this way as well...people tend to be afraid to pursue something they like because they are afraid of stepping out there and maybe doin somethin different.

Similitude feels so safe...

Get out there and pursue things you like once you have been put on to it.  What are you waiting for?

I always let people hear music and it is funny to me how the ones who generally listen to commercial shit talk about how it's dumb and how they don't listen to anything but the beat.  I let them hear some real shit and they love it BUT...they never go get it for themselves...I have to keep feeding it to them and this goes for every genre.

Why is that?

all the answers I can think of just sound like excuses.  Get into that shit you thought was ill when you heard/saw it.

[with that being said]

www.mafmaddix.com

~Get it in.

Faker Than Fishicken

-"No disrespect but...[insert disrespectful comment]"


-"I don't mean to be negative but...[insert negative comment]"

As many of you probably have, I often wonder why people make these type of contradictory statements.  Statements like these seem to be engrained in the culture and they are there for the purpose of making allowances for lack of personal integrity.  Let me explain how I think this works:

-A person has ideas of what is right and acceptable.

-A person has ideas of what they want to do/say.

-A person often finds that what they want to do/say is not congruent to what is right and acceptable to them.

Now there is a dilemma...b/c the desire to do the right thing is in minority to the desire to do what one wants EVEN THOUGH the guilt associated with not doing the right thing is far greater

The general solution to this is to, as I call it, "speak right and walk left."

-A person says "No disrespect" in order to let all within earshot know that no disrespect is the right and acceptable thing to do. In a way it is the setting of a character buffer for the wrong thing they are about to do.
 -A person then adds "but" which is the transition between what they should do and what they will do.
-Here is where the disrespectful comment or action is taken...the road most traveled.
-A person feels absolved of having to actually do the right thing b/c they have let everyone know that they know what they should do.  People don't notice if you really do the right thing...just that you know it.  you can get by on that.  ie: you learn math in school only to use a calculator/computer for all of your mathematical needs.  *good enough


I'm not on some monk stuff where I wouldn't do something wrong and I definitely have no problems saying something disrespectful.  I just feel like people should be straight up.  If I'm gonna do you dirty I'm not gonna preface it with a fake ass statement.  That shows weakness and lack of confidence in your actions. Tighten Up.

~HallaH

Ok I can account for my time lost.

I've gone through a lot in the period during my hiatus...before and after...

I said I would account for my time lapse so hear it is.

Before my lapse as I had mentioned...I lost my job and ended up having to move to Greenville as a result.  Shit has been mad tough here but through this experience I have been able to focus on things and see life more clear.  I went through a lot of personal hardships that only helped me to see the urgency in hunting my own personal victory again...renewing my spirit.

So in my hiatus I created a new website

(pic courtesy of Dread Mighty Sine at the Professional Amateur)

I have my album for sale up there...also some other artist website things so go to it...visit...support good hip hop. Do it for your kids lol.

I also obviously pressed up my album and got that out on the market.

  

(album design by Marcus Kiser)

I also jumped into gear on the social networking thing...trying to delve into that pond to make connections and such so get at me on:

I also got back on the horse and started performing again...it felt good to be on stage rocking the crowd again...Ive learned a lot over the years and I see where some things I have picked up can be put to use.  I come back stronger!

(photo by Meesh)

But most importantly, I remembered what was important to me...what was holding me back...what was no good for me..every so often you need to renew your mind...body and relinquish the old bonds you have carried from point A to B.  I got rid of rusty fuel tanks and strapped on new boosters...

-To my  future...and to yours.

I GOT SHOT...again

My friend Jasiatic shot me after I cut my hair over the last week.  I really enjoyed my time up in charlotte visiting family and friends.  Her work is great...check her out at:

Who Shot Ya?

Createtress Photography

You Say You Like Music But...

Yo, when is the last time something good was pushed on you.  I mean Fast food is pushed on you...commercial music is pushed on you...but that stuff is hollow and unhealthy...sometimes lol.  Well when you want to get into some good hip hop old and new and you are tired of using the excuse "I don't know where to find it!"  Look no further than this blog.  He does all the work for you.  All you have to do is discover...

You can find these and more: (click links)  They got everything except my album. lol

2Pac Discography [5]

Ahmad [1]

Beat Junkies [4]

Blackalicious [2]

Blak Forest [1]

B-Real [3]

Brokin English Klik [1]

Capital Tax [1]

Casual [1]

Clever Jeff [1]

Defari [1]

Del the Funky Homosapien [4]

Deltron 3030 [2]

Da Lench Mob [1]

Digital Underground Discography [8]

Dilated Peoples [3]

Extra Prolific [1]

FunkDoobiest [3]

Hieroglyphics [2]

Ice-T [1]

Insane Poetry [2]

Jurassic 5 Discography [4]

Living Legends [2]

LMNO [1]

Mad Kap [1]

Mannish [1]

MC Breed [2]

Mykill Miers [2]

Prince Ali [1]

Ras Kass [1]

Rodney O & Joe Cooley [4]

Saafir [3]

Scarface [2]

Souls of Mischief [1]

Spearhead [1]

Tha Alkaholiks [2]

Tha Mexakinz [3]

The Backyard Rangers [1]

The Coup [1]

The Nonce [2]

The People Under The Stairs [1]

The Pharcyde Discography [4]

Visionaries Discography [4]

Funky DL [4]

Josh Martinez [1]

LoopTroop [3]

Maestro Fresh-Wes [3]

Rascalz [3]

Saïan Supa Crew [2]

Saukrates [1]

Walkin' Large [1]

Whitey Don [1]

Ego Trip 1979-1998

Soundbombing [3]

3rd Bass [2]

3rd Eye [1]

A.D.O.R. [2]

Akbar [1]

Akrobatik [5]

Ali Dee [1]

Anti-Pop Consortium [3]

Apani B [1]

Arrested Development [1]

Arsonists [2]

Artifacts [2]

A Tribe Called Quest Discography [5]

Atmosphere Discography [7]

Audio Two [2]

AZ [4]

Bahamadia [3]

Beastie Boys [8]

Big Daddy Kane [2]

Big L Discography [2]

Big Noyd [1]

Big Punisher [2]

Biggie Smalls Discography [2]

Binary Star [2]

Biz Markie [2]

Black Moon [2]

Black Sheep [2]

Blahzay Blahzay [1]

Boogie Down Productions [5]

Boogiemonsters [2]

Boot Camp Clik [1]

Brand Nubian [4]

Brother Most [1]

Bushwackass [1]

Bustin' Melonz [1]

Camp Lo [1]

Cannibal Ox [4]

Cella Dwellas [1]

Channel Live [1]

Chino XL [3]

Common Sense [5]

Company Flow [1]

Cocoa Brovaz [1]

Craig Mack [2]

Crooklyn Dodgers [3]

Cru [1]

D&D All-Stars [2]

Da Bush Babees [2]

Dagha [2]

Da Grassroots [1]

Da King & I [1]

Dark Sun Riders [1]

Das EFX Discography [5]

Da Youngsta's [4]

De La Soul Discography [9]

Deda & Pete Rock [1]

Diamond D [2]

Diamond Shell [1]

Digable Planets [2]

DITC [1]

Down South [1]

Dred Scott [1]

Edan [3]

Ed O.G. Discography [7]

EPMD Discography [6]

Eric B & Rakim Discography [4]

Fat Joe [3]

Freddie Foxxx [2]

Fu-Schnickens [2]

Gang Starr [7]

Grand Daddy I.U. [2]

Grand Puba [3]

GRAV [1]

Gravediggaz Discography [4]

Group Home [1]

Hard 2 Obtain [1]

Heltah Skeltah [2]

Hoodratz [1]

House of Pain [2]

I.N.I. [1]

Ill Al Skratch [2]

Immortal Technique [3]

J-Live [2]

Jamal [1]

Jeru The Damaja Discography [5]

Jigmastas [3]

Joint Ventures [1]

Juggaknots [2]

Jungle Brothers [4]

Justice System [1]

King Just [1]

King Sun [3]

Kirk [1]

K-Def [1]

K-Otix Discography [4]

K-Solo [2]

Kool G. Rap Discography [8]

Kool Keith [11]

KRS-One Discography [14]

Kurious [1]

Kwest Tha Madd Lad [1]

Large Pro Discography [5]

Leaders of the New School [2]

Lin Que [1]

Lords of the Underground [2]

Lord Finesse Discography [5]

Lost Boyz Discography [4]

Main Source [2]

Masta Ace Discography [5]

MC Lyte Discography [8]

MC Serch [1]

Mesanjarz Of Funk [1]

MF DOOM Discography [64]

Mic Geronimo [1]

Miilkbone [1]

Mobb Deep [3]

Mood [1]

Mos Def [3]

Mystidious Misfitss [1]

NaS Discography [9]

Naughty By Nature Discography [6]

Nine [2]

O.C. [3]

Onyx [2]

Organized Konfusion [3]

Outsidaz [2]

Pacewon [1]

Papa Chuk [1]

Pete Rock & CL Smooth [3]

Phoenix Orion [3]

Poor Righteous Teachers [4]

Prime Minister Pete Nice & Daddy Rich [1]

Private Investigators [1]

Public Enemy Discography [11]

Punk Barbarians [1]

Push Button Objects [1]

RA The Rugged Man [2]

Raw Breed [1]

Real Live [1]

Rottin Razkals [1]

Royal Flush [2]

Rumpletilskinz [1]

Run-D.M.C. Discography [7]

Scientifik [2]

Showbiz and A.G. [5]

Shyheim [3]

Siah & Yeshua DapoED [1]

Sleestack'z [1]

Smif-N-Wessun [1]

Special Ed [3]

Stetsasonic [3]

Street Poets [1]

Talib Kweli [3]

Tela [2]

The A.T.E.E.M [1]

The Beatnuts Discography [12]

The Dynospectrum [1]

The Fugees [2]

The Goats [2]

The High and Mighty [1]

Three Times Dope [3]

Top Quality [1]

Tragedy Khadafi [2]

Trends of Culture [1]

Tucka Da Huntaman [1]

Twista [1]

Ultramagnetic MC's [2]

UMC's [1]

Urban Thermo Dynamics [1]

Wreckx-N-Effect [3]

X-Clan [2]

Y Society [1]

Young Zee [1]

Zhigge [1]

Don't Sleep On The 312

So anyone that reads my blog knows that I keep it real.  You also know that I don't do random publicity unless it is something that I am definitely willing to stand behind.  I do however present some sounds other than my own that I believe in. I'm about to put you on to someone I guarantee you are sleepin on right now.  My homie GRIFFEN has produced an album that is a definite must listen! (don't worry...ima tell you why straight an uncut)

"Add it up Einstein, you played the shit 9 times/ DJs without crates poison the pipelines/ My crime is havin a brain/ the shit that's gettin through ain't the only 4 songs that I wanna listen to." -Griffen (Remnants)

This album Purpill Paradise is a beast.  When I listed to it I was skeptical as always because I was hesitant if he could pull off what to me seemed like a lofty goal.  The homie Came THRU! 

 

Purpill Paradise is a collaboration of sorts with producer Bionix, Sade, and Prince!!!  23 tracks on the album that capture the 80's sounds of Prince and Sade perfectly.  Perfectly sampled and arranged so it feels flawless.  GRIFFEN's rhymes are on point nearly all the way through the album.  He makes you move like it was 1988 on the party tracks and when he tells a story...that is where he really shines.  Lyrics are relevant and fun, sharp and smooth.  You get all kinds of angles on this album.  Theme albums are often hit or miss.  With live appearances by emcees like Aceyalone this is a hit. A cohesive and   replay worthy album.  I guarantee it is something that both male and female hip hop listeners can appreciate. Check the dude out.  It won't hurt to peep it..

 Stream

.or

Download

-Enjoy

Be Clear...

You ever wanna write about something and realize that it is such a complex subject with so many important and intricate details that you can't even begin to take it on? That is how I feel sometimes.  Some things need a book or a volume of books to explain.  Too big for blogs you know? With that said...I will drop the thought seed on you to think about.

Just because you are a nice person...

...does not mean you are a good person.

"It takes a little more to be a champion."

 peace-

Time Is Of The/No Essence

Special Edition Post:
[photo from]
www.capetownskies.com
















"The fabricated mind relies on time to survive itself.
Transitory phases of many points passing unrealized
through a line of existence until a moment of clarity.
Yes, this is a ray.
It shines projected in one direction
from the source of inspiration towards your soiled self
promoting growth and death simultaneously.
We sit watching this event speaking the false words of time
when the light has always been, just not where we were then
but where we are now.
Where we were waiting for yesterday.
We find comfort in time claiming patience and meticulousness
when what we really seek is one more moment in bed before we rise.
Wake up!
Your life has arisen before you
...and it will set before you know it."

I thought these words...willed them into your mind but I could not will them into your heart. It seems that when the astronaut lets go he realizes that he is as likely to fly as to fall. I thought these things and tried to will them into my life.

and then I received an email from my friend Hanna, who was responding to an email I had sent earlier containing a song I like and some lyrics. That song was "Tensioning" by Sparta. She replied with thanks for the song and a poem she had written back in January. I read it and thought...

"Always waiting for my life to start

Tomorrow never comes to an impatient me

Contemplating on my next mark

not knowing that time is here

Debilitated by my own restrictions

that I condemn so much on every other occasion

Creating a world imprisoning on an

otherwise less imprisoned self

The answers to the questions I seek to not exist

and I am wasting it away on

my opportunity to live."

I thought... "my sentiments exactly."


Peace

The Key To Relationships

There is a key to building a relationship. This key applies especially to those in the position of power and leadership ie: parents, government, employers. As we all know, every goal comes with responsibility. When it is your goal to create a relationship with someone, especially a subordinate, there is one thing that can make or break that relationship. You must value that person. By this I mean, you must value them as they value themselves. You can not place the weight of value on things that they do not themselves put weight on. If you do this, they will cease to value you/never begin to value you and you will have a disfunctional relationship.

This is especially important for family. If you are a parent you must figure out what things interest your child, what things do they find self worth through, what things do they value in themselves and their goals. You must then LEARN to value these things in them. It does not mean you have to like the things or get into it or become an authority on them. You must just express the fact that you recognize and value your childs achievements in an area that they value.

If you do this you will show the other person that you recognize, respect and value in them and their life what they recognize as important to them. When done they will in turn feel respected and valued and will put forth their best effort for you and towards you (normally). Sometimes, however, there is a person who is just on some other shit and they won't return the favor. Let them fall to the wayside...

...building mad decent relationships

Free Coals!

"We touched down in turmoil.
King, take off your crown on the ground
where the enemy is all around but unfound.
...this is the jewel for survival.
Humility is a tool where pedestals can be the death of you."


...just a short rhyme I wrote randomly. I like description in my rhymes.
In this one I was thinking about the themes and visuals from My homie Marcus Kiser's Invisible Soldier book. I was imagining a king and his royal guards landing in enemy territory. I was imagining what the chief bodygaurd would say to the king as they landed and proceeded to exit the aircraft. Then I figured I might relate it to real life in the form of a lesson. This is my rhyme style...a lump of coal in today's rap game. We will let it stay under pressure for a while longer and see what happens.

Keeping your minds introspective

Introspective Minds is a hip hop collective that originated as a beat crew in ATL and eventually expanded it's wings to include a few emcees(myself included).

The production crew dropped a beat tape recently that is very very decent. Check it out right here and download it if you feelin it.

SOL MESSIAH PRESENTS: "ECLECTICISM" PRODUCED BY: INTROSPECTIVE MINDS by solmessiah

Meesh shot me!

I tagged along with my home girl, Meesh, a few weeks ago while she was taking some shots and while out she snapped a few of me. I always like Meesh's work so I figured I would post them because I think they are mad decent and I think her work is as well. Check her out at:

(click)

(click)

http://urcreativedistractionphoto.blogspot.com

I had fun...

Peace

"It sounds fly in theory but it's hard to apply"

I had this conversation recently with a cat I met not too long ago at the beginning of a funny little experience that ended in me being unemployed (the bad). Out of this situation I learned things and met new friends (the good).


So Jamaal and eye were speakin on how to keep your focus on your goals when the winds are blowing against you (not literally). When things get too rough, sometimes, you can bear down into just "makin it" so hard that you can forget to sleep...you may forget to dream and then you forget to act. Your life force gets drained that way. So I ask myself "how is it that I let momentum slip from me? How did eye lose sight of my action?" I was once a lucid dreamer...but somehow, while still maintaining the dream, I have forgotten my ability to act within it. Have you felt or Do you feel like this?


Dude said something very real that I wanted to share.

He said:
"I am trying to keep the faith and keep the movement moving. I was talking with my girl last night and we were talking about why people don't follow their dreams or begin to follow them and stop. We came to the conclusion that it's because they stop pursuing when things become difficult. But if you can keep the movement moving, things will eventually fall into place." -Jamaal Cowan


some good advice for that dome...


Hallah

Shadows

An introduction:
A few years ago I met a photographer named Adachi and as we began to get to know each other and grow close, she taught me about photography. Nothing extensive, just a few basic ideas. But more importantly, she sparked an interest in me that had always been there but never had a platform to jump from. She is one of those people you encounter that helps to bring forth change in your life. Since meeting her I have met so many photographers, all very talented. I have watched and participated in their work (mostly watched and gave back seat driver opinions). I finally convinced one to let me borrow her camera so I could play photographer. I have been pretty stressed lately with life and the recent continual setbacks and I tend to need extensive creative outlets to keep myself out of depression nahmean? Let me give a shout to my homie Moire Flux for lending me her camera an all for this project. I don't consider myself a photographer just like I don't consider some random muhfucka rhymin an emcee or some cat doin a windmill a bboy. I just wanted to express myself in a new way...

I'm going to make a few posts to show my work. I hope that the ideas and feelings I envisioned are conveyed accurately. This is just a preview of more to come...an introduction if you will. Enjoy and peace.

(click to see full size)