OUR REASON FOR RAPPING

We might not intend or even desire to be, but we are all rappers. Before DJ Kool Herc, Gil Scott-Heron rapped…and before him was the comedian Rudy Ray Moore, and others like King Pleasure who used syncopated phrases to convey a message. Grand Master Flash and others certainly helped bring it to broader recognition as an art form, but 'rapping', in its rawest form, is still the act of conveying a message. It's been around a long time and if you've ever attempted to verbally get a point across, you can consider yourself as a rapper of some sort.

I had the opportunity to interview two up and coming admitted rappers, Omar Zuhair and Zachariah Fahmi, whose intents are to share their gifts with others. They believe that the current world consciousness of greed and selfishness needs to be adjusted, and that they are agents of positive change in that arena. Each of them is talented in their own right, yet feel that working together will exponentially increase the effect they have on those whose lives they touch. These guys are 18 and 21years of age, have no agent, no manager, and no producer, and are employing their own resources to record, produce, and distribute their first recorded message at no cost to the consumer. Once this is done, they will offer affordable performances to both exhibit their talents and to spread the messages inherent in their songs. These two young men have proclaimed themselves rappers, are bound to the commitment of conveying their messages, and have each dedicated themselves to doing so in what they feel is a positive and beneficial manner.

Now for those of us who sometimes view rappers as profanity driven, thug attired conveyors of meaningless lyrical compositions; let's put our opinions aside for a moment and take a look at our role in relation to the big picture. First of all, most people on this planet are displeased with what they view as problems, and are embracing whatever provides them with a sense of peace and well being. Be it food, drugs, or some form of entertainment, we are all seeking a means for getting out of the 'mess' we too often see ourselves in. We look at rappers as purveyors of negativity, yet don't consider that they too are trying to get out of their own as well as the worldly mess most of us see ourselves in. They, for one, are using their marketable skills as a means for doing so. Isn’t it conceivable that the rest of us can at least 'rap' to one another about devising a means to help those whose intent is to help others. Doesn’t it seem only right for us to stop running from the mess we assume others are making, and participate in doing what we can to help clean it up. We can all rap so let's work on changing our lyrics from blame and condemnation to acceptance and participation. Let's start looking more at self and perhaps adjusting our attitudes in regard to how we view others.

Again, we are all rappers even if we 'ain't gettin paid'. Each and every one of us has a message, so let's start conveying messages of hope and endless possibilities whenever the opportunity to do so presents itself. It's all about intent and if we just desire that our words make a meaningful difference, they ultimately will and we can all get paid in allotments of peace, of harmony, and of love.

I'll holla…

To comment or respond click on the word comments at the bottom of the page or email me at grace.calvin187@gmail.com.

WHO ARE YOU AND WHY

Isn't it amazing how we ask younger folks what their plans are for the future and yet we reach the ages of 30 through 90 and still have no fixed idea of what we're going to do with our lives. The best answer I've heard to this date about future plans was from a retired guy. When I asked him what he was doing now that he had retired he said "I don't do anything and I don't do that till 12 noon." Well, some of us haven't accepted our lives as such, so what is it we should be doing? It's not an easy thing to figure out, let alone make manifest, but our first objective should be to prioritize our search methods and begin with at least considering two questions…"1. Who I am?" and 2. Why am I here?" Before making a decision in regard to what we're going to do, it's important that we at least have some idea of what it is we're working with.

As for me, I retired from Ford Motor company five years ago, and since that time I've worked as an 'in school suspension' facilitator at a Chicago high school, a teacher with the Chicago Public School System, and a director at the Lighthouse Youth Center. Since moving to California I've written over 40 blogs, started writing my first book, and am in my third week as a radio talk show host. Sounds busy for sure but let me assure you that my working is just one of the means I use to stay centered. Let it be known right now that from time to time I question who I really am, and I still reflect on whether I'm actually fulfilling my purpose for being here. What works for me, beside staying busy, is that I try and surround myself with those who seek and accept the truth about themselves, I try and do things that I feel contribute to the welfare of others, and I purpose to participate in moments of stillness where I can hear the voice of wisdom and truth. Don't get it twisted though, my life is not free of uncomfortable situations nor is it devoid of personal debris, but of one thing I am sure…I'm on the path and I'm experiencing the joy that's an integral part of the journey.

So who am I? I'm a manifestation of the One. Why am I here? To give of myself, however I can, for the benefit of others or who I call the 'WE'. It's a simple task, but it's not easy because I complicate it with thinking too much and dwelling too long on how I'm going to go about completing it.  However; if I've learned nothing else, I know that persistence and perseverance are the keys. This life is all about being who we are unless we find that it's hurting others. It's about continuing to do what we do until something happens or we decide to do something else. As far as I'm concerned there is no 'right' way of doing it. We each have to do what is comfortable for us and of some value to another. Who I am today is not who I was yesterday and might not be who I am tomorrow, and as you can see, what I might do can go from one extreme to another. Nonetheless; every day is the first day of my life and today is the day I'm going to be who I am, and do what I can... for the 'WE'. That 'WE' is you and it's always up to us to be who we are and to do what we do. Hopefully; in some way, even our choice to do nothing, will play a pivotal role in making manifest the purpose of the 'One'.

I'll holla.


To comment or respond click on the word comments at the bottom of the page or email me at grace.calvin187@gmail.com.

MUSIC MOVES THE UNIVERSE

Since the beginning of our existence music has always been present. What does music do? Playwright William Congreve in 

his 1697 play the 'Mourning Bride', expressed that music has a soothing effect. In the 1977 movie, 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' it was demonstrated that the sound of music could possibly initiate communication between mankind and beings from another planet. Just the other day I was on 4th Street in Long Beach and asked three students what music did for them. Jada of Long Beach College said that music was 'healing'. Eron, also of Long Beach College. said it was dependent on the situation. whether 'bumping some track music' while rolling in his car, or behind closed doors with friends listening to Erykah Badu. Ky, of Cerritos College, said that "Music connects.. all of us, around the world, in different ways." Now whether the foregoing statements are applicable to you or not…it goes without saying that music moves all of us in some form or fashion. Whether we want to turn it up, turn it down or turn it off…all music is going to elicit some type of response. It stands to reason that music is an integral part of our very existence, so the question is: What do we do with it?

My wife Nicole spoke at the TEDX conference in Costa Mesa a couple of weeks ago and said, "...we are all connected... to those outside of us, no matter how different they appear." This same mindset was resonated by our friend Ky when she commented that 'music connects'. Hopefully, it is the intent of every musician and all other purveyors of music, to connect every member of their respective audiences...one to another. Nicole continued her talk by saying, "When I forget me something really special happens." There's indeed something about music that allows you to forget everything, including yourself and whatever else might be on your mind. There's also something about music that causes you to do what I call 'Go In' and stay there until you're either distracted or ready to come out. When you're listening to music with others and they unawaringly 'Go In' with you... that's when the connection occurs …that's when we start feeling that 'something really special' is taking place.

Once I really started enjoying life, my appreciation for the arts escalated, and my connection to others, through music, reached an all time high. Communication, in any form, is the one medium that allows us to maximally connect. Whether it be through verbal or written conversation; visual arts or musical performances; communication is a viable means of reconciling with self and interacting with others. The intent of course, no matter how we go about implementing it, is for all of us to recognize and accept our 'Oneness'. I'm at a place now where I love life and live it to the fullest. Sharing this passion with others is what I do, and until I learn how to play my guitar well enough to perform, running my mouth is how I do it. Let it be known however, that music is just as important to me as words, and listening to others through music is a marvelous means for maintaining my connection to all of you.

Music has always been here and is here to stay…What you gon do with it?

I'll Holla.




To comment or respond click on the word comments at the bottom of the page or email me at grace.calvin187@gmail.com.