hiphop is NOT dead. . . .

Rap music over the years has developed a bad rep and truthfully, I don't blame it. It has become so commericial. An overtly visual, gimmicky form of art, making millionaires out of shamefully ego driven artists. What you don't hear enough about are artists like Talib Kweli. So here's my blog shout out to an amazing artist!!!

Tonight, I'm at the gym, iPod bumping the sounds of Talib Kweli and as I listen, I'm thinking this guy is still so freakin unbelieveable. Jay Z wasn't lying when he spit the lyrics "If skills sold....truth be told...I'd probably be....lyrically Talib Kweli." As I drove I was just lost in translation with his lyrics. It was so refreshing.

I've been a fan of Talib for awhile now. I remember listening to the sounds of the BlackStar album on repeat. There's just something about street smart, political, meaningful lyrics that just "gets" me. Majority of the time, you're not going to find anything like that in mainstream rap but that's exactly what Talib gives... it's called think before you open your mouth. It's called real hiphop.

After taking a moment of sanity through my music, I can say I appreciate the club jawns but my heart has always been with real hip-hop. It's sad that so many have lost sight of what it really is... I listen to Talib's latest cd, I think of his song "Too Late" where he says, "Where were you the day hiphop died?" and I just embrace the fact that hiphop is NOT dead because Talib continues to keep it alive.

Thoughts Become Things

So, ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I swear by the book The Secret. This book does not give any new concepts of how we can change our lives for the better it only restates all that we have heard here and there about positive thinking over the years. Throughout your life, you've heard the expressions, "you can do anything - go for it" or "think positive" or "half full not half empty" and so on.... the book takes the idea of positive thinking and suggest that when you put that positive thought into the universe your thoughts will then become your reality.

Okay doubters, I can hear you now, "I'm putting the thought of being a millionaire into the universe. Does that mean that I am going to win the lottery tomorrow?" Chances are NO! However, does that mean in the future an opportunity will come about for you to make more money? Well, I wouldn't put it past "the secret". Only if you think it. Until reading The Secret I didn't realize all of the negative thoughts I was putting upon myself, those around me, and in the universe.

Once I changed my thinking I noticed that the universe really does work in my favor. Do I think this book speaks differently to all people? Yes, absolutely, I think this book works differently for everyone, just like ALL self-help/spiritual books do but for me it has changed my life; it is my rock. Whenever I feel down, I pray, but then I turn to this book! I really do believe that thoughts become things and if you will it... it will happen. Okay, those of you that know me, how many times have you seen me use "the secret"? Exactly, It works!

I can't tell you how many times I have heard people say "I read this book. I followed everything they said to do. There was something that we were using the book for and we worked it diligently every day and when the time came time for "the secret" to work it failed us." Well, here's my thoughts on that... you probably put doubt and your negativity about "the secret" into the universe and that's exactly what "the secret" did for you... it had all your doubts and negative thoughts come true.

This Lullaby

It's one of those things you never know for certain because there's no way to enter all the relationship data in a computer and have it spit out a definitive answer. You can't quantify "love", and if you try, you can wind up focusing on misleading factors. Stuff that really has more to do with personality-- like the fact that some people are simply more expressive or emotional or needy in a relationship. But beyond such smokescreens, the answer is there. Love is seldom--almost never--an even proposition.

Sometimes in life, we just have to be happy with what people can offer us. Even if it's not what we want, at least it's something. Everyone has their weak spot. The one thing that, despite your best efforts, will always bring you to your knees, regardless of how strong you are otherwise..

With all this being said, you can never go from "being together" to "being friends", just like that, it's a lie. It's just something that people say they'll do to take the permanence out of calling it quits. And someone always takes it to mean more than it does, and then is hurt even more when, inevitably, the said 'friendly' relationship is still a major step down from the previous relationship, and it's like calling it off all over again.... but messier.


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