So, I've got this blog going, and that's cool, but I was thinking "Hey, what about your short stories ?" Now I could just post them here, but I feel like that'll create unnecessary clutter on this blog, which I want to be more for rants, music-related posts, random thoughts and good stuff like that.
"Whoa, there, AJ... How ever will I access your short stories ?"
My valued and beloved readers, I present to you: Keep-Your-Reality.Blogspot.com. I'm gunna try and update it every other Friday, starting tomorrow. It's gunna be like my own little portfolio of short stories, but you can access it. Lucky you, right ? I know. I'd be envious, but I get to read them anyways.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, poems will stay on this page. Next one is purely stories. Not that I've posted any poems on here, yet, but shut up and let me blog. Lool.
Keep-Your-Reality.blogspot.com; check it out on Fridays !
Or maybe Saturdays... I might still be writing late Fridays...
Peace In, Peace Out.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Baby Names... Yeah, you know where this is going...
(All my multi-racial readers, I say black people, but this does apply to ANYONE who's thinking of naming their kid some fool-fool kinda name.)
So get this... I return from walking my dog, and notice a birthday invitation sitting on the kitchen table. "Oh, neat !" say I, "Someone's birthday party is coming up !" Though the card is obviously meant for one of my younger brothers, curiosity leads me to read further, to find out who'll be relieving me from babysitting duties for an afternoon.
Guess whose party Alex will be attending... Rakayyah's.
Black people, WHY must we, as a culture at large, name our children in such a way that will likely limit the kid's ability to gain respect from peers and/or authoritative figures ? And don't give me that "It's not JUST black people" crap, because you and I both know you can name like 10 black people on your Facebook whose names make you want to question their parents' sobriety, at the time of their birth. Like, just because something sounds cool in your head, doesNOT mean you can just sentence your offspring to life as Tamianique. Like, these names have got to stop; they're just this weird paradox of being completely random, yet following a set pattern. If you hear a nice name, DO NOT just add -iesha, -nelle, -ique/iqua, -ayla/ayah, or -tavia, and call it original. In fact, the fact that I can pick out those suffixes means that they are rather run-of-the-mill. And can we let go of the names Jordan, Jermaine, Jamal, Tyrone, and Jerome, please ? And for the love of GOD, no food references. Let's move away from stereotypes, wherever possible. I'm not saying don't be creative; in fact, DO be creative. But use your creativity to create a name that won't get your kid's resume thrown directly in the recycling bin. Go to a different language(provided you're willing to learn to pronounce the names of that language correctly), find a book/Tv show character whose qualities you'd like to see in your offspring, find namey-sounding words that carry some power behind them, like Harmony, or Melody, or Hope, or Faith. THINK about it.
Really, our kids deserve better than these fool-fool names. It's already hard enough to be black in this society; let's make it a little easier on the next generation, shall we ? ESPECIALLY if you KNOW the name doesn't mean a damn thing. Like, that's serious; what you name your kid is supposed to have to do with your expectations for that kid's LIFE. If you name your child Trey-shawn, in honour of your homie Trey, who's doing time for larceny, and your uncle Shawn, who's your favourite uncle because he's always drunk and thus makes family reunions HILARIOUS, THAT is the meaning that you're attaching to that name. It's like telling your unborn son "Yo, little dude... I honestly don't expect you to amount to a whole lot... Well, not enough for me to stop and think of a name that sounds like that of a successful person, anyways."
I'm not insulting YOU, if you have one of the aforementioned LOL-worthy names; it's not like you named yourself. So, don't feel a way. Just don't go naming your kid Dru'kwon Jr. I'd love for petty things like this not to matter, and for people to be judged on their personalities, and not just their names, races, or economic classes. But, we live in a crappy world, where crappy people get to do as they please for crappy reasons. So, stick it to the man; make it harder to discriminate, before they can even look them in the face.
Peace In, Peace Out.
So get this... I return from walking my dog, and notice a birthday invitation sitting on the kitchen table. "Oh, neat !" say I, "Someone's birthday party is coming up !" Though the card is obviously meant for one of my younger brothers, curiosity leads me to read further, to find out who'll be relieving me from babysitting duties for an afternoon.
Guess whose party Alex will be attending... Rakayyah's.
Black people, WHY must we, as a culture at large, name our children in such a way that will likely limit the kid's ability to gain respect from peers and/or authoritative figures ? And don't give me that "It's not JUST black people" crap, because you and I both know you can name like 10 black people on your Facebook whose names make you want to question their parents' sobriety, at the time of their birth. Like, just because something sounds cool in your head, does
Really, our kids deserve better than these fool-fool names. It's already hard enough to be black in this society; let's make it a little easier on the next generation, shall we ? ESPECIALLY if you KNOW the name doesn't mean a damn thing. Like, that's serious; what you name your kid is supposed to have to do with your expectations for that kid's LIFE. If you name your child Trey-shawn, in honour of your homie Trey, who's doing time for larceny, and your uncle Shawn, who's your favourite uncle because he's always drunk and thus makes family reunions HILARIOUS, THAT is the meaning that you're attaching to that name. It's like telling your unborn son "Yo, little dude... I honestly don't expect you to amount to a whole lot... Well, not enough for me to stop and think of a name that sounds like that of a successful person, anyways."
I'm not insulting YOU, if you have one of the aforementioned LOL-worthy names; it's not like you named yourself. So, don't feel a way. Just don't go naming your kid Dru'kwon Jr. I'd love for petty things like this not to matter, and for people to be judged on their personalities, and not just their names, races, or economic classes. But, we live in a crappy world, where crappy people get to do as they please for crappy reasons. So, stick it to the man; make it harder to discriminate, before they can even look them in the face.
Peace In, Peace Out.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Music News: Lonely Rhodes
Check-che-check-check-check-check-che-check it out !
So I had this idea, earlier today: why not pick a concept, and do another mixtape ? "Well, that's a great idea, self," said I, "but, what would this concept be ?" I then decided that I should make all the beats, too, which led me to the idea that the beats should be incorporated in said concept. "Again," said I to myself, "WHAT concept ?" But alas, I did not answer. Instead, I just started jamming on my keyboard.
Our story takes a TWIST, as the weather goes from sunny & cheerful to a pretty epic thunderstorm. So, I'm jamming on my E. Piano setting, playing some soulful chords, and there's all this gloomy weather, and the inspiration struck like the lightning that killed the power in my house for 10 minutes. I would call the tape "Lonely Rhodes" and limit the beats to incorporating only a rhodes keyboard sound as a melody point. So, when I do actually release the whole thing, keep in mind that every song is using the same instrument, but with variations on its settings. As for content, I decided to go across the board, and do it kinda album-style. So, there'll be the bragadocious, the conscious, the love song, all'at. I'm even throwing in a trap-ish song. Just one. ONLY ONE.
And all of this will be done by the 20th, God-willing. You know how I like these speed-tapes. They're actually pretty fun; I challenge any artist who's trying to get past their productivity block: give yourself a week or two, and be like "at the end of this time, I'm gunna have a good[however many] songs done, and I'll release them.
Hey, it worked for me with Show-Off: The 7-Day Mixtape <-- that's totally a link. You know how you like those. Click it. Just do it. It'll feel good.
Anyways, that's the deets on this next project. Hope y'all will support it, just like you did with Show-off, the link for which just happens to be right there, for you to listen to and download.
Yeah, I can shamelessly promote. It's MY blog.
Peace In, Peace Out.
So I had this idea, earlier today: why not pick a concept, and do another mixtape ? "Well, that's a great idea, self," said I, "but, what would this concept be ?" I then decided that I should make all the beats, too, which led me to the idea that the beats should be incorporated in said concept. "Again," said I to myself, "WHAT concept ?" But alas, I did not answer. Instead, I just started jamming on my keyboard.
Our story takes a TWIST, as the weather goes from sunny & cheerful to a pretty epic thunderstorm. So, I'm jamming on my E. Piano setting, playing some soulful chords, and there's all this gloomy weather, and the inspiration struck like the lightning that killed the power in my house for 10 minutes. I would call the tape "Lonely Rhodes" and limit the beats to incorporating only a rhodes keyboard sound as a melody point. So, when I do actually release the whole thing, keep in mind that every song is using the same instrument, but with variations on its settings. As for content, I decided to go across the board, and do it kinda album-style. So, there'll be the bragadocious, the conscious, the love song, all'at. I'm even throwing in a trap-ish song. Just one. ONLY ONE.
And all of this will be done by the 20th, God-willing. You know how I like these speed-tapes. They're actually pretty fun; I challenge any artist who's trying to get past their productivity block: give yourself a week or two, and be like "at the end of this time, I'm gunna have a good[however many] songs done, and I'll release them.
Hey, it worked for me with Show-Off: The 7-Day Mixtape <-- that's totally a link. You know how you like those. Click it. Just do it. It'll feel good.
Anyways, that's the deets on this next project. Hope y'all will support it, just like you did with Show-off, the link for which just happens to be right there, for you to listen to and download.
Yeah, I can shamelessly promote. It's MY blog.
Peace In, Peace Out.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Know What I like ? Ranting. Here's One About Rapping.
So, if you know me at all, you know that I LOVE to rant. I LOVE it; whether complaining or praising, nothing entertains me like expressing my opinion. And, since you're reading my blog, guess what you get ? Nope, it's not a pony. Not a brand new car. It's a big ol', heaping helping of MY OPINION ! *crowd cheers*
Now, again, if you know me at all, you know I'm a rapper. You know I love music, and you know how I'm generally a pretty fair judge, if a little overly harsh. This is ESPECIALLY true when it comes to indie artists, like myself. I'm passionate about what I do, and I hold everything I hear to the same standards that I hold my own music to. So, here are some things that bother me about other indie rappers, as a whole:
1. If I haven't heard your song yet, your MC name is EVERYTHING.
Seriously, get a respectable name. I'm not saying it has to be like mine, where it's mimicking a regular name, or a part of your own name, or anything like that. But, if your name is something like "STUNNAZZ di Rude Boi" or "T-Swagger" don't expect me to click the links you ever so frequently post on my wall. Find something original, that reflects your identity as an artist.
Which brings me to...
2. FIND YOUR FREAKING ARTISTIC IDENTITY, AND SOLIDIFY IT.
The caps were soo very necessary. If you don't know who you are, why should I want to find out ? Figure out who you're trying to be (here's a hint: aim for not being someone who already exists)and be it ! Now, people change; I've re-invented myself a few times, and I'm still solidifying myself. But, as such, I still have a general feel for who I'm trying to be. If you don't have that, you'll have no trademark feel for your listeners to identify as being you.
Now, again, if you know me at all, you know I'm a rapper. You know I love music, and you know how I'm generally a pretty fair judge, if a little overly harsh. This is ESPECIALLY true when it comes to indie artists, like myself. I'm passionate about what I do, and I hold everything I hear to the same standards that I hold my own music to. So, here are some things that bother me about other indie rappers, as a whole:
1. If I haven't heard your song yet, your MC name is EVERYTHING.
Seriously, get a respectable name. I'm not saying it has to be like mine, where it's mimicking a regular name, or a part of your own name, or anything like that. But, if your name is something like "
Which brings me to...
2. FIND YOUR FREAKING ARTISTIC IDENTITY, AND SOLIDIFY IT.
The caps were soo very necessary. If you don't know who you are, why should I want to find out ? Figure out who you're trying to be (here's a hint: aim for not being someone who already exists)and be it ! Now, people change; I've re-invented myself a few times, and I'm still solidifying myself. But, as such, I still have a general feel for who I'm trying to be. If you don't have that, you'll have no trademark feel for your listeners to identify as being you.
Oh, and on a more technical level...
3. Pleeeease.. ENUNCIATE.
If I don't understand what you're saying, I'm honestly not going to try to. If Busta Rhymes & Twista can enunciate while rapping as fast as they do, you can make it so that your 92 BPM club track is clear. Not that a little slur isn't cool, but like... You're not Plies. Chill.
And another thing...
4. Be inventive about how you say things.
I'll be real; there are like 5 things to rap about: your skill, your swag/money, relationship stuff, ambition, & conscious stuff. Now, that being said, "I'm the best" willNOT cut it. It wasn't enough for Melly-Mel, it's not enough now. Figure out creative ways to say the same thing, because that's ALL WE DO. You are, by default, redundant. So am I. I've come to grips with it. I CANNOT be 100% original. So, I'm gunna push for whatever percentage I can get. Stay away from clichés, unless you're gunna spin them a different way.
5. Do some personal quality control.
Don't release EVERYTHING you record, just because you managed to get 5 songs done during your 3 hours at your cousin's friend's boyfriend's uncle's studio; check those songs. Chances are, at least one of them sucks. Ouch, right ? I say that to myself EVERY TIME. Because it's like this in the studio: "DAAMN, AJ ! This is gunna be the ONE ! We're blowing up TONIGHTTTTT !" And then like this when you hear it in a week: " Damn, AJ... Why did we even record this track ? This goes softer than sentient marshmallows having a pillow fight..." So listen to your songs. Listen for flaws. Look for weak things. Scrutinize. Otherwise, you post stuff that you'll regret IMMEDIATELY afterwards... And I'm just as guilty of this. Trust me... Soo guilty... Lol... ANYWAYS. Quality control: don't give your haters any more ammunition than they already have, lol.
If this seems nitpicky and harsh to you, guess what... The list of things I personally do, with regards to my music, is sooo much longer than this. Like, absurdly longer. Maybe one day, I'll post my mental processes for things like that.
For now, though, hope you enjoyed reading what I again would like to state is my opinion. Y'on't like it, don't read it.
But seriously, like it & read it. :)
Peace In, Peace Out.
3. Pleeeease.. ENUNCIATE.
If I don't understand what you're saying, I'm honestly not going to try to. If Busta Rhymes & Twista can enunciate while rapping as fast as they do, you can make it so that your 92 BPM club track is clear. Not that a little slur isn't cool, but like... You're not Plies. Chill.
And another thing...
4. Be inventive about how you say things.
I'll be real; there are like 5 things to rap about: your skill, your swag/money, relationship stuff, ambition, & conscious stuff. Now, that being said, "I'm the best" will
5. Do some personal quality control.
Don't release EVERYTHING you record, just because you managed to get 5 songs done during your 3 hours at your cousin's friend's boyfriend's uncle's studio; check those songs. Chances are, at least one of them sucks. Ouch, right ? I say that to myself EVERY TIME. Because it's like this in the studio: "DAAMN, AJ ! This is gunna be the ONE ! We're blowing up TONIGHTTTTT !" And then like this when you hear it in a week: " Damn, AJ... Why did we even record this track ? This goes softer than sentient marshmallows having a pillow fight..." So listen to your songs. Listen for flaws. Look for weak things. Scrutinize. Otherwise, you post stuff that you'll regret IMMEDIATELY afterwards... And I'm just as guilty of this. Trust me... Soo guilty... Lol... ANYWAYS. Quality control: don't give your haters any more ammunition than they already have, lol.
If this seems nitpicky and harsh to you, guess what... The list of things I personally do, with regards to my music, is sooo much longer than this. Like, absurdly longer. Maybe one day, I'll post my mental processes for things like that.
For now, though, hope you enjoyed reading what I again would like to state is my opinion. Y'on't like it, don't read it.
But seriously, like it & read it. :)
Peace In, Peace Out.
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