New Music: Per Se

PER SE

http://urbanfolkmusic.bandcamp.com/album/per-se

letting the rain fall down

the first day of the rest of our life is always the day that we find ourselves. the present moment is not just something that is happening, it is always happening. now is always here.

Here and Now

 

There are so many other factors that come into play when we are moving into the silence of our beautiful. We have to combat the media, the thoughts, the critics, the internalized isms, and the final frontier; our own battles with the concept of success. I have been involved with these battles a lot more as of late. More than often I am able to see these battles in a clear and concise fashion because I am hyper aware of my moods, conditions and attitudes. This awareness can at times be considered insanity, only in the fact that sometimes it is too profound and too present for even my own good. What has been helping quite a bit has been meditation and taking it easy, even considering the idea of moving slower. These slower movements are essential living on NYC because everything is always moving so fast, and seemingly out of control.

Being here and now allows me to actually be aware of the fact that I am in a coffee shop right now, listening to Teddy Pendergrass, and writing this blog. I can taste the cappuccino lingering in my mouth, and the bits of croissant stuck in between my teeth.  If you don’t know me by now, you will never ever know me. How true is this? How amazing is this truth? So very important and so essential for the movement of the human spirit further and faster into the knowledge of who we are becoming each second. There is no try, only do. Here and Now. Always breathing in the reality of the moment as it is, relinquishing all expectation and all attempts at control. This breeze off of the ocean of our existence makes for a wonderful relaxation. An assume beingness. I am running into the unknown with my eyes wide open, closed when the winds kick it something strong, but always aware, and always here and now.

early in the morning

i can’t sleep. anymore. there is an insatiable appetite for success inside of me and i need for it to be fed, to eat all of the opportunities, to dream the good dream, and to live the greatest life available for me. the angels have spoken and they have so much to say. i am listening again, it is funny how the ears don’t always listen. as if they have other things to do at the times when they have silence as their way. silence is always good, i say. but then again the loud sounds of the great secret speak in a way that disturbs the mundane and the insanity that cannot ever speak louder than my god. when i awoke this morning, it was with a light heart. as if it is a feather and i am just the wind, i stand still amongst the angels, and the frozen morning dew. this is my prayer. please provide for me a course which will be able to change the current situation that i know is not god’s only will for me. i am one of the chosen, not few, but the willing to accept the challenge of myself. to stand up when others fall, to scream when those around me are held silent by their own desires. let this light run through and over me and share the glory of this life, this body, this spirit with the world. may all of these dreams come true in the now and may i have a blessed day in this wonderful morning.

when the night is still and the day is calm and all you dreamed has come and gone. between this now and the past tense,  know always that there is still to come. for all dreamers know that the dream lives through, and the dawn breathes forth all things fresh and new. and with love, it shows its face all the time, just hold onto to the subtleties of what is to come and what’s been here throughout. be faithful in this knowingness, this close encounter with divine bliss. these wonderful triumphs and glorious failures, this life of ups and downs. these terrains of found and heights we’ve lost, with trust in life there is more that exists. don’t lose your ground by losing touch. be thankful for all things big and small. and hold unto these simple truths. for all times you are beautiful and throughout you will know me. i am the wind, the winter thus, the wonders of your most passionate thoughts. i am the way, and the reasons why. i am the gregarious and the shy. the in your face of things and behind your back. the times of lack and abundance. just be patient but ever fast for all good things come to those who last.

these holy days

Maybe it’s the fact that so much of what it means to partake in the holidays is prescriptive. Or it could possibly be the declaration that shopping will bring us all closer together. Whatever the case, the holidays have always been one of those aspects to the year that could kind of like fly the coup. Ya know, not be here, and I’d be fine. And then there is the other side of me that loves receiving presents and giving them. Loves the cheer and the much-ado about whatever. It’s a bloody dichotomy, whatever way you flip it. I love to hate the holidays.

And this year is no different. I am spending the holiday season pretty much alone, I mean without my family, yet again. But this year I live in New York City, and everything is that much bigger. The sadness and the celebration, the shopping and the cheer. It’s quite a spectacle nonetheless. And I am so much more than I’ve ever been. Much more aware of myself. Much more in tune with what it is that I have and do not have. The latter, however, feels quite different than it has in the past. I am blessed to have what it is that I have. Which in turn makes me look at what I don’t have in a very different light, with new eyes.

I realize that every day is a holy day. There is so much for us to be blessed and thankful for. The roof over our heads, the meals on our plates, the love in our lives, and inside of our hearts. I have been dwelling there lately. In my heart. Sharing the gift of laughter and happiness with myself, and those around me. I hear the christmas songs, watch the pda and think about the possibilities; not the limitations. There are no limitations, there is only love. There is always love. And love will save the day, it always does during these holy days.

just because

give yourself a hug today.

this week in its amazingness

I started the week feeling sorry for myself. As if I was a marionette and someone else was directing my movements, limply. As many of you know this kind of living is wack. At least in its essence of denial of what is actually happening. I say wack because there are so many blessings to be had for us sentient beings by just breathing, and by feeling sorry, we make a mess of what god has divined so beautifully for us.

Last saturday I went to see Black Swan with Adam. That fucking movie blew my mind. I still have shivers and sensations in my body when I think about what transpired in that flick. I was left, alone, with a simple idea about the artist. Our lives are lived in front of many people, but sometimes we dance, sing, create, and live alone. Many trials and tribulations for us to rise above, many rivers for us to cross.

The sheer brilliance of this message has taking hold of me in a way that hopefully will stay for a long time. I want to remember these sacrifices that I have made to make the world more beautiful, and relate with others that know this same truth. I want to remember the way of the warrior and how it makes me a better person to live my life as it is. (This is not a review of the film ‘Black Swan’, just an exercise in its myriad messages and its beauty, as well how all of this relates to my life right now. See it for yourself for the your own assessment.)

The next day I awoke to the promise of my life. I hung out with a dear friend of mine, Christin Hill, who I’ve known since 6th grade. We hung out for the entire day and we both just basked in the glory of what it is to be loved. Our conversation at times was so brilliant that I saw glimmer of lights in my friend’s eyes so bright that it was contagious. At the same time as I saw her brilliant light, I knew I reflected the same joy and wonder. So beautiful her visions and conjurings of life were. So articulate the message inside of my body; I was worth the fight, my life’s experiences and situations made me more brilliant by its necessary pressure. Like coal, and diamonds, how important it is to have pressure in the creation of priceless jewels, life. All of this in our conversation, our meanderings.

I left my friend sunday night birthed again and thankful. By the time I woke up Monday, I knew that this day was going to make me into me. There was something mystical in Monday’s sermon. Right when I woke up I knew there was a healing to take place. Some kind of wonderful indeed. My night ended with me having a delicate, essential home-coming conversation with my mother, a meeting with Ntozage Shange, a home-coming celebration of 10 years of Hip Hop Theater, and a dedication to my artistic ability and career goals. Monday was off the hook. In many ways than one. Once caught, now free, once chained, now re-imagined.

Tuesday night celebrated my good friend Dawn’s birth; a dancer and a lover, these two qualities are inseparable for Dawn, and evident in all that she does, and all of her moves. Her only request from her guests was that folks share something personal in her salon. This was her only birthday wish; that we share our talents. My pockets empty, bank accounts in the red, this gift seemed easy to give. My words, those two sticks, this hymnal and rhyme anthem released me from any doubt and all fear that I may “ever” had. I opted to share my song 2nd, after a powerhouse performance from a woman no taller than four feet ten. The god inside of her opened a spirit inside of me that was relentless and fearless, awaiting the divine head first. (The energy from this party helped myself and two other singers break our cherries that night and sing publicly on the “A” train. We wanted to ask for money, but the sheer feeling of pushing past fear had us in deep contemplation, and rich, after our diddy.)

Wednesday night I went to Adam’s house. Adam’s mother Valerie read my novel, Frederic, and sparked a sensation inside of me that breathed of accomplishment and pride. She had read the beginning of my book, and generally liked it. Her comments made me smile, as she is an accomplished researcher and writer. After this experience I went to another friend’s house, eva. Adam and I had wine, great conversation and wonderful cable. Right before we were to leave my cell phone rang. It was Melva, she was in tears. Melva is my great friend, reflection spirit, who has amazing insight into life and the way of the world. She told me she was crying because my angels were with her and sharing the goods on my life, and the goods about me. I was to accept my royal blood, my kingdom and my place as king. My angels were speaking to her. They were hanging on to her so she would call me and speak on it with me. Her tears held me spiritually hostage in a way that spoke to the truth as necessary healing, as is birth. It is always right on time. And she was obedient enough to shed/share her tears about this truth, this celebratory experience that we had together; for all times. Sh shared  the word, this cause for dance.

I still can hear her crying, speaking of the divine gifts awaiting me. I know. I know. I accept. I call on you spirit for everything that is mine to come to me. I know and see my kingdom fore I am king. (ase). Thursday, I watched “Radiant Child’, and ‘Basquiat’, both films about the creative indigenous spirit Jean Michel Basquiat. I needed to be immersed in the colors of my world – in black. Hues which speak of the divine quest of humanity. I needed to be immersed in black boy genius, so I could see myself shine. See my crown shine.

And tonight, or this morning – I must wrap up my week and tell you all about friday. A lovely day, made of chili, tea, red wine, LES, birthday parties, singing and spiritual families gatherings. I am still ringing from the connection that I made tonight A door is open and I walked through it to write this blog, to say this prayer, ‘dear creative power inside and out, follow and lead me, into the new and old situation so I can soar. Detail my flight in the cumulative account of my wing’s journeys. Speak to me in tongues as we acknowledge the presence of the holy spirit, as soon as I released myself and submitted.’ Tonight, I met my brother. I knew it in his face’s creation. I’ll cement it tomorrow, as I continue this powerful week in me.

-inch allah

(one nation under the groove.)

so thankful

tonight i sat, after i came from the club, and watched an old performance of mine from two years ago in oakland, ca. this performance was “really” important for me because it was in honor of the SF8, a group of african american men who were being harassed by the police almost forty years after their supposed crime took place. Something about the patriot act that allowed old cases against the government to be reopened with a more careful eye, said mr. bush, (and we all know of the things bush said.)

what ended up taking place in these matters was a travesty to what it means to be american. many citizens of color were being harassed in their sixties and seventies, awakened out of their sleep, dragged from their homes, and stolen away from their families. all in the name of national security and continuing the fight against terrorism, by all means necessary.

this performance was in honor of these men, as well as a (re)dedication to our ancestors and our continual fight against police brutality and a reclaiming of our rights as citizens of this “great” country. i prepared my set with all of this in mind, as well, the location of said event was at the same church where a very good friend of mine named nathan walrod was sunset celebrated – a death we all thought was much too early. nate was one of the few people who encouraged me to sing and his words rang through my head on this particular day. i had planned to give myself spaces in the performance where i use improvisation, or freestyle flow, depending on what i was feeling.

as i sat back and watched the performance in its entirety, i was reminded of myself in a powerful way. lately i have been dealing with doubt and fear, and i know when these emotions come up for me i am at a crucial point in my life, creatively and spiritually all the same. i take these moments as a particular serum for bad feelings and allow myself to be as raw as possible in my present experience. for me, as an artist, and a hueman these emotions are very important. they are like hieroglyphics, secret writings which will later expose me to enormous energies and resources. so, i go through them, or better said let them go through me. anyhoot, tonight, as i sat and watched myself shine and share truths and song honesty, i broke into a tear or two. sitting back and allowing myself to honor me, allowing the energy to speak to me in new ways, and encouraging myself to be humbled by the experience. all of this worked to help me write this blog. to give me a space in time where i can appreciate my talent and find new ways to tap into what is necessary for me to be excellent in the present moment. tonight, i am thankful for this opportunity to bask in the glory of god within me. to sit back and listen.

after all that is said and done, i have a few truths to hold unto tonight as i lay me down. i have a few honest to god realities that i know. and this knowing does not bog me down or make me feel weighted, it rises me up, perks up the innocence of my spirit and allows me to see more clearly. allows me to see.

 

thank you.

Whipping our hair like willow smith

WILLOW SMITH PERFORMS LIVE ON ELLEN.

INTERVIEW W/ ELLEN!

If you are like me and the rest of the world, you too are whipping whatever hair you have. Or maybe not. The sensation that is known as Willow Smith performed for the first time on Ellen yesterday and it was a promising performance. What I enjoy most about this little wonder is that she is very pleasant, charmingly present and real. What does that mean you say? Well, in a time when being a young person has become existentially extinct for many youth around the world, Willow Smith is showing us all what innocence really looks like.

Working with youth my entire life has shown me that they are some amazing people and this young girl is not to be taken lightly. We know her from her amazingly talented, and rich family. We’ve laughed with her father for years, watched her mother mature into a delicious woman and talent, we’ve also shared moments with her and brother Jaden on the big screen. The amazing aspect to this burgeoning career is that she has some talent and definitely a lot of flavor. She sat first row in several shows during MIlan’s fashion week. And baby, her ensembles were some of the hottest I saw!

I love when young people are given the stage because what we are blessed to witness is their life and their journey. So many young people are living dramas that we adults have created and play out with them. It is a breath of fresh air to see young Willow taking us on her particular adventure, bright colors, hair whipped and focused. Like her father, the girl is a positive energy and spirit.

My hair is probably about two inches long, and since it is african hair looks like it is 1/2 in. in length, but that does not stop me from whipping it, at least whipping my neck. I’ve loved this song ever since I heard it online. Now, I have been blessed to see the beginning of what I hope to be a long career of discovery and maturity for Willow Smith. Like she said, ‘Whip My Hair is the new “I AM Me” song, and I am glad we are able to see something different than the plastic-post-pop-posturing of music today. Maybe Willow Smith can get all of us to look a little closer into our own innocence and find some of the special things that make us who we are. And when we find it, make sure we whip it, whip it real good.

DEVO, WHIP IT. (for the old heads)