Preach Kanye Preach

So if you know me you know I LOVE Kanye West. I feel he says/does the things I would do if I had balls. He literally is calling folk like me out...while I'm not your favorite underground rap or music artist, I am someone who is not expressing myself creatively which is a waste of my gifts. I'm no longer willing to do that. I'm ready to live full out regardless of how it is received. Check out Kanye's speech to Rolling Stone writers re:his new album. Turn it up around the 1:08 mark.

NOLA Summer Jam

New Orleans has been good to me in so many ways. The biggest way is that it has inspired my creativity. My ideas have been flowing like water and I've been meeting equally talented folk to help me actually complete my endeavors. There is so much talent here it is hard to explain. I've been most impressed with the hip hop community here. First of all, there IS a REAL, viable hip hop community here. I will admit before I moved here I thought it was just the typical expected sound but in actuality there is a great amount of conscious, enlightened rappers that can go head to head with any national artist. ANY of them. Then there's great producers. Such original beats and sounds I just love it. I'm really grateful to have met Lawrence "CRACKTRACKS" Parker. He's not only a dope producer who loves music, he loves his native city of New Orleans. I posted his Motivation504 mixtape a while ago, but failed to mention that is also a dope event promoter. His latest endeavor is NOLA SUMMER JAM. I actually got to be a part of the planning of the event that is the initial stage of bringing an official hiphop festival to New Orleans, which is known for the multitude of music festivals it hosts every year. If you're around and free on this Saturday, June 19, come check out this movement that has me captivated.

For the latest information on the event and ticket information please visit : http://www.nolasummerjam.blogspot.com/

Cracktracks Presents ... Motivation 504

So as I've been discussing lately, I REALLY believe New Orleans is about to make a serious impact on the music scene at large. I've been experiencing some truly great music lately and the last few weeks I have been all about this one producer Cracktracks. He puts out the best mixtapes and my favorite of his to date was Space Musik but ... he JUST dropped his latest entitled MOTIVATION 504. Hmmm, since I live in the 504 (New Orleans area code) and am desperately in need of some real, true motivation, I did something I never do and waited up for the midnight release! That was SUCH a good decision!!! This mixtape is REALLY good and features a lot of next to blow artists as well as the current "next biggest thing" Jay Electronica - all from right here in New Orleans!!!! I'm beyond excited I feel like it is just another sign I'm in the right place at the right time! Check it out and let me know your favs!!!!! (Might I suggest 2, 3, 15, 17, 19 or 24 to start?!?!)

Click here to download CrackTracks Presents ... Motivation504!

Hip Hop Saved My Life

On last Thursday my life got VERY busy. I was prepared but it was difficult when everything hit at once. I went from a very laid back, nothing to do daily scenario to having to work ALL day on so many different projects. I had to two hours away to work over the weekend and randomly popped in a Lupe cd (it was dark so I just grabbed something and stuck it in). I instantly felt just fine when HIP HOP SAVED MY LIFE came on. When I was waiting tables unsure of how I'd make it through, this song got me through it! I'm no rapper but I am a person on the grind to make some big things happen. This song more than inspires me! It makes me believe its only a matter of time! ENJOY!!!

Lupe Fiasco Feat. Nikki Jean - Hip Hop Saved My Life
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She Makes Me Wanna - Pursue My Passion

I'm a firm believer that you can make friends online. I've found Twitter to be instrumental in helping me meet great, like minded people in New Orleans and one of my most inspiring connections is with Holly Hobbs. Our "introduction" proves my theory on how social networking sites help to foster friendships. I found through Twitter that we have a ton in common - we both like Mojo's Coffee on Magazine, are into supporting local artists and most importantly, we both have a HUGE crush on Harry Connick, Jr. and frequently say "fabulousness"!!!!

After initially meeting Holly on Twitter, I've found her to be highly intelligent and extremely passionate about using her talents to help make stronger communities. Like me, she's an artist. Unlike me, she's not a frustrated one trying to figure out how to let her talent be used. It seems as though this isn't a problem for Holly because she appears to let her passion guide her. Confucius said, "Chose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." Well while Holly works extremely hard, it seems as though she's chosen great places to focus her energy and efforts. With completed documentaries under her belt, she currently works as managing director of the Patios film festival and as co-director of HipHop for Hope. Her passion is contagious and inspires me to really go after the deepest desires of my heart! Read more to see why Holly Hobbs makes me wanna pursue my passion!

More...
NAME: Holly Hobbs
AGE: 31 (aaaa, do I have to put that?LOL!)
HOMETOWN: Columbia, Missouri
CURRENT CITY OF RESIDENCE: New Orleans, Louisiana

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: BA from University of Wisconsin (Gender Studies, African Studies), MA from Indiana University (Ethnomusicology), PhD coursework at University of Missouri (Folklore), finishing proposal to finish PhD at Tulane right now (Ethnomusicology).

OCCUPATION: Hmm. The general term for my field is “cultural development,” using the arts as a resource for community and economic development. And technically by training I’m an ethnomusicologist—the best term for that would be “public sector ethnomusicologist.” But I do film, and I’m a musician, and I’m the managing director of the Patois film festival here and co-direct the nonprofit Hiphop for Hope.

AS A CHILD WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP: a zoologist!

DO YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO: I love doing a thousand things and being involved in things I’m most passionate about, so yes, I do.

HOW DID YOU BEGIN YOUR CAREER: School was always the best of both worlds for me—graduate school provided a creative environment, time to write and create, money to travel and research, etc. So much of my career has been in graduate school. But I started my music career by playing jazz in piano bars.

ARE YOU LIVING THE LIFE YOU DREAMED OF: Not quite yet but I’m on my way!

WHO IS YOUR FEMALE INSPIRATION: There are so so many, and they cross the board from political figures to writers and musicians. I love Susan Rice, the US Ambassador to the UN recently appointed by Obama. I love Lucinda Williams—I feel like she writes for me. I’m always in awe of Zora Neale Hurston’s life and work, and the work Alice Walker did to recover it. I love Dorothy Parker in all her fabulousness. Toni Morrison does it for me. So does Arundhati Roy. Wangari Maathai, who recently won the Nobel. There was a New York Times interview with Chan Marshall not too long ago where she talked about Mary J. Blige as her inspiration, and I agreed with so much of what she said. And, as always, my mom.

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN: I’ve been so busy/stressed/etc since I moved to New Orleans that I haven’t done as much of what I love as I should. Playing & writing music is #1 for me. Other than that, I love my group of girls here. I love walks in Audubon. Coffee already made when I get up in the morning. A good book and a sunny day.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER WOMEN IN PURSUIT OF THEIR DREAM: Don’t ever give up!

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES OR MOTTO: “Good behavior is the last refuge of mediocrity.”

You can find Holly on the web at www.myspace.com/hollyvioletproductions www.patoisfilmfest.org www.hiphopforhope.org
You can also follow her on Twitter (www.twitter.com/holl_x ).
And to see the efforts of her labor live, come check out the HipHopforHope annual benefit concert this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 at Tippitina's Uptown featuring MiaX, Mannie Fresh, RajSmoove and a host of other talented artists!

On To The Next One

JayZ came out with the Blueprint 3, once again that hip hop is trying to save my life. How can I be discouraged with lyrics like this?!?!?

"I move forward the only direction, cant be scared to fail Search and perfection."
"...and n-ggas don’t be mad cause it’s all about progression, loiterers should be arrested."
"Baby i’m a boss, i dunno what they do,I don’t get dropped, I dropped the label."
"World can’t hold me, too much ambition,always knew it’d be like this when I was in the kitchen."

WOW! The lessons are numerous! So my favorite lyric in some time is the one where he says he knew it'd be like this when he was in the kitchen! WOW! So when he was a crack dealer, he knew that he'd find a way out of his situation, use his talent and become the man he saw himself being. I feel like I'm in the kitchen now - true enough I'm no drug dealer but I am working in jobs that I do not feel use my full potential. I do know in my heart of hearts that the day is coming where I will be the woman I dream of now. Seems to me that Jay is saying that he used the image of where he wanted to be to get him to that point when he was in a less desirable situation. My message from hiphop today is to stay focused on the end goal. Keep it moving and move on to the next one that will help me move from right here to over there. WORD!

Class Is In Session

Today is my first day of class - I'm enrolled in LIFE 101! I have always recognized learning opportunities in the most random of places and I've learned valuable lessons from the unlikeliest of teachers. As I pursue my dreams and goals, I've decided to go after my desires with an extreme ferociousness I have not used in the past. I've decided to stop complaining and see things as they really are - opportunities to expand my knowledge and to grow!

As I was cleaning up today, I was listening to Kanye West on Pandora. I love Kanye and have since he came out with "The College Dropout". He is so lyrically gifted it makes it easy to overlook his social ills. I rocks Mr. West!! I put on my Kanye West station today as I was cleaning up and I recognized why I am so attracted to him lyrically. Kanye speaks a lot on the College Dropout about things he wants to happen and by Graduation, many of those things came to pass!

When I heard "Through the Wire" today it was as if I were hearing it for the first time. He really spits some stuff on this track

• He says," What if somebody from the Chi that was ill got a deal on the hottest rap label around. But he wasn't talking bout coke and birds it was more like spoken word. Except he really putting it down." That's exactly what Kanye is - he is like a super dope spoken word artist w/fire beats that make his words pop! He's a poet and his songs share poetic verse after verse about his life and the things he desires.
• Then he says,"But I'm a champion, so I turned tragedy to triumph. Make music that's fire, spit my soul through the wire." At this point he had produced some hot tracks but he wasn't doing it like he is now. But he spoke with such confidence, such enthusiasm for what he was saying. He believed then that he would be who he is now.

I was feeling this song so much then Pandora hit me with "All Falls Down." When this song came on, I knew there was a direct message for me!

• He is on me when he says,"She's so self conscious. She has no idea what she's doing in college. That major that she majored in don't make no money, but she won't drop out, her parents will look at her funny." WOW! That was me! I had no desire to go to college but my family put so much emphasis on education. Even though I wanted to do then what I do now (write, make movies, help people find their talent), I had to go to college. While it was a great experience and I wouldn't change it for the world, I went mainly b/c other people wanted me to. This verse and song reminded me of my true desire right now.

I do value education and the opportunities it provides. But unlike when I attended college or even law school, I get to pick the lessons I want to learn now! I am in charge - I get to select the curriculum, the professors and the course length ... I even get to decide when the lessons has been adequately taught! I've decided to invest in my education - this time the course of study is ME and MY LIFE! The first class I've signed up for is LIFE 101. In this course, I will learn how to be exactly who I am. This course will allow me to let go of my preconceived notions of who I am and dive deeply into the reality of who I am and what I'm about. My professors are the philosophers of my day (people seem to live lives that are led from their gut and their deepest desires). My homework is heavy heavy journaling and blogging - sharing my experiences as I go. This class is great because I have to go on field trips often! I'm excited about LIFE 101 - the only thing is, I have no idea how long this course lasts!