music || 'Mesmerize' - Ja Rule & Ashanti

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST DISCRIMINATES AGAINST UN-REPENTING CRIMINAL MINDS

Oh, nobody ever told you? You are right to think that you are right.
Be YOU today, everyday, and in every way. Look in that mirror, smile, and don't say sorry.
Watch your eyes as you smile, they tell you one or two things, my friend. Of the man that you should be, they will tell you. They will tell you too, of the man that you once were.
To focus on who your are now, wander through the eyes, until you find the eye of the mind.
Three things I hope you have for focus: STRENGTH, CLARITY and COMPASSION. With these, you will look and see; see and understand. You will find all that you are now: battle marks and all the glory. I hope you still smile, and do not say sorry.
Know now that tomorrow, you will become a sibling to who you once were, and that, my friend, will be a COURSE on evolution.
One day you will look at your reflection and find memories in every line upon your face. Memories of all the smiles that you never apologized for, and all the YOU's that you rightfully were. Nobody will have to tell you: You're very right, my friend. Right to think that you were right.                                    

The Garden Bleeds

I never knew a love like this. My pen, she beckons me with whispered longings...wanting only, to scribe the promised fortitude found while exposing me. She searches; she walks, as I walk, straight into me: into this far away temple, unkempt, within me. The pen knows this jungle of a heart, and won't let it be. Seeking to plant a garden for scorching days, and a fountain of promised wishes. No more aging temple, no more ravaging jungle. It's an ambitious longing of this pen, for I, you see? Incense of the gods, diffuse, as my pen walks into me. A temple of the past, awoken now, to the fragrance of several tomorrows: a fortitude of beauty's enduring poise. Every line on these palms, she exposes. Each line, composed of an eager tale, bleeding. See this love of the pen, for I; see the blood of my mind's eye. On paper, hard at work to bust these veins, I let love shine through, holding her with a bleeding palm. I bleed the incense of the gods, now. I see tomorrow's promised wishes, now. My veins broken, and my heart throbbing; I know love for this pen, for she has drenched me in blood. I work hard, tilling the garden, as she pours the incense in the fountain. I am now tomorrow's promised wishes. I am now blood. I am the incense of the gods. I have been exposed: exposed to love.

music language & appreciation || 'Sorrow, Tears and Blood' - FELA Kuti

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Sorrow, Tears and Blood: Their Regular Trademark

            Fela Anikulapo Kuti was a Nigeirian musician, and is the grandfather of Afrobeat music: a fusion of funk, jazz and West African Highlife.  A rich engagement of instruments, polyrhythmic sounds, and a great deal of syncopation, characterize the Afrobeat music. Following the richness and unpredictability of sound, Fela Kuti’s lyrics are mostly controversial, precisely reflecting the true situation in the Nigerian government, and with the Nigerian people. Fela was a Human Rights Activist and a Political Maverick and so, free-thinking naturally served as the theme of his music and his life. It comes as no surprise that Fela is still heavily identified with around the world, as a force of action, giving his unique sound and potent lyrics. Across Nigeria, and some parts of the world, his music, even without the lyrics stir up memories of a certain era, just as if it were an image or a piece of literature. 
             Indeed, Fela Kuti’s music has been pervading the global music scene very quickly in recent times, and in spite of the language barrier, people of different descents find his music to be quite magnetic.  He is ranked in the HMV Magazine, as No. 46— six places below Michael Jackson—on the list of 100 most influential musicians of the 20^th century.  The song, ‘Sorrow, Tears and Blood’ by Fela Kuti was released in 1977, following a violent experience with the Nigerian military and government, and the 1976 Soweto uprising in South Africa in which students rioted. This Fela song is one unlike majority of his discography, which are usually very metaphorical and emotive. Fela employs direct language in this song, succinctly drawing the listener into the situation at the scene of the events, and straight to the heart of the message, as though it were a real time event, preceding a conversation with him, Fela.  With such direct language, he paints a real time, vivid picture of violent acts of authority, in almost a way that, however oppressive these actions, the listener is left thinking of authority in light of cowardice.

            Fela breaks into the second verse, with a seemingly evolved agenda. He uses extreme depictions of fear that seem unreal at first, but unhurriedly awaken a subliminal truth within us, of the expression of these extreme fears in our everyday lives. Still, using the plainest words. Fela Kuti employs minimal metaphors in this work, but uses cliché’s, not forcefully delivered, and neither disguised, but directly tendered with a clear intention to our everyday state of mind; as if to say “you have been caught”. 

            The opening instrumentation almost communicates the genesis of a play. Fela also, occasionally, mimics the sound of a police troop on their motorcycles.  In my opinion, these are all language, and serve as part of the reason why I have never experienced a song the way I experience this one. ‘Sorrow, Tears and Blood’ plays on the understated illusion of liberty and control often adopted by a people, when they are most evidently under oppression. Fela Kuti uses this song to tear this veil of illusion by hitting us with language, so untarnished and unshakeable, that it might as well serve as a rock to a veil. When I listen to the song, I ponder about how thin a line exists between ‘power’ and ‘cowardice’, and the use, misuse and disuse of power.

                                                                                                                         

music || 'Somebody Already Broke My Heart' - Sade

music || 'Sweet Disposition' - Temper Trap

rituals on the ocean. low tides, it's 5am. rituals at the beach. the birds perform, as do I. tradition as sure as the sun rise. rituals of the sky & the ocean & I. temple or body. ritual & tradition. emancipation with freedom. religion & the lies. The temple should first be the body. Good for goodness sake should always be the ritual, for in our actions, we pray. The SEED of tradition is this prayer: THE RITUAL. freedom is the fruit. As a tree comes alive and a forest breathes, so do we, when we seek emancipation from the definitions of men. redefine love. And life. And 'quality of'. And know that these are your religion. For in our actions, we pray. It's 5am. The ocean tides are low. The birds, with the sun, know THEIR religion. #Godbepraisedalways