"The Battlefield is the heart and the mind/You win outside if you win inside"

(lyrics from "Overcomer")

This is a long one so bear with me. I just watched a bunch of documentaries on channel 4 On demand dealing with Christianity from different points of view and it was very interesting

There is so much to be said about all that I watched. I am absorbing the information and it’s gonna come out of me in some way when I let it simmer

For the meanwhile the main thing that has jumped out at me is that one of the reasons Pentecostal Christianity for example is growing so fast in the Africa and amongst immigrants that have brought it with them to the UK is because Africans have adapted Christianity to become their own thing and mixed it with their cultural bent.

What do I mean by that? Well in Nigeria for example generally the cultures are very spiritually aware already. I mean we had witch doctors and shamans and different types of rituals, customs and beliefs that are supposed to open people up to the realm of the spirit. So generally people are conscious of spiritual things even if they are not Christians. Some might argue they are superstitious and probably in some instances they would be right but the fact is there is a general awareness of the spiritual culturally speaking. It’s like we take it for granted that there is a realm like that. We don’t demand proof or evidence of it, it just is and that is that. I think this is why the dynamic Spiritual reality of the Holy Spirit is easily accepted and not just that sought after even to a fault because people chase miracles, signs and wonders feverishly.

When colonialism and Christianity and the slave trade come to Africa we absorbed Christianity into our cultural ways. In fact some of these things remained mixed. When I see people making videos exposing Jay Z as illuminati or Rihanna’s “Umbrella” containing subliminal messages etc it echoes back to how African cultures generally see the spiritual realm in everything even when there are only hints here and there and no full proof or evidence. It’s the reason why music is not just music to most; it seems to be more spiritual. I guess it’s because music was used in rituals e.g the drumming and singing that were used and done with repetition and got shamans into a trance where they saw visions. Music was used in recreation too and for celebration and entertainment but some people don’t want to hear that everything is seen through a spiritual lens and has a subliminal message of evil.

From these documentaries I watched I also have come to the conclusion that generally reason is elevated to the top in western culture due to the fact that science is seen mainly as the way questions of the meaning of life are answered. If something cannot be verified with logical, intellectual evidence after experiments and tests then it can’t be real or accepted as truth. Religion did not provide scientifically verifiable answers so it cannot be accepted as the final authority. Also the bible is not a science book detailing natural laws of physics, biology, chemistry etc. I don’t think that was the purpose of the bible. Apart from all this, people made scientific discoveries that threatened the Church at the time which interpreted reality and therefore held power over people. Scientific findings poked holes in the Church’s limited interpretation of reality which came from the clergy’s interpretation of the bible. The fact is the bible is not a science book and does not contain knowledge of ALL things. You won’t find Newton’s laws of physics there or Einstein’s E =MC2 formula for nuclear energy.

This same type of scientific thinking is applied to reading ancient manuscripts like the bible and sadly some people think the bible is literally dictated word for word, word of God which isn’t true. Even the bible doesn’t support that view. Someone in the documentary gave an interesting comment on the bible, he said it is “Human interpretation of Divine inspiration” I think that is a great way to look at it. The human element cannot be eliminated in the scriptures because as it is written by “men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”

It’s not just that western culture elevates reason. It elevates reason from a Eurocentric point of view. If reason is elevated then it must be THEIR reason that is elevated and not the reasoning of other people e.g Africans. Some even hold the view that genetically Africans are less mentally intelligent. I guess to them that would explain why the “developing world” is generally more religious and according to their standards “less developed”. We are packing out Church services on Sunday while their cathedrals are emptying by the day. They are becoming world powers while we have allowed greed to kill our economies. Our people at home are praying to God for prosperity and are giving tithes and offering but remain in economical dire straits simply because greed and corruption remains and everyone is trying to get a piece of the action by any means necessary.

So it seems to me African cultures (I think I should be clear that cultures of African descent like Caribbean and African American too can be included here) are more attuned to spiritual reality (generally and culturally speaking. I can only speak for where I come from) and excel in that dimension and Western culture excels in intellectual pursuits and elevates reason. I think both types of approaches are needed. I want to be mentally sharp, critical in my thinking. I don’t want to ever stop asking questions even hard ones but at the same time I believe that can be done with being spiritually aware and open to reality of the spiritual realm as guided by the Spirit who guides us all into all truth. The walk of faith is more than just an intellectual pursuit, it is a spiritual walk but just because it is a spiritual walk it doesn’t mean it does not involve the intellect. If you lose your mind, someone will find it and use it for their purposes. Am I wrong for thinking this way? What do you think?

So here we are in November. What a year it has been. I don't know how it has been for you but for me I have been stretched beyond my breaking point. I guess life is making sure I don't become rigid with no more growth happening.

I have a new single called "Overcomer" which probably sums up my whole year and I will drop it next year. You see I don't just write songs I try to make statements based on lessons and experiences I have gone through and I always hope to connect with someone out there.

Anyway read the following below. I got this from a great book by Na'im Akbar. This is just part 1 so in the next part of this note I will go into what I'm trying to say but I know you folks out there are very fast folks and will catch my drift before I actually "go there" so peep this and leave your impressions in the comments section.

""There is a young man I know who was a triple jumper on the university track team. For the entire year he had been trying to jump farther than his record he had set in that region which was 52 feet. In each meet his competition would jump 47, 49 or 50 feet. He could not get beyond 52 feet because 52 was the best he could do under the pressures that were available, and HIS OWN RECORD WAS THE BEST IMAGE HE COULD FIND TO INFLUENCE HIM. He eventually went to the national meets and the fifth place jumper jumped 53 feet! You can imagine what the first, second, third and forth place jumpers had done. Suddenly the young man who had desperately reached for greater distance all year long, jumped 54 feet and 6 inches – surpassing everything he had been able to jump all year, and he did it repeatedly throughout the entire meet""

I know I’ve been gone on the note front for a long London minute but I am back like vertebrae! How are you world? How are you my people!

I am writing this listening to some fly music! Actually it is a mixtape by a dude called Blitz The Ambassador! I can’t believe the music that is available for free nowadays! Anyway this is gonna be one of my rambles. I haven’t got any main thought to share. This is strictly for the love of just chatting, you know how I do! *he sips tea*

Ok so I came into the 4th Quarter of the year 2 0 0 9 after having a pretty busy summer thanks be to God I got to do gigs everywhere from Birmingham (Shout out to Gap D!) to the L.I.V.E Festival in Dorset (Shout out to Marsha Brooks! Thanks for the hook up sis) back to the Greenbelt Festival in Cheltenham (shout out to George Luke for the hook up and interview!) then back to the Notting Hill Carnival (shout out to the whole fam that was down there!) I have been gigging all over the place and sometimes I actually forget where I have been to. I actually sometimes forget gigs that I am supposed to be having! Lol. I am grateful for every opportunity. I thank God for those who reciprocate what you do with love AND PROPER MONEY! YEAH I SAID IT! I have people who OWE ME! (none of the gigs mentioned by the way) Pay UP! LOL! (no joke!) I don’t necessarily do this for money but if an agreement is made and a budget is available STICK TO THE CONTRACT! *he takes another sip of tea and exhales*

Before all that I got to record on a TV Show called “One to One” hosted by Michael Owusu which will soon show on Revelation TV (shout out to Mercy who backed me up on vocals!) It was a great time recording and it hasn’t been shown yet. I was recording the show with Victizzle who at the time hadn’t won his MOBO award. (congrats again dude! YES! Your album is banging and thanks for producing “I Still Believe” feat. Kirsten Marie) The funny thing is we were discussing rumours we heard of who would be nominated and he never thought he would even be nominated! The people we mentioned in the conversation didn’t get nominated (except New Direction, whatsup yall!)

This summer I got to work on a project called “Sing Barnfield” which involved me being recruited by British Gospel Arts to act as a workshop co-ordinator and creative writing tutor. I got to work with some lovely young kids on a kind of dreary impoverished Estate. I also met some lost teens who think they are hardcore. It was an experience and a half and I am still involved with it now.

I also got to fly out to America to perform at an Anniversary celebration of Solomon Porch Worship Centre in Maryland. That was a fly trip. It’s so sad that my phone died and I couldn’t take any pictures! I mean I was put up in a first class hotel and treated so nicely! I touched D.C and got to meet Rayona and CaShawn who are people I’ve only met on Myspace and facebook! America has such an atmosphere about it that is so different from the UK. The first day of me getting there was when Obama won the Nobel Peace Price so it was buzzing about that. As usual folks were tripping off my accent (do I have one really?) I got to see people who I haven’t seen for ages. I landed on Thursday and was back in London by the following Tuesday. How you like that for jet setting? I enjoyed smooth flights both ways. On my way to America I sat next to this fat Nigerian dude. He tried to get friendly and asked me a bunch of questions I answered politely then watched 3 movies back to back while he fell asleep stretching his legs all over the place! UGH!! LOL!

I had to pull my album “just as I AM: The Prequel” off of all digitalstores because I was advised by management that a few songs had uncleared samples in them *huge sigh* if you have that album you have something special that will never see the light of day in THAT way again. That’s my baby. That project will be re released as something else while some of the songs I will drop for free as part of a mixtape called “just as I AM: Deleted Scenes” (out on Christmas day!) I have a couple of new singles coming out and I am currently in negotiations with a label for a deal. I will let you know how things go with that SOON!

There is so much more I can write about right now. I MEAN SO MUCH but I think I will stop here for now because it is getting very long right now! Love to all far and near! I’m just seeking to fulfil my purpose, make an impact on lives (not necessarily the industry which can be different) and live my dream though sometimes my life feels like a nightmare because I literally live by faith and it is scary out here! LAWD A MERCCCCY!

Skanksgivin EP still out now on itunes and all digitalstores YA HEARD?!

P.S I now have a Blackberry. It’s cool but I still don’t know what the big deal is apart from the cool BB Messenger function!

I just wanna know who actually comes through this blog piece.

All I need you to do is drop one word off in the comments section. I am thinking of starting off a blogspot so I wanna know who still comes through here

I am not going to lie, I am normally on:

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karlnova (ADD ME)

twitter: http://www.twitter.com/karlnova (Follow me)

I have some free downloads here: http://www.reverbnation.com/karlnova

I really miss the days myspace had mad traffic and everyone used to come through and communicate. I mean that is the essence of social netowrking websites right?

Who knew that facebook and twitter would blow up myspaces hold on folks?

Anyway holla at me. If you come through just leave a comment with one word:

love.

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO! my Skanksgivin EP is out now on iTunes and Amazon and on the moon and on mars and under ocean and on Pluto!

here is a link to the free megamix that DJ 4Real mixed up for me! go and buy the album
and get your DANCE ON!!!!!!!



Link to DJ 4Real's Skanksgivin megamix free download

http://www.sendspace.com/file/qk0zv2

Link to itunes for full album: http://itunes.apple.com/We..bObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/vi..ewAlbum?id=319156868&s=143..441&uo=4&v0=WWW-NAUS-ITUWE..EKLY-IPOD%2BITUNES

Link to amazon for non iPod users: http://www.amazon.com/Skan..ksgivin-EP/dp/B002CCFOVO/r..ef=dm_ap_alb2?ie=UTF8&qid=..1248251487&sr=8-15

Hello world. Hello friends far and near. I just want to use this oppurtunity to send you love out there. If you are reading these words I appreciate it because there is so much out there that you could be reading but you are here reading MY words. I mean we all are force fed a daily overdose of information and our senses are being bombarded relentlessly so if you are reading this and I'm managing to hold your attention for this long, it is a blessing. *he wipes brow after typing an unnecessarily long paragraph for the heck of it*

A lot has been going on. So much. A lot has been going on in my overly active mind as my facebook status updates show y'all. I have been been bitten by the twitter bug and have caught the tweet flu. There is no cure for it now. Maybe when the next social networking thing strikes I will be cured of my addiction with a new addiction to replace this one. Until then follow me on http://www.twitter.com/kar..lnova if you are there.

I am quite excited about my "Skanksgivin' EP" coming out on Wednesday July 22nd. It is sounding good and on tuesday I will let you hear a megamix of all the tracks mixed together by my dear friend DJ K. It is a change of musical direction for me. You can call it the part of the movie where I stumbled into a club for 30 mins and got caught up on the strobe lit dancefloor with fast, funky and energetic music leaving me dazed and totally throwing all caution to the wind as well as my hands in the air. This project is kinda self indulgent because I just did it for the heck of it.

I did a tv recording for the "One to One" show and as soon as it is edited and I see it myself, I MIGHT let you see it! hahah! It was hard work doing it but doing it was fun.

I have a lot of thoughts swirling in my mind as always (what else is new?) I will be starting a wordpress blog very soon and on that piece I am going IN HARD. I am still the blogfather so kneel and kiss my cyber ring lol I kid! I kid! or do I?