Currently watching President Obama. I do NOT have the answers.



What I know:

-Capitalism is fairly new in its present form and magnitude.

-Money is good.

-The love of money is the root of all sorts of injurious things.

-More than 50% of business to business transactions are barter

-Barter system has historically been more successful form of capitalism than centralized banking

-The major drawback or bartering is the lack of standardization that
centralization provides and requires ownership of some form of
marketable capital (in other words, you have to be a "have", but most
are "have-nots"

-Communism and Capitalism are forms economy more than they are forms of
government. Monarchy, democracy, theocracy & dictatorship are forms
of government. There are democratic communists, and capitalist
theocracies.

-They did NOT question the need or the implications of The Patriot Act as much as they are the proposed stimulus package.

-Paradigms must shift as change is the only constant. The "part of
nature we can influence" (From Rattatouille [yeah... I watch cartoons
and not for my daughter's sake])

-I do NOT have the answers.

Forgive me people.  I know it has been a while.  I'm trying to come back.  We all know how life is.  This is a new song I wrote this week. There is this one line I cannot stand, but I'm just happy to write again. There is always the edit

---

Take My Life Away
by
Tremahne Lockhart

verse:
i never imagined how
i never imagined when
i knew before we started
good things come to an end

but let the record show
i'm afraid to let you go
just make this quick and painless
don't make me suffer slow

and no i won't beg you
even if you asked me
'cause even if i did
it'd still be the last thing

bridge:
i'd ever say to you
baby jut go
you've made up your mind
so long ago
so long ago

chorus:
i knew there'd come a day
when you would be gone
i knew there'd come a day
you'd make me sing this song

i knew there'd come a day
that you wouldn't stay
i knew there'd come a day
that you would take my life away
take my life away
take my life away

verse:
i won't take back
and i don't regret
the beauty we created
the memories we etched

into a book of stone
that i must read alone
you know just where my heart is
but still you take away my home

you know how i feel
you don't have to ask me
i'll always love you
and that will be the last thing

bridge:
i ever say to you
baby just go
you've made up your mind
so long ago
so long ago

chorus:
i knew there'd come a day
when you would be gone
i knew there'd come a day
you'd make me sing this song

i knew there'd come a day
that you wouldn't stay
i knew there'd come a day
that you would take my life away
take my life away
take my life away

This is a video made by my boy Mike Browning AKA "Forge"

 

Contrary to what some may claim, everyone believes in a god. Everyone may not believe in a creator. Simply put, god is what you worship. All "Christians" do not worship Jesus’ father, Jehovah. All "Muslims" do not worship Allah. All "Jews" do not worship Yahweh.

All cognizant beings (and debatably non-cognizant beings) dedicate their existence to something. It could be amassing wealth, world peace, hedonism, family, or being idle. Whether we consciously decide or passively accept our missions does not negate the fact that we are on these missions. Bavu Blakes has a quotable: "What you’re doing now is your life in a nutshell". That is very true.

Someone asked me recently if I know god. I asked for definition and clarification. That question carries assumptions. After thinking about the situation, was I the inquirer I would have asked, do you know YOUR god?

Of course living in America, where religion is to be separate from state, we are bound to find people with different practices of worship, spirituality, and beliefs. I recently had a conversation with an Islamic friend of mine. He takes an extra 30 minutes for lunch at work on Fridays to pray. He stands firm in his faith. He is, as far as I’m concerned, a decent person. I know devout Christians who live the principles they learn from the Bible and some so-called Christians who go to churches. I also have an agnostic friend who I consider to be intelligent and logically solid in his beliefs.

I could put the 3 into one room to debate whose god was valid and relevant. Nothing would come of that conversation, because the basis behind their beliefs is different. One based on the Bible; One based on the Qur’an; One based on science.

Nevertheless, based on their lives, they all may be worshipping the same god. Even if they cannot agree on the origin of the universe or ascribe to the same philosophies and principles, they could very well be ruled by money. They could be driven by the same goal of raising the standard of existence on Earth. To paraphrase Jesus, you can tell a tree by its fruit.

I personally am convinced that the vast majority of the world’s population does not know their deity, or are lying to themselves about whom or what they worship and believe. People pray for god’s kingdom to com, but will fight, kill, and die to destroy any perceived threat to their country. They do this to preserve their nation. Nation, government, and kingdom are synonymous. How can you pray for one government to take over when you fight to sustain another? On top of that, Americans criticize religious based states such as Iran. Hypocrisy! "Thy kingdom come" indeed.

At the same time, the children of America are programmed to worship the state. Does this sound familiar? "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America". Of the Ten Commandments which apply to Jews and Christians, the first two commandments are:

1. You should have no other gods 2. You create no idols

More specifically Exodus 20:3-6 state:

"You must not have any other gods against my face. You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the water under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your god am a god exacting exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of the fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation, in the case of those who hate me; but exercising loving-kindness toward the thousandth generation in the case of those who love me and keep my commandments."

But the children are to pledge their allegiance to a large piece of cloth?!?!

So, really, who is their god? There is a poem on the "Nommo: Lyrical Alchemy Volume 1" album. I don’t know who wrote it or the title (I no longer have that [CLASSIC] CD). But at the end of the piece the poet says, "to those with faith continue to believe, but don’t say you know. Because don’t nobody know where they gon’ go when the world blow". worship your god to the fullest. Whether it is spiritual or tangible, worship your god, but know what you’re worshipping. Don’t be afraid to challenge your faith. If you find your faith is not based on what you hold to be right and true, don’t be too proud to either change what you hold to be right and true or change your belief system. If you profess to follow a deity, be true to yourself. Confirm it by your life. Or just admit to yourself what it is you truly live for. What you live for is what you worship. What you worship is your god.

Note: These are a few of the artists I rate highly. Let me know who else I should be up on? Buy the albums!

---

Tawiah

I’ve been in love with Tawiah since early 2007 or late 2006. Her song "Watch Out" has special meaning for me. Her songs have everyday themes the world population as a whole can understand and relate to. But she presents them in an innovative and refreshing way. I have been trying to get my hands on a copy of her EP "In Jodi’s Bedroom" since it came out in February. Amazon is sold out. I ordered from HMV over a week ago. I got an email about a week ago from HMV notifying me they were sold out. I got another email earlier this week saying they got some in and they were shipping. That’s how crucial Tawiah is as an artist. You need "In Jodi’s Bedroom" in your collection. Her voice is soulful. Her style is diverse. Her vibe is energizing.


Benga

Benga is severely bass heavy. He recently released an album "Diary of a n Afro Warrior" in two different formats. He released it on CD and on Vinyl. I believe the vinyl has more cuts on it than the CD. He had a huge single with Coki in 2007 called "Night". That track, as well as many of his other tracks, takes your mind to another realm. The drums on the tracks give the aural equivalent of tunnel vision and the bass reminds you that you’re still awake. "Diary of an Afro Warrior" is a fitting title. When I listen to his music I feel like going into battle. I can feel my tribe with me moving in unison. I absolutely spaz out to his music. "26 basslines" is a notable track. Buy his album.


Coultrain

Coultrain is an artist who is truly raw. His voice is not describable in terms of living artists. I can hear Stevie Wonder, Isaac hayes, and Earth, Wind & Fire (among others) in is music. But his voice... His voice is extremely unique – but not. He has the voice everyone has heard, but no one actually has. His album, "The Adventures of Seymour Liberty" is timeless. I’ve had it for a brief second and I have yet to skip a song. I don’t even repeat songs. The album is a complete body of work. I have yet to bread it down ino individual songs. I want to hear. I want to listen to the entire album when I press play. If I were to mention some highlights from the album I would have to note "The Girl of My Dreams," for its deeply melodic flow. It’s dreamy, but not ethereal. "Swimming in the Stars" is a bit ethereal. "Self Pity" is edgy with its dissonance throughout. You hardly get resolution with that song. Great song. And "Screw" is straight gangster. Very strong arrangement. It goes from hard driving to a pimpish swing. "The Adventures of Seymour Liberty" is the biggest bang for $10.00 (including tax and shipping) you’re going to get for a long while.


Erykah Badu

Need I say more than the name? I’m sure everyone reading this knows who Erykah Badu is. I’m sure all of you have heard her music. I’m fairly confident all of you have heard at least one cut from her latest album "New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)". I won’t spend time describing her style. The world, but especially the American population needed this album. I doubt, however, they were ready for it. Erykah played this one smart. She pulled a "bait and switch" on the senses of drowsy drones existing, but barely living. She released the single "Honey" so people would think everything was sweet. But no! "Honey" is on the album, but is not part of the album. It’s a "special ingredient"; bonus track. It is presented as a song separate from the album. "The Healer", "That Hump", and "Telephone" are my personal favorites. "Honey" is the weakest cut on the CD, and I like "Honey". Be sure to study the album art. It’s saturated with symbolism. The album sounds great, and it speaks. It’s revolutionary, but not necessarily "new". It should win someone’s award this year.


Eric Lau

Eric Lau is a truly talented producer. I truly dig his music. I had heard a few songs on BBC of his. Then Gilles Peterson had him on the Worldwide Show. Sonically he’s rich like hot cocoa made with milk and adding honey. The bass and the drums are thick but very clean. His sound is well directed and polished. From listening to his interview with Gilles Peterson, philosophically we are on when it comes to creating music. He isn’t into cookie cutter creations. He sculpts his music to the image of the song at hand. His album just dropped two days ago on 03.18.08. It’s called "New Territories" on Ubiquity Records. He’s doing it Quincy Jones style. Only I’m betting this album will be better than Q’s Jukejoint, and I really like that album. He worked with rising star vocalists such as Rahel, Tawiah, & Meshach Brown. He has worked with Guilty Simpson. Eric Lau... remember that name. he is a solid producer. Far from a novelty beat maker. Before he’s finished, he is bound to create a few stars as well as be one himself.


Bavu Blakes

I’ve been a fan of Bavu (excuse me... Mr. Blakes) since Original Soul told me to check out the album "Create & Hustle" like it was the secret of the Kennedy assassination; serious in tone, but not loud enough for the whole room to hear. I could go on for quite a few pages about "Create & Hustle", which happens to be his only solo LP. That isn’t to say that is his only body of work. His 2007 mixtape "The Woodgrain Collection" is so damn Texas. Many people don’t respect the 3rd Coast; negating hip-hop legends like Scarface, UGK, Fat Pat, D.O.C., et al. Bavu represents Texas with pride and savvy in his styling, his wit, his content, and his consistency. This year he is set to accomplish a hip-hop trifecta that to my knowledge (please correct me if I’m wrong) has never been attempted. He just released his EP "Extra Plair" this past Saturday at South by Southwest. Later on this year "Too Selfish", his second LP is coming out. In addition to the EP and the LP, Bavu is giving out free music every week with his "08 Is So Great" series with Wes Sanders. I’ve been supporting him by adding his song of the week to my page every week. Let’s do the math. That’s 52 songs in 52 weeks, and he encourages you make copies. So 26 songs is a rather long album. He is giving away at the very least 3 albums worth of music. The best part is that it is good music. Bavu Blakes has quite a bit going on. You can get the latest weekly flow and all the rest (week 1 through the current week) at www.08issogreat.com.


Eniqo

I’ve known Eniqo for just over 6 years. From the first time I heard her name, our paths have been uncannily intertwined. My homeboy Chris was trying to date her. That’s how I first heard her name. I got a description. I first saw her at San Kofa. I heard GNO talking to her, and for some reason I knew who she was. I asked her if she was her and she said she was. I introduced myself and that was our first conversation. After a while she started dating a good frined of mine. Throughout this time I had heard her mainly in the capacity of a poet and emcee. She really is sick with it. She has a cut on the "Pass the Mic" compilation CD produced by Madakwu Chinwah called "Clock Watchers". By and by, lo and behold... Eniqo can sing. In 2003 I moved to Tampa with my good friend, Eniqo’s other half at the time, and was followed shortly by Eniqo. We moved to make music. Things were not as they were presented, so Eniqo moved back to Dallas. I stayed in Tampa. Eniqo was grinding in dallas. I of course was doing whatever it was I was doing in Florida. We kept in touch and now we’re room mates again. The whole time I’ve known her, Eniqo has been grinding. Her debut solo album "Paradox" is due in a few months. She is soon to get her shine. Her style of singing and writing is uniquely unorthodox; typical of a talented but untrained musician. It’s best that she never received formal training first. Now that she has developed her style, she, with more training could compose her own music as well as write the lyrics. A major problem she has is every song she sings has to be custom crafted. Producers can’t keep up. They (and sometimes I) are too caught up on what it technically should be, than actually understanding her vision. She just formed her band for her live shows and I am happy to be a part of that. We sound good but very soon we’ll sound great. This is one artist I’ve seen struggle and been part of some of her struggles. When she blows it will seem like an overnight success. Know that it wasn’t. Her best songs are not available to the public yet.


Jay Electronica

Jay Electronica is the first and currently only artist signed to Erykah Badu’s label Control FreaQ. I really am intruigued by his rhyme placement. That’s just the first thing to impress me. He has the ability to spark a renaissance. I said that and I’ll stand by that. I can see someone attempting to call Jay Electronica a novelty. Though he may be novel, he is by no means trendy in the sense of following mainstream or "nonconformists". His 15.45 minute piece "Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)" is a work of art. He cannot be questioned as a lyricist. In "Act 1" it is as if he created something rooted in hip-hop, but not of the genre. "Not a Disturbance", "Departure", and "Are You Watching Closely" are the only other cuts I’ve heard from him. He is somewhat of an enigma. I hear some of his tracks and various excerpts from "Act 1" on several shows on BBC Radio, but I really can’t find much directly linked to him. I find various articles about him, but hardly an interview. I was fortunate enough to catch him on the Gilles Peterson show. The interview was good, but really not in depth. It gave me a bit of insight, but not much. That’s not really what’s important. What is important is he is destined to be legendary as an artist. I use "artist" in a very strict sense here. "Act 1" is the first of a 3 part release of his album. I highly anticipate hearing more from Jay Electronica.

---

Others I intended to write on, but didn’t get a chance. Be sure to check out ALL of these artists. Buy ALL of the albums, and DON’T bootleg these artist.  We’re stealing boots and breaking legs. 

Von and The Sweat Lodge
Jose James
Dizee Rascal
Tinchy Stryder
Guilty Simpson
Geno Young

Last week Eniqo and I finished the bottle of Patrón I had in the house. For the rest of the week, I've drank nothing but water. No liquid has passed my lips in a week other than H₂O. The effects? My skin seems a bit richer. My lips are dryer. I used the bathroom a lot. It seems I got rid of more liquid than what I took in. I have a half gallon bottle at work. I fill it in the morning, drink it before lunch, and fill it again for the afternoon. Last night, I was home alone as usual. I broke the streak and drank a bottle of wine. Let's see what happens after a month of weekly water binges.

No fanfare introduced the coming of royal tragedy. Comic relieve to her life. A jester I am is are was were will never be.

Everyone loves the sun. No one prays for rain. We're no longer fruitful. Juice dry. Nectar evaporated. Still a storm is a burden.

Sex on the beach doesn't get me tipsy, but it does leave sand in my ass. The reality of fantasy kills dreams. The air isn't the same on the other side of the mirror.

Together temporarily. Forever connected. Constantly available. Unattainable always. Oxymoronic paradox. Love/like relationship.

I'm not who I could be or where I should be. When I was what she wanted, oh, how I gave it away. Why?

One of my favorite phrases is "that sounds like a personal problem." I generally apply that to myself too. People like to try to help, but helping and imposing are separated by wet tissue.

Guideline 3 at my job is "take personal responsibility." I believe in that, even though I may not always practice that.

So the phrase of the day is "that sounds like a personal responsibility." This is not to be confused with the first phrase. Problems you should resolve, get rid of, and generally keep to yourself. That's not to say you shouldn't talk about your problems, but your problem is yours and no one apart from your problem should have to deal with it.

Responsibility you should manage and keep. Generally responsibility can be shared, but unlike problems, responsibility has to be accepted. You can always reject responsibility, but then it may become a problem.

Prime example is our children. I should be shamed for mentioning it, because I don't do nearly enough for mine. It takes a village. Today the village is nowhere to be seen, and the children are becoming a problem. This is all a matter of accepting responsibility. It is by no means an obligation for anyone to do anything for my daughter except for her mother and me. Some could argue that we aren't even obligated in the strictest sense of the word. That is extreme balderdash.

The difference between the responsibility accepted by us when we conceived our child and the responsibility presented to the village, near as a neighbor or far as the west coast, is our responsibility is much more concretely defined.

What of the homeless? What of the single mothers? What of the unguided or misguided youth? What of our elders? I don't know. What of them?

Each of us is one. Our first concern is self; after self is family (loosely defined), then Community. AP said it best in his song Connectivity. "Connectivity in the community is important for our family, Connectividad en la communidad es importante para la familia." I encourage you to check him out.

All in all it is our personal responsibilities to make our lives better. This entails making our surroundings better. If we don't each accept this responsibility, it becomes our personal problems.

Thank you Nikki Blak.

A Classic Love Song
by
Tremahne Lockhart

candy hearts
fresh cut roses
sweet scented candles

become cavities
wilted petals
and melted wax

but your beauty sings songs
never to fade into echos