So here we go. New season, new blog.

As I grow in my roles, I’ve found that I’m embracing God’s interlacing of them all, more and more. I’m a husband, dad, social worker, youth minister, emcee, and the list goes on. The more I live, the more I appreciate the connectedness of it all, and how each role feeds and inspires the rest. I can’t say I’ve always been that open-minded, and I’ve certainly had seasons of frustration. In ’09, I’m hoping to be more patient and appreciative of all I’ve been given.

I'm a nice guy. Sometimes I come across as naive. That’s likely because sometimes I’m naïve. Despite a reasonable amount of wisdom I’ve acquired over time, I still refuse to overlook the good in people, and I typically see strengths before weaknesses. As a result, I’ve admittedly been walked-on in the past. My meekness has often been mistaken for weakness. I’m working on it.

I'm not going to give you a commentary on Kanye's schoolyard antics from the VMA’s. He apologized; it’s over. I’ve been waiting for my apology from Mr. West since 2004. Just because I chased him down at LaGuardia airport and shoved my demo down his throat doesn’t mean I didn’t deserve an “A” for effort, man. Actually, I should have thanked him for not calling security.

This isn't going to be a complainer blog, don't worry. It's just that I've chosen a genre of music where honesty and transparency are somewhat rare, particularly when it comes to owning our flaws. Most rap artists are too busy primping to actually look at the person staring back at them in the mirror. I’m just at a point in my life and career where I have no qualms with sharing my inadequacies. I aspire to be great at what I do, but I have not always succeeded. I’ve had to dust ‘em off on plenty of occasions. My failures have all directly contributed to my successes, as they should.

Due to my good-natured demeanor, I admit the pressure builds from time to time. I’m just hoping you, the reader (if I have any), are willing to extend me some grace and allow me to sound off a bit. I KNOW. I’m not supposed to read my own reviews. But I do. Thankfully, I haven’t had a negative review in quite some time, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t in the past. I know I’m an unlikely rap artist due to my suburban upbringing, but conviction is conviction. To reiterate, I’m cool with criticism. I let it sharpen my iron. Everyday Man is a great record, and that’s why it’s receiving feedback as such. Rave reviews, I dare say. Truthfully, this is unsurprising because I’ve had to own my past mistakes. Man-up, and give it another go. I wasn’t born a talent. I’ve had to try, try again, and honest feedback has contributed to my growth.

As a man, I am acutely aware of the need to “put aside childish ways” as the Word instructs me (1 Cor. 13). I am supposed to rise above and take the high road when faced with adversity. I should respond as a MAN should respond. More often than not, that means I should refrain from responding to negativity.

Truth be told… I’m feeling a bit childish today…so here goes (I’m just playing around from here on out...please don’t judge me, this is therapy…)

I was having a good day. My hot, hot, hot video for the song Please was featured on the front page of itunes hip-hop/rap videos yesterday. I was excited. It was a high profile situation. Brian Perales did the track, and Lain Lee made a remarkable video. Darren Elder oversaw the arrangement. I wrote the words. This was over a year in the making, and here we were. In a genre where artists hesitate to admit vulnerability, I wrote a song admitting my fear. Although rap music seems to have taken a turn to a “lighter” side in 2009, it is still a genre that has historically been known to glamorize violence. How many songs really confront gang violence head-on? Some kids got in a gunfight in front of my house one night. My daughter, wife, and sisters sleep here. I wrote a cry for peace, and most importantly I shared Christ. Strong message. It took guts to put it out.

99.9% of the feedback I've received for the video has been overwhelmingly positive because this video’s quality speaks for itself. Lain worked incredibly hard to make it what it is.
The .1% negative feedback I discovered today was ignorant, however. I know better, but yes, I clicked on the itunes link just to see it up there. I’m not above my own music. I wanted to witness it on the front page for myself. Then down came the rain, right on my parade.

Some customer named "Drack" posted up some very negative feedback, man. This wasn’t honest criticism, either. I am never offended if someone does not like my music because with art comes opinion. That’s what I signed up for when I chose to place myself in the public eye. As previously stated, to a certain extent I welcome criticism for the sake of self-improvement. I want my music to continue to get better until I retire, and much of my growth has been and will continue to be attributed to negative feedback. All good.

“Drack’s” critique was, well, vulgar. Instead of a reasonably accurate “Drack” review, such as “I, Drack, am not particularly fond of Bobby Bishop’s video and will now commence with the downloading of my Disney Channel favorites such as The Jonas Brothers and the Sunshine video by Miranda Cosgrove,” he chose the low road. In short, he threatened to harm me physically, and then likened his own “hot” music to excrement in a latrine. Or maybe he was saying he was the latrine. It’s unclear. Great articulation. He also ironically whined about my whiny voice. Insult mission complete.

Again, I KNOW I'm not supposed to read the reviews. Moreover, I KNOW I'm not supposed to take them to heart. I know better. But I read them anyways. It’s narcissistic and I'm really sorry. Like I said, my new record has received strong reviews by the media, and I'm 100% behind my new work. I love Everyday Man. It’s the best record I’ve ever had the privilege of releasing. Some clown named “Drack” shouldn't budge me. Some aspiring rap artist named “Drack,” typing away so bravely, live and direct from his mother's basement, drinking a Yoohoo, and aspiring to jump off a rap career on his dated PC from Rent-A-Center and bootleg version of Fruityloops. Some dude who doesn't have the sensibility not to rhyme his rap moniker with the word "wack.” I’m not a battle emcee, but even I wanted to slam home such an obvious alley-oop. Plus he likened himself to a toilet. His review was like a battle-emcee’s dream with all of the ammunition he willingly relinquished to the opposition. Great work.

“Drack”…I'm admittedly a nice, slightly sensitive guy, and your words cut just a little bit. The threat of physical harm was uncalled for, and the vulgarities were not welcomed, either. “Drack,” this is for the kids, too. “Drack,” you really need to consider using some discretion the next time around. Discretion is a big word, I know. Here’s a definition link: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discretion

“Drack” isn’t reading this, is he.

“Drack,” I may have you all wrong. You may be a contributing member of society and a prominent emcee, moonlighting as an internet insult sniper. You may have haphazardly stumbled upon my video and chose to dumb down your vocabulary in your “review” in order to protect your identity. My intuition tells me, however, that you are a “greeter.” I suspect you greet people for a living. You may greet at Wal-Mart, or a hospital, or The Children’s Museum, but my guess is you juggle two important roles by both saying “hi” to paying customers, as well as periodically opening the door for them. When your shift is over, you peddle home and your mom puts a chicken-pot-pie in the oven for you. After you hand over your $3.25 in door-holding-“hi”-saying tips to Mom for letting you live in her basement, you descend to your “bachelor pad” and fulfill the heroic role of anonymous keyboard insult slinger. After all, society is in danger without your stimulating customer reviews. Someone has to protect the innocent, “Drack.”

“Drack,” I have a suggestion. Humor me and think of me as the hip-hop Tony Robbins, just for a minute. I just want to help. Understand something: I'm actually trying to make a difference in my community, no arrogance here, just truth. I’m not seeking accolades, but my city and it’s people matter to me, both here on earth and in the grand scheme of eternity. Ascend from the basement and go vollunteer at a food pantry. Wait, let’s start small and build. How about pick up the Slim Jim wrapper you likely just littered on the sidewalk and put it in a trash barrel. “Drack,” go out and meet some real people with legitimate hardships and try to help them in the midst of this recession. Do SOMETHING more productive than writing brave empty, anonymous threats on a review board.

On another note, I’d be curious to hear the "hot" music you're "dropping daily." In the toilet, was it? Or were you the toilet and someone else was dropping the hotness into you? I’m still weeding through the analogy you left me, give me some time, I’ll get it.

I’m far from a platinum artist, but my distributor is the largest music conglomerate in the world. I must be doing something right.

I hope my voice wasn't too "whiny" for you. Enjoy that Yoohoo, pal.