A monk once told his students, “You’re all perfect just the way you are, but you could use a little more work.” What do you think he meant by that? Just thinking out loud>>>

COMING SOON!
cover art by Graham Jackson of 88DC – The Heyday Mixtape drops 5.24.11

There’s a scene in Kill Bill 2 where the Bride, training under Pai Mei, is trying to punch through a wooden board. She tries, and fails, hurting her hand, over and over again. Pai Mei looks on in disgust and tells her that it is the BOARD that should be afraid of HER, not the other way around. And then he drops what I think is one of the greatest lines in cinema history: “No wonder you can’t do it, you acquiesce to defeat before you even begin.”

How many times has this been me? Not being able to win because somewhere inside I don’t really believe I can? Defeated before I start? It’s one of the heaviest things I’ve ever considered. And what I’ve figured out so far is: self-doubt, in most cases, is just another delusion. Unless I’m really not qualified to do something, doubting myself is just another way I’m not seeing reality clearly. Today my meditation helped remind me of one very important point – don’t let your mind get in its own way. Especially on the way to success. Let’s Go.

Recorded this for RE:Born a few months back, but now it feels so much more appropriate. Check out my “Philiponnat Mix” of Ne-Yo’s Champagne Life, named after the high-end French champagne. A bottle of Philipponnat Champagne Millesime Clos Des Goisses 1964 is priced at over two grand. Enjoy responsibly. Shoutout to G&D! Toast to success!
Born I Music – Champagne Life (Philipponnat Mix) by Born I Music

The Heyday Mixtape Coming Soon!!!

Open Your Eyes from Pusha T’s Fear of God mixtape flips Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the most impressive and unexpected way. Genius all around.

Finding myself in this place more and more often…

Amen

Back in 1998, a guy named DJ Underdog had an idea – to create an event where all of the elements of hip hop could be represented in a way that would bring the rappers, the gangsters, the graff heads, the breakers, the DJs, the poets and the singers together under one roof every week. He called it “Tru Skool“. It worked. Really, really well. As host for several years, I was blessed enough to be a part of the birth and growth of Tru Skool, which saw the birth and growth of several artists: Flex Matthews, Uptown XO, Shambhala, Ardamus, Damu, Rosetta Stoned, DJ Earth One, Culta Cypha, DJ Soyo, myself and so many more…

In the words of Head-Roc “Tru Skool was the only shit happening in DC at the height of gentrification”. Its true. While the city swept through and shut down nearly every performance venue there was on historic U St and the surrounding areas, Tru Skool adapted, moving from Bin Tumani where we started, to Cafe Mowanaj, to Capitol City Records, just to name a few. We were everywhere, with everybody. And it was LOVE. It still is. These are the years that made me…

This Thursday 4-14, come out to Lounge of 3 – 1013 U St. NW and join us for the Tru Skool Reunion. The artists who started there have all gone on to have successful careers. I’m proud to be a part of that graduating class. Come see how far we’ve come.

1, 2, 3… Peace

See you there!

Psychedelic Runway (ReBorn) by Born I Music

On the set of my upcoming video “Memory Lane”. White “Super Deb” hi-tops courtesy of Heyday Footwear. Photo by Paola Angelino www.paolaangelino.com. “The Heyday Mixtape” Summer 2011. Kill your genre.