Today’s Insight:

Hip hop is a quest to me. Hip hop has always been a source of betterment for me, if that makes any sense? I’ve had a lot of hard times in this life, as does everyone else venturing through this space trying to make sense of it. To some hip hop is an escape or a release but for me, She opens up faculties I never even knew I had! Every time I write a verse or devise a chorus, I go into it unsure of myself or what I’m even gonna say… but, She finds me, grasps my hand and pulls me through all the uncertainty of my everyday dilemma. She’s my quest, my guide and above all else, ultimate muse.

~Morbski (from my forthcoming in-depth feature on underground hip hop)

As a teen US emcee Morbski a.k.a. Amun Morb/Naja Gemini found himself in Mountview Juvenile Detention Center facing felony weapons charges. After many more years spent in and out of incarceration Morbski started writing once more, purchased a 4-track, found a microphone, borrowed electricity from the neighbors and wrote some jams–hip hop helped change his life. Morbski has since had many releases: The Dandelion, Speech Therapy, Dyspnea, Love, Etc., Limbo’s Mezzanine, Rebel Rouzah. Plus releasing Snake Whisper under moniker Naja Gemini. He is a part of the Revolt Motion Recordings family and is co-creator with Son of Saturn in Akashik Ancestorz.

For more Morbski.

Create forever!

Today’s Hip Hop Insight:

“Personally, I don’t like it [mainstream hip hop] and I can’t listen to it all. I can’t stand it but I do have to give respect to the artists that are mainstream because they actually made their dreams come true—I respect that. I can’t stand it but I can’t knock these emcees for their hustle in fulfilling and making their dreams come true.

“I think I see real hip hop coming back to the mainstream. With me being signed to a major label [Ill Flow/Universal Records] I’m going to put all my effort and energy into making that happen—me, Masta Buildas, E.S.F.; all of us.

“My biggest dream – I’m somewhat living my dream now – it’s becoming reality, I can’t believe this is really happening! I’ve worked my way from the ground up to be honest.

“Eight years ago I decided to go by the name ‘Apakalypse’ which means that I would reveal the truth through my aggressive rhyme style and patterns, that I would somewhat spit positive knowledge and truth in my rhymes but at the same time I don’t want to make it sound soft. To come hardcore with it and my true feelings through aggression and my music is pretty much what I have contributed [to hip hop] in the sense of waking people up out of their mental slumber.

“At the end of the day you can have a job working and make all the money in the world but then when it’s your time to leave the body and go on to the next world, the next dimension, what do you really give back to the world? What do you really leave behind? I feel me leaving my music behind – which there is a lot of it – I leave something for humanity and mankind to listen to; to like or dislike it; to grow from it for hundreds of years to come hopefully.”

Apakalypse is one of the most prolific emcees and producers that I know! Since finding his music a few years back I’ve seen him put out a steady [Ill]flow of amazing high quality art – have a listen for yourself: download Apakalypse’s The Ascension EP for FREE! Apak was recently signed to Ill Flow/Universal Records and is hitting Europe soon for a tour with Beast 1333.

For more Apakalypse.

Dream big!

*Photo credits: 1- Pedro Mayorga / 2 / 3 – Cassie Kazilla Williams

Today’s Insight:

Mexico is a very beautiful country full of traditions, gastronomy and enormous cultural diversity… without a doubt is a beautiful place to visit and learn. When I was a teenager hip hop began to come alive in Mexico, my first impression was positive…

The things that really matter to me are family, friends, my girlfriend – they are a fundamental part of my life – they are my counselors, my supporters, my critics. It make me very happy [to have] so many tokens of affection. I am very concerned that my brothers, my young cousins and my lil’ nephews get a good education, I would like them to avoid making the same mistakes I made before I realized what is truly important in life. I am very interested to make something with my music I hope it leaves messages that will serve and be heard for many generations. I would like people to continue to identify with something I did and serve them even though I no longer physically here…

Success to me is every time I have the opportunity to meet someone to share with them, to learn, to help; when I have goals, every minute of my life, every loss, every moment of sadness, every joy, each time I get to conquer a difficult challenge, every time I have not given up – even if i feel so bad – each time I noticed that one of the people I admire wins, that makes me very happy! When a person is not better today than yesterday they are lost. You should always think big positive…

~York Siddhartha (taken from my in-depth feature on worldwide underground hip hop I’m working on)

York Siddhartha is an emcee from Mexico City he is a part of the Revolt Motion Recordings familia. York’s new record “At The Gates of The Temple” drops this month.

Listen to a track featuring York alongside emcees Life Scientist, Omen Ra, Erks Orion and Kalki:

Cultivate an attitude of gratitude!

Hip Hop Insight:

The volatility of the world has nothing to do with my personal positivity. I read somewhere once that inner peace means being like the still waters at deep sea. No matter how chaotic and tumultuous the raging waves above may become, the water deep beneath remains calm and still, completely undisturbed. This does not mean that I am not concerned with what is going on in the world I live in, only that no matter what happens I must remain in control of myself in the face of any adversity. This is a constant struggle, but to let the problems of the world create a negativity within me, means I am no longer in control of myself. To maintain a calm positive mind state, I find it useful to meditate, pray, chant mantras, project kindness and compassion in all my dealings, be of service when I can to anyone who needs help.

~Son of Saturn (from my forthcoming in-depth feature on underground hip hop)

Son of Saturn is a US-based emcee and the man behind Revolt Motion Recordings. RMR aim to shake hip hop up by making music with a message that fosters community and positive change. RMR artists include York Siddhartha, Naja Gemini, Amos the Ancient Prophet and more.

For more Son of Saturn.

Stay beautiful!
Big love,

Today’s thought:

To me hip hop is the sound of the people. Everything on earth can be owned by others, property and so on can be owned by the system, the government or the machine NOT art though. Art is and should always be owned by the people and should always speak about and for the people. The grip of the machine has taken hold of most art forms though including music but it took a while until they did that to rap. ’90s rap was still the only weapon of the people… the only sound of the truth. When 2Pac died it stopped being that. I think one of the last REAL rap albums that ever came out was Killuminati! Not saying everything after that was fake, there have been releases by Nas, Common and others that were also about the people and not hypnotic music to brain wash the masses.

Since the ’90s all rap has been talking about is ass, tits, sex, whips, money, crack, drugs and so on. 90% of the rap fans don’t live like those rappers are claiming to live. Why do I have to buy an album costing ten bucks during a recession where everyone is broke to listen to a rapper tease me about how rich he is and how broke I am? Most rappers ain’t even getting paid like that no more by the way that’s all make believe. Most rappers ain’t selling that much and are getting robbed by their labels don’t get it twisted! All those sex songs and videos showing woman as objects and then they wanna claim Islam is oppressive to women? Come on now! When you see ancient pictures on temple walls in Egypt or South America or any ancient culture and you see a half-naked woman, you see a properly modestly elegantly dressed woman… The media is now using rap to make women think they will only be appreciated and paid attention to if they act and dress like sex slaves… like objects—Islam fights against this idea and that’s why they hate Islam so much in western media – because it frees humans from mental slavery while they want to keep us all slaved and objectified so they can keep making money off us as slaves! To me hip hop should come back to its original form and become a tool to fight the machine and free the people not to add more chains to the people!

~Rush (taken from the forth coming underground hip hop feature I’m working on…)

Rush operates Arab League Records and is part of the Egyptian hip hop trio Arabian Knightz. During the Egyptian uprising earlier this year AK recorded and released a track featuring hip hop queen Lauryn Hill (below). They’ve also worked with Wu-Tang Clan, 50 Cent and more.

For more Arabian Knightz.

Be the change you want to see!

A thought for your day:

The outer world is made up of thoughts that people project out to become their reality. I stay up on current affairs but honestly, the most important thing happening in the world right now is what is going on in our own hearts and minds. Because, what happens out there originally started from in here. Let’s be aware of our frequency. Let’s know that where our attention goes, our energy flows—right now and here is the most important thing happening.

~Jahnigga Da Baptist, taken from the forthcoming in-depth feature on underground hip hop I’ve been working on… it shouldn’t be too far away now!

In the last couple of years I have found some amazing hip hop from all around the globe Egypt, Mexico, France and more! There is so much more out there than what we hear on the radio or see on the TV—emcees and producers making music about things other than bling, taking your shirt off, ‘power’ and money. Support musicians making positive, intelligent music!

Jahn is the emcee & driving force behind Chicago’s Illuminati Congo, he is also an Essential Oil Therapist, and does Rebirthing Breathwork Yoga Instruction. He is also in Masta Buildas with Apakalypse & Atma.

For more Jahn & Illuminati Congo.

Have a great day!

Dear Universe,

Just wanted to let you know how thankful I am that I get to converse and collaborate with inspiring, creative, innovative individuals every single day. I pinch myself over and over to make sure I’m not dreaming. Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to ask: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? I will be forever that inquisitive kid questioning and trying to understand the world, my place in the world and myself. Thought I’d share a mash-up of some of the punk rock wisdom and hip hop insight I’ve gained on my journey:

Art by Sodium Gum

Tim Armstrong’s greatest aspiration as an artist:

To keep playing music; that’s what we [Rancid] love, that’s what we do. I have new ideas, always new things. People always ask me ‘Is Operation Ivy gonna get back together?’ You know they’re my homies—Matt Freeman is my brother—but it’s like, ‘Nah man, I’m on to something new. I want to do new shit.’ …to live a good life and take care of myself and have my friends and family around me. I’m blessed to still have my family here. My dad and mum are still here and still been married after 50 years. My brother got back from Iraq. My other brother is one of the bookers at Gilman Street. As an artist I just want to keep doing new shit. I got some ideas, always! They never stop… I love playing music! That’s my number one thing. It’s all I have ever done.

Art by Satchoo

Del Tha Funkee Homosapien on success:

It’s achieving a goal that you set for yourself, that goal may not be money. For me, Eleventh Hour was a successful endeavour. It had a lot more to do with me and what was going on in my life than trying to sell the album for money. It wasn’t about that. It was about getting this knowledge in my head to work out everything I need to. It came out dope. On this album I was right there, concentrated and focused. I didn’t want this album to be scattered—that took a lot of work. After years of not focusing and just doing it… I’m used to just doing… after a while I figured that wasn’t enough. I felt like I had to put more effort into it. Realising that was successful to me. There was a lot of things around me that tried to stop me. I just kept going. Now I’m ready to go after more success. I’ve grown.

Art by Ktharsis

Glenn Danzig on what motivates & inspires him:

Anger [laughs] and frustration at how stupid people still are [laughs] but you know what? I read a lot of books from centuries ago and people were stupid then and then they’re still stupid now a hundred years later! They don’t learn. Only a select, I won’t say handful ’cause it’s more than that but, some people are just happy meandering through life and not having to think about anything or have any responsibility for their actions. They don’t want to know either. They just want to wander through life and get their pay check at the end of the week and that’s it. That’s fine but that shit just boogles my mind. I could never go through life like that.

Art by Juart Little

Pharoahe Monch on what it means to be an artist:

It means everything because I don’t think that you can use that term loosely in the art world period. I don’t think that everyone that calls themselves artists is that. You could be an act signed to a label but that definitely doesn’t define you as an artist to me. To me an artist is a person who is instrumental in being groundbreaking and trying to push the envelope and that are very instrumental in what they write and the music choices that they make – they can make you feel a certain way. They’re definitely not cookie cutter; they have a long shelf life.

Love you lots!
Much gratitude,

[comment]

“Spirituality to me is the everyday practice of realising, reaffirming and getting in touch with why we’re on the planet, why we exist and what we’re supposed to do. Prayer, meditation, reflection, being involved with your community and spending time with your family and loved ones—it’s all spirituality. Everything we do is really spiritually based because everything we do comes from thought and intention, the material world comes secondary to that, those things come first they create the material world. Everything we do is in some way spiritual.”

~extract from my next book project in process… details soon lovelies!

A thought for your day: Rock For Light!

Love…Rosy B

[comment]