Thoughts of the Day/Song of the Day David Gray Babylon

I'll preface this by saying I am not sure how many people follow my blog or even read anything I write on here.  In the end it is all for me anyways...  With that being said it has been a really long time since I have done any actual blogging and/or writing here. But I feel like I just need to say some stuff and use this as an outlet right now like I use to.

Last night I went to the Mayer Hawthorne show with two of my best and oldest friends.  Sometimes it is crazy to me how long we have been friends, and how old we have become.  While at the same time I still see us as those kids growing up together.  I can truly see how time after college starts to fly by.  You start to live for your weekends and things just move.  I had this realization back in May right out of school, and last night I happened again.  I just felt life, you know real life-the real world if you will.  It just seems like when I am doing my thing that I am on my schedule no thought of going back to school or the work I need to do just living.  I have always looked up to those older than me and wanted to be them, like most of us do.  It is funny because we all continue to chase that idea and still think of ourselves as young.  I love the moments when I realize that I am there now at that point.  To live in the present is key to all things.  These are the good times, the glory years.  Life is quick and youth is fleeting, it is important to do what you want and to enjoy it.

Recently things have been really crazy and hectic(working 12 hr days and 60 hour weeks chasing my dreams!)  It is a daily grind and really can wear you down at times.  But I am happy paying my dues and making strides.  I am still shocked sometimes that I am actually getting to work in the industry I have wanted to work in since I was a child.  I heard a great quote the other day that said "People say good things come to those who wait.  The truth is good things come to those who work!"  So I work and I work hard to make my dreams come true.

Last night at the show I was at a place that holds a lot on memories and significance in my life.  While I was enjoying my night and really soaking up the present moment and looking forward to this new memory.  A lyric to the David Gray song Babylon popped into my head.  It really took my out of the present and made me think of the past.  Then on the car ride home after my 60+ hour work week Babylon shuffled up. The lyrics really touched me.  It had me thinking the whole ride home and pretty much was a catalyst to me writing this tonight.

I can see so many things in my life falling into place and I am really looking forward to my future.  But even with all the career success and opportunity I still feel like something or someone is missing.

I guess when it comes down to it...

I miss you.



Friday night I'm going nowhere 
All the lights are changing green to red 
Turning over TV stations 
Situations running through my head 
Well looking back through time 
You know it's clear that I've been blind 
I've been a fool 
To ever open up my heart 
To all that jealousy, that bitterness, that ridicule 


Saturday I'm running wild 
And all the lights are changing red to green 
Moving through the crowd I'm pushing 
Chemicals all rushing through my bloodstream 
Only wish that you were here 
You know I'm seeing it so clear 
I've been afraid 
To tell you how I really feel 
Admit to some of those bad mistakes I've made 


 If you want it 
Come and get it 
Crying out loud 
The love that I was 
Giving you was 
Never in doubt 
Let go your heart 
Let go your head 
And feel it now 


Babylon, Babylon 


Sunday all the lights of London 
Shining , Sky is fading red to blue 
I'm kicking through the Autumn leaves 
And wondering where it is you might be going to 
Turning back for home 
You know I'm feeling so alone 
I can't believe 
Climbing on the stair 
I turn around to see you smiling there 
In front of me 

If you want it 
Come and get it 
Crying out loud 
The love that I was 
Giving you was 
Never in doubt 
And feel it now 
Let go your heart 
Let go your head 
And feel it now 
Let go your heart 
Let go your head 
And feel it now 

Happy 40th Birthday Tupac Shakur!

Tupac Amaru Shakur

(June 16, 1971 - September 13, 1996)

His music has touched the lives of many. He spoke like a modern prophet for his generation; and today on what would have been Tupac Shakur’s 40th birthday we are still celebrating his life, music, and legacy! People who weren’t even alive to witness Tupac’s talent at its all time high pay homage and respect to Great taken far too soon. “They say the great die young” Not to mention he made some of the best hip-hop music video's of the 90's and perhaps all time...

Happy 40th Birthday Tupac Shakur!

Here are my top 10 Tupac songs...

Thoughts Of The Day: Back On The Grind

Its been awhile since I just posted some of my thoughts...so here we go. I have been back in GA for about three weeks now and I am not sure how I feel about it. I definitely see how much I truly liked living in California and that I do in fact miss it now that I'm back. I realize from the things we are learning about in my production class how much experience and knowledge I gained from my internship, which makes me feel even more grateful for the opportunity I was given this summer.

Anyways, I do know that even with my classes and school work things definitely seem like they are moving slower then they had been in Cali, well except time(it is always slipping away). These past three weeks have brought some stability and constants that I appreciate since I am a creature of habit. I get to cook again and go to the gym two things I really love and spend a lot of my time doing! My new apt is walking distance from campus and on the bus route so I have barley been driving lately. Which is a welcomed change after a summer of Los Angeles's infamous traffic, and driving across the country twice! (I love to walk, you really get to see things more detailed than when driving.) Today I noticed a bunch of leafs on the ground and realized Fall will be here before I know it. Another season(like I said earlier time is always slipping away.) Last Thursday I went to Terrapin with my homegirl Libby and my homeboy Drew and had a really good time. But I mean it is hard not to have a good time at Terrapin! They had a Jimi Hendrix cover band called Gimme Hendrix performing and they were amazing...dude was rocking bell-bottoms and had his fro picked out high, they sounded like Jimi and played a bunch of my favorite Jimi songs! Oh the beer tasted good too.."two for four switcheroo".

In other news I didn't get an email to buy football tickets so I ended up missing ticket sign up and don't have tickets for the season! I am pretty pissed about it. I am not even the biggest college football fan or UGA fan, but it is a big part of going to UGA that I like. I ended up being able to buy a regular ticket for the first game this Saturday which is cool since my parents are coming up for the game, but they are just playing Louisiana Lafayette so I am sure its going to be a lame game, but they are definitely going to feel that bulldawg bite! Anyways, the place where you go to pick up your tickets is the Vince Dooley athletic complex...if you are a big UGA fan you have to go check it out. There is all kinds of UGA stuff in there.

HOVA

I know I am going to come off like a Hip-Hop snob, but I don't know how to feel about Jay-Z anymore. I will go ahead and start off by saying I use to be a very big Jay-Z fan. The first three albums I ever bought by myself going to the recored store and picking out music that I wanted at the young age of 11 was Puff Daddy and Family No Way Out, DMX Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, and Jay-Z Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life. So don't get me wrong. I don't think that Jay-Z has fallen off since then or anything like that. But I just feel like he has gone a little too main stream for my taste. When all of DT Athens GA is bumping Empire State of Mind, I have a problem. First off there are bars called general beauregard's with rebel flags hanging and kids saying how much they hate the yankees, and not just the baseball team. They have never been to NYC and wouldn't like it there if they did go...and to top it all off they probably didn't know that was an Alicia Keys song before it was a Jay-Z song. But they still would sing that song at the top of their lungs "LETS HERE IT FOR NEW YORK!" I digress...It's just hard for me to think Jay-Z is at the top of the hip-hop game when sorority girls and frat boys say Jay-Z is their favorite rapper. I think the real issue, and it's with all art forms, once its become too popular it's just not as good...at least thats how I feel.

However, here are some examples when HOVA is still really good...

I put both of these songs on my new mixtape for the fall. Jigga kills this unknown track entitle I Know off the American Gangster album he put out. It's hard to tell what I like more about the song the Pharrell production and hook or Jay's verses...overall dope! This video is really good as well.


This second song really has nothing to do with Jay-Z other than Don Cannon sampling a line from the pervious song I Know to make the beat...It's fresh to death and I keep it on repeat all the time. Like Louboutins with red bottoms...


Here is a mash up of one of Jay-Z’s classics done with The Dap Kings, the 99 Problems (Prince of Ballard Remix). I like the old-school Motown sounds fused into the track. Check it out.

Jay-Z & The Dap Kings – 99 Problems (Prince of Ballard Remix) by Hypetrak

Song of the Day "The Fire" The Roots feat John Legend

I can't wait for this album to drop in two weeks (6/22). I know i'll be playing it on repeat for awhile. This song right here is an anthem for sure the hook is dope and Blackthought's verses are amazing. Like John Legend this jam gets me lifted...

The Fire

There something in your heart

And its in your eyes

Its the fire inside ya

Let it burn

You don't say good luck

You say don't give up

Its the fire inside ya

Let it burn.

Song of the day "Shutterbugg" Big Boi

The O.G. ATLien is back with this official video for "Shutterbugg" off his upcoming solo album Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty due in stores July 6th. This video is pretty cool it has a lot of different things going on in it you really need to pay attention to catch it all. Personally 3000 is my favorite out of the legendary duo but this song is great. I like the break down with "back to life back to reality". On a side note I was going to get the T-shirt version of the red sweatshirt he is wearing that reads atlien the other day in LiL Five but they were out of my size...

Feels Good To Be Home..Feels Good To Be Home

Damn I haven't seen this skyline since December! As soon as it came into sight a smile came across my face I love my city so much and am going to try to take advantage of it before I leave for Cali for the entire summer...the last couple of weeks have been pretty crazy...trying to finish up the semester, figure out where I am living in LA and everything else that goes into me leaving GA for two months to live all the way across the country! The closer it gets here the more and more excited I get about it! I can't wait to be in Cali, experience life and things that i've never been around and learn my craft and meet like minded people who have the same goals and aspirations. But at the same time I hope that I am able to spend these last two weeks in GA seeing all my friends and family as much as possible and enjoy the lil GA summer that I have because it'll all be missed to say the least!

The picture walls at the house on haunted hill its crazy I haven't been there since october...it was nice to be in my old stomping grounds even if just for a night and afternoon. Looking at the picture walls was bananas I never realized how many photos of me were on the walls and how many amazing times I had in KSAW. It truly was a home for three years and I had a great family there. MISS AND LOVE ALL MY KSAW AND TNC FAMILY. ONELOVE...

Doing Work

Today I went home and helped my dad re-side the shed. We put the radio on the oldies station that was playing 60's classic all day and just went at it. It was nice to be out in nature doing a little man's work you know with tools and such. Beside the fact that everything was covered in pollen it was really fun. My dad then grilled some of his famous burgers and they were delicious! It was good to be home.

Before

After

All the rotted wood

Mens' Tools

Thoughts of the Day: April 7th 2010 BALLIN!

I had a great day. Me and my homegirl Libby balled out hard today! I had the day off...no class so you know it had to be great! Started off by grabbing some food at The Grit, I haven't ate there in months its so damn dank! Then we hit the thrift stores for a little thriftin' and I found some gems including Two button ups and Stevie Wonder's "Songs in The Key Of Life" record(I love Stevie and it is one of his best records). As for the button ups..one is a short sleeve RALPH LAUREN, and the other is a long sleeve club room. Now I don't care much about labels if its fly then its fly it could be from Wal-Mart or Polo. I just know that a $4 RALPH LAUREN is a fucking deal and quality goods. I also copped a badass dark indigo chambray shirt...oh here is the definition for Chambray because I have had some confusion and questions about it... A fine lightweight fabric woven with white threads across a colored warp. Alteration of French cambrai, cambric, after Cambrai, a city of northern France. I got the shirt at Wal-mart today for $5, I had my eye on it a month or so ago when I went to wal-mart and it was $10! Anyways I also finally got to try Yoguri for the first time and it was dank. And I closed the night by seeing Hot Tub Time Machine which was hilarious! All in all I must say what a ballin day!

Ralph Lauren Son!

Ralph Lauren

Dark Indigo Chambray

Club Room

Club Room

Songs in The Key Of Life

There's No Place Like Home

This past weekend was probably one of the best times I've had back at home in a really long time. Saturday I went to my homegirl Audrey's house for a party and got to see all of my friends, some I hadn't seen in a very long time and it was so good to see them! Recently I've been doing a lot of soul searching just questioning my self worth, and you know what, I am full of self worth! I have drive and ambition and I get things done and have my life together. My parents are doing a lot of work on our house its crazy. When I pulled into the drive way I was shocked to find a giant dumpster! Sunday I felt like doing some work so I put my muscles to real work not just lifting weights... I cleaned up the yard throwing all kinds of junk into the dumpster and then raked the entire back yard! If you've ever been to my house then you know its surround by trees and there have been leafs covering the ground for years like 4 feet high leaf piles! It felt good to do work and be out in the weather things just smelt like home if you know what I mean! My brother also came home with out his fiancee for the first time in a while and it was good just to chill with him. We hit up a new trail down by south river and found a rope swing that will be dope in a couple of weeks.

dumpster full of stuff

perch by river

rope swing

south river

pops working on the bell

Kosher for Passover YESSIR!

Thoughts of the Day: March 23, 2010 MANIFEST DESTINEY

MANIFEST DESTINY

When I stepped out of my last class today my phone rang... it was just what I needed, to say the least if everything works out I might be in CALI for the summer! I am soooooo excited I hope everything falls into place! This is serious business I'm talking LIFE shit! THANK YOU SO MUCH LIBBY!

Mayer Hawthorne Saturday at The Loft

This Saturday Mayer Hawthorne will be performing live with Bosco and Nikke jean at the Loft in ATL. I wish I could go or had someone to go with! This is the type of thing that I miss now that I don't live near ATL! Makes me sad on the inside fo shotis...

I Miss Atlanta

I miss Atlanta soooooo much! Over the years I have hated on the south and being from here. I guess because half of my roots are from the north and the fact that I am Jewish and grew up in an area where that wasn't always accept made me hate it here. Nothing about me is very country ya dig. But the older I get the more I love it here, and by here I mean ATL. I am a city guy, I grew up around and loving the big city its bright lights and big dreams. Now that I live in Athens I haven't been able to make that short drive to the A to get my fix of that giant cultural mixing pot like I use to. The last month or so has been really hard for me and I need ATL soo bad right now. I just want to feel like I am at home around the things I love. ATL is such a cool place from Lil Five to Decatur all the way up to Buckhead and back down to the Virginia Highlands and Piedmont Park. If you haven't spent much time in the A or the south I suggest you change that because its amazing here...just don't call it the "dirty south" nothing is dirty here in fact things are probably a lot cleaner and natural then most cities up north!

This picture has been the background for my computer since I got it 4 years ago. I love ATLANTA!

Song of the day "Umi Says" by Mos Def

I LOVE THIS SONG! I bought Mos Def's Black on Both Sides album when I was 12 years old. This song was a big reason for why I wanted it. I am 22 years old now and this song has been in my life for a decade now. Every time I hear it I can transport myself to soooo many places in time. It has personally been there for me in hard times and in good. I think the songs message is very important. We all struggle and have things that bring us down, and sometimes we might not understand everything that happens but we have to move on because life is short. We have to shine our light on the world and be there for the ones that love us and the ones we love. People come and go in your life and some can touch your soul, sometimes they are in your life for a longtime like your family and other times they might just be the person who helps you at the store you never know. I guess what I am trying to say is its important to cherish every moment you are here because you never know when things might change. Its been ten years and when times get tough I still think of these lyrics its a part of me and it goes: "I ain't no perfect man I'm trying to do, the best that I can, With what it is I have."

Tomorrow may never come
For you or me
Life is not promised
Tomorrow may never show up
For you and me
This life is not promised

I ain't no perfect man
I'm trying to do, the best that I can,
With what it is I have
I ain't no perfect man
I'm trying to do, the best that I can,
With what it is I have

Put my heart and soul into this song (yes yes)
I hope you feel me
From where I am, to wherever you are
I mean that sincerely
Tomorrow may never come
For and me
Life is not promised
Tomorrow may never appear
You better hold this very moment very close to you (right now)
Very close to you (right now)
So close to you, So- close to you (your moment in history is right now!)
Don't be affraid, to let it shine

Sometimes I get discouraged
I look around and, things are so weak
People are so weak
Sometimes,
Sometimes I feel like crying
Sometimes my heart gets heavy
Sometimes I just want to leave and fly away (fly fly fly, like a dove)
Sometimes I don't know what to do with myself (ow!)
Passion takes over me
I feel like a man
Going insane
Losing my brain
Trying to maintain
Doing my thang

Hey You Know You Look Like Edward Cullen!?

Ever since the Twilight movies have came out all I hear is "hey you look like that guy from Twilight" or "you know you look like Edward Cullen". I personally don't see it but I guess if there is any resemblance than its how I wear my hair..too bad I started wearing my hair like this 10 years ago after guys like James Dean and Elvis. But seriously I don't know how many times i've been told I look like him...for example last night when I went DT I was told it by countless people and then tonight I went to a screening of a documentary about deaf entertainers and an old deaf lady said to me..."you know you look like that guy from those movies, you know which ones I mean Twilight..." So damn even old ladies think it. Don't get me wrong I am not complaining I mean if girls think that Robert Pattinson is hot then i'll take being told I look like him I guess.

We On Some Hip-Hop One Year Anniversary!

Today is the one year anniversary of me starting this blog. Sometimes I don't know why I started it I guess looking back on it I realized that I check out a lot of blogs online and just thought it would be cool to have my own...to share my thoughts and things that I like...I mean its way cooler than FB right!

Overall I am not really sure how people feel about my blog... if they like it or if anyone really looks at it at all. I didn't start it to get recognition from anyone or anything like that, when it comes down to it its for me and thats that. I have heard from some of my good friends like my boy Luke Tilt that my blog is cool so thats whats up.

God so much has changed this past year since I started my blog! I live in a new town I'm making new friends and just trying to get by! There are so many things that i'd like to be different at this moment, but like they always say hindsight is 20/20 and I guess it truly is, you don't know what you've got till its gone and so on and so forth. I am hoping for the best in the next year. A new decade is upon us the last one went out on a bad note but I am ready for the best and the worst so lets GO!

OneLove!

Song of The Day: "The Lengths" The Black Keys

The Black Keys have became one of my favorite bands. They make me excited about new music that is not Hip Hop sorry...Hip Hop is still my first love. I grew up listening to every kind of music under the sun and I've been told recently that all I listen to is Hip Hop and I guess lately I have departed from really anything but Hip Hop. But recently I guess i've realized I need to look back, forward and further to find other forms of music to listen to and enjoy. I like to think of myself as pretty well rounded and I need to start to truly be that way. Like Sam Cooke said A Change is Gonna Come.

Anyways...

I always thought this was a BEAutiful song ever since the first time I heard it driving back home from CT last summer. Every part of it the music the words and how he sings touches my soul right now! I can really feel what he is getting across down to my core every word is so true...

Tell me where you're goin or
what is going wrong
I felt you leavin before
you'd even gone
and hold me now
or never ever hold me again
no more talk
can take me from this pain I'm in pain i'm in

See the moonlight shinin on
your window pane
see it leave you as
faithful as it came
please yourself so you
don't have to be afraid
make amends
or carry on another way another way

tell me what you were thinkin
to treat somebody so
the care he took the
lengths to which he'd go
coals are hot to walk
across without your shoes
but in the end
know that you got nothin to lose nothin to lose

Goodbyes

Final sunset at 197 Bridgewater. You could always get great sunsets out the front door of my place in Bridgewater. I don't really know how I feel about leaving, it never truly felt like home compared to the house on haunted hill. Never really got those vibes or have any amazing memories there. I am hoping my new place will help me immerse myself in Athens and find some kind of niche in a city and town that hasn't made me feel too at home in general.

Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, sitting back trying to catch those cools vibes...

via iPhone

Thoughts of the Day: September 2, 2009

Damn its been a minute since I did a thought of the day. I apologize to everyone (even though I have no idea how many people actually look at my blog). The reason I started this blog was out of boredom and to be honest I guess it takes me being in a real state of boredom to actually write some real heartfelt stuff. I know that technology def takes away from more personal communication. I have to work on talking to my people more personally. I am going to try my best to see as many of you in person or talk to you on the phone as I can.

Get ready this is a long one...

I have been having a strange couple of weeks. The school year started about three weeks ago now. This is no ordinary year. Most of you know I transfered to UGA. I like it here. Its pretty cool to live in a real college town with a DT("downtown" got to learn that local lingo) and go to a big university with a football team and all. Its just been strange to not be surrounded by the things I have grown accustomed to(the house on haunted hill, TNC Crew & thursday nights, 4 day school weeks, the surrounding KSAW area--socially and economically). I truly do miss my KSAW Brothers & Sisters things aren't the same with out you. Much love to all of you(Joey, Jimbo, Jordan, Haley, Kevin, Katie, Zon, Chris, Jon, Max, Carver, Sean & everyone else). I know I have alots of good friends from high school here in athens with all my brothers from Henry. Its just going to take some time to get use to hittin them up to chill.

I know E is doing her best to make me feel at home. But I am sure me being here is not always the easiest for her. She has been working on a Life and routine here for the past couple of years that didn't include me.

I told E

Hey mona lisa

come home

you know you can't rome without caesar

rome around rome in a rova

if hova was on this track

yo we'd be taking ova

Just know I love you girl

like I want some more of ya

your my #1!

my favorite E!

like entertainment

we have a bond like james

ill be your secret agent

just like bill & ted

our adventures will be

excellent

Locally and Globally Swine Flu and sickness has been spreading! It is the buzz on most big college campuses. Early this week I got the beginning of a cold. I hate being sick like I am sure everyone does. But it seems like everyone I hang with has this bug! I have been doing everything I can to fight it. I feel like I am at a solid 88% I just want to feel that "A" get to around a 95% ya dig!

Today was one of those days I just wanted to move to LA and start my life working in entertainment! This past July I turned 22. I have SO MUCH I want to do in Life and it is def moving fast. I find myself being interested in a new form of media(entertainment not the news) and art everyday. Sometimes I fill like life is going by me without me doing anything with it.

I spend alot of my time on the internet (like most people my age) looking at famous/the people in places that I want to be one day doing the things that I want to do. Like this guy Maestro(check out his blog if you are into stuff like me). He is at the level that I want to be at in a couple of years. Living in LA traveling, filming and editing. Straight up just mingling with all kinds of creative people and getting to know them and their craft.

Which brings me to one of my earlier points: I am taking some classes this semester and next that have me very excited about my future. I truly believe that the education I am going to get at UGA is going to help me be the man I want to be one day. I just need to start the whole being more OPEN-- to new people to new things to learn something new every day and strive to be the best that I can be. Notorious said it best "The Sky is the Limit". And I want it all! OneLove...

Oh shit winning the Lotto tomorrow would be legit too!

Thoughts of the Day: May 23, 2009

So it's been awhile since the last time I wrote a thought of the day page.  What can I say summer time is when you have no cares and worries and I guess all my free time has been taking away from my blogging.  So here we go some one on one real talk time.  

So recently I've discovered the only REAL CONSTANT IN LIFE IS CAHNGE.  Everything changes: we change, our surroundings change, where we live change, the people we hang out with change.  Everyday we all change just a lil without even knowing it.  I feel like these are the years we find out who we are as people.  The ones of us who have moved on and left home have changed in different ways then the ones who stayed back.  We mite like different things and we mite act differently.

I miss my friends from the old Hco crew all the time it seems like forever ago since we all truly hung out.  I love all of you: Luke, Jmeg, Dusty, Mike, Charles, Will, Sheezan, Tray, Josh, Scott, Klo, Cj, and Audrey.  I hope that we don't lose touch more so than we already have.  "Good friends we have oh good friends we've lost along the way." This 4th of July my bros are going to be down for the unity.

On the big note of change.  I got accepted to UGA(as you can tell from the hat) for a second time and will be going there in the fall.  This is a BIG DEAL!  I am leaving the life and all my friends that I have spent three years making at KSU.  But like I said the only REAL CONSTANT IN LIFE IS CHAGNE and this is one of those life changing choices that I am making.  To move on and see what else lies ahead of me.  Its going to be a new gigantic school with all sorts of new experiences for me to figure out.  I am very excited about living in a real college town and going to what is known as the real college experience. Don't get me wrong KSU is great but I want something else.  UGA offers a great program for my major.  Plus my girl is there so it all works out.

To all my TNC and KSU friends and family.  These past three years have been life changing to say the least.  Especially this past year and half with all my TNC family.  I have learned and grow alot since being around all of you.  I will never forget the late nites, early mornings, the trip to the beach, to athens, to atl and all about.  Family dinner and breakfast and just our conversations.  You have been a true family to me and I love all of you: Jimbo, Kev Kev, J.Kicks, Katie, Haley, Ashley & Marissa, Jon B, Max Max, Chris, Matt, Zon, Danielle and anyone I missed.  I better be seeing all of you next year in Athens and back at Ksaw.  You got a month or so left with me lets make it count!

Yo Spada it's been a wild ride we both came up to KSU together to meet new people and have that college life and we got it man we really got it.  Its the end of an era man...you know I love you and your my brother for life.  Through all the bull shit man we made it.

ONELOVE...

oh hey kevin newkam pukem pukem...