Two’s Day: Two for Breaking the Cyle

Evolution and growth is linear, but life (or more specifically, culture) is cyclical. Old things become new. New things become old. Trends inform culture. Culture informs new trends. We see images and absorb certain trends that inspire us. In turn, we internalize and emulate – putting out similar, or exaggerated, images that reflect what we’ve taken in. Those looking to monetize culture then flock to what sells.

There’s nothing new about that model, but access and exposure are at an all-time high. And there is the issue. We have to break the cycle of exploitation. We can’t be mad at the images that are being exploited as if these “characters” don’t exist in the real world. They do. And they’re more prevalent than we’d like to admit. But they aren’t the only images that represent us. Music is not (and has never been) dead. All of our actresses and actors and models didn’t get their start on reality tv/social media. Our leaders take a different shape/form, but they do exist. We have strong, positive, intelligent, young voices that speak for us. They just live outside of the spotlight, which is usually controlled by people outside of the culture that are only looking for what generates clicks, likes, page-views, and dollar signs.

So what do we do? We take more responsibility for what we take in and what we put out. We break our gaze from the machine-controlled spotlight and shine our own lights on the images we prefer. Images that build instead of images that destroy. We redefine the paradigm. The machine already knows that the power is with the people, they just do a better job and rallying the people around their preferred images. It’s up to us to decide where we place our power. We amplify the good and avoid exploiting the bad. We don’t blindly accept what they want us to consume. We start to better understand that in a lot of ways we are what we consume. We start to consume more of the things that are meant to inspire, nurture, and grow us. We demand more of those that are . We demand more of our peers and those that influence us. We demand more of ourselves. We turn off the radio. We become our own curators. We break the cycle.

Talib Kweli – “More or Less”

The Roots & John Legend – Shine

Food For Thought

 

“All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind”

– Kahlil Gibran

A seemingly simple, yet somewhat complex concept: Everything you say should feed whoever you’re saying it to. Similarly, you should be fed by the words that are given to you. Don’t be naive enough to think that words, depending on their origin, are irrelevant or powerless. And don’t think for a second that people aren’t paying attention to the words that are coming out of your mouth.

You can tell a lot about a person by the type of conversation they create and entertain. When you invite yourself (or accept an invitation) to the table, you have to deal with the meal that’s served. Once you realize that what you’re consuming is unhealthy, you have to make a decision to leave or continue to eat. If you choose to stay, you can’t blame the chef or the host if you get sick. The corrosion or cleansing that occurs is merely a consequence of your choice.

In music, the same rules apply. When you’re looking to be fed, where do you go? What “restaurants” are you patronizing? If you’re an artist, what is your mind cooking up for the people? I think that’s where most people, patron or proprietor, get it wrong. Most people just look to be entertained. Looking for snacks and junk food to devour. In reality, they should be looking to savor some sustenance.

Here’s some food for thought…get a plate!

 

Bilal – “All For Love”

“I’ve played the fool before. Stared at the sun till it burned out my eye sight. Blind, but a man must move on. No time for regrets. Who lives in rehearse?”

 

Mos Def – “Priority”

“Top priority. Peace before everything. God before anything. Love before anything. Real before everything. Home before any place. Truth before anything…”

 

The Roots – “Atonement”

“…taking the city with a grain a salt/with it tasting foul, chase it down with the latest malt liquor…”

 

Lupe Fiasco – “Hurt Me Soul”

“…laser-guided targeting, oil for food bartering, terrorist organization harboring…bulimic vomiting, Catholic priest fondling, preemptive bombing and Osama and Obama ‘nem, they breaking in my car again…all the world’s ills, sitting on chrome 24 inch wheels…”

 

Outkast – “Babylon”

“…but let me hold it down, cause they shut you down when you speak from your heart. Now that’s hard. Cause while we ranting and raving bout gats…n*gga they made them gats! They got some sh!t that’ll blow out our back…from where they stay at.”

 

John Legend & The Roots – “Shine”

“It’s so dark, but I see sparks…they can’t eat if we don’t feed them. Can’t read if we don’t teach them.”

 

So, I just put my ingredients in the pot. Now it’s your turn. What are some of your favorite songs to feed on when your soul is hungry?