The World is Upside Down

Yes its been a minute. I've been up to more than a few things since my last post here. Mainly my poetry website, http://ispeaklogos.com. Also my music website http://ispeaklogos.bandcamp.com where i released my Mixtape Words in the Sun. Don't worry, I'm not rapping lol. Its poetry over some soulful instrumentals. Just getting the creativity out any way i can.

Anyway, I guess my return can be contributed to a few things. One, I've taken a hiatus from social media of sorts. It actually took about five days and a few confirmations for this to actually happen. I'd tried deleting the twitter app from my phone, but just couldnt get through the day without going back in. Interestingly enough i found it almost nauseating to realize i was addicted to Twitter.  Like it wasnt possible for me to go without posting the random thoughts, most of which i should probably keep in my head, for all to see. That brought me to the realization of the attention we crave, and the validation we seek from others. even if its just strangers. Which in turn made me begin to question my motive of why i do the things i do, including poetry.  I love to write, have to write, and Twitter in a way does that for me, but I also like people to tell me that what i write is dope. And Retweets, followers, and comments are just that. Validation.  So because i'm going through some transitions in life, my family and I to be specific, i decided i needed to step away to hear the voice of God more clearly.

Second thing that brings me back, which is not as dire, but still potent. I need a place to write out my thoughts now that i'm not on Twitter for a while. And what better place than the good ole blog! Blogs have kind of taken a backseat to the immediacy of social networks. Why post three or four paragraphs when you can just sum it up in a few twitter rants? Regardless, i need someplace to vent, and since this is as close to a journal as i'll get, i'm back. At least for a season.

Final thoughts. It seems like my world has been turned upside down. At my church we had a revival that really affected me deeply. Helped me find my voice, and even set me on the path i knew i should have been on all along.  God confirmed some things and i felt ready to take the world by storm. I knew who I was.  All of a sudden, with the transition into this new phase. Someone took the snowglobe of my life and turned it upside down. Now I feel like i'm stumbling for direction and just tryign to stay upright. I havent even thought of wielding the power given to me, righ tnow i'm just trying to stay alive.  I wonder if I'm the only person who's ever felt this way?  Probably not. I had a dream the other night that I was in an elevator going up, and the elevator kept flipping upside down, but no matter how many times it flipped, i kept landing on my feet. Perhaps that is an indication to hold on to my faith.  We'll see. Until next time.


Pease.

Album Review: MissMeloVi- C'estLaVi

Christian Urban Pop may have found it’s sound in Melody Vinett, aka MissMeloVi. The Tulsa, OK native and product of gospel super group 1G.O.P. releases a debut album Cest La Vi [say-lah-vee] (french for This is Life) that may have laid the blueprint for the crossover Pop Gospel genre.

Sitting concise at nine tracks, and having written all of the songs, MissMeloVi kicks off with a hip-hop smash in Let’s Go and doesn’t stop displaying her versatility and ear for musicianship until the albums end. Whether it is the subtle funk switch up in the bass line of Nostalgia’s bridge, the thumping synthesizers of More or the rock influenced guitar and drums of Superhero, the substance in Cest La Vi perpetuates multiple listens. Credit is also due to upcoming producers Bryant “B Priest” Hamilton, Antjuan “Grand Finale” Robinson, and Michael Todd for creating sounds that allowed MeloVi to flow through and combine genres effortlessly without getting lost.

Leave a Message and Counterfeit are anthems that encourage pride, self confidence and the ability to walk away from unbeneficial relationships and situations. The melodies themselves are as infectious as the voice that navigates them, and the beats are knocking as well. In the grand scheme of the musical landscape MissMeloVi presents an uplifting view of even the negative aspects of life and love that is a breath of fresh air compared to the jadedness of most R&B sirens. If this is the life MissMeloVi is presenting, I hope the world is ready to take note.

To My Independent Women

I could be congresswoman
Or a garbage woman or
Police officer, or a carpenter
I could be a doctor and a lawyer and a mother and a good girl
God what you've done to me
Kind of lover I could be
I could be a computer analyst, the Queen with the nappy hair raising her fist
Or I could be much more and a myriad of this
Hot as the summer, sweet as the first kiss
And even though I can do all these things
I need you
 - Fact Is (I Need You)Jill Scott

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine last night who was telling me that one of his goals is to get a to a point where his woman will not have to work anymore. He talked about how he mentioned this to a few women at his job and they were so appalled and offended at the fact that he wouldn't want his lady to work. As if that is a bad thing. The conclusion that we came to, is that a feminist culture has so permeated our society that women not only don't expect chivalry, they shun it.

We live in a new age, where women are independent professionals who can earn their own money, own their own homes, and drive their own Benz, all without a man. However, these same women complain about the lack of men that approach them, not realizing that a man's instinctive nature is to take care of his woman, so if I see that you have all this, what do you need me for? Now I know this might seem sexist, but ultimately it's true ladies. If you can get everything you want without a man, and boast about it, then we start to think, this lady doesn't need me. We want to give you the world, if you already own it when we come along, then what is there left to give you?

Now, I'm not naive. These are mostly material things, however some women have been single so long, they don't know how or when to let a brotha in. They want to be quick to show what they have accomplished, but thing is, we don't care. When men are looking for wives, we're not looking for is she a professional. Does she have 401k? What model and year is her car? NOPE. We look at a few things. Can she cook? Is she sexy? Will she be a good mother? Those are the assets. Everything else u bring to the table is great, but those are the main things we look for because ultimately a man says, I don't care if you got three degrees, I want to take care of you baby. I want to provide for you. I want to build this castle for you. Let me.

There is a reason why the damsel in distress is an everlasting tale. It's because we love to rescue, and be a hero for our ladies. It's not an ego thing. It's a man thing. Read about it in Wild at Heart by John Eckeridge. It's just how we're wired. If you are expecting a man to ignore how he's wired and applaud your accolades, well, it could happen, but even that man will want you to know that ultimately he wants to provide for you. I don't applaud ladies giving up the milk without making men buy the cow, but if you show up with your own pasture of cows, hows that a good look?

Think about it ladies, let men be men. It's not that men are intimidated, they just don't see where they fit in your life. 

Would You Like Cheese on That? Preferences vs Requirements

So I've been stirring up a lot of dust on Twitter lately. Basically I've run into a few women who are taller than the average height, who say that it is a REQUIREMENT for the man they date to be taller than them, with heels on. Now this as a preference doesn't bother me, but a requirement? Cmon. So i proceeded to antagonize, as I do, and ultimately lost the argument. However, I wanted to take the time to defend my argument of preferences vs requirements.

That these women wanted a tall man doesn't bother me, even though I'm only 5'7" I'm good. Well, I'm already married too so...anyway, my wife last night asked me what was wrong with their preference, and she brought up an interesting point. She said, "Well, you wouldn't date a tall woman, so why you tripping?" I thought about it for a second and realized there was a time when I would've felt insecure about a tall woman, nowadays it don't matter to me. However, I still prefer my woman around my height.
Hypocritical? I think not. Here's the difference. While I would not initially PURSUE a tall woman, if I met one, and the chemistry was there, and she was fine, I wouldn't dismiss it JUST BECAUSE she is tall. Now do I prefer them shorter? Yes. I married short. HOWEVER, if I was single, and I vibe with a woman who was taller than me, as a man, I'm going to say let's at least give it a shot. Now if things don't work b/c of this issue or others, then at least I tried. That's the difference.

A preference is something you'd like to have, like wanting cheese on a hamburger. A requirement is something that is nonnegotiable. So if I brought you a hamburger but forgot the cheese, you'd toss it in the trash because your hamburgers MUST have cheese. I find this ridiculous. If you like burgers, you like burgers, and if you didn't get cheese doesn't mean the burger won't be good. This may be the best cheese-less burger you ever had, but you missing out, AND you're still hungry to boot. Doesn't make sense does it?

Why am I championing this cause when I'm married you say? Mostly to be antagonistic and stir up dialogue. In the end, I can't really care because I'm taken. However, if I was a short single brotha, and I approached a member of the Tulsa Shock, I'd be ticked if she dissed me JUST BECAUSE I'm short. Feels kinda shallow to say it's a requirement. What do y'all think? Comment and respond.

Hell Hath No Fury




Soulful? Yes. Sane? No.

 

Alright so keeping it real today. Something that's been on my mind this

week and I gotta get it out. Jaded women. I'm talking about women who

have been in relationships that weren't the best and instead of seeking

healing and all that, they choose instead to say, men ain't nothing.

They all the same and if a man was a real man he'd know when he found a

real woman, i.e. herself. I'm here to say, as sympathetic as I am to

the situation, and sorry for your heartache, give me a break.

Now, I'm a man, this is obvious, so I know my opinion on this subject

is probably skewed, HOWEVER, as a man who has been on both sides of a

bad relationship, I've gotta say that I see NO PRODUCTIVE REASON AT ALL

for a woman staying jaded about relationships. Hurt, OK. Upset, maybe,

but to just proclaim a curse on all the male species is beyond me.

What gets me the most is how many of these women are in the church,

where forgiveness and restoration is preached consistently. It's easy

to feel justified in your actions but when it's time for you to forgive

a man, suddenly there are a million reasons why you feel he doesn't

deserve that benefit. Like y'all roses don't smell like boo-boo. The

kicker is, forgiveness is for YOU, not the man. Forgiveness helps you

heal, and women say they know this, but its always on some I'll forgive

but I won't forget. Which makes it worse if you choose to stay in a

relationship where heartbreak occurred because you hold that sword over

dude's head until he can't take it anymore.

I guess what I'm saying is ladies, LET IT GO! Get your cry on, pick up

your nail, and head to the cross. I'm not being insensitive, I promise,

consider this as a doctor telling you to wrap your broken leg in a cast

so it can heal properly rather than drag it around while trying to live

your life as if your leg isn't broken. It's broken, I'm sorry, now

let's take the steps to get it mended. Or let it stay broken, and

wonder why you can't move forward. *kanyeshrug*

Fred Hammond on Song Writing

Short post today. So, Sunday night I was up on twitter and one of the gospel greats of our time, and one of the best song writers, happened to be on there as well, he started dropping knowledge about songwriting and techniques and I was able to ask a few questions that he actually responded to. Just thought I'd share with you guys(at least I think I'm sharing with someone). Ladies and gentleman, Fred Hammond:

"Song writers, the way I developed my song writing skill was when I heard beautiful or powerful moments in a song I'd dissect it and get the heart of it or DNA of it & apply the principle of the moment to my writing style. [For example] "I need you more than want you, & i want you for all time"  A very, very simple statement but the back end of the statement "want you for all time" brings the reality of how deep the love is, but keeps the simplicity of the moment.

The whole song is very honest (in its tone) but the describers are very Vivid. I love moments like that, they help my Pen.

The DNA of that moment helps me write moments like "Lost in You Again", "my (SEARCH) will not end till I (FIND ) myself (LOST) in You again." Finding one self lost is usually not a great feeling, but Finding my self lost in the Heart of God. Like imagine I'm free falling, deeper, and deeper into His heart, like i jumped out of an airplane at 40,000 feet with no chute. That's the lost I'm talking about.

SO THEN I ASKED: Are those the same aspects applied when you wrote Hear My Cry and Simply Put?

HIS REPLY:
@lraywill Hallerin Hill & I were fighting back Tears in Ihop while we were writing the Lyrics to that song.  We were Moments away from embarrassing ourselves. It was Saturday morning... Ihop...

There you go fam, straight from one of the greats. I love when an artist tells the meaning or moments behind a song, because it gives the music context and perspective and makes me listen with new ears. Just reading those tweets reawakened the songwriter in me. I think a new era is about to begin.

Chasing Dreams: Faith Without Work

^{James 2:26} Just as the body is dead without breath,^[d] so also faith is dead without good works.

So Saturday night I had a few transparent moments on Twitter. A little bit of background, I was on the net and came across a website owned by a friend of mine that I went to college with back in 2001. He owns his own event planning business, does modeling, etc. He had a picture of himself and his bio on the About Me page and all I could do was be jealous of his success.

This jealousy propelled me into a depressing, self-loathing, God blaming tirade that lasted until Sunday morning. The basic premise of which was, the church has made us lazy by dangling the purpose and destiny carrot in front of us, but rarely are we seeing results. If i'm busy dreaming and believing, I'm not working, and therefore not getting the things I'm supposedly destined to achieve. Man how I was wrong.

It's amazing how a simple word from the Lord can change your whole perspective. Sunday morning Pastor Mike Todd (WHO WE BE? So F.L.Y) preached a simple message, but one that shattered my whole world. Faith without works is dead.

Simple Right? See the thing is, in my heart, I had challenged God that night. Basically what is the point of me living this life if success is only a mirage in a desert of trials? But like Job when he questioned the Lord, God brought the answer straight from His word, to my level. How dare I question Him and his method, when I had put NO WORK to my faith? I claim that all these years I been believing God to take me places, but if I really believed I'd have been preparing myself to get there right? It's not God's fault that I've been twiddling my thumbs while believing for the miraculous to fall out of the sky. It's mine. SO the things I want, I should pursue. God chasers can indeed be Dream chasers. In fact, that's the way it's supposed to be.

So no more wistful dreaming. TIme to put the plow to work. Leggo.