#BarbershopBlues

Because my church was hosting an ongoing event this weekend, I was unable to meet with my sponsor in his studio. Luckily and conveniently, my sponsor also doubles as my barber, and I needed a hair cut this weekend. I think you can put two and two together, but just in case you can’t, I decided to take a “visit” to his barbershop. While there, my sponsor and I discussed everything from how rapper Big Sean is secretly a 47 year old in disguise to theories behind why one of his customers was smiling the whole time he was sitting in the barbershop. But more importantly, my sponsor told me that he traded the MAC computer I’ve grown accustom to for a smaller MAC laptop. Don’t worry he transferred all of his files to the laptop so all my beats are still intact. Well that’s all for now…..

#TheMightyMr.Moreland

This blog is devoted to a comment that Mr. Moreland left on one of my ‘#SeussicalTheMusical….AhHa!’ It read: “Look at what Quincy Jones has accomplished in the music industry. His use of orchestra music has been instrumental in the music of hip hop producers of today (Kanye West). I'd like to see you involve his efforts in your paper/project. I think he is important to the evolution of r&b, soul, and hip-hop.” Not only was this comment lengthy and insightful (Mr. Abrams comment forte), it provided me with an alternative way to go about my research paper, causing me to rework my lacking thesis in the process. And ultimately my research paper would reap the rewards of Moreland’s words of wisdom.

#VanillaVisa...

After hours of intense research resulting in sweat-stained keyboard keys, slight carpal tunnel, and broken dreams, I discovered that not all gift cards are online shopping ready. It all started when I returned home from eventful day that included our very own Rondel and Quashelle. After acquiring a “Vanilla” VISA gift card, I had my eyes set on an authentic Boston Celtics 1990 ANNCO snapback I seen on EBAY. I have some good news and some bad news: the good news is that I won the auction (thank you! Thank you!). The bad news is that I was unable to purchase the hat due to the fact that the VISA card I brought wasn’t the type that you can order online with (terrible, I know). The moral of the story folks is ask as many questions at the register as possible.

#OFWGKTA

Ever since I was introduced to Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All better known as OFWGKTA by my life-long friend Osiris I've been hooked. Tyler, the creator (‘Tyler, the creator’ is his actual stage name) , the group’s founder, is in a league of his own- well a league shared only by his best friends Earl Sweatshirt and Hodgey Beats as well as other OFWGKTA members. If the group COULD be defined it would probably read something like “SHOCK RAPPERS. SKATE KIDS. RULE BREAKERS. CONTENT CREATORS. DIY EVANGELISTS. DISRUPTERS” as seen on their recent cover for Billboard magazine. To make a long story short, Odd Future, is shaking up the hip-hop game akin to the way Wu-Tang Clan did during their reign, possibly making them the face of the future of the rap game. An odd future indeed.

Due to the vulgarness of their music it would be inappropriate to post ANY of their music on a school related blog. However I highly recommend listening to them when you have a chance.

#ICan'tStressItEnough

Although 99% of my being wanted to free write about my trip to Philadelphia, I feel as though I talked about that enough; leaving me with nothing in mind to free write about. Therefore, I intend to devote this blog to my lack of ideas.

My mind feels like a brick wall: bland, motionless, and dead. I feel like a hat, without a head to call bed…I feel like a new notebook, clean and bare. Like a fruit bowl, without any pears. Or even a forest, without any bears…I feel like a Garbage Man on a regular day. I feel like a farm, without any hay.

That was not an honest attempt. It was simply for humor purposes (lol). Please pardon the corniness.

#Moreland'sRadioVisit

In case you’re wondering why Moreland wasn’t in school today, I’ll fill you in. While attending a silent bidding auction, Moreland won a free trip to a local radio station (whose name I just can’t seem to remember) meet, sit, and chat with the radio personalities. Yup that’s about it. And In case you’re asking yourself ‘where does Larry come into play at?’ I was just getting to that. Moreland, told me he would give the radio personalities my contact information, and tell them my aspirations, in hopes that I can schedule an interview with them and broaden my knowledge of all things music. If all things fall into place I’ll be this much closer to reaching my goal of becoming a renowned music producer.

#NowThat'sDeep..

My Ah Ha! Moment stemmed from a man we interviewed in Philly. He said something that was so deep and thought-provoking that it will surely resonate with me for the rest of my life. Kyle, Rondel, Ron, and I vowed to not unveil the actual quote that was said until we drop the video because some things are just better straight out the horse’s mouth. It was one of those interviews that are so deep it can’t be followed up by another. You know, the ones that fade out into an outro of a documentary. Stay tuned for that video. It’s the answer to all problems.

#BestDayEver..

Because we all were unable to meet with our sponsor this week for various reasons, Ron, Kyle, Rondel, and I decided to take a productive trip to Philly. What I thought was going to be an average day of recording in Philadelphia, ended up being one of the best days of my life (definitely the best Thursday of my life).
We started off slow. Recording small things such as: a St. Patrick’s Day gathering at one of the local pubs, a statue of a bull with wings (of course we couldn’t pass up an “it gives you wings!” joke opportunity), and us just strolling through the city, enjoying a beautiful day. But these videos quickly transcended into in-depth interviews, unforgettable incidents, and things of that nature.
I don’t want to get into too much detail because that will spoil the actual video (which will be up soon). But I do want to touch on the fact that the brotherhood that we all formed from the trip was powerful. Not ‘bros’ but Brothers. And I look forward to our next visit.

##3!!!

Ahhh I cant believe it! Today marks the third week Anniversary of my first Sponsor visit! I cant begin to explain how happy I am. I mean I knew this day would come eventually but...I just cant explain this feeling I have (in my 50% sobbing 50% cheerful 100% exaggerating & sarcastic voice). But all jokes aside, my Sponsor has really laid a great foundation for me. He taught me the ins-and-outs of music producing. Everything from sampling to musical equipment. Each passing visit becomes less talkative and more hands on. In fact he is so confident in me that last visit he left me at his studio for hours alone working on beats while he carried out some errands. And I did it all on his MAC...

#SeussicalTheMusical....AhHa!

In case you haven’t heard, due to the fact that you live under a rock or just isn’t a member of Lindenwold High School or even aware of Lindenwold’s existence, Lindenwold High School is putting on it’s version of the Broadway musical Seussical the Musical. And you may have heard that yours truly was casted as a Wickersham Brother, but not just any Wickersham Brother, I’m Wickersham Brother number 2. But that’s not important. What’s important is the music-because what’s a musical without good music right? The music throughout the play is beautiful, but my favorite musical number is “Monkey Around” partly because that is the Wickersham Brother’s premier musical number. With that being said, the sound of a full orchestra is overwhelming and epic thus giving me inspiration for my next beat. Yeah definitely having an orchestra...

#AhHa?

This Isn’t as much as an Ah Ha! moment as it is an Huh?! moment. After listening to a couple songs on my iPod I observed that each of their respective beats had a sound in common: a tick that I couldn’t connect an instrument to. Hopefully, with the help of some of my more music savvy friends I would be able to successfully identify this anonymous instrument. I can already gauge the level of embarrassment that’s going to bestow me when I learn of how familiar all the music heads are of it. I’m determined to find out what it is and when I do I’m going to incorporate it in my next beat. I’m going to call it “unknown”.

#ThePowerOfNostalgia

Have you ever heard music that took you back to a time in your life where everything seemed perfect? Life was simple? And fun was in abundance? That was a rhetorical series of questions. Of course you have. With that being said, Kid Cudi's debut mixtape 'A Kid Named Cudi' does just that to me. This is undoubtedly my favorite EP of all time. Because I first listened to it during the best years of my life, this mixtape will forever be synonymous with the words serenity and bliss. If you haven’t heard it before, I highly recommend you give it a listen. Who knows, it might even change your life too...

#JustTheBeginning..Visit#2

This past Friday/Saturday (went past midnight) I created my first OFFICIAL beat. Needless to say, I was satisfied with my creation. Although it wasn’t the modern day Kanye West-like beat I was aiming for, it still possessed a College Dropout-like sound that I was more than happy with. After giving me a small reminder of last week’s visit, my Sponsor went back into his home (his studio is separated from his home by a large walkway), leaving me to fend for myself for hours in his studio. I prefer this style of teaching over everything else. Don’t get the wrong idea, he checked in regularly with me just in case I had any trouble.

This coming Friday, because it’s going to be an overnight visit, I intend to not only completely finish my last beat, but create three or four more as well. Since he is going to give me his full arsenal of sounds next visit, I can assure you these beats are going to be a hop-and-skip better than my first.