The Just Doin’ It video is approaching 400k views and maybe there is something wrong with my view of success, as I only see it as the first leg of the journey as opposed to being the finish line. I haven’t made time to really enjoy this stretch of the road, but after I publish this post, I think that I WILL! I’m reminded that even the smallest of breakthroughs deserves recognition. So, exactly how I will celebrate is still up in the air, but it may be as simple as doing nothing and catching a nap, seeing how sleep is always fleeting.
Yesterday, my mother in-law called me and read me an article that she discovered in the Buffalo News Gusto section. It was a brief write-up on GMA and how it was a great offering to the music scene and compared me to one of the giants in the industry in regards to being the pride of my city. In my head I had always wished to be a shining light, a beacon of hope for Buffalo, as it has certainly been in some of its darkest hours. But the bottom line is, 400k views with next to no budget or promotions in a crumbling city like mine with nothing major or positive to tout about, especially musically, is something that SHOULD be backed and supported by the likes of the movers and shakers in The Nickel City, however, it goes back to my point, that I still have so much further to go, as only a select few people right here in town TRULY want me to succeed. That’s how it feels.
Well, here we are! More than 200 days into the year and approaching the closure of 2010 already. Unbelievable how much time has passed. As I’m typing this, I’m watching the story of Janet Hubert on TV1′s “Life After” series. Janet was the mother from Fresh Prince of Bel Aire. If you recall, the episodes where she was pregnant, well that child she was carrying is now 17 years old. So, in regards to time, it surely waits for no man and can be a detriment when mismanaged. I feel that I have truly mismanaged my personal time in trying to balance career, parenting, talents and other projects as well as necessary obligations. Fortunately, I have found somewhat of a remedy and solution, inspired by my own work. My latest offering from Good Morning Amy entitled “Just Doin It” is a testament and reminder to the brilliance that I can’t let go to waste and it is also a mantra to get things accomplished. Thanks to the incredible talent of Dominic Luongo, director and editor who was able to extract my motion picture thoughts directly from my brain, I present my finest work to you. Live the mantra!
Good Morning Amy officially released on June 22 with great reception. Today marks the release of the Worldwide video debut of “Shut the Gate”, directed by Kevin Lopez. Be on the look out for the follow up video “Just Doin’ It.”
Props to the JustOffElmwood blog for leaking the video last friday. I likes!!!
I was recently having a conversation with a young man that I’m beginning to mentor and he was listing some of his favorite rappers and who he thinks is better than the other. He was saying how J. Cole is better than Drake and how Lil Wayne is hot, but he really isn’t feeling like he is dope for what he says, but that there is a lot of hype behind him. I brought some current rappers and even admitted that I don’t own one single Jay-Z album which is a shame, but honestly more of a jealous competitive decision to never buy and sit with one of the 10 or more classic albums, NUMBER 1 albums that he’s dropped.
Then we went further into the conversation and I brought up the fact that for a Southern rapper, Ludacris can give any upstate or east coast rapper a run for their money. One of the things we both agreed on was the fact that Luda had a dope voice and was very distinguishable. I then pointed out that I heard and saw with my own ears and eyes, in an interview with Luda, that he has insurance coverage on his voice as it is his means of living, which I thought was brilliant. Now, seeing as how my mentee is only 18, I figured that he wouldn’t remember one of the dopest rappers to ever touch the mic from the West Coast, originally by way of Texas, the D.O.C., so I thought to post this for him, because in light of Ludacris’ voice insurance, I only wish that such an option was considered so many years ago when the D.O.C. lost the complete range and full use of his original voice due to a near fatal accident, also making me think about how fortunate Kanye West is as well in surviving his accident. So, Jordan, this song is for you bro. DiG!
The year was 1996 and what an great time for music and Hip Hop. The Fugees, starring or featuring one of the greatest if not THE greatest female emcees. I’m up late working and up early……working!! My overtime fuel has been The Score album. I’m listening to it and feeling like I’m in a time warp, as if I haven’t aged because I feel the exact same feelings as when I first bought the Cd. The fact that Rah-Digga was just as ill on the mic as Lauryn. The fact that I’m still not quite sure what Praz’s function or contribution was, as he certainly wasn’t the lyrical one. The fact that the skit at the 1:45 mark on “The Beast” with the Chinese Muslim restaurant, is STILL hilarious. “You think I open a restaurant in the middle of the hood and not no what’s up…F*&$% Represent!”
Well, in light of my personal quest of a presenting a classic masterpiece with Good Morning Amy, I find great inspiration in “The Score.” Best Rap Album – The Score. Best R&B Performance by a Duo or a Group – Killing Me Softly With His Song, 1996.
A throwback, not Grammy-related but Grammy worthy. In normal form, the Roots pushed the envelope of creativity with this video. Today is day 161, and as most of the posts are about Grammy winners or nominees, which the Roots can proudly say they are both, I find myself on days like today just searching for inspiration. So I thought to locate this Roots video, which was just insane and out of the box. Dig the movements, hence the song title. So, what’s YOUR next movement.
Tomorrow, Saturday, April 17, the video for Shut the Gate featuring Richie English, and the talents of kids of family and friends will debut at the Market Arcade on Screen #2, starting around 10pm. In case you didn’t know, my video for the single off of the Good Morning Amy album, was accepted into the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival. So, this should be an incredible night to say the least.
For those of you that can make it, I’ll see you there. For those of you that can’t, my apologies for the late notice.
Behind the Scenes:
For more information of the other films and videos/night’s agenda, view HERE.
Film Guide HERE also.
Day 46, nearly Day 47 by the time that I post this. Each day has presented its challenges resulting in very late postings. Nonetheless, I always find inspiration to continue to remain faithful and focused at being an inspiration to others developing a clearer vision of what I desire from life. Today I read an email from a good friend Donny, who is one of the many talented people that I have yet to work with collaboratively, but we’ve always kept each other in mind with mutual respect. I’m not sure if he knew it or not, but the video that he recommended as a reference for the work that he and I should plan towards was actually nominated for the Best Music Video Grammy this year, inspiring today’s post. “Her Morning Elegance” is a great song accompanied by a well-matched video. Congrats to Oren Lavie, although B.E.P. took home the trophy with “Boom Boom Pow.”….no further comments…
Approaching the launch of Good Morning Amy, I’m anticipating to pull off a video of similar nature, using still-photography and illustrations creating a fun, playful and colorful interactive environment, delivering a stunning and memorable short film video. There are many different ways to go about getting a Grammy nod and we’re trying them all. Have a Good Morning, each and every morning! pEace.
Day 35 of the Grammy Chase, what else would I be writing about. huh? Thanks to Okayplayer.com, I stumbled across some cool video of the Roots Jam Session, an after party concert among many in Los Angeles, featuring Grammy Nominees John Legend, Mos Def and my favorites Foreign Exchange and Ledisi backed by the Legendary Roots Crew, Jimmy Fallon’s in-house band.
I like how at the beginning of the video, Phonte of Foreign Exchange shares how even though they didn’t win a grammy, they can now and forever throughout their career mention and introduce themselves as “The Grammy-Nominated Foreign Exchange.” Oh how I’ll love to hear, “Grammy-Nominated artist, Billy Drease” right before a presentation or a performance. I’ll let you know that feels like later.
