Foreign Exchange in DC!

>My feet hurt.

I have never been the type of guy to ever consider having a pedicure, but as of right now, I’m thinking that it may be a good idea.

I’ve been on my feet, using my feet, almost non-stop, for the past 24 hours. Doing what?

Attending The Foreign Exchange concert at the Black Cat in DC!

First off, let me state that this is my first secular concert. I attend one of America’s premier Christian university, and it being a college, there are a maelstrom of Contemporary Christian concerts. I’ve seen TobyMac, Switchfoot, Thousand Foot Krutch, Family Force 5, Flame, Lecrae, Tedashii, Rush of Fools, KJ-52 and more, all live. And these were pretty good concerts. As a fan of the previous mentioned artists, I’m an advocate for loud music. Especially when talent is involved (whoda thunk that TobyMac can *kinda* breakdance?).

But this past Sunday was particularly special for me. For a number of reasons.

A. In Lynchburg, the nightlife is seriously lacking. I’m from the Northeast sector of the country, so I’m rather accustomed to a more active PM lifestyle. And I’m not even a real huge party hopper; I’m just not used to a citywide unofficial 10pm curfew.

B. The parties that I’ve been going to lately have SUCKED. Maybe that’s how folk get down in the Burg. Maybe that’s how college folk compensate for the severe deficit of dusk-themed activities. But I have learned that I am not a house party kinda dude. At least not these house parties. (Wack Music+Lame Dancing+Beer Pong as Prime Entertainment <>

C. I am personally trying to get more comfortable as a 20something. I’m not a teenager any more, and I feel that I’ve got to pursue more on my weekends than the issues in Bullet A & B.

D. A few months ago, I bid farewell to one of my favorite Hip-Hop groups, 4^th Avenue Jones. I needed something to balance out that missing weight.

Come heaven or Afghanistan, I was going to that concert.

As we arrived in the Black Cat, my excitement level was humming at an 8. Then Big Pooh got on stage.

I will say this. Pooh catches a lot of heat, oft getting called the weakest link in the duo of Little Brother. I don’t necessarily agree, but I think that he was on point last night. Him being on his own grind, I feel, has given him the space to dig deeper into his craft.

I was hoping that there would’ve been a bit more LB tracks, but like I said, the man is on HIS grind, getting his name out there.

The DJ spun for a little bit, attempting to prep the crowd for what was about to go down. At times, he was lacking, but he eventually got it right. I personally would’ve preferred more Michael Jackson cuts. But I’m biased.

Then Nicolay stepped out. (That ‘bama is tall.)

Crowd recognizes him and goes nuts. He is followed by Carlitta Durand (who is a fine looking woman, by the way. If she is reading this, CAWL ME.) who starts off the set with “Lose Your Way” off of Nicolay’s “City Lights 2” album. Beautiful song.

Then the rest of the band comes out.

Yazarah, with her fine self, Darien Brockington and Phonte Coleman.

I’m not going to go on and on about how magnificent this night was. The web has enough of FE concert reviews. Instead, I’ll just make a few points.

· D –Brock can sang. That boy went to CHUCH. No, not church. CHUCH.

· Yazarah is like a modern day Tina Turner.

· Phonte is HIGH-larious. And a very talented individual.

· It says volumes about what you do as a performer when the audience can tell that you love what you do.

· The world needs another FE/LB album.

· “Good beats. Dope rhymes. This Hip-Hop thing isn’t really that hard.”

· LB stands strong, with or without 9^th Wonder.

· Eff Bad Boy. We need more HOJ.

· …we need to support good music, not just Hip-Hop.

Ya’ll need some FE in your life. Find your way to a show ASAP. Rob somebody, stab somebody, just do eet.

**Oh, if someone knows what the song “Purple Flip” or “Something About You” is, lemme know? I’m trying to make a playlist on my iTunes, and I have no clue where those songs came from.

Behind Every Great Man...

I was bored the other night, so I looked for a movie to watch, one from my own personal collection. Classes were about to begin for the semester, so I wanted to take a chance to enjoy myself before the rush of the new semester started to bumrush my senses.

Didn’t feel like dealing with romance or drama, so “Save the Last Dance” wasn’t an option.

And I didn’t particularly want to watch anything too violent without some friends to enjoy the mayhem with me, so “Live Free or Die Hard” was out of the running as well.

I wanted something simple, but not idiotic. Humorous, but not too offensive.

So I opted for “Undercover Brother”.

Most of us are familiar with this quasi-blaxpoitation spoof film, starring Eddie Griffin, Chris Kattan and Denise Richards. Carrying one of Dave Chappelle’s best film roles in tow, I thoroughly enjoyed myself throughout this movie.

However, one of the funniest lines in this movie did something to me this time around…

Undercover Brother: You know what they say, behind every great black man...
Conspiracy Brother: is the police.
Undercover Brother: No.
Smart Brother: A bunch of slow white athletes?
Undercover Brother: No!
White She-Devil: A cute butt.
Undercover Brother: NO!
Lance: Probable cause.

Eventually, our hero is able to throw out that age-old cliché line that behind every great black man is a great black woman.

Now, I’ve always been able to over look this line and chalk it up to what I just said: cliché. Everyone one, from pastors to reflective college professors, has sprouted out this line at some point or another. However, for some reason, I started to sit and ponder on it.

Allow me to say this. By no means am I great yet. I mean, my ‘fro is growing to be a force to be reckoned with, but that’s about it.

All the same…were I great man, who would be behind me? Does that over-played adage apply to me?

And automatically, the answer came rushing to me, without challenge or second guessing.

I won’t lie; this woman can sometimes come across as naïve or fragile. When looking at her, “invulnerability” or “physicaly supremecy” are hardly the first things that come to mind. But to leave at the first impression would be your folly, because I have seen first-hand the strength that resides within this woman.

As a Christian, the Bible ends up being my resource and the main backdrop for my beliefs and standards. In this instance, I shall do the same. Enter the famed Proverbs 31 Comparison.

Proverbs 31: 13-15a – “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family…”

This passage describes a part of this woman to the T. Even when her body is screaming for her to stop or slow down, I have a cavalcade of memories of her constantly working hard. Almost as if working with some unknown secret X factor, she operates dutifully, taking care of business, handling her handle.

She has shown me how important it is to work hard. Honestly speaking, I am a hardcore creature of comfort. I may not necessarily go for mani/pedi combos or take the escalator versus the stairs, but if I can, I’ll definitely take an opportunity to nap my behind off. In watching her, I’m aware of how important a good, consistant work ethic is.

Proverbs 31:18,20 – “She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night…she opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.”

I think this goes hand-in-hand with the previous passage: she is aware of what her work is worth. We all know that the generous (pun intended) hand of the Millenium Recession has been slapping people up, left and right; she is not immune to the damage. In the same breath, she is fully conscious of the value of her hard work. Because if it were up to me…I’d probably give up and move to Canada or something.

She is also generous and open-hearted. One area that I’ve seen very evident in her is her willingness to serve, almost regardless of an individual’s situation…or her ability to give. In today’s world, it is advisable to don a hat of caution at all times. This woman has a nature to her that contests that ideology.

I wouldn’t call myself stingy, but if I’m at my last swig of Dr. Pepper…you’re probably not going to get it, unless I really like you. She encourages me, without speaking about it explicitly, to have a generous heart. 2 Corinthians 9:11 mentions being blessed (or rich, as the NIV translation states) so that “you can be generous on every occasion…”.

Proverbs 31:30 – “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

I personally think that this woman is truly beautiful, but I don’t personally know of any other woman who fears and respect the name of God with such…adoration. I have heard this woman described as a prayer warrior, and I cannot think of any other way to describe her. I briefly mentioned her calm, almost passive demeanor earlier; don’t let that distract you from the strength that she possess. A believer in Christ, rarely would she offer any advice and admonition without bringing it back to God.

So, here I shall repeat myself. Were I to be called a ‘great man’, who would be behind me?

I am blessed with a crew of friends who love me dearly and have supported me for years, and I have a family behind me that is as real as it gets. But I believe that standing behind me, never moving or wavering in the position God granted her 22 years ago, is my mother, Margaret George.

Along with my father, she has been with me, behind me, supporting me since the day of my birth, doing what we all hear, but is usually the hardest put into practice.

Love me.

I am still but a seedling in the face of the man God wants me to be, but I know that without the die-hard persistence and dedication of both my parents, I would be nothing now.

My Life According to Little Brother

Seeing as how I'm coming back to the blogging circuit, I figured that I'd give myself a little filler post. And, I've really been feeling "Little Brother" this past year. As far as hip-hop goes, I've just learned about them, and I've been snatching everything up by them. So, after snatching this blurb up from Muze, I decided to follow up with this artist. Enjoy this little bit 'o insight, cop it if you want it!


Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to 12 people you like and include me. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "My Life According to (BAND NAME)"

Pick Your Artist:
Little Brother

Are you a male or female?
Diary of A Mad Black Daddy (skit)

Describe yourself:
So Fabolous

How do you feel:
The Get-Up

Describe where you currently live:
Welcome To The Minstrel Show

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Hiding Place

Your favorite form of transportation:
Speed/Slow It Down (kinda contradictory, eh?)

Your best friend is:
Shorty On The Lookout

Your favorite color is:
Two-Step Blues

What's the weather like:
Make Me Hot

Favorite time of the day:
Nighttime Maneuvers

If your life was a tv show, what would it be called:
We Got Now

What is life to you:
ExtraHard/Lovin' It

Your relationships:
Step It Up/Slow It Down

Your fear:
That Ain't Love

What is the best advice you have to give:
All For You

If you could change your name, you would change it to:
Roy Lee, Producer Extraordinaire

Thought for the Day:
Love Joint Revisited

How I would like to die:
Home

My soul's present condition:
The Listening

My Motto:
Dreams/We Got Now/ExtraHard/When Everything Is New

The Thriller

I was sleeping.

While working at camp, I did a brief stint as a night watchman. My hours were from 8:30pm to 5:00am, so as soon as the minute hand made its 60th checkpoint at the hour mark, I was on my way back down to my cabin, in which I quickly went to sleep. During the day, I had no obligation to anything, so this particular realm of sleep was beyond delightful.

Around 6:30pm, on June 25th, I got a three consecutive texts from some friends.
• Text 1: “Nick! Did u hear about michael jackson?”
• Text 2: “Michael Jackson Is dead! Like, really…”
• Text 3: “Michael Jackson died today.”

…And I honestly froze, in motion and in thought.

I was not ready to hear this.

Allow me to back up a bit.

Way back when, in the wonder years of my youth, I was raised around a rather firm cul-de-sac of musical standards. Raised in a Caribbean household, my mom was a huge CeCe Winans fan. My dad was a devout listener to a popular jazz radio station, only alternating between that and the local Christian music station.

In the early nineties, hip-hop and rap music was picking up attention. Lest I remind you, with names like Tupac and 2 Live Crew running the scene, it wasn’t exactly inviting to youthful ears, especially under watchful eyes like my parents. The list of allowed artists was short.

Around this same time, some guy named Michael Jackson released an album called “Dangerous”. The first song off of this album that I had heard was entitled “Black or White”. And I can’t remember exactly how or the circumstances surrounding it, but I found myself in possession of this particular cassette.

Believe me when I say, I have never. Ever. Ever. Ever replayed or listened to one solitary album as much (before or since) Michael’s “Dangerous” album. More than 4th Avenue Jones “No Plan B pt. 2”. More than Mars Ill “ProPain”. More than J Period’s “The Best of Lauryn Hill” Mixtape. On cassette, my sister ruined it (she was at that playful stage where destruction is amusing). Once I got it on disc, I played it so much, the disc went bad. The second disc broke. Third is currently is heavy rotation in my car, and it’s starting to go bad now, only from a long life of overplay.
I’m not even going to speak about the first time I saw Michael dance. Everyone can echo emphatic adoration about The Moonwalk. We’ve seen Usher do/attempt it countless times.

But. I want to focus on a facet of Michael’s performing style that truly impacted me.

His energy.

I have never seen someone sing or dance or perform with such raw…energy. The first MJ music video I had ever seen was “Jam”, and I was blown away. It wasn’t even his best or my favorite. But in watching him move…you know how the story goes.

I had to try it.

And believe me when I say, I began to mimic what I saw. I had the moonwalk down pat in minutes. His patented side-step? I still do it. That complicated foot shuffle? It’s a part of my club scene repertoire. But that’s not really saying much. Aside from that, I can’t dance for crap, in my opinion. And I am but one in a legion of MJ aficionados who clamor for the “Beat It” dance number.

The main thing that stuck with me throughout the years? The energy.

It’s one thing to kick up your foot and squeal “Hee hee!”.

But I feel that a huge part of what made Michael so magical was how he almost existed on stage as a musical exclamation point. The simplest movements were sharp and on point. He felt it. He felt it, in every blood vessel, every sensory nerve, every bone in his body.

And he made me believe it.

When speaking about music, I frown whenever I hear someone say that it’s “just music.” I believe that that is one of the most sadly misinformed and ignorant statements someone can make. In the same vein, I can not listen to a good song and not…feel it.

I do more than bob my head. Many a time, I have gotten awkward stare and concerned glances from random passer-bys. Maybe they thought I had Turrets’ or something. Whatever. Doesn’t matter to me. Never has.

I can’t shake my borderline obsession with (good) music. And when I feel it, I can’t silence it or mute it. My iPod volume level stays on high. I would break out into a sad imitation of a breakdance if a particular Busta Rhymes track comes on. If Lecrae is spitting some hard truth, best believe I’m mouthing the words out, as if I was on stage with him. Timbo’s on the beat? Nick is on the street, frantically trying to match that…energy. (Don’t stop ‘til you get enough, I guess…)

And it all started with Michael.

The passion that I have for music, live instrumentals and raw delight was birthed with the first cassette tape I have ever owned.

And I know that this was a bit late. The world is moving on. People have already flooded Wal-Mart to cop Michael’s “Number Ones” album. Underground DJ’s have released tribute mixes, and have moved on to anticipate upcoming releases. The media will continue to feast on his stature. The world will continue to spin.

As will I. I’m looking forward to The Blueprint 3. Grad school classes start in less than four days. My siblings will continue to need my help more than they will ever know or admit. My parents will forever watch over me, as if I were still the baby boy they birthed 22 years ago. My friends and I will continue to ride out our growth.

But…that passion is a part of me. And God willing, I shall use it as he sees fit.

In saying that, I write this in urgency. To all who are reading this (my fellow Christians in particular), I implore you to grip onto something firmly and GO HARD BODY. Not for Michael Jackson. Not for your pastor. But for the Glory of Jesus, our Christ. While my introduction to this emotion came from a largely secular source, it would be amiss of me to not apply it in accordance to His Will.

Peace.

U KNOW.

...now I'm back again.

Well.

The summer of 2009 is officially over.

In a few days, I will be entering my first set of classes on the Graduate level. Aiming in the direction of mastering the art of Counseling, I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t nervous. However, as I have been known to say in the past…

“Bring it.”

In regards to this summer, it has been rather interesting, to say the least. As my last post would dictate, I’ve been working at a Christian sports camp in Missouri. The camp is called Kids Across America, and after spending three months out there, I’ve been subject to quite a bit. Outside of camp’s gates however, life has not slowed down. As a matter of fact, I feel like it sped up. So much has taken place since May.

New life and death.

Love and hate.

Beginnings and endings.

Obviously, I want to write about it all. Part of my personal journeys this summer has led to see some things in myself. One of those is the way that I write. I would really like to write about MORE.

So yeah. I guess this post is another re-introduction. Hope ya’ll are ready.