THE SINS OF THE ARTIST SHALL BESET UPON HIS FANS

The topic of conversation is usually music. It's fits my snarky public persona.  People love to talk about their music, from the propaganda queen of pop radio to the underground king in his basement. We continue to create the personal soundtracks to our lives to add depth to our moments. A person that is passionate about music can flash back to a moment of time where they associate a song or artist with an event. Sometimes their eyes light up and dance because the song represents a defining moment. Sometimes their eyes go down for a second and they pause in the present because the song was associated with a pain they never let go of the past. Our expressions tell our stories whether we are trying to communicate them or not. Our music is important to us which has led me to the question. Why are we settling? We are settling for different reasons but the truth is we are settling when it comes to our music. This goes beyond the limitations of age because the language of music is universal. It's a personal question with a between you and your music but the future where the radio is playing jingles of Oscar Myer and people are jamming to it in the movie Demolition Man, which was harsh man, are not unrealistic in this fan's mind. I have several theories on why fans are settling but I only know my own. I was being exposed to new genres and I was embracing them learning about groups that I had only heard of. The more I listened the more I realized I knew this music. I kept waiting to introduce this group to Hip-Hop, Techno, and House but I settled for the gray areas of Metal where we had some common ground. I challenged this group constantly along the way. I understood why they liked it because it was classic but I couldn't find the goal in all the smoke. I finally realized I was alone musically so attached myself to a few artist of today and of the past and put my volume up real real loud. I became a one man show to the public. Someone was going to hear me right. I got frustrated with my situation and I started to turn on the music that made me. The lack of something new was my own fault. I stopped looking I settled for what was on the radio and stopped living. The past was bothering my present but I started to asked myself why do love this artist and begin to realize I needed new music in my life. The future and my happiness depended on it. I am a fan of artist that emphasize on real life. I was lucky I had two of the realest artist in music on my side. I wrote a blog about an upcoming Mary J. Blige concert which featured her top 15 songs then I applied it to my own life. The results left me in awe. I liked it because I knew it was true and I knew I lived it. I realized I enjoyed living the music. I enjoyed watching an artist come from the bottom and rise to the top. I knew at that moment what I wanted to do with my life after 29 years of living I started to put my crates in the closet and I flipped out my laptop. I knew it was out there. It's always out there I choose not to find it for whatever reason. The alter egos of the past were finally buried and set up the songs. Mary J. Blige was on one playlist, she is the only artist with enough soul for my HEART. Kanye West was on the other playlist because his music is inspiring. He was the only artist that could satisfy my SOUL. I knew there was trouble on the horizon and these demons weren't about to just go away.  I had no idea that the monsters I created were about to test my dream. My life was about to change forever and music was about to become my religion.

HYPER CRUSH TV EPISODE 12 (HALLOWEEN)

The 8R8 is a fan at heart. Check out the Halloween Concert Episode courtesy of Hyper Crush.

THIS IS MY LIFE...ON THE RADIO.

This is a re-post my old blog February 11, 2010. It was an unlikely story caught in the Party Rock Chronicles.

Everybody it’s my party and if you cannot handle the flashing lights or the club sounds then step aside because my shine is may be bright but it will never let you down. I will always put music first in my life because it is a constant but let’s step away from the music and see what life is like through words of the RADIO. I am going to talk about one of the hidden things about myself.....

I am fan of radio. When I am alone or feeling lonely I listen to talk radio. The first voice that got my attention was Jay Marvin on WLS. Jay was very intimate with his fans. He talked about being a Bi-Polar Manic Depressive. I started to become educated that depression was a real condition. He made it easier to come to terms with my own depression and overcome it. Jay was righteous in his battles for diversity and did not shy away from the fact that Chicago was city still plagued with racism. It is funny because years later while working at factory in Chicago I learned that what he was saying was very true. He battled from the heart when tackling a subjects of politics or hard knocks. Jay was real in a world were Right Winged Politics ruled the air waves. I got to meet Jay Marvin one time in front of a Barnes and Noble. I noticed him from car standing in front of the book store. I parked and I ran right up to him. I was very excited because I wanted give him respect. I remember I was wearing my Starter White Sox Jersey and thought…I wondered what the public perception of this scenario was. I was a little ghetto Latin kid is running up to the big white guy with a beard. When you are that age you worry about what everyone else is thinking and you always thinking the spotlight is on you. I didn’t care what anyone thought for one second because this was the moment to finally give respect to one of heroes in my life. I went up to Jay and told him just what a difference his words have made in my life. I turned into a fan boy and asked for his autograph. I am not sure if Jay realized it but his mission of diversity was staring him right in eyes and I think the significance could have been overlooked. It shows two different people from two different worlds forever connected because of their words. I may have changed dramatically from the kid that wanted the autograph and I don’t know where Jay is spitting his words versus the ones I write now. This became a defining moment where the kid at heart lives inside of me was able to see inspiration. There will always be part of me that will want to be that guy on the radio who is connected with the people. Conventional wisdom and authority my remind us, “We should not share ideas.” Jay broke down the genres of life and his words live on in this fan’s head.....

808 DIVERSE HALLOWEEN MOVEMENTS

I had to learn how to use public transportation really quick. Indiana to the Congress Theater in Chicago piece of cake right? I put on my headphones with that G.O.O.D. Music at volume levels that made the random commuters stare...okay it might have been the neon green glasses I was wearing. The journey there made this one of most memorable adventures and it was worth it. This was the first show I stood up front for the duration. The card was that strong. The biggest surprise of the night was a rapper named Napalm. He was an instant hit with Generation Undefined the fans of Electro Music. Napalm sounded as good as the fire beats wooom wooom woooming. The party was on and I was hanging on for dear life at times to keep my front row status. The Jump Smokers grabbed the plug and slammed it into the socket. Hyper Crush hit the stage dressed up as The Super Mario Bros. Team. Hyper Crush featuring The First Lady of Electro Holly who shook my hand while she performed. She takes a little bit of my heart every time she is close. The Far East Movement. Woooo Weee! Dudes came out in space helmets that illuminated colors of life. FM's energy started the lightning storm in the Congress Theater. They made their mark on Chicago tonight proving they are The Breakthrough Group of Electro in 2010.

LMFAO are The Kings of Party Rock Music. The highly anticipated second album is on the horizon but 2010 has been a quiet year from the group. If you think the kings are just sitting on their thrown then you haven't been to one of their live world wide shows. They have been tearing down clubs, arenas and venues digitally sparking 2010 which has made them the most successful Electro group in the history of the Genre. The theme was the classic video game Street Fighter with the intro mix FIGHT! Sky Blu as Ryu. Red Foo as Blanka...you know the green monster that power is electricity. Q looked fresh to death as M. Bison the costumes were right on as they threw down performing all their hits including the calobo with Dirt Nasty I Can't Dance. This was Party Rock to the extreme. Things were out of control and I loved it. It seems like serenading the masses with champagne has become a tradition in Electro. Sky Blu got me once again spraying a bottle right through my neon shades with no lenses. My eyes like the rest of my body were now on fire but my soul was charged. I enjoyed the reenactment of Street Fighter fight scenes. The performance was hands up LMFAO at there best.

Generation Undefined showed me what they stand for tonight. The Diversity in Electro Music can no longer be ignored. African American, Asian, Latin, and White took to the stage for one common purpose...to rock the sock off of an even more diverse group of fans. It's pretty amazing when the genres of music come together so do the genres of life. We are so different of generations past. I am so proud of what these groups have done socially and consider myself lucky to be part of The Electro Movement. I hope my contribution of words made at least one fan. This really is the music that brought me back to life. Everything came together tonight The Movement is OVER...WHAT? You are still MOVING well then let THE REVOLUTION begin...

POIGNANT STEPS ROUND MY STALKER

This story begins at 6am Halloween Day. The sun hasn't come up yet and I had a full nights sleep. The first good rest in a long time. I started thinking about my morning coffee and a project to keep me busy before the show. I decided I was going to make some bracelets to give out to the fans at the concert event of the year. I am still in my blood soaked beater from my Disco Bloodbath costume but the real nightmare was about to begin. I have never wrote about my real life stalker situation until now. I am breaking my silence because I have learned attention or no attention this fucker isn't going away. My front, back, and drivers side window were shattered on my car. I am so desensitized to shattered glass that my mind raced to wonder..."How am I going to get to the show?" I was completely defeated. This was a direct hit on not just me but The Electro Movement. Everything about the movement was leading up to tonight. I came to the conclusion there was no way I was going to go. Suddenly bracelets and music started to become dark. The Police Department did there normal absolutely nothing but something happens to me when I thought about what was being taken away from me. I think the Revolution starts when normal people stand up from the corrupt politics and government bullshit. I stood up to the officer and explained...if it was your family member that was being terrorized for the last 11 months...I am sure something would be done about it. The officer told me to move. I told him why is it because I live in the African American Community? I told him it wasn't the community that was doing this. It's nice to know that  being a coward compliments a cowards agenda. Honestly I don't want to leave. I try my best to give people an uplifting image with my music and style. Yes I am a little strange but I feel safe and accepted where I live. I never took stalker cases seriously when I read about celebrities being watched. I just looked at a stalker as an over zealous fan that just wants to be close. I was wrong. It's a disgusting pattern that is senseless and shameful for it's victims. When you have courts and officers that won't help what do you do?  Your friends  get tired of hearing your stories you start to wonder if it's all really happening or are you imagining it. This isn't a poor me story. I don't play victim well...it's just boring. I have gained something  unexpected from this situation. The father has become one of those repetitive words that was often a dream of mine even as a little kid. My stepfather has taught me more than my head could  handle at times. He has been my source of sanity throughout the madness. He has said all the right words to keep me working through the situation versus quitting. The lessons were always there even when I was teenager. You gotta understand at that time I still had hope that my biological father would step up. I am not putting the biological down he a good buddy and decent friend but a real man knows it takes more than that be a father. My stepdad did the best he could with the bundle of damaged goods that fell from the sky. He bought me my first pair of brand name sneakers when I was just a stranger. I think they were Reeboks but I got this black pair of British Knights in my head. My mind was so closed then. I can only imagine what I would have learned with an open mind. My point is quite clear. I may have been through some major obstacles in what is hands down the greatest year of my life. Those obstacles have led me to finding the dream of finally being blessed with a man I can call Dad. I my still call you from your government name. I don't know call it my stubborn pride but in my head and heart I am calling you Dad. This is the story behind the show and it's dedicated to you with LOVE.