In this edition we explore some eclectic soul, live instrumentation and progressive hip-hop from familiar sounds and sounds that should become familiar as you broaden your musical palette. This week, we’re celebrating the weekend with funky basslines, abstract artists, grizzly beats and sultry sounds…
Can you dig it?
Will contemplates leaving NYC in this week’s Friday Fives and JayQ tackles online dating in the JayQ+A. There’s hope for men within the Fave Fitness Minute and you need to break out your wave brush and emory board for the 60 Seconds of Sexy. This is one of those “feel good all over” editions, so come on and take a ride with the coolest podcaster alive.
This week’s Friday Favecast is one of the best produced episodes I’ve ever done. More importantly, there’s a great selection of music as well as fitness tips and ways to “preserve your sexy.”
Download the latest episode here and celebrate Friday
Check me out on Tasty Tuesdays as DJ Diva (aka The Mixtress) features yours truly for this week’s artist spotlight. In addition to sharing some of my favorite songs - we talked about the women who inspired such sentimental tunes as “Da Hell On.” You don’t wanna miss DJ Diva turn the tables and put me on the spot!
Utterz is a great way to capture my thoughts as I begin the day. This utterz features my excitement about today’s Friday Favecast as I head into work on two hours of sleep + 8 oz of black coffee in my system. It’s a great day to be alive!
I was in MicroCenter’s (MC) Apple department in search for a sweet, godfather deal on anything that would upgrade my Mac swagger. Since my MacBook acquisition, I had been meaning to get a hard cover to protect it from scratches. I peeked around online, the Apple Store and now . . . the MC.
If you’re in the market for a SCARLET RED MacBook cover - with four-leaf clover stencil cutouts for decor - then MC is the spot for you! *LOL* As I laughed at the cheesy selection, I spotted a couple of all-black, ballerific covers with a MSRP of $49.99.
That’s right . . . $50 for some hard plastic to cover my Mac. I guess they figured since we drop so much cheese on Apple products, a 50-spot would be a drop in the bucket. It WAS in the color I so desperately desired, so I coddled it in my shopping cart and walked around the store . . . searching for justification to purchase it (ex., it’s hard to find this color for my model, I can have it RIGHT NOW as opposed to looking for one online, etc.).
It wasn’t worth it. I put it back and walked out the store with the triumph of overcoming the temptation. I returned to my office and went on eBay to bid on the EXACT same hard cover for $2. A few days passed and I won the SAME MACBOOK HARD COVER I saw in MC for $9 plus $8 shipping (from Hong Kong). Throw in a little shipping insurance and I got the whole shibang sent to me for $19.
Nine business days later, my hard cover arrived at my office and my upgraded Mac swagger has been achieved.
MC’s MacBook Hard Cover = $49.99 + tax
eBay MacBook Hard Cover = $19.99 (includes shipping + insurance)
Overall Savings = $30.00 (aka a half tank of gas)
Not getting gaffled by MC + their horrendous markup = PRICELESS
I get so immersed in my creative work that I lose sight of the passion that motivated me in the first place. I often find myself marinating in the stagnation instead of finding the fuel to thrust forward.
I was chatting with one of my online music mentors about screenwriting. We swapped ideas and, after reading his script, I was pumped about writing all over again. When I skimmed through the first nine pages of my script, I was on fire. The funny thing is, I found excitement through efforts that were already made. I wondered, “how do I capture that excitement and keep it on hand for days when I’m not motivated?”
That’s when I realized it’s important to step back from my projects (e.g., music, writing, etc.) and look at them for the joy they bring and not just the labor they require. I need to keep it “fun” in my mind. Reading the script, envisioning the movie, thinking about actors, etc. is FUN. That should be my focus instead of “Man, I gotta sit down for the next few hours and crank this out.”
While on my “podcasting sabbitcal,” I enjoyed listening to tons of different podcasts from Barefoot in the Garage to DYKC and all musical points in between. It energized me because I wasn’t focused on the Friday Favecast all-nighters I usually pull on Thursdays. By stepping back and enjoying the efforts of fellow podcasters, I found energy and strength to streamline my own podcast and retool some ideas.
Going forward, I plan to complete my script and write more music. It’s not a chore . . . it’s what I love. I need to keep going so when my current manuscript is finally ready for print - I’ll be ready to us my marketing knowledge to promote it instead of worrying about what I “haven’t” done. I have an amazing support system so it’s all on me now
This morning I received an email inviting me to contribute to a project I’ve been wanting for the past few weeks. But the last line of the email transcended work:
Just so you know, we have an aggressive timeline and lots of work ahead.
I enjoy my job. My work ethic is recognized. My creativity is respected. My personality is well received. I’m looking forward to stepping up my performance and continuing down the professional path I’ve chosen. But it’s not just about work, action items and milestones…
My life seems to be an aggressive timeline. Everyday we’re blessed with existence, but one day we are going to get up for the last time . . . and we don’t know when that day is going to be. That’s aggressive as far as I’m concerned. I’m not so morbid that I fantasize over my death - but I’m not so clouded by the immortality perception of my youth that I don’t recognize it.
There is lots of work ahead. I honestly understand why the majority of the world screams “Ta hell with this!” and gives up. I’ve had my share of failures and lament over the reality that, as long as I live, I cannot allude failure completely. But failure doesn’t equate to giving up. I can’t give up . . . despite the copious amount of work ahead.
And I’m not talking about my job.
I have so many aspirations: writing books, producing music, writing screenplays, painting, speaking, helping people, etc. There are so many hats I’ve worn over the years and so many horrible decisions that have eroded the pavement towards my success. But it’s still a path I must continue. I think about those aspirations day and night - sometimes to the point where I cannot sleep.
I think about my primary roles as a husband and father. I was always told that I would make a good husband and father. These functions mean more than any song I could write or book I could sell. It’s hard enough to be a father, but it’s even harder when you have to rely on phones, emails and a positive relationship with the other parent when you’re not married to them. There’s a tinge of guilt that floats through my spirit like a spec of dust - when I think of how I’m not there in my kids’ face everyday like my dad was in mine. Nothing I can do about that. It just adds to the work that must be done. Managing the kids is the easy part. It’s managing myself for their sake that’s hard. But it must be done.
I chose to juggle being a husband, father, stepfather, professional, artist, etc. and I made a promise to God that I would not only juggle, but excel in each area. What in the hell was I thinking??? IT’S HARD! IT’S SO VERY HARD! IT CAN BE EXCRUCIATINGLY HARD until you almost feel your heart pulsating violently through your chest!
But then I’m reminded of the second to the last line in that email:
. . . you were the guy to help me with this one.
I am the guy. I am predestined for success in all the areas I’ve agreed to take on. That doesn’t mean that I’ll be perfect. That doesn’t mean that my road to success will not be paved with intermittent failures. I means that I am the guy - I have to walk in my purpose. It’s hard. It hurts. I question whether it’s worth it. I question whether I’m worth it. But I am the guy to do it. We all have a purpose and we are the person to get it done. And that “it” can be anything from family to career to creative goals to simply getting out of bed in the morning.
It’s easy to get sidetracked with our own complaints and fatigue. I must remember that tomorrow isn’t promised to me. I have an aggressive timeline and there’s lots of work to be done.
There’s so much I want to do in the realm of writing. I’m eagerly anticipating the revisions from my copyeditor on the novel I wrote back in 2006. My attempt at National Novel Writing Month ‘07 is still collecting dust on my hard drive . . . begging to be completed.
I’ve been reading up on screenplay writing again. After getting a sweet, godfather deal on a Mac-based screenwriting software package - I’ve been inspired to churn my ideas from scribbled outlines in my moleskine notebook to structured words in the standard format.
A myriad of short stories are loosely assembled on that same hard drive. Most of them are completed, but there are a few titles that need to be explored. I believe a collection of short stories from a multicultural perspective would be a fun concept.
Somewhere between being a single man - camped out @ Barnes&Noble after work and being a husband/father - stepping over sippy cups and puppy-doo every night . . . I’ve allowed procrastination creep into my endeavors. As a result, time is whizzing by while my literary dreams float in my subconscious . . . waiting their turn to become reality.
I’ve identified the issue. I have a plan on how to address my creative writing stagnation. So now what? I guess I have to get cracking.
In addition to the return of my favecast, I decided to kill off my blog. Between family, work, producing the favecast, creative writing projects, etc… I didn’t see how I was going to fit (consistent) blogging into my priorities.
Then along came Wordpress 2.5
I was curious about upgrading to WP2.5 for the favecast, so I loaded it onto my blog - so if it sucked and/or buggy…I wouldn’t be upset. Much to my suprise, WP2.5 is all that and a Hot Wheels track!
The UI is so clean and organized that I immediately upgraded my favecast site to the latest version. Now, both of my sites are running this CMS masterpiece!
In light of this newfound inspiration, I’ve decided to keep this blog alive a little longer. There’s no way I can keep up a daily post schedule - but I’m looking forward to capturing my thoughts on various endeavors through written word, audio (Utterz) and possibly video (YouTube).
In this edition we have an A-side full of indie soul + a B-side of progressive hip hop. Celebrate the weekend with me as we journey through the Fave Fitness Minute and 60 Seconds of Sexy. We also have the highly anticipated return of the JayQ+A.
It’s been weird the past couple of Fridays. I’ve taken a vacation from producing the Friday Favecast in order to refresh my creative flair and spend time on other priorities. Nevertheless, I will be back on April 4th with a new site design (still in progress) and improved format.
April is also the one year anniversary of the FFC website, so I plan to celebrate that throughout the month as well.
In this edition we bring you an A-side filled with feel good indie soul and a B-side dripping with hip-hop from classic + soon-to-be classic MCs and DJs. It’s the best of both worlds orbiting in a funky universe of progressive music to soothe your ears and get your mind right for the weekend. We’ve got a brand new Fave Fitness Tip and fresh websites in CyberspaceageSoul sprinkled along the way. And let’s not forget the special announcement - this is the favecast you don’t want to miss!
