Introduction

Hey gang,

It's nine o'clock on Sunday morning.

So, I'm thinking about getting (back) into writing. There are a number of factors that are stimulating me at this particular moment:

1.) I am reading and my reading is veering towards autobiographies of writers. Murakami, Kafka ... anyone in the literary section of The Telegraph weekend magazine - my parents' subscription, because I would 'obviously' be a Guardian reader ... Oh, and the Beats. Awesome people. Anyway, what is amazing about these stories is that they just went ahead and did it. Murakami was a bar-tender, then, if my memory serves me correctly, one day he just started writing. I suppose that is the thing to do: start.

2.) Starting writing moves on to the next point: the blog. It is surely the way forward. It is accessible - holding Hamford as my inspiration here. I must keep it going. If I keep writing something must happen someday.

I will also add a 'writing' label to my previous compositions.

3.) Job. Teaching: can I keep it up? I keep asking myself that question. For the moment things are going ok; after a week of absolute horror you might get a week of passable success. I've even had a *gasp* 'good day' recently - don't think I've even had one of those before. If I keep writing, writing on the blog, who knows? Maybe one day soemthing will come of it.

I mean to keep in the teaching game for a while at least. Maybe move out over the summer. Next year will be the real test, once NQT is over and I am 'qualified'. Eep. But it point is to keep writing because it will give me hope. Not the God-given hope that I rely on to get through each day, morning and evening and every other concievable time, but the hope that one day I will be able to create something tangeble and say "I did that."

Like that time at uni when I made a 'zine for the Christian Union mission week. It was, I have to say, pretty cool; an anthology of different work from Christian artists, poets and writers. El did some poems for it, poems that you can actually find on her website: ( http://elgruer.com/poems.php ). I made a sort of soap-box section for rants and I put in a short piece voicing my annoyance at people who took down the posters we put up for our Christian events. The good thing about this was that was it did hit home with people. Hearing people saying "Man, I do that!" and thinking that this was aimed souly at them. Not sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing, but it had an impact and it felt amazing to actually do that!

It's sort of the feeling that I get when I 'publish' my posts - although I don't get that gratification of comment (unless of course someone DOES leave a comment - and THAT is exciting). It is still thrills me and THAT is why I must keep going.

That'll do for now.

Peace out and God bless,

SM

Year 2011

Happy new year, everyone!

This is what I did last year: completed PGCE,got a job. That is pretty much it. Not easy, and it took up forever. Now 'the hard part' is done, I gotta get on with it! Still not easy, but I am feeling a bit better about it all. Still have the Sunday afternoon dread, which continues to ruin my Sunday lunch, but having a Bank Holiday tomorrow will help ease me into the week nicely.

Will I stick at it? is the big question. I would like to give it a shot and not cop out too soon. I would at least like to get the hang of it, if that is even possible. Who knows. It is dastardly having A JOB, but someones got to do it... Who knows what the future holds? We can only hang on.

Anyway, God bless you all.

SM

The 'Art' of Rap - Introduction

Inspired by Henry Louis Gates Jr's article in FT Weekend Magazine - or to be more truthful, Kagan McLeod's illustrations of hip hop stars - I have decided to review a few hip hop 'artists' and rate their quality.

Here is the 'mark scheme':

Freshness (Originality):
Embodied by Will Smith, 'The Fresh Prince'(#68), 'freshness' is an important factor in hip hop. Awful hip hop is a quick-fix of sluggish, bloated, unimaginative dross that leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. But listening to rap music should be as invigorating as eating a breath-mint or the endorfin-flood of a sprint: freshness. Saul Williams (#6) compares this experience of freshness to sitting on a mountain top.

Roots (History):
A word synonymous with Reggae - but don't you know that 'rapping' originated in Jamaica when MCs would 'toast' - talk - over their sound systems? - so it makes perfect sense to use 'roots' to refer to a genre which, like the face of Janice, looks awe-fully backwards but also hopefully forwards. For an example of this listen to 'Be Healthy' by Dead Prez (#23).

Gangsta (Suffering):
For me the worst thing about hip hop, but an essential element in the formation of the genre and the creation / destruction of many of rap's heroes. Luckily there have always been peace-makers: from Africa Bambaataa (#78) to KRS One (#66) see below...

Soul (Hope):
Not just a reference to the soul music genre - although this is no doubt important and influencial - but also an endurance of spirit: compassion, love, community spirit / justice that groups like Public Enemy (#71) up-hold (despite the drugs and violence of the gangsta culture).
"I pray to God; I feel like I've got a church in myself," (Public Enemy, 'Bring That Beat Back')

Lastability:
This can be a good thing - like the legacy of 'The Message' (#80) - or a bad thing - stereotypical tat which has had a great impact on culture such as the Black Eye Peas.

Finally, dedications:
I have dedicated some of these tracks to friends who have introduced me to some of these artists and also to friends and family who will hopefully share the happy memories that these tracks produce in my mind.

Thanks

Art of Rap 3

Inspired by Henry Louis Gates Jr's article in FT Weekend Magazine - or to be more truthful, Kagan McLeod's illustrations of hip hop stars - I have decided to review a few hip hop 'artists' and rate their quality.

#61 Tupac: Freshness: 7 Roots: 3 Gangsta: 10 Soul:6 Lastability: 10 'Classic' Track: 'Changes' ... or that one with Elton John haha
#62 NWA: Freshness: 6 Roots: 3 Gangsta: 10 Soul: 1 Lastability: 10 'Classic' Track: 'Straight Outta Compton' Trivia: Dedicated to Compton Road, Lindfield, West Sussex
#63 Kool Keith
#64 Biz Markie
#65 Big Daddy Kane
#66 KRS One: Freshness: 8 Roots: 10 Gangsta: 6 Soul: 9 Lastability: 9 'Classic' Track: 'Sound of the police' Also try: 'U Must Learn'
#67 Rakim
#68 Fresh Prince: Freshness: 10 Roots: 4 Gangsta: 0 Soul: 6 Lastability: 10 'Classic' Track: 'Fresh Price Theme tune'
#69 Doug E Fresh
#70 Slick Rick: Freshness: 9 Roots: 4 Gangsta: 6 Soul: 4 Lastability: 6 'Classic' Track: 'The Ruler's Back' Dedicated to Sam Dransfield
#71 Public Enemy: Freshness: 9 Roots: 10 Gangsta: 4 Soul: 10 Lastabiltiy: 10 'Classic' Track: 'Public Enemy Number 1' also try: 'Welcome to the Terrordome'
#72 The Beastie Boys: Freshness: 9 Roots: 7 Gangsta: 0 Soul: 7 Lastability: 9 'Classic' Track: 'Integalactic' also try: anything they have ever done -- it's all good. Dedicated to Harry Hasson.
#73 Schooly D
#74 The Fat Boys: Freshness: 6 Roots: 1 Gangsta: 0 Soul: 3 Lastability: 5 'Classic' Track: 'Are you Ready for Freddy?' Also dedicated to Ham.
#75 Rammelzee
#76 Run DMC: Freshness: 8 Roots: 6 Gangsta: 2 Soul: 6 Lastability: 10 'Classic' Track: 'It's Like That'
#77 Kool Moe Dee
#78 Afrika Bambaataa
#79 The Sugarhill Gang: Freshness: 5 Roots: 7 Gangsta: 5 Soul: 6 Lastability: 9 'Classic' Track: Rapper's Delight'
#80 Melle Mel: Freshness: 9 Roots: 9 Gangsta: 7 Soul: 9 Lastability: 8 'Classic' Track: 'The Message'
#81 Gil Scott Heron: Freshness: 7 Roots: 8 Gangsta: 1 Soul: 9 Lastabiltiy: 7 'Classic' Track: The Revolution will not be televised'

Art of Rap 2

Inspired by Henry Louis Gates Jr's article in FT Weekend Magazine - or to be more truthful, Kagan McLeod's illustrations of hip hop stars - I have decided to review a few hip hop 'artists' and rate their quality.

#33
#34 Mos Def: Freshness:8 Roots:9 Gangsta: 5 Soul: 8 Lastability:9 'Classic' Track: 'Hip Hop' / Anything off 'Black on both sides'
#35 Talib Kweli: Freshness:7 Roots:6 Gangsta: 1 Soul: 8 Lastability:6 'Classic' Track: 'Get By'
#36 Will I Am Freshness: 1 Roots: 1 Gangsta: 0 Soul: 0 Lastability: 9 (unfortunately) 'Classic' track: 'Where is the Love'
#37 DMX: Freshness: 5 Roots: 4 Gangsta: 9 Soul: 5 Lastability: 6 'Classic' Track: N/A
#38 Rahzel: Freshness:6 Roots:6 Gangsta:3 Soul:3 Lastability:3
#39 Eminem: Freshness: 7 Roots: 4 Gangsta: 3 Soul: 5 Lastability: 10 'Classic' Track: 'Real Slim Shady' Trivia: Dedicated to my brother Aled Seago, who once performed an Eminem song dressed as the rapper. He even dyed his hair.
#40 Puffy: Freshness: 1 Roots: 3 Gangsta: 3 Soul:0 Lastability: 8 'Classic' Track: 'Bad Boys for Life'
#44 Xibit: Freshness: 2 Roots: 2 Gangsta: 5 Soul: 1 Lastability:6 'Classic' Track: Hosting Pimp my Ride
#45 Jay Z: Freshness: 5 Roots: 4 Gangsta: 7 Soul: 0 Lastability: 9 'Classic' Track:
#46 Coolio: Freshness: 8 Roots: 5 Gangsta: 4 Soul: 4 Lastability: 8 'Classic' Track: Keenan and Kel Theme Tune
#47 Outkast: Freshness: 8 Roots: 5 Gangsta: 3 Soul: 7 Lastability: 8 'Classic' Track: 'Miss Jackson'
#49 Notorious BIG: Freshness: 7 Roots: 5 Gangsta: 10 Soul: 6 Lastability: 10
#50 Nas: Freshness: 6 Roots: 5 Gangsta: 8 Soul: 5 Lastability: 8
#51 Lauren Hill: Freshness: 9 Roots: 9 Gangsta: 2 Soul: 10 Lastability: 8 'Classic' Track: 'Everything is Everything'
#52 The Fugees: Freshness: 9 Roots: 8 Gangsta: 4 Soul: 9 Lastability: 9 'Classic' Track: 'Ready or Not'
#53 Wu Tang Clan: Freshness: 8 Roots: 7 Gangsta: 7 Soul: 5 Lastability: 9 'Classic' Track: 'Enter the Magic Mystery Chambers' (Beatles/Wu Tang Mashup) Dedicated to Tom Caruana
#54 D.I.T.C.: Freshness: 7 Roots: 5 Gangsta: 9 Soul: 2 Lastability: 6
#55 Bootie Brown: Freshness: 6 Roots: 5 Gangsta: 2 Soul: 6 Lastabilty: 4: 'Classic' Track: Gorillaz 'Dirty Harry'
#56 Del Tha Funky Homosapian: Freshness: 6 Roots: 6 Gangsta: 3 Soul: 7 Lastability: 5 'Classic' Track: Gorillaz 'Clint Eastwood'
#57 Hieroglyphics: Freshness: 6 Roots: 7 Gangsta: 3 Soul: 7 Lastability: 4 Classic Track: Don't Hate the Player Hate the Game
#58 Black Thought: Freshness: 8 Roots: 10 Gangsta: 3 Soul: 7 Lastability: 8
#59 snoop dogg: Freshness: 7 Roots: 5 Gangsta: 9 Soul: 2 Lastability: 10 'Classic' Track: 'Gin and Juice' - "Home Boy Alone"
#60 Cypress Hill: Freshness: 6 Roots: 4 Gangsta: 10 Soul: 4 Lastability: 7 'Classic' Track: 'Insane in the Brain' feat. The London Philharmonic Orchestra dedicated to Greg Jones

The Art of Rap 1

Inspired by Henry Louis Gates Jr's article in FT Weekend Magazine - or to be more truthful, Kagan McLeod's illustrations of hip hop stars - I have decided to review a few hip hop 'artists' and rate their quality.

#1 Lupe Fiasco: Freshness:7 Roots:4 Gangsta: 0 Soul: 5 Lastability:2 'Classic' Track: 'Kick Push'
#2 The Game: Freshness:4 Roots:5 Gangsta: 7 Soul: 3 Lastability:2 'Classic' Track: N/A
#3 Kayne West: Freshness: 8 Roots: 5 Gangsta: 4 Soul: 4 Lastability: 8 'Classic' Track: 'Jesus Walks' Trivia Fact: Kayne West is pretty much over-rated...
#5 T.I.: Freshness: 5 Roots: 5 Gangsta: 6 Soul: 4 Lastability: 5 'Classic Track': N/A
#6 Saul Williams: Freshness: 10 Roots: 10 Gangsta: 2 Soul: 10 Lastability: 9: 'Classic' Track: 'Amythist Rocks' or anything he has ever done Trivia Fact: Saul Williams inspired me to explore poetry, hip hop and pretty much everything that is good and true.
#17 Aesop Rock: Freshness: 6 Roots: 5 Gangsta: 1 Soul: 5 Lastability: 6 'Classic Track: That one off Tony Hawks
#18 Nelly: Freshness: 4 Roots: 4 Gangsta: 5 Soul: 3 Lastability: 6 'Classic' Track: N/A Trivia Fact: I dressed up as Nelly for a Halloween (?) party at uni
#19 50 Cent: Freshness: 3 Roots: 3 Gangsta: 8 Soul: 1 Lastability: 4 'Classic' Track: The 'In the club'/'Thomas the Tank Engine Theme tune'
#20 Rah Digga: Freshness: 3 Roots: 4 Gangsta: 2 Soul:6 Lastability:3'Classic' Track: 'This Ain't No Lil' Kid Rap'
#21 Jay Dee (J-Dilla): Freshness: 6 Roots: 5 Gangsta: 5 Soul:6 Lastability:5'Classic' Track: 'Front Street'
#22 Ludacris: Freshness: 5 Roots: 2 Gangsta: 2 Soul: 2 Lastability: 5 'Classic' Track: N/A
#23 Dead Prez: Freshness: 6 Roots: 10 Gangsta: 5 Soul: 9 Lastability: 6 'Classic' track: 'Hip Hop' but I like ... 'Be Healthy'
#28 Abstract Rude: Freshness: 6 Roots: 6 Gangsta: 2 Soul: 6 Lastability: 6 'Classic' Track: Pigeon John 'Life Goes On'
#29 Wildchild
#30 Madlib: Freshness: 10 Roots: 6 Gangsta: 2 Soul: 8 'Classic' Track: MadVillian 'All Caps' Trivia Fact: Dedicated to Pete Brown. God bless ya, Brother.

what is tumblr?

so my brother made this tublr thing. It's called "wookie bits" or something. Check it out if you have tumblr...