Video Inspiration: Gregory Porter + Pierre Bennu

This isn't my usual Hip Hop-inspired story. But, I loved this song and this video so much that I felt it deserved a "breaking the rules" moment. Initially, as most of my stories, I wanted this short story to have a death in it and the video certainly gave me room to play with that. But after watching it about 157 times, I was struck by something more than death. Loneliness. To live with that is much worse.

Gregory Porter is a jazz vocalist and songwriter. He was a promising football player in high school until a shoulder injury ended that hope. It was his mother's wish that he fulfilled his passion for singing and so that became his backup plan, right after her death.
Although he released his latest, third album, Liquid Spirit, in September 2013, this song "Be Good (Lion's Song)" is from his second album, Be Good. I know I'm behind on the song's popularity but as I've said before - good music is good music, a good video is a good video. Time be damned.







He believed a rose was at its most beautiful when it dangled from a woman's hair, right over the arch of her eyebrow. Gloria was her name and such a rose was positioned ever so carefully in her jet-black curls. She was the most classy, humble and lively person that Ben had ever met. When he approached her that night, in Ray’s Boom Boom Room, and asked if she wanted to dance, even her rejection sounded like soft, melting butter. In front of her crowd of friends, she boldly told him that she didn’t want to dance with the likes of such a lion as he.

“What does that mean?” He asked sincerely. But she only turned her head. Ben walked back to the other side of the room, thinking, plotting of another way to win her over. He watched her intently, the way she gently sipped her drink, covered her mouth when she laughed, and the way her body swayed as she danced alone in the middle of the floor. Alone. Her movements were graceful but her face was empty. Ben knew she wasn’t content with being alone. That was his cue.

“What makes me a lion?” He asked genuinely, hoping she didn’t walk away. She forced back a smile and said that men like him are dangerous to women like her. They hurt. They caused pain on purpose. When he asked her how she could tell he was such a man, she simply replied that lions were made for cages, just to look at and delight but you dared not let them walk around, cause they might just bite. His heart ached as she left him for the other side of the room. He stood alone, lonely, for what seemed like a very long time. It pained him to watch her all over again and even more so not to try one last time.

“What is a rose? A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet. A lion named Ben would love nothing more than to dance with you…if he could.” He said, pouring his heart into his hand and extending it. His nerves were frozen and he said a silent prayer. One more refusal would just about break him. But suddenly, he felt warmth. It was the touch of her hand melting into his. They glided across the dance floor, disappearing into one another and being content with entrapment.

"I think I like who I'm becoming..."

I've been away from this blog for a long time. Life had me distracted. But in the last few days, I felt that if I didn't get back on track with this part of my creative mind, I might lose it forever.

Random as it may be, I love this poem by Nikki Giovanni and while it explains a physical lover, right now, in my life, I see it as I'm in love with myself and I must say...I think I like who I'm becoming...

I wrote a good omelet...and ate
a hot poem... after loving you
Buttoned my car...and drove my
coat home...in the rain...
after loving you
I goed on red...and stopped on
green...floating somewhere in between...
being here and being there...
after loving you
I rolled my bed...turned down
my hair...slightly
confused but...I don't care...
Laid out my teeth...and gargled my
gown...then I stood
...and laid me down...
To sleep...
after loving you

- Nikki G.

Video Inspiration: Michael Francis + Marcus Castillo

One lovely day, I was working on my computer (as usual) and watching music videos (as usual) when this random video came on MTV2. The music immediately made me stop what I was doing and the visuals spellbound me too. All of it just came out of nowhere. His voice, the simplicity of the setting and storyline...

You know I was forced to write something right?!

I couldn't find much information on the video director, Marcus Castillo.
Michael Francis, however, is an independent singer from New Jersey. He's been slow releasing material for the past couple of years, even doing a remake of Ginuwine's "Pony". I especially love that he was interviewed by KARMALOOPTV back in January 2012. Peep a snippet of the interview...here.




Loyalty. That's the essence of family. What defines it. Michael and Francis, my brothers, and I had a loyal bond. It defined us. And we strengthened it every January by taking a hunting trip to Montana. We went out at sunrise with the goal of at least one score. Michael led the way. After an hour in the cold, stopping several times to rest, we had nothing to show for our effort and I was getting tired.
"Samuelson, go east. I think I see something over there." Michael said with his Marlin 336 poised and pointed north, his back to me. I turned my head but saw nothing. I wasn't about to go on an empty chase through the backwoods, on a hunch.
"I don't see nothing."
"It just moved again. I see it in the corner. Go check it out!"
"Just go Samuelson." Francis whispered. With my shoulders slumped and head bowed, I trudged through the hard, wet snow looking for a deer, a bear, anything to qualify as our first score. About 30 feet in, I felt it. I felt another presence and saw something run by. It was fast too. I lifted my Browning T-Bolt on my shoulder and bent down, casing all angles. I felt the rush, the thrill. It didn't take long for the shadow to come into focus. Bits of brown and black, white and gold. This wasn't animal. I hesitated to move from my position, half wanting to call out to Michael and Francis. But during this whole trip, they could tell I was distracted. I wasn't the same. Calling for them would only make me feel worse.

I followed the movement through the trees, through the snow, until it stopped and came into view. Then I saw her. My Nona. Standing right in front of me, 500 + miles away from our home, she was as clear as the wind. I could've been dreaming but I wasn't. Had I missed her so much that I was seeing things? I dropped my gun and followed, further away from my brothers. She had always led me away from them. From the moment we met, years ago, we formed a bond that even they couldn't break. But they tried. They told me she was breaking my loyalty. They told me I should leave her. And they gave me a choice.

I followed Nona, or her mirage through the trees, through the snow, until we reached a white house on the hill. Inside was a blur because all I saw was her. My love. I saw her face. I touched it. Her skin set me on fire. It felt so good. This couldn't be a dream. But somehow this was right. It didn't matter that I hadn't seen Nona since the day I chose to leave her, two years ago. She was here now. She was with me now. I closed my eyes and drank in her presence.

There was a tap on the window. Where was I? What just happened? I sat up and looked around, still not seeing all that was in front of me. I remembered being with her. But she was gone now. Outside, Michael and Francis waited for me. They had found my gun. Their stare communicated what I wouldnt acknowledge.. I was going off the deep end again. There was no Nona. There was no house. No creamy skin. Two years ago, I chose my brothers over her. Two years ago, they didn't think I would do it...and they chose to kill her. Verbally, I forgave them. How could I not? Family is loyalty. But mentally and emotionally, our bond was broken. I would forever be with Nona. If I saw her ghost every day of my life, it would be fine with me. This is what they made me into. Instead of allowing us to be happy, they now have to deal with my misery. And it's better this way.

Video Inspiration - Wale + Sarah McColgan

Wale released his super highly anticipated album, The Gifted, last week on June 25th. Today will reveal how well the album did for its first week. In my own little way, I'd like to help him celebrate with this video inspiration (and since Wale began his style with poetry, this is in the form of a poem)

The video for LoveHate Thing was directed by Sarah McColgan, released on June 23rd and features Sam Dew.

Sam - He's a RocNation artist and doesn't look anything like he sounds
Sarah - She's a photographer as well as director. She has directed Miguel's video for "Candles in the Sun" and also photographed one of my favorite artists...Kelis!






Love/Hate Thing


Black and White
Rich and Poor
Up and Down
Life is Love, is what They tell me
Or what She told me.
Hot air, dusty room
We Have Each Other, I Assume
Fans Blow
I Love Her Though

Conflicts and Questions
Reaching Goals
I ask her, She asks me
We Dig One Another’s Soul
Decisions about Love
Decisions about Life
I Hate the Battle and The Strife

Champagne and its Bubbles
Dusse and No Trouble
3 Piece Suits
Her Smile and Mine
Hard Work, Pray Hard
Our Favorite Line
I Love Her Though
I Hated the Battle
I guess it’s a Love/Hate Thing

Jay-Z pushing my agenda #MagnaCartaHolyGrail

In the summer lineup of Kanye West, J. Cole, Wale, Mac Miller and Drake, Mr. Z decided that he needed to jump into the fold of new releases as well: Enter Magna Carta Holy Grail. It's the title of his new album, set for a July 4th release. Let's not forget to note that he and wifey love the number 4. And he has never released an album in the month of July. November is a popular month for Mr. Carter but July is a newbie.

Anyway, as you know, my blog's purpose is merging the Literature and Hip Hop worlds in ways they never have before. Well Mr. Z, in a slow-crafted marketing campaign, has been rolling out bits and pieces of his album until the final date. He debuted a gem of a commercial during a NBA playoff game, which sent the Internet into chaos, then he started dropping song lyrics all story-like and getting people interested in reading actual lyrics again:

Commercial:


Lyrical Stories:

Video Inspiration: J.Cole + Colin Tilley

On the anticipation of J.Cole's album, Born Sinner, set to release on June 18th, I thought this was a perfect time to do a short (very short) story to "Nobody's Perfect". I loved this song and the video when it was released in February 2012. Out of all Cole's videos, I thought this was the most appropriate for a story. If you're a fan, you know that all his lyrics tell a story and almost all the videos explain that story to the fullest. But this one...was kind of left up to your imagination.

We all know how unknown and untalented Colin Tilley is right? I've talked about him before in other Video Inspirations but he really has no impact on the music world. He's done silly videos such as:

Mindless Behavior "All Around the World"
Kelly Rowland "Kisses Down Low"
Justin Bieber "Never Let you Go"
Rick Ross & Wale "Bag of Money"
Chris Brown "Don't Judge Me"

I mean really, why are we even talking about this no-resume having guy ;-)







When I told her that I wouldn’t be back for a week, at least, she shrugged her shoulders and kept typing. She was working on a paper that I knew wasn’t due for another week.
“So, this is how you’re going to let me leave?”
“Good luck. I hope you get the deal.” She said, with her back still to me. I stood there for a few more seconds, then grabbed my bags and left her sweltering hot dorm room. It seemed like we always argued about the same things and I was always left with the short end of the stick. I thought about her on the ride to the airport, as I ascended and descended, when I met with the label’s top A&R and when he handed over the contract I had been dreaming about all my life. He told me I had 24 hours to sign. ‘Look mama I made it.’ I thought.
“Nobody’s perfect.” Said a voice next to me. I looked up from checking in at the hotel and found my eyes locked with a girl I thought I knew.
“What?”
“I said nobody’s perfect.” She handed me my black, Goyard bag. Our knuckles bumped and I felt her spark.
“You left this in that chair over there. Funny, you always act like Mr. Perfect on campus. Strutting across the yard with your boys after practice, staying in the gym and blowing that good weed behind the Fredrick Douglas library.
“Oh you know about that?” I smiled. She licked her lips. She licked them slow. Suddenly I remembered where I knew her from.
“What are you doing all the way up here?” She asked.
“Got a record deal.” I waved the papers, which I had been holding on to for dear life, in the air above my head.
“Really? Congrats. You know we have to celebrate now.” She inched closer. I thought about my girl again. She was my rainbow after a storm, my star in a dark sky. But she was also an insensitive bitch as of late.
“Nah, you know I can’t.”
“Can’t, but want to.” She ain’t never lied. I took my room key from the clerk and leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. However, she moved her face at the right time and I caught her lips instead. I pulled back.
“Just because she’s my roommate doesn’t mean we are best friends.” She said and took my room key from my grasp. I watched her walk to the elevators and rubbed my chin. This was so wrong. Yet, so right. Everything happens for a reason. I slid in the elevator with her just as the door closed. I thought about my girl. And concluded that nobody’s perfect.

Video Inspiration - A$AP Rocky + Samantha Lecca

So, I'm an ASAP Rocky fan. I'll let that linger for a moment...I fully understand that lyrically I shouldn't be, but I like his style. His swagger. (That word just won't retire)

I adore this video for its uniqueness in the hip hop world. No half-naked girls, no 80 chains around the neck, etc. We are slowly but surely moving away from some of the sterotypes.

The best part of this video that inspired me to write a short story, was the two women. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to finish this but I didn't want to hold on to it so long that I never put it up. If you can't take this song (lyrically), at least watch up to 2:00. That's where my story kind of ends...





“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why don’t you want to know?”
“Because if there is someone out there who looks just like me and people are stupid enough to be confused by that, then let them.”
“But she’s white.”
“And?”
“And nothing I guess.” She sighed. “You are so weird.”
“Thank you.” I slipped the right side of my black, satin, de la Renta dress over my shoulder and turned around so that Sarafin, my roommate, could zip it up. Tonight was a special gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was so nervous. I felt like a teenager at prom. They said anybody who’s anybody was going to be there, but they say that about everything. I looked at the clock.
“Yes. Your car is already downstairs and you are going to be late if you don’t leave in 60 seconds.” Sarafin said.
“I know, I know.” I grabbed the rest of my things and slipped into my heels.
“If you want to know her name, Kevin told me. He was the only one not shocked enough to talk to her.”
“I don’t want to know anything. I’m not indulging this silly rumor.”
“It’s not a rumor.”
“Goodnight. Wish me luck.” I walked out the door and the down the steps of our building, to the rented, black town car.
“Good evening ma’am.” The driver said as I approached.
“Hey!” Sarafin yelled from our apartment window.
“I have to go!”
“Her name is Vivian. Did you hear me? I mean, doesn’t that make you want to know more?” I turned my head and thought for a moment. A moment too long, in my opinion. I got inside the car and we took off.

“Oh darling, don’t you look lovely.” “Is that Oscar? Turn around and let me see the back.” “Oh, how have you been?” “Glad you could make it.” The party was packed and the atmosphere exquisite. I had been careful about eating too much, but was enjoying my third glass of champagne. My fingers ran along the smooth, white couch against the wall, as I sat on it admiring my view. Suddenly, far across the room, I saw them. Kevin was wearing a dashing tuxedo with a red rose in his lapel. She had on a white, sleeveless, v-cut dress that flowed down to her feet. I knew it was the Oscar de la Renta dress. At that exact moment, she looked over and saw me too. I stood up. She started walking first. My heartbeat was rapid and I felt the beads of sweat. We reached each other. My lips parted, just a bit, but I could form no words. We both stared into each other’s eyes. I put my hand to my cheek and she did the same. She put her hands up in front of me and I raised mine to meet hers, but we didn’t touch. It was too jarring. She was my spitting image.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Vivian. What’s yours?”
“Vivian.” I answered.