That's What It Looks Like...And This Is What It Feels Like!

So Saturday night the ReadNex featured for a packed house at the Julia DeBurgos Cultural Center over on 1680 Lexington Ave. The event was Lyrical Revolt 10: A Celebrations of Hip Hop. The ANSWER Coalition put it together as a benefit concert featuring the 4 Elements of Hip Hop. The ANSWER Coalition is an org that "mobiliz[es] against all wars from Brooklyn to Baghdad. It was a pleasure and an honor to work with them on such a valuable and worthwhile cause. Other features of the night were the crowd rousing Rebel Diaz were the lyrical mindblowing Hassan Salaam. If you were'nt there...WOW I Mean.. WOWIE! did you miss an amazing event.

All night I had butterflies. I didn't know what was going on. It was like all of the drama that I've been dealing with (family, money, workshops...the usual) throughout the past few weeks built up inside of me that day and evening. My mind kept dwelling on what had to be done. The work that I'd have to do to push myself forward. The endless work that has to be down to uplift mi gente of all shapes, colors and locations. It all built up inside and created within me a dense fog the size of a single mom's determination. I couldn't think, hear, eat, taste, feel or be the man that I normally be. Then...lo que paso, paso.

It was time! Osiris (one of the hosts and event organizers) announced us and we had no choice but to grab the mics, allow DJ H20 to get in position and rock the crowd with words, music and truth in the hopes that the sun could shine for just a little longer. After that I recall little. I hear that we were amazing. The photos I've seen show intense passion in each one of our faces. Psychologists call what I experienced "Flow". The point in which the mind looses itself in an activity so much that time, feelings, thoughts and everything else suddenly stops. When I perform sometimes...I experience exactlly that. Everything stops. I see no faces...hear no sounds...I merely feel energy and a presence both within and around me. When I walk towards a micrphone it feels like walking on a cloud and knowing that at some point the weight of your body will bring you crashing down. But when I grab the mic...I float. Peace comes to me. No...I become Peace. Afterwards people shake my hand and or pat me on the back as they tell me how great the performance was. I usually find myself in a state of confusion. Not knowing what occured. Not sure that what just happened indeed did happen. All that I'm sure of...is that I'm alive.

That is one of the reasons I do what I do. Why I educate our Youth on how to use Poetry as a means of expression. Speak about issues that I feel strongly about. Perform pieces that were given to me by a power above me. Because as my life bring thoughts in others to life...they revive and purify all of my being.

Learn, Educate, Repeat!
Latin

All Good.

For those of you concerned about my previous post...it's all good in Latin's world. They're merely thoughts that stemmed from a series of conversations throughout the week that reached an undeniable reality in my mind. We've all got something to deal with. All that matters at the end of the day is that like in "Finding Nemo" we must "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming" Yes I just quoted an animated movie. Hey it was a good movie alright!

Peace, Paz, Salaam,
Latin

Hmmm...

Ever feel lost and confused? Like the choices you've made haven't been the right ones? As if the people around you drive you insane but you've got no choice but to deal with it? Concealed how you reaaaalllllyyy felt about something? Kept it in to keep the peace but you live without peace within? Lived your life through the life of another thinking that it was really yours and then you realize the person you were following has been following someone else the whole time? Tough to sleep at times? Got all these thoughts pushing back and forth in your brain? Ya sit and try ta write dem down but they juuuussst wooon't come out.

Congratulations! You're Human! Keep Swimming!

Don't Do It!

For those of you thinking of giving up...Don't do it.
Those of you that think you can't go any further...stop thinking that.
For the many that think this is it...think again.

We can do this. No matter what it is you are working through you can succeed. Just push and push until you need to push again. Go forward because you can. Because there were many that fought for you to be right where you are now. Go forward because if you go back a little boy or little girl will think hmmm.

Sigue, Sigue, Il suit, Il suit!

Go on and push on further because that voice in your head that's saying you should give up is the voice of Fear. You are stronger, than Fear ever could be. You may have not realized it but you are. So push and push and push. The moment you think you should stop push again.

Pa'Lante Brothers and Hermanas...Pa'Lante!

The Time Is Now

We are now living a time of great change. A time when what was can no longer be. A time when the strength that has been implanted in our hearts, by the work of our ancestors must ring free. A time when the thoughts of fear must be crushed by the thoughts of possibilities that now have no choice but to become reality. It is crucial to our existence as people of dignity and justice to work towards the forgotten dreams of our youth. Dreams that we once held dearly and have been blurred by time. We cannot put all of our faith in one man and walk down the road of success. We must put much of that faith in ourselves and each other.

Believe that we as a people can be what needs to be. That we can uplift ourselves to hire plateaus than the ones dreamt of by those before us and by ourselves. That we can lend not one but both hands. So that one can heal wounds with one as the other guides our brothers and sisters to safety. All while our feet remain firm in our pursuit of greatness.

We now more then ever in the history of human existence must remain united. United so that we can fulfill the inevitable good that has been destined from the moment love came to be. United because the annals of history have clearly stated that separation goes hand and hand with failure. Believe no longer that the sole care of self leads to greatness. For it is the love of self, while embracing the necessity of unity and diversity that makes a man or woman great.

Do not forget the greatness that lies within us all. And be sure to imagine and make true what can be if our souls, love and existence pursue what our minds have for too long merely thought of and feared.
For all that know me and for those that do not… I embrace you with these words.


Peace, Paz, Salaam,
Latin
May God Bless us all.

P.S. Big Up To President Barack H. Obama. You have accomplished a dream of many. Those dreams now lay in both yours and our hands. Lead us well.

Grad School Aqui Voy

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Madame speaker of the Hood, Dude that spits reality and all the children of the world...it's official. I have commenced the process of applying to Grad School. I know this because $50 have been deducted from my account. And let me tell you. If I pay $50 for something, I'm going all the way with it. Oh yeah, I will get three letters of recommendation from professors that can and will vouch for my ability to be in Grad School. I will get the money to have transcripts sent over to the SUNY New Paltz Grad school. Oh yes...I will write an essay stating how the experience will further my career. Don't think I won't slap a stamp on a folder and send that mother lover away. Just watch me with my bad self as I get into Grad School. Graduate with a degree in Humanistic Multi-cultural Education and begin Humanistically Educating Multi-Cultural populations.

In other news, another 13 weeks have been approved for the "Nex 2 Be Read Club KHS Chapter". Which means that I shall be meeting with my students (That's right...I have students) and passing on to them what I know. Isn't that something. A group of young sponges yearning for someone to tell them "What it is" and I get the opportunity to do so. I also have a couple of workshops this month and the ReadNex shall be meeting to discuss the 09. What a lovely time this is to be a neuron in my brain. How joyous each neuron must be to be transferring fantastic loads of information via neurotransmitters through my synapses. Oh what a time it is my good friends. What a time it is...

Lost In Reality

Ever wake up and decide to prepare your high fiber breakfast. You get your "bootleg" Raisin Bran your organic "Mini-Wheats" pour in some organic granola with goji berries then add the organic banana chips along with some soy milk. Ya poor your glass of OJ get your Multi-Vitamin and papaya enzymes ready. You get your spoon ready to eat and then look out the window. Suddenly it hits you! It's 2009 and you have been searching for a job for a year. No? Must be just me...

Happy New Year everyone...lets just hope that 2008 doesn't decide to come back and that 2009 doesn't tick us off as much as 08 did.

Peace, Paz, Salaam,
Latin