"Gentlemen Of Bacongo" by photographer Daniele Tamagni captures the Congo sub-culture that is "Le Sape", short for Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes, or the Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People. Le Sapeurs, as they're called, dress in high Parisian fashions and maintain a solid moral ethic amongst the extreme poverty of the Congolese slums. Examining the strange merging of colonial and Congolese culture, Daniele also captures the “contradictions and paradoxes" of the tight-knit social network of Sapeurs. Interesting to say the least, definitely worth a closer investigation. Bottom-line: confidence is essential, especially in poverty stricken environments side stepped by capitalism twisted ideals. Whatever floats your boat - feel me?! -Mr.-
PT2 On Thursday, November 19th Kevin Powell, Joel Human and Marc Ecko sat in front of a group of 150 “at-risk” students for Get Schooled as part of Entrepreneurs Week. Inspiring to say the least. Get Schooled was founded on the belief that we all can be made stronger by educating the minds and improving the skills of every American. The education system is due for a change. Brilliant! -Mr.-
Straight up and down - where's the standard? I live my life by a code, a standard of living that economically doesn't always pay off, but pays in full when it comes to the people that surround me and the growth that manifests through our exchanging of ideas, discussions, likes and dislikes. The reason I'm bringing this point up is because I love culture and everything that encompasses it, but am growing tired of the lack of taste dictating its present state. Sure, I could boogie to the West Indies, lime out, live ital and meditate like a Buddha, but something will always draw me back in the mix. Sure, I could work for a production company, record label or clothing line and bite my tongue every time poor decisions are made in order to secure longevity within the business, but fortunately - I have an opinion. We're in an age when film/television is reinvented, repackaged and resold, instead of being created, developed, and promoted. The music industry is more concerned with marketing campaigns than it is about talent and setting a standard of quality. MTV and Much Music promote reality television that is focused on twisted versions of reality that promote vanity, apathy and the worshiping of morons, instead of focusing on music videos or reality television that is progressive, creative, and groundbreaking. Worshiping false idols and focusing on our imperfections with vain interest rather than constructive criticism and suggestions for change - MUST END! True, art is perceived and its value is dictated by the individual, but we are capable of so much more. In essence, I am a rudeboy at heart, my thoughts are one step beyond, and it's time to call yall out. Where my rudies at?
First to be called out: Chris Brown and all his fans
Chris Brown is guilty of destroying Rihanna's face, point blank period. Now, before we proceed let me break something down for you...I've heard the argument that she must have provoked the incident, and to be quite honest I'm with Sean Connery when it comes to the business of laying down the law when called for, this incident however WAS NOT called for, and went way beyond justification. Now, back to the point...Mr. Brown is a)a monster for beating up Rihanna, b)a moron for his pathetic appearance on Larry King and c)a herb for not learning from his own personal experiences with spousal abuse (break the cycle homie...I mean, dang). Therefore I pose the question - why do we pay people like this any mind?
Conclusion: By worshiping morons we destroy the cultural fabric of the times. You know I'm a culture fiend...I'm just saying...why fuck with polyester when you can rock silk. It's all about standards - feel me!? -Mr.-
"Mercury, Autism and the Global Vaccine Agenda" Once again...I'm just saying. Before you jump to the conclusion that video's like this promote "conspiracy theories", and assume a defensive stance based in blind faith with no real reference other than disbelief...take a moment out of your precious day and research. Fu$k Perez Hilton, OV movie guide, clothes and music blogs for just ONE day and dedicate that time to tapping into the vast resources of information available on the world wide web. I'm neither pro, nor con, just an open minded seeker dedicated to anything beneficial to mankind as a whole. Health care is a joke, big pharmaceutical companies are motivated by profit rather than healing, and most of you are too lazy to ask questions. Wake up! -Mr.-
Interesting note: This video was from a conference in 2005.
"Helicopter downed as 12 killed in Rio violence". I learned about this story earlier this week and overheard someone on the subway say "Rio is full of criminals". She was right, however I was thinking more along the lines of blue collar rather than oppressed poor. Since last weekend 33 people have been killed in Rio due to a rival gang turf war and several police crack downs. A helicopter was shot down over the "Hill of Monkeys" near the Morro dos Macacos favela, and three of six police officers were killed, three severely wounded. Apparently this is the first time a helicopter has been taken down in Rio. The violence errupted two weeks after it was decided that Rio would host the 2016 Olympics, and what makes this so incredibly disturbing is that the president has now offered $60 million in federal money to help Rio de Janeiro police combat drug gangs. Translation...there will be a slaughter. For every gang member killed there is easily another three innocent residents that get caught in the crossfire. Brasils socio-economic reality is twisted and complicated and often oppressive and elitist. Rio getting the Olympics is probably the worst thing that could ever happen to the residents of Rio's roughly 1000 favelas. The situation is far more complex than most care to imagine, and the police are far more brutal and savage than most outside of the favela reality care to accept. Straight up and down - I pray for all those caught in the crossfire, and all of the poor born into circumstances beyond their control who are at the mercy of desperate gang members and corrupt police. Shout out to Villa Curzeiro, I heard you guys have been affected as well. Power to the poor, and a middle finger to the corrupt. Life is complicated. -Mr.-
The extraordinary true story of a Malawian teenager who transformed his village by building electric windmills out of junk. If William Kamkwamba can do it...why can't we? 1st world citizens are some of the most apathetic, lazy people I know. We possess all the tools necessary to manifest change and yet we fall victim to the same, and why... because it's comfortable. Shout out to Nate Dog, thanks for the heads up homeZ. -Mr.-
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit in 1990 and has blessed the human eye, imagination and vision ever since. We often get so side tracked in our day-to-day formulaic lifestyles, preoccupied with minor matters and concerns (that in reality are really quite trivial), that we lose sight of the big picture and the limitless ideas, theories, and frontiers that surround our capitalist enslavement. Who and what are we, where are we, and what lies beyond our tiny little box. I have compiled a series of photos from Nasa'a Hubble Telescope to help illustrate this point. Our very existence is an art form. Who created this tapestry of interweaving elements, and what are we capable of attaining beyond our ability to sell a product or service for economic rewards and vain acceptance? We are capable of so much more...remember that. Put aside your differences and realize we are all in this together...open your mind. -Mr.-
Life is full of twists and turns, paths that unfold according to the choices we make, and futures that are shaped through our actions. I've been walking along the same path for quite some time now and have grown tired of its fruitless bounty, a slave driven by the need to maintain basic survival, a creative mad man forced to fulfill another mans dream. I have experienced the sweet thrill of stacked pockets and I have tasted the bitter reality of debt and the inability to stay afloat. I have weathered the storm and I now stand in the center of it all gazing up at the eye in all its glorious stillness. I am destined to walk amongst the wind and rain for a little while longer, but I now have my destination in sight. It is difficult to create a worthwhile service or product in a world mutated by capitalism's twisted ideals and expectations, to maintain hope in a world blind to the facts, but it IS a necessity, my son depends on my stability. I have been blessed this year, and I am about to embark on yet another journey. My feet have planted themselves on a new path and I am about to take my first step. Ain't life grand!? To all of you too scared to make a change, trapped by the comforts of mediocrity, doubting your abilities and living amongst lowered expectations, I urge you all to enter the storm and weather the change. Life is a bitch, but trust me she loves you.
Special shout out to my moms and all those who have assisted me through the storm. My strength is increasing with every step I take, and my focus is sharpened with every wrong move made. SAY WORD! -Mr.-
"ENDGAME: Blueprint for Global Enslavement" a film by Alex Jones. Radio host Alex Jones (www.infowars.com) has been labeled a paleoconservative, libertarian, and flat out conspiracy theorist. I don't know all the facts, but what I do know is knowledge and wisdom stem from asking questions, questions are fueled by intrigue and lack of understanding...if anything this film will intrigue you and produce questions. Don't follow blindly, simply observe, analyze and question. Question Alex Jones, question your government, and most importantly question your environment and the nation that you contribute to and assist in sustaining. Culture shifts, transforms and can affect ones existence both negatively and positively. Where do you stand, and what exactly are you a part of? Bottom line - ask questions! -Mr.-
U.S. President Obama's speech in Cairo, Egypt. U.S. Islam relations...hmmmmm, complicated. Now I know most of you believe this is a progressive, intelligent speech...rightly so. Obama is articulate, confident and most importantly a powerful speaker. What most fail to see is the underlying message of supremacy and authority, riddled with hypocrisy and unfortunately...the same. Simply stated...actions create reactions, and desperate measures often spawn from desperate situations. Violence is wrong, regardless of the way in which it is executed. That being said, perspective is everything. POV's are seldom shared, and the role of the victim allows one to assume rights that ultimately and strategically enable offensive action under the guise of defence. Clearly the U.S. has been victimized, and Obama is quick to point the finger.
The history of U.S. aggression both politically and economically, as well as through military coercion can be traced back to almost every conflict facing the world today. Middle Eastern, Israeli/Palestinian, drug trafficking and the criminal empires that exist to maintain its stability, collapsed economies due to free trade/the World Bank and the IMF, China's rise to power, global warming...the list goes on. The U.S. has the ability to lead, to unify, and to elevate the global situation, however...it doesn't. It assumes the title, but neglects the responsibilities associated with such a position. In order for the world to truly forgive, one must come clean about all the atrocities one has committed. What I would like to see is a speech focused solely on the U.S; discussing its violent behaviour, manipulative interactions, the results of its behaviour, and ultimately the dangers greed can unleash on a society structured around the doctrine of profit. I'm sick of hearing about American ideals, American vision, freedom of religion and democracy, when the bottom line and governing ideal is profit. For they are all great ideas, but when they are trumped by economic interest your words become hollow.
Diplomatically, pointing the finger at yourself first, coming clean and apologizing is an honorable action. Like I've said before...Obama's hands are tied, he is a pawn to a much larger master and although he most likely knows better, he is chained to the manifesto of THE SAME. Change must come from within first, before it can be dictated through diplomacy. Change cannot be forced, it must be experienced, lived and ultimately unleashed. The environment and the people that define it must change, and the governing body will adapt accordingly. Too many people look externally for help, and create excuses when they are unable to find truth. The final minutes of this speech discuss the importance of the individual, but knowing and acting upon your knowledge are two different things. Money is power, invest wisely. All in all...a brilliant speech, but political none the less. -Mr.-
I am but a man trapped in a time that seems unfamiliar, born to goals and expectations that feel false, a son of god born amongst brothers and sisters that walk alone. I am a thinker, a creative soul inventing in a time of cloned ideas and old philosophies. A poor man without a penny forced to work in a factory that produces the same. Chained to debt, a slave to the economic burden of success and all the material goods that are associated with a dream dreamt by selfish men. I am awake. Surrounded by greed and false idols constructing empires built on sand, I stand on solid ground at the centre of it all. I am a child of Babylon. -Mr.-
I am but a man. Life is a struggle, full of ups and downs. I've been stumbling for quite some time now, but feel stability entering my stride. To all of those affected by the mistakes I have made - I am sorry. My horoscope today read...
"Reflections can't just be found in mirrors, you know. If you want to catch a glimpse of your true self today, you need to be honest and accept your imperfections. Trying to pretend you are perfect isn't fooling anyone, and it could limit your growth. Put away your ego and you will be able to learn a valuable lesson about your insecurities. Who you are is not predetermined. You are a work in process. You can make all the changes you want to make, you just have to start."
How true. In an attempt to assure myself life keeps moving, I once told someone they didn't make or break me. The truth is they made me, and without them I would be broken. Sometimes things need to break in order to be fixed. In a world full of mistakes, forgiveness is one of the greatest thrills man will ever experience. Good luck to you all. -Mr.-
"Zeitgeist: Addendum". Now I know most of you have heard of, possibly even seen this gem of a film, and regardless of your position after viewing, please spread the word. Movies like this spark thought, discussion and debate...to be frank - GROWTH. Knowledge is power, thought fuels motivation, and motivation fuels action. Culture is more than just clothes and forms of artistic expression, it is the environment in which these expressions are inspired, shaped and formed. Our environment is far from perfect, in desperate need of transformation, and is capable of so much more. Remember, you are part of a system that has been corrupted and driven off course...you can continue contributing to the problem or contribute to the solution. Change is more than a campaign slogan, it is our responsibility. -Mr.-
Resistance is feasible even for those who are not heroes by nature, and it is an obligation, I believe, for those who fear the consequences and detest the reality of the attempt to impose American hegemony. -Noam Chomsky-
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. -Martin Luther King Jr.-
Trust. Without it we are chained to the emotional chaos of fear. Trust in a friend, trust in a lover, trust in life and the inevitability of what may come. Doubt is a cancer that infects the mind and the heart. Life is too short to be worrying about "what if", what you need to do is adopt the mantra of "it is what it is". Life is full of twists and turns, and what we desire is not always the outcome...instead of focusing on the possibility of negative, understand that if something or someone you trust disappoints you, learn form the experience and keep it moving. It is better to live life stress free and hopeful, than stressed and doubtful. Don't anticipate the possibility of disappointment, give thanks and praise for what you have and anticipate the possibility of the outcome you desire. Life is a road we all must walk, appreciate those that walk beside you, but more importantly believe in yourself. You are love, light and capable of happiness...adjust your perception and clarify your position. Live in truth, act honorably and respect those around you. Define trust through your actions and allow those you doubt to plot there own course. The majority of the time there's nothing to fear but fear itself. Plain and simple...it is what it is. -Mr.-
"Gentlemen Of Bacongo" by photographer Daniele Tamagni captures the Congo sub-culture that is "Le Sape", short for Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes, or the Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People. Le Sapeurs, as they're called, dress in high Parisian fashions and maintain a solid moral ethic amongst the extreme poverty of the Congolese slums. Examining the strange merging of colonial and Congolese culture, Daniele also captures the “contradictions and paradoxes" of the tight-knit social network of Sapeurs. Interesting to say the least, definitely worth a closer investigation. Bottom-line: confidence is essential, especially in poverty stricken environments side stepped by capitalism twisted ideals. Whatever floats your boat - feel me?! -Mr.-
