Blessings! The social media gurus have smiled upon us and lead us victoriously to some solid hip hop.
I know I’ve been out of the Hip Hop loop for quite a while, but I saw a clip of this video and had to share. Jus Derrick is an up and coming emcee, who currently has a project available on streaming platforms titled The New 90s, Vol 1. I gave it a brief listen myself, and so far so good. Check it out and let me know your thoughts! #DoItNow #letsgo
Shouts out to istillloveher.de on Instagram for the good ears.
Greetings! Welcome to 2019. I hope the holidays have treated you well and your New Year’s Resolutions are under way. Over the holidays, I decided to take a break from my usual music search to get into some old school gaming. I took a visit to BoxCar arcade in North Carolina, and went old school style on the likes of X-men, The Simpsons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Mortal Combat to name a few. As I died, many many times, I thought about my childhood journey through video gaming. I have never beat Sonic the Hedgehog or Resident Evil. I usually get stuck on a part and cut the game off never to return. I can’t tell you any shortcuts or secret levels on Super Mario or Mario Cart. In any event, I give you my top 3 reasons I’ll never be considered a gamer. Tell me if you relate at all…
I often use the term “If Snake were here”… If you’ve ever played Metal Gear Solid, bless you. This is one of my favorite gaming series of all time. Snake was a stealthy CIA agent uncovering secret alliances and global destruction weaponry. The possibilities were endless as you were able to smoke a cigarette/cigar while sneaking up behind an enemy to break his neck quietly. Snake could do the cool stuff: walk around in a cardboard box, camouflage his outfits to hide from foe, and fight the supernatural. Snake had all the heavy artillery: guns with silencers and laser beams, c4, missile launchers, the list continues. Even controlling him was easy for PlayStation. Since playing and actually beating a few Metal Gears, I’ve wanted all the characters I play to move like Snake. Every. Single. One.
I get an attitude when a new game system comes out. We all know that new gaming systems mean more money. Your favorite gaming systems will inevitably (and probably soon) stop making new games…so you will HAVE to upgrade eventually. Your old games will be sitting there collecting dust as you try to maneuver through game systems for games you want to play. #fail I don’t want 5 different game systems…that’s probably another reason I’ll never be considered a gamer.
I don’t own any gaming systems that came out in the past decade. I sold my ps2 last year with a truck load of games. I didn’t want the clutter anymore. *Kanye shrug* I wanted a ps3, but then I forgot and the ps4 came out. Hell, the ps5 is probably on the way. I’m not a huge fan of xbox, and my wii works just fine.
God bless all the gamers far and wide! Here is to you, Blade God Syg. May you light the way for all of us. What are some of your favorite games of all time? Feel free to comment below and share.
Happy Monday! In my weekly search for inspirational quotes and productivity hacks, I came across a good read from writer, Mayo Oshin, featured in The Ladders. The article sheds light on billionaire Warren Buffet’s tips on how to prioritize your goals and focus on things that are important. Who wouldn’t take advice from one of the richest living investors of our time? Check out the article using the link below, and get familiar Mayo Oshin at mayooshin.com. #doitnow
Rejoice! New visuals from Imagine Dragons for the single ‘Natural’. The Band is currently on tour in Europe and has some U.S. dates coming soon. Check out the video and visit their website for more merchandise, tour info and music news Imaginedragonsmusic.com. #Go
Peace family! I know its been a while. I’ve been on the prowl, searching for new talent, and I found it in Baltimore neo soul artist, Amahni Philly. Amahni has been breezing up the coast with his new single “Forever”, but he’s no stranger to the scene. He has been performing up and down the east coast, promoting his sophmore album Forever Golden. Philly was able to take a break from his busy schedule and chat with us about the project.
Dropajewel: What made you begin writing music?
Ahmani Philly: Well I’ve always had the passion to write. I always felt it was easier than speaking. Initially it allowed me to release my emotions, personal feelings, visions and thoughts during a time when I didn’t feel heard. During my younger years I was very verbally introverted and when it came to being vulnerable it was sort of like expelling everything I hold within through pen . I even now find myself sometimes speaking in song, rhyme scheme, metaphor or parable.
DJ: Who are your biggest influences?
AP: This is a great but extensive question. My biggest influences are artist who are iconic from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. From the instrumentation of Brothers Johnson, Earth,Wind & Fire…to vocals of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, The Emotions, Patti Labelle, of course on this album Johnnie Wilder Jr. Today’s artist span from TANK, Tweet, Brandy to a more recent Frank Ocean, Jay-z, SZA, Daniel Caesar.
DJ: How does Forever Golden differ from your last album Home?
AP: Home was a very weird place for me vocally because of multiple health and life issues. Home was a push album that half the time my voice was gone…I could barely sing and had so much to say. Meanwhile, I wasstill hiding my true yearning in my heart to be completely transparent about where my heart should’ve been. It birthed music from me trying to harness my thyroid health and figure out how to turn what I viewed as a curse into a pathway toward the falling place of my blessings; hence the Title Home. This led me to the Goldenheart and that’s where Forever Golden came into fruition. Forever Golden was the first time I could speak fully from my heart and soul without holding back, and being overly cryptic or without dark emotions of no hope. This is about a real life love of someone. I call him “the Goldenheart” or “Twin Flame”. Since I love numerology and the zodiac and the artistic connotations I used representations of 2 and 11 life path since I am both. It’s in everything from the art work, to the number of tracks on the album. Especially releasing the album in 2018, a universal 11 and year of spiritual partnerships (Forever Golden).We must overcome challenging early lives (Home), to prove to the world that love never gives up! The number eleven is about double beginnings and two is about the combining of the two separate entities to move forward in a new beginning with peace love and understanding(Forever & Golden).
So This project holds hope in life and a sense of permanent position within me in every aspect of my life moving forward. Forever Golden all about complete truth and being naked and literally comfortable in my skin as I step into the New beginning. As you can see my music comes from deep rooted intimate real life and spiritual experiences. Home was the story to get back to the Forever Golden (Kansas) just like the wizard of oz.
DJ: What do you want people to take away from this album?
AP: I want people to always have hope in love, learn transparency & growth. Take time to redirect, find & never compromise yourself. Remind yourself how much you love [you]. Learn from mistakes or lessons and move forward never backward. Don’t ever stand still and become a victim of your circumstances. Take responsibility and care for yourself. Then the Divine will bring you a heart and the balance that will adore all that you already are and love within yourself.
DJ: What do you think of the soul/r&b game right now?
AP: Well, I think I’m beginning to really love millennial soul as it’s now called. However, I’m not to keen on the fact that hip hop and R&B are lumped together as Urban Music. It’s disappointing. Mostly because R&B is not always “URBAN” technically. Unfortunately, you have to roll with the punches.
DJ: What can fans expect from Amahni Philly in the near future?
AP: In the near future more transparency, visual content, and whatever is laid before my path toward the manifesting of the vision. I would love to do a few collaborations. Who knows? I’ll let the Divine guide me.
Visit https://amahniphilly.com/ for more on information. Show your twitter love @dropajewel and @amahnimusic and don’t forget to check out the album Forever Golden, everywhere you can find good music. #DoItNow #HappyFriday
