Homesick

Two decent public high schools, a one street downtown featuring a drive-through dairy, and a decent sized shopping mall is pretty much all what Pleasanton consists of. Growing up I could walk down any street, at any time, at any age, and feel perfectly safe. You can’t leave your house without running into someone you know. Everyone knows everything about everyone.

Most of my childhood friends couldn’t wait to get out of this boring town and vowed to “never end up like our parents.” I agreed with them until I moved to Los Angeles for school. There are just some things about my town that a big city can’t offer.

Every year the last week of June and the first week of July, my town holds the Alameda County Fair. I know that you probably just set my town in the middle of the boondocks with farmers and tractors, but we are only 45 minutes from San Francisco. Trust me, it ain’t any Hannah Montana movie. Anyways, this fair is the highlight of my childhood and I still make it a point to go. Held since 1912, it seems as if the same rickety rides are there year after year filled with screaming kids. The same greasy food smell wafting in the air covers the entire fairgrounds and in the few buildings displaying the quilts and jams and jewelry old ladies make in their leisure time. Although the little kids have replaced the older, the layout and the machines are still the same. Living in a city like Los Angeles that is continually changing and modernizing makes it that much more comforting to go home where I know where everything is and restaurants know my order and friends never fully drift apart.

Easter break I found myself one night in a high school classmate of mine’s house surrounded by other people I had graduated with. We caught up with each other and the general overview of our lives at this point. We talked about other people we graduated with who are now engaged, having kids, or getting “adult” jobs. Amidst our conversation, my friend Sara said, “I’m trying to get away from here as fast as possible. I want to experience something else. But eventually I do want to come back. The town is my family.”

Many people do eventually come back and settle with their new families near or in Pleasanton. Including all three of my sisters. My oldest also went to Loyola Marymount. My second sister went to Sacramento. My last wandered around for a bit. But they all came back as soon as they began their families. According to the Bay Area Census, more than 10,000 people have migrated to the little town within the past 17 years.  

Growing up this way has created a deeper homesickness than I usually see in other people. Although, University of Warwick states that up to 70% of Freshmen experience homesickness. For me it’s not completely satisfying when someone visits me down here. My heart yearns for the ability to get lost in the acres of uninhabited grass hills next to my house and take in the fresh air. To be able to go so far away that you can’t hear any cars or sirens or music, just chirping birds, moo-ing cows and the rustling wind.

 No one from the city could truly understand.

The Crackdown on DIY Venues

On March 2nd, Non Plus Ultra, a venue popular within the DIY scene, was shut down after a large crowd of around 350 came to see to see the well-known band Thee Oh Sees. After inspectors of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety realized that this building was not zoned to be a venue space, but rather a housing building, they shut it down on that same night, with an order to comply.

            After the fire at Ghost Ship, a space for artists, located in Oakland last December in 2016, DIY venues all across the United States have begun to suffer the long-lasting consequences. DIY venues are spaces where small artists and show promoters can play and put on music shows.

            In a panel all about DIY shows and DIY festing at Loyola Marymount University, hosted by KXLU 88.9 FM for the University of California Radio Network conference, a discussion on the necessity of safety at DIY venues ensued.

            Yiwei Meng, also known as the show promoter Minty Boi, offers the advice to any aspiring show promoters to “never be stingy with your money on security guards.” He recalls a time when they used to have “higher security guard with like bulletproof jackets and like tasers and like batons.” He does, however, add that “it’s kind of illegal.”

            Although these tips on being safe at venues may be helpful, they don’t necessarily apply to the dangers that inspectors and code enforcement officers are afraid of, such as fires and potential building damages.

            This potential for danger and legal risks is not gone unnoticed by artists and show promoters.

Lily O’brien, General Manager of KXLU says, “Obviously safety is a really big concern, but when you’re throwing a show, you’re not throwing them at the Echoplex, you’re not throwing them at the Regent, you’re throwing them in these warehouses, in these spaces.”

            This happens to be the concern of many people involved in the DIY scene. Bands and artists need a space to be able to rise up and have some exposure. Meng says from the perspective of a show promoter, “the Echoplex and the Regent don’t give a damn about me. Like who am I?”

            Thus, bands, artists, and show promoters have to rely on DIY spaces. This is why promoters are constantly reminded and encouraged to minimize the chances of public officials ever finding out about the show.

            For example, Jessica Makhlin, a show promoter, recalls the first time she ever booked a show for Non Plus Ultra. She was advised to “just be careful where you place the show, where you advertise, and things like that.”

            This happens to be exactly what many people believe is the reason why Non Plus Ultra was shut down. Jason Bentley, of Morning Becomes Eclectic on KCRW 89.9, a popular NPR station, announced that the Oh Sees would be playing there. Thus, with that much exposure and advertisement, too many people showed up, shining light on a venue that had been running with secrecy.

            The struggle between opportunity for bands and artists and the need for safety is an ongoing struggle happening between promoters, DIY venue managers, and LA city inspectors.

Prioritizing Time in The 21st Century

I know what you can possibly be thinking as you read this and yes I am going to ask if you can count how many times a day you scroll through Facebook or any other social media for this matter?

Though it's not exactly what you may be thinking, the real question is what exactly is important in this time of rapid life and detachment from all things that really matter. For instance, how much do we value relationships and our connection to other individuals per se can determine how well you spent your life on this planet.

According to Inc., their article states that “the biggest predictor of your happiness and fulfillment overall in life is, basically, love. Specifically, the study demonstrates that having someone to rely on helps your nervous system relax, helps your brain stay healthier for longer, and reduces both emotional as well as physical pain” and in my case those results align with my experience of these past two years.

I haven’t been on this planet for very long but I can attest to needing or feeling fulfilled with something called love something so basic that doesn’t necessarily have to come from a significant other but rather a feeling that evokes, empathy, understanding, and support. During the last two years, I experienced what it meant to go day by day without having by your side a close-knit of friends or someone to immediately recur for motivation, empathy, and understanding. Since, all my friends are all scattered in different schools, UCLA, UC Irvine and El Camino College Compton Center. My time in Community College is missed, there I’d leave home, wait for the bus with two of my friends, walked together till I got home while running our mouths about how “well” we were doing in English mythology and other cool experiences in and outside of school.

But since I’ve transferred the happy tale ended. It was by the time I met new people I guess to get out of the comfort zone, explore other perspectives. Or perhaps explore a complete side of the world like for instance, explaining my life straight out of a textbook and having others learn about my life that way or learning that on this side of the world every step forward must be planned with years in anticipation; overall, different perspectives I guess, but still didn’t help my nervous and mental well-being. Anyway, in all this assimilation chaos and making myself somewhat competitive and in all the workload, I completely lost track of the importance of love and the showing and receiving of it.

Now I remember why professors in CC encourage students to work together on assignments and meet students from class. I mean it’s undoubtedly obvious that life is easier when circles of support are in place. Then I remembered my History teacher from high school who’d say that “for everything in life you’ll always need each other” or at least this was the way things ran in his class.  But now looking back and applying his saying to real life experiences it makes perfect sense. So what is your idea of fulfillment in life? Do you think the love for others will make you live longer? Maybe these questions will give you a peace of mind and corroborate that regardless of what you do or where you go love is exponentially an influence on your sanity, success, and life span.

https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/want-a-life-of-fulfillment-a-75-year-harvard-study-says-to-prioritize-this-one-t.html?cid=sf01002&sr_share=facebook

Golden State

In the past decade, popularity of the 3-point shot has grown rapidly. Year after year the players drafted to the NBA partake in the fast-paced style of play, opposed to the traditional half-court offense.  I asked my brother whether or not he noticed the trend, and he reported the following. “The NBA has  definitely moved away from drawing out plays, and towards more of a run-and-gun mindset,” said Eric. With the rise of Steph Curry and The Golden State Warriors, basketball has moved into a new era.

During Warriors’ games, I constantly thought to myself, “How are the Warriors outperforming so many dominant teams?” From watching ESPN I’ve seen highlights of Warriors games and their style of play, but I’d never actually seen a full game from start to finish. And because most of the research around this upcoming 3 point shooting trend revolves around the Warriors, I felt the need to tune in Wednesday night. The Warriors faced the San Antonio Spurs, the second place team in the league. Prior to Wednesday night the Warriors had not beat the Spurs in San Antonio in nearly twenty years, but right off the bat it was clear that this streak was coming to an end. Whenever the Spurs would make a 2 point shot, the Warriors would counter it with a 3 pointer. The teams traded baskets all night, but before you know it the Warriors had run away with the game because of their efficiency from beyond the 3 point line.

Last year the Warriors’ 3 Point shooting proved to be the real deal rather than a series of lucky shots. On April 14^th, the Golden State Warriors broke the record for the most single season wins in NBA history, and surpassing Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. The Warriors trampled the Bulls and set a new record of 73 wins with only 9 losses. Prior to do so, critics doubted whether or not the modern day dream team would be able to carry that performance into the playoffs. But, of course, the Warriors were able to silence the non-believers, including myself.

Steph Curry headed the Golden State powerhouse and also broke a record that night. Curry set the new NBA record for most 3 point field goals made in a single season at 402. From examining the 3 point shooting of Curry, as well as his teammates, a clear correlation between efficient 3 point shooting and winning is present.

The Warriors have constantly proven over the last two seasons that if you shoot a lot of 3 pointers and actually make them, your team is headed towards success. This is the case because 3 point shooting is becoming a trend, but not all teams are shooting these shots efficiently. Although the Warriors lost in the NBA Finals last year, it was the second consecutive year they have been. More teams have started to adopt their style of play, seeing how effective it has been for them. The only team that has not is the San Antonio Spurs, and although they are a great team, their superstars are on the brink of retirement. So, it will be interesting to see if the Spurs’ style of play changes once their superstars retire. 

A New Society

When I was growing up, the technology that we have today in the form of smart phones and even the internet, was just starting to be introduced. I recall receiving my very first phone in about fourth grade. It was a small black and gray Nokia phone that could fit in the palm of my hand. It did not have color, it did not light up, it did not have a keyboard, it did not have a touch screen, and I did not even have the ability to send text messages. My first cell phone was used strictly for keeping in contact with my parents. As time progressed and technology advanced, my phones came with increasing access to the world outside of my own little bubble. I remember my first flip phone, my first phone that had an LED lit screen, my first phone that had a full keyboard to make texting easier, and I absolutely remember my first phone that allowed me to gain access to the internet.

With the world of technology changing so rapidly, my parents felt the need to play a major role in policing my cell phone usage and internet access when I was young. They put curfews on the phones of my siblings and I through the phone company. I recall the way my phone would “shut down” for the night every night at 9:00pm. After 9:00pm, there were no more incoming or outgoing calls, texts, or internet usage. These restrictions went away once 7:00am rolled around because that’s what time I woke up for school every day. “This is only for your own good” my mom would explain every time I complained to her about how lame it was to have time restrictions on my phone. I was also restricted from engaging in online social sites such as MySpace. At the time, I was extremely upset about having to deal with so many limitations, but now I am thankful for them.

Today kids are growing up with smart phones, internet, and social media. They do not know the world without it. On one hand, they are lucky to be born into such a technologically advanced society, but on the other hand, they can be exposed to sometimes dangerous situations at a young age. One day one of my male friends called me in a complete panic because his parents found out that his ten year old sister had a secret Instagram account. “My mom went into her direct messages and saw that she was talking to some forty year old man in Florida” My friend exclaimed over the phone. “He was even commenting sexual things on her photos. It made me sick.” he went on to say. My friend’s sister’s situation is just one example of the way in which unmonitored phone and internet use can potentially be harmful to young kids. According to Jeana Tahnk in her Parenting magazine article, the level of social engagement kids have online increases the risks of cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and sexting. Tahnk goes on to give a few ideas on how to monitor internet and social media use of children. She recommends no underage social media use (under the age of 13), checking the privacy settings, using a filtering software, and setting ground rules. I think that all of these suggestions are key to monitoring phone and internet use and ultimately protecting kids from dangers they may not be aware of. 

First vs. Second Love

I remember it like it was yesterday. I fell in love with my first love senior year of high school. It was one of those corny “High School Musical” relationships. I was one of the captains of the basketball team and she was the head cheerleader. We would do everything together trying to sort through these raw emotions of love. It was hard though considering we were  young and dumb and made 17/18-year-old mistakes that led to our break up. She seemed to move on faster than I did but losing that first love was hard for me. It was really hard because I was going through family problems at the same time and I lost trust in  so many people and developed trust issues.  My ex and I were inseparable throughout our relationship and after our relationship ended I didn’t think loving someone again was possible. I didn’t believe it was possible until a year ago when I began dating my current girlfriend which made me think of the differences of first and second love. 

According to an article by Elite Daily, “The first time you fall in love just may be the hardest you’ll ever fall. Falling in love for the first time is almost dream-like, and I truly believe it’s incomparable. Perhaps this is because it’s all just so new and exciting to feel the warmth, love and acceptance from another person.” This is true. The first time I fell in love was literally uncharted territory and I did not know what to expect. I fell hard and that led to an even worse fall out. My current girlfriend showed me that love is possible again and it’s true. I was still in a weird place when we started dating but so was she. Her last relationship turned out just as toxic as mine but we both talked about how our love for that person kept it going. I think coming from similar ex relationships has allowed us to understand what we both truly want in a partner and everything has been perfect. I have grown to understand that first and second love are different but second love is definitely better. 

According to an article by Odyssey, “You will push them away and give yourself a million reasons why it will never work out, because you can't stand the thought of being hurt again. You'll remember the slamming doors and the fights, and you'll build your walls up. But ever so swiftly, brick by brick, that wall will come down. You'll spend more and more time with that special someone, and your heart will start to feel whole again. Suddenly, you won't to be able to imagine a day going by that you don't talk to them. Oh and their smile, wow that smile, it'll get you every time.”  Naturally people build up that wall in order to protect themselves from being heart-broken a second time but that wall will slowly break down the more time you spend with that new special person. I am guilty of this. I was scared to put my all into someone but finding that strength to do so has allowed me to love again. In an article by the Huffington Post, “Second love, now that’s the real stuff. You’ve grown from all that pain, and you have skeletons that need to be discovered. There is a lot to learn about a person based on what they don’t say, and there’s even more to learn by reaching the point of opening up. Finding the person to accept all of that is a beautiful thing.” The difference between the two is important. If you aren't currently heart broken from that first love, that second love can potentially be even better. 

The Truth About the Fact: Russell is the MVP

I have been a die-hard Seattle Supersonic/Oklahoma City Thunder fan since I was an adolescent. As a kid I always wanted to ply like Gary “the Glove Payton.” If I could be any player in the world it would have been him. I remember my eyes glued to the television and computer screens watching and analyzing the tenacity that Gary played with and would try to model my game after it. Little did I know that a young kid from Hawthorne, California would become my next favorite player and play for my favorite team.  The moment I heard Russell Westbrook had been selected fourth overall during the 2008 NBA Draft, I knew he was going to be special. His hunger and competitiveness rivals that of Michael Jordan and Kobe and he is just outright relentless on the court.

I happened to play for Russell Westbrook’s high school coach in high school at St. Bernard back in 2011 and 2012 and I remember the moment Russ walked into our locker room at halftime during one of our games. I was in awe. “Enjoy every moment you guys have playing with one another. These are truly some of the best times of your life. Enjoy the moment.”  Russell’s words  echoed in the back of my mind for years following that encounter. 

Fast forward to the 2016-2017 NBA season and he was right to enjoy every moment. As I gear up for graduation, Russell is making history and redefining what it means to be a point guard. Russell is now one triple double away from passing Oscar “The Big O” Robertson for the most in a season. He will average a triple double this season and this will be the first time that has been done since Oscar Robertson accomplished this over 50 years ago during the 1961-1962 NBA season. 

According to an article by ESPN, “His season has been full of history, with him running up two streaks of seven consecutive triple-doubles, second only to Wilt Chamberlain's streak of nine. Westbrook sits fourth all time in career triple-doubles at 78, tied with Chamberlain. He has had seven 40-point triple-doubles and two 50-point triple-doubles.”  Additionally, he is leading the league in scoring and has his team (second youngest team) poised to have the fifth or sixth seed in the highly competitive Western Conference of the NBA. 

I love James Harden because he is a previous OKC player and LA native but I can’t give him the MVP nod over Russell. James himself has had an amazing year statistically but Russell has simply done more with less. James has much more talent around him and four top 20 3 point shooters around him. Russ has some great potential talent but the players are too young to max out on their talent at this point in their young careers. 

Russell simply makes his team better. According to statistics provided by ESPN’s Russell Westbrook triple double tracker, the Thunder win 78% of games when he has a triple double and win 35% of games when he doesn’t record one. Also according to a voting chart provided by ESPN they asked fans who will win MVP and who should win MVP. There was a tie for who will win at 50% to each respective player. The interesting point comes where 49% voted that Russell should win MVP and James received 33% of voting withe the rest dispersed to several other players. 

Russell has to do so much more than James to put his team in a winning position and I believe that is the reason that Russell deserves the MVP slightly more than James. However, if this was the first year ever the MVP award was shared among two players I would not be disappointed as a fan of both. Russell is my MVP though and I hope his efforts this year are justly recognized. We won’t see a season like this for years to come and I’m sure Russ is enjoying the moment. 

South Central is Not for Sale

About three years ago, I finally noticed that the racial landscape of my predominantly black neighborhood of View Park was changing. Going through my normal routine as I got home from work and classes, I put the leash on my dog and walked out the house. I walked by several white people walking around the neighborhood with high-tech strollers and their dogs. I was confused. Each one that would walk by me was extremely nice and introduced themselves as the new neighbors. In my mind I was just confused for a bit about what their intentions were for moving here. I know it’s nice but why? Why now? 

South Central is the best place in LA to live especially in View Park/Baldwin Hills a prestigious and fairly wealthy black neighborhood. All fifteen to twenty minutes away from many of the amenities Los Angeles has to offer like LAX, the beach, several malls, amazing restaurants, West LA, Beverly Hills, Culver City etc. It really is central to all of Los Angeles. However it’s hard to watch this neighborhood become gentrified. For a young black man growing up here it was great to see successful black people living with one another peacefully. This area is a beacon of hope for African-Americans to realize that we can be successful in  a society that restricts the amount of success African-Americans can have. 

According to an article by Andrew Khouri in the LA Times, “Priced out of much of Los Angeles, young professionals are zeroing on several neighborhoods around USC and to the west, as the expanding Expo light rail line delivers new residents to the area.

Communities such as Jefferson Park, Leimert Park and West Adams are attracting buyers — and investors — seeking their relative affordability, location between the Westside and downtown Los Angeles, and the rail link between the two.” There is no way to stop people from moving to these neighborhoods because that in its self is discrimination but we just ask that they be mindful of the culture that currently resides. 

There are many factors that are leading to white people moving into these south central neighborhoods and it is truly out of our control but I can only hope that the current residents of my neighborhood in particular remain strong and hold on to their homes despite the lucrative deals being thrown in their face everyday. I hope they realize what this neighborhood has meant for my generation growing up because it is motivation for me to be successful and give back to my communities.

The Current State of Hip Hop

Currently in Hip Hop there is a very concerning disconnect from the generations of artists that helped pioneer rap. Artists like Pete Rock and the group De La Soul chimed in with how they felt about the current state of rap. Pete Rock stated in an interview, “These Kids Don’t Give a Fuck About The Culture.” De La Soul was quoted as saying, “Rap is redundant now” in an interview with popular hip hop media magazine, Pigeons and Planes. However I think that this is inherently a problem and flawed argument. The “old heads” of hip hop say that the new age rappers don’t care about Hip Hop culture but cultures change and I think they just don’t understand that change is inevitable. Hip Hop at its purest form started with a DJ mixing records accompanied by a MC who delivered rhymes and kept the crowd rocking. Then transformed into a mix of gangster and “conscious” rap in the 90s. That seems to me like the culture changed then. If the pioneers of rap changed the so-called Hip Hop culture of their time why is it a problem now that the younger generation has begun to shift the current state?

I think personally that artists should be able to express their music in any way that they like. Rap is an art. You cannot tell someone how to express their art. You cannot put art into a box and that is what the new Hip Hop artists are truly doing, expanding. Infusing different genres and unorthodox techniques into their music has allowed for the sound of Hip Hop and its fans to broaden into a much more expansive “culture.” There are still new age rappers that still stick to what would be deemed as classic hip hop. Artists like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Earl Sweatshirt and Joey Bada$$ are prime examples of new artists who keep the culture the way older generation prefers. Classic hip hop will always be the best but many new age artists like Lil Yachty, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, 21 Savage, and others have pushed the boundaries of Hip Hop that tried to mold artists into the prototypical rapper. They went against the norm and have seen new mainstream success at 18-21 years of age. In an interview with The Fader, Lil Yachty’s father addressed all the comments the “old heads” had about his son’s music. “His music is for the kids” said the father of the 19-year-old star. These new age rappers are making music for their generation many don’t care if their predecessors love their music or not, it is truly for the love of their fans.

Part of this has to do with the internet and the cult like following many of these new artists receive with the help of streaming platforms like Soundcloud where everyone can tweet about an artists song and it can go viral over night. I believe that rap is in a great place right now because of the many different sounds that have come into the game to give  Hip Hop a breath of fresh air. There are still the top-notch MCs like Kendrick and company but there are also more melodic rappers like Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi who are creating a wider spectrum for what the culture is. 

I Don’t Know Why but I Forgive You

I’ll never forget it. It was the summer before sophomore year of high school. I was 14 and playing basketball. When you told me, “Dylan, I have cancer.” My heart shattered. I looked at you like superman. “My dad can’t have cancer, he can’t.” I kept repeating this to myself in disbelief as I was crying my self to sleep nightly for months. He would be late to pick me up from practice sometimes saying that his chemotherapy treatment was running long. Then I found out that you were faking it the entire time and I was filled with a wide range of emotions. I was sad, angry, in disbelief and happy all at the same time. Angry you lied about something so serious, sad that I looked at you like a hero and spent countless nights falling into depression facing the reality I might lose my Dad to cancer. However, I found myself happy that you lied because that meant you did not have cancer. Little did I know this would be the first of a string of lies that led to me resenting you for years. 

The final straw came when you were dating a childhood friend’s mother when I was a freshman . When she randomly saw me that Sunday morning at the Fairfax Flea Market and asked me “Dylan, honestly, how are you doing with everything? If you need anything let me know, I know this must be a  hard time for you.” I looked at her like she was crazy. I know she wasn’t talking about all the stuff that happened with my Dad in high school so this had to be something knew. I asked her what she was referring to and she responded, “Your dad didn’t tell you and your sister? He is terminally ill and only expected to live for six months.” 

I tried my best to not laugh in her face but he was pretending again in order to get money from the lady. I told her not to believe it and I could not believe he was manipulating women in that way. It was disgusting. After everything, this is what you turn to doing? You’re better than that. I was hurt again, I had started to forgive you but this time I didn’t even want to associate with you. We didn't speak at all for over a year. 

Everything that happened between us has allowed me to grow up and realize many things I was oblivious to earlier. The world may have it’s beauty but it is a cold place. People are naturally flawed and will at some point or another hurt someone or people they love whether it be a friend or family, it will happen its human nature. However, I have grown. I see everything you did as a way for me to learn and be better than you. I have learned the power that the truth truly holds, how to be a real father who puts his kids first and puts myself aside. I have learned that trust must be earned and not assumed. 

I have found the power to forgive you. I don’t know how and will properly never know how but I did. I have started to try to save whatever relationship we had but it will truly never be the same.  I went through two years of my life depressed, and not eating regularly because of 3 years where my life turned from the greatest to pretty bad. Which now looking back I regret allowing anyone have that much control over my life that caused me to go to such a dark place.  Its embarrassing. I should have been stronger than that. 

What got me through it was always telling myself that I  will be better and that my situation could always be worse. I started to see the bright side of any and every situation. It wasn’t until I experienced real pain in my life that the silver lining would become clearer to me. 

To Pimp a Butterfly

Kendrick Lamar’s latest effort, To Pimp a Butterfly was the fourth hip-hop album ever archived in Harvard University’s library. According to producer 9th Wonder in an article in XXL Magazine, “In 2012, I was chosen to be a Harvard University Fellow at The Dubois Institute under the direction of @henrylouisgates and Dr. Marcy Morgan,” 9th Wonder wrote. “I chose the research project ‘These Are The Breaks’….a collection of albums that are the standard of the culture…..200 in all in no particular order.” 

The first time I heard it, I sat in my room completely in awe of what I had just listened to. I played down in my bed in my Hannon Apartment bedroom and put on my Beats by Dre headphones and had to pull our my notebook to right down quotes that took out. As I listen I was floored. I had never heard anything like this album before from the production, rapping, singing, interludes, everything was so carefully curated and masterfully completed. I was simply amazed. As the album ended I just stared at the artwork for awhile and thought to my self, “Wow, what did I just listen to? Kendrick is the greatest rapper of all time in my book.”  He is the mind that Pac said that he would spark who would change the world. 

This occurred during a time when racial tensions were soaring to new heights. Kendrick Lamar  in the meantime, released the most important album across all genres, ever. He used this album to address a plethora of issues that face the black community like the demonization of the black man,  dark vs. light skin , racism, police brutality/corruption, music industry executives, greed, temptation by the devil, classism and the list can go on forever. 

Kendrick’s third studio album, “To Pimp A Butterfly” sonically fuses, hip-hop, jazz, electronic and several other genres in order to produce this politically charged album that highlights the struggles of being a black person in America, but despite these struggles black people must still love themselves despite all of the pain and suffering they may feel from how America views them as less. Kendrick teaches self love. Kendrick also highlights the temptations that he faces when dealing with what comes with being rich and famous. He refers to these temptations as “Lucy” short for lucifer who is constantly tempting him to sell his soul throughout the album but he stands strong because of his beliefs that will not allow him to sell out and be the devil’s poster child as other rappers have and continue to do.

In his ending song “Mortal Man” he ties everything together and states that he will help lead the fight against oppression and hatred following the steps of previous civil rights leaders. He rapped, 

“The Ghost of Mandela, hope my flows they propel it

Let these words be your earth and moon

You consume every message

As I lead this army make room for mistakes and depression

And with that being said my nigga, let me ask this question:

When shit hit the fan, is you still a fan?”

Kendrick also highlights in this song that no matter who you are, as a black man you will be demonized and treated as a criminal. Later in the song he rapped, 

“If I’m tried in a court of law, if the industry cut me off

If the government want me dead, plant cocaine in my car

Would you judge me a drug-head or see me as K. Lamar

Or Question my character and degrade me on every blog

Want you to love me like Nelson, Want you to hug me like Nelson

I freed you from being a slave in your mind, you’re very welcome

You tell me my song is more than a song, it’s surely a blessing

But a prophet ain’t a prophet ’til they ask you this question

When shit hit the fan, is you will a fan?”

Kendrick challenges his true fans that when they try to bring him down despite knowing his true character, will we will continue to be fans and believe in the real Kendrick or fall for the trap of the demonization of a black man.  Mortal Man is one of the most powerful songs ever created. 

I have been a fan of Kendrick since 2010 when he released his earlier mixtape “Overly Dedicated.”  Seeing his progression as a fan has been amazing for me because as I have grown older listening to him, his material has matured also and he is one of the few rappers who is tackling political issues that don’t just plague the black community but the nation as a whole. I could write an essay about each song of this album due to its depth but that will have to wait. I will leave you with this. Kendrick will not be pimped by the industry executives and will put out the music he wants to put out even if it is against the wishes of the label. He will continue to stand up for what is right. He will continue to try to enlighten other artist to not allow individuals to “pimp” them and their art.

Aruba Ariba

“Bon Bini Aruba!” is all I saw as I exited my plane back to my favorite place on the planet. “Welcome to Aruba” is what bon bini means for those who are unfamiliar with the local language of Papiamento. This was my second time to Aruba and I couldn’t be more excited for Soul Beach Music Festival where I intern. “The Soul Beach Music Festival is one of our most popular annual extravaganzas,” says Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, CEO of Aruba Tourism Authority. “Travelers looking for more than a basic beach getaway this Memorial Day Weekend will find their paradise in Aruba while enjoying electrifying entertainment and international culinary influences on some of the world’s most famous beaches.”  This time around the festival line up that I work for out there was stacked with unbelievable artists. The comedy night consisted of comedic legend D.L. Hughely and actor/comedian Brandon T. Jackson. The music concert nights included the legends Charlie Wilson and Doug E. Fresh, along side Dru Hill and Estelle. However, the true headliner of the festival was Trey “Trigga” Songz. Mr. Steal Your Girl was going to perform on the island oasis. 

Aruba is my home away from home. I love it. My days there are nothing but relaxation and fun. Out there work is truly play. My friend and I usually start the day by the pool or beach and sip on an Aruban favorite alcoholic beverage known as the “Aruba Ariba.”  A rum and vodka infused beverage mixed with fruit drinks and served with an orange and pineapple slice. I always forget until I am there that the Aruban equivalent to a squirrel is an iguana. They are literally everywhere. You learn to get used to it but at first it is kind of weird to see iguanas walk right by you as a norm. While enjoying my “Aruba Ariba” on the beautiful white sand beaches of Aruba over looking the clear blue water I always find peace and quiet, something never found in Los Angeles. I feel at home whenever I am there. My friend and I have spent a good amount of time there and we have used that time away from LA to focus on all of our entrepreneurial ideas, goals and aspirations. While in LA it was always easy to get distracted by school, work and everything else that comes with being back at home.   I truly believe the island life is amazing, but I digress. I am truly here to prove that Aruba is great but I also want to leave you guys with a story where my beloved Aruba Ariba drink betrayed me. 

The night of Trey Songz concert, I learned the hard way why he is known as Mr. Steal Your Girl. At the concert, Trey absolutely shut it down and had left Aruba with a memorable performance. Aruba’s official Facebook page posted, “Trey Songz just delivered an outstanding performance at the 15th Soul Beach Music Festival Aruba. Thousands of fans sang and danced to his tunes! #sbmf15 #discoveraruba.” During the concert, I met a girl and her friend who wanted to go out with us to the after party and hang out in the VIP area. We exchanged numbers and information and met up later that night outside of the club. We walked in together and proceeded to the back where the VIP section was located. As we were enjoying our time, I saw Trey Songz arrive with at least 15-20 women and a few of his friends. They were on the level above us reserved for himself and his guests. I was waiting on the waitress to come by to buy some drinks but she was taking too long. I left the VIP and went to the bar area to purchase two Aruba Aribas. As I turned around with both drinks in hand, I saw Trey signal to the girl I came with and her friend to come up to their area and I didn’t see her for the rest of the night. I sat there mad and drank my two Auba Aribas and experienced Mr. Steal Your Girl first hand.

Yoko Ono’s Art

Yoko Ono is typically known as being the wife of the Beatles icon, John Lennon. However, Yoko is an icon in her own right. She has been an advocate for equality and women’s rights before she even became a household name. Her contributions to the feminist sect of avant-garde art are great, yet not commonly known to the public. She has created feminist performance art, music, and written essays. Yoko Ono’s artistic contributions to the avant-garde movement touch upon the several recurring themes of feminism such as the male gaze, sexual assault, and a call to action to end female silence, all while being radical, unorthodox, and sometimes even controversial.

Yoko was born on February 18th, 1933 in Tokyo, where she was raised by her two parents. Her mother was a classical pianist while her father was a banker. Thus, she got her musical inclination from her mother. Being born in Japan, Yoko experienced the firebombings of Tokyo done by the United States at the time of WWII. After she experienced that and the sudden disappearance of her father, her and her mother had to struggle to live day by day. According to the Inquirer in their article titled “Yoko Ono recounts own hunger during war in Japan,” Yoko Ono experienced extreme poverty herself. After her family lost their house, they were left wandering streets, often times begging for food. She recalls “she knew [people who] starved to death or died from eating poisonous mushrooms they collected in the hills. This of course has led herself to believe that this is where her aggression stems from. It has hardened her, thus affecting the way she views the world and feminist issues.

One of her most famous performance pieces is called “Cut Piece.” This performance concerns itself with the way women are subjected to being probed by men and even other women. Although this piece became famous and well-received in the U.S., it did not always have the same response. According to Jieun Rhee in “Performing the Other: Yoko Ono’s Cut Piece,” when Yoko Ono first performed her art in Japan, her and her collaborators were rarely praised. Instead, they were met with criticism. However, one anonymous critic from Tokyo understands what Yoko was trying to achieve and claims that the audience “seems to have had unusual experiences...seeing the sequence of these apparently senseless mundane acts.” He explains that her piece is “not an art that has already been completed, but an art form which the audience can receive something by witnessing the unfolding of nonsense acts, experiencing the process together with the performers,” by which he means that this type of art is something that must be experienced through the passage of time.

In Yoko’s feminist essay titled “The Feminization of Society,” she grasps at the hope that the world can begin to push forward a female energy, one that has been suppressed by its counterpart, the male energy. This essay was written in 1972 which happens to align with second-wave feminism. Second-wave feminism tended to focus on issues such as sexuality, reproductive rights, and the workplace. In this essay she claims that women need to “realize the futility of competing and trying to be like men,” and instead use “feminine tendencies as a positive force to change the world.” By feminine tendencies, she means the emotions and characteristics that are hegemonically feminine, such as compassion, love, empathy, and so on. She wants to push the hegemonic boundaries and try and make these “feminine tendencies” the hegemony for all genders.

In the end, Yoko Ono has created a large portfolio of avant-garde feminist art, which has largely pushed previously set boundaries and limits. Although not many people are aware of it, mainly due to her association with her late husband John Lennon, we must continue to celebrate her work and message

Tired of Grieving Mothers and Lamenting Politicians

Sometimes when I’m walking through campus I get this odd, indescribable chill that sprints down the arch of my spine. I feel paranoid. I find myself looking at every person walking in my vicinity. I scavenge the empty cavities of the airport/shopping mall-like UHALL building of Loyola Marymount University. Sometimes the tension at my school is so dense, I can almost feel the looming bullets in the air.

To my surprise, when I described that feeling to my class, every student and even the professor knew exactly the feeling I was describing above: the inherent fear of a school shooting. Recently, tensions at my university have been tumultuous at best. With die-hard Trump supporters mixing with liberal students, sprinkled with all of President Trump’s recent executive orders it’s almost like you could cut the air with a butter knife.

Though, why is it that campus shootings are the first thing that come to mind in times of disagreement and chaos? Why are those the weapons of choice? Maybe it’s because “In the 190 shooting incidents between the 2001-02 and 2015-16 school years, 437 people were shot, including 167 killed and 270 wounded. The victims included 290 students, 77 individuals not associated with the college, 40 employees, and five former students (we were unable to determine the relationship of 25 victims). An estimated 2.5 million students were enrolled at the 142 colleges where shootings occurred, and, thus, were directly or indirectly exposed to gun violence” (Crime Commission).

Or perhaps it’s because, anyone can go out and buy a gun? Remember the Santa Barbara school shooting? In reports, it became clear that Elliot had an extensive history of manic thoughts and actions which were not only addressed to his parents but also to the police from his therapist. 

However, because no one thought of aiding him, he decided to take the situation into his own hands and bought not one, not two but three weapons at different arms dealers within moments.  Let me add, that not only are there a surplus of individuals with Elliot’s mental instability, but thanks to Trump’s newest executive order, the mentally disabled can now buy guns.

You’d think that with a devastatingly drastic increase in school shootings that prompt regulations would be at the top of the priority list. Well, they’re not and at this rate are very unlikely to be. The problem with the conversation of gun-control, is that the moment it is mentioned Republicans scream “THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY ALL OF OUR GUNS!!”  Well, no we don’t. In fact, I’m a firm believer in owning a gun, especially because I am a woman, and the world is a scary place for 110 pound Ellie.

However, I do believe in regulation. I believe in background checks, drug testing, mental checks the whole nine-yards. I mean, if we have to go through a drastically long process at hell-on-earth (aka the DMV) just to obtain a piece of paper that lets me operate a vehicle, why can’t there be a similar process when it comes to obtaining machinery specifically designed to kill humans?

Let me remind you that, GUNS DO NOT KILL PEOPLE. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE.  However, with that being said, it is also important to tackle the understanding of why school shootings occur. In recent events, it became clear that school shootings occur largely in part of bullying. Yes, bullying doesn’t end in high-school, it’s very adamant across college campuses-especially if you mix in politics.

According to an accurate site, bullyonline.org, " it's funny how people who simply say "stand up for yourself" never, ever, tell you how to stand up for yourself” because this leads to kids lacking the knowledge of proper “physical, psychological, emotional and verbal self-defense”.

 I cannot stress enough the emotional impact bullying can have on an individual, and the importance of knowledge on what to do in such circumstances.  I believe that kids need to LEARN how to treat others and LEARN how to appropriately handle bullying. I accept the fact the bullying takes place everywhere from the playground to the office, but it is not something that one should brush of their shoulder and not take seriously.  Did you know that statistically, “harassment and bullying have been linked to 75% of school-shooting incidents” (makebeatsnotbeatdowns.org) ?

I feel like we’re not asking for too much. I feel that what we’re asking for benefits both sides respectively. Don’t you think that having active shooter drills on campuses nation-wide is alarming? That students and professors alike know all-to-well that indescribable ominous chill- that inherent fear of someone shooting up the halls of your school? I want to feel safe on my campus. I want to know that the mentally-ill have treatment, but don’t have access to weapons that have the potential to cause mass devastation. I’m really not asking for much, and for the last time- no, dear Republicans, no one said we want to take away all of your guns!

Inglewood, Ca

On Wednesday around 3 P.M. a young adult was shot outside of his home in Inglewood, California. The man was walking back from the liquor store with his infant child. He was not a gang member, he did not cause trouble in the community, and had no previous encounters with the law, but still received two bullets in the chest.

The man noticed a car following him for a few minutes, but decided to keep walking anyway. As he closed in on his home, the car pulled up next to him and rolled the window down: four passengers, four guns. Before saying anything to him, he knew something bad was about to happen based on the area in which he resides. Around here it doesn’t matter if you’re young, old, disabled, or innocent, if you’re outside in the open, you’re a target.

This innocent man was shot right outside of his home, but no news coverage or media story was reported on the incident. I’m aware of this event because this man lives two houses down from me. This man is a family friend, and beloved member of the community. There was no news coverage on the event because it’s common around here. For some it may seem crazy or absurd that an innocent father could be shot in broad daylight with no consequences, but for me, it’s just another day in the hood. Every day is a fight towards making it out, because life can be taken away at any moment.

Gang violence is a big problem in a lot of African American communities, not just Inglewood. Black individuals continuously shoot one another, and wonder why society thinks it’s acceptable to shoot them as well. When a black gang member kills another black person, it’s normal, but when a cop shoots one of us, we see it as the worst thing in the world, and everyone becomes an activist. “Rather than seeking improvement in racial treatment from the justice system, we need to seek improvement in everyday relations,” said Terrell. “If we were to stop killing one another and unite as one, maybe society will realize that brutality and violence are never justifiable.” According to L.A. Times, 670 people were killed in L.A. County in the last 12 months.

This number only accounts for homicides, which is ridiculous. Among the 670 deceased was Jim Briggs. L.A. Times reported the following, “There’s no evidence he was shooting at the officers. We don’t know who he was shooting at or even what direction he was shooting. Briggs then began running through the parking lot toward Budlong Avenue. As two officers tried to detain him, they opened fire,” Mendoza said. Again, rather than waiting for probable cause before firing, the police killed another black man. They weren’t even sure if he had a weapon, but because he ran, they assumed the worst. Over the past few years, there have been multiple incidents that mirror this one, yet the situation is reoccurring. Therefore, something needs to change. Whether it be police training or gun accessibility to the public; we need to take action.

Truth

Last Night at the debate, I met a very interesting individual. We began by talking about the event, but somehow managed to get into the discussion of career paths. I told him I wanted to be a writer, and explained why, without realizing this man was a published writer himself.  He let me speak for about thirty minutes before telling me he was in the process of writing his first book. After he told me that, I completely forgot about the debate and spent the whole event outside talking with him. I asked about the writing process and he answered, “There is no writing process. You just sit down and write about the truth, but keep in mind that there’s a truth behind that truth.” In the moment I had no idea what he meant, and  actually spent half the night thinking about it. In fact, I’m still thinking about it as I write this.

Who is this man? What’s his deal? Why is he telling me this? These are a few things that ran through my head as we spoke. We’d talked for over an hour and I was completely lost at what he was trying to tell me. Then I thought back to a book I’d read a few years back. In Triggering Town, Richard Hugo talks about the writing process. Hugo addresses the big issue of individuality in the opening page when he says, “You'll never be a poet until you realize that everything I say today and this quarter is wrong. It may be right for me, but it is wrong for you.” A lot of what the strange man told me last night mirrored this line. I came to realize that he was trying to tell me that everyone has their own truth. There are no lies, but solely truths relative to specific individuals. This got me reflecting on my personal writing process.

A key step of the writing process Hugo talks about is focusing on words rather than the subject. The writing process should be triggered by words and ideas. Hugo uses a town for example. When writing, we should visualize a town outside of our own. The town should be one we are familiar with, but different enough so that we have room to imagine new things. In chapter 2 Hugo gives an example of a gas station clerk with a drinking problem. He says that setting the story outside of his personal town allowed him to describe the clerk because the one in his home town actually had a drinking problem. It does not matter what triggers the writing process because it varies between people, the only thing that matters is that there is some kind of trigger that allows the imagination to run wild and do its job.

In order to write a creative piece, I first have to get an idea of what resonates with me and why. Then, after finding out what weighs with me, I begin thinking of past experiences that may or may not have influenced my beliefs. With past experiences in mind, I then begin to word vomit to get all of my ideas on paper. Word vomit is when you write over the specified word count, and focus on getting rid of a lot of it when the argument has been made. For example, is the word count is 315, I may write for 400 words just to make sure I say everything that needs to be said. And after you know what you want to say, then you can start to cut down on a lot of articles and unnecessary lines.

Another key aspect of my process is late night writing. Throughout the day I will brainstorm the topic in my head, but I can’t actually begin writing. I’m not a day-time writer, so instead of forcing ideas, I just wait until the middle of the night until I’ve had a chance to process it. Working in the middle of the night under last minute pressure gives me an incentive to get the work done. Working at night is also more relaxing and easier to concentrate because there are less people awake in my house. I don’t have to worry about people crumpling bags, starting conversation with me, asking me do things for them, etc. Time spent working at night is always productive because there is no one to prevent you from doing work. Throughout freshman year I always thought this was weird, but now I’ve come to accept. No two people write the same, and if people do attempt to mirror someone else’s style, it’s because they haven’t come to realize that they won’t be successful operating under the scope of another individual’s truth. 

Mayor Garcetti vs the Black Community

Last October, Mayor Eric Garcetti held a city council meeting at Holman United Methodist Church in South Los Angeles. Garcetti hoped to strengthen his connection with the black community through public forum, but was interrupted by outraged members of Black Lives Matter. As Garcetti spoke, members turned their back and ignored his comments. The activists disregarded Garcetti's claims because they believed he had no real interest in improving black society.

Melina Abdullah, professor of Pan African Studies at Cal State Los Angeles and community organizer for Black Lives Matter, was outraged by Garcetti's council meeting. Abdullah realized Garcetti reached out to the community as a publicity stunt, and shared the following words with La Times. Abdullah said, "The mayor has neglected, disrespected, and abused the black community for far too long. We are here today because this is real for us. This is not a political game. This is not about your reelection. This is about our lives."

Hazel Jester, long time South Los Angeles resident, shared a similar viewpoint to Abdullah. Jester said, "I've been here long before Garcetti came to office, so I've seen this political scam before. Suddenly he cares about the black community, but why now? Where has he been the past few months?"

The activist disruption stemmed from a broken promise between Garcetti and the organization. Co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Patrice Cullors, told LA Times that the two parties agreed upon a two-hour meeting, but Garcetti never followed through. Garcetti never informed the organization of the council meeting, so they decided to break the meeting up.

Pamela Cervantez, a 26 year old grad student from South Los Angeles, witnessed the organization prevent Garcetti from leaving in his car. Cervantez said, "Garcetti tried pushing through the crowd, but couldn't get pass the large group. People from the crowd started to help block him too, ultimately feeding the fire.

During this year’s election, President Trump acted in a similar fashion in hopes of reelection. After numerous speeches about creating a wall in order to prevent immigration, Trump attempted to win over the Hispanic population as soon as elections rolled around. Trump’s attempts were completely ridiculous as he attempted to gain the trust of a group of people he’d previously promised to exile. Trump did things like post pictures of himself eating Taco Bell with a few Hispanic construction workers, as if that would convince the public that he’d change his beliefs on the Hispanic people.

Garcetti and Trump aren’t the only two candidates to try and reach out to a group of people during elections however. This is a reoccurring situation in politics. Officials only want to help the marginalized when they’re depending on his/her vote to be reelected.