Things Are Getting Better

N*E*R*D

Now it seems that things are really getting better
In my life
Is it just today or things are really getting better
We’ll see tonight

BOY BOY BOY…doesn’t that song hit close to home in anyone’s soul?

I’ve been to a few shows in my short days on Earth that I can vividly remember…Kanye at the Murat Egyptian Ballroom (pre-Jesus Walks), Little Brother at House of Blues Chicago (BIG ROME!), Kanye at the Indianapolis Fairgrounds (when Addiction was more than a song and had someone attached to it), Common/Talib Kweli at University of Cincinnati outdoors (even with a few raindrops raindrops raindrops raindrops still an awesome show), De La Soul at Butler on the Mall (…………..if you missed it then you MISSED IT), The Roots at Clowes (cracked concrete in the terraces from bass levels), Beyonce/Robin Thicke at United Center in the Chi (Thinking I was in love, but really in chains…not quite sure yet but thanks Phonte for the idea)…….

Anyway……since there are no coincidences in life, it falls in place that Big Rome didn’t go to the show but I went and I promised I’d detail him. HOWEVER, I had no idea the show would be too much to tell to somebody. Energy from the top to bottom. Top instrumentation. Top rhyming, saaaaaaanging, and just some good natured foolishness by Pharrrrrreal, Shay, and that boy Chad (hoppin around in the back playin the Moog! Soul Sincere!!!)

The band ran thru all the joints you would (or should) know and some newness as well….but with two drummassssss, a brotha on the keys who looked like my Uncle Yang, big fella on the bass, and a brotha on the Fender Strat goin Ernie Isley on that there thang!

Bottom line it was jammin like Smuckers grape. Again……if you missed it then well you missed it but catch em when you can……I’ll let you know how they do on the Glow In The Dark Tour in Chicago at United Center May 23.

Until then,

IceIceBox Kinetik

RIP Matthew Marino passed on 3/21/04…LOL when you were alive Katt Williams was just a “micro-mini pimp” but I think about you everytime I hear his name cuz you thought he was hilarious in Friday After Next…Until we meet again!

Stepping into Tomorrow

Once again back its the incredible (c) Chuck D

Good mor-knee-ing! The view from my 7th floor penthouse (party on the rooftop) of the Central Library here in the Circle City is actually pretty dope. But back to the basics…

Today’s pick is from a wonderful musician Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II……..or Donald Byrd for short……the man is ill and he’s the father of a group named the Blackbyrds (Google that if you will…and keep an eye out for more from them later) but really this song is just what we all need everyday we wake up.

Stepping into tomorrow, got both feet on the ground

Stepping into tomorrow, my destiny is found

How many of us would try to argue that we don’t wanna wake up and say that? You ever try to stand up on one foot for a long time with nothing to brace against??? Don’t worry, I’ll wait……………………doesn’t work out too well does it? That’s because God gave us two feet to stand and walk on so we oughta use ‘em; even when it hurts.

Now the destiny part…we find our destiny in ourselves by getting on with our lives. Some of us think that we are “lost” and have no clue what’s going on with our lives but really, have we even decided what we WANT for our lives? And if you haven’t then are you “lost” or are you really just where you wanna be? And don’t get huffy and think I’m sayin’ I never felt “lost”……cuz I’ve been there and then realized I had no idea where I wanted to be.

Put your FEET on the ground and STEP into tomorrow…don’t prance or tiptoe or shuffle…step into it. Make the decision about your own life and then step into it.

Donald Byrd Stepping into Tomorrow (1974)

The euphoria it was in my mind…