What's in a name??

For those with the capacity to remember, a name is what they'll know you as for the rest of your life. It's what they'll exclaim whenever they see you from a distance. It's what they'll use when they relay information about you to the world. It'll be one of the triggers of memories of you for them. It's what they'll call your sibling when they mix you up. It's what they'll frantically try to remember when they see you coming. So ideally a name should be unique, memorable, but not embarrassing.

There are two things you don't want. You don't want to be constantly referred to as what's-her-face or what's-his-name. What you definitely do not want is to have a name so embarrassing that you either flat out refuse to tell people, or you shorten it to a confusing but less embarrassing single letter: C.

The reason that this current bout of randomness is traipsing through my mind is because I'm getting baptized [or planning to soon] And I don't know how anyone else does it, but my sister says I'm going to need a new name.

Preferably I would like a Biblical name but I don't know how well that'll work out for me. If it doesn't, I always have the choice of a normal name with a 'Biblical' meaning. The thing is I've had my name for almost 20 years now. It took a while for it to grow on me, but it finally has and I quite like it. I don't know how well I'll adjust to a new one...

Well change is necessary in life...

XXX

“Do you want to be a burning star or a black hole?”

A simple question asked by the duo of Upper Echelon, and they seem to have answered it themselves. The up and coming musicians have apparently chosen the first option as they acquire an ever growing fan base from all parts of the world. So why are the boys trending?

There are two main reasons why any one likes a new song. The beat is either so amazing that you would tell your boss to shut up and move out of the way so you can bust a move, or the lyrics are so beautiful you would stop still and listen attentively to the phrasing of each word till the end of the song, after which you would replay it a few more times till you’ve practically memorised the lyrics and can recite them at will.

Before you listen to their music I have some advice for you. Stop thinking of UE as the two man hip hop duo that it is on the surface; instead think of them as a packaged journey and destination. The journey is in the memorable melodies and the honest, hard-hitting lyrics. Each song tells a story. It introduces the listener to a phase or aspect of life, both personal and universal, that has inspired their genius.

Reaching the destination that is UE means realising that their music is diverse yet seamless. It is the realisation that the magic you’re listening to is a merger of different musical styles with originality and contemporary charms. They manage, with great ease, to stay relevant while injecting styles as old as Motown into their innovative, lyrical pieces.

Their personal accounts of their family, grief, struggle and success makes it easy for listeners to relate to them. Their use of religious allegory in their lyrics makes them seem grounded despite their aspirations to be pioneers of their genre.

The boys are currently working on a mix tape called We Own The Sky. You can find songs from the mix tape on their Youtube page here: http://www.youtube.com/user/UeHiphop1

You can also find them on:

1. Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/uehiphop
2. Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/uehiphop
3. Twitter:http://twitter.com/#!/uehiphop

Happy exploring!!!!

I have missed you all so much....

I shouldn't do this to you guys...but I was stuck in a bad rut over the last few months and the last thing I wanted to do was vent my anger out on the world :)

However things are looking up :D God has smiled on me :)

First of all my godmother, who was previously near death and in hospital, is recovering now and back home, so praise God for that.

Also I am working with these two fabulous gentlemen from the states called Caliph and Tunde :D I think I may have mentioned them before...does the name Upper Echelon ring any bells??

Anyways keep a look out I have a few things coming soon I'll give you a taster later today :D

Also I'm planning to get baptized (FINALLY) I will also return with a lot more info about that.

There are a few other irrelevant snippets of info which I will be throwing in your general direction shortly :)

I'm a MASSIVE hypochondriac

Yes. Its True. I am a huge hypochondriac...but I'm kinda not sure if I am at the same time. On one hand I am sure I have every psychological problem from bipolar disorder to SAD. In fact I think me calling myself a Hypochondriac when I am so obviously not is a sign that I am. Confusing, I know. However I can't possibly be because I don't stress about my physical health that much. OK so I occasionally diagnose my random thoughts and ultimate winter depression as something far worse than my pure self-indulgence. But that doesn't make a hypochondriac or a mentally unstable person right??

Ultimately I suppose I am just hyperbolic. Prime example: In my last year of primary school, our English teacher used to put poems on massive cards and stick them on the wall at the back of the class. In one of them the word exaggeration was used. None of us knew what it meant but he eventually told us. It described me perfectly. I have always been too [insert word of choice here :P] I am always at one end of the spectrum and I love it. And quite frankly I love the word exaggeration.

On a Musical Note....

You know when you get those messages on YouTube where people send you videos?? More times than not they are awful disastrous covers by some delusional person. But on some very rare occasions you're actually approached by sane and talented people...like today!

I got a message from a rap duo from the states known as Upper Echelon. Now rap isn't usually my thing because it has kinda moved away from being lyrical poetry, to being an obscene measure of how much everyone owns and the guns they use to make others give them what they don't have yet. However they reminded me of why my brothers hid in their rooms and listened to Tupac's mix tapes.

Even as I struggle for the words to write this randomness, I am replaying their songs over and over again on YT. It's been a long time since I listened to any rap song and felt goosebumps rather than disgust.

This is a link to their YT page:

http://www.youtube.com/user/UeHiphop1

They also have a Facebook page just search for Upper Echelon.

I implore you to listen I promise you'll find something to relate to.

You Know I Loves You.

Neglect

I have been awful! I have neglected my few but faithful, and for that I am truly sorry.

I wish I had a good excuse for you, I really do. But the fact of the matter is I have been in hiding recently. I have avoided friends and most of my family and that is simply because I am trying to avoid the many nagging problems in my mind.

I also I wish I could share my burdens with you...but I wouldn't even know where to start. And besides I am sure you all have your own burdens. Tell them to me! I need something to help me take my mind of ME! Please?? It is the way I survive.

Now I don't tend to share my inner most crazies with anyone beyond my unfortunate nearest and dearest. But you have found yourself amidst the 'privileged' today. If you ask me what I have spent my time doing recently I would have to say...falling out of love. Being in love is torture. It’s HIM calling, texting or randomly showing up in my peripheral vision and flushing my whole day down the toilet, and seemingly without knowing it! It’s turning an old duvet cover into some kind of dress or sleeping bag and re-writing an old Dean Martin song in my head until it's relevant and doesn’t make me a lesbian.

Ultimately, I think what I am trying to say is that I have neglected you because I have felt neglected...so don't hold it against me :)

I Think They Call It Folk...

L&Gs I thought you would be interested in knowing that my musical taste is narrowing again...though I am not quite sure what the genre would be/is called. it started off with popular things like Mumford & Sons and The Temper Trap. But now I also like Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan (although I don't think they work together anymore :/), Mick Flannery, The Avvet Brothers and James Vincent McMorrow.

Yes I know its a hell of a list...but this way I never forget these geniuses. And I genuinely think they should all do one humongous collaboration lol I know Mumford & Sons know The Temper Trap and Lisa Hannigan is 'mutual friends' with Damien (of course), Glen (and hopefully Marketa by extension) and Mick. So maybe they can get the rest together eventually :) Or maybe they all know each other. Yay! lol I know I know I am making it up in my head *sigh :/

But yeah you guys should check them out and tell me what you think. I hope you like them all because they are AWESOME!!!

Thank You