From Milestones to Millstones

It's not the talkers, but the walkers in His word - My Nana told me that those will be the only people forgiven and saved from damnation. Lord forgive me for my sins, I know it's last minute...

The songs I sing... The sins I sing... The sins that sing I.... The song I sing of sin...

For awhile, I felt as though I had fallen. That G.d had given up on me. It was a very scary time for me. From milestones to millstones. A fall from grace. My fall from grace. From gracing the covers of the newspapers and magazines to disgrace. Dis-grace. I had my will tested. I wrote my will. I willed it. I kept my promise.

A millstone is figuratively a sense of burden. I borrowed the idea from Matt. xviii.6 in the Bible. A millstone is something that hinders or handicaps - almost like an albatross. It's any load that's difficult to carry. There's a certain society that, when someone disgraced themselves, their families, or the village, would make the offender wear a millstone around his or her neck.

I've had mine around my neck for the last few months. Worn it, and never tried to hide it. I've been all but convicted, and sentenced to death in the media. But I never ran. Never made excuses. I refused then, and I refuse now. I find it hard to say, but what I've realized is that it is something that does not need to be said. It's freedom time.

THE RETURN OF SAMO...

Our first instinct is to always trust appearances. I’ve heard the phrase “Hip Hop is Dead” many times over the last year or so. I do not believe hip hop is dead, or even dying. I think it has more to do with false sincerity. We as artist are afraid of being sincere, of being ourselves for fear of rejection. This fear of rejection motivates statements like “I’m the King of _____” or “Human Crack” ect. The focus lies less on the integrity of the music and artistry involved in creating it, and more on portraying a marketable image. This is no different than any other art form that becomes massively popular, and extremely lucrative. Money has generally changed what its come in contact with - from movies to theater, to Jazz, and rock - and now Hip Hop. Trying to recreate an era that has already passed is almost as stifling though. Rap was hot in the 90s. I loved it too. But its 2007. And honestly, I don’t want to go back. As much as I loved that era of urban black music, I’m ready to move on. I’m ready for the next innovation in music. With that said, we should move away from saying that Hip Hop is dead, and closer towards saying “Hip Hop is waiting.” Hip Hop is a living, breathing thing only because we make it so. We are the blood in its veins, and thereby, it’s life line. To say hip hop is dead is to day that we are dead. And I am not ready to die. Not now.

I’m not sure what box to place my music in. I’m not sure if I want to put it in a box yet though. I like the freedom of being able to say what I want. I don’t answer to anyone musically. Not the block, the backpackers, the institution, the parent label, the Man, ect. I make honest music. And as listeners, you honestly love it or hate it, but the underlying message remains the same. My next tasks are to record my “I Create Music” mixtape, and then “Redemption.” The “I Create Music” project is going to be that, music. A break for the norm. Experimentation at its best (or worse). “Redemption” is going to be the next full-length project release under Shears Music Group. Those of you who know me know that I’ve been through some pretty serious shit in the last year. I haven’t been able to respond. Until now. Thank you for vibing with me.

SAMO as an end to to mindwash religion, nowhere politics and bogus philosophy.

Musically,

AJS

My Heart's Homesick

I always knew it, but the bottom hurts when you hit it. A few months ago I was at my lowest. It wasn't even about the rumors, ect. It hurt a bit, because I pride myself on being a man of integrity. I know who I am, and nobody but me can change that. But these last few months have been my toughest test. I'm still here. Winning, but fighting like I'm losing.

I hold it true. Whate'er befall. I feel it, when I sorrow most. I miss you. It's fading though. I broke your heart. You broke your promise. We're even. I know it was my fault. You can have Seattle. I hope you think of me everytime it rains.

Sincerely,
AJS

I CREATE MUSIC

Today, Shoreline Community College published an article on me and my music. But what I realized today is that I’ve never had an interviewer ask me about the music. Clarifying questions maybe, but never about the music itself. I create music. Everything else is secondary.
It’s a task in and of itself to stay Brand New. The devil and G.d are raging inside me. On one hand, I absolutely love the artistry of it all. I love the art. If I could, I’d read all day and write. Record when I caught a good vibe, and release it if I felt like it. On the other hand, I stepped in my father’s size 12s at age 12. It’s been a process of guess-and-check, bell-curve learning, mistakes, successes, wins, and losses since then. I’ve had to be about my business since then. And yes, it absolutely jeopardizes the integrity of the music. Once it becomes something you rate on a scale of 1-10, something you have to sell, something they have to buy, it changes the essence of it a bit. I create music. That’s it.
SAMO as an end to playing art.

I write to right.

I start writing and I finish it. I don't think about art while I write. I try to think about life.
Every line means something.