Shining is a collection of music that I put together to represent the artwork I’ve been creating. It’s a callback to the 90’s hip hop that influenced me, like Wu-Tang, Jeru The Damaja, and Nas that referenced consciousness and Eastern Philosophy. It’s not meant to be taken super seriously, though it does hold a positive intention of progress, mindfulness and creativity. It’s based around the loose concept of daily routine and practice. Buddhism has a concept of “Right View” and how the Buddha teaches to have perspective. I’m in my own head a lot, and while that can often create a lot of internal noise, I can also exercise right view to be deliberate and aware of my own thoughts, taking a philosophical approach to why I’m thinking what I am. The Shining record is loosely based on traveling a path, so I start the EP off with this intro, showcasing my broad view and approach. I use the sample clip from Futura for a few reasons: This is the view and perspective that I take and hope to execute on… “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Lao Tzu This quote is almost cliched at this point but has an enormous amount of truth and wisdom. I’ve always heard and read it but it didn’t resonate with me until a while back when I read the Tao Te Ching. I decided to study it after I devoured RZA’s Wu Tang Manual in one sitting and wanted to learn all the info that could unlock the Easter eggs in the Wu’s music. You just have to start. It’s both an exciting and frightening feeling to begin the first step on any path that you know is going to take a long time. Actually starting creates fear and holds a lot of people back – it has definitely done so for me. However, our path is going to take us in a lot of directions so pursuing dreams or passions requires us to get busy. The natural flow of the universe. For the sake of concept, I use it on the song to describe following a natural path. I first really heard of this when listening to Jeru the Damaja and Afu Ra. Even though Wu Tang took the greatest claim to Eastern influence in hip hop, I’ve always loved how artists like Jeru, Afu, and Jedi Mind Tricks put their own spin on it. The monk is an image that I adopted as my main logo. It represents a lot of things for me – mindfulness, work ethic, spirituality, and the experience of an individual being part of something bigger than themselves. Some of my favorite hip hop artists embraced the imagery of the monk at times, most notably Wu-Tang, but also the Beastie Boys, Jeru The Damaja, Afu Ra, and Nas. I use the monk logo to remind me to stay the course and remain focused, while also referencing the music and culture that is a pillar of my work. The monk also evokes discipline, patience, and subscribing to a productive routine. For most artists, process is the cornerstone of creativity, so I look at a useful routine as a great asset to self. A lot of times it pays off to quiet the mind, eliminate outside distraction, and get in a good flow state when creating. It’s not easy to achieve a flow state, but when you get there, lean completely into it because the work that you do at this time provides the fuel and motivation to help you push through the stagnant times. I used the Jay Z sample in Quiet Stream because he’s seen as the pinnacle of aspiration in hip hop culture. His material success is celebrated endlessly, but his swift creative mind is the real jewel. Having thoughts in bloom and the means to bring them to fruition holds more value than money. Getting into the quiet flow, free to create & prosper in any arena of life is priceless. In the 5 Percent Nation, the lessons of Supreme Mathematics teach that the number “8” means to “Build or Destroy”. This lesson takes on many incarnations, but basically “Build” means to “add on” positive thought and habit, while “Destroying” is to cut off or correct. Build All creative projects start with an idea – whether it be songs, albums, design, or businesses. Once we start spinning that idea around, the building stage starts and we start piling the creativity. Building on an idea carries the most fun of the creative process. The imagination goes wild with everything functioning as “what can be.”. Destroy This is where you have to edit. You can keep piling on ideas, but at some point you have to trim the fat of what you’re doing if you want to release it to the world. Also, you leave your work vulnerable. In terms of creativity and imagination, you’ve build up an idea that has only existed in your studio or creative space. Once you turn that idea into art and ship it out, it becomes open to be destroyed by criticism and opinion. “Keep Shining” is the mantra that I’ve adopted for my work and daily routine. My work is rooted in culture, creativity, and forward thinking. I’m still inspired by what motivated my initial interest in art and design – music, environment, and a drive to create something that both influences & contributes to culture. When I was in my early teens, I experienced a lot of culture shock when I began to leave the confines of my neighborhood. I was exposed to so much through skating and graffiti. I got to absorb the culture of Philadelphia, and in doing so my style and tastes evolved. Because of this, I’m always looking to draw from that energy I felt from those experiences while pushing my style and perspective forward. This is just a simple statement to stay on a path. Ultimately, this EP is a project that represents daily routine that’s grounded in creativity, work, and mindfulness. I’m a big fan of all of these things, so closing out the project with a reminder to “stay on the path” is just a reminder to self to keep pushing.1. View
2. Enter
3. Tao
The potential for individual wisdom.
The Tao can’t be grasped as a concept.
It is known through actual living experience of one’s everyday being.
(Ancient Chinese explanation of the Yin-Yang tattoo your friend got on spring break).
4. Monk
5. Quiet Stream
6. Build & Destroy
7. Keep Shining
8. S.O.T.P.
