Faith

Is it wrong to believe in different religions simultaneously?
Growing up, my best friends were Sikhs and Muslims. I grew up learning Arabic and short prayers from my friends, went to Sikh and Hindu festivals, and not once did I question my faith.
When I was 15, I asked myself, "If Christianity is the true faith, why are people of other religions so blessed?"
I've been raised in a strict Christian family. Church 3 times a week, choir members, deacons and several of my uncles are pastors with their own churches. The religion though, has never embraced me... Or I haven't embraced the religion.
I love God. I love Jesus. Is it wrong then for me to say that Muhammed (SAW) could have been the last prophet after Jesus?
Is it wrong for me to want to live my life like Buddha? Seeking peace, humility and enlightenment?
The Guru Granth Sahib, is it wrong for me to take its teachings into my life?
I feel like as Christians, we are very quick to say other religions are wrong, and we don't spend enough time reading and learning about them to see that Islam and Hinduism and Sikhism etc. are all trying to make us better people to prepare us for the next life, whatever that is.
My Muslim friends always told me about their love for Allah, trying to live like the prophet Muhammed. They would even tell me about how the Qu'ran has stories about every situation we can come across in life, from sex to surgeries.
I envied them because I wasn't that close to my God.
Despite being a healthy, well educated guy with good relationships with all the people in my life, I still feel an emptiness in my soul. Music is the only thing that touches me that deeply but I know there is more that I'm searching for.
I just want answers. Faith needs to find me. I need to find God. Whatever path I'm going towards, I need to restore my faith in God.

Before Babylon takes me to a place I can't return from.

Kendrick Lamar

I went to see Kendrick Lamar last night, January 20th at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. It was my second time seeing him live, my first time being his first show in London, ever.
The first time he came, he spent a lot of time teasing the crowd. Giving us a couple verses and then moving onto the next song. This almost felt like a waste of energy because just before you could really go crazy for the song he'd finish it, so I was happy that last night he really performed for us.
The crowd was crazy! Jumping, screaming, and rapping along to every song, from P&P to The Recipe. We really showed him that we are O.D fans (pun intended).
The highlight of the night must be when he told someone in the crowd, "If you can survive through a performance of M.A.A.D City you can survive through any song", after which the crowd really went psycho, ape shit out there! Not finished yet. For the encore, he came back and told the same person, "I lied. If you can survive through Cartoons & Cereal, you can survive through anything!" 

Haven't seen a crowd go that hype since WTT.
Wonderful night, despite the weather. Great performance.

Kendrick really is bound for greatness.
TDE. HiiiPower.

INCIDENTAL COMICS: The Nature of Ambition

INCIDENTAL COMICS: The Nature of Ambition


Love this.

Always Love African Print

Appreciate the Words. iLLuminate by Ab-Soul and KDot

Back when I first grabbed that pen
I told myself I was gon' win
And I ain't know when
But it was gon' end
Up happening, I want in
So you can take your top 5 list
Dead or alive and put me after Em
I'm a fucking genius
Gripping my fucking penis, living this life
You can't tell me nothing
Still ain't really got no money fucking right
I'm all about that real, about that real
This ain't no motion picture
I tell you how that feel, how that feel
Even when the odds against you
They wanna see me wearing Polo drawers
Put 2 chains on and that ain't wrong
But that ain't me, I go too damn hard
I don't need clothes or jewelry to stand out
Black lip nigga with his hair wild
Too damn proud
Been killing this since Cam made Oh Boy
Oh boy, I'm the man now
TDE, put the money in my hand ain't shit free
This business is quick sand and I won't sink
Put the pistol in my hand and I won't think
Rest in peace, you just made room for the next to be
I never been afraid to say what I wanna say when I wanna say it, okay then
Further more we do this for y'all
Rap is stressin' but it pays great
That is until you lose appeal
And your release date gets date raped
Stay safe, hold your head
I got two fifth and a loaf of bread
Feed the people, food for thought
Because we are equal, who'd have though

I used to wanna rap like Jay-Z
Now I feel like I'm runnin' laps around Jay-Z
Nas ain't seen nothing this nasty
B.I.G. & Pac got it coming when I pass too
You got the mic, I ain't the one you wanna pass to
My niggas say my new shit past due
I paid dues, even got that shit tattooed
HiiiPoWeR on another plateau
I know you know we need a few plaques too
The brand new niggas with a attitude
Poppin' Compton or Timbuktu
I might even sell my new shit for 10 bucks too
Too I'll when I jot these words
True eel when I shock the world
I know life's a bitch
When you know life's a bitch and that's not your girl
Cold shit, I'm hot though
Like Cold get, Ab-Soul
This is a shift in paradigm
I remember when I couldn't spare a dime
Now I step in with a pair of dimes
On P's, y'all know me
Flow like water, admiralty
The best author ever to breath
And as we proceed to follow these dreams
I ain't losing no sleep
No, no at them no doors
Just know "No" if it's no dough
So high but I'm Soulo
Two cups and I sip slow
Taking my time
We don't just shine, we illuminate the whole show
Now let's go

Time and time I drop line for line
But only time will tell
If I ever go Columbine
And cop 30 nines and cock back and kill
See the truth is, they wanna know how close me, Dre and Snoop is
Or how the shoe fits when they choose this to be 2Pac
But truth I give two shits 'bout
Expectations or critics hating
Shit, I just put moms on vacation
Bitch you never know my new location, it's across nations
Court cases get thrown out
So tell the motherfucking King dethrone now
I am ruler, I am highness
The Prince Zamunda
I am the shit like what the prune does
Black on black tip like Kinta Kunta
Black is back bitch I'm the the coupe-da
Black on black crime resent the shooter
Black, black, black, I intend to mute you
Racks on racks, I don't rap on tracks
Without my A-game so please don't ask me about no pressure
Bitch see the grip on my fingertip I can hold this coast together
 

Ab-Soul 'ILLuminate' ft. Kendrick Lamar (Official Video)

Life.

Namibia

Somebody told me Windhoek was an ugly city. They lied.

Cocaine 80s

Everyone should bless their music collection with some Cocaine80s.

4 EPs, cocaine80.com

Their music just makes sense.

Gael Bigirimana

In 2012, a friend of mine signed his Second (but more high profile) professional football contract.

I remember playing football in the park with this guy so it's good to see his dreams come true. 

He keeps God close to his heart so I know his future is already blessed.

Gael, thank you for being an inspiration.

2013

Every now and then, you come across a piece of music that you know will be legendary. 

Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, m.A.A.d City will be remembered for a while.