Now I know I can't believe that this is accurate, but imagine my surprise when I logged into my zShare account and saw this # of views/downloads of my Sulaiman is TheNativeSoul project. Oh how I wish this was real, but alas, zShare has only done it's part in adding fuel to my fire to make numbers like this a reality. And once again, yes, this is what I see for my download stats. Keep helping me push if you're out there and you like what I'm doing! Best...

I had a great conversation with Kane One a few days ago about my music and what I planned to change in the game with my approach, and he sent me this interview from author & social activist Bell Hooks on the subliminal targets on the hip-hop generation and the stereotypes that hip-hop helps promote. I pride myself in my music giving an alternative approach to the music she mentions in this interview, and although I surely will not say I'm perfect with what I say, my intentions are pure and my desire to be the change in music we so desperately need shines bright. Check out the video though, what she speaks is truth!

The reception for Sulaiman is TheNativeSoul has been pretty effin' good....I'm glad cause this is all the preseason to Black Ribbon, Hard Work! Hopefully you all got it in the first link I put up which is a couple posts below this one, but just in case you haven't, here's a bunch of em that you can pick from:

http://sharebee.com/a25979ae
http://sharebee.com/58f6b542
http://www.zshare.net/download/69295335e68d8bf7/
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=N6F61LYA

Also, thanks a lot to everyone who's helped spread the word about the project, AIM friends, Twitter friends, Facebook friends, real life friends....and the blogs who gave me some love:

FakeShoreDrive
RubyHornet
Blind I
Flawless Hustle
Frank151

Now if I can somehow get heard by the REST of this list I should be on my way....

Illroots, Gowhere Hip-Hop, Dope88Video, Stop Being Famous, The Brilliance, 2dopeboyz, Fresh Selects, Kevin Nottingham, Okayplayer, Vimby, Nah Right, Concrete Loop, Im Keeping Up, Complex, Rappers I Know, Miss Info, Fader, The Q Side, DC to BC, Eighty81, Che Sing The Cool, KanyeUniversecity, Deadstock Don, Byron Crawford, H.E.R.fection, The Cool Hunter, Crack Distributors Radio, Format Magazine,
OnSmash

He understands....Five Guys is in popular demaaaaaand.

OK, stunting time. It feels great to know that I have enough material to put out a mixtape before the mixtape! Sulaiman is TheNativeSoul (previously The Expensive High) is a collection of tracks I recorded this year building up to the piece du resistance that will be Black Ribbon, Hard Work! These are 14 dope tracks that didn't make the final cut for BRHW, but are still bangers and deserve to be heard! I know I told people I was dropping BRHW in November but I'm a perfectionist and I want to make sure I put it out in as dope of a form as possible. So to hold you over and get you in tune with a little bit of what to expect, I'm releasing this precursor! Now some of you who are already pretty familiar with my music may have heard a bunch of these songs right here on this very blog, maybe on Myspace, maybe even IMEEM, but now you've got em in MP3 format, for the low low price of Free 99! So enjoy, let me know what you think, send it to your friends, blog it, Twitter it, whatever, but let it hold you down for now! Yep!

Download Sulaiman is TheNativeSoul (zShare)

So since it's Thanksgiving time and I'm wrapping up an exhilarating recording process for Black Ribbon, Hard Work!, I may as well clue you guys into what's popping with me. The mix tape is nearing completion, just pushing into mixing territory and I've got NO features whatsoever (by choice, you gotta hear ME first), but I do have production from the likes of Controbuz, Thievery Corporation, the legendary Twilite Tone aka Ynot, Chaise Marcel, Nickless Castle, Beat Maker Beat, DR Period, Hi-Tek, and others. Believe me, you won't be disappointed!

Oh yeah. Definitely copping every single one. I love Legos, they were my favorite toy as a kid and I credit a lot of my thought process to being able to construct stuff with Legos. That shit matters!

I almost forgot how good this EP was.....and it was free. Download it here! And the IMEEM stream is after the jump!

Here's a joint off the upcoming project Black Ribbon: Hard Work! that I flipped from Thievery Corporation's "A Gentle Dissolve" from their album "The Cosmic Game". Having been recently inspired from traveling and some pretty ill contributions to hip-hop music over the last two weeks, I decided to write a joint with no hooks, no bridges, and all bars! Check it out and let me know what you think. Black Ribbon: Hard Work! will be finished by the end of November so be on the lookout! Peace!

As I walked to my bookstore today (my family owns a bookstore here in Chicago, don't know if I said that before), I was listening to a new batch of Blueprint 3 instrumentals I'd stumbled upon whilst surfing the web, and of course I gravitated towards one of my favorites off the project, the No I.D. - produced "Thank You". The horns are so elegant and polite, I could see it was the perfect platform to speak, as Jay did on his original version, about the positivity I've been able to pull out of some of the most toxic situations. I address haters, old flames, and old friends all in a lyrically tasteful manner that shows my acceptance of their roles in my life! So thank you to all my doubters! You make me great! Black Ribbon Hard Work! Partake!

Luxury publisher Assouline and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have come out with a new book called American Fashion Menswear, billed as "the most authoritative and exciting book to date on the evolution of menswear in the United States over the past century. Author Robert E. Bryan has divided the volume into seven different sections based upon the diverse identities of the American man, covering everything "Levi Strauss to the Ivy League, lounge suits to Zoot suits, and cowboys to counterculture," with cameos from the likes of Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, Ralph Lauren and more.

>>Assouline
>>Council of Fashion Designers of America

(taken from my post on Blindiforthekids.com)

Damien Hirst, a great modern artist and avid art collector, arguably one of my favorite out of the current cultural icons, is celebrating the opening of his new installation at London's Other Criteria. The premiere features 30 new works from Hirst and a few limited edition signed pieces as well. Check it out if you're in Londontown tomorrow (October 8th).

On Your Mark, produced by Beat Maker Beat, is a simple precursor I created late one night after a day of sessions to shoot to homies, associates, blogs, and fans to let them know what to expect from the upcoming project. It got a lot of love off top so I'm excited to see what the reaction to the project is gonna be, since this is just the tip of the iceberg. Stay tuned!

And I was just telling myself earlier today that I needed a new pair of yellow kicks. Supreme x Vans collaborate again for a new pack of Old Skools & Half Cabs that are pretty dope. The Half Cab will feature suede/canvas uppers with leather insoles and the Old Skool will feature suede uppers with leather insoles. Dropping online October 8th. Yum.

"just to give it power I was lookin' for an outlet / had to make my own since I really couldn't find that / but value of true art is hidden in the process" - vibe's alive

I suppose Chicago in 2016 was more important at the time than a 16 year old Chicagoan. Derrion Albert would have been 22 years old around the time the Olympic Games would take over the city of Chicago, supposedly joining the corners of one of the most segregated cities in the world through the welcoming of every nation participating into our "welcoming confines". Every real Chicagoan, from Wrigleyville to Calumet City, K-Town to the Low End, knows that it's a tall feat for us to get along with each other already, let alone millions of tourists envisioning a town totally different than the one they'd be stepping into for an Olympic Games. The grievances and issues Chicago faces are not the caliber which would be easily dealt with in a mere 6 years. Rather, a lifetime of struggle and resistance has existed in Chicago, with little ground gained since the years of the Civil Rights movement. People move to our city and stay in their comfort corner, with the majority never daring to go south of Roosevelt. Equally, the born-and-bred Chicagoan is one that rarely goes North of Roosevelt, unless it's for work purposes or to inquire within City offices. When such a rift exists between Chicago itself, how could the members of the Chicago Olympic Committee actually go through with making this pitch to the IOC? How, with teenagers dying every day in the streets -- not just through gang violence, but senseless acts like the one that took away the life of Derrion Albert -- could they actively say that the world would be safe here?

Derrion's story is no rarity here; rather, it simply came with visual evidence of a struggle that persists daily in our community. But how can we expect that to get through to the powers that be if we fail to confront it HERE, at HOME, where WE are? I could ramble on & on with criticisms about Mayor Daley and his practices in the past, but honestly none of that matters as much as this does to me. Lives are being lost. It's due to a lack of education, a lack of diversity, a lack of options. Simply put, if they knew better they'd do better. But the location of Derrion's beating is a clear indication of the troubles we face. Schools are supposed to be the safe haven for kids from the negative influences they may face in their neighborhoods. The mere fact that this happened at an institution of learning makes the future more ominous than ever for our youth. With broken homes, layoffs, failing schools, and a learning discrepancy between communities as wide as the hope that was obviously present to even THINK we would get the Olympics here in Chicago -- we've got a lot of work to do. And I see scary things on the horizon...

I recently made a stop at my old high school to check on the current status of things. I'll be the first to admit that I was a child of privilege when it came to education - the thought of dropping out or not going to college was never even an option for us. My grandmother was a schoolteacher for many years, my three uncles all surgeons and corporate types respectively, and my mother & father as studious of people as there ever were. My father, an Islamic Imam, a Ph.D in Religion, and a writer, while my mother, a M.D., M.B.A., and a Masters in Public Health from Harvard. Sufficient to say, school was cool for us. While I walked the hallways of my old school I ran into one of my favorite teachers, Mr. Weil, who was always one of those instructors who were as cool as a teacher could possibly be at the time. My class was a rowdy one, always getting into something crazy, pushing the boundaries as individuals while still being incredibly intelligent. As I spoke to him about the differences between my class and the classes that currently attended, he spoke to the belief that the personality had diminished since classes like mine had graduated. The kids were more into pop culture than ever, the internet had taken hold of most of their daily lives, resulting in what he felt to be a lack of personality, push-back, challenge of authority, and an all-around excitement. In few words he pretty much told me he was bored. The kids did their homework, did what they were told, and went about their business.

Ordinarily, one would think that as a teacher this type of behavior would be heaven-sent, but it immediately presented itself as an ominous fate when I juxtaposed it with what was happening with kids of the same age, in the same city, just miles away from good old Morgan Park Academy. The education-deprived kids of the impoverished neighborhoods will one day meet the culturally-deprived kids of schools like mine, and I am not excited about the outcome. Streetsmarts versus Booksmarts results in the same tired rigmarole that has us where we stand right now; mentally segregated and internationally humiliated.

So what can we do? For one, we can always keep our eyes and ears focused on what needs doing RIGHT NOW. A perspective plan is nothing if you don't have your current affairs in order to chase that plan. Imagine how strong our bid for the Olympic games would have been if our schools were improved...if our city was invested in it's own development...if kids in impoverished neighborhoods were able to broaden their horizons and know that there was more to fight for in the world than a neighborhood that doesn't care whether they live or die. Imagine if kids like the ones that attend my high school now were hipped to how truly blessed they are, acknowledged their upper hand in the game of life, and used their education to bridge the gap between themselves and the less fortunate. I happen to think a lot of the ground can be made up by an infusion of influence from the age ranges ABOVE those most afflicted, i.e. you & me. We must do ALL we can to show these kids real life is more than the block they live on, or the internet, but it's communication, face-to-face work, activity, community, and the like. Maybe then we'll be able to convince the world that we're ready to open our doors to them.

I made a song about it, like to here it here it goes.


$

"but it all blends perfectly.../let the liquor tell it"-- Andre 3000, "Spottieottiedopalicious"

Sorry for the drought my people! I've been hard at work trying to decrease the gap between every aspect of life right now, merging it all together to form a seamless web of efficiency. There's been a few changes around here that I'd like to point out so we're all on the same page and you know what to expect henceforth from the kid. Here goes:

With all that said, let's get back to the dopeness! A lavish new coffee table book from Rizzoli titled Louis Vuitton: Art, Fashion and Architecture is a seductive anthology of the famed French fashion house's collaborations with an international group of elite artists, architects, designers, and photographers, including Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, David LaChapelle, Annie Leibovitz, Takashi Murakami (whose updated LV monogram is featured on the cover) Richard Prince and Stephen Sprouse. Beautiful images are interspersed with critical essays that examine and position Louis Vuitton's patronage, under the guidance of Artistic Director Marc Jacobs, during "one of the most fertile periods of contemporary art and design." The book is divided alphabetically so as to serve as a sort of encyclopedia of the many collaborations, commissions and sponsorships Vuitton, a cornerstone of the LVMH luxury goods empire, has engaged in over the years.

You can put in an order for this book right now over through my bookstore, Books Ink!

I had a period in writing where I figured that if I let up I would be letting my detesters and detractors win. Knowing that's the only way they actually COULD win, I used that motivation from then on to push myself to create, to write, to record my experience. I wrote a very descriptive verse over one of my new favorites, The Kickdrums' "Impatient" record that's featured on their Just A Game EP that recently dropped. The flavor was superb so I felt like I had to add my ingredients to it. Check out the lyrics:

Elevation is defined as the act of raising from a lower place, condition, or quality to a higher; -- said of material things, persons, the mind, the voice, etc.; as, the elevation of grain; elevation to a throne; elevation of mind, thoughts, or character. Simply put, Elevation is progress as an effect of persistence. Often times there's so much standing between a goal and yourself, that it almost seems impossible to reach, but with the understanding that every step forward is also a boost of energy, you can never lose! I wrote this song with that very though in mind - to diagnose the rise of new energy and the fall of the old. It's a beautiful thing when they're screaming your name but can you remain the same when the sceneries change?

I'm back again, kicking off Q2 with a new installment of heat and crack and dope and piff and illness. This one is appropriately title "The Most Interesting Man In The World", and the lyrics don't disappoint. Straight bravado on this one! The beat is made by Madlib and I fucks with it so you should too! Partake!

Love Love LOVE this beat. Decided to have some more fun and flip Asher Roth's Lark On My Go Kart to my own twisted liking. Sorry it's been so long since I dropped one on you guys, but this should more than make up for it. Plus a nigga got Mickey Mouse to come through and do his best Dame Dash impersonation. SMH. Not much else I can say in this explanation, so, Enjoy!

Here's another one from the vaults, produced by an ill up-and-coming producer out of North Carolina by the name of Constrobuz. This joint is called If Ya Know The Ave, and it's basically addressing my originality when it comes to everything, from my stance as a born & bred Chicagoan with a different approach to the scene, to my style and flair when it comes to music. If ya know the ave then you prolly know the half, so get up off your ass live everyday like your last! Partake!

Every now & then you gotta go in just to make sure you've still got all the tenacity that you can bring. This track was just that, hence why I entitled it Heatcheck. I love the grimey beats, and although I love to diversify the types of joints I do, these definitely have a larger subliminal appeal to my mind. I think every hip-hop/rap artist, regardless of the music that they become known for, should always maintain an edge in the pure gritty shit, while also bringing an eclectic flavor to their product overall. Fuck all the talking though, enjoy the snippet! More heat coming soon...I'm in the lab as we speak working on some next-level shit! Till then....

Another one from the archives. I grew up on Wu Tang - literally. My older brothers were such Wu heads, I had no choice! Good thing that happened though, cause Wu was definitely one of the most lyrically astute, prolific, stylish groups to ever come out in music. I had to pay homage as I continued my studies of the greatest MC's ever, and I aptly titled the joint Wu Shit. Yep!

Ok. I'm saying it now. This is my true essence; a song with a story and a purpose. I decided to write something about insecurity, pain, and the real shit that alot of people unfortunately have to deal with in life. I recognize I've lived a pretty scott-free existence up until now, with a few nicks and scratches along the way, but I'm always reminded in tough times about how much more difficult it could be. You never truly know what lies behind the eyes of a stranger, or even a close friend for that matter, so assumption should never be a part of your vocabulary or your lifestyle. It's also very hazardous to think you understand anyone or anything fully, because there's always something new to learn from a situation or a person. I put Kenna on the hook since it was my inspiration behind writing this song, and I hope people like it. I've included the lyrics below and also made the track available for download. Partake!

I was reminded of this joint earlier today and realized that damn near NOBODY has heard this side EP project from Nez of NEZ & RIO and myself. We decided one day to create an outlet through which we could tweak all day everyday, and what name was more fitting for the group than Peer Pressure? We compiled 10 songs of all the craziest shit we could think of...from marijuana to running trains, pimping to bussdowns, with ridiculous attitude infused in every track. I wanted to get out that side of me that loved listening to Eminem, Non-Phixion, those Wu Tang "I'll f*ckin...., I'll f*ckin..." interludes, and all the other crazy shit that I though was SO dope back in the day. So all you prude people, respect it as expression of art! Maybe one day we'll release the project for the world to hear...but until then, enjoy the video snippet!

This one was FUN. Super cocky, clever beyond belief. I love the beat, a joint from one of my old favorite underground hip-hop groups, Non-Phixion. When their album, The Future Is Now, was finally released I remember wildin on how Ill Bill and Sabac killed this Necro beat. So I had to channel a bit of that Non-Phixion flavor with some of the new shit that I feel like I could bring to it, and then with a sprinkle of message in there to any doubters, it comes full circle into my interpretation of Strange Universe. Deep hip-hop listeners will f*ck with this for sure. Partake!

This may be the fastest verse/song I've ever written or done in my life. And it's so fire it's crazy. I said this in a post before, but you get to a creative level where you can make art in almost any circumstance. This one was definitely inspired by the beat, provided by the homie *Pbbt for Boy Genius. When I got this in the email I spazzed and literally couldn't stop jotting bars in the Blackberry 8900 (stunt). What resulted was Redemption, a dope track with miniscule pause and a whoooole lot of flow. Partake!!

I love this joint. A few months ago my homie Ray Protege got at me to contribute a piece for his latest mixtape project, "Hipster Hop". On first pass I was like naaah son...I don't think I fit that demographic, but Ray's idea behind the mixtape was to show that just because cats are fresh, dress a certain way, are eclectic, or unbiased, it doesn't mean that they're not real or ill for that matter. Once he let me know the deal I was all in, and the track, produced by NEZ&RIO, came out dope. Partake!

Muhsinah is dope. No. Wait. Muhsinah is SUPER DOPE. HU Alum, super-talented musician, etc., etc., etc. Her latest joint, "From Here", is an ill joint with an even iller vibe to it. I got it in an email and upon first listen I HAD to put a verse to it. I love artists like her, who give others inspiration to produce new creativity. Honestly, I haven't experienced any sort of sense of writer's block in such a long time, and it's because I'm such an avid music listener, of all genres mind you, that there's always a new style to explore. Hence why I tell everyone who listens to me that I'm a man of a million styles, all ill, super versatile. I hope you like this joint; I made it available for download as well. Like it!

Download Muhsinah x TheNativeSoul - From Here (Remix) (zShare)

Often times I feel like when rappers figure out they're good at rapping over jazzy beats, they try to do too much with em. Since I haven't known too much calm in my life, the main thing that comes to mind when I hear jazzy beats is girls. Girls, girls, girls, girls, GIRLS. Nice. Anyway, the homie Dert made a beat tape using samples from one of my favorite artists, Bjork, and I decided to rock over one for a diatribe (look it up) on the prospect of scoping a girl who's more than meets the eye and having to come to terms with how to handle your awesome discovery. You know, that girl that knows more ill music than you do, is culturally refined, etc, etc....aka a KEEPER. Partake of the stylings.

Download Neon Strings (zShare)

I don't think you can not like this song! Sometimes the most simple joints you do end up being some of the most meaningful, and I kept it straight to the point over this Nicolay-laced beat. As you can see the joint is called "On" and it's topic revolves around...yep, you guessed it, getting ON! In whatever field you're working in, I'm sure you want to be the top dog and be the best at it, and I wanted to make a fun song that you can hear anywhere to support that. Getting ON isn't just work however, but any goal that you set for yourself that you wanna achieve. It might be getting the attention of that special someone, or reveling in the feeling you get when you've finally gotten ON, but it's something to be cherished no matter the case. This one is going on the next mixtape and it's also available for download right now! Partake!