OTIS

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always loved hip hop. I can recall sitting on my knees in front of the television watching MTV…the only platform at the time for the Genesis of rap. Heavy gold chains, Cazels, Adidas, bamboo earrings at least two pairs…I was always intrigued and daydreaming for the age number when I could finally douse myself in that lifestyle.
So much has changed since those early, innocent days of hip hop. We went through the terrible twos of gangsta rap and the puberty of female defamation….and finally, I think we’re maturing into a course of responsible lyrics. I love the lyrical genius of Jay-Z…and I’ve always admired the cojones of Kanye West. He’s so gutsy and will say exactly what’s on his mind. Sometimes it can incur some real shock value and do damage, but for what it’s worth, the boy has heavy vernacular. So when I heard of this recent collabo’, I couldn’t help but get that same excitement I did when I heard “Self Destruction” for the first time.
OTIS is such a soulful track…sampling my favorite Otis Redding track, “Try A Little Tenderness”. Who would have ever thought we’d hear two hip hop legends spilling their words over something so eponymous of love and wanting to be gentle towards a woman’s needs.  If this is a sample of what is yet to come, we’re looking at a hip hop record of epic proportions!  I was beginning to give up on hip hop, trade in my Kangol hat for a gardening one.  But after hearing this…I’ll retract my green thumb and keep bopping my head to the booming system.

So….here ya go…“OTIS” Kanye West & Jay-Z.<—Click here to hear.

Ode to Martha:DIY

I had put down my drawing pen years ago, couldn’t even find my scissors.

Glue was a four letter word I didn’t practice much, and let’s even not talk about dinner.

I gravitated to your channel and somehow ended up reading your books.

Magazines made it even shinier and HD compelled me to look.

I wrote you an email or two, only to receive a generic reply:

I’m sorry but Martha receives thousands of letters and yours is just another try.

I paused when you went on your “sabbatical” and still tracked down the MS brand.

Saw it one day in Michael’s and I wandered into Martha land.

Stencils, stamps, pens, and paper. Markers, boxes, and such.

Beautiful typography, packaging, and graphic work the things people don’t pay attention to as much.

I recognize gifts that are intrinsic, that doesn’t belong to a school.

A gift that’s sent from above, and the world is always your muse.

Mrs. Stewart has helped me understand,what it means to be multi-talented.

Good morning, afternoon, or night, my name is Kendra and I’m not cursed, I am gifted.

Through jams and spices, baking pies and cakes, or building a mahogany shelf.

I’m grateful and deeply inspired by people, like Martha, who are eager to do-it-yourself.

=)