Incapable, meet Phoenix

                                                                            

                                              Incapable

                           (Click "Incapable" for video link)

     If you are a lover of music, more specifically R&B then the song "Incapable" should rattle your soul. Life's obligations tend to desensitize us from connecting to a ideological portion of our essence. Another gem in the song concludes confidence can be a fleeing pipe dream if only placed in one basket. This mastery of heart strings has the ingredients to remind us all whether you have sought after love as a stimuli or not, to realize our prior motivations are what helps us change. Nostalgia for what once was is plausible, so long as we embrace renewal.

      Now name the last time you've allowed yourself to feel/become venerable in the moment. The answer is you tend not to. Sheltering your thoughts from exterior persecution is a tactical defense. But if you know anything about song writer Keyshia Cole, then you can respect that she lives by one of the principles in the highly acclaimed book, "The Art of War". The book alleges appearing weak enables one to shape shift in the midst of others for what we truly seek. Keyshia Cole's sentimental vibes down play the strength that trails behind her quest for enlightenment. It is as if she is working out her life's issues through her music while unapologetic about seeming internally wounded.

     The melody has a classic 90's flow to the three-minute and thirty seconds track. This is disguised through tuned acoustics guitars, and moderately revised organ loops. The snare drum keeps precise tempo, sketching vivid visions of a choir swaying back and forth in my imagination. The lyrics are easily digestible. The b.p.m's are slow, perhaps to captivate a newer generation content with being hypnotized or maybe returning to her roots as a once highly sought after artist. The producer has to be given props for clear and distinct song production. Five million plus views on YouTube alone has to count toward positive feedback. 

     A quick google search will inform you of her publicized relationships with high profile people the song allegedly alludes to. But that's mere background noise and not truly the reason the Phoenix in her spiritual journey has risen. Keyshia has always represented a fan base that personally understood her search for enchantment and the problems that arise within that pursuit. She has a stoic energy that is easily relatable to anyone who has hope for the best while being overly discerning. Causal fans may not understand she is her music. IF you were to follow her catalog, you'd discover she has created content for purposes other than just financial gain. And they have all led up to this musical piece. To balance any bias though, the song is formulated in a traditional R&B fashion. This could easily dilute her message for people who feel R&B music doesn't exactly capture overall musical talent country, jazz and some rock encapsulate. But regardless if the lyrics aren't FBI cryptic or a computer generated the multitude of sounds rather than a live band, listen for yourself. Keyshia is again connecting to her audience that by now has grown to learn this lesson. Becoming mature enough to recognize your own self worth only begins the next chapter in the quest for true purpose. Surely a Phoenix has risen. 

Andrew Schulz; Changing Of The Guards

    Great stand up comedians are comparable to present-day philosophers just as curating friends on social media is the same as actual relationships in real life; it would be wise to take what is said and done on stage with a grain of salt. That being said, Andrew Schultz is here to change the game. One of the great magic tricks few stand up comedians do in their acts is gradually have the audience rethink their convictions. Some artist placate toward generic laughs in hopes of achieving stardom. Other comedians tend to take cliche jokes and forcibly reinvent the wheel. There aren't too many that are great at building off a hilarious premise, painting a left field image, and then closing the joke(s) with thought provoking slander that goes against status quo. If your mind is stuck in the 40's with wholesome, slap-stick one liners, I'm unsure if your ready for the needle pushing comedy Andrew Schultz has to offer. If you consider yourself a leftist by all accounts, some of his views may pinch a nerve or three. But then again, your probably the exact individuals he prefers convincing.

    Andrew Schulz was born and raised in New York City by two middle class entrepreneurs, and later went to college in California. That last sentence is all but a pigeon hole of his character; rather his background grants impressive balance that shows itself through his comedic observations. Andrew is brilliantly able to meet any confliction of thought nearest it's center. As a young comedian he seems to have a traditional way of processing information, like a WW2 vet who tries to talk sense into oblivious millennials. He is unquestionably liberal at heart and yet smart enough to use his comedic compass to keep his points grounded.  His comedic undertones deal with everyday societal issues as well as things you've only said to yourself.

     If I could compare Andrew Schulz to any top ranked comedian of our lifetime it would be Chris Rock. Not a bad comparison for a ironic idol of his. Chris Rock is methodical, measured and far too willing to make you uncomfortable, a ploy used to break the spell of politically correct group-think many viewers suffer from. Schulz mirrors that. Now Listen. It is so easy to feel uncomfortable laughing at jokes that go against your best behavior persona. The guilt of revealing that you have a sense of humor about sensitive topics isn't a indictment on who you are, Andrew Schulz would say on his podcast called "Brilliant Idiots". Once you open dialogue in joke form and retain the audiences' attention, true awakening begins. That's when closeted racism is examined for the ignorance it is. That's when differences between men and women are mended. That is when the wrongs of the world can be placed in a non judgmental bubble and birth simplification. These are the basic principles Andrew abides by as a upcoming comedic star. Four words. Remember I told you so.

If LeBron's King, Simmons is...

         Ben Simmons On The Rise
      (click above for video highlight link)

      For casual sports fans the name Ben Simmons means nothing. Probably just another Joe Schmo taking up earthly space. Its likely they'd imagine him from name alone being some cartoon-ish appliance salesmen married twice divorced once with two kids, a dog and a mix puppy on the way. He'd live in the suburbs of Nebraska; not his original birth place of course but a town where selling refrigerators is lucrative. This imagined Mr. Simmons guy would most likely love fishing for trout, hunting game and keeping himself out of the matrix as much as possible. Except Mr. Ben Simmons of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers is nothing like that. In fact, if you've never heard of him you can't possibly believe in lightning striking the same spot twice. I say that because Lebron James for example, a sports athlete who could arguably go down in history as the greatest basketball player created in a science lab somehow had his basketball DNA leaked into the veins a newer prototype. Ben Simmons may just be dare I say, the newest Chosen One.

     God-like basketball talent is said to come once a generation, if all the astrological stars align. That statement alone can be taken as a universal truth since there are very few Michael Jordan's, Magic Johnson's, Larry Bird's, Shaquille O'Neal's and LeBron James type humans if you wish to call them that. Ben Simmons' potential has the trajectory to be apart of those names mentioned. Mr. Simmons is a first round draft pick from 2016, taken first before 59 other athletes. This simply means a basketball corporation thought it necessary to provide him with millions of dollars more than his rookie peers based on his upside. Sure, upside generally means nothing. Even well projected stocks fall at Wall Street. As luck would have it, he sat out his original rookie year because of injury (the 76ers organization may of cheated the system by keeping him out of basketball for a year even after he was healed). This "set back" allowed Simmons to study the game from a analytical stand point and not just an instinctive one. Imagine being given a years pay at your job to sit back and hone your skills while absorbing managements perspective on how they plan to see the corporation preform in the next five years... Exactly. This essentially expedited Ben's progression ten fold. Now let me just say skill matters in all forms of business and that doesn't change in sports. A added bonus in sports though are physical attributes. Ben Simmons is a 6'10, 240 lb "rookie" (not playing his first year qualifies him as a current rookie this year). Did I mention he plays point guard while being defended by other players typically 6'4 and under? If he isn't a video game creation, I don't know what is.

     At 6'10, Ben Simmons handles the basketball like a smaller player, manipulating the defensive balance of anyone guarding him up close. He is widely compared to LeBron James because of his height and impressive ability to constantly foresee events on the court before it happens. This is proven since Simmons consistently makes the right pass to teammates during different team strategic offensive sets, visibly exposing the obvious bewilderment of defenders who slowly realizes he's found a open teammate for a easy score. He dazzles bigger opponents as well since they are not physically equipped to stay in front of him. Ben Simmons is extremely fast, agile, and jumps with thunderous ability, a contradiction of his usual even-keeled personality. Ben Simmons is incredibly strong for his age. His forward momentum never wavers against aggressive contact like a speeding box truck pushing forward among hanging twigs. Being only 21 years old builds up Simmons credibility in regards to his basketball I.Q. The game of basketball is a fast paced, quick-on-your-toes sport. Error in any form can cost you a lucrative contract, diminishing your life's sacrifices. Ben not only takes the smart route in any given possession, he exceeds expectations by being able to anticipate defensive tendencies like a matured parent who knows when their child is attempting to be devious. Currently his stats are 16.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.5 assist per game. Those are impressive for a basketball talent just beginning his road to fame.

    To be fair, Ben Simmons is not LeBron James. Simmons does not possess natural defensive instincts given to LeBron James from the bball gods themselves. Simmons is literally incapable of making a three pointer, a part of basketball that is glorified in today's NBA. Compared to LeBron's rookie year, Ben Simmons scores less points for his team. But just because he isn't LeBron James doesn't mean he isn't the closest to him. Kobe Bryant (love him or hate him) wasn't Michael Jordan but you couldn't find a closer replicator. Ben Simmons has more rebounds (catching the ball from the air or ground when another team misses the shot) and more assist (passing to a teammate who then makes a basket from your anticipation skills) per game than his predecessor during the same span of time as a rookie. That dynamic explains Ben's team oriented contributions. He can see over the defense's eye level and deflective stances like a elephant bull who foresees a lion tribe coordinating a faulty plan. The 76ers have a good young team around Ben Simmons, generally role players who range from elite shooters, to disciplined hustlers with condensed egos. This is a formula for success in the basketball kingdom. Hell, that might just be the winning formula for a future King.

  

Isaias Afwerki; Bound by Fear

      Riddle me this. How do you favorably side with a alleged irrational national leader and human rights violator? I'll wait...The answer is you can not. Not under "equal rights for all" moral standards anyway. But to humanize a villain is to realize the complexities of social, economical and perhaps religious objectives from the world around them. This concept won't soften the inner anguish of anyone whose suffered under a dictatorship of any form. Let Isaias Afwerki tell it though, the past is always a daunting reflection of Eritrea's future.

      Eritrea is a small northeast African country beautified with gorgeous Italian infrastructures as part of the 19th centuries European "Conquest for Africa". Eritrea's president Isaias Afwerki (February 2 1946-) is a direct product of Eritrea's slow dis-unification from foreign powers (i.e. Italy, USSR, USA and the United Kingdom) and landlocked neighbors who include Ethiopia. Being native to Eritrea, Afwerki led two different political parties (the Eritrea Liberation Front which then divided into the Eritrea People's Liberation Front) in his younger days as a means of fighting against Ethiopian rule who by the way, not only felt inadequate without ownership to the Red Sea but didn't like the idea of Eritrea becoming it's own sovereign country. On one hand Isaias Afwerki is to be praised for his role in envisioning a modern country that would not tolerate being controlled under imperialism. As a well versed man of historical facts, Afwerki is aware of the pit falls for selling your country off to another whether voluntarily or otherwise. On the other hand, Afwerki's movie-like ascension to totalitarian rule has trapped his mind into radical forms of actions that prohibit his nation from becoming a top tier economic country.

      In 1972, Isaias Afwerki became leader of a newer leftist political group (E.P.L.F) that fought against his former (E.L.F). The two groups were suppose to be fighting against Ethiopian rule (backed by British influence) that sought to undermine Eritrea through concepts of "unification". The civil war from 1970-1974 left the Eritrean People's Liberation Front victorious. Soon after, sovereignty struggles once again started against Ethiopia. Many on and off wars Isaias Afwerki involved himself with against Ethiopia continue today in stalemate. I briefly ran over some of Eritrean history to prove Afwerki's legitimacy. As a positive, he has established health care for all in Eritrea (most modern tyrants tend to). However he is still said to be a terrible authoritarian. War planning hasn't proven to be his strong suit, losing numerous battles from perhaps declaring himself the sole military planner. His financial spending habits on credible ideas such as creating damns in Eritrea (rarely completed projects before leaving for another) spark questions of his judgement as head of the infrastructure department. There is a "national service" mandate that places nearly everyone able in the country to be apart of the military unit. Failure to comply resulted in unmeasured amounts of time in inhumane underground prisons. Torture tactics are alleged by the United Nations. Many Eritreans have taken refuge in other countries, resulting in even larger quantities of Eritrea's military units working in warehouses or mining up natural resources for little to no wage. Similar to the Soviet Union during the Cold War, difficulties arise when trying to obtain a exit Visa in Eritrea that allegedly resulted in murders. The countries T.V. and journalistic media is screened and pre-approved by Isaias Afwerki for proper censorship. Media from outside the country are discouraged from deep investigations through monitored country tours. Shady business dealings with Canada companies like Nevsun expose Afwerki's lack of compassion toward proper wages, money that he will receive regardless as a totalitarian if he were to just put funds into the pockets of the people first. These are just some of his alleged offenses.

     The main concern isn't Isaias's catastrophic control issues. Graduating at the top of his class and leading men into war for decades through propaganda would do that to any A-type obsessive personality. But currently Eritrea is viewed as a third world country because of Afwerki's refusal to change with the world around him. Internally he proves to be governed by fears of yester-years. Being a dictator of a small country would put fear in any leader because of the potential threat of invasion. Little trust in international powers for past imperialistic advances traps Afwerki and Eritrea in a sort of time lapse stuck between 1538 and 1993. Also, constant territorial fighting with Ethiopia through guerrilla or trench warfare darkens progressive spirits. Sure Eritrea currently seems like a multi-religious accepting country. Yet you would have to assume with all the radical Islamic uprising from groups such as Somalia's Al-Shabab to the south, Afwerki's reasons for irrational control is self preservation. Only Isaias Afwerki and a chosen  few believe he's the answer to the countries success. He WILL NOT go back to the days his people suffered under persecution. For centuries, bowing down to Portugal, the mighty Ottoman Turks, Italian persuasion, American and British false partnerships, various indigenous tribes seeking power and so forth because of Eritrea's invaluable geographic location and natural treasures. The best way for a freedom fighter turned psychopath to "liberate" his country is incredibly simple; oblivious self destruction through paranoia.
   
   

Culture Appropriation; Dont Get Weird

   "I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it." A beautiful quote from one of the great thinkers of all time Voltaire ( Francois-Marie Arouet). In a true and respectable republic society, freedom of speech has to be the most valued. It is a form of self expression that relays a abundance of opinions and ideas that help expand the human experience. You would agree that this notion in abstract form pours into personal networking, entertainment and even fashion. Yes fashion. The right to wear what you want as a social identification tool highlights paying homage to stylistic p.o.v. Reverence for ones (or someone else's) team, nationality, brand, and or culture provides a recognizable longing to connect with others that do not necessarily represent yourself. This trend keeps us relatable to others. It also makes use of what we as complex beings are able to portray; oneness. 

   It is easy to publicly discard anyone who is accused of being a "culture vulture". This phrase is undoubtedly embedded in human history in various forms. It represents people and or conglomerates that have obtained perceived recognition or prosperity while failing to acknowledge the source(s) in which inspiration came. Being called a culture vulture is nearly comparable to colonialism in the minds of anyone that fears losing something tribal that in actuality is not independently their own. Examples may include Vanilla Ice, Justin Timberlake, John Cena, Iggy Azalea, every Caucasian with dreads, every Hispanic or Asian with baggy jeans/slanted hat and Kim Kardashian. I'm sure there are more examples but I don't have enough typing space to remind you of all the alleged "criminals". It is very easy to feel slighted at the sight of someone taking something so culturally sacred like dance moves or a cadence or an appearance and merging it together with a developing persona. It feels down right blasphemous to emotionally identify with something ethnically yours just to see it used for capitalistic gain! How could you John Cena walk and talk like a urban rapper to gain a audience. How dare you Justin Timberlake bad mouth Prince while so obviously gaining your inspiration from him and R&B artists just the same. And what is wrong with you Kim Kardashian, what in the world made you believe you can take a selfie while rocking braids with beads at the end of them?! Childish tribalism my friends. Hit the pause button on feeling so enraged.

   Is it not plausible that through admiration for someones stylistic representations and renditions of their own culture, I could learn to recreate the same aura in hopes of obtaining like-minded values? Would it be odd of me to copycat the physical forms and movements of the great Michael Jordan (e.g. Kobe Bryant)? Could I not emulate the consciousness through direct repetitious acts of say, Beethoven? You'd argue, "that's a completely different analogy that doesn't parallel your point". In defense I'd bring up how the highest form of praise is through impersonation. It is the act of obsessing with a life unlike your own that magnifies liberation of societal constraints through impressions like a innocent game of pretend. Also, in a capitalistic society where EVERYTHING is about gaining coin, there could not be a more easier or innocent way to kill two birds with one stone (gaining access to wealth while exposing your internal interest). Whose to say Elvis Presley had not been a closeted fan of black culture while allegedly exposing what he learned to a broader audience (fairly unlikely but something to think on)? Don't get me wrong: it is understandable to envision the financial disparity that particularly may have cause in the mid 50's to the end of the 1970's for minorities. Even Hollywood at a earlier time had white actors/actresses play Hispanics, Asians and other ethnicities to placate toward a cult-type audience as acts of familiarity. But in 2018 and beyond, when do we start to attribute the fact that races and cultures are intertwining at a alarming pace and ownership of who is allowed to wear a certain hair style, or talk with a certain dialect, or add to their image a collage of themselves beautified through concepts not of their own in order to make something...quite...new. As a civilization we are approaching the dawn of a Neo Modern Era. There is nothing culturally preserving about that. I wonder...Could it be that the real fear lies within the borders of the nostalgia of what use to be (e.g.my group is allowed to do this, while yours can not), while failing to realize the possibilities of what is to be; admiration through change.