Frank Ocean

Music is an umbrella of expression, this metaphorical umbrella has been used to harness an art form that has nurtured so many different schools of thought, while allowing different cultures to mesh and coexist through the relation of song.  With the multitude of genre's music presents, different ideas and forms of expression have been able to spread to the masses. These ideas and expressions have a lasting impact on society because in one way or another, no matter the differences we share everyone can relate through the expression of music.  I'm not an artist so in actuality I haven't been able to express myself through my own music, but I've been able to relate to how artist express themselves, while also being able to apply the wisdom used in many songs to my own views on life's situations.  In my opinion music is sanity, and without music the world would be a much crazier and more confused place than it already is, so in essence I view music as not only a healing of a nation but the healing of the world.  I may seem like I'm rambling so let me get to the point. One lesson music has taught me is to accept people's differences. I've learned not to judge people on their personal lifestyles but to accept an artist for whom they are and judge them by the body of work they put out. I find it important to understand that even though we may share some differences on the surface, through music we all can relate.  I'll use the recent coming out of R&B singer Frank Ocean, who a couple weeks ago announced his bisexuality through a post on his Tumblr page as an example.  When I was younger and immature I might have focused on his sexual orientation and used that as a base to write off his music, but as a 20 year old man I see things differently, the veil of ignorance that once clouded my judgment has been lifted.  As a musical artist he is not defined by his personal choices but by the quality of his music and the messages that his music displays. I may not agree with his lifestyle or practice a similar lifestyle but who am I to judge, I am not God and only God can judge us. With that being said personally I think Frank Ocean is a musical genius, a man who makes beautiful music and tells stories of love and life that can translate to anybody, it just so happens in his personal life he is bisexual. That hint of his personal life has no real connection or affect to the personal lives of anyone else but him, so why should it matter. Through music Frank Ocean spreads his soul, and his soulful sound and creative lyrics are in my opinion second to no one in  any category of music you may try to place him in during this musical time period.  Even though that's a rather broad, bold statement, his music does not fit into a category or genre so for me to even call him an R&B artist is a stretch because his style incorporates influences from several different genres of music. To simplify it, you just can't fit Frank's music in a box.  I've already ran this blog long so I'll finish by saying this, ignorance allows us to judge somebody off of things that make no difference in our personal lives.  Personally Frank Ocean's sexual orientation has no affect on me or how I live my life however, his music serves a purpose in something I believe in and I salute him for not being afraid to be himself.  


Currently Jamming:  Chief Keef ft. Fat Trel x Russian Roulette 


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Born to Win Built to Succeed

"No matter what, there is no excuse for letting your past dictate your future."  I honestly can't give one example of where this statement doesn't apply.  In life you make mistakes; that's all apart of the process of growing up, what happens in the past stays in the past, the goal is to learn from your mishaps and move on. My pops once told me, "The only thing you can't fix is death, everything else in life you can overcome and make positive."  Those words will forever stick with me, because that's what I believe life is all about:  being able to live, make mistakes, learn and then using adverse situations as added motivation to succeed.  Letting your past affect you  negatively is choosing to lose, and we were all born to win, so why inflict added injury on something you can't change.  Adversity is a part of life, bad decisions are a part of life, regret however is not, life is way too short for regret and everything you go through ultimately helps shape you into the person you become.  Even though this may be taken for granted, the ultimate gift is being able to see another day, another day of life is a clean slate, and an opportunity to be better.  The value of making every other day equally as good or better than your last has no price on it,  its a gift.  With that being said enjoy and love the life you live because at any moment it can be taken away from you, make mistakes don't let mistakes make you.

Currently Jamming:  Black Faces x Childish Gambino ft. Nipsey Hussle 

PS:  Shane you helped me see life differently, the world lost you before it was ready to but at the same time I know it was your time to join your mom up in the sky with the big guy.  I'll never forget all of the memories we made in such little time and I was listening to Kid Cudi Mr. Rager the other day and I swear on everything I love you were in the car telling the story of the song, that song was made to explain you.  Death isn't a fun thing but accepting that its apart of life allows all of us to grow.  Thank you for being a part of my family gone but never forgotten can't wait to see you in Heaven bro I love you.

Love,

Uncle Rob