I always get inspired by the musical scores in movies. One day I thought about what would happen if I tried to rap to one, so I reached out to talented composer Stephen Anderson, who created this loose cinematic interpretation of the hymn “Father in Heaven, We Do Believe” (see if you can pick out the melody if you’re familiar with it). Then I just put my headphones on, closed my eyes, and wrote what the music spoke to me. This is the result:
Okay, many have asked, so an explanation of the album title is in order. Strictly speaking:
Meridian:
a) a point or period of highest development, greatest prosperity, or the like.
b) conveying the thought of a principal division of time or space.
Rhyme:
a) identity in sound of some part, especially the end, of words or lines of verse.
The most significant time in the history of our world was the birth, life, and atonement of our savior Jesus Christ. Because of this and because we chronicle all events in history based on whether they occurred before or after it, true to the above definitions it is sometimes referred to as the Meridian of Time.
I’m pretty sure this album won’t cause the people in charge of deciding such things to redefine our method of delineating time. Nor do I think it’s the highest form of music in any way, and I certainly don’t expect it to bring prosperity. So what is The Meridian of Rhyme?
As you can tell from the artwork, there are obviously elements of division and contrast. Darkness and light. Good and evil. Pleasure and pain. Joy and sorrow. Night and day…
We all experience both sides, and we often find ourselves on the meridian. We can choose good or evil. We can choose gloom or illumination. We can find the bright side of our trials and tribulations or fall into the abyss of self-pity. We can be victims of the night or heroes of sunshine.
The Meridian of Rhyme is about change. Change for the better. Making some choice that from this time forward, I’m going to be better in some way.
Hopefully this music can turn something dark into something light for someone. Hopefully someone finds something beautiful from somewhere unexpected. Maybe from themselves. Hopefully a simple truth is realized. Hopefully someone learns something about the world and their place in it in a moment of reflection. Hopefully The Great Deception of the mainstream media machine is exposed in some way.
Hopefully someone finds a song they can put on to get them through a hard day, or a hard year. Hopefully someone finds a song that brings a smile, and maybe another that brings a tear. Hopefully a head nods. Hopefully someone can relate.
Hopefully someone can see themselves as the bright colors breaking out of the shadows, creating life they never thought possible. Hopefully someone is inspired to try a little harder, or run a little further, or hold on a little longer.
Hopefully it means things I never thought it would mean.
Hopefully it means something.
—
changing the world is breaking me
but breaking free is changing me
gotta keep moving forward
my people – moving for ‘em
let’s see some new horizons… new forms rising
- from “Never Enough”
Imagine you’re putting together a basketball team. You’re the coach and the GM. Over the course of a year you hand-pick your players from the best schools and playgrounds you know of. Some are more talented than others. Some are a little raw but have potential. You don’t get every player you try to recruit, but you do the best you can to construct the best team possible.
This team means a lot to you, and you are dedicated. Throughout the year you spend every spare moment you can with the players. Usually you work one-on-one with them, spending hours and hours in the gym, on the playground, anywhere there’s a hoop. You make them do drills. You see them getting better. Sometimes they disappoint you. Sometimes they amaze you. Sometimes you practice for hours and you don’t make any progress at all. If anything, it looks like they’ve gotten worse.
You sacrifice time with your family in an effort to make these players the best they can be. Often the players confide in you, and in the role of counselor and friend you stay up late with them, giving them as much time as they need. You spend entire weekends with them traveling to exhibition tournaments.
In these experiences you laugh together. You cry together. You share moments and make memories. You become close. Each player becomes part of your life. Part of you. You love them. You want them to succeed more than anything. Continue Reading…
I’m not sure which is worse – the proliferation of prostitution in Los Angeles, or citizens being in favor of it.
Because of a loophole in a recently passed state law concerning therapist certification, many areas of Los Angeles are seeing a noticeable increase of erotic “massage parlors”. Bad for the community right? Not according to the majority of comments left on the article. Here’s a small smattering of opinions in reaction to some police busts and local community leaders who are trying to crack down on it:
“Those darn right-wing Christians are running California into the ground!”
“I am really sick of the puritans of this country telling me what I can and can’t do. You can pass all the laws you want. You cant’ stop it. Idiots.”
“This is AWESOME! Finally, something in LA that is what the people want. We need more places where men can go escape from their wives. Thank you for making this possible! Legislature, YOU ROCK! Why would anyone want to stop this?”
“Oh Who cares if two consenting adults agree to an erotic massage for money. It is nobodys damn business. I am so sick of these uptight religuous freaks telling people how to live their lives.”
“Why on earth is it the government or law enforcement’s job to regulate sex between consulting adults? We have religion to blame for this”
I could go on. There were also many that want police to concentrate on “real crimes” such as robbery and gang activity.
It’s all perspective right? Being mugged or shot is something bad that could happen to you, whereas paying money to human traffickers to have sex with girls that may or not be prostituting themselves willingly is something bad happening to someone else. As long your own salacious desires are fulfilled it’s all good right?
If we have religion to blame for attempting to keep this world from becoming one big seedy red-light cesspool, well, thank you religion. And thanks for reminding us that our potential is infinite, that we can be much more than animals controlled by every carnal impulse. Some nerve you have religion, some nerve.
This video hit me on a lot of levels. As a kid that watched “Rad” hundreds of times and lived on a bike for years (and still attends the X-games most summers in LA), I can tell you that the bike stunts are amazing, but you won’t need me to tell you that when you see it. There is also much artistry to behold in the scenery, the music, and the camera work.
You know how it’s almost discouraging when you see the awe-inspiring things that other people can create? This is one of those times.
Original link: Danny MacAskill’s “Way Back Home”
Today TV is littered with so-called teenage dramas, mostly unwatchable and predictably base. In comparison My So-Called Life, which ran about 15 years ago on ABC stands out like a diamond in a landfill.
The show was so far ahead of its time that there will probably never come a time when its time arrives. It perfectly captured the agonizing teenage quest of identity and purpose without being pretentious or careless. And it had the heart of a lion. Lead by Claire Danes in her unforgettable breakout performance, the cast of characters made you feel every emotion and you could relate in some way to all of them. You celebrated the good times and your heart wrenched with the bad, because everything that happened on the show felt real, like it was something that happened to you or could happen next week. If you’re a fan a show, you know how just hearing the theme music conjures up nostalgia, heartache, hope, angst. The writing, acting, and execution all seem flawless, but what I can’t stress enough is the realness of it. It’s raw yet refined. As today’s shows drift further and further into fantasy and superficiality, MSCL stands as a beacon of authenticity.
Inconceivably to it’s viewers both past and present, it only ran for one season. The entire series is only 19 episodes, but that only adds to the show’s mystique. Had it continued on it likely would have been the victim of network pressures and ratings chicanery. So maybe it’s better that way. For that one season they captured perfection on film, and its audience is better for it. Short-lived, yes, but timeless.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here are some links. Whether you are a teenager, were once one, or are thinking about becoming one, I think you will like it.
A new track from the album! Ok, you might have heard this one before – a rough version was floating around the internets a couple years ago. Here’s a more polished version, though still unmastered. More on the way.
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Just wanted to say that I’m alive… sorry for the lack of posts. Feels like forces are combining to keep me from finishing the album.
Nothing will stop me though. Progress is being made. I’m moving forward. Still shooting for the end of the year. I can’t post any tracks yet for legal reasons, but new music is coming soon, I promise!
Thanks to those that have been asking – I appreciate the support. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Q
