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…
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
Just a quick update on the progress of the album… I’m at different stages of 13 songs right now. Working with some great producers and starting to collaborate with some distinguished guest artists. A few songs are already finished and will be posted here within the next few weeks.
I don’t want to let too much out of the bag just yet – I will share more details as the release gets closer. Just wanted to let y’all know that progress is being made. Conscious hip-hop is still alive! What I can say right now is that there will be something for everyone. Something to make you think, something to nod your head to, something to inspire you, something to make you move, maybe even something epic. And some surprises.
Stay tuned.
I’m officially off hiatus and in the studio! I finally decided to put aside a lot of other projects and get back to doing whats most meaningful to me – making music. And you’re looking at the new site. Blog style as you can see. A bit of a work in progress for sure, but I wanted to get something up while I’m working on the new album. Something more interactive and evolutionary. I plan on sharing some of the tracks here as well as documenting the creative process. I also might post other musings such as social commentary, movie/book reviews, etc. We’ll see.
I want to thank everyone for their support. I apologize for taking this long. While I haven’t released any new material in a while, I have been continuously gathering my thoughts and figuring out how to express them via beats and rhymes. I have a lot to say and I can promise that this album will be by far my best work. Here’s to the journey.
