The difference between duty and love

 

Egyptian Cotton

Under Muhammad Ali Pasha, who ruled from 1805-1848, Egypt was industrializing. Industrialization at this time was key to the development of every European nation, Egypt was on par.

It was invaded by the British in 1882. A process of deindustrialisation was enforced with investment only placed in cotton production.

When I think of Egyptian cotton I don't think of luxury and comfort. I see a nation oppressed. I see forced backwardness.

Driving to Boksburg on a Thursday morning.

I want to read books. Make music. Write blog posts. Train Bboy one day and Muay Thai the next. I wanna smoke some kush from time to time. Do comedy and feature on a track with AKA. I'll stay awake late at night sending emails to organise something I believe in and wake up early to meet with creative people and share ideas.

The problem is...I want medical aid too.

Thinking

I think I think too much, and while I've heard many claim that their thinking is more thinking than should be thought, I've thought about and think that my thinking would out think the thoughtiest of thinkers. 

My thinking is based on a need to think coupled with the desire to know thoughts and have thought them in and of themselves, whereas others think they need to think their thoughts in order to claim they have thought. 

But I cannot access the thoughts of any thinkers but myself except through that which they produce and hence the real thoughtful are the doers for their thoughts can be known.

My (Our) Hip-Hop Tribute to Being Indian

Don't you wanna help me write a song about how great it is to be Indian?

I'm really into this Mackelmore guy right now, conscious hip-hop music with punchlines and he's creating a new, different path towards industry success (away from major labels) with a really cool homie of his, Ryan Lewis who also seems mad creative and hard-working.

I watched one of his songs that's about being Irish. It describes and celebrates a part of his history so well that it made me proud to be Irish.

This type of description and celebration is something I think every identity should enjoy. 

Being Indian isn't the most important part of my identity but it's a part that I haven't fully come to terms with. Perhaps in an attempt to go completely reverse the divisions created by Apartheid my family has downplayed it somewhat. I think it shapes me in ways I'm yet to fully understand or explore, but it is a part of me.

I thought I would explore it by writing a song similar to Mackelmore's and started jotting down some lyrics and concepts that might provide content for a couple of verses and a hook (that's all you need for a song right?...well maybe a beat, and singers, and people with the ability to say words in catchy ways...think they're called rappers...but we can worry about those later).

I need your help though. I'm short on free time and I don't know all that much about Indian-ness so I thought we could try crowd-source lyrics to a hip-hop song describing and celebrating this part of our identities. (Not assuming everyone that reads this is Indian but maybe the non-Indians feel Indian or have some Indian-ness in them that they wanna contribute)

This is what I have so far...concepts...lyrics...we'll figure it out later...esp number of syllables to actually make it fit a beat:

The only genuinely cool Indian people are Sachin Tendulkar and Aziz Ansari, 
tired of tired white-people jokes about eating biryani.

Family is important to us, cousin just born, grandad being buried. 

Question on every aunties lips, "betha when you getting married?"

I'm an Indian, some Pakistani, 

the history's complicated I might be Bengali. 

The stretch marks on my skin,

I call them my tiger stripes,

cause I was meant to be real skinny,

but my ambitions put up a tiger fight.

Examine the context South African, rainbow nation, Jozi born and bred. 

Glad to be able to walk around without being called a towel head. 

We love our food too but be careful when you chew. 
Elachi speed traps could easily be the end of you. 

If I ever wrote a self-help book...

It would contain many expletives. I keeps it real. Here is the potential cover and title as well as a breakdown of chapters:

Please note: F=Fuck

(Sorry)

 

Chapter 1: F everyone.

This chapter is about designing ones psyche to be able to easily tell people to F off. F people and do whatever the F you want to do with your life and time because that shit is damn precious and can't afford to be wasted. Be free, happy and filled with joy and do whatever the F you need to do to feel that way. F a hater. Haters gonna hate. Don't let people's own personal limitations about life become your beliefs about your life. Do whatever you want to do to be happy. (Don’t kill anyone though. And try not to hurt people either.)

Chapter 2: Drop bullshit like it’s hot

Here, we delve into the mind in order to understand how not to stand for bullshit. Don’t stand for muthaf-in bullshit ever. If something does not sit right with you, if something is causing you unhappiness and you can’t find a resolution (like when someone irritates or annoys you badly, or if someone is constantly judgemental and small minded in their attitude), drop that muthaf-in shit like it’s hot. This is how you actively endeavour to not stand for bullshit. You can only ever control your own self - and trying to control people or impose your will on them is just a pointless and wasteful effort. Get away from people and situatations that perpetuate what you consider to be bullshit and do something else with your time. Like spending time with people or in situations who that the opposite of bullshit and that inspire and uplift. Your peace and state of mind is more important than any bullshit person or situation. Just saying.

Chapter 3: Be one selective ass bitch!

In this chapter, we shall seek to let the light into our lives by learning to be selective as shit. This means always choose the F-ing utmost best for yourself in all circumstances, especially in terms of who you hang out with and who you share your time with. Be in full and conscious control of YOUR life and your actions, and where you go and where you don’t go. Make the best decisions for yourself depending on your needs and also depending on the kind of person you dream about becoming (I’m hoping you want to be a good and extraordinary person. If not, its cool too). Sometimes you gotta be like “Yo, F other people, I need to put myself first.” This is not necessarily a selfish thing to do but rather it is an act of self-love and self-respect - if you do it right. You don’t have to be miserable or forced to do/be what you don’t want. Roll alone rather than roll with a-holes or energy suckers or self-obsessed people or anyone negative.

Chapter 4: Inspiration is the shit dreams are made of

This chapter will teach you to guide yourself not to do things unless they excite you thoroughly and fill you with joy. Basically, don’t waste your time. Don’t move unless you are inspired to. Inspiration is something godsend and is my favourite feeling in the word. It’s a powerful force that fills you with joy, empowerment, bliss and hope. You have to act on what inspires you, what touches you, what moves you. You have to take it as a message from above that you are on the right path. Being inspired by something is a gift and it feels sublime as F and because of this, it is so important to respect it. So be inspired, be free to love what also wants you to love it. Make plans if you are inspired enough and believe that that shit will come true. Because it just F-ing might. If one dope thing is possible, then every dope thing is possible. Be open to inspiration and believe in your damn self. Hard.

Chapter 5: Shine bright, bitch

This means do you. That means be yourself. In exploring this concept deeper, it actually means F your mediocre ass, scared self, and rather be the best best best version of yourself (This may be an Oprah phrase, although sincerely coming from me). Shining bright should be your norm. Thus, you need to strongly commit (despite fear) to doing things that are a little crazy and that you only dream of when you are alone and safe in your bedroom. Things that will help you grow into who you ideally want to be and things that will challenge you to be more than who you are. You really really really need to work on your hustle to become who you need to be in order to live your dreams. And you best believe that fulfilled dreams and amazing things don’t come to scared, mediocre, doubtful people who hide in the shadows of what they desire. Prioritise being wise, free, whole, enough, harmonious, strong, positive and believing (and the like) over all else. Shine bright, bitch. You can.

(Beyonce's poem to Frank Ocean on his bi-sexuality)

Chapter 6: Give thanks F-ed up.

Probably the most important chapter – training yourself to always give thanks. You just have to be grateful if you want to be baller in life. You have to be grateful especially because sometimes you are lacking in the things you want, but if you look closer and from another perspective, there are probably countless times when you actually have the things you want, but you’re too busy being ungrateful to notice. Being a spoilt brat....never that. You are looked after a power bigger than you, who loves you, who wants the best for you, who knows you and who hears you. Gratitude is the shit because it brings you more. Appreciate all the good and bad that’s in your life because it is put their on purpose by the hand of ultimate divine power. Which means it’s pretty much perfect as it is. Don’t get sucked in by a bad situation and have that ruin all the amazing things you have in your life. You are an abundant mutha-f-er and this is undeniable. So stop complaining and rather stop and realise what you have to be grateful for. Everyone definitely has something.  

Looking for a publisher. HOLLERRRRRR! :)

Nx