The 5th Amendment

In the Meantime...

2011-11-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

I've been getting a little bored since I released my album as I'm trying to figure out new ways to market it. My marketing Yoda, Brian G. has been giving me a lot of cool ideas. The most simple one is obviously: MAKE NEW MUSIC. So that's what I did. Just a bunch of random songs, lol. Hence, 5th Child proudly presents to you... In the Meantime...
http://soundcloud.com/5thchildmusic/sets/in-the-meantime-2/

"Anything Goes"

2011-09-02T04:19:00.001-07:00

Okay, so y'all remember how I said I was working on this song with an artist from Jackson who had a hit single out? Either way this is that song. The title of it is "Anything Goes" and the artist is named 1st-Up Luck. This song is obviously not for the manlier side of my fanbase, lol. Its funny because I specifically custom-made the beat for another artist but when I sent him 2 tracks to choose from, he chose the one that is more soulful and in my normal style of soul-sample based tracks. So I listen to this beat to try and figure out where I went wrong and as I'm listening to it, i'm liking it more and more. I really wasn't sure if I wanted to rap on it though because its pretty out of the box for me. Anyway, I just started mumbling the first part of the hook to myself "Anything goes. Anything goes. Won'tcha just let me know. Just let me know." And it sounded pretty cool to me. Then I started pacing around my room just mumbling different cadences of how I thought the flow should sound on the verses and it always sounded best when I was twisting (rapping fast). I figured, I've written 100 songs about saving the world, shouldn't I be allowed just one song to just say something provocative? lol. So I wrote this verse that's filled with all sorts of sexual imagery and it was fun because I was rapping fast on it. The bass in the beat was knocking and the synths were really crisp and it just seemed like it would be a much better, much freakier "Do I Make U Feel..." (see: Behind the Music). As soon as I finished, I texted my Dj/Manager Peter McElliot and told him to get me in touch with Luck because we'd been meaning to do a song together and I thought his voice would fit perfect on the hook. So we met up in the practice space a few days later and he heard the beat and my idea for the hook and loved it. So we recorded right there at the practice space and he said he'd go home and write the second verse for the song so we could record it later. We waited for a while but then he decided that I should just do the second verse as well. I really didn't want to but I hate hearing unfinished work. So, late one Saturday night, I picked up my pen and paper and vowed to myself to outdo the first verse. What I came up with was really graphic and sexual (late-night thoughts I guess, lol). I was tired so I knew I wanted to record it when I woke up but I felt so guilty about the stuff I was saying that I didn't even want to record it on a Sunday, lol. But that Monday afternoon, it went DOWN, lol. I finished recording and mixing the song but I let only a select few people hear it. Girls mostly. The first time I performed it live was at #5thChildStorytellers right in front of my mother......HA! And there you have it.....Anything Goes (ft. 1st-Up Luck)

#5thChildStorytellers

2011-08-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

Just in case you didn't make it to #5thChildStorytellers, here's what you missed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v99_vzN8SmU

I Wanna Be

2011-07-26T00:39:00.000-07:00

At 2am yesterday morning I recorded my verse to complete a song with a popular artist in the city who has a hit song that is doing great on radio and in local clubs. After sleeping for a few hours I woke up to a UPS truck backing into my driveway with the second shipment of my 5th solo album from Discmakers. After giving the album a celebratory run through, I mixed down an entire mixtape that my dj hosted for another local artist. Throughout the afternoon, I got numerous calls and text messages from artists who wanted to book studio sessions during this week. Later that evening, I packed up my studio equipment and drove across town to a friend's house to record a few songs for him and a friend of his for a mixtape they're working on. While recording and mixing them I finished reading a book that I recently bought on being a self-promoting musician. I ended up heading home around 2am and immediately watched a promotional video for a friend of mine who's album I produced the majority of and recorded, mixed, and mastered in its entirety.

I say all this to say that most of my waking hours are dedicated to this craft. I invest a great deal of money, time, and energy into music. The monetary gain from it, at the moment, is very minimal in comparison to work that goes into it. I'm so focused right now in everything I do in music but the fear is still looming that I may never become financially successful enough from it to make it my livelihood. When I think about my name...5th Child...and how much work I've put into developing a reputation to coincide with that name... all the sacrifices I've made and all the relationships that were strained or broken to preserve that name... honestly, I worry all the time that that name will eventually become an afterthought. There have been plenty of times when I wanted to let it all go. I just wanted to quit because seriously the chances of being a successful musician when it seems like EVERYBODY has the same dream as I do are slim to none. Not because I don't feel like I'm talented but because I'm not sure how to stand out.

I know for a fact that God has a plan for my life but I'm not always 100% sure that it involves music. As much as I feel it in my spirit, I can't always see it with my eyes. Actually, I often don't see it with my eyes. I believe that I have a lot of developing to do but I also believe that I'm really good at what I do and I have a strong work ethic. Nothing bothers me more that the thought of getting nowhere with my art. What would I do with all the wristbands? The t-shirts? The music websites? Will my catalog just turn into sort of a time capsule for my kids like "Come here y'all. This is from when Daddy used to be a rapper." As much as I don't want that to happen, I understand that it's possible. And as I stare at this box full of shrink-wrapped, barcoded CDs bearing the name "5th Child" with my logo and my face on them, I can't help thinking "What if my best effort isn't enough?" If nothing else, I'll be able to live without the regret of never trying. I'll never have to go on with my life knowing that I quit because of the pressure.

There's no telling how I'll feel about it tomorrow. Something great could happen or tomorrow could come and go just like any other day. But for now, the world's just gotta deal with me...

-5th

Song: I Wanna Be
Artist: 5th Child
Album: 5th Child (2011)

Somebody Lyin'... (Not a love poem)

2011-07-18T08:52:00.001-07:00

My homegirl told me I should dig deeper,
I didn't understand it and dismissed her as a disbeliever,
Decided to fall back but in disguise I was retreating,
So I wouldn't have to deal with it.
I'm still livin' at my folks crib, where vice lords and folk live,
Scores of ghetto folklore, exposing what "they'll" never need a rope for.
Appraising my dreams to see what they would go for,
Hoping to spark something bigger with my vocal chords,
Daily committing murder 1 and feeling no remorse.
God I hear you but I'm busy now.
I know I wasted my life, but, hell, I'm tipsy now.
And I ain't drive to that titty bar. I was in my nigga's car.
And It would be improper if I ain't toss dollars,
But when the collection plate passed by I tossed nada,
This is Black Boy Meets World: The Lost Saga.
But my story is more than mine. If not, somebody lyin'.

-5th Child...

#np- Kendrick Lamar "Poe Man's Dreams"

Forever Young

2011-07-10T12:22:00.000-07:00

I was listening to some of the artists that I record today and I thought about how easily their music would be to market because it's very easy to understand. The lyrical content isn't super-dense or anything but they ride the beat well and the punchlines make the song entertaining. Then I started thinking about some of my favorite artists through time and across genres and most of them, albeit had decent careers and were blessed with longevity, remained in obscurity until they began to make "crossover" music. This is a conversation that I have with a good friend of mine all the time. If you're trying to communicate a message to the masses through your music, then it is only effective if the masses can comprehend it. And it HAS to be jamming. Information wrapped in a tortilla shell of entertainment is the only way many people will consume it. Even Jesus used parables to spread the Word of God to Jews and Gentiles. One moment I'll feel compelled to push myself artistically and make something so complex that it has to be deciphered and studied just so that the listener will feel challenged by my art. The next moment, i just want to present my message in the simplest form possible so that people will respond to it and understand it. I know that the main purpose of creating art is not to appease the fans but to express myself so that I don't go insane. But won't I be even more likely to go insane if I create what I believe to be a masterpiece and it's completely overlooked by the people who it's intended to reach?

Anyway, after my satisfaction with the story joint from my last album "Bedtime Story," I decided to write another song that once again delves into the psychological and emotional turmoil that young people encounter in a quest for knowledge of self and a sense of place in the world. The name of the track is "Forever Young" and it's about an unnamed girl in her late-teens, early-twenties who is trying to escape from the harsh realities of her existence and a young man named Bobby who has been given a second chance to escape the justice system and find himself and his manhood by striking out on his own. (Don't ask me where these stories come from because I have no idea, lol.) The song came about through a series of power naps and divine inspiration. I took a nap in my room with my iTunes shuffle on and I woke up to this old soul song that I like a lot. Something about hearing the intro this time made me want to sample it so I did. I made a little skeleton of a beat with it and while I was trying to figure out what to add next, I fell asleep. Then I woke up again and had an idea for the first few lines but wasn't sure if it was gonna be a love song or what. Eventually I just decided to make it a story joint and the plot just came to me. I don't know how. So here's the song. I'll admit, the hook is kinda lazy but I didn't want to do anything too complex (or maybe I'm just saying that as an excuse for doing a lazy hook, lol).

Jackie...

2009-04-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

Yea we ain't kicked it in a while and now I miss your smile/
I miss the way you held my hand when we was in a crowd/
When other dudes had made their moves in hopes that you would see/
You let em' know that you belonged to me exclusively/
I needed freedom, please believe it, it ain't you, it's me/
You gripped me tighter when you sensed that I was 'bout to leave/
You said i'm special and the rest just don't amount to me/
But babe, you gotta understand what I'm about to be/
And how's the fam doing? Give em' my kiss and hugs/
Cause way before I changed my name they were showing "Spitler" love/
I mean, we tried to work it out doing the distant love/
But I'm a man and i've got weaknesses, so listen love/
You're letting everybody get it just to feel the love/
But I know you're settling cause you ain't even into thugs/
I gave my tears and blood no matter when it was/
And held you down so you'd never know what a winter was/

When I was just a young man at age 18 I couldn't make things work/
So I made my feet work and I jetted/
and naw, I don't regret it, naw, I ain't forget it/
when you told me that you love me, looked me in my eyes and said it/
You gotta stay level-headed, don't let em' call you pathetic/
For the record, that depression can destroy you if you let it/
It was a blessing just to know you, met you at age three/
Now the world has gotta deal with the man that you made me/
Stupid dudes ignore your beauty and others just can't see/
That beneath them bad habits you were nothing short of magic/
More than I imagined, though torn and disadvantaged/
You swore that if the sky was in your grasp that I could have it/
But life is like a race and you're the tortoise or the rabbit/
And we took it slow before but now I can't control my passion/
Truthfully I appreciate everything that you do for me/
Beautiful, Black, but too much lack of opportunity/

I've got a confession and don't know really how to say it/
See this is possibly the last time I'ma see you girl/
I'm young and free, 21 and I wanna see the world/
Plus my new lady is seducing me and and she's a pearl/
But don't get it twisted there ain't nothing like my first Ms./
She gets pissed cause I be talking 'bout you, representin'/
But every time I go to work, I swear it's you I mention/
Cause when it comes to southern beauty, you're the definition/
You've got skeleton's in your closet, I don't doubt its true/
So I ain't proud of all your ways but I am proud of YOU/
And now we're through and I know this is coming out the blue/
But you've gotta let me go, Cause I'm about to move/
So I guess this is goodbye, and I wish that you wouldn't cry/
My four-eyed, fine dimepiece, you make my mind cease/
Til my pulse gives out, my heart stops beatin'/
And I'm sleeping in your soil, baby you're a part of Stephen/

(From the album by 5th Child Behind the Music available on iTunes)

I Need A Breakthrough!!!

2008-12-11T01:21:00.000-08:00

I'm far from a perfect person. I know I sin a lot more than some people and I guess a lot less than others so I could probably say that at least 9 times out of 10 I do my best not to do anything that is gonna make God livid with me. Lately I've been getting more involved with the volunteering programs that I'm into and I'm not saying that to say that I've earned a blessing or anything, but just that the experience and the accountability that comes along with it has helped discipline me in turning from certain sins. I feel like in a way I've gone through a spiritual breakthrough over the last few weeks.

When God says something, I believe it and I do my best not to doubt no matter the circumstance. I know God has a solution to my problems, I just can't really think of anytime more opportune than this moment for him to come through, lol. It gets harder and harder to trust God with past due bills, an empty gas tank, no job, and empty bank account, and absolutely no clear plan for the future. But I know I still do. I trust Him with every inch of my soul. I have no one else to trust at this point. I know the Bible says that you reap what you sow, but we are saved by our faith alone. I know that God's love is not merit based, but faith without deeds is dead. Every morning I wake up and do my best to live the life that God wants me to, but sometimes i don't even know what that means. Is there something that he is trying to teach me from this experience that I just don't know yet?

Perhaps the point of this whole phase I've been in (post-college) is to let me know what it means to be "rich." I have the greatest family that anyone could ever ask for. Three biological siblings, three honorary siblings, a beautiful niece and nephew with one on the way, hardworking parents who are incredibly supportive of everything I do, and friends who would rip the shirt off their backs if they thought for a second that I needed it. I have music. I have my voice, my therapist, my soundproof box that allows me to shout when i need to, my empathetic ear, my muse, my talent. I have my God. My first love, my healer, my teacher, my master, my lawyer, my guide, my mentor, my relationship counselor, my all. None of the things that are closest to me have a price tag. They can't go up or down because of the recession. They are fixed in my reality and their impact on my life knows no boundaries. In the sense of what matters, I am ballin'!

I trust God to the utmost degree. I know that there is a reason that everything I've tried to do since graduation hasn't worked. I know that there is a reason why I'm being humbled financially, emotionally, etc. I have a feeling that God is about to blow the doors down in my life. And that the things that used to matter or used to worry me won't be as important anymore. I let God take the drivers seat a few months ago, and now I'm taking my eyes off the road. As I tilt my head back and close my eyes....

This May Shock Some of You, But I Have to Give Credit

2008-11-12T18:21:00.000-08:00

Its funny that because I make a certain type of music that people assume that I only like artists that sound like me. After hearing my music, one would probably assume that all I listen to are "conscious" artists and neo-soul singers. Trust me, this is not the case at all. Now let it be known, that I grew up on De La Soul, Black Star, Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Common, etc. However, my favorite rapper hands down is Jay-Z, my favorite group of all time is OutKast, the newest member of my top 4 is T.I. And I own EVERY SINGLE album from all the groups I just mentioned. I respect people who make different music and even when it comes to hip hop, i understand more and more as I grow up that not all hip hop sounds alike. Hip Hop is not like basketball to me anymore, where you can just choose two artists randomly and compare them. How could you compare Jerry Rice to Michael Jordan? They play different sports so it doesn't really make sense.

So, I watched a couple of Soulja Boy videos today (I know many of you will stop reading now but I don't care) and I just thought to myself "I can see how this would be really marketable to kids." I think the video's I saw were for "Bird Walk" and "Turn My Swag On" and honestly, i didn't hate either one of the songs at all. I don't think they're gonna change the world or anything, but I am also a proud owner of Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz "Crunk Juice" and if I look at Soulja Boy as the new generation's Lil Jon I can tolerate it a lot more, maybe even like it.

Aside from Soulja Boy, one artist that I have to give credit to is none other that T-Pain (I promise I don't care what you think, just listen to my reasoning). Now many people can say that they are tired of hearing T-Pain on every song or they are tired of him using autotune or they think he dresses like a vintage coon. I'm not saying those arguments are totally invalid, however, I will say that this guy is an extremely talented artist. As much as many people would hate to admit it, T-Pain has saved the singles for a lot of rappers who we probably would not even think twice about (who we probably still don't think twice about anyway, but i'm just sayin). About the dressing like a coon thing, I read an article today that talked about how T-Pain is auctioning off all his circus hats since the new album is out now and is donating the money to his favorite charity. Okay, now just follow me...The name of the new album is 3 Rings, I previewed the album on iTunes and it is a concept album with the main theme about him being the ringmaster at a circus. For the last few months he has been wearing these ridiculous oversized top hats and all the videos have some goofy circusy theme. Now it is up to you to judge whether or not this is just blatant coonery, or possibly a brilliant marketing scheme to promote an upcoming album. What do you think??

Lastly, about the autotune thing. I read in an interview way back around when he first started that he said that he can really sing and he uses autotune because people love when he does it. I've heard more naysayers than cosigners....Now you be the judge....

Artist: T-Pain
Song: Keep Going
Alubm: Thr33 Rings

M's Up!,
5th

I Think I Might Be Mean

2008-11-11T21:21:00.000-08:00

I've heard people make comments before that I am selfish, inconsiderate, rude, judgmental, etc... And I've been evaluating myself a lot more lately to get to the bottom of this. In all honesty, I want nothing more than to be known as someone who has the light of Jesus Christ shining through him every day of his life. I know i'm really opinionated and I have an extremely weird thought process to most people (*cough* women mostly *cough*). But I promise you, if I say anything that may be taken as rude to someone, chances are that I'm joking anyway and I feel like I'm cool enough with that person to do so without them taking it seriously. When I don't really care for someone, I just don't acknowledge their presence. Perhaps that's kinda mean too...

Certain past experiences have made me more cautious about being a nice guy because my kindness was sort of a vulnerability and I was kinda hurt by some stuff. It always seems to me like the people who don't put their feelings out there have a better chance of avoiding being hurt so I try to be more thick skinned and nonchalant about romance and stuff like that. This is probably another reason why I come off as mean. What do you think??

Okay the song for today used to be my favorite song for like 2 months. The name of the song is "Monrning Sunrise" by Weldon Irvine. I think it is virtually impossible to be unhappy while listening to this song. R.I.P. Weldon Irvine.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind- No Hard Feelings

2008-11-10T16:16:00.000-08:00

I feel like this is something that I really need to address because it always seems to get me in trouble, primarily with women. I would consider myself to be an extremely focused person and I normally set my attention on what is directly in front of me. That's normally what helps me avoid getting stressed out about the future. Now that I have that established, I have no grudges against anyone in the world right now. There is not one soul that if I were to see them today and they wanted to talk out any past grievance, I would turn my back and be stubborn. Why do people assume that we have beef if we haven't talked in a while?

I can't tell you how many times I've gotten those phone calls or messages like "Our friendship is officially over...," or "Oh, so you finally decided to call me, huh...," or even "How may I help you?" That crap is annoying. I would never come at somebody like that. There are girls that I've been close friends or even a little more with in the past and when they just disappeared, I tried calling several times, but when I didn't hear anything back from them, I just chilled out and focused my attention elsewhere. I didn't get offended or start hating them, I just chilled out. I understand that people can be busy and even when they're not busy, it's kind of self-absorbed to assume that people should always be thinking about you if you're nowhere near them. I really, really appreciate friends because I know what its like to feel like you have no one to talk to. Yet, I can be friends with people and not talk to them every other day. I love my friends to death, but when we don't speak for a while that doesn't make me angry with them. That just makes me miss them more. I don't know why I can't get the same reaction. What do you think??

Okay so here's the song for today...Its from an artist that I have been following since I was a child but this is some of his edgier, unreleased material. This song has been stuck in my head since i heard it and I just felt that I should share it with all of you (all two people who are reading this blog, lol).

Artist: Oscar the Grouch
Song: I Love Sh*t
Album: Unreleased

M's Up!,
5th

Guilty Pleasures Pt. 1

2008-11-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I feel that everyone has certain songs, movies, people, tv shows or whatever that they feel kinda bad about enjoying. And in all honesty, I think we're all allowed to like something that contradicts our character every once in a while. So having said that, one of my biggest guilty pleasures is reality tv's newest hit show "A Real Chance of Love." OMG, this is one of the most degrading, exploitive, and undeniably entertaining television programs that I have ever seen. I actually fell in love with this whole concept of finding "love" through competitions and elminations on The Flavor of Love 1. I didn't really get into The Surreal Life when Flav was on it and I definitely didn't watch Strange Love with him and Brigitte Neilsen. Then something just clicked. Vh1 was like "what if we swap out this 7-foot tall old white chick with 20 something girls who are (for the most part with the exception of Punkin and maybe a few others) 7's or above and willing to tongue kiss Flavor Flav on national television?" And there you have it, a cultural phenomenon. Of course they couldn't just let this beautiful idea ride out for one season and leave fans hanging, so what do they decide...."Hey we can just make up some bullcrap excuse as to why Flavor Flav and Season 1's winner (Hoopz *who is extremely attractive by the way) couldn't make it work and shoot a whole new season and bring on all new girls!" But Vh1 didn't stop there. They thought "Okay, we'll do a second season but we're gonna go get the most psychotic, potential-stalker, unstable chick (New York *who is about a 5 in a room full of fat girls and maybe a 4 in a room full of big girls with cute faces) to come back in the middle of the season to get her second chance to win "her" "man." Little did we know that Vh1 was setting us up for the okey-doke and this psycho chick was going to get brushed off at the final elimination once again for Season 2's winner (Delishus *who is generously a 6 from the neck up and a 10 from the neck down) and then get her own show to find love called "I Love New York." Now honestly, this show was quite a step down from the raw entertainment of Flavor of Love because guys always try to look to cool so they weren't as funny as the FOL 1&2 casts. The only really airtime worthy castmembers that I can think of off the bat are Mr. Boston...umm....I don't know, actually, a lot of them seemed like they didn't like women anyway for real...and none other than our new heros Chance and Real (moreso Chance). So in true FOL fashion, Chance makes it all the way to the final elimination of "I Love New York" and is passed up for this dude named Tango. Once again, Tango and NY can't make it work so she needs another season to find love. She brings Chance back out for an episode on Season 2 but eventually chooses rich wimpy dude named Tailor Made. Which brings us to the current installment, "A Real Chance of Love." Same scenario except the two brothers are looking for love at the same time. (If you read all that, congrats but I have no idea why you spent that much time reading about this foolishness)

What's wrong with the show: They take away the contestants real names and give them customized names that stick with them throughout the duration of their time in the house (slavery, anyone?). The contestants pretty much take turns molesting the host(ess or s) of the show (hepatitis, anyone?). The contestants pretend to be in love with a total stranger and allow themselves to be objectified on national television (although, if Kerry Washington, Sanaa Lathan, or Taraji Henson decided to have a reality dating show I would be first in line to objectify myself all day long ;) ) The people leave their families, jobs, and entire lives for a month or two to embarass themselves and then come home with no money.

What's right with the show: It is one of the funniest displays of blatant coonery that I have ever seen in my life.

Having said all that, I'd like to leave you on a good note so here is the video from a new artist that has captured my attention (and my $13) Justin Nozuka. He's a half Japanese/half white singer-songwriter from Toronto, Canada. His album Holly is absolutely amazing and this is the first song I heard from him. I think I saw it really late on Vh1 one night. Listen. Enjoy. BUY THE ALBUM!!!!!

Artist: Justin Nozuka
Song: After Tonight
Album: Holly
My Verdict: JAMMIN!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxP-0PmoAg4

www.myspace.com/justinnozuka

Good Morning Beautiful World!!!

2008-11-09T19:05:00.000-08:00

So I've decided to give this blog thing a shot finally. I figure that most people get them just because they like to have a platform to vent about their pet peeves or post funny YouTube videos, and they don't even know for sure that anyone else even reads their stuff. However, eternalizing their thoughts on the Internet must certainly allow people to feel like their opinions matter to someone so I feel like I have important things about myself to share as well. I am a textbook Gemini and I think that this blog is an excellent way to communicate the random thoughts swirling around in this dreaded head of mine.

In the U.S. Constitution, the 5th Amendment is the right to remain silent and I gave the blog this title kind of as a personal reminder that I made the choice to let my voice be heard. I am responsible for every single word that leaves my thoughts and enters the atmosphere or cyberspace.

Having said all that, if you're interested in being exposed to some new music, movies, and just getting a young black college graduate's insights on love, life, religion, politics, and random crap, then just check -in with me every couple of days. I'll start doing recurring segments and stuff too so it should be really cool, lol.

M's Up!,
5th