Kanye West, the Drunk Guy at the Party

Kanye West proves that he is indeed an artist advocate. Well, at least he believes he is. The internet, in particularly, the Twittersphere, is all a buzz about Kanye's post-Grammy awards commentary. In case you don't know what 'Ye said, here it is:


I don’t even know what Beck said. I just know that, the Grammys, if they want real artists to keep coming back, they need to stop playing with us. We aren’t going to play with them no more. "Flawless." Beyoncé’s video. And Beck needs to respect artistry, he should have given his award to Beyoncé. At this point, we tired of it. What happens is, when you keep on diminishing art, and not respecting the craft, and smacking people in the face after they deliver monumental feats of music, you’re disrespectful to inspiration. We, as musicians, have to inspire people who go to work every day, and they listen to that Beyoncé album, and they feel like it takes them to a different place. And then they do this promotional event, and they’ll run the music over somebody’s speech, the artist, because they want commercial advertising. We aren’t playing with them anymore. And by the way, I got my wife, my daughter, and I got my clothing line, so I’m not going to do nothing that would put my daughter at risk, but I am here to fight for creativity. That’s why I didn’t say anything tonight, but you all knew what it meant when ‘Ye stepped on that stage.




At the awards show, Kanye nearly took the stage to accept the Grammy for Album of the Year instead of Beck, causing a horrified look on Jay's face. Have you ever been to a party and there's that ONE guy who always gets totally drunk to the point where he's not only obnoxious, but he has a tendency to "say how he feels" no matter what anyone else thinks? Yeah, Kanye West IS that guy. You never know what he's going to say. You never really know what he's going to do. You DO KNOW that the night won't pass without him doing or saying SOMETHING.

Categories:

The Lost Art of A&R (Inspired by Gawvi)

This past week, my partner, Jblaze, and I had the opportunity to sit down with Reach Records' in-house producer, Gawvi (Twitter: @Gawvi). The meeting and interview was very spontaneous - literally planned and executed in a 2 week time frame. He was just as excited to sit and talk with Jblaze (Twitter: @Jblaze305) on camera and also for #TheJblazeShow, as we were. Perhaps this is what made the interview and time spent with not only a formidable producer, but a long time friend, that much more rewarding.

Off camera and off record, we talked about current artists and the state of the urban Christian music industry. While many of the artists we talked about I can't and won't discuss here for obvious reasons, one of the things that we agreed upon is that there are a lot of new records coming out with some great music. The tide of the urban Christian music industry is changing and there are a host of hot new artists coming out practically weekly.

But there is a major piece that is missing: Proper A&R direction for many of these artists and their projects.

For those that don't know, A&R stands for "artist and repertoire". A&R is a function of every major and independent record label. In their basic function, an A&R person was responsible for providing direction for artists' projects - overall sound, look, and feel. An A&R was responsible for helping artist create a sound, look, and feel that was in sync with each other to form a seamless musical brand. A&R took their positions seriously because they knew that the success (or failure) of an artist they were working with depended largely in part to their own ability to give artistic and brand development direction. Examples of great A&R people: Legend Clive Davis, Andre Harrell, Sean Combs, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Sylvia Rhone, and Antonio "L.A." Reid. These people forged the careers of iconic artists like Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott and a host of others.

We are in an age where independent artists are in vast abundance and putting together sonically good records. However, albums released now are steeped more in rigid musical structure than in the art of having a cohesive theme and story. The reason for this is because there is no one "outside of the mix" to ask the simple questions like, "What does this song have to do with the first song we recorded?" or "How does this song fit with the overall theme of the album?" or "Does this song have us going off on a tangent?" Instead, they are more focused on the amount of features (usually from other artists the artist has no relationship with whatsoever) and flooding Twitter timelines rallying supporters to help them to be #1 on the iTunes chart on release day.

Right here deserves an honorable mention. I recently listened to Sean C. Johnson's new album, Circa 1993 (you can see our review here). I like the album for simple reasons: great production, solid lyrics, and great vocal production. What REALLY has me liking the album is its solid and interesting back story and theme that every song on it is powered from. It is not just a myriad of songs thrown together. It is 3 years of thought and preparation (Sean's last album was released in 2012, but he has released some singles between albums) and it is evident in the music. It's like watching a movie and just like a movie I really like, I would watch - or in this case, listen to - it over and over again.

While this may be the age of the independent artist and great music being released, let's not forget that even a high priced car is just wasting gas if it has no destination and directions on how to get there.

Categories:

"Miami Lights"

Well, today ends my almost week long stay in Miami with my partner, my friend, and my brother, Jblaze to the world, but known as Manny, to me.

As I packed my bag, I shared with him that this past week and weekend has been the most rewarding yet of my visits here to the "MIA" (as I affectionately call it).  Not only did we begin this strong  first step into a new venture that is sure to impact another aspect of media; but we further cemented what our purpose and destiny is in and on this  platform known as media.

We have received high exposure this weekend.

During our event, The Expo, Pastor Gaby Gauthier (@ChampionDNA) spoke for a few minutes about the term exposure.  Used in relation to the lense of a camera, exposure is the total amount of light received by a photosensitive surface or an area of such a surface, expressed as the product of the degree of illumination and the period of illumination.

Simply put, this past week and weekend we allowed ourselves to be sensitive to what God wanted to do and in doing so, He illuminated what we we did for His Glory and His Honor and it showed up in many ways that has me going back home with and in overflow.

I am and will be forever marked from this past week and weekend.  This was more than just business as usual. This was a set up of divine design and I for one am very glad that I was able to witness it.

Know that The Father wants to give you a high exposure too. Will you be sensitive to Him so He can illuminate Himself thru you? That's all He wants to do.

Let Him light you up, so the world can see your light.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: Christian , excellence , exposure , mark , Miami

Life is Like...

"Life is a roller coaster, we are the passengers, and God is the seatbelt..."

My oldest daughter is amazing...

...she sat across from me at the kitchen table one morning as we ate breakfast before church and she made this statement to me.  She was full of all excitement - as if she bumped into her favorite star.  The statement made me sit back in my chair and immediately think about my life up to that very point of the statement.

Our lives our constantly bombarded with the issues of life that causes us to make choices and decisions that are often split seconds apart. We go through steep drops, sharp curves, and loops at speeds that seem so fast that it's blinding. We're secured by either a harness or seatbelt, one that oftentimes has us wondering whether or not it's going to keep us. Yet and still, we go on the roller coaster knowing this. Such is the perseverance that is in all of us.

Isn't it awesome that Jesus provides us with the same security when we accept that it's Him that can provide that through The Father God?

So, as I sit and think about the roller coaster that is known as life in the eyes of my baby girl, I am forever grateful that He has secured me to not only ride it, but enjoy it.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: growth , life , perseverance , purpose , secure

Aborting the Dream

Have you ever had a dream? I mean, the vision, thought, and desire to do what it is you REALLY want to do? Like that thing you have such a passion for, there's no real price tag on it?

Yeah, I think we all do at some point.

So why don't we pursue it? Better yet, why don't we "give birth" to it?

Is it because we're concerned with complexities of life that include making money, taking care of one's family, the challenge of the financial market; friends, family, and other peers chalking up your dream to a "figment of your imagination"...?

So as a result of all of these pressures at different points, you throw up your hands and say, "you know what?! I can't deal with this! Forget about it! I was crazy for even thinking about it!" And so, that's what you do, you give up on it - you "abort it".

I remember I once asked my mom why did she name me what she did (my full name is Andre Wendell Mullen). She said, "I thought that you were such a wonder, so I took the 'A' and the 'W' and used those two initials." I just looked her and thought she was corny, but now I got something very powerful out of that.

Like a woman, we each have the right to choose whether we will give birth to the dream - the purpose that we believe we have been called to fulfill. He created each and every one of us to fulfill the mandate on our lives because someone NEEDS what's inside of you.  We give up -make the decision to abort - because we don't see how the dream addresses the complexities of life. We get scared because it isn't the stat quo - everyone isn't doing it to demonstrate that it works. When we make the decision to abort, the very thing that you was passionate about in your quiet times; the very thing that would make you smile as you would envision it; the very thing that you KNOW would and could change the way people think; the very thing that you truly believe would take and make your life feel like it has purpose...

...you abort because you don't see how you could make it happen...

...did you ever think that you weren't designed to "make it happen"? Did you ever think that that thing that you dream about - the thing that He put in you - is what He wants you to accomplish in the first place?

That is, if you let Him show you...

When you abort the dream, you rob the world of seeing the greatness, the goodness, the awesomeness of God. What He put in you was designed to drastically affect and change someone's life. Don't abort the dream because you don't see how YOU will bring it to pass. It's bigger than you and not designed for you to do that anyway.

The complexities of life are created to cause you to abort the destiny of The Father's greatness that is in you. 

...birthing His Purpose is your right to choose...

Unconditionally,

Andre

  

Categories: desire , dream , goodness , greatness , motivation , purpose , vision

What It Really Means to Love...

"Love, the nights that I cried you loved me,
When I should have died you love me,
I'll never know why you love me,
It's a mystery to me now I'm glad I see Jesus,
When all hope was gone you love me,
You gave me a song that you loved me,
Now I can go on cause you love me,
It's a mystery to me now I'm glad I see Jesus."

-Kirk Franklin




This blog is totally dedicated, totally written for and to, and expressed with unfathomable love, for my wife....

"Beautiful...

There are times in our lives, where words cannot truly express the deepest and most intimate thoughts of our heart. I find that this is one of those times, but I have this overwhelming feeling and need to tell you...

...I love you. More than any box of chocolate, card, diamond bracelet or ring, could ever convey. In you I have seen so many examples of what the definition of a wife truly is. And despite my own shortcomings, faults, and falls, you have kept me encouraged, you have set me straight, you have prayed me through, and you have continued to persevere and love on me in a way that many women would and could not ever imagine...

...while those that don't know you will say that you are weak, you have demonstrated time and time and TIME again your God-given ability to speak to the storms and defeat the giants. You have proven countless times your loyalty and allegiance, not to me, but the God in me, even when I haven't had the same level of loyalty and allegiance to you.  Being the strong Latina that you are, the strong woman of God that you are, you changed not. For that, I'm glad that you showed me the mystery...Jesus....

...you've given me three children that may look like me, but have your gentleness, your compassion, and our love. They are loyal and trusting of their dad, just like their mother - you - are trusting of me. In spite and despite it all, you have continuously fed them the vision of our family even when it seemed like I jumped ship. For that, I am eternally grateful...

...there's a saying that "love makes you do the craziest things". I believe that only when you don't know The Father's Love. You have shown that you know that The Father cares for not only you, but for our family...

...you are the love of my life. On this earthly plane, you, mi amor, complete me. You, mi amor, truly have my heart. You have proven time and time again that your love for me is unwavering and unconditional and real. Others may have said the same, but your actions have been louder and more loving than their words...

...the power of media is a beautiful thing. I'd shout from every single website and social media platform how much I love you...


...so on this Valentine's Day, I commit to a new beginning of honoring you everyday of my life. Your love - His Love through you - has and is continually, shaping me into the man that I am destined to be...


...te amo, mi amor...con todo lo que soy y todo lo que soy para convertirse en...

Categories: beautiful , belief , Christian , love , relationships , Valentines Day

The Motivating Vision

"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. 

                      -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

This morning in my devotional time, I saw something that came as the result of a question. I wondered, "Why is 2012 the year that everyone is sounding like they REALLY are moving forward? Why they are REALLY forgetting 2012?"

Well, simply put, you only really make the statement that you're moving forward when a. You see and feel that time is passing and you haven't accomplished all you said you would and/or b. the previous year was horrible, filled with disappointments, let downs, anger, strife. Summed up in one word: DRAMA!

So here is 2012. Off to a good start so far, but my question becomes: What keeps us moving forward?

Look at this: When you get in a car, for the most part, what motivates you to drive? A destination. When you cook - even if you like to - what motivates you to do so? You want to eat or at least see other people eat. When you are attending college, what motivates you to attend class? You getting a degree or certification. As a business owner, what motivates you to make deals? The fact that you see that it will be profitable to your business.

In all of those examples of moving forward, there are two essential pieces: motivation and vision. Without either one, saying you're moving forward is just words. The vision should motivate us to move forward. Therefore, if you don't have a vision - particularly a STABLE one - your motivation suffers tremendously.  It's like cooking for people who don't want to eat.

A stable vision is what is needed for consistent and constant motivation. You can say money is a good enough vision to motivate, however, it fluctuates. That means that you're motivation does too.

I realized today the importance of continuing to make Jesus my vision: His Love and sacrifice motivates me to love and sacrifice selflessly. His Love for me - us - hasn't changed and His Vision for us is the same as The Father's: that we would be all that He originally intended.

Jesus said it best: "I Am The Way, The Truth, and The Life." (John 14:16). The motivation was to have life. The vision is Jesus. 

So, food for thought: what's your vision for 2012 and does it really motivate you to move forward where you don't want repeat 2011?

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories:

Leaders, Take the Lead...

I had the privilege of hearing someone speak on the different aspects of being a leader a few days ago and it brought me to a point of thinking this simple thought:

 

"What makes me a leader?"

  

Think about this: You go see a movie and you admit that it was one of the best you've seen in a long time. You're so hyped, you call your friend and almost tell them the movie. Instead, you tell them, "Listen, you just got to see it for yourself. I promise you, you won't be disappointed!" Your friend goes and sees the movie 

that weekend.

 

Perhaps you were the friend that received the phone call and you went to see the movie, or bought a video game, or moved to a neighborhood, or even bought a sandwich! Why did you do it?

 

...because of the passion... 

 

A leader is able to influence others to be passionate thru their own passion. A leader is able to motivate others thru and to that same vision. 

 

A leader leads by example, not position.While we are leaders in our right, we cannot lead people from the back, but from the front.  Most people don't want to be leaders because of the responsibility associated with it, the strain and frustration of making sure people follow, and the different personalities, attitudes, and character traits that one has to deal with. 

I'm here to tell you that you're built for this. 

As a leader, your sight needs to be set on the vision, the goal. Then your responsibility needs to be on becoming it so that people are drawn to the vision, to assist in the completion and attaining the vision.  As a result of their attachment to the vision, they grow personally - their attachment to the vision becomes whole - covering spirit, soul, and body.

Here's the key: In order to be a great leader, you must be a great follower. When you follow, you follow an example which molds you into the great leader you were designed to be.

The great leader is Jesus. He's the pattern.

The greatest account of this is the story of the centurion in Matthew 8:1-13. The centurion understood the authority of Jesus - the leadership of Jesus - because he himself was a man leader who was under (aka followed) authority.  Because he understood the leadership of Jesus and submitted to it, his servant was healed.

Let's lead by example in 2012 so that folks can see the vision, be drawn to the vision, attach themselves to the vision, and sell out to it.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: Christian , leadership , life , movement

The Post-Shift

Okay, so here goes everything...

This morning, I woke up thinking about the previous weekend in Miami, at our Shift Conference. Still reeling over how powerful it was and how many people were affected by it, I sat down for some quiet time with The Father and I heard Him say this:

"I didn't send you to Miami to see my presence but to experience what happens when you purpose in your heart to make a shift to embrace My Grace. All the limits and the constraints are off. Now is your time to move forward in your assignment."

It's been a strong morning for me, filled with crying and just accepting what He has told me and continues to show me in His Word.  I couldn't help but to write this post because, as with all my posts, I speak my heart. And this, yeah, this, is in my heart.

The Shift Conference was more than event. More than just a great get-together. More than just FNFLive.com showing that it can put together an awe inspiring event.  It was an event that I believe prompted the most important decision ever in my life...

...that is, to truly shift.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: change , Christian , motivation , shift

In The Midst...

"Wow!" is all I can say...

I've NEVER written a blog in the midst of an event, but this is and will be the first.

It's all about a shift....

Several months ago, my partner, Jblaze (you can check out his blogs here) and I were talking and in the midst of our normal convo, a monumental statement came from his mouth that I'll never forget.

"Dre, I'm making a shift."

When he said it, I knew with all my heart, mind, and soul that my partner had experienced a sincere and powerful God moment that had changed his life completely and forever.  Never had I heard him make a statement in all of the three years that I've known him. Never had I heard him speak so few words and it be so pivotal and so life changing all at once.  Little did he know that I too, had made the shift as well.  But that's what happens when two people of like precious faith are joined together in business: they are of one spirit.

Here we are...several months later at our first Shift conference. A conference birthed out the heart of God in the spirit and manifested thru two guys from two different geographic locations, two different ethnicities, two different backgrounds, two different cultures, BUT from the same Father.

There has been a sweet sweet fragrance of worship here - an atmosphere that can only be described as "liberating". No big names artists or leaders. Just simply people who have a sincere heart for God, desiring His best to be expressed in their lives. With artists who aren't nationally known, but with a heart for Him (@ryanhortonmusic, @Dunamis305, @AshaalaShanae), the conference displays what happens when people who have a heart for Him - He meets us where we are.

I believe that this conference is just the beginning. Not only for my partner and I, but for everyone here. I just pray that everyone here embraces their shift as well.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: change , Christian , motivation , shift

How Is His Death A Bigger Deal?

I turned on my iMac this morning, opened up Safari, and was "welcomed" to this picture of former CEO and Chairman of Apple, Steve Jobs. I had heard last night about his death and eerily enough, I was talking about to a friend of mine just a few hours before about how he was going to become an "Apple believer" from his Blackberry.

So, as the researcher I am, I wanted to know what REALLY made Steve Jobs tick. What did he bring to the world that made it a better place to live? I went to CNN and read the article. I then went to Fortune to read the 10 ways in which he changed the world and I stopped.  Immediately I said to myself, "Wow, Steve Jobs is heralded at changing the world with a device that doesn't bring anyone closer to knowing God than the invention of sliced bread."

Okay, let me say this. For the record, please understand that I'm not intending to desecrate, demean, desensitize, or downplay what Steve Jobs did or who he was and is as a man.  I agree with the general consensus that he created the greatest product of our time - hands down.

Lemme paint this picture: Suppose three men were in plane that was going to crash into a mountain and there was only two parachutes. One of the men (we'll call him "Bill") was a brilliant scientist - a doctor - on the verge of discovering a cure for cancer. The other man (we'll call him "Ed") was a construction worker with a wife and three children.  The last man (we'll call him "Phil") was retired.  All three men know that there is only two parachutes. Bill says, "I really need to get off this plane. I'm so close in my research to saving the world. I should get a chute." Ed says, "I have a family at home waiting for me. I know my wife wouldn't want me to die. I love my children dearly. My oldest is going to graduate high school and got accepted to an ivy league school on full scholarship. I need to get home to them." Both Bill and Ed look at Phil and Phil says, "You know what? I'm going to give you two the chutes because I lived my life like I should've and I see that you two have much to live for and I want the best for the both of you. So you two take the chutes."

And so the Bill and Ed jump off the plane with the parachutes and watch the plane smash into the sea. They're rescued and true to form, Bill finds the cure to cancer and Ed grows old with his family.

However, the question remains, who was the greatest of the three men? The one who found the cure for cancer? The one who grew old with his family? Or the man who sacrificed himself for both of them to accomplish what they believed they were called to?

That's what Jesus did for Steve Jobs. However, we are focused on the man who was the creator of the innovation rather than on the Creator who created the man with the innovation that He intended for the world in the first place.

My condolences go out to the Jobs family at this time. Death isn't an easy thing and mourning is a part of life. I am praying for them during this time and I do hope that everyone else is.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: change , Christian , death , innovation , inspiration

Why Am I a Hater?

Okay, so a previous conversation with a friend of mine a few months back came back to remembrance this morning. We were having this huge debate about music (FYI: For those of you that don't know me, the subject of music and the business of music is very controversial for me because of my years of experience) and my friend came out and said, "These artists are doing what they are paid to do and people are buying their records. So what? Dre, you're a hater!"

Now, once again, if you know me, I don't get offended easily so I just proceeded to maintain my stance.

That conversation came to remembrance today because I find that I am a hater who has graduated to being so across the board. Yep, I said it, I am now a bonafide OVERALL HATER. Let me list the very things that make me a hater:

1. I HATE anything that is "dummied down" and insults the intelligence level of a person.
2. I HATE anything that is deliberately set up to manipulate and ultimately abuse someone.
3. I HATE anything that is hypocritical in nature.
4. I HATE anything that is pro-division, pro-strife, and pro-rebellion.
5. I HATE anything that is designed to slowly or quickly bring about death.
6. I HATE anything that truly is against God.
7. I HATE anything that you know from the beginning is doomed to fail.
8. I HATE when people hurt because they CHOOSE to and ALLOW OTHERS to hurt them.
9. I HATE ignorance, guilt, condemnation, and sin.
10. I HATE that people reading what I hate would make them think that I'm self-righteous and arrogant.
11. I HATE that people think that the only way to get ahead and appreciate life is to suffer grief, anger, disappointments, failed relationships, heartache, pain, sickness, death, betrayal, abuse, and confusion.
12. I HATE that people are okay with being ignorant - even going so far as to say that it's blissful.
13. I HATE that people are so skeptical, they cannot ever see the good.
14. I HATE that people are unhappy based off of selfish desires instead of being unhappy based off of being complacent.
15. I HATE that people settle for the imitation and never know Christ who is the REAL thing.
16. I HATE that when I speak about Christ, the first thing people think of is the HORROR of religion, being in church EVERYDAY, and last but not least, BEING A HYPOCRITE!
17. I HATE that there aren't enough of the right people doing the right things and representing Christ THE RIGHT WAY!
18. I HATE that people think that because I consider myself Christian, that my mindset is "I've arrived!"
19. I HATE that people let their own dark past dim and extinguish a beautiful present and future they could have in God.
20. I HATE that those of us who serve God continue to give Him THE REST while everyone and everything else gets OUR BEST.
21. I HATE that we complicate "God is love" to the point where we have people saying "God, where is the love?"
22. DESPITE BEING FORGIVEN, I HATE that my past faults, falls, and flaws try to remind me of the people I've hurt.
23. I HATE that people only trust God ONCE, but will trust themselves and each other COUNTLESS times.
24. I HATE that people think that God made experience the best teacher.
25. I HATE that this list is too long already and I have MUCH more to add to it.

Yeah, I'm a hater...

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: change , Christian , hate , life , motivation

I AM Second

Wow. What a day...

This morning I woke up with a few things on my heart. I'm in a very interesting season of my life of believing for some great things and watching The Father move in my life. After a conversation with a dear friend about positioning, I thought about my place and where I am.

I got a tweet about this series, I Am Second. Now, I don't know if you're familiar with it, but the tweet I received featured Reach Records artist Lecrae (I suggest you check it out...in fact, check them all out if you have the time). I watched his and was literally compelled to watch ALL of them on the site. I watched and listened, crying, snotting, and some points even weeping, at how transparent and open each person was. Each of them sharing how they came to the end of themselves and the beginning of God.

One testimony in particular that moved me so much, was one by Pete Briscoe (check it out below).  Most of these people I had never heard of and I certainly hadn't heard of him. He is a pastor and as he shared his testimony, he said something that was so powerful and resonated with me: "Its exhausting having to succeed. What I didn't realize is that that was my drive for so long and I had just worn myself out."

This was me...

...as I listened, sitting in my chair in front of my computer, I simply wept...and wept....and wept...

I then wondered why God would have me to watch these videos. I asked why and He simply said, "I want you to see just how simple I am and how simple My Love is for you and everyone else that would accept it."

God desires for all of us to experience His Love through the person of His Son, Jesus. I know so many people that won't accept it because they've allowed religion to contaminate and distract them from who God really is.  Watching these videos, hearing these accounts, crying with these people as they cried, made me realize that He is indeed REAL and makes Himself REAL to those who truly desire to change.  Just because you haven't gone through hard times doesn't mean that He is any less real.

I made a decision again today.  He's first. And me...

...I am second...

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: Christian , decision , life , love , motivation

Walk...It's That Simple

This morning was very powerful for me. I have recently came in contact with an old childhood friend. We re-established contact after more than a decade a few years ago and lost contact again. This morning I was thinking about her and reached back out to her. Here is a portion of her email to me:

"...my family has grown with the addition of our identical twin boys. I had a very difficult pregnancy with multiple health issues and needed 3months of bedrest. Thank god our boys were born healthy. I had complications though and although our boys will be a yr on the 15th, i am still not myself. I do apologize for not keeping in touch, but things were and r still difficult..."

After reading the email, I got angry. Not at her, of course, but at the devil. I find it so interesting that people believe that the devil is real, but they don't realize that they empower him to do what he does in their life. However, that sentiment isn't what I'm focused on.

I prayed for her and I responded and I said, "Even as I write this email, I want you to know that your healing is around the corner. All you have to do is believe it." When I finished the email, I went to John 5:5-10 and read the account of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus asked him straight out if he wanted to be made whole. Instead, the man complains to Jesus that there isn't anyone to put him in the pool and that people are stepping over him. Jesus simply tells him to get up and walk (my rendition...read the account).

The man was SO use to his condition that he didn't see past it, nor addressed seeing past it. How many times have we looked at our situation and spoke more about the situation more than the solution or what we want to see happen for the situation to change? I know I'm guilty of it.

Jesus wanted this man to see past his situation because he knew the man didn't want to be there. Who wants to be stepped on, overlooked, and looked at as a sad, pitiful case? Let's take it a step further: Who wants to look like and feel like that on inside while outside you busy faking the funk?

You must BELIEVE that you can walk. It's that simple. You must BELIEVE that you can walk out of that situation you're in. You must BELIEVE that you're bigger than what they say you are. You must BELIEVE that you don't have to accept the abuse any longer because you're better than that. You must BELIEVE that being sick, afflicted, hurt, in poor health IS NOT His Best for you!

I know what abuse is like. I've been abused emotionally and mentally and all of it out of choice. No one held a gun to my head. However, I made a decision to "walk" - to believe that I'm bigger than the situation and that there is more for me.

If you're reading this blog, I want you to know that you don't have to deal with that. It is high time that you and I stop accepting things and made a decision...

...a decision to walk...it's that simple...


Unconditionally,


Andre

Categories: belief , encourage , health , motivation , walk

Ode to a King

Yanno, there are very few times that I actually write a blog about someone.

In fact, I would ONLY write a blog about someone who I really believed stood for the things that I do - integrity, honesty, humility, and truth.

Enter Rey King...

I have never met Rey physically. I "know" him through my partner, Jblaze, as well as the various hit records (yep, I said it. HIT RECORDS!) that J spins on FNFLive on Miami's #1 Gospel station, La Nueva 88.3FM (*shameless plug*). It was on our way to Tampa for FlavorFest last year that I actually listened to his album Young God. Now if you never heard it, you should.  The album was full of songs that were both innovative lyrically and musically. To me, the album musically and lyrically was one of the best I've heard in a minute.

His braggadocious lyrics on the goodness of God in his life was refreshing to me. It was great to hear someone FINALLY acknowledge and realize that they are victorious in Christ and that their life SHOULD AND WOULD reflect that. 

I had the privilege of watching a LiveStream with him and Rhema Soul in the studio one afternoon.  They invited thousands a people via Twitter and Facebook to join in. They did something I had NEVER seen via social media in all of my years of involvement in Christian music: They spoke about The Word. No music, just The Word.  I saw and heard first hand that Rey truly has a love for TheWord and not just the music.  Again, I was truly moved.

Recently, I came across a posting on his Facebook page of folks "correcting" him on him "likening" himself to God and I was really taken aback.  It's sad that so many of us don't want to do the work of reading the very Word that we speak (or don't speak of...that's a topic for another time). There are so many scriptures that talks about and affirms that as Christians, we are in the God class (1 John 4:4, Genesis 1:27, Colossians 3:10). It doesn't say WE ARE GOD, but we are like He who has created us.

So Rey, Kingdom salute to you, brother and all those artists who do know who they are and are not afraid to state it boldly.  I ask those of us that don't know, search the scriptures to find out who you really are in Him and let's not bash someone else because they know their rights and privileges as a child of God. 

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: Christian , encourage , music

Destined for Greatness

I'm no sports enthusiast like my brother or my partner J-Blaze (by the way, you need to read his blog about The Plate...classic!), but this morning I found myself thinking about Michael Jordan and how he's considered G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time). His ability to capture the game has forever changed the game, with every player aspiring to get their game to somewhere in the vicinity of Jordan.

I don't think that there was ever any point that in his alone time before a game, Jordan didn't say to himself, "I don't know how I'm going to pull this off, but I have to for the team."  Yet time and time again, we've seen him do it and even when it looked like he wasn't going to be able to, we just KNEW that he was going to. After all, he's Michael "Air" Jordan!

Michael Jordan was destined for greatness while he played the game and is now considered the greatest player of all time.

We're all destined for greatness. However, it's up to all of us to make the decision to not allow anything to stand in the way of that greatness. Greatness doesn't come without decision making. It doesn't come without applying yourself to the very thing that you know you've been called to.

Most of us don't know what we've been called to do and therefore our greatness never manifests.  Greatness affects more than just you. It affects people on a massive scale. It changes the perception that people have about a particular thing.  In some instances, greatness inspires hope and change. It sets a standard for people to attain to and live by.

With greatness, not just power, comes responsibility.  People are looking, watching, wondering, hoping, believing, that you who are destined for greatness will make the decision to be all that you can be so that a bar is set.

Greatness lies in you and you are destined to grab it.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories:

Why Reality Shows Are Great!

Yep, you read right.

I'll say it again: Reality shows are great.

Okay, I guess I have to explain why I made that statement.  It all started with some late night television. While flipping channels, I came across a show called "Hoarders".  If you've never seen this show, it follows the lives of people who "hoard" material items - everything from newspapers to beer cans - because they believe that they have sentimental value.

The particular episode that I was watching involved the lives of two people: A older man who experienced a fire in his home decades before and "as a result" of that, found it hard to part with stuff and the other was a woman who was a pet lover and had 50 + cats and dogs in her house whom she didn't take care of.  In the case of the man, he had hoarded so much that the beams in his basement were splintered, he busted a water pipe in the basement causing a major leak, and he was experiencing a gas leak which he couldn't get to because it was so much stuff.  The pet loving woman had allowed her hoarding of animals to drive away her daughter and created an environment was dangerous and unsanitary.

In the words of my daughter..."YUCK!"

This episode literally made my wife cry and ask, "How do people let this happen?"

That question sparked up a thought in me: I love reality shows.  Not because I get  to feel like I'm doing WAY BETTER than the people on there, but because it really gives me something to not only pray about, but also to see exactly how and why people are doing what they do - because they're dealing with emotional hurts, disappointments, and pains. 

There's hurting folks out there who have "crawled" into dark places of their lives and there they are experiencing the worse of the worse.  As I believe, that's not God's best for them.

I love reality shows like this because it enables me to understand why folks are going through these things.  It enables me to understand that the only thing that makes them different from myself is really their name, location, and the way they look. 

Reality shows should be more than for our amusement. We need to really look at them as a sign of the drastic times we're living in.

Thank the networks for the wake up call.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories:

Feelings, Nothing More than Feelings

Feelings are the worse.

Yeah, I said it.

They take you all over the place and keep you wondering all kinds of questions: "Why?" "How?" "When?" "Who?" "What?"and so on and so on and so on.  They betray you constantly, changing as often as you change your underwear.  They MAKE you THINK things OTHER THAN what is actually the truth because they can be so insecure.  They are untamed, yet constrained; cold, yet warm; intense, yet calm; trusting, yet deceitful.

Let's face it, feelings move like a tree in the wind and all they do is either keep you excited at their spontaneity or frustrated because of their instability.

However, you can't deny them because they make up the very fabric of our being.  They are what give each and everyone of us character, personality, and a smile that is just as unique as our own DNA.  Feelings are what make us beautiful or ugly; moral or immoral; introverted or extroverted; passionate or indifferent.

These things are what makes feelings so complicated. 

However, I have made a decision not too long ago to put feelings in their proper place. Feelings are nothing more than feelings. Yeah, I know, I'm sounding real strange and ridiculous. However, I understand that while I have feelings and they are real, I also know that my feelings shouldn't direct the way I live my life.

Here's something to think about: You get in the car with someone who tells you where they're going, but as soon as they see a street name, they either get angry, sad, happy, confused, or depressed. With every different street name, a different emotion is triggered sending them a different way. As a result, you're not only lost, but you're not getting to your destination any time soon. How would you feel? Would you be frustrated? I know I would.

...but this is what changes our feelings take us through.

So what am I saying? No, you can't get RID of your feelings all together.  That's inhuman and you and I are truly human. I tell you what I've learned. I've learned that I can FEEL a certain way, but what's important is that I don't allow those feelings to direct my life. I've learned that in order to really understand the power of my feelings I have had to keep it real with myself that I really do feel that way THEN make the decision NOT to live my life according to that feeling if it is opposite of what I think.

Whew...now writing this blog made me feel a whole lot betta...

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: change , feelings , motivation

What's Going On?

While it's been a minute since I've written a blog, I think I was inspired by both my partner Jblaze305 (if you haven't already, check out his blog too. He's a funny guy) and the going ons of my life at the moment.  When I thought about writing this blog, the title "What's Going On?" came to mind and reminded me of the late Marvin Gaye.  Me being the researcher that I am, I decided to get some history behind the singer.

Marvin Gaye is considered one of the most greatest singers and artist of all time.  He was known moreso for going against the norm and addressing issues of the environment and politics in the 70s (before some of ya'll, including myself a lil bit, was even thought of).  While known vocally as a great singer, what I found most interesting about him was his desire to play the back and do music that NEEDED to be expressed.  He didn't allow himself to be contained. It limited what was in him and just imagine if he did?  The world would not have been exposed to the powerful music that he presented in songs such as What's Going On?, Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology), and Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holla).

I looked at my life and I saw some things that I was allowing to contain me; to stop me from moving forward.  I knew that in order to move forward, I needed to make a decision. I was asking myself, "What's going on?" I then realized that I needed to make a decision to allow The Father to have full control and operate in His Grace. Only then did it become evident that what's "on" is what He intended from the beginning: For me to win and for people to see His Goodness in my life.

It's been a tumultuous past year for you boy - all by choice. However, by the grace of God I am here and moving forward. I am encouraged that the best is only yet to come.

Be encouraged. What's happening in your life right now is only temporary if you allow yourself to really let go and let God. The first step is all on you...

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: life , marvin gaye , motivation

Edits..Who Needs 'Em?

Wow, it's been a lil bit since I've actually posted anything here, but today I felt like I wanted and needed to.  There's been a lot going on lately both professionally and personally, but needless to say, I've come to really admire my blog as my own "private" space even though it's open to the world...

...if that makes any sense...lol

Last night I was talking to a friend of mine who is a songwriter who brought me into his creative process for songwriting. While he wasn't writing a song, he was formulating a business idea.  He told me that he gets his whole idea down first and then edits it.  He made me realize that that's the way I write these blogs, except I don't edit these. I simply sit and type what's on my heart - straight, no chaser.

I have come to realize that when we edit, we can oftentimes slowly chip away the essence of what it is we're trying and believe we want to say. Perhaps the best creative work comes from unedited, unadulterated, genuine, and pure feelings and thoughts.  Maybe it's us again downgrading them to a point where they fit into a box that becomes exclusive and not inclusive.

Perhaps that's why Jesus was such a profound individual. He took what I call "pure information" (i.e inspired by what he saw God do) and delivered it. Again, straight no chaser.  He didn't try to figure it out, process it, analyze it, rehearse it, get together with a committee and vote - he just took the information and went. 

Wow, what would happen if we did that...?

Categories: inspiration , life , motivation