Lots of stuff going on in the past few weeks**. My apologies for the lack of updates, but I’m finally out of my writing shell. Today’s topic:

I’m getting kinda tired of all things politics, particularly how often any side appeals to the founding fathers as “endorsing” their ideas. Dems and Reps are equally at fault, each claiming “the founding fathers intended this or that” on virtually any issue.

Let some of them talk long enough and you’ll start hearing some really off the wall stuff: “the founding fathers wanted me to have my internet connection” or “the founding fathers would have really enjoyed that new Justin Bieber album.” It’s such a weird way to have discourse…how can you refer to what the founders “want” in the present without them being here.

Beyond that, why should we care what they think? They certainly had some good ideas about government, and their system has eventually worked out pretty well. But by no means were these infallible folks. Everyone always cites their (general) favor of slavery and all things “keep women in their place”‘ville, as reasons to doubt their near-worship, but it’s more than that. These people were people, and as such, they should be treated as (you guessed it…) people.

I’ve yet to meet a perfect person. I take everyone (including myself) with a grain of salt, as a being capable of good and bad decisionmaking…but certainly not someone who has a feel for how events will play out several hundred years in the future. So yea…all sentences starting with “The founding fathers would have wanted…” should end with “…umm, I don’t know because it’s hard to group people of varying opinions into such monolithic opinion blocks, let alone imagine how dead people would think.”

**(graduate school has started and is taking up a lot of time. This isn’t a bad thing, though. I’m slowly getting accustomed to being a Terp. All my classes in the School of Public Policy have been great  ((keep those compliments in mind as you grade me, web savvy professors who have found this site)). That said, UMBC is still in my heart. As far as undergraduate experiences go, I couldn’t have had a better time. They prepared me well, and I miss the school mucho.)

• True Blood is entirely too addictive. This is problematic because…

• School starts soon. I’m liking UMD’s School of Public Policy thus far (sans the random and unanticipated fees). It feels a little weird to be a Terp after four years of UMBC’ing. On a music note…

• Kem and Esperanza Spalding both released purchase-worthy new albums last week. Spalding’s newest work is a lot different from her last album…it’s more strings-centered than her 2008 effort, but I like it nontheless. And Kem’s CD is dope as well. He’s one of the few singers I know who can say something like “don’t you want to spoon… in a garden of pillows,” and get away with it. lol.

• Switching tracks a bit…I don’t understand this uproar over the planned NY mosque. Sensitivity concerns are legitimate, but we weren’t attacked in 2001 by Islam as a whole. We were hit by a radical contingent. That’s like saying no more churches should be built in Oklahoma because Timothy McVeigh once described himself as Catholic. Distortions of faith (and avoidance of their primary tenets) are no more representative of Islam than they are of Christianity. Besides, there’s already a mosque near the memorial.

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Dahwell, enough random thoughts for the day. Hope everybody’s well. The Ndelible mixtape shall soon be upon you. Foe free!

This year’s prize winner doesn’t disappoint either. Stevie’s back, but this time he’s doing the honoring. Sir Paul McCartney is this year’s recipient of the Library of Congress’s George Gershwin Prize. This was a great tribute…Herbie Hancock and Corinne Bailey Rae team up for a dope version of Blackbird; Jerry Seinfeld had a funny monologue; shoot, even the Jonas Brothers had me tapping my foot, if only for a second. And then of course there’s Stevie, who does a great rendition of  We Can Work It Out…the whole thing is definitely worth a watch. Keep it up, Mr. Obama…

The enormity of this man’s presidency can’t be understated. We’re not a “race-neutral nation” by any means…and that long-overdue “discussion on race” will probably keep getting pushed back. But as you’re watching the concert, pay attention to the paintings on the walls. Progress is possible.

Watch the entire video below…

Watch the full episode. See more In Performance at The White House.

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Evidently I have one too.

This has to be one of the stupidest things I’ve heard from the man the media seems to think speaks for all of us (newsflash, he doesn’t. Black people are segmented and of varying opinions, just like any other race). How can you compare slavery with somebody’s who’s worth more than we’ll ever imagine?

Gilbert called James “narcissistic” and “cowardly,” among other things.

…and I gotta agree. I mean to surround yourself with children and stage a one-hour “event” that spits in the face of your hometown…that takes a lot of balls. I mean really? Kids? Are they supposed to tug at our hearts? Make us feel empathy for you? This isn’t a “We Are the World” special. It’s basketball.

I don’t argue with James’s right to head to Miami. I’m looking forward to seeing (how quickly the Heat’s arrogance culminates in a karma-induced injury) how they compete with the rest of the league. But come on man…there’s no doubt James is a beast who’ll be in the Hall of Fame. He’ll just forever be marked as the dude who broke the hearts of a city for attention.

That’s like me jumping on my radio station of choice (NPR son! I would say WKYS or something, but there’s too many songs about false wealth and bling. NPR’s bling content ratio isn’t that high), and telling a girlfriend: “Umm, so this has been a really hard decision for me. And I’ve thought this over, asking everybody (especially my mama) for their opinion. It hurts me to say this, but I’m dumping you and moving on to hotter girl X. Mama agrees, you’re not that hot.” Discretion man…and the lack thereof.

That completes my rant for the day. And now, to practice…

Speaking of which, the Ndelible mixtape is in the final stages! Free musical goodies in preparation for the second album shall soon be here.

I tried to explain how I have dual interests: music and public policy. These aren’t mutually exclusive. I assured him that I’ll continue playing music for the rest of my days, but feel compelled to a life of public service as well.

After struggling to explain my plans to him (and myself?) for another 10 minutes, it clicked. I don’t know what in the world I’m doing. I need a clearer plan.

Inspiration came in the form of the BET Awards. (That’s a sentence I never thought I’d write. That’s like the “Redskins” and “playoffs” getting along well). *

John Legend has an initiative called the Show Me Campaign that BET profiled.  It’s a great org that fights for quality education, both here and abroad. Unlike a lot of celebs with foundations, this dude actually knew what he was talking about. It seemed like this was far more than a puff piece for him.

So yes, I wanna be John Legend.

Well, maybe not. My singing is a shower-only deal. I wanna be like John Legend, someone who’s as equally involved in music as policy. More importantly he realizes the indelible (plug!) connection between art and activism. As musicians/singers we can’t be a voice in the community without saying something at least a little bit substantive. It doesn’t have to be this heavy-handed thing of uberconsciousness 24/7, but there’s gotta be some balance.

So yes, a man under the influence of copious amounts of Blues Alley drink’age and the BET Awards have helped my life plan. Goes to show good can be found where least expected.

*here’s hoping that McNabb, Wall, and Strasburg will lead masterful revitalizations of their respective franchises, ushering in a new era of sportly success in DC. Ha..I can dream.

• I’m sitting in with Walter Beasley at Blues Alley this Saturday June 26th at 8 and 10pm. He’s featured there through Sunday. Tickets are 35.00 and available here. For those new to the site, a brief history. I met Walt a couple years back through Sean Chase (a dope drummer from church). Walt’s kind enough to let me play with him when he comes to town. He’s a masterful    artist and teacher. I always learn something by watching him play. There’s some old video of us at the Birchmere at the bottom of this post.

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• Ndelible’s playing at DC’s Bohemian Caverns next Wednesday, June 30. Doors open at 8pm. I believe the cover’s around $10. By the dub, our (free!) mixtape’s coming along nicely! I’m really excited for ya’ll to hear it.

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• This isn’t music-related so much, but I wanted to thank everyone who sent kind words regarding my Nana. All the texts, emails, and calls were definitely appreciated. I have to admit, playing at the funeral was a struggle for me. But all in all, it was a celebratory day. A beautiful woman is at peace…and I can’t be mad (or sad) about that.

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