OK…
I am finally home, relaxing in my own living room, staring out the window into the endless woods of rural Georgia. I’m also enjoying every bite of my mom’s good ole’ fashioned southern foods, fish, fresh greens and sweet ice tea! I needed this break, I got some nervous energy knowing Arrested Development is about to release our first album in over 12 years! “Since The Last Time”,(the title) is for all of our fans that haven’t heard us since the early nineties. Honestly, it’s an interesting journey. I know the music warrants attention, yet the industry is in a weird place! We did a powerful Mix tape featuring Gym Class Heroes, Braille, TY, and so many others from around the world! (Japan, Australia, Ghana, of course U.S. and Europe) Anyway, our CD is a summer time record, so those of you in the islands you’re gonna get it’s original vibe when you hear it. Please make a note, it drops Oct. 30th. Spread the word! I’m thinking it will easily outsell Kanye and 50 cents records the first week! (ha ha) www.lifemusic.us I told everyone before about the Life Music Fest we’re doing in 2008. It’s looking better & better! It will be a celebration of music, environment, and culture! Folks will travel down to Georgia from everywhere including overseas! AD will perform, a bunch of other great artists from across the world and I will try to get 3 FOOT ICON on the bill as well! By the way, Soleside is now called 3 FOOT ICON. Me, Kyle Hollingsworth of String Cheese Incident and Chief Xcel from Blackalicious are collaborating on this new project! (Hotness) We have LIVE shows this week on the east coast: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 8:00 pm Chameleon Club, 223 North Water St., Lancaster, PA Thursday, September 27, 2007 7:00 pm North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., Philadelphia, PA Friday, September 28, 2007 10:30 pm The 8X10, 10 East Cross St., Baltimore, MD Saturday, September 29, 2007 11:30 pm BB King's, 237 West 42 St, New York, NY ****Tickets are going, so scoop em up and tell your friends, cuz it’s really a unique experience (Full band, Kyle on Keys, Dj Xcel and me on vocals!) Two weeks ago AD went to Singapore, & last week to Jerusalem! Wow, it was an amazing trip! We were treated with so much love! The promoters & friends treated us like family, in fact we went over one of their homes and enjoyed a traditional Jewish dinner with their family & friends. They did blessings over their kids and we had great Israeli foods. We hung out with the church in there, that was amazing! We floated in the Dead Sea, ate the BEST Hummus, stood on Mount of Olives, saw the garden of Gethsemane, the tomb of David, etc. It was a spiritual place. In fact, we were documented everywhere we went, so I’d love to show yaw’l more once it’s done. We also performed with the Black Eyed Peas, and they were very cool, and humble towards us. Fergie said she saw us in the 90’s and we inspired her to sing with a rap group! Will.I.am was a very visionary type dude. He explained how he wanted to promote & produce a future AD album with National Geographic. I’m actually feeling his production. Hotness on Common & Talib’s albums! Anyway… it’s sooo funny that while being in the Holy Land we did some of the most “unholy” thangs. (smiles) Yolanda did her first shot of whiskey EVER! I smoked a hookah pipe. (Never smoked B4) Basically it’s a water based tobacco pipe (sorta like a cigar) So we went all the way around the world to a ancient land… holy to Muslims, Jews, and Christians to smoke & drink. Life is Poetry! (smiles) Some of my friends aren’t too political, others are republicans. (And I respect all of that) But since Bush has taken office, I’ve seen our country become so hated overseas and a bunch of other things that have made me jaded! People around the world like us as Americans – they just don’t like our leader nor our foreign policies. There’s so much division, (right v.s. left), racism, and major manipulations based on fear! But, this week, Yolanda & I went to see Barack Obama live in the ATL, we were BLOWN AWAY!!!! His his vision and optimism was simply amazing, it overcame my jadedness and frustrations, and got me interested in politics again. And honestly I haven’t even thought about the fact that he’s black. We were supposed to meet him personally, but you know Yolanda & I ain’t about hanging out too late. (Usher was there, and he had a fundraiser at his house with Barack later that night.) Shoot - I got children, I’m a grown man…I’m gettin’ my sleep. (smiles) I did met Hilary Clinton before and she was real cool, down to earth and smart too. But I'm hoping for the new blood of Obama as our next President. I just want us to move forward. I finally see the beginnings of change again. People are starting to wake up from their slumber. Were yaw’l as proud of generation X as I was with the Jena 6 nonsense? The new age activism (blogs, e-mails, marching) is a similar concept of what our parents went through in the 60’s, Generation X is becoming Generation X-cellent in my book! I know I did my part to help make things better for those kids. Plus I’m seeing so much forward change & growth in my church (I help lead it) (www.thegacc.org) We are teaching the bible to so many people and baptizing them, It’s amazing to see people start their NEW LIVES! Marriages are being healed, people with addictions are turning around, families are being restored…God is Awesome! I did an interview for channel 11 news at the Obama rally. I had no idea what they were gonna ask. Ya see, being Speech, I don’t get those easy questions like they ask Britney Spears…”what’s your favorite color? Folks ask me deep stuff like… “what do you think about the refugee situation in Kazakhstan?” (not literally) Anyway…whatever they asked, I looked calm on the outside, but inside I was like…”Oh No, right now I’m that infamous black dude on the evening news looking stupid, and not making any sense! :-) I hope yaw’l didn’t see it. But if you did, forgive a brother. I need to brush up on my politics, being a preacher and traveling it’s hard to keep up. My deep condolences to Baba Oje’ (AD’s elder) His brother just passed away. We love you Baba, and I send love to your family as well. Life is about giving and taking. Many friends of mine are going through funerals of their loved ones and other friends are having babies! Wow, I thought God stopped making those things (babies) after my wife & I had Jahi & Zoe. (smiles) Speaking of my kids, they almost got straight A's this report card, I am so proud of them! I'm thinking about taking next year off, and just work on family and church. I wanna personally learn an instrument, take some college classes, help the kids in their lives, hang with my wife more and just focus. It’s been a thought for 3 years now, but God throws so many exciting opportunities my way, I just kept going out on tours. This year alone I would’ve been to Singapore, Japan, Dubai, all throughout the U.S., Australia, Jerusalem, etc. I’ve had to get more pages in my passport than I care to remember. But the good thing is that my wife has been able to go with me and many times the kids kick it as well. These eyes of mine have seen beautiful things. I used to be scared to stay at home, feeling like my life is wasting away, or that I may miss out on some BIG opportunity out there. The scripture I’ve been studying out is… Psalm 46 ‘ “Be still and know that I am GOD” I feel this overwhelming need to be centered, I’m about to be 39 years young ya know….(b-day Oct.25th..hint hint) “Centered?” (Have I been watching too much Oprah?) Life is poetry. P.S. (Happy birthday, Nichelle Young, Blake Eiseman, Jennifer Hood, Jahi (my son), Jennifer Salberg, Brenda, Mike Mullis, Kim Barnes, Braille, and welcome to Portland Theory Hazit – I tried to send your family some money to help with the move, sorry it didn’t make it) Peace & Strength, SPEECH (Back) |
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