My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 12-“Only U”

I went on my first “date” six weeks after Timile passed away. There was no love connection nor was it the purpose. I moved back to New York in late November 2012 and had little time or bandwidth to grieve. Most of my time and energy was focused on what would become seven court appearances […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 11-“Palmolive”

“Palmolive” by Freddie Gibbs featuring Killer Mike and Pusha T puts me into a zone. It’s easy to get caught up in the perfect vibe as the emcees to wax poetic about their past pursuits to make money over super producer Madlib’s sampled-soundbed, “Cry of a Dreamer” by the Sylvers. The lyrics sound like the […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 10-“Play No Games”

I’m certain as of on August 29, 2012, I wrote many aspects of my life into existence. Two days after Single Dadventure went live, I was in Washington DC, and life became a romantic comedy that has kept my close friends very entertained by shenanigans. As I churned out insights about love and life after […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 9-“Ibtihaj”

“This is the first hip hop album I want my daughter to fall in love with” is how I felt when I listened to Eve, Rapsody’s third album. It is a masterfully put together, one hour and three-minute love letter to and for black women, made by a black woman. I played it almost […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 8- “#jetsgo”

I feel about #jetsgo the same way Chuck Noland, Tom Hanks’ character in Castaway, did about the angel wings on the FedEx package: it saved my life. It was a symbol of hope in a season where all I could do was wait. In the summer of 2011, Timile, Cydney, and I called Buffalo home. […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 7-“Big Boy Talk”

Post after post, I scroll through social media and think to myself “your insecurity is showing.” I don’t say or do it on purpose or for the sake of judgement; it’s a quirk I’ve developed from the recognition of behavioral patterns. The root of this habit has nothing to do with my peers, celebrities, and […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 6-Dead Wrong

One scene comes to mind whenever “Dead Wrong” by Trey Songz and Ty Dolla $ign plays. It was the summer of 2014. I was in Lower Manhattan, headed north on Bowery towards 14th street to catch the L and E trains to Penn Station. I could have walked two blocks west from what was the […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 5-“Liquid Swords”

Merriam-Webster defines style as A) a distinctive manner of expression. B) A distinctive manner of behavior or conduct of oneself. C) A particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed. From 1999 until 2003, “You write how you talk” was a phrase I heard from every high school English teacher; it […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 4-“Supervillain”

As an emcee, if someone walked up to me and played what became “Supervillain” by Trademark Da Skydiver, I would have lost my mind. The law of average suggests in someone’s life story, you’re the hero; and in others’, you’re a villain. Sometimes you’re a round, flat, or stock character, the sad sack, the wise […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self Care 3-“Camay”

I played “Camay” by Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, and Capadonna all throughout the summer of 2019. When I write an essay or article based on a song, I listen to it on a loop, until I finish the piece. My creative process begins when a song or conjures up a thought or formulate a loose outline […]