Book Review: Black Privilege

My latest read is Charlamagne Tha God's book, Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It. I must start by advising viewer discretion for anyone that chooses to purchase this book. It was published in 2017, and follows the story of Charlamagne's life. If you're unfamiliar with Charlamagne, he's a prominent media figure whose work can be found on his radio show The Breakfast Club, his podcast Brilliant Idiots, his television show Uncommon Sense, and more. Black Privilege is an autobiographical account of his eventful story. He describes his upbringing, his rocky adolescent years, and his ascent in the media industry. He walks you through his school expulsions, jail experiences, multiple job terminations, and much more. My favorite aspect of this book is the self-help element within it. Through all his mistakes and shortcomings, Charlamagne is able to draw valuable lessons. Despite some crude stories and details, he drops some serious knowledge in this book. His personality is certainly expressed through the pages, with his brutal honesty and unrestrained sense of humor. Never have I read a book that made me laugh out loud as much as this one. It really captivates you within his experiences, and by the end you'll feel that you know him personally. He touches on some serious topics like race, homophobia, and gender norms. Some of his advice includes living your truth, viewing losses as lessons, and accessing your personal privilege. If you're of age, and you can handle some suggestive language, I definitely recommend this book. It's motivational, it's humorous, and it's insightful. Read and learn how a young boy from a trailer in Moncks Corner, South Carolina became a renowned media personality.

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Privilege-Opportunity-Comes-Create/dp/1501145304

Book Recommendation: Next Generation Leader

One of my recent reads is a book titled, Next Generation Leader: Five Essentials For Those Who Will Shape The Future. The book was written by Andy Stanley, and released in 2003. Reading this book has provided me with valuable knowledge of what it means to be a leader of virtue. In the book, Stanley breaks down five core principles that shape the effectiveness of a leader. These principles are competence, courage, clarity, coaching, and character. Out of the five, I was most inspired by the section on courage. Stanley does a wonderful job of explaining courage in a way that lights a fire in readers. "Courage is the willingness to move in a direction in spite of the emotions and thoughts that bid you to do otherwise." This quote is powerful, because we often believe that courageous people do not experience fear. However, the reality is to the contrary, courageous people are able to push through the fear they experience. I also enjoyed reading the section on character. Stanley explains the fine line between simply being a leader, and being a leader worth following. "Your gifts and determination may dictate your potential, but it is your character that will determine your legacy." This section of the book taught me the importance of living a life of purpose, and using my gifts to make a positive impact. One of the things that makes this book so profound, is that it incorporates the author's relevant experiences. Throughout the book, Stanley explains the many situations he's faced leading as senior pastor of North Point Ministries. The book is well-organized, and gets its message across clearly. I truly believe you can be positively impacted by giving this one a read. Feel free to order a copy using the link below.

https://store.northpoint.org/shop/books/next-generation-leader.html

Viewing Yourself as a Corporation: Structuring Your Personal Development

My mother is a woman of many creative thoughts and expressions. She gives great advice, and she's constantly offering me unique ideas to gain perspective on things. Recently, she introduced me to the idea of viewing yourself as a corporation. This perspective encourages you to analyze the many roles that you play in your personal development. Essentially, you're aligning these roles with the different parts of a business. This allows you to manage different areas of your life, and see which areas you can improve upon to optimize your potential. If you're like me, you're always looking for ways to improve as an individual. I've found this corporation perspective to be valuable, and I hope that you'll be able to learn from this organizational approach.

Sales- The sales team is the division responsible for selling a product or service. These are the people interacting with customers, and most directly related to generating revenue. Efficient sales teams set high, but realistic goals which they chase ambitiously. The business is only as good as its sales team, because it produces the results that drive the business forward. To manage your personal sales team, ensure that you're setting goals, and pursuing them aggressively. Assess whether you're doing the best you can to move your business in a positive direction.

Data Analysis/Accounting- Data analysts gather and investigate data, which they interpret to suggest the best direction for the company to go. Trends and statistics play a huge role in the decision-making process for businesses. The information yielded by data analysts can be vital in determining the formula for success. These analysts allow companies to measure their efficiency, and see what areas they can improve upon. These are people who "crunch the numbers." In similar fashion, we see numbers which represent very important aspects of our lives. Think about how you use numbers to measure your weight, income, age, etc. Just as businesses have a department to deal with managing numbers, you also have the capacity to manage numbers concerning your life. Such practices include time-management, budgeting, and weight management. Numbers are very impactful to our lives, and it is important that we organize them to better ourselves.

Marketing- The marketing department deals with the company's presentation. They are responsible for promotion, and introducing consumers to the company. Those in marketing are concerned with the company's appearance and managing its reputation. A successful marketing department requires excellent communication and plenty of research. To manage your marketing department, analyze how you are being presented. How are you, as a person, being marketed to the world? This includes your physical appearance, your resume, your social media, and your relationships. Do the necessary research to ensure that your are being marketed in a positive light. In our lives, reputations mean a great deal. A negative reputation can hinder your development, just as a positive reputation can propel your development.

Investor- Investors provide the capital to get the business running. They invest only into things of which they believe will provide a return on investment. Most businesses must seek investors through extreme effort and persuasion. Luckily for you, the investor of whom you seek is in the mirror. You can invest in your personal business in a variety of ways. This includes exercise, reading, meditation, healthy eating, and more. The basis of investment in this sense, is to place positive input in your life to receive positive output. Of course we are not perfect, and we make the occasional negative investment. However, it is important to manage your investment portfolio, to ensure that your overall investments have provided your company with the resources it needs to succeed.

CEO/Board of Directors/Owner- Each corporation has its executive personnel. The head of the company is tasked with the great responsibility of making crucial choices, which affect the company as a whole. Such decisions are made with careful consideration of possible outcomes, and require both wisdom and intuition. These people are well-compensated, and rightfully so. It takes character to be the face of a company, and to be responsible for its successes and failures. Just as the head of a company is tasked with decision-making and being held accountable for the company's condition, so are you responsible for making the major decisions that shape your life. Fortunately, you are the only person qualified for this position, and as long as you have your freedom, nothing can be done to remove your title. As the head of your corporation, ensure that you are making wise decisions and managing the various parts of your company effectively.

My aim in writing this is to inspire you to take a holistic approach towards improving as an individual. Our well-being consists of many dimensions, and it helps to take a step back to view the bigger picture. Through applying this principle, you will structure your life in a way that allows you to make specific modifications as necessary. If you see a department of your life that is lacking in efficiency, do a thorough investigation to make proper adjustments. Sure your business will experience wins and losses, but this is common of all corporations. Unlike most businesses, continual losses won't result in closure. As long as you are breathing, your business continues to operate with the potential to experience growth and prosperity.

The Hollywood Commandments Review!

DeVon Franklin, Hollywood producer, best-selling author, preacher, and motivational speaker released his third book in the fall of 2017 titled, The Hollywood Commandments. The book teaches you how to apply spiritual principles in the pursuit of secular success. Often times we learn spiritual lessons in church, but we don't learn how to use them outside of church. In this book, Franklin shows us how to translate those lessons into our careers and relationships using ten powerful lessons that he learned as a man of faith in Hollywood. As a person of character, you can be discouraged to follow certain paths at the risk of losing your character. However, by staying true to yourself you will be given an edge that allows you to thrive in all areas. This was one of the most important lessons that I learned from The Hollywood Commandments. Reading this book, it was amazing to see just how Franklin's values played a role throughout his successful career in Hollywood. Regardless of your beliefs, this book can serve as an excellent guide to achieving success. Lessons include following your passion, negotiating what you're worth, the importance of connections, and how to not get caught up in past failure or success. This is perhaps the most inspiring book that I have read, and it has taught me principles that I will be sure to hold on to. I encourage you to give this book a read, and I hope that it will have a positive effect on your life. Feel free to use the link below to order your copy. Thanks for reading!

https://order.hollywoodcommandments.com/

Old School vs New School: The Importance of Balance

It is apparent that Hip-Hop has changed dramatically since its birth. Production techniques, subject matter, mainstream influence, and more are in constant shift as the culture grows. Due to this change, we see a divide that separates fans according to time periods. Today we see "old heads" that are quick to express disdain for the current generation of Hip-Hop. Likewise, we see a new wave of artists and fans that dismiss the old school as played out. There seems to be a polarization within the culture. If there's anything I've learned in my eighteen years on this Earth, it's that strength lies in unity. We would get more out of the culture if elders supported the youth, and if the youth respected the elders. I'm here to offer a neutral perspective, and promote the importance of balancing old school and new school within Hip-Hop.

Old school. The original. The blueprint. They've paved the road traveled on today. They've planted the seed for what is harvested today. What right does the new generation have to live off this hard work without paying due respect? "The kids today aren't talking about anything." "I'll just stick to 'real' Hip-Hop." It's a common argument coming from what we call "old heads", or fans devoted to the preservation of old school Hip-Hop. I can definitely understand this. You see the culture you celebrated from your days as a youth being transformed into unrecognizable form. It's not uncommon to reminisce and yearn for the "good 'ol days." However, resisting change can turn out to yield an unproductive result. In order for Hip-Hop to last, change is necessary. Don't get me wrong, I love old school Hip-Hop, but if the culture didn't evolve it wouldn't survive. Imagine if the U.S. still used World War II weaponry today simply because it worked in the past. It wouldn't stand a chance against those that put more effort towards advancing. It's fine to prefer a certain era, but be sure to remain a part of the culture. We still need the lessons of World War II weaponry, to build off of for future success. Value lies in the wisdom of the old school that is only beneficial if the culture is unified. I encourage the old heads to balance your listening, and find some new school artists that you can support. They're out there, you may just have to go beyond mainstream radio. Grow with the music, so that the culture you once loved can live on.

New school. The wave. The future. They keep it fresh. They carry the torch. Why should we focus on the past? "Music is more fun now." "That music is for old people." "I'm not wasting my time listening to that outdated music." It's a common position held by the younger generation of Hip-Hop. This could have been me if I wasn't exposed to old school at a young age. This is some of my peers. I can understand it. What's the point of listening to music that came out decades before you were born? It's fun to stay in the moment. However, you'll gain a clearer perspective of where you're going if you know where you came from. History provides a formula for success and a record of mistakes. As philosopher George Santayana stated, "those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." We know some negative events that have transpired within Hip-Hop's history, and by learning we lower the risk of making these events cyclical. Trust your elders. They've seen similar obstacles, and can provide guidance. Continue innovating, but make sure you're mindful of the rich history that precedes you. I encourage the new school to balance your listening, and find some old school artists that you can appreciate. They're out there if you do your research. A flower doesn't grow without roots.

Let's unify the culture, so that we may be able to move on stronger. The "fad" they once called Hip-Hop is still here forty years later. At what point do we realize that enough is done already to divide us? It's counterproductive to separate the culture based on time. Picture a relay race. Does the current runner reluctantly hand off the baton to the next runner? No, because it would only slow the team down. In order to be most efficient, the current runner has to confidently hand off the baton, knowing that the next runner will keep the team moving towards success. Likewise, the new runner wouldn't be able to run without the efforts of the previous runner. The role of smooth transition is key for the team's chances of success. In Hip-Hop, this smooth transition is done by understanding our teammates, or other generations. We have to balance our perspective, and learn to appreciate the other side. After all, we are connected.

Laugh Now, Fly Later Review!

On November 7th, Wiz Khalifa released a project titled Laugh Now, Fly Later. It consists of ten tracks, with only one feature from Casey Veggies. This project is keeping the fans satisfied until the release of his upcoming album Rolling Papers 2. In this one, Wiz operates in his classic style. Relaxed bars that make reference to his herbs, affluence, and carefree lifestyle. He also takes the opportunity to advertise his product, KK. His lyrics stress the theme of making the most out of life, and not caring about the opinions of other people. Some artists will abandon the style that attracted fans to them. I don't see this happening with Wiz. He knows his formula, and he keeps his work consistent. This is a solid project. My top track on the project is "Figure It Out." He gives listeners some advice on that track, which I won't spoil for you. It's a good project to vibe out to on your aux cord. Check it out. Thanks for reading, and remember to enjoy life!