Writing is my first love….
As I stared at myself through the mirror I learned to love every inch of my core. I loved every mole, every scar, and every freckle a face pure with no make-up. Brown eyes that light up in the the sun. Brown skin gently kissed from its rays I danced in the heat on a hot Summer day into the “Heat of Night”.
Anything that can grow through concrete is one tough cookie. It’s weighed down, no rain, no sunlight and no nurturing but yet it finds a way to grow. It grows just as beautiful as if the soil has been tended to, drenched with rain, and rays from the sun.
You are weighed down, receive little to no love, no warm touches and left to dry up and crumble but yet you always find a way to bounce back. Great things grow in the darkest of places.
On Friday April 6, 2018 I was blessed with another year around the sun and started out with lunch from Sals Seafood and a tasty coconut flavored gift given to me by my co-workers. I had no idea what I was going to get into for the weekend and the weather was perfect in the City. A friend of mine from New York was in town for the weekend and decided to kidnap me and take me on a ride around the City. For dinner I had Korean style fried sweet chili wings from Andy’s Chicken (Fishtown) sweet potato fries and some libations to start the night.
We buckled our seats to head out journeyed around the City to hit up a few house parties and say Hello! to some friends. Later on that night I got to do exactly what I wanted to do for my birthday and I danced. We ended up at Coda to see DJ Claptone who stopped through Philly to give us a dose of good techno and house music that all people were dancing to. While enjoying the crowd the cup of water I had got smacked out of my hand and splashed me. Two ladies who witnessed helped to dry me off with tissue frpm the bar and I was so glad I was dressed lightly (thank God it was water and It instantly dried) and the gentleman who knocked the cup out of my hand offered to replace it with a drink (Nice guys still exist). Not too long after I was approached by this 6 foot 5 guy dressed in a black suit and black shades and he took my hand and led me to dance in the night.
I’ve known Kenny Parker “Illadelp” for some time now and I can’t believe it’s been 5 years since we hosted a show for emerging underground artist and my many visits to Soundwavez Studio to watch emcees get down on the mic. Illadelp is not concerned with catching mainstream’s attention, he’s just sharing his story through the art of a taste of the underground hip-hop era. Check out his latest “Black Money” album. Click on the image above and it’ll take you on a storytelling lyrical journey. No Trap! No Autotune! just Hip-Hop.
