Dreaming Out Loud

Armond x Doc - Three Day Weeknd

2011-12-29T17:32:00.002-05:00

Armond x Doc - Three Day Weeknd by Armond
Tracklisting
1. Thursday Night
2. Friday
3. Saturday
4. Sunday
5. Monday Morning

Three Day Weeknd is a depiction of emotional slavery, lustful seclusion & self perception. The EP tells the story of a man & his encounter with a woman he meets over a Three Day Weeknd. Inspired by The Weeknd, 3DW contains elements of hip-hop, drum & bass, dubstep & electronica. It also doubles as a metaphor for.........

The project is a joint venture between Armond & Doc, who also double as co-hosts of the Clock Radio Speakers podcast.

Armond Live Spoken Word @ The Way Columbus

2011-11-30T19:04:00.003-05:00

Strung together some verses I've been sitting on & did a piece for my church The Way Columbus...if it would've clicked that they were recording, I would've spit into the mic. My fault, lol.

Armond Live @ The Elbow Room

2011-11-30T18:55:00.003-05:00

on November 18th, I was apart of a canned food drive/event held by Slingshot Media Group at their new facility "The Elbow Room". Here's footage of my set shot by my man Smurf Village. Columbus crowds are notoriously "Simon Cowell" with it, but the response AFTER the show was great. Speaking of Slingshot...that A Different World video on the way...

Armond (Elbow Room) from M. Graves on Vimeo.

Amped Sounds Magazine - Condiments Review

2011-11-19T11:55:00.002-05:00

From Amped Sounds Magazine

Beats

Rhymes

Content

Originality

Get ready to nod your head and expand your way of thinking as Armond, a.k.a. the Columbus Kid (that’s now your official nickname courtesy of Amped Sounds ha-ha) dreams out loud for your listening pleasure. His latest EP “Condiments” is an assortment of flavorful tracks slated for different projects that will be released in the future. Though the songs vary in content, the ultimate desire to get whiplash from banging your head to these seasoned turntable treats will easily get you through the transitions.

Armond quickly sets the tone of the EP; commanding your complete attention from the start as he empties his soul on the Doc produced “Questions & Answers”. Armond describes his rough journey in search of salvation by stating:
Don’t mind me yall, I’m seeking God/ Devil getting time and a half slaving at Steve Jobs/ Eve ate the apple pastor blasting from my iPod/Netflix the Mac, ask myself am I wrong?/Am I off? Am I getting brash?/Running a race to find that nice guys finish last/Wear my heart on my sleeve, nothing inside/Medium Tee skinny jeans got nothing to hide

And that’s just the first eight bars. He depicts the world around him as only he can; speaking for those imprisoned by their own demons and giving other listeners solace to ponder their own avenue to salvation. Armond enlists the assistance of fellow emcees Dre Murray, TK, Japhia Life and DJ O-Sharp on the classic posse cut in the making, “Camp Anawanna”. Rocking to the Love Unlimited Orchestra’s “I Did It For Love”, these thoroughbred emcees lambaste a multitude of topics from the tragedies experienced in poverty to the disparity of the social divisions that plague our society. The EP only boasts six tracks; however this pretentiously humble opus exhibits raw talent that is greater than 90% of full length features that are presently being released.

“Condiments” could probably be best described as an EP to make your mouth water while awaiting another full length offering from this prominent Mid-West emcee. It is said that the truth shall set you free and I can assure you that the Columbus Kid is definitely The Truth. Open your ears and your mind and let the truth of his veracious flows free you as it just freed me.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/album/condiments-ep-1"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Condiments EP #1 by Armond&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

BREAKDOWN - Lord Knows

2011-11-15T15:06:00.008-05:00

Lord Knows (Bonus) by Armond

...legible w/ led though I'm hard too follow

I know I'm a leader, but I'm letting you know this verse is going to be very difficult to keep up with..LED...FOLLOW

raise ya glass from quarter waters to arnold palmers
the weather's changing, so is my perception
...tryna perfect affection w/o protection

Love does not have borders. You cannot love wholeheartedly & protect yourself. Love causes you to leave yourself open & vulnerable to whoever or whatever it is that you love. Anything outside of that, is not love.

maybe i need direction, no arrows from cupid
no access to mapquest or google, i'm losing
i'm headed for confusion, before i hit that deadly crash
sometimes you gotta pray for things you already have

play on words...DIRECTION...ARROWS...MAPQUEST...GOOGLE...HEADED FOR CONFUSION...I need direction, but cannot rely on the love that has been taught to us (used Cupid/Mapquest/Google maps as an example) to be my guide. Only the love of Christ.

...playing hard to get w/ my future
but hi-fiving these losers,
spin myself in a stupor

play on words...Hi-Five had a song "She's Playing Hard To Get"...instead of accepting my destiny, I'm toying around with it, potentially diluting & preventing the fullness of what God has for me.

...never alone, but pride moves me to hide the help
reality its times i'm too busy living to die to self

play on words...MOVES ME...HIDE...LIVING...we spend too much time DOING things & not enough times just BEING who we were created to be. To die to self is a state of mind, there's not something you can DO to achieve that. But living takes work. So stop doing & start being.

lames search my twitter & they run back to my girl
as if every @ is a fact i'm flirting
what a dirtbag

self explanatory...

love is a choice, marriage is a decision
sacrifice is essential, & feelings are a religion

We always equate love & marriage to how we feel. Our feelings flee from us all the time. You ever just WAKE UP & be in a bad mood? When absolutely nothing happened to you? So then why do we apply that to relationships? Some days I'm going to wake up & not feel like being in love, or being married. But it is a choice that I made. In order for that choice to succeed, sacrificing who I am is essential. When two become one, there are some things that just can't fit. That goes beyond "not staying out late" & "cutting off partners"...mindsets have to change to in order to co-exist.

Feelings are a religion, anything that you are a slave to is a religion. Too often we "follow our heart" & "go with our gut" & wonder why things fall apart...

listen...she said she was ready to serve God
push her life to the side & for the mark
i'm thinking smart
...so i thought to sew a thought into her fabric
but she was closed minded, not tailor made for marriage
once the conversations were more about God & less about her
she stopped coming to church
whats the (difference)
tween a pastor manipulating for money
& manipulating God for a husband?
...nothing...

This is something I see way too often, I just happened to use a woman wanting a husband as an example. People will seek God for something to fulfill them, when He is the fulfillment. No man, no child, no amount of money, can fill the voids that life creates for us all. And then we get mad at God when He didn't do what we expected Him to do, when it wasn't His will all along. Never works.

appreciate life, sometimes i fail to see
dreaming is a drug as result i'm pushing that heavy d
conformation to avoid coming of age
...i pray to avoid becoming the prey

"Conformation" is the imparting of the Gift of the Holy Spirit. since the Holy Spirit gives us eternal life, I used that as an example of seeking Christ to avoid death...Coming of Age is the transition of a boy to a man...if the Bible says we are to have child-like faith, I don't wanna be an adult in that aspect.

but at the same time, i ain't perfect i need correction
4am, sending sleepy texts to sleazy exes
...someone accepting me for me is hard to fathom
convincing myself i don't deserve it so don't bother asking
hate when ppl only hit me when they want something
...now i know how God feels
...that's braille like, show em my tail pipe
prayer life's stairway to heaven on a rail slide

play on words...HIT ME...GOD FEELS...BRAILLE...to know how "God feels" is braille like. When a person has to read braille, it is because they've lost sight & must have faith in their other senses to get through life. Faith through Christ relies totally on who He is & not what we see. & because Jesus was able to feel what we felt while on earth, He can relate to us...SHOW EM MY TAIL PIPE...act a fool, act a donkey, wild out. Being in my flesh causes me to constantly do wrong. But I only gave it half of a line because that should not be the focus. PRAYER LIFE'S A STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN ON A RAILSLIDE...skaters "slide down the rail" with their board. To slide down takes full concentration...the minute you stop focusing on maintaining balance, you fall. Same goes for your "prayer life"...

all these ideals i gotta knock to the side
God is the truth, but most what we know about him's a lie
had my (baby) out of wedlock, the 2nd one from my marriage
use my mind as my eyes & it's subliminally apparent
...i used to think they were punishment for my sins
but (why) would God kill joy w/ kids that i live for

Just an example of people placing God's "judgement" above His grace.

...had a dream i was ready to graduate
God was ready to promote me to the next level
but there was some things i had to take w/ me
but wasn't sure how to handle it
cuz issues w/ abandonment
its so easy to mention a million deal breakers
its so easy to embrace the things i feel that hate us

Ask somebody what they don't want in a relationship...then ask that person what they do want. I bet you the list of what they don't want trumps what they want...we have these hangups as people that ultimately mean NOTHING in the grand scheme of things.

...its hard to convince myself i'm a man
when i gotta borrow from pops to pay my electric bill
i understand that a dollar sign is apart of life
the problem lies when i buy the lie that it swallows mine

Cash doesn't rule everything around me, lol...and it is not my measuring stick of being a man

most of the things i identify with are bitter lies
...to live my life gotta kiss the sky & dismiss the time

God chose you knowing who you were, and what you would do...since God operates in eternity & time, & both of those things are slaves to Him, why do you think something you did would prevent you from experiencing His fullness?

...27 years, i earned my pain
politicians is itching to pitch that hermain cain

America is a control freak...she has disguised herself as freedom in order to trap & bind everyone in her path to do what she does, say what she says & believe what she believes. Herman Cain was simply an example of something getting pushed down our throats until we accept it as good.

20 something years i sat in jail, prepared for hell
...now all i need is a woman that'll let me fail
then rub my back & help me pick up the mess
though hiccups i pick up could disrupt the blessings

When I say let him fail...if you can prevent a potential disaster from occurring, then sure...by all means. But falling down is how a man learns to walk on his own two. And while he's learning, as his helpmate, encouraging him through the process is ESSENTIAL in his growth. There's not much worse than failing & that feeling that she's going to make you feel bad about it.

but i got my woman , she'll stick it out til the end
Though it seems we can't speak without her getting offended
Because of the things that I did, that caused her a lotta pain
The more I show her I've changed, the more she treats me the same
I'm saying...

When you see someone changing right before your eyes, sometimes it's extremely difficult not to take who they were into their future. Sometimes you have to be deliberate with your change so that those who need to see it are aware of it.

...all in all thats my baby tho
& cuz i love her i grin & bear it & brave the road

And while that person is learning to accept a new you, you must grace them AND yourself to get through to the next level.

...maybe the problem is i chase it
& when i use my hands then it prevents the organic

If God revealed to you your full purpose before it was time to fulfill it, you would begin to do things to "set yourself up" & end up ruining it. He has to set you up.

my son's getting taller, looking like his mama
sees Lupe on TV, starts asking for his father

My son thinks I look like Lupe Fiasco...and he knows I rap...blame the hair, lol

...i was convinced that i'd never be a part of him
thats my blood, cut from my cloth, them stains are hard to rinse

play on words...BLOOD...CUT...CLOTH...STAINS...HARD TO RINSE...your kids will exhibit your characteristics whether they live upstairs or a million miles away...it's ingrained into them to be a better you

those were boundaries, i set around me, i hopped the fence
pride was my drug, my vodka mixed w/ collodopins

Anything can be a drug...anything.

& if i'm fighting to hide it, then where does modest end?
but i could write forever, let me stop this pen

Before The Ink Dried On The Paper...Armond - Lord Knows Freestyle

2011-11-13T17:51:00.002-05:00

Lord Knows (Bonus) by Armond

I heard Drake's new album Take Care Sunday evening. The album began appearing online track by track. Then I saw it.

Lord Knows...

I had heard rumors of this track for months, it was monumental. Just Blaze gave Aubrey the beat of his life.

He did...

And to Drake's credit, he spazzed. Out of all the elements in his music, I think his lyrics don't get enough credit. The kid can rap...

But I felt the beat had more to say...

By Monday night I had the instrumental. While most freestyles for me take an hour or so to write depending on the bar length, this took me 2 days. I don't even know how many bars this is. 60? Maybe?

Anything that's happened in the world, and my world, were addressed on the song.

Be offended. Be encouraged. That's the point.

Lyric breakdown coming soon...

Armond- #TwentySeven Mixtape

2011-10-28T01:00:00.003-04:00

1. Lions in Zanesville (Intro)
2. Steve Atwater
3. Small Minnows
4. Kid & Play
~~5. Seizure Salads featuring Rich Tunes~~
6. Light Skinned Aunt Viv
7. Eddie Kane
8. Singled Out
9. Departure From The World

Seizure Salads will be added at a later date

Twenty Seven by Armond

So I Did A Mixtape In 48 Hours & Boy Are My Arms Tired...

2011-10-27T08:44:00.009-04:00

Artwork by Ian Young

Although I've been getting into other forms of media, my rappity raps have been largely quiet for a good portion of 2011. For my birthday I originally wanted to drop "Steve Atwater", a retrospective of my 27 years & what is to come.

But I kept writing...

And before you know it, I had a bunch of random verses & whatnot. I figured, hey...why not do a little quick mixtape.

No concept, nothing deep, just something to mark my born day.

Here's the 1st leak "Steve Atwater"...tracklisting below

1. Lions in Zanesville (Intro)
2. Steve Atwater
3. Small Minnows
4. Kid & Play
5. Seizure Salads featuring Rich Tunes
6. Light Skinned Aunt Viv
7. Eddie Kane
8. Singled Out
9. Departure From The World

"Twenty Seven" will be available tonight, October 27th, at 10:31pm.

#BirthdayWeek Day One - "Crashing Down"

2011-10-24T17:40:00.004-04:00

from Monday to Friday, I will be featuring a song of mine that I feel doesn't get the respect it deserves & offer some exclusive insight to the record & why it's so important to me.

Day One - Crashing Down (from Snooze Button II)

Crashing Down by Armond

This is BY FAR one of my favorite verses...EVER!!!!

I performed this one night & an atheist was in the audience & flipped out once I said "Jesus"...

"I DIDN'T COME TO GET PREACHED TO!!!!"

the entire audience flipped on him & started yelling at him (didn't really show the love of God though, did it? lol) & he took his Bud Light, strapped his backpack & left. I had never been confronted about my faith directly like that, so it kinda threw me off. From then on, I made it a point to essentially be "ready for war" anytime I perform.

i did a vlog to "explain myself" & got attacked even more. I'm convinced some people just love to argue...maybe people type in certain keywords on youtube & look for videos to "engage" people on. Whether that's true or not, that's what it felt like. I learned that everything doesn't need an explanation, lotta folks don't even want one.

BREAKDOWN: Road To Flavor Fest Freestyle

2011-09-27T09:56:00.004-04:00

Road To Flavor Fest Freestyle by Armond
Click here if you can't see the embed player

yeah...dreams money can't purchase
your billions can't touch the surface
immersed in
me & my characteristics playing inertia
they ask if i'll last, i tell em look at the first one

Money doesn't equal to what this is all for. Inertia is resistance...I'm trying to resist who I am & become what I'm supposed to be. The first one = God

...so don't raise your drinks to wicked me
...i was victor ortiz to my enemies
i was a victim or a tease to these mini mes
mad they was stealing the feelings God was given me

I get praise for my music that I really don't deserve. All the while, I was "Victor Ortiz", meaning I was trying to appease what I should've been attacking. I've come across people who like to bite/steal/manipulate. Whenever you get robbed, you're considered to be a victim.

see...i was suffering from anxiety
shaking in my bed, begging the devil to lie to me
couldn't be convinced God needed me, in spite of me
& so i stood idoly
with a fire that dried the sea
...Christ decided to ignite my insight
& honor me w/ harsh realities of what's inside of me
....now what?
felt a loud rush
regulators, mount up

stress lead me to have my 1st anxiety attack last month. sometimes you get desperate enough to entertain temptation from the devil. God chooses you in eternity, not in time...there's nothing you can do to qualify or disqualify yourself from His promises EXCEPT qualify & disqualify yourself (in spite of me). "Fire that dried the sea"...the fire i had for God turned into a fire to please myself. The sea represents Christ (living water)...so i became more concerned with me than the work. I began to seek God & he showed me a lot of characteristics i had that were wrong with me. Once He reveals those things, then what do you do? "Regulators, mount up"...tribute to the Warren G classic

the more i started rapping, the bigger was the picture
the flow & these syllables i was spittin wasn't sick enough
...matter fact i was sick of my position
phil in groundhog day, was difficult to get up
until i realized i was spitting for my spirit
feeding my lil ego, difficult to admit it
& so i played God, you could feel it in my lyrics
til i confronted me w/ these invisible gorillas
...what up wit, what up dre
it's all love, that's enough to say

The more music I released, the larger my "territory" became. But I was challenging myself to rap better instead of developing my relationship with God. But it wasn't fufilling me. Sure, I was getting accolades for being a rapper, but the more rapping I did, the more I realized how insignificant it was in the grand scheme of things. I became Phil in the movie Groundhog Day, every morning when that alarm clock went off, it was harder & harder to get out of bed. "Til I confronted me with these Invisible Gorillas"...getting cool w/ Wit & Dre Murray has challenged me & in a sense beat my ego up. Issues that God revealed to me a few bars back, they helped identify & subdue.

im a silly dude, trapped in these frilly moods
traded in claire huxtable for nikki tru
...cuz when i go to these clubs & perform
i'm the man on the mic, but a stranger in my home
it's strange that i'm alone, it's funny who i run into
cuz i coulda took shorty home if i wanted to
coulda took her home for the okey doke
...she's rich...so i'ma go for broke
she activated the thirst, i'ma row the boat
she asked me if i was single & i told her no

I definitely perform at more clubs than churches (which I like). I end up going & leaving by myself. The fact that I'm single, I have the option of essentially doing whatever I want & not being accountable to anybody, because again, no one goes with me. Nikki Tru was Kerry Washington's character in "I Think I Love My Wife", she's also a double entendre for my insecurities.

cuz the only one i wanna give my all
whenever i get tempted, she's the 1st one i call
but cuz i did her wrong
i feel like i gotta tell her everytime i choose her
but then i think i'm flaunting it

No comment...

...so appaled....no kanye, jay or wild church
no outbursts
...no dissing my brothers & sisters
& when they call me out, i play victim & sound hurt

I see this a lot lately...people talk bad about other people, but when they're called out on it, they're met with excuses. No the Kanye/Jay reference is not a diss.

they try to tell me that i rap in my prime
so i'ma hand em my pride
sweep up the damage inside
all these hannibals & cannibals that stand to my side
i tell em fly, peacock until you land in my life
im hype

Everytime someone tells me I'm dope, I HAVE to "hand God my pride". Hip-hop is rooted in pride, so I believe that every MC has dealt with or is dealing with pride at some point of their career. That pride creates the "damage inside" that handing it off to God "sweeps up". The "hannibals & cannibals" are a reference to the "mini-me's" from earlier. "Fly, peacock" is a reference to The Other Guys. "Land in my life" means, although you try to imitate, my life is tailor made to fit me & me alone. No one else can live your life but you. Your life should be dope enough to where you don't have to rely on anyone else's to give you fufillment.

Condiments...

2011-09-09T23:41:00.003-04:00

it's here...

Condiments EP #1 by Armond

Tracklisting
1. Questions & Answers (produced by Doc from the upcoming project '574')
2. Forever Right Here (from the upcoming project 'Havilland Savage Theory: The Residue')
3. Camp Anawanna featuring DJ O-Sharp, Dre Murray, TK & Japhia Life (from the upcoming project 'Snooze Button III')
4. Makes No Sense (produced by Pizzie from the upcoming project 'Insomnia')
5. A Different World featuring Yaves (BONUS)
6. Chevy Impala Music II featuring J Carter (BONUS)

#Condiments...9.10.11

2011-09-05T23:51:00.012-04:00

I know I should write this from a 3rd party perspective, but let's not pretend like I have a team when I don't. So I won't be speaking in 3rd person.

So far in 2011 I've released two projects: The Havilland Savage Theory & Ketchup: The Best of Armond (2010-2011). Along with a few freestyles, remixes & guest appearances here & there, if I was to speak for myself, I'd say I was very quiet this year, at least musically. I've been not-so-secretly working on four projects for the majority of the year

Havilland Savage Theory: The Residue- The reunion show of HST. At the end of the CD, Lee & Havilland reunited but what happened afterwards?
Snooze Button III- To pay tribute to my favorite era ever, I took some of my favorite songs from the 1990s & added my own personal spin to them. I also grabbed my homie & the ONLY person who's a bigger music nerd than me, DJ O-Sharp to give it a classic Ron G/Kid Capri blend tape feel.
Insomnia- One of the two one producer/one MC projects featuring my little brother Pizzie. Pizzie produced Wait It Out & Dreaming pt 2 for me in 2010.
574- The second one producer/one MC project with my boy & fellow Clock Radio Speakers host, Doc. He produced Rearview/Dashboard, Child Of God, & Good Evening.

Because none of these projects are nowhere near completed, I've decided to release short EPs called "Condiments", which will serve as previews for all four projects, as well as provide a home for random songs that won't fit on anything else.

Why Condiments?

It's always the little foxes that spoil the vine. An attention to detail is key in achieving success. While many focus on the bright lights, a lamp can get you to your destination just as efficiently. When it comes to food, some of refuse to eat unless we have the right condiment; ketchup, hot sauce, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, etc. Likewise, success will not come unless all of our I's are dotted & our T's are crossed. The 'condiments' represent the necessity of the "little things" in life

side note: the salt & pepper on the cover represent balance...

Tracklisting
1. Questions & Answers (produced by Doc from the upcoming project '574')
2. Forever Right Here (from the upcoming project 'Havilland Savage Theory: The Residue')
3. Camp Anawanna featuring DJ O-Sharp, Dre Murray, TK & Japhia Life (from the upcoming project 'Snooze Button III')
4. Makes No Sense (produced by Pizzie from the upcoming project 'Insomnia')
5. A Different World featuring Yaves (BONUS)
6. Chevy Impala Music II featuring J Carter (BONUS)

Condiments will be available for purchase on armondwakeup.com for the amount of your choosing.

Reese's Pieces: No Church In The Wild: An Interpretation

2011-09-05T00:33:00.009-04:00

I've decided to share some of this .com spacery with my homegirl Sa'Rese. Her perspectives, point of view & writing style is dope (plus she's a bum & I show sympathy for bummery...nah but seriously) but enough from me...I present to you...Reese's Pieces. Take it away...

I've always been told that if no one else knows the lyrics to a song, I do. I've always been a music head but picking apart the lyrics to a song wasn't something I've ever thought about tackling. I've found myself more often than not listening to a song and imagining the concept of the video (or at least what it would be if I directed it) but again, giving my own interpretation as to what I think the lyrics mean, this is new. New but exciting none the less. "Wrote a song about it, like to hear it, here it go..."

Tears on the mausoleum floor
Blood stains the coliseum doors
A fan of Greek Mythology and all things Roman I think Jay's reference to a mausoleum is that of The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. It was a tomb built for Mausolus, a satrap in the Roman Empire, along with his wife whom was also his sister. Digging deeper into the reference of a Mausoleum, a satrap in modern lit refers to world leaders or governors who are heavily influenced by larger world superpowers (superpowers=Illuminati?, for those who believe it, sure why not.) or hegemonies and act as their surrogates. A hegemony is an indirect form of imperial dominance. "Cultural hegemony" explains how by the manipulation of the societal value (money) system one social class (the rich) dominates the other social classes (those who aren't rich). However, getting back to my original reference, Mausoleums are these grand tombs that are built for the dead, so the first line is simply someone mourning over the loss of their loved ones, unless of course you choose to take my previously stated depiction. The next line is easy because those who follow Roman culture know that coliseums were used to showcase battles between gladiators. The blood staining the doors is that of the fallen fighter. We can put Jay into the story as a spectator at the coliseum or perhaps he is the person that tears are being shed for in the coliseum and the blood on the coliseum doors is his. (interesting right?)

Lies on the lips of a priest
Thanksgiving disguised as a feast
Okay, if we're going to stick with the theme of the Romans on this one then yes, Priests were very powerful figures in the Roman church, but if we look at families like the Borgias, then we know that everything that a priest or Cardinal says isnt always the truth because that particular family lied and did everything in between in order to rise to the papacy. Or we can approach it from the standpoint of a Baptist, we can say that the priest (preacher) is lying because he is telling us of the dinner between Christ and his apostles, known as the last supper but in this verse is it referenced as a disguise because this was Christ last meal and everyone at the table knew his end was near? Or perhaps its as simple as that of Christopher Columbus and the colonization of Indian territory, a feast with enemies disguised as your friends. Again, if we are sticking with the Roman theme here then we can reference the Greeks and there entry into Troy by disguise of the wooden horse, this continues to go along with what I already said about a celebration with enemies.

Rollin in the Rolls-Royce Corniche
Only the doctor's got this, I'm hiding from police
Cocaine seats/all white like I got the whole thing bleached
Along with my love of music, I also love cars and the Corniche is a late model Rolls-Royce that hasn't been made since 2002, so one could think that Jay is of course referring to his past. Hence his dope boy days when he probably did have to hide from the police then in some what of a fast forward reference he says "all white like I got the whole thing bleached" this could have dual meanings since bleached could stand for purification in regards to the way he lives his life now and that he is absent of his old ways or it could have a monetary reference because for those that know, in order to make fraudulent money, the paper of dollar bills is bleached in order to make larger denominations. But, if we are sticking with the theme of Rome here then it is safe to go with that of religious references and say that he uses bleach to mean the cleansing of his spirit and the start of a new life.

drug dealer chic
I'm wondering if a thug's prayers reach
is Pious pious cause God loves Pious
Socrates asks whose bias do ya'll seek?
The first two lines, well the whole passage intermingles because wondering if his prayers reach is meant to be or to say that if sinners do wrong but repent, are they still forgiven? "Is Pious pious cause God loves Pious" in the context of Roman and Greek Mythology we know that all the Gods of Olympus and those that aren't in Olympus all have statues or places to which the people that worship the specific God go to make sacrifice and to offer incense in hopes that the God will grant them favor. As far as Socrates is concerned, this further proves the Roman references that are stated and it also backs what I just said about worshiping specific Gods. In the story of Hippolytus, he is punished by Aphrodite because he chooses to worship her twin Artemis instead. So are we to believe that if we worship one God more than the other that our prayers fall on deaf ears? Jay could have had this in mind when he asked if a thugs prayers reach, and if they do, which God is he to show more favor to?

All for Plato, screech
Plato was actually a student of Socrates, if I can include the previous verse above with this one then I would take it to mean that Socrates was merely asking the people, to which truth do you believe; that of the invisible world or that of the visible world? If you know anything about Socrates then you would know that he believed that the invisible world was the most intelligible, is this because we as humans only believe the things that are shown to us and are too afraid to question the unknown? Socrates says that people living in a "sun-lit" world are said to be are living in a den of evil and ignorance; while few climb out of that den, those that do have a terrible struggle of getting out but when they go back to help others out, they are the subject to scorn and ridicule. This rings true in the modern world where we find that if we are those that make it out of a difficult upbringing or childhood we are looked upon as having left behind those who didn't make it out with us and more often than not, those that we helped only endured the climb to pull us down from the top once we make it (in so many words I say this in the acknowledgments of my second book). I believe Jay used this reference to refer to those people that didn't make it out of Marcy Projects or for the ones that he was able to help, this verse almost plays as him reaching back to tell them that if I could make it, you can too. I took the screech to mean a halt, him coming back to his consciousness and pausing his thoughts.

I'm out here ballin' I know ya'll hear my sneaks
Jesus was a carpenter, Yeezy laid beats
Hova flow the Holy Ghost, get the hell up out your seats
Preach
Of course we know Jay used to play ball so thats obviously the meaning behind the first line but if you want to dig deeper then that could also mean his status in the world now. The second verse compares Kanye to Jesus in terms of his profession, laying beats, laying wood in order to make things=kanye making beats in order to create platforms for other artists as well as himself. "Hova flow the Holy Ghost get the hell up out your seats" Hova, a nickname of Jay's is another reference to a divine being (the Lord or God) and this is not the first song where he mentions hell. Perhaps in this song hell is meant to be the hell that we are rising out of (get the hell up) in order to move on and become something better or perhaps "bleach" ourselves (remember the earlier verse to which he speaks about bleaching the seats of the Rolls Royce). Preach is a term used in black churches yes, but it could also be an introduction to the chorus that Frank sings. It could also be him alluding to the fact that that is something most people shout when they are agreeing with a message that touches them deeply, as this verse should have touched you in one way or another had you actually understood all the references.

Human beings in a mob
Whats a mob to a king? What's a king to a God?
What's a God to a non-believer who don't believe in anything?
Will he make it out alive (or is it will "we") alright, alright, no church in the wild.
Okay, at first I wasn't going to touch the hook but then I was laying in the bed singing this in my head and suddenly the meaning hit me and I had to comment so this is what I think; try to stay with me because my thoughts may bounce around a bit. First, the fourth line reminds me of old slave times when blacks didn't have the right to worship in their own church, instead they would sing hymnals and songs to lift their spirits; it also reminds me of getting safe passage through the underground railroad. On the other hand, it's like a modern day hymnal for the lost youth of today which allows me to rewind back to Jay saying "I'm wondering if a thug's prayer's reach" in the hook, its like Frank is saying that no matter how hard they (the youth) pray, God can't save them. It is one thing to pray, and another to feel as though those prayers are falling on deaf ears. Both meanings represent a deeper struggle than that to which you hear when you first listen to the song, but were you really listening? Now the first three lines could be rewound even further to go back to Jay referencing the Greeks/Romans and who we know as God. "Human beings in a mob=there was a mob that gathered in order to get a ruling on Jesus' crucifixion which was ruled by a Roman governor which continues to drag us into that of the Greeks and Romans. The second line makes you question just how much power a mob has on a king, we can go back to that of Jesus or other figures in Greek History like Oedipus who was a king but it was the people of his city that he feared more than anything else although he had ruling over everyone. "What's a king to a God=a king is nothing to a God (Gods in that of mythology) if not what that God made him and unless proper worship and sacrifice is made in honor of that God then he can easily be removed of his status. Jays verse is coming full circle because here he goes back to his first verse to which he references the mausoleum and the coliseum? Perhaps he feels that if he isn't aware of giving thanks to the higher being that put him in the place he is now that he will also become the result of someone's tears on the floor. From a mythological stand point, the Greek Gods usually punish those who don't worship or believe in them so even non believers have to take a side.

***In no way do I expect you to agree with the things I have said, like I previously stated, this is the first time I've "decoded" someone's lyrics and this is one of my favorite songs on Watch the Throne so I figured why not, all in all, I hope you enjoyed it. Stay tuned because I'll probably be doing this again :).

To learn more about Sa'rese, read her interview with Urban Magazine here
Purchase her books Stripping Asjiah & Stripping Asjiah II here

Clock Radio Speakers Episode Three: Carter IV Edition

2011-08-27T18:42:00.001-04:00

Episode Three: Carter IV Edition by Armond

Shortly after the hype & success of Watch The Throne, Lil Wayne drops Carter IV...is it strong enough to dethrone Kanye & Jay-Z? Did Cash Money treat this like a rap album or a pop album? Can Drake & Wayne do a Watch The Throne style tour? Does this album have legs to make it through the rest of the year? Listen & find out..

Armond- Quickie (Remix) Special Reverse The Thirst Edition

2011-08-27T18:28:00.002-04:00

Quickie (Remix) by Armond

As I stated in the #ShaqTextExperiment, the thirst is creeping on a come up. We've seen it very well documented, even the Bible tells us that God Himself will be with us through these parched days

Isaiah 48:21
They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and water gushed out.

Despite our Lord & Savior walking with us, we all know it can get pretty mean in these here streets. So I took the theme song of the thirsty underground railroad & exposed one of the many reverse thirsty tactics women use on men...the "I need advice" lane.

It always happens. Most single men have a homegirl, who is attractive, and who knows we think of them as such. And while for the most part, the friendship is kept platonic, there are instances that erase those safe lines & venture into Red Alert territory.

You obviously know about her boyfriend. It's all she talks about. You know more about him than you probably should. You've kept your distance. Then one night, you get that one phonecall. The inevitable. The eventual. The dangerous.

Damsel in distress call...

Her boyfriend now becomes the worst person in the world. Who can save her from such a beast?

You...

How do you handle it? Listen & find out...

Armond feat Dre Murray, TK & Japhia Life- Camp Anawanna

2011-08-27T18:26:00.001-04:00

Camp Anawanna featuring Dre Murray, TK & Japhia Life by Armond

1st leak from my upcoming EP "Condiments" dropping 9.10.11

Cuff Season: The #ShaqTextExperiment

2011-08-26T13:43:00.002-04:00

Intro- So it's been brought to my attention that the thirst is at an all-time high with cuff season right around the corner. It's still hot outside, but the sun is accompanied by a cool brisk breeze..letting us all know that the Fall is upon us. I love the Fall...its the dopest season for fashion, sports start back up (hurry up NBA), new TV shows premiere, kids back in school, etc. This morning i ran across another "Shaq's exposed texts" story...befuddled as to how the thirst/erroneous spelling combo worked so well

Click here to read the Shaq texts..NSFW...or the kiddies

Was he able to pull it off because it's Shaq? Did he & the woman have a well enough relationship for her to ignore his lack of grasp on the english language? (women overlook a LOT) Was she merely just a bird? So to get my answer, I took my talents to the wonderful world of SMS & conducted my own #ShaqTextExperiment...here are the results...

NOTE: The women I ran this experiment w/ did NOT know I was joking prior to receiving the text

NOTE: every woman I ran the experiment on is attractive, but not stuck up, so they wouldn't say no to everything & they're not so desperate to say yes to anything. I also removed all evidence of names & phone numbers...cuz you don't need to know who they are...yes i'm blocking

Experiment 1- The initial text left her aghast!! She was taken back by the 1-2 combo of thirst & poor spelling. The 'lol' is always used as a slight defense. Ha ha, very funny Armond. FAIL.

Experiment 2- A true friend...she practiced the 5 Ds of dodgeball to avoid the thirst & attend to my well-being. She's obviously into writing, as she read the texts INSIDE the text to figure out the real problem. FAIL.

Experiment 3- Again, the 'LOL' pops up again, this time in upper case. This means her sure was serious, but just in case I respond with "just joking", the 'LOL' means "so was I"...but she really wasn't. Tread carefully. C-

Experiment 4- SUCCESS!!!!!! Immediate response. No games, no front. A+

Conclusion: Always have your text game 100% on point. A lot of us aren't 7 ft tall & one of the most recognizeable personalities in the world. Most of us have to pick & choose how many times a week we can have Five Guys for lunch. Make sure you proofread before you send. Don't be too thirsty, but don't be too scared either.Happy thirsting & Godspeed...

Ketchup reviewed by DaSouth.com

2011-08-20T16:43:00.002-04:00

Ketchup: The Best of Armond (2010-2011) by Armond

Armond- Ketchup (The Best of Armond 2010-2011) Review from DaSouth.com

After coming out with nine albums already, Armond set out to release a “catch-up” album to get people to hear the music he’s made so far. This collection is from 2010 to 2011. Let’s see what we got:

1. Wanna Hear A Joke?(Intro)- Real simple intro, I’m not sure if it’s from a movie, but its someone telling a joke about tomatoes and one lagging behind and then the tomato says “ketchup”. Corny or not, the title of the album is in it haha.

2. Beautiful Ashes feat. J Carter- Real smooth beat behind this track and basically speaks about the pains of the past that used to bring them back but because of Christ changing them God can even use them as examples to help him grow.

3. Rearview/Dashboard- For those of you who remember Dreaming Out Loud, this track is from there, for this album is basically a short collection of the music he has done so far so you can catch-up(ketchup get it?). The song is split in two parts beat wise and rearview deals with his life before Christ and leaving that behind and Dashboard deals with what’s to come, nice analogy if you ask me.

4. Never Going Back feat. Uriah- I like this beat gotta nice groove to it. I think that Uriah shouldn’t have kept singing behind Armond, it was kind of distracting to me, but he was a nice addition to the track as far as the chorus was concerned. All the tracks so far have dealt with the past in some way; this one speaks about heartache from a woman and moving forward from that.

5. The Highest- This is another track from his Dreaming Out Loud album, one of my favorites actually! This one deals with relationships as well and at the end there’s a sample of The Simpsons which draws on the ketchup theme as well.

6. Airplanes(interlude)- A real song here, very transparent of the struggles he has went through, even after being a known minister. There is a track later on called “Glory” that goes in even more about this. One line that stuck out is when he said, “Foolish pride says, “It’s just me and God”/for whatever reason His people makes the even odd”. If there is one thing that annoys me is lone ranger Christians. Why would God say Adam couldn’t be alone but you want to be? Once you add God(who is a community within Himself), you will be lead to be around a community of believers, and if not you need to examine yourself.

7. Catch Up feat. Rich Tunes- Of course there had to be ONE track that says catch up haha! Basically saying they on the move for God and ya need to catch up lol! The rhymes here were nice to, reminds me of Redd Lettaz. Another funny sample this time from King of Queens about saying ketchup instead of catsup.

8. Forgive Me- Another track from Dreaming Out Loud, honest one here as well on forgiveness on the shortcomings in his life, from not speaking about Christ to being a hypocrite.

9. Blank Canvas- A track about parenthood and how he went through divorce and how it was dealt with. These kinds of things can impact a child’s life and he expressed his heart to show him in spite of the situation how to wait in wisdom on the right one and to avoid the pitfalls he fell into.

10. Wait It Out feat, Pizzie & J. Carter- I like the beginning of this track with the voice effects when the guy was saying “Wait It Out”. When the beat came in, I wasn’t really feeling it, and it affected his flow in the first verse. The track is about the end of days and the difference between those not waiting and living for the Lord before His return and those that don’t.

11. Chevy Impala Music (interlude)- Smooth beat right here, I like it! Speaks on many different topics that its hard to pinpoint the direction of the track...hey maybe he’s just spittin’ and that’s cool with me! Touched on everything from the past, to Christians looking too much about who’s a mason lol. Good stuff.

12. Glory- This track was released as a leak on Dasouth and Rapzilla and I heard it before seeing the controversy over it. It’s a raw track but I have honestly heard more direct and still didn’t have a problem with it, so why would I with this one. The wordplay on this one was great, and revealed the truth that the actions done don’t bring life but death but in the end giving his life to God, He gets the glory!

Categorical Ratings Breakdown:

Originality/Creativity(5/5): I like how he wove the theme of ketchup into using this album to “catch-up” people to the music he’s already done. The way he put the interludes in with samples from different shows were funny and at the same time highlighted the title of the album. Even the songs spoke about his past a lot and where he is now so as to “catch you up to speed”.

Lyrics(4.5/5): Always been impressed with Armond’s lyrical ability and it shows here as well. He uses a lot of imagery and wit to get his heart across and speaking of the heart, his transparency is something I appreciate.

Delivery(4.5/5): Along with the nice lyrics, there has to be a good delivery and Armond...wait for it...delivers on this as well. You can feel the passion especially when he’s bearing his heart out with his struggles, etc.

Beat Selection/Production(4/5): Armond picks good beats that fit his style and personality. It’s rarely hard-hitting, but allows for introspection and contemplation. Some tracks were of course secular instrumentals and he chose the type of beats that call for introspection and transparency as well.

Concept/Arrangement(3.5/5): Delivered well on the concept of the album, some of the arranged tracks maybe could have been better, for the first few tracks of the album dealt with almost the exact same thing, regarding the past, but it was a pretty cool arrangement.

BREAKDOWN: Chevy Impala Music II

2011-08-14T12:07:00.007-04:00

Chevy Impala Music II featuring J Carter by Armond

Update: studio footage w/ J Carter & Jae Mitch

Light a candle, pour a glass of Arnold Palmer in a champagne glass & lemme learn ya

Trying to dream & stay focused on my mission
Want you to hear with your eyes, use your ears as your vision
What I'm about to say to you is going to be different from anything you're used to hearing. So you'll need to change your perception in order to get it all.
Nah, that ain't deep, the concept is simple as me always eating McDonalds & losing weight
I choose my fate
McDonalds has empty calories. For someone with a high metabolism as I do, as much as I eat it, it's not going to help me get in better shape. And even though fast food is ridiculously bad for us, everytime we eat it, it's a choice. So when we reap the "benefits" of a choice, we can't be mad at the options made available to us. We can only hold ourselves responsible for making that choice.
Every storm that I weathered, I swear it passed
Satan can't take nothing from me I won't let him have
& that's why he ain't stabbing me with a pitchfork
I'm grazing in the grass my ancestors was lynched for
We bring up the story of Job & how Satan had to petition God to bring harm to him. This is an old testament issue, as now since Christ is in us, the devil has no ability to do anything to us directly unless we have doorways open to allow him to do so. He'll use circumstances, other people, your insecurities...but never you directly. You're not a puppet. Life is 10% of what happens to you & 90% how you react to it. The wrong reaction will give the enemy access. And even within that, God's grace doesn't let you get destroyed. Grazing in the grass, refers to generations before me that have sacrificed, made mistakes & broke down walls to make things easier for the future. And whether we know it or not, we're doing the same thing.
And I was more concerned with Kris Kross
Wearing clothes backwards when that affected my actions
I was 8 then, now I'm 26
My house built with straw, sticks & a couple bricks
I used Kris Kross as a double entendre. At 8 yrs old, I had no idea of the sacrifices my parents, grandparents & elders made for me to live the life I have today. I was more concerned with my own life. Also, it's a lie when they tell you hip-hop has no affect on its listeners. At 8 years old, Kris Kross had me wearing clothes backwards to school & leaving the tags on my Starter cap (When that affected my actions)...and because of that, 20 years later, my house (foundation) is built on some good things (bricks) & some incorrect ideologies (straw & sticks) that could hinder my full potential.
Ain't think my past would be hard to dismiss
Never knew my heart had a lisp
Double entendre...someone very special to me has a small lisp. Also, a lisp is considered to be a deficiency, I thought I was a good person (good hearted), but my past that's so "hard to dismiss" leads me to do bad things & make wrong decisions.
Started coasting on faith, I seen my luck was running up
Easy to lie naked, much harder to cover up
Hard to ride for the cause, super easy to buckle up
Easy to kill the noise, but impossible to knuckle up
Coasting on faith = riding with God, my luck was running up because luck doesn't exist. Anything not founded on God will eventually run dry. Easy to lie naked, it's easy to tell the truth & be honest. Harder to cover up, you have to lie, remember the lies & lie to cover up the other lies. It becomes a burden. Hard to ride for the cause, nobody wants to be the 1st, super easy to buckle up, it's much easier to ride the coattails & reap the benefits of somebody else's martyrdom. Easy to kill the noise, it's easy to ignore, but impossible to take action (knuckle up)
What...oh you thought that I was different too?
I am, double check who you're listening to
Don't compare me to these everybodies
Cause it's enough lanes made for everybody
Say I sound like Common, a lil' Lupe
But what I'm saying ain't common, found me a new lane
Although there's nothing new under the sun, I believe that you can do what you do & not run into anyone else. True creativity & inspirations runs too high, far & wide to have been exhausted by now. People always compare me to Common & Lupe Fiasco, & while they are some of my favorites, I don't believe I sound anything like them. People just like to label, compare, identify & box things because boxes are safe. They are contained. If a bird flies around the house, you don't know where it's going. But if it's in its cage, you don't have to worry about it. It is where it always is.
To change the world, we gotta change our minds
Worried about illuminati, but illuminate your minds & realize
The light in the world that you're called to be
Is dim & shorting out, took your morals & whored em out
To the highest bidder, with the higest figures
Bible beside my pistol, side by side, what's bigger?
The trigger pulled? Or the bullet launched?
Do I still need a vest if I'm filled & full of God?
We're always looking for something to attach the devil to to "expose him", when it actually gives him & the situation more power. The illuminati has unfortunately been a hot topic for the last couple of years. And even though demonic influences in music, & secret societies in our culture is NOT a new idea, all of a sudden the notion of it has re-emerged & has basically began a witch hunt. And what it does in the grand scheme of things, when you focus solely on that, is it dims the "light of the world", the Bible calls us to be. You take everything that God has given you & you've whored them out, you've sold them to become apart of this witch hunt. Bible beside my pistol...the pistol is a metaphor for action. If I point a Bible @ you, nothing happens. But if I point a gun at you & pull the trigger, a bullet will come out & kill you. So what's more important? One or the other? Do I still need a vest if I believe God will protect me? Or does some sort of action need to follow these words I believe in?
Could my back handle these backgammons?
Cuz I wanna double axe-handle my backstabbers?
Backgammon is a game...
Don't win a Grammy, did I fail to fufill my mission?
Trying to please a culture I wasn't built to fit in?
As you may or nay not know, I despise being called a "Christian rapper"...or even a "rapper that's Christian"...I hate labels. There's a Jesus culture that has totally engulfed Christianity that I do NOT fit in. For the 1st few years of my walk, it hindered me because I thought I had to act like this & talk like that & do this & not do that in order to fit in with...people. When God never asked me to change who I was...He wanted to do the changing Himself. Once I realized I could still be good in God's eyes & not conform to this culture, it was a lot easier for me. But still a good chunk of my fanbase fit into this category. Do I reject them because they are what I despise? No...So if I say nigga on a record
Would all of my niggas feel disrespected?
Or if I said nigga was a state of mind not attached to a color, would I get backlash from the public?
A friend of mine released a song a few months ago & he said nigga in the track. He received a good amount of backlash, people boycotted him, denounced him, all because he said this one word. All of my life I've been the token black kid. Always was in white schools. And never did I have to deal with racism. So to me, nigga doesn't mean what it means to my father. While blacks have claimed to "destroyed the power" of the n-word, they really haven't. If anything they've just made it cool for everybody to say. While I agree with Chris Rock's "Nigger vs Black People" theory. Nigga (that -er & -a difference is malarchy) was a word used against black people because we were considered to be ignorant. Today we know that ignorance knows no color. So to me nigga = ignorance. On the other hand, I do know that the word is offensive to a lot of people & you have to respect that everybody's not going to view it the same way as you. So I am sensitive to it in that regard. That's just my take.Or should I say bump it, eff it
Focus on my efforts & let faith do the rest
If I turned my attention to everything they said
Let their opinions dance in my head
These women hear my music & tell me how much they love it
& I'm struggling with the fear of failing twice as a husband
Say they want honesty, but they're scared of it
Say they stand for the truth, but they're prepared to sit
People really don't want to face the truth. Face fears. Face rejection. Face opression & opposition. The music I've been creating lately has kinda forced people to do that. And as a result, the backlash appears.
Trying to tell em 'get on my level'
They tell me 'stack my dollars' but finna switch to Ameros
Christ is King, but sometimes I feel like Pharoahe
Invest in a Kingdom my failures say that I don't sharehold
But it's so easy to speak the truth in a room where everyone believes the same things as you
So I apologize if I said it all, before I'm dead I'ma set up the next to set it off
2Pac said "I may not change the world, but I will spark the brain who will change the world". And I believe it. Though we may not "finish the work", we will lay down the groundwork for our children to continue with it.

Ketchup Album Release Party Recap (Details & Video)

2011-07-30T14:03:00.004-04:00

Entire show

Set List:
Armond- Intro
Jae Mitch- Presence Of The Lord
Jae Mitch- Already Dead
AmMessiah (GodSquad)- Welcome To My Funeral
Armond, J Carter & Pizzie- Motivation (World Premiere)
Pizzie- Story To Y'all
Pizzie- I'm Gone
Pizzie & J Carter- Ambition
Pizzie- She Really Here (Original & Remix)
Pizzie- Freestyle
Pizzie- Waitin' On You
Pizzie & J Carter- Just Go
Pizzie & J Carter- Come On
J Carter, Pizzie & Jae Mitch- Everybody In The World
J Carter- Walk With Me (Intro)
J Carter- Battlefield
J Carter- Abyss
J Carter- Always There
J Carter- Hold Me Down
J Carter- Changin' Up My Game
J Carter- L.O.V.E.
J Carter- Scream Your Name
J Carter- Deuces
Armond & J Carter- Beautiful Ashes
Armond- Glory
Armond- Airplanes
Armond- Scared Of Me
Armond- Rearview/Dashboard
Armond- Never Going Back
Armond- The Highest
Armond- Blank Canvas
Armond- All Or Nothing (spoken word)
Armond- Forgive Me
Armond, Pizzie & J Carter- Wait It Out
J Carter- The Letter
J Carter- You Alone

Clips:
The Highest

Glory

Beautiful Ashes

Motivation feat J Carter & Pizzie

All Or Nothing

VLOG: The Glory "Controversy"

2011-07-18T17:02:00.001-04:00

so my song "Glory" ruffled a few feathers...Birdman. so i decided to address it...post office

if you haven't heard Glory yet...

Glory by Armond

Glory

2011-07-15T00:17:00.003-04:00

I give it to You...

Glory by Armond

Watch the Ketchup Release Party

2011-07-06T20:51:00.002-04:00

if you missed the release party/homecoming concert from last Saturday, it's available from the beginning here

Watch Ketchup Album Release Party #2 THIS SATURDAY on Ustream 9:30pm EST

2011-06-22T11:34:00.005-04:00

As you may or may not know, this Saturday I'll be holding my 2nd album release party in Colorado Springs. This is my 1st show here in nearly 8 years. My boys Pizzie & J. Carter will be sharing the stage with me.

The event will be held at the Solaris Center. Currently, the center is under financial durress & as a result, all proceeds at the door will go to keep the center alive. The venue has facilitated many forms of ministry, to include concerts, conferences & youth gatherings. If you wish to contribute, click on the DONATE link on the bottom of the toolbar.

If you're not in the Colorado Springs area, the show will be LIVE on ustream. The video is below.

Live TV : Ustream

Clock Radio Speakers Episode 1- Ten Artists You Aren't Listening To But Should Be

2011-06-08T20:15:00.001-04:00

Are you tired of listening to the same artists over & over? Do you feel like the radio & the internet is creating a sphere of the same ol same? Then this podcast is for you...crack open your mind & iTunes & get ready for the official 1st episode of Clock Radio Speakers!!!!

In this episode, special guest Doc returns to discuss new artists that we feel aren't getting the respect they deserve.

DOWNLOAD Armond- Ketchup (The Best of Armond 2010-2011)

2011-05-28T00:31:00.002-04:00

If you do not see the player, click here to download
Ketchup: The Best of Armond (2010-2011) by Armond

Thank you as always for your support...spread the word. As usual, you can name your price for the mp3s.

The Special Edition Ketchup Packet is still available...

June 4th- Album Release Party in Columbus, OH at The Way Columbus 8pm
June 25th- Album Release Party with special guests Pizzie & J Carter in Colorado Springs, CO at Solaris Center
7pm

Ketchup Available For Pre-Order NOW!!!!!!

2011-05-24T13:52:00.002-04:00

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER

Ketchup: The Best of Armond (2010-2011) by Armond

With a pre-order minimum of $10, you will receive a "Ketchup Packet", which includes the following:

A physical copy of Ketchup signed by Armond
A digital copy of Ketchup sent to your email at 12am May 28th
An advanced screening of the Ketchup movie presented by Be2Become
An exclusive private ustream session of Armond & DJ O-Sharp working on "Snooze Button III: Summer Vacation"
(if you are attending the Colorado Springs album release party, you will receive an invite to sit in a studio session as Armond & Pizzie work on their EP "Insomnia"

"Ketchup" (The Best of Armond 2010-2011) available May 28th

"Ketchup" Album Cover & Tracklist

2011-05-23T09:14:00.007-04:00

Ketchup. The Best Of Armond from 2010-2011. May 28th. Buy it for someone who's unfamiliar w/ Armond, then point them to the bandcamp. If you're the one who's unfamiliar, nice to meet you. Enjoy.

1. Wanna Hear A Joke? (Intro)
2. Beautiful Ashes featuring J Carter
3. Rearview/Dashboard (produced by Doc
4. Never Going Back featuring Uriah
5. The Highest
6. Airplanes (Interlude)
7. Catch Up featuring Rich Tunes
8. Forgive Me
9. Blank Canvas
10. Wait It Out featuring Pizzie & J Carter
11. Chevy Impala Music (Interlude)

The Announcement....

2011-05-11T23:26:00.000-04:00

'Best Of' EP "Ketchup" available digitally May 28th at armondwakeup.com
EP will feature 3 new songs & my best material over the last year & a half (over 100 songs) (1st leak next week)
June 4th album release party/concert at The Way Columbus start time of 8pm. $5 admission, all ages
Physical copies will be available at the show for $5
Everyone who attends the show will receive a code for a free download of any of my previous albums on my Bandcamp
I'm trying to do the same event in Colorado Springs in mid-June, if you know of any dope venues in the city, please let me know.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day Five- A Song That Reminds You Of Someone

2011-05-10T17:41:00.003-04:00

side note: I encourage you all to participate with me, by all means leave songs that remind you of someone in the comments.

A Song That Reminds Me Of Someone: Common- "The Light"

Nah, this isn't an instance where I talk about that special someone & get all mushy. I'm about to throw myself under the bus. Come hither, gather round & let me tell you a tale...

The year 2000...my sophomore year in high school. I remember skipping my 6th period to go cop Common- Like Water For Chocolate. My man Alex was a huge hip-hop head so every Tuesday we'd go to a local mom & pop shop in Colorado Springs called Independent Records to get the latest albums. While Sam Goody in the mall had new CDs for $17.99, Independent would sell the same joints for $6-7. At this time NOBODY knows Common, at least not in Colorado. At the time, Com was a rappity rapper, rapping his little heart out for his rappity audience.

I'm playing the album in my huge DJ headphones & Discman (with the duct tape around it because I dropped it too many times & the spring that kept the lid closed popped out) & "The Light" comes on.

To this day, it's a TRUE love song. It's honest, vulnerable & strong. He places his queen high without demeaning & belittling himself, which is rare nowadays. At the time, I had a crush on this chick...I won't say her name but if you knew me back then you know who it was. Her senior year I finally got the courage to speak to her, not even holla. We had a journalism class together, so I laid my little corny 16 year old mack down. In the class, we would submit articles, poetry, reviews & editorials to national publications to see if we could get published. And that semester my poems (now my rappity raps) were published by 3 separate publications. No other student that year achieved such a feat. So you couldn't tell me nothing. As a result, she starts giving me play cuz I gained a little fame (which should've been a red flag, but I was 16...whatever) & she asked me to write her something. So I did......

The Light

I went to ohhla.com, which back then was like the mecca of hip-hop online (along with tha-real.com & hiphopsite.com, but I digress) & pulled the lyrics up. I had to listen & read along because ohhla was NOTORIOUS for butchering the words to songs. So I hand wrote the entire song & gave it to her the next day. So I'm IN THERE!!! I even got to 2nd base (which for me was a home run) but nothing ever materialized. She ended up going out with this Trap Or Die dude (commonly referred to as a "thug"...red flag #2) & we went on our separate ways.

A few months later...the song blows up. To this day it's Common's biggest hit.

She never confronted me about it, she never "exposed" me (although she did go on to tell some of her homegirls that she used me...I gave her my hot fries from McDonalds one lunch period, did I get "gamed"?) but anytime I hear that song I always think of that girl, and my introductory lesson in Sucker For Love 101...smh

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day Four- A Song That Makes You Sad

2011-05-10T17:24:00.003-04:00

side note: I encourage you all to participate with me, by all means leave songs that make you miserable in the comments.

A Song That Makes Me Happy: Lori Perry- "Up Against The Wind"

While we're on the subject of Queen Latifah, this song is the soundtrack to the saddest scene in the history of modern cinema; the death of Cleo from Set It Off...

The only other song that comes close to this level of depression is Gary Jules- Mad World. While super depressing, doesn't touch the pain of Cleo's untimely demise.

Everytime I watch Set It Off, I always hope she fake stops the car & soon as the task force thinks they've got her, she drives off into the sunset. Nope. She GETS OUT THE CAR!!!!! GET BACK IN THE CAR CLEO!!!!!!!!! WHat were you gonna do against virtually an entire division of a police dept???

But on the flip, Lori's tune serves as a sample to a song that features my favorite Jay-Z verse..."Most Kingz"

So the song that makes me sad, ends up making me happy. Go figure.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day Three- A Song That Makes You Happy

2011-05-08T19:06:00.002-04:00

side note: I encourage you all to participate with me, by all means leave songs that make you happy in the comments.

A Song That Makes Me Happy: Queen Latifah- "Latifah's Had It Up To Here"

some of y'all know Queen Latifah as Kadijah James of Living Single. Others know her as a mogul. But me? I know her as my favorite MC of all time (yes, over Lauryn). what can I say about this beat?? it embodies everything I love about the early 90s. That piano?!?!? SON!!!!! Incredible...Latifah's verses, even the corny intro at the beginning of the video. I love it all.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day Two- Your Least Favorite Song

2011-05-07T12:55:00.003-04:00

side note: I encourage you all to participate with me, by all means leave your least favorite song in the comments.

Your Least Favorite Song: Vickie Winans- "Long As I Got King Jesus"

HATE this song....HATE HATE HATE HATE this song. It's so bitter. So seclusive...which to me is anti-everything that God represents. You don't need nobody else?? So Job didn't need his homeboys? So Moses didn't need Aaron? So Jesus didn't walk around with a crew of 12 people?? You just fine all by yourself right???

An enormous issue w/ the church is people who get hurt by people in the church & then reject the church (& God). It's even something that I've dealt with, BUT...if Christ called us to BE the church (not the building), and I am of Christ, I'm rejecting God & I may not even know it. I know how dirty, foul & filthy I am & can be...and that same filthiness is in everybody else (born in sin). So that doesn't give us the right to shun everybody because we were rubbed the wrong way, or because someone was dishonest. We've all been hurt, by friends, boy/girlfriends, spouses, even God has hurt us if we wanna keep it all the way real. But that's where grace, patience, mercy, etc come in to play, because otherwise we WOULD make everybody back back, gimmie 50 feet.

And this is why I hate this song. Plus add to the fact I don't like traditional gospel music, or praise breaks, & anything else inside those churchy walls. I'm good.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day One- Your Favorite Song

2011-05-06T14:57:00.008-04:00

Why am I hearing about a Facebook game on every social network EXCEPT Facebook? I saw the 30 day picture challenge a few months ago, but I rarely take pictures, and the rest of your run of the mill online games scream "hey look at me!!!" As much time as I spend online, I'm really a recluse disguised as a people person. BUT, here's a challenge I can do. Music in 30 days? Why not. Most of us music nerds have a "soundtrack of my life"; to condense that into 30 days should be super easy. Without further adeu, here is day one.

side note: I encourage you all to participate with me, by all means leave your favorite song in the comments.

Your Favorite Song- Sade- "Kiss Of Life"

If I can keep it real, this really isn't my FAVORITE favorite song, it's just the 1st song that pops in my head when people ask me what my favorite song is. Truth is, I have a LOT of favorite songs; based off genre, mood, season, etc. But overall, Ms. Adu has managed to stand the test of time. To me, this song embodies the essence of love; vulnerability, passion, submission, patience, & an overall level of schmoozery & googly butterflies. And this is why...

#TheRhymePerspective: Armond (Interview)

2011-05-03T19:15:00.003-04:00

Interview I did last week with the homie Praverb...

First and foremost, who is Armond?

Armond’s a simple individual. He enjoys day old popcorn, peanut butter M&Ms, McDonalds and sipping the finest of lemonades & freshly brewed teas, commonly referred to as an Arnold Palmer. And I guess he raps OK too.

Your project The Havilland Savage Theory is a great listen where you display all faucets of your personality. What were you trying to convey with the project?

Every year for Valentine’s Day I do a mixtape based off of a movie to address different aspects of love. Love is a subject that all of us deal with everyday of our lives, but our perception of what it really is, is wrong. Our vertical relationships are easy (kids, parents, God, etc) but our horizontal relationships (boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse) are extremely difficult. Yet, it's something that all of us aspire to have and succeed at. The view of love in today’s society is unrealistic; too much emphasis on sex and physical attributes, but not as much invested in communication and patience. So withThe Havilland Savage Theory & The Nina Mosley Experience, I tried to present questions that will generate healthy dialogue between men & women. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I think if you ask the right questions, we can come together & work out an effective conclusion.

You stated on your blog that the project has reached a lot of people. What opportunities have you been blessed with as a byproduct of the project's success?

The most exciting opportunities I’m getting now are speaking at colleges. I think 18-25 is such a vital age. They’re no longer children; they’re out on their own taking baby steps as adults. If I would’ve had someone teach me about love, credit scores, and the way the world works, I wouldn’t be in half the stuff I’m in now.

Your discography consists of like six or seven projects and each presents a different vibe. What are some of the obstacles that prevent you putting together a full project? are you a perfectionist?

I am my obstacle. I struggle with procrastination. I actually recorded and mixed 12 tracks off The Havilland Savage Theory the night before it was released actually. I was up working on it until 3am because I kept pushing it off. I have a home studio, producers, engineers and I create really fast; I’m doing 5 projects this year and they’re already done in my head. So the musical side isn’t an issue. I’m learning more about promotion and marketing, branding, and getting the music out there. It’s kinda difficult when you’re doing all of that yourself.

You reside in Columbus, Ohio and you have had the opportunity to perform with Eric Roberson. Describe the experience...

Performing with Erro was crazy. I’m such a big fan of his music, anytime I can interact with someone who’s impacted my life, I’m all for it.

Being on stage allows Armond to...

Convey what the music doesn’t say. Looking in the eyes of my audience is a high for me. I always focus on the one person who isn’t paying attention and I won’t leave them alone til they totally engage me. I enjoy doing my music acapella because it’s so easy to hide behind a beat and a hook; I want the words to captivate the audience. The biggest fear artists have is wondering if the world really hears you. There are so many intangibles that people look at when it comes to music that have absolutely nothing to do with music. But at the end of the day, is what I’m saying to you just noise? Or crystal clear? Will it impact your life? Motivate you to change? Or am I just entertaining you. Being on stage allows me to gauge that.

I also respect you for your ability to present music as an artist who has a Christian background. What is your overall feeling about the Christian Hip-Hop Genre and will you gravitate towards it one day?

I think Christian hip-hop is getting a LOT better sonically, which was always my biggest issue with it. I don’t think the issue is in the music, it’s the people. Once the church is open and honest with itself as imperfect humans and not Jesus robots who spit fire and brimstone, you’ll see a renaissance within the culture, which in turn will penetrate the world. People want authenticity; cats wanna preach and give truth, which is cool, but the gospel is much more effective when you’re able to link your personality and your life and who God is to you within it. Including your flaws. Because God does not make you perfect. God’s perfect, we’re not. A lot of people don’t have a grasp on that, so it hurts more than it helps. Will I 'gravitate towards it'? I can't control how people label my music, it's just music to me.

Your next project is called The Residue and the lead single features Marsha Ambrosius. What are the expectations for this project?

The Havilland Savage Theory was the reality TV season. The Residue is the reunion show. There are some things that didn’t fit within the context of the original project that still need to be said. This one is a lot more personal. Right after The Havilland Savage Theory dropped, I went through some things that I address on the EP.

If you had the chance to present a perfect album who would you enlist as features and for production?

Honestly I would handle the rhymes myself, the only features I’d have are the cats that were with me from jump; Rich Tunes, L-Win & Flex. For the most part I’d keep production in house with producers I already have relationships with; Doc, Sandman & Pizzie. If I had the budget to reach out, I’d go with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, The Inkredibles, Just Blaze, & Noah ‘40’ Shebib.

Great choices! This ties into the previous question, who would you like to collaborate with and why?

I don’t hear a rapper & say “you know, I’d love to RAP with them!!!” I’m moreso into having a conversation; what were you thinking about when you wrote this, when you said this, what message were you trying to convey? In that case there’s a LOT of cats who I respect as lyricists that I’d want to talk to. Phonte, Joe Budden, Sade, Anita Baker, Ryan Tedder, Ne-Yo, and Esparanza Spalding. I wanna talk to OJ Da Juiceman. How he was able to parallel selling drugs & fast food on “I Sell Chickens” is amazing to me.

What are some your of your interests outside of hip-hop?

I am a HOMEBODY!!! I will watch old wrestling videos on YouTube, play PS3 and Netflix all day and be content. Growing up as a military brat, I’ve traveled my entire life, so now after 26 years I’m finally in one place and I enjoy sitting still, if that makes sense.

How can the fans get in contact with you?

I’m on twitter all day everyday, Armond on Twitter. My website has my music, blogs, & other randomness of mine as well.

NEW MUSIC The Time I Got Washed: Armond & Flex- Speakers On Blast

2011-05-02T19:13:00.004-04:00

Speakers On Blast feat Flex by Armond

So I got washed up on this track

I mean...completely high-tide'd. To get "washed" in rappity rap terms means to get outshined, to do better than. So for example, Eminem washed Jay-Z on Renegade. So in this case...

My homeboy from Toronto named Flex...washed me

I don't wanna get into it...it's too much to handle emotionally right now. I still gotta regroup. Just listen & pray for me. Thanks.

VIDEO Armond Speaks On Easter Traditions & Performs "Child Of God" Remix

2011-05-02T18:59:00.003-04:00

for Easter I was asked to perform at The Way for Easter (or Resurrection Sunday, whichever you prefer) & I took the time to speak on the disrespect that is Easter. I also performed a remix to "Blood Of God" from my album Dreaming Out Loud. Here's the original...

Blood Of God by Armond

NEW MUSIC Armond feat Marsha Ambrosius- Your Hands

2011-03-23T19:49:00.003-04:00

The Havilland Savage Theory has reached nearly 7,000 people in 2 months. The ONLY reason I bring up the numbers is because last year I released six projects & got 12,000 downloads. In 2011 I've reached half of that with only one. I'm excited, some would call that "enlarging my territory"...I call it faith, favor, hard work & dedication....but ANYWAY

In the midst of the Havilland Savage Theory, there was still an untold story. Still unanswered questions. Still some things I wasn't able to say under the project's original concept. So I'm dropping a bonus EP entitled "The Residue" this April & this is the 1st single from it.

BREAKDOWN Armond- All Of The Lights Freestyle

2011-03-17T11:42:00.004-04:00

Direct Download Link via the9elements.com

I'm supposed to be taking a break. My life is way more important than these rappity raps.

Then Monday night happened.

I'm at my house, watching TV & my man Doc hits me on twitter like "the All Of The Lights remix has an open 16 at the end...you should do that". My mind is like "break...break...break..." but the rapper in me is like "rappity...rappity...rappity...". So I figure since I had an hour before Monday Night RAW, I'd humor myself & see if I could write & record a verse in 60 minutes. Doc was also up to mix, so why not??

Light in the dark, illumination
Chasing that thing between her legs'll ruin your nation
Because we know behind every great fall of man, a woman was somewhere lingering...whether it be physically or mentally, they're normally apart of the equation. No shots...
The frequency's in the air, tune to the station
Metaphor for the Holy Spirit & submission to Christ
OD'd on the red pill, now you're in the matrix
Was losing my patience, using you as a muse
Knew that you was the truth
Skewing my view of the spaceships
The theme of this freestyle is perception. How you see things is how you position yourself to handle them. A "Muse" is something you reflect on in silence...I'm reflecting on God (knew that you was the truth), who was rearranging everything I thought I knew about life (skewing my view of the spaceships)
Tried to move & then "poof" lights low
But the Christ in my life is a light show
With the right glow, Without the ice, no
Write it down, take a picture for the slide show
I separated myself without an iso
The ball is in my corner dunno where it might go
She was like yes, I was like, no
Soon as I tried to move out of the will of God, I was out of wack (lights low). But in Him there is a reflection of Him that is in me...I made a decision to leave old things behind (separated myself without an iso) & I'm living on faith (the ball is in my corner, dunno where it might go)
I was sick of the chills
Trying to get a grip on the slickest of wheels
I tried to run away, but she's MMSing me pics in her heels
Once again, using women as an example of my humanity despite the God in me
I've lost my love, wish I could feel
No more fear of fear here's a list of my thrills
Wait, slow down, let me chill & be still
No need to brag on the illest of skills
No coughin or sneezin'
They walking & wheezing
We legions apart & one day you'll start to believe me...
This actually displays me fighting my pride (which is where I am right now personally). Referring to the distance as legions apart is a reference to Legion, the demon that Jesus encounters in Mark 5. Separating myself from the darkness. Wordplay

VIDEO Armond LIVE on Ustream 3/6/11

2011-03-06T21:19:00.003-05:00

thank you to everybody who tuned in to my 1st ustream. i played 7 songs off 5 upcoming projects I'm working on...

Tracklisting
1. I'm Not A Star
2. Good Evening (produced by Doc)
3. Forever Right Here
4. Your Hands (Remix) feat Marsha Ambrosius
5. Moment For Life (Freestyle)
6. Warriors (produced by Doc)
7. Never Going Back feat Uriah

Click here if you can't see embedded video

I'll be LIVE on Ustream @ 8pm EST!!!!

2011-03-06T17:13:00.004-05:00

I'll be on ustream TONIGHT at 8pm EST playing brand new songs I've been working on from four separate EPs:

The Havilland Savage Theory: The Residue
Insomnia (EP with Pizzie)
Rough Draft (EP with Doc)
Snooze Button 3
KetchUp

Join the chat & we shall engage in muckery together
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE STREAM

NEW MUSIC Armond- Good Evening

2011-03-04T22:23:00.003-05:00

"Good Evening" produced by Doc for Rough Draft Entertainment

Been wanting to put out something that wasn't in the same vein as Havilland Savage for a while (btw, we should be at 5k downloads by next week). Doc & I dropped this on a whim. My targets? Charlie Sheen, Lupe Fiasco, Manute Bol, Albert Pujols & insecure rappers...

BREAKDOWN Chevy Impala Music

2011-02-28T11:33:00.013-05:00

Chevy Impala Music is a favorite freestyle of mine for a few reasons. #1 I was going through a really dark period in 2010 where circumstances piled up one after the other. I made a few mistakes & as a result, me being me, I pulled away. But often times, when people tell me "you need someone to talk to", the music I create is the equivalent to me sitting in the chair telling a shrink about trauamatic events in my life starting at the age of 6. Unfortunately, either people don't listen, or I don't make my issue clear enough (I think it's both) & here we are. Songs like "Illuminati" & "Just Begun" reflect that super dark period of my life.

Usually during those times I purposely stay away from writing, because when I get out of a funk & I hear what I wrote while I was in it, I get mad that I was mad (if that makes sense). I don't remember exactly what I was doing when I got the Maybach Music 3 instrumental, I just remember that whatever I write first after not touching a pen (or Blackberry) for months at a time, is usually the equivalent to a suppository...and it all came out (sorry for the graphic image).

Which is why I rhyme for the entire beat.

Hannah Montanima, eatin a bananima & too cool for school were subliminal shoutouts to a friend I was watching the classic viral video "Shawt Bus Shawty" with...and too cool for school is an inside joke.

Small as a giant, large as my ambitions
in 2010, Big Krit's "Krit Wuz Here" was my soundtrack, and "Small As A Giant" was like my theme song, it had become my mantra.
In '05, traded God's truth for man's fiction
Witness the transition, from a young boy, used to rock shades in the club cuz I lacked vision

Double entendre. "used to rock shades in the club cuz I lacked vision". I stopped going to clubs even before I "got saved". Basically I knew I didn't belong there. Before that revelation, I was in the club, never smoked or drank, would dance a lil bit. I was there virtually every week & had no clue why. I "lacked vision"...spiritually. Work, McDonalds, music, sex, the club. My life was going nowhere. Also, you see dudes in the club wearing shades & you can tell they can't see anything. They lack vision too...literally.
Now I see clear...Adam Copeland

Adam Copeland is the real name of a wrestler...Edge. The lyrics to his theme song say "on this day, I see clearly".
Said she seen it in my walk, I'm glad you noticed
Another double entendre. When a woman notices a man, the 1st thing she sees is his confidence. It's in his walk. Also, you should see my life & dedication to Christ through my "walk"...my actions.
Now I'm back focused, what up Tamika
Remember Wal-Mart & the eye doctor was tryna greet ya
Then I went out of town & decided we should be apart
We got in an argument & you lied, said you keyed my car
I should've had you cut, that's the old me
...But to this day, that's the homie
That entire story is true. There's not really much to explain, I had just bought my Impala & I went out of town. After I broke up with her (because the girl I was talking about in "Forgive Me" (Invited shorty over, told her we would have a Bible study...) was getting suspicious...I eventually got exposed anyway...(Luke 12:3) So she knew the only way she could hurt me was by touching my car. She was lying, and we ended up speaking again like a year later & been cool ever since...which is why I say...
Now don't ask why I remember
Getting better but I still am a beginner at forgiveness
Rather burn for the Truth, than go to hell for an opinion
Nothing grieves me more than when I have discussions with people about their faith & the reasons they give me for not serving Christ are all opinion based. They either bring up the Old Testament, read parables literally, or the "People at church do this" shtick, which is usually the normal response, but those people aren't accountable to you. You're accountable to you. I ain't going to hell cuz of somebody else, lol
Doc's engaged, Shave & his wife's expecting
& I can't see my son, look at life's lessons
Not bitter, I've learned to enjoy the ride
Seat back, dose off & be glad I ain't gotta drive
A faith parable...also I used issues with my son to say "your world doesn't stop because something happens to you". The work still needs to be finished, and that's not to say don't ignore it, but don't let problems consume you & render you useless either.
Praise Christ, my knees to the floor
Tear down walls, dropkick my feet through the door
I was probably listening to Francis & The Lights that day, hence the Knees To The Floor mention, & the dropkick is a parable for breaking down walls & barriers. And another ode to wrestling.
What up Keyl? What up Stephanie?
Seen me at my worse, so I make sure you get the best of me
Pray the day I'm able to repay the time you vest in me
Still riding with me though I'm wide on the turning lanes
Y'all remind me that I'm too much of a nerd to change
Back when Rich had me surfing waves
I kept it real...fake for long, I deserve the change
Keyl & Stephanie are two people who are very close to me that keep me in check. When I start smelling myself they remind me I'm just as average as the rest of the world. "Wide on the turning lanes" is a metaphor for mistakes. "had me surfing waves"...Rich Tunes will have you believe that my waves in Japan were so crisp because of his barber stylings. When actually it was dedication & hard work on my own (HA!!!), "I keep it real fake for y'all, I deserve the change"...I'll have to introduce you guys to epideMIC (my previous rap monkier), he was the definition of fake. I kept of that fake facade so long, I deserve something real

You deserve the same
I'm Penny in Orlando, deserve a ring
No works of my own, I ain't earn a thing
Now I'm more concerned than ever with who sits in office
(Why?) My daughter finna start kindergarten
I'm tryna master the matrix
Y'all debating which of these rappers is masons
Which one sold their soul to the devil
When most of y'all ain't living for God anyway
Me? I'm a renegade.
Tried as a rebel & convicted, put to death to serve a sentence of a zillion days
What we represent is seen as a true minority in our society. & me being committed to doing this "for the long haul" is being "convicted, put to death to serve a sentence of a zillion days"

King of my castle, gold is what I pave the roads with
A sucker for a woman with some heels & her toes did
I suppose its the reason why I need the Rock
Put the q-tip to my ears before I breathe & stop
Yeah, I'm a king, I know full well of the living God's power that dwells within me...but at the end of the day, I'm human. And "a sucker for a woman with some heels w/ her toes did"...that statement brings me right back down to life. "I suppose it's the reason why I need the Rock"...for no other reason except I'm human, I need the Rock. I need to cling as close to Christ as possible so I don't fall victim to that.

To make sure you feeling what you hearing
Adhere to the spirit, the appearance is a mirror
To what's really in the center
A city full of pretenders
"Put the q-tip to my ears before I breathe & stop"...obviously a Tribe Called Quest reference, but it also means, if you remove my music from my life, I still gotta make sure you're "feeling" what you're "hearing"...I gotta live out & effectively penetrate the public with more than just beats & rhymes. Music is not the end all be all, it's just an avenue. "Adhere"...or stay close to the spirit, "the appearance is a mirror to what's really in the center, a city full of pretenders". People are fake, & will use any avenue possible to acheive their own goals & desires. But staying close to the Holy Spirit will give you discernment...the ability to sniff that out & not fall victim to the "city full of pretenders".

I, speak to your cries
It's the reason for life
I can't do all black everything in July
This is why, I go hard for many peers
But I ain't tryna bare my soul to some itchy ears
I rep the Lord, try to convey why you need Him closely
Y'all more concerned with which girl inspired Nina Mosley
I understand, I'm aight with it
They never know they're in the dark til the light hits it...

I used the "all black everything" phase as a metaphor for people who mindlessly follow trends. Those who are trapped in the bondages of hip-hop & it's religious culture. I do what I do so you can break away from that; not thinking for yourself is crazy. Hip-hop really had cats wearing all black in the hottest month of the year. Transparency & honesty is something that will effectively combat that, but "I ain't tryna bare my soul to some itchy ears". 2 Timothy 4:3 talks about false teachers who will do whatever they can to water down truth to appease itchy ears. People don't wanna hear truth, they just want something to make them feeeeeel better (St Louis- The Players Club). So I don't say what I say to put a smile on your face, I'd much rather open your eyes. But a good portion of my audience listens with the intent of getting some "juicy gossip" hence "which girl inspired Nina Mosley. Nevermind the mixtape giving you some insight on love, there's no way I could've written all those songs out of the wind right? There had to have been a girl....right? Who is she? Etc etc etc...blah blah blah. But "I understand, I'm aight with it...they never know they're in the dark til the light hits it"...I expect some people to not get it & to think that way, it's the nature of our culture. But they don't even know they're in the wrong...and won't know until "the light" aka Truth, hits them.

I'm not finished...

Son to my father, father to my kiddies
Training to run the world while you jogging in the city
Pardon, often, I'm bothered by the pity
Cuz Armond is getting offers from these sponsors cuz I'm witty
at this time, I was getting interest from a few indy record labels(emphasis on FEW lol)...

Nah, God is with me...He said I got a message for em
It's more than music, a record deal is a stepping stone
I'ma let em know...but right in the middle of saving the world I get distracted & I check my phone
She's been calling a lot lately, less is more
Still unlike any woman I've ever met before
I question God bout the purpose of our past
But that ring on your finger is a circle & a slash
And honestly I wonder if it's worth it & I laugh
Said she was my 'ride or die', well I'm certain I would crash
After maybe 6-7 years I ran back into an ex of mine who had gotten married. Emotionally the door was still open, so at the time I didn't know what the purpose of us reconnecting was. A distraction? Harmless? No clue. But I knew it wasn't gonna go very far because she was married. Was I flirting, was she cheating? NO...the depth of the relationship was played in my head; if you notice I'm only talking to myself & God this entire time...I haven't even "answered" my phone, I only checked it. Keep reading though...

Watching King of Queens
Life is Arthur Spooner
Shiny things create Kings from Martin Luther
I love you too much, ain't got the heart to shoot you
But I gotta kill my past so I can start my future

Arthur Spooner is the funniest TV character of all time. So "life is funny"...shiny things create kings from Martin Luther...material possessions, money, assets, things we place value in will create a "king" from "Martin Luther"...a normal person (Martin Luther King wasn't an extraordinary person...his ideals were, he was simply the person who was used to execute them). Also "Martin Luther" was a priest int he late 1400s who challenged the ideal that freedom from God's punishment of sin could be bought with money & presented the fact that salvation is a free gift of God's grace...funny nearly 700 years later those philosophies are still taught. Though he was excommunicated, his rebellious deeds have "martyred" him...made him a "king". And because those things are more important than the woman of my past, I "ain't have the heart to shoot you...but I gotta kill my past so I can start my future". I can't kill her directly; but since she was directly apart of my past she had to go in order for me to walk into my destiny.

Breakdown...

Armond Performs Two Shows In One Night...In One Hour

2011-02-26T22:18:00.002-05:00

Armond accidentally books himself for two shows on the same day.

At the same time.

At venues on opposite sides of the city.

I need a manager.

The highlight??

Meeting Yahazarah. Foreign Exchange Yahzarah. Y'all know I'm a Foreign Exchange STAN!!!

Dye my hair blonde Stan. My tea's gone cold I'm wondering why I got out the bed at all Stan.

500 Followers + 3,000 Downloads = 'Name Your Price' For My Music

2011-02-26T21:51:00.000-05:00

We da best mayne!!!! We deed it!!!!

On a whim I asked for 500 followers on twitter. By no means am I a "follow whore". I admit I did Team Followback on a whim & met some of the weirdest, loneliest, most boring people in the history of....uhhhh....ever.

The feed back for The Havilland Savage Theory has blown my expectations away. We reached 3,000 downloads in 9 days with little to no internet support. Meaning, other than Them Fighting Words, Hustle Knockin, the9elements, & DaSouth, this project was pushed purely off "word of mouth". At one point my entire Facebook wall was filled with people posting the mixtape. The response has been humbling & beyond my wildest expectations. Thank you.

So as a result, I've decided to make ALL of my music "name your price". INCLUDING Dreaming Out Loud. So download AWAY!!!!! You're welcome.

Armond in NYC...

2011-02-16T13:19:00.002-05:00

i didn't post this here, but I went to NYC for the 1st time last week. Went to the world famous Nuyorican cafe & my time there coupled with a lot of bickering beef over the last few weeks inspired this vlog

The Havilland Savage Theory...

2011-02-09T16:48:00.002-05:00

In association with BareFruit Co & The Way Columbus, I present to you "The Havilland Savage Theory" in all of it's glory

Click here if you can't see the player

I was up until 4am tweaking, re-recording, mixing, tweaking some more, sequencing, leveling, & tweaking some more until I finally got it right. If I didn't have to work, I promise I would've been up til at least 8-9am. But this is perfect.

ALSO, I am trying to raise money to get this, as well as past & future projects pressed up as physical copies. So a donation of whatever you're lead to give would be greatly appreciated.

Finally, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read the attached pdf "The Guide To The Havilland Savage Theory" to get the full spectrum of the project. Of course I'm always open to hearing stories of you applying these philosophies into your own life & how it works. Leave a comment or shoot me an email.

ENJOY!!!

The Havilland Savage Theory Vlog One: The Pursuit

2011-02-06T23:36:00.002-05:00

The Havilland Savage Theory Vlog One: The Pursuit

Today, tomorrow, & Tuesday I'm doing three vlogs detailing the 3 Chapters my upcoming mixtape The Havilland Savage Theory is broken down into. 1st chapter: The Pursuit. What does it mean to pursue a relationship & what does it mean to be single???

Recap: Poet's Lounge One Year Anniversary & Interview w/ 'For Tha Hell Of It' Radio Show

2011-02-04T01:50:00.010-05:00

Yup...tonight HAPPENED!!! It's 9am, I'm in my cubicle fighting sleep but it's worth it (plus it's Friday, i'll sleep in tomorrow). Last night, my boy Wali "Mr Nice Guy" Crowder celebrated the one year anniversary of his weekly Poet's Lounge event normally held at Cup O'Joe's (Easton) with a grand event at Von Jazz, Columbus' #1 spot for urban entertainment. And he invited me to come through & perform. Here's the recap.

Pic I snapped soon as I got there. Tonight was my redemption from nearly 14 months ago...and I made sure I was gonna redeem.

The venue filled up quick!!!!! Pretty soon we were packed like sardines because the venue & the promoters double booked (*shrugs*...happens) but that's a GOOD problem to have. Everybody was packed out to see Eric Roberson & with good reason.

Wali asks me to go on first...I dunno, maybe I'm a good tone setter?? Not sure. But I made sure I would remember this night for-ev-errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (5 pts for movie reference)

Here's the picture I took from the stage

All of the other poets were amazing, Wali definitely brought out the big guns. Erro arrived a little late due to a flight delay, so his show began around 9:30pm. Dude has a GREAT live set, did a go-go inspired version of "Couldn't Hear Me", did a couple medleys, great crowd interaction...SOON as he gets into the middle of his set, it's 10pm.

I had to run outside in the blistering cold & call into the For Tha Hell Of It radio show. FTHOI is a sports podcast done by U'Nikk & Cool Breeze. I had a song I did over the weekend that's totally separare from The Havilland Savage Theory & gave it to them to world premiere. At this point this is the ONLY place you can hear this song, I'm not releasing the CDQ for a minute. Check out the show, I call in around the one hour mark.

Download in iTunes

Oh, and point out how soon as I start getting at Nikk, the phone "hangs up" on accident. Riiiiight...SMH.

All in all, it was an incredible night. I met some great people, shared some gospel & had a LOT of fun in the process.

Armond feat Marsha Ambrosius- Far Away (Remix)

2011-02-01T16:14:00.002-05:00

The 1st leak from The Havilland Savage Theory (February 9th!!!!) I'm a huge fan of Marsha Ambrosius & Far Away is my favorite song of 2011 (so far) so I already knew I wanted to do something with it. As far as how it fits in the storyline of The Havilland Savage Theory, this is the point of the movie where Lee Plenty begins to realize all the ideas he created in his mind about Havilland are wrong...all wrong. When we love someone, we are blinded by it; all of their faults & shortcomings conceal themselves behind the other person's emotion. Which can either be really good, or REALLY BAD. In this case, it didn't work for Lee, as Havilland wasn't good for him at all. She was manipulative & selfish. My verse is based of his POV once he drops Havilland off after New Years weekend.

BriteComplexity in the City: Love Misunderstood - The Havilland Savage Theory

2011-02-01T16:13:00.000-05:00

BriteComplexity in the City: Love Misunderstood - The Havilland Savage Theory

Amazing preview of the upcoming "Havilland Savage Theory" mixtape by @BriteComplexity, one of my favorite writers...

So I Met Havilland Savage...

2011-01-26T20:04:00.011-05:00

You'll never guess who I ran into today...

Havilland Savage.

OK, lemme not disrespect. I'm positive professionals hate it when they're typecasted. Dustin Diamond had to act a fool for 2 years on random VH1 shows, film a porno & still couldn't get away from "Screech". Despite James Avery being the voice for Shredder on the Ninja Turtles cartoon, people always refer to him as "Uncle Phil".

So I met Chenoa Maxwell. The actress who played Havilland Savage in the cult classic Hav Plenty.

The same Havilland Savage I'm basing my next mixtape off of. Crazy right? OK, here's the story:

While deciding what movie I would base the mixtape off of, I scoured google for minutes on end; trying to find little tidbits of characters, random facts about the movies I had narrowed it down to. So I google "Chenoa Maxwell".

I learned that she has a website & that she's become a photographer. Great. I also see she has a twitter. Greeeeat.

I'm a twitter nerd. I'm on there all day err day ~~talking about absolutely nothing~~ networking. And I've met some incredible people because of it. Whodathunk it?!?!

So I think to myself "it'd be dope if the inspiration for my music, could see & hear how she inspired me". So on a whim, I followed her. Her twitter is private so I had to wait a few days for her to accept my request. I lightweight forgot about it.

Then out of nowhere, she's on my timeline...and she's greeting new followers.

So I hit her up...and she says

Oh!!!! She's inquiring about the cover my mans & em Ian Young did for The Havilland Savage Theory. So I explain the concept & she says

Oh!!! She's interested??? In hearing the mixtape??? Word???? SO I give her the bandcamp & the release date & she says

It was a WRAP!!!! You couldn't tell me NOTHIN SON!!!!! It's like when your child draws you something that they KNOW if for YOU and you ALONE...soon as they see you it's "daddy look!!!!"

That's how I felt. The woman who played the role that is currently giving me inspiration beyond belief wants to see the picture I'm painting. So if she's on board...

Why aren't you???

Armond Performing LIVE with Eric Roberson February 3rd at Von Jazz!!!!!

2011-01-25T23:15:00.002-05:00

YUP!!!! You read that right!!! I'm opening for THEE Eric Roberson!!! At THEE venue I've been wanting to show out at since last year...check this story

So last year I was invited to perform at Von Jazz. They had an open mic, THEY invited ME to come out & participate. Always heard great things about the venue so I said sure. Get out there with my boy Cos. Cos knows all of the musicians, everything should be straight right??

WRONG...

One hour passes...TWO hours pass...my name isn't called. So I go to the lady I checked in with & inquire.

Her- "what are you performing?"
Me- "spoken word, & I want the band to back me up"
Her- "OK cool"

Another 45 minutes pass

I go talk to the guy who was running the show...

Him- "what are you performing"
Me- "spoken word & I want the band to back me up"
Him- "oh, no spoken word. just singers."

Word?? No spoken word at an open mic? I can understand no rappers, but no acapulco???

Then Cos goes up (who sings & plays several instruments) & they tell him no because they're running out of time & still had a few more acts to get up.

So later on that night, I was talking to God & I was like

Me- "God?"
God- "what up?"
Me- "I wanna perform at Von Jazz before the year is out" (this is December 2009)
God- "no doubt, I got you"

14 months later, I'm not doing an open mic........................

I'm on the bill. For ticket information, Click here.

For The Nina Mosley Experience, I did a verse to one of my favorite songs of his "Dealing", I'm gonna TRY & see if I can't perform it with him. Hit him up @IAmEricRoberson & tell him you want Armond to perform Dealing with him.

Dealing (Remix)

She

Softest Lips

NEW MUSIC Uriah feat Armond- Lover's Sky

2011-01-20T10:15:00.002-05:00

OK I had NO idea this was leaking today. I met the homie Uriah through my boy Rich. Having a mutual respect for each other's music (his joint Love, War, Fair made me a fan) he asked me to be on the 1st single of his upcoming album Constellations called "Lovers Sky". The song is perfect, what with The Havilland Savage Theory dropping Feb 9th. The song is really sappy, classic R&B. No, "I love you girl cuz yo' body is this", no "up in the club, VIP...shawty finna come home with meeeeeee"...none'a'dat. Loving love because it's love.

Anyway, support my boy & hit him up on Facebook

Right Love, Wrong One: Tell Your Story

2011-01-18T12:20:00.007-05:00

Have you ever wanted someone so bad? You begged, pleaded, prayed, maybe even stalked this person (on the low...or not so much)? Only to find out they weren't all they were cracked up to be? Tell your story, share what you've learned from the experience & be featured on armondwakeup.com.

In support of Armond's upcoming mixtape The Havilland Savage Theory, you're invited to tell your story of "Right Love, Wrong One". Send in a blog or video to edoublef@gmail.com. Those whose stories are selected will be included in promotion for the project, & will also receive a digital copy of the mixtape before it's release date of February 9th.

All submissions must be received by January 30th.

Side notes:

If you are still bitter about the situation, your entry will not be accepted. The goal is to identify problems AND present solutions...
If that wound doesn't need to be opened, DON'T OPEN IT!!!!! I would hate for you to do all that for a mixtape.
Videos should be uploaded to a website such as YouTube, Vimeo, or Dailymotion.

The Havilland Savage Theory is a mixtape which serves as the followup to Armond's "The Nina Mosley Experience". The Havilland Savage Theory is based off of the cult classic film "Hav Plenty" & tells the story of a young man named Lee Plenty, who spends the film dealing with his insecurities & personal inadequacies while in pursuit of his college crush Havilland Savage. Havilland is a beautiful woman, fresh off of a breakup & unknowingly uncertain of her future. Years of emotional buildup culminate in one rollercoaster of a weekend where both Lee & Havilland learn about love & their place in it...individually and collectively.

Set to be released February 9th at armondwakeup.com, Armond tackles both perspectives; what goes through a man's head before, during, & after a relationship? What is a man's "knee jerk" reaction to certain events in a relationship? Do men really have a hard time expressing their feelings? And for Havilland, what is under the surface of a woman who seemingly has it all together? Does the image of the "bitter woman" hold true?

This project was created to create healthy dialogue between men & women, which will hopefully produce some understanding between us. If you haven't grabbed your copy of The Nina Mosley Experience, which was based off the film Love Jones, do so here.

Breakdown "Airplanes"

2011-01-14T13:18:00.003-05:00

Continuing in the "Breakdown" series, I'm going to decipher my most popular freestyle "Airplanes".

I was on my 'me myself & I'
Walls up, ain't need people
Wanna feel God, reach people
We need leaders
I'm royalty, bleed regal, see evil
Eyes are the windows to the soul, let the breeze ease in
All I need is an intermission for men to listen
Needle to the record, I overdosed on my inhibitions
A struggle I have is being too open in my music & not open enough in conversation
No Henny in the system, just many women
Say she independent, but so dependent on men's attention
Lord forgive me, not a religious bigot
Just a sinning Christian, tryna win these innings
In my mind like 'Lord, how can I reach the masses'
My past burned to the ground, can see the ashes
God said there's a lesson in the stressing
After you get the message, there's a blessing with some leverage
Trials are simply there to build our character & often come with rewards
BUT, I was going too fast, He wasn't done but I caught senoritis, stopped going to class
Still bought my cap & gown, clowned til the last day
Til I got that call 'you ain't walking with your classmates'
I related trials to high school, when you stop going to class as much, you let your grades slip & before you know it you can't catch up & there's not enough time. Sometimes we'll get through half of the trial & have a major victory, which ultimately isn't the complete victory. we'll slack off & before we know it our peers are passing us up because they pressed on & we didn't
I should be adamant for what my passion is
Neighbors know my name, they get my mail on accident
Ways of the world got my head broken
Told her 'I'm a minister', then she spread her legs open
One thing I've learned, is that ministry comes with a LOT of temptation...more than you think. Crazy part is, it isn't talked about until somebody succumbs to it
Turn on the TV, why can't women find a man?
Y'all ain't supposed to find us, that's the problem there
I'm not a fan of a woman pursuing a man, or a man allowing himself to be persued. Which is one of the many reasons I say men are the new women & vice versa. Men don't want you to be the damsel in distress tied up to the railroad tracks, but persuing a relationship with you shouldn't be a rubix cube either. You can make yourself available & still be involved with the things of your personal life
Too many absent fathers, bitter mothers, deprived children
We're all killing each other
It's a cycle...the man isn't there (which could be for a plethora of reasons, whether she pushes him away or he walks away), which in turn causes the woman to become bitter, and that ultimately has the largest affect on the child because they're without who & what they need to grow
Y'all ain't even seen a piece of my God
We at war, if you see blood, don't get squemish & fall off
People have this idea of Jesus being a hippie, frolicking in the forest. Not so much
But I ain't running with em, one day they gon' listen
Til then they're stuck, living their life off Reverend Run's wisdom
I personally can't stand Rev Run's wisdom...it's powdered milk. Powerless. A lot of it doesn't make sense. Catchy phrases. And people live their lives off of it, but you can't live off of only baby milk in a bottle. You'll die if you don't give your body meat & potatoes
We ain't all soldiers, y'all wanna build up the kingdom when God's tryna tear down & start over
See we're all broken
The devil was planting seeds when we was kids
Now we eating from his ribs
Eve came from Adam's rib...our sin & shortcomings come from hell. From the second you were born, Satan had it out for you, and he used several methods to keep you as far away from your destiny as possible. And he used whoever he could to mold you...friends & especially family members.
Yeah that's BIG...Chris Wallace
Devil shooting Bullet Bill's, pray they missed all us

God was painting a masterpiece, I brushed Him off
Started feeling myself, realized I was jerking off
Problems arise, I wonder where everybody is
But when they knock on the door, don't even let em in
Real simple, a lot of times we blame the devil for stuff when we are indeed our own worst enemy. God was working on me, I stopped Him from finishing, let pride get in the way & I used masturbation as a double entendre (feeling myself/hurting myself)...cuz masturbation is the loneliest pleasure of them all & it's really not pleasure in the grand scheme of things. Also I pointed out how people always talk about "me myself & I", "all I got is King Jesus", when 95% of God's ministry requires PEOPLE...working together with other PEOPLE. We push people away & wonder why nobody stays around.
Foolish pride says 'it's just me & God'
For whatever reason, His people make the evens odd
Even though people are needed to complete God's work, we're all human & imperfect & our flaws are very hard to work with...it takes love & patience to push through the imperfections & complete the mission
My intentions were in vain, painted me as the enemy
Words of doubt entered me in my sleep
No piece of tail was worth the time I saught it for
$5 dollar condoms, $500 child support
do the math...
Probably why I use writing as an escapism
All these bars in my system help me escape prison
Stay grounded but soar
And as much as you love, go to war
Balance, in a sense I'm dueling inside
And hearing this terrible music is fueling my pride
So Lord, I can't do this on my own, I'll falter
Don't look down as you walk over the water
Word to my lady Keyl
I signed up for the Air Force & joined the Navy Seals
this is the line that EVERYBODY asks me about & it's simple. The Air Force is largely considered to be the easiest of the four branches of the military. Better facilities, easier jobs, easier deployments, etc. The Navy Seals are the cream of the crop of the military...the Army commercials that have guys coming out of the water, taking out the bad guys...that's what they do.

The Navy Seals boot camp is incredibly difficult, people get injured, sick, drop out, quit...during tryouts. People say they're able to handle it but when they get out there, they have NO clue. And that's what a walk with God is like; you sign up for it...you give your life to God thinking that everything is sweet, all your sins are forgiven, nothing ever happens to you again & you live this easy, Air Force/Ned Flanders life. When it's really the Navy Seals. God stretches you, challenges you, renews your mind, hell wants your soul back, there's a struggle between good & evil that never goes away. You think you can handle it, but there are times you wanna quit, you get injured...but you can't. In the end when you make it through & become a SEAL, there's so much prestige, respect & honor that comes with it. You're glad you did it. Short term pain for long term pleasure. The Bible calls it the sufferings of this time don't compare to the glory of Jesus Christ that is to come.

Make sense?

Clock Radio Speakers Episode 0: Top 10 Albums Of The Year

2011-01-06T22:06:00.002-05:00

The 1st episode of my newest endeavor is HERE!!!! Well...not technically the FIRST episode...we'll be launching that next week. But Doc & I got together on a Sunday & chopped it up about 2010 & the year that was in music. A little nerdish at times, but hey...I'm not apologizing & I'm sure Doc won't either. Anyway, enjoy. The official launch coming next week.

Doc & Armond's Top 10 Albums Of 2010

2010-12-29T11:37:00.020-05:00

Doc (@roughdraftent) & I have officially opened up the flood gates & listed our 10 best albums of 2010. Chime in with your own lists in the comments, all the better. Doc & I will also be releasing a podcast ~~arguing~~ discussing our lists at the top of 2011.

Doc's List

First of all, a short little introduction to who I am and why I’m writing this - I go by the name of Doc, I’m a producer/sometimes-engineer/audiophile who’s known Armond since he was epideMIC. We’ve worked on countless songs together, and we both trust each other’s opinion on music since we’re both picky about mixing, sound quality, and production.

Quick side note - I won’t include on this list any project I’m involved in, so I’ll give a special shoutout to Armond’s three projects this year (Dreaming Out Loud, The Nina Mosely Experience, and Snooze Button II) and to Starrs & Murph’s Boxes For Sale 2 (featuring production from Araab Muzik, myself, and a bunch of others - download at http://www.djbooth.net/index/mixtapes/entry/starrs-murph-bfs2/).

With that being said, on to my favorites from 2010, regardless of genre.

Albums of the year:

Honorable Mentions:

Rick Ross - Teflon Don (I had to make too many changes to the retail to qualify it, but it was very, very close to the top 10)
Curren$y - Pilot Talk
Pac Div - Don’t Mention It
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son Of Chico Dusty

9. NERD - Nothing
I shouldn’t have to introduce NERD too much - Pharrell, Chad, and childhood friend Shay with a band is pretty much all I need to say. Their previous three albums all sound different from one another, which is both a blessing and a curse (It goes without saying that In Search Of is a classic). Nothing has moments that recall the best moments of their previous albums while bringing in a horn sound that wasn’t previously a part of their arsenal. It’s best use is on the chorus/break of ‘Help Me’, a 70’s rock influenced song that suddenly bursts with horns and keyboard riffs when you’re not expecting it. They’ve settled into their role as a great party band that’s influenced by vintage rock as much as it is by hip-hop. Sounds good to me.

Pick- "Help Me"

8. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Not familiar with Arcade Fire? Take a quick trip to Wikipedia, I’ll be waiting.

Ready? Okay good.

I had absolutely no idea who Arcade Fire was prior to this year, and I can’t say I’ve fully dug into their past catalog, but this is a hell of an album. The Suburbs has a pretty obvious theme (hint - it’s in the title), but it’s the sheer array of instrumentation that they bring to their music that stunned me. Some of these songs are the definition of epic, and it’s fantastic to listen to. There are notes of 80’s rock here (‘Month of May’, the drum pattern on ‘Ready To Start’, etc.) along with tons of other influences that I can’t even start to get into. Highly recommended, but please please please listen to it from start to finish. It’s an album in the truest sense.

Pick- "Ready To Start"

7. Drake - Thank Me Later
Last year’s Rookie of the Year returned this year with some slight concern from music fans. Why did he take so long to make an album? Would he regret not capitalizing off the buzz of So Far Gone? Then ‘Over’ dropped and all of a sudden people were really surprised - how come he didn’t simply make ‘Best I Ever Had’ pt. 2??

Thankfully Drake didn’t feel like he had to make So Far Gone part 2, and instead he returned with an album that was true to his sound while sounding bigger - bigger budget, bigger names. Highlights include ‘Light Up’ (where Jay started his semi-comeback this summer), ‘Up All Night’ (where Nicki Minaj steals the show IMO), the lead single 'Over', and ‘Shut It Down’, where he realizes his destiny as the hip-hop version of The-Dream. Both get knocked for their expected skill (Drake’s punchlines and The-Dream’s voice), both like to do the exact opposite of what they’re ‘supposed’ to do (Drake’s singing, The-Dream’s hilarious rapping), and both are fantastic songwriters. Nothing on this album is as good as ‘Houstatlantavegas’, but there’s tons of strong material on here. Great summer album. (More on The-Dream later.)

Pick- "Shut It Down"

6. Freddie Gibbs - Str8 Killa, No Filla (No DJ version)
Hailing from Indiana but based out of Southern California, Freddie Gibbs is single handedly trying to drag 1990’s gangsta rap into the 2000’s (without sounding cliched). He first got noticed on The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs and midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik (both from 2009), and Str8 Killa was both an EP and a mixtape (Str8 Killa, No Filla). Thankfully the No DJ version of the mixtape tracks that didn’t appear on the EP were released, so if you were able to combine to two versions, you got an entire No DJ mixtape that was essentially a street album.

As far as the album itself? Probably a little too long, but it’s entirely listenable, so it’s excusable. Highlights include ‘Oil Money’ (featuring a surprising hook from one half of the Black Keys), ‘National Anthem’, and ‘Live By The Game’, among others. Highly recommended, and I’m looking forward to listening some more as the weather continues to get colder. Probably should have been released in the winter, to be honest. It’s just that type of music.

Pick- "Live By The Game"

5. Black Keys - Brothers
Labeled as a ‘blues-rock’ duo, I’d describe the Black Keys as an incredible 70’s rock/blues with some slight hip-hop influences. You might have heard their previous album with Danger Mouse Attack and Release or their blackroc album, but this is their best work by far. Mixing arena-rock ready songs with much darker tracks (including an almost RZAish beat on ‘Too Afraid To Love You’), Brothers is a great album for somebody who wants to branch out from hip-hop but doesn’t wanna go too far left-field. One side note - get ready to hear all sorts of tracks from this in commercials and movies for a long time. There’s already at least two tracks from here that get play on commercials, and it’s only going to continue. Still - highly recommended.

Pick- "Too Afraid To Love You"

4. The-Dream - Love King
I told you we’d get back to The-Dream, and rightfully so - the best R&B artist/producer/songwriter currently in their prime released another album this year, and he’s definitely figured out what his strengths are. Hilarious lyrics? Check. Fantastic production? Check. The best mixing in music? Possibly. Love King is, at first glance, just another retread of his previous albums, and one that doesn’t immediately knock you out. The secret to this album is that it’s an *album*, and you have to listen to it from front to back, and let every song play out. Melodies go from one song to another, songs segue seamlessly into each other, and it’s structured in a very particular way. Pay close attention to the ‘Yamaha’ - ‘Nikki Pt. 2’ - ‘Abyss’ combo, they are meant to be listened to in one sequence, and all three are fantastic.

One more thing - if you haven’t heard this album on great headphones or speakers, then you haven’t heard the album the right way. That’s true for all of his albums, but you owe it to yourself to give it up for one of the last few artists who knows how to make a complete album.

Pick- "Sex Intelligent Remix"

3. Big K.R.I.T. - K.R.I.T. Wuz Here
Even though he started making a little bit of noise in 2009, Big K.R.I.T. is almost certainly 2010’s Rookie Of The Year. K.R.I.T. Wuz Here suffered when initially released from some abnormally low volume levels, but thankfully that’s easily remedied. Newly signed to Def Jam, K.R.I.T. is a throwback to southern hip-hop circa the late 90’s (and yes, he sounds a lot like Pimp C).

What sets him apart is that he’s lyrical without being showy, he’s a producer in his own right (and a lot of the beats on this album are fantastic - ‘Country Sh*t’, ‘Gumpshun’, ‘Voices, etc.), and he has the ability to speak about topics that are more than just girls, cars, and cash (no Cam’ron). ‘Hometown Hero’ and ‘Children of the World’ are the two songs that got K.R.I.T. the most attention and for good reason - both are some of 2010’s best, and this album is something that every music fan needs to listen to.
Pick- "Children Of The World"

2. Francis and The Lights - It’ll Be Better
Francis and The Lights (a band consisting of Francis Starlite and a revolving crew of musicians) came to my attention earlier this year when I saw him listed in the credits for Drake’s ‘Karaoke’. I was intrigued enough to listen to his three EP’s, the most recent of which is It’ll Be Better (all are available to stream from his website francisandthelights.com).

If I had to describe Francis and The Lights, I’d just say they’re 80’s retro without trying to be kitschy. That’s even too simple to really capture how talented they are, but they capture everything we remember liking about that era (slightly cheesy but not ironic, fantastic hooks, electronic instruments + drums) without coming off like hipster doofuses. ‘For Days’ and ‘Knees To The Floor’ are two of the best songs this year (the breakdown at the end of ‘KTTF’ is amazing) but the whole album is great, from start to back. It takes a little while to get into, but you won’t regret it.

Pick- "Knees To The Floor"

1. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2010’s most hated/loved/talked about artist re-emerged first with ‘Power’, then with his G.O.O.D. Friday series of free music every week for a couple months in a row. Several of the best songs from that series show up on the album, and along with the typical leaks that every big album has to deal with, there was a sense that people already knew what the album was going to sound like.

To assume that would be wrong, because Kanye made an album, not just a collection of tracks (sensing a theme with my picks?) - this album was his redemption in the wake of ‘Taylor-gate’, and the album takes you on a journey through his admittedly messed up psyche. His hubris peaks with ‘Power’ and ‘All Of The Lights’, the later of which is packed with enough guests to fill a Grammy performance. ‘Monster’ comes right after those songs and flips the sound of the album completely on it’s head, starting with Bon Iver singing about “shoot[ing] the lights out”, and then dropping some huge drums and a chorus where he talks about his image as a monster. The surprise of ‘Monster’ is Nicki Minaj, who completely and utterly obliterates her verse, showing off different voices and flows in what has to be considered her coming out party. We all knew Nicki was the go-to for guest verses on sexually charged tracks in ‘09 and ‘10, but this was different - this was a dark, heavy track with Jay-Z and Kanye. She gives what will probably be the performance of her life, as cliched as that sounds.

I could go on and on with this album’s highlights, from posse cut ‘So Appalled’ to the extended ‘Devil In A New Dress’ (featuring Rick Ross doing his best 2010 pseudo-Biggie impersonation) to the back to back combo of ‘Hell Of A Life’ and ‘Blame Game’, where he delves into his destructive relationship with Amber Rose and the after effects. Kanye is a complicated, arrogant, vulgar individual, but he’s a better artist because of it. This album was, to me, far and away 2010’s best, and it deserves every great review it’s getting. Impeccable production & mixing, an inspired mix of guests, and a subtle theme that ties it all together.

Pick- "Hell Of A Life"

Doc's Best Beats of 2010:

Rick Ross - ‘Veteran’s Day’ (produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
Slaughterhouse - ‘Microphone’ (produced by Alchemist)
Drake - ‘Over’ (produced by Boi 1da)
Curren$y - ‘King Kong’ (produced by Ski Beatz)
Big K.R.I.T. - ‘Children of the World’ (produced by Big K.R.I.T.)
Kanye West - ‘Devil In A New Dress’ (produced by Bink)
The-Dream - ‘Sex Intelligent Remix’ (produced by The-Dream)

Armond's List

TIE 10a. Diggy Simmons- Airborne
I wave the Diggy flag proudly. Most would wish they were rapping like this dude when they were 16. He’s like a Lupe/Pharrell/Kanye/Drake hybrid. Right now that hurts him, because they are his identity instead of coming into his own, but what do you expect…he’s 16. And his subject matter gets repetitive, but what do you expect…he’s 16. But Airborne proved to me among other things that his Made You Look freestyle wasn’t a one shot deal. He can actually craft relevant music, he has his audience, now all he needs is that hit record with Justin Bieber Da Last Don on the hook & it’s over.

Pick- "Oh Yeah"

TIE 10b. TiRON- MSTRD
The west coast has resurged recently with MCs such as Pac Div, Blu, Dom Kennedy & Kendrick Lamar. But it was mixtape/EP from TiRON that really stuck out to me (aside from Blu & Exile's Below The Heavens). I enjoy honest MCs; for so long rappers were mandated to be Bluto's & Bowsers by the fans, and then the same people had the nerve to get mad when Bluto was exposed to be Olive Oyl. While I'm not saying TiRON is a punk, I am saying that it takes a certain type of person to rap about getting a bad haircut from their mom (For Your Smile).

Pick- "For Your Smile"

9. Wale- More About Nothing
I think on paper, Wale is one of the most talented new MCs out today. His lyrical content borders on genius. It’s just something about him as an artist that’s…off. His Seinfeld themed “Mixtape About Nothing” made me a fan back in 2007 & this was the follow up. Based off Seinfeld, a sitcom I’ve never seen, I guess ultimately the whole show was about…nothing? Maybe? And that’s why he went with that theme? Not sure…but Wale was able to prove that he does have a fanbase & a musical lane despite poor album sales, lukewarm reviews, & certain artists not messing with him musically.

Pick- "Friends & Strangers"

8. Zo!- Sunstorm
I am NOT a fan of today’s R&B. A bunch of sexed up robots humming & rapping (yes, rapping) about their interpretation of love (or whatever they think it is). Call me old, I don’t care. People forget that R&B is not limited to relationships between man & woman. Zo! put out an RHYTHM AND BLUES album. One of those albums you let play early Saturday afternoon as you clean your house, or before you get ready to hit the town with your significant other. Zo! was able to craft his own lane & not just do a Foreign Exchange sub-album. Speaking of Foreign Exchange (who I'll talk more about later), this album also highlights Phonte's songwriting & arranging ability. Listen to the album & read Zo's Studio Campfire Stories...it's a music nerd's dream.

Pick- "Greater Than The Sun"

7. The Roots- How I Got Over
I think in the last 4 years, while The Roots popularity skyrocketed, their album quality has diminished (sans Game Theory). However, with the amount of material they've released over the years, plus add in the fact they still tour, fans aren't crying "sell out!" when they see Quest & the crew on Jimmy Fallon. How I Got Over plays like a season of life…a low one. And I heard it during a very low time in my life; songs like Dear God co-signed my uncertainty, Now or Never helped me get out of the funk I was in, and The Day helped me take that first step forward.
Side note: I’m not gonna front, I think Black Thought is severely overrated as an MC, and every rapper that appeared on this album with him, completely washed him up (i.e.- Blu, Phonte & Peedi Crakk). While that doesn’t hurt the quality of the album, I just wanted to point that out *kanye shrug*.

Pick- "The Day"

6. Kambino- Reach
It’s really easy to put “Christian hip-hop” in this neat little box & toss it off to the side. It’s really easy for the subgenre’s artists & fans to stay in their safe bubble while failing to reach the world they so desperately claim to be saving. All too often, the issue with CHH is either dated beats, below average lyricism, coupled with a lack of depth & transparency. The thing I like about Kam’s album is that it’s obvious from jump that his music for him first, he didn’t reach (no pun intended) to only touch one demographic. Also, he didn’t get so deep lyrically to shun those who don’t know Christ & he wasn’t so shallow to alienate people already in the body. He talks to you & not at you, without compromise; including his own personality. Kam jumps from topic to topic, style to style effortlessly, & showcases that best on records like "Problem Is A Problem", "No Power" & "You".

Pick- "A Problem's A Problem"

5. Foreign Exchange- Authenticity
While we’re on the subject of rappers turnt sangahz, meet Phonte Coleman. Battle-tested North Carolina MC turned Grammy nominee. Foreign Exchange was originally a side project with him & Norweigan-producer Nicolay. With the breakup on Little Brother in 2009 & the unexpected popularity of FE’s 2nd album “Leave It All Behind” (one of my favorite albums of all time), Phonte & Nicolay struck while the iron was still hot & released Authenticity a year later. Again, I love discographies that stay true to the artist, all while showcasing personal growth without sounding like previous efforts. I don’t want Nas to make Illmatic pt 2 in 2010, he’s not the same person, so why we expect artists to re-create something that happened 5, 10, 20 years ago is beyond me. Anyway, the one thing that stood out to me was Phonte’s development as a songwriter. He’s able to capture all the emotions & thoughts that come with love, relationships & life; the fear, the excitement, the uncertainty of it all, without compromising himself as a man. Too often, people (not just men) don't know how to express themselves without completely sacrificing a piece of themselves. Whether the lyrics of this song are about his own relationship, Tay & Nic were able to reach a new audience (an audience that obviously sells products & hands out awards) without totally alienating their core.

Pick- "Make Me A Fool"

4. Drake- Thank Me Later
By far my most anticipated album of 2010. I was a fan of Drake ever since I first heard “Special” from Room For Improvement back in 2006. So to watch Aubrey go from underground Canadian rapper spitting over Dilla beats to one of the largest musicians in the world; I was happy for him. I will say I’m glad that he chose not to play it safe & do a Best I Ever Had pt 2…Over was a ballsy 1st single. Thank Me Later had nearly a perfect balance of singing & rapping (would’ve like to have seen more of the latter), but I can appreciate the fact that Drake catered to himself & his original audience, as opposed to trying to shuck & jive to get more fans. The highlight for me was managing to keep up with Jay-Z on “Light Up”, and keeping the sound in-house by continuing to use Noah “40” Shebib (who is top 3 producers for me currently). Despite a few missteps (no Fall For Your Type & 9am In Dallas?? Balderdash), Drake gave us a debut album that indeed we will be thanking him later for.

Pick- 9am In Dallas

3. J Cole- Friday Night Lights
In 2009, while the world sang the praises of Drake’s “So Far Gone”, there was something else bubbling under the radar. J Cole released a mixtape called The Warm Up & followed up with an announcement that he was signing to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Despite appearances seemingly everywhere, Roc Nation was a little hesitant to pull the trigger & drop his album & rightfully so. Would a rapper’s rapper sell in a climate where even Reggie Miller is shooting bricks? So, using the power of the internet, Cole dropped Friday Night Lights; shutting down twitter in the process. The album plays like a follow up to The Warm Up. You can hear the development in his production & overall sound (although his beats & subject matter do get repetitive after a while). The Warm Up was more “please listen to my demo”, while Friday Night Lights is “now that I have your attention”.

Pick- "Enchanted"

2. Joe Budden- Mood Muzik 4
Every three years, my favorite MC releases another installment of my favorite mixtape series. For so long, Joe Budden was considered to be the “emo” rapper; complaining, angry, constantly playing the “woe is me” card. And by most accounts, he was. 2009 was a rough year; after a highly publicized breakup with his girlfriend, getting punched in the face by Raekwon during a live stream over petty rap beef & several fall outs with his then-record label, it seemed as if Joe was driving off the bridge to nowhere. Then October 26th came. “Role Reversal” tells of the struggle of playing stepfather to a child while unable to see his own biological son. “Inseperable” is the anthem for relationships in the midst of a “me, myself & I” society, “No Idea” contains quite possibly the best breakup verse I’ve ever heard, “Black Cloud” is genius; a depressing song about being depressed that he’s no longer depressed, and “Follow My Lead” is a better song about God than 95% of the ones I heard from people who make God-centered music. Coupled with So Far Gone-ish production from J Cardim & Just Blaze, Mood Muzik 4 plays like the calm after the storm, a man thankful for life’s trials & the lessons they bring.

Pick- Follow Your Lead"

1. Big KRIT- KRIT Wuz Here
Every year there’s an artist who comes out of the blue & blows everybody away; engulfing the entire audience like water from a hurricane. This year’s artist was Big KRIT. The initial way to describe him in one sentence is “southern rapper inspired by UGK”. Doesn’t exactly captivate you to run to Best Buy & pick up his album right? But he’s an artists artist; producing his own tracks & matching them with honest tales of struggle & hope, up & down, good & bad. A 20 something year old using hip-hop as a means of expression of finding himself in his own journey.

Pick- "Hometown Hero"

Armond's Best Beats of 2010:

Rick Ross- 'Super High' (produced by Clark Kent)
Black Milk- 'Closed Chapter' (produced by Black Milk)
Diddy/Rick Ross- 'Another One' (produced by Lodi Lucci)
Eshon Burgundy- 'So Amazing' (produced by Eshon Burgundy)
Fat Joe/Young Jeezy- 'Slow Down' (produced by Scoop Deville)
LEP Boyz- 'Going In For The Kill' (produced by Megaman)
Kanye West/Swizz Beats- 'Power (Remix)' (2nd beat) (produced by Swizz Beats)
Drake- '9am In Dallas' (produced by Boi 1da)
Trae The Truth/Rick Ross/Lil Wayne- 'Inkredible' (produced by The Inkredibles)
Rick Ross/TI/Jadakiss/Erykah Badu- 'Maybach Music 3' (produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
Erykah Badu- 'Window Seat' (produced by Erykah Badu, James Poyser & ?uestlove)
Rick Ross- 'Mafia Music 2' (produced by The Olympicks)
Big KRIT- 'Hometown Hero' & 'Children of The World' (produced by Big K.R.I.T.)
The Roots- 'A Peace Of Light' (produced by The Roots)
Dirty Money- 'Hello Good Morning' (produced by Danjahands)
The Game- 'Hustlin (Champions)' (producer N/A)
Kingpen Slim/Jim Jones- 'My Life Is A Movie' (produced by J Buttah)

Armond's Christmas Wish List 2010

2010-12-06T12:21:00.002-05:00

The last time I celebrated Christmas was 2003...I've spent the last 7 years without trees, decorations, carols, presents...the whole 9. This year the whole gang's getting together & I'm excited...excited ain't even the word for it. So since I KNOW you guys love me, I've made my Christmas list public...I don't want much, I drove every car. Some nice cooked food. Some nice clean drawls.

Gap Hooded Toggle Sweater $79.50 (Medium or Medium Tall)

Gap Wool Private Jacket $128 (Large)

Triko "Tell The Children The Truth" $51 (Hoodie/Sweater/T-Shirt...doesn't matter)

Unbranded Indigo Slim Straight Raw Denim Jeans $78 (33x34, would prefer Levi's but sold out)

Timberland Gore-Tex 7-Eyelet Chukka $190 (size 12)

Ralph Lauren Ranger Boots $149 (size 13)

New Balance 574 size 13 (Charcoal/Gray)

NBA Jam $49/$39 (Playstation 3/Wii)

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit $59 (Playstation 3)

Playstation 3 Wireless Controller $49

Andis T-Outliner $48

Avantone CR-14 Studio Microphone $259

Graco Lauren Classic Convertible Crib Espresso by La Jobi $159

Ikea BESTÅ ÅDAL TV Unit $99

Ikea Goliat Computer Deak $79 (would prefer a darker finish)

Ikea Klemens Swivel Chair $74

Ikea PREMIÄR Artwork $149

NEW MUSIC Armond feat Jalili Jimiyu- Blank Canvas

2010-11-26T15:54:00.002-05:00

The 1st leak from one of two albums I'm dropping before 2011. Dedicated to my son that I've only seen 3 times in a year. And all the parents fighting for the simple right of seeing their child & having an active role in their lives...should I do a BREAKDOWN on this song???? Let me know...

DOWNLOAD LINK
Armond feat Jalili Jimiyu- Blank Canvas by armondwakeup

Black Weekend: Dreaming Out Loud for $1

2010-11-26T15:44:00.002-05:00

In this last year, I've been very conscious of where my money goes. As a result, I've found a lot of different ways to save money. However, for a lot of people...Black Friday is the only time of the year people make an effort to spend as much money as possible & call it saving money *shrugs*. Anyway, I decided to get in on the Black Friday savings & offer my album Dreaming Out Loud for $1. This deal will be available until Monday at 12am. Which means, after this weekend, there's no excuse as to why you don't have the album. GTet familiar in preparation for the two albums I'm dropping next month. You're welcome!!!

Breakdown: "Don't Stop (The Apology)"

2010-11-19T09:06:00.004-05:00

Late last night I let go a new freestyle "Don't Stop (The Apology)"...over the last few months, I've been inspired to let you guys inside the music. There's only so much you can fit in a line & keep rhythm, but the intent & meaning of what's said goes way beyond music. So I'm gonna breakdown the lyrics to Don't Stop & give you some insight as to what was going on in my head as I wrote it.

Click here to download "Don't Stop (The Apology)"

Backstory: I originally did a vlog on Monday where I announced that I was dropping two albums on the same day. I promised new music on Tuesday. As life happens, plans change & I was unable to finish the song I was going to leak. So I sat on it. Honestly I assumed people were so busy with their lives that I didn't put much emphasis on explaining the push back...then came the messages. Messages, emails, twitter DMs, from people asking "where's the song at? where's the new music?" Although I was convicted, I wasn't inspired. I got ahold of some beats on Wednesday, which included a lot of Kanye West- GOOD Friday tracks. I liked Don't Stop, a song that features Kanye, Lupe Fiasco & Pharrell (collectively known as Child Rebel Soldiers, or CRS); it's great "hurry up & get home" music. So I'm listening to the beat & driving home from work & the 1st line popped in my head "Rebel soldier, but I'm grown though"...in the 15 minutes it takes from me to drive from work to my house, I already had 8 bars. I write my best music in the car, so even after I parked, I stayed inside & wrote a good chunk of the verse there.

Rebel soldier but I'm grown though
Ease off 'em, Steve Austin stunner, Stone Cold
I'ma take a minute to tell you something you don't know
Reach em from the Twilight Zone down to Zone 4
the Twilight Zone symbolizes out of range...people with their heads in the clouds, the peculiar people, people that wouldn't get a 2nd glance in the street. Zone 4 is one of the rougher sections of Atlanta, GA. So from the heights of the twilight zone, to the lows of the inner city...aka everybody
Veterans Day, something I can't explain to rookies
514 Levis & Ranger Cookies
My favorite type of jeans & boots for the winter

Laces kinda like my mind, it ain't tied together
Satan brings an ink pen anytime he tests ya
With a scantron sheet
Remember the old scantrons you'd take multiple choice tests questions with? You needed a pencil to take the test, as the computer that graded them could only read led & not ink. Also if you wanted to change your answer, you were able to erase. With the enemy, he'll use an ink pen...the ink pen symbolizes being convicted for your mistakes. He'll make you believe you can't erase what you've done & you'll forever be held accountable for it. When actually, God (the computer who grades the tests) doesn't...or can't even read the ink...meaning He doesn't judge us in the same vein Satan does

A '90s Nas flow over Cam'ron beats
In the 90s Nas was considered one of the greatest MCs of all time, but his fans often complain of his beat selection. Cam'ron has always had incredible beats, but is generally considered to be a horrible lyricist. So imagine Nas over Dipset beats?
I hoist em over my shoulder if my man's all weak
I'm sorry, I've been lying to my fans all week
I'm sorry!!!
Been coming soon forever like that old Mercedes album cover
I kinda dissed myself with this line. Remember in the late 90s when Master P & No Limit Records would take out 3-4 page ads with all the CDs they had "coming soon". Well every teenage boy had this album cover hanging up in his locker

Her album was "coming soon" for at least 3 years...nobody had heard her on anybody else's songs, all we knew was she was bent over on the cover & that was enough to hold our attention.
Sick of these rapping suckas
Smashin on these ragamuffins
(Buku!! Buku!!! Lawd'a'mercy)
My Lord is worthy, He created beauty out of all that hurt me
Yeah I understand that He be in the sky
But His grace is the 1st thing that greets me when I rise
Lamentations 3:22-23- 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I search Him with my heart, most seek Him with their eyes
One thing I've been learning in this season is that God speaks to us everyday. I was talking to my pastor a few weeks ago; frustrated because I felt like God wasn't directly speaking to certain situations. As if He could only speak one way...as if He just floats over your bed at night & talks to you. While He COULD do that, it's not the only method He speaks. Isaiah 6:3 says "And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." Everything from seasons changing, to something we see on TV, there are endless ways that God can & does speak to us. Also, the world looks at things...the world continues to get worse & worse. "The good die young", things that we feel like God should stop, He doesn't. And as a result, people lose faith & belief in God because He doesn't do what WE want Him to, when it doesn't work that way"
I ain't spittin' no game baby, read between the lines
When a guy "spits game" at a woman, it mostly consists of smooth lines to entice her. But if you read between those lines, his intentions are clear. Because I just finished bragging on Christ, the stereotype of Christians is that we are wishy washy...we say one thing & do another. But I'm not "spitting game" about Jesus, I'm merely giving truth. All that I said can apply to everyone, this religious secret club that the church has become is not how God wants us to operate with the world. Read between what I said, I chose to boast on God because the true intention is to say that He's also available to you
It's scary how easy it is to ease between your thighs
She said you give her life, yet lead you to your demise
Caught Up In The Rapture, got Anita in the ride
I'm called to give 'em truth, hence the reason for the lies
People often say "if God was so good, why does bad happen"...peril creates an opportunity to showcase heroes. If everything was all good all the time, there wouldn't be a need for us to pray or have faith. What I'm saying would be irrelevant
Take a breath while I retrace my steps
I'm surprised ain't been asked to join the Masons yet
It's only a matter of time though, place ya bets
Before the uprise, we invading your station's set
I used freemasonry & the illuminati to kinda brag on my calling. Those in high degrees of freemasonry are very powerful, very influential. So I used them as an example to say "I'll soon be influential as well, with a message of salvation...to the point where they'll ask me to join"...the "uprising", I thought of V For Vendetta when V was essentially a rebel for the modern time. Which is something I believe you'll see more of in these last days.
Say they spit crack & it's laced with wet
Don't blame me, go at Damon's neck
My boy Damon Dugger was one of the people who put the battery in my back about putting out something new. So if you don't like what I'm doing, go talk to him about it
Shoutout Miss Thing, Christine
True DNA, that's a sick team
One statement & I had 'em in a rage
How is he gonna drop 2 albums in a day?
My only advice, keep grinding
I'm here to rid the game of these Fleece Johnson's
Pause...easy or the hard way

Fleece Johnson...one of the funniest & most disturbing videos I've ever seen...just used him as a metaphor for what men have become. "Easy or the hard way" refers to the Boondocks episode that mocked him, because he would say that before he tried to rape you
Say she got class, only see her in the hallway
My favorite line in the song...
At the very least, take heed to what Armond say
I ain't gotta explain it, just peep what the song say

Two New Albums On The Same Day Before 2011!!!!!

2010-11-15T18:54:00.003-05:00

why not??? more details in the video below...

Preaching At "The Way" (10/31)

2010-11-15T18:51:00.002-05:00

here's the sermon I preached @ my church The Way on my birthday, where I talk about problems in the church & how it affects the world's perception of Christians & Christ.

Sunday at The Way 10-31 from The Way on Vimeo.

Dreaming Out Loud Review by DaSouth.com

2010-10-14T10:56:00.003-04:00

Dreaming Out Loud review by DaSouth.com

Four out of Five stars
Dreaming Out Loud is Armond’s 5th project, and it was birthed in the midst of restoration of his life. This is an album that literally sets out to put the contents of his heart on wax, but also holds it all together with the wisdom of Christ in the midst. Check out the track by track review.

Dreaming Out Loud feat. Cos- The album starts off with a real smooth vibe, and the best way to describe this track and the album in fact is that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks(Luke 6:45). I’ve always liked these types of albums it’s so real and one of the hallmarks of hip hop is that you can lay out so many thoughts over a 4 minute track and Armond proceeds to do this throughout the album.

Put In Work- A simple song describing how dedicated Armond is to spreading the truth of Jesus. The beat for this track is actually on a mainstream secular track, it’s still a cool track.

Close Your Eyes- This album is all about knowing the principles of faith, and this is one of the songs that convey this point very well. Speaks candidly about the hypocrisy of others as well as how he himself can end up doing the same as well. Speaks about what we see versus what we don’t see and how we need to not be moved by what we see. Rhymes spoken over a piano sample makes this one of the best on this album!

Rearview/Dashboard- As the track title would suggest, Armond speaks of his past as he sees it in the rear, yet seeks to look forward and live right now for the Lord. As the track name is separated, there are two parts of the track with two different beats. So far I’m feeling the simplicity yet also the creative way things are expressed and arranged.

Glow In The Dark- On this track Armond raps over a beat from the group N.E.R.D. and I was surprised that he would use a mainstream track when he could have just had an original production on it. The track name speaks for itself, in that Armond is speaking about shining the Light of God wherever there is darkness. Where there is lack of reverence for God and love for people, it angers him as it should any of us and keeps us passionate about showing Christ to all. The whole album just has that real lyrical feel to it, which I love!

Child Of God- Another well produced track on here, and the part of the song that really stood out to me was when Armond began speaking about how there are people who see how the people who claim Christ behave and they project that as being the character of God. It hits me because there are many who doubt God because of the wounds they have suffered and the unbelievers distract themselves with the excuses that because some of the people don’t live the truth out that they don’t have to either. Check these lines out: “Killing Christians with doubt/like religion,traditions, asking God to move on our behalf when we restrict Him/Denominations they separate as far as the sky/one body many minds a bunch of harlots/Ahab’s passive/Jezebel destroyin’ not depending on each other”. In such a poignant way, Armond has painted the picture of the frustrations of living in a community of imperfect people striving to serve a perfect God. The part where he says Ahab passive really caught my ear because when you read in the Bible about Ahab and his wife Jezebel, Ahab is in fact a very passive individual. The way Armond was able to place that in these lyrics and have it flow is the type of flow you encounter throughout this project.

Keep Going Through Hell- Another bangin’ beat here, as Armond encourages himself and others to keep going even when going through the craziest of situations. I point out again how Armond speaks his heart while speaking to others in encouragement as well, and it comes across so effortlessly.

Rocking With The Best feat. Rich Tunes- This was one of my favorite tracks on this album, and Armond really goes hard with it! The only thing about the beat is the way the sample comes back to the beginning in such a rush, and I know it may have been hard to cut the sample in the best way, but that’s a little thing I was able to get over.

The Highest- I really like the beat for this track, and its Armond just speaking of the love he has for his wife.

Life(spoken word performed by Quote)- This track comes in as a connection from the one before it, and is a spoken word piece. Wasn’t feeling the mix on the vocals, but he spoke about how life even when not perfect is guided by God.

Dreaming pt. 2- I guess you could call this the second part of the intro track, because even though it’s a different track, it still has that smooth vibe I mentioned about the first track. I like the singing in the background, and the rhymes are pretty much on point speaking about the vanities of chasing after temporary pleasures that don’t last, such as money, etc.

Blood of God- Nothing like dwelling on what the blood of Jesus has done for us, and this song does it in such an elegant and tasteful way. With the simple piano licks and bass lines with the hits of the snare, they provide a template for Armond to expound on his thankfulness for what God has done in shedding His blood for our sins.

Heaven On Earth- Armond opens his heart and speaks about his children on another smooth track. Really touching on how he also speaks on the ways how they teach him and how the Lord was able to have his son live despite the doctor’s prognosis.

Forgive Me- The way Armond bears his all in exposing his shortcomings will be able to touch many people and the type of beat supplied for this confession is pretty much perfect. Very good track.

Scared Of Me- This is another track that uses a mainstream secular beat, rhymes are pretty good though.

As I listened to the album, I just really enjoyed the lyricism present throughout as well as how open Armond is with his heart. He chose beats that really fit him; the only thing I would have wanted to be better was the use of all original beats instead of using mainstream beats for some tracks. Overall a great offering and something I know many will be able to enjoy!

Buy the album here

Armond, L-Win & Flex- Come Back pt 2 (The Road Trip)

2010-09-30T20:40:00.003-04:00

Come Back pt 2: The Road Trip)Come Back pt 2: The Road Trip

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/come-back-pt-2-the-road-trip-feat-l-win-flex">Come Back pt 2: The Road Trip feat L-Win & Flex by Armond</a>

I'm SUPER late putting this up, sorry. Before I started doing music fo da Lawd, some of you guys may have known me as epideMIC. L-Win & Flex were MCs I frequently collaborated with during that time. We even did an ENTIRE mixtape together called "When Worlds Collide" (if anybody has that joint, PLEASE let me know). This was before collaborating on the internet was the thing to do. We used to get called "netcees" all day. The mixtape was literally created from start to finish using emails, Acid 2.0, & MSN Messenger. Emailing verses, spitting rhymes over audio chat, the whole nine...from three different states. L-Win was living in Chicago at the time, Flex resides in Toronto & I was living in Colorado. This was in 2002. Eight years later, L-Win's album "The Transition" has been nominated for Album of the Year @ the Madison Hip-Hop Awards, Flex is preparing an album with Slakah The Beatchild, who produced a large portion of Drake's earlier mixtapes "Room For Improvement" & "Comeback Season" & I'm doing what I do (cliche rapper response huh)

So we kicked it like old times, chopped it up, I had the beat & concept & as usual everybody went off. And the song was picked up by the9elements for their upcoming compilation "Suggested Listening" which should be out soon.

The concept for the record is a continuation of one of the earlier records we did in 2002 called "Come Back", where eventually you have to leave the comfort of what you know for the uncertainty that comes with chasing your dreams. Enjoy...

Trey Songz feat Armond- Can't Be Friends (Remix)

2010-08-17T13:07:00.002-04:00

Trey Songz feat Armond- Can't Be Friends (Remix)
<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/cant-be-friends-remix-feat-trey-songz">Can't Be Friends (Remix) feat Trey Songz by Armond</a>

We've all done it...we've all had a friend that we fell for. I have...more times than I can count. I think it stems from being able to "let your hair down" so to speak in a regular ol friendship. Like Chris Rock said, we don't date each other, we date our representatives. But when it's a friendship, there's no facades. And we think "This person likes me for me. Not my car, not my money, not for anything superficial." & we fall. I'm a total believer in friendships blossoming into relationships, but on the other hand, it fails. A lot. And then we're wondering, hoping & wishing we had our regular ol friend back. But the damage has been done. The friendship is one long awkward moment. And it can't be reversed. So I wrote about it.

Dreaming Out Loud OFFICIAL Six Month Anniversary!!!!!!

2010-08-09T07:08:00.004-04:00

If you don't see the embedded player
click HERE to purchase the album!!!
<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-out-loud">Dreaming Out Loud by Armond</a>

Today is August 9th & the OFFICIAL time to order Dreaming Out Loud for whatever price you choose!!!! Here is the breakdown:

If you buy or have bought any Armond related project (Dreaming Out Loud, Snooze Button II, The Nina Mosley Experience) you will be sent a link to download a 100% exclusive unreleased project from me. No this CD will NOT be released months after the fact, it is ONLY available to fans who purchase an album on or before August 9th
If you download Dreaming Out Loud for free, you will NOT receive the bonus disc. Minimum purchase price to receive the album is $5
The link will be sent out later today, I'd like to gather all the emails & send the link out once. I'd LIKE to, I know that may not happen
The CD will be available at name your price for exactly 24 hours, from 7am Monday August 9th to 7am August 10th.

If you missed Dream Interpretations, the vlog series where each track from the album was broken down & explained, click here

Dream Interpretations Episode Fourteen: Scared Of Me

2010-08-08T23:49:00.002-04:00

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/scared-of-me">Scared Of Me by Armond</a>

Scared Of Me

Dream Interpretations Episode Thirteen: Forgive Me

2010-08-08T23:47:00.002-04:00

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/forgive-me">Forgive Me by Armond</a>

Forgive Me

Dream Interpretations Episode Eleven: Blood Of God

2010-08-08T23:44:00.001-04:00

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/blood-of-god">Blood Of God by Armond</a>

Blood Of God

Dream Interpretations Episode Ten: Life/Dreaming pt 2

2010-08-08T23:35:00.003-04:00

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/life-spoken-word-performed-by-quote">Life (spoken word performed by Quote) by Armond</a>

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/dreaming-pt-2-produced-by-pizzie-for-i9-records">Dreaming pt 2 (produced by Pizzie for i9 Records) by Armond</a>

Life/Dreaming pt 2

BONUS: Pizzie, producer of the track, gives insight into the making of the beat

Dream Interpretations Episode Nine: The Highest

2010-08-02T21:05:00.002-04:00

Here's where the episodes get interesting...

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/the-highest">The Highest by Armond</a>

The Highest

Dream Interpretations Episode Eight: Rocking With THe Best feat Rich Tunes

2010-08-02T21:01:00.002-04:00

Shoutout Rich Tunes for having the only rapper feature on my album

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/rocking-with-the-best-featuring-rich-tunes">Rocking With The Best featuring Rich Tunes by Armond</a>

Rocking With The Best

Pizzie feat Armond & J Carter- Wait It Out

2010-07-30T23:34:00.004-04:00

My.New.Favorite.Song.

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/wait-it-out-pizzie-feat-armond-j-carter">Wait It Out (Pizzie feat Armond & J Carter) by Armond</a>

Wait It Out (youtube)

Dream Interpretations Episode Five: Glow In The Dark

2010-07-29T19:17:00.003-04:00

how Kanye's Glow In The Dark tour changed my life..and my walk

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/glow-in-the-dark">Glow In The Dark by Armond</a>

Armond 101: Who Or What Is An Armond?

2010-07-29T11:41:00.016-04:00

More is never enough.

In 2010 I've been blessed with several opportunities to do what I love & have it reach thousands of people. I've traveled the world & rocked audiences of 7 & audiences of 2,000. When somebody asks "who or what is an Armond", I see there's so many directions to point them in. So what I've done is taken my accomplishments in this year alone & condensed them down into a neat little box for you to give to your friends. In the immortal words of Eddie Johnson from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: "it's the gift that keeps on givin' Clark..."

Music

Dreaming Out Loud

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-out-loud">Dreaming Out Loud by Armond</a>
Dreaming Out Loud was my album that was released on February 9th, 2010. The album itself took 3 years to write & complete. I recorded well over 100 tracks for it.

The Nina Mosley Experience (mixtape)

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/album/the-nina-mosley-experience">Persistence by Armond</a>
5 days after dropping my album, I released a mixtape "The Nina Mosley Experience" based off the classic movie "Love Jones". I'm a sap & I love the idea of love & what it represents. The mixtape ran side by side with the movie's view of an imperfect love; it's ups, it's downs, highs & lows.

Snooze Button II (Mixtape)

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/album/snooze-button-ii">Intro by Armond</a>
Snooze Button II was released Memorial Day weekend. I wanted to do a classic mixtape; raw beats, raw rhymes. Short, sweet & to the point. Not to mention the mixtape has circulated to countries such as Germany, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, & Iraq.

Interviews

"I Have A Dream"- the9elements.com
We talked about picky beats, the correlation between the church & hip-hop, & the ups & downs of the independent aspect of the music industry.

01 Armond- The Wiretap (Episode 1) by thedeaconsmusic
The inagural episode of The Wiretap. Very detailed & eye opening, we talked for nearly 2 hours. We spoke on witchcraft, the illuminati, divorce, the club, insecure rappers...really great listen. Enjoyed doing this interview.

"A Father's Story"- Pink Complexity In The City
For fathers day I interviewed different types of dads in our society. However, I allowed @BriteComplexity (who is one of my favorite bloggers) inside of my life as a father. We spoke on what makes a man, how I grade myself as a father, long distance parenting, bitter single mothers & the seemingly permanent black eye men have received from our culture.

Must Listen To

Airplanes (from Snooze Button II)

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/airplanes">Airplanes by Armond</a>

Beautiful Ashes feat J Carter (from Snooze Button II)

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/beautiful-ashes-feat-j-carter-2">Beautiful Ashes feat J Carter by Armond</a>

Rearview/Dashboard (from Dreaming Out Loud)

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/rearview-dashboard-produced-by-doc-for-rough-draft-ent">Rearview/Dashboard (produced by Doc for Rough Draft Ent) by Armond</a>

Scared Of Me (from Dreaming Out Loud)

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/scared-of-me">Scared Of Me by Armond</a>

There Goes My Baby (Remix) feat Usher

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/there-goes-my-baby-remix-feat-usher">There Goes My Baby (Remix) feat Usher by Armond</a>

Media

Review of Dreaming Out Loud by DaSouth.com (Four out of Five stars)

Review of Snooze Button II by Pink Complexity In The City (shoutout Jai Jai aka Brite Complexity)

Pump It Or Dump It- "Rearview/Dashboard" by Writers Block Media (shoutout Randy Roper of O-Zone magazine)

"Come Back pt 2 (The Road Trip)" featured on the9elements.com compilation "Suggested Listening" shoutout Flex & L-Win

DaSouth.com features "Beautiful Ashes" feat J. Carter" (shoutout DJ Will from Jacksonville)

"Beautiful Ashes" featured on an episode of the Chill Vibe Experience. CVE has previously featured artists such as Amel Larrieux, The Roots, & Brand New Heavies

Interview with TUC Radio. I was there to promote Dreaming Out Loud & discuss the state of hip-hop & the church. The show went so well, I ended up becoming a permanent co-host. Since then, we've launched to a live webshow, broadcasting every Sunday @ 7pm EST. We tackle issues such as homosexuality in the church, masturbation, relationships, & healthy living.

Guest appearance on That's Right with Nikki Ransom. Myself & Unique Soul tackled the topic of "What Do Men Want In A Woman".

Rock The Dub features Armond (shoutout Khal)

the9elements features Armond (shoutout DJ Koast & I.G.O.D.)

Mostly Junk Food features Armond (shoutout Mostly Junk Food)

Accomplishments

In May, I was hired on as a freelance writer for Joy 106.3FM & Power 107.5FM, two of the biggest radio stations in Columbus, OH. Here are a few of the articles & interviews I've done.

B Moses
DeCarlos "Cos" Waller
Soul Sessions

Father's Week- For Father's Day I interviewed & shined the spotlight on different types of fathers in today's society; the young father, the single father, the single mother, & the stepfather.

Dream Interpretations Episode Four: Rearview

2010-07-28T07:24:00.002-04:00

The first single off the album. Shoutout to Doc on the track!!!!

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/rearview-dashboard-produced-by-doc-for-rough-draft-ent">Rearview/Dashboard (produced by Doc for Rough Draft Ent) by Armond</a>

Dream Interpretations Day Three: Close Your Eyes

2010-07-26T23:21:00.003-04:00

Day Three..."Close Your Eyes". Lost faith, lost in my car, missing verses.

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/close-your-eyes">Close Your Eyes by Armond</a>

Jesus Christ & the Rick Ross Revelation

2010-07-26T10:33:00.006-04:00

*stands up in chair*
*fidgets*

I admit it...I'm a Rick Ross fan. I remember the 1st time I saw Ross was in the Trina video for "Told Y'all"...blew him off.

Rick Ross & Trina- Told Y'all video(go to 2:19 for the hilarity...yotube won't let me embed)

Few years later I'm in Japan & his song "Hustlin'" is the biggest record in the country. Jay-Z hops on the remix, the real Noriega owes him a hundred favors. I was still heavy in my New York boom bap bias & shrugged him off again.

Five years later I stand before you thoroughly convinced that Ross is a dope MC & makes good music. Do I co-sign his bufoonery? Not at all. Does the music largely reflect & influence a negative & unhealthy environment? Absolutely.

But that's not why I'm writing today.

A few weeks ago I was bored, youtubing videos. Since I refuse to get cable & I still very much keep my "ears to the street" (as the youngins say) I wanted to see what was hot, who was on their way up & even catch a little tomfoolery. I ended up watching several Rick Ross videos; ultimately ending up seeing the timeline of events that was the Rick Ross vs 50 Cent battle.

As we ALL know, 50 Cent is the king of the battle circuit. He's hip-hop's bully. He'll start a fight, let you get in a couple good shots & then destroy you. Your credibility, your image, your everything. And he'll do it by any means necessary...except rapping (how ironic). We all know how he did Ja Rule, but he also picked fights with everyone from Fat Joe & The LOX to Joe Budden, Game, Diddy & Jay-Z.

50 tends to pick on someone who has more of a "buzz" than him at the time. Someone he deems "worthy" of his attention. Ross was prepraring to release his album "Deeper Than Rap", had a strong single called "Magnificent" that was burning up the radio & the general public had a strong interest in his album. He was getting ready to "break out" & become a household name.

Around that time it was discovered that Ross, the drug kingpin, was a corrections officer prior to dabbling with a career in rap. As we all know, a rapper is only as good as his street cred. More violence in your past at one point equaled platinum record sales. With his secret exposed right before his album dropped, most entertainers would've dropped off the face of the planet. Ross, however went to extremes to prove his innocence.

Ross denying his C.O. past

50 saw this as an opportunity to strike, releasing a venomous attack at Ross' character, exposing other facts of Ross' past. Even getting the mother of one of Ross' children to speak on her claims of him not being there for his son.

50 Cent Interview with Tia, mother of Rick Ross' son

Releasing mixtapes, radio interviews, even finding out that the mother of Ross' other child was an escort/porn star & leaking a scene of hers on his website, ThisIs50.com. We've seen rappers such as Young Berg, Vanilla Ice, & Ja Rule buckle under the pressures of their shaky & untrue past. We all saw what happened with Milli Vanilli.

Rick Ross- Freestyle (50 Cent diss)

Ross even played into 50s game for a minute, releasing diss tracks & talking about 50 in every interview. Ross was doing what 50 had lured so many other artists to do. He played on their buzz & popularity to create his own.

Alright, I had to say all that to say this. Sometimes you gotta cut through the fat to get to the meat. As I was watching the videos & seeing how the story played out & now that the "beef" is finished, I saw the lesson in the bufoonery. Ross began to ignore 50, even claiming victory & thanking him in his album credits. People thought Ross was an idiot. 50 continued his attacks, they got worse & worse, Ross continued to ignore 50 & do what he does best; make music. Deeper Than Rap was released in the middle of the fire to critical acclaim & commercial success. Now his latest album, Teflon Don is on pace to be the #1 record in the country.

Meanwhile, 50 Cent struggles to remain relevant in US culture. Overexposing his brand & putting out less than stellar music, fans have grown tired of his same song & dance. While 50 is by no means finished, he has a huge black eye that many say was given to him in the Ross battle.

Here's the point:

Ross initially did what any of us would've done. We're attacked by our enemies & we want to fight back. We want to extract revenge. We let the enemy hold onto our past & use it as bait to trap us in its web. Ross knew he was engaging in a battle he knew he couldn't win. He's playing one on one with Jordan, chess with Bobby Fisher, boxing with Floyd Mayweather. And he didn't have the skill or the know-how to compete in any of those match-ups. The minute he began to claim victory over his circumstance, things changed. People initially thought he was crazy. They thought he was finished. No one can come back from that, they said. Your enemy wins as soon as you decide to give him attention.

The Word says "resist the devil & he will flee from you". He only attacks those he know he can provoke & get a reaction out of. If you don't fall into the lure & temptations, you'll show yourself strong & be left alone to claim your victory. And funny God had to show me that through a rapper.

Dream Interpretations Day Two: Put In Work

2010-07-26T07:32:00.003-04:00

Day Two, the sound is better & gets better as the videos go on.

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/put-in-work">Put In Work by Armond</a>

"Power" Freestyle feat L-Win

2010-07-25T20:33:00.001-04:00

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/power-freestyle-feat-l-win">Power (Freestyle) feat L-Win by Armond</a>

Something light...you'll believe one day.

Dream Interpretations Episode One: Dreaming Out Loud

2010-07-25T11:50:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the first day of Dream Interpretations. I've resurrected the vlog series to take you deeper inside the psyche that is my album Dreaming Out Loud. Everyday from July 25th to August 8th, I'll be breaking down the album track by track. On August 9th (the 6 month anniversary of releasing the album), you'll be able to purchase Dreaming Out Loud for whatever price you like for ONE DAY ONLY!!!!!

Enjoy day one's episode: Dreaming Out Loud featuring Cos. Who knows, I may leak a record tonight too. Why not?

sorry for the wind & yes i did the Kevin Hart thug clap

BONUS: Cos laying down his vocals in the studio

Dreaming Out Loud...6 Months Later

2010-07-23T13:45:00.006-04:00

February 9th, 2010. I remember while writing for this album I had NO clue the impact (or whatever you wanna call it) this album would have. I had no clue what God was gonna do with it. All I know was after three long years, I felt a tug to finally finish the job & put it out (pause).

When I listen to the album, I'm taken back to that time. It was cold in Ohio, I had just started a new job, a new life essentially. I was living with family at the time in a cramped townhouse, so to get away I would drive around the city & just reflect. Doing that is honestly how I fell in love with Columbus. Seeing things I'd never seen before, getting lost & making three right turns & ending up 2 seconds from the house. And out of nowhere songs would hit me. Full blown songs.

I remember writing "Close Your Eyes" in a high school parking lot.

I remember almost crashing because I wrote "Rearview" on one of the busiest streets in the city.

I remember writing "Forgive Me" in 20 minutes because I was late for my last studio session to finish the album & I knew Dreaming Out Loud was missing one song. Yes, "Forgive Me" was a rushed record (which is funny because it's a favorite among a lot of you.

I remember writing "Blood Of God" & being more upset with God than I had ever been. Yet, the only thing out of my pen was worship.

I remember calling Pizzie & screaming in his ear when he first sent me the beat for "Dreaming pt 2". I didn't even wanna write to it because the beat was so incredible.

I remember the first time I let the label hear "Scared Of Me" while en route to hear Rebecca Brown speak & the whole car being totally silent after it ended. I remember getting chills as I wrote it. I remember crying twice while I wrote it. It was like birth pains, pains that had to pass through the body in order to get out.

I remember writing "The Highest" in a grocery store parking lot after I saw a beautiful woman walk out the store. After I had been grumbling to myself (and being bitter) & blaming every woman in the world for how things ended with my ex. And God checked me clear as day & said "how dare you".

As you can see there are a zillion stories I could tell for this album & that's what I'm about to do. Starting Sunday July 25th & culminating August 8th, I will re-launch my Dream Interpretations vlog on My YouTube Page & hear all the hilarity, bufoonery, boobery...and yes, testimonies that I went through while creating Dreaming Out Loud.

In addition to the vlogs, I have some songs that I'll also be releasing.

FINALLY...August 9th, I will switch Dreaming Out Loud to "name your price" for 24 hours. You can get the album for however much you want THAT DAY ONLY!!!! From 12am August 9th to 12am August 10th. August 10th is also the two year anniversary of my fufillment to the Air Force & Uncle Sam, so I'll definitely be poppin bottles (of sweet tea).

So yes, this is a thank you to everybody thats supported me. If you already have a copy, buy another & give it to a friend. If money's been tight & you haven't been able to grab a copy, you can do so that day. Thank me later...no Aubrey.

Chevy Impala Music

2010-07-23T08:48:00.002-04:00

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/chevy-impala-music-maybach-music-3-freestyle">Chevy Impala Music (Maybach Music 3 Freestyle) by Armond</a>

Cool story bro: So in April I got in a really bad car accident. My insurance wouldn't cover the damages (estimated at $3,000). So I was driving around with my front end smashed in. Literally a few days before the accident my oil light came on & my front headlight went out. I ignored it & now I'm REALLY looking bad with a smashed in hood, one headlight & a raggedy running car cuz I hadn't had an oil change in so long.

I had a show last week at a church for an event (it was more like an audition for an even bigger show. do the smaller show & if they like you, they invite you to do the bigger show) & while en route, I'm sitting at a red light. This couple flags me down & gets my attention. "Hey homes, your front end is messed up (yes he was mexican, no he didn't say hey homes...let me tell the story. HA!) I can fix that for you right now for $200". I'm like huh?? The Scooby Doo "arrruuuu??" However it sounds. ANYWAY, we pull over & I'm apprehensive because I have absolutely no clue who this guy is. So I got that thang cocked on the side just in case (pause & I'm JOKING!!!) but I am a little weary. Come to find out dude is a mechanic & works independently for different shops across the city & decided to #1 make a quick buck & #2 be a upstanding citizen...while making a quick buck. He & his wife (who knew just as much, if not more about cars than he did) fixed my car in 15 minutes & I talked him down to $140.

I got a deal for 1/8 of what I would've paid for the car if I had went through a body shop. SMH. Praise God anyway...so to celebrate, here is Chevy Impala Music.

Chevy Impala Music (Preview)

2010-07-22T07:47:00.001-04:00

New freestyle I'm dropping sometime this week (whenever I get a day off), here's a preview bundled with random boobery

in the studio last night after waking up at 5:30am & working 13 hours straight. I came home, laid this down & wanted to preview it for you guys & catch up w/ you. It was late (11 is late on a weekday shut up lol) & I was sleepy, hence the reason I didn't go too hard on the lighting. Spare me your sambo jokes, lol.

Reflection Eternal (One Year Later)

2010-07-15T23:42:00.006-04:00

As I'm typing, my house is totally silent. I often come home to a house void of sound & I love it. My (very small) apartment isn't much, but I've learned to appreciate it. It's my refuge, my cave, my hole in the ground where I can get away. Among several things (that I will talk about in this blog) I've learned to appreciate silent screams. This time last year told a much different tale. A tale up until now I've truhfully been embarassed to tell. But with all that's happened today, I FINALLY understand the reason for the journey. Let's start at the beginning.

I wasn't happy. I had mentally left the relationship months ago. My soul was gone; not with me, or her. It was just floating. And that night I had made the decision that I was gonna find it & bring it back home. Though she said I was physical with her, emotionally she put me in a full body cast. Spiritually?? Pfffffffffffft. Jesus who? And why would this so-called God allow me to get powerbombed through a flaming table repeatedly? Though I questioned & grumbled at God, I was too scared of His wrath to abandon the one thing I thought He would never forgive me for. But in one split second I decided to be selfish. I lost weight "for God", I lost my smile "for God", I fell behind on my bills "for God", I failed to provide for my children "for God". I looked at this woman that promised God that she would honor me, as she belittled & threatened me, I read my phone & saw the text threats from her mother & told God "time out. I'm not working for you right now."

I grabbed a duffle bag full of shoes (cuz I'm petty like that), a suitcase full of clothes & a PS3 & I walked out the house. I called my brother & best friend & let him know what happened & I promised myself I'd never look back.

I always say 2009 was my hardest year ever. But 2010 has it beat by a long shot. 2009 I could blame my issues on someone else. This year it was just me. Me, God & a clean slate. I moved into my one room shack with the same things I left my 3 bedroom townhome with. I slept on a twin mattress my pastor gave me. I went from watching 200 cable channels on a big screen to watching 6 channels on a television as big as my foot. I ate pre-cooked chicken & boil-in-a-bag rice, $1.25 Tostinos pizzas & drank $1 Tropicana juices. I wore every stitch of clothing I had at least 3 times before I could afford to go to the laundromat. And my kids. The only two people in this world that brought me sanity didn't need to be anywhere near me.

All I had was a Blackberry & an iPod full of beats.

You know the Dreaming Out Loud story, so I'll skip that. I remember in 2008 I asked God to strengthen my faith. Hardest question I've ever asked. How do I trust a Man I've never seen? I'd hear Him speak (through others, He & I hadn't talked before) so I at least knew He was hanging around to some degree. And I saw Him work in the lives of my friends & family. And I continued to be selfish & wanted to experience that for myself.

One year later.

That one room shack is fully furnished. Plus some. And I paid little to nothing for everything. I've been promoted twice in one year at my job. I also got offered a second job today. One of the largest independent record labels contacted me. To date I've released three projects that have collectively moved 8,000+ units. I'm not bitter, I'm happier than I've been in years. No, everything isn't in order. No everything isn't where it needs to be. This journey is NOT over. But I sit in silence & I can hear cheering & chanting. Everytime I failed the jeers came from my own section. And only one person sat in that part of the stadium...me.

I used to wonder if my split second decision was wrong. And I wondered if I had stuck it out where would I be. And now I know...dead. And to some extent, that night a part of me did die. And you just read his eulogy.

A Man's Perspective: Why Men Hate Weaves

2010-07-02T21:25:00.005-04:00

Ladies, allow me to put you up on some game.

Guys are simple. In a nutshell, we want a homie/lover/friend. Somebody we can kick it with, hang out and have fun. Someone who attracts us physically, emotionally, & spiritually. Someone we can be honest with without fear of judgment. Have some domestication skills, have some level of common sense, don't entertain poppycock and hogwash (yes...poppycock and hogwash), and don't bring in any baggage from your past (see- Musiq- Previouscats). I'll get into those things with more detail later, but I wanna tackle a specific issue that has bothered me and my boys for years...decades even.

HAIR...yes, hair. Hair is a BIG deal. Society would have you believe that the only way men want your hair is long & silky. False. Black hair (I'ma get racist for a second) is so textured and complex, we can wear it in several different ways. But we've been taught that what we have is "nappy" & unacceptable. Let's take a look at the history of black hair.

It started in the 1400s, when Europeans first saw blacks wearing their hair in an assortment of unique locks, twists, and braids. Once we arrived in America & were auctioned off as slaves, the slave owners told us our hair was "wool" and worthless. Because we were out in the fields all day, we didn't have the time & resources to upkeep the elaborate hairstyles we once wore. In Africa, black hair was maintained with juices, berries (word to Prince Akeem) & other herbal elements. Just like how blacks took the bad parts of pigs & made bacon & chitterlings (sorry, chitlins), we had to make due with whatever resources we had to at least attempt a re-creation of the hairstyles we wore while in Africa. Instead of juices & berries, we were forced to use bacon grease & kerosene. Lighter skinned, wavier haired slaves were valued higher than the darker "wool" haired slaves (the seed for the light vs dark we still battle today).

Once slavery ended, blacks were still hard-pressed to receive equal treatment among whites. Whites favored blacks who had "good" hair aka wore hairstyles similar to whites (i.e.- long & silky). Fast forward time & bacon & kerosene have become a multi-million dollar business. These chemicals that are in your everyday perms & relaxers can burn a hole through a soda can. And you want that in your hair? Why?

Within the last few years, I've become fond of natural hair. Back in 2006 I had 360 waves, but I couldn't touch my hair. If it itched, I had to grin & bear it. The first few days after I got a haircut, my hair would be extra wavy because of the chemicals I put in it to make it look good. By the time the chemicals wore off in the sun, I'd have a terrible case of dandruff. In 2008, my hair began to fall out. Coupled with being so broke that I couldn't afford a haircut, I decided to let my hair grow out. Two years later, even after five cuts/trims I have probably three inches of hair. My hair curls on impact with water alone, my dandruff is totally gone, and my hair is thicker & fuller than ever before. *does pantene pro-v head whip*

Now onto the women...and my point

Whenever I go to the barbershop, I always see women in their late 30s/early 40s getting weaves, extensions, and chemicals in their hair. I know you guys have to sleep a certain way to maintain your hair, sometimes sleeping on your hand so your hair doesn't touch the pillow. Not sure if God's plan was to have you go out of your way to maintain a simple hairstyle. But I digress. I see these young/middle aged women with receding hairlines and/or bald spots. Not cute at all. I had a female friend compliment my hair & say I had more hair than her mother. I was embarassed...for her.

As a man, I love my women to be honest with me. Being honest with me shows me that you respect me. And that's not just by telling me your deepest, darkest secrets & farting around me. A man loves for his woman to have a natural beauty. There's nothing more jaw dropping than waking up first thing in the morning, or rolling over in the middle of the night & seeing your lady sleep, with drool on her face, crud in her eye, snoring, but still maintaining a level of natural beauty. I remember a few exes of mine were absolutely gorgeous when we'd go out. But as soon as they'd come home, they'd rush in the bathroom, and basically take off the Halloween costume & emerge a totally different person. It comes across as very insecure. A man's mind says that it shouldn't take all that for you to step out of the house. It's a little TOO above & beyond. Whoever said "beauty is pain" is an idiot. That level of sacrifice to simply maintain a physical appearance is totally unnecessary.

Amber Rose

If a fire broke out in your house and you had to rush out, it's good to know that friends & family would be able to identify my lady without makeup, heels, & a wig. If we're laying on the couch watching TV & I'm rubbing my fingers in your hair, I don't wanna feel stitches. I don't wanna feel tracks. It's not cute. You have Amber Rose, who is very attractive, rocking a ceasar with a taper fade & she's still considered one of the sexiest women around today.

Whenever I talk to women about hair I always hear "I'd love to go natural" & as soon as I say "why don't you?" the excuse train pulls up to the station right on time. "Oh no I could never pull that off" or "I wouldn't look right". Says who? If you wanna do it, then do it. Where's the fear? I don't wanna generalize (cuz I just wrote a blog on that), but is it a lack of confidence? Are you scared of what people are going to think & say? Have you been conditioned to only accept Dark & Lovely?? Is it all that deep? It's just hair right?

Right?

Men Are Dogs, Women Are Bitter & The Generalization Of Our Culture

2010-06-30T08:37:00.007-04:00

All black people love chicken & watermelon. White people are good with money & smell like bologna. All Mexicans are border jumpers & hard workers. All Asians are good at math & own store fronts. All Italians are members of the mob. Stereotypes have killed our outlook on life & each other. We laugh & poke fun because yes, we've seen every last one of these stereotypes filled to some degree. But it's wrong to assume out of the billions of people in the world, that we'd all have the same general likes & dislikes.

Isn't that like slapping God in the face?? If we're all fearfully & wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), then why assume that an entire race is only allowed to retain a certain group of characteristics?

I remember when I was in the 5th grade, I thought Green Day- When I Come Around was DOPE!!! But I was terrified to tell anybody, because according to my friends & family, anything other than Snoop & Biggie in my CD player was weird. "Black people don't listen to rock" is what they'd tell me (when we invented it, go figure). So for a long time I was ashamed of my eclectic tastes in music. Of course Doggystyle, Ready To Die & Illmatic got consistent burn in my headphones, but I remember after Beavis & Butthead came on Saturday nights, I'd watch Headbangers Ball. Or on Sundays, BET would play jazz & I'd listen to jazz. Or there'd be pop songs on the radio that I liked. It took YEARS, but I finally changed my perception & decided that I wasn't gonna let anybody else determine what I listened to. Plus I found out my father was into several different genres of music. So not only was it not weird, it was hereditary. And nowadays I barely listen to hip-hop, and happy about it.

I say all that to say this. Yes there are horrible people in the world. Yes there are men who only desire to hurt & manipulate women. Yes there are women who want to cripple & demasculate men. A good portion of them were, what our society would call "good" at one point. Saw their "good works" weren't getting them anywhere but trampled over & decided to turn 180 & extract their own revenge by hurting as many people as possible. Ever heard of "crabs in a barrel"? On Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z said "people want you to be miserable with them" & "they hate it when you're loving your life". And unfortunately, to some extent those statements are very much true. And there's only so much you can do to change the ways of others.

Wait, hold on to that thought.

Albert Einstein defines insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". If you keep running into the same type of person, and getting the same results out of those relationships, simply change your surroundings. Ask God to help change your surroundings & prepare you for the change. Because we're really good at getting in God's way, hindering His move & then getting mad that things didn't work out the way we wanted them to. Start dating different types of people, read different books, call people instead of text them. Look at all the people you follow on twitter, or all the people you talk to on a consistant basis. What do they spend their time doing? Are they seemingly wasting their time takling about absolutely nothing? Are they always tearing others down? Are they one of those "about to/finna/getting ready to" types that know they want to change but never get around to starting the process? If so, that would be a pretty good sign you need to chuck a deuce.

The best advice someone ever gave me was to associate yourself with three types of people.

1. Those that you look up to. They're at a level you want to be. Mentors, if you will. They can help pull you up because more than likely they were where you are. They can relate to you, but they can also show you there is something better than your right now.

2. Those that are where you are. They can encourage you. You go through life & grow together. It's funny because you see things in them you like & don't like & want to change in yourself. We always see ourselves different through another set of eyes.

3. Those that are where you were. You are their mentor. Pretty much the roles reversed from #1.

Now let go of that thought I asked you to hold onto earlier.

I'm POSITIVE God doesn't wanna see anybody in a repetitive cyclone of hurt:

Meet a person
Like a person
Love a person
Scars & pain
Rinse & repeat

It's not fair to assume that all women are bitter & evil. It's not fair to assume that all men are dogs. Changing you will change the things around you. Whatever is in your heart, it will show through your actions (Luke 6:45). As you begin to let go of all those pre-conceived notions & ideas that you have of the world around you & allow God to re-mold your mind, your outlook on things will totally change. And those people that were always around hurting & holding you up, for whatever reason they'll go away. It's crazy. Not to say you'll never see them again, because there are plenty of counterfeits out there, but they won't be around in abundance. Give God time to work, and give yourself time & patience to wait & make mistakes (because you will), it can & will happen for you.

I know I'm making it sound easy, but it's definitely not. Truth be told I'm still in a transitional phase myself. But it is possible. I keep bringing up God because there's no way we can totally change our outlook in our own power. This is an issue where we need all the help we can get. Just because things are the way they are, doesn't mean you have to accept them & conform. Fight the battle that is going on for your mind...and make sure you win.

Fathers Week: Day Seven: Heaven On Earth

2010-06-20T01:38:00.003-04:00

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/heaven-on-earth-produced-by-sandman-for-sandman-productions">Heaven On Earth (produced by Sandman for Sandman Productions) by Armond</a>

I wanna thank everybody involved with this whole Fathers Week ordeal. I literally got the idea 2 nights before the week started so a HUGE thank you to everybody that gave testimonies (quick turnaround time). If this inspired you, blessed you, encouraged you, opened your eyes, WHATEVER...I'm grateful & very happy that it did SOMETHING.

Dads get such a bad wrap. But anybody with some issues, whether it be promiscuity, bitterness, or just being LOST overall, you can usually root it to something happening with their father. So I make it a point to congratulate those dads that are going hard & doing their thing for their children. Accepting their responsibility.

I wrote "Heaven On Earth" because I missed my kids. I'm not around them everyday to enforce my role as a father on them, so I wrote it from the perspective of "this is what I thought the moment you were born. These are the aspirations I have for you". I've been told by a few people the song has led them to tears & for that I'm in awe. So today, I give this out for free, for everybody to enjoy, because today will be EXTREMELY difficult for me. Another day without my kids. So if your kids are around, hug them. If your dad is around, hug him. Even if your dad wasn't around, forgive him.

Happy Fathers Day.

Fathers Week: Day Six: A Father's Story

2010-06-20T00:07:00.002-04:00

For day six, I was interviewed by @BriteComplexity, who also did a review for Snooze Button II a few weeks ago. This by far was the HARDEST interview I've ever done, it was a difficult conversation. I didn't wanna lie & act like this Father's Day isn't gonna be tough, as have 4 the previous 5 (had my daughter for Father's Day last year). But I felt the need to share my story for the reasons I share anything else...for self-reflection & for you guys. So shout out to the dads out there, if you have your kid with you, give them a hug & tell them you love them.

A Father's Story- Armond Goss