Showing posts with label Testimonies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Testimonies. Show all posts

Friday, November 26, 2010

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
*NEW MUSIC* Armond feat Jalili Jimiyu- Blank Canvas
3:54 PM

*NEW MUSIC* Armond feat Jalili Jimiyu- Blank Canvas

Friday, November 19, 2010

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
Breakdown: "Don't Stop (The Apology)"
9:06 AM

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

Friday, July 23, 2010



<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
8:48 AM

Chevy Impala Music

Thursday, July 15, 2010

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.
Reflection Eternal (One Year Later)
11:42 PM

Reflection Eternal (One Year Later)

Sunday, June 20, 2010

<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 Seven: Heaven On Earth
1:38 AM

Fathers Week: Day Seven: Heaven On Earth



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
Fathers Week: Day Six: A Father's Story
12:07 AM

Fathers Week: Day Six: A Father's Story

Friday, June 18, 2010



Ahhhhhh the infamous stepfather. Is there any job less desirable?? And it seems the older you get, the stronger the need, and the higher the qualifications needed to be one. It's not easy to take on the responsibility of raising another man's kids, whether that man is in the picture or not. So today, we champion those of you that have stepped to the plate. Again, no need to intro this one...just do me a favor & visit her blog @ innerpink.blogspot.com. Thank Me Later...(sorry)


When I met George I was five years old. That was old enough to clearly remember WHO my father was and know that this was someone new. He said we could call him "uncle" George and that he was just a friend of our mother's but we knew... We knew.

Fast forward to 1990 and he was now our stepdad. We were now 12 going on 13, and George had been to every school play (he was my "voice coach" when I had to learn "Oklahoma" and "surry with a fringe on top" for our school play Oklahoma), recital, service, everything. He'd taken us to museums, art galleries, plays, fencing, taught us chess, bought our first tape recorder to make our own stories, our first turn table and record. Everything we did he was there. George was still an anomily to us though, full of stories, laughter, discipline. By this time we had come to call George "Phoffer" - Phoffer is a mixture between Father and "hasenpheffer" some make believe food on a bugs bunny cartoon that George, Rashaan, and myself loved. We loved the way George would yell "hasenpheffer!!" We had warmed up to him... My brother more than me.. I was still holding out for my biological. But our biological father was moving more and more out of the picture.



I can only speak for myself when I say I was glad that George was there but I wanted MY dad. If you've heard of the Terrible 2's they are nothing in comparison to the terrible teens. Every moment I got and everytime George tried to set boundaries I was quick to throw up "you're not my father". He never spoke ill of my dad in retaliation but I KNEW it hurt him to hear that. Here is the man that's taking care of me when my father wouldn't. When I wanted a rabbit, he got it, when some dumb boy said I wasn't pretty because I had braces, he would say "awww babe you AND that 8head of yours is beautiful" (inside joke) when I took up studying the upright (bass) he introduced me to a new level of jazz & classical music and stories within the music, when I tried out for performing arts he listened to my fears and hopes and encouraged me every step of the way, when I played at carnigie hall he yelled that's MY daughter, the first time I was published he said, that's MY blood, that's mines! And yet I said I wasn't. When Duffy (biological) would make appearances, George never made it a peeing contest; he would graciously step aside and let Duffy "play" daddy while HE was father. Protector, provider, encourager. He even went so far as to cover up my biological fathers faults so that we would continue to honor him.

Not only was George my father. George was a MAN. When I grew up realized the definition of a man was someone who didn't need to tear down or throw dirt on someone else for his own validation. I'm lucky I got to tell George who he was to me and how he affected me and how sorry I was for my teen years. Even when I apologized he told me it had long since been forgotten that he understood and it never changed his love towards me. I'm glad that he was my father, my dad, my phoffer.

George passed away in March. This fathers day is particularly tough. But I can honestly say I had an amazing father figure in him and I am truly glad to have called him Dad.
Father's Week Day Five: The Stepfather
4:05 PM

Father's Week Day Five: The Stepfather

Thursday, June 17, 2010



I'm truly inspired by Danielle's story. We went to high school together...kinda. While my friends & I ran the mean streets looking for house parties to crash, Danielle stayed at home. She was the first person I knew to have a baby in high school. Funny how not even 10 years ago that was a rare occurrence & now they're building day cares in schools. Anyway, the reason I asked Danielle to tell her story & not any of the other millions of "single mothers" we see nowadays is because, although her story could be classified as typical, it's very unique. A child is not an excuse to settle, or be angry, or expect a sympathetic handout. In Danielle's case, her son heightened her drive while many pull over to the side of the road & nap. And today, by her own standards & not the world's...she made it.

Common said it best “There are too many black women who can say they’re mothers but can’t say that they’re wives”. That quote in itself implies much more than the lack of marriage in the black community. It implies the lack of families. In far too many cases, the husband less woman is raising fatherless children. It is the plights of the fatherless that far too many women forget about as they drown in their husband less reality. It is this situation that has brought so many women to “play daddy” and it is this situation that brings me to reflect on my own experience as a single mom.

You will never hear me say that I am “the mom and the dad”. I have learned that it is far too difficult just being me without trying to be someone else in addition to that. Despite being a single mom at age sixteen and broken from the relationship with my son’s father; I knew better than to pretend that I was going to fill the void left in his wake. I think all women intuitively know this. The way they reconcile this understanding is what sets each single mom down their own path. I reconciled it this way; I have to be the best I can be for my son and give him the best life that I can give him in spite of any circumstances that arrive. I will never know the kind of man and father my son’s dad might have been, so I have reconciled never to try and be what not even he could be for my son. Standards should be set based from experiences for when they are based in myth, they are not attainable. While we all set out with the best intentions to fill the unseen voids, I knew that I could only be the best me and that while I wish my son would never have to experience the voids left by feeling abandoned or unloved by his father, I knew that was not possible. With that understanding I set goals to lessen the pain my son would feel by those voids where possible and to not create additional ones with my own behavior. I knew being the best mom I could be would mean hard work, sacrifice and selflessness. I also knew that being a single mom would mean twice as much of all of these. I had to decide that with each challenge I faced and overcame, I would become a better mom and my son would have one more brick laid in his foundation to make him stable and to help him better cope with the voids I could not fill.

When my son was two months old and I had finally resolved that the relationship with his father was a terminal one, I also resolved to use the “single” in single mom as an adjective only and not as a verb. Single might describe my situation but I was determined that it would not determine the actions I would take. I knew that using my single mom status in my actions and decision making would be the crutch that allowed me to settle for being less of a mom than I knew I was capable of and would allow me to provide less of life for my son than I knew I was capable of providing. Like most, I felt the pain of the dream I had lost as my picture of my family dissolved when my son’s father walked out the door. I had to decide that the tears were ok but the anger had to go. I had to decide that this dream was the only one he was ever going to take from me and that just because he got this one, didn’t mean I had to give him the rest. Of course I always dreamed of walking down the high school and college graduation isle and the wedding isle before walking into parenthood. I had to decide to keep dreaming of walking down those isles. I had to decide to keep those dreams and to set my goals based on the dreams I had always had. Maybe the journey would look different, and maybe it would be harder, but I knew I had to continue on that journey.

What I came to find out is, while my journey was different and hard, it was also more beautiful and full of love and pride than it would have been under any other circumstance. I walked through the same doors and worked toward the same goals I had always thought I would, except I had my little man on the journey with me and therefore always had a reason to stay motivated staring back at me with little brown eyes. I often hear that my journey was extraordinary because of my single young mom status. But for me it is the journey I always wanted to take no matter the order of the milestones on my path. Maybe the circumstances make it extraordinary to some people, but I’ve always considered any other path extraordinary (out of the ordinary). Ordinarily people dream big, set goals and follow them. They would never let anyone else’s presence or lack thereof, high jack their dreams or cause them to change the standards they have for themselves as a friend, lover parent or human being. Contrary to the extraordinary, my journey with a father less child has been a precise and calculated effort to be ordinary just like every mom that wishes only to give her child the best life possible with an unwavering determination to not settle for less whether being single gave me an excuse to or not.
Fathers Week: Day Four 'My Journey With A Fatherless Child'
5:27 PM

Fathers Week: Day Four 'My Journey With A Fatherless Child'

Tuesday, June 15, 2010



As I said earlier, each day this week I'm going to feature different types of fathers we see in today's society. Our first feature is from a really good friend of mine, Patrick Murakami. I really can't intro what you're about to read, all I can say is, it's phenomenal, touching, & it led me to tears. Enjoy

First of all, shout out to all the Dads out there, we don't get enough credit lol, second of all, shout out to my son Lucas, because for so many reasons other than the obvious, I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for him. I love you son and of course a huge shout out to my Dad, love you pops!

I didn't know what to write, or what to say about life before and during Lucas. I'm so accustomed to talking about him when I'm not around him. Usually everything is about what he or what we had just done that same day or recently. I had to take a trip into the back of my mind and reminisce of how fast these past nearly 5 years have flown by. I can't really give you the full essence of 5 years or lifetime in a few brief paragraphs, but I'll try to be clear, concise and quick.



The birth of a first child to a parent is overwhelming. As long as you aren't a dead beat, anyway. (Thats a whole another blog though lol.) Anyway, I'm blessed that I was married, was able to experience the full nine months of Lucas being just a peanut into alien looking conehead he was when he came out. I kissed him and his mom good-bye everyday I went to work, and we play fought when he was on the inside and we listened to music. We didn't know until the minute he came out that "he" was going to be a he. Sparing folks details, basically after cutting the cord, I seriously looked at him for about 45 seconds to a minute to debate on whether he was Caleb, or Lucas, give me a break, 2 minutes prior we thought "he" might've been Evan Elizabeth...obviously we know what I chose.

Before I delve into life as father, I want to discuss a little about life as me, so people can see the full spectrum. Does the term "babies making babies" strike a chord within? Because essentially that's what I was. I was 20, I worked a job, that though gave me management skills, was still very "juvenile." How far can you grow, managing a game store, when outside of work you're playing games full time (I was trying to go pro playing them competitively) and when you're not playing you're reading or watching videos on them and "practicing." Really it was a hobby turned drug. I used to give an excuse that it kept me off the drugs, and out of trouble, but it consumed me. Seriously, ya'll would laugh at the idea of having an intervention for somebody playing video games, but the truth is that I would get physically ill, if my ps2 broke, or if my arcade stick died, and the Tilt at the Chapel Hllls mall was closed. When you would rather have people think you're out partying or cheating, because you don't want people to know you're playing games again...its bad lol. Don't judge me, you had crack, cocaine, weed and/or alcohol, I had my Street Fighter, and at least I can remember everyone of my good times, and I got paid for it.



Anyway, shortly after Lucas was born, I thought to myself that I can still juggle fools in Tekken, and also my lifestyle with my son and my wife. The harsh realization, was that I couldn't. So I hung up the sticks, like rehab, I went through my up and downs, said things I'd take back and fought empty fights. I remember one day, I was feeding my son dinner, and he was about 4 months old. He was full in his belly, he was messy as heck, and he just was staring at me. Relying on me for his every need. He'd laugh, he'd cry, he'd yell, and it was all amazing. It was like being in love for the first time. You know what I'm talking about, the first time a girl says she loves you, the first time you fall in love with God, the first time you ever kissed, the first time you ever did anything that you were so proud of. Except you knew that this time, this love wouldn't fade. I can't really explain what its like to have that feeling, when everything else you've ever known has always been temporary, or conditional. The pureness, the innocence, though it can be trying at times, its so purely therapeutic, and euphoric as well.

Fast forward to now, my relationship with my son, is undescribable. I crave him, and he craves me. There was a time when suicide would get a foothold on me and hold me until I would fall and give in. Can't say the thoughts don't come in and out, but now I have a reason to keep fighting, and keep going. Life is unbearable at times, if I can be honest, its a crustacean of hell, with nothing but plot and challenges which you can't escape within. Yet everyday I get to hear my son say goodnight. He's like the good looking, the innocent and the best parts of me. The parts in the mirror I can't see, but I always wanted too. He's proof that there are things in this world worth fighting for. So everyday is "Fathers Day" for me. Nothing but respect for any parents, whether your a mom, a dad ,grandparent, sibling...its tough and it takes a certain type of person with gusto and heart to fulfill those empty needs.
Fathers Week: Day Two 'My Son, My Life, My Father's Day Plight' by Patrick Murakami
8:12 PM

Fathers Week: Day Two 'My Son, My Life, My Father's Day Plight' by Patrick Murakami

Wednesday, June 9, 2010



The 1st single from Snooze Button II is being featured on one of the largest online platforms for Christian hip-hop!!!!

DaSouth.com put up "Beautiful Ashes" featuring my mans & em J Carter this afternoon & I'm geeked!!! I love how God always sends you reminders like "I got this, I'm still in control & I've still called you to do this". So I'm humbled & appreciative, as much as I can be.

So to all the new fans that may be reading this here's a quick introduction

My name is Armond
I'm 25 years old
I'm a father of two
And I refuse to let you label me

Some of the things I say may have you looking like:

or


But I'm positive more than anything else you'll hear my heart & see past the "words" to grab hold to the intention of the message I'm conveying.

I have an album "Dreaming Out Loud" that you can purchase here
<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-out-loud">Dreaming Out Loud by Armond</a>

I also have a mixtape I just dropped Memorial Day weekend entitled "Snooze Button II" that you can grab here
<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/album/snooze-button-ii">Intro by Armond</a>

Finally I did a project called "The Nina Mosley Experience" that you can download here
<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/album/the-nina-mosley-experience">Persistence by Armond</a>

Look to the left & you can hit me on Facebook, follow me on twitter, even add me on myspace if you still do that sort of thing.

WELCOME!!!!
Beautiful Ashes feat J Carter featured at DaSouth.com
4:19 PM

Beautiful Ashes feat J Carter featured at DaSouth.com

Monday, June 7, 2010

I got my 1st review for Snooze Button II late last night & I'm floored. Granted the writer is a very good friend of mine, but it means absolutely NOTHING in the grand scheme of things. The way we began our friendship was basically "guns blazing". You're doing this wrong & I'm doing this wrong. Normally, correction in friendships happens much later (if at all), but I knew her for maybe 2 weeks & we immediately began plucking each other. It was a welcomed change to the surface relationships we're all so very used to. So by no means am I expecting a "scratch my back & I'll scratch yours" anything from her.

She's a writer (a very good one at that) & she decided to take it upon herself to review my latest mixtape. Like at hear it, here it go...


Visit Pink Complexity In The City
When I first heard of Armond It was January and I was home sick. He sent me a link to his music, I was in bed trying to muster strength to get up; I couldn’t play it from my iPhone…and I almost didn’t get out of my bed to go to my Mac and listen to him. I’m glad I did. After I heard “Scared of Me” and “Rearview” I told him Scared of Me was dope and I liked his art of storytelling. He replied “That ain't storytelling, that all happened to me”. You have my attention.

Every time he posted something I listened. Not listened to say I heard it but I LISTENED. I felt like I was on my “kick in the door” phase… “Took home ready to die, listened, studied it.”

He is ridiculously dope lyrically. I can say I have never heard anything like him. And why? Because THIS is his ministry. Word son? You rap for Jesus? But don’t put him in the “Christian Rapper” box just yet. It’s not that simple. It never is. He IS NOT a Christian Rapper. He pours his heart out on the paper, God as his pen and his life the words. He is the embodiment of a life poured out. Though you can hear his relationship with God in his music, if you listen you see the man too. And after all a real minister can show you them and lead you to Christ at the same time. He isn’t one sided, he won’t bore you with “Yea God’s” and “Robbo Sha Tah’s”. To put it simply, he is Dope and God uses him.

I see the #nowplaying RT’s on twitter, but I always wonder if people are really listening to him or do they just hear the dope beat and let a catchy line soak in to spit back at him. Human that I am I riddle myself with “who is he like lyrically; who does he remind me of?” Not his writing. And every time I listen to his music it reaffirms his gift. The man has skills. Indubitably. I’d put my money on him in a cipher any day son! *Insert Kevin Heart clap with each word*But have you ever listened to someone and FELT everything that they were saying, When they where joyous, you heard joy, When they were in pain you felt it. The ability to change the atmosphere with your words…Not to sound spooky but there is a magic to that. I’ve heard it before. Marvin Gaye. That ability to touch God and touch people. It is a musical gift that all musicians covet. And Armond has it in spades.

I have followed him from leaks to Dreaming Out Loud (if you haven’t got your copy get one, it will change your life) and now to Snooze Button II (a mixtape). He keeps getting better. A 13 track (actually 14, he dropped Illuminati last night) mixtape, Armond shows off lyrically yet again. He makes it look easy because it is to him. He uses Drake beats a lot but I won’t judge because after I hear him, when I listen to Drake I’m like “mehhh… Armond did it better”. It’s hard to pick a favorite on Snooze Button II because he left it all on the court with this one. From beats to lyrics he BODIED this. It is arguably one of the best downloads to me this summer and I know this because I kept every track on my iPod. And if you know me you know I am picky with my IPod space…I only have 16GB…

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/crashing-down">Crashing Down by Armond</a>
· Crashing Down - is NUTS. He took N.E.R.D’s Sooner or later and transformed it into WHOA.

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/cross-colors-starter-jackets-british-knights">Cross Colors, Starter Jackets &amp British Knights by Armond</a>
· Cross Color, Starter Jackets and British Knight’s - I’m particularly partial to because He KO’d Eric B & Rakim’s “know the ledge” beat. I am a respecter of Hip Hop and everyone cant hop on every beat. Know the ledge if you don’t hold your own you get lost in the cut, he held his own.

<a href="http://armondwakeup.bandcamp.com/track/open-gym-feat-rich-tunes">Open Gym feat Rich Tunes by Armond</a>
· Open Gym ft. Rich Tunes – crazy. Rich Tunes is bananas and I hope he isn’t mad but his voice reminds me of Jadakiss and he is a witty lyricist. Him and Armond together was perfection.

I could go on and on about Snooze Button II but I don’t need anyone cueing Thugnificent’s “D^ck Riding” song. Besides, I’d rather you download it yourself and weigh in. It’s a pay what you want download that is worth $999.99. Its black Music Month and I’m not trying to stroke anyone’s ego, but I want to give Props where props are due. Armond is a force to be reckoned with. His ear is on the past and his lyrics are out of this world. He is doing things that will surely change Hip hop as we know it.

“Funny how God blesses you even more hilarious is what we don’t let Him do…” – Armond

Follow him on twitter @armondwakeup

www.armondwakeup.bandcamp.com
1st Review Of Snooze Button II
2:25 PM

1st Review Of Snooze Button II

Saturday, May 22, 2010

1st single from my upcoming mixtape "Snooze Button II" entitled "Beautiful Ashes" featuring my mans & em J Carter.

Cool story bro: While Pizzie & I were recording "Insomia" (our producer/rapper album we did in one week), I met his artist J Carter. Chopped it up for a little bit, asked him to get on the hook to this track & he agreed. I honestly had NO idea just how talented the brother was. Beautiful Ashes was merely a good idea in my head & wasn't quite sure what he'd do with it. He grabbed a notebook, hummed a little bit & 15 minutes later he had a hook AND a bridge. Laid down his parts in about an hour, at 5am, while everybody else slept (I was sleeping like a Conehead, literally lol). Dude is incredible & I look forward to seeing what he's going to do with some incredible doors that have recently opened for him.

Now to the music...

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


here's a youtube just in case you're into that sorta thing



SNOOZE BUTTON II: May 28th!!! www.armondwakeup.com & www.the9elements.com
Beautiful Ashes feat J Carter
3:59 PM

Beautiful Ashes feat J Carter

Monday, November 2, 2009



Everybody's familiar with the radio interview I did with "The Movement Radio Show" I did 3 weeks ago (if not CLICK HERE. Let me give y'all a quick rewind first before I give y'all the good news.

The host of the show (DJ With No Name) is good friends with my Pastor. He was talking about how he was starting a radio/podcast network & he was looking for artists to spotlight. My Pastor told him about me & that's how I got the interview. So while we're taping, the DJ's telling us about his vision to have a podcast network & soon branch off into a 24 hour streaming radio station. He was looking for people that were capable of doing shows. I told him about EdoubleF Radio & the desire I had to do more. If you missed the 1st episode of EdoubleF Radio CLICK HERE. He liked my idea & said he'd be in touch...

So yesterday he gives me a call & offers me my own weekly show. He said I can do whatever I want, he didn't give me ANY restrictions whatsoever, which is crazy. So...as of right now the format will be me playing music & having segments talking about a specific topic. I'ma also have a spotlight segment on artists & get their music out there. I've already got quite a few artists lined up, so I'm hype. My only gripe is whether I'ma play strictly Christian music (the network is Christian based), or will I just kinda use the same discernment I use when I'm listening to music on my own (aka would you play this around Jesus). I'm leaning towards the latter, but I'm not sure.

SO...I need all artists, producers, beat makers, singers, musicians, whoever. If you make music, and IT'S GOOD...email me @ edoublef@gmail.com with your submissions. If your music isn't Christian based, it at the very least has to be clean & positive. If it is contrived, I will know & I will not play you. The 1st episode will more than likely debut either the week before or after Thanksgiving. Not sure on what I'll be talking about, but if you have any suggestions hit me up.

My ministry has partnered up with The Underground Church Radio Network have partnered up & you can check them out at thewaycolumbus.mypodcast.com
Effect Radio is Back!!!!!!
12:23 PM

Effect Radio is Back!!!!!!

Monday, July 27, 2009



I was already up til 4am venting on my blog (SMH), and I woke up @ 11 the next morning. Thank God my “church” doesn’t start until 1pm (crazy, I know). I hate sleeping that late so I’m already mad, but I got ready for church, got a quick game of Fight Night 4 in & headed out the door.

Before I go to “church” (I’ll explain the quotations in a minute), I try to play something in the car that either ushers in the spirit of God, or at least gets me ready to accept Him. Usually it’s either Christian jazz or instrumentals (don’t ask, I’m weird). I really am NOT feeling gospel lately. ANYWAY, so while I’m trying to pray & drive, I suddenly become overwhelmed with my current situation. That’s all I can think about. I’m mad, I’m scared, I’m blaming myself, all this crap. Called my brother Rich to get my mind off that & walked right in.

Let me explain my “church” before I go on. Matter fact, lemme backtrack. When I 1st got saved in Japan, I went to a church that had a decent size congregation, couple hundred members. But the Pastor was this “bigger than life” figure that seemed to get just as much praise as Jesus. But then again, being a baby in my walk, I didn’t know any better, but I had a gut feeling that something was off. Then when I got stationed in Washington, I went to a really small church. Initially I was nervous & didn’t like it. It was maybe only 20 members in the whole joint. But I learned a LOT, I met some amazing people & started to learn how to serve in the church, I was in a few different ministries. I used to enjoy going to church. Then due to some messed up circumstances, I ended up leaving & to this day I regret it. They deserved more than what I gave them & to this day I’m still mad. I ended up at this other church, the pastor was great, but the congregation was mad religious. Singing old negro spirituals, not tapping into the Holy Spirit, it was just routine. I wasn’t growing, wasn’t learning (I will say some of the members walked in total love, which I hadn’t seen & still rarely do to this day). So when I got out & moved, I searched for a church home forever. I went to Baptist churches, Pentecostal churches, non-denominational; if you had a church here, I heard you speak. But everything was tired, boring, religious, no fruit, none of that. As a result, it became harder & harder to feed myself & ultimately I stopped going. I would go to this mega church to I guess appease God, and even though I had some encounters with Him there, it still wasn’t the same. I missed my old church that had the family feel to it.

So fast forward to about a month ago. I met a guy at my job, he actually interviewed me for the position, which is funny. But we began talking & come to find out he shared a lot of the same views about Christianity that I do. Since he was older, he had a lot of wisdom that I was just soaking in. He taught me about tithing & some other stuff I plan on sharing with y’all in the near future. Anyway, so he holds service at his house at 1pm, it’s him & his family, the co-pastor & his family & a few other people. And every sermon they’ve preached has been totally on point. Speaking to my current situation, giving me direction. Which confirmed that this is where I’m supposed to be.

So yesterday I head into service or whatever, last week’s sermon was CRAZY!!! It was about being on “spiritual offense”, where as Christians we wait until someone attacks us before we fight, when the Bible calls us to take the fight to the enemy. And this week’s sermon followed up on that (I plan on uploading them to my imeem page, patience…). So after service they ask if anybody needs prayer. Even though I did, I didn’t raise my hand. I couldn’t even think of what to pray for. So the co-pastor asks to pray for his sinuses. And I found out that my boy has a gift in healing (like, laying hands on folks & casting stuff out…so yeah, here WE go). So they begin to lay hands & pray over him.

Now y’all know me, if you remember my old blog on myspace (which I hated that I deleted cuz I had some classics on that joint), I’m very iffy on laying hands. Not because I don’t believe that we have that power. But because it looks like such a show. When I see pastors do it on TV, it’s like they slap the person in the face & the “demons jump out”. It looks like a choreographed fight to me. So I’m like meh…but as they begin to lay hands on this guy, something starts happening. It was almost as if he was pulling whatever it was up out of him & placing something better back in. I stepped all the way back, LOL!!!! I was like I don’t know about this homie. And then he began to speak into ol boy’s life in regards to his job, stuff he didn’t even ask to pray for. And he fell to the floor & began to cry…like HARD. And this is a big dude, prolly 6’2”, 290…really big guy, just weeping uncontrollably. I was just in shock, I had to pick my chin up off the floor. I was actually frozen for a minute. When I came to, my brain said leave, and my boy came up to me & said “yeah, we finna pray for you”….uh oh

He didn’t even ask what I needed. He started talking about how the Lord said I needed stability in my life (which I do) & that was gonna start with my finances. Then he began to speak on my calling & some other things. Then he placed his hand on my stomach & began to speak in tongues. And at first I didn’t feel anything. Then he began to speak on my past & the Lord started speaking through him again “he has many wounds, many scars that he wears. He’s not angry, he has a lot of hurt & unforgiveness that he carries around. Just say ‘I forgive them’”. Immediate the Lord began showing me faces & situations of people that I harbored…basically hate towards. And when he started speaking on my childhood, I felt weak & numb. I kinda backed up, my legs couldn’t even support me to stand up. It was unreal. Those things that you carry around in your mind, really do manifest themselves, it felt like I was weighed down. All the while, The Lord is still showing me people & things people did to me that I was carrying around. And at that moment, my body couldn’t support itself & I fell. And when I fell, I was dazed…I promise y’all this was the craziest thing in the world. It even seems weird to be typing this out to you.

I got up, talked with them for a minute, said my goodbyes & got in the car. While I was walking I felt light. Like, I felt about as light as I weigh, lol. I remember during the prayer, like I said, I felt really really heavy. As if the weight of all those problems were being lifted up off me. The crazy part is that with all the things the Lord said yesterday, he didn’t say ANYTHING about my situation that I was consumed with in the car. Not a thing…so I’m like if God ain’t concerned about it, then why am I??? It’s funny to compare what you’re worried about & what God is thinking. He’s like “pffffft, that??? Uhhh yeah, I’ma need you to let that go, now as for this other stuff, boom boom boom”.

When I got home I was in a great mood. I wasn’t mad or upset, or anything like that. I realized I was like, pitiful. I would just sit there & watch ESPN all day. Nothing productive. Or I’d get online & download beats that I’d never write to. Two other things God said He was gonna stir up was my creativity & my rest. Which is crazy because #1, like in my previous post, people haven’t really been digging what I put out recently. He said what I’ve written so far is nothing compared to what I’m about to do. And as far as rest goes, I haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep in YEARS. I always wake up throughout the night, I’m always sleeping in late, waking up for work 15 minutes before I have to walk out the door & it’s been killing me. And funny thing, this morning I woke up just as energized as ever. I really can’t wait to see what else is going to happen. I also have already had some situations that would make me mad (satan don’t sleep) but I get mad for a second & I promise I completely forgot about it. I had to remind myself like, oh yeah…

As far as that record goes that I was gonna leak in a few weeks, it’s scrapped. There was a lot of resentment in those bars so I’d rather continue to create solutions instead of problems. However I will leak something fairly soon, depending on how quick I can get into the studio. And for those of you leery about my experience, beat on God’s chest. Beat on His door & ask for it. I’m not even sure if most Christians even have constant communication with the Lord like that, if any communication at all. If not, there’s obviously something blocking, creating a wall between you guys. Is it a relationship you’re in?? A career choice, a lifestyle, a reoccurring sin?? Find it & cut it off. If you don’t know, ask for revelation. And have patience PLEASE…I suck with patience, so I’m basically preaching to the choir.

Oh yeah, to ol boy that reads my blogs, get at me…a chat is long overdue. I appreciate you, more than you know. One…
That Great Day
5:29 PM

That Great Day

Thursday, June 18, 2009



the infamous fight from a classic movie. and how does this conflict still speak to us today...

Deebo (or Zeus as I knew him, step your WWF up) went around the neighborhood looking for trouble. Using whoever & whatever to accomplish his own agenda. And anyone who didn't fall in line got hands put on them. A good percentage of us are more so like the Redd's, real loud when everything is good, but timid, weak & scared once the enemy approaches. Even submitting ourselves when put on the spot.

there's another percentage of us that resemble Craig...Craig at that very moment had been pushed to his limit. He decided that Deebo had crossed the line & wanted to do something about it. Initially he stood up to Deebo, only to be beat down & seemingly put in his place.

Here's the turning point for a lot of us. Once we get slumped over that car, we quit. It's over. We're done. White flag

Or...

We lash out...that gun was a quick fix, a temporary solution to a permanent problem. Long term effects; jail. Short term effects; Deebo goes away. At that moment I bet Craig didn't even care what was gonna happen after he pulled the trigger. He tried to fight back the honest way & it didn't work. So instead he chose to do what he knew worked, whether it was the right or wrong thing didn't matter.

There was that small still voice that began to speak to him. Strong enough not to convict, but convicting enough to pierce the eardrum & the heart. "You know better than that. Do it the right way"...I'm sure Craig heard him, but was he trying to listen??


And that's where I am right now...
Craig vs Deebo
6:38 PM

Craig vs Deebo

Monday, June 15, 2009



i had a bad weekend y'all...

recently i've been presented with making some life altering decisions. decisions that would confuse most. on top of that, i already have other issues that i'm currently dealing with. and it just so happened TD Jakes was in town this weekend to speak. Jakes is one of my favorite authors/pastors. His book He-Motions led me to tears several times while reading it. and to be honest i still haven't finished reading it; it's so relevant to my life & brought up a lot of hurt that i haven't dealt with yet.

ANYWAY, i went to hear him speak on Friday. he basically talked about Doubting Thomas out of the book of John & how everybody has a twin (Thomas means "twin" in Hebrew) & there's basically two of you, one who "goes to church" & the other who "sits in church". it was deep, and it was very convicting. that's a big issue that's going on in my house & hearing it broken down in depth was interesting, yet disheartening.

THEN, Sunday my pastor finally gets to preach (he rarely does, service is moreso based in praise & worship & then deliverance). and he speaks on not walking in love & a lack of faith. Two of my biggest adversaries. and his sermon was more convicting than Jakes'. so hearing about all of your shortcomings & faults (without a solution, FYI) is FAR from encouraging.

as you guys know, i've been dealing with money. i was venting to the Mrs. last night about bills & a lack of income. and she said "well at least we're not out on the street". it resonated, but i wasn't trying to hear that.

i mean, i said it on Shoot Me Down


say they want advice but they just want someone to justify the wrong they do//as long as you stay in that circle, then you'll never be straight..."

and i played right into that. i didn't wanna hear a right answer, or a glimmer of hope. i hear that way too much. "your blessing is around the corner", etc etc...i can't even front, i REALLY didn't wanna hear that!!!!!! so as i was falling asleep, i was praying, & i repented for my anger, but i fell asleep before i got around to telling God where my anger stemmed from

and then i woke up...

so today i was taking care of stuff for my new job (complaining about money & i got a new job, strike 1) & i had to make a stop in the grocery store. while i'm driving in the parking lot i see a man, woman & child standing outside of a jeep holding a sign

"FAMILY IN NEED"

INSTANT conviction...
my wife's voice in my head "at least we're not on the streets begging"

i'm sitting here mad & upset about money. i have a pocket full but it's gotta last me a couple weeks. and here's this man & his family, that had to humble themselves & ask for help.

how wrong am i?!?!?!?!

i hate asking anybody for help, i JUST got humbled by asking family members. so to be in a position to ask strangers?!??! i couldn't fathom it...

all the while i'm @ the store, all i could think about was that man & his family. the man of the house, the head...forced to beg WITH his family no less for money. i felt uncomfortable, ashamed of my own anger @ God. granted i ain't ballin, but i could very easily be that man...

so i drove by them & gave him some money. not much. and i saw the gratitude in his eyes, the embarrassment, and the hope in his handshake. he began to tell me how his job laid him off & unemployment wasn't gonna kick in for a little bit, & his rent was due before it started. i told him "God bless you" & drove away.

i left still not satisfied. should i have prayed with them?? shared the gospel?? what was my little contribution gonna do for them?? even as i type this now i'm still empty & feel as if i should've done more. and on top of that i'm already ashamed for being mad @ my current situation, when there are folks that would kill to be where i am.

count your blessings, even if it's 2 of em.
It's Always Worse...
4:22 PM

It's Always Worse...

Friday, October 24, 2008



it's so cooooooooooooooold in the c!!!!!

i'm done apologizing for a lack of updates. i just found out that nobody really even knows i have a blog (for whatever crazy reason) & those that do haven't been pressing me to write anything. but if you never read anything else i write, heed to this.

what i'm gonna do is tell y'all about my life, no smoke & mirrors straight windex. and the reason is because i really feel like God is using my current situation to #1 build my faith in Him & #2 bless others (but isn't that what EVERYTHING He does is about??) anyway...

so i got out the military in august. i got a job the day of my separation so i was cool. my wife had been job hunting since march, we didn't give it much thought cuz we figured since so many different companies had her resume it'd only be a matter of time before she got picked up. plus the fact the military was giving me a couple Gs as a goodbye present AND we were gonna get an extra 2 Gs from them for moving ourselves, we'd be fine to start our new life.

"got on my knees, told God I had a plan, He laughed"- Joe Budden- Hiatus

it seemed like one thing after another put us completely out of our comfort zone. I told God I wanted Him to help me with my faith, but I guess I figured it'd be done under my terms. how stupid was I?? long story short...

-the money I was supposed to get from the military ended up going towards a debt I supposedly had & didn't pay, apparently I owed the US gov't $4000 for something THEY messed up on. the money i was supposed to get covered some of the debt, but i was still very much in the hole with them. the money i was gonna get from moving ourselves covered the rest of the debt
-i went a month without a job, i had all intents & purposes on chilling during August, & using my military payout to support my family. but since i didn't get it i had to use my savings...until there was nothing left i could save
-the calls to hire my wife weren't as fast as we had assumed. honestly she was limiting herself due to her qualifications. one thing we do in a lot of instances is fail to see ourselves through another set of eyes. like some people live & die by my music, i think it's dope but i mean...some of the compliments i get are outrageous, but i don't see it (*end selfish plug...sorry Jesus*). same way with her, her work ethic is amazing, she can do whatever she wants, but back then she didn't see it.

as a result, to this day we are sleeping at a relative's house (on the floor no less), living out of our suitcase. imagine going from a 2 bedroom, 2 bath house with a basement to a 9x11 room & one bathroom. the adjustment is NO joke. but it's like, i can't blame anybody for my lack of preparedness, plus God is going to (and has) shown out on our behalf.

as for my job, i don't get paid nearly as much as I did in the military. as a result i barely make enough to pay my bills. we only get paid once a month (which forces me to be extra resourceful with my money instead of relying on the 1st & 15th), my 1st check was barely enough to cover the bills i HAD to pay. i was literally down to the wire, they were going to repo my car and my wife's wedding ring. my phone was off for a minute, my car insurance bout expired cuz i hadn't paid on it in so long. it's a mess. and to this day i'm not caught up. on top of that my baby needs some things that i'm having difficulty providing her right now. it's rough y'all...

in order to make ourselves feel better, we did a LOT of apartment hunting. we would go see the place & i'd record the tour on my phone. we'd come home & watch the video & pretend we already lived there. or we'd go to furniture stores & look for bedroom sets, not worrying about the price, imagining how it'd look in our room. (i did the same with flat screens, lol) trust me, it helped. it was that positivity and the fact that we planted that future seed in our minds that helped us press on.

HOWEVER, God is good & we see the light. my wife got a MAJOR position at a MAJOR place of business...as a result we can move out in 2 weeks. she stepped out & stopped limiting herself, and as a result God put her at an amazing place to do amazing things. i'm just about out of training & i'm slightly ahead of the curve of where i'm supposed to be (compared to some of the others that trained with me). I can rejoice in the small glimmer i've already seen & look forward to when God busts that door off the hinges.

i've been reading several scriptures on faith, several faith based stories in the Bible (aren't they all pretty much?), but it's funny...the black girl from High School Musical told a story that encouraged me the most...


hilarity.

ANYWAY, so at one point i was really frustrated at my job. my job requires me to step out of my shell, so to speak. those of you that know me personally, you know that i'm very opinionated, i can talk, and i'm funny (that's what they say)...but that's with my friends. with complete strangers??? speak if necessary, other than that i'm very reserved. a reserved rapper, oxymoron. so anyway, i'm on twitter & one of the updates has an interview with her. since i'm bored, i read it. and this part stood out.

Coleman recalls the days of struggling to pay bills and constant auditioning in Los Angeles.

"I was a mess. I came into this movie with a two or three day notice on my door, literally! I hadn't paid bills in I don't even know how long. I got to the point where I was so broke that I would pay my car insurance and my cell phone. The reasoning behind that was I didn't want to get pulled over so I wanted to make sure that I could drive to get to and from auditions. I thought that if it came down to it I could sleep in my car. I paid my phone because I needed to be able to get in touch with people to get to those auditions. That's really all that mattered at the time," the actress shared.

Coleman said she always believed that her circumstances before booking the first 'High School Musical' were just temporary.

"I had absolute faith," she declared. "I'll never forget that even after the movie came out, we went to and I had to get my passport because I didn't have a passport to go on this trip. We got back from this trip and I was on unemployment at the time – even after the movie. I got my unemployment papers in the mail and it was right before the first of the month. I thought, 'God, I really don't have my rent.' I think my unemployment might have been like $800 every two weeks or something like that. I looked at it and said to myself, 'Monique Coleman, is this really what you believe you are worth?' I just got back from staying at the Park Hyatt Sydney looking at the Opera House, traveling the world and promoting a movie. I had no other source of income that was it. I said, 'no, I don't believe that's what I'm worth' and I tore it up. I didn't know that three days later, we would get our first bonus check from Disney and I haven't had to go back to another day job or really struggle financially since. For me, I think that is about inviting abundance. I think that abundance is out there for everyone. Somebody is gonna get it. You have to claim it for yourself and decide that if someone is gonna get it, why shouldn't it be me?"


Yay-man!!! i was literally thinking about walking out & quitting, going back to a warehouse that offered me a job that paid pretty good. along with my wife's income we'd be doing alright for ourselves. HOWEVER, what would I have learned?? I would've been reniging (is that a word) over everything I had prayed to God about in the months prior. i would've been content, living steady, not ABUNDANTLY like He calls His people to do.

so in turn, i will check in with updates until we're in the overflow. until then, be encouraged
Dear Diary: My Struggle Is My Testimony pt 1
4:33 PM

Dear Diary: My Struggle Is My Testimony pt 1

Monday, September 22, 2008

again, apologies for not updating the blog. again, i've been busy. if you needed me that bad, you would've emailed me, or joined me on Twitter, cuz I'm on there all day (from the Blackberry)...and this trend is gonna continue for a while & I'll explain why...later

so it's officially been one month since i exited the military. i think i expressed the fact i wanted to test my faith & build it up by basically throwing myself out to the wolves & letting God provide for me instead of Uncle Sam. like i said a few blogs down, the military takes really good care of it's people (especially the Air Force), to the point where you allow yourself to get trapped in a position financially where you need that guaranteed check on the 1st & 15th. but because i was unhappy, and happiness is more important than finances, i stepped out & asked God to have His way.

without going into much detail, i have a great job. i'm happier, and i'm in a position to further myself spiritually, marriage wise & musically. i went from a dead end job (yes there are dead end positions in the military) to actually being preferred over people that have degrees AND experience because of my past. yeah they say that, and yeah they think that. but it's all God. all the way, nothing but Him. and i love it. if you're doing something & you're not happy, have faith & step out into something you're interested in. i unkowingly spoke my job into existence...

-work downtown=check
-business attire=check (shut up, all my jobs have been labor, i wanna look good)
-help people=check
-own cubicle=check


speaking of music (love how i moved into that right??), yeah...i've been on a hiatus. i went on a dry spell for beats, God was kinda giving me the side-eye when I'd get secualr beats so I fell back from them for the most part. plus my producers kinda went MIA for a second. Doc that did a LOT of my material (Waiting For You, Rather See Her Smile, etc) just popped back up (pause) & he hit the ground running. he's got 2 joints with Lloyd Banks. yes G-Unit Lloyd Banks. i know that's not the biggest deal to the Christian world, but since he's my FRIEND first & foremost, I'm beyond excited for him. one of the songs hasn't leaked (publically), but here's the other, "Without You". (does contain some explicit language, listen with caution)

Banks - Without You - Thisis50

as far as my own music goes, yup...hiatus. cuz of the beats & where God has me, i haven't been inspired at all. i still plan on releasing something by the end of the year, and i'm still being tight lipped about it, cuz it's gonna be huge. and i expect to make some big things happen. expect random updates as i get the bug back. once i get my studio set back up, i'll quench your thirst with some new stuff.

oh yeah, if you didn't know, they played my music on the radio in Columbus, GA about 2 weeks ago (shout to Ricky Gentile). shouts to Boots & the whole Born Again Beats ministry. i missed it (kinda). i was en route to church (in Toledo, OH) so my sister had it playing online while i was on the phone. they played "Spazz" right before we walked in. my nephews were crazy excited, i was too. i'm waiting on my 5 heartbeats moment though

start @ 4:50


finally, on another note, my partner in rhyme Ca$h was recently deployed to support the "war on terror". i ask you all to pray for him, his spirit, his family, everyone around him & for his return home. he'll be home soon, and when he does come home, game over...

i was gonna do a playlist, but i'm tired & imeem has nothing i wanna list...so gimmie a minute
One Month Later...
10:18 PM

One Month Later...