Monthly Archives: May 2018

This Is America by Relentless Aaron

Mass shootings, random acts of violence, pain and suffering…

Tonight, somewhere in the world there are families experiencing great grief. The random school shootings yesterday are leaving empty beds, troubled hearts, helpless and lost moms and dads… grief, pain and suffering all at once. 

5/18/2018 (RELATED TO) MOUNT ZION HIGH SCHOOL

5/18/2018 SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL, TEXAS

5/11/2018 HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL, CALIFORNIA

4/20/2018 FORREST HIGH SCHOOL, FLORIDA

Have we forgotten? Just months ago there was a great outcry from the young, angry and frustrated people marching all over the nation. Outraged. Loud. Fed up. And justly so, people are struggling for an answer to something where there have been no answers. Underneath it all i’ve been saying for many years that the way to address these tragic circumstances is with love. On the other hand I want to remind you that we are all to blame. For sure, Childish Gambino, JCole and even Drake with his million/dollar philanthropic efforts are certainly refreshing to the music scene. However, this world, or at least a large portion of it, agrees with violence and recklessness and misbehavior. It gets the most views sells the most advertisement and is usually the lead story at 5 o’clock. Over the past four decades I’ve watched how we’ve digressed from a Godspell, Partridge family, Brady Bunch-world to the bloody shit we see on tv and our communication devices everyday. The fighting, the weapons, the rage and senseless killings, all of it complete with soundtracks and commercials and endorsements of the greatest kind. Our vulgar, radical voices agree with the vulgar, radical personalities behind the music, tv and films. And then the content is not really censored at all since it’s embraced at the biggest sports arenas that drive the greatest audiences whether it’s music or sports. Tell me that there are censored versions of this and I’ll laugh at you, knowing full well that the clean version still promotes the dirty version. And the dirty version still promotes my point. Jesus. Did I miss the part where we replaced Neil Diamond with the latest raunchy rap at basketball games? And is that our local news agreeing with and promoting the hit TV shows today, essentially embracing violence and all things bloody and random? 

It feels as if someone tossed us all into the lions den, drenched in barbecue sauce. We are all likely to get bit. The ones hiding in the back of the crowd? Sure there are many bodies shielding the worst of the attack; however there’s no doubt that even the insulated and isolated among us are affected even if in denial of the realities at hand.

So it’s not rocket science that things not only have gotten worse, but they’re getting worse. Once upon a time it was “The Golden Rule,” the Bible and some sort of moral compass that we were taught to adhere to.

The books, films, TV and music; all of it has channeled death and mayhem. It has thrusted and force-fed violent, pornographic content to impressionable, already mentally unstable human beings that are now challenged with, exposed to, copying, mirroring and even imitating what we see. The most obvious of these are folks that are mentally disturbed. The least obvious of these are people that are just not loved. And wherever the roulette wheel stops, YOU ARE NEXT. Your town, your school, your post office, your work environment, some random public park, movie theater, a nursery school? How about an old folks home? Are they next? What’s the worst that can happen? 

5 WAYS TO PREVENT THE MASS-KILLING YOU’RE PLANNING

With so many possibilities, we cannot ignore the idea that the world is the Oyster of that next miserable, unloved human being who wants attention, who’s frustrated and imbalanced, with an ax to grind. This individual has access to some poison, some explosive device, some weapon, or some automobile. He or she even has the mental capacity to carry out some dastardly evil deed. Most importantly, this person is possibly living right next-door to you. They have a motive; this motive might be revenge, or the want for a hug. This motive might be that this person wants to be heard. It just might be that this person has been slighted or worse robbed of his or her ability to survive in such an entitled society. What does entitled society mean? Well to the one who is realizing a deficit in his or her life, entitled people have good jobs and status. Entitled people have those great relationships, connections and geographic conveniences. Entitled people follow those practices and routines that are set up to ignore the disenfranchised and oppressed people among us. And while there is so much to consider, so many levels to examine, the instant way of addressing this random virus that is traveling from east to west coast is to open your heart and show love to those around you. Yeah yeah this may seem real kumbaya in a world full of flying bullets and immanent threats, but on the fly, in that very instant before the trigger is pulled, kumbayah might be all you got. Even if you have a bulletproof vest and arm guards all around you there’s still those outside of your fortress that you care about and love. And just as they matter to you, so too will that pain touch you inside of your insulated world. 

Finally, because my commentary is not likely to reach the individual who needs it most, I put you to the task fellow readers and those who My words reach… i’m not suggesting that we erase all the ugly content in the world. What I am suggesting is that we embrace a balance. Or at least,  embrace our neighbors. I’m suggesting that while we are vigilant and protective and cautionary, we must also be kind, and considerate, and peaceful. Love someone near you. Help someone near you. Lend a helping hand or at least an ear so that they might be heard. You may be saving a life.

#done

#relentlessaaron

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My Own Affirmation For Love

I sometimes feel we are trapped in a time and space where we are all looking for redemption and Justice and Revenge and some retaliation. Some, more than others, are so stuck in that space that they cannot grow. They embrace their victimization as opposed to diving into their future and their progress, the overcoming and the success. And here’s the thing: if you can live to get there you are more or less guaranteed to overcome. And if you work hard enough you are guaranteed some level of success and most certainly, or at least, you will progress. Naturally, there are isolated incidents that, because of our instant access to media, sort of cluster and seem trendy. But only when you open your mind and see things from other perspectives, outside of your immediate comfort zone and geography, you will realize that life for many is pretty amazing. In the end, life is what you make it. And, the way you look at life most likely directs your certain outcome.

If somebody says something that bothers us, we point fingers and  place blame. If our circumstances are not what we’d like them to be, again we point fingers and place blame, versus making the necessary adjustments for different outcomes.

We will place blame more often than shouldering responsibility! Even if it IS our fault! WHO’S THE SCAPEGOAT?

Now of course my theories are not all cut and dry and black and white and set in stone. But for the most part, I can see the rhythm nation and how many have adopted these practices.

So for sure we have been miss educated. For sure we have adopted negative practices. And I realize the cards we’ve been dealt are not all pulled from honest decks. But now that so much information has bombarded us and now that we have our own conscious and careful Analysis to weigh on the things we see, hear and experience, it is on each of us to use this information for our own progress, our passions and our inevitable purpose. 

Yes yes yes we have certainly learned some wicked ways and means in how to cope, how to overcome and how to excel, despite the odds against us. We’ve learned how to fight back, how to call for help, and that we must choose our battles wisely. Yes media and movies and imaging has also taught us some defaults on how to navigate through this hot mess. However I am clear and convinced that the best way to move through life is to move with love. I even must unlearn ways I’ve been taught to move and groove through this life. I must unlearn things I’ve learned and I must rethink the way I handle all engagements. And still I must even a sure and affirm to myself that love is the answer. That means speak with love, act with love and decide with love… Even if it’s tough love that must be executed. 

Loving on Friday yours truly Relentless Aaron

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The Zealot Culture – Blowing Hot Sabotaging Air

After all I’d done to make her feel safe, comfortable and secure (at least enough time for her to get herself together), and now, so suddenly, here I was in the middle of an argument. 

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AS IF IT WAS YESTERDAY… PRODUCING MY FIRST MUSIC VIDEO IN GEORGIA

Okay so I have a confession: yes! I’ve known this artist FOREVER! He’s an old friend from Mt Vernon, NY. We lived blocks from one another. I’ve been to his family home in the Vernon, as well as here in Atlanta where he nests his new family. So when moving here to Georgia was a reality… when showing the world I had “the stuff” was a necessity, My buddy Eric (smartly known as “E”) stepped to the plate and we made it happen. However, the backstory to this music video is bananas…

Keoshia and R&B singer/songwriter/producer Eric McCain right before we began shooting the music video for “I LIKE THE WAY YOU DO ME”

Damn. She look good, even before we gettin started? Somebody STOP her! — with Keoshia Abrams. TIE DESIGNER Thomas Allen fixing Keoshia’s tie.

The dream home that we used in Alpheretta was secured the night before when Eric & I were suddenly invited by the homeowner. “Oh, we happen to have a filming here tonight. Come on up.” An hour later, we were mingling at a black-tie affair…the next morning, 7am I was hard at work…

As a sidenote: the housewives filmed this episode/segment at the same house, the night before. I was there at the end of their shoot to meet some of the ladies and to qualify the location for our filming

Another Superpreneur Summit This Coming Sunday…

3 Chefs, A Film Screening, and the Entertainer Donnie Long all set for this Sunday. Arrive at 6:30, but RSVP for sure since this is a living room event. Space is limited.

Superpreneur Summit

Sunday, May 6, 2018, 6:30 PM

The Relentless House
237 e Simon Terr nw Atlanta, GA

7 Members Went

• What we’ll do: we’re so excited about our next gathering. Not only will we be eating the special dinners prepared by three or more chefs. We will also have live music performance. And will we have a celebrity guest as we did before? Well you’ll just hafta wait and see! Also, also, also… WE WILL BE SCREENING THE ENTIRE 18MINUTE EPISODE (episode …

Check out this Meetup →

MY OPEN LETTER TO KANYE WEST

MY OPEN LETTER TO KANYE WEST: Bruh if what someone says makes you take drugs, get lipo etc… if anyone makes you “scared” relating to your vision, YOU ARE THE ONE WITH THE ISSUE. Don’t blame someone else for your own failed self esteem!? You’re talented and opinionated, and (overall) I believe we love your energy. But your main issue? Is that you think you matter. You think that what you say matters in the universe. It doesn’t. When you leave, there will be a few soundbites in your wake. There may be a school program, a food dish and a couple books named after you. But thats not gonna shake the earth, solve starvation, homelessness or poverty. Kanye you are but a mustard seed in the bigger universal equation of haves and have-nots. Except, that you speak, act and likely think that you own the milkyway. Bruh, get back to the music. Fuq what anybody says about you. What, if they say you can’t see straight you’re going to dig out an eyeball? Miss me with the bullshit, Yeezy. Get your life right get your mental right and stay in the game as we love to see you. Yeah we love to see you go off the hook but please be clear that it ends there. And it’s getting played; your rants on tv and on stage are boring me. And trust that we are not in control of your physical fitness, your mental health or your spiritual health. Man up bro because all of that other shit you say is just entertainment. Don’t let it crossover and takeover your real world; the kids, the family, your well-being. Peace

HERE’S THE FULL VIDEO:

AND ONE MORE THING… Kanye brought attention to “400 years” which goes deeper than just indentured servants and wanting to stay on the land that we tilled and picked cotton on. Its deeper than “wanting to stay” He’s bringing todays arrogance and attitude to a time when we didn’t have the tools, know-how, etc to fight back against whips, chains, guns, and most importantly THE LAWS which made us “property” and which “kept” us locked down to plantations, owners, masters and such. You sound pretty brilliant, and we likely both enjoy Kanye’s music. But I think we’d both agree that dude needs a history, some mentorship, a drug program, or ALL OF THE ABOVE

Dear Carl Hancock Rux:
Kanye will make lemonade out of this. We must remember that his poetry… his energy, his randomness is what evolved him into an even bigger superstar. We must also be responsible African Americans and look after our own, especially the ones who are mentally challenged. You say you gave up on him years ago, which tells me you agreed with him early on and up to a point. As much as I also admonish Kanye for his “stuff”, I realize that we are all still bouncing back from those 400 years. We are all dealing with post traumatic stress disorders. We are all disconnected/part of a failed people who are in need of TLC; some of it in the form of Tough Love. Some of it in the form of chinchecks, Kanye wasn’t this reckless before life got to him. And maybe it’s me but I don’t want to throw away our folks/especially the ones with value. Let’s talk about how we’re gonna get him better. Love ya Carl. I still want to produce a video for you!

Other relevant clips relating to this Kanye Rant:

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