Cover Sundays – UB40 – “Can’t Help Falling In Love” – Elvis Presley Cover

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(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You, 1961, 1993, ACC, Ali Campbell, Alistair Ian Campbell, Astro, Atlanta, Birmingham, Blue Hawaii, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Brian Travers, California, Can't Help Falling In Love, Cover, Cover Songs, Cover Sundays, Covers, DEP, Dub, Duncan Campbell, Earl Falconer, Elvis Presley, EMI, England, George David Weiss, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Graduate, High School Crush, Hugo Peretti, Jimmy Brown, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia Walker, Love, Luigi Creatore, Mickey Virtue, music, Music from the Motion Picture Sliver, musician, Norman Hassan, Promises and Lies, Reggae, Robin Campbell, Sacramento, Singer-songwriter, ska, Sliver, songwriter, Terence Wilson, UB40

This takes me back to the year between junior and senior year. This was a constant in talking to girl, and also in my Georgia Tech summer program.

  
The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Blue Lines Blog – Questions for the Author of Blue Lines Part III (Finale)

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Atlanta, Author, Azul Lewis, Beauty (Remix), Black, Blue, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, California, Capitol, Chapel Hill, Chris Carter, college, Common, Common Sense, Creative Writing, De La Soul, Dru Hill, East Coast, Education, Eric Serra, Final Goodbye, Fox Mulder, Fred Durst, Freeworld Records, Gate E, Georgia Dome, Georgia Tech, Gerald Milson, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, iPad, iPad Post, Job, Joi, Kaleidoscope, Kelis, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia, Keypsiia Yemaya Walker, Limp Bizkit, Love, Lysette, Lysette Titi, manuscript, Memoirs Of A Geisha, Missing You, Monica, Moscone Center, music, Naima, Nas, New York, North Carolina, Notorious B.I.G, Outside, Pearl Jam, Protagonist, Questions, Renee Turner, Sacramento, San Francisco, Sister Souljah, Staind, Starbucks, The Fifth Element, The Pendulum Vibe, The Professional, The The Eyes of A Man Born to Life, The X-Files, UNC Chapel Hill, University, University of North Carolina at Chapel

In recent readings, I read Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever, and chose to answer the questions she offerered at the close of her novel. Over the coming weeks, I will offer my answers to her questions (some tailored to address my manuscript) in respect to work, Blue Lines. These questions were answered some time ago, earlier this year. I am providing them in that form.

1. Why did you choose to focus on your book subject?
2. Is Blue Lines a true story?
3. How did you write the story so authentically?
4. Did you, and if so, why did you decide to include yourself as a character?
5. Where we’re you when you first started writing Blue Lines?
6. Which character did you create first?
7. How did you write the manuscript, what method?
8. Why aren’t all of your characters Black?
9. What were you trying to achieve with the novel Blue Lines?
10. Will there be a sequel novel?

8. Why aren’t all of your characters Black?

Blue Lines Blog – Questions for the Author of Blue Lines Part II

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Aaron Lewis, Arthur Golden, Atlanta, Author, Azul Lewis, Beauty (Remix), Black, Blue, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, California, Capitol, Chapel Hill, Chris Carter, college, Common, Common Sense, Creative Writing, De La Soul, Dru Hill, East Coast, Education, Eric Serra, Fox Mulder, Fred Durst, Freeworld Records, Gate E, Georgia Dome, Georgia Tech, Gerald Milson, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, In A Sentimental Mood, iPad, iPad Post, Jay-Z, Job, John Coltrane, Joi, Joi Gilliam, Kaleidoscope, Kelis, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia, Keypsiia Yemaya Walker, Limp Bizkit, Love, Lysette, Lysette Titi, manuscript, Memoirs Of A Geisha, Missing You, Monica, Moscone Center, music, Naima, Nas, New York, North Carolina, Notorious B.I.G, Outside, Pearl Jam, Protagonist, Questions, Renee Turner, Sacramento, San Francisco, Sister Souljah, Staind, Starbucks, The Fifth Element, The Pendulum Vibe, The Professional, The X-Files, UNC Chapel Hill, University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wu-Tang Clan, X-Files, Young Sad & Blue

In recent readings, I read Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever, and chose to answer the questions she offerered at the close of her novel. Over the coming weeks, I will offer my answers to her questions (some tailored to address my manuscript) in respect to work, Blue Lines. These questions were answered some time ago, earlier this year. I am providing them in that form.

1. Why did you choose to focus on your book subject?
2. Is Blue Lines a true story?
3. How did you write the story so authentically?
4. Did you, and if so, why did you decide to include yourself as a character?
5. Where we’re you when you first started writing Blue Lines?
6. Which character did you create first?
7. How did you write the manuscript, what method?
8. Why aren’t all of your characters Black?
9. What were you trying to achieve with the novel Blue Lines?
10. Will there be a sequel novel?

6. Which character did you create first?

Blue Lines Blog – Questions for the Author of Blue Lines Part I

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A Tribe Called Quest, Arthur Golden, Atlanta, Author, Azul Lewis, Blue, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, California, Capitol, Chapel Hill, college, Common, Common Sense, Creative Writing, De La Soul, East Coast, Education, Gate E, Georgia Dome, Georgia Tech, Gerald Milson, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, iPad, iPad Post, Jay-Z, Job, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia, Keypsiia Yemaya Walker, Love, manuscript, Memoirs Of A Geisha, music, Nas, New York, Notorious B.I.G, Protagonist, Questions, Renee Turner, Sacramento, San Francisco, Sister Souljah, Starbucks, UNC Chapel Hill, University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wu-Tang Clan

In recent readings, I read Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever, and chose to answer the questions she offerered at the close of her novel. Over the coming weeks, I will offer my answers to her questions (some tailored to address my manuscript) in respect to work, Blue Lines. These questions were answered some time ago, earlier this year. I am providing them in that form.

1. Why did you choose to focus on your book subject?
2. Is Blue Lines a true story?
3. How did you write the story so authentically?
4. Did you, and if so, why did you decide to include yourself as a character?
5. Where we’re you when you first started writing Blue Lines?
6. Which character did you create first?
7. How did you write the manuscript, what method?
8. Why aren’t all of your characters Black?
9. What were you trying to achieve with the novel Blue Lines?
10. Will there be a sequel novel?

1. Why did you choose to focus on your book subject?

Around 1995-96 I had wanted to write a work that centered on Hip-Hop music, a love for Hip-Hop and wanted to build that as the backdrop with a love story between a young aspiring artist and the woman he sought and loved, using them as the metaphor of the larger underlying story. With the time periods music ranging from the current Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas and Common, and echoing back to the Golden Age of A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and post artists like Wu-Tang Clan, I wanted to you h the 90’s elements in relation to the story’s timeframe. Over the next few years, I developed only five pages of sparse content with space to fill in a story. Honestly, I did not “feel” or have a connection that compelled me to write. Though I wanted to write a book and loved Hip-Hop culture. I wanted to create a valid and quality narrative that would speak to readers beyond a specific genre and target audience. I wanted a well written project that conveyed a universal story.

Blue Lines Blog -Seeing Nelson Mandela in Atlanta 6/27/1990

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1918, 6/27/1990, African National Congress, Alma E. Hill, Anti-Apartied, Apartied, Atlanta, Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta Journal, Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Bobby Dodd Stadium, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech, Grant Field, Hot, iPhone 5, iPhone Post, Jailed, Jay-Z, July, July 19th, Key Yemaya Walker, Mandela, Mark Sherman, Mvezo, Nelson Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, President, Prisoner, Rolihlahla Mandela, Sam Walker, South Africa, Stadium, Steve Harvey, Summer, Thonnia Lee

“…lunch with Mandela…” ~ Jay-Z actually just played.

Commemorating this day 23 years ago. My family and I braves the Atlanta heat to see a recently freed Nelson Mandela during his visit which took place at Bobby Dodd Stadium, at Grant Field on the campus of Georgia Institute of Technology, known to many of you as Georgia Tech.

The attached article is from the Atlanta Journal & Constitution from that day 6/27/1990.

Enjoy a piece of history.

Atlanta opens heart to Mandela: 50,000 cheer ANC leader at stadium
NEW HERO: “Our parents experienced Martin Luther King. Our generation is experiencing Nelson Mandela, ” one Atlantan said.
By Ron Taylor, Joseph Albright

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlantans endured oppressive heat, police barricades, shoving matches and long schedule delays Wednesday to get a glimpse of Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid leader who has enjoyed a hero’s welcome in each U.S. city he has visited.

At Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium, about 50,400 people cheered as Mr. Mandela linked his people’s struggle against racial discrimination to the civil rights movement in the United States.

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Ghostface Killah feat Raekwon, U-God, Masta Killa, & Cappadonna – “Winter Warz”

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Al Capone, Blue Lines, Cappadonna, Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking your Juice in the Hood, Georgia Tech, Ghostface Killah, Golden Arms, Inspectah Deck, Key Yemaya Walker, Madison Square Garden, Malcolm X, Notre Dame, P.L.O., Park Hill, Raekwon, Rzarector, Shaolin, Soundtrack, Staten Island, SWV, The RZA, U-God, U.S.S.R., Vidal Sassoon, Weak, Wu-Tang Clan

I remember first hearing this song on Georgia Tech’s campus, visiting for the holidays from Bridgeport, CT. We went to see “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking your Juice in the Hood,” and listened to this gem from the soundtrack.

It’s on…
[Cappa]
Where your sparkle at kid? Rzarector…

[Break: Raekwon the Chef]

Yes the s–t is raw, comin at your door Start to scream out loud, Wu-Tang’s back for more Yes the hour’s four, I told you before Prepare for mic fights (and plus the cold war)

[Verse One: U-God]

This rhyme you digest through the RZA console
Ask why I slam nine diagram pole
Raekwon dropped the bomb, Hunchback, Notre Dame Golden Arms is bronze, buddah palm hit Qu’ran
It blows extreme, mean stream be the theme Supreme team, America’s Cream Team,

What I Learned Sundays – 9/25/11 Some Thoughts, Some Memory

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A Poor Man's Memory, Birthday, Blue Lines, children, CityScape, daughter, Echoes Silence Patience And Grace, Expolsions In The Sky, Foo Fighters, Friday Night Lights, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, Houston, Key Yemaya Walker, Libra, MW, Photography, Son, Texas, What I Learned Sundays

First off, Happy Birthday, Cuzzo!!!

On the treadmill at half strength, our team doctor, friend, and co-worker tapped me on my shoulder. I, still running at full speed, removed one of my earbuds to listen as he smiled broadly, and, while pointing at ESPN on my treadmill’s screen, pointed and began to tell me about how his 6 year old son was practicing with a golf pro while we were on our road trip with our team. Though we both smile, I looked at him, and knowing that he played with my high school friend, and is a year younger than I am, thought about he and his 6 year old and younger daughter, and myself with no children.

The band Explosion In The Sky’s “A Poor Man’s Memory,” (made famous by the film Friday Night Lights) began to play on my iPod Nano, and I increased the volume as I began to run toward and for something…what, I didn’t know.

I thought of what I have now, the work, the challenges, the good, the bad. I realistically looked at how a child would, or realistically not fit into my life as it currently is, however I had to look at how a child would fit, if they were already here, or as old as 6 years. I looked at how, possibly as everything is playing, it is setting up for that child(ren).

I also thought about the small things that my life can provide, and how my friend, talking of the golf pro, and how I could have a young sports fan child, and the events and players they may have been fans of, that I could have introduced them to. Though not that important in the scheme of things, still my ability to offer.

What I Learned Sunday’s 5/16/10

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Atlanta Dream, Atlanta Hawks, Band Of Horses, City Lounge, Georgia Tech, Janelle Monae, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Nick Rogers

Well It seems I only get these done every 2 weeks, alot to catch up on:
I listened to a commercial where a “buy here, pay here” lot in Atlanta advertised buying the car “you deserve” and came up with this “Your actions and work have place you where you are right now, with what you have right now, if your are happy, keep doing what you’ve been doing, if not you have to change it…you only live once”

I learned that, a true friend is a true friend for life

Blue Lines Blog – En Memoriam, “Without You” from the Manuscript Blue Lines

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Atlanta, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, California, Death, Dr. Seuss, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia Walker, Keypsiia Yemaya Walker, KYW, Miami Dophins, Minnesota Vikings, Nicholas Rogers, Nick Rogers, poetry, Prose, Sccott Cunningham, St Pius X, Without You

With My scatterbrain today, I reached back to post this poem from the manuscript Blue Lines for the Rogers family our hurting St. Pius X family, and the Cunningham family.
My deepest and most heartfelt condolences.

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

Without You

emptiness like I never felt
I see you in my dreams
just me and you
I want the pain to be trough
my wanton pining for who
you
love of my life
once my future wife
now you are gone
and tears comfort me
why
why
why did you go
where did you go
my life was yours
you are no longer here
when the smoke clears
to wipe away my tears
realization of my greatest fears