Coming up, my father gave this poem to me before I left for boarding school in ‘95, when I was 14. It stayed on the wall in my room all four years there, and afterwards, all four years in college.

Then I lost it. No idea where the original he gave me is now. I think it got lost moving from my folks place to here, honestly.

Anyway, the message stuck with me over time, and i wanted to frame a version of the poem by my desk. After scouring the internets, I found this great treatment. I had to share it with folks.

For those unfamiliar with Desiderata, the full text is below…

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy

VIA.

Cool little happening going on around your way next week….check out the details below…

ONE WEEK PHOTO EXHIBITION CELEBRATES MOS DEF’S TWO GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR “THE ECSTATIC”

Mos Def: Ecstatic Moments – Photographs by Cognito, Opens Jan. 30, 2010

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 25, 2010) – HVW8 Art & Design Gallery, Union LA & Frolab present a photo exhibition entitled MOS DEF: ECSTATIC MOMENTS. Photographer, filmmaker, visionist Cognito showcases rare performance and behind-the-scenes images captured during the two year journey of making and supporting the June 2009 release of “The Ecstatic” (Downtown Records.)

This special one-week exhibition features candid photographs of Mos Def, including images from visits to the Cape of Great Hope, South Africa, performing in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and a powerful series of US Summer Tour “end-of-the-night posse shots” featuring such artists as Jay Electronica, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, and even a surprise guest appearance by the legendary Shuggie Otis. Cognito has also immortalized Mos Def in bright moments from “The Ecstatic” studio sessions with producers Madlib, OH NO, Preservation & Georgia Anne Muldrow. The photographs in this exhibit, soon to be published in book format, are offered by Mos Def to his family, friends and fans in order to share the many “ecstatic moments” he experiences while creating, recording, traveling and performing around the world….

…for more info, click here.

The way things have been going lately, I see something I want to post about, but never get around to doing it til waaay later. Hence the reason this one is a good week late.

For those who don’t already know, Philly soul music legend Teddy Pendergrass passed away a couple of weeks back. If you’re not familiar with the man or his work, take the time now to get familiar.

I’ve posted their work before, and I know their track record, so I can feel good about posting this mix without even giving it a listen.

Check out this Teddy P. tribute mix by RecordBreakin’s Lil’ Dave…

Eavesdrop Podcast – Teddy Pendergrass Tribute

On the same accord, Memphis-based soul producer Willie Mitchell passed away around the same time. He’s best known for laying down tracks with Al green, but he put his work in with a lot of other notables as well. Check out a mix put together by DJ Matthew Africa below…

Willie Mitchell tribute mix

Tracklistings for both mixes are after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

I spotted this drop yesterday and I had to share it with folks, even though I haven’t listened to the whole thing yet.

Check some samples from Reflection Eternal (Hi-Tek & Talib Kweli for you youngins…) RE:Union mixtape, mixed by Statik Selektah, courtesy of Earmilk…

Reflection Eternal – \"Come Around ft. Termanology & Royce da 5′9\"

Reflection Eternal – \"In This World\"

Reflection Eternal – \"Revolutions Per Minute\"

Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek were planning on releasing this mix right at 12:01 for 2010 but have deiced to go ahead and release it today! Thank god for that. Now you can play this for whatever little New Years Party you got planned. My new years resolution is to try to not re-play this mix TOO much because I am already addicted to it.  It’s called The RE:Union and its mixed by Statik Selektah and features  artists such as: Common, Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Ghostface & Nas. There are a few songs on here from the upcoming album and also some classic songs too. Check out a few of the songs and download the mixtape.

Download the mixtape here: Talib Kweli + Hi-Tek Are…Reflection Eternal – The RE:Union Mixtape [Mixed by Statik Selektah].

Tracklisting is after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

Came across this video today and since I’ve highlighted Neils work before, I figured it was only right I share.

…via TSS.

I actually mean to post something on this show a few weeks back when I saw it, but was reminded when I came across this video this AM. If you’re in the area and haven’t already seen Fela!, I highly recommend it. I don’t throw around words like Incredible often, but the show was fully deserving.

For a taste of what you can expect from the show, check the clip below of the cast performing “Zombie” on the Colbert Report…

I hear there are plans to turn this into a movie too. Can’t wait to see that.

Check out an interview with the show’s choreographer Bill T. Jones after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

This is so me.

via Think Common.

I haven’t listened to this one yet, but given their track record so far, I’m pretty sure this one is rocking. Check the details below….

Sparkle Motion (aka DJ Yoda & TOBE$) are back with more synthesized chonkyfire to take you higher and higher!

On the return flight from Vol. 1, the duo is back with another hour 80’s R&B breaks, from uptempo boogies to slow drag joints you used to straight groove to, hip-to-hip with a honeydip who smelled just like TCB and watermelon Jolly Ranchers. I asked TOBE$ for a tracklisting and real brilliant-like, he told me “No tracklist; trust us.” And with that, I’m decided to let the pilot fly the plane and do the damn thang.

Let this hold you down until the follow-ups of New Jack City and Slow Jamz arrive, as well as a new series. Miracle Blendz

Download it here: Sparkle Motion – Flight School, Volume Two Mixtape.

…via TSS.

By the time the Yankees rushed the field to celebrate their 27th World Series victory, Robert Caplin had photographed the action — 12,000 times. The result is a romantic and captivating time-lapse presentation.

Mr. Caplin used three cameras to shoot that night so that he would have enough footage to “properly capture the narrative of the evening”; a narrative of ice melting into hot dogs, the greasy glass of a popcorn cart, the rise and the fall of the fans.

Much of the game was photographed with a tilt-shift lens, rendering the players as smudges of chalk pastel in a children’s book illustration.

Mr. Caplin, who is just 26, said he wanted the montage to seem as if it had been made a hundred years ago — “You know when you look back at old movie footage and they were cranking it? And it was really jumpy and slightly faster than normal?” The game is played to Chopin’s Waltz No. 5, a score Mr. Caplin chose to complement the antique sensibility of the piece.

An accomplished photographer (see this Q & A on The Frugal Traveler), Mr. Caplin worked as an intern at The Times in 2005.

via NYT Lens Blog.

Amazing and hilarious all at once.