The Twins: Remember Thoreau

Just some thoughts I had while I was on my commute home from work.


I pulled up the gas station with my last five dollars which these days is just enough for a CUP of gas, when I spotted these twins I've seen in my slumber before. It was weird, as they stood on the side of the building leaning against the wall chilling like thugs, that I recognized them.I've been looking for these two for years and yet here they stood before me, really not noticing me. 'Maybe they don't remember me', I hoped, but they spotted me and damn sure knew who I was. I couldn't avoid talking to them so I made the first move.

"Man what's up with yall two dudes man?" I said with obvious frustration in my voice. "I've been trying to chase you two down for years and I feel like yall been ducking me for some reason. What did I do to yall to not wanna deal with me anymore?"

The first twin, the older of the two yet he seems like the younger of the two, took a sip of his Icee then started snickering.

"You're kidding me right?" he said. "You really don't have a clue do you? You letting that bullshit them people feed you get into your head, that or YOU just forgot about what we talked about the last time we saw you."

I was really confused now. "Nah I don't remember what we talked about last time. Refresh my memory" I responded angrily.

Both twins are laughing at me now. "This dude silly bruh" the older twin said. "Tell me about it" said the other one who LOOKS older but was birthed AFTER the other twin.

The oldest twin stated: "The last time we talked fam you said you wanted to keep things simple. You didn't want to complicate things, so you took the path of least resistance and for a long time you were content with it. But YOU started getting caught up with the everyday struggle and lost contact with US. See me I was cool with it because you had the things you asked for, a beautiful wife, handsome and well-behaved children, a roof of your own over your head, that was we talked about! But you felt like that wasn't good enough so you made crazy decisions, impulsive mistakes and now you wanna blame ME?? Nah my dude, I can't let you do that to me!"

I was shocked.....and saddened because he spoke the truth. That's when the other twin spoke up before I could say anything.

Younger twin: "I told you YEARS ago that I wasn't talking to you until you were ready. You kept THINKING you was ready to meet with me but you wasn't so I kept myself away from you. All the things you did in the past and up until now keeps you believing that I'm supposed to come running TO YOU but I'm telling you this AGAIN just so that we're clear. STOP CHASING ME! If you do what you're supposed to do and keep preparing a place for me I promise you, like I did then, that I will see you and you won't be looking for me, I'll find you myself."

"Cmon man let's go" the younger twin said as they walked away from me. "Remember Thoreau" was the last thing the younger twin said I stood there and didn't move until they were just blurs in my distant vision.

I climbed back in my car and began to drive. I wanted to cry but I didn't. The truth hurts but I respect it more than anything. That conversation was eye-opening in so many ways and has since changed my outlook on things. I arrived home and kissed my wife and hugged all of my kids. My wife asked me how my day went and I told her about the talk I had with the twins. When asked if I recalled their names, It dawned on me that I didn't catch their names but..... I knew exactly who they were.

The oldest twin was Dreams and the younger twin was Success.

A.P.E. - Rep My City

We started shooting this video close to a month ago but after consecutive weeks of bad weather and SXSW we were able to get it done. It was alot of fun working with these young men who are focused and got a good dude leading the way for them. Thanks again to DVZN Media for the assist and a massive shoutout and thanks to DJ Poncho! You can hear more of A.P.E. (After Party Entertainment) at http://www.hotbox254.com

BRB: Crew54 "Back At It Again" Reunion Show

Thanks to everybody that came out last night! It was a dope night of hip hop and here is the recap over "BRB" from the EP of the same name available at http://www.slaprapz.com Video shot and edited by Jamien Green for Hot Box 254 Productions, Produced by Eric Morgan for DVZN Media.

"MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE"

In today's hip-hop landscape, its sort of a weird place. On the one side there's the extravagant pop stars of rap, the rich dope boys, the underground then there's everybody else trying to make it. It can get confusing the images we see daily about our culture and the direction its headed, mainly, because we have adults still trying to steer the direction of a youthful culture that doesn't take direction well.

There comes a time when you have to ask or wonder to yourself as a fan: Where do I fit in? Where is the music that speaks to me? Sure, there are some good joints out there but sometimes you feel out of place because the culture (the music, the dance, the slang) seems to have gone on "some other shit" and you don't feel apart of it nor do you have time to worry about it because REAL LIFE is staring at you in the face. Its cool to sing along to the radio anthems but really you're too (dare I say it) old for all that....

That's where Organized Rebels come in. The duo has been putting out dope, simple tracks for the last few years and "Men Of A Certain Age" is a project born out of that same formula. Soulful samples and a rhyme & vocal style that's unorthodox never blended so wonderfully. The subject matter is one not of "dreams and chasing" its about being appreciative of the blessings of NOW for those of us who still aspire to do more with our lives but can't ignore the urgency of current struggles. The struggles we ALL face as adults. From the "honest" letter to the ladies about "do-nothing" men on "Don't Do Much" to the "inquisitive" "It All Changed" (with real spit being lent by the legendary Craig G) questioning what happened to hip hop, this is what I like to the call the beginning of a new genre and category:

Adult Contemporary Hip Hop

Smoothed out. Lyrical. Music you can sit down after a long day of work and sip a brew or chilled beverage to, and know that you are not alone in the everyday struggle. At least somebody knows its real.

-Melz

CREW54 "BACK AT IT AGAIN" FEB. 18TH

Of course you know by now that Crew54 is notorious for rocking shows all over the ATX! On Feb. 18th after spending a year overseas G-Christ is back home and its time to celebrate! Flamingo Cantina is the place and a great show is lined up including CientifiQ & A Better Tomorrow, Clemits, Poise & 20/20, BoomBaptist with DJ Charlie spinning all night...for 5 DOLLARS!! Its gonna be a fun night so don't leave your fun at home!

Been Busy Lately....

I don't have too many folks that follow this, its my fault, but anywho...Been working with the fam Crew54 & CientifiQ on upcoming campaigns and we've been putting in WORK...Let's see where do we start..

First the brother M.O.S. of Crew54 sneaks a peek at VICTORY!



On the night before Martin Luther King's Birthday we celebrated a great night of hip hop and paid homage to a great man. The big homey Bavu Blakes stopped for a quick second and blessed The HotBox254 with an interview.



And next up The homey CientifiQ and Virt B, Organized Rebels respectively, will be dropping their project "Men Of A Certain Age" on 2/7/12. Sat in on the listening session of this a few days back and its an excellent piece of work. Its hip hop music that doesn't try to sound fake or contrived but for all the grown adults that live real life. Go and cop that at http://www.cientifiq.com or http://www.slaprapz.com



Been shooting alot of joints lately with the brother M.O.S. and this is one of them from R.G. Money feat. Essence "Ball N Parlay" if you need video work, holla at us: jamien@hotbox254.com or dvznmedia@gmail.com




Last but definitely not least gotta show this off. My man went in on this Dubb Sicks joint called "Heart & Soul". The song BANGS but mainly my man went INNN on the visuals. Awesome work...

CientifiQ & A Better Tomorrow - Steel

Sometimes special effects aren't needed. Just get a dope MC and a dope beat maker together and drop something real simple. This is the essence of hip hop. My man CientifiQ is back with another BANGER this time linking up with HotBox254 alumni A Better Tomorrow to deliver "Steel". Visually produced by the big homey M.O.S. of Crew54 and directed and edited by yours truly.






And you can cop the track here:
Steel prod by A Better Tomorrow