Do You Feel Me?
Art by Will Sweeney
This week has been a blur. Lots of work, inspiration, and new ideas coming to the forefront. I came across this article detailing the numerous changes made to Roald Dahl’s books. Every mention of colors has been scrubbed clean, “cloud men” changed to “cloud people,” every instance of weight has been erased, and much more.
Some of these changes don’t make much of a difference, but the jokes are sanitized and the original intent has been shifted. Change is constant in every industry, but this doesn’t sit well with me. I’m pretty sure this is probably Netflix pushing the publisher to make it safe as possible so the tv series doesn’t get canceled.
These are children's books, and I feel like the overall intent comes from a positive place. However, I’m strongly against censorship and this sets a dangerous precedent. What going to stop other publishers from revising classics and changing the overall vibes of an author’s work?
I might put something in my will to make sure they don’t make G-rated versions of Black Gypsies or other books of mine after my body’s rotting in a casket deep within the earth.
I just hope that fiction doesn’t become sterile and devoid of all flavor due to sensitivity concerns and censorship.
I didn’t have much to talk about this week so I dropped a new song. Technically it’s old, but it’s new to the world. This was recorded in Chicago and I’m pretty sure written somewhere in Seoul.
Let me know if you feel me? I’ll probably drop the whole project this summer.
Matthew Revert the same artist who did the stunning cover art for Black Gypsies put together these visuals for my song and he knocked it out of the park. Fun fact: Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds is one of my favorite movies of all time. I used to own the original and the sequel on VHS. I always wished they would greenlight a third film and let me write that bitch.
On the writing front, things are going well. Working on a round of edits for Project Hum and Project Melancholy is getting juicy. Plus, a new idea is brewing. Just picture a 1st person horror narrative set in the fashion industry laced with Wamack flavor. Dope right?
Currently Watching: Moon Knight & Ozark Season 3 & Love, Death & Robots Season 3 & The Last of Us Season 1
Currently Reading: God Damn Chainsaw Murderer by Sean M. Thompson & Blame! by Tsutomu Nihei & Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes & Gleipnir by Sun Takeda
Currently Smoking: Girl Scout Cookies
Currently Listening: Black Tapes Podcast & The Danny Brown Podcast
“It’s one hunnid in a drum, look like I stuffed Big Pun in it…”
The paranoia is thick despite Rx Papi spitting threatening bar after bar. He still sees dead bodies in his head, but he’s still out here making consistently great music.
There seems to be a funk revival going on these days and Akeem Ali channels the 70s mackin in “He’s Bad.” Smooth line after smooth line and there’s no point where you question this man’s conviction or groovy authenticity.
“Call her a philantropist, the way she gave it up so quick.”
The North Carolina songstress sings about a love so strong I want to meet the girl who inspired this single. “Camille” is powerful, soft, sensual and funky. It’s about time for an album…
There’s something endearing about seeing a music artist engage with their fans and that really comes through on “Feel Good.” I love dark art, but it feels good to see Slowthai experimenting with different sounds and spreading positivity.
Until next time…
Whaaaaat? Dats you on “The Birds “? Lemme find out you got flow in the rap game too!! So much damn talent!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾