If You Try

If You Try

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Lyrics for "What They Yellin"

Song Title: What they Yelling
Lyrics Written by P. Jacobs (ASCAP)
Music Produced by S. Phillips (ASCAP)
©2009 R.E.B.E.L. Firm Music Division


I’m a go go getter/flow more sicker than a hobo’s kisses/spit cold so vicious/voice box holds Christmas/got the game locked/more bars no visits/I know no limits/see eternity like I hold those minutes/all foes so finished/a young soul but the stroll so vintage/ grind so relentless/bank roll more spinach/what I got is classic till the casket/even then the spirit of a R.E.B.E.L. passing/to a young kid with passion/to go against the grain of what a system say we acting/a young black man/who dares to be great/prepare for my fate/ and slice through the layers of hate/got to go take your food/life aint sharing the plate/the young R.E.B.E.L. general striking fear from the gate/
I’m a real R.E.B.E.L./that’s what they yelling/from the president to the ex-felons/we gone ride out/we gone ride out/show ‘em what our grind bout/
The big big lion prowling/the young pistol whipper snapper out just a growling/R.E.B.E.L. so aggressive/Sharpie so progressive/could get it at any minute/so I keep my recipe for success/deep in the chest/breathing the West/I’m breeding the best/my seeds gone be blessed/no need for a vest/bye bye peewee’s/I’m big league till my death/knee deep in my quest/and it’s only getting bigger/only getting larger/only getting stronger/living through my Father/homie don’t even bother/Cano kicked back/now I’m back with the lava/the young righteous mobster/spitting Sinatra mantras/killing it till my times up/life’s scars keep my grind tough/never find fluff/it’s high stakes/and I can’t afford to try luck/R.E.B.E.L. to the sky what/
The it factor/hip hop’s Mick Jagger/potatoes used to be skinny/now the chips fatter/the lips split matter/reassemble and then shatter/even something simple makes the dip sticks scatter/tell me do you gather/reconvene the session/an obscene obsession/rap clings to my essence/deeper in the Son/feeling clean in His presence/my light beams deep tree green incandescence/R.E.B.E.L. this is confession/this is not a dream/where I’ve seen/I’m heading/kids call me that dude like I teamed with Devin/been through hell’s gate/so lyrically I’m heaven/lyrically I’m brethren with the likes of Martin, Malcolm, Obama, Nelson/lay that on a track and it’s a tailspin/present it well to my brethren to get the jails slim/and I’m a R.E.B.E.L. for life is what they yelling

Don't let IT consume You

I'll be the first to admit that I put my heart into what ever I make up my mind to do. That is because I am a passionate person. So what I suggest in this particular post is easier said than done, but it is doable. I am learning that I have to be able to separate myself from what IT is that I am working toward. Not meaning that I stop pursuing IT, but that I keep my ambition subjected and not become subject to my ambition. This is a very difficult pill for ambitious people to swallow because it goes against the grain of our mental make up. Often times we let what we are working on or towards take over our lives. We live, sleep, and eat IT. Our families and relationships suffer as a result and when we do accomplish what we were working toward, we are only left with IT. The we find that IT wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Then we are off pursuing another IT to fill the void that the previous IT could not. This is a very dysfunctional cycle that many people pursuing greatness get caught up in. So it is wise to put IT in its proper place. God and family come first because all the ITs of the world will never be able to touch the part of the mind, heart, and soul that the aforementioned can.

Just because your Road Changes, Doesn't mean your Destination does

We human beings are very emotional creatures and that is a gift and a curse. It is a gift because when good things happen to us or go according to plan we have the ability to stride in great confidence. Yet when the opposite occurs we have the ability to create a self inflicted paralysis. The more I live life, I realize that life is really a complex phenomena. There are no absolutes except the Most High. And the only thing close to an absolute within our realm that we can control is our own personal tenacity. I say all that to say this, when you catch a glimpse of your destination, don't fret when the means by which you thought you would get there change. There are several ways to get to the same destination. It is our job to stay focused on the final destination even when the road changes. This is where tenacity, our semi-absolute, comes into play. You must continue to hold on to the steering wheel of your vehicle on the road of life. When a change occurs on your path, DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT, just get careless because then you run the risk of crashing and burning. Hang on to the wheel and follow the new road, you may come to find that it is better than the previous one you were on.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Sharp Skills Press Release 9/16/2009

News Release
Los Angeles, Calif., September 16, 2009
Sharp Skills’ Mountain Movement (Hands to the Sky) featured in the official trailer for “The Takers”
The song “Mountain Movement (Hands to the Sky)” written and performed by up and coming hip hop star Sharp Skills is featured in the official trailer for the major motion picture “The Takers”. The Takers boasts an all star cast consisting of Tip “T.I.” Harris, Chris Brown, Paul Walker, Matt Dillon, Idris Elba and is directed by John Luessenhop.
The trailer made its global debut September 10, on NBC’s Extra at 7pm(EST) .Takers is scheduled to hit movie theatres nationwide on February 19, 2010. The Mountain Movement (Hands to the Sky) is the first single that was released from The Campaign, Sharp Skills’ sophomore album (2008, R.E.B.E.L. Firm Music Division). Production for the Mountain Movement (Hands to the Sky) was done by Eric Olson and Nate Thacker of Incorporated Elements. The trailer can be viewed at the Takers official website and the full length version of Mountain Movement (Hands to the Sky) can be heard on the official Sharp Skills MySpace page.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

You Creative Genius You!

An essential step in flourishing in life is finding what you are good at and passionate about, then honing the natural talent that you have in what that particular thing is. In my opinion, everyone has the potential to be a genius because everyone has at least one quality in them that they can use to excel with in life. A lot of people are lazy though and never take the time to do some soul searching and find out what brings out their greatness. Unless your talent is super evident, you may have to work hard to discover the treasure inside especially if you grew up or are currently in a negative environment. As I said in a previous blog, greatness is a choice that has to be made. Many people have great potential but fail to work it into reality. Creativity stems from imagination, relative freedom, and refined talent. Let your mind think of great things, put yourself in a space where you can express yourself without hyper criticism (criticism that comes from within included), and work on improving/polishing your gifts. Once the aforementioned elements are in harmony, your creative genius has no choice but to reveal its brilliant light.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Pride’s Poison

If you are an individual pursuing greatness, then more than likely you have high self esteem. There is nothing wrong with high self esteem and valuing who you are. But you must be cautious to keep a level head, especially after triumphs, victories, and achievements. You will find that you are most vulnerable after a victory. Accomplishment and being gifted have the potential to make the possessor lose touch with reality if he/she is not careful. One must take the pill of success with a glass of sobriety to maintain greatness. You will also find that some of those who envy (one of the worst vices when not subjugated) you will over praise you in order to help you develop a big ego. They do this to set you up for a great fall. Therefore, keep an eye on yourself as you progress toward becoming a greater light in the world and stay grounded.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Use Enemies to Your Advantage

Think how dull life would be if you did not have any sort of challenges to face. Some people prefer to live without adversity, but these same people are the ones who lack the courage to take risks that have the potential to put them in a greater position. Therefore my philosophy is to embrace the benefits of dealing with foes. They keep you sharp, on your toes, and toughen your skin up (FYI, keep your heart tender though), if you let them. It is important to relaize that many of your enemies only act negatively toward you because they fear you (or your potential) so they are only doing what they feel they must to protect themselves. So remember to never take it personal when you find out someone is trying to prohibit your growth. You must learn to process and channel your emotions toward a positive outcome. Let your foes push you toward becoming smarter, even more positive, and wiser. Think of them as free personal trainers helping to prepare you for greater challanges that will yield even greater rewards. Do not let their negativity rub off on you. Let their darkness make your light shine brighter and in the end you will win!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Becoming Great is a Decision

Everyday that I wake up I have two options. To either be great or not. It is that simple. Great men and women leave legacies of greatness because they chose to be great more days than they chose not to be great. Greatness starts in the mind. You have to have a passion to succeed, excell, and become even better than you were yesterday even if what you accomplished yesterday was your best work. Everyday is a new opportunity to grow,expand, and be a positive influence on your allotted patch of the world. That excites me. I am excited to know that it is up to me to become better and that I actually have that option. It is my decision to learn from my mistakes, gain wisdom, and apply it next time a similar situation arises. Personal development is a high priority on my list, because in order to become successful in my field of work (any field of work for that matter), I have to become a successful person first apart from my work.