Introduction
In exploring "The Heart of a Giant," I delved into the nuanced landscape of perceived weakness. Special thanks to Oussmane Fall, who sparked this topic on Instagram.
Contemplating the struggles of my ancestors, African Americans, the poor, Native Americans, and the African Diaspora, Lauryn Hill's "So Much Things to Say" resonated.Listen to "So Much Things to Say"
How I Overcame My Weakness
Reflecting on my life struggles, learning to read and navigating college were monumental giants. My mom's support, tutors, and teachers couldn't ease my linguistic struggles. The syntax, semantics, and semiotics seemed like a cryptic language. This linguistic challenge persisted into college, where my artistic talent masked my linguistic weakness.
I aspired to delve into photography and business in college, but the revelation hit hard—no photography if I pursued business. My next passion, hip-hop, led me to literary studies, unaware of the challenges lurking. Eugene Lang College lacked Hip Hop-focused classes, so I aimed to infuse Hip Hop and rap into every assignment. Courses demanded devouring entire books weekly. Attempting to get syllabi in the summer for pre-reading failed, as most professors hadn't prepared them. Struggling to keep pace with my peers, my slow reading speed and inadequate comprehension crescendoed into a mental breakdown in my second year.
In an empty classroom, a divine revelation was heard — I'm meant to be a writer, speaking directly to hearts. This revelation buoyed me through the following three challenging years. I juggled literary studies and photography at Parsons, working part-time to sustain myself, fueling a five-and-a-half-year academic journey.
Read Lyrics to "Jay-Z - Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)"
Producing Majorly Lit
Inspired by hardship, "Majorly Lit" encapsulates my literary struggles. The music, produced by me, samples a similar piano melody in Duke Ellington and John Coltrane's "My Little Brown Book." The process involved beatboxing a simple drum loop and using Logic Pro's Ultrabeat. The key choice of G minor enhanced the moody tone. The poem draws from an old bible verse, emphasizing the power in weakness.
Visuals
I attempted 3D images of a Duke Ellington mural but faced challenges due to spatial constraints. Future attempts will refine this technique for better results.