back for the first time
i'm already stamped. heres app version 2
basics:
_name, age, location
matt, 18, los angeles, california
_picture (please limit four & include one clear shot of your face)
art & literature:
_name a musician [or group] who has effectively changed your perspective or expanded your thinking. include lyrics that bear some significance to you, and describe their representation of your ideas & emotions.
To say that just one artist has revolutionized my life would be an outrageous lie. Music is a very big part of my being and I love it like my first(un)born. Jimi Hendrix is the man. My room is decorated with his posters and I constantly adorn his shirt. I think of Jimi with a guitar, the way some of you think of your favorite photographer with a camera, favorite writer with a pen, or artist with a brush. The man is unparalleled and his music always inspires me to reach a higher level at whatever I am doing.
I’m an official hip-hop head. I’ve been listening since I was eight years old, back when white people like me were condemning it. The two artists I grew up on were Tupac Shakur and the Notorious one, Biggie Smalls. Although Notorious B.I.G. is in my opinion the illest MC I’ve ever heard, my heart lies with 2pac. On top of being from the west coast, Tupac Shakur always wrote such thought-provoking, oft inspiring lyrics. He had the ability to infuse his words with powerful emotion, which could leave you elated, depressed, or even ready to conquer the world. He was a true artist. Moreover, his poetry was beautiful. This is an excerpt from a poem he included in a song called “Who Do You Believe In?”
“Definitely not to be imposed, being a demon
because this is the joy of believing
men, to believe in yourselves
but for sure, the higher power
resides only to ride in the heart of the true
from the soul of the man; for truth never has an alibi
in the poetry, or in it’s realm
that’s what pulls all words together
Just to understand, that every man, is his own man
and only man can satisfy the man
only the soul of the man, the feelings of the man
the realness of the man
you can shake the man when you feel the man you know the man
and you gotta call yourself because you are that man”
B.B King also is very important to me. I was exposed to jazz and blues at a very young age, and despite the massive amounts of America’s only true native art that I have been exposed to, no one speaks to me more than B.B. King. I’ve never identified more with an artist. His powerful, god-like voice, and the sweet, melodic sound of Lucille (his guitar) make for the best storytellers I’ve ever heard.
“The burdens that I carry are so hairy, you see
it seems like it ain’t nobody, in this great big world,
that would wanna help old B.
But oh, I will be alright people
Just give me a break
Good things come to those who wait
And I’ve waited a long time
I’m a blues man, but a good man, understand”
-Blues Man
_explain, in depth, a particular work of art that you find meaningful, and its importance to you on a personal level.
Before I begin, I just want to mention… to you, it may be junk. But I could care less, for it is a masterpiece in my eyes.
On a recommendation, I went to Best Buy and purchased Jurassic 5’s second album “Quality Control.” I had reached a low point in my life where I felt that hip-hop was becoming nothing but a pile of crap. I had grown weary of the radio and my favorite artists were either dead or inactive. I went home and inserted the disc in my computer (my best sound system). For the next 6 hours, I listened to the words and beats of these cats. I was completely entranced. Although I can speak for hours about this disc, I’ll limit my comments to only three tracks so as not to make your eyes weary. The title track has an infectious, funky beat and great lyrics, such as “Well it’s the angelic / man-relic / clan repellant / my plan parent // manuscripts / withstand bullets // flashin like a japan tourist / we command pure hits / while you cramming to understand these contraband lyrics //” Pure poetry. “Jurass Finish First” has a playful string melody, and is laced with lyrics of fire. Chali 2na’s first verse consists of some of the most impressive multis these ears have ever been blessed with. “Contribution” is a masterfully written piece, and reassured me that you can have a message in your music.
“Yo, either you a part of the problem or a part of the solution, what’s your contribution to life //
So many people complain, always talk about change, yo, but what’s your contribution to life //
Either you with or aint with it, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, yo what’s your contribution to life //
Either you give or you take, make moves or you wait, yo, but what’s your contribution to life //”
The idea of the song is to convey three separate situations that differ in that “there is no difference, only different outcomes.” Although I won’t get into extreme detail, I must mention the gem that Chali 2na drops at the end of the song: “that’s why I be telling these many friends of mine / the most you can spend on any child is time //”
Not only did “Quality Control” restore my faith in music, but it turned me towards the underground, a world of rap that I had not yet explored. Because of that album, I will always love this music.
_construct the following lists to embrace works of sentimental value:
_movies/directors
Dirty Harry
Clint Eastwood
Unforgiven
Scratch
The Sting
Rocky
Delirious
Requiem for a Dream
Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
_books
1984
The Art of War
Don’t Look Back
Liar’s Poker
In a World Full of Fat People
_authors
E.E. Cummings
Kurt Vonnegut
Cornell West
George Orwell
_items
My car (my second home, cd player, and means of transportation)
A t-shirt signed by Chali 2na
My Bill Walton autograph
A specific black pair of pants that I can wear for a month straight
My TV
My computer
A care bear statue that was my grandmother’s
My rookie of the year trophy from football
MY JURASSIC 5 BUS BENCH
My collection of L.A. Clippers memorabilia
personal & political:
_what is one social ill you wish you could change and why? how does this affect you in your daily life, or in the lives of those around you?
Living in Los Angeles, I’m oft exposed to the underbelly of urban life. Although many things don’t phase me, gang warfare hits me square in the chest. Not only does it swallow the lives of many youths, but it damages the surrounding area whether it be bullets gone awry, stick-ups, drug sales, or simple fear.
My mom was driving through South Central when she saw a young man stumbling around and clutching his gut. Although at first she assumed he was inebriated, as she passed she noticed a large red blotch on his shirt. She pulled over to determine what was happening and then discovered he had been shot. She got out a beach towel and pressed on his stomach, and called for help.
The boy’s brother was a former gang-member, and his brother’s former set was exacting their revenge. This innocent boy was shot and nearly killed just because his brother was trying to right his wrongs and fix his life. Imagine getting a call and being told that your son or daughter, brother or sister is in the ICU and might not make it because of some stupid colors. We all know what a plague crime is, but this runs much deeper.
_who or what has most inspired your intellectual growth and why?
Without a doubt, my parents are the reason I have become an intellectual supergiant (or something like that). My mother is an educator and my father and antiquarian bookseller, so both place a high value on education. They fully support me in my endeavors and whole-heartedly push me to achieve more than I think I can.
_do you feel that you are prejudiced?
I think I am undoubtedly prejudiced in some way. I think everyone is. If a person says they are not, they are both prejudiced and a liar.
_do you think it is necessary to be politically correct in a learning environment? a working environment?
I don’t find being politically correct as important as being respectful of those around you and mindful of the example you are setting. Furthermore, I think being politically correct can inhibit one’s ability to make a point. If you’re constantly paying mind to how sensitive everyone one is, how are you going to get your point across in a lucid fashion? Fuck that.
_in our generation, who do you feel deserves recognition as a genius, and why? what characteristics do they possess that are definitive of this title?
Alan Greenspan is undoubtedly one of the most intelligent men ever to grace this planet. The man is a master of the dismal science, and believe me, no one is better fit to be chair of the Fed.
Tupac Shakur will always be a genius in my eyes. He is always able to pick out the perfect word to describe a situation or an emotion. His dedication to his art is second to none, and elevated rap to a point that is rarely reached.
Clint Eastwood turned being a bad ass into an art form. And for that, he is a genius
free expression:
_describe your greatest passion in life.
I love music in a way that I love nothing else. I constantly write lyrics and compose beats on my clavinova (they always get deleted as I have no means of saving them, but it is still great fun). Odds are fairly good that at any given point of the day, I’m listening to some CD. Music touches me in a way no other art or form of expression does. Whether it be the hard, driven beat with equally hard words of some rap cut, a beautifully depressing blues guitar solo, or rambunctious party anthem, music stirs the animal in me, and simultaneously stimulates my mind.
_describe yourself in ten adjectives - five positive traits, and five character flaws.
-Empathetic
-Bright
-Quick-witted
-Humorous
-Energetic
-Short-tempered
-Moody
-Impressionable
-Violent
-Crass
_insert a picture, poem, letter, or paragraph that is symbolic of your personality
This is the only picture I’ve ever taken for just aesthetic value.
basics:
_name, age, location
matt, 18, los angeles, california
_picture (please limit four & include one clear shot of your face)
art & literature:
_name a musician [or group] who has effectively changed your perspective or expanded your thinking. include lyrics that bear some significance to you, and describe their representation of your ideas & emotions.
To say that just one artist has revolutionized my life would be an outrageous lie. Music is a very big part of my being and I love it like my first(un)born. Jimi Hendrix is the man. My room is decorated with his posters and I constantly adorn his shirt. I think of Jimi with a guitar, the way some of you think of your favorite photographer with a camera, favorite writer with a pen, or artist with a brush. The man is unparalleled and his music always inspires me to reach a higher level at whatever I am doing.
I’m an official hip-hop head. I’ve been listening since I was eight years old, back when white people like me were condemning it. The two artists I grew up on were Tupac Shakur and the Notorious one, Biggie Smalls. Although Notorious B.I.G. is in my opinion the illest MC I’ve ever heard, my heart lies with 2pac. On top of being from the west coast, Tupac Shakur always wrote such thought-provoking, oft inspiring lyrics. He had the ability to infuse his words with powerful emotion, which could leave you elated, depressed, or even ready to conquer the world. He was a true artist. Moreover, his poetry was beautiful. This is an excerpt from a poem he included in a song called “Who Do You Believe In?”
“Definitely not to be imposed, being a demon
because this is the joy of believing
men, to believe in yourselves
but for sure, the higher power
resides only to ride in the heart of the true
from the soul of the man; for truth never has an alibi
in the poetry, or in it’s realm
that’s what pulls all words together
Just to understand, that every man, is his own man
and only man can satisfy the man
only the soul of the man, the feelings of the man
the realness of the man
you can shake the man when you feel the man you know the man
and you gotta call yourself because you are that man”
B.B King also is very important to me. I was exposed to jazz and blues at a very young age, and despite the massive amounts of America’s only true native art that I have been exposed to, no one speaks to me more than B.B. King. I’ve never identified more with an artist. His powerful, god-like voice, and the sweet, melodic sound of Lucille (his guitar) make for the best storytellers I’ve ever heard.
“The burdens that I carry are so hairy, you see
it seems like it ain’t nobody, in this great big world,
that would wanna help old B.
But oh, I will be alright people
Just give me a break
Good things come to those who wait
And I’ve waited a long time
I’m a blues man, but a good man, understand”
-Blues Man
_explain, in depth, a particular work of art that you find meaningful, and its importance to you on a personal level.
Before I begin, I just want to mention… to you, it may be junk. But I could care less, for it is a masterpiece in my eyes.
On a recommendation, I went to Best Buy and purchased Jurassic 5’s second album “Quality Control.” I had reached a low point in my life where I felt that hip-hop was becoming nothing but a pile of crap. I had grown weary of the radio and my favorite artists were either dead or inactive. I went home and inserted the disc in my computer (my best sound system). For the next 6 hours, I listened to the words and beats of these cats. I was completely entranced. Although I can speak for hours about this disc, I’ll limit my comments to only three tracks so as not to make your eyes weary. The title track has an infectious, funky beat and great lyrics, such as “Well it’s the angelic / man-relic / clan repellant / my plan parent // manuscripts / withstand bullets // flashin like a japan tourist / we command pure hits / while you cramming to understand these contraband lyrics //” Pure poetry. “Jurass Finish First” has a playful string melody, and is laced with lyrics of fire. Chali 2na’s first verse consists of some of the most impressive multis these ears have ever been blessed with. “Contribution” is a masterfully written piece, and reassured me that you can have a message in your music.
“Yo, either you a part of the problem or a part of the solution, what’s your contribution to life //
So many people complain, always talk about change, yo, but what’s your contribution to life //
Either you with or aint with it, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, yo what’s your contribution to life //
Either you give or you take, make moves or you wait, yo, but what’s your contribution to life //”
The idea of the song is to convey three separate situations that differ in that “there is no difference, only different outcomes.” Although I won’t get into extreme detail, I must mention the gem that Chali 2na drops at the end of the song: “that’s why I be telling these many friends of mine / the most you can spend on any child is time //”
Not only did “Quality Control” restore my faith in music, but it turned me towards the underground, a world of rap that I had not yet explored. Because of that album, I will always love this music.
_construct the following lists to embrace works of sentimental value:
_movies/directors
Dirty Harry
Clint Eastwood
Unforgiven
Scratch
The Sting
Rocky
Delirious
Requiem for a Dream
Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
_books
1984
The Art of War
Don’t Look Back
Liar’s Poker
In a World Full of Fat People
_authors
E.E. Cummings
Kurt Vonnegut
Cornell West
George Orwell
_items
My car (my second home, cd player, and means of transportation)
A t-shirt signed by Chali 2na
My Bill Walton autograph
A specific black pair of pants that I can wear for a month straight
My TV
My computer
A care bear statue that was my grandmother’s
My rookie of the year trophy from football
MY JURASSIC 5 BUS BENCH
My collection of L.A. Clippers memorabilia
personal & political:
_what is one social ill you wish you could change and why? how does this affect you in your daily life, or in the lives of those around you?
Living in Los Angeles, I’m oft exposed to the underbelly of urban life. Although many things don’t phase me, gang warfare hits me square in the chest. Not only does it swallow the lives of many youths, but it damages the surrounding area whether it be bullets gone awry, stick-ups, drug sales, or simple fear.
My mom was driving through South Central when she saw a young man stumbling around and clutching his gut. Although at first she assumed he was inebriated, as she passed she noticed a large red blotch on his shirt. She pulled over to determine what was happening and then discovered he had been shot. She got out a beach towel and pressed on his stomach, and called for help.
The boy’s brother was a former gang-member, and his brother’s former set was exacting their revenge. This innocent boy was shot and nearly killed just because his brother was trying to right his wrongs and fix his life. Imagine getting a call and being told that your son or daughter, brother or sister is in the ICU and might not make it because of some stupid colors. We all know what a plague crime is, but this runs much deeper.
_who or what has most inspired your intellectual growth and why?
Without a doubt, my parents are the reason I have become an intellectual supergiant (or something like that). My mother is an educator and my father and antiquarian bookseller, so both place a high value on education. They fully support me in my endeavors and whole-heartedly push me to achieve more than I think I can.
_do you feel that you are prejudiced?
I think I am undoubtedly prejudiced in some way. I think everyone is. If a person says they are not, they are both prejudiced and a liar.
_do you think it is necessary to be politically correct in a learning environment? a working environment?
I don’t find being politically correct as important as being respectful of those around you and mindful of the example you are setting. Furthermore, I think being politically correct can inhibit one’s ability to make a point. If you’re constantly paying mind to how sensitive everyone one is, how are you going to get your point across in a lucid fashion? Fuck that.
_in our generation, who do you feel deserves recognition as a genius, and why? what characteristics do they possess that are definitive of this title?
Alan Greenspan is undoubtedly one of the most intelligent men ever to grace this planet. The man is a master of the dismal science, and believe me, no one is better fit to be chair of the Fed.
Tupac Shakur will always be a genius in my eyes. He is always able to pick out the perfect word to describe a situation or an emotion. His dedication to his art is second to none, and elevated rap to a point that is rarely reached.
Clint Eastwood turned being a bad ass into an art form. And for that, he is a genius
free expression:
_describe your greatest passion in life.
I love music in a way that I love nothing else. I constantly write lyrics and compose beats on my clavinova (they always get deleted as I have no means of saving them, but it is still great fun). Odds are fairly good that at any given point of the day, I’m listening to some CD. Music touches me in a way no other art or form of expression does. Whether it be the hard, driven beat with equally hard words of some rap cut, a beautifully depressing blues guitar solo, or rambunctious party anthem, music stirs the animal in me, and simultaneously stimulates my mind.
_describe yourself in ten adjectives - five positive traits, and five character flaws.
-Empathetic
-Bright
-Quick-witted
-Humorous
-Energetic
-Short-tempered
-Moody
-Impressionable
-Violent
-Crass
_insert a picture, poem, letter, or paragraph that is symbolic of your personality
This is the only picture I’ve ever taken for just aesthetic value.