Sincerely Chicago

In my college entrance essay I remember writing that "Northwestern was the place I envisioned myself growing into the adult I wanted to be." What I really meant was that Chicago was the place I wanted to be when I became an adult. I really didn't know all that meant or everything that encompassed but I meant it.
5 years later I'm spending my last day in Chicago and I can't help but acknowledge despite my struggles with Chicago, It has made me into the man I am today. The winters were harsh but they made me stronger mentally. The cops harrassed me but It forced me to be more clever than them. The locals had attitudes but I learned how to earn their respect. The city was more expensive but I learned how to manage wealth. The lifestyle was fast but I kept pace and made moves. With every negative experience in Chicago I managed to make an opportunity for growth. Growth into the man I am today.
The first three months here I used to wake up and be so excited to be away from Georgia. Then I spent the next four years anticipating the day I could return home. Now that I sit here less than 24 hours from my return, its a bittersweet feeling that washes over me. I've built a life out here and now I'm leaving it all behind. As an adult Chicago has been all that I've known. I have to acknowledge the huge part it's played in my life. I'm fond of this city regardless of how I liked living here. I hope it continues to prosper and maybe one day one of my children can venture out here to find the knowledge and experience that will mold them into the adults they want to be.
I probably have had enough Chicago for one lifetime but I will miss my life here. I'll miss the woman I fell in love with. I'll miss my friends. I'll miss cruising by Lake Michighan on Lake Shore. I'll miss the skyline and all the parks downtown and throughout the city. I'll miss the 3 24 mexican spots in my neighborhood and all the great food. But now that i'm the man I envisioned 5 years ago, its time to pursue the dreams I had for that man as well. Thanks Chicago for making me into that man.

Ol Skool Music

Now I'm not writing this to bash the new school of music or anything. I love music in every form and genre, even country. But recently I've been going through some heartbreak and the music I've really connected with and that has eased my pain has been Ol skool music. Which got me thinking why? Shouldn't I be able to look towards my contemporary peers in R&B and vibe with them during this time. It turns out I can't. I mean there are few artists I can listen to Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Anthony David. But the number is few and far between. It's like everybody above the age of 25 stopped making music in the 90's.

As I've gotten older my relationships have only gotten more complicated. Which makes sense because so has life. It used to be so simple in High school I just decided I didn't like that person anymore and it was over. But After that, so many other things come into play once your in the real world and trying to manage a relationship. The issues that come between me and recent significant others have been so complicated. And it makes it so much more difficult to manage the break up. Because in the end I've always believed it would of worked if it wasn't for the complications. Some of these difficult issues, include distance, balancing work/life, families, money, other women etc. They can tear you apart from somebody quickly. Life can come between you and the person you love. And in the aftermath you sit back and have to accept that no matter how much you love somebody, life is a bitch and a jealous one at that. Ol Skool music addresses the complicated crossroads between love and live.

When I listen to music nowadays It's really all about what can you do for me, and if your not doing it for me then why am I with you. Or You did me wrong...whoo whoo whoo....But thats not the true spirit of Love. Love is about two souls trying to create harmony, a harmony which should extend to each of your lives. Ol skool music dove deep into the entire experience of love. Check out this Marvin Gaye (Just to Keep You Satisfied) Verse:

Oh and when we, woo, stopped the hands of time
You set my soul on fire, my one desire
Was to love you and think of you with pride
And keep you satisfied, oh baby oh baby
We could not bear the mental strain
Leave you, I laugh at men too
Now you see how much you hurt me
But if you ever need me, I'll be by your side
Though the many happy times we had
Can never really outweigh the bad
Oh I'll never love nobody like I loved you baby

Marvin talks not only about how he felt but how it effected his soul, his life. The love he had for this woman crept into every fiber of his being and every inch of his life. He was simply unhappy, the love he had was destroying him. Love and life can be complicated like that. The other thing is that Marvin exposes himself in this music. It's the good the bad and the ugly. Nobody's perfect even in love.

Today's music is too perfect. Artist don't really expose themselves, like they did in the ol skool. Because its just a song written by somebody else. The lyrics don't mean what they meant to Marvin. I mean listen to Chris Brown's "she ain't you" or Trey Songz "Holla if ya need me" it sounds pretty, but they ain't bout that life. You can almost hear Marvin crying on Just to keep you Satisfied.

I connect with the maturity and honesty of the ol skool music. Somehow the pain I feel is a less heavy because I know somebody felt it too. All the emotions I can't quite articulate I find in Marvin's lyrics. The raw quality of his music, feels like the rawness of my emotion and I just let all the pain flow through my system with the music.

New school music isn't for the lovers, its for the club and young love, cause that real shit will have you belting at the top of your lungs like Marvin:

"Oh I'll never love nobody like I loved you baby"