Uncharted Dopeness

When coupled, these words present a problem and product of today's hip hop. As a recent attendee and contributor to the Art Beats + Lyrics annual gallery showcase, I wonder how long the afterglow of such a crossover event will last? The event has metamorphosed from its beginning at the High Museum of Art to its most recent location at the W Hotel.Co-founders Jabari Graham and Dubelyoo are using flashbulb miracle grow.

But what happens to Atlanta's incredible potluck of creative genius after the gala lights go dim and another week of trolling Castleberry ends up at MJQ? If prints aren't sold and your secret obsession with hip hop culture doesn't translate into a lushly spray painted mural then the incubated talent returns to preaching dopeness to the choir. Bboys and girls still break, real singers still gleam off rhinestones from commercial R&B, and the painters and djs mix colors and sounds for our chemically dependent palates. The process continues as more hipsters emerge from photoblog sites, the land of ego, claiming to slang the newest nuclear threat to those without ambition, sex, and spiritually - all on a graphic tee, in slim jeans, sporting spectral sneakers.

"Let the liquor tell it"

Black in America 2 did a fair job in displaying the multi-layered levels of Black thought, society, and process (emphasis on fair). Again, what happens to the characters after the cameras are switched off and the talents they employ return to just that, abilities? What becomes of our beloved superheroes if there isn't another episode next week? Same bat time, same bat channel, but no batman. To put it another way, if a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to see it, does it make a sound... follow?


Without getting into the discussion about why talents aren't maximized or why one is more successful than another, I'll focus on the "Uncharted Dopness," those who manifest their very best but, don't make the ATL-List and blast off to inking a deal with (insert mogul here).

ATLanta has plenty of stars. Atlantis is a city born of starlight and tidal sways of passion, process, and progress.

For Example: On any given Sunday, Apache Cafe and Java Monkey host poetic open mics... As a former designated driver on the poetic highway, I've heard THE TRUTH in all its candid gore and abstraction leaking amniotic fluid on stages... It's amazing to behold! I bear witness to b-boy's grandeur on beer splattered floors and saw a flautist revert hip hop to straight ahead jazz. Singers still summon purple clouds to spill their guts. It's sickening.

Bottom line, moments like Prince's "Purple Rain" still occur. Black Love and hip hop aren't dead...just invisible, and in some almost forgotten corners of the world, truth prevails. There is a religion to this shit. If you don't know what you're looking for then you won't find shit. But, to those still digging in life's crates, there are more than enough enchanted jewels to raise Atlantis.

So, give an independent artist a try if they REALLY MOVE you. Ask who is still making beats (though the craze may be dying down as reality hits or misses so called "producers"), eat at a family owned restaurant, cop some couture, and you too can be a trend setter.
Seek your creative best and ye shall find... uncharted dopeness.

Getting Close

The interview went great. Now you know there is more to the story but overall I am VERY proud of myself!

The trend echoed by the Universe continued during my recent trip to St. Augustine for an interview for PT School. Part of my dream is actualized by making it to this point in the process of becoming a doctor of physical therapy.

It started early friday morning (july 31). Coffee was made by a hostel resident who'd gotten up about 6:15AM. By, 6:40 I was on a lil jog through the neighborhood to wear off some of the jitters from percolated coffee beans and nerves.

I arrived to campus early and was delighted to have the picture requested of me in the interview announcement sent to me via e-mail a month prior. 8:30 rolled around and people trickled in over the thirty minutes allotted before the day's events started.


Founder/Owner Stanley Paris was graciously on-hand to give opening remarks welcoming we potentials of his Physical and Occupational Therapy School.


Two current professors answered questions about each respective program. To my surprise, I received a wave from one of the speakers who recognized me from my sit-in her Neurology class! Wow, the same two professors from the class I happened to observe! Coolness!

After a tour of the campus by two female students, it was essay time. I opened the "top secret" envelope and picked up a pre-sharpened pencil. I composed a perfectly academic 5-paragraph essay. Whew!

last was the interview. An African sounding (and looking) professor greeted my arrival to his office and the questioning began somewhat casually with him asking we three interviewees, "So, are you nervous? If so, why?"

Though the outcome is out of my hands, I left the interview feeling I'd put both my best feet forward.

I am coming close to my goal... "let's meet!"

-delano :c)