RIDE

Today is a nice sunny day. College football is here. Things haven't gone according to plan but I am adapting. Due to some ish, I got up this morning and went to purchase a new vehicle. I am getting a 2002 Ford Escape LXT. It is not the 300 I wanted but it will do. A beggar can't be choosy. I will be pickin it up on wednesday and finishing up the paper work. I will be broke again until my next pay check and then it is on. I am still trying to get into a groove at the new gig. There is alot of paper work and detailed stuff I will have to keep up with. I am chilling today and fixin to get back on the side grind cuase I need the extrta doe now. I hope the blessings continue to flow my way and my storm is over or at least the dark cloud that follows me around is about to move on to someone else. I still got some family drama and negative energy coming my way for no reason and it aint even cool. On the flip side, I my cousin Dirty D has a video release party coming up sept.6,2008 at club tipsy's. It is for his single "fastlane" from his upcoming mixtape/album. I recorded a song with him that will be on the upcoming album. I am in my early 30's and thinking about retiring for good from the music game as a performer. People are saying I would make a good manager for some of these younger cats. I don't know yet. Yall stayed tuned!

TGIF

FINALLY! FRIDAY IS HERE. COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON JUMPS OFF BIG TIME ON SATURDAY! IT IS A HOLIDAY WEEKEND! I have learned alot at my new gig these past 2 weeks. I am deep into training and all that good stuff. I am glad to be workin full time. I will be resuming my weekly trips to wax n facts and full moon records to continue to build my record collection. I am currently updating my wardrobe with some new threads. Since I have lost close to 70 pounds, my old clothes don't fit anymore and that is good. I still have alot of things on my plate but it is easier to deal with now.

8:00 tonight ESPN

Didn't blog yesterday. I was way too busy. The sun is out and the rain is gone. Today is thursday. Tonight, n.c. state and south carolina kick off college football season and I am glad. I have been swamped with paper work. I already need a break and a vacation. I just found out that my state training will be in savannah, austell, atlanta and moultrie, ga from september 8-october 30 on and off. WOW! On top of all that, I need a new vehicle. I am sitting here wishing 5 o'clock would hurry up and come on. This new job so far is like my life overall, very confusing. Anyway, I am glad college football season is here. Also, this holiday weekend, I will have some doe in my pocket and some free time.

College Football Season/THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

I am born and raised in the South. Football in the south is a big thing. In some places, we eat and sleep football. It is almost officially COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON. We are counting down to this thursday when n.c. state and south carolina get things started. I AM A COLLEGE FOOTBALL JUNKIE AND YOU COULD GET SHOT, STABBED OR DRAGGED IF YOU DISTRUB ME ON SATURDAYS DURING THE MONTHS SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER. My buckeyes are ranked #3. I just read that QB phenom Terrell Pryor will get some playing time this saturday in the opener. RB Beenie Wells is ready for another great season and we will be ready for all comp. I am fed up with SEC fans yappin bout our record against sec teams. The mission this year is to shut up all that babblin. The BCS still needs to be done away with and we need a playoff in college football. Anyway, fall is near and let the pre game celebrations begin.

Today was an alright day! Shout out Roy Ayers!

"I live in Newtown baby". Today was alright! I got to see some beautiful women, hung in the a.t.l. for a minute, got some money and ate at the varsity. I woke up this morning breathing. It was raining and appeared to be another gloomy day. Trying to find a real reason to smile sometimes when you feel like poop is hard. During recent trials and tribulations, I have found that music has a vibe changing effect. I had the blues today cause of a situation at work. I was also riding on fumes with change in my pocket wondering how I'm get to work the rest of the week. I did a customized piece of art for a extra fine young sista(shout to tammy t) and she liked it. It is always a compliment when a person purchases a piece of art. I wish friday would hurry up and come on damn it! COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON IS ALMOST HERE! But on the real, Roy Ayers is the man. If you have seen the movie "Coffy", then you'll know this cat is for real. The first time I heard "We live in brooklynn baby", I was at the old warehouse in 1994. It came on and all the upnorth folks went crazy. Later during cool out moments, I heard another Roy Ayers classic "Everybody loves the sunshine". I heard this on the first brand nubian album. Roy Ayers music and his style is on some galactic funk ish. Between Roy Ayers, The Crusaders and Lonnie Liston Smith, you aint living right if you aint checked these cats out. I am a soul music junkie. I can listen to some great music and feel better instantly. I am chillin. I am looking forward to the rest of this week, the rest of this month, the rest of the year and the rest of my life being one big learning experience. I got alot of stuff on my plate, I got some big things on the horizon. Gotta go with the flow!

start of a new week

yo, it is raining today and gloomy. I am confident the rest of the week will not be as bummed. I got the new Al Green cd and I am gonna check it out this evening. Next week at this time, football season will have officially started and everythang should be dandy!

It's Friday!

It is friday and I am glad. Didn't get to blog yesterday cause the job is time consuming. I got this big ole book of state rules and procedures to learn and gotta go thru hella training. I have just completed my first week of the new gig. I have learned alot about state laws and family stuff this week. I think I am gonna be able to do this job. It is alot of paper work and detailed. I got to sit in court this week during my training and watch some cases. I also got to sit in on some panel reviews for a few cases and a custody hearing. It is all eye opening. I think I wore too much nag champa body oil today. Anyway, I will be working with the HOPE GROUP on saturday for the downtown festival. I hope it doesn't rain and people show up and support us.

Everythang is Everythang!

They say being honesty is the best policy. Sometimes I feel like the world is mine. Sometimes I feel like shit. I realized that some of my stress is self found and the other 75% comes from everyday situations and ill will wishers. As I said earlier, life can throw curve balls sometimes we don't expect. During my lunch break today, I had a flat tire on my way to take a drug test. I got 5 bucks to my name until payday and already ridin on fumes. Since starting this new job, it seems like my plate has gotten crowded and my time is compacted. I got alot of things to do like set up with the H.O.P.E. Group at the downtown festival this weekend and sell food to raise money for our organization. I am gonna help promote a fish fry fundraiser for my cousin. I also gotta work on completing training at work and got a million things to learn to get certified. I also got family drama to deal with. I got a couple of people hollering at me about some music stuff. I got to get ready for my sista-n-laws big party on september 6. I also gotta get a oil change ASAP. Now I gotta find a good spare tire. On top of all that, I volunteered to assist the creative arts guild crew with the upcoming fall arts festival. In a way, I am glad I have stayed busy doing something. If everythang goes according to my new plan B, this labor day weekend is gonna be on and I will be poplockin like Re-Run instead of lookin crazy like Fred.

One of the ILLEST ever.

ONE OF THE ILLEST EMCEES EVER. HIS STYLE AND FLOW IS OFF THE METER. PHAROAHE MONCH IS OVERLOOKED. BACK WHEN IT CAME OUT YEARS AGO, I COPPED THE ORGANIZED KONFUSION ALBUM "EQUINOX". THIS CAT WAS KICKIN RHYMES THAT MADE YOU HIT REWIND A COUPLE OF TIMES. I HAVEN'T DID THAT SINCE THE GOLDEN AGE. ON ONE SONG, HE SAID "i leave no optical footprints within the sands of time so it's impossible to follow me" OVER THIS ILL BEAT. ALOT OF PEOPLE WERE DIGGING "SIMON SAYS" BUT I REALLY DUG "BEHIND CLOSED DOORS" CAUSE THE BEAT WAS ILL. ON THE LATEST ALBUM, I REALLY LIKE THE SONG" PUSHIN" CAUSE I CAN RELATE TO IT. YALL CHECK OUT PHAROAHE ON THE REMIX OF "THE HEALER" BY ERYKAH BADU. THIS CAT IS BAD AND I RATE HIM IN MY TOP TEN TRUE LYRICISTS OF ALL TIME. TELL YOUR CREW, DON'T SLEEP!

Erykah Badu

I like erykah badu. My favorite song off of her new album is "MASTER TEACHER" ft. Georgia Ann Muldrow. I think erykah badu is fly. Since having kids, she has gotten thick as all out doors. I saw this post on okayplayer. I also like the song she did with SA-RA Creative Partners. She also did a song on the strange fruit project.

"It seems a little odd to pick up a compilation of vintage blues tracks and find Erykah Badu’s name snuggled in among the credits. The album, due out next Tuesday, is called A Brief History of the Blues — a collection of classic performances by such masters as Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Bessie Smith and Elmore James. Erykah crops up in a duet with guitarist and fellow Texan Doyle Bramhall II on an old Charley Patton song called 'Oh Death,' and it’s a smoky, soulful take on the tune." I WANNA SHOUT OUT TO THE 5% NATION OF GODS AND EARTHS. I SEND A PERSONAL SHOUT OUT TO THE CATS I HUNG OUT WITH BACK IN 1994-1995 AT THE AUC ZULU NATION MEETINGS. KEEP BUILDING!

A thin line between love and paint!

Graf Heads Unite Worldwide to Get up and Get Down! S.A.M.O. Lives! DONDI rock, rock on! Shout out to Fab 5 Freddy. Graf is apart of true hip hop culture. I paint on canvas and I've painted on walls beautifying scenery. I have tagged the freights, did train spotting and hung out at the writer's bench. It is one of the original elements. In the words of Big Jus "LUNE TNS", this is for those standing behind the fence and for those starting to climb.

I also wanna shout out to CANE UNIVERSIAL for giving me my first opportunity to get get up on a throw up at the civic yard when we did a video for Peas In The Pod. That was the first time I met Ill Jabril and we all have been cool ever since. The next night we were out loungin, I met MEGA, WON and the world famous MUTANT aka DJ wildlife. Before then, I had only used spraypaint for murals/paintings. I had always did graf tags in my blackbook. This was my first time doing a piece at the world famous civic yard in the A.T.L. Ill Jabril let me borrow this book on Dondi White and I was blown away. I had already seen the movie "Wild Stlye". I copped the movies "Bomb the System" and "Style Wars" from Criminal Records in little 5 points. I started mixing graf into my paintings and sculptures. I started out tryin to mimic new york writers until I developed my own style that I was comfortable with. As far as true hip hop and the elements, I was addicted. I started boosting tips and sharpies just to say I did it. Now I have gotten older and wiser. I am in a new setting and fixin to start gettin up. I got a new tag name and I am on some "catch me if you can shit". PEACE! Shout out to BIG JUS "LUNE TNS", THE ARTIFACTS, JAZ(aca alumni), CRISIS, TOTEM, HENSE,SEVER, DOSE, THE UAA CREW, GSK CREW and THE TATS CREW.

I love it when a plan comes together!

Life is crazy. Life throws curve balls sometimes we don't expect. This past weekend, I celebrated with my peeps and got a little tipsy at a party. I aint a drinker but I decided to pretend to be one. I started my new job on Monday. It was cool and eye opening. I am excited about the job, working for a cause and getting paid. If everythang goes right,I don't have to deal with art consignment folks anymore or the idiots at my old job. When I got to work yesterday, my supervisor showed me my office and I just sat there for a minute to take it all in. The day was going good until I got off and went home. Family drama seems to follow me even when I aint lookin for it. Now I feel my exodus from this part of town is drawing closer. People are pulling me in different directions and it aint cool. The bright spot in all this recent madness is my cousin. My cousin has been a godsend. She has helped me out alot from letting me burn cd's at her crib to borrowing her vehicle. Other than my mentally ill mother, my family has helped me with good advice to get through my personal issues over the past 2 years. I feel like my life is on the upswing sometimes. I tried to mack down this honeydip at a big party this past weekend and she fronted. Her negro is in jail and she talkin bout she waitin on him. The negro aint gettin out for about 30 years. But yo, the JODSTER moves full speed ahead. On september 6, 2008, my sista-in-law is having a big turning 30 party at the creative arts guild. She is a cool sista and a positive person in the community. I will be doing a live painting during the celebration while poetry is being performed. It is an all white party. I am gon do my thang. I am cool because I have been sucka punched by life a couple of times and got right back up.

Serena Williams

I seen a blog post on kid chaos site and was inspired. Serena Williams is sunshine liquor. She bad! I can't lie. She is a beautiful sista that gets my mojo workin. Besides Nia Long, Estelle, Monique, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Paula J. Parker, Kimberly Locke, India Arie and Oprah, Serena is in the running to be my first baby mama. Yall check out www.thekaoseffect.com and the photo shoot from the ebony gig she did. I have never been a tennis fan. I only watch tennis when somebody black is playing like venus, serena or carl malone's daughter. It is the same with golf. When tiger is playing, I watch it. Other than that, it is boring. Black women come in all shapes, sizes, skin tones, attitudes and styles. I truly appreciate my sistas and it makes a brotha feel warm and proud to see them doing things that tear down stereotypes. My granny said "God was showing off when he created the black woman." Serena and her sister do all types of things from Fashion Design to modeling. I am bigging up all the sistas! Yall stay jazzy and beautiful! We still need each other.

They call him FELA KUTI.

Fela Kuti is the man. I was hangin with fellow conscious collective member Adina at GSU back in 2003. We were talking about Nina Simone and then we got on the subject of world music. She mentioned this cat Fela Kuti. Up til then, I had heard of Fela but hadn't heard his music. I first heard Fela on a show on WRFG 89.3 in atlanta. The song of course was "Funky Horns". Then I got a chance to hear "Water no get enemy" and it blow my mind. I was like damn thats some real african funk. The intro to that song is awesome and Fela to me is the African version of James Brown. I started wondering like what if those 2 had got together and made some music back then. That ish would have been off the chain. I like the political flare of Fela. He did long songs and called them albums. I seen a Fela album that has 3 songs on it and one of the songs is about 20 minutes long. This brotha was jammin. I got a chance when I was hangin out with dj 4th wurld and solomon to hear "Coffin for heads of state". He straight up told the nigerian government what he truly thought about them and didn't back down. The Afro-beat sound is addictive. Jamal Ahmad use to put on a sunday evening event at endenu a couple of summers ago. I was listening to fela and started doing these little afro heads with the faces painted like fela's wives. I sold one to Jamal Ahmad and took a picture of it for my portfolio. Another Fela song I dig is "Fight to Finish". With all the people who front on me for no reason, this song is inspiring and encourages me to continue to move forward regardless of what people think about me. In the words of Fela, now I just "Look and Laugh". Yall check out some Fela Kuti and his son Femi. Yo, on some realness, Some People think that since I am from the country backwoods of the south and I speak with an accent and have no dread locks that we are all on some dumb ish. I listen to all types of music, read, went to college, speak 2 languages, write, paint, sip Mr.Boston, burn incense and eat watermelon. Realize that if those black folks from the dirty south back in the early 1900's had never decided to move up North, there would be no harlem renaissance or any of that. I wish black folks would get over those simple things and let's all get down and build.
peace!

Tiombe Lockhart

Tiombe Lockhart is cool. She is a singer but I also see her as a performance artist. I first heard her on a song from a mixtape. She did a cover of "Another one Bites the dust" and then I heard her on the Platinum Pied Piers album. Tiombe is on some future 80's ish with her style and image. I really like tiombe and Georgia Ann Muldrow. I hope Tiombe comes to atlanta and perform sometime in the future. I also really dug the platinum pied piers album. I would like to see those cats get some shine too. They did a song with SA-RA creative partners on this album too. All those cats are bad. The song "Act Like you know" featuring Jay Dilla is one of my favorite cuts. I also play the song "Lights Out" at high volume when my neighbor gets to trippin. My favorite Tiombe Lockhart song is "Mr. Johnny Walker". I heard this song on a dj jamad afromentals mixtape. I gotta hit moods music to cop some tiombe lockhart joints. I recently copped that Georgia Ann Muldrow "Fragments" album and it was dope. The only thing is that the songs are way too short. Yo, I am cool jody because I step outside the box and listen to all kinds of music. Yall check out Tiombe Lockhart, Georgia Ann Muldrow, Waajeed, Platinum Pied Piers at www.bling47.com

The Art of Ice Grillin Pt.3(Shonuff)

I have been working on another ice grill pose. This one is influenced by the 80's. I had to go old school. Yall remember this cat. This is Shonuff aka The Shogun of Harlem from the berry gordy 1985 movie "The Last Dragon". The dude that played shonuff had a mean ice grill. He also played sonia's boyfriend on a episode of "227". This movie is a classic and starred Tai mak and Vanity along with SugarHill Gang's Master Gee's little brother Leo O'Brien who played richie. Yall remember when he was tied up and he breakdanced his way out of the ropes to go save Vanity. That was ill. I have had a chance to use this shonuff ice grill while standing in line at the post office. This lady was mean muggin me cause I took a parking spot from her outside. I could feel her laser eyes burning the back of my head so I turned around and ice grilled her. I had to think quick so I pulled out the shonuff ice grill pose. I wish I would have had the same outfit he had on in the movie. As I ice grilled her, I wanted to take a line from the movie and ask, "Whose the master?", but I felt that would have been too intimidating so I let up a little and turned back around. The lady got out of line and I felt the victory was all mine. I got my stamps, put the letters in the drop box and walked out to my truck. This lady had dumped what looked like a milkshake on the hood and threw some trash under the truck to make it look like I was extreme littering. Regardless, I will continue to practice the shonuff ice grill pose. Don't be suprised if you see me at Apache Cafe in the crowd with some shonuff lokes on and ice grillin. If yall get a chance, go and rent the movie "The Last Dragon". The 80's are coming back and I been 2 steps ahead years ago. Yall stay fresh!

A New Start

This coming monday, I will be officially starting a new job. It is a state job and the pay is alright. When I applied for the job, the pay listed was what I really wanted. I discovered that the pay grade I am starting out at is towards the bottom and I have to work my way up to top pay. It was sorta a bummer but I am thankful I got the job and working in a different field. I had been working at temp agencies and doing some teaching on the side while doing my art thang. Now I can relax alittle bit and focus on this current job and making it stable. I had made some big plans with the pay I thought I was gonna get. I was gonna move into this loft and get me a 300. I already went and picked it out. I toured the loft and went and looked at some new furniture. I figured since I am a single man with no kids I can do this since I only have me to worry about. I also went and checked out some flat screens since college football starts in 2 weeks. But, I gotta put some of that stuff on hold until I settle into this new job. My cousin opened her hair salon in union city and it is fly. She wants to get some of my salon art and sculptures to put in her salon. My cousin bought 10 pieces of art from me last November and told a bunch of her clients. The name of her salon is Naturally Gifted Hair Salon and it is located in union city across the street from Pep Boys off in the cut. Yall stop by and check her out and please support black owned businesses. Back to the subject, I am thankful for this job, the income and the stability. I am still gonna work on moving back to atlanta within the next 6-8 months. I've did my time in dalton and gotten over my divorce. Now I am recharged, reborn and ready to get back in the loop in atlanta. Oh snap, college football season is 2 weeks away. I may have to quit this job if it messes with the season. During the months of late august to bowl season in january, I am a college football junkie. I have been known to ice grill folks down who distrub me when a game is on especially if it is my OHIO STATE BUCKEYES. Yall stay tuned!

SCHOOL DAZE/Goin Greek

I am not greek. I tried to pledge a certain frat but it didn't work out. I decided to try and make alittle change off my connections. I said if I ever have a daughter, she will be a delta. If I ever have a son, he will be a que. There are alot of famous greeks like Shaq, Michael Jordan, Steve Harvey, Cheryl Underwood, Keisha Knight Pullam, Camille Cosby, Bill Cosby, Cedric the Entertainer, Morris Chestnutt and Michelle Obama. I stopped doing greek stuff after they started cracking down on anybody who wasn't licensed. This is a example of the greek paraphernelia I use to create. These pictures are from a Delta Sigma Theta Inc event. They have an annual vendors fair where they let people come in and sell their goods. I got into doing parphernelia after going to a step show at Morris Brown College back in Fall 1994. Since, I have created paddles, keychains, totem poles, jewelry boxes, tiki necklaces, wall decor and much more. I have made greek stuff for some famous folks like Mr. Andy Young and his wife, Mrs. Joni Mitchell at Atlanta Technical College, Alicia from The Burning Sands, Mrs. Kim Eccels of Atlanta Metropolitan College and soul brotha Jamal Ahmad purchased a piece for his mother. I create alot of items for all sororities and fraternaties. I know alot of delta's and aka's. My ex-wife was a Zeta. I have alot of ques, alpha's and sigma's in my family. When I was making paraphernelia, my biggest supporters were delta's and aka's. I never had any problems and they were always great about placing orders. I stopped by to visit one of my folks at atlanta metro and she wanted to place some orders. On top of that, she said she knows a young lady that goes to her church that she would like me to meet. That is off the subject but the ladies of delta sigma theta inc. have been great to me since 1998 and I appreciate everyone that has ever supported my greek paraphernelia business. I wanna shout out all the greek/oes/mason folks at atlanta metropolitan college, fort valley state college, atlanta technical college and the eastpoint/college park alumni chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated.

The Art of Ice Grillin Pt.2

If yall live in atlanta and have rode MARTA, yall know it can be an adventure in it self. This cat at 5 points a couple of years ago ice grilled me down cause I would not give him some change. At the time, I was already hurtin cause my truck was tore up and I was using public transpo. I was mad that morning and I gave him a ice grill back. This is the ice grill pose I gave him back. It was early in the morning and I was pissed already. I called this the " I just woke up/WTF" ice grill pose. In breaking news, I recently got a challenge for a Ice Grill Stare Down from RAW. With the ice grill poses I have now, I am equipped to battle anybody, women included. I have the classic hood ice grill, I have the popular "you broke in line" ice grill and the super poison prison ice grill. I am working on mastering the Charlie Murphy ice grill he used in the movie "CB4" as gusto. When I get that pose down packed, I will call it the gusto ice grill in honor of Charlie Murphy. This is another ice grill pose I am working on. The picture features a new ice grill from my resume. This one is used in final rounds to throw my opponent off and confuse them. I call this my "I just woke up/WTF" ice grill. I haven't mastered it yet. I have used it a couple of times. I used it on this kid at the grocery store who tried to take the last slim jim. I had to think fast as to which I grill I should use. The funny thing is, this kid had a ice grill himself and it threw me for a loop. I wasn't expecting it. When I look up, his ghetto mama had the classic ice grill pose and the hand on the hip. I was out numbered and out grilled on a saturday morning. So I have been practicing the "I just woke up/WTF" ice grill. Yall give me some feed back. Should I battle with this ice grill pose or should I use the other one? When I aint chasing beautiful women, painting or riding in my Bentley, I am hard at work mastering THE ART OF ICE GRILLIN.

peace

WATTSTAX (yall need to see this movie)

About 5 years ago, I got a chance to see a movie that changed my life. The movie was called "WATTSTAX". It is a movie about a concert in 1972 in watts that featured Issac Hayes, Jesse Jackson, Rufus Thomas, Melvin Van Peeples, Ossie Davis/Ruby Dee, The Staple Singers, Little Milton and Johnny Taylor. The images in this movie were off the chain. My parents named me Jody because my pops was a Johnny Taylor fan and he had a big hit in the 70's called "Jody's Got Yo Girl". There was pop lockers, big afros, bell bottoms, polyester suites, chicken, platform shoes, hip huggas, dancing, sanging, perms, braids, guitars, drums, and master Richard Pryor tellin gut bustin jokes. This movie was put on by Stax records in memphis and tells the story about soul music. Some of the sistas in this movie are hot and it showcases the soul curves black women are known for worldwide. The crazy thing is that you will see somebody in this movie that looks like somebody you see in the hood everyday. At the end, this big limo comes rollin in and the people start to go crazy. Jesse Jackson is on stage and he introduces black moses. Issac Hayes come on stage in this chain vest and then proceeds to tear the house down. It is very symbolic considering his recent passing. On the soundtrack album, Hayes does a cover version of a ray charles classic and he gits busy. After I seen this movie, I started incorporating more of the 70's vibe into some of my black art. I have did 3ft sized afro-piks, afro totem poles and afro statues. I was born in the 70's and I love the music, clothes and styles. The richard pryor parts are funny as hell and you will die laughing and farting at the same time. This movie is great and I suggest yall check it out.

The Art of Ice Grillin Pt.1

Ice Cube is known worldwide for his ice grill pose with the jheri curl on the cover of his Amerikkka's Most Wanted album back in the day. There are some other cats who have mastered the art of ice grillin too like DMX, Immortal Technique, Ghostface Killah, M1 from Dead Prez and Charlie Murphy. Charlie Murphy is ill with it cause he has been known to scare the shit out of people with his classic prison ice grill technique. People ask me why I look so mean some times. I aint mad or angry. Sometimes I am just trying to master the art of ice grillin. You gotta have a mean mugshot pose for everyday use in the hood. Don't I look intimidating? This is one of my most famous ice grillin poses. I got a couple more in my arsenal I am working on mastering. Someday, I wanna have a ice grillin contest against cube. We will battle 3 rounds and winner takes the title of master ice griller. So if you see me at the post office or snapping into a slim jim at a redlight, be prepared cause I might just ice grill you like I am filming a rap video. I aint mad or angry or looking mean for no purpose, I am practicing the art of ice grillin. Don't get too close or you might get grilled! It is grill or be grilled son!What!

peace

The Blues

This is a painting I am working on. The blues originated in the south and I am proud of that. We have all experienced the blues from our grandmothers and fathers workin in the fields to being racial profiled by dumb ass police in 2008. This picture above is something different I am dwelling on. It is a picture of blues man "Sonny Boy Williamson". I have always listened to the blues and really got into it when I started listening to the Deacon Blues show on clark university's 91.9 WCLK station on saturday mornings. Deacon Blues(who is from chattanooga, tn and a professor at Clark) did a tribute to Sonny Boy and talked about this blues man's style with the Harmonica. Sonny Boy was smooth and could get down with the best of them. With blues music, the name you go by is embedded in the overall lure and ora of true southern blues music and culture. I have experienced the blues and felt like dying sometimes. All I needed was a guitar, a corner shot of Mr. Boston and directions to the cross roads. But now, I got my mojo workin and I'm ready to throw some horse shoes. After I finish this painting, I have decided to create a painting centered around other blues legends like Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thorton, Son House, Howlin Wolf and Bessie Smith. This will be my artistic tribute to the blues. Yall check out some blues when ya get a chance and listen!

Hazel Eyes Lady Metroya and Radical Soul Kelsy Davis

While living in Atlanta since fall 1994, I have had many opportunities to meet good people regardless of their status in society. I have met big superstars and hung out with nobodies. I have an easy going personality and I try to be friends with everyone. As yall know, atlanta is full of inflated egos, cristal sippers, move fakers, wanna-be players, hoes, ghetto hoes, uppidity negroes, conscious cats, neo soulers and a few down to earth people. I have been blessed with the opportunity to meet and be friends with 2 of atlanta's most real people. First, Lady Metroya runs hazeleyes.com and she is a singer, beautiful sista, writer, manager, booking agent, music industry consultant, event planner, part time home girl, 91.9 wclk radio host and full time angel. She is in the know around town and use to put on this event called strawberry sundaze at Endenu. I sent Metroya a artist package in relation to showing some of my work at her event and she was very professional. The event had sadly run it's course and was being dissolved but she did keep in touch and said she would keep me in mind for future events. Metroya also can be heard on the radio on saturdays at 91.9 wclk if my memory serves me correctly. I took this picture of her and kelsy at live poets society wingman Cocktails REEL Talk event out in stone mountain. Metroya has a smile that will light up alaska during the winter solstice and she always smells good. On top of all that, she is soulfully sexy and those eyes are priceless jewels. Every time I see her, she always speaks and gives a hug. She is a good example of a cool person. If yall hear about a hazel eyes event or Metroya performing, yall please show some love to this sista. Check out her myspace page or www.hazeleyez.com

Kelsy Davis and The Radical Soul is a great band. This brotha gets down during his performances. I got to be apart of a event put on by live poets society frontman Abyss up at dave and busters. If yall haven't seen Kelsy perform his hit "slave to the rhythm" live, then yall aint living right. This brotha is a big name dude and he treated everybody that night with respect. He went around the audience shaking hands and thanking people for coming out. He came to the back where me and some other folks were set up selling our goods and did the same. I got a chance to witness kelsy and some other folks perform at a spot over by georgia tech. He tore it down and then told the crowd he was leaving for L.A. Every time I see kelsy round town, he speaks and shows that he is a cool person. It is hard to find real people around atlanta who aint souped or out for the fame. Kelsy Davis performs on the regular at Apache Cafe with special guest Abyss. If yall get a chance, please go and check these brothers out. Check out their myspace pages and buy 5 copies of their albums each. It is worth it.

We need to continue to support people like Metroya and Kelsy. They are doing their thing and sharing their gifts with us while remaining grounded.

peace

Dumpster Dive Records Cook-out

I went to a cook-out in May 2007. These are some pictures from the last great cook-out at dumpster dive records. I was going through some ISH around this time and stopped by to get some records. Noah is a cool dude. There is a pic of me and Noah during the cook-out. There are also some pics of some great writers getting up like phenom MICHI. He always spoke and was friendly everytime I came to the spot. On this day, they were cooking, painting and b-boying while the deejays got down. It was cool until this tall skinny white kid busted this crazy looking black dude over the head with a beer bottle in the entrance way. Things got hecked and it appeared as if the day had been ruined by these idiots. The tall skinny white kid hopped in a car and jetted. The black dude was bleeding and cussing. They ran off and then came back. The music started back up, the hotdogs and burgers were done, someone opened a beer and things returned to normal. I ended up buying the strange fruit project album, the sounds of L.A. album and a royce the 5'9 single "boom". I got me something to eat and lounged outside as the graf heads started to get up. As you can see, it was a great day. The entire time I was there, no bums came up asking for change and that was cool. Dumpster Dive Records has since closed and it is now Plush 357. The graf heads are still getting up on the side of the building. Noah and the dumpster dive crew use to throw events over in east atlanta. I heard they are still getting down even though the record spot has closed. We all need to support our local record shops.

R.I.P. ISSAC HAYES AND BERNIE MAC

We lost 2 great contributors to black history and world history. These brothers made positive contributions to society and shined. MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF ISSAC HAYES AND BERNIE MAC. WE THANK THE MOST HIGH FOR ALLOWING US TO BE BLESSED WITH YALLS PRESENCE. ISSACE HAYES IS OUR BLACK MOSES AND BERNIE MAC WILL ALWAYS BE ONE OF THE GREATEST TO EVER MAKE US LAUGH. YALL BROTHERS BE EASY AND REST IN PEACE!

thank you run d.m.c.

thank you run d.m.c.

Sonia and the natural crew/Birmingham's Best!

This is a picture of sonia and her staff at changes natural hair care salon. Sonia has a big place in birmingham and she recently opened a spot in atlanta over by greenbriar. It didn't work out how she expected. I met sonia at a event I did in birmingham called R.I.S.E. It was put on by dj rahdu and the soul rebels collective. Sonia purchased a couple pieces of my work. She then called me later to get some customized work and also had some of her staff buy some work. It is cool cause I didn't have to pull teeth or deal with any bull while dealing with sonia. She is a cool sista. I am thankful for her showing interest in my work and it really did alot for my confidence. Also, sonia puts on events at her mega salon in birmingham. I have been down there a couple of times and really enjoyed myself. You can see pictures of me, the soul rebels collective, sonia, julie dexter, anthony david, rueben studdard and more at www.urbanham.com in the events section of the photo gallery. Go there and click on any of the events labeled "R.I.S.E.". Sonia, dj rahdu, tommy, nee nah and everybody down there are really soulful and cool people. If yall are ever in birmingham, check out changes natural hair salon. Please support black businesses!

blue robot monster

Today is the start of a new week. Sometimes it is hard to get a monkey off your back especially when that monkey is a monster size leech. The past couple of weeks have been crazy. I did a big fashion show last week at the northwest georgia trade center with designer julia michelle watson and it was cool. I showcased some of my work and passed out some business cards. The models I used were great and complimented my work well. I also have some work on display at the creative arts guild. There is a big art festival coming up and I had to get some stuff in there. On top of all that, I've had some family issues to deal with as the madness continues. I aint gon left it get me down cause lately I've had some blessings come my way that I need and I know it's because on occassion I have put some good energy out into the universe. Last week, me and my brother were in the a.t.l. It was good being back and visiting my old hang out spots and friends. Extra shout out to Laneek and her shop in little 5 points. Shout out donna van gogh's and the record store next door up the street in cabbage town. I also wanna shout out the muslim brothers sellin the bean pies. With all that said, el fin.

stupid ISH

Today is a new day. I woke up with tension and ish buggin me. Me and my bro got back from atlanta yesterday to bad news and bad energy. Sometimes family can be a blessing. Sometimes family can stress the hell out of you. I am gonna continue to move forward and do what makes Jody happy. I don't wanna distance myself again but it seems like I am gonna have to if I want any total happiness and peace from family drama. Grown folks make decisions sometimes that don't go according to plan. They in turn have to live with the results. With all the latest fiasco and drama, my focus still has to solely be on me and my life.

throwin jabs

All I wanna do is live a comfortable life. For the past year, I have totally put out good energy and karma for alot of folks and my community. It seems like folks are extra fake sometimes. I have always been a laid back and easy going person. Lately, people I called friends act like snakes in the grass with sharp knives. People lookin at me sideways and I keep to myself. I really don't trust alot of people anymore and my defenses are always up now. I am a single dude also and I don't even wanna get started on how crazy some of these women are and the dating scene as a whole. Shit is mad crazy! I know folks that front in my face and then spit venom in my direction when they get around the corner. It is sad and I aint even the type of person to get on some rah rah ish. Today, I am gonna try and think positive all day and see what happens. Part of me is saying keep on being the Jody everybody knows. Another part of me is saying fuck them and revenge is best served cold.

I am not the cussing type unless pushed. Anyway, I will be showing some work at the Dalton Arts Festival this month and showing work in September at a few gigs. Hopefully the negative changlings in human form will stir their negative energy in someone else direction instead of me. If revolution had a movie I'd be theme music.

Truth be told, I'm after mad honeys with mad junk in the trunk and if she needs a style switch up I can even get crunk, at 250 plus pounds never could be no punk, I'm high off lifes energy no smokin no skunk.

peace

Brothers and Sisters

My brother is moving to atlanta. He is taking control of his destiny and making serious efforts to change his universial energy and life flow. I am proud of him for wanting to improve his life and the life of his daughter. I said a prayer to God asking him to watch over my brother as this is his first time living in a big city on his own. He will always be my little brother but in reality he is a grown man. Our little sister moved to Miami and she is doing well. Both of my siblings are bright young people who have overcome alot and as a big brother, I wish I could always fix their problems and make every thang alright. That is not my job cause they are in good hands with God. Currently, me and my brother are at our uncles house chillin. Tomorrow I am gonna take him to some places to put in some applications and show him around. I love my brother and sister and wish the best for them. I know everythang is gonna be fine.

peace yall

graffitti shoes

I got soul. These are some kicks I recently did. I have been trying to expand my creative arsenal. I got these kicks from my homie bayboy and decided to tag them up. Since then, I have gotten a few orders from people wanting me to customize their kicks. I liked how this turned out. My overall art portfolio is always gorwing as I try new things. Next, I wanna try my hand again at t-shirts and hats. I did it once before on a small scale with my own t-shirt line and it went pretty darn good. I eventually want to get some of my kicks in the shoe show that comes around sometimes with artists showcasing their tricked out kicks. If yall got some ideas, holla at a brotha!