"It's not a hobby..."

"...Don't be sloppy"-MF Doom

One of the few things in this world that proves humans get SOMETHING right in our bastardly ways is MUSIC(that and reproduction, of course). The sweet lilt of a southern belle singing about a new or old love. The casual swagger of a D-boy with cautionary tales of a life in the streets. The tear-ridden soliliquy of a heartbroken romantic. Even, the angst filled wails of a guitar player doing so b/c that's the only way he knows to make the world better. Music is a gift from God that should not be jerked around as it is in the "industry" today. Think about it: how many times has music been there for you? How many times has it gotten you in the mood to party? Consoled your broken heart? Lifted your spirits? Music has been there when noone else was. It listened to me and spoke back with words to soothe a soul. For instance:

When I got grounded for like the hundreth time(My pops was like the judge in the Mick Vick case when i was coming up), this future 20 mil a movie mogul said these famous words to me: "There's no need to worry. Parents just don't understand" Will smith(ahh, the fresh prince!!)

When I was a kid trying to figure out just what this "love" thing everyone was craving was all about, a angelic songtress helped me understand: "Treated me kind. Sweet destiny. Carried me through desperation to the one that was waiting for me" Mariah Carey, "Vision of Love"

When I was searching for the words to say to that honey dip to express my intense longing(or lust which ever you wanna call it), these North Carolinian crooners wisphered the perfect words to me: "Said I'm feenin for you. I don't have a mind. It's all blown on you. Girl I'm so strung out. All I do is wish for you. So tomorrow if you're not here. Then girl I'm down. So I need you near. I JUST WANNA MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT. So hold me tight. Then girl I'm alright"Jodeci "Feenin'"(wow, that worked like GANGBUSTERS!!!)

When I was a teenager with those oh so GRANDIOSE teenage issues(acne, girls, grades, self esteem issues(haha believe it or not, I had them at one point)) a former D-boy with his Brooklyn baritone spoke to me filling me with self-confidence: "Heart throb, never, black and ugly as ever/However, I stay Coogi down to the socks Rings and watch filled with rocks/And my jam knock in your Mitsubishi/Girls pee pee when they see me/Nava-hoes creep me in they tee pee"-Biggie, "One More Chance Rmx"

When my genetic makeup said that I wasn't gonna get taller than 5'9", these words from a fellow shorty made me feel so much better: "I wish I was a little bit taller/I wish I was a baller/I wish I had a girl who look good I would call her" Skee-lo, "I wish"(you and me too brother!!! Ah, well)

When my teenage mind was in shambles addled by hormones and homework, these guys captured my confusion, anted up and doubled it, but somehow made it all make sense, "aflaksfjoeij foaiuroeanflk feoiajofih feaiyryeoinfai Here we are now...Entertain us lfkajlfk I feel stupid. HEY! ALKFJAL" Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit"(I never understood what the hell Cobain was saying, but it really doesn't matter. Perfect teenage song!!!)

When I was a freshman in College, these lines from this swagger specialist pretty much put the period on my first semester: "So get it together or forget forever when i come at you hard i can get it through leather you act like jigga cant get a whoever...talking you got a man...ok ma, and??" Jay-z Best of me Rmx(dude you couldnt go ANYWHERE without hearing that song...hahah shouts to Terrence J for hosting the freshman talent show...hahaha, even back then he was hosting!!! Great year...Great year...)

When I was paying for my stupidity in my relationship senior year, this poetic patron of prose drunk with me and felt my pain: "The reason that I want to be alone, tired of all the things that went wrong that would've went right if i wouldnve did it on my own...take another swig the more I drink the more I think bad thoughts..." Nas "Drunk by Myself"(used to ride around to that all the time!!!)

When I was lost in my relationships, this tortured songtress wailed along with me: "Something grabbed ahold of me honey. Felt to me, honey, like a ball and chain Yeah!....SAY WHOA OH WHOA OH WHOA honey this cant be...JUST BECAUSE I GOTTA HAVE YOU LOVE Puh-leeaaseeeee PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!" Janis Joplin "Ball and Chain"

You get the point. From the womb to the tomb, music has been and will be there, egging me on(it wasn't me it was the gangsta rap and the peppermint schnapps-eminem), calming me down(Slow down...pump ya brakes, ya speeding money-Mos Def), preparing me for the world("Welcome to the jungle...you can have anything you want but you better not take it for free" Guns N Roses), giving me swagger(Yall dont paint pictures you all trace me"-Jay-Z).

In essence, I don't have to like everything you guys do out there(who the hell am I anyway??), but please before you make that cash grab song, before you take a slot from someone who has something to say, before you fleece young artists, before you jerk over your fans, please know there is more at stake than just a buck here. So much hangs in the balance. This is not some hobby we're talking about. This is Art. This is life. I know its made mine better.

Bruce Eagle the full metal. Peace!!!