Baby I’m Selphish

The last time we spoke was right before my 23rd birthday. That was two and a half weeks ago and since then things have changed drastically. I can honestly admit to being a bit more selfish these days — in the sense that I’m more about self now as opposed to putting others before me only to have those same people show lack of appreciation. Gone are the days of trying to change or improve people who have no desire to change or improve. I’ve always known that it’s impossible but now I’m acting accordingly. That means complete forward motion and running over anyone or anything that resembles an obstacle, whether friend, family, or in between.

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Hollywood Phell

I was on a panel this past Tuesday on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network for a show called “Respect”. It was an absolute honor to be on that kind of forum and have a chance to speak my mind for New York City and those tuning in on the web to see. Television and film has always been a huge part of my goals but I’ve never actually put those dreams into motion. I’ve of coursed studied a lot but now I’m actively pursuing roles and appearances. At the end of the day — whether through film, fashion, sports, or music — my goal is simply to use my giving abilities to entertain people and enlighten people. I must thank everyone who tuned in and especially thank my family and friends that called in. You guys are everything to me.

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Hamsterdam

A few weeks ago I was at a party hosted by Idris Elba, the actor from American Gangster, This Christmas, and of course HBO’s The Wire. The Wire feels all too real when I move around Newark and the Oranges (South and East) in New Jersey. Let’s throw Harlem, NY into that mix too — we saw some crazy stuff there the other day. For as long as there’s the United States, there will probably be drugs, violence, and prostitution. What’s glaring is how those things are so accepted in certain communities and how desensitized we (meaning myself and a lot others I see) are to it.

A fiend throwing up by your shoe? Side step her, maybe laugh, and keep going. Someone shot and killed outside your building? Watch from your window as the cops piece together the puzzle, make jokes about how the killer better not target you the next day, and go back to sleep. Those are just two examples of many. What I’m debating in my head is whether it’s normal to see destruction as normal and borderline entertainment. I think both media and most of our upbringings are to blame. If you see something on a regular basis from age 9 to 23, after awhile it becomes the norm — no matter how gruesome that norm might be. If as a grown and somewhat-guided man I can’t see the wrong in these things, I wonder what chance these young and misguided kids stand. To be continued I guess….

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Crazy A** B****

Women aren’t from Venus. Show me a person from Venus and I’ll figure them out faster than I can figure out some women. I guess that’s a good thing. The women you can figure out easily are usually those that aren’t worth much time or effort. But still, at some point or another, blue has to be blue, red has to be red, “I don’t want you” has to be “I don’t want you”. A man on the go has only but so much time to decipher codes and predict hourly mood swings.

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4 Da Fam, Not 4 u or I

Da Fam Inc is rocking and rolling. I’ve gotten it to a point where it’s going to stand on it’s own — with or without me. That also means with or without anyone else. If you’re building something (a brand, a company, a relationship) in 2010, be prepared for a serious struggle. People don’t want to stick it out anymore. The natural thing to do these days is to abort mission or even worse — they stay on board in a very one-foot-in and one-foot-out type of way; only to disrupt progress with acts of selfishness, greed, and all those other things a sailing ship does not need. Call it cold, call it whatever; I’ll throw anyone into the water if need be. I won’t like it or love it, but it must be done sometimes to keep the ship sailing properly.

Ahoy my friends…..Ahoy!

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About 12 hours till I officially turn 23. In certain aspects, I’m surer than I’ve ever been. In other aspects, I’m more unsure than I’ve ever been.

Back home. My brother is growing into a man and it’s interesting. I’m being careful not to do to him what my father did to me, which is to not acknowledge my growth. People mature and their interests change. To treat them the way you used to treat them only causes separation.

My mother is funny. When you call her phone — now instead of a regular ring — you hear the sounds of Eminem’s “Not Afraid”. She knows more about pop culture than me. If you’ve ever thought of me as fly or cool, that’s where it comes from. She’s cool. But the best thing I think I gained from her is how to turn a little into plenty. You don’t need a lot to do a lot; $100 can be $1000 if you know what you’re doing.

Friday I was surrounded by models, bottles, and half of my high school. Had fun, but in a sleepy-I’m-really-not-here type of way.

Last night I was in the midst of some of my favorite NBA players and some of the most beautiful women you’ll ever see. Had fun, but in a sleepy-I’m-really-not-here type of way.

I wanna create. When I’m not creating, I’m pretty much incapable of fully enjoying anything.

The circle keeps getting smaller and smaller. Maybe it’s my fault for ignoring the Blackberry so much (see above picture). Maybe it’s their fault for not growing with me. Maybe it’s no one’s fault and it’s just natural to separate. The ones who come back are there to stay.

Had a good birthday dinner last night courtesy of my business manager, Kunle. We’re gonna take over the world…I just pray that I’m alive for it.

The next time we speak I’ll be older and hopefully wiser.

Peace + Love!

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Lately….

Been in a good groove and I ain’t trynna mess my thing up.

Reacquainting myself with spirituality and all things holy and clean. Entertainment business and business in general is filled with so much “dirty stuff”, for lack of a better phrase. Cheating, gossiping, greed, etc… If you don’t take time to step out of the box, you could easily get caught up and begin to accept these things as the norm. As most of us usually find out though, the norm is rarely the way to go.

Gotten more focused than ever on my reading and running….two things that will make you great in this world.

Been studying sounds. I’m a thousand billion percent sure that before it’s all said and done, I’ll have a hand in contributing life changing music to the world; whether it’s me or someone I work with remains to be seen. Either way, gotta stay prepared.

Not feeling too many people. I was telling a friend of mine the other day how I feel I know 3 or 4 truly real people. Not that everyone else is fake, but I mean 3 or 4 people who truly know who they are and find comfort in it. Everyone else just seems lost. Like they’re searching…searching for riches, searching for cool, searching for acceptance, searching for sex, searching for love, searching for attention, searching for whatever. I’m no one to judge because I once used to search too, but then I found that all I really need in this world is myself. Work on myself and all the rest will come.

Spent some quality time with my team and extended team. It feels good to be around people who know in their heart of hearts that they’re going to win. They trust you, you trust them, and things seem to work out for the best. Hope it stays this way.

Thinking it’s best I stay single forever. These girls man………………

Getting my basketball game up. I’m like THIS close to dunking.

Awaiting the return of Fall/Winter. Summer is cool but I’m sick of sweating and sick of t-shirts. I wanna break out my sweater and jacket game.

Appreciating New York City. When I first moved to New Jersey back in April, I hated NYC with a passion. I was trying to do things my way and it wasn’t working. Parking wherever I felt like, not wearing seat belts, running lights, etc… I quickly found out that it was either get used to the way things work here or go to jail. I opted to adapt and things have been going smooth. Johnny Law aside, New York is truly a great place and has some good people amidst all the fast walking and reckless driving.

Till next time,

Peace + Love

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Over time I kind of lost track of what she was up to and she kind of fell off my radar but she’s back with a vengeance and more than likely here to stay as Phellito’s numero uno.

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Ever since I made that purchase last month, I’ve been meaning to sit down and write a song by song review of The-Dream’s “Love King” album. Problem is, every time I’m ready to hail him as the best contemporary artist we have, which I think he is, he says or does something that makes me not want to give him any praise.

However, personal life aside, The-Dream makes, not good, but GREAT music. Case in point would be this song “Take Care Of Me”. I have too many favorites on the album but this is definitely high on the list for me. Sonically it sounds like something Michael Jackson would have done, like a “Dirty Diana” type of style to it. Lyrically it’s equally as strong and potent. The gist of it is basically him threatening/warning the girl he’s in love with not to break his heart and not to take his love for her for granted. He does this in a borderline psychotic yet smooth manner that few can pull off. “I’m not the same as them. I’m not the one, so you better take care of me. If I fight for you, you better fight for me. You better take care of me.”

15 Take Care Of Me

I think I identify strongly with the message because it’s similar to how I view relationships (business or personal). I’ll do any and everything for you but the minute I feel used or taken for granted, the walls have to come tumbling down. Normally it just happens though. It’s rare that you sit a person down and say “hey, I’m going to do everything to build us up but I’m watching you; play me and I’ll destroy this whole thing.” Crazy! It’s very Sam Cooke, very Prince; just name an artist from the past that wore their hearts on their vocal sleeves.

Then the song ends by transitioning into the next track– “All Black Everything”, which is as contemporary and 2010 as a song can get. Hate or love the guy, and most hate him, but you can’t take away from his ability to compose great music.

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The Video: Exclusive footage and photos that most of you have probably never seen unless you’ve been with me since day one.

The track: Produced by Wake.
Download Here

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Da Fam Inc x Blonde Collective Photo Shoot in Washington D.C. on the 4th of July.

Decided to film my basketball routine one of these past mornings. More so for my sake so I know what to work on but I decided to share. The soundtrack to it might also be of some interest. Two remixes of DC artists songs (one official and one unofficial) that I think most of you probably never heard.

Sidebar: I wanna hate The-Dream for his actions towards Christina Milian but I feel like that’s a situation we as the public shouldn’t even know about. It’s just unfortunate that in 2010, everything goes public. Wish them the best. His cd “Love King” has been on repeat since I bought it and it’s poor sales, I believe, can only be blamed on the fact that he’s a very disliked person.

Sidebar #2: I’ve been wanting to speak on LeBron James since “The Decision” was made but it would just be piling on at this point. The NBA season is right around the corner. There’ll be plenty of time for me to state my opinion and see if he proves it right or wrong.

Peace + Love

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Hello world… I’m good. Counting the days and still smiling. Most of those smiles come from hearing my kids’ voices over the phone. The others come from reading fan mail. Let me just say that I have the best fans in the world! The devotion, dedication, support, love, and most of all, prayers are simply the best. I never imagined that I could have such an impact on people’s lives. Because of this, I vow to be a bit more careful of what I say.

So I’ve been writing and let me be the first to tell you that the lyrics that I’m writing are… well there’s no word that I can think of that properly defines them. Amazing would be too typical and perfect would be unfair. I listen to the radio sometimes, emphasis on sometimes, and I hear the new music. I like some. I applaud my Young Money family for what they’re doing. As I’m not surprised. This is what we’re supposed to do. Congrats to Drake and Nicki for all their recent success. Those 2 are going to have me retiring early. I love my team. Much love to Tez and Mack. I know that people are inquisitive of what I do all day, so here goes. I wake up around 11AM. Have some coffee. Call my kids, and my wonderful mother. I then shower up. Read fan mail. Have lunch. Back on the phone. Read a book or write some thoughts down. Have dinner. Phone. Pushups. Then I listen to ESPN on the radio. Read the bible, then sleep. That’s my day.

I’ll end this letter, but never my love. I’m gone. Oh, and how ‘bout dem Lakers!?!

P.S. I thank my fans for appreciating me the way you do.

Tunechi.

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Haha….I can’t even mask the fact that I’ve been dying of hunger up there in Newark. I’ve found an abundance of food these past few days…..be happy for me.

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