Love

“You are all geniuses, and you are all beautiful. You don't need anyone to tell you who you are. You are what you are. Get out there and get peace, think peace, live peace, and breathe peace, and you'll get it as soon as you like.”


-John Lennon

Make your mark

"You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you."
-Maya Angelou

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Abnormality?

Within this beautiful maze of Hip Hop culture there are many deeply rooted ills, I wonder does anyone notice.

For many years rappers have not only stepped up their game with the admittance of smoking marijuana but they've also advanced with the promotion of the substance in their music. There are a few who couldn't get through a song without talking about getting high if their life depended upon it.

Some believe being high takes away the stress while others think smoking the sticky puts them in a creative mode allowing them to get in touch with some higher level of consciousness.

Although many may smoke in the rap game, many don't.... so don't be fooled.
As an mc entering the game you should know, "SMOKING WEED IS NOT A PREREQUISITE". Don't get hung up trying to be cool and create another problem for yourself. Be YOU. And if you do smoke, challenge yourself and detox. Anything in excess can stand to be put to rest for a while.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Honestly Speaking

Ok, so the CMA's were on tonight. For those totally unaware CMA stands for the Country Music awards and might I add Darius Rucker won for Best New Artist. Probably means nothing to you but this is a long time coming for an African American to win at the Country Music Award.

As of late, with the dying sales of Hip Hop and R&B, I can't help but form a theory as to why the entire music industry isn't suffering. Let's take country into consideration and I believe how country music stays relevant and selling units is because the record labels market cross generationally. It's as simple as that. They aren't as strict with their radio playlist either. The station boasting the hottest in country music will play what's new but will also play older material from veteran country singers, cause guess what? they know it's still HOT. The bottom line is the whole genre pays respect to the foundation. That's what's missing from Hip hop and R&B. We'd be unstoppable if we had a united front.

As far as labels go when marketing Hip Hop and R&B they are truly missing an entire generation or even two. As a matter of fact the old structure of the major record label has got to be one of the most ass-backward systems I've ever seen. They don't want to completely submit to the download and rightfully so for a few reasons.
1. They feel a loyalty to their manufacturers and distributors (with the download neither is necessary). They've formed such a bond that even seeing TOWER records slowly go out of business didn't even make them re think their plan. Labels still paying an outside company to manufacture and distribute to stores that are no longer in existence? Doesn't really make sense at all.
2. Really hard to track sales due to the stealing and swapping of music.


The deal is if the labels some time ago said "we're going to create sites that can actually sell our roster's music", they'd be way further along in the game. Can you imagine Def Jam selling their artist's music only from their site? That would have been bananas!!! Imagine all the money they would have saved. OH but they need the shareholders to give LOTS of money for preparation of a cd release so they must keep all of the things in place to actually justify why they need LOTS of money....lol It's a joke because everything has just gotten too damn expensive. Something like this
1. radio play can cost anywhere from 25k to 300k (to make you believe it's a hit)
2. a super producer's fee (one that guarantees a hit, or at least the label feels so) 100k
3. video production can range 250k to 500k
4. then more and more and more and it's all RIDICULOUS!!!

All of this to create lots of smoke and screens to make someone believe "you can't live with out this song" or somehow "your life would be much better if you bought it"...HA!

The problem comes in to view when they are marketing kiddie Hip Hop in hopes of kids and teens going to a store and buying a cd. Most kids download which means the generation that still would buy a cd from Target or Walmart are being overlooked. There isn't a label willing to spend money marketing adult Hip Hop which is bananas because they are the very ones with the extra cash to do so.

Instead of a true lover of Hip Hop being able to enjoy new music by their favorite artist they have to go to an R&B oldie station or listen to Backspin where they are warped back in to time.

Let's get smart, choose and support the Hip Hop that means something to us.

DJ MC LYTE

  

This & That mix

  

djmclyte's Podcast

  

I am truly a lover of all genres of music. Reggae I learned to love from Brooklyn. My downstairs neighbor was a Jamaican dj and he played all the hits for me in the 80s. The building would rattle from the bass of a Pinchez song. Disco and Soft Rock I picked up from mom. R&B I got from my uncle and my mom, groups like Rick James, D-train, The Ojays, Teen Marie and many more. Hip hop came by way of my cousins in Spanish Harlem and that is where I got wind of Kurtis Blow and the Furious Five. Bottom Line is I LOVE music and so here you have a little bit of THIS and a little bit of THAT!!! Courtesy of some of the best musicians the art form has to offer!!!

Music makes the world go round!!!

Calling all WRITERS

ASCAP's Rhythm and Soul Team 
Presents... 
The Creative Side of Music Publishing

Come meet the creative forces behind the music industry's major publishing companies.


Tuesday, November 17th - 6:30pm
ASCAP Building, 5th Floor
One Lincoln Plaza, NY, NY 10023

Moderator: Sam Taylor
Director, Rhythm & Soul Creative - ASCAP

Panelists:

Leotis Clyburn
(Senior Director of Creative, EMI Publishing)

Jessica Rivera
(Senior Director of Creative, Universal Music Publishing)

Al "Butta" McLean
(VP of Creative, Kobalt Music Publishing)

Walter Jones
(Manager, Sony ATV Music Publishing)

Ryan Press
(Manager, Warner Chappell Music Publishing)


Free and Open to the Public

Teachers Please fill out survey

I am hosting a weekend retreat for teachers in the near future. A dozen teachers will be sponsored by yours truly. Please take a moment to fill out this survey to win the opportunity for a 2 day seminar and gain information that will last a life time!!!
Click Here to take survey

Learn how to STUDY

What is Study Technology?

Study Technology (or Study Tech) is a learning system that produces a greatly improved result when used exactly (by "Technology" is meant methods of application to obtain a specific result). L. Ron Hubbard developed Study Technology to help students truly understand what they study and essentially learn how to learn. Study Technology is the basis of all Applied Scholastics programs and teaching methods.

Study Technology consists of tools and techniques teachers can use to improve the learning rates of their students. It can be used by students to improve their ability to understand and use the materials they read and study.
Study Technology is not a collection of study tips or memory tricks, but rather a system of learning how to learn. Using Study Tech brings about an understanding that results in the ability to apply what one learns at school, in one’s work and in life.
Study Tech is something new in the field of education. It is the spearhead to a bright new world of understanding and achievement, and it forms the basis of the success of all Applied Scholastics educational programs.
for more info click here

Don't Believe it!!!

I''ve heard "Black People" still find it extremely taboo to fall prey to anit-depressants and all their adverse affects. Well hallelujah for that!!! As Black people we've been oppressed, suppressed and all of it leads to depression. Momentary failures would lead someone to not feel their optimum self.  We've encountered everything under the sun and so why would this be a time to start popping pills that may lead to
sleep deprivation,constipation, fatigue, decreased appetite, weight loss, irritability, abnormal dreams, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, decreased sex drive, dizziness, diarrhea, increased sweating,impotence (erectile dysfunction), suicidal thoughts or behavior, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, hostility or aggressiveness, engaging in unusual or dangerous activities, restlessness or inability to sit still, extreme elation or feeling of happiness that may switch back and forth with a depressed or sad mood, other unusual changes in behavior, confusion or mental changes, a rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, blood pressure changes, an irregular heart rhythm, overactive reflexes, fever, sweating or shivering, shakiness, seizures, coma, feelings of a rapidly or forcefully d=beating heart (known as heart palpitations), a high fever, easy bruising or bleeding, Low sodium levels in the blood (hyponatremia), signs of an allergic reaction, such as:
unexplained rash- hives - itching - unexplained swelling - wheezing - difficulty breathing or swallowing -
oh but there's more- yawning, hot flashes, delayed ejaculation, lack or orgasm, nose bleeding, increased LDL cholesterol....

So now with seeing all the side effects to this drug, which I might add most drugs of this nature will have you more tripped out than you were before you started them. You can only imagine what a nasty tasteI had in my mouth as I visited one of the most popular sites geared toward people of color when I saw an advertisement for this drug.  Who the hell are they kidding? Do not be fooled, tricked or hoodwinked. And yes I might get flack for this later with haters blogging and such but you'll know it's because I aim to give the truth always. I love my people and never want to see any of you become the victim of a vicious game where when playing with fire all one can do is burn.

Terms like Bipolar, ADD, ADHD all exist for one reason only, and thats to introduce to a drug to a new patient and have them hooked for life.
I found this bit of info I think is vital from Helpguide.org

Is depression caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain?

You’ve seen it in television ads, read it in newspaper articles, maybe even heard it from your doctor: depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that medication can correct. According to the chemical imbalance theory, low levels of the brain chemical serotonin lead to depression and depression medication works by bringing serotonin levels back to normal. However, the truth is that researchers know very little about how antidepressants work. There is no test that can measure the amount of serotonin in the living brain – no way to even know what a low or normal level of serotonin is, let alone show that depression medication fixes these levels.

While antidepressant drugs such as Prozac increase serotonin levels in the brain, this doesn’t mean that depression is caused by a serotonin shortage. After all, aspirin may cure a headache, but it doesn’t mean that headaches are caused by an aspirin deficiency. Furthermore, many studies contradict the chemical imbalance theory of depression. Experiments have shown that lowering people’s serotonin levels doesn’t always lower mood, nor does it worsen symptoms in people who are already depressed. And while antidepressants raise serotonin levels within hours, it takes weeks before medication kicks in to relieve depression. If depression were due to low serotonin, there wouldn’t be an antidepressant medication lag.

And once you've started....

Antidepressant withdrawal

Once you’ve started taking antidepressants, stopping can be tough; many people have withdrawal symptoms that make it difficult to get off of the medication.

If you decide to stop taking antidepressants, it’s essential to taper off slowly. If you stop abruptly, you may experience a number of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as crying spells, extreme restlessness, dizziness, fatigue, and aches and pains. These withdrawal symptoms are known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome is especially common when you stop taking Paxil or Zoloft. However, all medications for depression can cause withdrawal symptoms.

Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms

• Anxiety, agitation
• Depression, mood swings
• Flu-like symptoms
• Irritability and aggression
• Insomnia, nightmares
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness, loss of coordination
• Stomach cramping and pain
• Electric shock sensations
• Tremor, muscle spasms

Depression and anxiety are also common symptoms when withdrawing from antidepressants. When depression is a withdrawal symptom, it’s often worse than the original depression that led to drug treatment in the first place. Unfortunately, many people mistake this withdrawal symptom for a return of their depressive illness and resume medication, creating a vicious circle.

In order to avoid antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, never stop your medication “cold turkey.” Instead, gradually taper your dose, allowing for at least 1-2 weeks between each dosage reduction. This tapering process may take up to several months, and should be monitored under a doctor's supervision.

And lastly...

Antidepressants and suicide risk

There is a danger that, in some people, antidepressant treatment will cause an increase, rather than a decrease, in depression. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that all depression medications include a warning label about the increased risk of suicide in children and young adults. The suicide risk is particularly great during the first month to two months of treatment.

Anyone taking antidepressants should be closely watched for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Monitoring is especially important if this is the person’s first time on depression medication or if the dose has recently been changed. Signs that medication is making things worse include anxiety, insomnia, hostility, and extreme agitation—particularly if the symptoms appear suddenly or rapidly deteriorate. If you spot the warning signs in yourself or a loved one, contact your doctor or therapist immediately.