I seen this quote on one of those ads on the train the other day:
“The only freedom deserving the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily, or mental and spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest.”
At first I looked at briefly but then looked again and pulled out the celly to start copying it down. I was typing dumb fast but my stop to get off the train came up and I only got a section of the quote. Luckily for google I was able to figure out the rest (and didn’t have to re-type it either, thanks to copy / paste)
I realized I was feeling it for a several reasons. It kind of speaks to what we are doing with our music and the whole “True 2 Life” movement. We have the freedom to do what we want and how we want it. Whether that be through the expression in our music or the direction we take our business. Most people can understand and appreciate what were doing but some people can’t. Some people, whether they’re friends or strangers don’t understand why a group of young driven college educated people would want to “rap.” They don’t see it’s bigger than their pre-conceived prejudice of the genre.
It’s also motivational for anyone who would rather not be told what they should or shouldn’t be doing. With entertainment and hip hop, some do it for a hobby and some for a voyeuristic obsession with rap culture (which is kind of lame but that’s their choice. probably won’t make it far tho). Some do it for girls, some do it for attention. Some do it for a hustle, so do it for respect. Some do it in vain, so it for the love of the game. Whatever you do it for, at least you have the freedom to DO YOU. It goes for anything, not just music. I would rather see someone do something they want rather than see someone miserable doing something they don’t. That person doing what they want to do has more potential even if the miserable person is good at what they can’t stand doing. People, society, whomever or whatever, may not know what’s best for you but can pressure you do to something thats not. That’s not free.
As for us we live and breath hip hop (and we do it well). Figuratively speaking, True 2 Life has stepped outside that box that some people would rather see us neatly placed in. We probably even stepped out that box literally too, the cubicle at some fortune 500.
We’re breaking the mold. Everything from the go-getter do-it-yourself mentality to image and content. Just check the spirit of the rhymes, you’ll see it’s FREE. Yet…we’re not the first nor the last to do it but we respect the culture and the influence it has on the world and we are going to take it as far as we can. Because we have the freedom to do so.
FREE! holla at ya boy. we got them thangs when we land…early. and yo im not the blogging type nor an english major, so don’t come at me with the grammar mistakes.
-’cise
