MOVE!!!

So… I have been getting asked by a lot of people what does "MOVE!!!" mean and why do I say it at the end of almost all of my Facebook and Twitter posts. Is it an acronym? Is it a secret code? What is "MOVE!!!"? Well here is what "MOVE!!!" is. I use it as a motivational statement for those who are tired of being polite and getting no where. It is for all of the people who are tired of saying "excuse me" to the people in their way. The people who are blocking US from achieving our goals. That was me; the polite person with aspirations. I thought I was making moves then someone or something got in my way. I would say "excuse me" and wait patiently for the path to clear. Sometimes it would move but it took its sweet time. Other times it wouldn't move at all! I would get so frustrated that I would give up and think that the path would never clear for me to pursue my dreams. Well it took me some time but I finally got tired of waiting and giving up. I'm tired of saying "excuse me"! MOVE!!! Get out of my way! I'm almost there and you are blocking my path! MOVE!!!

I also use "MOVE!!!" as motivation to myself. You can use it too. "MOVE!!!" Get your ass up and do something with yourself. With so much going on and all that I want to accomplish, I have to remind myself that constant movement is one of the main keys to my success. Sitting around doing nothing is not going to get me anywhere. You will never be successful waiting around for it to come to you. That's just not how it works. MOVE!!! Go get it, make things happen. When you move precisely with focus and determination big things happen. MOVE!!!

New Year New US...

WOW!!!! 2011 is here. I think it looks good on me. 2010 began with telling you to Move! Don't just sit there, get off your butt and do something. Its not just going to come to you. You have to go get it. Move!! Ok, so what moves did you make in 2010 to ensure that 2011 will work for you? Rhetorical question. Don't let this year pass you by. MOVE!!!!

2011 is going to be an exciting & prosperous year for Union Specific Journey. The team is coming together like Voltron. That's one thing that just doesn't happen over night. Finding the right people is hard. They have to believe in your vision and want it almost just as much as you. They have to have opinions and stand behind what they believe. Most of all they have to be honest and trustworthy. There is no "I" in team and there is no "I" in US. You're only as strong as the people around you.

"The Sample Hour" events are planned but we can't release the details too soon. Gotta keep some things under wraps. I will tell you this much though, the first one of "The Sample Hour" events will be big! 2 events in 2 cities in 2 days! Friday March 18th will be in Baltimore & Saturday March 19th will be in DC. Who does that? US, that's who! We have some great events planned for 2011. Stay tuned in for more info.

Last but not least, Union Specific Journey is a lot of things. One of main components of USj is the clothing line. We have been working on putting the hottest designs together for the launch of this line. I am so excited about this and can’t wait to bring to you guys. Be on the look out for the line. It’s coming sooner than you know.

2011 is not the time for US to sit around people. Let’s MOVE!!!

Get up people, let’s motivate
Make a move before they close the gate
Don’t show up late because everybody knows
That one monkey don’t stop the show

There’s no hold on, there’s no time to spare
There’s no last week, there’s no next year
Make a vow, stand up and declare
I have more to explore and I can’t stop here…

Thank You From US...

December 4th 2010 is a day that will be forever embedded in my memory. "The Sample Hour" presented by Union Specific Journey was a huge success. It was everything I imagined. The venue, the people, the music all seemed to mesh together. The only word I can use to describe it is "epic." I'm not going to get into details on how the night went down. If you were there then you already know how it went down. There are so many people who wanted to make it to this event that for whatever reason were not able to come thru. We will be doing more Sample Hour events in the near future, each of them different in their own right. With that being said, if you missed this Sample Hour, you missed a lot. Make the next one be your first. Being that it will be different from the last one, it will be my first one too.

Like I said before, I’m not going to talk about the event but, there are a few people I need to thank for their help in making “The Sample Hour” such a great success. Thank you to Kee Reynolds and Kamau Washington. Two of the most humble people you will ever meet. Once a friendship is formed, no amount of time or distance can change it. You guys are Union Specific. Thank you Cameron Bruett, Dalen Harris and Preston Collins. Brothers that I know I can always call on for any reason. WHUT! You FLY!!! You guys are Union Specific. Thank you to my sister Cecilie Bonano. Our journey has been great since the day our paths crossed. Our story is one of the best examples of the Union Specific Journey. You are Union Specific. Thank you DJ P-Funk. You saw my vision and made it reality. You put a lot of energy into finding samples, mixing the samples and creating a set around the samples. You literally rocked the house. You are Union Specific. Last but not least, I want to thank you Harold Lemons. WHUT! You FLY!!! This event, "The Sample Hour," was not my idea alone. Actually, if it weren't for you, "The Sample Hour" would have never happened. It all started on Grove St. The circumstances as to why you couldn't be there were way beyond our control. All the steps of our journey are already planned by a power higher than US. All of our journeys will eventually come to an end. Until then, we will live big. Since day one, you are Union Specific.......

"The Sample Hour" (Revisited)

In two weeks, one of the dopest events I have ever been a part of is going down, "The Sample Hour". It is in Washington D.C. at Queen Makeda Lounge located at 1917 9th St NW (bet N T St & N Florida Ave) 20001. Every time I write about this event I refer to it as epic. "This is going to be an epic event," or "This is one not to be missed." When I say that, I really mean it. I don't think you guys are really ready for what’s going down that night. Let me give you a little insight.

For starters, "The Sample Hour" isn't just about the music. This is a coming out event, an introduction for Union Specific Journey. So it's about US and our Union Specific Journey. See, there will be people there from all over the country, California, Minnesota, Georgia, Michigan, Florida & New York just to name a few places. This event is about US sampling each other (not in dirty way you perv). Different faces from different places all on different journeys. The event, "The Sample Hour," is a venue for US to come together and get to know one another. To find out what we have in common, to make connections with people you never knew existed, to prove that the equation You + Me = US is a reality. I can’t wait to see it come together!

Now to the music. The music is the inspiration behind this event. Listening to the Old School music that night in the backyard with Siks 9 was an experience in itself. I mean listening this music, and in its original form was already masterfully crafted. Then you get to a part in the song and say to yourself, "Wait a minute, I heard this somewhere!" Then it all comes together and you realize that one of your favorite Hip Hop songs was created using that little snippet of this Old School song. Amazing! The night of "The Sample Hour" expect to be overwhelmingly satisfied with how tastefully the music is put together. DJ P-Funk has been working so hard on this set. Being that Dec 4th is Jay-Z's birthday, there will be a special emphasis on the Old School music he sampled throughout his career that helped to solidify him as one of Hip Hop's greatest. The sound will be on point and the blend of the sample and the original will be precise. By the time the event is over, you will want to buy a cd of the music played that night. It’s gonna be that good!

As the buzz builds around this event for the next two weeks, I will be getting more and more excited. So never mind me if I go in on facebook or twitter and "The Sample Hour" is all I talk about. As a matter of fact, do mind me and make it your business to be in D.C. Dec 4th. This event is going to be talked about for a while. This event will be epic, one not to be missed.

"The Sample Hour" presented by Union Specific Journey.

Thank God For The Dreamer...

Do you ever dream? What do you dream about? I'm not talking about the dreams you have when you are sleeping. I'm talking about dreams to do something with your life or dreams to be some where at a certain point in your life. Dreams of accomplishment, dreams of prominence. Have you given up on those dreams? Why? Do they seem unreachable at this point in your life? Do they seem so far out there that you feel they are unrealistic to attain? If you tell them to people do they give you that "you are crazy" look and tell you that you're foolish and that it will never happen? There is a quote by Peter Reece that I want you guys to remember. "Dreams are only foolish to those who lack them." What makes your dream so crazy or outlandish? If it wasn't for dreams we as a human society would not be where we are today. No cars, no electricity, no phone, no television, no stove, no bicycle, no train, no Ipod etc etc etc... It all started with a dream. Thank God for the dreamers!!!

Here's another quote that I know you have heard at some point in your life. "Better late than never." For the past couple of years that has been one of my favorite quotes. I have always been a dreamer. When I say always, I mean always! I have had so many dreams that I can't even count them all. I had dreams of being doctor, teacher, football player, basketball player, firefighter and even a cop. I had dreams of being a rapper, an actor, producer, poet, writer, clothing designer and business owner. I'm gonna stop there because we could be here for a while if I don't. With the exception of a few of those none of them are too late for me to accomplish. So one day I asked myself, "self, what is it that you really want to do?" I then narrowed down that list. I want to be a business owner/clothing designer. I’m talking a legit business. Not getting a couple of t-shirts with my logo on them hustling them on the streets. Also a writer/poet/rapper. I've been writing raps since that 7th grade and I love doing it so why stop loving it now. In fact I'm working on an album right now. Do you know what the name of it is? Its called "Its Better Late Than Never". You know what the name of the first single is called? Its called "Its Better Late Than Never" Here's a couple of bars from the first verse.

Hello my name is Trevor and on this endeavor
I'm here to tell you that Its Better Late Than Never
Never give up on a dream, Never give up when it seems
Your life is at a light that Never wants to turn green
You better mash on the gas and smell the rubber burn
Throw that bitch into 3rd like there's Never another turn
Peel off and leave skid marks, yeah I know the road is dark
But now at least you're moving Never live your life in park
So this marks the start of what I'm destined to do
I have to go get em, no more resting my dude

That's just a snippet people, it only gets better from there. Here's the bottom line. I am living my dreams. Union Specific Journey is my dream. The clothing line that's coming, the blog, the rhymes, the parties are all Union Specific and are my dreams that are now my reality. I'm putting it out there for the world to see. The past was full of mistakes, set backs, aggravation, let downs and disappointment. I let that stop me from completing my dreams. I would start one thing then stop. I would jump on wagon and without even staying for the ride I would jump off. Not this time. I'm riding the Union Specific Journey wagon until the wheels fall off! Nothing is stopping it. And if you have dreams that you have always wanted to follow, start following them now! Don't doubt yourself and don't let other people stop you. If they tell you to keep dreaming, you say "no problem." Hey, Its Better Late Than Never... US

Party With US...

December 4th 2010 “The Sample Hour”

So… A couple of weeks ago my man, Siks 9 aka Harold (US), came through to chill. I picked him up at the light rail. I had to make a store run for something to sip on. On the way to the store we began talking. I asked him if he had heard the new Roots cd. His reply was no and that he had only been listening to old school music. So I was like, no doubt, I had been getting my old school Hip Hop fix in also. He said to me no, real old school music. Old school as in our parents music. I said ok I feel you, play some so I can hear what you have been rocking to. He plugged his iPhone into the jack and this journey began.

He played song after song after song. I’m talking about James Brown, Bob James, George Clinton, Lynn Collins, Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, Roy Ayers, and so many others. Every song he played had one thing in common. Each song had been sampled, some heavily, by Hip Hop. It was just incredible to me! We got back to the house and I threw some food on the grill. We grabbed some drinks and sat out in the backyard for hours listening to these songs. We called P-Collino aka Preston (US) and had him on speakerphone because we knew he would love the music. He has been on is old school listening kick for a long time and his collection of old school music is so extensive. We listened not just for the great music, but for the sample. We listened for the piece of the song where Hip Hop producers got their inspiration to make a beat. Some call it stealing or borrowing or lack of originality. We in the Hip Hop world call it sampling. It is an art form that is far from “lack of originality.” In fact it’s just the opposite. For a producer to take a piece of a song, some pieces no longer than five seconds, and turn it into a completely different beat with a completely different feel is very original. At least it is to me.

As we sat back there listening to these songs I began thinking of how US this was. I said to Siks, we need to do something on a large scale to show how Union Specific this was. I said to him we should have an event/party to highlight how relevant these old school songs are to Hip Hop and US. Some of these songs I have never heard before, and I know you haven't either, but as soon as I heard the sampled part I knew which Hip Hop artist used it, the name of the song it was used on, which album it was used on and the year it came out. I decided then and there that this had to go down. Sik 9 and P-Collino was down. All that was left to do was put the rest of the puzzle together. If my life is a puzzle, where do you fit in?

I will have complete details for the party as we get a little closer to the date. Save the date and make travel plans. D.C., December 4th,"The Sample Hour" Thanks to my man Kee(US) for putting me in touch with the right people out there.

The Children in US...

A new school year, so many Specific Unions start here. There are Unions between students and teachers, parents and teachers and even between parents and parents. All of these Unions are Specific in their own way. I could go and get deep about any one of those Unions. I’m not going to go there though. I will leave that up to you guys. You can comment about that if you want. One bond however, is just so Union Specific that I had to write about it. It’s the bond these kids form with each other. Union Specific…

The Children in US...
My son’s first day of school was Wednesday, Sept 8th. The night before he was so restless. You should have seen him. I’m talking about he couldn't even sleep. The excitement was building. Just knowing that the next day he was going to see the friends he formed bonds with the year before. Not to mention the new friend he was going to make. He couldn't wait. He wakes up the next day before his alarm even goes off and is ready to go. He has his breakfast and is dressed about 45 minutes before it time to leave. He sits on his bed, so anxious, holding his book bag in his arms as he watches TV. You can tell he's not really watching TV though. He is really watching the clock and counting down the seconds before it is time to go. Finally it’s time to go and he is out the door in a flash. He is the first one in the car, seatbelt fastened and tray table in upright and locked position. We get to the school and there are kids everywhere! They are so happy to see each other. You can tell that they have all be waiting for this day for a while. The day they see their friends again. It’s crazy, these kids don’t even know it yet but the friends they make now can possibly be with them for the rest of their life. These same friends will affect the choices they make and how they will get along in the world. This is where US begins.

How exciting is the first day of school?! As we get older we forget we lose sight of the simple things. As I stood in the schoolyard that day, it all came back to me. I forgot what it was like to see a friend for the first time after a long hot summer. I forgot how significant these bonds are, and how long they can last. I still have friends now from kindergarten. You might think “Kindergarten?! How can you possibly still consider yourselves friends. You haven’t spoken in years!” My thing is that if you are friends, then days, weeks, months & even years can go by and you can pick up like you just spoke to them yesterday. I believe that’s how these kids felt. They feel they will be friends forever. I thought about it and that’s how I felt when I was their age. I thought about it some more and that’s still how I feel now. Once a friend, always a friend. That’s what makes US. I just hope that as these kids get older, they never lose sight of that. The friends that they make now is the purest form of what makes US…