What Is Fit!

Having traveled the world several times over the last five years and being an avid runner, might might make me the closest thing to a real life Forest Gump.  The cool thing about my runs are that it gives me a great opportunity to see and learn that particular metropolitan area.  I’ve ranked my three favorite runs in the world as such: 1. Central Park in New York 2. The Sydney, Australia downtown loop that includes the circling of the Sydney Opera house and a trek across the Sydney Harbor Bridge and back, and 3. Runyun Canyon in Hollywood.

If you enjoy running half as much as I do, or even if you try’na jump on a quick training regiment to get your sexy back before summer gets here,  you’d like the Nike+ Ipod Sport Kit.  But first,  you gotta cop some Nike+ running shoes         and an ipod Nano.  Once you’ve got that happening, just slip the Nike+ sensor into the pocket under       neath the insole, then snap the wireless receiver into you’re ipod                                                                    

and its on.  Not only can you you listen to your customized “running” playlist, but this joint is gonna track your progress by providing feedback on distance, time, pace, and calories burned directly through the headphones.  After you finish the run “o’ girl” gives you a personal performance summary that can be seen on the screen as well as heard through your headphones.  Get your sexy back!!

WHAT IS FUNNY AS HELL!

So im in The City (Manhattan, that is) leaving a session at Right Tracks Studio im mid town, back in July of 2007, when i saw this clown. I ain’t hardly fronting on his hustle though!

While touring the globe back in November of 2008, Joi Starr was spotted “cutt’n the fool” on the Great Wall of China. She C R A A A Z E E!!!!

I know somebody that looks like this FO REAL!!!

…So this particular morning i’m getting it “poppin” like i do most mornings, no matter where in the world i might be with a run. These runs span about an hour to an hour and a half and cover anywhere from seven to ten miles. A brotha needs these runs to stay fit for our grueling tour schedule, keep his mind clear and strong, reflect, focus on new material, and on this particular morning, slow down to say, “Good Morning Shanghai”!!

WHAT IS DOPE!

…So I’m in The City (Manhattan, that is) and i need to get out to Queens to put in work with my boy Ed Roc at the Edge of Madness Studio and that’s when I saw her, the Subway Dancing Girl.  The interesting thing is that New York is the best place in the world to perform, and New Yorkers are also the most critical because the place is so talent saturated.  Check out the passers by, they don’t seem to be phased by the Subway Dancer Girl’s incredible talent.  If anyone of you New Yorkers knows this girl, tell her that the World Famous Tony Williams is try’na holla! I’d love to work with her!!!

What is the What?

I happened to grab this book in an airport bookstore.  I was making a connection and the book’s cover art just caught my attention as I ran by. OPRAH is definitely sleeping on this joint, this is that book!  The writer, Dave Eggers was able to take such a riveting  subject matter and not only educate, the reader, but deliver the story in a manner that was not only thought provoking, but was laced with humor, throughout. The comic relief allowed me to identify with the characters, to connect with their plight and remain entranced in what might otherwise have been far too heavy a subject matter, at least for someone who just wanting to get in some “good”  easy reading. I finished the book feeling compelled to take action and to share.

So anyway, this young dude Achak who is like ten years old or so, is forced to flee his village in the Sudan alone and without his parents and family, when civil war breaks out.  Soon dude hooks up with other “lost boys” and they’re numbers begin to multiply exponentially as they trek across Sudan, Ethiopa, and Kenya, fleeing the militia and wild beast, and dodging land mines and air raids.  After thirteen years of living in refugee camps, he is selected for relocation in America, Atlanta to be precise, land of the free, the Falcons, and So So Def!  The plot thickens when Achak arrives in Atlanta’s urban jungle only to discover “What is the Nigga”!  Oh, did I just use the “N” word?  Yes, I think I did.  I went as far as to type it.  A nigga is anyone who is so vicious, so malicious, so violent, so volatile, so disruptive, so disrespectful, so rambunctious, so unthoughtful or so abrasive (this species on the loose in every color) that someone  could consider running from a lion in the jungle a less horrific experience than to encounter him, (the Nigga).  While there is no implication of sorts in this book, after reading about Achak’s initial encounter, I, almost felt like suggesting that signs be posted up throughout cities in the U.S. for other such newcomers, particularly those sharing our same dark skin that read:

“You are now entering the Urban Jungle, please beware of the Nigga!”

I have shared “What is the What” with many friends and strangers alike who have enjoyed reading it as much as I did. I have given it as a gift  on a few occasions.  This is definitely my pick..

See, they have warning signs over there.

Me and Don C. kickin' it with the kids in J' Berg in July, 2006.