A House divided- Sibling Rivalry

I have thought about how I wanted to start this Blog. I had several ideas but nothing seemed to be the "right" one. So I will start it off this way... Abe Lincoln once said:

   " A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become lawful in all the States, old as well as new — North as well as South".

While Lincoln was speaking on the subject of Slavery I believe it is applicable in our House scene as well. We can NOT continue on the way we have been going. We can NOT continue the in fighting, low key back stabbing, and disrespect of someone we call our brother/sister. We are a House divided..

If House is a feeling, you must be mindful of how others feel.. not everyone will agree with you, and not everyone will like you. We MUST respect one another. I can't tell you the number of times and the number of DJs who say, " I paid my dues" -ummm, excuse me, but dues are paid over time.. you never stop paying them. Or.."I'm not going to his/her party or he/she jacked my style, sound, record I broke".  This one is the topper... "I been in the game since I was 2"- OK, SO WHAT! Someone will always be better than you.

How many DJs will see a up and comer and extend the right hand of fellowship and assist the new DJ (now, HOLD ON.. I know some of these new Cats are cocky as HELL and THINK they don't need the help)- um you DO need the help- trust me!

Ive talked to some who have assisted others in their path(s) to greatness and the one that helped them doesn't even get so much as a, "thank you"! Its common courtesy people... use it!

You have DJs hatin on other DJs.. promoters hatin on promoters... there is enough music for everyone to have a slice of the pie(maybe not enough venues) but you get my point. Yes, we are still underground but if we use what we were taught as children, maybe as adults we can stop acting like kids. Common courtesy, a helping hand, a "good job" or simple support of each other goes a long way.  While I spoke on support... lets start supporting our DJs. The ONLY job people do not get paid for is parenting. Pay ya DJ! They have worked hard to bring YOU what you want, for some its the way they feed their families. How would YOU feel if it was you.

Be fair across the board, we were taught not to lie, cheat, or steal(again the lessons we learned as children STILL apply as grown ups).

When will we stop letting our past hold up our present and dismantle our future?

The tenured DJ vs the basement/bedroom DJ.. Vets, some of y'all really are not that good, Newbies, some of Ya'll ain't that good either! So do one of two things, stay home and get your practice on or go into another profession. I was at an event not long ago, and I overheard two DJs talking about another one. The story goes like this...

-ya had two DJs bangin the box, one DJ did a HORRIBLE blend/mix I mean it was AWFUL.. now the two DJs in question joked about it(that's fine) but when they found out it was one of their mellows they gave that DJ a pass... and it was THAT DJ that (simply put) FUCKED UP the blend/mix! but ya laughed and shook your head when you thought it was someone else...someone you laugh and joke with. Behind the DJs back, ya talked about them..(grade school shit)

The Vinyl DJ vs the CDJ DJ... ok ok again, I AM A FAN! but here is the thing.. SO EFFIN WHAT if one plays vinyl and the other plays CDJs... so what! once people get some liquor in them and a blunt or two...they dont give a shit! I understand the quality of sound is better on one medium as opposed to the other ( yeah... I cant tell the difference) but Im a FAN!!!!!!! Vinyl DJs, you dont have to play on a medium that does not fit your taste...but appreciate the fact that there are those who do. CDJ DJs.. stop stickin your chest out saying, "maan I aint carrying all that shit" NEWSFLASH: you don't have to, but you DO have to respect those who do(common courtesy)

The Straight House Head vs the Gay House Head... IF I hear one more straight person say, " I'm not goin cause its too many gays there".. I swear I'm going to use some REAL harsh language! If it were NOT for the gay scene THIS scene may have been something that you only HEARD about from your gay uncle or aunt. Its NOT an "US" and "THEM" its WE..and just who the hell is "THEM"

Back to something I talked about early on in the Blog..NO ONE MAN OR WOMAN OWNS HOUSE MUSIC... do I need to repeat that..OK, NO ONE MAN OR WOMAN OWNS HOUSE MUSIC. You can't corner the market on this Thing of Ours.. and trust and believe someone out there is better than YOU! Stop hatin on those who try to keep themselves relevant..try going to one of their parties...they come to yours!

What is House music... It is, gospel, jazz, songs of our ancestors, it is funk, soul, four on the floor quarter note kicks. It is the same BPM's we hear in our mothers womb. It frees us from the day to day grind. We clean our homes to it. Drive to and from work to it. Fuck to it. Dance to it. Enjoy our brothers and sisters with it. My fear is one day this Thing of Ours will disappear, because we have not emancipated ourselves from the pettiness that is sibling rivalry...

House is about love, family, and everything that is good. Let's L!V by that. Its simple. Treat people the way you want to be treated, dance your way into Love and Happiness. We are one, Music is our sanctuary, music is our life, accept each other for who and what they are. Don't smile in the face of someone you say you love/like then turn around and talk about or laugh at them behind their back. Embrace each other the way the music embraces you. Put a GENUINE smile on each others face...and ALWAYS remember to....


Let the Music Play

P~