My self-proclaimed man, Mos Def, said it best on his latest disc The New Danger. If the geniuses of the past were alive today, how would they feel about the state of things? I venture to guess that they wouldn't be able to stand it... Billie, Miles, Jimi-- who sought solace in substance abuse, eventually succumbed to the fatality of their addictions. Why were they addicted in the first place? Or, an even better question, why would people with so much talent, such profound insight choose a temporary high over life? I can honestly say that if these musical icons thought their circumstances were grim and dreary then, they wouldn't feel much better about the way the world is progressing today.

I'm not so bold as to place myself in the same category as these legends, however, I do relate to their craft. Much of their work was before my time, but the timeless messages that resonate very accurately convey my own sentiments. Marvin Gaye, arguably the greatest male soul singer, released song after song condeming the circumstances and conditions facing the world at that time. For his sanity, it is best that he is not around to see that people are still asking, "What's Going On?"

We're still losing mother and child to the streets... 5-0 is more trigger happy than ever... the gov. is still b*tch slapping the little man... we're STILL spending TOO much cheese to go to space (is the cure for AIDS, Cancer, and IGNORANCE on the moon or Mars???)... AND, our virile youth are STILL dying in unjust wars...

To me, the alarming thing, moreso, even than the reality of the dismal circumstances we face, is the fact that so few people admittingly see life for what it is. WHY? The majority of people with the intelligence AND empathy required to positively affect change do not have the resources. The others get caught-up in the machines this country is infamous for perfecting... capitalism and politics. The artists in every genre will always see the world for what it is because with talent and intelligence comes a realistic perspective. While they produce timeless pieces lamenting the hardships of their day, doing something about these trials takes much more. Until the intelligent decide to use their gifts for "good", we will always have occasions where reality is so dismal people just throw up both their hands in defeat.

It is imperative that within this generation, there be people willing to sacrifice their riches and popularity for a real and worthy cause. Unfortunately, money is the driving force behind the actions of so many because so many have never been able to attain the riches we are told can lead to the American Dream. What we should all realize is that the riches are not real. The materialism is not real. AND, having a pimp'd out luxury vehicle parked in front of a housing project or apartment isn't real. What IS real, is realizing that multi-million dollar homes surrounded by housing projects IS real... "real" wrong.

Maybe I'll be a catalyst via my music... maybe not. But the important thing is that I've prepared my intellectual arsenal as well. Talents should be shared, but in the words of Spidey II's Dr. Oc, "Intelligence is a gift to be shared with mankind." I may not change the world, but I definitely plan on making a mark on it. (Thanks 'Pac, for sparking this mind...)