"My Nickname in the A - Strapped Up Shawteh"

Just another episode. Here's an update of what went down later in the week when Blink, Illi and Sosa were in the A. So when Blink and Illi got here, everybody was excited and ready to go! We had the studio booked and were anxious to get there and start working. Unfortunately, as usual Atlanta traffic was a bitch that day, so we were bout 30 minutes late for the session. But the studio session was great. I think we got two songs recorded for Illi that day (one Intro track for Inhale prt. 3 and another track for the mixtape titled "Red I"). It felt good being in the studio being creative and feeling the vibe. We had Damon L. Thomas, an established Director/Editor/Photographer, come through and take photos of the creative process. I wasn't feeling the 2nd day session because somehow the Atlanta heat got inside the studio and drained everyone's energy. Niggas was napping and falling out left and right. I think it was a point where it was just me, Illi and the engineer still awake. But all in all, that weekend was a great weekend - maybe the funnest week of my summer. Round two is going down soon. Everyone's coming back and we're bout to be back at it. Don't know if I'll write an update about it though...real spit.

-Pay Attention-

"I Slick Want No Parts of That"

The last few months have been fun (for a lack of a better term), but lowkey outta hand ever since early June up until last night. Sosa (@SosaCasanova) came down from up north and has been here for a couple nights now. Haven't kicked it with my nig since last fall when he came down for Morehouse/Spellman homecoming, which was on point, by the way... but fast forward to Tuesday night (7.13.10) when we scooped him from the airport. I was with one of my homies Jay, who's back in town for now, but he attends FAMU and is in the Marching 100... Just like everybody, before actually meeting my manager, Jay thought Sosa was gon be bout 40 years old, but was surprised to see a young nigga lol

First night we just went out to eat with my peoples - one of which was Jay, and then my other dude George (@ifollowme) I went to high school with, originally from Nigeria. They had Sos dyin with the shit they were saying. George always saying off the wall shit, and Jay's life is comedy... no offense, g. I go through this daily. And then Wednesday night (7.14.10), we linked up with my dude Wes (@wesg35), and all we had was time, liquor and bud. Sosa looked out with all the supplies... I shoulda known we were bout to OD. And that, we did. No way in the world I ever wanna be that geeked up (for no reason) again. I hardly remember much, but I do recall Wes going deaf and damn near unresponsive (but with eyes open) when we were tryina drop him back at his crib lmao. I got home and fell out with my contacts in and I could hardly open them this morning. Got about 4-5 hours of sleep, but I had to come into work with this lightweight hangover, feeling heavy-headed but light on my feet... and for some reason, I'm functioning too efficiently at work right now. I get off at 4 then no telling what the move is later.

Soon to come on Friday, Illi (@TheBoyIllinois), Blink (@Blink), and Tre (@3tre) are comin down from Chicago. This means heavy studio time for the weekend. Thus far, this has already been if not the most, then one of my most eventful summers, and I don't even fuck with summers like that. More to come

Always remember *points down*
-Pay Attention-

COOP: Creative Frustrations

I've been thinking about my creative process and my creative state of mind lately, and I've been bothered by both... it's weird to say this because, initially, one would think both could be easily manipulated and changed, but in actuality, to take charge of one's creativity is a far-fetched task for some people. As for me, my creativity comes and goes whenever it pleases, and I f*ckin want to know why. Why can't I summon my creative genius on command?

In regards to my earlier beat-making process, creativity used to strike more frequently than it does now; I suppose it’s due to me advancing in technique over the years…maybe I’m caught up in the actual practice of making beats instead of viewing it as an art form, or my mentality when making beats isn't the same as it once was, or it could be my mind being tired of looking at and working with the same workstation/equipment – I’m the type of person who needs constant excitement to avoid boredom...or could be all of the above. Bottom line is that my musical creativity is shot. I need that work flow back – that flow of creativity as I once had – effortlessly executing melody after melody, drum pattern after drum pattern, even if they were less advanced in musicality than melodies and drum patterns I create nowadays.

As I mentioned before, I think I get lost in the actual practice of making beats – seeking to achieve a particular goal within the beat – whether it be giving the beat more energy, or maintaining momentum of the beat, or trying to evoke a certain emotion through melody… when my mind is stuck on trying to achieve these elements (even subconsciously), it obstructs the free flow of musical creativity. Although, I wish I could just fix that dilemma, I don't know if that's something I can necessarily control.

The key subject here is the free flow of creativity yearned by so many, but assessable to utilize by only few. I still have this flow of creativity but only in short spurts throughout the year. For example, my mind will be in a creative state that allows me to make a batch of 5-7 beats over a time span of about a week or two (and that’s a high number for me). My creative process is not a one-go, sit-in, make-a-beat kinda thing. When people ask me how long it takes for me to make a beat, I tell them I don’t know. I can't say that it takes me 10 minutes, or an hour, or two hours to make a beat, because I usually work on several beats at one time, switching back and forth between each one while letting my creativity flow (all this in a couple week's time span). It works out pretty well… for the time the spurt of creativity lasts.

This has been a random rant of thoughts by yours truly, COOP of The Baron Boys, and has no ultimate purpose other than for the reading pleasure of whoever feels like reading it... Thanks for reading.

Enjoy hearing some of our beats at my Twiturm Profile

-Pay Attention-

Pursuit of Happiness

COOP: Women feel like the sole reason we are put on this Earth as human beings is to get married and have a family, right? That statement was kinda bold. But why are we put here? Is it to go to school, get a job, join in wedlock, reproduce, then die? Is it to destroy ourselves and the world on which we live? Is it solely to serve our creator? Whatever our purpose might be, it can't be to simply find the meaning of life in search. It's cool to wonder sometimes. I wonder why/how all the time. Much thought beyond a simple wonder would simply be pointless. The voyage to find the meaning of life: just as futile as holding a grudge against the sky.

I say pursue what makes you happy. Embrace all that feels right. Not everyone can be a star, rich, or famous. Not everyone wants to be any of those things. If I had an ultimate philosophy about life, it would be that life is about filling your niche in society. Wouldn't you agree? How does one find their niche? I'd say just make your niche by pursuing what makes you happy, or what feels right. How wrong can you go with that direction?

My purpose:
I, myself, would like grow into the man I believe is a great man -- a man great enough to love his woman unconditionally, a man great enough to provide for his family and raise his children appropriately, a man great enough to fulfill these duties, and a man great enough to accept his imperfections. I simply want to be a man of charisma, perseverance, and ambition... To not simply live life... but to actively live, or to be alive while living my life, as many people do not do.

Before I leave this Earth I plan on doing everything I want to do, for the simple fact that I want to do it. From skydiving to flying my own plane to waking up to a sun rise on a peak in the highlands of a Southeast Asian island. In the pursuit of happiness and self-fulfillment, I will be a great force in the music industry. I will be a hero in someone's eyes. I will give back and do my part to bring joy to someone's life. I will live and enjoy life along side of  loved ones, and I will provide them with the knowledge and opportunities to do the same, but at a greater magnitude. I came into the world airborne, and I will leave this earth with my footprint embedded in history.

Everyone has their own perspective at which they view life - may my view to be wider

Life is what you make it - may my life to be a monument

Take the world by storm - may my raindrops sprout new buds across the globe.

Promote Good Karma

-Pay Attention-

Things That Would Make Life Better

Mac Book Pro -
Mac is a great machine for music production. It has made its way to being the industry standard in all recording studios.

Right now, out of convenience and lack of sufficient funds, I'm working with a really booty Compaq laptop. Only good thing about it is the 3gigs of RAM and 17inch Wide screen. Previously coming from a Dell desktop with only 256MB of RAM, my Compaq laptop is still a great upgrade. But I still need that Mac.

Pro Tools HD 8 -
Pro Tools is industry standard for recording, tracking, and mixing music. Pro Tools has its own signature sound when your tracks are processed through it. I've had my own beats sound better after being run through Pro Tools.


There are many DAWs (digital audio workstation) that some people prefer over Pro Tools, but I honestly believe they're just trying to be rebels and go against the grain.

FL Studio -
Boy, WHAT?! ...nuff said.

Piano Lessons -
First off, classical piano training is not necessary to learn how to play piano. I personally believe there are more percs to being formally trained. I've been building chords for years without knowing what they are, or if they're being executed properly within the best register, etc. Why not know music when making music?
Being handy with a piano/keyboard opens your mind to a wider array of possibilities than otherwise, not being handy with keys.

'Inspiration of St.Matthew' ca.1602

Inspiration -
Not much to say here. All creators of anything need inspiration. A creative mind is useless without being inspired to create.

Inspiration is all around us. Sometimes, inspiration doesn't necessarily jump out at us. It comes with realization. Personally, I find inspiration within visual art, movies, background music in movies, background music in commercials, cruises down the highway at night, etc. Despite inspiration taking many forms and always being around me, sometimes it just doesn't come to me as inspiration without realization.

Big Ben

Time -
All things lost can be regained...except for time. Time is powerful. Time heals. Time tells. Time enlightens. Time allows. It sucks how important time is, yet it's the one thing to which we are so limited. You could do anything if you had an unlimited amount of time. Conversely, you can only do so much with such a limited amount of time.

Open Labs Neko -
"Powered by the latest Intel® Core™ i5 processor and using a 15" touchscreen, 61 black and white keys, built-in QWERTY keyboard and running Windows 7™ OS, the GEN6 NeKo XXL is an entirely new class of multimedia instrument. NeKo XXL is specifically designed with keyboard playability and maximum studio functionality."

This machine can hold Pro Tools and FL Studio along side of many of programs within it's hard drive. A list of producers I know who use this machine are Timbaland, Denaun Porter, Polow da Don, Tim & Bob (they have 2), and even Prince and Teddy Riley.

But I really wouldn't mind this here

-Pay Attention-

So Here We Are Again & I Swear Im in My Zone

"..and imma sip this drank until that muhfucka gone, then u gon get undressed, and we gon get it on... we gon get it on"

It's hard to believe but only a week has gone by since my last day of class for the spring. It feels longer though, because all of these nights have been soooooo late and some of these mornings have been too early. When a nigga say he on the grind...believe him... I'm on the grind. Gettin all these beats done, catching up with the real homeboys who came home for the break, and still having time to socialize with the current (yet tired) prospects. There's this one chick that works at MickyD's, really pretty and dont even wear make up. me and Jane had a talk about this chick, I coulda swore she looked like this female I have dreamed of before a long time ago, prior to seeing this girl working at MickyD's (so im thinking is this the girl of my dreams... or just some girl in my dream, pretty much stole that from jane since i asked her what if she was in my shoes). So I try to get at her and I comically get shot down with the "i got a bf". yet, She said try ya luck next time around though hahaha. Imma get to know this girl, regardless. Sum'n about her.

As far as the music side of things go, shit is just str8 but more on the shakey side. Right now, a lot of things are up in the air and we just don't know where the peices may land. All I can do is strive to keep getting better. If a nigga ever says he's satisfied with the state of his craft, he is NOT grinding, NOT on it, NOT doing it, NOT getting anywhere else, and ultimately NOT succeeding. I'm here to exceed. Doing what I have to do and keeping that goal up there in my sight, just an inch too far out of my reach, even after I get better and better and better. There is no stopping. Before I die, I want to achieve a superb musical level, to where I am actually COMPOSING classic symphonies. The motto is: "Want it all, even thought everything will never be enough"... The strive and hunger for success never receides. (Shouts to Sos for relieving a nigga of some financial stress, that's my nigga. I hope to pay every penny back with future revenue via Baron Boys Productions...cuz we gon get there)

AND WHERE THE FUCK IS THAT NIGGA YM ANYWAY?

Anyhow, I'm starting to feel good that we are getting some more ears turned toward us lately. Even though a lot of shit fuckin FELL THROUGH!!!! Seriously, so many opportunities are slowly drifting away from us, through the cracks of our hands right now. But I gotta be truthful, it's mostly the people on the OTHER end bullshitting, fucking up, not coming through with what they SAY they are going to do, which kills all credibility.

*I was excited about getting into the studio with Bryan-Michael Cox in metro Atlanta last week... didn't work out... and I honestly don't know why.

*I was excited about meeting with that A&R for DefJam... didn't work out either, due to scheduling conflicts, I suppose...

*I was excited about going to chop it up with BOI-1da and Tslack (Drake's previous manager) ...IT HAPPENED! but failed to meet my expectations.

*I was excited about these publishing deals on the table... but it's like these other guys offering the deals still have their hand on it while it's on the table, ready to snatch it right back as soon as we go to reach for one of them. SNAKES. Can't trust none of them niggas.

Take life one punch at a time, to take over the world one day at a time.
-Pay Attention-

and shout out to Jane...just cuz i thought she deserved it.

Everything Lost Can be Gained...

...Except for time wasted

:::Monday, April 27, 2009:::

Life is a movie depending on how YOU write the script...meaning depending on how YOU interpret it, or what you make it out to be. Whether its a Drama, or comedy, or even a action flick. We all know SOSA got that Romantic/Comedy flix goin on. Thats CASANOVA right there! I think my life is more like that Introspective Drama with a lot of comedic scenes. YM's is that reenactment/documentary of a rock star nigga whose whereabouts are forever unknown (insert Jimmy Hendrix music here)...something like that, but i could be wrong, and that's okay because his whereabouts are forever unknown, so i wouldn't know anyway! lol

Just thought i would share that thought. But as for Monday night/Tuesday Morning on campus, that shit was ridic the whole day! I woke up at 7am to finish this paper for class (had to write about homosexuals in society...yikes). Then the day ended at 3am when i left campus lol. A lil bit hot outside, but a good day, nonetheless. My niggas had me dying with jokes the WHOLE day. and we devised a master plan to re-up with new female prospects for the summer and next fall. Time to hit up some softball games, volleyball games and dance class rehearsals...yup, that's how we get it in :) lol. but yo, I'm glad my crew aint a bunch of niggas who try to act tough, we don't need that. But days like that make me appreciate my health and my state in life and the ppl I choose to surround myself with. Go through life making memories. I got shit to talk about for days.

Cool thing is.... i sent this from my BlackJack Phone via SMS text... cha cha cha niggas

-Pay Attention-

COOP Rant #3

Sunday evening at 4:26pm. I have a full agenda, lotta shit to do, but currently I aint doing shit, and my mind is telling me I'm bored as fuck. aaaaggghhhh... This feeling is NOT cool. I want to get on the beats right now but my mind is not in the musical state to do that at the mo. It's annoying, cuz when I'm on it... I'm really on it, really making like 7-11 tracks within a couple of days. After that spurt of musical energy, I find myself back at the bottom of the wavelength, u know... the recession part of the business cycle (brush up on your econ). Infuriating... I find it hard to progress (musically) when my mind is so frequently off and on when it comes to making music. This just started happening to me sometime like last year, before then I would be able to bang out anything right quick at anytime. I wonder what's different now. I know one thing, I need to organize and re-arrange my workspace. A cluttered environment is a cluttered mind. The J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League is my favorite group of producers right now. They are killing it with the records they cut with Rick Ross, Magnificent, Maybach Music 2, Yacht Club....DAMN all them are hittin and are clean as fuck, filled with big and musical composition. "Just Undeniably Some of The Illest Composers Ever" is what their name stands for, and I can agree with that... Fuck them niggas lol. They work with live instruments and they can play them too, smh. Some day soon, we got them niggas. and I just got a lil new drumkit/pack too, some good sounds in it, but can't make shit with it right now. It's like being a kid and getting a new toy for christmas but not being able to play with the shiiiittt... and on top of that, I made a few agreements that I would be helping some people out with collabs and providing a few beats but I can't get to it. A nigga feels kinda useless! and What i need you to do is feel sorry for me lol.

School. Freshmen Year sprinted past me in a gust of wind. First semester, I made dean's list and shit, fuckin 3.5 GPA. Second semester a nigga is fuckin uuuppp lol... I'm like "aye man, fuck it, i'll get to it later"...smh. Had to drop 2 classes before I failed them hoes. Got 3 classes left, and finals are this week (i think...i dont even know). I will be taking a Music Theory/Composition class in the fall, so that is the ONLY class I'm looking forward to, even though it's at 8am (-_-) ..!.,

Within the past year...up until last night [ ;-) ], I had a lot of fun, had a lot of not so fun moments and made a lot of mistakes... but now i think i'm scopin for *wifey*...
and if i'm lucky, i'll get lucky and find one. Maybe she can serve as some inspiration (my muse) to my music. . . Lord knows ya boy needs it.

..more later, if I'm up for it.

-Pay Attention-

"No Further Details, Boy"

COOP again... Here for another late night posting. So this year, as a new year resolution, I wanted to have healthier relationships with everyone who was in my life. I wanted to make new friends and network better and overall just be more of a people's person. Right now I say fuck it.
Just today I got into like 4 different arguments! Now maybe... just possibly... maybe it could be due to a communication barrier (via txt message, IM, Facebook Chat and all that shit), BUT regardless, arguments should not just sprout from no where. I have concluded that it's gotta be me. Now don't get me wrong, these people I argued with today are already pretty difficult to talk to ANYWAY but that doesn't explain why I quarrelled with them. Cuz I know me, I don't usually get into arguments like that; matter of fact I shy away from them... or i used to anyway. I don't see any use for arguments, just some back n forth shit that goes no where, until one person gives up or gets beat up or whatever.. How often do arguments get resolved by agreements? Almost unheard of. but anyway...It's gotta be me though. I blame no one else. It's like the way I communicate or something. It either doesn't connect well with others or it's just too much. I tried, but i don't know how to help that. Bad habit maybe?

Shit you know how when you get mad at someone and write them off? Well I don't get mad, i just get that mental check list poppin like "iight, i got you... you done" and that person is no longer a homie, acquaintance, or anything of the sort. Well I've done that too often. On my phones contact list, I put those people on a 'X-List' lol so they just get a X infront of their name n show up last on the contacts. At the beginning of this year i took everyone off the list to start fresh n new; showing grace, if u will. Buuuuttt for some reason, at this moment the list is even bigger than it was before I graced those people off the list. Iono... i guess not everyone is made for....everyone. I guess thats the reason why in highschool i kept a close circle and that's it. By nature, I'm not a people's person. I accept that shit...but still at the end of the day Good Karma is my Motivation. It's a Virtue. It's what I live by.

--COOP

p.s. Sos n Ym, we need to get back on this blog shit with actual blog articles n shit . . .

99 Problems

Man, YM swears I stay with girl problems. I be in denial, but after a chain of recent incidents concerning females in my life, I'm starting to reconsider my truth lol. Damn. I respect women. I love women. But some of y'all are dumb....as....fuck, as Naive as they come, and again, dumb....as....fuck.

Just about all of my situations deal with a female who get's caught up in "love" or false hopes for finding it...with me. I can't even lie; It's not always entirely their fault, BUT it's mostly their fault for being so fucking dumb. But still, I may find myself saying things and doing things that I really shouldn't to avoid her from developing feelings that are too deep. But on the other hand, chicks do that in EVERY situation they get in. But really, is it my fault that you want to talk MAD freaky, saying you will do this, that and everything for and TO me...so much to the point that it lures me in to wanting to apprehend everything you offer? Fuck no it aint my fault, you damn freak. But I have no excuse; I WOULD say that NO NIGGA can turn that kind of shit down...but as a Distinguished Gentleman, I should've seen through it and turned it down. Especially since it was just bait (good bait though, can't lie...u got me lol).

Some girls want everything you just DON'T want, but say things that she KNOWS you can't resist. Dirty. FILTHY. It's a trap my nigga, RUN! I'ts straight though cause I can sacrifice all that shit to remain a free man! lol (ps: You were strictly a 7...and a 7.6 on your BEST day. I can't wife that) You hurt yourself in the end. I just wanted the ass (as i THOUGHT u just wanted some cut) but you wanted to get wifed up and wanted me to be a part of the family. Dumb that shit down, lil freak. The only thing I have to say to your mom is "Hey, your daughters a freak ,and I'm all up in that."