!Empower!

What up what up!
So after a crazy day 4 yesterday, of just basically becoming immersed in the Maori culture and meeting some the most influential leaders in that community, I finally got pictures up! Deinitely the most powerful thing for me yesterday was our meeting and interview with D.L.T, basically one of the pioneers of hip hop in New Zealand, and a practioner of all elements in hip hop. Check out the mural he did in the albums. He brought a different perspective, and just drop KNOWLEDGE! He was insightful, straight shooting, encouraging, engaging, and just all in all one of the most interesting people I have ever met. But I'll def write about that more in the future, here are the links to my photo albums though! Enjoy. PEACE til next time!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2249884&l=3abdf&id=6005294

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2249858&l=c445f&id=6005294

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2249873&l=329a3&id=6005294

Whats up everybody,

I have just an update to give you guys, don't have too much time, but def wanted to drop a little line. Still no pics, but in the next two days that'll happen, as I''ll be uploading all my stuff for my Tourism NZ blog, and i can show you everything that I'm talking about. But today we took the camper van and started painting it green and blue to make it Road Trip Nation ready! We got most of it done, but we'll finish tomorrow.

After, Tourism NZ straight took care of us like crazy, definitely a blessing, and something the five of us are all thankful for. Sam and Tim from Tourism NZ picked us up, and then they took us to a spot called burger fuel, and man, it was the shiznit! I had a ford freakout, a ginormous burger with avocado bacon and the fixins! While i was in the bathroom i saw an ad for Burger Fuel, and it was making fun of the whole Hugh Grant prostitute incident years ago, and I thought to myself that would never fly in the U.S. It's funny, the one thing you notice in New Zealand is how liberal so many things are, and you'll see what i mean when i post my pics, but I love it. Everything that could be considered offensive, people here just decide to pass it off as funny, and they don't make a big deal out of it. But it's something that opens my eyes, that in the U.S, straight up we are just a bit too uptight, and just need to relax a little sometimes with escalating innocent things and trying to make them huge issues when they're not.

But anyways, after that Sam and Tim took us up to ATVing. I have some video and this was in one word: RIDONKULISTIC!!!! We rode in the middle of a storm, hitting crazy puddles through a forest that look like something out of lord of the rings and I was looking around for Orcs. After the forest we rode upward over a hill and when we cleared the hill it was a black sand beach with some of the roughest tides i've ever seen, it sorta looked like it was gettting ready to swallow us. Then we made it to a lookout point high above everything, and then that was when i realized i really didn''t deserve all this, but i'm just gonna keep on being thankful and soaking it in!

So tomorrow, Tourism NZ set us up and we're just gonna take in the Maori culture. We'll be watching someone getting a traditional Moko, the facial tatos that you see on the Maori, and i guess its a rare thing to see that so def another big thanks to the man upstairs. After that we'll be watching some performances, and chillin with the locals! I'll stop rambling now and just be back when i've got some pics to post up!

GOD BLESS!!!!!- Ray

Whats going on everybody! 2 days in here in New Zealand and man, the contemplation and examination of everything in your life is already going wild in my head! The vibe here is just so laid back, no one's in a hurry, no one's stressed out, and everyone's trying to help everyone out. It's the way life really should be man. Bernardo was telling me when we were visiting Road Trip's office that,"It's about productivity" and that they get a lot of freedom to do what they want as long as their productivity rate is high. And he said when they take breaks, they are just so hyped about what they are doing, that a lot of their breaks turn into creative motivating breaks. I just feel like one needs to not sell them self short and sacrifice things and live difficult for some time, as long as in the end you can find an environment that spurs your motivation and your drive, and settle for nothing less, because YOU deserve nothing less!

So i was journaling today, and i decided to put this here, it's very simple, but it struck me very much after thinking about it.

Went to New World Grocery and it was calming but exciting. It was connecting with NZers doing everyday tasks humans do, yet seeing a unique culture unfolding before me. It was a simple but meaningful task. It was seeing how their cultural traits and differences applpied to everyday things i'm used to doing. It was also the first place that had value! On the maybe mile and a half to 2mile walk back along the streets and the beach, we walked in the pouring rain and wind, but without a doubt it was beautiful! It was calming and reflective, it made me think of times when i felt bad for people walking with their groceries, but now i was firsthand experiencing the beauty of it. It was taking your time and enjoying doing something, and not worrying about what your in a rush to do next. It was admiring the world that might be around you but you take it for granted cause your too stressed out to savor the most simple but essential things in life. It was a mundane task but the moment and environment changed it into an experience of juxtaposing my life and tendencies with New Zealand life, and sharing it with my extraordinary Road Trip Fam.

So, i won't be able to post up pics for awhile until we get some wireless and i can take them from my comp. But ill def get them up ASAP!

Also! We'll be blogging for Tourism New Zealand on NewZealand.Com, so check that out in about 5 or 6 six days, I'll be writing the first one, and then you can check out the writing talents of Allison and Fawna too on the subsequent ones!

PEEEEEEEAACEE!!!!!

We've arrived in Auckland!!! Its June 25 here, 8 in the morning, and were still in the airport but this is CRAAAAAAAZZZZZYYYYYY SONNNNN!!!!!!!! In my interactions i've had here already, I can tell the people here are so dope and so friendly. We had some issues with customs, seeing as we forgot to go through them in the US but the customs agent here was very accomodating and helped us out and got us through. Next stop is we pick up our camper vans and head on over to Auckland North Shore at Orewa Beach and set up camp over there for the next 4 days. Til later, RAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm getting ready to leave in an hour for the airport, but in this past weekend not even being in New Zealand yet, but just hanging out with the whole Road Trip Fam I've already learned sooo much. I feel so compelled by the people that i've met there. Their stories and journeys in a way have reached a level of courage and undeniable self belief that I am hoping to receive from interviewing and documenting leaders, and taking in the culture of New Zealand. I've heard of people roadtripping and not showering for nine days, and not washing their clothes, but being ultimately happy in finding the insights and rewards of their arduous journeys. I've heard of people quitting steady salaried jobs and leaving behind everything familiar to travel the world by themselves for 9 months, working as migrant fruit pickers in New Zealand and Australia. I've heard of people that worked on oil riggs just to earn money to travel and see the world. Right now someone from road trip bought a bike and a plane ticket and decided he was going to bike from Canada to Southern California.

I'm not saying give up everything and find a new life, but i'm definitely imploring you to be able to find something that drives you. Be able at the end of the night before you go to sleep, to tell yourself what you are passionate about, and have something to dream for, and pursue it in some aspect. Do it on the side, do it at night after work, do it on the weekends. But don't fall into a life of living by system put into place that seems way more convenient and beneficial to others than yourself. Please don't ever allow yourself to become a "slave to a function". Do something that takes you as a whole person to be successful at, don't become a monotonous task. Do research, find information, educate yourself, take baby steps, take chances, fail, make mistakes, but never lose that drive, and in the end i guarantee you, you'll amaze yourself, and you'll by far have surpassed any bar that you might have set for yourself. You'll not only have bettered yourself, but you'll inspire countless others as well in that process, some you know, some you won't, and in that regard, anyone can be a one person movement! We're losin a day on the flight so until the 25th! Love, Peace, and a whole lot of OOOOOOOHWEEEEEEEE!-Ray

Allison and Fawna have arrived! We went to go pick them up at LAX and after being shut down to film by the coppers, Bernardo and Maya had to go into stealth mode, and it was a "great success!" we rolled backed to the office and picked up Norm the RV, where we spent last night and will be sleeping in again tonight. Road Trip's office is a ridiculous place that just has this aura of creative freedom, and endless possibilities. Everywhere you look on the walls is something or someone that has been interviewed telling you to find your passion, find a dream, and ATTACK it! Just being in there begs you to contemplate your own situation and if you really are following your passions. If just visiting the office can make me feel this way, then I can't even imagine what this trip is gonna do for the 3 of us...Til next time, PEACE!!!!

Hello yall,

So in about an hour, everything's about to kick off for Road Trip Nation. Maya and Bernardo(camera folks/homies) are swinging by and were heading on over to LAX to pick up fellow roadtrippers Allison and Fawna who are from Kentucky and Maryland. It's gonna be our first meeting all face to face after 3 and half months almost of conference calls, cold calls, booking interviews, taping elements of our daily lives, and it def. feels a bit surreal to finally be starting what's going to be without a doubt a life changing, life defining trip. Tonight, Allison, Fawna, and I are gonna spending the night in one of the RTN RVs in Newport, then tomorrow we have a Bonfire with the whole RTN crew, then on Monday, ITS GAME ON BABY!!!

I will be blogging here and posting pics and stuff online here during the trip, so check it out drop me some comments, and keep me connected with whats going on here in the good ol USA. Til then, take care, PEACE!!!-Ray

Something to keep it light for the day. I caught a couple episodes VH1's White Rapper Show, and all i can say is...guilty pleasure. It was a constant struggle of guilt and undeniable impulse to watch this carefully manipulated car wreck experiment going on. But none the less, I came out with priceless, priceless, knowledge from the self proclaimed "King of Da Burbs" John Brown, from Davis, California. I guess he represents his crew ghetto revival, and this vid has the "King of Da Burbs" being scolded on why you would want to revive the ghetto, nothing commemorates learning a lesson more than affirming it with multiple HALLELUJAH HOLLABACKs!

Hallelujah Hollaback!

Big thanks to the Kallusive Fam: Alex, Michael, Yas(i prob butchered that spelling), Damian, Gail, Charley!!! Went there today to interview them, and once again, they took care of me, and showed so much love, and they're all def. walking, talking, living, breathing forms of inspiration and keep me motivated to handle my stuff! They without a doubt have some sick gear, but i'm even more glad that they're dope folks. If Karma serves her purpose correctly, look for Kallusive to be a household name in no time! Kallusive.Com check it out for yourself!

Check it out, Blue Scholars at Bumbershoot, and a release party show that Blue Scholars rock with a live band. this is exactly what i envision when i think of Hip Hop and the vibe and the essence of what it truly means to me. If i could paint a picture to you of it This would be it. Siiiiick lyrical content, positive vibes, crowd involvement, energy, and a live band. Just watch the crowd listen to Geo and you can see how hip hop channeled positively can be a legitimate movement!!! For me, this = Straight Inspiration!!!

Blue Scholars-Sagaba



Blue Scholars-No Rest for the Weary



Blue Scholars-Southside Revival

The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or, perchance, a palace or temple on the earth, and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed with them.
Henry David Thoreau


Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around.
Henry David Thoreau


The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.
Henry David Thoreau


Being back in the bay is always a sick way for me to get new perspective on life and then be able to analyze my life back in Irvine through another scope, after spending quality time with the fam. It's a bit lengthy(sorry), but if you somehow finish, hit me back with some feedback and personal insights, and drop some knowledge on me, please! Thanks

With New Zealand and the road trip comin up in a week, my mind can't stop replaying and creating images of the possibilities and the opportunities in NZ, that are actually still in essence unrealized to me until i go there and actually experience it, but I've been aided by checking out photos online and blowing my own mind messin around with that savageness called Google Earth. As cliche as it may sound I've been really trying to visualize and realize the way i myself want to have a profound effect and somehow, in any capacity truly change the world, through empowering people, and giving people a voice, an outlet, a source, just anyway for others to never have feel silent or incapable of contributing to a world that BELONGS to them.

So i've come to the most essential realization so far that I feel like i've needed to come to, that I want to live my life as a channel for others and follow that completely. In realizing that and going through everything the past year, I think everything has just fell into place as far as what i hold to be important in life now. I feel like the invaluable things in life are the people, relationships, interactions, travels, mistakes, music, books, the labors of love/fill in whatever you would like, that provoke and instigate in you a true emotion, a true contemplation of what it means to live, a contemplation of what it means to live a life fulfilled, a means to which you find a purpose, an inspiration, a passion, or a dream, and the motivation to act upon it. I feel like while i do enjoy material things, and enjoy the entertainment they may provide, i hold no true profound value in them if they can't provide those moments.

When everything went down with my dad and his recovery, I felt like our fam went through a once in a lifetime change and we fortified our family bond a hundred fold and that everything we had conflicted about before was forgiven, because of that sacrifice, and unconditional love that we should each other during that time. But now i think im realizing that we still share that bond, but it does not change the fact that with my parents i share different views on many, many issues life, and a huge generational gap in our everyday thinking still is evident.

I know that my parents came here to the United States to pursue the great "American Dream". Is the "American dream" a chance to build a life less fortunate in another country into a life of opportunity and prosperity in the U.S? Or is the "American Dream" living as a law obliging citizen providing for his family, only to see the health care system turn its back on him once his cancerous tumor seems too forgone to operate on, with medical care providers left and right trying to wash their hands clean of a patient neglected within it? Is the "American Dream" living in a booming economy where everyone can get their due, and enjoy in its spoils? Or is the "American Dream" a system of constant consumerism, the chase of the latest and greatest, and the pursuit of external fulfillment and superficial satisfaction? Is the "American Dream" living free, and living safe within America's great borders, where everyone has the chance to be heard and understood? Or is the "American Dream" media and government, creating a society triggered and moved by fear, passing judgments and vilifying things foreign and unexplored? So what is the "American Dream" to me? I wouldn't be able to tell you, I'm still busy trying to figure it out, it's something I fully ponder now daily. But let me just clarify, I love living here and the freedoms and rights we receive, I just wish a little bit more that those appointed to represent and lead us could lead it with more integrity, with more transparency in the process, and with the ideals and vision that the founding fathers originally sought.

I feel as though my parents came to the US with the former intentions of those question pairings, but through the long and arduous journey have begun to blur those lines with the latter. In realizing full well that they sacrificed much of what they could have done if they were to chase their dreams, I see myself in a momentously blessed position. While we may not share the same views on many issues, I still realize that the unconditional bond is what links us, and ultimately is what is most important. Whoa, i just saw it right now but i just used this same line above but it was reversed, I guess I may have made some realizations myself in writing this, and might have answered my own question in regards to my parents. But anyhow, I see it now as my chance to take my vision to another level, and freaking do some motha suckin gigantic POSITIVE thangs! And as long as i do them in the honor of the values instilled in me by my parents, relatives, friends, strangers, artists, the superficial discrepancies in which we don't see eye to eye need not matter! We takin over the world son!!!

My music pick for the week. Justin Nozuka right here, this man has mad soul, and just brings it!

So i just finished a little free write tonight, and im thinking about using it for one of the beats upcoming with my man Chris. Please, if your reading this, try a free write, just write or type and let the ideas flow freely, and don't deny any thoughts their chance to be transcribed or written, cause in the end they're your thoughts and they need to be expressed and analyzed and those thoughts are spewing out for a reason. Just try it, and i promise, after you go through it, you'll see the insights, the intellect, and abilities that you possess! And if you can't see it, ask me and i'd be more than happy to show you! But here it is anyhow, I wrote to Atmosphere's instrumental version of "Woman With The Tatooed Hands"

im cool, content, satisfied with the background,
never have to be the one to wanna have to back down
undisturbed when the urge beckons me to laugh loud,
dialogue with my mind, the safest sanctuary,
battlin contradiction though the results may vary,
catapult myself to heights that i barely,
ever knew myself to be willing or capable,
lifted to floation by guardian angels,
transcending me higher than the benefits of fame will
enlightened to a struggle outside of mine,
spread a little hope to the hopes on decline,
and in their aspiration let em see life defined
equipped with some blackstar to cosign
that life without knowledge is death in disguise.
cause it is a box of chocolates, it is a surprise,
its being oblivious, its constant denial,
its walking with swag to increase your profile,
its an awkward situation when you spin back around,
and walk the opposite way in the grocery aisle,
its holler if you hear me,
its no i didn't, can you please speak clearly
its windows down, bumpin music right as the cd skips
its the endless situations, role play and skits,
its the obvious, ambiguous and subtle hints.
its the ya ya's, the benny the jets, and the squints
its panoramic, its the view, its the glimpse
its doubters, the skeptics, and those convinced,
its going through emotions, its leaving your imprint
its being humble, its thinking that your big shit.
its ideas, its your imagination's figments
its flashbacks, its motivation triggerin
a population to change the days that were livin in
its holdin to your truth and never givin in
its self determination explicitly exhibited
its all of the above, its findin your deliverance.
proud of my ideals proud of values,
proud of the mission currently in progress,
proud to be the average joe blendin into the artists.
proud to be the trustin and unassuming,
proud to be the outlook positivity's consuming,
illuminate intellect and dive into introspection,
even if your insides fear to be dissected,
your pieces of the puzzle create a soul's collective,
education is encouragement,
and knowledge is the nourishment,
two halves make a whole and now the soul is flourishing...

While i was with my kids in class during tutoring today, I still couldn't stop thinking about the possibilities that came last night in talks with Tang, Omar, Jhus, and J-Dot. We talked about how each person has a voice and every person has specific unique molding experiences in our lives that give each person a one of a kind perspective on life and its many aspects. Therefore, we believe that every person is intrinsically an artist, and a teacher. How far we wish to spread our knowledge is only bounded by the belief in ourselves, and the willingness to have faith in it, and in those who encourage us to do so. Also, we talked about how we believe that life should be lead as one of a collective nature, depending on those around us, who we trust with our insecurities, fears, and sentiments; to stand side by side with us during life's unpredictable predicaments. We talked about how if we examine those who we surround ourselves with, we are in turn practicing an examination of our own persona, as the positive characteristics we see in those loved ones, are the same we possess or wish to further heighten in order to perpetuate that cycle of inspiration and support , where the empowering of others will always be exponentially more rewarding than that of our own personal gains. Basically, we were still building off the previous night's positivity sesh with Tang, Mike Song, and Phil Lee. After seeing Tang's blog I realized that these blogspots can truly be used as a collective knowledge drop for ourselves, and for anyone willing to kick knowledge to us, provoke our thought processes with their insights on life, and join in on the open contemplation of what life is about, true happiness and fulfillment, the inspiration of others, and the beginning of a positive movement. I really hope that if your reading this you can understand you have a voice and you have experiences to kick knowledge to everyone, and hope you take a chance and start one of these bad boys. Anyways, here are some things i jotted down on a piece of paper so that I had topics to address on this blog. Hope it spurs some ideas for you to speak on, PEACE!-Ray

Man...first off thanks to Tang, Mike Sizzle, and Phir Ree, and the idea of TANGIBLE RESULTS!
I've never actually thought about starting a blog, but after realizing that making notes on facebook might be a bit too public, (as mike put it, yelling it out to the neighborhood) i figured i need an open place of my own to articulate my thoughts and feelings and inspirations that we all encounter on the daily with those interested. So Jeff suggested starting a blog, and it made perfect sense. (as mike put it, having people knock on your door to hear your thoughts). Well, welcome in! I hope that this becomes something that is: thought provoking, indicative of who i feel myself to be, a platform for me to learn about myself, others, and to be dropped limitless knowledge upon by whoever who is willing to teach me. So here's to the beginning of something beautiful! -RayPublish Post