I first heard this song coming back from my first bridges retreat fall 2005. It swarmed throughout the whole bay area and put it on the map in regards to hip hop music.
This song reminds me of every party, club, dance, campus event throughout college. It played everywhere and it never got boring. we would all get hyphy, do dumb, and show our thizz face everywhere we go!
I chose this remix specifically because it reminds me of a party bus that DD organized when we graduated. He made a cd and this song was on it. Every time I hear this version of the song, it reminds me of that crazy night!
ghostriding the whip,
-DM
This song is a remake of the original song by Fleetwood mac. I chose this song with the smashing pumpkins because I first heard this song with them. I remember when I first moved to Berkeley and had to say goodbye to my parents and my brother, who was 3 years old at the time, I went into my empty dorm room to wait for my other two roommates. The only thing that went through my head was whether or not I made the right decision in leaving everything I knew to come to school.
This song came on and caused me to really think about what I was doing and how I am really afraid of changing. I started listening to music and this song came up on my itunes and it totally conceptualized my life into realizing that this is just a change I have to do. It made it a little easier to ease my emotions every time the vision of my brother crying in the backseat as my parents drove off the underhill parking next to my dorm came into my head. After I heard the song three times, I knew I made the right choice. I then started to watch a DVD in my computer and that was when DD walked in and my college life started.
still afraid of changes,
-DM
This song was a smash hit. Haha this song also reminds me of summer of 2006 when it came out and NV was ALL ABOUT IT. He practiced making his hips stop lying everyday. This culminated in a Shakira concert in oakland. It was amazing. She is an amazing performer and entertainer. This song brings memories of good music and days of seeing NV turn into a giddie little kid when she first got on stage!
Shaking my hips,
-DM
This song is off the Batman soundtrack. My cousin SM LOVED this song and would always play it. It got to the point where the music video overshadowed the movie. Haha I remember this was a song she made me memorize to "help me do better in school" by "improving my memory". Silly me believed her and she tested me every other day haha. Here is to tricking the younger children in the family!
Kissed by a rose,
-DM
This song is hilarious. The lyrics are funny and fun. This song has many memories but one that sticks out to me was when this song came on during a trip to UCSA Congress in 2007. DJ, myself and other people were in the car when this song came out and I started to sing it. I told DJ that by the end of my term, she would be fluent in Spanish. We had a funny conversation about it. I have to say that when I graduated, she was not fluent, but it was to think that she would!
poniendome hyper,
-DM
Haha, so when I first heard this song, I found it really intense. So intense that I would mock that "smacking" in the song. It was funny how I enjoyed this song so much and everyone around me would laugh because they remembered how stupid I would act when it came one. Regardless, it reminds me of the good times LB, MD, and JE and myself had in those random Costco trips, east oakland taco trucks, and clubs in SF.
Smacking it all on the floor,
-DM
This song is known as the theme song to the television show "O.C.". Now, I never watched the show (seriously). But I remember my freshman year in college, ERRRone on my dorm floor was into this show. I remember I can find everyone sitting in RS's room watching them. My roomate, DD, would also be hooked on it and would BLAST that song almost every morning. At first it was annoying, but because he played it so much, it started being a soundtrack to the crazy shit we would do in the dorms like play pranks on people, annoy stupid ass floormates, and many more stupid shit.
california how i miss you,
-DM
Here is another good song. This one takes me back to times when my older cousins would blast this throughout our house. This song was actually the first song that I payed attention to (mainly because at first "one headlight" didn't make sense). I remember we would blast this throughout the house as we cleaned up. Our moms would be annoyed because they didn't like the blasting music but they were happy because that would be the only way we would clean :)
with one headlight,
-DM
This is actually the first song I heard off his 808's and heartbreaks album. I have to admit, I didn't like it at first. But after listening to it more and more, i grew to love the song.
This songs reminds me of our Chicago Thankgiving roadtrip. I bought the album in Joliet, Illinois and every time I here this song, it brings back memories of that trip. This song is also special because I remember having long conversations with ER and how we both relate to this song because of the heartbreaks we have gone through, or the heartbreaks we administered. I will forever think about the connection ER and the rest of the crew shared during every heart to heart, cig break, late night venting, or drunken conversation.
It reminds me of the feeling I get every time someone has hurt me or every time I know I have hurt someone. Of the confusion people go through as they still try to love while knowing it will hurt.
so heartless,
-DM
I enjoy this song very much. This is one of my top two The Roots songs, but the one that reminds me of a very special memory.
Summer of 2006, I went to visit a friend in Salinas CA and then we headed to Monterrey bay. It was about four of us on this trip. I do not remember ever laughing so much during a roadtrip. We went to a couple places out there in Salinas and then enjoyed a long hot summer day in the bay watching the animals and the sights of the ocean. I remember this song was on repeat because every in the car LOVED this song!
The best part about this trip is when we were leaving Salinas and my friend’s dad gave me a CRATE of strawberries! I had at least a fourth of the crate on the drive back by myself!
Here is to the Roots and for giving me this song to BLAST up and down the California!
Pushing my seed,
-DM
Today's song is Imagine by john Lennon. This has been one of those songs that when it comes on, I stop what everything I am doing and just start really listening to what Lennon has to say. Specifically, the line, "You may say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one" reminds me of all the friends and struggles I go through.
Today however, I went to the DREAM ACT mock graduation action at the capitol. It was amazing. As people poured their heart out, cheered, rallied, and cried, all I thought about was this song. Here is the song:
Dreaming,
-DM
So last year when I was a student, I was helping organize UCSA’s Student Congress at Berkeley. I would hold weekly meetings with people to talk about what we had to do on our part to make sure we can help and support the UCSA staff as much as possible.
I would start EVERY meeting by listening to this song. My reasoning was because this was an amazing song! Everytime I hear this song, it reminds me of those meetings, and the whole summer of 2008 in general. I felt this was a good song to start off the list since I am working on a new Congress this year
Just touched down in London town,
-DM
So as you may or may not know, USSA’s National Student Congress is coming up! As a staff member who is working on making sure that this Conference turns out amazing, I am just excited to be a part of it and see all the amazing students choose the national campaigns!
As of today, there are 29 days left for the National Student Congress! As a fun and interesting way to countdown until this amazing event, I am choosing one song per day that I either really like or it brings up very fond memories. It is not a list from worst to best songs, but rather, an amazing lineup of memories, beats, and lyrical ventures into the music I listen to as I work on this conference! Think of it as Dannyoso's Soundtrack to Congress!
Music is a right,
-DM
Today is Father's Day! I just want to say that I have been blessed and privileged to have someone like my father in my life. He is by far the most important man in my life.
He has taught me so much about patience, work ethic, and the importance of reaching for the stars while staying grounded. I have learned so much from him.
Here is one of the songs i think about on Father's Day and on his birthday.
stuntin like my daddy,
-DM
Yeah, I know. I haven't written here in a while. But hopefully this makes up for it:
Yesterday, cjl showed me this really cool video of a choir of kids who sing popular songs. I was having a pretty intense week at work but seeing these kids sing their hearts out really soothed my soul and i started to remember my childhood. Mad props to these kids and to their music instructor (who looks like a hot ass mess btw). Here is one of my favorite songs they sing. Enjoy!
Just Dancing,
-DM
I Support the DREAM Act. Today on CNN, one of the topic of discussion was the DREAM Act. They had an undocumented student talk about his experience on being in higher education and the struggles he had.
After, someone from HACU and someone from FAIR debated the issue. Personally, I thought the guy from FAIR used the same anti immigrant rhetoric of "them immigrants taking our job and our slots in college". BULLSHIT!
If you support the DREAM Act, please get involved and help the passage of this important legislation that will help immigrants from across the world that have the grades and skills to get into elite institutions of higher education. Visit dreamactivist.org to find out how to get involved. Their are many organizations across the country that believe that Education is a Right and students who qualify and have the grades to get into college have an opportunity to do so. Some of these organizations are the United States Student Association, National Immigration Law Center, and National Council of la Raza....just to name a few.
Check out the video:
Matias on CNN - DREAMAct2009.com from Dream Activist on Vimeo.
DREAMing on a better world,
-DM
Growing up I loved reading poetry. Most of the stuff I read was writing over a hundred years ago and dealt with topics of love, death, family, and nationalism. It helped me think about the world I lived in and how their message translates (very vaguely) into current times.
One thing that I felt these poems lacked was its connection with me and my identity. The idea of writing my own poetry and coming up with my own history and poetic legacy was in college with a spoken word class I took. It not only taught me the ins and outs of poetry writing and performance, but it opened my eyes to all the current writers that are writing about the same topics, just relating it more towards current times and current struggles. I grew to love many Bar Area poets and performers and was torn because they were so good yet went without mention amongst mainstrean literature and entertainment.
Because of this, I like to highlight performers and the amazing topics they talk about. I can spend all night on youtube and other media outlets watching and listening to amazing performers. Unfortunately, Def Poetry Jam is one of the very few outlets where these performances are documented.
When I listen to poetry, I try to first understand what it is trying to tell me, and secondly, how it relates and affects me. There are many performances that I love, but very few leave me stunned and breathless. I was left speechless after listening to Daniel Beatty's performance of "Knock Knock". It is about the relationship of a kid and his father and how life experience and life lessons have affected the family.
It really got to me because it not only deals with the issue of injustice and institutional racism, but also how a family deals with the affects of injustice and racism. It reminds me a lot about my family and my many family members and friends who are in this same situation.
Below are two performances. The first one is "Knock Knock" and the second is another one entitled "Duality Duel"(another amazing performance).
Check it out:
Knock Knock
Duality Duel
knocking on the door,
-DM
So today once I got off of work and walked outside, I realized not only was it not dark out, but there was no thunder, rain, mist, clouds! Only a spec of clouds amongst the sea of blue skies and rays of sunlight! I loved it so much, i decided to walk home. For those of you familiar with DC, I walked from the Farragut North Metro stop area to the Petworth/Georgia Ave. Metro Stop area. I knew the sun was going to set within the hour so I figured I would enjoy the sunlight instead of being stuck in a metro the whole ride home. I even stopped by to get some ice cream!
This was such a calming and relaxed walk for me. I have noticed that the east coast feels like I am on a race racing against time to go to work, eat lunch, do all the task before the day is done, get home, check mail and other social networks, go to sleep etc etc etc. Walking really slowed this down and reminded me when my mother and I would walk to the store on weekends to get the weekly groceries, walking home from school as my friends and I would take hours to walk a couple of blocks, or walking around Berkeley as I soaked up the sun when I found out my class was canceled.
I have been told I should buy a camera and take pictures of places I go and people I see. I never did. I decided to document my walk home from work. Nothing fancy. As I was taking pictures, I realized how blessed I am to live in such a cool place. I really take for granted the history and landmarks of the places I have lived simply because I am there all the time.
Check out these pics:
Walking it out,
-DM
This past weekend, I spent it in the Bay. I would touch on this more, but I think my roommate did a good job at covering our experience on his blog. One thing I do want to say is that I saw so many people that I love and I am also happy to be in town during special events and parties! I did want to see more people but I weekend is not enough! I plan to head out again and I will let other know. Sorry if we didnt get to kick it this weekend!
One very significant thing that happened this weekend was that I started listening to a song NON STOP. Its called "Amazing" By Kanye West off his latest album "808's and Heartbreaks". It really exemplifies how I felt this weekend.
Yes, this is a song about how someone is so amazing....to the point of seeming "cocky" or "full of themselves". But let's be real, sometimes this is what we need to keep us going or to reassure ourselves of what we do. If I do not think I am Amazing, I won't believe anyone when they congratulate or complement me. It keeps me going and keeps me positive. If you do not agree with me....maybe you should reaffirm yourself and what you do. Love yourself before you attempt to love others! Here is the song I am talking about:
Simply Amazing,
-DM
This weekend, my friend was supposed to meet me up at U street to go eat some Peruvian food. He told me he was running late so I decided to go into a Rite Aid to pass the time. I figured browsing through the hallmark cards would be an entertaining way to pass the time.
I started reading the funny cards first and moved on to the love and birthday cards. As I read each card, I tried to think of people that I can give the cards to. Of course I was not going to send any cards, I just wanted to connect the card to someone in my life.
Out of all the cards, one stood out to me. In the front it stated, "Into every life, a rain must fall" with a picture of dark clouds and rain. And in the inside it said, "So, think of me as your Umbrella" and it had a kid in the middle of the rain covered by an umbrella with the sun slightly popping out of the dark clouds. I have to admit, the first thing I thought about was the Rihanna song, "Umbrella" haha.
For some strange reason, that card made me really happy. I know it is just a generic card and no one meant it to go to me, but for some strange reason, I liked it a lot. I started to think of the people that would be holding that umbrella for me....and who I would be holding that umbrella for. For about 5 minutes I felt as if time stood still as I daydreamed about friendships and umbrellas. I was in hallmark messaging heaven. Afterward, it put me in a happier state of mind.
I am glad my friend took longer than expected because I would not have ventured into Rite Aid and read that message. Funny how the most random things can change your attitude.
Afterward, I had some amazing Peruvian food and went about my weekend :)
Holding an umbrella for you,
-DM
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