ENG 2150: Writing Through New York

If you guys haven’t already heard A$AP Rocky, then you should. He’s NYC’s next good rapper and he’s making a real name for himself. He was raised in Harlem and you hear it in his music but he has a Southern style to his game. He says he’s a real trill n**** (which is true), and that’s a reference to some of his favorite southern rappers (Paul Wall, Three 6 Mafia, UGK). Anyways, Rocky’s known for his hot ass beats and his slow style.

A$AP released his debut album LiveLoveA$AP in October of last year and it was a huge hit. However, before this release A$AP had already made a name for himself on the internet with his music videos. The most famous of those is “Purple Swag”. In that video you can see a lot of the Southern influences I was talking about. Anyways, his mixtape contains the single “Peso” and also a part two to “Purple Swag.” You guys should definitely check it out.

Anyways, here’s the video for “Peso.” I think it does a good job of portraying Harlem while having an ill beat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxWNNHCrcFg&ob=av2n

Hello everyone, how’s it going 🙂 ? So I totally just posted this whole post in the wrong place, hopefully this time it will post to the right blog. But anyways we all live in this amazing city of ours, New York. I was born in Yemen but came to NY when I was only five years old and was raised here. I honestly wouldn’t have had it any other way. I love this place so much, even with all its beautiful grittiness . Instead of continuing to write about New York, what I wanted to do for this blog was to show New York at its best through videos that I thought were pretty darn awesome. I hope these videos work if not, i posted the links

This is the video I told the class about when a podium was set up in union square engraved with the words “say something nice” watch what happens

This is another video that was shot in grand central. My friend was actually in this one, not as the actors but as a bystander and she was freaked out for a bit

This video was pretty hilarious. The mirror!! Just watch the New Yorkers’ reactions

This one was pretty crazy, No Pants Day 2012!! Thank god I stayed home that day

Throughout all of these videos including many others not up here, New Yorkers show their true side. Their kindness, their acceptance, their sense of curiosity, their sense of humor and so much more. Like come on not many places would tolerate the things that happens in New York and that’s a beautiful thing. No matter your language, color, or background at the end of the day we are all New Yorkers.

Yeah we all love New York 😀

Sunday I went to the Guns n’ Roses concert at Terminal 5. Of course it was amazing, but I kept on thinking how much more amazing it could have been if Slash had also been there. Although I liked his replacement, it was a little disastrous too see him try to smoke a cigarette while playing some of the guitar solos. This is something I believe only someone as cool as Slash can do and not look like he is driving himself crazy by multitasking at a concert performance. Putting the cigarette incident aside, this new guy was great; it must be a lot of pressure to be put in such a position, imagine having to be the replacement of: (go to minute 4:06)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbUC-UaAxE&ob=av3e
They are playing again this Wednesday at Webster Hall, who wants to come? haha.

In order to recover from yesterday my room-mate surprised me with a home-made, whatever-was-in-the-fridge-soup, and it was delicious! I never thought this strange food potpourri would be edible, but it most definitely was. And not only did it taste great, it also inspired me to blog for our English class.

See you guys next class

Everyones writing about New York so I guess I’ll switch it up a bit. I just came back from basketball practice about an hour ago. My body is so sore from running drills and plays. My calves are burning from jumping. My nail bent backwards upon impact with the “rock”. Yeah there was blood, I actually watched the bright red ooze out from where the nail bent back. Moments like those I curse myself and wonder why do I do this?

I’m not even that good.

I have my tournament on Saturday and as I think about it, I remember my past experiences in these tournaments. Some of these were pretty bad, but there were some good ones. I remember last year when we had a blowout victory over the other team. It was so bad they forfeit so they wouldn’t be too embarrassed by our showboating. I remember the adrenaline rushes before each game. And that indescribable feeling you get when you knock down that clutch shot. In the end these minor setbacks, aches and pains are worth it for that short glimpse of glory.

I was born and raised in New York. Queens, New York that is. Growing up, I’ve lived in the same house all my life. It’s funny because although I’ve been there for such a long time, I’m not tired of it. I like New York just the way it is for me.

I’ve never left the United States, but I’ve been to a few other states, mainly Florida. Florida is pretty much the complete opposite of New York. The roads are much wider, the residential areas are all packed into communities, along with the stores being packed together into mini-malls, and there’s not much lights at night. In fact, in a lot of areas, it’s pitch black. At night, there’s absolutely no sound. No sound and no light. To those who live there comfortably might call that “peace and quiet”, but to me (and probably every other New Yorker), it’s just not right. All the life and energy of New York is what really makes it that special place to me; the place I always want to live.

Aside from that, I like the fact that over here, it’s easy as hell to commute. I don’t have to walk for 10 minutes (or more) to go buy something from the nearest store to me. Life is easier over here, or at least it is for me. I’ve spent a maximum of a couple weeks out of New York, and even in that short amount of time, I missed it. It’s kind of weird because even if you’re not connected to that much people here, once you leave, it feels like you’ve left a world full of life behind you.

New York City is known to be one of the best and most unique cities in the world, a must visit. So then it must be true that living in it is a true gift, right? Well, that isn’t always the case. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love going to the city everyday  for school. I take advantage of every detail, even the subway rides and the crazy people. It leaves me with interesting stories at least. But, no one can do anything in this city without a steady flow of money in the bank account. Not only is NYC the best, but it is also the most expensive. Nothing is free and everything is overpriced, especially food. If I don’t keep track, I can blow $30 a day easily, which would make me broke in about 3 weeks at most. Now that I’m living on my own, I have to pay for my own food and the subway, which is a lot more than I thought. I’m not even paying for my room and board, or I’d definitely be dead! I really do love living on my own and want to move into the city as soon as I can, but I need a job first or it would be impossible. If that sounds easy, it isn’t. Like Bianca said, every place wants experience. How am I supposed to have experience if no one will hire me in the first place? I’ve had a job before, just not in your field. I’m a quick learner, but that doesn’t convince them. It really does get obnoxious, especially when they just immediately shut me down. But, I still have hope of making it in this city. I’m determined to be successful here. Jay Z lived in worse conditions than I do,and now he’s such a big shot he misses the Grammy’s like it’s a regular Sunday dinner. He won too.

New York City. What a grand name, when you hear it you want to jump and shout. I never lived in the city so I don’t really know what its like or what it means to be in the city. I can only imagine what it means to live in it; hopefully very soon I would like to move in to the city. It would feel great, waking up to all these wonderful noises the cars beeping, people yelling at each other, the sounds of the subway. It all bends together in a sort of rhythm there are no words to describe it just beats in a musical performance which keeps you guessing which “instrument” is next. It just makes me want to get up and sing:

“Beautiful stranger how do you do

tell me is there something I could do for you”

-Perfect Stranger by Magnetic Man

I am only a visitor to the city so I feel a different vibe then when I’m at home in my quiet, slow, grey town. When I go to the city its like different color’s are attacking me and are making a vivid painting in my mind. Each block and street is a different shade of the grand cities color. Then when I come back home i come home to a rhythm-less, colorless, quiet town.