I guess break is over because I find myself truly realizing that maybe I’ve relied on alot of things that presented a false sense of comfort instead of the things that made me, me and got me where I am. So often we forget that getting to a place that provides a certain comfort means quality maintenance and to never take anything for granted. The same things can be said about relationships. It all takes balance and nurturing.  So many things wake us up to the realization of asking ourselves are we living for our purpose or am I just dialing it in?

  True confession: I’ve had moments that made me want to quit and even more truth I had days where I was just dialing it in. Seeing some of the dark parts of our world made me so solemn and bitter. There are things that I’ve experienced last month that made me feel so inferior and powerless. I had to pull myself out of darkness and get back up. That hasn’t been easy but you realize that life isn’t just happening to you and ultimately things could be worse.

I was listening to a rising artist named Taye The Truth who has this song called “Turbulence” that spoke to my heart about what I was personally experiencing. ( https://open.spotify.com/track/6h1A0tqp6qU4XjDGFWRukV?si=019a6c9562f34405See ) When we realize there are moments that we just need to let go of what we can control and hold the fuck on because the storm will pass and we become stronger, wiser, and more resilient. In all of these seasons, it is truly a choice to endure and build instead of being in a constant place of worry and suffering. The highs and lows are truly something and it’s important to show the world who we are instead of hitting the panic button through everything that life throws at you. If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.

I’ve also found out that  True power lies not in changing everything around you, but in owning your perspective and finding a way to be grateful in any circumstance. I welcome these moments and I will continue to push the weight off of me on all levels.   We are often told to worry about tomorrow and the things out of our control. Life will always be life and sometimes the sting of it comes when you least expect it. If anything I’ve learned and don’t mind sharing the fact that you must take life the way it comes at you and make the best of it. Life is unpredictable, and that’s what makes it exciting. Embrace the ups and downs with a smile, and keep moving forward towards your goals. We too often wait for a perfect moment. Well I say don’t wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect. I’ve failed too many times to count but God isn’t finished with me and if anything I’ve truly learned that if Christ is for me then who can be against me. Make the most out of the mess and evolve.

Psalm 27 1
The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.

I feel in our lives we all have a Donald. Do you remember Donald from Happy Gilmore? He was the sad soul that was paid by Shooter Mcgavin to knock Happy Gilmore off his game. Happy still had to play his game no matter the obstacles and the noise. Shout out to the Donald’s in the world. We know you may act like a jerk but deep down you just want a friend to go hang out with you at the sizzler. It is imperative that we love our enemies and overcome evil by being patient. Spend less time in tit for tat and more time being a light. Some people may not like it or you but it is important to heal and evolve with purpose. You all have purpose (even your haters lol) God can use the broken. We have all been broken in some way, no matter what your path, no matter where you came from, no matter where you started, no matter where you finished, no matter how rich you are, how poor you are, everyone at some level has been broken. that’s good news because as human beings, brokeness binds us together. It’s the one thing that we all have in common.

When we have faced that adversity and we have grown from it, is a story that we can tell other people. It’s something we have that’s part of us that we can share, and we can help other people with.

One of the things I’ve noticed recently is that there are a lot of people out there that are doing everything possible to avoid being broken, avoid adversity, and avoid even being bent.

They avoid pain and they shy away from obstacles. This is a mistake because adversity – being broken – is our greatest teacher. It is through the crucible of adversity that we become stronger. Luke 6:27-28

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

I worked hard all week and I have been known to spin plates. I woke up Friday morning ready for a long weekend. I’ve spent many mad hours working and truly was in need of a break. I feel like God told me I was starting my day off wrong because instead of starting my day with prayer and meditation , I went to check the old Facebook feed. I saw my name tagged in some disheartening madness being accused of infringing on someone else’s idea that I had already been working and doing for three years  now teaching beat making, Hip Hop history cadence giving kids the tools to have confidence to rhyme and record on beat. The video I took proudly of my kids who worked hard all semester   was shared with so much disheartening vile messages  by this person and I truly can’t go for that. They even had the nerve to blame me for a job that they didn’t get that I was unaware that they even applied for. I personally cannot control how others feel but to have my name and my work slandered over temporary emotions is very disheartening.
   I personally have been fighting bitterness and trying to still choose love because that’s what my creator wants me to do. To live righteously and to serve humbly. The life and the work I do all comes with colorful characters and you try your best to not internalize the hurt that is sometimes given. See, sometimes people want you to get sick from the poison that they partake in . Sometimes their pain comes from alot of things that don’t have to do with you . I can only control me and for me in my house we work on perfecting peace and serving the lord. I will never succumb to being a spectator in my own personal  or professional life and I only owe it to myself to be better than yesterday.  The only thing I can do is seek God and pray for healing because there is absolutely nothing you can do with people who are committed to confusion and misunderstanding you. I  will Never be bullied into silence and I will never ever allow myself to be made a victim or play a fool!  I Accept no one’s definition of  me and I define and refine me.
                    We live in a culture where some people try to be rewarded for bad behavior and we see it often on television shows and online.It’s time to wean off that shit because it’s bad. for ya.   We also live in a world of ego driven people that are paper champions under the guise  false self entitlement. .  We live in a microwave society filled with people who want to be famous  and important yet do not have the patience to dedicate themselves to evolving with whatever their God given gift  and path could be. Some people are attracted to lawlessness, darkness  and chase status and clout when all they truly have to do is look inside and do the work to heal. I try sometimes but sometimes no lie mean people suck and  adhering to self righteous agendas is piss poor selfish self management.
  I tell you all this because I am only in competition with myself and I am my greatest contender.I am not the scene and I only wish to feed it positively. Of course I  had moments where I can be an uppity sort because I am also my biggest problem. I own it and I fight through it to get better. When you see me using my gift it is from God and I do ask pardon my mess because I am a mess.  
  I’ve appreciated the calls but know that I am at peace and that I intend to enjoy my life one day at a time. We try so hard to manage the unmanageable. I don’t care about the wackness of posturing nor Hypocrisy of men when the only person I can control is me. Of course I get mad but I look around and it’s a blessing even to have these problems. That person even said that they had a diss track coming for me and I am kinda flattered but make no mistake it is nothing worse than seeing grown folks throw temper tantrums.. In closing, some free game to give to you all  is follow your instincts and do not let other people’s opinion of you become your opinion of yourself. Life is too short to be enslaved by the court of public opinion. I refuse to play anyone’s fool and I only have time for real time.

           Regards, 

                                 Bryan “Harvest Blaque” Hancock

 I’m finding out that it really does not matter how long you are spending on the earth, how much money you have gathered or how much attention you have received. It is the amount of positive vibration you have put out is what matters. I am really focused now more than ever on the importance of time and how I spend it. I really want my time spent to be conducive and productive in all ways. Purpose is essential and on our journey we can either accept our purpose or wish for knowing it. I used to wake up waiting for change only to find change constantly happening when I wasn’t ready for it. If you cannot find something to do, life will find something for you to do. I am of the mind that you better rise above the bullshit to work on you and ask where are you going?
 In the midst of finding purpose you meet people who are teaching you along the way in so many ways. I truly believe that everything that we do and everyone that we meet is put in our path for a purpose. There are no accidents; we’re all teachers – if we’re willing to pay attention to the lessons we learn, trust our positive instincts and not be afraid to take risks or wait for some miracle to come knocking at our door. Yasiin Bey AkA  Mos Def once said in a verse that “life is a test and we all have the answer”. It is important to be the answer and humble yourself to your journeys. With that Journey You also must be aware of who you align your souls with. As I age I am embracing silence and the life that chose me. I love my peace and I love to perform but what I hate is selfishness and half assery. I will choose my peace every single time.  
   I mention all of that because bands are a beautiful thing but with it  also comes a wild cocktail of politics, personal agendas, and personalities.  I recently had to abruptly take last summer off because of such agendas that weren’t reflective of the team vision. When ego and personal agendas outweigh the team efforts you have to flow like water and move with the seasons and choose peace. Finding greatness together and moving in solidarity instead of chasing clout and money is key. The money will come when you elevate your purpose and allow yourself to do things bigger than yourself. I also attribute evolving with purpose to serving Christ.
  I had a friend recently ask me what outside of music do I do to feed my soul? I didn’t really think about that but it made me feel as if maybe I am doing myself an injustice by not further exploring more about what I am about. Stopping the cycles of things that impede on perfecting peace and loving myself. So I guess moving forward here is to the new exploration

I sit still tonight not bombarding myself with worry of bills or deadlines as I often do. The moments that matter are the things we do to feel life. The good , the bad, and in-between. I had thought about death today because I had been to almost back to back funerals and I really thought about the beginning and how afraid I used to be about the end but what truly counts is the dash in between. Did I do what I really wanted to do? Did I pass the test of the creator by realizing how I loved was important and how I live is truly the testament that changes things from the inside out. I spent so much time trying to please people that I didn’t think to count myself in. The world around us is truly beautiful and time is so precious. I need to do better at pulling myself out of the rat race and giving myself space to enjoy my life and evolve.

A month ago I opened for the amazing Brandon Leake!

It was freeing to be on the stage and to be able to speak my peace and be greeted with such love and understanding. Poets are a sensitive yet empathetic sort. I enjoyed my experience as well as enjoyed listening to other poets work out their art levitating right in front of the naked eyes and ears of onlookers whom were being fed by the poets whom bared there lyrical souls so very swift with candor .Those brave folks showed you so many colors, taste, and delivered so much of what I was missing.
Afterwards, the artist gave heartfelt honest critiques about each performer, then we went to eat at a 24 hour Mexican restaurant to talk about creative processes and the politics that we maneuver just to pour it all out. Brandon is such a genuine soul who truly is a student and a teacher in the game. I will never forget the hug he gave me after my second set which felt like brotherhood and truth in a moment that made me realize that I belong to something bigger than myself. I have moments that feel like God is turning the page in my life and this was one of them. To have someone personally select you and to trust you to give your best in a supporting role felt great.
I will never forget that night and the people that I met. I need more experiences that feel like home with genuine people who treat you like family because of the common goal of being united for love, spoken word, and the heart to be heard.
That next morning I sat and wrote music in a local bagel shop and didn’t feel pressured to get home right away. I felt great just being nobody sitting with my thoughts which for the first time in a long time I felt part of this palace inside when my mind honestly used to feel like a prison. Well I hope that we all live to make it and make it count. What will you do between the dash? Your birthday and that death day.

This Nation has been overwhelmed with tragedy and the continuous suffering from the history of what it chooses not to learn. Officers tased, pepper sprayed, and brutally beat 29 year-old Tyre Nichols during a January 7 traffic stop, according to the horrific video footage released by the city of Memphis on Friday. The footage, which comes from a SkyCop camera and officers’ body cameras, is split into four devastating videos. Police can be heard yelling at Nichols to get out of his car and forcibly removing him from the car.The video has been described by law enforcement and attorneys for Nichols’ family as, “absolutely appalling,” “alarming,” and “unconscionable.” It is my opinion that the Officers in Memphis and others who choose to use barbaric force do not adhere to the rational mindset of what service and dedication to a community looks like or should be. Empathy and moral ethics go hand and hand with being a humble, dignified community servant. Officers should not operate as a lynch mob, nor as judge, jury, and executioner. Officers who are supposed to uphold the law, should not be oppressors and definitely should not be operating with a gang mentality. If you aren’t interested in learning about and positively impacting the community you serve, this is simply not the line of work for you. The choice to take life in any way, shape, or form is egregious and horrific. We have seen it countless times, and it shatters the trust of the public time and time again.

The past few months I’ve worked on an initiative called, “The Empathy Project”. I’ve sat and listened and learned from three different families who have had their lives severely shattered by losing a loved one to murder. All three families sought justice for their loved ones and worked tirelessly with law enforcement to bring these murderers to justice. Those months for me, included eye opening meetings with law enforcement who do care about serving their community. I’ve seen officers comfort grieving families in these traumatic situations. In my personal life, I’ve seen some officers strive to work in fairness and in the principles of service and I’ve also witnessed the narcissistic ego trips that are the equivalent to giving a toddler a Ferrari. I can remember two years ago, here in Roanoke, during the George Floyd protest, there were some officers that were protesting with us, but there were also officers who were also smug and hurtful.

Tyre Nichols should still be here. As this situation unfolds, we see that another vast hole has been created, sucking life from us and feeding evil, corruption, and the lust for power. I can’t help but wonder what he and others like him could have been. Close your eyes and think about how much we truly take for granted in just getting to our next destination unharmed. Think about the fact that at the end of the day, we all have someone waiting for us. Life is a gift, and we should savor it. Some look at these situations as soundbites or opportunities to heighten careers, but at the end of the day, and after the cameras go to the next headline, there is still a family grieving someone very special lost to more senseless, egregious, and inhumane behavior that shouldn’t be happening anywhere.

The essential root of solving this problem is awareness. Sometimes I feel as if we are becoming so reactionary as a society that we can’t process or even fathom that there are solutions. I choose to acknowledge the challenges we face as a society but also keep believing in our betterment because there are people who genuinely care, even if there are others who are corrupt, jaded, and hateful. I genuinely believe that good and right can and will win out. We have to go beyond politics and start supporting all people instead of taking the easy way out by making accusations and generalizations. For any community to thrive, it is vital to have people who work to produce and preserve justice, love and genuine righteousness. Thurgood Marshall said, “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”

https://www.rvtv.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=397

Every time I’ve doubted myself or felt things just weren’t going to work out I am often reminded that I need to chill because I have seen God work behind the scenes in my life and has provided so much. Why should I worry? For whom shall I fear?
God miraculously made a way for me when there seemed to be no other way. This morning I sat peacefully and was led to Isaiah 43:19. “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” In all the time that I’ve fallen short it has been my belief that the pain grew louder and I didn’t use the wisdom that was given to navigate to a new level. All I can be is me and I have to earnestly want to apply myself to do better. If we don’t apply wisdom in our lives we will be lost. It is important to know that we don’t really lose if we are willing to learn. For me it means to hold on to Christ’s unchanging hand above anything and everything else. I am no longer afraid and I will run my marathon. Never regret anything that has happened in your life, it cannot be changed, undone or forgotten. So take it as a lesson learned and move on. This weekI open for Brandon Leake ! I am excited for this opportunity yet I am reminded to look back, slow down to examine how God has poured into me and the importance of what it means to get beyond a survival mentality. It is time to live. get out, explore. Thrive. Challenge authority. Challenge yourself. and Evolve. I don’t take this opportunity or any of the ones that I’ve earned lightly.
The biggest lesson that I can say that I’ve learned is that what God has for you no one can ever take from you so be covered in love and humility in all that you do. If it isn’t about genuine love at the forefront of what you are doing it will indeed tell  on you loud and clear. Things often get tougher before they get easier. Stay strong, be positive. We all struggle sometimes. Your struggle is part of your story.

Losing someone close to you in any fashion is very hard. It’s a challenge when you have to go on and learn how to navigate the future without that someone by your side. The grieving process is different for everyone, it can often be lonely and isolating.
It is selfish to tell people who are dealing with grief to just get over it or to just be “normal”. Empathy is a bridge to action and instead of telling others to fit into the mold of how you want them to be and feel, we should be asking how to be a support. Maybe try listening instead of trying to fix everything.
I remember when my brother was alive there would be times where I would tell him what I assumed his problem was instead of just being there listening and being a comfort. Who was I to be on that uppity high horse? That kind of behavior that I used to exhibit was very self-serving and I am so glad that guy is long gone. My brother didn’t need nor deserve the constant regurgitated lectures about what he wasn’t doing in his life. Some of the stuff that he was dealing with he pretty much probably already felt and didn’t need the added pressure of being told how he was living wasn’t right. Looking back and reflecting I think all he needed and wanted unconditional love and a friend. Losing him so tragically was an eye-opener about the bitterness that I was carrying and the importance of just loving and treating others the way God truly loves and sees us all.

We spend too much time sometimes trying to think that we know so much about what people need to do based on generalizations instead of just sitting in solidarity and being a comfort and most importantly asking the question, What do you need at this moment?
These days I welcome my peace and in my travels these past two years they’ve taught me about what it means to be peaceful for others. I also deal with grief one day at a time and one moment at a time. We all deal with it differently and it is complex. It is very arrogant and hurtful to assume someone should live according to someone else’s way of living just because their grief makes you feel some type of way.

People are people and people need people. we need less callous judgment and more understanding.

I’m finding out that it really doesn’t matter how long you are spending on the earth, how much money you have gathered or how much attention you have received. It is the amount of positive vibration you have put out is what matters. I am really focused now more than ever on the importance of time and how I spend it. I really want my time spent to be conducive and productive in all ways. Purpose is essential, and on our journey we can either accept our purpose or wish for knowing it. I used to wake up waiting for change only to find change constantly happening when I wasn’t ready for it. If you cannot find something to do, life will find something for you to do. I am of the mind that you better rise above the bullshit to work on yourself and ask where are you going?
 In the midst of finding purpose you meet people who are teaching you along the way in so many ways. I truly believe that everything that we do and everyone that we meet is put in our path for a purpose. There are no accidents; we’re all teachers – if we’re willing to pay attention to the lessons we learn, trust our positive instincts and not be afraid to take risks or wait for some miracle to come knocking at our door. Yasiin Bey AkA  Mos Def once said in a verse that “life is a test and we all have the answer”. It is important to be the answer and humble yourself in your journeys. With that journey, you also must be aware of who you align your souls with. As I age I am embracing silence and the life that chose me. I love my peace and I love to perform but what I hate is selfishness and half-assery. I will choose my peace every single time.  
   I mention all of that because bands are a beautiful thing but with it also comes a wild cocktail of politics, personal agendas, and personalities.  I recently had to take the summer off because of such agendas that weren’t reflective of the team vision. When ego and personal agendas outweigh the team efforts you have to flow like water and move with the seasons and choose peace. Finding greatness together and moving in solidarity instead of chasing clout and money is key. The money will come when you elevate your purpose and allow yourself to do things bigger than yourself. I also attribute evolving with a purpose to serving Christ.
  I had a friend recently ask me “What outside of music do I do to feed my soul?”. I didn’t really think about that but it made me feel as if maybe I am doing myself an injustice by not further exploring more about what I am about. Stopping the cycles of things that impede on perfecting peace and loving myself. So I guess moving forward here is to the new exploration.

Muhamad Ali says “don’t count the days, make the days count”. I am doing my best to do that by truly enjoying moments with good people and good times. Time is the most important currency and how we spend it is vitally important. As I age I’ve learned alot about time the hard way. I’ve learned that you must protect your peace,  your love, and that you better make the most of the time you’ve been given.If you do not strip off selfishness and learn from your past you will repeat alot of the same pains from your past louder and even more painful which is a phenomenal waste of time. You simply cannot master your future by being the same old you, If anything, lack of growth and maturity is very ugly so it’s important to identify what needs to be worked on and do the work.  I love The Serenity Prayer, it states O God and Heavenly Father, Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed; courage to change that which can be changed, and wisdom to know the one from the other, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. It is so important to be adaptable and to flow like water in your life.  A friend and colleague  today reminded me that The number 42 is, in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the “Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. I hope that extraordinary things are revealed and that I continue to evolve and not waste a moment. I truly am grateful for your messages of love and admiration. It has been very humbling to receive such an outpouring of love.  I am not perfect but I aspire to be great and to continue to evolve with purpose.