Guest Blogger: Doni D

Doni D, another one of the 12 competitors for the First Annual Hip Hop Karaoke Championship, guests on the blog today. Doni's topic is...


Reinvention:

I was able to get my hands on Kwame's first album and it made me think of folks who have been able to reinvent themselves. Kwame was the polka dot & blond high top fade(i thought it was the continent of africa) design in his head dude from the golden era. Now he's a producer.

A few months ago I read an article and in the pic was one of my favorite hosts from my high school years, Mayheim, formerly of the New York Live show on 89.1 and a major contributor to the late 90's hits on Penalty records.

When Jay Dee changed his name to Jay Dilla, I wasn't a fan at first. I didn't know who or what Dilla was, then I heard the Frank N Dank singles and the Welcome to Detroit album and became an even bigger fan of Mr. Yancy.

In essence this post is about reinvention. I reinvent myself daily, but i realize this is not reinvention but elements of myself that grow and morph as time goes along. I use to be an emcee 10 years ago and in a few days I'll be performing in front of my largest crowd ever in NYC (which wouldn't be if I didn't bump into Josh & Gusto at the Radio City Hall, Roots show).

Where was this going, oh yeah, the older I get the more I realize you aren't just one thing. Music has always allowed folks the opportunity to not only reinvent themselves but express areas that only they know in private (we all have been or are shower singers and emcees) If your job sucks, your stressed because your bank account is not going to afford that flat screen tv for the next year or you just want to hear some good music and an opportunity to perform it yourself, drop on by and get it out your system.(Pause)

And what did this have to do with Hip Hop. Everything.

- Doni D