If this were MySpace, as soon as you visited this page, the autoplay feature would be blessing your ears with the sweet sounds of Brent Faiyaz and his collaborative group, Sonder.
It was just last week when I was having a facetime smoke session with my New York homie and he shushed me...Yeah, he's an asshole but this time, he had his reasons; his favorite part was coming up on a song he was bumping off of Into, Sonder's latest release. From my end of the phone, I thought he was listening to Miguel. He told me to give it a listen and when I did, boy was I wrong, it definitely wasn't Miguel, it was Brent Faiyaz and the boy go crazy.


So come on dear friend, let me aid you in blessing your playlist with this new artist, Brent Faiyaz, and the group Sonder.


I started off listening to the 5 track, 22 minute EP A.M. Paradox which can be found on Apple Music and Soundcloud.


It was released last year and was produced by Sonder, the group Brent is apart of with  Atu & Dpat.


The first track, Lovely, can also be found on Sonder's EP, INTO. Everything about this song is just right. The vocal styling will give you the soulfulness of old school R& B, while the subject matter, gritty and raw, is much more modern. His vocals, beautifully simple and soft but effective. He's crooning, no doubt, but he appeals to the culture, as head-ass as it might be, by falling in love with a stripper at the club; encouraging her to keep doing her and making her money cause he thinks she's lovely.


After the first track, I'm sure you'll be inclined to keep listening. I love the whole project but if I had to choose my favorite songs would be  Lovely, Poison, and No One Knows. Throughout the project you get to listen in on conversations between Brent and his homies, discussing sex and failed relationships. In my opinion it added a very nice personal touch. Brent is dope, partly because he writes his own music.  He uses his instrument very well, as the vocals are nothing short of pleasant on every song. Something about his music just seems so real, like he's telling his truth, I think music lovers can appreciate that. The subject matter is relatable and the whole project is  ultra vibey. If you're a smoker, this is definitely an artist you'll want to give a listen  during your next session.


I feel inclined to mention the song, Too Fast; which was featured on Sonder's Into EP. Brent's vocals  are synthy on this track but still clear enough that you can feel the sort of waywardness in his voice. He sings of the uncertainty of tomorrow and how he's living for the now, not really worrying about consequences. Again, very relatable, very soulful,  and very vibey. This song is easily one of my favorites.


Listen to some of these tracks by Brent and/or the group Sonder and get your life. I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

I had to ask myself...
I've come to believe that self-care is another way of telling yourself, "I love you."
It's medicine for mind, body, and soul and its definitely necessary.


Lately for me, self care has been like dressing up a wound or ailment that really needs surgery to fix. For a lot of us, I think there has to be real root work going on, not voodoo, but I mean getting to the root of your issues, your pain; those heavy thoughts you skim over during your day to day life. The elephant in the room of your mind.  Some people call it healing your inner child, or what have you; but shit...We've all been hurt , we've all hurt someone and we all have scars we may have acquired at any age. The point is, we need to heal that shit!


When self care just wont cut it, you've gotta dig deeper, you've gotta get to the root.
We can't build if the foundation ain't right and if you're sitting on old wounds and letting them fester, like a volcano, they will erupt and they will wreak havoc on your life.
Sounds bleak, I know, but I'm speaking from experience.


I'm currently doing my root work. Root work for a lot of us will look differently. I've pinpointed one of my emotional hindrances; I feel so much, all of the time, but I don't allow myself to feel anything. Imma type that again for the nggas in the back. I've got a lot of  feelings but I don't allow myself to feel any of it. I be so ready to be over it, to not feel the pain, the dissapointment, the hurt, that I totally disregard my own feelings and go straight to, "I'm straight."


That shit right there, ngga, It's gotta stop! I'm feeling stuff now, I let it happen. When it comes , I let it. It does hurt, not gonna lie;  sometimes I cry.  If I need to scream, I scream.  When those less desirable emotions appear like jealousy, bitterness, resentment, all of those feelings that make us feel dark or small and less than ourselves, we have to allow ourselves to feel those and then figure out why we feel that way. Working through our emotions is actual work that must be done, either sooner or later. Why not now? Why not live our best lives right now?




So my root work has inspired me to publish Rose Quartz Posts. Rose Quartz is the crystal of unconditional love. Many people use crystals for their healing properties, if you want to know more about crystals, what they do, and what they are.....google that shit.


 I will be sharing my ideas on self love through these posts and hopefully they will be helpful to someone else. Maybe we can love ourselves better together! Maybe  our self care practices can become enjoyable and effective again.

I didn't beat depression.          I evaded it.

Why you so sad girl?

Not clinically diagnosed, I do know that I suffer from depression. My first episode started in October of 2014 and has kind of played hide and ̶s̶e̶e̶k̶ show up unannounced and uninvited since then.


I remember in May of 2014, right before going shopping for my graduation party, I just had this rush of anxiety. I don't know if it was all the excitement from graduating and moving forward in life but I remember having to take a seat with my cousin and needing to just pray.
I identify that period as the inception of my depression. Now, almost 2 years later, I feel that its a combination of things;
I think I never really dealt with the root of why these emotional problems started to peak 2 years ago.
Mourning Jordan's transition has definitely been a factor
and the coping mechanism that I've always resorted to, food, has led to weight gain, which has become a source of discontentment in itself.
My home life isn't great. I've tried and tried and tried to remain positive about the situation, just push through until my lease is up but I will admit I constantly feel like I'm at my wit's end.

So what you gone do?

Y'all I don't know. I just know that I can't stay here(emotionally.)
I'm writing a lot more, even if its not on here.
I'm trying to give a fuck about shit.
I'm talking to my friends, letting them know what I'm going through.
In addition to reaching out,  I'm just doing that self work , as painful as it may be.
If you've been through this and want to share some helpful info with me, I'm open to that.
If you're currently going through something similar, you can let me know that too.


In the meantime, know that I'm here,  working on my shit, trying to be better...chasing a crwn or at the very least...peace.