Live at the Barbeque..

All of my life, I have called the midwestern and southern united states my home. Within these regions of the country, around this time of year, we have Barbeques. By design, you go to someone's house, generally a house that has an outside area designated for people to chill, you drink a few beers/eat some kind of processed meat, and hang out with family, friends, or both.

Barbeques are a good time for reflection; usually there's at least one person at said barbeque that you haven't seen in awhile. It's always good to catch up, and you usually tell that person you're going to make it a point to see them in the near future, and sometimes you really mean to. 9 times out of 10, however, you reneg on that promise and you don't see that person until the next barbecue. same thing goes down. Same promises get made. and same crickets come from the cell phone in the coming weeks after.

Lately, OnlyHipHopBlog has been that one friend you see at the barbecue that you mean to call, but you don't. Y'all have been hearing crickets from me.

I started doing OnlyHipHopBlog in November of 2009 as a labor of love; a way to share the knowledge I possessed with others who share the same passion as I do. I truly believe that 1988-1996-97 were Hip Hop music's salad days. I wanted to not only root in that, but tell the story of how it came to be and how new artists today were carrying on these same traditions. I feel as if I was fully successful in doing these things. What I didn't expect, however, was that I would make new friends, get to go to shows and festivals for free, and have people ask me about this blog and why I haven't posted on it in so long.

The long and short-2011 was MAD stupid. for more than a few reasons, none of which I'll go in to now. I wish I didn't have to make excuses, but unfortunately, I do- Life happens, sometimes things get shitty, and you just have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep on marching. It took me too long to do that, but I'm proud to say, it's been done-and it's time to keep bringing the written word to any and all.


 When I started to come out of this funk, I woke up one morning, and writing wasn't fun anymore. The more I did it the more I felt like It was a job, and not something I loved, and that messed with me more than anything in my life had before. So I decided to sit back for a minute and remember why I do this in the first place, not just because it's fun, but because, (somehow) people enjoy what I read. I also have found a way to give back to the art, art that's given me so much over the years.

I want to preface what I'm about to say by saying that nothing is ending, things are just beginning-I felt like I had to give a big state of the union/housecleaning post because it's been so long since I've posted. What I need to say-is thank you. Thanks to all of you for asking me about this blog, kicking me in the ass, and making me believe in my writing, more than I ever have. I love all of y'all, and I mean that.

More to come. Until then, Keep rocking whatever beats and whatever rhymes mean a lot to you. Be Happy. Enjoy life. Be on the lookout.

Peace and Love,

-Marty.