Blog

It's been way too long since I've written an installment for an author's hustle. But what can I say? I've been hustling. Traveling. Doing any and every event/radio show/other opportunity that will allow me to promote THE MESSAGE. 'Cause right now, that's the name of the game. Excuse the pun, but it's all about getting the name out there. The Message. Felicia Pride. Trying to embed it in people's heads. It's also called exposure. And that's the part of this author journey that I'm currently in. And will probably be in for the next few years. Until of course, folks recognize my name and buy anything I write like my parents named me Rachel Ray. Until then...

These past couple of months have renewed some thangs:

1) Size Really Doesn't Matter

I had the pleasure of being invited by Dr. Walter Kimbrough to "Bless the Mic" at his President Lecture Series at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. Hands down, this was one of the most memorable experiences of my author journey. Philander Smith is a small school, but not only did they put on a first-class event, they also made me feel like a rock star. At dinner, they even had one of the young male students fix a plate for me. It's the little things! I can't say how good it felt to get so much love from a Black college.

I gave a lecture about life lessons in hip-hop to a packed and enthusiastic audience who afterwards, bought several books. What more can an author ask for? Philander will always hold a special place in my heart.

It's definitely not about size, it's all about the execution.

2) Folks Who Love Hip-Hop (not just front like they do) Still Work in Mainstream Radio

Contrary to what many believe, there are still hip-hop lovers who work in mainstream radio. Shout-out to hip-hop heads Porkchop and Sonjie of the Big Phat Morning Show. I did an interview recently on my hometown's WERQ 92.3 and had a ball. Between commercial breaks, there was a lot of reminiscing going on and from jump, they made me feel real crazy comfortable. I have to send a special thanks to Marc Clarke, host of the Big Phat Morning Show, for seeing the value of THE MESSAGE and allowing me to spread the gospel! Forget what you heard, hip-hop lives...

3) Michael Jackson started hip-hop.

During Black History Month, I visited an elementary school. I asked the 5^th graders if they liked hip-hop. All hands went up. I asked them who their favorite artists were. They said everyone from Chris Brown and Keyshia Cole to Lil' Wayne. Then I asked them how hip-hop started.

One young girl said that Michael Jackson started hip-hop. Another said that hip-hop was started during slavery and the rest of the class offered blank stares.

That's when it hit me. All that our young people know about hip-hop is being fed to them by very narrow, self-serving, bias sources. They have no historical context regarding hip-hop and don't know that kids who looked just like them created a global culture--an alternative from their broken-glass environment--out of nothing but their God-given talents and the desire to be more.

So they have no idea that hip-hop used to sound and look different. They have no idea that it wasn't always all about money or halfnakedness. No idea that a fierce girl once donned herself Queen Latifah and demanded folks to respect the credo, "Ladies First." Ahh, ya'll gonna get me to preaching on this blog. So let me stop, but you see where I'm going with it.

And it was this event that renewed the fire underneath me to continue pushing The Message. To continue to show young people alternatives within hip-hop. There is more to it.

Yeah these past months have been about renewal. I feel good.

The hustle continues.

Check out my upcoming events. And of course, cop the book. Already got it? Buy for a friend!