I wrote “Letter to Izriah” during the summer of 2005. I was going through a lot, personally, trying to make sense of the circumstances I was given.
I was writing to reclaim my life. My sun was at the heart of the equation. I was contemplating death on a very serious level. Was it death, physically? What is death, spiritually? If I wasn’t around someday, how would that affect my sun?
“One Night” by Molina of SOULAJU w/ DJ Icewater (2010)
I recently heard an Rnb/Soul artist say that “Country is the only genre that still allows you to tell stories.” I’m assuming he was speaking about pop music.
Hip-Hop emcees are among the most skilled storytellers on the planet.
This story was inspired by various stories. Some mine, some not. Some imagined.
“Wings of the Butterfly” by Mannequin Rituals featuring SOULAJU. This track appears in the movie “Papers” – a film about undocumented youth.
Papers is a documentary film that tells the story of undocumented youth pursuing higher education in American society. The film has screened in all 50 states. It was recently released for personal home DVD purchase and can be licensed for educational use by universities, libraries, non-profit and for-profit organizations.
“Wings of the Butterfly” is one of a half-dozen songs featured in Papers. Dustin Neal of Mannequin Rituals wrote the music and inspired the concept. Will Ross of CHiTT Productions produced the track. Aju and myself wrote and performed the vocals.
Dustin sent the track when i was in Mexico City late in July, 2009. I lay in my hotel room the final morning and bumped the instrumental on repeat, watching monarch butterflies flying in droves high above cities throughout the United States.
I saw THE DREAMERS as butterflies, delicate and susceptible to danger and capture, but strong and agile as they pushed forward in the wind, demanding a space for themselves in the world.
I am not a religious man, but a spiritual man. Nevertheless, the religious imagery came as I watched the men in my family live out their struggle as immigrants. I saw a daughter i did not have, beautiful eyes, hungry and dependent upon me. And I began to write…
– Molina
I am a rapper and a spoken word poet. I also write plays and short stories. I’m a storyteller. It’s all the same. Different mediums but we’re all taking it back to the storytelling days. The spoken word proceeded the written word. Every culture had its storytellers. We transmit and create reality through our stories.
I will be speaking at Latino College Day events in Durango, CO and Farmington, NM this week, in addition to performing at the 3rd annual Real History of the Americas celebration at Fort Lewis College (an alternative event to Columbus day).
“October Myst” by Adrian H. Molina w/ Mannequin Rituals, Up Before the Sunrise (2008)
This week marks the 9-year anniversary of the War in Afghanistan – the longest war in American history. There is no end to this war nor the war in Iraq. These are resource wars, wars of power and geopolitical/economic control.
Many people have asked me what “October Myst” is about. To this point, I have given very few people a straight answer. The Mannequin Rituals, tracks 7-10 of “Up Before the Sunrise” particular, were partially about their mystery. The poetics. Theatrics. The art of storytelling. The art of unraveling truth. Who dares to put forth the time or effort to know?
“Sea of Glass” by Adrian H. Molina w/ Mannequin Rituals, Up Before the Sunrise (2008), CHiTT Productions
The human story is a puzzle, confusing, jagged and bloody, splattered about the concrete like a red sea of glass.
“Poet Gettin’ His” by Molina of SOULAJU w/ DJ Icewater
Switchin’ up the vibe and pulse. Recent weekly Retrospectives explored the lighter side of my work. A.M. Soleil, Retrospectively now moves back into harder-hitting territory.
Everyone’s heard the song “Gettin’ Mine.” Every rapper’s got a Gettin’ Mine track. The world is in a Gettin’ Mine state of mind. This is my version of Gettin’ Mine.
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