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Masked Stranger Slips Out After Playing a Piano With DO NOT PLAY Sign - Antique Store Owner Tracks Him Down
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Masked Stranger Slips Out After Playing a Piano With DO NOT PLAY Sign - Antique Store Owner Tracks Him Down

Antique stores can have a reputation for being stuffy stores with uptight owners. "Don't touch that" or "you break it, you buy it!"Well, one Massachusetts antique store owner is adding his own spin to that narrative.He vowed to track down a mystery man after he ignored a "DO NOT PLAY" sign and gave the whole store a shocking and unsolicited performance!His Simple Impromptu Performance Shook the RoomIt was a seemingly regular day at ReMARKable Cleanouts when shop owner, Mark Waters heard the familiar beat of Journey's iconic Don't Stop Believin' play throughout the store. "He started playing and the place lit up!"Mark Waters, OwnerThe special antique piece specifically had a "DO NOT PLAY" sign displayed on the top of instrument. Waters, who runs the family-owned business knew the piano was delicate and had the potential to be damaged by un-serious customers.But when the mysterious young man — who would later be identified as John Thomas Archer — asked one of the shop girls if he could play a song on the piano and she gave him a shot (and he totally scored)!Customers were so impressed by the play-by-ear performance, one person even managed to get the whole thing on camera. Watch The Mystery Piano Player's Performance Below:Even though the crowd went wild (or as wild as you can go, when you're in an antique store), the young man didn't stay for an encore. He quietly packed up and slipped out the door before store owner Mark Waters could get his contact information.Thankfully, the third-party footage would be key in tracking him down, which is just what this antique store owner planned to do.The Search for the Mystery Piano PlayerReMARKable Cleanouts/FacebookWith virtually no leads, Waters did the only thing he could think to do. He turned to his local community for help — and the internet did not disappoint!He quickly posted the video of the mystery player on his Facebook page. He asked if anyone could help identify the young masked man. He had a special surprise for him!The mystery piano player was found by Julie McDonald at WBZ Channel 4 who interviewed him on the newscast three days later!He Taught Himself How to Play-By-EarCredit: Renee ThomasThe mystery piano player was identified as 23-year-old college student, John Thomas Archer.The Northeastern University student told WBZ he saw the clip of himself playing on a local news station. Truthfully, he felt compelled to respond to make sure he wasn’t in trouble.Thankfully, he couldn't have been more wrong!"My girlfriend sent me a text that the media was looking for me," he said. "I didn't know so many people would be affected by watching me play. I am just baffled."John Thomas ArcherArcher told WBZ that he was just an "amateur" musician. The "Journey" hit was the first song he ever learned to impressively play-by-ear (without sheet music).Even though he loved to play, he couldn't afford to have a piano at home. Instead he made-do with a portable keyboard. So Waters brought him in again, and gave him the timeless gift of music — literally.Returning for an Encore!ReMARKable Cleanouts/FacebookUpon request, Archer returned to the store the next day. True to his words, antique store owner Mark Waters personally gifted the impressive Steinway piano."[John] went into tears and it brought tears to my eyes. It was one of those feel good moments."Mark Waters“I love playing piano. I love when I’m pressing down on the keys,” Archer told WBZ. “It’s more about my emotions and my feelings. As long as people still feel the joy out of my music, I’m happy.” Archer celebrated the win by giving a sweet performance of All of Me by John Legend.“I’m a helper. A giver. I like to give. When I give to you and you smile, that makes me feel good. If you can make somebody else happy, bring a little joy in their heart," Waters, who has owned the store for a decade, told WBZ. “That’s what life’s about.”Giving for Giving’s Sake"I just wish there was more stories like this with everyone opening their hearts," Waters told Good Morning America. "I'd like to donate something every day if it brought people into a good mood."Sure, we may not all have an antique Steinway piano lying around. But what's meaningful to one person is different than what's meaningful to another. Yes, this antique store owner had a gift that would "rock" this musicians world (pun intended), but each and every one of us have a gift that would totally rock someone else's.Mark Water's story is a poignant reminder that we all have something we're holding onto that we can afford to let go — free of charge. Giving for giving's sake is the gift that keeps on giving — did we say 'giving' too many times?!

Imagine: The Shocking Story of How The Beatles Were Rejected Twice By The Same Man 
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Imagine: The Shocking Story of How The Beatles Were Rejected Twice By The Same Man 

It sounds like a crazy barroom story. “Did you hear the one about the record label guy who turned down a chance to sign The Beatles? Not once, but TWICE?!” We’re talking about British music exec and record producer Dick Rowe, who was the head of A&R (artists and repertoire) of the Singles division at Decca Records from the early 1950s through 1974. Though he produced many top-selling records during those years, along with signing a number of talented and popular artists, Rowe is historically blamed for making one of the biggest blunders in rock music history: he did not sign The Beatles to Decca Records when given the opportunity in early 1962, citing that “guitar groups are on the way out.” In 1962, The Beatles Were Looking for a Record DealMirrorpix / Getty ImagesIt sounds like a tall tale—a rock’n’roll tall tale, so its validity has to be questioned from the outset—but it is one that has its basis in fact. Though the account has been enhanced and fancified over the nearly six decades since it actually happened, there’s still a lot of substance beneath the glitter.The story begins with a record industry gent named Mike Smith, who was Rowe’s assistant in A&R at Decca and responsible for a good amount of talent scouting. In December, 1961, Smith made the jaunt from London to Liverpool to check out a newer band called The Beatles play at the popular music spot The Cavern Club. RELATED: Music Got Her Out of Extreme Poverty – Now Cardi B Is Giving $100,000 Back to Her Middle School in the BronxImpressed by what he saw and heard, Smith approach The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein to arrange to bring them to London for an audition, which would consist of making an hour-long demo in the Decca studios.At that time, Decca could only afford to sign one new group to the label and The Beatles were one of a pair scheduled to audition that pivotal day, January 1, 1962. The other band seeking a record deal was the London-based Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, a five-piece outfit scheduled to make their demo right after The Beatles.Decca Exec Dick Rowe Could Have Signed Them!@thebeatles/InstagramAs the story goes, although they were nervous, The Beatles were in high spirits and played with energy during their session. Brian Epstein and the group carefully chose 15 songs from their repertoire that they felt best represented their act and showcased their versatility. Using amplifiers provided by Decca as Smith had deemed The Beatles’ own equipment as “unfit,” the boys stepped up to the microphones and did what they do, which included three original songs penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney: “Like Dreamers Do,” “Love of the Love,” and “Hello Little Girl.”RELATED: Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas’ Comments About Taylor Swift’s Music Will Change Your Idea About the CoupleIn an unsung, brilliant managerial move, Brian Epstein requested that Decca tape the demo, to which Mike Smith agreed. For his part, Epstein was comfortable enough with the performance to believe it would lead to a recording contract. The word is that Epstein even took the boys out for a celebratory dinner that night complete with wine!Here’s where the story gets a little shaky.According to Rowe, he put the responsibility of the signing into Smith’s hands. The two had consulted and discussed that signing a local London act (like Brian Poole & The Tremeloes) would ensure lower traveling expenses, as opposed to a Liverpool-based group (like The Beatles) that was based 220 miles away.It Never Happened for Decca Records & The BeatlesAnd, again, according to Rowe, the decision would be up to Smith.“I told Mike he would have to decide between them. It was up to him—The Beatles or Brian Poole & The Tremeloes,” said Rowe. “We decided it was better to take the local group.”Over the years, a handful of other small details connected to that fateful decision have been uncovered, led by Epstein’s insistence that he told Smith he would personally purchase 3,000 copies of anything Decca released by The Beatles. The word is that Epstein’s promise never made it back to Rowe, who would have probably leaned more towards signing the group had he known that 3,000 records had essentially already been sold!Not long after Decca decided to not sign The Beatles, Epstein managed to convince Rowe to come to The Cavern Club to hear the band perform live. On the night Rowe came to the club, though, the weather was horrible and he found himself stuck outside of the crowded venue as the rain poured down. Rowe didn’t feel like weathering the weather and decided to return to his hotel room and then back to London without telling anyone.RELATED: Ed Sheeran’s Life Story: How a Bullied Ginger Boy Became Britain’s Biggest Music SuccessSo, in a sense, Rowe rejected The Beatles not once, but twice.It was in Brian Epstein’s 1964 autobiography A Cellar Full of Noise that Brian wrote of Rowe dismissing Brian The Beatles in a February 1962 meeting with the now infamous proclamation that, “Guitar groups are on their way out.”But Rowe insisted until his death in 1986 that he never said that. To this day, it is not known if Epstein was simply trying to spice up an otherwise dull story for his book or if Rowe was attempting to distance himself from one of the biggest mistakes in music history.Meanwhile, Decca did sign Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, who were, ironically, a guitar group with a similar style to The Beatles.And as for the infamous audition session that didn’t get them signed, Paul McCartney himself admits that it didn’t showcase the band in its finest hour.“Listening to the tapes, I can understand why we failed the Decca audition,” said McCartney. “We weren’t that good, though there were some quite original interesting things.”The Beatles Manager Brian Epstein Made a Deal with EMI@thebeatles/InstagramAlways the yin to his bandmate McCartney’s yang, John Lennon had a different opinion on what emerged from that hour in the studio.“I wouldn’t have turned us down on that. I think it sounded okay,” Lennon offered. “I think Decca expected us to be all polished when we were just doing a demo. They should have seen our potential.”But, most importantly, Brian Epstein recognized the group’s potential and took a copy of the audition tape over to EMI records, where it eventually made it into the hands of producer George Martin, who was one of the only producers at the label who had not yet refused The Beatles. Martin clearly liked what he heard…and the rest is genuine, soaring rock’n’roll history.As for Dick Rowe, the complete, true story of his turning down The Beatles twice will probably never be known for sure, but his legacy remains intact for all the other work he did over the course of his fruitful career.RELATED: Bob Marley’s Life Story: How a Boy Rose from the Slums to Change the World with His MusicRowe subsequently signed several other Liverpool bands and musicians to Decca, including Beryl Marsden and The Big Three, though neither made much of an impression when compared to those four other Liverpudlians that were once considered by the label.Rowe remained one of the UK’s leading producers and record executives throughout the Sixties, signing such acts as Them featuring Van Morrison, the Moody Blues, the Animals, Cat Stevens, the Zombies, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Tom Jones, the Small Faces, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Procol Harum, among others.Before all those breakthrough signings, though, following an introduction and some encouragement from The Beatles’ George Harrison in May, 1963, Dick Rowe signed a group known as the Rolling Stones to Decca after their audition.And like The Beatles, you’ve probably heard of them, too.The Beatles: Rejection and Resilience @thebeatles/InstagramThe Beatles weren't only rejected by Decca; the group that would go on to sell the most records worldwide was rejected by at least four respectable record companies. And yet, they never gave up. Success comes with many aspects: talent, luck, effort, and even the fickleness of another person's interests at any given moment. The true components of success are finding it even in failure, believing in yourself despite rejection, and realizing there is no way to please everyone all of the time.The Beatles knew their worth and couldn't be swayed. As John Lennon once quipped, “Well, we can’t be everything to everybody!

Juice WRLD's Most Inspirational Quotes on Love, Life and Success
Musicians

Juice WRLD's Most Inspirational Quotes on Love, Life and Success

Jared Anthony Higgins was abandoned by his father at the age of three, leaving he and his older brother to be raised alone by their mother. Being more on the stricter side, Higgins' mother did not allow her boys to listen to hip hop, but he did learn a skill that gave him a unique heads-up. Jared started learning how to play the piano at just 4-years-old! RELATED: 40 Funny and Inspirational Quotes from Kanye WestHis mother paid for his piano lessons, which would eventually lead to him taking up guitar, drums, and even the trumpet. He began making music and posting songs to SoundCloud using his smartphone, rudimentary production skills that would later help him become a successful rapper, singer and songwriter on his own steam.But how did this talented, self-motivated young man become what many observers have called a contemporary icon in the industry?Who Is Juice WRLD: The Rise & Fall of a New Hip Hop IconCredit: Andy FordIn 2015, Higgins took the stage name Juice WRLD and by 2017, he released his first full-length EP titled 9, 9, 9 which included the single "Lucid Dreams," a song that would become his first Billboard chart entry and one that remains his most streamed release. Shortly after releasing this EP, Juice WRLD began to garner a huge fan following, while also being noticed by his peers like Waka Flocka Flame and Lil Bibby. Fellow rappers and fans were drawn to his unique hardcore rap grunge sound, as well as his relatable, yet poetic lyrics. This momentum led him to signing with Lil' Bibby's record label, Grade A Productions, under which, he released an EP titled Nothings Different, in which his track "All Girls Are the Same" became a hit, leading to him signing with Interscope Records on a multi-million dollar deal. RELATED: 30 Rapper Quotes to Motivate You to Keep GrindingFrom this success came a string of major hits and collaborations with artists like Young Thug, Post Malone, Lil Uzi Vert, Halsey, The Weeknd, Benny Blanco, and many others. He was nominated for many awards and even won Top New Artist at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. Along with Juice WRLD's fame, however, came a dark side. He openly talked about how he started using drugs and drinking alcohol from a very young age. His mother later revealed that he also dealt with anxiety and depression. Mental health is an issue that Juice WRLD's mother still continues to advocate for through his social media account to this day. The Death of Juice WRLDCredit: XXL MagazineSadly, in 2019, while Juice WRLD was on a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago, he succumbed to his demons and suffered a devastating overdose. He was taken to the hospital upon landing, but was pronounced dead shortly after. His album Legends Never Die was released after his death and is one of the most successful posthumous debuts of all time. It also had the most U.S. top-10 entries from one album. On December 2nd, 2020, which would have been Juice WRLD's 22nd birthday, Benny Blanco released a single titled "Real Sh*t," which was in collaboration with the late artist. Just six days later, on the anniversary of Juice WRLD's death, "Reminds Me of You" featuring Kid Laroi was released, and in 2020, Juice WRLD became Spotify's fourth most streamed artist in the world. To say that Juicy WRLD impacted many lives is an understatement. It is more than evident that he continues to live on as his songs, lyrics, interviews, and words have continued to inspire and touch the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds. He is truly a legend and lucky for his fans, and has left behind a wealth of knowledge and depth that people can always look upon for motivation.Juice WRLD Quotes About Life Credit: XXL Magazine"Don't let the scale define you. Be active. Eat healthy. Be happy.""I wanna be more than a millionaire. I wanna change the world.""If anybody’s going through anything. I hope and I pray that you get through it.""The goal in life is not to live forever but to create something that will." “Ain’t nothing like the feeling of uncertainty, the eeriness of silence.”“Our heads are so imperfect, we drown ourselves in this imperfection. We don’t know what imperfection is. We only know how to spell it — we don’t know how it feels.”"I’ve always been different."“I numb and conceal them kinda like my feelings, but I still feel them.”“Toss my pain with my wishes in a wishing well.”"Break away from everybody break away from everything if you can’t stand the way this place is take yourself to higher places.""Growing up means realizing a lot of your friends are not really your friends.""Hate it when they play both sides. Too low in my life. Gotta stay high, gotta stay high."“A mistake is a mistake. Some are more severe than others, but we’re no one to judge the severity of someone’s mistake."Credit: ASAP Nast“Everybody has their mistakes. A mistake is a mistake. Some are more severe than others, but we’re no one to judge the severity of someone’s mistake. As long as we doin’ wrong, as long as we sinnin’, you can’t judge nobody else’s mistakes.”"A minor setback paves the way for a major comeback."“Made mistakes, but that’s what life is about. My mistakes lead me to a better route.”“People love to talk about the money that they make. Nobody wanna talk about the money that they save.”"The devil is so beautiful and strong. but don’t be fooled.. you are much stronger."When it gets dark outside, in you I confide. You help me face my demons I won’t hide.”RELATED: 38 Tupac Quotes to Help You Face Life’s Challenges“Never been afraid to die but I always been afraid to die before I get where I’m going.”“Exhale depression as the wind blows. These are the laws of living in vogue.”"It’s good to put money back into communities.""Drugs can ruin your whole life."“A lot of men make fun of you for expressing your feelings because they don’t get it. They can’t wrap their heads around the concept of being completely honest and forthright.”“Tell me that it is all okay. I have been waiting on this all damn day.”“Everybody, stay positive no matter how negative life gets.”"People will do you wrong over and over, but the one time you call them out you're suddenly the bad guy."RELATED: Kendrick Lamar’s Most Powerful Quotes and Lyrics That Will Inspire Your Life"I feel like I inspire more people than I think I do. I just need to remember that.""Even if I’m talking about something that’s negative, I look at it as putting my mistakes out there for people to learn from it.""Thank you, God, for waking me up when u ain’t have to. This life is a blessing I won’t take for granted.""My music is straightforward because I want to give people me and let them know they’re not alone in going through the things that they go through."“I never thought about college, but my mom thought about it for me. I knew 100% it wasn’t for me.”"By default I’m kind-hearted and it’s a gift, not a curse, you just gotta know who to show your kind heart to."The Most Famous Juice WRLD QuotesCredit: Grade A Productions/Interscope“We’re perfectly imperfect children. Rose from the dust, all of us are on a mission.” - Empty"I really just like making music. People call that ‘work.’ Like, ‘Oh, you’re going to the studio to work?’ No, that’s even what I do in my off day. I love recording.""I feel as though, if you’re able to control your dreams, you have more power and control over your mind, like you could reach more areas of your mind. Therefore, I feel like it creates the ability for you to achieve more things in reality."“If you ain’t payin’ a hundred thousand, get them features out my face.”"You found another one, but I am the better one. I won't let you forget me." - Lucid Dreams"I think it’s important to add a personal aspect to your music – that’s what makes it authentic at the end of the day."“Music is the best way that I can communicate with other people” Billboard interview"It is hard to separate the art from the artist."“Some people don’t get the credit that they deserve strictly based on the color of their skin."Credit: XXL Magazine"Nobody on this earth is perfect. Everybody has their flaws; everybody has their dark secrets and vices."“I talk about a lot of issues I go through and some of my fans go through and try to create a fellowship where people can relate to each other.”"I just walked in the building. Look like a million, but I’m worth more than a million.""I had phases of listening to rap and trap, and then I had phases where I’d listen to post-hardcore, rap, grunge, metal… all that. I had different time periods of listening to different music. And now it all clashes together."“But now I got a bigger job, the world screaming my songs.”“My school had a radio show, and when I first decided to become a rapper, I was on there, and I would like, freestyle.”“Trust me—it’s cool to invest.”“Some people don’t get the credit that they deserve strictly based on the color of their skin. And technically speaking, my people made up those same genres. They created that sound in the first place.” -GQ Magazine"I feel like that’s what’s going to be most respected at the end of the day, that I’m able to do so many different things and become less of a rapper and just more as a musician.""I got family members that’s police officers. I don’t got no problem if you a cop, as long as y’all doing y’all job, and y’all not harassing.""Some people don’t get the credit that they deserve strictly based on the color of their skin. And technically speaking, my people made up those same genres. They created that sound in the first place."RELATED: 30 Music Quotes That Celebrate The Magic of Sound And Rhythm"Never been afraid to die but I always been afraid to die before I get where I’m going.""Words have a lot of power."“I freestyle everything.”“Words can be as sweet as candy or as sharp as a blade. That’s the beauty of it.”"My goal is to get overly famous, shine for a couple years then fake my death.”“I try my best to make time with music that doesn’t have an expiration date.”Credit: Getty Images“Honestly, the way I make music, you know it is like I don’t want to sound cocky or anything, but I try my best to make time with music that doesn’t have an expiration date.”"All I ever wanted was real love. Got a pint of the lean, I done lucked up."“I chase thrills, you still crashin’ Hot Wheels.”"I like to call myself an artist who can tap into a lot of different sounds. I can make a rap song, and then turn around and make music with a live band if I wanted to." -Elevator Magazine“It’s funny how the blessed ones had the most curses.”“I have these Lucid Dreams where I can’t move a thing.”“What’s the 27 club? We ain’t making it past 21.”"Nobody on this earth is perfect. Everybody has their flaws; everybody has their dark secrets and vices."“Roses are red, violets are blue, my heart is dead, I am such a fool.”“Either I grow with you or outgrow you, I am not standing still for nobody.”“I talk about a lot of issues I go through and some of my fans go through and try to create a fellowship where people can relate to each other.”Juice WRLD Quotes About RelationshipsGetty Images"You brought meaning to my life, all because of you I do right; because of you, I have a purpose; Fight for the world because you’re worth it.""It’s to the point where I love and I hate you."“You gave me a heart that was full of mistakes, I gave you my heart, and you made heartbreak.”“You found another one, but I am the better one. I won’t let you forget me.” -Lucid Dreams"We are trying to hide our feelings, but we forgot that our eyes speak.""I’m sad inside, but I know it’s for the best, right? You had to realize when you drew the line. I would cross the line a thousand times; you’ve got what I need, bae, I need your spotlight.""Can’t take back the love that I gave you.""She told me to put my heart in the bag and nobody gets hurt. Now I am running from her love I am not fast so I am making it worse." “You done woke me up from my eternal slumber, “I’m the lightning you’re the thunder.” -Flaws and Sins"If you ever get jealous, just remember I chose you out of everyone else." "You just gotta learn to live and love on."“All girls are the same. They are rotting my brain, love. Think I need a change before I go insane, love. All girls are the same. They are potting my brain. love. Think I need a change before I go.”"Once you fall in love you fall, there’s a reason why we use that word."“Don’t know when I met you, but I met you. Don’t know why I love you, but I love you.”Credit: FilmMagic, Steve Jennings“Don’t know when I met you, but I met you. Don’t know why I love you, but I love you. It is something bound by that dress, the way it fits you. I don’t even wanna tell you to take it off, but baby take it off.”“One thing my dad told me was, ‘Never let your woman know when you’re insecure."“Tell me you love me, tell me everything gon’ be okay. Tell me you love me, tell me you love me, and you gon’ stay.”“You said, ‘I love you,’ and I said it too. The only difference is, I didn’t lie to you.”“I still see your shadows in my room. Can’t take back the love that I gave you. It’s to the point where I love and I hate you.”“And I cannot change you, so I must replace you. Oh easier said than done.”“Who knew evil girls had the prettiest faces?”“Now I’m running from her love, I’m not fast. So I’m making it worse. Now I’m digging up a grave from my past.”“I don’t know if it’s because my heart hurts or if I am insecure.”"Why did I fall for you? I gave it all for you.""I bet if you someone you never even thought about giving a chance to you’ll be the happiest with.""They all always notice when you acting different but they never see what they did to make you start acting that way.""Even in high school, I went through a lot of relationship issues, and that’s at the center of my music.""You were my everything. Thoughts of a wedding ring. Now I’m just better off dead.""This type of love don’t always come and go.""Thank God, I finally found you. You put the light in my eyes when I’m around you."“Life is not the same with your pictures in my frame. Now that you’re here, I want nothing to change. You pick me up when I’m down; I need you around.”“Date me, break me, easily replace me. Hopefully you see it clear. Hopefully, it’s HD.”“The best feeling in the world is lying with my beautiful wife.”“I’ve been through the wringer, tryna put a diamond ring on her finger.”“Now I am insane, demons in my brain. Love, peace, I can’t obtain ‘cause all these girls the same, love.”KEEP READING:Bob Marley’s Deepest Thoughts – And How They Will Help You Reach a Higher Level

How BTS’s 'Map of the Soul' Was Influenced by Carl Jung’s Psychology
Pop Culture

How BTS’s 'Map of the Soul' Was Influenced by Carl Jung’s Psychology

With BTS’s buttery vocals, irresistible beats, and Carl Jung’s psychology in its mix (literally), Map of the Soul rocketed to success in spring 2019. At first listen, you might not expect the album to examine Jungian concepts. Just how psychological could tracks like “Boy With Luv” be?RELATED: Kendrick Lamar's New Song "The Heart Part 5" Is a Heart-Wrenching Tribute to the Power of ForgivenessYet for the BTS fan base (or “ARMY”), this connection is no surprise. After all, the band has been using music to inspire fans to better themselves, and defy cultural expectations, since their 2013 debut. But they are no strangers to weaving thoughtful literary references into their music.After diving into their Love Yourself era (2017-2018), it seemed logical for BTS to move forward with exploring the self.‘Map of the Soul: Persona’ Reflects Our Inner StrugglesKim Namjoon on the set of 'Intro: Persona.'“Who am I? The question I had my whole life,” raps BTS leader Kim Namjoon in the opening track, “Intro: Persona.” According to Jung, a persona is the mask we don throughout life. While we might not be singing and dancing on a global stage, we all have behaviors we use to feel accepted. We all ask ourselves, “Who am I?” Dr. Murray Stein, author of Jung’s Map of the Soul, for which the album was named, observes how the album wrestles toward authenticity. It moves intensely, mirroring the band’s inner turmoil. Every track is infused with themes like self-worth, self-deprecation and belonging. In “Mikrokosmos,” one of many love letters to fans, the band sings about finding wonder in our humanity: “Perhaps the reason this night looks so beautiful / Is not because of these stars or lights, but us.” RELATED: What Shrek and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" Teach Us About Rejection and PerseveranceFinally, Map of the Soul: Persona culminates in a chaotic track, “Dionysus,” which may seem like a detour from Jung into Greek mythology. Yet even this song points back to the persona. Some fans see “Dionysus” as BTS abandoning the mask because of how the Greek god casts away inhibitions. Meanwhile, others recall Dionysus as “the masked god," or even an “outsider among gods." These fans theorize BTS might feel similarly.And in a cutthroat industry, and societal pressures blown up on a global scale, who could blame them for yearning to be real?But what “being real” entails for BTS might feel more coherent in the second chapter of the Map of the Soul era.How ‘Map of the Soul: 7’ Expands on Jungian Archetypes(Image by: HYBE Corporation)Released in early 2020, Map of the Soul: 7 is the follow-up album to MoTS: Persona, and even features the latter’s tracks. Unsurprisingly, this album also calls back to Jung’s work. The Jungian archetype “shadow” refers to our repressed desires and flaws — what might not be acceptable — while our “ego” is the conscious part of our psyche. In “Interlude: Shadow,” Suga raps about wanting it all. On the other hand, J-Hope raps about finally trusting himself in the introspective and joyful “Outro: Ego.” RELATED: How Frank Ocean Outsmarted His Record Label and What That Teaches Us About Self-BeliefThe album’s duality results in a profound, nuanced glimpse of self-actualization. We are never all shadow, ego, or our persona. We exist in multiplicities. Likewise, songs like “Louder than bombs” and “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal,” which focus on the love between BTS and ARMY, underline the “collective unconscious,” which Carl Jung believed was a reservoir of the human experience and knowledge we all inherit. For instance, in “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal,” BTS details how they overcame their hardships together — as a band and as a collective with their fans. “We are not seven with you,” Jungkook sings as the song finishes, reminding listeners they’re never quite as alone as they might feel.Why Navigating BTS’s ‘Map of the Soul’ Era Matters(Image by: HYBE Corporation)This era is iconic for many reasons, from stunning choreography and music to commemorating the septet’s seven years in the industry. Most importantly, though, Map of the Soul shows how defining yourself means facing your past. Real growth means talking about your feelings and what you've gone through.RELATED: Bob Marley's Deepest Thoughts - and How They Will Help You Reach a Higher LevelBoth installments of MoTS reference BTS’s past music. “Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)” is a response to “Boy in Luv.” The gentle vocals of “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal” juxtapose the more aggressive sound of “We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2,” released in 2013. Rather than tear down their early concepts and music, BTS builds upon what’s familiar. With the help of Jung, they acknowledge the shadow, ego and persona they’ve constructed, and carve a new way forward from regret. A gorgeous experience, Map of the Soul reveals the turbulence of finding yourself and the marvel of embracing every aspect of your journey.KEEP READING: 120 BTS Quotes That Will Remind You to Follow Your Dreams

Beyoncé and Steven Spielberg Are 'Failures' - And That's Good News for You
Pop Culture

Beyoncé and Steven Spielberg Are 'Failures' - And That's Good News for You

What do Beyoncé and Steven Spielberg have in common? They’ve both failures. Or at least... they were at one point.No one likes to fail. Not even Beyoncé or Steven Spielberg, and it can be hard to imagine they ever did. Most of us have watched Beyoncé, who’s been in the spotlight for over two decades now, evolve into pop royalty. Steven Spielberg, meanwhile, has proven himself to be one of the most influential filmmakers of all time. But it wasn’t a smooth ride to the top for either of them.RELATED: At Almost 40, Beyoncé Finally Reveals Why She Had to Hide Her Real SelfBoth Beyoncé and Steven Spielberg overcame challenges early on in their careers that could have derailed them, but they chose to hold on tight and persevere.Failure hurts. It can feel devastating and humiliating; and yet, while many of us spend our lives trying hard to avoid it, it's an inevitable part of life. Luckily, we can actually learn from failing.By reframing how we view and understand failure, it can become a stepping stone to future success, and accepting failure is growth. Even the wildly successful celebrities we admire have failed along the way, which brings us again to Beyoncé and Spielberg.How Beyoncé Turned Failure Into Action(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)It’s hard to fathom, but prior to the reign of Queen Bey, Beyoncé faced a number of obstacles early on in her music career.Displaying talent for song and dance in childhood, her parents encouraged her to pursue her interests, and by the age of seven, Beyoncé won her first talent show, after she beat contestants twice her age with her performance of John Lennon’s “Imagine”.Then at nine years old, she and her friend Kelly Rowland were chosen to form an all-girls hip hop group called Girl’s Tyme. Like many showbiz hopefuls, Girl’s Tyme’s manager signed them up to compete on Star Search in 1993, but to everyone’s surprise, they lost... to a band called Skeleton Crew.RELATED: 5 Daily Habits to Steal from Beyonce, Including Her Powerful Trick for Loving Her Flaws“In my mind we would perform on Star Search, we would win, we would get a record deal, and that was my dream at the time. There’s no way in the world I would have ever imagined losing as a possibility,” remembered Beyoncé.Up until that point, she’d collected a lot of wins, so the loss came as a shock at first, but she redirected her initial disappointment into action. Determined to not let the group’s potential go to waste, Beyoncé’s father, Mathew Knowles, quit his job to manage Girl’s Tyme on a full time basis.After changing their name to Destiny, Beyoncé and the girls signed a deal with Elektra Records. But before they even got a chance to release an album, they were dropped by the record company less than a year later. It was yet another devastating blow, but the team was determined, until Elektra’s loss became Columbia Records’ gain in 1996, and Destiny became Destiny’s Child.After enjoying phenomenal success, Destiny’s Child eventually parted ways and Beyoncé launched her career as a solo artist. “My mother taught me the principles of hard work, setting my own goals and visualizing my future,” Beyonce told Essence. Throughout her career, Beyonce has modeled determination, drive and discipline and today, she is the most Grammy-awarded female artist of all time. Can you imagine if she’d given up on her dream following her 1993 Star Search loss? The world would be a lesser place because of it.Steven Spielberg: Film School Reject to Academy Award Winning DirectorSteven Spielberg spent his teenage years dabbling in filmmaking, but his dreams of making it big were nearly shattered after the University of Southern California (USC) rejected his application not once, but three times.He was turned down because his “C” average didn’t meet the film school’s academic threshold. His clap-back at the time was pretty spectacular: "'Well,'" he remembers saying at the time, "'I understand you allow people in football and basketball to play here and they have C averages,’” remembered Spielberg. “'If you can make a basket or throw a football, you can get in here, too.'”He wasn’t ready to give up quite yet, though. Set on studying film, Spielberg tried his luck again and applied to California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) film school. This time, he got in.RELATED: Steven Spielberg: Listen to Your IntuitionNot long after his acceptance into the program, he landed an internship at Universal Studios, where he completed his first short film, Amblin. After the film caught the attention of Sid Sheinberg, who was vice president of Universal at the time, Spielberg was offered a seven-year directing deal with the company. This made him the youngest film director to ever secure a long-term deal with a major studio.He eventually dropped out to pursue his directing career full time, but returned to CSULB decades later and completed his degree in 2002. What would life even be without films like Schindler’s List, Jaws, Indiana Jones and E.T.? The Lessons about Failure Beyoncé and Steven Spielberg Can Teach Us(Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney)It’s crazy to think that the world could have been deprived of these two incredible talents had they stopped trying when they experienced failures. Perhaps what’s most inspiring is not their myriad of accomplishments, but what they had to overcome before getting there.Beyoncé and Steven Spielberg’s rocky paths to success remind us that no one is immune to failure and that, in fact, failing is a key part of the process of reaching our goals.RELATED: Top 15 Inspiring Steven Spielberg QuotesNext time you’re faced with a setback, no matter how big or small, remember what matters most is how you react to the perceived failure. Of course, it’s important to let ourselves feel disappointed, or even scared, but the key to eventual success lies in our ability to keep moving forward. Beyoncé and Spielberg didn’t let failure define them. Why should you?KEEP READING:Michael Jordan’s Most Powerful Life Lessons For When You Feel Like a Failure

Here’s Why J. Cole’s 'Love Yourz' Will Make You A Happier, More Grounded Person
Pop Culture

Here’s Why J. Cole’s 'Love Yourz' Will Make You A Happier, More Grounded Person

J. Cole is easily regarded as one of hip hop’s greatest artists and lyricists of all time. His work has stood the test of time and each of his projects has built upon each other. Known especially for his writing and decadent flows, his work is unique in that he often speaks of issues that are uncommon in hip hop. Cole has often spoken of ego, arrogance and jealousy on the rise to the top, but also family, love and protection. His seminal project, 2014 Forest Hills Drive is still considered his best work of all time. The project was certified triple platinum in May 2019 (selling over 350,000 copies within it’s first week alone), a testament to Cole’s powerful following as he accomplished the feat with absolutely no features on the project. The album is a culmination of Cole’s life, from the suburbs of Fayettevile, North Caroline to the eventual top of hip hop’s coveted mountain. The story brings us into the world of our protagonist who is on the verge of accomplishing all of his dreams, making it big in Hollywood and beginning to self-actualize all that he’s ever dreamed of. Throughout the journey Cole realizes the entire dream is smoke and mirrors. Though he’s accomplished all he’s ever dreamed of, Cole is still unfulfilled and this leads him on a journey of self-discovery for what’s actually important in life. The project itself is understated, beautiful and a powerful portrait of a young black artist who rose from nothing to achieve everything he ever wanted. At the last moment he turns around in realizing that nothing is valuable without family and community to share in the moments. Why J. Cole Created Love Yourz(Getty)Love Yourz, the closing track from 2014 Forest Hills Drive is a poignant letter to Cole’s community about success, the downfalls of fame and wanting things we don’t have. Gratitude is at the center of all enlightenment. Understanding that you have to be comfortable and secure with what you have, and not obsessed with what others have is key to being present in the moment and finding enjoyment with those around you. “No such thing as a life that's better than yours; no such thing as a life that's better than yours (love yours),” Cole sings in the opening lines of the track. A simple, yet powerful line that indicates a transformation in Cole and his mindset. Even more powerful is that it’s rare to find a verse that speaks to this in the hip hop community, which is often centered around flexing what you do have over others, and painting aspirational moments within your life. “It's beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success; hear my words and listen to my signal of distress; I grew up in the city and know sometimes we had less; compared to some of my niggas down the block, man, we were blessed,” he continues. Cole pleads to his community to understand that although he has accomplished something most only dream of, it’s the process that was the true gift and fulfillment. Success is only a consequence of the work, and once you reach that mountaintop you’re likely to find that it was the journey you were so passionate about the entire time. “On the road to riches, listen, this is what you'll find; the good news is, nigga, you came a long way; the bad news is, nigga, you went the wrong way; think being broke was better,” Cole laments at the end of his first verse. He goes on to explain he means no disrespect to those struggling with everyday survival.He certainly does not mean to say that having no financial security is better than having it, however what he does mean is that those dreams we often build-up in minds are not all that they seem to be. It’s easy to look left, and right and pick out all the things we don’t have, but in order to achieve a powerful state of gratitude and happiness, we also need to accept that it’s in our nature to feel unsatisfactory with the present moment. Happiness is not a state of being, but a passing emotion. It’s important to be aware of that fact and try and find the positives in every situation we find ourselves in. Undoubtedly, it’s the reason we see millionaires doing their ultimate best to become billionaires and so one. Greed is at the cornerstone of unfulfilled feelings. “Livin' with nothin' to lose, I hope one day you hear me. Always gon' be a bigger house somewhere, but n*gga feel me, long as the people in that motherf*cker love you dearly. Always gon' be a whip that's better than the one you got, always gon' be some clothes that's fresher than the ones you rock; always gon' be a b*tch that's badder out there on the tours, but you ain't never gon' be happy 'til you love yours.”Jermaine ColeCole finishes his song with an earnest letter to his people. There will always be more elegant houses, faster cars, expensive clothing but none of that will actually help you achieve the happiness we are all inevitably looking for as humans. (Getty)Daily Practices of Gratitude Happiness is a difficult concept to grasp in all reality. It means so many different things to different people. At the cornerstone of happiness is understanding and acknowledgement. Gratitude for that which we have, and awareness of all the things so many people lack. In today’s Instagram-influenced world, it’s hard to avoid seeing all the amazing things people are seemingly up to all the time. Though we know all too well that much of what we see on social media is fake, it still strikes a note within our minds that we aren’t living as lavishly as we want to. Being able to catch ourselves, and ground ourselves in these moments are unbelievably important. Being present, and engaging with the environment and people around you will help lead you to a more fulfilling life. You’re no longer spending time, and wasting your life worrying about all that you’re missing out on, instead you’re experiencing life first-hand with that which you do have.

Stevie Wonder’s Happy Birthday: How The Legendary Artist Helped Give MLK A National Holiday
Motivation

Stevie Wonder’s Happy Birthday: How The Legendary Artist Helped Give MLK A National Holiday

Stevie Wonder is, and forever will be one of the most revered artists of the century. His work transcends generations, social classes and is laced with important moments of history throughout. He is respected as a songwriter, instrumentalist and activist to the greatest regard. There’s so many aspects one can take away from his work, and with such a strong catalog, it’s easy to overlook and take some of these inspiring moments for granted. One such moment is Stevie Wonder’s Happy Birthday, originally released in 1981 as the fourth single to his album, Hotter Than July. The song is an outright, beautiful celebration of the yearly milestone we all are lucky enough to experience. However, laced throughout the work is also a powerful note of activism and acknowledgement of one of America’s greatest leaders and civil rights heroes. Wonder wrote the song as a form of protest to fight for Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday to be recognized as a national holiday. He wanted the country to acknowledge the sacrifice MLK and his family made for the country, and for humanity in general. He asks a simple question throughout the song, “Why has there never been a holiday where peace is celebrated all throughout the world? The time is overdue.” MLK and The Civil Rights Movement(Getty)Martin Luther King Jr. will forever be one of the greatest civil rights icons in American history. His work pushed human rights for so many across the country and he will always be remembered as someone who chose peace over violence.His assassination was a massive shock to the country and all its citizens. During the 1960s, one of the most trying times in American history where JFK, Malcolm X, and RFK were all murdered in short succession, MLK's death left a massive hole in the civil rights ecosystem. Many found it hard to pick up the pieces and continue the legacy of King and his contemporaries. The torch was left to be carried on by the next generation of artists, thought-leaders and activists, of which Stevie Wonder rose to be a central figure. As an artist and musician, his work itself was boundary-breaking and transcendent. Wonder himself was a symbol of unity, that our differences did not make us and the very fact that there was hope for the country despite it being such a turbulent time. Stevie Wonder and Music as Activism(Getty)Music has always been a powerful force of activism and organization. Blues music itself was created as a result of American slavery, and it would go on to form the foundations of rock music as well. Artists are often leaders of their societies and cultures, despite being pushed to the sidelines of mainstream society. “Stevie Wonder makes these beautiful cakes: some people eat the frosting, others eat the middle and there’s so much meaning layered in there,” says Helado Negro, famed electronic musician and activist, “to write a song called Happy Birthday, which he must have known would be used as a celebration song for millions of people, and hide a message of unity in there was genius.""It’s no secret that this was a song about Martin Luther King, his death and people coming together to stop things like that from happening again. I think it’s a celebratory song with a protest edge.""There’s a lyric where he asked why can’t we have a day where we just celebrate peace? That’s the biggest protest song you can ever have. It’s an amazing way to make a song enlightening and fill you up with a positive feeling.""I think just because it’s a protest song it doesn’t have to have some sort of dogma attached, it can be more useful as a way to give people the energy to get out there and be heard. People get fed up with oppression and I think protest music can be fantastical and lead people to rethink, reposition and organize themselves.”Helado Negro is undoubtedly on point with his analysis. The genius of Stevie Wonder is in the method in which he left a powerful note of activism layered beneath a song millions would use on their birthday for decades to come. His ability to conceive that many people did not want to talk about social rights issues or acknowledge the rift in the United States at the time was spot on. Creating a message of unity, and similarities between all of us was a key in turning this song into the powerhouse moment it ended up being. The Legacy of Stevie Wonder's 'Happy Birthday'Wonder started the campaign for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in early 1981, understanding that such a massive event would help facilitate progress towards MLK’s dream of integration. Many found the idea for MLK Day preposterous, and with racism still running rampant throughout the country, it was no easy task to get the job done. However, Wonder stayed steadfast in his mission and belief that it was an important acknowledgement that must be made in order for the country to move forward as one. Wonder used his song "Happy Birthday" to popularize the campaign, and continued his fight for the holiday, holding the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981. President Ronald Reagan approved the creation of the holiday, officially signing it into existence on November 2, 1983. Seen below is Reagan and MLK's widow Coretta at the bill-signing ceremony.(Getty)The first official Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was to be held the third Monday of every January, took place on January 20, 1986. The event was commemorated with a large-scale concert, where Stevie Wonder was the headlining performer.Wonder would go on to perform the track all over the world, reaching a peak of #2 in the UK Charts. The song is still celebrated today and loved by fans around the globe. However, the legacy we celebrate on MLK day will forever be cemented in the history books and Stevie Wonder’s role in such a massive accomplishment will never be forgotten.

Here’s Why Tupac’s “Dear Mama” Will Teach You To Love Your Family Unconditionally
Pop Culture

Here’s Why Tupac’s “Dear Mama” Will Teach You To Love Your Family Unconditionally

As one of hip-hop’s greatest lyricists and all round personalities, Tupac Amaru Shakur will forever be remembered for his intense energy and unbridled intellect. He was an icon and symbol of hope for so many people on the west coast, bringing their unique sound and culture to the world stage. Although he sometimes wore a rugged exterior, Tupac was also known for his delicate heart and ability to touch his listeners emotionally in a way that hip hop superstars did not often do at the time. "Dear Mama" is one such track that not only has lasted the test of time, but continuously seems to garner new fans around the world. Many of which are often surprised to hear the soft and emotional side to an artist who has consistently been painted in a negative light. When it initially dropped in February 1995, it landed at the top of Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles list where it would stay for 5 consecutive weeks. It would peak at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well, and be certified platinum just 5 months later. It was also the third rap song ever entered into the Library of Congress, which claimed it was "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States… a moving and eloquent homage to both the murdered rapper's own mother and all mothers struggling to maintain a family in the face of addiction, poverty and societal indifference."“Dear Mama” Was an Exploration of Tupac’s Early Life(Getty)Shakur was born in 1971, in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan to two Black Panther Party revolutionaries and activists. Just days before his birth, his mother was acquitted of over 150 charges in the Panther 21 Trial. At the age of 13, Tupac moved to Baltimore with his mother as she struggled to find work and began to have issues with drug addiction. It was here that he would meet one of the greatest friends of his life and fellow artist, Jada Pinkett Smith. Things continued to become more difficult for Shakur and his family. At the age of 17, his mother kicked him out of the house. “When I was young, me and my mama had beef seventeen years old, kicked out on the streets. Though back at the time I never thought I'd see her face. Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place”Although Shakur admittedly had many disagreements with his mother, and early in his career they had no relationship at all. Pac still always knew the importance she played in his life. He especially was aware of the importance black women in general played in his community and the difficulties they faced as mothers and leaders in modern society. “I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell, huggin' on my mama from a jail cell. And who'd think in elementary, hey I'd see the penitentiary one day? And runnin' from the police, that's right. Mama catch me, put a whoopin' to my backside. And even as a crack fiend, Mama, you always was a black queen, Mama.”Tupac was known for his unbelievable level of self-awareness and ability to reflect. One of the most powerful lines from the track is the comparison he makes to himself, the similarities between his life and his mothers. One day he would also end up finding trouble with the law and doing time in jail for his crimes. Yet through it all he continued to remember his mother as the black queen she was and all that she’d given to him, despite her shortcomings. “For a woman it ain't easy tryin' to raise a man.You always was committed. A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it. There's no way I can pay you back, but the plan is to show you that I understand: you are appreciated.”Above all, Shakur appreciated the difficulty of raising a young black son as a woman in the inner cities of Manhattan and Baltimore. To be struggling with drug addiction on top of that just goes to show how strong Afeni Shakur really was. It’s no surprise she raised a revolutionary with a soft heart and understanding of the world around him, someone with the gift of touching the hearts of everyone he met. Tupac Shakur's Unconditional Love For His Mother Afeni(Getty)Afeni Shakur lived an immensely difficult life. Through revolution, activism and eventually an extremely tough battle with drug addiction, she faced things many people will never have to face. Her toughness and perseverance are undoubtedly reasons to admire her. She would go on to rehabilitate her drug issues later in life, and reconnect with her son who at this time, was an already famous and acclaimed artist. The fact that they were able to reconcile before Tupac’s death is evidence of his immense maturity and the love in both of their hearts. It’s not easy to look at those we love, who’ve often let us down and find forgiveness to offer. Yet, Dear Mama is a testament to why that is so important for our communities. Our family, especially our parents are the first people to watch us breathe life into this world, and despite their many shortcomings, they are simply humans doing their utmost best to achieve inner peace for themselves while providing you with a framework to make it on your own. “Look around you in this studio right now. I have women working on my music. They understand where I’m coming from. So does my mama,” Tupac explained in 1995, “I always play my music for her before it comes out. Why do you think I wrote ‘Dear Mama’? I wrote it for my mama because I love her and I felt I owed her something deep,” Tupac demonstrated his literary genius with that heartfelt letter to his mother on Dear Mama. He reminds us we may all find ourselves in positions we never imagined, alone with our decisions. It’s in those moments we need to rely on each other the most, and help each other find peace.

Bob Dylan’s Hurricane: How The Legendary Star Risked It All To Stand Up For What’s Right
Pop Culture

Bob Dylan’s Hurricane: How The Legendary Star Risked It All To Stand Up For What’s Right

Protest and music have long walked hand in hand towards a better world. Many visionaries have said that it is the responsibility of the artist to recognize and report the times, to be a voice or reflection for the people and to enact real change in the world. Some of the greatest activists and people of the past century were indeed great artists, poets, laureates and more. So it’s no surprise that one of the greatest, if not the greatest, songwriters of all time also did his fair share of work to extend the rights and freedoms of his fellow people. Bob Dylan will undoubtedly go down in the pantheons of history for his eclectic songwriting, purposeful poems and unusually distinctive vocals. However, his work beyond just the music is as impactful if not more. The Hurricane Carter Case(Getty)It was the summer night of June 17, 1966 that would change Rubin “Hurricane” Carter’s life forever. At 3:15 AM, shortly after a grisly triple homicide, Carter and his co-accused John Artis would be arrested in Paterson, New Jersey. They would be detained and interrogated for 17 consecutive hours before being released, then rearrested weeks later. Both Carter and Artis would be convicted a year after that and sentenced to life at Rahway State Prison in Avenel, New Jersey.At the time, Carter was a respected although somewhat controversial boxer and local figure. He ranked consecutively in the Top 10 Middleweight in the world just a year before the murders and was known for his powerful punching style, earning himself the nickname Hurricane. Faulty Evidence, Weak Eyewitness TestimonyThe entire testimony against Carter and Artis was based on weak eyewitness accounts, one of which came from a white man who was in the process of robbing a warehouse across the street as the murders took place. He also robbed the cashier’s till at the bar just minutes after the murders occured, then ran into police on his way out. It later came to light he was offered a reward by the police for his testimony which he never ended up receiving. Forensic evidence at the scene was also done without any experts present. All in all, the evidence against both defendants was barely enough to make a case, yet they were both sentenced to life regardless by an all-white jury.(Getty)It’s important to take into account the context and atmosphere in the United States of America at the time. Only a few years after the death of Malcolm X, and just a few years before the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, America was rife with political and social turmoil. The civil rights movement was in the crux of the largest battle it had seen to date and fighting to survive from all sides. Undoubtedly, racial tensions were at the highest they had ever been and were only continuing to rise. Standing by African-Americans at this time, despite being the humane and just thing to do, was still rare by white celebrities and the population in general. Many didn’t want to be seen taking sides in the face of such massive and encroaching institutions, and the norm was to stay quiet and focus on your work. Bob Dylan Sheds Light on Hurricane Carter(Getty)Bob Dylan, however, is a different soul altogether. After the controversy surrounding the case was brought to light, Dylan met with Carter at Rahway State Prison and heard his story firsthand. No stranger to writing protest music, Dylan decided to take a shot at creating a song that would help fight for justice in the Carter case. “Bob wasn't sure that he could write a song [about Carter]... He was just filled with all these feelings about Hurricane. He couldn't make the first step. I think the first step was putting the song in a total storytelling mode. I don't remember whose idea it was to do that. But really, the beginning of the song is like stage directions, like what you would read in a script: 'Pistol shots ring out in a barroom night.... Here comes the story of the Hurricane.' Boom! Titles. You know, Bob loves movies, and he can write these movies that take place in eight to ten minutes, yet seem as full or fuller than regular movies,” an excerpt from Heylin Clinton’s book, Bob Dylan, Behind the Shades Revisited, explains. (Getty)The song would end up reaching #33 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and proved to be one of Dylan’s best tracks of the 1970s. Billboard declared it “the most powerful song Dylan has recorded in a decade, combining the 'sensible hate' he showed in 'Masters Of War' with a perfect expression of the kind of injustice heard in 'The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll.'"Justice at Last for Hurricane CarterThe song would be released on Dylan’s January 1976 album, Desire to critical success and would garner support for Carter across the country. Dylan would go on to throw a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden raising over $100,000 to help Carter fight his case. Stevie Wonder and Ringo Starr would join Dylan in doing a similar concert in Houston. Despite winning a chance at a new trial, both Carter and Artis were found guilty again and sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in jail. It was 9 years later that a federal judge would order the release of both Carter and Artis, claiming racism played a major part in their initial conviction. Undoubtedly though, Dylan’s push for freedom and the massive attention he drew to the case played a huge role in granting Carter his freedom. Carter would go on to create a non-profit to help falsely accused people such as himself gain freedom again. (Getty)It’s important to recognize the bravery of Bob Dylan in stepping forth and shedding light on injustices in this case. It’s difficult to admit, but the reality is that this case is one of thousands, and many young, innocent black men are continuing to be locked away for things they never did. Without superstars like Bob Dylan to shed light on these cases, it’s more likely than not that Carter would be lost to the system like so many other innocent people. It’s easy to look away when you have everything. Stay out of trouble, away from controversy and mind your own business. In fact, that’s exactly how the system was built, to encourage you to do so. When people like Bob Dylan, someone with everything to lose, stands up for what’s right, it’s a reminder that we all have the responsibility to fight for those drowning in a system of injustice.

The Unbelievable Story Behind Kendrick Lamar’s 'Damn' And What It Can Teach You About Destiny
Pop Culture

The Unbelievable Story Behind Kendrick Lamar’s 'Damn' And What It Can Teach You About Destiny

It’s been 5 years since Kendrick Lamar’s seminal piece of work, DAMN, was released to the world and despite rumors of a new album on the way, there have been no signs or indications that the project is coming out anytime soon. Thankfully, the ever intricate DAMN is filled with enough gifts to leave listeners learning and pondering the music to this day. The work itself is powerful, intentional and littered with literary devices that only a true genius can pull together in one cohesive storyline. It’s no surprise that Kendrick won a Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2017, but he also deservedly took home a Pulitzer Prize for Music in the process. A key theme throughout DAMN is the role of fate and destiny within Kendrick Lamar’s life. Ever intertwined and constantly pulling the strings in the background of the young Compton lyricist’ life, it is fate that pulled Kendrick from the hostile streets of South-Central Los Angeles to the prophetical heights of international stardom. Even larger than fate however, is the small acts of fortitude and choice we make as humans that eventually lead us to where we are supposed to be. The Mindblowing Story of Top Dawg and Kendrick Lamar’s Father(Getty)Understanding Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN starts and ends with the final track, DUCKWORTH. Lamar stated soon after the album drop that the project can actually be played forwards and backwards with the same storyline playing out. Regardless of where you begin, you end at the very same idea that Lamar has skillfully planted for all of his listeners to take in. That without destiny protecting Kendrick and watching from over his shoulder, he probably would’ve died too young to fulfill his role as messiah of hip hop. DUCKWORTH begins with Lamar’s skillful imagery and description of the Nickerson Garden projects where a young Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith resided. As the oldest of seven it was up to him to provide for his family and make sure his younger siblings were taken care of. Adapting to the world around him, Tiffith took on a life of drug dealing and hustling to make ends meet. It wasn’t long before he graduated to selling high-end products that came with the price tag. Making his first million at only 20 years old, and as Kendrick describes, “the first in the projects with the two-tone mustang.” Undoubtedly it drew a lot of attention. This is where the story gets interesting, if not unbelievable. Just across the street from Top Dawg was a Kentucky Fried Chicken he used to frequent. At the window of this unassuming KFC, tucked away in the hidden streets of Los Angeles, worked a man known as Ducky. He came from inner-city Chicago, moving to LA with his wife, small child and only $500 in his bank account. Having known the reputation of Top Dawg and his associates, Ducky was an intelligent young man himself and as Kendrick describes, consciously made the effort to stay on Top Dawg’s good side. He gave him “free chicken every time Anthony posted in line,” Lamar’s lyrics state.And because of Ducky's generosity to Top Dawg, Triffith decided not to rob that very KFC. According to Kendrick's lyric, Triffith was planning to do so, but changed his mind, potentially sparing Ducky's life.“The first thing I asked [Kendrick] was, is this a true story?,” explains close collaborator, 9th Wonder, “he said yes, it’s a true story. Top Dawg has confirmed that it’s a true story. The beauty of that is, he chose to tell that story, and we’re like four albums in. Usually, people will tell that story the first time.” The Small Acts of Fate That Led to Kendrick Lamar's Reality(Getty)It was this tiny act of friendship, or survival depending on how you’d like to look at it that would change the face of hip hop forever. That young man, Ducky, who surreptitiously worked the window at a KFC somewhere in South Central Los Angeles would happen to be the father of hip hop’s greatest lyricist, Kendrick Lamar. Over a decade later Top Dawg would go on to sign Ducky’s now 15 year old son to his label, Top Dawg Entertainment, and the rest is history. 20 years later, Kendrick would re-introduce the two men in a studio in Los Angeles to both of their surprises.“Top himself didn’t know I was going to do it or even execute it in that fashion,” explains Kendrick, “to be the last song or to be anywhere. Just making it make sense. I remember playing it for him, he flipped because further than the song, when you really can hear your life in words that is so true to you and that effected your life one hundred percent through one decision, it really makes you sit back and cherish the moment. I think that’s something we all did playing that record. Like, man, look where we at. We’re recording music for the world to hear and we’re taking care of our families. We’re blessed.”Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Damn’ Will Make You Question Your Sense of Control(Getty)Lamar delivers a masterclass in storytelling and fate in this powerful piece of art. Above all, he shows his listeners how little acts of random human interaction will lead you exactly to where you’re supposed to be. That, in and of itself, is what fate is. These seemingly random occurrences can bring a young, black child from one of the most dangerous hoods in America to the highest heights that life can offer. There’s something to take away for anyone who listens. The obvious conclusion is that it’s important to embody kindness and openness to everyone you meet, because you never know how your paths may cross again. However, even more powerful: the idea that you are constantly on the road to your own enlightenment. Every small step is a part of the journey, and having faith and understanding in that single point will lead you to self-actualization. Destiny is ever-changing, disintegrating then reforming in front of our eyes. We are simultaneously in control of it while also being at its mere mercy at all times. Letting go allows one to fully embrace all that is around them, the wonder of the world and where it is taking them.