#BmoreBeatClub Celebrates 2nd Anniversary Outdoors In Front of Hundreds at Annual Festival (A #DocsCastle Recap)

The Bmore Beat Club lit the corner of Charles Street and North Avenue over the weekend with their 2nd Annual Celebration at The Ynot Lot. Hundreds gathered at the lot participating in festival activities by watching producers, rappers, and MC’s collaborate in a hip-hop experience unique to Baltimore’s Art Scene.

Bmore Beat Club is an open mic organized by The Lineup Room with a purpose of bridging relationships between MCs and producers. It’s not your commonly found Open Mic in Baltimore, either. At BBC, producers bring their best compositions to the forefront while rappers reveal their true lyricism in collaboration with producer’s beats. Everything is done on stage in front hip-hop fans. This unique experience takes you back to a time when hip-hop was first birthed in New York City, but BBC delivers with its own Bmore twist.

Over the weekend, locals made cameo appearances in celebration of BBC’s second year running. Baltimore artists such as DDM, Icon Tha God, Chase Ultra, Doowy Lloh, Donnie Breeze, and many more graced Ynot’s corner with a fiery presence and lots of thriving energy. The night’s turnout was beyond what was expected, and the crowd welcomed the raw talent with love and respect.

It was just a tiny hump during the show, but The Lineup Room continued to prevail. There were miniature electrical malfunctions that may have stolen 10 minutes of the festival’s time. But evening’s innovators turned downtime into time travel, as rappers quickly formed a circle center of the crowd sparking an old school cypher. It was a spectacular save, and the night was at hip-hop’s original state, once again.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=docscastlemedia&set=a.1151727191533214

At that moment, the turn-up became real and electrifying performances of talent from different corners of the city showed everyone what they had to offer. In seeing all the positivity, there was no doubt the open mic was a success.

The Lineup Room awarded the winner of the open mic with an EP record deal, 100 CDs, music video, and public relations services. A great package for the determined and goal-driven recording artist.

The open mic ended promptly at 11 PM, but the celebration was far from over. Bmore Beat Club after party was held at The Crown, just 3 doors down from The Ynot Lot. So event-goers could mingle some more and not make huge commutes outside of the Station North art grounds.

Bmore Beat Club is an ongoing open mic held every second Thursday of the month. If you’d like to feel what an original hip-hop experience in Baltimore is like, be sure to stop by Maryland Art Place in downtown Baltimore for Episode 25 on September 8th. Stay updated with other opportunities by The Lineup Room by following their Facebook and Instagram page at @lineuproomstudio.

Did you know Bmore Beat Club Open Mic was not the first of event of its kind? Read about my experience attending Beat Trip on Doc’s Castle Media.

Writers In Baltimore School Ends Summer Writing Program with Bang for Annual Reading Celebration at Red Emma’s Bookstore and Coffeehouse

Each year, Writers in Baltimore School recruit middle and high school students into a one- week summer reading and writing program to help promote proficient reading and writing skills within Baltimore City Urban youth. To end their annual closing ceremony this year, the student’s mentors and writing coaches encouraged students to read projects they worked on throughout the summer to their family and friends a Red Emma’s Bookstore and Coffeehouse on North Avenue.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=docscastlemedia&set=a.1147191958653404

Students took turns performing front and center at Red Emma’s mic to recite their best work on various topics. Beautiful and thought-provoking pieces on subjects such as love, respect, and inspiration. Some students even opened up to sharing their thoughts on deeper topics like heartbreak, death, and injustice. These youngsters showed their versatility with words.

The students of Writers in Baltimore School let their listeners in on what’s happening in their heads. While listening to this talented group’s thoughts, I had to take a step back and admire what these kids were contributing. As adults, we can easily overlook what these students care about. We forget that the decisions that our society makes affects them, as well. Hearing the stories and poems of how these students felt about their communities and culture stuck with me.

Our children’s future matters. They’re our decision-makers for how we will live later down the line. So what happens in our society should make enough sense for them to understand because they live in cohabitation with the rest of us. I sometimes wonder how these kids end up getting the short end of the stick from the adults who make the decisions for them? To think when we make decisions to discontinue grading homework in our Baltimore County Schools or when we abolish after school programs and recreational centers because of lack of funding, how it can do more harm, than good. Writers In Baltimore School programs bring us back full circle in reminding us that the youth is who matters.

Writer’s In Baltimore’s mission as stated on their Facebook page states:

“WBS seeks to provide middle school students with a vibrant environment for literary development through in-school, afterschool, and summer creative writing workshops taught by Baltimore writers and college students. Compared to higher income peers, the reading assessment scores of low-income Baltimore students drop significantly between grades 5-8. WBS believes that by supplementing low-income students’ middle school language arts learning with an intensive program in literary reading and creative writing, these students can enter high school with a renewed interest in literature. WBS steps in where the traditional language arts classroom falls short by giving students a smaller, more participatory setting to hone reading and writing skills.”

It could be cliché for me to say this quote, but I can wholeheartedly attest there is truth behind the phrase, “Reading is fundamental.” Reading can take a person places they’ve never been. It can make people experience things they’ve never done, and provide opportunities once someone unlocks knowledge from the pages read. While listening to the students talk of the summer books they read, and of the short stories and poems they wrote, I learned what each individual had experienced personally. I believed their summer classes changed them in a way that helped them grow. The experience was fundamental.

Writers In Baltimore Schools hold a variety of workshops; in-school, after school, song-writing, and theater themes. Would you say programs like WBS are helping our community and youth? Share your thoughts below.

My Confessions on Being A Chronic Journalist

Journaling could be the window of success.

As promised before in my blog A Life Brand New, one of my goals for 2016 is to write more inspirational posts. By sharing more about myself and allowing my readers in on more about my life, I hope to inspire more people to look within themselves to becoming better people. I want more people to do more to live fulfilling lives. So my first blog to inspire will be sharing one secret about myself that I have which I believe contributes to majority of my successes throughout life.

I am a “chronic journalist,” and I love it!

What is Chronic Journaling?

Chronic journaling is the act of writing in a journal or notebook on a consistent and very regular basis. It’s like leaving your very own breadcrumbs to finding a better plan for tackling issues, both big and small, in your life. It’s the busy mind’s way of thinking out loud, except it’s done on record and makes it easier to remember things.

There are so many benefits to keeping a personal notebook to write in on a daily basis. If someone was to take on the hobby of chronic journaling, life could turn into a routine, and easier to navigate to new task or goal. Dreamchasers could learn how to better organize by creating series of lists; like shopping lists, to do lists, or brainstorming lists. The journal could be used to hold new business ideas for the ambitious individual. It could be used for seizing boredom giving someone something to occupy their mind while they’re on idle from their most daunting duties. Some people even carry journals to collect pictures and quotes that inspire and motivate. Journals are used as your personal assistant and can be the tool to harper so much more potential for yourself.

Journaling Is A Big Part of Me

Journaling matters a lot to me because of the backstory of how I started making it into a hobby. I started doing it as mimicking behavior from watching my favorite 90s cartoons keep journals. I watched shows like Hey Arnold, Doug, and As Told By Ginger-all shows who main characters had diaries- and thought how awesome it would be to read about my life someday, reminiscing about memories. I started my diary entry phase in elementary school while I was young, very shy and quiet. Those were my days of literally talking about what I did throughout the day. You could only imagine how boring those entries were. Who’d want to listen to an 8 year old talk about getting grounded for going outside when their parents wasn’t home when they specifically told her to stay in? Not even me.

Glad I outgrew that phase.

As I’ve matured onto my puberty years, my writings had more meaning and purpose. The pages in my books developed more meaning because of new surroundings. During those years, my Journaling became a getaway from friends who had various types of personalities. Most of my friends were very dominant and outspoken kids, whose ideas were the height of the era. I didn’t think my thoughts mattered to others back then. I was more comfortable being observant and reserved as I learned more about people and how they communicated. I wasn’t sure of my own ideas and feelings, and I’ve always had that notion to wait until I was certain about my thoughts or how I felt before I decided to speak. Journals helped me to sort out my problems and how to tackle my daily little life struggles.

I have journals of all sorts from sketch, composition, notepads, diaries, pocket books and blogs.

It wasn’t until I’ve gotten older that I realized that what I loved to do was common amongst the world’s greatest thinkers, as well. There are many successful people who are known to carry a journal to write down their most precious ideas, savoring them for later opportunities to pull whenever life shows it’s ready for the next bright idea. While reading a blog from Art of Manliness, I learned of many famous people who turned to their trusty pocket notebooks for an outlet to brainstorm for great works. Famous people like Thomas Edison, Pablo Picasso, George Lucas, and so many more used their books to harper their greatest ideas. Some of those ideas were used to change how we did things and our entire way of life.

Journaling Saved My Life

Now as an adult, I consider my journal habit as a chronic habit I’m unable to quit without there being repercussions for delaying my routines. It’s not a bad thing to have such a habit. It contributes to a lot of my success. But what I enjoy the most about it is its ability to give me a proud feeling whenever I look back to it’s pages and find that I’ve finally completed something I’ve planned on for months, or sometimes years. Even while going through something emotional and I’ve used my journal to help grieve, it feels great to look back and know that I’m no longer feeling that pain anymore. I’ve found a way to turn my hurt into something beautiful.

Journaling helped me get through my best and more importantly worse of times. Journaling brought me to blogging, which kept me out of trouble as I’ve always had a hard time choosing the correct friends to hang with. Blogging was my escape from the drama and gossip that my peers took an interest in. Instead of indulging in continuing gossiping with the people around me, I focused my mind on learning how to journal online by creating Doc’s Castle Media. It’s why you’re reading this today.

Journaling has never been a stressful task to do. I’ve always loved it. I loved having a moment to myself to meditate with my own thoughts. It makes me more aware of me and that’s a capability many people lack. I take pride in it. From experience I know journaling should be introduced to the youth because helps to gain self-awareness. In a world that’s becoming too busy by its inhabitants to teach their children in public schools systems the power of getting to know oneself, journaling becomes a great self educator. I attest to it, and if there ever was a time a class could be taught on journaling, I’d love to help teach it. I’m waiting for that day.

Conclusion

My only goal for each journal I’ve started was to fill the pages with my thoughts because this is how I see myself being heard. When I write, people listen. This is how I’ve always gained respect. It’s how I’ve always gotten people to notice me. Through writing, I believe I can live forever because even when I’m gone, people will still be able to hear my thoughts. I always thought when you found that thing that could make you feel like you can live eternally, you’ve found a passion and a gift.

To me, It’s not enough to write on your own, or whenever the time is right. My journals became the window of success through frequent follow up observations. Any dreamchaser would allows their blueprints to become their motivator, organizer, or friend. By literally writing anything that comes to mind and faithfully sticking to it, I’ve allowed my books to become my blueprints to lead a more successful life. I would encourage anyone to take up this hobby because it’s therapeutic. Every page filled makes you feel good that you’ve gotten a thought out of your mind and on “concrete” paper. To be a chronic journalist, it keeps me and the people working around me in order. I thank my habit and others do as well.

I am a chronic journalist. #MyThoughtsMatter.

Would you consider chronic journaling as a good way to help accomplish some of your goals? What helps you to achieve? Tell me about your habits. Leave in the comments below.

Would you like to learn how to become a chronic journalist? Be sure to come back to learn tips for how to become a chronic journalist on Doc’s Castle Media.

Alissa Feré Takes It To The Field For The Release of 2015 Mixtape “Songs From Da Dugout”

As an insider for the release of my 2015 mixtape Songs From Da Dugout, I decided to give my readers a few snapshots to look at while they wait for my project to drop next month.

I decided to get a little creative for this release. I thought Why should I leave you guys with only an expected date for my project? I should give you a little more, and maybe some more background to what to look forward to. So I partnered up with my favorite photographer/blogger to give something extra as we wait for my dropping day.

Songs From Da Dugout is a representation of my emotions. Often I feel I’m left in limbo on a lot of issues when I’m dealing with guys. I think lots of women can relate. It can feel like I’m sitting in a dugout waiting to be called on for the next play. It can get restless waiting on these guys, and they should know that I don’t wait very long for my moment.

Women have so many questions that could be left unanswered while waiting on their next call in a partnership; there’s so many expectations that should be fulfilled on the behalf of the man that aren’t met in relationships. I relate to those women because when someone’s left in the dugout, how is anyone expected to win the game? How is anyone expected to conquer the battle?

These brothers got us yelling to the coach like, “Come on. Call me, coach! I’m ready to play.”

The photo shoot was conducted by Briana Ragler of Rebellious Rebel, also known as hip-hop artist Boutzie’. She did a great job. What do you think?

Look out for “Songs From Da Dugout” dropping in March 2015!

Have you heard “Pleasant Nightmares,” single from 2015 tape Songs From Da Dugout? Check out “Alissa Feré Releases Title & Promo Art For Spring 2015 Project” on Doc’s Castle Media.

Watch behind the scenes of my photo shoot via Briana’s Blog, Rebellious Rebel.

http://youtu.be/1uU6n3zTuko