literature
Beat's music literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase musicians.
The Softer Side of Tupac Shakur: Poetry, Life, & Wisdom. Top Story - September 2022.
When most of us hear the name Tupac Shakur, we think of 90s rap music and a rather tough exterior. But underneath that hard shell lies a much softer side of him that few people realize existed. After his death, some of his most intimate, hand-written poems, including a book of his childhood poetry and illustrations, were uncovered. His poetry, which is quite heartfelt and profound, offers a window into his personal life, allowing us to see far beyond his hip-hop persona. While the lyrics in some of his rap songs were offensive enough to insult most women and anyone he hated, his poetry is quite the contrast with his music and the image he portrayed.
By Jennifer M. Ward3 years ago in Beat
Five Books Every Writer Should Own
Writing has always been part of my life in one way or another. As a child, my journey began with writing short stories and poems about family summer vacations. As a teenager, I kept a journal for many years, writing about crushes and teenage drama. Today, I’m grateful that I can say it is a daily part of my life. As most people would expect, I write a lot as an English Teacher and an MFA student. But I also spend substantial time working on my creative writing. Whether our passion is technical writing, copywriting, creative writing, or something else, as writers, we never stop improving our craft or looking for work.
By Jennifer M. Ward3 years ago in Beat
It's still falling down...
Thank you for the track All Falls Down. A long time ago, when life was simpler, this was simply a song with a funky beat and great lyrics that had a great vibe to it. Those were my adolescent days with my juvenile problems that felt like true cataclysmic catastrophes. Those would pale in comparison to the things that stress me today. This song speaks volumes about the trials and tribulations one will encounter on the road to glory. I’m sure we all know how the song goes, but take into consideration the separate phases the song goes through in just a matter of minutes. Now I’m writing solely based on my own experiences and interpretations of the song. I’ve second-guessed both of my degrees from the moment I got them because it’s so hard to find passion in a field with little to no grey area. “That major that she majored in don’t make no money.” Story of my life. Because the money to be made entails becoming a person I’m not equipped to be. Selling yourself for a dollar is the theme. I thought I could find security in a field that wouldn’t deviate so far from the rules and that hasn’t been the case. The song itself reminds me that things will continue to go wrong as long as you keep focusing on all the wrongs around you. It takes a strong mind to be able to see the positives around you whenever everything seems darkest. The song will transcend time and generations because the problems depicted in the song have continued to plague our society. Many will criticize a person that decides to overlook their shortcomings for the pursuit of happiness. But those same people will also advise you to do what makes you happy. The contradiction lies in the fact that advice can only seem sound when that person is happy with their situation. The struggles we encounter will always be in abundance. It helps define us because the person that rises from being knocked down is never the same person that went down. You rise a little tougher, a little wiser, a lot more determined.
By The Omnipotent Deity3 years ago in Beat
Ice Riverville and Jack
I held Holly's hand as we waited outside the hotel for Jack and Sarah I was nervous I looked down at Holly she was excited she loved the zoo as she loved animals Marie had been happy for me to take Holly with me as she knew it would help me be more comfortable with going out with Jack and Marie was even more happy to have some alone time with Trevor for the first time in quite a long time Marie and Trevor didn't like to go out and leave Holly as they adored her, I saw Jack and Sarah approaching and I started to feel sick was this mistake.
By Jessica Howard4 years ago in Beat
My Boy Builds Coffins
My son is a carpenter like his father before him. Every day he rises with the sun, a hammer clenched in his fist and nails stuck between his teeth. Woodcraft is his passion, the grime of dust another layer of skin. Splinters and nicks cover his fingers, but they don’t bother him. He’s used to the pain. His workshop is small but filled with the tools of his trade. Hand planes and chisels line the walls, vises and clamps are strewn about on his workbench. He knows each of them personally, an extension of his own body. Part of his very soul.
By Rebecca Loomis 4 years ago in Beat
Damn You, Dave Grohl, You Made Me Cry
To say I wasn't always as impressed with the man's work as I am today would be an understatement. It was around 1996 and my big sister was going through her angsty Nirvana phase. Wearing flannel, a pair of Levi's 501s and a bomber jacket, her hair with that poor girl's Billie Eilish look, black with blue roots, that comes from the dangerous combination of teenagers and box dye. Nirvana's Nevermind playing every day, at ear-shattering volume. Her room, always with the windows covered with black curtains, with a huge poster of her idol, Kurt Cobain.
By Taru Anniina Liikanen4 years ago in Beat
HOME
Departure Trouble back home demanded change. So, like a leaf blown from its tree too early I left home on a gloomy morning. I can still remember my crying grandma waving me off, understanding the situation a lot better than me. She weeps on departure every time, and I dread the moment she’s not there to cry for me, just like the old dog that’s not there anymore to greet me in frenzied excitement, hump my leg and lay down next to me when I stumble home drunk.
By Viktor Hadzhiyski4 years ago in Beat
