Macklemore & The Sultan Of Swag April 18 2013, 0 Comments
Life is something else..
Everyday I'm able to see how Amazing God is in blessing us all. We are all blessed everyday that we breathe and some of us are blessed to find out what we were put on this earth for at an early age.
You know that you're getting old when you get on with life and ask around about how certain family members and friends are doing and you just say okay and keep on going down the list happy that everyone is still alive and progressing. Well I had that conversation over 2 years ago about a few friends and family members and this post is about one of them.
I had asked my brother about how family back in Seattle was doing. He told me they were doing well, we somehow got into talking about our cousins the Arunga's. He told me that Uncle Dave was now the Kenyan Ambassador in Egypt, Momma Marsha was in Seattle, The sisters were doing well and all grown up and Owuor was still doing music playing his trumpet with a band. I recall being amazed at Uncle Dave and reached out to our little cousin and told her to let her dad know that I wanted to visit Egypt and have full Immunity lol.. Still it did not click
January of 2012 I reached out to my little cousin and the family to invite them to our Son's Baby Shower in Seattle. I remember it was small talk and he told me that he was working on Music and that it was "History in the Making" and congratulated me on joining the fatherhood club. We flew to Seattle, I saw a few friends and family, came back to Phoenix and kept it moving.. Still it did not click
Back on facebook here and there i'd see postings from family etc about Owuor performing in different cities etc, etc.. Still it did not click. I thought he was travelling and doing Jazz music in nightclubs playing his trumpet. It still did not click
One Night I was up late and one of my favorite inspirational rapper tweeted a photo and mentioned my cousins name in Idaho. I did a double take.. It still did not click.. What was Dee 1 doing in Idaho and what was my little cousin Owuor doing with Rappers? So I tweeted them both back that night. Owuor responded that he was with a Group called Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. It still did not click. I said congrats and to hit me up if they ever made it to Phoenix..
So I did a little research and saw some pictures of shows and thought Ok, they seem to be building a little traction. Good job for Owuor, It was starting to click a little. Then one day I started seeing the name Macklemore and Thrift Shop showing up everywhere I looked online.. Then It hit me.. Whoaaaaaaa.. Is this the Group my little cousin was telling me about 2 years ago? So I clicked the Video.. and there he was in the middle of it all playing his trumpet all over America's Hit Song.. It Finally Clicked.
I was filled with joy to see that someone I knew was living out their dreams the way we all dream of doing it. Let alone they were all from Seattle and I never thought I'd see a group do it since Nirvana did in the 90's..
You know how everyone tries to tell you a story about someone they know or a family member and say things like, "I gave him his 1st toothbrush and that's why he's Dentist of the Year now" etc, Etc.. Well I have one of those too, cause that's what we humans tend to do when we are excited for someone. Not out of jealousy but as an anchor to show how LIFE has soooo many paths that it can take and those who follow their instincts usually reach their goals while others keep on searching.
Back in Seattle, I started playing the Trumpet in the 4th Grade because I liked the appeal of it. That following year I started playing Baseball as well. I remember Owuor & my cousins coming to America from Kenya when I was in the 5th Grade and we'd usually be at each others houses. I was always practicing my Trumpet when he would be over and playing Baseball outside.. As a younger cousin closest in Age to me, he was drawn to both. I don't remember how that pivotal point in his life went, but since it's my story and blog we'll just say that I encouraged him to Start playing the Trumpet and Baseball too lol.. Which he did, He came on my baseball team and Started playing trumpet as well. In the 6th Grade, I quit playing the trumpet because I didn't see a future in it and pursued Baseball. Owuor quit baseball and Kept playing the Trumpet.
He continued playing and as we reached Highschool, He was playing in the band. He knew what he wanted and that trumpet gave him joy. I remember a few times he got to travel with the Jazz band and I travelled with the baseball team. I eventually graduated Highschool, went to the University of Washington and pursued Baseball there. I walked on and played my freshman year but was cut right before the season started. I stopped after that, Moved to Arizona State and Life kept on going.
Owuor Kept on Playing, I'm pretty sure like all of us who have our passions for certain dreams that we want to obtain we are hit with setbacks. Not once or twice, but many times. We read and hear stories about how it's not how you fall but how you get back, yadi, yadi.. But i'm sure now looking back that since I left Seattle over 13 years ago, My little cousin faced life head on like everyone else and i'm sure he kept in tune with his heart and kept going.
When I saw him this past weekend playing his trumpet on the MTV Awards with so much joy like he first did when he picked it up, My heart was re-energized. I saw a young man in my eyes achieve his goals and now reaping his rewards 20+ years later. I was reminded of when Jesus was telling his disciples that if you ONLY had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to Move and it will. I see in my little cousin Owuor, His friends Macklemore & Ryan Lewis that same faith in their craft that they told EVERY mountain of doubt that was on their path to KEEP MOVING until their mustard seed grew into what we now see and congratulate. To that I say Thank You Owuor, You have given me a practical look into the faith i'm studying in to real life issues. I wish you the best journey and many more successes in this life. I pray that you continue playing that Trumpet like you first did because it's that Same Love you had for it that has brought you all of your Treasures.
Thank You & God Bless Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Heist & Owuor Arunga and anyone else right now that is pursuing their dreams. Don't give up. If you Don't Quit, You'll Win
Life is something else..
Everyday I'm able to see how Amazing God is in blessing us all. We are all blessed everyday that we breathe and some of us are blessed to find out what we were put on this earth for at an early age.
You know that you're getting old when you get on with life and ask around about how certain family members and friends are doing and you just say okay and keep on going down the list happy that everyone is still alive and progressing. Well I had that conversation over 2 years ago about a few friends and family members and this post is about one of them.
I had asked my brother about how family back in Seattle was doing. He told me they were doing well, we somehow got into talking about our cousins the Arunga's. He told me that Uncle Dave was now the Kenyan Ambassador in Egypt, Momma Marsha was in Seattle, The sisters were doing well and all grown up and Owuor was still doing music playing his trumpet with a band. I recall being amazed at Uncle Dave and reached out to our little cousin and told her to let her dad know that I wanted to visit Egypt and have full Immunity lol.. Still it did not click
January of 2012 I reached out to my little cousin and the family to invite them to our Son's Baby Shower in Seattle. I remember it was small talk and he told me that he was working on Music and that it was "History in the Making" and congratulated me on joining the fatherhood club. We flew to Seattle, I saw a few friends and family, came back to Phoenix and kept it moving.. Still it did not click
Back on facebook here and there i'd see postings from family etc about Owuor performing in different cities etc, etc.. Still it did not click. I thought he was travelling and doing Jazz music in nightclubs playing his trumpet. It still did not click
One Night I was up late and one of my favorite inspirational rapper tweeted a photo and mentioned my cousins name in Idaho. I did a double take.. It still did not click.. What was Dee 1 doing in Idaho and what was my little cousin Owuor doing with Rappers? So I tweeted them both back that night. Owuor responded that he was with a Group called Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. It still did not click. I said congrats and to hit me up if they ever made it to Phoenix..
So I did a little research and saw some pictures of shows and thought Ok, they seem to be building a little traction. Good job for Owuor, It was starting to click a little. Then one day I started seeing the name Macklemore and Thrift Shop showing up everywhere I looked online.. Then It hit me.. Whoaaaaaaa.. Is this the Group my little cousin was telling me about 2 years ago? So I clicked the Video.. and there he was in the middle of it all playing his trumpet all over America's Hit Song.. It Finally Clicked.
I was filled with joy to see that someone I knew was living out their dreams the way we all dream of doing it. Let alone they were all from Seattle and I never thought I'd see a group do it since Nirvana did in the 90's..
You know how everyone tries to tell you a story about someone they know or a family member and say things like, "I gave him his 1st toothbrush and that's why he's Dentist of the Year now" etc, Etc.. Well I have one of those too, cause that's what we humans tend to do when we are excited for someone. Not out of jealousy but as an anchor to show how LIFE has soooo many paths that it can take and those who follow their instincts usually reach their goals while others keep on searching.
Back in Seattle, I started playing the Trumpet in the 4th Grade because I liked the appeal of it. That following year I started playing Baseball as well. I remember Owuor & my cousins coming to America from Kenya when I was in the 5th Grade and we'd usually be at each others houses. I was always practicing my Trumpet when he would be over and playing Baseball outside.. As a younger cousin closest in Age to me, he was drawn to both. I don't remember how that pivotal point in his life went, but since it's my story and blog we'll just say that I encouraged him to Start playing the Trumpet and Baseball too lol.. Which he did, He came on my baseball team and Started playing trumpet as well. In the 6th Grade, I quit playing the trumpet because I didn't see a future in it and pursued Baseball. Owuor quit baseball and Kept playing the Trumpet.
He continued playing and as we reached Highschool, He was playing in the band. He knew what he wanted and that trumpet gave him joy. I remember a few times he got to travel with the Jazz band and I travelled with the baseball team. I eventually graduated Highschool, went to the University of Washington and pursued Baseball there. I walked on and played my freshman year but was cut right before the season started. I stopped after that, Moved to Arizona State and Life kept on going.
Owuor Kept on Playing, I'm pretty sure like all of us who have our passions for certain dreams that we want to obtain we are hit with setbacks. Not once or twice, but many times. We read and hear stories about how it's not how you fall but how you get back, yadi, yadi.. But i'm sure now looking back that since I left Seattle over 13 years ago, My little cousin faced life head on like everyone else and i'm sure he kept in tune with his heart and kept going.
When I saw him this past weekend playing his trumpet on the MTV Awards with so much joy like he first did when he picked it up, My heart was re-energized. I saw a young man in my eyes achieve his goals and now reaping his rewards 20+ years later. I was reminded of when Jesus was telling his disciples that if you ONLY had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to Move and it will. I see in my little cousin Owuor, His friends Macklemore & Ryan Lewis that same faith in their craft that they told EVERY mountain of doubt that was on their path to KEEP MOVING until their mustard seed grew into what we now see and congratulate. To that I say Thank You Owuor, You have given me a practical look into the faith i'm studying in to real life issues. I wish you the best journey and many more successes in this life. I pray that you continue playing that Trumpet like you first did because it's that Same Love you had for it that has brought you all of your Treasures.
Thank You & God Bless Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Heist & Owuor Arunga and anyone else right now that is pursuing their dreams. Don't give up. If you Don't Quit, You'll Win