The Daily Dose x #SOTG1: Pretty BIG Intro DREAMS

THIS ONE HERE’S FOR MY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
WHO ENROLLING IN SUBJECTS BUT THEY DON’T WANNA DO IT
THEY JUST TAKING THE PATH OF THEIR PARENTS
COS TO THEIR PARENTS THEIR PASSION IS NOT APPARENT
SO THEY SCARED TO PURSUE IT YOU MUST
YOU KINDA OWE TO YOURSELF TO GET IT RIGHT
AND TRUST ME I BEEN THROUGH IT SO I KNOW WHATS IT LIKE
IF I COULD DO IT ALL AGAIN I WOULDN’T DO A DEGREE
BUT I’M TOO DEEP TO QUIT IT I DO NEED TO FINISH IT
SO I KEEP HITTING IT GIVING IT EVERY BIT OF THIS
LIFE THAT I’VE BEEN GIVEN THIS RIGHT THAT I BEEN BLESSED WITH
AND YOU CAN TAKE IT AS A SIGN OF MY LOVE
THAT I DO GIVE YOU THESE LYRICS
AND TAKE TIME TO SPIT IT
COS MY MAMA CAN’T WAIT TILL I GRADUATE
TAKE HER ON A VACA
ANYPLACE ANYWHERE ANY DAY
AND THAT’S ON EVERYTHING I AM
ON EVERYTHING I OWN TO THE BOTTOM OF MY SOUL

On the intro I was very aware of trying to let you know what I was about, then in this track I felt to let you know what all THIS was about. Around the time that i wrote this in early 2008 I was obsessed with destiny and fate and the pursuit of something greater than ourselves. I was very idealistic about my life and my art. I was fighting a war against the system in my own mind, anybody who disagreed was the enemy.

I felt like I’d been trapped in a world I didn’t belong to, not whole-heartedly, as scared as I was of taking the leap of faith and following my dreams, I was far more afraid of doing nothing and just getting my degree and heading home for a comfy desk job.

I was on a crusade against the way we “should” live our lives and the way our hearts dictate we NEED to. For ourselves and for those ideas closest to us.

Mine was that a young man from Zimbabwe, could roll the dice of fate and come up a winner.

I knew I was foolish. I knew I was risking a lot. But I also knew that beyond a BIG DREAM, is a man/woman way greater than what once lay so dauntingly in front of them. I wanted to be one of those men and women. So in this song I pledged every ounce of my being to that pursuit.

And so here we here, still dreaming big . . . still staring down the ultimate goal.

Enjoy

Please don’t forget to ask any questions you have on the song in the comments section.

Tehn

The Daily Dose x #SOTG1: Intro To Life Management

As promised yesterday, I’m gonna be running through and breaking down all of the songs I’ve put out there to date. This is mainly for those who’ve only just hopped on board the journey. So for those of you already familiar with my story and my sound . . . this may or may not bore the fuck outta you . . . but not to worry I’m gonna try and add some fresh insights to the situation for ya.

Also, even though y’all act like you don’t know it, you’re more than welcome to ask me any question syuo have about any of the songs I post up over the next few weeks.

So lets get into it . . . “Intro To Life Management”

The game is life, and mine ain’t right
But let me pour the page with it, so you know my plight
Page you pictures of my dreams, so we all take flight
Bring you closer to the flame, so we all ignite
Students of the game, you’re listening to all our lives
And whether I spit it or sing, that ain’t yours to decide
Whether you hate it or love, come along for the ride
Cos’ we’ve all been invited, if the game is life

In short. This verse was meant to be like a spoken word thing, I wanted to clearly lay out my modus operandi. It was written to let people know form the jump precisely what they were getting into when they got into a Tehn Diamond mixtape.

So I start by laying it out, and letting you know in the first line that I’m really just human. Imperfect and flawed, broken for the most part and at the time, especially looking back now, I guess I really was kinda broken.

In the back of my mind I knew I was thinking that if this crazy gamble didn’t pay off what on earth was I gonna do.

I also used it to let you all know just what a Student Of The Game or an #SOTG was. I strongly believe that there is nothing on this Earth that we can go through, physically, emotionally or mentally that nobody else out there has either been through or shall go through. So I write accordingly. I pour my pain out on the page, knowing full well someone will relate or someone down the line will find strength in it that I couldn’t. I paint you pictures of my dreams, because I’d like for you to dream . . . to believe in their power and let them let you take flight.

Which is why “we’ve all been invited” cos’ while life may not be the ultimate game, after all we only get one life, its still the most beautiful game and we’re all playing . . . but we’re not all taking it in and learning as we grow . . . we’re not all Students Of The Game.

Enjoy

The Daily Dose x Who R U Doe ?!

It has come to my very immediate attention that, for all the time I spend online as Tehn Diamond, a growing majority of the people I “interact” with don’t even know why I’m even here.

In short. Some of you don’t know that I make music. Yes, I blog good from time to time . . . but even a broken clock is right at least two times a day. The real of me and in me, pause, is my music. Its the only reason I’m even here, at least according to me.

So I feel a fool for not doing this sooner, but at the same time just relieved that I am.

For the next however long it takes, I’m gonna be using The Daily Dose to post each and every song I’ve ever put out there. Give you a little insight into why and how that track came to be, then leave the rest to you and your ears. With that said, I’m gonna pushing each one pretty hard, so bear with me.

Please feel more than free to comment in the section below . . . you can do it via twitter, google, facebook or whatever . . . just sign in and comment, I live to hear what you have to say on my stuff and things.

So once I’m done with all that, I’m dropping some new music. pow!

So now you know.

Peace, Love & stuff and things and other things . . .

Tehn

The Daily Dose x DefZEE.com . . . Youth Dialogue

So this is where I spent my Tuesday afternoon, having a young discussion with the “youth”. I was joined by fellow local musicians Stunner and Cindy. It was interesting to say the least, in a word, dopeness. Learnt some new things, confirmed some old things and enjoyed myself. Definitely looking forward to doing another one of these.

Below you’ll find some footage from the discussion, all in all it was an hour long, so I’ve edited it down HEAPS. The topic of the discussion was “Faking It! This Generations New Religion”

Enjoy, and feel free to weigh in with your comments in the comments sections. No really, please do.

The Daily Dose x Celebrity

” What most people in our culture mean by being lovable is essentially a mixture between being popular and having sex appeal. ”

– Erich Fromm

The Daily Dose x I Think I Just Came

. . . my bad.

What I mean is, I think I just arrived.

You see 14 months ago, I’d just got home from a 10 month stint in Singapore performing at their biggest hip-hop club. I did 4 shows a night, 5 nights a week . . . so if you doing the math, you know thats 800 shows. Before that I’d been here in Harare for about 6 months, with no clue or idea how to make all this work. See cos prior to that I’d been in Australia for 5yrs. You know my story, but I’m telling it for those who don’t.

I dropped outta that degree, no, I failed that degree . . . I didn’t give it the respect and time it deserved or required. My heart, my mind and soul were on other things . . . rapper things. Also I’m just stubborn. I followed my heart into the gates of emotional hell.

Back home with no degree, just a mixtape and foolish ambition.

I got asked why on Earth I didn’t just stay in Australia where, according to everyone else, I woulda had a better chance to chase my little “dream”. Well, I never saw it that way. I didn’t want to be another one of those Zim celebrities who we kinda claim as ours yet they barely claim us.

I wanted to emobody the idea that as Zimbabweans we can do it just as well if not better than them all, I love the world, but the world just doesn’t see us for much more than our politics and problems. And I hate that.

In any case, I came home and nobody knew me or even cared to be honest. I was just another wannabe MC.

Fast forward 14 months . . . the newspapers have written about me at 6 times both in Harare and Bulawayo, I’ve been on the cover of 2 magazines, performed at HIFA twice, dropped two full projects, performed in Zambia, had at least 6 songs in rotation on POWER.FM, in Namibia, in Zambia and yesterday I got fulfil another dream . . . I was interviewed live on air for an hour.

I’m not saying any of this because I’m bragging, in fact its quite the opposite . . . I’m humbled by all of this . . . I just wanted to put out there to let you know that its so true that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. If I’m honest, I need you to know that as I write this I’m in tears. Tears of joy of course, because this is alll so much bigger than me. Its barely even getting started, but I think its here and its time.

I can never say this enough, so please when u read it take this to heart for me . . . THANK YOU. You’ve made my life something else, because as much as I believed you all believed too and thats enough to make any man wet his cheeks. And I ain’t ashamed of that.

Thank you.

The Daily Dose x I Think I Just Came

. . . my bad.

What I mean is, I think I just arrived.

You see 14 months ago, I’d just got home from a 10 month stint in Singapore performing at their biggest hip-hop club. I did 4 shows a night, 5 nights a week . . . so if you doing the math, you know thats 800 shows. Before that I’d been here in Harare for about 6 months, with no clue or idea how to make all this work. See cos prior to that I’d been in Australia for 5yrs. You know my story, but I’m telling it for those who don’t.

I dropped outta that degree, no, I failed that degree . . . I didn’t give it the respect and time it deserved or required. My heart, my mind and soul were on other things . . . rapper things. Also I’m just stubborn. I followed my heart into the gates of emotional hell.

Back home with no degree, just a mixtape and foolish ambition.

I got asked why on Earth I didn’t just stay in Australia where, according to everyone else, I woulda had a better chance to chase my little “dream”. Well, I never saw it that way. I didn’t want to be another one of those Zim celebrities who we kinda claim as ours yet they barely claim us.

I wanted to emobody the idea that as Zimbabweans we can do it just as well if not better than them all, I love the world, but the world just doesn’t see us for much more than our politics and problems. And I hate that.

In any case, I came home and nobody knew me or even cared to be honest. I was just another wannabe MC.

Fast forward 14 months . . . the newspapers have written about me at 6 times both in Harare and Bulawayo, I’ve been on the cover of 2 magazines, performed at HIFA twice, dropped two full projects, performed in Zambia, had at least 6 songs in rotation on POWER.FM, in Namibia, in Zambia and yesterday I got fulfil another dream . . . I was interviewed live on air for an hour.

I’m not saying any of this because I’m bragging, in fact its quite the opposite . . . I’m humbled by all of this . . . I just wanted to put out there to let you know that its so true that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. If I’m honest, I need you to know that as I write this I’m in tears. Tears of joy of course, because this is alll so much bigger than me. Its barely even getting started, but I think its here and its time.

I can never say this enough, so please when u read it take this to heart for me . . . THANK YOU. You’ve made my life something else, because as much as I believed you all believed too and thats enough to make any man wet his cheeks. And I ain’t ashamed of that.

Thank you.

The Daily Dose x Success Leaves Clues

I can’t for the life of me remember where I heard it said, I think it may or may not have been Tony Robbins. In any case its something I all the way believe. And just knowing that you’re not on a long hard road to nowhere without a sign or a compass is quite comforting. You’re not alone, you’re not lost . . . somebody out there knows the way.

Whether you want to be a world famous musician or an elite level scuba diver . . . there’s someone who’s done it before and left a whole lotta bread crumbs along that very same road.

“As to methods, there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, ESSAYIST & POET

Whats even more dope, is that you don’t even have to follow their path directly . . . you need only pick and choose the parts of their journey that appeal to you. Break down the critical components, dig for the underlying principles and APPLY THEM. See cos’ its not so much about what path they walked, its more so HOW they walked it. Their guiding principles and habits that got them to their end goal . . . YOUR end goal.

Its for this reason that books like “The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People” and “The Personal MBA” have done so well. They don’t just feed you surface level attitude changes that soon fade, they provide you with the basic underlying principles and concepts . . . that if applied and put together in a manner that fits the kind of person YOU are will yield results beyond your imagining.

In terms of lets say hip-hop, in my eyes Jay-Z has done more than any that have come before to push and elevate the culture as a whole. He’s quite literally taken hip-hop to places its never been before. Warren Buffet anyone ?

N.B. I HIGHLY recommend you watch their interview, here ya go. (I’m not THE STUDENT OF THE GAME for nothing ya know. Thank me later.)

But I digress though. (<-- "digress" is in my top5 favourite words to blog with. allow me.)

We all already know by now that I'm a staunch fan of Sir Hova of Brooklyn, but the point I want to make is that to be "the next Jay-Z" you don't set out tryna sound like him or dress like him or act like him . . . you really wanna get to the "Why" of all the "What" he does and "How" he does it. Once you understand that, you're on your way to becoming the next YOU. And really THATS wasup !!

There's a theory that states that success, is the culmination of consistent conscious change, with these changes culminating in various stages of metamorphosis. But it ain't easy and every stage of your metamorphosis you're gonna hit roadblocks and mile high walls and people who just don't want to see you move forward. None of these matter, even less so the aforementioned "people".

All that matters is you and yours, cos its hard enough to even notice whether or not you're growing and moving forward . . . without the obstacles and naysayers. So pay em no mind and focus on the task at hand. With a little insight, self-confidence and risk-taking you'll get there. I know for sure its what I'm hoping for myself.

Below are two videos I've been watching a lot. Not very long, in total about 15mins or so . . . but the principles are simple and really hit home. I try to watch this every single day now and I've written down the three quotes he brings up, to help me remind myself throughout the day just what time it is.

And thats all she wrote, but I beg of you, please don’t let your dreams die because you didn’t a) give it all your heart, b) make the necessary sacrifices or c) persevere through whatever pain you encounter along the way. Cos now you know and have no excuse whatsoever.

Have an amazing day!!

Peace, Love & a who lotta winning . . .

Tehn

#SOTGtv x 2/003

A Word From Tehn: Sorry this is up here so late, had #Zimternet issues and stuff. Enjoy though.

And please dont be shy to share it or leave a comment.

outta!

The Daily Dose x Babies Do It Better

Its officially official !!!

Why ?

Because Tehn said so.

Who is Tehn to declare babies supreme lords of the universe and all things worth being able to do well and good on Earth ?!

Well Tehn is crazy, thats who. So suck it up and ride with me on this one.

I’ve been a fan of life-hacking for some time now, in fact ever since I read The 4 Hour Work Week back in 2007 my life has been ALL ABOUT IT. Whats “life-hacking” well they way I understand it, its ways of doing things in life that both go against the social norm of how to do things whilst making you more efficient and effective at said thing.

So in The 4 Hour Work Week, Timothy Ferriss challenges the common notion of “working for work’s sake”. I’m not gonna get into it here and now but if you catch me on a good day I’ll probably just give you a copy of the book . . . its that crucial. In fact its one of the three things that lead to my eventually doing away with going to university altogether (the other two being Kanye’s “College Dropout” and Erich Fromm’s “To Have or To Be”).

But I digress.

In my quest, to hack the feezy outta every area of my life . . . I’ve stumbled upon . . . a common thread in lots of what I’ve looked into (read: 2 or 3 things I’ve kinda sorta perused . . . slightly-ish) . . .

BABIES DO EVERYTHING BETTER THAN ADULTS !!!!

Exhibit A. –> I was looking into ways to maximise the amount of productive awake hours I have in a day. Anybody who knows me, even in passing, would know that I hate sleeping. It makes me nervous. I always feel like I’m missing out on something or not doing enough to move forward. So for ages I deprived myself of sleep. I’d sleep for like 6hours every 48hours and dumb shit like that . . . naturally after awhile this caught up with me and my body revolted.

But then recently on my quest to beat sleep yet again, I found this thing called “polyphasic sleep” . . . basically you don’t rely on one long chunk of sleep (usually 6 to 8 hours or wateva . . . this is known as “monophasic sleep”) . . . but instead you nap at certain intervals during the day and cut your big sleep time down with doing too much damage to yourself or something like that. I’m no expert, I just found it. But read the blog post that got me into it –> here.

In the words of one of my longest and dearest friends @DiscipleofLogic “sleep is actually an evolutionary disadvantage”.

I agree.

In any case all you need know is that this is how babies do it and babies run the world. Sorry Beyonce. Back to the drawing board honey. Hov, my bad dude . . . your shawty got it ridiculously wrong and I am embarrassed for you both.

Again . . . I digress.

Then there’s . . . Exhibit B. –> I was looking into ways of improving both the strength of my singing voice but the range too . . . and here’s what I found many moons ago . . . Seth Riggs’ “Speech Level Singing” technique . . . now this dude was MJ’s singing coach at one point so please do respect his authoritawwww *Cartman voice*

The premise behind the technique is basically that singing should be as easy and comfortable as speaking. And you know who have this technique down pat ?!

Ummm . . . BABIES !!!! Thats who.

Babies scream and cry and yell and NEVER seem to lose their voices or the energy and shit to scream and yelp like that (i know this cos I spent 16hrs on a bus from Johannesburg with one of these yelpers) . . . anyway . . . babies have perfect “speech level” technique . . . which is fucked up . . . cos most of ‘em only just got here but already kick ass at singing AND sleeping. This is why I hate babies, no, I dont hate them . . . I just jay-russ them deeply.

Moving swiftly along though.

Exhibit C. –> Its a dope ass song by Jay Electronica, who isn’t a baby . . . but is kinda spearheading the rebirth of dope lyricism n’shit. So give it a listen yea.

TAKE THAT BABIES !!! Cos I know for a fact y’all can’t rap !!!! *sticks out tongue x breaks into a happy dance*

Lastly, if you throw a baby in a pool it’ll swim. I think. Or something like that. I forget. (please do not try this at home)

Anyway my point is that babies are amazing, they know something we seem to just forget . . . they know how to let go and just be. We come into life hacking it ever so skillfully, then we start to grow up and decide to complicate it and do everything the hard boring stupid way. I’m not suggesting you walk around shitting and pissing in your pants or throwing tantrums on buses containing rapper types who may or may not “punch a baby in the face”.

I’m jus saying, babies seem to do life better . . . we could learn a thing or two. Lemme know in the comments section whether you’ve noticed any other super powers that babies have that we lose as we get older and please don’t forget to share this post if you enjoyed it.

Peace, Love & the pitter patter of little feet . . .

Tehn