UNTITLED 01 | 01.18.24_BD - Joel Nunn-Sparks

SO WHEN THE WORLD'S FEELIN' ENORMOUS ON YOUR BACK AND ON YOUR ARMS AND YOUR FEET JUST AS HEAVY YOU BEEN DRAGGIN' THROUGH THE STORM STARIN' AT THE CITY, BUT YOU TRAPPED INSIDE A HOLE GET YOUR BACK UP OFF THE ROPES, KEEP SWANGIN' ON

Silhouette of boxer Muhammad Ali hovering over a vintage stained background and in front of a large gold circle.

UNTITLED 01
01.18.24

TIME IS MOVING FAST. I FEEL LIKE LIFE IS MOVING BOTH AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT AND SLOW AS MOLASSES? I’M SAYIN’, I FEEL YOUNG (BECAUSE I AM) AND OLD AT THE SAME TIME. YESTERDAY, I WAS SHUCKING CORN IN MY GRANDMA’S FRONT YARD WITH MY COUSINS, PLAYING KICKBALL. TODAY - I’M THIRTY-THREE. 1995 WAS LIGHT YEARS AGO.

BACK THEN, I’M WATCHING X-MEN THE ANIMATED SERIES - TODAY, STILL WATCHING X-MEN THE ANIMATED SERIES BUT WISHING THEY WERE REAL BECAUSE - WHY Y'ALL CHILLIN WHILE THERE’S A GENOCIDE IN CONGO, PALESTINIANS ARE BEING FORCED OUT OF THEIR LAND, INNOCENT PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE SENSELESSLY DYING, AND THE LIST GOES ON (UNFORTUNATELY).

Y’ALL REMEMBER FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED? YEAH, TIMES ARE HEAVY - AND ON TOP OF THE WORLD BURNING AROUND US - ADD IN ALL THE, LET’S CALL THEM, CHALLENGES, THAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS WEEK ALONE. THAT’S ENOUGH TO MAKE SOMEBODY GO CRAZY. AND PEOPLE DO.

I WANT YOU TO EXPERIENCE THIS ARTWORK THROUGH YOUR LENS. IMAGINE IT’S YOUR FACE ON THE COVER, AND NOT MUHAMMAD ALI’S. LET’S GO ON A JOURNEY.

YOU’RE A FIGHTER. WE BOTH KNOW THAT. THE FACT THAT YOU’RE READING THIS IS PROOF - YOU’RE BREATHING, YOU’RE ALIVE. TIMES GET HARD. SITUATIONS GET HARDER. LIFE BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE, SOMETIMES. YOU’RE BREATHING, YOU’RE ALIVE. YOU’RE NOT WHERE YOU WANNA BE IN SOME AREAS, BUT DAMN YOU GREW IN THOSE OTHER AREAS - YOU’LL GROW IN THESE TOO. THAT HUGE DARK CLOUD WON’T ALWAYS FEEL LIKE IT’S FOLLOWING YOU. IF I’M BEING HONEST, THE NEXT CLOUD MAY BE EVEN BIGGER. BUT YOU A CHAMP, RIGHT? YOU’RE A FIGHTER? AIGHT THEN.

KEEP SWANGIN’ ON.

THERE’S A QUOTE I SCROLL PAST SIX OR MORE TIMES A WEEK ON INSTAGRAM. IT SAYS, ‘MAY YOU HEAL FROM ALL THE THINGS YOU DON’T SPEAK ABOUT.’ SO I WANT TO END THIS BY SAYING:

I HOPE YOU, MY FRIEND, HEAL FROM ALL THE THINGS YOU DON’T SPEAK ABOUT.

LIFE IS JUST A MOMENT IN TIME. KEEP SWANGIN’ ON.

Photos taken by Flip Schulke (1962)

THE SOUNDTRACK

Every song on this playlist was chosen for a specific reason.
The order that they are in is also very intentional. Collectively, these nine songs will take you on a journey through pain, depression, sadness, self-awareness, self-acceptance, hope and so much more.

The two jazz songs on the playlist (Angel of Air/Angel of Water & Winter) will take you take you on that journey all on their own. Listen to those with your eyes closed and go along for the ride.

Read the lyrics to the songs below, and enjoy.

IF TEARS COULD BUILD A STAIRWAY
ALL THE WAY UP TO HEAVEN
I’D RUN RIGHT UP AND GRAB YOU
TELL GOD I GOT ME SOME QUESTIONS
• POPS & MOMMA (TOPP) •

I DONE MISSЕD DREAMS BEIN' TOO AFRAID
WANNA BE FREE, I'VЕ BEEN IN A CAGE
KNOWIN' IT WAS ME THAT WAS IN THE WAY
I'VE BEEN IN MY HEAD
• COLD AS LOVE (WESTSIDE BOOGIE) •

SEE, IN A PERFECT WORLD, I WOULD BE PERFECT, WORLD
I DONT TRUST PEOPLE ENOUGH
BEYOND THEY SURFACE, WORLD
I DON’T LOVE PEOPLE ENOUGH TO PUT MY FAITH IN MAN
• PRIDE (KENDRICK LAMAR) •

HELLO FEAR
GODS HEALING MY HURTFUL PLACES
THAT SEAT THAT WAS YOURS
NOW IT’S TAKEN
I’M NO LONGER AFRAID
• HELLO FEAR (KIRK FRANKLIN) •

AND WE GO
ROUND AND ROUND
LIFE IS JUST
A MOMENT IN TIME
• MOMENT IN TIME (THE PHARCYDE) •

LISTEN, STRAIGHT FROM SHIBUYA, ON SOME ZEN
I’M ON TEN, IT’S A MARATHON AND LOOK,
WE COMIN FOR THE WIN
JUST LIKE **** TOLD ********** WE GONE WIN BIG
• LIFE OF THE PARTY (KANYE WEST FT. ANDRE 3000) •

SO WHEN THE WORLD'S FEELIN' ENORMOUS
ON YOUR BACK AND ON YOUR ARMS
AND YOUR FEET JUST AS HEAVY YOU
BEEN DRAGGIN' THROUGH THE STORM

STARIN' AT THE CITY, BUT YOU TRAPPED INSIDE A HOLE
GET YOUR BACK UP OFF THE ROPES, KEEP SWANGIN' ON

YOU KNOW IT RAINS FOR SOMETHIN
YOU KNOW THE PAINS FOR SOMETHIN
I HOPE A CHANGE IS COMIN
JUST KEEP ON SWANGIN ON
• KODY BLU 31 (J.I.D.) •

YouTube Playlist
Apple Music

TOPP (artist, producer, videographer, creative director, etc.) is also my talented younger cousin. Check out the music video for "POPS & MOMMA" below.