Why I love QuESt.

Photo by: @jbenavente_ 

If you’ve ever met me or read my blog then it is pretty obvious I am a complete hip hop head. I’ve talked about my all-time favorite songs & about some of my personal story that relates to them BUT I rarely mention individual rappers. This kid is different though, & he definitely deserves a shout-out.

So everyone knows that I am obsessed with Logic’s music, but in a roundabout way, that lead me to meeting QuESt. A few years back I read about him on a few different hip hop blogs & listened to his song Everybody Has A Story (to see the exact blog post, click here). I was impressed with the message behind the song and continued to see him all over the blogs for a while, but then it slowed down. That happens a lot in hip hop, especially underground hip hop, so I didn’t really think anything of it. But then, QuESt opened for Logic on the Welcome To Forever tour. This caught me by surprise because I hadn’t heard anything from him in a couple years. And then Visionary Music Group signed him Summer 2013 and I began to see more and more.

In January, Logic read my blog for the first time which then lead to other VMG members reading it as well, including QuESt’s manager, Dino (shout-out @rhymestyle). We talked about music and I got the opportunity to hear some of QuESt’s newest project. When I visited family back home in California, I was able to meet both QuESt and Dino. We talked about our favorite hip hop artists, albums, songs, etc. and agreed that our favorites revolved around the stories behind the words. Throughout our conversations it was very clear that everything that QuESt raps about comes from real life experiences. He would be telling me a story & one of his songs would instantly pop into my head—they are literally the soundtrack of his life.

He may not know good coffee (sorry I had to), but he sure as hell knows music. If you love hip hop, you’ll love QuESt. To see his official twitter page click here.

Just in case you read this.

We don't need to have just one favorite. Our favorite things are those that speak most directly to us in that particular stage in our lives. Our favorite books, music, movies they are ever changing and we are always adding to the list. However, some favorites are more lasting. 

For example, I will never outgrow Star Wars and Fast and Furious (yeah, I'm a weird girl), they will always be favorites of mine. Another lasting favorite for me resides in music. The best feeling is when you hear a song that takes you back to a vivid memory. Nas, Big L, Biggie, A Tribe Called Quest-- so many of their songs are soundtracks to my life and will forever be favorites. 

For a long time I never thought my favorites would change in regard to hip hop though. I mean yeah, I loved Food & Liquor, but come on guys-- Soulja Boy, really? BUT, I was wrong. In 2009 I was surfing the internet in the middle of the night looking for music as per usual and this kid who was just barely older than me popped up on YouTube. He just so happened to be in about the same life stage as me in regard to his family drama, the lack of money, and the ability to find some inner drive. 

In fact, I recently wrote a post about how "hip hop just gets me" and mentioned him in it. You can find that post here. And over two years ago I wrote a post about creating positive change and in just a couple of sentences summed up why he is my favorite and it still applies today. Click here to read that one.

Logic is one of those lasting favorites for me. Maybe it is because we are the same age or maybe it is because I can relate to his complicated childhood, but whatever the reason I am grateful. Through his music I have met some of my favorite people and some major doors to future opportunities have opened up for me. So thank you. Thank you for understanding me even though we have never met. Thank you for adding to the soundtrack of my life.   

"Music is a safe kind of high." -Jimi Hendrix

I mention my love for hiphop music a lot, here are a few of my favorites. Not in any particular order & definitely only a few of them. Yes, I love the beats, but these are about more than that. It's about the beats, the story, the life behind them. 

All songs are linked to YouTube: 

Infinite- Eminem 

It's OK- Eminem

Monsters In My Head- The Game

Growing Pains- Logic

Inception- Logic

5AM- Logic

Just A Man- Logic

One Mic- Nas 

Right To The Top- Big L 
In Her Music Box- Atmosphere

Gangster Rap Kings- J Cole

Crooked Smile- J Cole

Keep Ya Head Up- 2Pac

Man On The Moon- Kid Cudi

The Light- Common
Can I live- Jay-Z 
Moment of Clarity- Jay-Z
Check The Rhime- A Tribe Called Quest
Jesus Walks- Kanye
My Way Home- Kanye & Common

Things Done Changed- Biggie Smalls 

Hiphop is about more than just feeling good... it's about opening up and being real. It's one of the most vulnerable genres out there, in my opinion, which is exactly why I respect these people so much. 

Yeah, I'm a BobbySoxer.

People always ask me why I love hip hop. When I ask why it is so surprising it always comes down to how I look. Because my skin is white & my eyes are blue I’m supposed to be listening to country or pop music. It’s so funny to me how society tries to tell us who we are “supposed” to be. So the other night I finally thought of my answer to that question.

I love hip hop because I can relate to it. Now, I don’t mean that I relate to ALL of it. I have never done drugs, I’m not big into drinking, & I’m not a racist. BUT I have had a gun held at me, witnessed cops break into my house, watched my dad get arrested… all before I was even eleven years old.

I get that some rap is pure negativity—but there are also country songs about suicide, pop songs promoting Molly, & rock songs preaching violence.  In any type of music you have to search for the stuff that truly sings to your soul. When I first heard Monsters In My Head by The Game my first instinct was to make my dad listen to it. The song literally describes his childhood. There were only a handful of differences—his brothers all had the same mom, he was younger than The Game when he was first on the streets, etc. My dad literally got tears in his eyes when he listened.

When I was a freshman at the College of Southern Idaho I stumbled upon Logic’s music and once again felt like somebody understood. His songs talked about all of the negative stuff that he went through, but had positive twists to them. Not only was this amazing rapper about the same age as me (90’s kids shoutout) but we both witnessed some crazy stuff when we were young and never gave up. His music literally gave me hope. 

I witnessed more as a kid than most people will in their whole lives, but I made something of myself. Hip hop just gets me.

Create Positive Change

Leadership 101: I recently attended a conference called NCSL (National Center for Student Leadership) in Miami, Florida. One of the things that I learned is the fact that our generation doesn't need to push for change... we need to create it. This is one of my absolute favorite quotes & I think it demonstrates our need for excellent leaders who will create positive change in the world around them. 

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."-- Steve Jobs

People like to blame the past for their future failures. I refuse to do that. I make sure to learn from my mistakes & the mistakes others. Everyone is always surprised that I don't smoke, drink, steal, cheat... but really why would I want to repeat my families past? I refuse to validate the statistics.

Awhile ago I stumbled across an amazing rapper. The reason he is my favorite is because he's proving people wrong every single day. He is creating change and inspiring others to do the same thing. His name is Logic & you will know him one day.

"So many times did I design a rhyme to blow your mind
Cause I know that I wasn't destined to live a life of crime"
Growing Pains II- Logic  (Song title linked to YouTube video)