Henrok: Unrivaled Talent in Hip Hop Production

"Hip Hop is a Vehicle" - Talib Kwali

When it comes to talent, we're told to give credit where credit is due. This is the credit that's due. Henrique Marques III aka Henrok is someone I've grown up with since 4th grade of elementary school. I can honestly say that music has always been his life, his ambition, his drive. Nas, KRS-One, Dr. Dre, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan, The Lox, Jay-Z, N.W.A., The Firm, Eminem and Big Pun were all on blast when it came to Henrok's music selection. From memorizing the lyrics to knowing the track lists of hip-hop albums, Henrok is everything a true Hip-Hop artist is supposed to be. 

Since middle school, Henrok has made productions and tracks that would surprise and impress the most experienced Hip Hop artists and producers. Randomly, I've described to him what I want a beat to sound like and almost instinctively, there it was...

And I don't even rap.

Henrok is someone you'd go to for a hip-hop question, a suggestion for lyrics, a tip in productions or just to talk about music with. Encompassing the old school melodies with 90's hip hop beats into contemporary beats with an old school sound to it puts true hip hop fans into a nostalgic state of mind. Not to mention he ain't too shabby on the mic. Take a listen for yourself:

When looking for a instrumental production, I'd recommend no one else. When asking for someone to collabo with, I'd suggest no one else. When you say underrated and productions in the same sentence, Think Henrok. Anyone he's worked with can attest to his ambition and skill. Take a listen to the radio then listen to Henrok's productions; it's like Sterling Silver to 24K. 

When it comes to talent on the productions, with the lyricism and just an overall knowledge in TRUE Hip Hop; I've heard no better. Henrok; this one's for you, fam. Get 'em.

Giving Credit Where It's Truly Due,

- David Javier Solis

No Idea's Original

Here's a quote that wrapped up what I think is one of the most encompassing saying's I've ever read. Lemme know what you think.

"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery—celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.”

"I Think They Call This 'Venting'"

In the past few weeks, I've been asked what I'm going to do next in my career. I was asked when I'm gonna have my first child. I've been asked when I'm going to get married to my girlfriend of almost 6 years. I've been asked if I'm going to open a business and if I am, when? I've been asked who my true friends are. I've been asked if I regret going to college and not the military as I had intended in high school. I've come to a realization that for the first time in a long time, I've got more questions than answers and I haven't had the time to step back and compose myself on what to do NEXT. I never anticipated how much I need to figure out in such a short period of time. Just when I think I've got space and time to myself; I end up feeling like I got all the eyes of the world on me with everyone asking themselves what my next move in life is going to be.

All this on top of making good on the promises I've made in my life. Getting to UConn, I made a promise to my family and myself that I'd do what it takes to progress out of everything we've seen and been through. I promised my girlfriend I'd give her the time, effort and patience the relationship deserves after so much time and energy spent on it. I promised my closest friends that college wouldn't change me, DC wouldn't change me, money wouldn't change me but after all that I've seen, learned and experienced after high school, would they blame me if I did? I'm confused on how to keep certain things about me intact while transforming parts of my whole mentality and personality. I promised my family the world and now I'm stuck wondering.. How do I give it to them?

I've come to realize that I've had wrong impressions of people; unfortunately, that's a good and bad thing..  I thought I knew people and I always considered myself a person with good judgmental ability of others. I've realized that there's really no such thing. People have surprised me in the past few months in ways I didn't imagine them doing. Some shocked me with their good sense of character and ability where I had to admit to myself that they were better people than I assumed. Others though, just couldn't have shocked me more with their inability to think, judge or even speak. Some of my closest friends unfortunately have showed me their true colors and while I won't just up and stop talking to them; it's a shame how you think you know one particular person so well. Maybe it's the distance, maybe it's the time of the year, maybe they're changing. Hell, maybe I'm changing...


I know I ain't the only person in the world who's sitting at the computer thinking to themselves, "Damn, life's passing me by".

Venting,
David

Back From My 2 Month Bloggin' Hiatus!

These past two months have been my catch-up months in my life from being away at school for so long; now that I'm home and got myself on solid ground with everything, I finally got time to do writing that I actually enjoy. I feel like I gotta change a few things with the blog and format it in a way that helps me write more frequent than before and make feedback a lot more easy for the viewers (you). Promise I'll keep posting on the topics, issues and subjects yall' wanna talk about.

- D.

By The Way; how many of you can relate to the random picture? Haha!