Words By Contraâ„¢

“Memories…don’t live like people do.” – Dante Beze

But music does.

Part of the reason for this, is that through all the strife and struggle, all pleasures and parties, there is music. Our feelings, perspectives, dreams and realities are all bottled in a beat with a melody somewhere out there.

For me, I travel. A lot.

I remember when I first listened to “30 Something” on Kingdom Come and Jay said to me, “You ain’t got enough stamps in your passport to fuck with Young H.O.”

I stared back at the speakers…

“Ehm…actually, Mr. Jigga, I do. What I don’t have is space for more stamps.”

I couldn’t understand what his fascination with traveling was.

Island hopping over the summer is cool. Being able to stare at a globe and paint memories with your eyes next to each city name you read is ineffably dope.

But being away so often or so long that kids grow up behind your back, friends forget your face, lovers leave you, and you no longer know what a “home” feels like is probably the closest feeling to death a man can experience in his lifetime.

It’s one of those “gift and the curse” dichotomies that leave one’s soul weary. Every journey is an emotional tug-of-war, which is generally why most of the faces you see at the airport are not smiling.

I am one of those solemn faces with travel documents in my front coat pocket and my loyal Jansportâ„¢ strapped to my back, and iPod earphones plugged into my dome like IV-tubes for my troubled mind.

My sanity greatly hinges on being able to put melody to the madness, harmony to the heartache and soothe my soul with a song. Having theme music for my struggle turns an enslaving, painful occupation into a poetically beautiful struggle. This song, ladies and gentlemen, is this Negro’s spiritual.

DJ Honda & Mos Def – Traveling Man (Album Version)

If ever you have to leave, or have been left; be you a soldier, a businessman, an MC, a wife, friend, parent, child, brother or lover that has uttered the words “Goodbye” with uncertainty and hurt, bump these songs a little.

Let ‘em massage your soul.

Mos Def Feat. DJ Honda- Traveling Man (Extended Version)

Mos Def Feat. DJ Honda – Traveling Man (Remix)

And of course, as a bonus…

John Denver – “Leaving On A Jet Plane”