Voices of the network culture: ‘Lessons’ by ODapt
Thursday, November 4th, 2010
Odapt (Chris Owens) graduated from Placer Union High School in 2008 and he writes hip hop lyrics about life's lessons.
“Hi Joanna, this is Odapt (Chris Owens) from the Auburn Hip Hop Congress.
I call this verse Lessons.
Thank you for your time and I appreciate your interest in what we are doing.” (Auburn, CA)
I met Chris Owens, known as Odapt, at a community forum hosted by the Hip Hop Congress of Auburn. He shared the lyrics of one of his songs called “Lessons”.
These lyrics (below) reflect a profound understanding of the responsibilities of freedom and the realization that self-discipline is where the individual finds liberty – not by relying only on the hand outs from others.
Natalie Pohley is the Community and Youth Organizer for the congress.
“We want to help our youth to break down the stereotypes of the Hip Hop community by proving them wrong, starting first by working on themselves and learning to be good communicators, and then becoming more sensitive to their surroundings,” Pohley said.
Owens is 20 years old and a Placer Union High School graduate (2008).
“Music saved my life,” Owens said. He is saving money to re-enroll at Sierra College. Way to go Chris!
Lessons, by Odapt
Everyday, I have to cope with the stresses of life,
Making my messes right, when modern day stress makes a mess of mine
Here’s some advice to help lift you from the ground
Cause life and the people in it always try and bring us down
***
What you aught’a do is never let the jealous people bother you
They’ll try and shut you down cause they too slow to follow you
Put a plan into action is what you got to do,
A lot of do, but plans mean nothing without follow through
So it’s all on you, it might look wetter today
But after rain comes the sunnier weather and sun rays
Then the works pays and the skies change for the better
But you got to work hard, handle business before pleasure
Or biz will handle you and that’s a known fact
Some things don’t mix like motivation, and getting tore back
I’m not saying it’s all bad,
but right now I got focus and get my feet on the right track
So I can blaze a path to the future I yearn, one thing I learned
Living the good life has got to be earned
You can’t sit there with your hands out, come on get a plan out
Whatcha’ gonna do when the free rides have ran out?
Related reading:
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Photo: Christy Benz
Joanna Jullien jullien@surewest.net
Joanna married her high school sweetheart and over the past 25 years they have raised two sons in Roseville, CA. She has a degree from UC Berkeley in Social Anthropology (corporate culture) and has over 20 years experience as a professional manager in information technology, manufacturing, energy and environment.
Joanna writes on parenting in the 21st century, as she has observed and personally experienced many strains on the parent-child relationship with the advent of the Internet, mobile phones and popular culture.
