Quanstar Brings His A Game

 

One man juggling single parenthood, two jobs, and a dream struggles to make it as an independent artist in the world of hip hop. From planning the Bring Your A Game Tour to putting it all back together after sponsors back out, he who wants it does whatever it takes to get it. Whether it’s touring across the country in a car, or performing with a mic in one hand, son in the other - Quanstar is that dude, and “Do It”: A Documentary is his journey. Filmed over a period of six months the film pulls back the smoke and mirrors that has become hip hop.When Quanstar sent me the link for his documentary it was a couple of days before I actually sat down to watch it. I was in no rush. Didn't really think I was going to be writing because of it. But of course then I watched it. I had to write something and decided on a twitterview – this is what Quanstar had to say about the film.

"Do It": A Documentary, follows you for 6 months as you work toward achieving your dream. What made you decide to do it?

Quanstar: I wanted to show people what being an artist is really like: the hustle behind the image.

It’s a vulnerable position to be in. How often were the cameras rollin' during that time?

Quanstar: Pretty often. I think we had 245 hours of footage. If I had the budget, I would have run it all day. I wanted to be honest.

Did you ever wish that the camera hadn't caught something? Were there moments when you maybe weren't yourself b/c of the cameras?

Quanstar: Not really. There were a couple of conversations that didn't [make] the film, but that was more for other people than me. I am pretty much the same type of person all of the time.

So what we see is who you are; we meet your fam, your son, your mother - but there are others. How did you decide who to interview?

Quanstar: The only interviews that didn't make the film had horrible lighting, or ineligible speech, or [were] off the subject.

There were two that I kept going back to, but I'd like to know which were most important to the documentary in your opinion?

Quanstar: My mom and my son.

And while I can guess why, would you mind elaborating on what they bring to the film and also how they've impacted your decisions?

Quanstar: My sons are my focus. It is my obligation to show them if you want it, you could get it. My mother, and all my fam for that matter, is my support. They believe in me. That means a lot.

You’re very blessed to have a support system so strong!

Quanstar: I am definitely very blessed. That’s why I work so hard and won’t give up. I refuse to waist that faith.

There's a lot of discussion about what hip hop is, means, & all the double standards that go with it. What does it mean for you?

Quanstar: I love to hear folks dialogue about hip hop, even though I tend to disagree with what they say. Hip hop should inspire thought.

Is there anything you were hoping to say with the film that maybe didn't come across the way you wanted?

Quanstar: Not really. We made that film at the right time to make it. That was a crazy 6 months. It’s not always like that though. LOL

Nothing you would change if you had the chance, really?

Quanstar: No. Honestly, I haven’t even seen the movie since right before it was released. Should've and could've don’t get you anywhere

That's impressive. Can't move forward if you’re steady in the past! How about the folks who helped on the project?

Quanstar: The filming was done by only two people: myself and the film’s director, Anthony Neal. He also did the editing.

How was it working with only one other person?

Quanstar: Easy. Only dealing with one other opinion; we were pretty much were on the same wave length on what we wanted.

Okay so looking forward, what's next for Quanstar? You have some projects in the works.

Quanstar: My first book Water From Turnips will be out in November with the soundtrack that will be free to download.

Tell us briefly what the book is about.

Quanstar: It’s about how I went from being an under achiever to where I'm at now, the people that influenced, and where I came from

Definitely something to look forward too! Will you be doing another documentary in the future?

Quanstar: Yep. I should start a sequel to do it within the next year. Over the next 5 [years], Hip-Hop in Africa, an internet reality show, I have a few more projects that I'm working on

More than enough to keep busy, it all sounds exciting. To close, for those who don't know, who is Quanstar in 140 characters or less?

Quanstar: The hardest working MC most people have never heard of until they do. Then they’re tapped in Quandom.


Many thanks to Quanstar for his time and participation in this twitterview. For information on the Bring Your A Game Tour visit http://www.bringyouragametour.com/.

Continue...

SOML: A Fictional Piece

It has been some time since I last posted anything. Here we are coming up on Fall, Back To School, vacations coming to an end, award shows coming up, and I have yet to find anything from the world by which to be inspired enough to write.

Of course, that does not mean I haven't been writing. In fact, this is why you haven't found anything new from me. The reason the most recent news briefs posted are Michael Jackson's death and Vibe's misfortune. So I thought I would share with you what it is I have been writing. What the experience of writing fiction has been like for me, and yes a little snippet of my work. You must promise to be kind in your feedback (if you click the link and read the piece I ask that you provide constructive criticism)but truthful. No room for hot air over here! So without further delay, here we go.

About a month ago, when my children were on vacation, I lost track of time and stopped blogging. I think I enjoyed too much the opportunity to do nothing more than what was needed. Blogging can often feel like another job, and so I took a break. When they (my girls) returned, I failed to return to my blog. Instead I began to ponder, and reflect on my life, the life of others, stories I had read, shows I had watched and photos I had scene. Through all of the clutter that found its way to my mind, something very real began to emerge. A storyline.

It was something I began to dream about at night. I would see it playing out on the T.V. though I was watching something else. I couldn't read anything more than short stories(Sonny's Blues being my favorite at the moment);anything longer was impossible to finish because I would become distracted by the story building up in my own thoughts. So I did what any sane person would do. I got a note book and pen. At first I could only jot down a few thoughts here, or an idea there. A scene that had become clear, a mood, or feeling. It didn't start to make sense until I finally got back in front of a computer and opened up Microsoft Word. What came out was like nothing I've ever written before. I love to write, but I typically write "opinions", research pieces, narratives on my own life, but nothing like what I am working on now.

Once I got started I couldn't stop. I was writing on my lunch, me skipping lunch to write something just because I had to get it out! Not because I was on a deadline, not because I was looking for a book deal, just because what was developing was far too much for me to contain inside myself. It didn't matter if it was good, it still doesn't matter if anyone likes it. I just needed it out before it consumed me completely, yet safe in a place where I could go back to it from time to time. That place is currently a flash drive in my purse.

I think the hardest part has been those instances where I myself am not in the same state of mind as my character. I can only write what I know, what I have felt and seen, so if it wasn't in me, if I hadn't experienced it directly or indirectly, I couldn't write it for my character and that troubled me. So much to the point that I found different ways to feel the way she did. Forcing myself to contemplate the things she did, and let her give me the words that truly described what was happening. I am at a stand still right now. I don't know what comes next, and I can't make the decision on my own. I think that is why I decided to write this post. Maybe writing about the writing process, will help me be able to find my rhythm again on the keyboard. Who knows. If nothing else I hope to get some really good feedback from those who read the below selection.

Remember - I am not really an author, or writer and I have never attempted to do what I am doing now. Go easy on me.

Much luv and appreciation. *I'm so nervous!*

So this is a flash back scene that occurs as the character (nameless) reflects back to the first time she saw her husband. It's a short passage I know, I'm starting small with yall.

The temperature had just begun to rise to the perfect degree of warmth. I’d laze for hours at a time on the courtyards manicured lawn, hopeful that a golden glaze would soon repair the sour shade in my complexion. I had been gathering up my crap one of these balmy afternoons, when some gravitational pull caused me to meet his gaze. It startled me not because I couldn't tell if he’d been watching me, rather that hazel eyes seemed out of place against the unblemished mahogany that coated his frame. Eyes, more green than brown, chilled the blood racing through my veins as I saw what lay behind them; a life I hadn't planned for yet was clearly so much a part of. I wondered where he’d come from, and how I hadn't noticed him before.


Continue...