Creating “The Deep End”
Here's a cool story about this song and how it came to life. After collaborating with Teej (@teej.music on IG) for a few years—through stages, events, and jam sessions—we decided to explore working together in the studio. My “writing” process usually starts with improvising both the music and lyrics, recording them, and then refining them as needed. I don’t really “write to beats” like I used to, so when Teej asked me if I was going to write to the beat he made, I told him to arm a track in the session and record my ideas. He didn’t want to do that, so I asked if he could make me a cup of tea. While he went to do that, I recorded the whole song in one take.
I heard the “imperfections,” but something about it felt organic, so I decided to keep it. Teej asked if I would rewrite it, but I said “nah.” He sent me the stems, and I mixed and mastered the track. I also asked him and another friend who mixes and masters professionally for feedback, did two mix revisions, and that was it—song “released on all platforms.”
Sometimes, it’s a struggle to finish songs and put them out only to receive no response because we don’t have a video, marketing plan, etc. There are a lot of things that can stop us from releasing music as artists. Most of us “just want to create art,” even with all the resources at our fingertips for the business side of things. I now see all of this as part of the art! Even writing this blog entry about the song gives you deeper insight into the creative process.
Teej and I did an IG live about making the song, but not many people watched. Instead of getting discouraged, I thought, "Fuck it, it’s out there." I’ll just keep following my heart, trusting in my process, no matter the outcome. My goal is simple: to create as authentically as possible and make sure the music is accessible to the world and monetized.
My favorite part of this process was making the cover art. It's a picture I took and edited in Canva at Astoria Park near my house on a foggy day, where the bridge looked like it was disappearing into the unknown. I loved mixing it to give it a live feel since the beat is just one chord progression that reminds me of J-Dilla's “Fall in Love.” The title, The Deep End, hints at the way my flow and delivery sound on the track. It’s me reminiscing and having a conversation with myself, like I see “crazy people” on the streets of NYC talking to themselves. We’re all crazy in someone’s eyes, but the moral of the story is: be the most authentic version of yourself at all costs and put yourself out there, no matter what.
Love & Respect,
Y?
The Making of Sound Check Freestyle
This freestyle was recorded during a sound check when I opened up for hip hop artist Nejma Nefertiti (@nejmanefertiti on IG) at her culmination performance for the End of The Weak “Residency,” created by Miss B. I decided to release this freestyle using the audio from a video I recorded on my phone. Why not release music that’s raw? Why does everything have to be perfect? I spent 50 bucks on my friend Ony from Made in Queens to see what he could do with mixing and mastering, but honestly, he couldn’t do much. It’s all good though, because like most of my life, it’s rooted in experimentation—and that’s exactly what this track was about!
I consider “freestyle” to be fully improvisational, straight off the top of the head. But I know many people consider freestyling in hip hop to include written verses, and I have no problem with that. However, I see myself more like a jazz musician—learning the rules, then breaking them to create something new and colorful.
EOW’s open mics were a staple in New York City Hip Hop from the early 2000s until about 2010. In this freestyle, I reflect on a lot of memories from growing up in New York City, my time as an emcee, and how I evolved into a musician, producer, audio engineer, and the person I am today. As Bob Marley once said, "In this future, you can't forget your past." I see this track as an audio documentary of my foundation in Hip Hop culture—attending open mics, doing my own showcases, and finding my voice. It’s only now that I truly appreciate these moments enough to want to share them with the world.
Love & Respect,
Y?
The Power of OMNI: How to Quantum Leap into Your Infinite Potential
What if you could be the person you’ve always dreamed of right now?
It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. The key lies in understanding OMNI-ism, a philosophy that’s grounded in omnidimensionality and the practice of quantum leaping.
OMNI-ism: The Philosophy of Oneness
OMNI-ism embodies the idea that we are all connected and unified. Omnidimensionality teaches that all versions of yourself—past, present, and future—exist simultaneously and are accessible at any time. You are not confined to your current reality; you can align with the infinite possibilities that already exist.
Quantum Leaping: The Action of Shifting Perspectives
Now, here’s the fun part: quantum leaping is the act of shifting your perspective to access alternate versions of yourself and realities. By changing how you see yourself and the world, you can experience rapid transformation.
The key is to move beyond belief. Beliefs are fickle, but knowing something is grounded and unshakable. When you know something, like you know to breathe, it becomes part of who you are. This is the power behind quantum leaping—grounding yourself in knowing rather than believing.
Using Imagination to Unlock Infinite Realities
I’ve learned that my imagination is one of the most powerful tools I’ve got—especially in meditation. It all started with visualizing my younger self receiving the knowledge I didn’t get in this reality, like mastering my musical skills. It took a while to figure out how this works, but the big lesson came when I realized it’s all about knowing vs. believing.
I’ve heard people like Erin Lyons and Darrell Anka talk about these ideas, but it didn’t click for me until I really understood how belief systems shape the process. When your mind and soul aren’t in sync, things just don’t work. It’s like being on a boat that represents your belief systems—things shaped by society, family, etc. At first, the boat feels sturdy and secure as you navigate the sea of life. But eventually, you’ll reach land. Most people stay in the boat, not stepping off to experience the groundedness of knowing, and they just keep sailing back out. Then, when challenges arise, the boat gets shaky, and they start doubting everything.
But here’s the thing—stepping onto the land is where you realize that you won’t be affected by what the world throws at you when you’re grounded. And this is key when tapping into your imagination. If you’re stuck in conflicting belief systems or only believe something will work, it won’t. You’ll get in your head, searching for physical proof to validate your beliefs. If things don’t show up the way you expect—or at the speed you want (hello, belief systems again!)—you’ll dismiss the process as ineffective. But we don’t do that with something like breathing. We don’t doubt the next breath will come; we know it will.
When you reach that level of knowing, you realize that visualizing your past self can shift your timeline and change your story.
I also started experimenting with this concept by imagining my future self coming back to guide me, giving me wisdom to prepare me to embody that future version of me. This connects to the idea of omnidimensionality, where past, present, and future are all available to us. It’s a paradox that works because I know it, not just believe it. I could’ve stayed stuck thinking this was all just fantasy, but once I knew it, that’s when things clicked.
How to Quantum Leap Using OMNI
Here’s how you can start quantum leaping within the framework of OMNI-ism:
Shift from Belief to Knowing: Move from simply believing something to deeply knowing it as part of who you are. This foundational shift is essential for quantum leaping.
Access Different Realities: Visualize alternate versions of yourself—both past and future. What wisdom could your future self share with you? What would your past self do in a current situation? Align with the energies of those versions to transform your reality.
Practice Presence: Be present with the understanding that all versions of you exist now. The more grounded you are in the present, the more access you have to all possibilities.
Embody Different Versions of Yourself: Start embodying the energy of your past and future selves. Imagine how your future self would handle challenges or how your past self would respond to current situations.
Trust the Process: Quantum leaping takes time. Trust in your ability to shift perspectives and align with the reality you're creating. The key is knowing, not believing, and letting that inner knowing guide you.
OMNI: The Path to Oneness and Limitless Potential
When you embrace OMNI-ism, you tap into your limitless potential. You no longer see yourself as confined by time or circumstance but as a being who has access to infinite versions of yourself. Quantum leaping allows you to shift into these versions, accessing their wisdom and energy to create the life you desire—right now.