Painting & illustration, reading (1st time authors), writing, cooking, spring/summer festivals, art galleries ... anything in the creative universe!
Music
Anything NOT played on mainstream radio (OK, that's a lie, but I dislike a lot of what is on mainstream radio) ... neo-soul, underground/conscious hip-hop, acid jazz, euro-pop/electronica ... currentyly vibing to Corinne Bailey Rae, MF Doom (anything), Roy Ayers classics, and my own mix CD's (visit Hybrid Radio to find them)
Television
Animation, animation, and more animation ... anything on [Adult Swim], especially the Bookdocks, Family Guy, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, etc ... can't wait to have my own comic strip, Epiphany Park (www.epiphanypark.com) animated and on the schedule!!! I'm claiming it! The Office, Scrubs, and 30 Rock have somehow weasled into my regular viewing. And sports are always welcome.
Books
First-time authors in almost any genre are my favorites. I don't like anything about a period in time before my birth but love anything about the future (I'm a closet sci-fi geek, go figure).
I am an artist ... That much may be obvious. But my body of work is born from the obscure. A life well-lived is one in which you play many roles, some of which are impossible to avoid; child, student, corpse. But most are taken on by choice. And those choices we make to play these roles, influenced by both the brain and the soul, are occasionally difficult and frequently wreak havoc on our social and economic universe. For me, the choices have been numerous, and often unusual. During my life's journey, I have been, and in many cases still am, student, teacher, technologist, consultant, programmer, cashier, graphic designer, DJ, musician, Mary Kay rep, activist, party animal, athlete, CEO, entrepreneur, father, son, husband, player (and later, 'playa hater'), frat brother, intellectual, debater, taxpayer, R. Kelly fan, pet owner, pacifist, Democrat, Christian, Agnostic, binge drinker, vegetarian, friend, enemy, ATLien, writer, editor, publisher, angry Black man, criminal, voter, patriot, Crunk, loner, asshole, confidant, outsider, insider, downsized, "right-sized," oversized, break dancer, hiker, decorator, and procrastinator, but most importantly, I have been me. Even when others didn't think I was acting like myself, I was still being me.
I was me when I was born in Greensboro, North Carolina on June 17, 1971 and when my parents relocated to Atlanta before I could even walk. I have been me living in Hartford (CT), Amherst (MA), Hattiesburg (MS), Miami (FL), Chicago (IL), and New Orleans (LA). That was me graduating from Mays High in Atlanta and “The U” in Miami. I even recall being myself during a 10+ year stint in the information technology field working for everyone from BankSouth and SunTrust to UPS and IBM. I was my true self when I wore suits to church every Sunday, and still am as I now read the teachings of everyone from Jesus Christ to the kingdom of Shambhala. It is simply me being me when I draw the 'Net comic strip "Epiphany Park," or simply covet my "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Sealab 2021" DVD collections.
My true self has a healthy disdain for commercial radio but still knows all the songs in the Billboard Hot 100; gives $5 to beggars as long as they're Black and actually look homeless; tries to hit the gym 3-5 times a week but in reality only makes it 3-5 times a month; is not productive without my standard 3:00 p.m. pot of fresh coffee. I could go on and on and probably have written too much already. My soul, my spirit, my self are all poured into my art. To know my works is to know me and to know me is to know my works. Visit www.zuristanback.com or www.urbanshout.com to learn more ...
Peace ...
"If you genuinely celebrate every single moment in life that has brought you any kind of joy and happiness.... You'll find yourself celebrating forever... Attraction is Key...One Love" -Nide A.k.a Timbaland Threat
Close your eyes for 10 seconds and picture me on top of the Music Industry...Then Hold Them Shut For Another 15 and picture you where ever you desire be...Hold Them For Another 5...And Thank God That We're Alive. -Nide
I Had A Vision... That One Day We Will All Live In A World Of Peace A World In Which Love Will Rain Continuously, Not Only Cleaning The Air We Breath Yet Cleaning Our Souls...As We Rise Again As one And Defeat All Impossibilities A Vision... That Allowed Be To See Exactly What Was Destined For Me A Vision So Clear That Its Become Impossible For Anyone To Try And Convince Me That This Dream I Live For I Can Not Achieve... I Had A Vision... A Vision That Convinced Me That All These Tears That Fall Down My Face So Silently Will Soon Be My Strength... -Nide
They Say If You Had One Then You've Had Them All Yet, Why Would I Want Them All If Its Only Gonna Feel Like One? The Details In A Female Are So Ill She Just Might Kill Ya Inner Soul If She Decides She Ever Wants To Let Go Most Just Want Our Respect Yet Most Neglect That Hispanic...White...Black...Etc. They Shouldn't Be Treated Unfairly Its Better Ya Love That Women Who've Stuck By Your Side Through The Good And Bad Times Instead Of Calling Her "Bitch"...While telling her Lies Cause When It Comes Back 1,000 Times These Words Here You've Chose To Skim Through May Just Cross Your Mind -Nide
Hey cuzin! I'm doing the usual, working...more working...occasional sleep, go to the gym...back to work. UGH! LOL! You missed an...interesting...family reunion this weekend. I think I'm gonna suggest that the next one be in Atlanta so you can host! LOLOL! (I'm tooooootally kidding!!)
I've noticed that Most times in life, what we are desperatly looking for is so close to us... We tend to push it aside... So we continue on looking with a certain frustration... Then along the way begin to lose our faith and create in ourselves a reasonable doubt... And I've come to learn in these past few months, that our biggest weakness is doubt.... We need to reach deep into our conscious and begin believing in ourselves... as we never did before Life as we know it is changing... And i feel the most important changes we should be focused on throughout this Revolution Is the changes we'll decide to make from within... Changes that will change the way we think...and possible change the way we live God Bless
We as a people need to begin paying back and focusing more on those who did us good in life...those who were there at a times when we felt the world was against us...when we were down and out...and felt as if we had no hope in life...when when felt as if dreams are only dreams...a figment of our imagination...i simply refuse to sit here hold grudges against those who may have hurt me and caused me pain that still affects me till this day...when at the end of the day wishing them wrong doing is only attracting more negativity into my life...pay backs not a BITCH its actually a GIFT when used in a positive way...seek revenge for those who had a positive impact in your life...and worry less about those who tried and destroy you for the simple fact that they saw in you someone they could never be...one love
Hey, Zuri! I haven't been on here for a minute so I just saw your comment. Things are wonderful on my end and I hope the same is true for you and yours. I just got back from Jamaica - had a blast! Hopefully we'll see each other soon. *Tracie*
I haven’t left the usual words inspiration for a good many months… so here is what I have been feeling… Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong. Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust and hostility to evaporate. You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late. This is what I am certain of… and there are very few certainties in life…
How did I miss the new look? When people start changing it up & I don't know when it happened, it's a sign I've fallen of the face of the earth again. I likey!
Thanks for joining the Wolf Pack! It’s great to have you. Come check out our comic galleries and tell us what you think. Look out for our manga “Altered State” coming March 08.
