Words I Manifest: The Intro

Published by Grant Brydon on September 7, 2010 at 5:36 pm

Grant Brydon is a blogger/writer for aboveGround Magazine. He runs the blog "Words I Manifest". Hi, I’m Grant and I write about Hip-Hop. This isn’t some Hip-Hop-a-holics meeting, but an introduction to me; a relatively new Hip-Hop journalist, who has been given the honour of writing a blog here at aboveGround Magazine. Since I have a lot to live up to, writing alongside the site’s editor and founder, Tyler Hakes and Rhymesayers’ emcee Psalm One, I thought I would start with this post; telling you a little about myself, my background, and outlining what I intend to do with this blog (disclaimer: my intentions may change, as I continue to write.)

As a Caucasian boy growing up in the cold North-East of England, I have possibly the least typical Hip-Hop background possible. However when I began to be introduced to the sounds of America’s West Coast in my early teens, I couldn’t hear enough Hip-Hop, and this has never changed. I have embraced the whole culture, researched the history, spent my teens graffing (badly) and b-boying (I always plan to get back into it, but it will probably never happen) and attending whatever jams, gigs and events I could get to. Hip-Hop has become my life. After discovering an interest writing and journalism at university, I have began to work hard, in trying to contribute to the documentation of this culture, as much as I can.

I believe that Hip-Hop is a culture that will accept and embrace everyone who wants to be involved, as long as they are in it for the correct reasons, but everyone has their place in the culture if they seek it. I also believe in this musically; I can understand why everyone from Drake to Cold Crush Brothers to Necro has their place in the culture. I’m not saying everyone who likes Necro should like Drake; we all have our own tastes. However I do think that the culture thrives on diversity and appropriation; taking things and making them it’s own. I try to remain open-minded and enjoy different styles of Hip-Hop for their individual motives.

On this blog, I will provide my opinion on various cultural matters, and provide short (or sometimes long) essays, describing why I have come to these opinions. I am not saying that this should be your opinion, or that I know better than you, I am merely giving my thoughts to anyone interested in reading them. As well as writing these cultural articles, I intend to cover various events that I may attend, and perhaps post some lifestyle and fashion articles, photographs from events and shine some light on new artists. These are the plans I currently have for the blog, however as I stated earlier, it is likely that these ideas might change and evolve, at least now you know what to expect…

I have named the blog “Words I Manifest” for obvious reasons, Guru was an inspiration to pretty much everyone who ever heard him bless the mic, I was never fortunate enough to hear him live; but the stellar collection of records he has left behind have and will continue to inspire me throughout my life. R.I.P. Guru.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy my blog…

Grant Brydon

Grant Brydon is a freelance writer and blogger and all-around hip hop advocate hailing from the UK. He runs his own hip hop blog at HipHopFiend.org.

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