A few months ago Josine, the head lady in charge of FewKidsOnTheBlock asked me if I’d like to write for this here website. She said something like “I always see interesting stories on your Facebook”. Me being who I am, instantly went into over thinking mode, “What did she read?”, “Was it funny??”, “Wasn’t it funny?” ,“Did it come across as I intended?”, “Why didn’t she ‘like’ the post if she LIKED it so much?" Yadda yadda yadda. Exhausting to say the least. Even considering taking the ‘job’ I over-analyzed. Like I’m worried that someone might read this and not get me and therefore will hate whatever image he/she has of me. “Will anyone read it all?” “Will anyone care?” “How many visitors does the site have?” “Is it not better for you to NOT write since you’re not exactly known for your tact?” Sigh….Let me try to explain in a limited amount of characters who I am. My name is Roger. I’m also known as El Rod. I make music. What kind of music? Funk, Indie, Electronic whatever you want to call it. But this isn’t about my music. This is about me.

2011 was a defining year for me. A self proclaimed loner, perfectionist and neurotic, I let go whatever perceptions of me or my character lingered or just existed in my own overanalyzing mind. The type to really not give two fucks about anything, but that’s always overshadowed by my need for logic. I’m the type to ask you your opinion about me fully aware that it might come across as insecure, but I don’t care. I know I’m taking a risk and that a simpleton will read it as a weakness, but again, I don’t care. I just need the question to be answered. Fully answered. With details, thorough examples and maybe even an anecdote about a similar situation to paraphrase what you mean. My need for logic isn’t always seen as a mere need for logic though. And that’s where the ‘overshadowed’ thing kicks in. But like I mentioned before, I let certain things go... Another thing, any stereotypical thing ever to be said or thought about a person, fuck that about a MALE? Fuck that a BLACK male? Doesn’t apply to me. That’s why I dislike those “10-ways-to-keep-your-man-happy” lists. They are never realistic and always based on cliché’s . There’s too many layers to my persona and I definitely don’t fit in generalizations. Look, here’s a few things about me that might be oxymoronic and paradox-esque, considering the standard image of the average male:

I click better with females than with guys. I like fashion. I shave my chest (I have like only three measly hairs on my chest, it would just look weird if I DON’T shave it. Don’t judge me.) I’m black but I consider myself a person before a color. I like shopping. I don’t mind shopping with a woman either. I like wine (white, but I’m learning to drink red) I don’t really like small talk. I never liked beer till last year. I go to the movies by myself sometimes. I was always annoyed by American sitcoms where the guy is submissive to the woman (‘Everybody loves Raymond’ for example). I can look at a good looking or well-dressed man and say out loud that he’s a good looking or well dressed man without feeling any tingling in my genital area. I don’t have a problem with ‘Sex and The City’, not even with the movies. I actually enjoy watching them. THIS is a 27 year old black dude?!? Yes it is. Am I “gay” now? Or “in touch with my feminine” side? Nope. I’m just a well-rounded individual who doesn’t let society dictate who I am, or what I should or shouldn’t like. In 2011 I completely embraced all my flaws and quirks. I used to subconsciously want to explain myself to everybody who would listen. I also used to be bothered when people called me arrogant. Now I’m numb to it. In 2011 I was also more self aware of my skin color than ever, having more “white” friends than black. Being told I “talk so polite” by my black friends and being told one of my songs sounded “urban” by a “white” person. Neither makes sense nor are they valid comments but it’s confrontational to say the least. While everybody with a blog is a socialite, everybody with a camera is photographer, everybody with a Tumblr page is a scout or visionary and every girl with a pretty face is a model, it’s harder to stand out nowadays than it was ever before. Guys, that girl you had your eyes on is now dating some douchebag who paints and considers himself the next Van Gogh. And ladies, that guy you had your eyes on is now dating some bimbo who hangs around in the DJ booth. It’s a mind-boggling world out there. Individualism seems to fade into obscurity. These are just my observations though. In the end we’re all just some 20-something kids creating memories for later on. As for me? I’m me. That’s all I need.

Want to know more about El Rod, his life and music?
Be-friend and follow him on Facebook: www.facebook.com/elrodmusic

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