The Balance Of Things

It seems like everyday I get some more great news of our progress in the UK. The team over there are hitting each target with precision and efficiency, which I am very grateful for. All in all it's quite exciting!
A quick review of this mornings communications revealed that we have now moved up to a C-List Rotate on Radio 1.
We are shooting for the stars with this project and I intend to work even harder to make the most of every opportunity that arises as a result of this success. I give big thanks to every one of my supporters, from my inner circle to my friends and fans here and abroad. Keep that positive mentality!

This is also a moment of reflection for me. This current upswing in popularity and career growth is in complete contrast to the experiences of the first half of my year. I don't usually divulge personal details on this blog but to further highlight what I mean I feel it's necessary to share.

Early in the year one of my Grandmothers passed away, now for many people that's a very emotional and heart wrenching event. But for me unfortunately I'd had no dealings with her or my Granddad for over 15 years and the loss was really quite odd. I didn't feel sad, I didn't feel much at all really. Yet it made me think a lot about my family and how I associate with them.
Not long after that I found out my best mates Dad was diagnosed with Cancer. Quite a shock to everyone it was. Then I found out another one of my good homie's had a family member dealing with the same thing.
Literally 2 weeks following that news, while I was on tour, my Father had a heart attack. He survived it, but I don't need to tell you I was worried for the worst! For a moment I was frozen, didn't know what to do and it felt like death was getting closer and closer.
And then the worst news ever, my best mates father succumbed to the cancer he was battling. He was a great man and father to his kids. He used to coach me in basketball, I felt close to him and his family. It was a big loss.

I guess Im lucky in this regard but I can barely remember going to more than 1 or 2 funerals in my entire life. Death hasn't shown its face much around here. So these events definitely shook me up a bit.

And then the closer, maybe a month or so after all that I get news that my grandfather had killed himself. That is some out of it shit to hear I tell you. I can only assume that the pain and loneliness of being without his partner of all these years (my grandmother whom I first mentioned) was too much strain to bare in his twilight years. The old boy chucked it in.
I wish I could have seen him once more. It may have been awkward but I would have liked to see his face, and maybe ask him if anyone in our family ever played music (a question I've never asked, and I'm a bit of an anomaly when it comes to musical ability in our gene pool).

Anyway, its safe to say I/we had a pretty sucky start to the year.
Now these current achievements may not console those feelings of loss but it definitely helps to have some good shit happen in your life to restore the balance of things.
And like my man Jeru says "when the pendulum swings in favour of one it eventually swings in favour of it's opposite, thus the balance of the universe is maintained". Wise words those.

Keep ya head up people, the light is just around the corner.

Pete