Darrick

Hello World! My name is Darrick, i'm 27 of Northern California! I've been creating music for 8+ years now! (Rock, hip hop, underground rap, heavy metal) My first name in the hip hop world was "D-Man". TERRIBLE name Hehe. After being made fun of and not taken seriously at all i decided to amp up the aggression, make better beats, write better lyrics and change my name to Demise! Why Demise? I want a name that is POWERFUL and goes well with my music which is dark, sometimes ominous, aggressive and the lyrical content is very REAL. (I don't make songs about money, girls, cars, etc...) The songs i write are about life, hard times, lost loved ones, struggle, addiction & much more. So after talking to my cousin who makes hip hop too, he said "When i go up on stage i put on a character. You know?" BUT, in my mind i think it's more of an ego instead. When I go up to perform I become MORE humble and let everyone know life is too short, and let's do what we love NOW!! Sort of like an inspirational speaker SO... could this be my "ego" or just the artist in me?!?! Plus, at my previous job almost ALL of my co workers just called me Demise instead of my real name. I've been addressed as "Demise" way more than Darrick in the last few years!! Thanks for reading!!!

"Just when i found out what i TRULY want to do with my life, i am expecting my baby boy!! I am a song composer (rock, hip hop, epic motivational soundtracks) and cook/chef (LOVE cooking and creating recipes). I do NOT want to give these up.. is there some way i can do all of this while raising my baby boy?!?!" Hello world, my name is Darrick, 27 of Northern California! I've been cooking, creating, composing music, staying active in my local music scene, selling albums, working a few restaurant jobs all while investing in myself to benefit my future! Recently purchased a nice $700 camera to better my YouTube videos. A microphone for better audio! Been watching @Leo Gura's videos routinely!! His videos are amazing and definitely help on the journey to self actualization!! (I think that's why we are all here) Being single for almost 5 years i really had time to "find myself". I made music whenever i wanted to. Had the chance to go out and meet sooo many different people. Had various sexual partners. Tried a bunch of different jobs. Moved to a few different cities in California. Put out my 1st official album! Then it happened! About a year ago working at my restaurant (which i recently left) i met a beautiful young gal! Took some time & talking but we dated and made it official! We've been together 8 months. The real kicker of this story/forum is.. she is now 7months pregnant. As happy as i am to know we're both fertile and i am 27 years of age, it still makes me pretty fuckin' anxious, nervous, excited, worried, etc.. So many emotions for the both of us. It happened so quick but I AM READY... Just when i found out what i TRULY want to do with my life, i am expecting my baby boy!! I am a song composer (rock, hip hop, epic motivational soundtracks) and cook/chef (LOVE cooking and creating recipes). I do NOT want to give these up.. is there some way i can do all of this while raising my baby boy?!?! Thank you all sooo much for reading! Stay focused while on this journey to Self Actualization!!

@Elena "LSD was an incredible experience. Not that I'm recommending it for anybody else; but for me it kind of – it hammered home to me that reality was not a fixed thing. That the reality that we saw about us every day was one reality, and a valid one – but that there were others, different perspectives where different things have meaning that were just as valid. That had a profound effect on me." - Alan Moore Wow, thank you for sharing Moore's story with me. I will read some more about him tonight!

@Loreena Thank you! You are definitely right about getting enough sleep when i can! My baby is going to keep me up a lot! I will become wiser, set better goals and work on them fast (when i find/make the time) Thanks again for the kind and very helpful words, means so much to me!! Baby pictures coming soon!

@aurum Hahaha! Well, it's all a part of this learning experience!! I'm ready!!!

@aurum WOW!!! That's was brilliant! I want to thank you sooo much for the wise words. You have a great & positive way of looking at this particular situation. I am definitely aiming for and will continue to be a role model for my son! Though it is not east, i know i have what it takes. You said "But in the self-actualization journey, we tend to get the challenges we NEED rather than the ones the ego wants" .. i totally agree!! Never would've thought about it like that if you didn't mention it! Thank you again, this lil' Chicken Nugget will FUEL ME and motivate me to take action on all of my ambitions!

@clytaemnestra Thank you so much for the kind words!! I will continue to work on myself (not neglecting my baby or gf)!!

@Nahm Haha! Cliff hanger Still working on my brilliant idea, don't wanna explain it just yet!!

"Never again will i work for a BIG restaurant corporation cooking hundreds of dishes for hungry patrons at a break neck speed." Hello fellow enlightenment seekers! My name is Darrick, i'm 27 from the Silicon Valley. I am very passionate about cooking various types of delicious foods! I have even more fun watching my family, friends or strangers enjoy what i had just cooked up for them! Very rarely do i make a dish they dislike Just being honest! About 4 years ago i was unemployed and surviving off small drug sales Knowing drug selling was a horrible idea i started applying for jobs. Luckily a restaurant wanted to interview me for a position of employment. I was soon hired as a line cook starting at $11 an hour. I was thrilled!!! (Remember, this was around 2013) Knowing that i absolutely love cooking, my intention was to learn all the dishes and send out beautiful plates that paying customers would enjoy! Not only would the food taste delicious, it would look amazing too! But after a few months of busy nights & pumping out anywhere from 50 to 100 plates an hour, i was no longer happy. I couldn't watch or interact with the customers out in the dining room because i was trapped back in the hot kitchen I knew for a fact the people who received the plates i cooked were very pleased & probably took a few pictures of their food before stuffing their hungry faces!! (That's what i do ) Not only did i make sure my plates had all the correct ingredients, i made sure they were HOT and visually appealing as well! Very important. Out of the 12 line cooks working on a busy night only a few plus myself actually cared about our food presentation! I take pride in my work! Once i saved up enough money to finish & complete my main goal in life (which you can read in my previous post) i planned on leaving a.s.a.p. But do to finances and other factors i had to stay for another year, AND another year... So after 3 and a half years i finally left! I FEELS GREAT!! "Never again will i work for a BIG restaurant corporation cooking hundreds of dishes for hungry patrons at a break neck speed." I am definitely looking for something much smaller and intimate with a menu half the size! Somewhere calm with the possibility of being able to interact with the people enjoying my food!! Thanks for reading, Darrick!!

@Steph1988 Thank you!! I have so much more time for music & cooking for fun (plus creating my own unique recipes !!!) Been cracking down on the hip-hop and self improvement stuff at the moment, rock music coming VERY soon!! My email is dthescrooge@gmail.com if you want me to send some demos your way!!

WOW! This really opened up my mind and i want to say thank you I never thought about it like that but it does make sense. Cooking (at home for family & friends) relaxes me! So does music! So that's another avenue in which i can/and have pursued to make an impact on people! It is a never ending learning experience with new thoughts & ideas to come! Bold and risky is good, as long as it's organized with a definite goal in the end! What is crazy is that before i read your response i came up with a BRILLIANT and huge idea that combines 2 passions of mine. I've written down a few blue prints and will continue to craft this new idea and set a few goals! (It does NOT involve food at all) Hehehehe

About a year ago i was watching one Joe Rogan's podcasts/videos and came across a very interesting conversation between him & a friend. His friend brought up an idea that he had heard from another source stating something along the lines of... "What if our lives are already predetermined? Either by a higher entity or some other unknown force(or no force at all). And no matter how hard we try, how hard we work at developing the self & keep pushing towards being what we truly want to be, things will go the way they are pre-determined. Like someone who wants to be a famous actor. In their mind they keep trying and trying, working at it & giving it their all everyday BUT are already predetermined NOT to become famous and will forever be stuck trying. And those who have made it to fame and or whatever were predestined to be. " Although i came across this conversation a year or so ago, it has always stuck with me. And if it IS true, that is a scary and very sad truth. Either WE as humans and conscious being HAVE THE ABILITY to CREATE our own reality... or the UNIVERSE or WHOEVER the F@$! has it all mapped out for us already. Thanks for reading!!!

My name is Darrick, 27, from the Silicon Valley. I play multiple instruments and can construct a complete song in an hour! (Lyrics, drums, guitar, bass, piano, etc.) I don't just create any ordinary generic song. Basically, i start from scratch, usually playing in "minor" (sad sounding) notes. Starting with guitar i make a BRAND NEW riff and continue on till i have that complete. Then on to the drums, then piano & so on. Almost effortlessly and without "thinking" and just going with the flow i create a very nice (and somber sounding) song!! (Ambient dark rock stuff) It is as if my body and mind go on auto pilot and the song kind of creates itself. (if that makes any sense ) Now after completing and recording a few of these songs i showed my auntie. She's had her fair share of psychedelic experiences in the past!! While we were listening to my new songs in her car she gazed up the toward the ceiling and was almost in tears. She explained how the music i create is an energy or outer source that is channeling itself (possibly from another dimension or wherever) through MY body and through the instrument to the recording/song itself. And that it's a positive or negative energy that CAN move people & touch their emotions. I was fucking amazed!! Now i thought she was just trippin' and over thinking. But now, 4 to 5 years later it seems to make a little more sense, what she was explaining!! Wow, some deep stuff!! Or maybe not. Perhaps i'm just a musician who has the talent and drive to create brand new songs from nothing in an hour!! Thanks for reading

@BabyBat Yes that is very true, when a song creates an emotional response in a person it MAY very well have a deeper spiritual element!! I sure hope so! Thank you for reading btw! I DO have some music for you to hear, some of the songs i was mentioning here! My email address is dthescrooge@gmail.com Send me an email & i can give you some links to my music!!

@Neo Nice!! Very good response! But this brings me to one of Leo's recent videos which he explains that WE DO NOT have free will. And every decision or choice is NOT ours, but is part of a bigger picture and that thoughts & ideas come from "no where". Tricky stuff. It sounds sooo confusing and really got me thinking.. which is good!! When Leo said that we DO NOT have free will, it turned my whole perception up-side fucking down

@Old Soul Hahaha! That's a cool way to look at it! Thanks for the feedback

@Passionate Thank for your kind & wise words! I can already look back to my old job and be happy i stuck it out for 3 and a half years! It was tough but fun!! Not sure if I want to go to culinary school, but perhaps start my own little local food stand thingy Hehe! Thanks again, means a lot!

@MIA.RIVEL Thank you so much!!! Not an easy transition & STILL learning everyday.. but it's worth it

Hello fellow enlightenment thinkers, i'm Darrick, 27 from the Silicon Valley. Here are 10 things i am very grateful for: 10 Things i need work on: 1.) Family 1.) Over thinking 2.) Vision 2.) Cigarettes 3.) Life 3.) Dwelling on the past 4.) Great Music 4.) Temper/anger 5.) Clean water & good food 5.) Being judgemental 6.) Sense of self awareness 6.) Procrastination 7.) The journey of Enlightenment 7.) Time management 8.) Ability to set and conquer Goals 8.) Implementing ideas rather than dwelling on them 9.) Waking Up 9.) Other positive ways to make and save more money 10.) People who help others in a positive self-less way! 10.) Letting go of other people's bullshit that is out of my control Thanks for reading and this!!

"Keep this lifestyle up, and you will NEVER get what you want. You will NEVER conquer your goals. YOU... Can DIE RIGHT NOW." Hello world, I'm Darrick 27 from Silicon Valley! I recently watched Leo's video "Contemplating your own Death - To Stay Motivated for Life" (A must watch if you haven't already)!!! I believe that specific video is the one that really got me into subscribing to his YouTube channel and began watching his videos routinely! The topic of Death makes us all pretty uncomfortable but it's how we perceive it that really matters. As a musician, drummer & hip hop artist i was stuck in a pretty dark rut of creative blockage that i couldn't seem to get out of for 4 years. My music wasn't going anywhere. I had these GREAT ideas that i wouldn't complete let alone even start. And the songs or ideas i would start, i'd lose interest in pretty quickly. But then it happened.. 4 years after being stuck in that depressively dark, alcohol & cigarette infused rut i finally looked myself in the mirror (sounds corny i know) and said to myself "Keep this lifestyle up, and you will NEVER get what you want. You will NEVER conquer your goals. YOU... Can DIE RIGHT NOW." Right then my life changed. I knew the lifestyle of fear of EVERYTHING especially death had to be left in the past. About a year ago i had an over the phone interview with a music promoter from Seattle, WA who was really interested in my hip hop lyrics and asked why my stage name is "DEMISE". I told her "Life & Death go hand in hand. We all experience our LIFE now, and will ALL experience our DEMISE one day. So it's very relevant & true like my music" You must realize that is always running out and tomorrow is NEVER promised.. if you truly want to conquer a goal or dream you have to start working on it NOW!! Thanks Leo and thanks to everyone on the path of self actualization!

@Leo Gura I will definitely look into places like Nevada, Texas and would LOVE to travel around 3rd world countries (Thailand or Vietnam in particular) Also, i LOVE getting out of my comfort zone Like you said it's a huge catalyst for self actualization!! And i do NOT want to get stuck. Want to keep growing both in business and in self actualization!! Thanks again Leo!!

"San Jose has become one of THE most expensive places to live not only in California, but in the entire Nation IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY!!! " Hello world & hello fellow enlightenment seekers My name is Darrick, 27 from South Bay Silicon Valley (Bay Area Northern California). Born and raised in the Bay Area my grandparents and parents both watched as the Silicon Valley Computer BOOM took over. Home prices here have skyrocketed, roads became congested & clogged with traffic, cities & towns became over populated & poorer to middle class families were pushed out of their residences. But i myself was just a child growing WITH the boom. None of my family really got a job or position in the technological world that the Silicon Valley has become know for. Before, it was a large farming & fruit growing community. YouTube, Twitter, FaceBook and many other social media sites have now made the Bay Area and Silicon Valley their home. Now there are some advantages and some major disadvantages to living here. BUT, i'm not gonna get into all of that. My main concern is that my home since birth, the BEAUTIFUL, sunny and serene San Jose has become one of THE most expensive places to live not only in California, but in the entire Nation IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY!!! Now i know what my passions are, i know what i truly love & am good really good at!! MUSIC and COOKING!!! I've created albums and made some pretty decent $money$ from sales & performances! I am very proud of the music i create. And have had numerous cooking jobs which are pretty fun and pay pretty well. But NOTHING close to enough money i'd need to live comfortably in even a small 1,000 sq.foot one story home and it's pretty sad Either i start GRINDING my butt off creating music that I KNOW will sell & get a good cooking job or CREATE MY OWN way to sell my own dishes or get the heck out! That's it!!! Gotta keeping working at this EVERY DAY!!! Thanks, Darrick

@Leo Gura Wow, you are right.. California IS way too over priced! My grandparents got the heck out of dodge and moved to Fernley (by Reno) Nevada and are saving sooo much more money!! (love em)!! Hahaha, honestly this sucks because i love the Silicon Valley but have only lived as far as Sacramento area (2 hours away) so maybe i SHOULD pack up and move somewhere else. Thank you so much for replying to my post Leo, this means a lot to me!! I've been watching your videos for the past 4 months routinely & have been working hard EVERY DAY at my passions & self awareness!

@J Strategic thinking and good observations skill is what i am working on as well as creating my cooking and musical skills every day!! I love both equally and can definitely balance them both out since music & food go together!! Thanks for responding because it really helps and keeps me focused!! So i am into MANY types of music! I am a drummer in my band Scala & we've played numerous paid gigs & have toured up to Seattle, WA area. (Maybe start a drum lesson bussiness ) On a more personal poetry level i go by Demise, a hip hop artist who creates the beats and writes/talks about life, self awareness, depression, family, deaths, poverty, good times, and am evolving into a better lyricist who's gonna be making better more positive messages Plus i've sold some beats to other lyricists and can definitely sell a lot more!! (All professional quality no bs) With my 1st hip hop album complete & selling 150 copies by word of mouth alone, performing over 45 live shows, spreading the Demise name around locally, nationally & now internationally (with the help of social media ) my next project will sell MORE!! But i want to impact peoples lives in a positive way because in all honesty that is what matters most!! Thanks again and your response means a lot to me!!

@How to be wise Thank you for your wise words and you definitely have some great insight for the bigger picture! I have been watching Leo's videos and plan on reading his books. I'd love to travel the world with a good amount of money & music that i'm proud to share and help affect peoples lives in a positive, real "human to human" way!! The main reason i'd like to come back to my childhood area is because of family that is still here BUT would also like to get another home for myself elsewhere!! (maybe a few hours away hehe) I've received checks, online transactions & cash money for my music (rock, hip hop & inspiration spoken word) but the impact on the listeners who appreciate my music is the major reward for me!! It's a journey and i am working hard at it EVERY DAY!!! Just before reading and responding to your message i sent 10 pictures to an artist who is going to photoshop an album cover for me!! The goals ARE attainable, the dreams BECOME reality and i do believe.. thanks again so much, mean the world to me!!