Image by Sebastiano Rizzardo from Pixabay

It's no secret by now that I am a HUGE fan of music. Jazz music and old-school hip hop to be specific. Just for clarity, when I say old-school hip hop, I mean A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Jay-Z and so forth. It's just something about the lyrics that allows me to be able to connect to the artist. It doesn't even have to be the lyrics, it can be the rhythm or the melody that I'm able to connect to. There's a thought that the artist or musician is trying to get across that I can either agree with or makes me think. It helps me to zone out and allow me to be in a rhythm when I'm doing something or just thinking.

Above anything, I LOVE creativity. My father used to sneak my twin brother and me into the jazz clubs all around Detroit. All so he can play a few sets on the drums. You see, we're pretty tall, we tend to look older and were able to get in fairly easy. We used to see a lot of the well-known jazz greats those clubs. That's how we learned our jazz history. Honestly, that was one of the most memorable memories that I cherish with my father.

What I've learned is that music can have boundaries. Therefore, you are free to go in anywhere within those boundaries. Going outside those boundaries, made you crazy. But after the music had time to mature, you were considered as a genius. Something about being in that pocket and being able to stay there. For those who play and listen to music, know what I'm talking about. For those who don't understand what that this, I will do my best to do it some justice.

Being in the "pocket" is pretty similar to being an athlete and being in the zone. You're just on-point with whatever note, whatever style and whichever way you throw it. You're right there in the middle and still in rhythm. One of my many favorite jazz songs is "In A Sentimental Mood" by Duke Ellington and John Coltrane. I can recall my grandfather playing Duke Ellington songs on his organ after he comes in at night from work. He would play with the lights really, really dim. Similarly, I imagine that he's setting the mood to make that emotional connection with the music. The dimly lit lights are to create an intimate feeling throughout. They make it look so easy and effortless.......

Today's guest professor knows exactly what I am referring to. I've known him and watched him for years getting right into the pocket whenever he sits down behind some drums. When I say that this is someone who's passion radiates when he picks up the sticks.......... It will just leave you in awe. I have seen this guy's eyes get BIG when he just looks at a set of drums. Whether it's a new set or an old set, seeing his passion for the craft never gets old. Many people know him as Jrelle Hits, but today we are going to call him Professor Jarelle James.

Chancellor Bernard Gleton on the left and Guest Professor Jarelle James on the right

Professor Jarelle is a perfect example of what The Genesis Project Podcast and The School of Hard Knocks stand for. Music runs in his family. In other words, it is in his DNA. But, he never went to school to learn music theory or anything of the sort. Above it all, he was able to still somehow become a success by trial and error. By his own words, "hard work and consistency".

While I'm not trying to downplay school, I'm just simply pointing out that school isn't for everyone. However, you have just as much of a shot of becoming successful as someone who graduated fr...