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While I was preparing for the 2nd Don Cornelius tribute set, I discovered this haunting song, My Soul, My Spirit by Mike Grant remixed by Mr. G, and I literally had it on repeat ALL this week. The song samples the poem, Run Free or Die, as well as some of dialogue from the prison classroom scene by the powerful, poet/activist/actress Sonja Sohn from the film, Slam.

Particularly, the following words palpably resonate with me:

It doesn’t hold you back anymore. It doesn’t lock you down.

The beginning of 2012 has seen the passing of many talented men and women who inspired me greatly and continue to do so (Etta James, Claire Fischer, and Don Cornelius). As a result, I thought I’d honor someone while they are still living for a change.

SONJA SOHN is doing amazing work for the Baltimore youth through her non-profit, ReWired for Change, http://rewiredforchange.org. Please support this organization in any way you can.

I highly recommend that you view her TED Talk re: ReWired For Change 11/5/09

Sonja Sohn is a woman of integrity and speaks even more with actions than she does with her words (and she is extraordinary with words so her actions speak volumes.) First of all, she could live anywhere and she chooses to live in Baltimore. Secondly, she took a year off from her acting career to cultivate ReWired for Change. Being a black actress is hard enough in Hollywood, but she was willing to make a sacrifice that could have negatively impacted her acting career. Thankfully, it did not.

I spent four summers in Baltimore, and the Believe campaign made a lasting impression on me. So, I thought it appropriate to end the mix with Ray Charles’ I Believe To My Soul in reverence.

Next week, we’ll return with our previously scheduled mix, part two of SOUL for Don Cornelius.

Playlist:

• My Soul, My Spirit (Mr. G’s Freedom Reprise) – Mike Grant – How Long Must I Continue EP – [Moods & Grooves]
• My Soul, My Spirit (Mr. G’s Freedom Train mix) – Mike Grant – How Long Must I Continue EP – [Moods & Grooves]
• Into My Soul feat. Dee Dee Bridgewater (Nicola Conte Rmx) – Gabin – Mr Freedom – [Caroline Astralwerks]
• Watch Over My Soul – Anthony B – Black Star – [Greensleeves]
• Inside My Soul (Original) – Liquid People Present Danism – Inside My Soul – [MN2S]
• My Soul Is Electric – Roy Davis Jr. – Chicago Forever – [Ubiquity Records]
• Free My Soul (Bjorn B Remix) – Jayson Miro & D’Arezzo – Free My Soul EP – [Spinnin’ Records]
• Inside My Soul – DJ Spice T – Midnight Grooves – [Spiced Music]
• Deep Inside My Soul – Kevin Yost – Future Flash Back – [I Records]
• My Eternal Soul (Original Mix) – Chuck Cogan – The Inside / My Eternal Soul – [Ooze Recordings]
• Down In My Soul – Ethel Waters – Stormy Weather – [Wnts]
• My Soul, My Spirit – Mike Grant – How Long Must I Continue EP – [Moods & Grooves]
• Subbin My Soul – Alex Cortiz – Camera 707 – [Coast To Coast]
• In My Soul – Project 155 – Feeling Your Body – [Amathus MusicT]
• Touched My Soul feat. Nadirah Shakoor – Osunlade – Gilles Peterson: Broken Folk Funk Latin Soul – [Muzik Magazine]
• The Gate To My Soul – The Revenge Project – Through Blood And Ashes – [Amadea Records]
• Devil Music – The Pharcyde – Labcabincalifornia – [Delicious Vinyl]
• My Soul – The Pharcyde – Sold My Soul: The Remix & Rarity Collection – [Delicious Vinyl]
• Gate To My Soul (Original Mix) – Scott Ferguson – Walden Ponds EP – [Deep Vibe Recordings]
• Down In My Soul – JK Soul – Dinner With The Beatz Volume 2 – [Cold Busted]
• Gate To My Soul (108 Mix) – Scott Ferguson – Ferris Street Vol. 2 – [Ferrispark Records]
• Deep in My Soul – Bizzy B. – Science EP Vol. 3-4 – [Planet Mu]
• Free My Soul – SKC & Safair – Weapons Of Mass Creation – [Hospital Records]
• My Soul – The Soul Warriors – Drum & Bass, Vol.01 – [Dark Gadgets Recordings]
• Inside My Soul – Logistics – Hospital Mix 4 – [Hospital Records]
• Catch My Soul – Drawbar – Flight Of The Tempest – [Counterpoint Records]
• My Soul Ain’t For Sale feat. Raheem Devaughn – DJ Jazzy Jeff – The Return Of The Magnificent – [Rapster Records]
• My Soul Ain’t For Sale feat. Raheem Devaughn (Instrumental) – DJ Jazzy Jeff – The Return Of The Magnificent (Instrumentals) – [Rapster Records]
• My Love Is My Soul’s Imagination – Saul Williams – Slam – [Lions Gate]
• Who’s Gonna Save My Soul – Gnarls Barkley – The Odd Couple – [Downtown Recordings]
• Who’s Gonna Save My Soul (Instrumental) – Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save My Soul EP – [Downtown Records]
• Bare My Naked Soul – Jesse Johnson – Bare My Naked Soul – [Dinosaur Entertainment Corporation]
• Inside My Soul – Plex – Pluto Dive – [Darkvibe Recordings]
• Give My Soul – The Lab Rats – Lost In Space: Drum ‘n’ Bass – [Lacerba Records]
• Run Free or Die – Sonja Sohn – Slam – [Lions Gate]
• I Believe To My Soul – Ray Charles – Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959) – [Atlantic Records]