Chained Brains

I seriously wished African-American/Black people in this corporation of a nation were sick and tired of all avenues being taken to show us and tell stories of us did not use the plight of our ancestors as a means of entertainment. When I hear shit like "oh it's just a film" and the nature of the film is exploitative and addressing a VERY touchy subject, I feel like I'm not saying what I'm saying LOUD enough. The last couple of weeks in this country 2 subjects were addressed in the media. One of course I spoke on before with my man RG3 the CORNBALL BROTHER and now this bullshit blaxploitation slave flick Django by the White Saviour Quentin Tarantino. It has forced both Black and Non-Black people to speak on race in a somewhat real manner. Shit was progressive UNTIL shit got too real and the things being said by prominent Black folks in the media. One incident resulted in a sportswriter (Rob Parker of ESPN)  getting suspended for speaking the TRUTH RUTH, and ironically my man Spike Lee getting portrayed as a hater (AGAIN) in the media for not accepting some bullshit Hollywood wants Black people to accept as gospel. People always talking about "racism is dead," yet when strong intellectual opinions are expressed about race by strong intellectual Black people that shit results in pandemonium. Terms like "reverse racism"(<<<suck my dick what is that?) are tossed around and then these opinions get dismissed as bullshit. The worst shit you can do is dismiss someone's opinion because that is showing how determined you/they are to keep your own agenda rolling, which may be detrimental to the well-being and welfare to a great amount of people. I'd appreciate if people kept it real with me, but I'd really appreciate if you kept it real with yourself and removed those shackles from your cranium. Peace god no pork on my fork!

Check this bullshit out...

So I'm up vamping and around like 7AM-ish I check my Twitter feed and see a rapper whose music I enjoy say something about Cornell West. Now, I usually could give two shits about a rapper speaking about politics and all but what he said weas quite interesting to me. So Cornell West I guess was quoted saying "the President only cares about White children." What the rapper says was "Mr West only cares about Black Presidents and Tavis Smiley." Okay so I'm like WOW because this fucking rapper lives in as neighborhood where Black children are underachieving due to lack of opportunities and he was a couple of those Black children who grew up in that same neighborhood. So I proceed to ask "hey, do you think the President cares about Black children?" Rapper says, "I only care about my family. Goodnight." So I'm pissed he told me goodnight at 7am and he tried to shut me down on some sucker shit when I was asking a legitimate question. I didn't ask him to elaborate, it was a yes or no type of question. So I then proceed to call duke a "nigger rapper" and BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM it hits me; this guy has always showed he was a prick why am I offended? Watched this clown tell a radio host on a very prominent radio station in NYC "fuck my fans I dont care about them" and didn't even feel a way because I was blinded by his bars... Bars which consist of such notions like "make ya moms suck my dick with BBQ sauce." Whose mom? Ayo fuck anything about hip hop/ rap music which mocks you and I. Boycott that shit, rant done. Good morning, Happy Kwanzaa.

I Think My Heart's Gooooooood

As cynical as most may think I am, my intentions come from a good place. Sometimes you gotta rub the dog shit in the dog's face. Gun control/bans have nothing to do with 27 people dying a week ago in CT. We need human control, not emphasis on mental health. When the wrong person dies we care, but when people die whom we expect to die from gunfire we do not discuss these issues. Mental health is an issue in the hood when we think it's cool for people to think people who look like them should die because they look alike. Gun control is an issue when there is no control at the hands of the community of who does and doesnt get a gun in that community. It's not like kids are buying guns at gun shops in Brownsville or Chicago. Who is keeping records of the guns being sold in New Orleans and Detroit? Let's not act like these shootings which pop up in the U.S. aren't scare tactics. Don't get duped into thinking the government should be the only ones armed; why would you give your weapons to your enemy? For one to think the government in America is their friend, you'd have to have an open mind which understands that this nation will try it's hardest to put the citizens in a position which is detrimental to their own health. Try convincing a house nigger they're a slave... I know it may take some persuading by the way of mental waterboarding, but I know my hearts good.

Me, Myself, and Eye

Everyday of my life I try to learn, unlearn, and re-learn. Sometimes I don't even re-learn what I un-learn because it was a waste of time and space in my brain; I'll just take away the lesson from the whole ordeal. I sit back and contemplate shit and analyze it in a manner which others probably wouldn't and it influences how I express myself. I always have to know why things are the way they are, because everything I believe which is taught to us by an authoritive figure comes with an agenda. I've never used a math formula at the Macys or needed to break down photosynthesis in the vegetable section of Pathmark. I mean those were two easy ones but let's look a little bit deeper than that...

The English language is a very peculiar one, a very harmful tool. The fact that we as citizens of this country who now call ourselves "natives," look down upon or discriminate against people who come here and prefer to use their native tongue. I find that shit fascinating being that the United States of America has no official language. What's even more fascinating is that there are African countries whose official language is English, but we'll delve into that later. As a nation (yes all of us) we will unite as one to hate something or someone, and if you're offended by me including you as us then tell me what you're doing that is effective enough to end this hatred; and yes, I include myself. When civilizations were conquered, one of the weapons used to destroy a people was to strip them of their language and force your's upon them.

I may have lost some people (hopefully not) by calling English a weapon, let me elaborate. If you take 10 Black people from 10 different countries, there is a very great chance we all speak a different language. If you take 10 people from Hispanic decent, there is a great chance they'll be able to carry on a conversation. Now this is not to say that all people of Hispanic decent speak or understand Spanish, but there is a greater possibility they'll be able to. My family is from all over the Carib Islands and so are most of my friends. They all speak just about one language which is English or  sometimes a creole'd or patois version of it (except for those from Haiti who speak a Haitin Creole). Them coming to America and learning American English did not really effect their lives like people who've never spoken an English word in their life before they got here. The English language can shape and shift one's culture, because the way it translate other languages is in a manner to which makes no sense to someone who knows no other language except English. To translate a statement from Mandarin or French to English gives it a very literal meaning and no space for ambiguity, two of many contradictory factors the English language thrives on. Double-meanings and vagueness can be harmful to someone whose native tongue spoken to be clear and understood.

Let's explore how the English language views the speakers. When we learn our first words and how to spell them, we break down words into categories. The most simple version: noun, adjective, and verb. I would like to speak on nouns, because nouns are us. We the nouns of the world are usually cultured to care for ourselves and told it is human instinct to be selfish. Through various outlets and influences, we're taught to be selfish and think we are the most important person to ourselves. Now I just used we and ourselves although I meant you which translates to I because you are reading it to yourself. Nevermind the last word "yourself" because that also breaks to you and I. All of those words showed a double meaning except for I, because all of those words could include a group of people. We are a very long way from the days of community, and in fact with the oppressive English language comes a driving force which breaks down that notion of thinking a group of people is more important than you (you meaning I because you're reading it to yourself). We're taught to capitalize the letter "i" (I) when speaking about ourself. I am is not im it's I'm. I have is not i've it's I've. Even when we add a word to the letter, it is still capitalized. Rule of thumb is that we always capitalize the first let of the first word in a sentence. So words like we, they, them, us, you, him, her, etc... are all capitalized (first letter) when starting a sentence, but never again in a sentence. Why is that? Why are we emphasizing on ourselves by capitalizing the letter "i" when speaking about ourselves at all times, but not when we're speaking about us as a whole? Should those type of words which include and involve others be as important as I? People who come from other cultures who do not learn the English language usually come here because of the conditions they've lived in which are most of the time poor countries. They come from a village or town where everyone relies on one another to survive and now they're being taught a language which negates & oppresses any sense or thought of community, just worry about I. We, them, they, us, him, her are just filler words used in sentences to make them complete and bring some sort of awareness that you're not speaking about yourself. Well if you were speaking about yourself we'd all know by that single slither of a font in the alphabet which sticks out in every sentence we write about ourselves; how else would we remember to remember abour ourself? Peace Yall!

Kinfolk

I remember the first time I heard Nasty Nas rap "I never sleep, cuz sleep is the cousin of death." I didn't initially get it, but after hearing the song over and over I eventually got exactly what he was trying to communicate. At first I understood it as sleep being similar to death because of the peacefulness and how dormant one is at the time. Life lessons have taught me that sleeping or not paying attention to your surroundings, can lead to your untimely death. Lately, I've been up at the wee hours of the morning thinking, building, learning, contemplating every single thing I could think of and sometimes it's burdening. I don't mind the pressure, but I often over-think my way into and out of situations. It's a challenge for me to sometimes express my thoughts and I frequently find this journey as an exercise in futility. No matter how I word what I'm trying to proclaim, my way of thinking is quite misunderstood and against the norm. I'm fine with people really not understanding what I broadcast into the atmosphere, because in my eyes a lot of them are sleeping. I find it kind of ill that you and I can look at the same thing and have two completely different views about the situation. The problem occurs when popular opinions are being passed off as gospel, especially when they're influenced by those with an agenda. We're taught to be individuals when it's convenient, but as soon as your individuality rocks the boat you're discouraged from anything seperating you from the pact. I mean it's cool for people to gravitate towards one another because of similar interests, but no two people can think exactly alike on everything. The way we think should honestly have some influence from our emotions. Conditioning us to think with our brain (which are full of thoughts we've been taught to think) instead of our heart, administers a precedent in our lives from such a young age which teaches us to think ONE WAY. If we can only see things through one lense which happens to be the popular lense, we'll be forced to do thing ONE WAY until another lense's view is accepted. The world was flat. Now, the world is round. If they told us the world was square, who'd question it? When the people making up the laws are making up the rules on whether or not a law is lawful, the people are sleeping. Apply that knowledge to any scenario in life and enjoy, Peace!

Daniella mi amor...

5:33AM I'm wide the fuck awake looking at Law & Order and an infomercial comes on with this old White man trying to sell me a child in a poor foreign country; oh I'm sorry he wants me to sponsor one. So I'm half watching, half internet surfing and I look up to see a 9 year old girl named Daniella shedding a single tear while they describe her situation to the viewer. What did they tell this girl to make her cry on cue? Is she a child actor? How genuine was that tear and if 100% genuine, why are they exploiting/capitalizing off of this childs tears? Why not save the money they're using to pay employees to film such a commercial and just give the money to the village so that they create an opportunity for themselves? We used to teach people how to fish, now we feed them Filet-O-Fish sandwiches and guilt, I mean religion. Peace!

Wait, What?

There are so many things in life that make you go “hmm.” And many others that make you say “WTF?” But, this one right here? This shit right here? It clearly qualifies as a classic conundrum, and is one of those things that, unless you’ve been paying strict attention, just might slip in under the RADAR.

What I’m about to say isn’t really news, and I’m sure I’m not the first to realize it or mention it...but seeing as how it’s 2012, the Mayan calendar has predicted the impending end of the world as we know it and Obama has won his re-election bid...it might be relevant and high time for a reminder. So, on to the $64,000 question. In movies, why is there always a black president in the White House during some cataclysm or apocalyptic event? What’s with the black presidents in disaster movies? Given the times, is this a perfect storm of fuckery on an epic scale, or what?

Since life holds innumerable possibilities and experiences, this type of nonsense, when viewed from a purely statistical, probabilistic standpoint, should lead the logical thinkers among us to question the proliferation of these “coincidences.” In other words, the shit that happens in life is, more often than not, so random—in spite of your, or anyone’s, best laid plans and intentions—that when something like this continually pops up over and over again, those with more than a few functioning brain cells should surely, at the very least, raise an eyebrow at this tomfoolery. Of course, it’s also possible that we’ve become so inure to these mass media shenanigans that things like this don’t even register.

Now, coincidences will happen. But it doesn’t take an Einstein to know some real bullshit when you see it. It can be argued that the majority of mass media exists primarily for entertainment purposes. Even so-called “news” outlets (which are owned by major corporations, beholden to government for their existence and profit margins)—for all their size and reach, comprise but a small percentage of media as a whole. And, although their “duty” and primary focus is to “inform,” news programs are still produced in a way so as to make them marginally entertaining. So what are “they” trying to

tell us?

TV, especially, literally has the power to physically change your brain wave patterns, lulling you into a drool-inducing, zombie-like state—perfect for you to passively, unquestioningly absorb the rapid-fire stimuli of images and text—sensory overload further facilitated by the accompaniment of mood-altering music. Of course, this subject matter is far beyond the scope of this post—but true, nonetheless and easily verifiable. Why do you think they call it “programming?” Hmm... I will revisit this at a later date.

Passive entertainment strips you of your ability for critical thought—it’s certainly dimmed a fair degree, for sure.  Therefore, a tough economy (getting tougher all the time) and a mindset firmly routed in escapism will lead you to cheap entertainment. And so I give you: the movies—“we are here now, entrain us.” (No, that’s not a typo. Deep.) Now, I love the movies, and who doesn’t? But to watch a movie and be aware of all the allegory and symbolism, not miss the plethora of hidden meanings and numerous overt references, you must resist your willingness to suspend your disbelief.

On the surface, we can all watch a movie and be quite easily entertained by things blowing up every 5 minutes and bad guys eventually getting their due. I just wish they didn’t wreck so many eighty-thousand dollar cars. Hook me up, yo! CGI that shit next time. Sure, many movies are exactly what they appear to be, “bread and circuses.” But, more likely, the screenwriter/producer/director has something to say. And to say it, they often use a device know as “predictive programming.” Yeah, look that one up and get back to me. Now, once again, consider the question: “Why is there always a black president in the White House in disaster movies?” 

~Brought to you by my good friend... Daryl Hope

Supreme Clientele

So for the second time in 2 months I've heard the word "Black Supremecist" out of a Black person's mouth. In each situation, there was an attempt to slander a person or persons trying to bring awareness to Black self-awareness. Shit, they were bringing just any kind of awareness to the people it just so happened that in both situations the majority of the people in the room were Black. I have trouble with the term or label Black Supremecist for plenty of reasons. For one to be SUPREME they'd have to have a lot of influence on how a system is ran. When we think about something as simple as America, the dollar is supreme. In this industry of a country, any-&-everything/one has a price. A dollar bill can literally dictate how much of a criminal you can be and not go to jail or pay for your crimes, that's supreme. For one to link the words Black and Supremecist in the same sentence is fucking incongruous! We do not live in a society where anything influenced by Black peoples has enough influence to effect any system. White supremecy effects racism which is a system that keeps other races of people down; in the case of America, it keeps Blacks down in the dumps. The person in particular who was called a Black Supremecist is Dr. Phil Valentine. I'm in awe of this man's intelligence and awareness, his perspective on the smallest things in life have opened my mind & eyes in ways that make me feel I need to unlearn the previous 29 years of my life. His ideas do not preach hate or a system which corrupts others. His ideas are not trying to get one group of people to triumph and succeed at the expense of another people. I respect White Supremecy, because not only has it perpetuated a system (racism) that helped one group of people get ahead, it made another group of people reject any ideas of self-pride and them succeeding as a whole. Bra-vo White Supremecy, Bra-vo... Peace!

Cornball Brotha???

I like to think of myself as a regular guy when it comes to what interests me; sports, cars, sneakers, movies, and did I say sports? Well anyone who speaks to me on a daily basis (all both of yall) know I LOVE the show First Take on ESPN. What I specifically like about the show is when they discuss race and the role it plays in the sports world and/or media. Well yesterday (13th of December) sports writer Rob Parker brought a very interesting and very REAL topic. Rookie phenom Robert Griffin the  3rd has been quoted numerous times as not wanting to be the best Black quarterback in NFL history, but the best quarterback to ever play. When initially hearing that statement I was pleased because this kid is a great QB and his skills are remarkable. He throws very accurately, which shatters any and every stereotype about Black QBs not being able to throw. He can stay in the pocket and take off and sprint 50yds at the drop of a dime, very Black QB-ish, but hey we've seen some White QBs get busy like that as well recently (see Johnny Football). Now let me get back to the statement of him wanting to be the best QB not the best Black QB... When the young Sir made the statement, nobody asked him about or brought up race. Maybe he was responding to critics he's heard via different media outlets, but that particular issue was not brought up at that particular moment. Then he made the statement again. Then there was a third statement; I guess third time's a charm because then I started to really notice something. Why is he so quick to dismiss being a great Black QB. Like sports writer Rob Parker brought up, we now have to re-evaluate this young Sir. See when Blacks in this country denounce anything linking them to being Black (try convincing a Black person they're African they'll go bonkers, but ask a White person where they're from and they'll name a European country and MAYBE add 'American' at the end), I see an issue that needs to be dealt with. We have to look at his whole body of work, his whole resume. Is he the Cornball Brotha? I mean he seems like a square his fiancee is White (no beef in that one of my best friend's fiancee is White ~wait, that sounds like something a racist would say~) and I wonder if he's ever considered a Black woman, and he grew up in a very racist Texas. Too often do we see Blacks in America put in a position where they're successful and public figures and have no problem removing themselves from any situation where they'll be forced to be "too Black" for Americans. It's not just sports, we even see it in music culture, tinsel town, and even the business world. Black people in America are not afforded the opportunity to denounce being Black, we're too far behind the power curve as a whole. I'm not saying do some charity work and date a Black woman, but at least keep your options open. We do not have strong representation of Black couples/families in this country, well not too many positive ones. The ones they ADVERTISE to us want nothing to do with the Black community and that sends out a very wicked message. RG3 doesn't seem like a guy I'd shoot the shit with honestly, nor does he come across as a brother who would care to with a brother like myself. That may come off a little ignorant being that I do not know the man personally, but I question his intentions with denouncing the label of Black ANYTHING in an unprovoked situation. Rob Parker represents the culture of Black sports fandom which askes questions like the ones he asked yesterday, "is RG3 a cornball brotha?" Whether you agree or not of whether it should be asked means nothing because it's a very real question. Show me a Black athlete with a Black wife who is marketed to the masses AND accepted by the Black community, because they generally care about the welfare of Black people in America and I have a bridge for sale made of unicorn horns... RG3 is NOT the first cornball brotha and he wont be the last, he's just the one putting himself in that #1 cornball spot. Peace!

Preacher

As I write this blog, Saigon's "Preacher" is blasting into my headphones. I love this track and what it represents, but that is not exactly what I'm going to get into. I often rag on the church and how the leadership fails the people, it's followers. What I do forget to do is sometimes check that almighty mirror. I wholeheartedly believe 100% of the stuff I say is right, but I don't always act on it. Bad habits, insecurities, fear are a few of many of the factors which lead me to hypocrisy. I myself need to take steps towards being a better Man, Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, Friend, Citizen, Student, & Teacher. That's a lot on my plate, but I would hope everyone in similar positions recognize those roles define who we are. I'm not too heavy on dogmatic beliefs and religion, but I know that I have to live right simply because anything otherwise would be selfish and foul. So I challenge everyone who talks that hot shit (like I do), to reflect on your past week, month, year, decade, etc and decide whether or not they've been progressively getting better at being themself or just thinking they have and need to try harder. Some may think I'm very judgemental ( I am sometimes, I'm human), but I know when to fall back and shut up because we don't always know the whole story. This piece was not an effort to blast anyone or anything in particular. I just felt like I needed to work on some things personally and was hoping someone out there could relate. Always be the best you and if you know better, Practice what you Preach. Peace!

Fin

SO the end of the world is like mad fucking close right? Should I stop paying bills? Are you religious people getting ready for the bumbaclot end and Jesus to come get ya or are you proceeding with your life as if nothing is happening? I think that the faith people have in their beliefs (not just religious) are quite weak. Most of the time there isn't even any logic behind them. Not gonna speak on religion, faith, and beliefs too much, I just wanted to point some things out. So back to armageddon popping the fuc off, I wonder how many people will loot? What is it about the end of days or any disaster that sparks the thought behind fucking savages to steal flatscreen TVs? Like who is the genius sitting on their couch like "you know what I need before I perish from this Earth and all existance, a new fucking television. Possibly 60 inches if I can carry it back home."<<<WHY? If it's a wrap, I'm not thinking about watching my beloved New York Knickerbockers on a big screen television I'm probably thinking about my wife and child at the moment, and how I can preserve their lives as long as possible even if it costs me my own. I'm most definitely not thinking about running up in Best Buy to grad that new Wii U just in case there is a hell and the ride might be long, so I'm gonna need a way to entertain myself on the travels to the underworld. Whenevershit is about to go down or is going down, you damn human beings always prove me right. Let there be a fucking hurricane *cough*SANDY*cough* to hit a city *cough*NewYork*cough* where lives are being lost and homes being demolished and people will rob, steal, and kill in the worst hit places instead of coming together; if you think I am bullshitting because you did not see it in the media, ask someone who lives in Far Rockaway, Queens. So this is what I expect to happen if the world decides to rid itself of you pesky mammals: First off every sneaker store is a wrap! I don't know what it is about you people, but yall love to get fresh no matter the circumstance. Even at a funeral (your own) you wanna get put in the dirt in expensive clothing, why? You're already a wrap duke, why waste some fresh Louis Vuitton linen? So yeah all the clothing stores you can add up in there, but top 5 dead or alive fucking Jordans and Foamposites are gonna be finished because I can see people waiting in line to loot those overnight. Second, as I previously stated big screen TVs are going to be a hit. How else would Americans know who will be the last American Idol, win the game, hit the last lotto, the weather in Heaven or Hell, etc... I am forced to believe that is what they're thinking when shoplifting TVs in the face of DEATH. I'm longwinded with my fingers so I'll give you my last prediction, murder. Nevermind we're ALL about to die, some people will not be satisfied unless they are the reason another person is dead although they too will be dead soon after. I don't get it with you violent ass people. We're all gonna be a fucking wrapito and some bastard is going to be out there killing people just because he/she (probably he) can. I refuse to believe these 3 predictions I gave you (please believe I have PLENTY more) are not gospel. So strap up with the gats, get some water and canned goods, and do some pushups/situps to get in as much shape as you can so you're not a vic(tim) outchea! Peace!

Before You Self Destruct

I'm not one to speak on relationships as if I'm some sort of expert, but if you feel like you need to kill your companion then maybe you should just walk away. I mean when it comes to violence I'm not a fan unless you're defending yourself, but to cause so much harm to someone that they cease to exist is selfish and ignorant. Not ignorant in a sense where people like to misuse the word, ignorant in it's true meaning because obviously you're unaware of the victim's plans in life. Maybe you are aware and don't give a flying fuck, but you're definitely ignorant as to how such a heinous act will effect/affect the world. So we got this knucklehead of a fooseball player on the Kansas City Chiefs who killed the mother of his child (newborn 3 months old) in front of her mother, then decides to drive to the fooseball stadium and kill himself in front of the coach and other team authorities. Why didn't this coward just kill himself? I mean I won't elaborate on the obvious because I would LOVE to assume we all agree on how we feel about the situation that occured. I want to go a step further and discuss the fucking ignorance of Americans. A very public figure gave some insight on the matter and proclaimed the reason why the young woman is no longer alive is because of guns. Guns being easily accessible and legal are the impetus behind this woman no longer being alive and a child no longer having parents. The backlash from such a statement from team Red, White, & Blue with their right to bear arms was out of this world. I mean of course the memes started and the sensitivity from these gun-toting savages was at an all-time high. My immediate thoughts were "well if guns weren't so easily accessible she probably would've been attacked by this coward anyway, but she'd probably be alive." Then it became an issue about people's freedom's and blah blah blah and AGAIN the issue at hand was ignored. A woman was  killed by a man in a domestic dispute and nobody fucking cares. What is it about this world we live in that the fucking people who birth people are second class citizens? Why are we not protective of Our women on this Earth? I'm seeing football players crying on the field the day of the game after the murder-suicide and they're defending the SHOOTER? The fucking imbecile who ruined families for generations to come is somewhere in someone's dogmatic afterlife of a place getting well-wishes from his athletic comrades to rest in peace. This woman is dead. A Woman is DEAD and nobody cares... Why? A woman is dead... Did I mention another woman is dead due to domestic violence? Dead as in no coming back from that dead. When we valued women our society was a whole lot better. I doubt I will see those days, but I hope my daughter will. Peace yall. No really, Peace...

My fellow New Yorkers

Somebody is not gonna like this blog, eff'em. Listen this Emperor Bloomy has been running this city like a business for now what is his third term, which he bought. I don't wanna hear shit about the rent being too high, it's NYC! What the fuck you thought was going to happen when you re-elected a businessman of a mayor? He's on his oops-pow-surprise with freestyling new ways to create revenue and nobody opposed it. Do you know how many restaurants are in NYC? Now after you Google that, think about how much money this city can make from the grading system which checks out there restaurants and hands out hefty fines left and right. Now we got buses equipped with cameras that take pictures of the license plates of drivers illegally parked at bus stops! I'm not mad, that shit is illegal; why the hell are you parking at a bus stop anyway? In this capitalist society we live in with greedy bastards ranging from the title of politician to average citizen, why the hell wouldn't I turn New York City (the greatest metropolis this side of the Earth) into a cash-cow? You're bugging if you think New York City is too expensive. It's actually quite affordable for the people who can afford it. This perspective of mine is ME coming to an understanding and acknowledging that the citizens of this city are to blame for the condition it is in. Wouldn't be any gentrification if we took pride in our neighborhoods and made it into prime real estate without a greedy businessman seeing the potential first. THAT'S why your rent is high. More cars than parking spots in this city, THAT'S why fines for drivers are ridiculous; half of you don't need to be on the damn road anyway! Can't afford a train ride? Why the fuck did you let the MTA get away with murder in the first place? Nobody cares until it's too late... Go fucking sleep in the park and cry me a river. Peace!

Young Man's Game

The one and only Jay-Z is celebrating another year on this Earth brainwashing the youth via attractive rap lyrics. I'm sure plenty of his peers were not as fortunate to live as long or as well as he has, but my question is exactly how old is this mufugga? I mean since he's a Black man his face doesn't automatically show his age, but we know he's been alive over 4 decades. Is it like 41 years or 49 years? I find it quite peculiar that only in hip hop (probably the youngest established genre of music) is one's age and experience NOT a badge of honor. Why is this a young mans game? It's not like sports where the younger cats are bigger, stronger, faster (with the rhymes) and shit... All of the better lyricists are well into their 30s and 40s and have so much to offer with their knowledge via their trials and tribulations. Hip hop fans are so quick to dismiss a rapper because we feel he/she is too old to talk about everyday life, but 18yr olds fresh out of living in the room they grew up in have the ears of millions of hip hop "fans" because...? No I was asking, because I have no fucking idea. Damn hip hop, that way of thinking personifies how Black/Brown urban youth think; no respect for the elders who can guide us. All the other genre's of music call their pioneers LEGENDS. Kiss, Springsteen, Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, all these rock legends can sell out national tours, yet when acts like Public Enemy do shows in their native NYC, there is little to no advertisement. Damn you swaggots... Peace!

Just wow...

Damn so now law enforcement has unmanned drones? You've got to be kidding me. Protect and serve whose interests and well-being? Everytime I try to see the good in what local law enforcement does being that they are needed, they choose to show me/us that their real agenda is to violate citizens. No matter how many good cops are out there with genuinely benevolent intentions, their whole existance is to basically keep us in line and scared. They harass us, they unlawfully imprison us, they've raped our women, shot our children, and haven't answered for any of their actions and NOW THIS?!?!?!? Officer Overseer... Peace (one day)!