me:I Predicted This Ish Exactly

"I'm a ride for my n*ggas", I figure that's what they all say
It's foul play when cuttin throats is your forte
Do it how you wanna be done, that's what the Lord say
Daps and hugs, but turn your back and get the swordplay
I'm sure you say I got it all wrong, it ain't like that
I sent you all them texts and called, guess it's better you ain't hit me back
Despite the fact you told me plenty tears you had to fight back
All lies, surprise, I ain't diss you with no spite track
I know you'd probably like that, but never will I hit your level
You gone dig your own grave, focus when you grip the shovel
I should be pissed as ever, but I'm the bigger "brother"
So I'm a keep it movin while you get your shit together
Our bonds was severed, but all you had to say was f*ck me
I smelled your bull, consider me lucky
I've been misconstrued, lied to and abused
But my fam still swear that they love me

life:Check one, yes, no or maybe Pt. 5

We're in a relationship

Pardon my disposition, but I'm a little confused. I don't know how it happened, but somewhere along the line the word "relationship" became marred in a cacophony of misinterpretations and misnomers. I'd like to blame facebook profiling, but it started way before then. The truth is, you have a "relationship" with every single person you come in contact with. Of course some will be valued more than others, but a relationship is simply a manifestation of your association with another human being. So, when people launch into their personal "I'm ready for a relationship" discourse, they really mean "I'm bored, lonely and it's raining outside. The cold side of my pillow isn't cutting it anymore. I'm ready to be boo'ed up." And at that point...they missed the point.

One inherent benefit of being single is the freedom to nurture relationships of all kinds. All relationships are fertile ground, provided they don't divert your unyielding attention from your personal goals. As most can attest to, when you establish a romantic bond with someone, many of the external relations that you established prior to the boyfriend/girlfriend link go into a holding pattern. You aren't around as much. People start to hear your voicemail more than they hear you. And every time it's time for a group outing, you promise to "meet them out there." Keep it 100 my friend. You knew you were never going in the first place. But that's OK. It's instinctive to reassign your attention when you are romantically involved with someone. However, when you are single, you can freely invest in relationships, without the congenital rope of a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship pulling you back in. Of course, the lines of demarcation must be clearly drawn and established, but if you manage to keep those lines in tact, you'll never have to worry about "being in a relationship" again. Here are some of the blocks...start building.

Association
Simply put, you see these are the folks that get a light pound, a church hug, and maybe a little small talk. Sure, they invite you to come kick it, but both parties are aware that the overture is an empty formality, never to be fulfilled. Occasionally, if someone strikes you as a reputable individual you extend that relationship to the next level.

Fellowship
This stage is determined by a simple boundary…commonality. A fellowship partner is someone who you are willing to spend time with based on a shared basis of thinking. This is usually where the wheels come screeching off most relationship wagons. We often fail to gauge whether someone shares our values and beliefs. Instead we decide they are a cool associate, so he why not fellowship with them. Wrong answer. When I was younger, my Mom always told me “Don’t Talk to Strangers.” It made sense then, and it still makes sense now. If I don’t know you, and I can’t immediately recognize that you’re someone I’d like to know, then your sir or madam are a stranger, therefore I’m probably not going to fellowship with you (unless of course God calls me to do otherwise). Why would I kick it with someone who deals coke? When the cops come they aren’t going to stop and ask “Whose dope is this?” Can I really invite an atheist over for dinner? I could, but then saying grace would be kind of awkward. Don’t confuse this with elitism or judgment. What people do with their lives is between them and their God. But he blessed me with free will, and I will use it to my advantage(I’m sorry. I had to do it. Hit the rim shot and move on).

Bad company corrupts good character…so keep an eye on your company.

Friendship
This is when the crowd thins out. Friendship is a sacred bond that requires true familial kinship and love. Look at the story of David and Jonathan. The Bible says that “Jonathan Loved David. In fact, he loved David so much that he was willing to betray his own Father to save David’s life. That’s deeper than “lets go play ball together,” and heavier than trips to the nail salon. That was true Agape love emanating from one person to another. It’s powerful stuff. The caveat to this stage is that you can only establish a friendship with time and effort. For the most part, people tow the line between friendship and fellowship simply for convenience sake. If I say “Oh who’s that you were with?” you’ll invariably say “Oh that’s my friend such and such.” It’s a nice way to package the relationship without explaining that you kick it with them, but it’s not that deep. The real testament of a friendship comes with adversity and I ask “Yo, why didn’t you call such and such?” and your reply is a blank stare than need not be accompanied by words. It’s cool. I get it. It’s just "such and such."

Unfortunately, when coupled with the male-female dynamic, friendship is a bewildering concept. You see we have hormones, and sometimes those hormones make us do imprudent things. We’ve all been there. I know you probably did that. She is bad…all types of it. And he looks good, and talks it even better. So now you have to be coy. You have to package this in a way that doesn’t look suspicious or put your emotions at risk. So you both say “Let’s be friends.” Friends as in-we-sleeping-together. Friends as in we “dating-but-don’t-know-what-to-call-it-and-I-like-other-people-too-so-this-sounds-safe.” Sorry guys. I’m not talking about that type of friend. I know. It’s easy. It’s convenient. It keeps people out of your business, and most importantly if gives you a false sense of reality. It is perfectly fine to be attracted to someone. It’s a natural hormonal reaction, and if you don’t feel it toward anyone you might want to go see a doctor. The key to maintaining a friendship is to coral those hormones and do things the right way. While attraction is normal, it is fleeting and deceptive. Most of the time you are initially attracted to WHAT that person is and not WHO they are (shout out to Jas http://nallthatjas.blogspot.com/2009/08/me-or-thought-of-me.html ). People operate like dice. There are several sides to them, but they change once you shake them up. A common sentiment in failed relationships is that “I thought I knew him/her. I never knew she could do that.” You probably didn’t because you didn’t take the time out to be genuine friends first. We know who our true friends are because we know exactly who they are…flaws and all, yet we still choose to hang around because of the kinship of character.

If you are lost in the turbid fog of attraction, you inevitably rationalize, ignore, and excuse anything that tells you that this thing should probably never extend beyond friendship. Does she keep acting dejected and insecure? Be a friend and encourage…but don’t date her. Did you catch him drunkenly groping a girl outside a club…Say shame on him, but he’s probably not the guy you want to date. I know you don’t want to, but it’s essential to take stock of everything and make a decision accordingly. Shake the dice. Toss ‘em against the wall. Sure, you'll crap out sometimes, but if you can enjoy the instances when you hit a 7, them you've found a good friend.

Courtship
This as the foggiest of all stages, because technically this is the boyfriend/girlfriend stage. But usually we take it too far and we’re back to practicing bad relationship habits. At this point you’ve acknowledged that you are attracted to each other and said “Hey, let’s enter into a monogamous romantic relationship.” Does that mean you abandon your singleness? Absolutely not. He can still go out with whoever he wants, whenever he wants. She doesn’t have to check in when she’s out. He doesn’t have to put in on your bills. And if she moves away, stay put unless you have a better opportunity where she is. You’re single…but you signed a contract to be monogamous.

Simply put. There is no “Us.” We are two single entities who enjoy each others company. No more, no less. And let’s not forget that you are still obligated to observe the rules of virtue and righteousness. That never changes. A sobering element of this relationship is the acknowledgment of hierarchy. Realistically, this person should come around 5th on your list of important things. You know behind God, yourself, family, career. Tough pill to swallow? That’s probably because you need to go back to friendship or fellowship.

The only way a courtship can work is if it features a key element of agape love: trust. If at anytime distrust makes its way to the relationship, abandon ship and start over. Trust extends beyond detrmining whether or not someone will cheat. Can you turst them to consult God? Can you trust them to care for you as well as they care for themselves, Can you trust them to make good decisions? If answers to these questions, or questions like these are "no" then take two steps back, and stay there. A return to fellowship is a good step in reestablishing the basis of the relationship. But at no point should distrust and love of any kind (Eros, philos, agape) meet. Many relationships fail because someone didn’t trust themselves, or didn’t trust the person they we attached to. At this stage of the relationship, the two involved parties should be helping each others growth through encouragement.

Dating
This is the stage when he listens to Bey and “Puts a ring on it.” Engagement. This is the first time God looks at the relationship and recognizes a covenant. The man(yes the man) has consulted with God, and received permission from her father to take the young ladies hand in marriage. It’s during this stage that you are to inure yourself to be married. It’s an intense process that should include pastoral counseling. Nobody wins a marathon without training first. You are preparing to kill your singleness in one swooping bound, so it’s important that you cross the emotional T’s and the spiritual I’s. I hope you enjoyed the single manifestation of yourself…cus after dating is over its dead. This stage sets the infrastructure for the marriage. Hopefully, all key concerns and worries are addressed and rectified. This is the perfect time to solidify financial, emotional, or spiritual woes that could unintentionally make your marriage more difficult to execute. Remember, you’ve been operating as single person for your entire life. You don’t shed that mind state overnight. Pause. You thought you were supposed to move in together right. Maybe test the goods. Once again Kimosabee…slow down. You’re still single remember. That doesn’t change until the old preacher looks over his glasses and ask that you say “I do” at the wedding ceremony. Patience grasshopper. Patience.

Marriage
The entropy of self and the birth of on(I talked about this before, no need to revisit it). This too started with a piece of notebook paper similar to the one you got in 5th grade. Only this time it was for real. “Will you marry me? Check yes, no or maybe” You take out your Premium Pilot Ink Pen and check maybe…nah just kidding. You check yes. I mean you came this far. I’m sure you’re ready. Enjoy your forever…you've earned it.

life:Check one, yes, no or maybe Pt. 4

The Man in the Mirror

I want us all to do something that we rarely do...take a second and look in a mirror. And no, not a real mirror, a fictitious one, that allows you to see your physical and spiritual self. Go ahead, take stock of yourself, flaws and all. Do you like what you see? You should, because God said you are wonderfully and marvelously made. And what's even better is that you are a work in progress...so that glorious image can only be enhanced. And unless you are married, guess what...that image staring back at you is all you have to worry about. Tell me that isn't liberating. There’s inherent beauty in being single, but somehow people miss that. It feels good to be unhinged. If you want to have coffee with someone you can do it. The only person with license to rummage through your phone is you. No angry calls about a social networking message. Your friends go unquestioned. The only person counting your money is….you guessed it…YOU. All that changes the minute you devote your mind, body and spirit to someone else.

"But it feels good to be in a relationship too," you say. I couldn't agree more. They wouldn't have been created if it wasn't a celebrated occasion. But it's all about timing, and you have to trust God that your time will come. One major problem with many people in a romantic relationships is that they abandon their single identity. As we established earlier “You are single until you are married.” Sure, they call each other wifey and hubby, but until they go before God and establish a formal covenant, neither party is obligated to one another.

"No obligation? Ooooh you mean an open relationship right(wink, wink)." No. I don't mean that at all. Let me explain.

There is a time when two whole people decide to come together and engage in a monogamous romantic relationship(I’ll explain how that happens in the next post). At which point they have entered into a natural contract that each party is responsible to honor. But, God doesn’t recognize that as anything more than a contract between two people. He has not sanctified a bond that calls the two people to be responsible for each other. God still views them as single individuals. So while the two are technically dating, they are still to exist as singles: devoted to personal development and strengthening a relationship with God. The moment that romantic inclination interferes with that process it’s time to divest or make a formal commitment before God.

Example: A man gets a job offer in a Europe, but he has a girlfriend with a high paying job in the US. They can try to maintain the relationship, but the space and separation may prove to be too taxing to undertake. In that instance, the guy has work when she sleeps and vice-versa. The communication gap will widen and eventually frustration will set in. Frustration robs you of happiness. That’s not good for anybody. They have a choice. They can get married and begin life together as one, or they can divest and enjoy successful careers as single people, while maintaining a familial bond as friends. It’s not beneficial to struggle and fight through a situation that will detract from your personal development. There's a trap door that everyone opens that calls for people to "fight for what they love." But, in actuality love is something you work for, not fight for.

life:Check one, yes, no or maybe Pt. 3

It was all good just a week ago

The same guy that spread the “date to see what you like” nonsense is probably the same dude who told some poor soul that “We can grow together.” He lied again. Imagine that you are a teething baby. Here you are, chewing on a plastic ring, minding your own painful-gum business, and in walks another baby who shares your same dental afflictions. Hey it’s natural right? Babies grow teeth…and it hurts. But, then some sick doctor named Cupid comes along and decides to meld the two baby’s gums together and call the new creature “a couple.” Now there are two babies tethered together, in double the pain. Teeth are growing crooked, jabbing the others gums, and it hurts more than it ever could if they stayed independent of one another. By the time someone comes along to separate the two and end the cruel experiment, both of their mouths are mangled and still in excruciating pain.

That’s a bit of gruesome imagetry from my fabled imagination, but it’s just what premature relationships look like. Two people who are experiencing natural growing pains get together and contribute to the each other persons displeasure. They hinder their proper growth, and by the time they realize it’s detriment, both parties are already in more pain.

Growth stages are essential, and it’s to our advantage to respect them. Just ask the insecure high school girl who feels fat everyday and is dating the oversexed acne riddled athlete that insist on getting her naked. Bad combination right? Somehow couples like this always seem to manifest themselves. In college there is an oversexed senior preying on the insecure freshman. And the emotionally unstable female, who manages to link up with the struggling academic. Happens to the best of them….probably happened to all of us. Typically couples get together and sustain a moderate amount of success to start. Everything is perfect. She cooks and he eats. He dotes and she blushes. He buys it and she wears it. It’s utopia incarnate…until reality slugs you in the chest.

“Oh who is she. I can’t stand that girl. Why you ain’t text me back. You were with him wasn’t you. You don’t like me as much as I like you. I swear to God you trifling. What you going out for? I heard you was dancing on some girl. Man, I paid for that outfit and you just gon’ wear it in front of some other dude? Why does she keep writing on your wall? Oh my God you cheated on me?! When you comin’ over…Just do yo’ homework over here. I’m fat. I know I am. You still love him don’t you?! I need a break. You don’t miss me? Why don’t we ever go out? Why you goin’ through my phone. You don’t trust me? I got an offer, but I don’t wanna’ take it if your not there.”

That pretty much encapsulates the vast majority of youthful, fruitless and ill conceived conversations that sour relationships. I’m sure I missed a few, but we get the point. Of course, years later, you’ll look back and say that was pretty stupid, but in the moment that perceived slight or disloyal act was nuclear-bomb-serious. The best way to avoid consternation of that nature is to avoid establishing an emotional bond before it’s supposed to be forged.

Take a trip with me to your last failed relationship. Did you break up because he cheated in High School? Oh really, A horny teenage boy wasn’t responsible enough to contain his hormones? Shocker. Oh she kept going through your stuff and you couldn’t take it? Hmmm an emotional woman with insecurities played bloodhound. Surprise. Oh he was always with his friends? That’s what 23 year old males do. “Man. She ain’t pay me enough attention.” She has 18 credit hours and a job. How much attention did you think you were going to get.

Again, that’s a microcosm of issues that two incomplete single people will have. Now, if you ventured to remain on your own, free of the emotional contract that comes with a boyfriend or girlfriend, another person's problems are never your concern. Oh did he go and sleep with some random girl? Pray for him and hope he protected himself. Oh she had to get off the phone because she had homework? Good. You should go to bed anyway because you have work early in the morning. Everything becomes much easier to handle. Why? because you’re focused on what matters most -YOU. The last thing you are concerned with is incurring the stress associated with your boyfriend/girlfriends shortcomings that are attached to their personal growth.

But aren't we always growing?

Sure we are. That process never ends. But, the maturation process has its peaks. As I stated before, the idea of being whole resides in your contentment and your execution of your personal growth plan. As a single person, you are not ready to begin the next growth stage if your haven't mastered those elements. Excellence in execution will ultimately solidify your ability to grow within the confines of a relationship. You don't need to have a million dollars, but you need to know how to manage $1. Of course you will be inspired to launch into irrational tantrums, but you do need to know how to repent and coral those instincts. I know you're going to find other people attractive, but it is important to make that thought a fleeting one that never reaches fruition. Each persons readiness is relative...but it's real. It is natural that our initial growth stages be the most arduous and painful. Think about it. When did you dress the worse? When your mother finally allowed you to pick out your own clothes. You thought That luminous jogging suit jacket and acid wash jeans set was cool when you were 7. It wasn't. Imagine, what you would tell the 15 year old version of you that actually brought knock-off designer underwear just so people could see it when your pants sagged. Now that you've matured, you realize it was a terrible idea. People, I know it doesn't seem like it, but fat meat is in fact...greasy. It's easy to link yourself up with someone, but its more difficult to mend the damage that's done if it was done out of season. Sure you will heal, and you will have learned valuable lessons, but we don't need to test the bear trap with our own arm.

Coming soon....Pt. 4

life:Check one, yes, no or maybe Pt. 2

Single Until I’m Married.

Let me preface this note by saying that I am in no way criticizing people in relationships, railing against romantic inclinations, or wishing failure to those in romantic relationships. Far from it. I hope you guys make maximize the investment. I’m just speaking on a real principle and offering a bit of perspective.

Now I'd like everyone to take a deep breath, and say this with this with me.

“I am single…until I am married.”

Turn to your neighbor on your right and say “I am single.”

Turn to the neighbor on your left and say “Until I’m married.” Let the church say…

It’s a foreign concept, and the befuddled look that most people sport after hearing it is not a surprise. But it’s true. Until you sign a covenant before God and the government, you are in fact single. I know. “What about my girlfriend/boyfriend? We are together. Ain’t nobody single over here,” you say. I hate to break it to you, but no matter how many physical and emotional yolks you establish with another party, you are as single as a dollar bill. In acknowledging that point, it’s important to establish just a functioning definition of what a single is. A single person is one who is wholly invested in establishing his or her own human totality while synonymously growing their relationship with God.

Simply put…as a single person you are doing your own thing. For the person about to launch into an “I’m going to do me” diatribe…whoa kimosabe. Slow Down. Take it easy. First, let’s deconstruct the myths surrounding your singleness.

1. It’s not a license to do whatever you want with no regard for decency or virtue. The second half of that definition is probably more important than the first half. Enjoy your free will-and the consequences that come with.

2. It doesn’t mean you close off relationships with anyone of the opposite sex. That means you, the one wearing the mean and uninviting disposition. Just because someone of the opposite sex speaks, it doesn’t mean you have to announce that “You’re single and not looking.” Relax. They just said hello.

3. You are not single and ready to mingle…unless that mingling includes establishing sustainable relationships. And if you use that cliché you probably need to be in seclusion anyway(I kid).The point is, your singleness is not a license to drag suitors by their nose hair just to satisfy your needs.

4. It’s not hunting season. Somebody probably told you that “you need to date around to see what you like.” That person lied. You should know what type of man or woman you want before you even entertain the idea of dating. Save yourself some time and money on whack dates. It’s easy to know what you want when you know yourself.

“So what am I supposed to do while I’m single?”

I’m glad you asked. Singleness comes with a central focus: self. As a single person, you should be focused on personal development. It’s an opportune time to work on all the things that keep us from living examples of God’s glory. As humans, we all have innate flaws that we’ll can abandon with a lot of time and sustained effort. The truth is, most people don’t recognize how far off they are from their personal goals until they reach adulthood. Think about it. The will to address and conquer our personal issues (immaturity of thought, discontent with physical appearance, parental abandonment, meager self confidence, spiritual confusion, career ambitions etc.) doesn’t manifest itself until our early to mid-adult years, when we are better equipped emotionally to deal with them. Meanwhile, we leave a trail of “significant others” in our wake all because we couldn’t assuage our internal displeasures with the fulfillment of romantic desires. But it doesn't have to be that way. All we have to do is mature, without interruption.

How can we do that?

Well, it starts with minding your own business. The maturation process requires a prodigious amount of focus. It’s almost impossible to focus when you’re sharing a fragmentary emotional base with someone who is equally incomplete. Premature attachments are in essence, distractions. By adding those distractions we stand to stifle and prolong our development. When an egg is in an incubator, it’s probably a bad idea to pick it up and start doing the “Yayo.” There’s a good chance that baby chick will suffer some crippling organ damage or not make it at all. It’s in your best interest to let the egg sit, and grow without interruption. The same goes for us. You’re an egg. Don’t shake yourself up for no reason. Contrary to popular belief, there is no timetable for when you’re ready to relinquish your singleness. That is solely dependent on your development and relationship with God. You are in position to progress when you are whole. Unfortunately, God didn’t place a turkey timer on our backs so we’ll know when we are whole. But I can tell you that one key element of being a single is contentment. You should be happy with every stage that your are in, be it single or married. If at any point you feel unhappy with your alone time with God, and find yourself longing for companionship, go ahead and slide back in the oven…you’re not done yet.

Stay tuned for Pt. 3

life:Check one, yes, no or maybe Pt. 1

In the Beginning...

It was chaos born from a tattered piece of loose leaf paper. It was folded into perfect squares, and probably adorned with a variation of hearts. We were young, eager, and completely unaware of the damage that would come from unfurling that note. But still, when it made its way across the classroom, we rejust couldn’t resist. Your name was scrawled across the front in bubble letters, and the creases beckoned to be straightened out. You knew what time it was before you even looked at your Burger King Dinosaur watch.

“Will you go with me? Check one, yes, no or maybe.”

Never again will such an infamously confusing question, rife with empty possibilities, sloppy back-of-the-bus kisses, and silent phone conversations inspire such excitement. There were only three boxes available for selection, but only two were relevant. No brave soul dare select “maybe”…such a choice would have been too prudent. In most cases, you placed the tip of your Lisa Frank branded pencil or your blue Papermate erasable pen in the “Yes” box. It was at that moment that the bad habit started…you caught the boyfriend/girlfriend bug. And you’ve probably had it ever sense. Sure, as kids we were all cruelly aware of the cycle. First, “we go together,” a process which entails very little verbal contact coupled with an occasional bout of footsy. Next, at the chiding of our peers, we kiss awkwardly as everyone oogles and cheers. We exchange Valentines Day cards, at which point you discover that, miraculously, the entire population is now smitten with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Finally, boredom sets in, and then it’s off to the races to see who will craft the most embarrassing public break up scenario. It was cute cycle that kept the monotony of dodge ball and science fairs at bay.

But after grammar school that boyfriend/girlfriend dynamic isn’t so easy. Hormones spark. Physical awkwardness is paced only by the need to do something, anything to keep from feeling as clumsy as you look. And there it is…a romantic relationship…a fictitious safe haven, itching to nestle all of your insecurities and longings. As it was in grammar school, two people are smitten by each other, and decide “Hey, lets go together. To where? Who knows. But it sounds right doesn’t it?"

But now the formula is different. No more trapper keeper heart drawings and dollar store teddy bears. Nope. You’ve watched enough television and movies to know how this is supposed to go. Movies. Dinner. Hickies. Phone calls. Break up and make-up. Wash and repeat. Your partner ascends you to the highest of highs, and drags you to the lowest of lows. Unaware of our own immaturity, we invest completely, even though we have very little to offer. Sometimes those relationships trudge their way into young adulthood, while others simply pile up in the corner of dirty laundry marked “mistakes.”

All those tears. All those laughs. All that yelling. All those 8 page letters. All those tacky pictures taken at the mall. All those stuffed animals. All those scratched “Break Up” CD Mixes. All that lust…emanated from one flimsy piece of notebook paper. Go figure. But what if someone told you there was a better way. What if you found out that that state of self-imposed bondage was unnecessary, and that you’d probably be better served avoiding the girlfriend/boyfriend dynamic for as long as possible. You’d tell me to shut up right? I figured as much. But hear me out...I promise this is going somewhere.

Check back for Part II

random:.....

Speaking my truth in rhyme no matter how bland it is
A heavy heart lighting that's just what my ransom is
All apologies, I bear the cross I wear the blame
We in the same group but I don't share my brothers pain
Not to confuse, our sentiment are all the same
I just don't feel nothing I'm numb by the will to hide the shame
Same thing brought tears to innocence
I turned away and didn't even flinch

random:.....

Your messing with this Joker but you need a King
Cause he'll Club anybody trying Jack his Queen
I'm a call a Spade a Spade from the start
He gave you Diamonds, should've gave you his Heart

me:Solitude...

"Solitude"-the word despicable for some, precludes socializing, devoid of bond, bereft of unity.

But a loner receives "solitude" on a welcome note. He savours the succulent solitude until the last morsel.

The desolate place pools his haphazourd thoughts, which never got an ambience to percolate, to get streamlined and make flow like a rivulet.

He reflects on his existence, his values, his purpose of life and the vision in the comforting blanket of solitude.

In his anchorage with the solitude he extends his sight to the colonnade of trees, to the horizon where the sky fondly touches the convergence of mountains and the cloud mingles.

From the point he looks on to the sailing boats on the lake, which, miles away, bear the semblance of sharks.

Merging in the solitude he murmurs in his soliloquy that to witness the Mother Nature's vicissitude the ideal environment will be solitude.

me:Solar Eclipse (Hey Moon, Please Forget to Fall Down)

When the sun found the moon she was in the park drinking her tea, under the white oak tree, it was all in the middle of summer, when the sun found the moon, she was sad beyond compare, but his eyes saved her life, all was beautiful when the day met the night

So he asked "would it be alright if we chilled and talked a little while, if in exchange for your time I got you to smile?" so she replied "that's cool as long as you can promise, not to break my little heart or leave me all alone in the summer." Well they were just hanging around, when he fell in love, he couldn't figure out how, but he didn't want to get out, just hanging around, when he fell in love, it was all in the middle of the summer, all was beautiful with a glance in the sky, all was beautiful when the day met the night

random:.....

Well maybe they'll love me more when I'm gone
I don't wanna leave but I need to
It's such a shame
They gon miss this plane

random:....

Why the tears?
We`re all here for you
But I know how you feel
I know how you feel
And I do care.

life:“Get down and knock ‘em out”

There I was. Every bit of 5 years old, donned in bugle boy jeans, LA Gears and a Ninja Turtles sweater, being asked to do a set of 10 push ups. As usual, I did something that drew the ire of my uncle, and per his custom, my transgression earned me 10 push ups on the spot. The penenace for a crime I can barely remember committing. As I dipped into a culmination of push up and floor humps, he counted off each attempt. Once I managed to deliver 5 decent reps out of 10 tries (give me a break I was a toddler), I got up, and repeated the phrase that reverberates in my mind this very day.

“Thank you Uncle Tank for conditioning my mind and my body.”

Yep. The recitation of that phrase was the prerequisite for my dismissal. Cold huh? To say the least my uncle was immutably tough on his son as well as his nephew. I mean neighborhood declarations of “Dang- your-Uncle-is-mean” tough. I mean “classmates-straighten-up-even-though-its-my-uncle" tough. I mean like “every-family-member-preceeding-anything-involving-me-and-my cousins-with ‘Well you know your uncle…’” tough. Rap Music? Not a chance. Smacking at the dinner table? World War 3 and 4. Oh you wanted to get braids? Forget it. Guady chains and baggy clothes? Think again. Mini skirts on his daughter? If by “mini” you mean two inches BELOW the knee, then go right ahead, but even that was pushing it. All black and red when your outside? Go in the house and change. At one point he even banned me from watching music videos because it might teach me mysogenistic habits. Yeah it was rough. But in between the chiding and the discipline, I was always aware of one thing - Unk loved me. He loved me so much it got on my nerves. As a father, you spend countless hours fighting. Fighting to make sure your daughter understands that the salacious outfits she sees on televeision are innapropriate. You spend even more time fighting to ensure your son doesn’t look to King Larry or Dave for inspiration instead of King Jesus. It’s difficult to get your wife to believe that even though she wants “it,” and just knows that we HAVE to have “it,” that we can’t afford “it” right now. It’s a arduous burden, to say the least, but it yields rewards. For every second my uncle spent keeping a watchful eye on me, I spent an equal amount of time learning from him. I watched him sacrafice his ambitions of playing college football and possibly going to the pros to build a steady career. I saw him reassure my aunt that she was his crowning jewel, and the sole object of his affection. I saw how he made sure I understood money, even though we didn’t have much of it (I was the only kid in grammar school who kept a bank ledger.) I watched him awake at 4:30 a.m, chisle snow and ice off our car, fill it with gas and shovel the sidewalk, just so my aunt wouldn’t have to wake up a minute too early. He sank thousands into rent, food, gas, clothes etc. And yup, I was watching.

The call of duty

My uncle was one of a few who absorbed his duties with such resolve. Most of the ills that exist in society exist because of the absence of leadership…leadership that is supposed to rest on men’s shoulders. We are charged with breeding legions of faithful men that will in turn protect and nurture virtuous women. But we failed. Now many of us use our inherent power to influence a woman to make a baby we don’t intend to care for. We allow women to become contentious and promiscuous, all in an attempt to protect their hearts from our indifference or gain our affection. It’s a vicious cycle that exhibits itself at every turn. (Take a second to think: If music artist refused to flaunt women across stages and videos, do you think some women would be so inclined to do it? I digress.) Gentleman, it all comes back to our doorstep. If we are to move forward, it will start with the resurgence of the father and husband in our community. Is it difficult? Of course it is. It calls for you to submit your entire life to someone else, and then whatever is left to your seeds. And at some point, they are all going to swear that your soul purpose in life if inure them to pain and despair. But one day when you and your wife begin to grey, she’ll still love you like she did when you were 17. The kids that you goaded constantly for 18 years, will walk across a graduation stage and finally say “Thank you.” And those are the days when it fulfillment comes to fruition. So I’ll pass on a few of things that Unk taught me, and maybe you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed learning it. Meanwhile, I'm going to go watch I Get Around video by Tupac simply because I can now.

Good Husband Traits

1. Know why you're called to lead.
God didn't appoint you as head of the household based on your own merits. You're not that strong, wise, or able. His might is what propels your leadership. So in all you do, look to him for direction and succes is immenent.

2. Protect.
Everyday there will external factors aimed at tearing your family apart. If your not prepared to protect against those perilous aggresions then they'll succeed. It's about more than buying ADT security. Monitor the company your wife keeps. Watch what your kids listen to and watch. And stay in prayer and listen for what your eyes can’t see.

3. Be attentive.
As you see struggle to keep focused on the big picture, its important to be aware of the needs of your most valued asset. That "sigh" meant your wife is tired and needs a little break, so let her relax. Pamper her for the weekend. And if money and circumstance permit allow, take her somewhere. Don’t let her be the one to tell you she is tired, because by then it’s too late. She was at her whits end 2 weeks ago.

4. Encourage.
Your exaltations will be the difference between raising a confident seed and one with low self esteem. Make sure the people in your house know that they are laudable, and that you're proud of them. It means a lot coming from a mother, but it means the world coming from you

5. Sacrafice.
The forfeiture of your own desires for that of your family’s is all important. The needs of your wife and children always come first. College tuition trumps the new Lexus. Purchase school clothes before you stock your own wardrobe. Take the trip to Disney World instead of Las Vegas. A true King puts the welfare of his castle above his crown

6. Be Grateful.
You know how your wife has the laundry done, lunches made, dishes washed before you even wake? And after you both get home from long days at the office she is ready to make dinner and assist with homework? Yeah that is nothing short of amazing. Make sure you tell her so regularly. Remind her that she’s the best thing to ever happen to you. Never forget, if you are giving 100 percent, she is giving 120.

7. Be In position.
Being a father and husband means being ready to protect and love your family. You can't do that if your out until 3 a.m. every weekend. There is incalculable value to your presence in the house. Go home. Watch your kids go to sleep. Be around to hold your wife when she heads to bed. It’s hard to secure your house from the VIP section of a club or a bar stool.

8. Keep it in your pants.
Sometime long ago, an over sexed misogynist spread a falsehood that it was OK for males to have extra-marital affairs. I hate to break it to you fellas but it's not OK. In fact, it's reprehensible in every sense. It’s also dangerous, disloyal, selfish etc. Now we don’t have to “sew our oats.” Yes we can “help it.” And yes a “man will be a man” but he should be one that exhibits valor.

9. Be poised.
One day your wife is going to cry and you won't know why. You're daughter is going to have her period and be inherently angry for days at a time. Your son's vascilating testosterone is going to inspire him to challenge your authority. And you have to take it all in in stride, with aplomb and mercy. When presented with such an situation, your response should be to provide a reassuring hug and a kiss on the forehead. Reserve the indignant anger for another day

10. Be Resolute.
No woman wants a weak man. Being strong has nothing to do with your physical prowess. Have the resolve to stand firm in your decisons, and be sure that those decisions are rooted in good principle. You’ve been entrusted with the welfare of the entire family. How can you handle such an arduous task if your not strong enough to make a prudent decision.



R.I.P. Anthony Kennard Sr. aka Uncle Tank.....thanks

life:It's Getting Thin Out Here

That is my lament whenever the subject of finding my wife comes up. The woman in Proverbs 31:10 that God said he has crafted for me. True enough I'm unprepared to nurture such a gift at this stage of my life, but you'd better believe I know what she is supposed to look like, how she is supposed to think, and what her heart condition should be. My brother Huggs said "Man, they don't make 'em like our Mom's anymore." A scribe of wisdom that made me a bit sad. Maybe it's the media thats sutured the spouse worthy populace. Maybe it was man's generational mishandling of woman's regal nature that contributes to the paltry numbers. I don't know the answer, but I do know that God's greatest gift to man was his wife. After all, Adam had the opportunity to dwell with God for eternity, but his life wasn't complete until his rib cage yielded Eve. "It's not good that man be alone." God gave women the power to change the world through her influence, but between the bitten fruit and music videos, something got lost in translation. Don't get me wrong, there are legions of faithful women out there who are "wife-worthy," but the ratio is shifting at an alarming rate. Its all do to a lack of knowledge...a lack of perspective.

1. Be selfless.
Your primary focus should be on what you can give, not what you can get. When you figure that out you will get everything you ever wanted. "So the last shall be first, and the first last."

2. Be smart, even when it's convenient to play dumb.
Ignorance is bliss, but willful ignorance is trifling. Nobody gives you anything for free. He's not your friend if he says he likes you. And the first disparaging word he says about your husband is the beginning of the end of the relationship. Same goes for female friends. Sometimes they are worse for your marriage than male suitors.

3. Get your hands out of my pocket.
If you to extol one man over another because of his earning potential you need to reevaluate your selection process. What's in his pocket has nothing to do with the content of his character. A man should focus on success and not money(See Joshua 1:8 for details). My chick will be aware that I don't provide for her. God provides for US

4. Watch your language.
There is nothing worse than talking to someone who doesn't have the intellectual fortitude not to fill a sentence with a crapulous slew of swears. It's uncouth, but more importantly it's unecessary. While they do serve a function in our cultural language, cursing is ineffective in mass quantities.

5. Be Confident.
If you don't love who you are, how can I? God loves us in spite of our flaws, so I can do the same. He said you are "wonderfully and marvelously made." Act like it. If you claim to be unitelligent, overweight, unattractive etc. then you are abating his greatness. And who wants that? not me

6. Never equivocate.
An answer is complete. Anything else is a lie. If you have to omit, then you were doing something wrong

7. Dress for the attention you want.
You know all the attention a girl gets from what she wears out? You know the tight dress with the truncated hem, that puts all your wares on display...with the heels to match. The one that makes every inebriated club goer grab at you and bite his knuckles? Freak 'em dress? Nah. That's the "Turn the other way if you're serious" dress.

8. Your word is bond.
If I have to question what you tell me then why bother?

9. Have an attitude.
Don't have an attitude with to your significant other, but to the guys who pursue you. nothing worse than getting "man I saw yo girl laughing with some dude in her face." Be polite, be brief, be uninviting

*I'm sure there are more traits to be noted, but these are just a few that I recognize. I hope it reached many, educated some, and inspired a few.

random:....

Life is short
And filled with lots of grief and doubt
So I just pull that bag of colorful frosty leaves on out and free my scalp
I mean free my mind, a puff at a time

life:Crazy/Sexy/Cool

Today I had one of the funniest conversations. It began with my youngest brother Kam asking what the difference between "cute" and "beautiful" was. I tried to think of a way to break it down in the terms a 5 year old could comprehend, then I said to myself "don't play him, you've discussed much more complex subject matters than such". After I explained to him my younger cousin, who is 8 years old and also mentally ahead of her time, asked "well where does sexy fit into that equation?". At first I was slightly taken back by her knowledge of the existence of the word "sexy", me being nieve once again. Now-a-days kids that young hear and see far worse and I'd prefer she be schooled by her older male cousin if anyone. Dont worry, the explanation was high in G rated lingo and jargon. We are all adults here so I am going to use my big boy words (these are opinions, clearly not facts). I view the terms "sexy" "cute" and "beautiful" as different levels. I view "sexy" as purely a sexual description. These are chicks I would have sexual relations with and keep it moving, we would go no further than the Smashing Point. Now any chick, well not any but you catch my drift, can look "sexy" but that look makes you think about the things you can do to her not so much what you can do with her. The next level up would be "cute". This is probably the broadest level of the three, but it generally involves more than physical attractivity. A "cute" chick can have the possibility to become your chick. You look more into her personality and she can make you say "she's cute but" or "she's cute and". Now when it comes to a chick being "beautiful" it exceeds both of the previous. Being "beautiful" encompasses much more than how attractive she is, though she is bad but you find yourself eager to talk to her. Tend to be on thirst mode to probe her mind and discover what she's about. Mind, body and soul.

What do you think? Do you agree?

random:.....

We layed under the cover of friends
A place where many lovers began
I began, to feel her body shake in my hand
Body language, it's so hard trying to understand

random:....

Pardon the way that I stare.
There's nothing else to compare.
The sight of you leaves me weak.
There are no words left to speak.

me:Unk

I found myself reminiscing, remember this one, when he was here he was crazy nice with his son, I miss him, as long as I'm living he's living through memories, he's there to kill all my suicidal tendecies, in heaven looking over me, or in hell keeping it cozy, I'm coming, life in these streets aint what is suppose to be, remember our mutual friend, me and him fueding, on our life I tried to talk to him, but you know n*ggas, think they gun can stop four n*ggas, fronting like they Big Willie but they really old n*ggas, hoe n*ggas, this year I'm going to show n*ggas, think I'm slipping, I'm about to send you a roommate, no bullshiting, for my hustle is going too well to hit them, you was right they want you to be miserable with them, anyway Im not trying to hear it, I think I'm touched, this whole verse I've been talking to your spirit a little too much

random:......

Think of me,
You know I'd be with you if I could,
Come around and see you once in a while,
If you ever need a reason to smile,
I'd spend the night if you think I should...

music:Why can't they just get to the song?

“Man why can’t they just get to the song. Why do they have to go and keep talking all of the time geesh.”

That was the little me, talking all kinds of crazy. I was foolishly demeaning the timeless interludes that were sprinkled through old school R&b. I’ll admit, like most kids, my attention span was a short as my Osh Kosh overall straps. I looked at the laments of Lenny Williams and Rick James as noisome banter that diluted the song. Oh how wrong was I. Those moments of dialogue added validity to the artist cries for love. The balladry needed to execute a good break down was masterful. But you can’t be mad at me. When I was a child I thought as a child. I spoke as a child. But when I became a man….I learned the opening ad libs on “Fire and Desire”. Of course, there were some interludes that should have never reached my ears. Princes moans and whales on “Do me baby” were wildly inappropriate, and I’d like to thank my mother for not turning when Herb Kent took things a bit far and let em play on the radio. But nothing satisfies like a good mid-song dialogue. Here are some of my favorite break downs and ad libs both old an new.

1. Mr. Telephone Man-New Addition
“Please operator. See what you can do. I dialed the right number, but I still couldn’t get through.”
That was back in the day when you actually got a person to talk to. You think an automated system would make an effort to fix telephonic AND relationship issues? I think not.

2. Imaginary Player-Jay-Z
“What’s the difference between a 4.0 and a 4.6. Like 30 to 40 grand cocksucker. Beat it.”
Unnecessary. Rude. Audacious. Classic. “Do y’all event got leathers?”

3. Lose Control-Silk
“I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I just want you to sit down and let me talk to you”
I’m sure millions of brothers used that same line in years prior to the songs release, but it didn’t work until after Silk layed it down.

4. Stay-Jodeci
“Don’t talk Just listen. I have to admit. I lied, when I said I never wanted to see you again.”
I mean if you are going to admit to a lie, that is probably the best time to do it.

5. Never Leave-R. Kelly
“Shut Up! I don’t ever wanna hear you say that again. Baby I’m goin nowhere”
Man Kells. If that isn’t the most sincere statement of reassurance even known to man, I don’t know what is.

6. Because I Love You-Lenny Williams
“Maybe you never been in love like I been in Love. And maybe you never felt the things that I felt. But this is what I told my friend. I said you know sometimes you get lonely(repeat)”
Yeah he cried. But nobody cared because when a man breaks down he’s allowed to sit outside and watch your parked car in the driveway. And call incessantly. And knock even when you won’t answer. Wait, he can’t. OJ is that you?

7. End of the road-Boys to Men
“Girl Im here for you. All those times of night when you just hurt me. And just run out with that other fella. Baby I knew about it, I just didnt care. You just dont understand how much I love you do you? Im here for you”
It was a shame that an adult male with such a booming voice would have an issue scaring his girl into submission, but maybe that’s why she cheated to begin with.

8. Back Like That-Ghostface
“And let me get that ring off your finger. Oh it’s stuck. I’ll take the whole finger then.”
Ghost imbued us with his standard barbs of wisdom and wit. To all Tony Starks' future spouses, regardless of his rampant infidelity, don’t sleep with the enemy or be prepared to loose an appendage.

9. Fire and Desire-Rick James feat. Teena Marie
“Remember when I used to…”
You can go ahead and finish it. You know you want to…

10. Cry Together-The O’Jays
“I said you know. We cant go on like this. She said you’re right…You know a relationship is nothing without communication.”
It was true then, and it its true today. That’s what I call timeless.

11. Thinking of You-Tony Tone Toni
“I been missing you know. I want you to know something. I been thinking…”
If there was ever a group that I want to see get back together it’s these guys. Just for moments like this.

12. Lookin’ at Me-Mase
“Ay yo Mase. You know what I hate? When you at the club. And I’m with my honey. And you got the hater who wants to be a tough guy all of a sudden.”
Not only was Puff good for a video shimmy and recreated production, but he was had some nifty ad libs too. “Take that, take that.”

13. Weekend Girl-SOS Band
“So what are you going to do. Can you pick me up tonight? I really don’t know what to do. I never been in this situation. Yes why not. What time should I expect you.”
That’s the indigenous independent women move. Makes moves on Saturday and Sunday without demeaning the man.

14. Sensitivity-Ralph Tresvant
“Listen Baby. Don’t even waste your tears on that insensitivity. I mean what you really need is someone like me.”
Way to respect another man’s space Ralph. We appreciate that.

15. Can’t Get Enough of Your Love-Barry White
“I’ve heard people say. That too much of anything is not good for you baby. But…I don’t know about that. See as many times as we loved, and shared loved, and made love…it doesn’t seem to me like it’s enough”
Barry couldn’t miss with his ad libs. Love Unlimited was the procreation score of the 70’s and 80’s.

16. Hovi Baby-Jay-Z
“Now I want you to give the drummer some…no ma really give the drummer some”
Jay’s double entendres just never get old. He found a way to laud the band and facilitate an overture in one sentence.

17. Prototype-Outkast
“I cant…I’m not…I can’t afford not to record”
While everybody was going right, Three Stacks went left. This was the soundtrack od dissention…”Are we recording our ad libs? Were we recording just then?” Yes Andre…yes they were. Thanks engineers.

18. Gotta Love it-Cam’ron
“How is he the king of New York and he rockin' sandles with jeans on. Open toe sandles, with jeans and he 42 years old."
Even as a Jay fan, i can admit that the hilarity found throuought this song is side splitting. "you ugly dawg. you sooo ugly."

19. So Much to Give-Barry White
“Baby pleeeeease don’t do that. What are you crying for? Is it because your sad, or mad ?
She had two choices. Get mad at Barry for being overtly aggressive or let him finish his sentence. "Nothing is going to go wrong. Sometimes we feel as if everything we have is only here for today. but every now and then two pleple get lucky to find that certain things that makes them want to keep it going". Word

20. Ice Cream-Raekwon feat. Ghostface Killah, Method Man & Cappadonna
“One love to my Butter Pecan Ricans for calling me papi…that’s real”
Method man envoked some classic comedy(see Eddie Murphy Delirious) and vulgarity, all while recognizing cultural differences. "The ice cream man is comiiiing".

21. To Keep you satisfied-Marvin Gaye
"I guess all we can do is try to be happy"
The most honest account of a man struggling to keep his wife happy, and then failing miserably. Was it the malapropism of the national stage to tell your side of the story? Sure. Good music? Absolutely.

random:.....

No one can always be an angel
When everything goes wrong you see something bad
I'm just a soul who's intention's are good
O' lord, please don't let me be misunderstood

music:Classic? No Classic? Wait, whats a classic anyway?

"Hey have you listened to the new Jay?”

“Nope, not yet. Is it hot?”

“Yeah its pretty dope.”

“Is it as good as the Black album?”

“No but…”

"Well then I don’t want to hear it. If it’s not classic why bother?"

Oddly enough I had an answer to the question, but phrasing it correctly proved to be difficult. I was wedged between the timeless conundrum of aesthetical beauty and subjective listening. It is a question that has plagued most every artist and purveyor of art. The answer separates the work of Van Goh and the water color painters on WTTW 11.

What is a classic? How can we measure the work of an artist and choose to celebrate it over works of the same kind? Can we accurately label one piece a refulgent masterpiece and dismiss another as a pedestrian afterthought? Is there a secret scribe somewhere with the rules of excellence? If there is, When did everyone get to read it and use it as a rubric to gauge transcendence?

These questions made Michael Phelps laps in my thoughts as I turned up the third installment of Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 on the ride home. The sounds of a fairly good album seeped through my car speakers, but the euphoric feeling that comes from listening to a certified classic masterpiece was conspicuously absent. The lyrics were just as formidable as they were on The Blueprint(in fact they might be even wittier than before.) The production was lacking, but so the production on Ghostface last album, but it has place in my catalogue. I even soaked in a few quotables that music fans love so much.

As I mined through each track to discover what was missing, I decided that listening to a certified musical magnum opus would yield an answer. I popped in Luther Vandross “Never Too Much”. It was like Luther’s sequent riddled sweater was a cape. He was hitting on all cylinders. Classic. I added another controlled variable and listened to Marvin Gaye’s “Midnight Love” to what I considered a middling effort by one of my favorite artist. Next came Purple Rain, then the Blueprint 2, Next was Anita with Rapture. Next “Aja.” Then Quiet Storm. Don’t be Cruel. Purple Rain. In Search Of. Justified. Reasonable Doubt. Claudine Soundtrack. Midnight Marauders. I sampled every record, from the barely adequate to the most heralded in pursuit of a formula.

Some might define a classic by the timeless features that a piece presents. Others verify a classic’s validity through acclaim realized on a grand scale. While those are good baseline measurements, a classic is about more than ubiquitous presence at family BBQ’s or garnering critical awards. A classic usually just has “it”, that unquantifiable element that bears no name. It’s especially difficult to identify in music, where diversity in taste and perspective no longer matter, and collective head nods are the measure of greatness.

The bearing of a classic are comprised by a myriad of elements that combine to form that “It”. We just haven't figured out what they are

On second thought

Take a trip with me to 1978, to the release date of Marvin Gaye’s Double Disc “Here My Dear,” a robust album bursting with honesty and realism that had yet to be realized in R&B. The album featured Marvin crooning the laments of a failed marriage. It was unique. It was unapologetically and gloriously transparent. And it was also panned by critics. The album was instantly dismissed as weird and irrelevant.

Now Fast forward to the 1994 re-release of the album. Same music. Same lyrics. Different reception. The genius of the album didn’t settle into public consciousness until nearly two decades later. Funny how that works huh? A work is initially lambasted or ignored until the material is reintroduced. The same happened with Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt, which serves as the measure against which all great rap albums are measured(at least it should be).

I have been a major culprit of allowing greatness to reside under my nose without smelling excellence. I dismissed The Dreams music as gimmicky until I was humming “Purple Kisses” on my way to class. Growing up I swore Bill Cosby’s “Himself” wasn’t funny, but I still chuckle whenever I think about cake for breakfast. I didn’t even like Sweet Tea when I first came down South. But there I was in Dec. of 2006 visibly upset in a Chicago McDonald's because they gave me regular iced tea and not ice cold Diabetes in a foam cup.

After I combed through my library of tunes, I discovered that I ignored the music I enjoy most enjoyed. Ask me how many times I skipped “Sweet Chariot” on N.E.R.D’s Fly or Die, only to later discover that not only was it the dopest song on the CD, but also my favorite N.E.R.D song of all time.

“But it doesn’t sound like the other one”

A common lament of many music fans is that great artist never sticks to what we like. They go fiddling with a good thing, and that gets our ears all agitated. Stevie Wonder couldn’t just stick with the Motown Sound on Innervisions. He had to go and get synthesizers and start talking politics. Kanye had a good thing going with the chipmunk soul on the “College Dropout” until he went and hired Jon Brion to play(gulp) instruments on Late Registration(I remember playing it in the dorm and hearing people say “Man he used too many sounds this time.) It’s a common sentiment of a fan that formulaic efforts yield the best results

But we are sadly mistaken. Yes, some artist have created world class catalogues without stepping out of the proverbial box. Just ask Jeezy and Barry White who made careers out of crafting the same song over and over again, and making us love every second.

But most classics are products of bold deviation from convention. Andre 3000 reached the pinnacle of his artistry when he decided to let his innermost weirdo manifest itself on the “Love Below”. We would have been deprived of a joyous masterpiece if Outkast decided to re-craft “Elevators” simply because that’s what drew the fans in. True enough, some artistic innovation lacks quality or direction. On “Electric Circus” Common jumped from the Neo Soul Hip Hop plane, but could never find his Parachute ripcord on the way down. Hey, it happens. But I applaud him for not trying to remake “Like Water for Chocolate.” We saw what happened when he tried to recreate “Be” with “Finding Forever.” It was like reheating French fries. You toss them into the Microwave hoping it won’t taste bad, but after the first few bites you realize that it’s an impossible taste to recreate.

It doesn’t happen everyday

In all practicality greatness is a curse. Yes we would all love to be recognized for our illustrious deeds, but as humans the aspiration to achieve such recognition can turn into a prison. A pervasive magnifying glass follows you. And if you try to relax, or suffer a misstep the public is more than willing to tilt the magnifying glass to let the sun enkindle your coattails. It’s the price of fame that nobody ever had enough credit to pay. It’s unfair, but hey its life.

As people lambaste artist for not making a “classic” every time they produce an album, I think its important that those great albums don’t come with much regularity. Critics pan Jay-Z for not making another safe album(cough American Gangster) or making another Reasonable Doubt or Black album. But what they forget is that he has 11 albums to his credit. And only 3 were lauded as classic material. My favorite artist, Stevie Wonder has about 23 studio albums, and only 5 are considered to be classic. Prince? He has 30 and about 7 qualify for classic status. Kanye is 2 for 4.

I say that so tell us fans to give the artist a break. RELAX. What we fail to realize is that artist don’t make music for us. As any musician will tell you, the art they create is a product of their mind and soul. And if we happen to enjoy it…well that’s a bonus. The moment a musician starts trying to please everybody we end up with R.Kelly’s Double Up…and really who needs another one of those?

me:Second City Original's Tale:ILL State of Mind

(Ky)
Catch me on the North Side
That's where the party at
And where the cash at
Hmm where the blacks at?
Catch me on the Southside
Sox side my side
Wild 100's stay hot
Make sure the Moe's not
Around
The West side
Look like a wasteland
Where some of my peeps be
So time ain't wasted
Catch me on the East Side
East Side crazy
Daily in HP
Even HP crazy
But this what made me
ILL state of mind
Yucky crime town
And it tastes pretty grime
But I love the lines
Red green yellow pink brown
Underground
Hot Dogs, Bulls, and the Pier
My dear
Chicago I'm here
To celebrate your greatness
And get you through the tears
Have no fear
My bro here too
The tale of our lives
Second city originals...

(Hen)
Yo on the Amen, corner I stood looking at my former hood
felt the spirit in the wild
knew my friend was gone for good
threw dirt on the casket
the hurt, I could mask it
mixing down emotions, struggle I hadn't mastered
I coreograph seven steps to heaven and hell, waiting to exhale and make the bread leavened
veteran of a cold war its Chica-I-go for, what I know or, what's known
so some days I take the bus home
from the crib I spend months gone
sat by the window with a clutched dome listening to shorties cuss long
young girls with weak minds, but they butt strong
tried to call, or at least text the Lord
but didn't have a touch tone
its a dog-eat-dog world, you gotta mush on
some of this land I must own
out of the city, they want us gone
tearing down the 'jects creatin plush homes
my circumstances is between Cabrini and Love Jones
surrounded by hate, yet I love home
ask my God how he thought traveling the world sound, found it hard to imagine he hadn't been downtown its deep
I heard the city breathe in its sleep
of reality I touch, but for me its hard to keep

random:Diarrhea of Creativity

It seems that lately ive had a intense case of diarrhea of artistical creativity. I've sketched about one piece a day, something I have never done before. This is on no way by choice, just been getting madd inspirition. A conversation today about what brought upon this brought to mind a quote my good friend put me on some time ago. ''Drawing is not an exercise of particular craft, but above all a means of expressing intimate feelings and moods''. Have the slightest of ideas as to who uttered these words, quite irrelevant at the current moment. But it does explain the inspiritory burst. I have had quite a bit buzzing around in the crainium and what I've been producing has reflected such. Hopefully this keeps up because I'm proud of the work.

life:The Truth

It is not uncommon to the ears of a man to hear his nature being attached to negative generalization with an accompanying expletive. And while this frame of reference can be the truthof many men, it is not the reality of the entire gender. But the problem does not lie in the minds of the contentious women who develope these observations. The problem lies within the mirror that they view themselves.Dare these women ask for an acceptable man when they themselves struggle to meet the most meager standards of decency? Dare she request monagamy, when she herself has 3 or four men on hold in case "he doesnt work out". Can she call a man a dog when she has intimate contact with more than 1 man in a span of a week. The truth of the matter is that no good man wants a woman who doesnt respect herself not to embarras herself with uncouth dancing and drunken behavior. the truth is that no decent man wants a woman who can't bring hersef not to curse in every sentence that she speaks. The truth is that sexual promiscuity extends beyond the reach of actually having sex. If you had intimate contact...the essence of promiscuity still holds true. The truth is that the constant declaration of "I love you" can't disguise the obvious contradiction that often comes minutes later in the from of a phonecall to another gentleman. Many of theses ailments can be chalked up to immaturity, and the rest simply ignorance. The question then arises "Where are all the good men at?" The answer can be found away from those who have to ask. The truth is....there are just as many good men as there are good women. And that number is few...on both ends.

Champagne Wishes & Cavier Dreams

Due to one-night stands with LAMENESS and the picking up of the prostitutes that walk the narrow-minded streets of INADEQUACY, I am obligated to engage in fulfilling relationships with ORIGINALITY & CREATIVITY. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, but can be the lowest form of expression. I establish my own trends & provide the definition to my own character. I desired to reach beyond the expectations of the masses. I flirted with the HYPE, but made sure I dated DEVELOPEMENT. Don't fall a victim to champagne wishes & caviar dreams.....Quit tweekin....PEACE