I’ll do this shit myself - I’ll find a way how
They ain’t got no cameras
Hope the chick ain’t there tonight - Wouldn’t wanna have to damage her
I don’t see myself passin’ a note
If the dude there - I foresee me puttin’ a knife to his throat
I hope he don’t try nothin’ funny
I don’t wanna take his life - I’m just comin’ for the money
This is for a good cause
Gotta keep on play - Can’t stop now - Can’t pause
She’s under my wing, that’s my little heart
I gotta be there now since I been from the start
Whatever she want - she got
Fuck all that installment shit - it comes in one shot
Can’t break my promise
Ain’t never lie to sis before - Can’t stop bein’ honest
Fuck all this chattin’ - just tell me if you wit’ me
If not, when you see me on the block turn your head and act like you don’t know me
And when you see her rockin’ new kicks on her feet
You know I did my thing nigga- you know shit ended sweet
POETIC REFLECTION
When older or younger siblings take on the responsibilities of one or both parents while barely or not at all being able to support their self will see in their mind that the only way to provide is through illegal activities. It’s fast and it’s tax-free. It’s definitely risky. But if you have to choose between your “stomach touching your back” (extreme hunger) or looking over your shoulders for police, what do you think most of our youth will choose? It’s easy to look down upon, snicker at, and name call but have you visited these neighborhoods, have you rode the subways or taken the bus? Have you seen the options that don’t exist? It’s up to us to create these environments and establishments conducive for success for our people - especially our youth. So for all those quick to pass judgment, do the research, do the footwork, don’t make decisions or better yet assumptions on what they feed you through their statistical data surveys. Travel to the neighborhoods, listen to the youth - don’t speak just be ears, they need and want to be heard. They hear so much of what they’ll never be and what they can’t do from people they’re around every day, their so-called family, friends, and mates that they stop talking. The last thing we need is silent youth because that breeds the 3D’s - DANGER, DESTRUCTION, DEATH.
DAYDREAM SCHEMES ON THE HIGHWAY
Yo, what you doin’? Nothin’ - Then ride wit’ me to Delancey
I gotta pick some shit up - ain’t too keen about parkin’ out there - you know that shit is chancey
I’ll go even though I don’t want to
You know I don’t fuck wit’ the city without the proper amount of loot
Nigga like me is broke
This legal shit ain’t makin’ it. I need some different type of strokes
Sell some shit to the europeans
No offense to my people - but that’s where the money is – y’all know what I be meanin’
* * * *
Lookin’ out the window see an armored car on the Brooklyn Queens expressway
If I had a plan together - on the walkie-talkie I’d be dispatchin’ out mayday mayday
Niggas it’s about that time
I’d be riding in the Poland Spring in front - and my mans in the Ice Cream truck about four cars behind
My niggas ya’ll ready?
Don’t start gettin’ nervous now - gotta keep shit steady
Shit gon work out spectacular
Get me a real ride - fuck up out that ol‘ acura
Nigga what you gon do wit’ your loot?
I don’t know. Maybe buy a couple of chicks to go wit’ my Armani suits
Fuck a clit - I want my son
Told that broad a long time ago she fuckin’ wit’ the “right” one
The way she act I’ma have to kidnap my little man
Take him to Bush Gardens - Kings Dominion - Sesame Place Disneyland
Sound like a good idea. I should go get my little girl
Keep her for about 5 years. Travel wit’ her around the world
Yo, what you think them other niggas gon do?
Waste they money on booze, bitches, weed and the latest tennis shoes
Yeah them niggas is young and dumb
We gon be in pent houses, owning businesses, they gon be lamped up in the latest slum
We gotta make sure the talk we had stuck wit’ ‘em
And if worse comes to worse - we just gon have to travel wit’ ‘em
Ahh, damn. I don’t know ‘bout all that
So you’d rather these niggas stay down here braggin’, runnin’ off wit’ they trap?
Since you put it like that - we stuck either way
Regardless of what - we gon have to take them niggas anyway
Maybe it’ll work out for the best
Make them niggas men - put hair on they chest
You look out for one - I’ll keep my eye on the other
We gotta look our for these niggas now - we gotta be like their big brother
* * * *
Yo, you heard me? I’m talkin’ to you - fuck you thinkin’ ‘bout?
Starin’ out the window in a daze - ‘bout to start droolin’ from the mouth
Oh pardon me, I just had a quick flash
But I gotta make a couple of phone calls - You think you can get me home type fast?
CASE ONE
PLEASE HOLD:
What up nigga, where you at? Where you think?
That don’t sound right. You locked down nigga - chink chink?
Word man. 12:01 New years day, I was the first arrest in the precinct
Fuck that discreet shit, I cut that nigga somethin’ decent
I’ll be acquitted though, wasn’t nothin’ homicidal
Faggit musta thought Nok was rollin’ wit’ a heartless crew
But they callin’ me now, I gotta go talk to my lawyer
If you gon be home later, I’ll save a click and be sure to call ya
Be right here waitin’ - wit’ you don’t I always keep it real?
Fuckin’ wit’ them squeal ass niggas - need to be rollin’ wit’ us. Ones who pack steal
Whether it’s robbin’ a nigga or sellin’ a million cracks
Whenever you call me wit’ the amount, I’ll have the bail money ten minutes flat
Ahight bro. Lets get up off this jack
Go speak to that generic Cockrin ass nigga ‘cause these fiends can’t wait for you to get back
Yeah, I know heads is uptight
But I’ma try to call you before the phones cut off tonight...
* * * * * *
So young man, what happened? I see this is your first case
How’d you ever wind up in this dungeon like place?
It was like 11:30p.m., my man hit me on the phone
“Yo D, I hope you ain’t busy. There’s beef goin’ on, you know I can’t handle this shit alone”
“Me and this cat out here disputin’”
Any situation wit’ a nigga frontin’ on my peeps I’m not computin’
Wit’ no questions - what I do? Went straight to the kitchen draw
Grabbed the six inch meat cleaver and headed for the door
Ain’t no thing - ain’t like I never did that shit before
Though he tries, my man has no skills - I knew it would be me at war
Fuck it though. I have no cares anyway
What’s the odds of me dyin’ now any different from another day
What did your parents do to you as a child in your life?
My parents ain’t do shit. They were great. They have nothin’ to do wit’ why I turned out so trife
You wanna hear about my childhood or should I go on wit’ my story?
Oh yes, I apologize please tell me about your five minutes of glory
So when I got there
they weren’t doin’ nothin’ but arguin’
Fuck all that communication shit - I’m straight chargin’ ‘em
I’m saying you didn’t stop a minute to see what the conflict was about
For all of thirty seconds. Hearin’ nothin’. Buncha babblin’ bullshit comin’ from that nigga mouth
So what I do? Hooked off
Wanted to see if that nigga would react or if he was Charmin-like soft
So what did the guy do?
Swung - but I was too fast - caught him in the ribs then pulled the cleaver from my waist and caught him in the face wit’ at least two
My god! Do you really think you had to do all that?
What you gon do if you see two additional niggas comin’ down the block for you wit’ metal bats?
So during all this time, where was your friend?
He was standin’ on the side. I told him to stay put ‘till I said when
But this was his battle
Yeah - but that nigga woulda got stomped out like he’d been ran through by a herd of cattle
But still, this is kind of hard for me to understand
What part - that he’s weak or that he’s my man?
The part of you putting your life in jeopardy over his
That nigga got a kid. Besides I’m the only nigga he know who don’t give a fuck - Ain’t got no problem takin’ care of biz
Did you ever consider counseling maybe therapy?
Went when I was younger, as you can see ain’t do a mutha fuckin’ thing to help me
Hum, you know that’s odd
Would you like me to refer you to a couple of people I know who do wonderful jobs
What?! I ain’t crazy, I don’t need no shrink
Ain’t nobody enterin’ my head to alter the way I think
So on this case, what’s your plea?
Fuck you think?! I’m pleadin’ not guilty
I know the truth, how can I defend you?
‘Cause if it wasn’t for niggas like me, you wouldn’t have diamond cufflinks and custom made tailored suits
What can I say, you make a valid point
And you have my word I’ll try my hardest to get you out of this joint
Good thing the dude wasn’t white
I may be able to pull some strings, maybe get bail set tonight
That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout, that’s what I like to hear
Get me off this shit, keep my record clear
Believe me at this price I’ll do my best
Yeah you better, go put them Harvard ass law skills to test
To beat this case it shouldn’t be hard
Just some average Negro youths fighting over turf on their neighborhood boulevard
But you know, you’re a funny dude
How’d you ever turn out to be so crude?
Only thing I did was mature
And hold my ground to the fullest just so I’d feel secure
Fuck what a nigga think of me, it’s all about what I endure
Makin’ money - ruffin’ up punks - fuckin’ many whores
Man you have your whole life ahead of you
What?! Probably find me in the morgue between now and 2002, and if not would for damn sure be a miracle
Why do you have such a negative outlook?
I’m sayin’, if you saw me on the street you wouldn’t automatically think I was a crook?
A crook doesn’t seem like who you are
It’s not. I give niggas speed knots and permanent facial scars
Well try to relax a bit when you’re acquitted of this trouble
And when the time comes for me to represent you again, please don’t be up for a homicide - especially no double.
POETIC REFLECTION
Don’t go the distance for someone who wouldn’t go the distance for you. Know who your friends are. Do you really know if this person will be there if you have to go do a bid? And by being there I mean will this person come visit and write you throughout your entire bid, will this person make sure your commissary stays with at least $20 (canteen for those in the south), will this person accept your collect calls, will this person send you the maximum number of food packages permitted by the facility each month or year? Or are you going to have to worry about this dude trying to push up on your girl, are you going to have to worry about this dude “shittin” on your name and credibility to make his self appear to be the “live wire”. Many of us are quick to put ourselves in the line of fire for those that would not do the same for us. Just be careful, be mindful, and stop talking so much. Remember you have the right to remain silent. Never try to plead your case to the arresting officer. They could care less. Don’t they say “what you say can and will be used AGAINST you”? Pay attention.
And as far attorneys go… you pay their salary, you are the reason they are able to have the luxuries they have. You become nothing more than a pawn in the chess game of the judicial system. Many prisons are privately owned which means they are business. They are the financial backbone of suburban areas and poor counties. Without your imprisonment “correction” officers would be unable to provide for themselves and their families. Prisons and everything that fall under them including the contracted food companies that feed inmates need your incarceration for their business to be successful. “Free” lawyers don’t work for you, they work for the system which means they will do what will benefit the system not your well-being or your freedom.
Many of us know someone who is incarcerated. Communication with the outside world from family and friends or even a pen pal is so important to inmates. They need love just as much as any of us and much more. A letter or a card would mean so much. Would it take that much time out of your day to write and send a letter, maybe a couple of pictures? What would you want if you were in that situation? Reach out - it will make such a big difference whether you realize it or not.
RUNNIN’
What’s wrong wit’ you? Now what you done?
My name ain’t pussy but he played dick and tried to come
I ain’t mean it
But it’s too late now - so fuck it - so be it
Didn’t know I could react so fast
In an instant it happened - gun went on full blast
Fuck is up wit’ you bro? I ain’t think
Happened too fast - Duke ain’t even see it ‘cause he blinked
If I wouldn’t have reacted what woulda happened to me?
You’d be comin’ to my funeral, seekin’ revenge, cryin’ over my dead body
But what was the matter?
Nigga started beefin’ wit’ me and talkin’ shit like the mad rapper
I hear you, but wish it ain’t have to go down like this
But it did - so if I don’t make it, tell my wife I love her and to give my little girl a kiss
You know you my man and it probably won’t sound right
But I got pending cases, you can’t be stored up in the attic tonight
You gotta get up outta here
Where I’ma go? First place they gon check is my peoples spot in Delaware
Wifee ‘bout to come thru wit’ my little man
But if you need - I got you. Yeah - hit me off wit’ a few grand
That should cover the bare necessities
A rental, room for the night, pound of weed, gallon of liquor, weaponry
Dog don’t waste it all on that
I have to bro. Fuck on my tail - them cops on my back
If they roll up what you gon do?
Pull out on them niggas - I don’t give a fuck that they suits is blue
I’m ‘bout to motivate - gimme a pound
Call me later - keep me abreast of what’s goin’ down
But don’t call me here though - you never know
True. I’ll call you at two. Be at the phone booth on the corner of Monroe
I’ll meet you later wit’ some ideas and more doe
No proble
m, but I’m seein’ flashin’ lights outside I’m departin’ through the window
BAIL AND A LAWYER
Bail and a lawyer, bail and a lawyer
That’s what you hustlin’ for, save your money or you a goner, I’m try-na tell you, I’m here to warn ya
‘Cause you live on the block
Head over you shoulder keepin’ an eye out for the cops. Tellin’ your mans and them you ain’t never gettin’ knocked
But you hand to hand it with these fiends
While cops is on rooftops surveillin’ with they team
Waitin’, waitin’, waitin’ - days, weeks, months, years
Wait ‘till your reach your peak, then “WHOOP, WHOOP” - there goes the end to your hustlin’ career
You don’t realize you’re better than that?
On the block sellin’ cracks wit’ your hat to the back
Day in, day out, sunrise, to sunset
You on the block hand to hand collectin’ welfare and social security benefit checks
‘Cause these fiends won’t let up
Accept and think they ain’t never gon be shit, hate life and gave up
So they drink, smoke crack, sniff coke, smoke weed, shoot dope
Sayin’ “life’s too rough, I done been through some shit, and this helps me cope”
And that’s music to your ears
‘Cause you know that means they’ll be back because they wanna erase those pain filled years
So just save up for your bail and your lawyer, you’ll have a better chance at seein’ daylight