From Common

Chi-town emcee Common has been an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness for a while now. While checking my MySpace, I noticed that he had a new bulletin up. It's a contest, offering a poet/songwriter/artist a chance to have Common perform their lyrics. Check it out here for more detailed information. Below, I have copied and pasted this from XXLmag.com.

Common and MTV Networks have teamed up to host the “A Minute” lyric writing contest to encourage HIV testing amongst young people. In order to enter, contestants must submit an original lyrical composition that will inspire and encourage listeners to get tested for HIV. The piece can be in any musical style; including rap, rock, or spoken word, but must be under one minute long. The winning submission will then be performed by Common in an ad that will air on the MTV networks and online. The competition begins today and is open to anybody between the ages of 13 and 25. In order to enter, you can submit your lyrics in text, audio or video form at the contest website www.aminutecontest.com. Submissions must be received between February 14 and March 27.

I thought about submitting something, then I realized that I didn't really care too much about having someone else perform my lyrics.

But I do support the cause. I guess in the end, awareness/action is what's important.

BUT.

This is my little tidbit. After I read the information on the website, and while I was thinking about whether I would submit something or not, this is what I came up with.

See,

We breath life and death in quick, short doses

Grow in youth and get old real soon, like Moses

Souls meet droves of hold ups, won’t hold us

Feed mine with signs of peace, beat these snakes and cobras

Hold the phone and the voicemail, answer calls for mo’ trust

Trust me. We cannot collect hope with mo’ dust

Instill motivation and movement, this revolution needs focus

We must take strides, take pride, because we alone will hold us

This is more than latex, dispose the lies they told us

This is more than a bump-n-grind, more than 2, 3, 4 thrusts

We need to make certain moves, made to continuously mold us.

Enough with dishing raw deals, dealt some boloney, like cold cuts

Get it preened and pristine, like from naps to ‘fro cuts

Knowledge helps, know who, know why and know what

Will help get it moving forward, digest, no throw ups

And keep your game up, because the future needs all of us.

I Heart HipRockSoulPt.4

From their forgotten "HipRockSoul" album, released in 2004, 4th Avenue Jones' has this gem that now has another fan. Unfortunately, this album is no longer available. Anywhere.
I snatched these lyrics from here, but I'm reposting here. Maybe for an easier route for me to get to them, but also for someone else to see. I also think I have this song on the imeem playlist up above. Just listen and enjoy this song. Because I know you will.

PIGEON JOHN:
Let me show you how a real ___ do it / how I roll a road block roll right through it / In effect like '88 with fake Polo / the great state of Cali band we roll solo / numero uno / dos tres the Don Dada / got the club followin' Pigeon John's persona / there's none hotta' / not even old man in a sauna / not even a club in the 80's bumpin' Banana Rama / Six Tray'? No! / got a Civic with four doors / not even mine, my girls so I gotta dip low / West Coast/ comin' down like the Holy Ghost / I set trends they bite them and I don't boast / no I really do / can't lie I think I'm so fly / man without a crew Pigeon John he don't know what to do / guess I'll just rap/ to all the sad souls in the back / and hope that they get the hope that I wrote / kickin' it in Barnes -n- Nobles / reading magazines and drinkin' homemade cocoa / checkin' out the scene and you know I'm a local / watching for the schemes and looking out for bozos / so I can bulldoze

CHORUS:
I'm rockin' with the 4th / A.V.E.N.U.E / this is Pigeon John original Cali M.C. / rockin' for the nerds / I'm rockin' for the G's / hands up / plan is to only give you what you need / Rockin' with the 4th / J.O.N.E's / this is Pigeon John original Cali M.C. / I do it for the nerds / do it for the G's / hands up / plan is to only give you what you need

TENA JONES:
Tena Jones flowin' if you know me it's just Tena / from the south side part of Little Rock to pushin' BMer's / this critic said we copied obvious she'd never seen us / others said we'd never shine and now we headlining arenas / just rhymin' and climbin' makin' this music for your mind and / every deal that I'm signin' keep my momma in some diamonds / and I promised my little sister to push and excel / I'ma pay all of her tuition when she get into Yale / I got a fetish for lettuce me and my Avenue team / makin' so much money even when I'm bummy I'm clean / Mod you remember I was workin' up in GTE? / now everywhere we go we in the V.I.P. / didn't have no money then we use to rock it for free / now Puerto Rican fans pay to be aqui con mi / so I'll see you haters later laughin' at you cause' you comical / Phenomenal / What are we? / Phenomenal

CHORUS:
You rockin' with the 4th / A.V.E.N.U.E / Avenue the crew it's Tena J. and M.O.D / Reppin' all the hoods over here and overseas / hands up/ plan is to only give you what you need/ You rockin' with the 4th / J.O.N.E's / Avenue the crew it's Tena J. and M.O.D / reppin' all the hoods over here and overseas / hands up/ plan is to only give you what you need

AKIL:
Los Angeles Unified Skill District / ghetto manuscripts, California lyricists / ready to flip and spit the live direct hits / ready for whatever holmes, don't even trip / yo I uplift and shift my gift / God blessed me with / all praises due to my Lord for my accomplishments / my testament I represent is evident / that I'm a full-blooded man check my fingerprints / I'm definitely, absolutely, positively, ain't a chicken like George / but know my Roots like I was Kizzie / the Mandingo lingo live and die born single / make way for my arrival / make your spine tingle / ain't just to hear another verse thrust / head rush the Cold Crush / verbal nunchack's/ what/ feel my detector / missile launch ejector / North American government wrecker yo!

AHMAD JONES: They call me M-O-D. / ain't never sold a key / you just a microwave rapper / I'm a dope M.C. / don't say I'm hatin' cause you fakin' and we takin' it ''B'' / I'm O.G./ puttin' Cali on the M-A-P / Avenue teach clear as Evian / reach so we stay beyond / each crew get served like kishke or filet mignon / peace to D.J's and the streets that they play me on / crazy long lines/ out they seats like we Savion / y'all said I was a one hit wonder / world is a jungle fools wanna take me under / but I won't stop/ just rock/ like when a glock pops / hip hop was our culture long before it hit the pop charts / so you cannot box me in / locked is what I got blocks / I do this like Pac and Big Poppa fo' they got shot / fake and you hate but I'ma make you give me my props / and blow up so big you'll be mistaking us for sasquatch

CHORUS:
You rockin' with the 4th / A.V.E.N.U.E / Avenue the crew it's Tena J. and M.O.D /
reppin' every hood over here and overseas / hands up/ plan is to only give you what you need/ You rockin' with the 4th / J.O.N.E's / Avenue the crew it's Tena J. and M.O.D / reppin' every ghetto over here and over seas / hands up/ plan is to only give you what you need

Things To Do Pt.2

By now, anyone who might've been reading this knows that I like to write. No one, other than photographers and boy-crazy bandies, really write blogs unless they...like it.

I've been in a little bit of a dilemma. I like writing short stories, affectionately known as "Shorts". I don't know if I'm going to post them here, but along side that, I don't know what else to write. Its not that I've written about every single topic known to man, but I also want to write about some else, something new.

So, in an effort to stimulate my brain cells and agitate my fingers, I've concocted a list of short story topics that I aim to address/write about in the future. To whoever is reading this, if you have any ideas, feel free to comment or something.

Also, leave a note on whether I should post any of my previously written shorts.

Highlighted = Already Written/In Process

1. Committing Murder
2. Writing Process
3. (Female POV) Confusing Men
4. (Male POV) Confusing Women
5. Triangle Trilogy
6. Leaving Home
7. Understanding Black Culture
8. Aging 50 Years Overnight
9. Letting Love Go
10. Letting Love In
11. Trusting God
12. Being a Female for One Day
13. Being Black in the 50’s
14. Forbidden Love
15. Running Away
16. Conversation w/God
17. Everyday Embarrassment
18. Being Racist
19. Being Invisible
20. First Kiss
21. Age Changes/Periods (8-15-18)
22. Family
23. Open Mic Experience
24. Saying No/Yes to Sex
25. July 4^th
26. December 25^th
27. January 1st (In-Process)
28. February 14^th
29. Black History Month
30. Hate
31. Lust
32. The Prom
33. Being Homeless
34. Hating/Loving America
35. Not Caring
36. At A Concert
37. Being a Rapper/Hip-Hop Artist/MC
38. Ugly Babies/Beautiful Babies
39. Being Blind
40. Showing Off
41. Wack Poets
42. Being Broke/Rich
43. Infidelity

Shock Value

Desensitize - verb
1. to lessen the sensitiveness of
2. to make indifferent, unaware, of the like, in feeling

Isn't funny how easily we can become desensitized without even noticing it?

The whole process usually starts when we're young, with cartoons. Bugs Bunny slaps the spit out of Elmer Fudd. Wile E. Coyote suffers a case of "Starz" as a giant anvil drops on his head. America's Funniest Home Videos...nuff said.

But this is not a rant on how crappy cartoons are now. I'm taking this in another direction.

How many times have you said something serious to someone, only to have them respond back:

"...Are you serious?"

It's almost insulting. You're standing in front of them, talking about a very sober topic, only to have them doubt your sincerity. They don't believe you. Whatever you are saying is so abstract, so strange to them, it disturbs their current worldview.

The tragedy is in how thick it gets some times.

We have all seen those commercials about the starving children in different parts of the country/world. We can almost quote them.

And we know that they need our help. We know that what is going on is wrong. We know that if they only got a fraction of what we throw away on the daily, their lives would be set.
But, we are frozen, numb to it. Its easy for us to say to ourselves, "Man. That sucks...ah well. Someone will take care of it...". We are stuck in ourselves, caught up in ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME. ME wants the new iPod. ME is trying to get to McDonalds before ME's lunch break is over. ME is complaining, claiming to be "starving" because we haven't had our daily Butterfinger fix. We are desensitized, blocked to reality, surrounded by a wall of hedonism and a fast-food mentality.

We are desensitized to the needs of others, especially those who need it. It doesn't even have to be starving children in other countries. It be anyone in our path who needs our help. How many of us have seen someone struggling with something? Okay. How many of us have seen people continue to walk away, walk around or walk faster from them? Okay.

How many of us are one of those people? Maybe you really have something important to do. Maybe your day is really hella busy. But is it really that hard to just...help? Even for a few seconds? Think about how much you would like to have someone help with something?

In all seriousness, think about it. How hard would be to brighten someone's day by breaking the "MYOB" cycle?

In an attempt to inject humor into this post, I believe that Dane Cook said it best:

"Are you serious?!"

Yeah. I am.

I Heart HipRockSoul pt. 3

Here's the thing.

I have found myself in a tussle of emotions lately. I just want to freakin' dance. In a club, at a party, in the bathroom, ANYWHERE. I just want to move, let the music I'm listening to become a part of me.

Sounds cooky, doesn't it? Sounds like I've been puffing without passing, eh? Well, I dare you to try it. Find a song so ill, so nice, so sick, you are unable to contain yourself. Find a song that makes you want to move in any capacity. I bet it'd brighten up your day.

Me, I don't care. If I could dance...I just WISH I could dance like this...



...or even there for this.



I find it necessary to mention that I love my iPod. Seriously, it's like a part of my setup every morning.

- Shower
- Brush Teeth
- Put on Clothes
- Eat Breakfast (optional)
- Grab iPod.
- Grab keys.
- Leave.

And so far, every morning, I spin the clicky wheel and go to my 4th Avenue Jones playlist.

I probably look like the biggest schizo on the Metro at 8:30am. And I don't care. I'm telling you, everyone needs to go find them a song to make them say, "I DON'T CARE WHO WATCHES, I'M FIDNA DANCE."

I mean, really? The world would probably look like that new Extra commercial.

Come to think of it..


Yep. That's me, minus the gum. I'm more of a Trident person anyways.

Visionary/Things to do...(Part 1)

...maybe before I turn 25? Or how about 30? That'd be a little more realistic, eh? ::Shrugs::

Someone once said that as a scheme to make our lives have a goal, we should compile a list of things that we'd like to accomplish. In pursuit of such a list of desires, I am being somewhat short-sighted. What this person meant was to know exactly what it is we want. Come up with a list of more than "Things I'd Like To Do Before (insert age here)".

Dreams.
Wishes.
Plans.
Visions.
That sort of thing.

So. This is me following suit. I don't really know where this is heading. I'll try to form is in such a way to make more out of everyday; for this is the day that the Lord has made, right? Right.

1. Get closer to God, by any and every means necessary/available.



Needless to say, this will be a process. But I want it. In my heart of hearts, ultimately, this is a deep desire. Kinda like a divine "The Closer I Get To You". Cuz that's a really good song.

2. Go skydiving at least once.



This is a must. I don't care about the possibility of becoming nothing more than a ketchup colored stain on the pavement, or a comedic splat. I have to do this. I've been dreaming about it for years, and the only thing that is keeping me from doing it is the time and money, which coincidentally are rather synonymous.

3. Attend a taping of Def Poetry Jam.



Yeah. Pretty much. You already know.

4. Vote.



This year is a big one. And I'm old enough. So I've got to do what so many people have fought for.

More to come, later.