Shadowboxing

Maaaaaaaaaan
Somebody gettin fucked up today
Somebody gonna feel this wrath I feel
Somebody is gettin they ass beat
I dont know who its gonna be 
Is you?
Is you?
Maybe you even!
Shiiiiiiiiiiit.....
The next nigga look at me wrong
GETTIN FUCKED UP ON THE SPOT!
....
....
...
Wha?
Who u lookin at nigga?
What u lookin at nigga?
Wha?
So u sizing me up nigga?
Who do u think u are nigga?
Don't fuck wit me nigga
Not today
...
Nigga dont I know you?
Yeaaaah
I know you nigga
Ive known you from a long time ago
....
....
And I aint like you then either!
Always lookin down on me
You think you betta than me?
You think Im not worthy?
Yeah I know you nigga
You that nigga who told everyone
Not to talk to me
Kept me isolated from everyone
Couldnt nothing touch me
...Cuz of you
And I guess I could thank you for that
And I guess I could hang for that
All that love shit, that bond shit
They missed me with that
And I have you to thank for that
Well you can only thank yourself for this ass whoopin Im bout to give you!
A mighty swing
BLAOW! 
Right in this nigga's mouth
Blood flowin like Nile in early March
You like how that feel nigga?!
Do that make you feel bigga?!
A kick to the gut
BLAOW!
Cant breath can ya nigga?
Neither could I all those lonely nights
Fuck you nigga! 
Fuck you!
No hope for you nigga!
Ima choke you nigga!
Im emotional numb
So I can't feel you nigga!
IMA KILL YOU NIGGA!
...
...
Stood up soaked
Didnt know if it was from tears, sweat or blood
Breathing deeply
I look to the mirror
And found a strange sight
My face hardly recognizable 
Bloodied and bruised
Hideously disfigured
You can't see it but
I been beatin myself up 
The whole time
....
....
You know...
A punch from a stranger might hurt
But wrestling with yourself...
Is much worse

Artist Spotlight: Chip The Ripper

While I've been gone I have been listening quite a bit to the Cleveland native Chip The Ripper. For those who don't know who he is, he was on Kid Cudi's album Man On The Moon, on the song "Hyerr" (shout out to Cudi!). The song is nice, and it kind of introduces you to the type of rapper Chip is. He has a laid back flow, but he can switch it up in an instant, and yeah he raps about weed but he's witty with the punchlines and his beats are bananas! But enough of me talkin about him...Listen to him yourself! Check out his mixtape "The Cleveland Show" too! http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/10902/chip_tha_ripper_the_cleveland_show.html

Back From Break

Its been a minute since I been on here...A lot of shit has happened in between that time. I've been slippin and sliding down a slippery slope of what is known as Life. I felt as though something had been missing out in my life, and I couldn't find what it is that I was looking for. I will document this mini-journey in the next few days, subject by subject, and finally, give my interpretation of what it is I was missing.
Enjoy the ride.

Oh and Welcome Back To Class.

"If i Could without penalty I would say this...Teacher your a Bully"

Today I'd like to spotlight my good friend, Marcus K. Saafir, an up-and-coming singer from Winston-Salem State University. He has a lot of talent and I expect a lot from here in the upcoming months. I will keep everyone posted on that. He gave me this poem/free write, and I had to pass it along to yall. 


READ THIS WITH A ATTITUDE and a little bit of sarcasm!!! You know what attitude im talking about too

If you ever been in the situation with a teacher where they think they have the upper hand because they are smarter than you...but its there ego talking...you can relate.. because i know i may not be the best student... but i buss my ass when it's time to do so... I wrote this in the slang of the people because sometimes full words cant express how we truly feel. .. Educational Murderer 

Why you using ya knowledge as a weapon... 
when your suppose to share the ammunition
Lookin at my teacher like dude you trippin
Tryna diminish instead of replenish... my education
Talking bout you want me to make it
Stop fakin!!!
You the reason im sitting here failing this class
while im sitting here doing this work
tryna buss my ass For my future!!
Or atleast what I have of it
I'm me, you can either hate it or love it

Yea I'm civilized but you treatin me like a savage with this knowledge thing...
A diamond in the rough tryna make it to that pretty ring
A seed tryna sprout
Looking for that water spout
But you go and cut the water off and turn the lights out
Now I can't see shit!!

Im trying to achieve the knowledge that you obtain in yo brain
Have a higher position in education and try to maintain
But it's a shame how you teach in vein
I thought the purpose was to make it out of the class
Not to be retained 
This note is for the students who actually put in hard work
And ends up getting their feelings hurt
Cuz they thought they passed that test with flying colors
Souring above the skies
But gets shot and falls to the dirt
Studying hard as hell for the teacher whose standards are to high for themselves
But they don't have to do it, so it's oh well... 
and students are SOL


Now...

We know that you know it all
And understand what you teachin
Well you think you know it all
But it's your ego that is preachin
To the students who is the choir
Tryna stay in the right key or tune
And take it a step further 
So they can expand like balloons

To end....

All I'm asking is that you lighten up on those who care about their future
And get ya head from above the clouds
Because we know you got your GED and education
But remember the time for us is right now!!
Be the reason we become what we will be...
Not the reason for having to enlist in the army..
Think about when you use to be in our position
and stop acting like you haven't ever not paid attention...

For any future teachers that I have offended, well im sorry
Just try to be the opposite
of what we sometimes see and go through...

you can be a good teacher..but you cant make us students feel small

Janelle Monae "Tightrope"

I had to share this video cuz a lot of people probably don't know about this lady here. She is Janelle Monae and she is amazing. She can sing...She can dance...She funnnnnky (look at the hair!) And she is fiiiiiiiiiiiiine...Yeah she's my new crush. I heard her album, The ArchAndroid (Suites I and II), was critically acclaimed so check it out!

Venus & Mars

I, for the life of me, will never understand women. Never. 

I will never understand why they do the things they do. 

Why they speak in coded languages...Why they tend to get emotional over what we, men, see as little things...Why they tend to nag about things....Why they use that tired line "My head hurts..not tonight.."...Why they do all the wonderfully confusing, beautifully strange things they do.

And I don't think I'm supposed to.

As I was discussing with my friend the other day, the sexes will never understand one another. There is no use of trying to figure each other out. 

Men are simple creatures...So simple that we confuse women with our simplicity. 

Women....are women. Nuff said. (They're confusing enough...)

But, I think that confusing as we all are to one another, the confusion is what makes things so wonderful between the sexes. There is a mystery...There is a mystique surrounding the opposite sex that is what makes them so alluring. It always has us consistently wanting to know more, find out more. And that is the beauty of it. 

Besides...If you knew everything...Men/Women would be boring. #shrug

And that is the lesson for today. 

History Lesson: Confessions of a 3rd Grader

Bell rings
Students take there seats
And the teacher asks
The 3rd Grade class
"Ok class, tell me why
Do you think the American Flag
Is Red, White, and Blue?"
Little Jimmy raises his hand
And says
"Because it represents the
Patriotism of our forefathers"
The teacher says
"Good Job Jimmy!"
Little Susie raises her hand
And says
"Because the foremothers
like Red, White, and Blue...
They're pretty colors. Teehee"
The teacher says
"Ahhhh....good job Susie!"
Little Raheem
The Big Dreamer
Stands up and says,
"Well teacher,
Maybe they chose
Red, White, and Blue
Because those are the colors
White people turn
At one point or another
Or maybe
The forefathers
Couldnt get off of England's dick long enough
To chose some colors themselves
Or maybe they chose Red
Because it represents the blood
Of the African slaves
Of the Native Americans
Of Asians
Immigrants who built this country
Maybe they chose White
Because it represents the Big Little White Lies
Our country tells us
Like
YOU CAN MAKE IT IN OUR COUNTRY....
if look like this, talk like this, sex like this, love like this
JUSTICE IS BLIND
it must be if police can shoot an unarmed man 81 times
AMERICAN IDOL IS AWESOME
man that shit been wack since season 3!
And the Blue?
Maybe that represents
A Politicians face
Cuz most of em talk false promises and sexy slanders
Till they're blue in the face
Or maybe...
Just maybe...
Maybe it was
Just a commitee of men who decided
"We need a flag"
...
...
But I doubt it.

Stream of Consciousness

Hmmm...

What's on the menu today?

Speaking of menuI wonder what's in the fridge..
I think mom just went shopping too
And I mean...
I am kinda hungry
But its so far away!
...
Nah Im not hungry
Sex
Wow...Where did that come from?
Anyway
Guess I'll get on facebook
....
No one's on
Well on to twitter then
...
No one is tweeting
And these trending topics are horrible
Ugh
Sex
There it goes again..
Sheesh...ummm...let me see
Guess I'll check my phone
....
Nope
No calls
No texts
No..
SEX
Guess I'll go and do something
But what to do?
SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX
Aye the stomach is rumbling again
I guess I could eat
Sex
Yeah I'll eat
Sex
And mom did make that banana pudding
Mmmmmmm...I can taste it now
Sex
....
But I'm sooo comfy though
Well...I aint THAT hungry
Yeah and plus there's probably none left
Dad got to it I bet
Yeah...
So what to do...
What to do?

"In The Morning"- J.Cole

Since its 9:25AM...Its only right.



-Can I hit in the morning?

The Dangers of R&B

Today is just one of those stay in the house and listen to R&B days…I don’t know if I’m the only one who feels that way, but sometimes it’s just necessary to have a day dedicated to slowing things down. Fall in love with the music. Pretend like you have a significant other if you don’t have one. Think of someone that’s been on your mind a lot. Just relax.

Handle it with care though…GOOD R&B music can be dangerous if not properly handled.

How so? you might be asking…

Well let me answer with a question…What type of music do they play at the club at the end of the night? R&B. And not the New Edition “CanYou Stand The Rain?”, Luther Vandross type shit. Ooooooh nooo. I’m talking about R.Kelly Sex Me, every other word is Sex, Lick, Oooooo, Ahhhhh, and other things that happen when a man and a woman get together for that horozontal dance we do. What happens during that section? Everyone is falling in love lust, and making babies on the floor. What happens after that? People are leaving the club, with their hormones still raging, to go and be grown. One Night Stand anyone? Oh it can be a Booty Call too…in case you're wondering

This, of course, is an extreme example, to which people can object and argue…(but that’s for any subject). Nonetheless, it is a case of R&B not being properly handled. 

Ever listen to a R&B song and start thinking (something that always has the potential to be dangerous…Damn thoughts!) about somebody you know you probably shouldn’t? Yeah you know what I’m talking about. That person who ain’t no good for you, but still your mind lingers over him/her…No Good Betty and Aint Shit Jimmy?

Then the emotions start messing with you. KC & JoJo is crooning in the background…”I will never find another lover sweeter than you…sweeter than you…” You starting thinkin “Damn…I won’t ever find another lover sweeter than them…Damn, what am I gonna do?” You start looking at the old pictures of you and him/her. The one of yall at the park. The photo shoot yall took at the mall because she HAD to have one like her friends. The one of yall doing something but can’t even remember what it was.

Now, KC & JoJo start going hard into the “OOOOOOOOOOOOO YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHH……BAAAAABY BAAAABY! ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL MYYYYY LIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE I PRAAAAAAAY FOR SOMEONE LIIIIIIKE YOUUUUU!”

And you look at the phone…contemplating on whether to call her/him…Your mind is telling you no…..But your body (against your better judgement) is tellin you yes. And who are you to deny your body and Mr. Kelly?

So you put on some Case and decide to call.

You call. “like a cold summer afternoon ….” The phone rings. “like the snow coming down in June” Your heart skips. “like a wedding without the groom” The phone is answered. “I’m missing yoooou” And you hear……………………………….Somebody that isn’t your old boo telling you that he/she don’t want to talk to you, and don’t call again.

Now, your feeling and looking real stupid (If you saw the expression on your face then you'd agree). Switch the song from “I’m Missing You” to “I Hate You So Much Right Now”

And now you and Kelis are having a man bashing party. Or if your a dude…You thinking “Ain’t no sunshine when sheeeeee’s gone….”

I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know…….

In all seriousness though, WATCH how you handle yourself when you listen to that stuff.

Shit is dangerous. 

Exhibit A "So Anxious"- Ginuwine Gettin Anxious?

Exhibit B "Birthday Sex"-Jeremih It aint your birthday! 

Exhibit C "Sex" R.Kelly Old school freakin...And probably the reason why some of you are here now...

Throwback Video of The Day: Jagged Edge "What's It Like"

I may not know what's it like, and neither do Jagged Edge...But they sound better than I do, so I let them talk about it. What's it like to be in love? One may never know...

Art Of Storytelling: Joe Budden

To continue the Art of Storytelling series, we will be visiting another one of my favorite rappers...the seriously lyrical, but slept-on, Joe Budden!

I decided to use his song "Three Sides To A Story", because it is simply one of the most intricately put together stories told on wax that I have ever heard. I swear when I heard it the first time, I said "Daaaaaaaamn! That shit was crazy!" The storyline was better than half the trash on Tv, and was probably told better too. From the first verse, to the climatic ending, this song is definitely one of the best examples of storytelling.

Grab ya popcorn, and enjoy!

Give Me Freedom...Or Give Me Hoes!

Since its inception, our society has been a male dominated and male orchestrated society. Men dominate most aspects of the world…Politics, Sports, Literature, Video Game skills, Kung-Fu skills, Farting skills, Beer drinking skills….You get the picture. The chauvinistic viewpoint even ventures into –gasp! - The realm of sex! (Who’d A-Thunk it?)

But this is not new to you. No, no, no…The way sex is peddled to us….Shiiiiiiit…You’re no longer a virgin the moment you turn on the TV.

However, I move that maybe, just maybe, there is a time for a change (cue Presidential music…Bout to get my Obama on).I feel that one aspect that women are often the victim of is the word hoe, and how it is used to identify women. Perhaps, it is time to re-think the way we look at the way we define a hoe. I’d venture to say that there is a distinct difference between a hoe, and say, a sexually liberated woman.

Let me say, if we (society) are going to push this agenda of equality amongst the sexes, then we must fully commit to it. And that means looking at ourselves and applying the same grounds for identification on ourselves. Meaning, the same thing that makes women hoes…makes us hoes. Because in reality, a number of men….are some hoes. (The big slutty, cringe-your-face kind)

Take a typical guy and his sexual exploits for, say, a semester. Let’s say that his number is about 3-4. Now, that’s pretty tame number some might say. Now, take that same number of partners for a woman, and she’s loose. Why? Because of the double-standard we have in today’s society (We would have accepted Idk as an answer too).

But, instead of this standard labeling of hoe, perhaps we can realize there is a difference between a woman being a hoe, and a woman being sexually conscious/liberated. (Sexually liberated meaning they embrace sex as a part of them, and realize their own sexual freedom) What I believe separates a sexually liberated woman and a hoe is that a sexually liberated woman frees herself from sexual stigmas and labels, while a hoe is trapped by those same things. A hoe will do some trifling things like have sex for numbers -side eye some of my niggas-, having compromising sex and blame it on a condition (I was drunk, I was lonely, I voted for Obama…Nah babe…Let’s not make excuses), or worst of all, using sex as a means to attain something (Relationships! Money! A Happy Meal….)

Still, I know that we live in a man’s world, and viewpoints won’t change anytime soon unless there is some willing to change. To the ladies, I say, be free! Be liberated! Be empowered! And remember…Snoop said it in ’94….We don’t love dem hoes!

Feel free to tell me what yall think

-Jedi McFly

Art Of Storytelling: Nas

One thing I feel that is missing in today's Hip-Hop is Storytelling. Name 5 cats out today that can weave and blend together a story together to a nice beat, all while lyrically keeping up? Don't worry I will wait...

Storytelling is something that only the greater MCs can ever really pull off without it coming off as forced or gimmicky (like most tales of the hood these phony cats spit) . A great MC can spin you a tell so intricate and engaging, you can picture yourself being there.

So I will start off this on-going article with one of the best MCs ever, my boy Nasty Nas' song "Rewind". Not only does Nas spit a nice story over a chill beat, but he does it in REVERSE! How many cats can spit a regular story, let alone in reverse?! Don't worry I'll wait.... (Thought so...)

Anyway, enjoy "Rewind"-Nas from his album Stillmatic.

To cleverly craft a story is simply talented....But to do it in Reverse?! Simply one more reason why Nas is one of the top MCs the game has ever seen/heard.

A Poem for the Morning

So, as I get up this morning, I thought of a few things.

1. Why am I up so damn early?!

2. Thank God I'm still breathing....

3. ...............But still! Why am I up soooo damn early?!

My thoughts went back and forth like this, until I forced myself up from bed. As I rolled over to my right where I keep my notebooks. You see, I often write, or try to write, something before I go to sleep most nights. (I tend to have a lot of thoughts before I go to sleep....Eh...#Shugs) Anyway, I was flipping through the notebooks, finding some nice poems here and there, and some unfinished gems. I came upon one of em that I particularly wanted to finish. And here it is:

Under Construction

Under construction am I

Under tha constructs of time n space

Of loves and hates

Under a society that is so set on self pleasure

One would say it masterbates

We must overcome
Overpower
Just get over
We who are
Underconstruction.....

We must overcome
Overpower
Just get over
We who are
Underconstruction.....We must overcum

Overcome

Just get over

We who are

Underconstruction...

One needs no introduction

To the destruction

Of the evils of jealousy, ignorance, and lust-in

We must win

Cant leave it up to chance

I take the “Win or Go Home” stance

Ha…

Guess Im goin home

Cuz I’ve been put told from the start

That only losers follow their heart

So I follow it to Heaven, Hell

And everywhere in between

Hoping every lesson

Every smile

Every tear

Every laugh

Every fear

Every piece of a broken heart

Can be used as a brick

Helping me build

Until, then

Im Under-Construction

And with that, Good Morning Academy of Tomorrow!