OPEN MIC: Reflections of the Street part 1, Page 2

  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