I'm the voice of soldier in the yard with the banger

Had the ill convos in my head lately. Just been thinking about the pace at which the world moves and where I envision myself best positioned to make moves they way I want to make them.

Wearing sneakers til our soles/soul is gone

MissThang hit me off with a horoscope a while back that all of a sudden became very literal this week. It was quite surreal how the topic came full circle and related to the current job situation. I like being a consultant, contractor, or whatever you want to call it. I thrive on being able to call my own shots (for the most part) and the flexible schedule truly is a blessing. I've always been fond of doing things for dolo (ahem...independently) so a new leaf may turn where I become an actual employee again. But I'm not going to stress it much. Whatever happens will happen.

These are my days of reality

However, I am rethinking my health plans. I play ball a lot (not as much as a few years ago), but still I get a good 5-7 hours in of pick-up games per week - which is a good thing in my book. But I still suck at doing push-ups. So I need to map out a new plan to hit the weights a little more consistently. Sigh. The gut has got to get better. But I do like how a few folks have noticed the gradual changes, so I'm not hating on the handles that much. Trust me, wearing jeans as a kid with a size 'husky' tag on your butt is no very becoming. As a matter of fact, I'm becoming nauseous reminiscing about it. Back burner...

I'm a poet among slums, crimes, and crack addicts
-Cormega, "Dirty Game"

I have found myself involved in some very engaging discussion the past month about youth, struggle, crime, hip-hop, gangs, beef, arts, activism, love, and technology. Seemingly disparate, but all conected in some way, shape, or form. Life is like a puzzle of interchangeable pieces that come and go and fit into their own spaces with a uniqueness meant for exploring the game at a distance and up-close. It's how we play our position that determines how and when the puzzle gets completed.

Kindred

flyer for this Friday's show
that I'm helping to plan and perform in.
Didn't end up getting printed as the official flyer,
but I still think it was dope on my part,
so excuse me while I pat myself on the back real quick. word.

You've Got To Be Fuqing Kidding Me

A few weeks back, an editorial (and accompanying cartoon) appeared in the Bay State Banner and I wasn't feeling it and threw in my two cents. Apparently, they got the memo, but somehow misplaced it since then. Peep the steez (link only good for current issue: March 16, 2006 - Vol. 41, No. 31).

If it looks like a thug...

A common practice of youth is to rebel against their parents and other adults as part of the process of establishing their own identities. Sometimes this can lead to unfortunate results.

Police in Boston have begun rousting youths who have the appearance of being gang-bangers. This is part of a strategy to reduce the growing murder rate. Unfortunately, many law-abiding youths have been caught up in the drag net.

The problem is that the adolescent style is to dress like gangbangers. In a pathetic effort to remedy the situation, some youths at a recent meeting prepared a sign which read, "My baggy pants don’t make me a thug." However, the youth who dress like thugs will generally be viewed that way by the police as well as the general public.

Police have been indiscriminately arresting youths who are lawfully in public housing projects. The youths win the cases but they will then have a criminal record. In the future when they apply for a job their CORI will follow them. Although there will be no conviction, many employers believe that "where there is smoke there is fire." Or as some people believe, "Why would the police have arrested them if they are really innocent?"

It is outrageous that the police indiscriminately arrest black youngsters who have committed no crime. Adults must vehemently object to such a policy. On the other hand, it is difficult for adults to understand why the young would voluntarily wear clothes that would cause them to masquerade as thugs.

Perhaps the young do not understand that to a considerable extent their clothes are a uniform, which inform others who they are and what they do. Adults do not wear the hip-hop fashions unless they are athletes, musicians or super-animated adolescents. National Basketball Association officials have banned that attire for the players.

It is inexcusable for the police to persecute the youth because of their appearance. But it is also time for young African Americans to consider a style of dress that indicates that they are disciplined and serious about getting ahead.

Disinformation

Many citizens choose not to stand for public office because their right to privacy ends the moment that they announce their candidacy. Deval Patrick, a candidate for governor, learned that lesson last week when the Boston Globe published as extensive story on his residences in Milton and Richmond.

The problem with these "exposes" is that they often shed little light on the character or competence of the candidates. Now Globe readers know that Patrick has had a successful professional career, he owns luxurious dwellings and he pays his mortgages.

Patrick's democratic opponent, Tom Reilly, attempted to turn this situation to his advantage by proclaiming that he is the only candidate who has been unable to acquire a substantial net worth. Only the most naive voter would find financial ineptitude to be beneficial.

African American voters, as well as whites, should be encouraged that Patrick has been able to rise from modest circumstances to attain such professional and financial success. And even more important, he is now willing to devote his energies as governor to providing the conditions that will enable others to realize their dreams.


"Man, maybe we'd do a little better if we dressed a little preppy."

A fool can't play the wise but the wise can act a fool

been slackin on my mackin like a mutha, but it's all gravy

mad muthatfuqas just up and stopped writing all together, adding to more stress in trying to locate alternative voices and thoughts that i want to read. there's plenty out there, i just ain't feelin 'em all.

so anyways, it's type hectic in this life sht right now.

from regular growing pains, to new leaves, mushy sht, and niggarama, it's a wonder what busy people do to keep themselves sane...cuz i ain't even that much of a busy no mo.

yes, it's damn near 3pm on a monday and i'm BS'ing, but i got a flexible gig like that, and whut.

Fuck what your ego say
Don't take shit for granted homey we don't play
All's fair in love and war, piece of cake
But beef is rare like a bloody piece of steak

hell, i can't even remember all that's been going on to give an adequate recap aside from saying that i'm trying my best to walk the straight and narrow and and thankful i got some good people on my team to hold me down.

like the atlantic's waves or a geechie creek's tide, the high and lows of this year are a mix of joy, frustration, enlightenment, and tension.

each day i take a step to be more activein the lives of local youth and then it seems a step backwards was taken at the same time.

Love or fear, the fear last longer
But love is stronger, so I stay loyal to love with honor
You got those who wanna take that for weak
Be prepared, they'll test you in front of your peeps

for example, i hit up critical breakdown last night. it was a great event, good and boisterous crowd, and dope performances. but i'll be damned if less than 10 minutes the show was to end, a fuqing fight broke out upstairs. just and ugly ending to a beautiful event with a focus of proving a safe, drama-free space for youth expression. same shT, different decade is all that runs through my mind. but then i can kinda feel the apprehension of adults to even get involved. on one hand, you wanna jump in and break sht up, but then you don't wanna end up getting shanked your damn self. so it's a catch-22 that's existed for a long time, yet no resolution ever seems clear. make me think of the stories my grandfather used to tell me about his teen gangs on the Lower East Side back in the late 40's and 50's.

You'll never fit up in my shoes so don't try 'em on
I always tear it up, I'm 'bout as calm as a quiet storm
Legendary lyricist, nice guy persona
My songs celebrate life and you can play 'em for your momma

ummm

Took a brother's life with a knife as his wife
Cried cause he died a trifling death
When he left his very last breath
Was I slept so watch your step

We got street soldiers and heat holders that go
click-click-click in the night
Streets watched and raised me
But I ain't crazy
So I'll give you a dollar for thoughts
And a penny for your struggles

You see, we got modern-day martyrs
Models of modesty and mayhem
Drenched in pools of tears
Wept on consecutive nights
for young'ins that didn't make it past their formative years

I shed hidden teardrops everytime I hear shots licked
Single mothers gettin kicked in the womb post-partum
They didn't pardon my interruption
When I made my way down Blue Hill like Paul Revere
The niggas are near
The niggas are near

They fell on deaf ears finger-fuqed with fortified emotions
This roller coaster wasn't built
for the last to go first
So as we chase this black hearse and with a fifth of sumthin sweet
I send this one out to all the mothers
fighting for their children's lives against the evils of the streets

ummm...needs work but needed to be done

Women, War, and Violence

The Women's Studies Program at Northeastern University is holding a conference on "Women, War, and Violence" this Saturday, March 18, 2006.

Conference on the local, national, and global impact of war on girls and women

Saturday, March 18th, 2006
8:30am - 4:30pm
Northeastern University, Curry Student Center Ballroom

Keynote Speaker
Sima Wali
President, Refugee Women in Development, Inc.
Former Delegate to U.N. Peace Talks on Afghanistan

You can find the conference schedule online.

You can also register online. Students can attend for FREE, and there is a $50.00 registration fee for everyone else (there is a reduced rate for people registering through their community organizations).

You can contact Lihua Wang (617.373.4984) in the Women's Studies Program if you have questions.

Word Up

Should Hip-Hop Be Illegal?

My quick answer: hell muthafuqing no. But I digress....it's at least something to check out for this Saturday...barring any car troubles and whiny midgets.

Every year, the Harvard Black Law Students Association hosts a Spring Conference featuring workshops and panels on current legal issues and their impact on minority communities. This year, for the first time, the conference will feature a Youth Summit. The Youth Summit will be held on the morning of Saturday, March 11th, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. on the campus of Harvard Law School.

For the summit, we are going to create an open forum where high school students can come and discuss critically the images and issues surrounding the current state of hip hop music and culture. The summit is entitled 'Should Hip Hop Be Illegal?' Our goal is to challenge the kids with a somewhat controversial topic so that we can get to the underlying beliefs that they hold. We are not looking to change their minds or opinions, but rather to help them come to their own understandings of why they believe what they believe. If we can get the participants to take another look at their opinions or view them from a different perspective, we will consider the Youth Summit a success.

The planning for this Youth Summit has been underway for quite some time and we are excited about this opportunity. At this point, all we need is the attendance of Boston area high school students. We understand that getting high school students to wake up early on a Saturday morning (the only morning to sleep in for some students) will be no small feat. To that end, we've secured DJ Chubby Chub, a popular DJ and radio personality from WILD 97.7 FM, to host the forum. We will also be giving away two iPod Nano mp3 players completely free. There is no cost of admission and this is going to be a great event for all who attend.

I have attached the flyer for the event which includes all of the pertinent details for the Youth Summit. I am seeking your help in disseminating this information to as many Boston high school students as possible. Feel free to print or email this flyer as widely as possible. [done]

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me via email at afloyd AT law.harvard.edu.

Thank you.
-Antonia L. Floyd

Enterprising businessmen shoot dice on the corner

Excuse me while I light my spliff but some choose to sip
So bullets hit brains, when bottles hit lips

I had the fortune to get invited to the inaugural meeting of Mayo Menino's Hip-Hop Roundtable. Headed up by a brother by the name of Larry Mayes, it was a gathering of host of hip-hop artists, activists, educators, and enthusiats all brought in to work on a collaborative effort to bring infuse hip-hop culture throughout the city in meaningful, positive ways that do the culture proper justice.

Who got the cocaine?
Don't tell me it's the little kids on Soul Train

I knew a few heads in the room from previous interaction, as there were also folks there whom I had heard of but never really met. To say the least, there was an enormous amount of tangible passion in the conference room - so much that you could feel it. I'll admit I had my hesitation about the gathering because of its timing. While the announcement made sure to recognize hip-hop in its entirety, I felt it was simply being used as a pawn to combat the recent wave and surge in youth violenece. And it's not that I'm not all for that. I just don't want 'positive' hip-hop to be seen as the only solution for it, which would imply that 'hip-hop' in general is the problem.

Subliminal hypnotism and colonialism
leaves most nigga$ dead or in prison
In Crook-land, right hand cuts off the left hand
to spite the hand, jealous of the next man

But nevertheless, the meeting went well. Some great ideas and thoughts. I wasn't feeling the discussion too much, though there were tons of valid points made. But I did like how we jumped in to solution-mode, where soapboxes were limited and tangible ideas had to be thrown out to all. There are a host of things going on and already planned, such as the Start Peace Movement and the UMMF 11th Anniversary Show. It made me realize the extent of the activism of the local scene and its struglle for recognition, support, and legitimacy. It strengthened my resolve to support Project Hip-Hop in a more visible role and start to do a lot more networking with all of these folks out there working with youth and for youth to make this city a better place for us all. What more could you ask for?

We steal from the rich and keep it

Dead in the middle of Little Italy, little did we know that we riddled some middleman who didn't do diddily
-Big Pun & Fat Joe, "Twinz (Deep Cover 98)"

Big Pun ripped the shT out of that line. No really. It has to be one of those silence-inducing string of syllables that renders untamed listeners helpless. It's that serious. Having an intense week of busy work, stalled clients, and whiny little boys with weak appetites, runny bowels, and random rashes. Sis and dem lost the conference tourny last weekend, so ended up in the ECAC tourney, which is for D3 what it is like in D1 going to the NITs as opposed to the Big Dance (March Madness). And so they took a dubya Wed night and have to head out to Western Mass Friday for a tough matchup against a team that beat them in the regular season. It might get ugly.

It's like you need to have steel just to feel relaxation

tons o' guns everybody's getting strapped
tons o' guns got to watch the way you act
tons o' guns real easy to get
tons o' guns bringing nothing but death

Had an ill convo this evening with my man Horace and this other cat U* who has started his own non-profit focused on high-risk youth. So we're gonna try this thing again on Sunday and try to get it poppin because the discussion ran the gamut from reasons to solutions. We talk about the state of affairs and how some well-off folk essentially neglected entire generations. And it was also the first time I had a ocnversation in which someone else echoed my sentiment that the crack babies were teenagers. That's been one of my primary thought streams and to hear it out of someone else's mouth was refreshing - unfortunate - but good to hear my sentiment was not solo. We also shot the breeze on the possible projects that a real collabo of committed folks could get off the ground. One idea was a shelter for homeless Black men because none seem to exist. So you know I'mma go have to look up everything that got mentioned. Plus, it was also mentioned that Boston is the only city without a hazardous waste unit in the police department. Umm...yeah lemme go look that one up too. BE right back.

tons o' guns are in the streets nowadays
it's big money and you know crime pays
check your nearest overpopulated ghetto
they greet you with a pistol not trying to say hello
-Gangstarr, "Tons O Guns"