We Can Get There If We Try

Tantric verbatim collides with silk doorknobs.
They weave through the carpet sparking brass truth.
Projecting subconciously around gold weather vanes.
Sonically breaking the suns flares towards white knives.
Not limiting the silver rain pouring over black lilies.
Leap frogging over diamond shaped clusters.
Illiuminating when touched by naysayers, looking down on giants.

Know Your Hip Hop Vol.3

To be honest with you, if you haven't heard this album and you call yourself a hip hop fan, just jump off a cliff now. Enter The 36 Chambers was released late 1993 and was propelled by the single Protect Ya Neck. Though not a commercial success at first it gained momentum and was critically- acclaimed. This showcased the talents of nine emcess: The RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Method Man, Old Dirty Bastard, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, and Masta Killa. Enter 36 Chambers proved to the world that New York rap was back and the Wu Tang Clan was at the fore front of the movement. Six teen years after the albums release this is still one of hip hop's best achievements. Most of the members have gone on to solo sucess and dropped classics in their own right. The RZA has gone on to be considered one of the best hip hop producers to pick up a MPC.

Do Your Homework

You can't turn on your television or go on the internet without someone talking about voting. I'm not a politically person at all. So when people ask me who am I voting for I tell them I dont know yet. They look at me weird and tell me that I need to vote for Obama. Besides everyone and their mama supporting Obama I don't know much about him. I dont know his polices, where he stands on gay marriage, the war in Iraq, abortion, etc. Same goes with McCain. I'm not hoping on anyone's bandwagon without doing my homework. Election day is November 4th so I still have a lot of time to decide who I want to throw my support behind. Who knows I might like McCain more then Obama.


So whoever you're voting for on election day make sure you did your homework and know why you're voting for that person. Just don't vote for someone because they might be more popular then another candidate. Because when people ask you why you voted for you'll have an intelligent answer to give them.

Know Your Hip Hop Vol.2

Lauryn Hill is one the greatest musicians to ever live and this album proved it. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill dropped August 25, 1998 at #1 on the Billboard charts. This album earned her 11 grammy nominations and she won 5 including Best New Artist, Best R&B album and Album of the Year. This album is filled with soulful ballads with love, pain, hurt and rejoice and this album has the greastest break up song of all time, Ex Factor. This also showed that there is still a place for a strong black women in hip hop and they can have something to say. Even though Ms.Hill has been MIA lately making appearances here and there and a Fugee's reunion album have been rumored. Lauryn doesn't have to write another song the rest of her life, she has her masterpiece.

This Might Be About Her

I know nothing else matters and that you can't seem to get away. Your makeup is smeared because you cried all night. Get in your car and just drive away, but gas is too expensive to even think about that. Called into work because bearing the world just seems like another meaningless task that you can afford to d0 right now. Open your window and pray out aloud maybe God didn't hear you last night as tear streamed down on your face. Butterflies and dandelions play in a field that you walked bare foot through. Those were happy memories when he stilled loved you and before summer froze over, not it seems like hell.


SMILE!

It's About Time

Heard it all my life,
Think of something new,
Not orginal.

I understand,
It rolls off the tongue.

From my lips,
And yours.

The hypocrisy kills you,
Deal with it,
I had to.

No sweat off my back,
But people always bat eyes.

Run with 400 years,
On your back.
Then tell me,
How your shoulders hurt

Know Your Hip Hop Vol.1

Ok, if you thought Ice Cube(O'Shea Jackson) just did family movies, you're sadly mistaken. Ice Cube left N.W.A. when their popularity was at it's peak. Having written half of N.W.A.'s proverbial middle finger to the world, Straight Outta Compton, Cube left because of royality disputes. On May 16, 1990 he dropped his CLASSIC debut album Amerikkka's Most Wanted. Cube shocked everyone when he enlisted The Bomb Squad(Public Enemy's production team) to produce his album. The album went on to become a commercial success and went platinum two months later. Having been released over 18 years ago, this album stands the test of time as being of the one of the best hip hop albums of all time and most influential.

If you don't know, now you know.

Shit Talking, Mud Slingling and The After Effects

What I never understood is why people talk shit or down about someone? I know I've been guilty of doing this but for the most part I stay away from it, never been a fan of it. If you have a problem with someone or something they do why not speak up and say something to that person. Why the need to go behind their back and talk shit. I see people who talk shit as two groups: the first group being the kind of person who talks shit or slings mud and stays away from that person and doesn't want to associate with said person. The other kind, in my opinion is the worst one, the person who talks behind a person's back and then goes hangs out with said person(i.e. partying with that person, pretending to be their friend, etc.....). This absolutely blows my mind how someone can do this. What does this get you? Do people feel like they have some sort of power when they talk behind someone's back? Do you feel like you have a upper hand on that person? Or do you just feel like you're better then that person? I hate to burst your bubble but, you're not better then that person. Guess what? Grow a fucking spine.


If you're mad this any way shape or form, guess what? You're a shit talker and I'm talking to you. If I hurt feelings good, grow a pair and learn how to speak your mind. It's okay to hurt feelings here and there as long as you are telling the truth. Most people would rather know the truth and have hurt feelings then have someone talk behind their back and them not know. I guess I might have a little more integrity them some other people I know. Don't get it twisted, I'm not saying I'm better because I'm not.

Mine and Yours

My hustle,
Was/is,
Different from yours.

I never,
Slang dope,
On the street corner.

Went to my 9 to 5.
Stayed doing me.

WHen the chips fall,
It's all on me.

People ask me,
Why?
Because,
I believe in whast I do.

They deserve a chance.
They took a chance with me.

I'm repaying the favor.

Everyone needs a hand.
I just so happen,
To give all ten toes,
Ten fingers.

All while standing before the executioner.

Board Games

Because I wasn't into playing games.
You took what you knew,
Threw it out your car window.
Replaced with what you heard.
Now I'm fighting for a position,
That I'm not sure I want.

You heard I was a playboy.
I never played you.
Quick to jump to plan "C".
Baby, you and I were barely,
Settled on plan "A".

That bird sat on your shoulder,
And chirped away.
That bird, neglected to tell you,
I treated it just like a bird,
Well more like a pidgeon.
Calling it like I see it.

As time tick tocks away,
Sitting here,
Putting my effort,
Into something,
I could never love as my own.

Life Sentence

This is what life looks like.
Sped up at full blast.
Kissed the fool,
Nod my head,
Zipped up my coat.

This is what life looks like.
When nothing else matters,
Tried to play it off,
But my hand still hurts,
From writing this poem.

This is what life looks like.
Starry eyed and love crossed.
Paint it blue,
Only to realize we all bleed red.
Feet on the ceiling.
Hand on the doorknob.

Life is a dandelion field.
Pick one,
Pull the petals,
Everything matters.

Will you walk in my field?

This is what life looks like.......
When life happens.

Tongue kissing God

Have you ever been kissed by God? Passionately(tongue, lips, etc.)? Or are you one who simply condemns God to the realm of the invisible? When do you feel most comfortable? When do you feel most loved? Perhaps it is the warm embrace of your lover or in the assuring touch of your mother. Perhaps, like me, you have likened this person to God in your life and realized that God was loving you through them. Or maybe you don't believe in God. Cool. Here's a simpler question: Have you ever lost yourself in a kiss? I mean pure psychedelic inebriation. Not just lustful petting but transcendental metamorphosis when you became aware that the greatness of this being was breathing into you. Licking the sides and corners of your mouth, like sealing thousand fleshy envelops filled with the essence of your passionate being then opened by the same mouth and delivered back to you, over and over again- the first kiss of the rest of your life. A kiss that confirms that the universe is aligned, that the world's greatest resource is love, and maybe eve that God is a woman. With or without a belief in God, all kisses are metaphors decipherable by allocations of time, circumstances, and understanding.


-Saul Williams

Word of The Day......Sacrifice

Sacrifice. This is a word that I'm quickly getting accommodated to. It seems within the past couple weeks my life has sped up about 45%. I use to complain about having too much time for myself now I take whatever I can get. Life is always throwing something new at me every once in a while. Maybe it's to see if I handle the pressure or maybe I do it to myself. I'm giving up so much lately I just hope it pays off....no wait.....take that back I know it will pay off because if I didn't believe in what I was doing I wouldn't be doing it. I know my job it takes up a lot of my time and I know some people wonder if my job is really worth all this. The answer to this question is simple...is yes. The kids I get to meet the and the lives I get to impact, I wouldn't take that back for anything. My job is not for everyone and I've seen a lot of people in my field come and go and not too many can handle it. When your shaping and molding a young person's life it can be a lot, you want them to grow up right. But it can be difficult when you're still growing up yourself and trying to figure out who you are.



The dictionary describes sacrifice as the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim. I find that definition ironic because I'm giving up my own needs/wants to help build something more meaningful.



Sacrifice.

Cops Acquitted In Sean Bell Shooting

I really don't know what to say right now. I'm really disgusted in our legal system right now. I really hoped that justice would of been served for Sean Bell and his family. Here's Sean Bell's story for those that need to play catch up: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/nyregion/26cops.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=sean%20bell&st=cse&oref=slogin. I dont know what to say but it's really fucked up and some people wonder why people hate police.


R.I.P.
Sean Bell


P.S.
A big FUCK you goes out to Michael Oliver, Marc Cooper & Gescard Isnora the cops acquitted in the case.

Food For Thought

Today's posts is about Mr. Riq Gee's aka Black Thought from The Legendary Roots crew. I was listening to The Roots album The Tipping Point and realized how underrated he is. He doesn't nearly get enough credit for what he does. My true hip hop heads can attest to this without a doubt. Listen to any of The Roots albums, he straight kills everything he's one from Orangix to Super Lyrical with Big Pun to Game Theory. Dude is a straight emcee, it just oozes from his veins. Don't believe me? Check this out then, his verse from Somebody's Gotta Do It:

Yeah ya'll, ideal for a lyrical perfectionist
Raw, that's what every soldier in my collective is
Thought, control level is that of a gold medalist
My level headedness make it come off so effortless
The rebel is a opposite extreme of devilish
Back setting it with the answer to your deficit
My track record is hot shit, consecutive
Smug, I got game just like a record executive
A kiss to the feminine girls loving a gentlemen
A genius slash gangsta with a skill for swindling
Bet on Black
Bet these cats that's all gelatin
Will fall back spittin' them raps that's unintelligent
Raps that cap, rabid rattlin' out the gattlin'
Crippling rhymes whistlin' past, blow you back in
Smellin' your blood now I'm huntin'
Blowin' your front in for frontin' what up cousin?
Oh, now it's nothin'
Yo, you can't go beyond a point of no returning
I flip like my name Turner
That's for certain nigga, Ted Turner, Nat Turner, nigga Ike Turner
The raw sojourner for truth
The mic burner


You can't tell me that's not just raw lyrical skill right there. People don't think of him because he's not the type of cat to be jumping on everyone's shit. The last time I heard him on someone's album was back on 2002, when he did Talib Kweli's classic album Quality. But as a hip hop head how can you not love that collabo. You got Kanye West on the beat, Talib, Black Thought, and Pharoahe Monch on the lyrics. He's been holding it down for a while, been in the game for over ten years. Each new Roots album be bring something new to the table.


Remember to pick up the new Roots album Rising Down next Tuesday.

Support REAL hip hop.

Coffey OUT!

Connectedness

I'm a big fan of Jay Smooth and illdoctrine.com. Jay is a really smart, informative brotha with a lot to say. I just checked out his blog on connectedness and it really hit home. So check out the video because you'll most likely agree with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbM0qhGVKhM


P.S.
Make sure you check out illdoctrine.com because it's probably the best video blog out there right now. Plus the coffey doesn't co sign wackness either so you know it's good then.

What Would You Die For?

Seriously think about that question for a minute. Is their something you believe in so strongly that you would gladly die for? Would you die for a principle or belief? Or how about religon? I think my generation, our generation needs to really think about that and examine ourselves. If someone had a gun to your head and asked you what would you die for? Then right after you responded they pulled the trigger. Could you be happy with that decision? Don't feel bad if you're struggling with that question. I myself think about this question everyday and everyday I can't seem to find something. To answer this question you need to do a lot of soul searching and reflect to see where you're at in your life. Shit, I'm only 20 years old I have more then enough time to figure this out. Maybe one day I'll have an answer, maybe one day you'll have a answer too.

What About Bukowski?

Do you know what April is? Beginning of spring? No. April is national Poetry month and since I'm a poet(that title is used very loosely). Like the title says I'm going to throw some Bukowski on you. I'm very new to Bukowski, like I just picked up my first book by him yesterday but the couple of poems I've read before by him it looks like we'll have a very long, meaning ful relationship. I gave you Mr. Charles Bukowski:


artisitic selfishness

what's genius?
I don't know
but I do know that
the difference between a madman and a
professional is
that
a pro does as well as he can within what
he has set out to do
and a madman
does exceptionally well at what
he can't help
doing.

now I am looking
inthi unshaded lightbulb
at 11:37 p.m. on a Monday night
thinking
tiny names
like
Van Gogh
Chatteron
Plath
Crane
Artaud

Chinaski.


I'll leave you with something your truly wrote. I'm not as good as Bukowski but I'm working on it.

Untitled Affair

Because she was across the room
I didn't say a word
Having all the execuses in the world
Approached from the left
Having all the right intentions

We made eye contact
She brushed back her hair
Holding her drink
Clutching her purse
Sitting at the bar

Approached from the right
Still nothing, not a word
We made eye contact one more time
She waved lightly with her fingers
I said hi.

Empty

No call needed to know how much your needed.
And that text messge that washed away that feeeling.
I open my bedroom door to find this place empty.
Let's write our own story in one of these blank pages.
Fold up the paper and float down the river.
We managed to make it over the jagged rocks.
No amount of snags could hold us back.
If you look in the sky the clouds have dreams also.
As I place my hands on your hips,
Know our path wasn't pre-determined.
May you and I live happily ever after,
In a future that's not meant for us.

Revenge Is Best Served.....

Has someone done something so painful that you feel like you have to get them back? But deep down what fuels that? Is it personality? Or as humans have we been conditioned to get revenge? Don't believe me then let me kick you some knowledge at you real quick. A woman works late and on the way to her car she is taken and raped. She gets away and is coherent enough to give the police a description of the rapist. The rapist is caught but before he has a chance to go to trail the woman's husband puts a bullet in the guys head. Now if that guy was a rational person the husband would of let our court system take care of the rapist but he felt that he had to get revenge for his wife's rape. Does that mean he wasn't rational? Is rationale even a factor in something like this? I wouldn't go so far as to say that you should go around and tell you to go shoot people that have done you wrong. If that was the case all us would be doing a lot of time. Let me ask you one more question: will statifying that urge to get that person back really suffice what they have done to you?

Revenge is best served when a rational person really thinks about what they are doing and knows their conquence to their actions.

P.S.
I know my last couple of posts have been the happiest so I promise the next one will be on a better note.

Much Love,
Coffey