Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, September 11, 2011
9-11-01: Middle Finger To My Past Life
On Sepetember 11, 2001, while New York was burning, I was being evicted. Literally. As the 2nd tower was crashing, I heard an insanely loud knock on my door. My immediate thought: MARSHALL LAW. So I grabbed the weed and jumped out of the window. A yuppy couple and their yuppy dog were sitting on the bench, totally unaffected, as I G.I Jane'd into the bushes. That seemed strange to me. Don't they know what's going on??? Then I noticed the yellow truck. But only one? A cop car. But only one? It clicked. This is what an eviction must look like. Oh....damn! So, I ran up the steps and yelled "What the hell?!? Don't you know whats going on right now in the world?!" To which the sherriff replied, "All I know is you're being evicted." A team of niggaz then followed and within minutes my Buckhead apartment was empty.
A few days later, I lost my job, and ran into my "Angel". Atlanta is just like that. Was, rather. And he had been mine since I first arrived in '96. Anyway, he told me that he had a dream the night before and saw me swallowed by a big ass fish. He asked me if i knew of Jonah? I said, of course. Jonah's the dude who didn't wanna go where God needed him to be. He then tried to run, but got swallowed by a big ass fish only to be spit out in Nineva. The land he was trying to avoid. The Angel said, "Well smarty, you're officially in Jonah-mode. I can't wait to see where your Nineva is..."
I tried my damndest to avoid Baltimore. Even considered Iowa. But by 11/01/01 I was on a plane heading towards BWI on a one-way first class ticket. Above the clouds, and on a napkin, I created B-FLY. Within 9 months, BrownFISH had inhabited my life.
FFWD about 1 year...
Fire and Brimstone was a collaboration between Jahiti and I. It was one of those songs that was born within minutes. The world had changed drastically post eviction. Everyone had become accustomed to living in a constant state of fear and panic as if it were natural. It's not. When I finished the verses, I shared it with Jahiti and asked him to write the hook. He got out his guitar and asked me how it should go. I told him that I had no idea other than Fire. Brimstone. Lightning. Earthquakes. Bloodshed. And Death everywhere.
The rest is herstory...
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE (LYRICS)
(Verse I)
My team be rollin’ deeper
than geese in formation.
Don’t sleep on the rhyme
racing to the sun
no time for idle fun
war’s going on
it’s gotta be won.
Ya dun know?
9-1-1 was just a mini-flick
before the show.
Get the people shook
usher in the new world order.
If you don’t get chipped
you'll be slaughtered.
Raise my fist.
Load my clip.
Black power.
Check the lyric
or go down
like it was
(Jahiti)
Fire. Brimstone. Lightning. Earthquakes. Bloodshed. And Death.
everywhere.
everywhere.
everywhere.
everywhere.
(Verse II)
Tip my spliff
Ash fall
All lost martyrs
Called back to earth
Lift in the final hour
Let's take a stroll down Pennsylvania Ave.
and BLAST BLAST BLAST
On they corrupt ass!
Them belly full
and the people too poor
To break fast.
Driving all your busses
And printing your cash
We marched as last peace leg
We’ve sung enough love songs
We getting prepped for armaggedeon
Its gonna be
Fire. Brimstone. Lightening. Earthquake. Bloodshed. And Death Everywhere.
everywhere
everywhere
everywhere
yo
(Jahiti)
At night I hear the martyrs calling
Do you hear Biggie Smalls calling
Sometimes I hear the martyrs calling
Sometimes I hear the martyrs calling
Do you hear B. Gaddy calling
Sometimes I hear the martyrs calling
Do you hear Malcolm calling
Next morning it may be The FISH calling
Tell me do you hear The FISH calling
Brimstone. Lightning. Earthquakes. Bloodshed. And Death.
everywhere.
everywhere.
everywhere.
everywhere.
(c) 2005
Friday, September 9, 2011
B-FLY Flashback
I will never forget the lesson learned when my best friend/homegirl/sista fucked my man. Correction. Ex-man...as if such loopholes matter to "The Code". But through that experience, I realized 2 fundamental truths:
1) Trust ya gut and follow your first mind.
The morning of their sin, I called Sephony extra early, but her toddler answered her cell phone. My eye twitched. By the time she called me back, I was so hyped up off coffee that I was all rambles (when I'm talking and can't/won't shut up). All of a sudden, my ex-dude flashes clear as day in my mind. So, I blurt out, "Hey! Have you talked to Greg?" She stuttered. My eye twitched, again. This physical reaction instantly triggered my inner metaphysicist. See, for those who are unaware, metaphysics is the study of "why/how". My twitching eye, at that precise moment, signaled my conscience mind to stay alert and within minutes, she was lying and confessing their dirtiest deeds. Which has, imo, always been humorously ironic and ushered in the most supreme lesson of all...
2) Watch The Company You Keep
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Gospel According to Shug
So, today was a bittersweet one. I announced the creation of my latest project, How To B-FLY:The Manifesto, via onpoint radio. YAAAY!!! And then BGE jacked my meter. BOOOO!!!! But its cool. It just goes to show the mandatory need to be "creative" in this economy...lol. Needless to say, it's been worked out. But, the jewel of the day came in the form of what I was given. Cat told me last week that my manifesto was shaping up to sound like the Gospel According to Shug. And evidently, she's correct.
HELPED are those who are enemies of their own racism; they shall live in harmony with the citizens of this world, and not with those of their ancestors, which has passed away, and which they shall never see again.
HELPED are those born from love: conceived in their father's tenderness and their mother's orgasm, for they shall be those - numbers of whom will be called "illegitimate" whose spirits shall know no boundaries, even between heaven and earth, and whose eyes shall reveal the spark of the love that was their own creation. They shall know joy equal to their suffering and they will lead multitudes into dancing and Peace.
HELPED are those too busy living to respond when they are wrongfully attacked: on their walks they shall find mysteries so intriguing as to distract them from every blow.
HELPED are those who find something in Creation to admire each and every hour. Their days will overflow with beauty and the darkest dungeon will offer gifts.
HELPED are those who receive only to give; always in their house will be the circular energy of generosity; and in their hearts a beginning of new age on Earth: when no keys will be needed to unlock the heart and no locks will be needed on the doors.
HELPED are those who love the stranger; in this they reflect the heart of the Creator and that of the Mother.
HELPED are those who are content to be themselves; they will never lack mystery in their lives and the joys of self-discovery will be constant.
HELPED are those who love the entire cosmos rather than their own tiny country, city, or farm, for to them will be shown the unbroken web of life and the meaning of infinity.
HELPED are those who live in quietness, knowing neither brand name nor fad; they shall live every day as if in eternity, and each moment shall be full as it is long.
HELPED are those who love others unsplit off from their faults; to them will be given clarity of vision.
HELPED are those who create anything at all, for they shall relive the thrill of their own conception, and realize a partnership in the creation of the Universe that keeps them responsible and cheerful.
HELPED are those who love the Earth, their mother, and who willingly suffer that she may no die; in their grief over her pain they will weep rivers of blood, and in their joy in her lively response to love, they will converse with trees.
HELPED are those whose every act is a prayer for harmony in the Universe, for they are the restorers of balance to our planet. To them will be given the insight that every good act done anywhere in the cosmos welcomes the life of an animal or a child.
HELPED are those who risk themselves for others' sakes; to them will be given increasing opportunities for ever greater risks. Theirs will be a vision of the world in which no one's gift is despised or lost.
HELPED are those who strive to give up their anger; their reward will be that in any confrontation their first thoughts will never be of violence or war.
HELPED are those whose every act is a prayer for peace; on them depends the future of the world.
HELPED are those who forgive; their reward shall be forgetfulness of every evil done to them. It will be in their power, therefore, to envision the new Earth.
HELPED are those who are shown the existence of the Creator's magic in the Universe, they shall experience delight and astonishment without ceasing.
HELPED are those who laugh with a pure heart; theirs will be the company of the jolly righteous.
HELPED are those who love all the colors of all the human beings, as they love all the colors of animals and plants; none of their children, nor any of their ancestors, nor any parts of themselves, shall be hidden from them.
HELPED are those who love the lesbian, the gay, and the straight, as they love the sun, the moon, and the stars. None of their children, nor any of their ancestors, nor any parts of themselves, shall be hidden from them.
HELPED are those who love the broken and the whole; none of their children, nor any of their ancestors, nor any of themselves shall be despised.
HELPED are those who do not join mobs; theirs shall be the understanding that to attack in anger is to murder in confusion.
HELPED are those who find the courage to do at least one small thing each day to help the existence of another - plant, animal, river, or other human being. They shall be joined by a multitude of the timid.
HELPED are those who lose their fear of death; theirs is the power to envision the future in a blade of grass.
HELPED are those who love and actively support the diversity of life; they shall be secure in their differentness.
HELPED are those who know.
________________________________________
From The Temple of My Familiar.
The Gospel According to Shug
by Alice Walker
HELPED are those who are enemies of their own racism; they shall live in harmony with the citizens of this world, and not with those of their ancestors, which has passed away, and which they shall never see again.
HELPED are those born from love: conceived in their father's tenderness and their mother's orgasm, for they shall be those - numbers of whom will be called "illegitimate" whose spirits shall know no boundaries, even between heaven and earth, and whose eyes shall reveal the spark of the love that was their own creation. They shall know joy equal to their suffering and they will lead multitudes into dancing and Peace.
HELPED are those too busy living to respond when they are wrongfully attacked: on their walks they shall find mysteries so intriguing as to distract them from every blow.
HELPED are those who find something in Creation to admire each and every hour. Their days will overflow with beauty and the darkest dungeon will offer gifts.
HELPED are those who receive only to give; always in their house will be the circular energy of generosity; and in their hearts a beginning of new age on Earth: when no keys will be needed to unlock the heart and no locks will be needed on the doors.
HELPED are those who love the stranger; in this they reflect the heart of the Creator and that of the Mother.
HELPED are those who are content to be themselves; they will never lack mystery in their lives and the joys of self-discovery will be constant.
HELPED are those who love the entire cosmos rather than their own tiny country, city, or farm, for to them will be shown the unbroken web of life and the meaning of infinity.
HELPED are those who live in quietness, knowing neither brand name nor fad; they shall live every day as if in eternity, and each moment shall be full as it is long.
HELPED are those who love others unsplit off from their faults; to them will be given clarity of vision.
HELPED are those who create anything at all, for they shall relive the thrill of their own conception, and realize a partnership in the creation of the Universe that keeps them responsible and cheerful.
HELPED are those who love the Earth, their mother, and who willingly suffer that she may no die; in their grief over her pain they will weep rivers of blood, and in their joy in her lively response to love, they will converse with trees.
HELPED are those whose every act is a prayer for harmony in the Universe, for they are the restorers of balance to our planet. To them will be given the insight that every good act done anywhere in the cosmos welcomes the life of an animal or a child.
HELPED are those who risk themselves for others' sakes; to them will be given increasing opportunities for ever greater risks. Theirs will be a vision of the world in which no one's gift is despised or lost.
HELPED are those who strive to give up their anger; their reward will be that in any confrontation their first thoughts will never be of violence or war.
HELPED are those whose every act is a prayer for peace; on them depends the future of the world.
HELPED are those who forgive; their reward shall be forgetfulness of every evil done to them. It will be in their power, therefore, to envision the new Earth.
HELPED are those who are shown the existence of the Creator's magic in the Universe, they shall experience delight and astonishment without ceasing.
HELPED are those who laugh with a pure heart; theirs will be the company of the jolly righteous.
HELPED are those who love all the colors of all the human beings, as they love all the colors of animals and plants; none of their children, nor any of their ancestors, nor any parts of themselves, shall be hidden from them.
HELPED are those who love the lesbian, the gay, and the straight, as they love the sun, the moon, and the stars. None of their children, nor any of their ancestors, nor any parts of themselves, shall be hidden from them.
HELPED are those who love the broken and the whole; none of their children, nor any of their ancestors, nor any of themselves shall be despised.
HELPED are those who do not join mobs; theirs shall be the understanding that to attack in anger is to murder in confusion.
HELPED are those who find the courage to do at least one small thing each day to help the existence of another - plant, animal, river, or other human being. They shall be joined by a multitude of the timid.
HELPED are those who lose their fear of death; theirs is the power to envision the future in a blade of grass.
HELPED are those who love and actively support the diversity of life; they shall be secure in their differentness.
HELPED are those who know.
________________________________________
From The Temple of My Familiar.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
my love...
where are you?
oh ghostly looming
false god
teasing
bating
devouring my
hope
like a feathered thing.
the monster
in my closet
whom i make believe real
still only a figment
of my dreams
turned nightmares
turned life.
where are you?
-B
oh ghostly looming
false god
teasing
bating
devouring my
hope
like a feathered thing.
the monster
in my closet
whom i make believe real
still only a figment
of my dreams
turned nightmares
turned life.
where are you?
-B
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