Recently I watched the film “The Great Debaters” starring Denzel Washington and found myself examining (as I usually do) the parallels between the youth of today and the youth of that era. James Farmer at 14 possessed more intellectual property than many 40 year olds that I know today. I hope that the actor that portrayed brother Farmer inspires some of us to continue our education considering the great impact that a single intellectual mind can have on the masses of our people. Let us contend with each other in the best manner and forge relationships based on intellectualism and the development of “third-world America” (a.k.a. the HOOD).

Peace

Reality is manufactured and sold cheap to the fiends,

they see themselves “free” in thier manufactured dreams.

Elections bought and sold in back rooms filled with thieves,

while the poor love the one’s who lie, their hearts out on their sleeves.

I recently had a discussion with a friend about the current state of what many call “Black America” and its potential to develop into a full and equal participant in this political/social experiment that we call America. I must be honest with all readers when I say that the place that we have become accustomed to calling “Black America” is nothing more than a colony of the larger socio-political-economic power structure known as the United States of America. The Black community that I speak of is the community that men such as Larry Hoover, “Freeway” Ricky Ross, and Frank Lucas governed. The streets where the voice of Democracy go unheard or ignored. This is the community that falls victim to capitalism, leaving its children and families dependent. This it the community (colony) where a third of the male populous has lost the right to guide this community by political means withing the structure of the colonizer. We are no different than the original 13 colonies that were oppressed and manipulated by the throne in Brittan. Let us look at the indictment laid out against King George (of that era) and I challenge anyone to argue a difference in the conditions or the level of oppression set forth. Now the big question….

Should the colonized accept a pseudo citizenship and continue to hope that those in power relinquish their throne in order to share in the spoils of their exploits?

I say no…

It’s time that the colonized develop independent government based on the same principles that the founding fathers laid out in this Document  (America’s Delcaration). In fact, keep you eyes peeled for my version of the Declaration of Independence for the Black community that outlines the many issues that will forever link the Black community with the original 13 colonies in that the modes of suppression were veiled in someones interperation of justice and fair dealing. I guess you can say that I’m not very optimistic about America and it’s political processes, but if you have any information that may change my perspective, I’m open minded but prepared to defend my positions.

Peace

Not that I ever expected the media to show some showing of support of sympathy of a “Black Male” or “Muslim” life and contribution to this society, but none of the media outlets attempted to give the public a glimpse into the life of this wonderful brother of ours.  I’m willing to bet my life that if Imam Warith Deen had blown up some building or threatened the US in some manner that could be used to strike fear in the hearts of the American masses this story would have been widely publicized. I don’t want to associate this brother and his passing with my own venting and frustrations with the “powers” that govern the media and the “lives” of the masses so I will just say to my brother…

We miss you already and love you for the sake of Allah (SAW) and your service wont be forgotten.

As Salaamu Alaykum

What artist can claim the genius that this man posseses?

Beautiful sun kissed soft skin,

distant love of my favorite kin.

Ebony bliss smooth on comfort sheets,

feeling lukewarm love when our flesh meets.

I’m getting specific atop you, atop me.

what’s inside and unseen I want the whole world to see.

A radiant relationship, I can never let end,

I will always love you, my sun kissed soft skin…

This painting actually accompanies the poem entitled “America’s Black Seed” and was meant to express the internal frustrations that exist withing young Black men in modern America. Now be mindful this is not the sentiment of the Black men who live in “Black America” as you know it. This the the Black part of America that would be better defined as a “colony” that an actual “active participant” in the American experiment that is Democracy. This painting (or the man in it) is not one to conform to processes or political correctness. He is outside of the matrix that is America as he has only seen and experienced the disgusting, vile, dark, and dilapidated places that those in power refuse to acknowledge. This man lives on 55th, 43rd, or 79th in the places where the police hesitate to explore without guns drawn. He’s from the place that resembles apartheid South Africa in the 70’s and 80’s. Ultimately he is a man who has been denied so much that he has begun to deny himself the right (no the responsibility) to be human, to be happy, to be at peace…

Comic Genius!!!

I created a list for another discussion that I was having with someone about the top 20 MCs of all time, tell me what you think.

Would you make any changes?

1. Rakim (clearly and undisputed if you ever listened to hip hop a day in your life)
2. KRS ONE (Obliviously one of the defining figures in hip hop history who can crush just about anyone out today)
3. LL Cool J (Longevity, Lyrics, Battle Cat SUPREME!!! regardless of the commercialization of the industry he still maintains his reign as the G.O.A.T.)
4. Nas (Not too many new school emcees have produced more thought provoking pieces than Nas, he is no doubt the second coming of Rakim, his overall positive and productive themes only push him above Tupac)
5. Tupac Shakur (When it comes to creativity, lyrical style, delivery, etc, Pac was one of the greatest hip hop “ARTIST” of his time. This man single handedly created a movement in hip hop that has affected the style and delivery of artist to this day)

6. Biggie (Did more in two albums lyrically that most did in whole careers. Combined the party back to hip hop music and gave gangster a smooth twist.)
7. Cool G Rap ( 1st true gangsta rapper ever, nuff said)
8. Scarface (Lyrics, Style, Delivery, total package. Its so hard not to put him in the top five seeing how he put the south on the map with Ghetto Boys.)
9. Slick Rick (Greatest Story telling MC of all time, a record that still stands in my opinion)
10. Ice Cube (He earns this spot for writing most of the material that made NWA famous and also for his lyrical though provoking social commentary rap of the gangsta saturated early ninetys)
11. A Tribe Called Quest (Conscious, Lyrics, and most of all who can deny that Q-Tip has one of the most recognizable deliveries in the game. This group was and still is a power house.)
12. Wu-Tang (What group single handedly saved hip hop from a life of murderering cut off your head gangsta rap. This group brought another guard into existence on the east coast; they were the grimey, lyrical, on the front porch hip hop that the game forgets about all too often.)
13. EPMD (Nothing needs be said about Erick and Parish, if it does you need to start listening to country)
14. Run-DMC (Pioneers, made hip hop marketable and mainstream. Blessing and a Curse to the game but champions all the same, RUN was and is one of the greatest MCs of all time and as an individual he would be in the top ten lyricist no doubt)
15. Big Daddy Kane (Battle Cat, lyricist, etc. He was a dark skinned LL without the sharks fin.)
16. Common (Thought provoking, cool, lyrics, delivery. Single handedly showed that hip hop had a brain and creativity beyond the block. Genius of his era and I consider him the fulfillment of the dreams of the
Arrested Developments of the world.)
17. Whodini (Hip Hop wouldnt be the same without them. All of the above artist would not be the same
if they did not lay the foundation.)
18. Snoop Dogg (West Coast Biggie Smalls without the lyrical strength. However, there is no
denying that the boy can flow and control the maestro. Brought fun back to the bullet ridden gangstafied West Coast)
19. Public Enemy (No commentary necessary, not having them on the list would be like having Thanksgiving dinner with no turkey)
20. MC Lyte (Needs no introduction, showed men that women could come just a hard…)

Alternates that just missed the boat:

De la Soul (Innovative lyricist)

Master Ace (Explosive MC no matter how you twist it)

MC Ren (Next to Cube, the driving force of NWA)

Outkast (Pioneers of the south, they are the new age Parliament)

Cee-Low Green (Creative Giant)

Eight Ball (I would call him a southern combination of Slick Rick, Master Ace, and Kane. Much respect.)

Sugarhill Gang (For being pioneers)

Jay-Z (Made lots of money, good product)

Fat Joe (Please dont sleep on CRACK)

Eminem (EXPLOSIVE MC no matter how you twist it)

Salt-N-Peppa (Any female MC today knows that they paved the way)

I dare not lend validation to an invalid system. I don’t support systems, or nations that promote the destruction of people who look like me; in the name of self preservation of course. I don’t see how I as a Black man living in America should accept these facts with a smile. I, being among the formerly incarcerated refuse to bend to the oppression of this society just because my people are still forced to hold the names of our kidnappers. Lets let these stats speak for themselves…

SOUTH AFRICA UNDER APARTHEID (1993), BLACK MALES INCARCERATED

851 PER 100,000

U.S. UNDER KING GEORGE BUSH II (2006), BLACK MALES INCARCERATED

4,789 PER 100,000

GET REAL…

You can have Obama and McCain!!! GIVE ME JUSTICE!!!!