DREADLOCK TUESDAY: Jasmine Diamond

This week's dreadlock tuesday goes to the homie Jasmine from ATL who graduated high school with me. Ive known her since middle school and she's an interesting person. I believe her decision to grow locks was due to self awareness and learning to be comfortable with herself. Locks work for the soul....her bday is next tuesday..keep lockin sista...

MESSAGE MONDAYS: Cant give nothing away 'til you got yo own...

Before I went to work today I had planned on writing about something but Im glad I waited until after work to write (even if its due to laziness.) I got a new message...

Let me paint the picture. Im a teller at Brinks (money management not house security.) What we do is basically a company, for instance McDonalds, collect their money for the day and send it to their account in the bank. The bank has hired us to interfere between this transaction. We take the companys money and verify checks, bill accountability, coins, and we check for counterfeit notes before the money goes to the bank. I work day shift. Day shift works with our main customer bank, Suntrust. Suntrust's main company customer was Publix. Publix left Suntrust today. So Brinks has less work. So we had to downsize. Be it I was one of the last people to get hired I was supposed to be layed off. Yet, my job offered to let me work night shift in one of the positions that had opened. This is where my message comes in hand...

While our manager had me and three others in the office explaining the situation he ended with the offer to me. One of my now ex-coworkers started to cry. She's a mother of two, a year older than me, and has a bad situation with her baby's father. Also, I think she had predicted this would happen and had asked to move to night shift (where the situation doesnt effect them because night shift works with other banks.) All I have to take care of is myself. So immediately I considered passing on the opportunity to let this lady have the job since she has other mouths to feed. Yet, as my boss I continuously talked, I thought about it and decided not to. WHy...

Well, all I have to take care of is myself. Yet, if I gave up the opportunity I wouldnt be able to take care of myself. At this position in my life I have much of nothing except a dream. I mean Im making connects I wont speak of, but nothings set in stone. So I have nothing. Therefore, I wasnt in a position to pass it along. I realize as human we are all sensitive to others. Yet, in this moment of recession I feel we have to secure our personal situations before we can help out another. Otherwise, you will be in that same situation. When my music makes it, I will be amongst the celebrities and fortunate people volunteering and helping others. I feel thats an obligation. But now all I can do is give a homeless man a dollar....because I have a dollar. I cant give away a job if I dont have another....people share but realize you cant give anything away until you have your own....peace.

Nothing Is Original...

My friends often like my songs, facebook notes, and any other writing because it usually is off something I had a conversation with them about. Topics that, though may not be talked about lot, have been talked about for years. One person even told me, "Its not that what you say is new. You say what people are thinking but have the confidence and vocabulary to express it." They're right...nothing is original.....maybe the way I express it and the punchlines may be original but its core value..not original..nothing is...peep game:

..Black Love..

I remember 2004. The last election year. I was beginning my senior year in high school and was witnessing the Vote or Die theme of the year. I wanted to be apart of it. I wanted to vote but my 18th birthday came 3 weeks too late. I wanted to vote, not because I believed John Kerry was going to be a better president. I wanted to vote because I, like the majority of the world, believed George Bush was a bad president during his first term. So, I watched the John kerry campaign. I saw Barack Obama's speech. I remember the next day going to school saying in my southern hood languistics, 'That nigga Obama or whatever his name, his speech was fir'. He's gonna be the next president, shawty. John Kerry cool but that nigga Obama gone do it. Mark my words.' Kerry lost. But I was on the Obama bandwagon first. Years went by and I dropped the n-bomb from my everyday vocab, only to use the word when explaining its negativity. And Barack Obama...the dude that said that "fir' " speech was running for president. Now, everyone was jumping on his bandwagon. And I admit, I jumped off. I jumped off because my interest in politics had faded. I jumped off because I didnt want to be like most of my peers who I knew were only on the bandwagon because he's black. I jumped off because in his speeches that I witnessed he only spoke of hope, change, and belief and not enough about his plans. I jumped off because I didnt want to fall for another 'false hope' of politics and raise my expectations to see them crushed. I jumped off because he wass too charismatic, and too slick, and too smooth or rather in more popular terms of the day, he had tooo much swag that I didnt want to fall for. But...I started to fall back in line. Maybe, it was the fact that I was seeing him inspire people in a way Ive never seen. Maybe it was seeing his wife praise him at the DNC. So I did what I did...
November 4th when he won, I was excited but he hadnt really gotten me back all the way. I bought my mother an Obama 2009 calendar and Obama painting to hang next to the family portraits and Black Jesus paintings. But Obama didnt have me all the way. Watching him be sworn in yesterday during break at work didnt hit me either. Yet, I was hit....

I was hit when I saw his wife look him proudly and intensely in the eye as he fumbled over the presidential swearing..I was hit when he came out at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball and the first thing he said was 'How good looking is my wife?'...I was hit when during the first dance they looked in each other's eyes happy...I was hit by BLACK LOVE...

On the way to the new years shindig I intended this year my friend, Simone, declared '2009 is the year of the lover.' Me, my friend Charles, and my friend Henry chuckled in the car at the thought of the ways of love changing this year....but now Obama has made me. believe...believe in BLACK LOVE. An ideal I only could see in Tyler Perry films, Cosby show and Martin reruns, and my parents bedroom. All seeming surreal. I mean, even seeing it in my parents didnt even seem real. It just seem like that was how it was with them. What was real, was what I witnessed with the relationships I had and the relationships Ive watched my peers have. A portrait of no love. A portrait I only saw within my race. A portrait where black people didnt know how to fall in love. Yet, I see that portrait becoming nothing more than a sketch that will soon be thrown away. We now have an example. In the highest office. I see the Obamas making that template. That example. And I see more and more black people tracing that sketch. This is how..

Black men recognize there is nothing more beautiful than a black woman. The one woman who almost every black man respects the most is his mother. A black woman. So it hurts my heart when I hear my black brothers say 'I wanna try a white girl..' or something along that line. Dont get me wrong, I see nothing wrong with relationships injected with jungle fever. Yet, I feel at times my peers turn their back on black woman. One of the most beautiful things about Barack was he chose not only a black wife, but a dark skinned black wife. I admit, I have been trained to view light skinned black women to be typically more attractive. Yet, I will readily say a dark skinned girl is just as beautiful. And black men stop being so picky about looks. I used to have this thing about girls got to have a big booty. Then I realized I wasnt really what they typical girl would drool over in the body department. So I had to not settle but learn to not discriminate over something so simple. Ive learned to like the small things in a black women. Take their personality and future aspirations in more consideration than their current looks. I mean looks is a factor of attraction but its the least denomination in love. So Im looking for someone who can mesh with me and inspire me regardless if they gain weight in the future, or if they have short hair. Regardless, black women are beautiful. And my black brothers should realize this..

Black women recognize there is nothing more beautiful than a black man. Ive recognize black women are less likely to taste the jungle but they dont know how to let a black man know that he is beautiful. One of the wonderful things about Michelle Obama is how willingly she praises her husband. A black man. Too often I hear black women scream 'Niggas aint shit.' Downing the black man. Its one thing for you to call him a nigga. One thing for a black man to believe he is a nigga. But an even worst thing to see his counterpart continuously knock him. This echoed in our ear makes the black man reflect what they hear. Making him careless. Praise him. Give him confidence. A confident man is the most powerful man. And black women stop being so picky. Alot of women miss out on that 'good man' because that 'good man' doesnt fit the mold they typically go for. Ive heard Michelle say that initially she wasnt going to give Barack a chance because she didnt date coworkers and because he seemed like one of those slick player type brothers. Ive read somewhere that Coretta wasnt going to give Martin a cahnce because she thought he was too short and initially she didnt find him to be that attractive. Yet, they both gave their respective men a chance. They stopped being picky and they got that good man. That good black man. Black women stop knocking a man that doesnt fit your description of a black man. So what if he isnt as gangsta as you would like. So what if he isnt as drop dead gorgeous as you feel you deserve to have. If he has real passions for real aspirations and working towards it...If he has a great and respectable personality...give him a chance. Let him know he's beautiful. Realize all black man are beautiful.

Black men realize that a pimp is not a respectable man. Barack is probably admired by every black woman I know. He could probably get every last one of their drawls....lol. He probably knows this. Yet, almost every time I see Barack he finds a way to mention Michelle. He doesnt care about having every woman, he cares about having that one woman. That is enough...I remember watching Martin back in the day and notice how Martin loved the attention he got from female admirers but would readily announce his love for Gina in the face of temptation. I admired that. My father was tall, athletic, chocolate and I would oftentimes notice women looking at him with 'the eye.' I remember at times my mother's cousins and some of friends saying to my mother how attractive they thought he was. Yet, at the same time I would watch my father somehow mention his wife in every conversation he had. Letting it be known. If my father ever craved for another women I can only see him having imaginative sex with the women on those porno movies I stole from his drawer back in the day...lol...I admired that. I admired faithfulness. I was weird growing up because unlike my male peers I never felt the need to try to get every girl in sight. I never felt having sex with tis girl and that girl was a means to brag. I always felt like dating was to find your wife. Your one. Your only one. Last week, I witnessed my 16 year old cousin tease my 17 year old brother because my 17 year old brother is attached to one girl. My 16 yr old cousin told my 17 yr old brother that he was too young too be a one woman man. You gotta experience life. I was sadden by this thought. I believe we as black men need to learn to be one woman men.

Black women realize a black man is not superman. There is no such thing as the perfect man. Even Barack has his faults...I believe alot of women build these expectations for a man because they are afraid of being in a relationship. Thats the only reason I can think of why women make out of the world expectations for men they will date. Don't get me wrong, there should be some expectations. Some standards. But dont make them unreachable. I believe a woman's standards should be either parallel to where they are in are life or just a tad above where they are. Dont put your standards at a place where no one can reach because you know what...no one will. So if youre in college living on your parents money, you cant expect a dude to be balling out this world regardless of what youre used to. You can only expect your mate to be working towards his future like you are. If you dont have a car you cant knock off every man with no car. If youre not this you cant expect him to be that either. Also, you have to realize that a man doesnt know what you expect him to do. All men werent taught to pull out chairs, open every door, or spend a hour on the phone with you. If thats what you want let him know dont just expect it. Dont call him trifling because of it. And dont compare him to your friend's boyfriend who does what you expect. Every man has faults. Black women love black men for their faults. And bring the standards down to reasonable levels.

Black people promote relationships. The number one song that igs the fuck out of me right now is Beyonce's 'Single Ladies.' I hate that song. I hate it with a passion. You know why? Because outside of the annoying screaming, the wack azz chorus, and the irritating beat, I hate the fact that the singer makes women run around praising the fact that theyre single while the singer is...may I say it...MARRIED. I hate when people in relationships say 'I wish I was single.' I hate when single people say 'Im just enjoying the single life.'In actuality, life is not a thing to be enjoyed by yourself. Thats why God always put people to frequent your days in different stages of your life. As a baby you have your mother, your childhood you have your siblings, your teenage years and young adult years its your friends, transstional years its friends and co-workers, adult life its wife/husband and children, old life its husband/wife and eventually grandchildren....Always someone there. Yet the cycle of someone being there will end if you dont get married. You see the older you get the more people get cut out of your life. If you look at your parent social life, alot of you will realize that outside of you and your siblings the only real friends your parents have are each other. So its not meant for us to be single. Its meant for us to find that one. Black people should stop talking just for the purpose of talking. You should talk to find a girl/boyfriend. And date to find a wife/husband.

Spread the idea of good black love to our younger siblings or for those parents to our children. Show your mate love so younger people get the idea. I saw Michelle Obama in an interviewing replying that she and Barack were shocked when one day Malia told them she loved to see them hold hands. I remember as a youngin I would walk in on my young parents showing each other love. I thought it was nasty but it excited me. I loved to see my parents happy with each other. Somehow it always made me happy and want what they want. It influenced me to find my one.

Ands last but not least communicate. I think alot of black love fail because the lack of communication. Stop going on dates to the movies. Go somewhere where you can have fun and TALK. Tell each other how you feel. Alot of miscommunication happen because of the lack of communication. Alot of black love is then lost...

With that said I believe we can have black love. Lets make it popular. Barack and Michelle Obama is black love. Shawn and Beyonce Carter is black love. Heathcliff and Claire Huxtable is black love. Martin and Gina Payne is black love. You know what...those two 16 year olds from Atlanta who gave birth to their first son in 1986. Who had 4 more children together. Who got married in August 1990. Who beat the odds of poverty, teenage parenthood, childhood love and are still together. Michael and Patricia Harper is black love.....

I didnt write this note to gain any popularity amongst the ladies. Know that. I wrote this because I believe in black love. And of all the notes Ive written on facebook, all the messages Ive given, I think the most important message I can give right now can be borrowed from our first family. Black love.
Fin.

Congrats Barack Obama...

p.s. I got some heat on the way.....like Jigga said 'I WAS HOT BEFORE BARACK, NOW IMAGINE WHAT IM GON DO!!!!!'

...no more excuses...work, work, work...

DREADLOCK TUESDAY: Stephen Warner

I wasnt going to post because its inauguration day but hey....Dreadlocks are a black thing...and its a black inauguration...so lets go...this my homie Stephen Small-Warner from Long Island, NY. Flyyy fella. Young Esstar (as we call him) is a senior at HU..he did it to add to his flyyness....keep lockin brotha.....

President Is Black remix....

So Jay put a twist to the new black anthem...


Jay-Z My President is black Remix LIVE 1-18-09 from pleasedontstare on Vimeo.

My president is black, in fact he's half white
So even in a racist mind he's half right
So if you got a racist mind it's alright
My president is black but his house is all white
Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther could walk
Martin Luther walked so Barack Obama could run
Barack Obama ran so all the children could fly
So Ima spread my wings, you can meet me in the sky
I already got my own clothes, already got my own shoes
I was hot before Barack imagine WHAT IM GON DO
Hello Ms. America, hey pretty lady
Red, white and blue flag wave for me baby
Never thought I say this shit, baby Im good
You can keep your puss, I dont want no more Bush
No more war, No more Iraq
No more white lies, MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK!!!!!!

MESSAGE MONDAYS: Do it with style...

First of all happy MLK day to yall...

This message is going to be short and simple...something I learned from MLK and our next president, Barack Obama..WHATEVER you do...whatever it is..when you do it...do it with style...

peep this pic of MLK getting arrested and still looking FLYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

clean suit, gold watch, and the hat...flyyyy.....

Notorious B.U.M.

THIS SHIT IS FUNNY!!!! But its jamming....

HONESTY

This
is
honesty.
'Terico, so why you aint in school?'
I cant answer...
Not because I dont know but because I know they wont understand.
See Im smart.
1310 SAT. Honor student. Advid reader. Big vocabulary.
Too smart.
Scholarship to one of the most prestigious HBCUs in the land.
But I lost it.
Not that college work is hard....its VERY easy...
Its just that I didnt want to be there.
See, I was the smart kid in the hood, who OGs wouldnt let get in the streets.
Because they wanted to see me make it.
I was the hope of my family. The example for everyone else.
Not that Im saying that was too much of a burden.
Im saying the burden blocked my view of what I wanted and made me focus on what they wanted.
See Im smart. Was smart. Will be smart.
I was multi talented and excelled (drawing.writing.basketball.etc.)
I have a great personality, alot of confidence, and am self aware.
I was set.
College is the golden ticket. And I had it.
But I didnt want to be there.
I mean I miss the social aspects.
The friendships. The intellectual convos. Meeting ppl from different backgrounds. Trying new things.
But what I payed for...
The academics...I had no interest.
The sex. girls. 'guaranteed' money and etc. cant motivate me.
See I NEVER had a real aspiration to become 'average' or do a 'safe job'.
You know..a job where you get your degree and youre set.
NEVER.
I always dreamed big.
And it took for me to go to school to remove the burdens.
And see what I really want.
So if I fail. Its my fault for taking too long.
I know what I want.
And I dont want a backup plan...because no backup plan can hold my interest.
So Ima go full throttle doing what I do to get to my dream.
And I dont understand anyone who wont do the same.
But you dont understand that.
And
thats
honesty.

ATL Rap Superhero...

Sooo...I get home from getting a much needed retwist...check my email and see this...shouts out to the homie V. Rowe for this and everyone doing the graphics to make performing artists visuals look amazing...he understands...I am and will be ATL rap's SUPERhero....

p.s. I saw B.O.B.'s 'I Live In The Sky' video on MTV Jam as the Jam of The Week and was excited...the shifting of rap guard is coming...its going back to that REAL music baby...

...Now back to 'Writes of Passage'....

DREADLOCK TUESDAY: Morgan L. Thomas

This dreadlock tuesday goes to the gorgeous Morgan L. Thomas of Washington, DC. She is a junior at Howard U studying Political Science and History. I believe her decision to lock is due to her growing love of Africana and self awareness. She's the triple threat..smart, beautiful, and goal-oriented....Keep lockin sista....

MESSAGE MONDAYS: Showing Interest Increases Interest In You

okay...I always believed that you learn alot of life lessons thru love relations...okay, one lesson is showing interest. Ive learned thru my years that just by showing interest to a girl makes you appear more attractive to her. makes sense??? The thing is, alot of girls may overlook you unknowingly.Not because youre unattractive. Yet, when you show attraction to her, she will look at you and find a way to become attracted to you because she likes the feeling of holding someones attraction...this can be used in everyday life...Alot of times ppl miss out on job advancements or opportunities because they were overlooked unknowingly. Yet, you can be considered for partner at your law firm if only you let it be known that you were interested in being at that level..Then the powers that be will show interest (not all the time but more than likely) and evaluate you...As a rapper I cant hide my abilities and love for the music..Whenever possible I have to show interest and express my talent...let it be known that this is what I do...eventually they will take notice....

How To Open A Record

First off let me say in '09 I plan on going back to BUYING music...like from the store not off Itunes...I miss that feeling.....

Secondly, let me say I love Killer Mike...he's my favorite rapper from the westside of ATL...like seriously if youre not on to him I suggest you go through his underground catalog...and he the homie..what up Mike!!

...now peep this PSA from him....

DREADLOCK TUESDAY: Coleman Lynn-Felton

This dreadlock tuesday goes to the homie Coleman who I graduated from high school with...Todays his 22nd birthday so he gets it...he's a senior at Kent State and a member of Phi Beta Sigma...I respect dude alot because he went through alot in his life (that I wont share) but I dont know if I couldve made it..and he did...so yea.....

keep lockin brother...

MESSAGE MONDAYS: Study...

Soooo, this girl and I was talking...really about nothing but thats what man and woman in the meantime before they you know...lol...anyways we were talking and somehow the coversation got to the first group Diddy made on Making of The Band...and homegirl was like she didnt understand why Diddy made them learn Biggies 'Juicy'...well this brings me back to a component of my '09 philosophy 'work, work, work'...STUDY...thats right...Bad Boys was was a label that blew up off Biggie Smalls career..and one of his initial joints was Juicy...so as a Bad Boys artist Biggie felt you should know this...its equivalent to going to an inteview for Merill Lynch and not knowing its numbers from last year...study...if youre passionate about something study it to the fullest so you kno what you gettin into, what worked for the company in the past, the direction the company is going, and how you can bring whats missing to the company...this even goes for artists...