So I said...

Prov, we're going to compose two beats today.
I said self, you have a deal

Timechange¹


Float¹


Then I said, Self...you know you make hellified good ass interlude beats
To which I answered...

...thanks.

¹Don't ask about the titles. I just throw them out there, depending on the mood.

God Bless The Life Of Weldon Irvine

For those who may not know who he is:
http://www.nathanielturner.com/weldonirvine.htm

I had the honor of meeting him sometime in the mid to late 90s. Back then I used to go to this open mic at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe called "All That!", hosted by Bobbito Garcia and produced by Rocky Lamontagne. Some folks that performed were: Saul Williams, muMs da Schemer, Suheir Hammad, Rich Medina, Wood Harris, Siah & Yeshua Da PoEd, Company Flow, Mos Def, and Jessica Care Moore. If you were an underground mc or a poet in New York City, you had to hit that Lower East Side spot. Nuyo was where I considered home, a place that gave me some of the five best years of my life.

One night, there was a older gentleman wearing a red satin jacket and black jeans who got on the mic. Being the young folks that we were, we kinda laughed at this old man getting on the mic to rhyme, going by a weak name. Master Wel. After a while he had the crowd going, not because he was spitting dat hot fiyah, but because he had the spirit of hip hop in him. Bobbito informed us of that Master Wel was Weldon Irvine. My friend Issac's eyes lit up, but I was in the dark.

M: Who is that?
I: Weldon Irvine, man. Wow. I even have "Time Capsule" in my bag. I carry this everywhere I go.

Still in the dark, Bobbito went on to tell us such classics as BDP's "My Philosophy" and A Tribe Called Quest's "Award Tour" were Weldon's samples. That gave him more props from the audience because those were songs we held. In either 96 or 97, we had a special private performance at the Whitney Museum where I was one of the poets. During our waiting, a conversation between Saul and another brother about, what else, music started. One statement stood out: If "Award Tour" was released then, it would still be live. That's how much props Weldon, in a roundabout way, received from us that Wednesday night at NuYo.

Weldon Irvine also played keyboards for us when the regular couldn't show up. I will admit that sometimes what he played didn't fit what I had in mind, but it was dope regardless. A kind and humble man that would take time out to say "I really dug what you said out there" or answer questions you may have had for him. I remember telling my friend Dudley, who was a fan, about him playing at the NuYo and Weldon signed a copy of Embrace the Positive for him.

One thing I will always remember was how much he would mentioned his young son. In a way, I guess by him rhyming during the time of gun play and popping champagne, he was showing his son an essence of hip hop. The essence of rhythmically reciting a poem about life, struggle, hope, and price. Okay I got a little too overboard there, but hopefully I gave you a view to see what I saw, sitting in my chair listening to him rhyme.

I think I'll stop here before I over-romanticize, leading me to start revising the past into something it wasn't. I will say that his death shocked me and hip hop lost a solider. It was very impressive, in my opinion, to see a jazz legend embrace an artform that some of his peers would consider either not music or thievery. Sampling actually brought us to them; what made us take notice and appreciate.

Damnit.
There I go again.

Okay I'm done writing, but after listening to "Sisters" last night, it brought back memories and sadness. Here are some of videos to illustrate this man's work:

Dear Summer


We're Getting Down:


Sister Sanctified:


Nina Simone - Young Gifted and Black


Donny Hathaway's version


Mos Def - Umi Says


God bless your life, Master Wel. We miss and love you.

1L2U,
Improv!?

Wowzers!

Thank you, dad

For you didn't have to take me to see crappy movies such as this:



but you did. For that, on this Father's Day, good looking out. Love you, man.

Here I Go Again 3

"You know something? There has been this...question, that's been on my mind for years."


What's that?

"Okay, now bear with me and it's not my intention to offend. I always wondered what the egyptians felt when they first read the first four chapters of the New Testament."

The Gospels?

"Yeah, man. Like did they wanted to sue for plagiarism, I mean I know you couldn't sue back then but still...I mean they would have a legit case."

I'm not following, why would they be upset?

"You ever heard the story of Horus or Heru?"

Nah

"This might be long so bear. There were these two gods named Osirius and Seth. The former was good while the latter evil. So one day Seth cuts up his brother in pieces and scatters them over Egypt. His wife Isis finds all the pieces except for his dick. So she constructs one that looks like the Washington Monument and that's another story all together."

Heh so we have an African dick on our nation's capitol.

"And with Obama being president it's even funnier, but anyway Isis uses the dick to conceive a son. That son's name was Horus or Heru. So boom right there is the theft."

Huh?

"Dig, Mary had Jesus by some godly act because Joseph ain't fuck her. Isis did some godly act because Osirus was dead. Like huh?"

Coincidence

"Coincidence my ass. Weren't Moses and the jews in Egypt for how many centuries and shit? I'm sure Isis and Horus were all around. You have glyphs of the Eye of Horus, Ra, umm ummm...all that shit. You mean to tell me Jesus isn't Horus? Mary and Isis aren't the same? Cmon, man. Open your eyes."

Wow

"Nahimean? Your third eye just opened up, my brother"

Nah wow as in you finally lost your mind

"Nah kid, I finally found it."

Okay

"Anyway, I wondered how they felt. Was it like 'Hasim, do you see this? Motherfuckers bit our religion and trying to convert us...with our own shit?'"

Here I Go Again 2

"Pardon me for asking, but you look real familiar"
You might have seen him in a few...films
"Major releases?"
Nah video
"Oh shit you're D. Strokes"
'Yep'
"Shit...good work, my nigga"
I've known D for years. He also throws us a few film production creds, even got one of our artists on some of the soundtracks."
'You should really try to send some stuff off to them video game companies. That's real money.'

M: So do you treat your ladies right
D: I always respect the bitches I'm fucking. Kidding, but yeah I try to make them feel comfortable and whatnot. Have to or the scene wouldn't be good, you know?
M: Completely. How come we haven't done a scene together
D: No idea. Have to talk to my peoples and see what we can do. I would sure like to cum with you
B: What's the difference?
D: Well you can bust a nut and not really feel anything, more like when you're pissing. Now cumming...well that's a whole other level. I kid you not, you see stars and rainbows and shit.

D: I have a rule though. I try to not have sex with with my co-workers, but if we do, it's a one time thing. On screen? Cool. But off? Nah. Seen a couple of folks do it and feelings start happening. Then scenes start looking bad, people want to fight the actors when all they're doing is a job. Sorry, brah...sorry sis, that's community dick/pussy. We all get a taste.

How You Gonna Turn Down / Get Mad At Free Porn?

I was on BGOL* recently and there was a post with a video link. Dudes were jumping out shoes and socks** to say they ain't downloading. The chick wasn't ugly plus Brian and Wesley weren't in the clip. But nope, dudes acted like you were going to charge them a monthly fee. Umm...

IT'S FREE!

Sure you might be filling up space or your connection gets slow for a couple of minutes, but it's FREE! Has it really gotten to the point where we're eh about freebies since the net is a big wide open freebie paradise?** Disgusting. You're on a site that basically offers you gifts and you're like "Nah, it's too small". Muthafukka that could have been keys to a whip but nooooo you wanna be picky. That's why your ass is walking, dogs screaming in this heat. Yuk.

So yeah, I don't understand the dismissal of free porn***



*yes I like porn like every other red-blooded male with an internet connection.
**that is if you know where/how to look, but I know folks who couldn't find their emails so...
***if the link dies, oops. Also this isn't the vid in question. Actually I forgot.

I got to view a live Lesbian Sex Scene/Act

Favorite memory
Had no clue they were going to show up
That was the first performance of Lo-Fi, known to most of us as 3-7000-9
Remember the face you made when you first ever heard them at Black Lily? Same faces at NuYo hahaha
But I dug them then just like I still do. I believe Trace and Mercedez were there as well
Nou almost started a mini-riot by playfully saying "Fuck You" complete with the middle finger at Bobbito after someone reminded her of her time limit haha

Anyway this was pre-TFA (as you can tell by the time stamp) so you might hear some verses from the album.

Good times...good times

Ohandpardonthecommentaryheardinthevid

I Run Away And You Still Stay...

There's a story behind this, but I've told it way too many times. Plus I think she's tired of me constantly reminding her that I wish I could erase that particular memory. All I will say is after I heard this song, I wanted to thank Mr. J Davis for writing "Trash".



How did it start?
Well, I dont know.
I just feel the craving.
I see the flesh and it smells fresh.
And it's just there for the taking.
These little girls they make me feel so god damn
exhilarated.
I feel them up, I can't give it up.
The pain that I'm just erasing.

I tell my lies and I despise.
Every second I'm with you.
So I run away and you still stay.
So what the fuck is with you.

Your feelings I can't help but rape them.
I'm sorry I don't feel the same.
My heart inside is constantly hating.
I'm sorry I just throw you away.

I don't know why I'm so fucking cold?
I dont know why it hurts me.
All I wanna do is get with you.
And make the pain go away.
Why do I have a conscience?
All it does is fuck with me.
Why do I have this torment?
All I want to do is fuck it away.

I tell my lies and I despise.
Every second I'm with you.
So I run away and you still stay.
So what the fuck is with you.

Your feelings I can't help but rape them.
I'm sorry I don't feel the same.
My heart inside is constantly hating.
I'm sorry I just throw you away.

I tell my lies and I despise.
Every second I'm with you.
So I run away and you still stay.
So what the fuck is with you.

Your feelings I can't help but rape them.
I'm sorry I don't feel the same.
My heart inside is constantly hating.
I'm sorry I just throw you away.

I just throw you away.
I just throw you away.
I just throw you away.
I just throw you away.

Rappers Aren't Doing Their Part To Help The US Economy

Cats rhyming about how paid they are, talking about how they make millions and billions whenever the wind blows. But are they helping the economy? Nope.

They can't bail out at least three families from getting their home taken away? I mean you got niggas burning buildings with their baby and baby moms still inside all willy nilly. They can't help Ms. Jinkins or Mr. Washington?

Niggas ain’t hitting Norma Jeans, Strokers, or other fine erotic dancing outlets anymore. Where they're going? Rio. Why? The chicks there aren't dancing to put themselves through college (education = money, my nig).

I'm sure there are diamonds that are American farmed. No need to keep supporting wars in Africa over bling. Gold and Plat as well, stop buying foreign, dummies

Buy a 360, PS3 is Japanese made.

Caddies are out of style? You don’t like Fords? They made a two hour ad with Knight Rider and you can’t cop a Shelby? Dodge might be making a comeback. I hear Saturns are pretty good. Yall used to cop Cherokees with your Audis. Can't buy a Range? *shakes head*

Why go to Amsterdam for weed? Cali ain’t got that good good any more?

Why outsource when you have a bunch of foreigners here? You could pay them dirt cheap. You hear that Sean John, Rocafella, BBC/Ice Creams? No more going to China or India for inexpensive labor. They're *right here*

Nas and Busta hired a Brit to produce a song about ...the ills of fried chicken, one of the last great american export.

Fried chicken
Not pizza or
falafels or
sushi

Niggas done lost they way...
...and yall wonder why our econ is the way it is.

Rappers take our money, they can't help us?
They can't sponsor a Gas Day For The Ghetto? A Here's Your Fill Up You Bastards? Can't they holla at their peoples in Dubai, get them to lower the gas prices so Americans could drive their Hummers again.

STOP BEING SELFISH, MR. RAPPER!

These niggas are buying foreign shit, bragging about hitting Japan and exotic islands. What about America? Huh? What about the land that gave you two turntables and a mic?

NIGGAS WOULD DIE OVER SOME COASTAL SHIT, BUT THEY CAN'T HELP THE YOU ESS of AYE IN THIS TIME OF $4 GAS?!?!

The tickets to their shows should be cheaper as well. Do you know how much it went for a ticket to Prince’s 28th bday show in Detroit? Eighteen bucks. Granted that was 22 years ago, but still…yall got money, yall could take a lesser cut. The hell you need lasers and robots and smoke for? You're a fucking rapper!

Mr. Rapper, you're letting America down
...unless
...you really ain’t rich like that…

Race Done! History Made! One More To Go!

...heh

Maybe I need to talk more
BECAUSE I FEEL BETTER ALREADY
and I didn't get blessed yet

Fuck the job though
I shouldn't have given them that much energy
and even this is too much

Oh Prov...what are we going to do with you?

My job gives me Richard "Dixpop" Nichols moments

That basically means I go through this almost everyday:


Wooosah

I am so angry at the level of stupidity I have to go through. Let me run some down to you (and if you're offended by what I typed, deal):

-dumb french wench who can't even get a renewal from DECEMBER correct is gonna ask me about an invoice that just came out, if I'm gonna send it out. No wench, I'ma let it sit right there

-got a needy ass broad who gets shook when customers ask her a simple question

-have a regional manager who can't find proper words to properly explain a situation (and he's a english major) so shit becomes bigger than it should be (oh and thanks to him I'm on probation).

-have a manager who asks dumb questions like "Why wasn't the contract attached before you sent it to Invoicing?" Because I was handling other "priorities" so these fuckers could get bonuses. You know the ones we don't get, but we always carry the company. What do we get? Fucking lunch. Lunch...fuck outta here

-his manager wants to be fucking Braveheart with people

-have a brand new system that doesn't fucking work

-assholes that don't/won't understand that this new system is way different than the previous one, which is funny since THE SYSTEM WAS MADE BECAUSE YOU FUCKERS ARE TOO FUCKING LAZY TO DO ACTUAL WORK

-this prick is gonna send me an email saying "Thanks and we would really appreciate it if this gets invoiced in May (today)" right after I told the prick everyone is trying to have their shit invoiced for May so please be patient.

Wooosah

When the director and my manager's manager left, my division went to shit. We're running around like headless chickens. People are quick to have these long drawn out conversations about why shit didn't get done instead of trying to FIX the problem. And no, *censored*, that doesn't mean even more meaningless meetings, activities, exercises. Then they wonder why people leave (we had ten people leave last year). A former co-worker came to visit and I'll be damned if she didn't look fucking happy. I want to get there, I really do which leads to my own problems. I'm just angry at everything and that's so not me.

Music makes me happy, but that industry is dying quicker than bees in the winter.
Writing, though it's a constant battle, makes me happy, but that shit is just like the music industry. I'm feeling like I'm chasing young folks' dreams and that makes me even more depressed.

I'm too smart for this shit, but yet I can't seem to find a way out (let's face it, (well paying) jobs are getting less and less by the minute). Figured I'll look into Networking, but *sigh*

Wooosah

I'm so confused
I'm so angry
I'm so scared
I'm so...

*sigh*

What's the point?

And I know today's events shouldn't bother me, but we're going to dance this dance again tomorrow. Why? Because the prick's invoice didn't get produced and more than likely they're gonna say it's because I didn't attach the contract. Motherfucker, if it was that important, you should have made sure it was in on Thursday. If yall were smart, yall would have seen that alot of stuff didn't get invoiced. Why? BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE WERE TRYING TO GET THEIR SHIT INVOICED.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm waiting to get blessed so I can listen to this and get the smile they casually erased...