How can you have high standards, when you have nothing?
How can you be too good to catch the city bus but you have no vehicle or refuse to offer others gas fare?
How can you be hungry but too good to eat what is offered to you?
How can you not eat for three days but be too good to go to a community center or church to feed the disadvantaged?
How can you have no food and no finances coming anytime soon but be too good to go to the food bank?
How can you barely live paycheck to paycheck but be too good to apply for food stamps?
How can you have no home or cannot find one within your income level but too good to apply for subsidized housing, Section 8, or any other related program?
How can you move hell and high water to purchase those new kicks every one's dying for but your child (or children) are in a pair of low grade shoes from seasons' past?
How can you make a hair appointments but your child looks like Buckwheat all the time?
How can you have money but let your innocent child go without?
How can you be a five (physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or financially) and think that you deserve a ten?
How can you make astronomically irresponsible car payments but have no home of your own (either rent or own) but refuse to pay rent where you live or choose to live to sofa to sofa?
How can everyday be a party but you have no finances to fund to fun?
How can you waste money on trivialities but refuse to save for a rainy day?
How can you create a problem but expect someone else to worry about or solve it for you?
How can you look your child in the eye but blame another for your quandaries and mismanagement of finances?
How can you live for today when your children and grandchildren will be here tomorrow?
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
In Honor Of The Notorious B.I.G....
I live by a code. A simple code; nonetheless. I feel that every relationship - regardless of with whom it may be with- should be governed by rules, regulations, bouundaries, and limitations. At least, that's my motto. No, it's not Y.O.L.O. Yet, when it comes to everyone else; who knows what their motto is? I can't tell. The things that are going on in the world, today, have me baffled. These governing rules of society and its subgenres only seem to be respected by only a few. In some instances, those that are old enough to remember, understand, and respect the unwritten rules are not showing any respect for them, either. I understand that there may be far too many rules to keep up with; so today we will go easy and focus on a certain set of rules gifted to us from the infamous Notorious B.I.G.
Upon the anniversary of his death, I couldn't help but reflect on his stanzas were influential to me and how his lessons through prose resonated with my impressionable self. I am the eldest sibling and, like many fans, his tales and wordsmithing would play a pivotal part in my learning processes. He, like many rappers, would become very much apart of my upbringing; unbeknownst to them they were viewed as my older brothers. I enjoyed every lesson that was delivered. Like all lessons, I soak them up like a sponge and use them accordingly. Now, that's game.
The rules that I reference to are from a track on his second and final studio album on Bad Boy Records entitled Life After Death. The track that I am reffering to is called, 'The Ten Crack Commandments'. The album was released posthumously on March 25, 1997; 16 days after his death and was accepted with extreme praise by both underground and commercial hip hop heads alike. I remember the excitement of the release of the CD. It was being released after his death and the streets couldn't wait for it to hit. The excitement was due, in large part, to the urge to try to understand where his head was at because there would be no chance for MTV, BET, or any other interviews to ask him. Secondly, a double CD of the B.I.G.'s clean delivery, wit, and wordplay was like a gift from the hip hop gods. I, also, remember that many people had to purchase the CD numerous times due to it coming up missing. I admit that I bought it, had it stolen from me, stole it from someone else, that one was stolen from me, I had to buy another copy, and the saga went on and on. We would not understand the concept of an ipod or MP4 player; that would be considered alien technology. It WAS the nineties.
Listed as number five on the second disc of the compilation, it grabbed the attention of everyone; even those that did not distribute the narcotic. Though the song was directed to the drug affliated world, it could just as well be applied to the business world or the world; in general. Even though my life is far from drug-filled and it is far from the nineties, I still can apply the majority of these "commandments" -if not all- to many aspects of my daily life. You, too, can learn a lesson from Biggie; even if you did not have the pleasure of experiencing him during his era as I have. Hell, you can learn a lot from the music from that era because there were stories to be told and lessons to be taught. We'll save that subject for a future blog entry. So, I give you the condensed version of 'The Ten Crack Commandments' and a sort of translation for those unaware:
Number 1: Never let no one know how much dough you hold, 'cause you know the cheddar breed jealousy 'specially if that man fucked up, get your ass stuck up.
Translation: Keep your finances to yourself because many will envy you because of it and will do anything to take it or prevent it.
Number 2: Never let 'em know your next move; don't you know Bad Boys move in silence or violence. Take it from your highness. I done squeezed mad clips at these cats for they bricks and chips.
Translation: Keep your schedule and whereabouts to yourself because it makes it easier to keep yourself in harm's way.
Number 3: Never trust nobody. Your moms'll set that ass up, properly gassed up, hoodie to mask up, shit, for that fast buck. She be layin' in the bushes to light that ass up.
Translation: Trust no one because trust is not a given.
Number 4: Know you heard this before: never get high, on your own supply.
Translation: Whatever products you sell or services that you operate should never be taken advantage by you.
Number 5: Never sell no crack where you rest at. I don't care if they want a ounce, tell em bounce.
Translation: Business should be conducted in a proper setting or in the immortal words of my uncle: You never shit where you eat!
Number 6: That god damn credit, dead it. You think a crackhead payin you back, shit, forget it.
Translation: Credit and loans from you to others will not help you in the future. Most people try to forget their debts. Banks and financial institutions have stopped and so should you.
Number 7: This rule is so underrated: keep your family and business completely seperated. Money and blood don't mix like two dicks and no bitch: find yourself in serious shit.
Transation: Business and personal life should be kept seperated. Due to the close relationship with the other party, conflicts of interest will always arise.
Number 8: Never keep no weight on you. Them cats that squeeze your guns can hold jobs too.
Translation: Having large amounts of cash on you, spending large amounts in public forums, flashing expensive items, etc. will always make the envious pay attention to you; making for an easy target.
Number 9: Shoulda been number, to me: if you ain't gettin bags stay the fuck from police. If niggaz think you snitchin they ain't tryin listen. They be sittin in your kitchen, waitin to start hittin.
Translation: Unless you are a politician or high ranking community member, keep a "when needed" relationship with the police. If people think that you talk too much they will not have too much conversation or even a business relationship with you.
Number 10: A strong word called consignment; strictly for live men, not for freshmen. If you ain't got the clientele say, "Hell no", 'cause they gon want they money rain, sleet, hail, snow.
Translation: Once again, we are discussing credit. Not the giving of credit but being on the receiving end. If someone wants to finance your business venture, you need to make sure that your plan is precise because investors want their money; regardless if the idea was a success or not.
Upon the anniversary of his death, I couldn't help but reflect on his stanzas were influential to me and how his lessons through prose resonated with my impressionable self. I am the eldest sibling and, like many fans, his tales and wordsmithing would play a pivotal part in my learning processes. He, like many rappers, would become very much apart of my upbringing; unbeknownst to them they were viewed as my older brothers. I enjoyed every lesson that was delivered. Like all lessons, I soak them up like a sponge and use them accordingly. Now, that's game.
The rules that I reference to are from a track on his second and final studio album on Bad Boy Records entitled Life After Death. The track that I am reffering to is called, 'The Ten Crack Commandments'. The album was released posthumously on March 25, 1997; 16 days after his death and was accepted with extreme praise by both underground and commercial hip hop heads alike. I remember the excitement of the release of the CD. It was being released after his death and the streets couldn't wait for it to hit. The excitement was due, in large part, to the urge to try to understand where his head was at because there would be no chance for MTV, BET, or any other interviews to ask him. Secondly, a double CD of the B.I.G.'s clean delivery, wit, and wordplay was like a gift from the hip hop gods. I, also, remember that many people had to purchase the CD numerous times due to it coming up missing. I admit that I bought it, had it stolen from me, stole it from someone else, that one was stolen from me, I had to buy another copy, and the saga went on and on. We would not understand the concept of an ipod or MP4 player; that would be considered alien technology. It WAS the nineties.
Listed as number five on the second disc of the compilation, it grabbed the attention of everyone; even those that did not distribute the narcotic. Though the song was directed to the drug affliated world, it could just as well be applied to the business world or the world; in general. Even though my life is far from drug-filled and it is far from the nineties, I still can apply the majority of these "commandments" -if not all- to many aspects of my daily life. You, too, can learn a lesson from Biggie; even if you did not have the pleasure of experiencing him during his era as I have. Hell, you can learn a lot from the music from that era because there were stories to be told and lessons to be taught. We'll save that subject for a future blog entry. So, I give you the condensed version of 'The Ten Crack Commandments' and a sort of translation for those unaware:
Number 1: Never let no one know how much dough you hold, 'cause you know the cheddar breed jealousy 'specially if that man fucked up, get your ass stuck up.
Translation: Keep your finances to yourself because many will envy you because of it and will do anything to take it or prevent it.
Number 2: Never let 'em know your next move; don't you know Bad Boys move in silence or violence. Take it from your highness. I done squeezed mad clips at these cats for they bricks and chips.
Translation: Keep your schedule and whereabouts to yourself because it makes it easier to keep yourself in harm's way.
Number 3: Never trust nobody. Your moms'll set that ass up, properly gassed up, hoodie to mask up, shit, for that fast buck. She be layin' in the bushes to light that ass up.
Translation: Trust no one because trust is not a given.
Number 4: Know you heard this before: never get high, on your own supply.
Translation: Whatever products you sell or services that you operate should never be taken advantage by you.
Number 5: Never sell no crack where you rest at. I don't care if they want a ounce, tell em bounce.
Translation: Business should be conducted in a proper setting or in the immortal words of my uncle: You never shit where you eat!
Number 6: That god damn credit, dead it. You think a crackhead payin you back, shit, forget it.
Translation: Credit and loans from you to others will not help you in the future. Most people try to forget their debts. Banks and financial institutions have stopped and so should you.
Number 7: This rule is so underrated: keep your family and business completely seperated. Money and blood don't mix like two dicks and no bitch: find yourself in serious shit.
Transation: Business and personal life should be kept seperated. Due to the close relationship with the other party, conflicts of interest will always arise.
Number 8: Never keep no weight on you. Them cats that squeeze your guns can hold jobs too.
Translation: Having large amounts of cash on you, spending large amounts in public forums, flashing expensive items, etc. will always make the envious pay attention to you; making for an easy target.
Number 9: Shoulda been number, to me: if you ain't gettin bags stay the fuck from police. If niggaz think you snitchin they ain't tryin listen. They be sittin in your kitchen, waitin to start hittin.
Translation: Unless you are a politician or high ranking community member, keep a "when needed" relationship with the police. If people think that you talk too much they will not have too much conversation or even a business relationship with you.
Number 10: A strong word called consignment; strictly for live men, not for freshmen. If you ain't got the clientele say, "Hell no", 'cause they gon want they money rain, sleet, hail, snow.
Translation: Once again, we are discussing credit. Not the giving of credit but being on the receiving end. If someone wants to finance your business venture, you need to make sure that your plan is precise because investors want their money; regardless if the idea was a success or not.
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