Money Money Money

See I was listenin to Jim Jones album and I couldn’t help but notice, its all about the money. I read an interview where he sent a message to his former best friend and so-called brother from another mother Cam’ron, saying that money could renew their friendship. Really? Wow. You’ve known this guy since you were kids, grew up in the same building, got rich with him when you really had no career, and you say that money will bring back the good ol’ days? Hmm. I was listenin to a song by Drake, called “Successful.” The hook goes, “I want the money, money and the cars, cars and the clothes, the hoes, I suppose, I just wanna be successful.” Really? Wow. That’s your definition of success? I hate to get all righteous on you and whatnot, but try Martin Luther King Jr. or Barak Obama for examples of success. I was reading a story in the paper about some prick named Madoff who scammed people for billions of dollars. For what? Is it really worth thousands of people suffering because they trusted you with their life savings, so you can have a ridiculous amount of money, so much money you don’t even know what to do with it, at your disposal? AIG? Shit, I’m not even gonna get into that. See, life is bigger than that, at least to me it is. Life is…life. Appreciate it. Wake up in the morning and be thankful for it. I’m not preaching, but I didn’t always think this way. I used to take things for granted. I used to complain about dumb shit. “Aww man I got all these papers to write and classes all day tomorrow.” That’s definitely nothing to complain about. How about doing life in prison or walking from car to car on the 2 train asking for some money for lunch? There will never be another day where I don’t appreciate the life that I have, no matter how bad it gets. Sure, everyone wants to live comfortably, but money is a small thing. How about having an impact on someone’s life or making a difference in your community? Making a career out of money is useless. I think its lame as hell when people say that they are all about the money. That’s just as bad as hearing a high school basketball player say “if it wasn’t for basketball, I don’t know what I would do.” Really? Wow. So you’re pretty much saying, if you had a career ending injury tomorrow (totally not impossible), you would be a bum? Not good. Likewise, if you are all about the money, and the money just doesn’t swing your way for whatever reason, what do you have left? Or let’s say you do get the money. What next? Will it bring you happiness? I doubt it…

Anyway, enough preaching for me. I’m definitely not knocking anyone’s hustle. I just wish people would stop equating money with success. Get it? Money does not equal success. I’m new to this. I guess this can count as my very first blog. I hope you liked it.

Best Week Ever 3

I continue to have re-occurring thoughts (dreams too). Not healthy.

I'm excited about this Thursday, I have a couple new pieces and a lot of interested poets!

I saw, rather, everyone saw me pretty drunk this work, now I have to see them sober today.

Irma Thomas has been on a serious rotation
"Do everything your heart desires, just remember I'll still be around! You're gonna come back, yes you're gonna come back, knockin' on my door!" - Women like this CEASE to exist. If they did, God bless them. I wouldn't be in such a rut.

Seriously, listen to "Ruler of my heart" classically sung by Miss Thomas. "When you're alone, the going gets rough, come back come back come back. I've had enough. Make me you're queen, happy again, hear my cry. He's my king." Need I say more? I may have lived my love life in a fantasy (As I've been told) but it sure wasn't inspired by movies... it was definitely music.

Every attempt I continue to make toward NYC has defaulted me right back to MD. Sometimes you're tested to see the strength of your desire. Other times you're rejected because you're aid is needed elsewhere. I constantly battle with the thought and my placement on the East Coast.

Change?

Has the realm of spoken word transitioned to a spotlight representative of poetry? I for one am not a spoken word poet. I do not possess that much charisma on stage. I have written a few spoken word-type pieces but have not given the thought of going public with them. Yet, as I watch Def Poetry Jam seasons I see countless young performers speaking their pieces as spoken word artist. Which I believe takes a lot of character to perform, versus reading or reciting words conveying meaning through vocabulary. Although, if you can move a crowd without having to move much of yourself (physically) I believe you're talented.

I only mention this topic because as I see the older poets, the poets that have been around for decades, seasoned with skills and vocabulary. They read from a podium, a book, or a collection of notes. The younger generations seem to have subliminally denounced that method of performance. I plan to stick to what I know, the style, the delivery, the writing. I am poet, spoken word can be over there, I will remain WRITE here.

I sometimes wonder if poetry is it like Hip Hop? Where styles and methods combined with time create a new generation of artist/performer. Similar to how southern rap has become the money maker in the industry.

Just a thought.

Hip Hop's Own

Just added to the roster of creative writings. Hip Hop's Own, my brother and closest friend from New York. Aside from my routine in writing, my friend will deliver New York perspectives, outside opinions, and observations of his own that will be collaborated on this site. Th3rd Avenue is not about me, but as a collection of events, artist, writers and people who want to be apart of a positive movement in the community. So embrace his ideas and perspectives as you brace me own, the feedback is always welcome.

Kidz

Meteorologist
The boss of the astronauts
Who would have thought or conceived such a statement
Original
Creative
Full of amazement
These are the six year old children that make up my day
Cosby wasn’t kidding when he made a show off what they say
Lil’ bundles of germs
I mean joy
Amused by toys and crayons
Swings, slides & suckers
“You still live at home with you’re mother?”
-yes, I replied
“You need to grow up” she said without faulting in pride
I love what runs inside their mind
Simplistic, artistic, idealistic, optimistic,
Just pure innocence
I wonder why people careless to bother in the inquisitive realms of a child’s mind
It’s such a breath of fresh air.

Next Week!

My friend Natasha, came through last Friday to "Jazz & Poetry" another success Th3rd Avenue event! This coming week I have Art & Poetry night, come and check out photography from Raymond Lucas as well as hear some very talented poets, one at which I will showcase today!