Good Words.

"They said it's nuthin like highschool days, now I say its nuthin like highschool days. I enjoy college, but at times its so much pressure. Wrapped up in chasin' a dream gets hectic. I miss sitin' on the benches just laughing and jokin' wit all my niggas every chance we had, Not worryin' bout whose judgin us. Its jus crazy how life goes and it's so hard to find someone to relate to cus the older and better you get, the harder you're criticized...damn."
-Chris Smith, C/O 2008

Stephen Colbert.

Today I am praising [KFC] for raising breast cancer awareness by selling pink buckets of chicken. For every bucket sold, KFC donates 50 cents to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization that raises awareness for breast cancer. Now some are saying this endorsement sends a mixed message, like Barbara Brenner, executive director of Breast Cancer Action, who argues, ‘They are raising for women’s health by selling a product that’s bad for health…it’s hypocrisy.’ No, madam, it’s hypoCRISPY. Besides, there’s an easy way to solve this dilemma. Yes, fried food may clog your arteries, so after you buy the chicken, everyone should also buy Campbell’s soup, whose AdDress Your Heart campaign raises money to fight heart disease. Of course, canned soup also has high levels of sodium, which can lead to kidney disease. That’s why you should load up on Coca-Cola, corporate partner of the National Kidney Foundation. Now sugary soft drinks can contribute to diabetes, so we all need to buy a Ford, global partner of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. And don’t worry that the trucks and SUVs hurt the environment, just buy a carton of Marlboro because Marlboro is a major partner of Keep America Beautiful. Of course, smoking causes cancer, so you want to fight back by buying a bucket of KFC. World saved.

—Stephen Colbert, on KFC’s pink buckets of chicken

"Movin' On Up Like Elevators."

Hard work pays off.
After two loong years, I've finally reached my first college graduation. The first of three degrees to come, I've attained my Associates of Science degree.
Graduations are always boring, I just want to walk across the stage, shake hands and decompress!

The next steps are already in progress.
Thank you, Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science.

Sweet Water Pt. 2

Please keep in mind, there are those who
only see with one eye
And have half a mind to make you blind.
Your unconscience colors create the tranquilty that keep the common man calm.
Before you seen these things, the world had no meaning.
Remain aware of the beauty that surrounds you
hidden where ever rain drops land.
Nothing dries up faster than hope.
Flowers and forests need the life that you provide from the
abundance of sweet water dripping from your clouds.
Your unconscience colors create the unique qualities that keep the common man quiet.
Before you speak outloud, look them in their eye.

Heartz of Men.

See you got some niggas on your side
That say they're your friends
But in real life they your enemies
And then you got some mutha-fuckas that say they your enemies
But in real life they eyes is on your money.
See the enemies will say they true
But in real life those niggas will be the snitches.
Its a dirty game y'all
Y'all got ta be careful about who you fuck with and who you don't fuck with
Cause the shit get wild y'all.
Keep your mind on your riches, Baby
Keep your mind on your riches.

-Tupac/Heartz of Men

Shootin' The Shit.

If there's one thing I hate most, it's wasted YOUTH. It's easier to waste your youth than it is to waste talent. If it's true talent, then it'll always be there for you to take advantage of. So I'll share a brief story with you to express my discern towards such ubiquitous wastes.

Since my high school days and these college years, I've played basketball down the street and made a few friends stictly off the hoop. We'd only talk and shoot the shit between games, discussing what shit is going to be like after graduation. One friend, in particular, who was in a gang and into drugs, had planned for the Navy which I thought was a great way to get out of everything. About a year goes by and I see him walking down my street so we slap hands and the conversation went like this:

Me: What's good, bro?
Him: ahhh, shit, nothing. Just got my ass beat by two cops on Saturday...
Me: (noticing his face) Ohh, woorrd?
Him: Yeah, one kneed me in my face. 'Cuz some niggas was talkin' shit so I had to, y'know...
Me: Aiight, man. Stay up. I'll catch you around.

You see why I get mad? I'm 20, he's 19. I don't understand what it is that keeps young adults from improving their own conditions, doing something, anything that will keep them from struggling in life. So many, TOO many of my contemporaries wake up every day and put on a XXL white tee and just chill on the block for the rest of the day, not caring about shit except for the next blunt, the next Laker game, the next Drake single, or who's going to pick them up for the next "kickback".

I've never been into this stigma before so I wouldn't know what it takes to get out of it. For me it has always been one productive move to the next. I can't hold anyone's hand so I mantain the image of how to get where I need to get in hopes that those younger than me can see whats up.

In this conversation, you can see how I quick I became disappointed in my boy. It's not entirely his fault though. I'm disappointed in the fact that I've lost dozens of friends to stupid ass cliques, weed, and other dumb shit around here. And then I look for a common factor between them and to an extent, it makes sense: the absence of our fathers.

But you can't try to scapegaot this. Dealers don't offer discounts because your daddys not here. If you got in a gang because all your friends did, then you can only blame yourself. I have lost plenty of friends, 3 of which were my bestfriends, to about 10 gangs and I've never bothered to join in with them.

So why do I hate wasted youth so much? Because it never comes back. Whatever is not realized now will only be a heavier burden later. If you don't know how to make a resume or fill out a job application then you're only making things harder on yourself.

Right now, we have breaks in between classes to laugh and chill with friends. We need to find something to believe in right now, as opposed to having someone else tell us what to believe in later. Don't waste a day because later, we're going to have kids and a career and the last thing we want to do is run into an old friend who's still doing the same shit as 5,10 years ago.