Friday, May 30, 2014

Punk Sh*t... The growing philosophy of fear.



"Without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently" - Maya Angelou

     Speaking on the ways of the fearful or those who lack courage could take up to a week. We don't have that kind of time and I don't have that kind of patience. However in honor of the great poet who I quoted above, I feel compelled to share some game. 

As always, these are simply my opinions based on observations and experiences I have had on the paths I have chosen to walk on in my life. If you disagree with these opinions that's wonderful. It proves that you have your own mind. Yet if you can relate to what I'm expressing; welcome aboard to the train traveling through my thoughts...

Now then, where I come from people who will fearfully or tried to act courageous when they are not are called "punks" so it is only fitting to call the ways of the fearful "punk shit" For one to live one's life fearfully is an unhappy existence. Some are fearful about everything and anything. Since this is indeed the case, I will touch only on 3 examples that seem to get me bent out of shape the most. 

1). In martial arts and the cultures it comes from, it is customary for the teacher to teach the student all that they know. If the student can reach a level of mastery to where he or she beats their master, the pupil and the master are both successes in their own right.



If a teacher can teach their pupils so well that they can teach them to be better that the teacher themselves; this makes the teacher great. The teacher's legacy is embodied in the pupil; making something greater than him or herself. Fear, a lack of courage or "punk shit" keeps us from embracing this ideology of the past. The lack of this embrace has manifested its way into our future. It is most obvious on the corporate level, where seasoned veterans do not want to show students of their selected profession all that they know. Fearful of being replaced by that student. This can be found in the artistic world too; where artists don't have exchanges of ideas; fearful of being surpassed by other artist who they perceive as rivals. Punk shit can even be found in the tiny, petty wrinkles of our day to day. Where people are fearful of coming together in the name of collective wisdom because they do not want to have their wisdom challenged or they do not want to share their experiences. Fearful of being judged on how they think and that their way of thinking may not be accepted by the majority.

2) Punk shit can manifest itself in child rearing. My family raised me in New York City I was born in the Bronx and I lived in Manhattan and and the borough of Queens. We lived just below the poverty line and at times just above. I regret nothing because every struggle of every day gave me an edge by making me tough for the challenges to come. Even though my generation is fully aware of the hidden blessings of adversity, most want to make it easier for their children. (which I totally understand. I would not want my nephew to know about government cheese either) At the same time, I've seen parents take "no adversity" to the extreme with their children. No matter how good the parents came out,  no matter how good they ended up and no matter how proud of themselves they are today. Many in my generation feel like they do not want their children to struggle at all. I'm not saying to starve your child or to make them walk when they can ride. I'm talking about a system of work and reward. Jordan's, Play stations, cars, allowance and privileges should be earned... right? Here's the trick though... Many parents wanted to be their child's friend and not their parent. Not having the courage to make the tough decisions. Looking their child in the eye and telling them "no" and telling them why they said no. In some cases parents lacked the courage to be the bad guy. Or the courage to let go. Like taking the training wheels off of the bike for the first time. It takes courage and faith to believe your child will rise to the challenge. It takes courage to let go of anybody so that they may grow on their own for that matter. (Sometimes we can be "motherly" to grown folks too) 

3) Punk Shit can manifest itself into self acceptance... some believe that if they just be themselves, nobody will accept them for who they are. So you have many who pretend to be something that they are not. This is the  most dangerous form of punk shit to me. For if the true power is in the knowledge of one's self; I can only surmise that being confused about who you are must subtract from that power.

Wrapping up...

Fear is like an empty abyss... a black hole or void. There is nothing you can do to fill it. It will consume you until there's nothing left.

Love in contrast is a fulfilling energy. You can be content with love. So much so, you don't need anything else.

I am not infallible and I will not pretend like I don't have fears and insecurities like everyone else does... 

I just do my damnedest to not be consumed by that fear. I embrace the butterflies in my my belly...

Do you?

GB.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Just My Thoughts: I’m Done With You

Just My Thoughts: I’m Done With You: I’m Done With You I’m Done With You Sometimes you have to lose your mind before you come to your senses/ Life lessons...

Friday, May 23, 2014

I’m Done With You

I’m Done With You




I’m Done With You


Sometimes you have to lose your mind before you come to your senses/

Life lessons are expensive/

Especially when we try to make sense of the senseless/

My wisdom was Cazals with scratched up lenses/

Can’t accept how you got past my defenses/

Even though I know that the Devil’s relentless/

Engine running good/ here you come with the wrenches/

I let you play when you belonged on the benches/

Un-coach-able/ can’t dribble/ drive or shoot/

Always in the huddle/ showing out and acting cute/

Your yelling at the coach saying “give me the rock” /

And my dumb ass let you take the last shot/

Off you go/ and you don’t really give a damn/

Tripled teamed/ and you can’t find the open man/

Time on the clock/ but you were looking scared/

Half court and you put up a fucking prayer/

Air ball!!!!!!

I’m done with you/

You got me mumbling/ talking to myself and shit/

I’m so fucking done with you/

When you care and they don’t/ that’s when it’s time to quit/

You expect me to run with you? /

When I need you to be calm/ that’s when you’re throwing a fit/

It used to be fun with you/

Then you changed up/ and got all weird and shit/

You’re irritating like the urge to urinate/ while you’re trying to concentrate/ When you've got a lot at stake/

But necessary/ so I know to evacuate/ poisons gotta go/ putting pressure on my prostate/

Pause/ I saw what I wanted to see/ when I sized you up in the beginning for the long haul/

Pause/ and I knew better/ Jordan’s on your feet/ don’t mean that you can ball/

Pause/ now you’re back on the bench/ and you’re not in the game/ but I still have to face facts/

That I let your agent gas me/ and there’s a penalty for breaking your contract/

They say it’s cheaper to keep her/ but how much is your spirit worth/ or how about a sane brain/

I put you back in the game/ and you got a muscle strain/ within the 1st fucking 5 minutes of playing/

I’m done with you/

You got me mumbling/ talking to myself and shit/

I’m so fucking done with you/

When you care and they don’t/ that’s when it’s time to quit/

You expect me to run with you? /

When I need you to be calm/ that’s when you’re throwing a fit/

It used to be fun with you/

Then you changed up/ and got all weird and shit/

Basketball is a metaphor for teamwork/

I talk cooperation/ and you be looking hurt/

Your butt-hole perks/ your attitude spurts/ all in concert/ Time to go to work/

On me in a space without you/ without the voodoo/ and claims that ain't true/

Bounce/ exit stage left/ looking like Wyclef/ but my name’s Graffiti Bleu/

And welcome to my joy and you can’t take it from me/

My real name is LaMont but I ain't no big dummy/

You knew that right? / I bet you did/ but it didn't matter cause you still tried/

Funny part about it when you’re done they always seem to act surprised/


GB

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

That's That Shit...

That’s That Shit



Poets saying the same poem every time/
Looking at you funny when you spit some different lines/

He’s 30 speaking on being tired/
With 30 years to go before he’s retired/

Cats acting thirsty and out of order/
On a planet that’s mostly made up of water/

Emcees that can’t freestyle eating meals/
Emcees that can/ can’t get a record deal/

Promoter’s robbing artists like me and you/
Like fucking with passion is the thing to do/

2014/ race is still an issue/
She won’t call but will text/
“Hey Baby I miss you”

Religious leaders saying how the Earth will end/
When the bible says that won’t be known by any men/

When the Hell did sincerity get played out? /
When did being fake become the right route? /

Going on line to have an intimate discussion/
Face to face quiet/ nobody is saying nothing/

Cats with the most misery in a life/
Quick to grab an ear and give out advice/

The most selfies come from who isn’t cute/
Most talk when they really need to press mute/

Millionaires going broke and going berserk/
Meanwhile, single Mothers are making it work/

Decades after Jordan made the dark sexy/
My dark skin alone won’t make them respect me/

They say “work hard and you will prevail” /
Knowing the system is designed for you to fail/

Rich owners /wearing unassuming clothes/
Broke renters /flossing with a wrist froze/

Haters who act brave on the comment box/
Your Ex trying to act like she forgot/

When Karma throws an enemy a punch/
When I’ve gotta ask for my money more than once/

When you flip and say “fuck you” for good reason/
When your wife really wants you to stop breathing/

When you’re honest about who you really are/
When you’re on stage giving out verses and bars/

When they step out a line to grab your position/
When winning becomes a part of your tradition/

Your side chick /showing up with a baby/
Your Wife with a bat /looking at her crazy/

Your non-pussy getting friend telling lies/
About his Japanese girl with the hazel eyes/

Your man/ who ran away when the beef popped/
Off with even numbers and no gunshots/

How game recognizes other game in Vegas/
How rude women become twitter famous/

How dudes are softer than a cheese Danish/
Fresh out the oven/ huffing and puffing/
Blowing steam/ losing battles like it ain’t nothing/
And everybody knows that the kids fronting/

In contrast let’s say he becomes honest/
Then realizes honesty is what they wanted/

That point when you have an epiphany/
That point when Kane ripped the Symphony/

When the streets only know you by your tag name/
When a kid asks you to give em game/

That moment a chick says fall back/
You do/ and she isn’t really good with that/

That moment when you see the tables turned/
On someone who needed a lesson learned/

That moment you meet your favorite Rapper/
That moment you realize they’re just an actor/

And somehow it doesn’t even really matter/
Because your life is sweeter than cake batter/

With girls saying “Come over to my place”
Steady speeding like they really want to win a race/

That moment your foot makes the brakes bright/
When you tell her that you cannot spend the night/

That moment when the same girl throws curses/
Until she falls in love with some other verses/




"That's That Shit" 
will be on the upcoming album... 

I would like to thank



for the inspiration...


GB