Just My Thoughts: "Razor" #Poetry

Just My Thoughts: "Razor" #Poetry: She was so used to my flow with words of poetry/ that she said that my voice sounded weird when I emcee/ In my mind I'm tryin...

Just My Thoughts: The problem with @raggtyme Entertainment Group. #R...

Just My Thoughts: The problem with @raggtyme Entertainment Group. #R...:     A true business man/woman, looks at a company, examines that company and finds better ways to make that company run more effe...

"Razor" #Poetry

She was so used to my flow with words of poetry/ that she said that my voice sounded weird when I emcee/ In my mind I'm trying to razor that box/ Bonnie and Clyde Fort Knox/ Until we're stopped by the cops/ Clyde is my creativity in this metaphor/ Bonnie is the music/ and we're both at war/ With the cops who represent status quo/ so the guns must be the flow/ bullets must be the words I'm spitting/ On the run from mediocrity/ trying to put a lock on me/ and throw away the cell block key/ and give my art to the authorities/ Authorities represent charities that want the art for free/ Like my life in the verse isn't worth the blood it was written in/ So I continually spit again and again/ Not looking for friends/ Because they always seem to recognize/ the pain behind the brown in my eyes/ dark as the Earth but bright as the skies/ Son's of bitches still telling lies/ despite the look on my face that says that I really despise/ fraudulent fake fuckaz/ with their chin raised up and two lips puckered/ ready for a crossover right/ like a crossover right from a ball player at the Rutgers/ Like the defender got, got/ I'm gonna get you sucka/ the sucka represents a form of success/ that sucks the life from you/ if you sell your soul to get large/ pretend to be hard/ for the sake of a facade/ When your pimp is the one who's in charge/ The pimp represents the vanity of man/ hot damn/ this demon just ruined your plan/ got you looking like Stan/ had Eminem a part of his life/ like Em was his wife/ Without a ring or a promise in Vegas/ a gambling table without any dice/ trifle/ looking at your hand full of spades and no hearts/ irony/ a lack of heart/ tore hip hop apart/ But back to this verse/ what would you do if you were me?/ ignore creativity climbing through my window at night/ climbing into my bed and giving me brain right/ excuse me/ giving my brain light/ and my heart just like/ the love of God/ the universe/ the Sun Moon and the stars/ ignoring her would be hard/ and might leave me with scars/ to be blessed with these bars/ and never write em down/ the tree that falls/ still makes a sound/ even if no one's around/ like the supporters for an indie artist/

GB

The more I dig into poetry and strive to perfect the art, I realize how many styles and forms it comes in. I also realize that there are some real life "Poetry Snobs" out there who believe Poetry should strictly fall under the categories that exist for this art form. I will agree that it is a wise move for a poet to be a student of the styles that have come before; I believe some of the snobs are missing the very essence of creativity. Art is supposed to evolve, take different shapes and forms. The art is not supposed to stagnate. Instead it should flow like water. New styles should challenge and go beyond the boundaries of conventional styles and convention styles should have an open ear towards a new way of doing things...

Above is what I call "Free Verse" where each line bleeds into the next either by reference, rhyme or double entendre. The term "razor" has a double meaning in the title. It makes reference to the sentences "bleeding" and the fact that this type of poem cuts the "box" some try to put art in by having to categorize everything, instead of letting the art live freely.

Until Next Time...

http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/text/poetic-forms-techniques

The problem with @raggtyme Entertainment Group. #Rant

    A true business man/woman, looks at a company, examines that company and finds better ways to make that company run more effectively and/or fulfills a need for that company. Looking for representation, I was at a place where I was about to be on my 5^th Published Novel and my 3^rd studio album. With a “thick” catalog and plenty of merchandise bought and paid for, representation made sense. After a series of phone calls I found myself sitting across the table from Ernie Dozier of RaggTyme Entertainment. Ernie and I chopped it up and he is a good guy. He was the man back in the 90’s. The man behind the scene handling business for the Grammy award winning Digable Planets, DJ Kool and other acts of the day. Looking at his company, I immediately looked for where the holes where. Technology came and took the world by storm since the 90’s and his company didn't seem to roll with the changes in how the public consumed music and information about entertainment in general. Since I needed a “Co-Sign” from an insider and he needed a spokesman for his company in the digital arena, the partnership made sense. I immediately established GTV my own YouTube channel to “sell myself” as that guy. Marketing myself and events that we were doing together. The general public was excited about everything we did, however Ernie’s form of old school was not receptive to new ideas that he himself was not totally in control of. He was also surrounded by a bunch of yes men. Guys that smiled in his face and then would talk shit about him behind his back. This was concerning for me because I learned early that a man is judged by the company he keeps. If these were the folks in his inner circle, how successful was this company ever going to be? Or better yet, if they’re talking shit about him now, what’s going to happen if Ernie does break through and gets a “motherfucker” check? A house is only as strong as its foundation… right? Also, his subordinates weren't very subordinate. He would tell his people many times to do this or do that, meet at this time or be at this place and they along with him would be notoriously late, have problems getting there or wouldn't show up at all. Finally, I noted his overall mentality towards business. It is not that he wasn't brilliant in his own right, but his “borrow from Peter to pay Paul” was exhausting to me and not based in reality. Also, he has the swagger of a pimp which I found concerning as well. I found myself suing this man for 1500.00 dollars at the end of our partnership for services NOT provided. It got thrown out of the California courts and I would have pursued this in a Maryland court...

(Where he lives and where RaggTyme is based) 

but I would have had to sue him for 5500.00 dollars to cover my lawyer fees. A part of me wanted to do it because council told me it was a very winnable case. But then I thought to myself... “This negro doesn't have it to give” In his mind, him shopping my music around without success and giving me some game was worth 1500.00 and it very well may have been. However, that is NOT what we agreed upon. So if you say one thing and do another, fucking artist over, karma dictates that you probably won’t be successful in the long term. So to digress, I think Ernie Dozier of RaggTyme Entertainment is a brilliant man standing in the way of his own success. His pimp mentality, insubordinate team, lack of embrace of technology and overall tom fuckery practices aren't a good look for any company. Believe it or not I actually wish him well. He taught me a lot.

Especially what NOT to do in this game.

GB.

Just My Thoughts: There's No Money in #Poetry (Why Is That?) #Collab...

Just My Thoughts: There's No Money in #Poetry (Why Is That?) #Collab...:   Graffiti Bleu... Poets are smart enough to locate seeds of inspiration/ wise enough to prepare those seeds for cultivation/ clever...

There's No Money in #Poetry (Why Is That?) #Collaboration

Graffiti Bleu...

Poets are smart enough to locate seeds of inspiration/ wise enough to prepare those seeds for cultivation/ clever enough to harvest the words/ seasoned enough to roll up the herbs/ and blow smoke into metaphors, pronouns and verbs/ haiku's and testimonies/ shadowboxing with soliloquies/ stanzas, novels and sweet melodies/ Earth is the poet's mother and we are indeed those special children who take root into her richness as we dine from the light of the sky/ Leafs personify verses as they fall in fall/ the many colors of crimson blanket the ground the way open mics blanket eager ears/ A natural balance and a balance of nature/ but ask for balance and some look like they hate ya/ especially when balance is about that green paper/ Or at least they hate the fact that you asked/ Like I imagine a pimp does when his bottom bitch says "she's tired of living fast" / Why is that? Or better yet, how in Hell did we get here? / That awkward place without balance where resources aren't invested in sources? Poets are smart enough to harvest fruit during dry seasons/ Brave enough to lead legions/ Bold enough to stick their minds into chaos to pull out reasons/ sick enough to memorize lines and topics/ but not smart enough to turn a profit?

Stop It.--

Destiny Robbins...

There’s no money in poetry, why is that? Is it because the money is too busy going to rap?

Telling all the thick girls in the club to make it clap

Quite frankly, I’m getting sick of that

So if you steppin to this queen then you better not be spittin that

Unfortunately

This is a question that’s never plagued mankind

Unfortunately

We’re no longer taught to use our mind

Today mankind is too caught up chasing the dime

Well let me tell you a little nursery rhyme

Once upon a time… we used to exchange minds

No pun intended

but every lyric and rule I have is mean to be bended

And I can’t pretend it

But when your actions suggest that I’m worth nothing or less

Then I downright get offended

I got that—spoken word like my body smooth with curves

It will leave you feelin like you can’t believe what you heard

For a living I want to spit rhymes

I wanna make time for the people that don’t have time

Our nation is in dire need of edification

So each verse I give is meant for upliftment and education

Meant to encourage you

And nourish you

And revive your soul

It’s a full time job with a list of goals

So quite frankly, this question is getting old

(Let’s fix it, let’s get it)

Ike Torres...

Let’s get it...

My intent is to binge feed these diabetic minds comatose by these sugar coated rhymes cutting lines paying no never mind to cocaine lines cut for consumption kicking conundrums to blow out your eardrums as these lines pierce your eardrum poetics over bullshit pulpit with wordsmiths in a soup kitchen serving as fixtures for this life we live staring at the edge taunting wind to push us over four leaf clovers are for weaker minds these techniques peak as we speak to souls searching for that free doom consumed by heirlooms passed down over time pivotal jewels shine blinding sworn in crooks attempting to  capture castles from under our noses juxtaposed to Machiavellian tactics counter actions prohibit wool meant to blanket these eyes they say money and poetry don’t mix as if starving artists are supposed to remain blinded to the notion that promoters are supposed to feast while the creators spend their existence with a belly full of unrealized dreams

these themes wreak havoc on beautiful minds your mathematics are anti-Pythagoras if you think I’m ok with laying on brass tack mattresses belly up grateful for a quick fuck while your pockets get thicker poets are pontificators of emotion vibrating through the sands of time we equivalent to iron mic pre paper view don king hype!

Coon The Poet...

Started writing with broken pockets and a heart of a millionaire

With the right hustle and grind, there's a profit to be made anywhere...

so this young artist from the heart of South Sac

began to poetically prophet everywhere

from hood curbs to the suburbs

where this art form was rare

different places, different stages

in front of church congregations,

school kids of all ages,

spreading this creative virus,

making it stylish, and contagious

and what was even more outrageous...

was that gigantic CHECK the gave us

NICE... while it lasted

but life has a way of collecting it's back taxes...

you see this game, like any game

in the words of my O.G. “Hawthorne James”

“is a roller coaster”

so you must have the HEART for this,

or it will take you soul right over

so I grip the mic tight,

closer to my lips

because in truth, I EAT WITH THIS

this is how I make a living

giving kids Keys to break out of their mental prisons

the prison that I once lived in

I’m giving my whole hearted energy toward my gift

my presence crystallizes and breaks down to uncommon cents

and since time is money, money can be funny

and we all know this

my craft is know laughing matter

I’m a very serious poet

but even more sincere about my purpose

as long I spend my life, changing lives while walking on earths surface

I'M BLESSED

You see I know who truly provides for me

so do I make money making poetry?

well not that it's any of your business,

but as long as stay about “HIS” business...

I’ll put it simply...

YES

Russell Cummings

This might get tweeked a lil bit: fighting for the people don’t get you paid/ it get you hated, early greys and an early grave/ and ballers balance budgets just because they play a game/ rappers in the game play for a team, they just don’t play the same/ playing dumb for a paycheck, sell they pride for profit/ who should have your attention is rarely the one who got it/ you keep knockin that nonsense, we over here Harlem Renaissance-in/ cuz how can your priority be profit when you know you’re a prophet/ is it poor marketing, not properly promoting?/ monopoly money goes to promoters and property owners/ and we notice, but we focus on making a dif-fe-rence/ but the ones that need the message aren’t the ones that’s listening/ so if it’s kind of real, is it still hatin?/ when you trying to eat do you sell your soul to make the bacon/ reality divas going ham, while poet pockets are muslim/ we do it to reach ‘em, we don’t reach ‘em, we do it for nothing/ if that was true, I would gladly do it for nothing/ or to lay with ladies, My Buddys and Teddy Ruxpins/ (poetry has perks, my pieces tickle and touch ‘em)/ do it just to prove you can do it without fronting/ just for the chance I might take your mind, infuse it with substance/ and if I swing and I miss, then I’m swinging again/ whether I play in the league or I play in the streets/ if I bring one home then that’s payment enough/ but then I see my daughter growing, knowing I ain’t making enough/ these damn commercials on Nickelodeon making it tough/ if my callin only make change then how we changing it up/ cuz it’s hard to feed your seed off poetry bro/ some of the dopest artists I know getting rides to the show/ but they’re there though, look like a natural hair show/ no 2 chains, but speak riches into the air though/ so if my art doesn’t make money it doesn’t mean sh**/ does the road I chose make me less of a genius/ so many questions so I’ll answer the question, it doesn’t matter/ when you realize the value of your mind fake money is not a factor/ but we are forced to be capitalists, so I’ll state this/ anyone can be successful, whatever is what you make it.

David R. Demola...

I've literally saved more lives than I can count 

with only a handful of poems
and an honest heart
Shared
not for applause or admiration
but because Truth
is a choice I cannot live without.

And the Truth is our words have worth
Some say it's Priceless, the cost of our words,
Not quantifiable by numbers
Price figures
For the hearts we touch

But how many hospitals accept surgery payments in the form of love?

Landlords,
When the rent is due,
Don't ask for hugs and kind thoughts.

But, for some reason, people
who spend money on chai-mocha-something’s so they can wake up for work
can’t lift a finger for people who want to wake up their souls.

They think we are shiftless,
Lazy,
Like this shit comes easy.

They want you to believe
that only artist worth feeding must be starving
Because they think Middle Management careers are the only lives that have any purpose or meaning.

But how many lives have they saved while taking Minutes in a corporate meeting?

My words save lives.

I've gotten phone calls and messages
late a night
Form people crying over the fact that
finally
somebody "gets" them.
Finally
they have words to describe their Depression
finally
someone touched their heart just before they committed to doing something they can never take back.

My. Words. Save. Lives.

Don't you dare call them priceless.

~ End Piece~

A BIG S/O and thank you to all of the poets who collaborated on this... Destiny Robbins, Ike Torres, Coon The Poet, Russell Cummings & David Demola... and thanks to all of the readers who have supported this blog...

We're not done tho... Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and be on the look out for the video for this piece... 

https://www.youtube.com/user/GraffitiBleu/videos

Till next time... We'll be in between the margins...

GB

Just My Thoughts: Is "success by any means necessary" the best strat...

Just My Thoughts: Is "success by any means necessary" the best strat...:      This rant is less about Nikki or her CD. It’s about what the image represents and what it embodies. For whether it be Janet Jac...

Is "success by any means necessary" the best strategy? #rant

     This rant is less about Nikki or her CD. It’s about what the image represents and what it embodies. For whether it be Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake having a “wardrobe malfunction” at the Super Bowl. Whether it be Britney Spears and Madonna open mouth kissing each other at the MTV awards, Whether it be Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson taken shots at Nas and Jay-Z because he admittedly said that “A war between him and the other two aforementioned emcees would be good for hip-hop” (paraphrasing) or whether it be Toni Braxton showing up half naked for award shows; the message is clear and the message is this;

Hugely successful people in their own right, still believe that they have to do these types of things in order to stay relevant... and so the knife cuts to the meat of this debate. If you love your body and you simply want to show it for the sake of the art fine. It’s hard for anyone to judge that effort. If you truly love the way your vagina looks… so much so that you want to time an exit from your limousine perfectly with your legs open so that the paparazzi can take a photograph of it; that is also your right. However, most of these incidents are not done for the sake of “art” they are done for the sake of free publicity.

(which I might add is also the artist's right)

     I am not here to pass judgment on any art. I think Nicki Minaj is a dope rapper; although the majority of her music does not necessarily move me. I am not here to pass judgment on anyone. The meat of my rant is really about success, the definition of that success and the strategy to obtain that success; as it pertains to me and my art. My belief as far as success goes, is that if you are on top and you are trying to maintain that top spot, just know the seductive nature of power. The mere quest for power can make you intoxicated just by thinking of the perversion of that power once you attain it. We have seen example after example of wealth, fame and success, not being a guaranteed ingredient for happiness. There seems to be an emptiness and unfulfilled quality that walks hand in hand like a purposeful karma for those who don’t define their terms beforehand. Simply because there is no ceiling, there’s always a bigger fish, there’s always someone that seems greater than you, richer and more talented than you. My advice to people seeking success, is to first define what success is to them before embarking on the journey. For whichever horizon symbolizes your perception of success; make sure your boat is seaworthy of that journey before you set sail. My definition of success is as follows: Simply be the best artist that you can be. I believe there is no way that you can be the best artist you can be and not be successful. For ultimately, you will be, as a result, the best artist you can be! It just comes down to a case of physics… for there is no way you can plant the best seed in the richest Earth and not bear fruit from that. What you put out as far as energy goes will come back to you; will it not? All we can do is search for innovative platforms for our expressions, go hard and pray that someone recognizes our greatness. That’s all we can do if we want to maintain integrity. That’s one of the only things we actually have total control over. If you put your success in the hands of others in the form of validation,you are setting yourself up for failure. If a million people don’t buy a certain album, it doesn't mean that the music isn't good. If a certain amount of people don’t buy a novel, it does not mean that book isn't well-written. No matter what you talk about or discuss at the water cooler for example; may or may not create interest in a certain product or body of work; but it does not make the artistic vision of it more or less genius. OK folks… confession time: Do I like accolades? Absolutely. It is a joy to be recognized and acknowledged for your contributions to the arts? Fuck yeah. However, when they don't come, they don't come. I will leave you with this:

My mother would always say: “Son what’s for you is for you, God works in his own time” and deep down, I already knew. I am more relaxed at this stage of my creative career than I've ever been. I no longer carry the burden of what other people perceive as a success. I already know that I’m striving to be the best person that I can be and the victory is already won.

GB