Feeling Poetic, Tyler Perry, And A Lot On My Mind

This is going to be one long and maybe rant like post. Maybe. I am just feeling a bunch of emotions right now and I need some type of release. Then I thought to myself that hey, I have this blog that I created and I could use that. Maybe someone will read and have some advice. Fist there has been this poem brewing inside of me and it needs to be released before I explode. The thing is I have not yet written it. So I am about to make it up right now. So here it is.

Untitled…The Way I am feeling Now.

I am confused
Maybe because so much is right it has to be wrong
I am used to chaos around and this calm is scaring the hell out of me
I pray that this is not the calm before the storm
But the winds are blowing hard
The clouds are getting darker and I can’t see that damn silver lining that all those damn perpetual optimist keep telling me about

I am scared
Maybe because I am in love with two people
I don’t know what to do
One is completely off limits and my best friend
I know he will kill my heart take it and run away
He already has but my crazy mind is trying to rationalize my feelings for love unattainable because that is the best kind when you trap it and hold it down
The next is easy yet unsure Wanting the world that I am to eager to give him but does notknow what the hell to do with it

I am lost
And I am tired of looking for myself
Where the hell did I go
In between work school work again no play all day monotony where have I drifted off to
Schedule so mundane I am going insane and I hate it
But this is what I must do to get that Degree to get that seven figure salary because six just won’t do
I want it all I can see it
I can taste it
I can almost touch it
But what will I do when I get it
Leave it find something else to obsess about

I am tired
Wanting to end it all
Not in a way that will leave me lifeless because suicide is not poetic
But I just want to go home
Back to Mama’s house crawl in her bed and let her rub my head until all the bad thoughts go away
My safe haven
My way out
My sad sorry retreat
What shall I do

I am confused, lost in love and tired of what it is doing to me

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO that was a lot to write down. I feel purged and even more confused than before. And what’s worse is a mosquito bit me on my ass through my denim jeans and now my ass itches. Great.

Okay on to the next.

I hope all of you went to support Tyler Perry.
That movie was off the damn chain. I Love Love Loved it. It was by far his best work. I am going to go and see it again this weekend. It was just that damn good. I thought all the actors did great and Jill Scott was of course the icing on that triple chocolate on the cast. And ladies I just have to say the men looked so damn good. Tyler Perry is sooo fine to me. I know I am not the only one that thinks so. And since I have seen the movie I have been listening to Marvin Gaye’s I Want You everyday. If you go see it you will know why. My girl Janet Jackson was awesome. Her performance was amazing. She really drove home the pain of her character. I give this movie the seal of approval. I just have to find the soundtrack now. I bet it is off the chain.

Music of the Month

Of course you all probably know who the winner is.

Ms Jill Scott

Her new album The Real Thing is wonderful. As most people already know she is going through a painful divorce with Lyzel in E-Flat. I thought that marriage would last forever, but you never know what is going on in the private lives of the celebrities that you see on the television. The thing is that Jill writes from her life. The Real Thing is a montage of music describing the breakdown and build up of a person who is going through losing what they thought was forever. Her openness allows you to feel each emotion. Sorrow, pain and suffering then she takes you from that to happy, cocky and horny in the next beat. She is the epitome of an open book. She let it all hang out and you have to respect someone with that type of courage. I listen to her CD everyday. I have to make myself turn it off so I don’t get tired of listening to it. But I doubt if I will. This one will be in heavy rotation for a very long time.

This is a Poetry Blog...Right?

I suppose that since I started this blog to inform people about the different poetry events going on around my area and in different venues around the US I would update you all on what's going on in my life with Poetry. It has been a lot so be prepared to read and read and maybe read some more.

The first thing is that I have been writing more and more everyday. I think I am writing more now than ever before. It is fun seeing all of the things that i am coming up with. I have written love poems, hate poems and why aren't you with me because that Bitch you are with now ain't shit poems. Poems about poems and poems about not wanting to write poems. It has been a completely liberating experience. Everything that I had been doing for the longest time has had to deal with politics and racism. I think ever since the Don Imus incident I have been on a rampage. I guess I had a lot to get off of my chest. But the great thing is that I am getting some wonderful poetry out of it. At least I think so.

The second major poetry thing that has happened to me is that I hosted my very first Poetry Reading on Saturday, September 22, 2007 at the Mission House. Montgomery's premiere jazz and blues lounge. I was sooo excited. At first I was asked to come out and perform because I had done a couple shows there and some people suggested me. Can you believe it? There is a buzz about me. I was geeked. So I was all set to just perform, because that is always good enough for me but then about a week before the show I was asked to host. Of course I said "Hell Yeah". I was so excited. I was to be the host of the Mission House's First Groove vs. Soul night. Groove outside with a DJ that would play music from the 70'sk, 80's and 90's and get some Soul in you system with live poetry and art in motion on the inside. Ya'll know some mess had to go on that night right? When I got there I talked to one of the Managers and she informed me that since it was a bit rainy outside they would move the DJ inside and move us poets to a smaller room. I was like "how are we supposed to do poetry and have a DJ in the same house?" And she was all it would work out and everything would be alright, but ya'll know that everything was not alright. The music was entirely too loud and my poets were mad as hell. At the end of the night I was able to pull it together and I must say that it was quite successful. Even though they played me when it came to the DJ. The manager said that he wanted to do it again and I replied "not with a damn DJ in the next room." So we will see what will happen if there is a next time.

Poet of the Month

It has been a long time since I gave out this honor. So I just wanted to share a poet with you all that I think is truly awesome. The Poet is young, handsome and most of all talented. Dahlak Brathwaite is this month's Poet of the Month. Check him out at his website or google the brother.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=5693714



Peace
IAMNOTANIGGA (And I have proof)

Republicans, Republicans, where for art thou Republicans???

The Four leading Republican Candidates for the Presidency of the United States have declined to show up to a Forum Hosted by Tavis Smiley (I love me some Tavis) on Sept 27. All of whom have cited "schedule conflicts" as the reason for their no show. This is even worrying members of the "Grand Old Party" like former Congressman Jack Kemp, who stated that "we sound like we don't want black people to vote for us". Now it's a fact that most Black people are Democrats by default but could the GOP be facing a "Blacklash" from those registered Black and Latino voters that are Republicans. And from those that vote not for for the party but for the person. It is ridiculous for the GOP candidates to think that they can win the election in 2008 without any minority votes. This country is full of young people, young Black people and young Latino people that want to be involved, are involved and can't wait until 2008 so they can vote and they are not voting for someone that they do not know and someone who does not know them. I want to know everything about my future President and I want them to know why I voted for them. I want what matters to me to matter to them and the GOP is showing that what matters to Minorities does not matter to them at all.

Check out more on this @ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/19/politics/washingtonpost/main3273657.shtml

Peace
IAMNOTANIGGA

Wings, Mozzarella Sticks, and Bigotry...To Go Please

For those who have been looking for me...sorry I have been working a second job and going to school. This time of year is very busy for me. But no worries, God is working it out and I know it will all be worth it in the end when I am the Senator of somebody’s state. But let me get to the point. Like I said I started working for Applebee’s in the evenings and on the weekend. The tips are good because I am naturally friendly. But I don't know how much I can take of the inside racism going on all up and through there. Let me tell ya'll what happened.

I was working late Monday, counting the minutes before I could leave and hoping that I did not get another table before I left. Well, while I was in the kitchen rolling silverware one of the cooks (white boy 1) and the boy who washes the dishes (white boy2) were having quite the interesting conversation.....

WB1: Guess what I am a member of!!!
WB2: What???
WB1: The Sons of the Confederacy!
WB2: Really...My grandfather is a Klansman. I can tell you where some meetings are....!

Okay let me give you some more info. After they saw that a Negro was standing right there seething and staring them right in the face they disbanded that conversation quick fast and in a hurry. But don't worry it gets better. The two dumb suckas listen to more rap music than I do. They do all the things that ignorant people feel is ethnic. They use the popular lingo. They do the manly "ghetto" handshake and if you could see how they wear their clothing you would swear they were extras on a G-Unit or Bad Boy video. I don't get it...they hate us so much that they do all they can to act like us. But it gets oh so better.

By the end of the night I was getting past what they had said and I was walking out of the kitchen when WB1 and WB2 were talking to each other. I suppose one said something that was funny because they started to laugh and giving each other the "ghetto" handshake. Well I'm naturally a comedienne so I started to mock them and they had the audacity to speak to me, and this is what was said...

WB1: Girl you don't even know what we talkin' bout.
WB2: Yeah Girl
WB1: Yeah we on anotha level.
WB2: Yeah...We WHITE so we on anotha level.
Me: (Sly smirk and shocking look plastered on face) You know what you are so right.

I just left the kitchen. I was so dumbfounded I did not know what to do or say. Now I had been secretly dissed and discriminated against but I had never experienced anything quite like this. I was not so much angry as I was amazed that he felt it was okay to say something like that to me. Obviously I was not the only one that was shocked. The white girl working in the kitchen was more upset than I was. (Or at least that’s how she acted.) I just had to get this out because I have to go to work tonight and I am more upset about this than I thought I would be. I know I live right in the Heart of Dixie but give me a break. We have to be more civilized than monkeys.


PEACE
IAMNOTANIGGA (never was never will be)

Bad Reporter

Here is something to tickle your funny bone.

Please Brotha...Don't Sue Me!!!

Okay in recent news there has been a surge of ridiculous lawsuits spawned by disgruntled Black men. Now as a future law student all of this quite amuses me but I have to wonder, what happened to laws protecting individuals and companies from frivolous litigation? In one case a JUDGE is suing a dry cleaners for an obscene amount of money for missing pants. I think the sum total reaches over 50 Million dollars. Is he crazy??? There is no way his pants or his time is worth that much money. And when it was decided in court that he had no case he decided to appeal the decision. Come on Brotha....Move on. Its over. I am sure he didn't think that he was going to win. Really. And the funny thing is that the owners of the Dry Cleaners offered a settlement that was well above the price of any pair of pants in the world. No matter what brand. I just don't understand this. This man is a Judge and he is making a mockery out of our legal system. And he is wasting tax payer money by pursuing ridiculous vindication. This man needs to move on.

Another more humorous pending lawsuit is one of a Texas man suing 1800Flowers for sending his wife a receipt for gifts sent to his mistress. Now that is sweet Karma. But while listening to this mans argument he actually has a 10% chance of winning. If people think about the facts and not the fact that he was cheating there is a chance that 1800Flowers may be found liable. Let me run down what I have heard from various news sources...

1. This man specifically asked for nothing to be sent to his home. No receipt, no coupons, no correspondence of any kind. And they did anyway.

2. When the wife received the thank you card (which I am sure is computer generated and his name was probably automatically added to this list) she then called 1800Flowers to find out what he had bought.

3. Now this is where the problem comes in. 1800Flowers has a database of customer's information. If the customer is male or female. If they are a singular customer or representing a company and all that jazz. The problem is they sent this person who did not purchase these gifts an itemized receipt and listed to whom they were sent. Now 1800Flowers has a privacy policy and in this case the person who sent out this receipt broke it.

That is the long and short of it. Now do I think he got what he deserved...Let me think about it...Hell Yeah. But could 1800Flowers end up paying for their little mistake, possibly. We just have to see what happens. If the the man's attorney advises him correctly she will tell him to take the settlement that 1800Flowers will most likely offer.

PEACE

THE BAD!!!

A couple weeks ago I posted one part in a three part series called...HIP HOP The Good The Bad The Ugly. This is the second part and before you all leave comments in asking me why it took so long here's the answer. Cause I'm busy dammit. So here it is better late than never....THE BAD!!

Before Drugs, Hoes, Bitches and money were the picture of Hip Hop's present, turning any and everything that it touched UGLY. We were blessed to have some Hip Hop rappers that were so BAD they were good. If Hip Hop is nothing else it is and will always be a way for inner city youth, hood rats and ghetto babies to cry out and express their disdain, discomfort and disbelief concerning their lives and the environment that they inhabit. Although back in the day what was being said was probably the equivalent to what is being said now, if you think about the times and how Hip Hoppers broke the lines of the everyday norm. But something about it was so pure that you couldn't help but listen to it, buy it, sing along with it and love it. I remember the first time I heard fight the power (for real). I was very young and all I heard was there was this group that was saying bad stuff and talking negatively about white people and "the man". I didn't know what was going on. I was the product of a home that only played Al Green and Shirley Murdock. But once I got my hands on some of it I found that I would forever be changed. I loved it. I craved it and I did what I had to do to get it.

Back in those days F the Police was about as bad as it got. Hip Hop Beef was harmless and nobody got shot. Oh some egos were shattered and lives reps were left in the Hip Hop's lost and found but it was still so pure and natural. The envelope was pushed but it sounded so good. It was uplifting and powerful and there was a message besides "chains and money and girls with big butts." One of my favorite songs was I like Big Butts. Sir Mix A Lot got his point across without saying the words Bitch or Hoe one hundred times. I never turned off the radio feeling confused or bad about myself. I was proud to be in my skin and proud of the music we made. Now I am ashamed and dismayed. I wonder will we ever be able to go back to the pure, poetic, beautiful side of Hip Hop?

Slap Yo Mama...Beat Yo Kids

This had me ready to slap about three of the white people that sit around me. And I'm thinking about going home to whoop my sister's kids on GP (General Purposes). This is why I love Black People. This is why I am proud to be in the skin that I am in. This is why we must unite and take back everything that was stolen from us. Starting with our Pride and our ability to speak out and speak up for what we know is RIGHT!!!! Enjoy the Knowledge!

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PEACE

IAMNOTANIGGA (And never will be!!)

ALERT...Copy Cat On The Loose.

A few days ago I posted about this blog interview going around. Well I was interviewed and then I started to read other people's interviews and I saw that a certain person was interviewed twice...yes as in two times. And I said hey I want to get interviewed twice and so I asked and Cluizel (who happens to have an awesome Blog) to interview me and she graciously agreed. So here are the questions and answers of my copy cat endeavor.

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1. Poetry readings: Snapping or Clapping? Why?

Clapping. I think that most poets are slaves to praise. The worst thing that could happen to a poet is for them to recite something and all they get is a bunch of people snapping there fingers. They want loud thunderous applause, a standing ovation, a book deal. (Well that’s what I want.) And I also think that it is so cliché to snap at a poetry reading, this is not Love Jones and my name ain’t Nina.

2. Would you ever wear your hair natural? (You should know I would ask. lol)

I have the not so secret desire to go natural. I just don’t have the guts yet. I envy anyone that can say f it and do what makes them happy. I always say that I plan to go natural when I am thirty. Somehow I think that that’s an age when I would feel more stable. And hopefully with God’s Grace I will be doing what I really want to do and corporate America will have nothing to do with my hair choice. But for now the answer is a cowardly yes…someday.

3. If you could build a husband what would he look like? (Just physically)

Imagine a man about 6’3”, dark brown skin, a head full of beautiful hair, the face of Morris Chestnut, the body of LL Cool J, the package of a porn star, and a butt that wont quit. Yes I am a booty watcher. Now that is my Harlequin Romance Man. But in real life I am what some would call a chubby chaser. I like a man with some meat on his bones. I don’t mean grossly overweight. If I want to go jogging I want him to go as well. I want someone with just the right amount of belly and a nice booty. Flesh tone doesn’t really matter and I would prefer if he wasn’t bald. By choice or by nature. I am easy to please.

4. Favorite city and why?

My favorite City it Muskegon, MI. That my hometown and there is nothing there. Nothing to do, nothing to see, but all of my family is there. Right down to the family dog, Star. The nicest Chihuahua in the world, if you don’t have testicles. For some reason she hates men. My step dad was in the Military and we traveled a bit and no matter where we were I always wanted to go back to Muskegon. I am a little city girl.

5. Turn on the computer...what is the first website you usually go to besides checking email? Why?

My first web visit goes to GOCOMICS.Com I have to get my laugh on. It’s too early for CNN and all the war news. If it can’t make me laugh at 8 in the morning I don’t need it. Right after that I am in blog heaven for about an hour. And yes I am doing all of this while I am supposed to be working. Oops, my bad. LOL

Peace

IAMNOTANIGGA

My Day So Far...

Okay so far my mood for today has gone from good to bad to sad then to quite relaxed. Let me tell you what happened to me. This morning I woke up and thanked God for the day and drove to work. At this time I was okay. Then I looked at my checking account and my pay check was more than I thought it would be and I was happy and thankful. So I decided to take my lunch early so I could run some errands when I received a call from my sister telling me that she wants more money from me because I live with her, but I sleep on a couch and all of my crap is stuffed in a corner in the dining room for all who wants to look can. NE wayz I tell her I don't have it in my budget to give and she goes off and hangs up in my ear. BTW that is too rude and one of my pet peeves. So I go back to work highly pissed off and upset. Then my best friend sends me an email and I lighten up because I got to slap the hell out of this person until my heart was satisfied. Now you all know that I was picturing my sister's face while I was slapping the hell out of this white boy, right? Now I feel a little better and I choose not to worry about her and her unreasonable demands for more money. I will give her more money when she gives me a room. And for all of you all who have the urge to slap the hell out of someone every now and then click on the link below. It's fun and you won't go to jail for assualt.

http://www.counterfeitmini.com/main.swf

Peace.

Ranting Because I Can

IAMNOTANIGGA

The Interviewer!!!

Okay, so I am reading one of my favorite blogs, The Mindspill by Bygbaby (aka Tafari) and he is talking about this meme tag that is going around. At first I am like wtf is a meme tag because I am new to blogging. Then I click on the link and am guided to Wikipedia and I find out that its not a venereal disease like I thought. Its like a chain letter for blogs. The meme is a mock interview where you get to ask and be asked five questions that you must answer and post on your blog. The questions are never the same and depending on who asks can be quit funny. So here are my questions from Bygbaby.

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1. If you were a poem what would your first line be?
If I were a poem my first line would be, “Here I am in this not so typical package telling you that I am a Poet. Loud, proud and vibrant. A poet”

Okay so that was more than one line but it’s my poem and I can write what I want to.

2. What is the one song from the 90’s that always makes you shake yo thang when it comes on?
My all time favorite song to dance to from the nineties is Bel Biv Devoe “Poison” Every time that song came on I would get up and shake my little ass money maker. I do the running man, the Charleston, and all the other dances that they did in the video. “Never trust a big butt and a smile”. I love music from the 90’s. I think everything was so natural and fresh. Hip Hop was exciting and R&B was really producing babies without actually saying the words “dick” and “pussy”. I loved everything about my stint in the 90’s. SWV, TLC, Mokenstef, Bobby Brown, Zhane, CeCe Penniston. Its just too many to name. My second favorite dance song is Zhane “Hey Mr. DJ”.

3. What it is your fantasy vacation destination & if you could take one of the Jackson who would it be?
My fantasy vacation is buying a yacht and sailing around the world. I always imagined me and my husband getting busy in all the international waters of the world. I never imagined taking a Jackson with me though. I wouldn’t take Janet because I might throw her little ass overboard, Tido is weird and so is Latoya. I would take Jermaine if he hadn’t named his son Jermajesty (no I am not playing). Michael would drive me crazy so I would have to take the father Joseph. I would tie his ass up and beat him when I got bored.

4. When was the last time you wanted to slap the shit out of someone & why?
The last time I wanted to slap the shit out of someone was about a month ago. I had just met this guy named Jodi. Yes that’s his real name. I hope he’s reading this because I’m going to put all his shit on blast. Anyway, we went on a couple of dates. He seemed really nice and we had a lot in common. Until this fool lost his damn mind. He started talking all this mess about having sex with me….
Jodi: So Michelle what you doing…?
Michelle: Nothing what’s up?
Jodi: Why don’t you come over and jump on this?
Michelle: Jump on what?
Jodi: Girl you know what I’m talking about. I need some lovin’
Michelle: Boy I just met you, ain’t nothing going down. Besides you haven’t even been tested. This type of thing takes time.
Jodi: Yeah, but you slow as Christmas…
Michelle: “click” and the phone goes dead…
If I was face to face with that fool I would have put my foot up his ass. I should have known better than to date a man that still walked around with the wet head. Looking like Ice Cube in Boyz From the Hood. He was cute, but not that cute. Punk ass brotha.

5. If you were walking down the street & a guy yelled out, yo shorty, do you wanna be my boo, what would you most like do and or say.
I would ignore the hell out of him and keep on pushing. My name ain’t shorty and I am not a ghost so there is no need to call me boo. Now if he got indignant I would have to flip him the bird and tell him to take that ignorant mess home to his trifling mama and/or daddy that raised him to talk to women like that. Punk Ass

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The Rules are simple...

1. If you would like me to interview you leave me a comment saying, "Interview me.

2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions. (They probably won't be the same ones you see above!)

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

POET SPOTLIGHT

In honor of Black Music Month the Poet of the Month is Tupac Shakur

Check out this Classic Tupac Video

"Keep Your Head Up"

PEACE

Hip Hop Just Died This Morning...

In Honor of Black Music Month I have decided to pay a tribute to the most original form of music since the DAWN OF MAN!!! Okay I may be taking it a little over the top but you get my point. Hip Hop is something different to everyone who encounters it. To some it is everything and to some it's nothing at all. To me Hip Hop is a part of me that I don't think I could live without. When I was younger my mother would not allow us to listen to Hip Hop, rap, or house music. She was all about the Blues and some good 'ol Soul. I grew up on Al Green, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Shirley Murdock, Stephanie Mills(my Mom's absolute favorite) and you can't forget about Lenny Williams. Although my siblings and I were not allowed to listen to Hip Hop my mother worked two jobs and she did hair in her spare time so we would sneak in our Lil Kim Hardcore tape and Notorious BIG a little Tupac and artist like that. But my Hip Hopucation did not kick off until I became a teenager and decided to find myself. That is when I learned about True Hip Hop and where it came from. So in honor of Hip Hop and Black Music Month I am going to be writing a three part series entitled Hip Hop: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. And I am going to be starting with THE UGLY!!!

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Since the beginning of Hip Hop time this music has been something that portrays the lives and trials of the African American community. Despite what was said these artists had a way of telling a story that would depict something as ugly and gruesome as drug use into something beautiful. "Even as a crack fiend, Mama, you always was a black Queen Mama" Tupac Dear Mama.

That has been the glory of Hip Hop from the very start. It was all about having fun, telling true stories, educating the youth and maybe throwing some fly ass parties. But in the end no one got hurt. But the times oh how they do change. In a day where Rap stars with platinum chains, big cars and bullet proof vest masquerade as Hip Hop artist no one really knows what the hell is going on. I can't tell a Young Joc song from a Young Dro song and I don't think I really want to. And to me Young Jeezy sounds an awful lot like Lil Weezy. (Is anyone else wondering where the hell they got those ridiculous names from?) With Hip Hop being flooded with so many little ones and young'uns who haven't been potty trained yet our music is going right down the shitter. In the end what will be left? Nothing but a funky smell and a feeling of relief after the mourning. Although some have been able to capitalize and become successful businessmen instead of living a life of crime or spending the rest of their lives in prison others just fall short every time. In a day where most young Black men raised in the "ghetto" dream of becoming a rap star their role models are those they see on BET. A man who brags about getting shot nine times and another that glorifies selling drugs as a hobby and way of life. Our children are doomed. I remember thinking that I wanted to be just like Bahamadia. Not because she was famous or because she had money, but because she was beautiful and she had a message besides killing, stealing and just getting by. Do these rappers understand that they are doing way more than making a rap song and selling a few CDs. They are molding today's youth. What are we to do? With all the positive literature and music that I expose my niece to she still told me that she wants her first automobile to have "spinning rims" on it. Now she is only six years old but I thought to myself, are the things that she sees on television more influential than what I try so diligently to instill into her? Maybe. Maybe not. After all it is not the rappers responsibility to be role models, right. WRONG! As long as they expect us to buy what they are selling they should consider our side of view. Now in no way am I an advocate of censorship but I am one of boycotting and not buying their shit.

___________Problem & Solution____________

The Difference A Good Beat Can Make!!

Problem: Often times I turn on the radio to the "All Hip Hop, All the time" radio station and become entranced. It mostly plays out like this...I am in my car riding through Montgomery, AL rush hour traffic(the most horrible I have ever witnessed) and I hear this nice loud but somewhat soothing sound radiate from my speakers. I start to bob my head and shake my upper body. Than I start to tap my feet. All of a sudden I hear "I want to Fuck You, You already know" and I am like what the...who the hell is this? The song would have perfect if there were no words. With super producers like Kanye, Scott Storch, Juicy J, Lil Jon and Timbaland we find ourselves shaking our asses to some of the most degrading music ever created. And I think women especially should take it personally. I mean, every time I listen to a rap song or club song I walk away feeling like an empty hole waiting to be filled. Its ridiculous. Up beat Hip Hop has changed a lot since "I like Big Butts".

Solution: Don't buy that shit.

I Just Want to Kill Somebody!!!

Problem: Often times I am sitting at home listening to the "All Hip Hop, All the time" radio station and I become enraged. It mostly plays out like this...I am cleaning my kitchen and all of a sudden I hear this man and he's telling a really sad story. They stole his car, robbed his home, shot at his dog and rolled his mother down a steep hill in her wheelchair. (I'm serious) And just when you think it can't get any worse he loses his job, gets pulled over for no reason at all and savagely beaten by some racist cops. In my head all is lost until...He grabs a gun a knife and takes their lives, that will teach them to fuck with an OG like me. "I live the dangerous life", he says and I am like what the...who the hell is this? The song would have been perfect if there had been no ending and they had left that deranged man in jail instead of giving him a mic and a record deal. Story telling Hip Hop has changed a lot since "Broken glass everywhere, people pissing on the stairs you know they just don't care"

Solution: Don't buy that shit. (and maybe stop listening to the "All Hip Hop, All the time" radio station)

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THE UGLY END....

Stayed tuned for the GOOD and the BAD!!!

PEACE
IAMNOTANIGGA

RENT-THE MOTION PICTURE

I know it is a little late...okay it's a lot late, but I finally saw the movie Rent (The film adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning rock opera) and I must say I could have died a better woman without having seen this movie. I have to say the hype that this movie got it did not deserve and I have no idea of whether or not the movie did well in the box office but I think anyone who bought a ticket should get there money back. I hated it so much I want to charge the cable company for allowing me to watch it. It was just that awful. If any of you don't know what the movie is about...here goes.

This film adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning rock opera tells the story of one year in the life of a group of bohemians struggling in modern day East Village New York. The story centers around Mark (Anthony Rapp) and Roger (Adam Pascal), two roommates. While a former tragedy has made Roger numb to life, Mark tries to capture it through his attempts to make a film. In the year that follows, the group deals with love, loss, AIDS, and modern day life in one truly powerful story. Rosario Dawson, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Tracie Thoms, and Taye Diggs also star. Rent, the show that in 1996 gave voice to a Broadway generation, has finally become an energetic, passionate, and touching movie musical. Based loosely on Puccini’s La Bohème, it focuses on the year in the life of a group of friends in New York’s East Village–”bohemians” who live carefree lives of art, music, sex, and drugs. Well, carefree until Mark, an aspiring filmmaker (Anthony Rapp), and Roger, an aspiring songwriter (Adam Pascal), find out they owe a year’s rent to Benny (Taye Diggs), a former friend who had promised them free residence when he married the landlord’s daughter. Roger has also attracted the attention of his downstairs neighbor, Mimi (Rosario Dawson), while Mark’s former girlfriend, Maureen (Idina Menzel), has found a new romance in a lawyer named Joanne (Tracie Thoms). Philosophy professor Tom (Jesse L. Martin) finds his soul mate in drag queen Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia). But because this is the late-’80s, the threat of AIDS is always present.

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I don't know what was worse...1) seeing a bunch of 30 somethings pretending to be 20 years and younger or 2) the random spurts of singing in between awkward dialogue. Everything about this musical drove me crazy. The worse thing was the character Muareen. When she sang she would open her mouth so wide that I could see what she ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I also hated the fact that Taye Diggs was walking around acting like he could sing. If you are going to cast someone for a musical how about requiring some talent in the singing department. That goes for Ms. Rosario Dawson as well. Now I realize why I had not seen this movie....IT SUCKS.

PEACE

Bad Reporter

I've been reading this comic for about a year now and it is funny as hell. I decided to share it with you guys. It comes out twice weekly, so I will post it accordingly.

Peace

IN THE END

IN THE END

In the end what is left?
Laughter unheard and dreams not dreamt.
Fun still left to be had floating in fun's pergatory dying a painful death.
Memories stopped abruptly with the last beat of your heart.
In the end what is left but silence and tears?
Those things that do not sustain with hope and faith.
Things that only bring temporary comfort when I pick up the phone to call and remember that you're gone.
In the end what is left to say to your children.
How many times can they be asked "Are you Okay"?
That gets old and we already know the answer to that question.
How do we move on and remind them that it's okay to do the same.
In the end what is left?
You forgot to tell us what to do if something like this happened.
Pick up the pieces, keep on laughing, keep on being and keep on loving.
It would have been nice to have you around forever or at least little longer.
That way our bond would feel a little stronger.
That way our ties would feel a little tighter.
That way I could have told you I love You.

In loving memory of my Beloved Cousin Cynthia Faye Mitchell

Hot Shit 2

IAMNOTANIGGA

JAZZ ATTACK

I thought I would share something with you all. Ya'll probably already know that I love me some Jill Scott. This is a great interpretation of Good Morning Heartache originally by Billie Holiday. Enjoy and Relax!

POET OF THE MONTH 2

RIVES




This dude is super talented and funny as hell. Even poets like to laugh sometimes. Enjoy the art and if you have any nominees for poet of the month you all know how to contact me.

PEACE
IAMNOTANIGGA

Party Like A Rock Star (Obama '08)

After much consideration and soul searching I have decided to officially endorse Barack Obama for President in 2008. Now this may not seem very important to some but to me I am very careful with my vote. I know some may say that my vote does not count or that a Black man will never win the election and that I am just wasting my vote on him, but of course I disagree. I am proud to say that I have Obama fever. There is something about this person that I am drawn to. I love his stand on the issues, especially Iraq. He is very straight forward about his past and the things that may taint him and his reputation. This guy is amazing. But it disturbs me that among most registered African American Democrats Hillary is the front runner and Barack is the front runner among Caucasian Democrats.
I am sure a lot of the Black Community will be going with Hillary because of her husband. But there is something about her that just does not rub me the right way. She has a stubbornness about her that is a big turn off to me. She does not seem to be very apologetic. And I think that we all know a President should know how to say "I am Sorry." I also feel that her being female is not a very positive thing. And please, before you guys fill my comments section with I hate you messages, hear me out. I believe that when it comes to foreign policy she will seem less competent(no matter how good she is) to the heads of our foreign counterparts. We all know the middle eastern ideas of women and how they are seen in their communities. I believe they will think us vulnerable because we have a female President. And I definitely believe that the President of Iran is ready to drop a nice big juicy Nuclear bomb on us as soon as possible.

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All in all out of all the candidates Barack seems to be the most capable. I think it is high time that we, as a community started to show the world what we can do. It is time to believe in ourselves and show them we are more than entertainer, athletes, and lackeys for our white counterparts.

As always comment and criticisms are always welcome.

Peace

IAMNOTANIGGA

VENTING (Because I can Damn it)

With all the coverage on the news regarding the comments that Imus made it got me to thinking. And ya'll should know that when a poet thinks a poet writes. There is a good posting on BygBaby's(aka Tafari) blog that goes into detail about what happened and there are a lot of comments from people that express their obvious outrage at Imus's idea that calling a group of Black Women "Nappy Headed Hos" was funny. When I heard it I was pissed the hell off. And I was more than a little shocked. I don't think anyone realizes or cares what kind of impact their words have on people. Especially those that are constantly in the public eye. And although the outrage is surrounding this old White man, people are not concentrating on the fact that Black men do it all the time. Truly how can we expect anyone else to RESPECT us if we don't. If we drag this man through the mud and kill his career (which I think he deserves) we should do the same to those Black rappers that do the same thing. If you do not agree with the language don't buy it, don't listen to it and don't acknowledge it at all.

Everybody that reads this blog knows I am a poet and poets write when they are happy. They write when they are sad and they damn sure write when they are pissed the hell off. So I am sitting at my desk and I hear a song by Mos Def called Umi Says followed by another Mos Def song entitled Rock N Roll. Hearing these two songs got me to thinking about the roles that Black Women have played in this country and all over the world. We are the mother's of this nation and yet and still we are considered sub-human and not equal. It just sickens me and I wrote a poem because it was on my mind and I couldn't concentrate on my job unless I got it out. (Yes I am at work.) But anyway I hope you enjoy...if not I really don't give a damn.

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This poem is dedicated to Tafari. Keep on teaching Brotha. Keep on teaching.

Nappy Headed Ho's

They sang with ropes around their necks, welts on their backs, blood in their mouths.
They sang and they danced with chains on their ankles, no shoes on their feet, couldn't escape the rocks thorns and debris.
They danced and they prayed with hope in their hearts, faith in their pockets, and strength on their sides they prayed.
They prayed and they cried with never ending tears that washed the pain off of their faces.
They caught those tears in calloused hands and saved them for a rainy day and fed them to their children so they would never forget.
Never forget what they could survive.
Tell the story they said.
Pass it on, so these marks on my back mean something.
Lord.
Tell my story; how we birthed this Nation we were forced to plow.
We are not cattle. You are not animals.
You are a King strong and powerful.
You are not uneducated.
You are a Queen lively and beautiful.
Lord.
Pass it on.
Let them know that this blood in you is the same blood in them.
The milk that I fed you is the same that I gave them.
Let them know that it was more than a joy ride.
No, it was not a pleasure cruise.
It was hell on wheels.
But we made it through.
Rough times and rocky roads.
No shoes and little clothes.
Nothing fancy we just jumped over the broom.
Strong family united from the womb to the tomb.
Tell them baby, tell my story.
Pass on your heritage of Oshun and Yemenya.
Tell of your roots of Hannibal and Shaka Zulu.
Tell them.
Let them know that they will never possess the power to steal your glow.
Lord.
Tell them my story.
Feed it to them forcibly and hold it down for them.
Make it known around the world who I am so these welts on my back and scars on my hands mean something.
Let them know, so the next time they want to call Black Women “Nappy headed Hos” they will think twice.

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Thanks ya'll for putting up with my venting. As always critisism is always welcome.

Peace

IAMNOTANIGGA

GOOD MUSIC 2

Whats up poetry heads? It's that time again. The CD of genuinely good music that I am presenting this month is by my new found favorite...Amy Winehouse. This girl gets the Shelly seal of approval. I give this CD 4 out of 5 stars. She would have 5 but the songs are a bit short for my liking. Once you hear her you want to listen all day, but sadly you will get about 40 minutes of GOOD MUSIC. Since I only discovered her about a month ago I am going to rely on AOL music to provide the info on this powerhouse of music.

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Much can be said about Amy Winehouse, one of the U.K.'s flagship vocalists during the 2000s. The British press and tabloids seemed to focus on her rowdy behavior and heavy alcohol consumption, but fans and critics alike embraced her rugged charm and brash sense of humor because of her distinctively soulful and jazzy vocals. Her platinum-selling breakthrough album Frank elicited comparisons ranging from Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan to Macy Gray and Lauryn Hill. And interestingly enough, one can often hear aspects of each of those singers' vocal repertoire in Winehouse's voice despite her strong cockney accent and vernacular. Born to a taxi-driving father and pharmacist mother, Winehouse grew up in the Southgate area in north London. Her upbringing was surrounded by jazz. Many of the uncles on her mother's side were all professional jazz musicians, and even her paternal grandmother was romantically involved with British jazz legend Ronnie Scott. While at home, she listened to and absorbed her parents' selection of greats: Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra among others. However, in her teens, she was drawn to the rebellious spirit of TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and other American R&B and hip-hop acts of the time.
At the age of 16, after she had been expelled from stage school, she caught her first break when pop singer Tyler James, a schoolmate and close friend, passed on her demo tape to his A&R, who was searching for a jazz vocalist. That opportunity led her to attain a recording contract with Island Records. At the end of 2003, when she was 20 years old, Island released her debut album, Frank. With contributions from hip-hop producer and keyboardist Salaam Remi, Winehouse's amalgam of jazz, pop, soul, and hip-hop received rave reviews. The album was nominated for the 2004 Mercury Music Prize as well as two Brit Awards, but its lead single, "Stronger Than Me," won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song. Following her debut, the accolades and inquiring interviews appeared concurrently in the press with her tempestuous ongoings. In 2006, her management company finally suggested that she enter into rehab for alcohol abuse, but instead, she dumped the company and transcribed the ordeal into the U.K. Top Ten hit "Rehab." It was the lead single for her second critically acclaimed album, Back to Black. This time around the music delved into the sounds of '50s-'60s rock & roll, R&B, and soul with productions divided between Remi and British DJ and multi-instrumentalist Mark Ronson. ~ Cyril Cordor, All Music Guide

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Of course I have my favorite songs on this CD. My favorite is Me and Mr Jones followed closely by Back to Black. I have to say that I will be glad to pay my $15-$20 for her current and future albums.

Like always criticism is always welcome and if you disagree or have a suggestion for music that should be highlighted in GOOD MUSIC let me know.

Peace

IAMNOTANIGGA

DAMN SHE ON FIRE

SUNNI PATTERSON

I just wanted to share some real hot shit.

TO MILES

SANCTUARY

The best eleven minutes of my life happened in my living room.
Within your Brew of Bitches I found sanctuary.
You turned me out in eleven minutes flat.
Started sitting down and I ended right on my back.
Nothing like I have ever experienced.
You used your instrument to send pleasure through me.
Pleasure crawling from my toes, walking to my knees, sprinting up my thighs, right past my heart, in my mouth and out my eyes.
You gave me pleasure in eleven minutes flat.
No man had ever given me pleasure like that.
Not from touch, talk or sound.
With your Spanish Key you Ran my Voodoo Down.
But I found Sanctuary in your Brew of Bitches.
And I just want to thank you.
For expanding my palette, improving my taste.
Now everyday I can’t wait to turn you on and lose myself.
In your Bitches Brew I found Sanctuary and I never want to leave.

This is just another Michelle W. original.

This piece was inspired by the late GREAT Miles Davis.

Watch a short Miles Davis interview.

"They Like it...I'm Cool" Miles Davis

Not So Poetic!

I have a confession...Shelly LOVES New York. I don't know what it is, but this show is disturbingly entertaining. I think that everyone knows the history of New York. She started out on the original Flavor of Love show. After making it to the final two (by means of treachery and deceit) she was given the boot and Hoops took home the gold teeth and the man, Flavor Flav. Unfortunately for Flav he was given the boot by Hoops not too long afterward. (I hear that she is an aspiring video girl, hooker, gold digger...whatever!) That brings us to Flavor of Love 2. All was good in the house. I mean as good as it can possibly be with about 12 women fighting for the affection of one really old, almost out of work hip hop pioneer, until Mr. Flav surprises his beautiful buxom babes with a surprise guest....New York. I don't think I have to tell you that the remaining girls were pissed, but little did they know that her job as an assistant to Flav at a photo shoot would transcend to her receiving a clock at the next elimination, throwing her right back into the mix of all the drama and allowing her to create some of her own. This is when history repeats itself. New York makes it to the final 2 again and in the end she is given the boot by a seemingly heartbroken Flav. But I don't think that he was heart broken for long because he chose the big bootied Delishis this time. And all seemed fine for Flav, but not for New York. After crying, cursing and mooning Flav she left and vowed NEVER TO LOVE AGAIN. Until VH1 called her and said we will give you your own show to help you find love (and raise our ratings) if you will love again.

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That brings me to the current season of I Love New York. She has gone through the only men in America that have seen both seasons of Flavor of Love and still thought it would be worth while to date her. With the final episode looming in the very near future everyone is wondering "who will New York choose"? I don't know but she was able to bring it down to a "wanna be rapper/thug" and "a punk", Chance and Tango. After she eliminated the best guy for the job, Real (who happens to be Chance's real life brother) she was left with and undercover abuser and a potential stalker. I have my ideas about what will go on in the end but I choose not to share my prediction. I will fill you all in after the final episode. Until then. Comments always welcome.

Peace

IAMNOTANIGGA

POET SPOTLIGHT

The first Poet that I will highlight is Saul Williams. This Guy is more than deep. He is simply amazing. I don't know how to describe how I feel about him and the work that he does. He is a published Poet, Rapper, Writer, Actor and an activist for ALL People. If you don't know you better ask somebody because Saul Williams is where it's at. I first discovered him while watching Girlfriends (Yes Girlfriends. I happen to like that show.) and he was playing the part of promiscuous Linn's boyfriend. He was a Poet (of course) and celibate. I thought a piece that he performed on the show was interesting so I googled him and fell in love with his poetry and his CD. Now I knew his Poetry would be good but I was not so sure about his album. But that was good to. It has poetry and rap on it. It was, to say the least, GOOD. So check out Saul at on his web site http://www.saulwilliams.com/. I am sure you will love him as much as I do. And if you don't...let me know. You know I love constructive criticism.

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List of Saul's Poetry and Music

Books:

The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip Hop
She
Said Shotgun to the Head
The Seventh Octave (Early Writings of Saul Williams)

Records:

Penny For A Thought / Purple Pigeons
Saul Williams (self titled Album)

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Live And On Time

(Listen to Saul)

http://blackvoices.aol.com/blackhistory2007/poetrycafe/

Listen and watch Black Stacey Video.

There are other poets featured on this website as well.

You can listen to them and Saul as well.

Enjoy and like always constructive criticism is always welcome.

GOOD MUSIC

Hey Poetry Heads around the world. Its time for CD of the Month. I wanted to give my opinion on the best Music out there right now. In a world where Hip Hop is dead and you can't listen to a Love Song without hearing someone say "Suck Me", or "Lick Me" before the end of the track it is very refreshing to hear genuinely good music. So therefore I have decided to provide information on one GREAT CD a month.

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Jill Scott Collaborations

This has quickly become one of my favorite CDs. It has 14 songs with featured artist such as Mos Def, Ronald Isley, Bilal, AL Jarreau, and many more. This CD will blow your mind. From Track 1 until the very end. It also has an additional CD full of snippets and previews of songs from various artist that are on the Hidden Beach Record label. All in all I have to give this one 5 magnificent stars. All Jill Scott fans will be happy and hungry for her next album. I know I can hardly wait. I hope she gets one out soon. But I think we all know that with Jill she will have 2 or 3 years in between albums.

Here is a link that will allow you to listen to snippets of every song on the CD.

Its quit long but it will get you there.

http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?EAN=894096001078&z=y&vcqty=15%2015%2015%2015

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As always I thrive on constructive criticism. So please leave a comments on how you feel about my selection for the month of March. And if you have any suggestions please let me know. I am always interested in GOOD MUSIC.

Shameless Plug

For all of you that live in Montgomery AL or the surrounding area please come check out Montini.

On Wednesday night there is a wonderful poetry night for those who write poetry and those who just like poetry.

Check out WWW.Montinibar.com for more information.

Getting Started

I figured that since my blog is all about poetry I should post at least one of my pieces to get things started.

Please remember I am an artist and I'm sensitive about my Shit.

Lover's Reunion

I said to him, “you are my kryptonite”.
And he took me into his arms weakening me and my ability to say no.
Like so many times before I succumbed to his touch and allowed him to posses me.
And like so many times before I knew that I would meet my end when he had been satisfied and had had his way.
Never should the two have met, but life is inevitable.
As is pain and love.
And he is it.
My love and my pain.

I said to him “please don’t do this”.
But he ravished me.
And I allowed it.
Allowed my brain to be clouded with the “what ifs”.
Because he would one day reach the finish line and I wanted to be there.
He would grow into his potential and be the man that I love so blindly.
But now he is just the boy that handles my heart so recklessly.
And I allow it.
Remembering that there is no joy without pain.
And he is it, my pain and my joy.

I said to him, “you will one day be the death of me”.
And while he watched me die, he was proud.
Proud of his ability to render me helpless without him.
Proud that he had broken me to the point of self loathing.
And I let it be.
Because if he didn’t love me he would not do this right.
No matter that the words had never escaped his lips to send liberation to my ears.
I knew deep down that this had to be love.
If not, then what is all this pain and torment for?
For the amusement of the gods and the toughening of my skin.
All the while thinking without sacrifice their can be no acceptance.
And he accepted my mind as sacrificial treasure.

I said to him, “this can no longer go on”.
And he cried for the first time.
Love was all he had, but I now knew that he was poison.
And I left.
Never to return to purposely imprison my heart.
Until we meet again………………….


I hope you enjoyed this poem. Feel free to leave comments and critisisms.
Peace.
IAMNOTANIGGA

My Very First Post(On my very own Blog)

Hey Everybody. Since this is my first posting on my new blog, I will keep it simple. I am excited about this so hopefully it will not become something that I become bored with and forget about in a couple of months.

I created this blog for those of you out there who love poetry. It can be spoken word poetry, published poetry and everything in between and I love it.

Poetry is my release. And I have found that it's a release for others as well. So thats what I will be doing on this blog. I will be sharing some of my own poetry and poems of others, dead and alive that I find interesting.

I would also like to share information about current events going on in poetry, foreign and domestic. If any of you have any listings of poetry grooves going on let me know.

Until the next posting.
Peace.
IAMNOTANIGGA