Poem: Ms. Poetry

Your words resonate

On the walls of my heart

Ringing everytime I hear you

Ms. Poetry

Your voice is a loud-speaker of pain

Past, present and future

Never discouraged over trials that bear gain

You do not see color

But people

I no longer look at others 

I C U

Ms Poetry

And I can't wait to be stimulated with

Warm haikus

Tender sonnets and

Sweet soliloquies

So that one day

When I'm old and grey 

I'll simply ask you to

Speak to me 

''Hit-Making Industry''

I have a beef with the music industry. In fact, I don't think it should be called "Music" because it's more like "Hit-making". For every Jasmine Sullivan or Jodeci that comes along, there's at least a few dozen T-Pains or Lil' Waynes pumping out what they deem as music. What really gets to me is the power and influence that they have on this generation. These teens (and some adults; let's be real) hold on to their every word. It's to the point where as long as you have a catchy hook and a hot beat, you are the greatest artist ever. Don't believe me? Check this out:



I ain't gon' lie, that "Johnson Johnson" part is hilarious but c'mon. She got that baby lotion squeeze?! Really?! (smh haaaaaaaaaaaard). Although the industry always had artists who liked to have fun, most of it had a message. When's the last time you heard a song that had you moving like this:



Some positive stuff the grown folks can cut a rug too. Sorry for the little rant but hey, that's what the blog is all about. Until next time...

Shalom :)

So fine.....she blows my mind....

I'm Mint-Condition all the way. These guys have really made some great music over the years but this track has to be the most laid back one yet. A slow jam for the old-school generation:



If I could find the track online.....

Shalom :)

Why I love spoken-word: Reason #26

I can't believe I didn't see this video sooner but better late than never. Great subject matter as well. Shout out to all the fathers in the world who play an active role in their children's lives. You are an inspiration to this generation:



Shalom :)

Poem: Dave

Dedicated to this dude

I love you

I may have never said it

But everyday I try to

make it plain in our interactions

Constantly showing interest and

Filling this gap of emotions left

By our father who was absent

You and me

Me and you

Similar in essence

Different in actions

While you decide to scroll through

Life's many websites

I take the vicarious approach

Our anthem consists of laughter and foolishness

Finding common ground in life's simple moments

Our tongues never expressing

What our bodies have been saying for years

Thank you

For being who you are

And accepting me as I am

I know I haven't always been the

Wiser older brother that I should have been

Even sometimes forgetting that I am your keeper

I weep for you sometimes

In the still of the night

Praying that you may rise

To your standard of excellence

And God's

Please know that wherever you may be

I'll always be there for you

My lips may never say it

But actions will always yell

I love you

Montreal Human Rights Film Festival

A must-see

I went out with a friend to check out the opening night of this festival and I must say that it was an eye-opener. There were two films showing. The first was about 30 mins and spoke of a not-too-distant future  where water becomes a rare ressource to the point where people are willing to kill each other for it. The other was a full-length film of a woman's experience during the genocide in Rwanda. Both were extremely well done and fascinating. Anybody in the MTL area should MOS DEF check this out. We sometimes need to be reminded of how fortunate we really are and not take it for granted. As the saying goes, you don't know what you got till it's gone. If you'd like more info about the festival and showtimes, you can click here.

Shalom :)

I think I'm in love...

I'm not the type to go gaga over a girl I see. She may look good, but what can she offer once Maybeline leaves the building? But this woman right here??? This gurl right here??? Blew. Me. A. Way.



She's so nice, I gotta post her up twice:



What more can I say???

Shalom <3

Financial freedom

In the words of Dr. King: ''Free at last, free at last''

After a few years of sacrifices and hard work, I'm happy to say that I am officially debt-free. No credit cards. No student loans. Na.Da. It just feels like a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders. The first thing I want to do is give a big offering to the Lord. I haven't been the most faithful tithe and offerings contributor but He still blessed me regardless. It may leave a hole in my pocket, but God is good. Just thought I'd share my lil' bundle of joy with the rest of y'all.

Shalom :)

The extinction of black movies

What happened to movies like this???

Being the hopeless romantic that I am, I was watching some classic black love stories during the weekend (Love Jones, Premium, Love & Basketball to name a few) and it hit me: Why isn't Hollywood making these type of movies anymore?? Not only black love stories, but movies that don't portray us in stereotypical fashion. And before you answer ''What about Tyler Perry?'', his movies seem too repetitive for my liking. If I was to mention to this generation some great black movies, I'm sure a lot would tell me Baby Boy, Save the Last Dance or some other generic title. I may come off as a hater, but I'm just a brotha who knows that not all of us grew up in the hood and want to be ball players. Some of us have other aspirations, dreams we want to accomplish and don't need the eyes of a room focused on us when asked ''Does anybody know how to rap?". Crooklyn, Do the Right Thing, Get on the Bus, Malcolm X, The Inkwell, The Five Heartbeats, Sugar Hill. These are only some movies that I can think that really made me see that we, as a people, are so much more than the gold around our necks or the clothes that we wear. Some of us want to be artists, lawyers, doctors, politicians, US President even (good looking out Mr. Obama). Sidney Poitier, arguably the most important Afro-American actor in the history of Hollywood said the following:

''I never had an occasion to question color, therefore, I only saw myself as what I was... a human being.'' 

More than black people, these movies had values and life lessons that you could get from the big screen. You could actually relate to the main character and their struggle to become a rose surrounded by a concrete world. That's why I love the classics and can't really mess with the new stuff. They may have nice special effects and great performances but lack that spark that separate the great movies from the classics.

Shalom :)

A beautiful Sunday...

Not the greatest view in the world.....

So it's a beautiful Sunday afternoon here in the MTL and I got mad things to do. But being the procrastinator that I am, I decided to blog today. It's been a week since I moved out of the nest and it's been great. My cooking has VASTLY improved, I'm managing my time a lot better and my spiritual life is getting better with each passing day. I really can't ask for more. Poetry-wise, the writing is there but not as intense as the last two weeks for obvious reasons. Inspiration is all around and waiting for me to interpret it through pen and pad. One other thing; I want to go back to school and take something in English Literature. As a poet, I want to step up my vocabulary and writing skills. One thing I learn is that you always have to perfect your craft no matter your profession or hobby. So I'll have to juggle school-work-ministry-poetry soon :s

But God never, EVER puts more on someone that they can bear, so I'm looking forward to this added weight on my shoulders.

Shalom :)