Own It

They will have a lot of shit to say,

But never about their own shit

Confused when it’s returned to sender

Even though they never learned to address their own shit

Distracting us with what’s hot,

Hoping we try to keep up with the Jones’

Have us worshipping brands,

Waiting to know what the release date for the next iPhone is

Instead of doing what’s financially best,

Figuring out how to own shit.

But how do you figure out something

After centuries of not being allowed to know shit?

Surrounded by the notion that black owners never know shit

Surrounded by the notion that black businesses always owe shit

That our only access to wealth is through debt or when we’re loaned shit

Making us dependent on their system,

When in fact we were their first dependents when they initially stole shit

Claimed as property,

They owned us in order to own shit

“Proud owners” for so long, but now we’re expected to forget that they owned shit

Expected to forget that we were sold and not told shit,

Expected to forget all the free labor and cruelty, killed if we couldn’t grow shit

As though trauma has a statute of limitations,

These things happened and it’s overdue that they own it

In order to repair these actions, we need reparations

We’re taking everything we’re owed, and no shit

Who’s World Is This?

I had a dream that one day I would take over the world,

I didn’t know how or when, but I knew it was possible

As a kid I thought I was unstoppable

On some pinky and the brain tip

No one could tell me shiiii… nothing… I was always into something,

If I do it all, the chances for success become optimal

Possibilities become probabilities

Being able to solve problems becomes probable

With Pinky and the Brain, each night a different obstacle,

But the goal remained the same, “Try and take over the world”

After a while, you may start to feel insane

Then Nas told me “the world is yours” and it changed the game

It’s not the dream, but the approach that needs to be more refined

“Trying” to take what’s yours? See how the endpoints don’t align

Instead of trying to take over the world, I realized the world is mine.

Notice pinky followed the brain as the body follows the mind

In order to take over the world, you must take over your mind

Dreams become nightmares when distractions borrow your mind.

So let your dreams become plans of action

Be specific, ask how is your world defined

Be intentional, live for today, plan for tomorrow

The world is yours! Keep those words in mind.

Living Costly

When I put my pen to the paper I let my mind go where my body hasn't been before

Writing is my outlet, I'm not too sure of all I have in store

But, I know I want a lot and they say it's going to cost me

Well, I've been broke all my life and that's never stopped anything from being costly

Simply existing in these conditions, my life it could cost me

Day to day activities become complex decisions

Should I go to the corner store? Will that raise suspicion?

If I do, I better not have a hood on because you know what they'll say

“He was black... in a hoodie.. must be a hoodlum up to his hood ways.”

It's a crime to be black while walkin'

The result is your name becomes another one we chant when we're marchin'

RIP Mike Brown! RIP Trayvon Martin!

That's all the ingredients they need to cook up the story

Treat us like trash and throw our bodies in a trash bag

Hoping our only reaction will be a hashtag,

Well, enough is enough and that ain't enough for me.

They ask "Why are ya'll always complaining?"

"You didn't have to deal with real issues like slavery... racism is dead, it's a new year."

Well, tell that to Oscar Grant who was killed on his mother's birthday

The first day of a "New Year"

Walking in the dark with this skin tone can be a doozie,

It's lights... camera... action!

Twenty shots, that's more than a full clip, Stephon Clarks death became a movie

Just a cell phone in his hand, but when you're black, a gun is all they do see

And the truth often gets lost in the typical argument

That my skin compliments the usual suspect

So don't ask me why we're upset and that we should protest peacefully

Because Kaepernick tried that and you refused to take a knee for me

Taking a knee cost Kap his last check

Instead you take a knee on a man's neck and cost George Floyd his last breath

I... can't... breathe, each murder is just gets harder, RIP Eric Garner

No longer will we remain silent as you kill our brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers

RIP Sandra Bland, who died trying to take a stand

Murdered in custody and while dead, for her mugshot, they tried to make her stand

When will everyone understand?

We say black lives matter because for centuries we've been given the underhand

We're not asking for an upper hand,

But that you please extend the other hand when injustice takes place

Black skin stirs up so many emotions,

Ask yourself "why?" But don't continue to blame the hurt ones for the commotion

Instead, educate yourself... read a book... listen

Join the revolution that is already in motion.