Remaining Rational in Hard Times..

Hello, everyone. I've been meaning for a while to weigh in on what's happening between my people and law enforcement in this country; but finding the words has not been easy, so pardon me if I ramble here. As these events unfolded, I made sure to remember that whatever I saw on T.V. was not to be taken at face value. The media has a knack for making things seem much worse than they really are; I was not going to allow myself to become incensed and lose my train of thought (although it hasn't been easy). As you already know, our nation was just recently starting to heal from the slap in the face that was a certain grand jury's decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson for the murder of Michael Brown. Tears were shed, expletives were hurled, small-scale riots broke out in the city, but things were just starting...JUST starting to cool off...when this happened.

The policeman who placed Eric Garner in a life-ending choke hold was not indicted. He walked free. Needless to say, the fresh wound of injustice created by Darren Wilson walking free was ripped back open. People are currently protesting in New York City--blocking streets, marching, and shouting their demands--and no one should be surprised. 

My barber said something a few months ago that I initially laughed off, but it seems less ludicrous as time goes on; he said that this recent string of black murders (Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, etc.) is the beginning stage of what will eventually explode into a race war in this country. And by "race war" he meant just that; blacks and whites arming themselves and taking one another out on U.S. soil until only one side is left standing. Pretty scary stuff....but it seems less crazy now than it did then. 

That's one reason I'm writing this post. This is my attempt, however small it may be, to restore some rationality in this crazy period. After much thinking about what's happened these past few months, I had to ask myself "what is this really about?" 

It's not about "Black vs. White" 

And it's not about "Black people vs. The Police"

Read the story HERE

No, it's silly to believe that all white people are racist; and despite what's happened in recent months, I still believe that we NEED law enforcement in this country. I guarantee that America's policemen have PREVENTED way more murders here than a couple of nutcases with badges have committed. To say that all policemen are bad is no better than for them to say that all black people are bad. Simple.

No, I've come to the conclusion that the problem we have is an overarching mentality in this country regarding people of color, black men in particular. We've been portrayed so negatively for so long in different forms of media, that we're now starting to see just how hard of a time some people are having separating us from those stereotypes. When we were first brought to this country, we were animals suited only for slavery, after that we were hedonists with no self-control, looking only to satisfy our lust for white women (Seriously. Watch this), after that we were second-class citizens who were allowed to live in this country so long as we "stayed in our place", and NOW we're thugs and hoodlums who may harm you or steal your belongings depending on what mood we're in. 

And that is what will have to change before any real progress can be made. I won't pretend to have all the answers. Because I don't. Not even. But I recently came across an interesting editorial which highlights the power of "art over argument." I urge you all to read it and share it (HERE). Basically it explains that art has much more influence on people's behavior than most might think. Slavery was not considered a national abomination until Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and threw the whole country into a rage. The year that Disney released "Bambi," deer hunting fell from a $5.7 million business to a $1 million business. Just that quickly. ART INFLUENCES PEOPLE. So one solution that I propose is that we, the black community, see to an increase of art that paints us as we really are--powerful, intelligent, compassionate human beings with hopes and dreams just like everybody else--so that the nation as a whole will see us as such and maybe one day stop being so afraid of us. I realize that not everyone is artistically inclined, and that's fine. But those of us who are must accept that we walk with a stigma, one that we must erase if we want to make this country better for ourselves and black youth. It's our responsibility. Let's get to work. 

P.S. Rest in Peace Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old who was shot and killed last month for walking down the street waving a toy gun. Sleep now. (Read here)

- Nick G.

Piano Roll

A little over a month ago, I released my first studio-produced track called "Same Moon" (you can hear that here). Today, I've decided to drop my second track called "Piano Roll." Yall enjoy it and let me know what you think!
   

(Chorus)
Hol' up! This aint ya typical hook.
Oh nooo and damn sho aint ya typical flow
Just a youngin from the South. No gold mouth,
But gold words til the whole Earth sold out.
And he got a prime time mind with ragtime soul.
You wanna take it to the hole? Let's go!
Shawty, you can bump it out ya Nano yo
But I'll just keep it comin out of my piano roll.

(Verse 1)
One time, two times, three and to the fo'
Nicky G's comin yeah I'm back fa mo'
Latch the do'. We don't want no one escapin the blast
Hand me the gas, watch a bastard blow.
Like Master P in '97 when he made em say uuhh
I'm just tryna make em wake up
Make em raise up with a new nation and new stations
Erase all straight fakeness from the equation
Minus Fendi socks. I'm tryna do for hip-hop
What Black folk did for Lindy hop
And that's wreck it. Throw on a record. Bet I'll spray it
I'll AK it. In one second. Now check it
It's the cliche slayer. The new-age mayor.
The leader of a legion with allegiance to the layers.
Young Scott Joplin Jr. of the future
With my 88 keys tuned up

(Chorus)

(Verse 2)
The second act is packed. With more curse than the first
So if you thought it was bad, it gets worse. Much worse.
So bad, if ya favorite rapper ever tried to beat me
Then you'd prolly neva see him again
Another dead bum with head lumps. I serve em Red Rum
On the mic, I flow nice and throw em breadcrumbs
If they ever come for me, it'll be a short story like
"Once upon a time, the end." (Check it out)
I wield words with the skill of a swordsman
It's more than might. I'm like a samurai mixed with a knight
I swing blades like "Sling Blade."
A sickle in my soft palate. All of my competition's tossed salad
And I'ma wild until a thousand islands bearin' my name
And I can view em from an airplane
But I'm feeling anxious cuz I'm up against so many trials
Walk a mile in these mud-stained Chucks. Ya can't!

(Chorus)

(Verse 3)
Act three, act three. I pound the black keys in anger
I'm workin on a club banger. So I hit a crescendo
And rattle windows til the whole town sense danger
I'm exhausted. Just by lookin, you would think that I lost it
I'm workin on a grand project. Notice how I'm focused
On dopness til every quote of his a magnum opus
And I'll be worth my weight in platinum tokens
I forego form for free-form. No music sheet for him
Like jazz man, it comes from the soul
Like Louis on the horn or a Monk and Coltrane session
I'll turn a Bic into the same weapon
When the music is good, you get respect from the hood,
Middle class, and the rich. Yo mama a fan of this
Young Black mastermind from the 9 Dime
Soon to be classified top five

(Chorus)

Same Moon

It is with GREAT pleasure that I bring you all my first professional single, "Same Moon."  A lot has gone into getting this track done so I ask that you all listen and share it with everyone you know. Trust there will be more to come.

It's crazy, ya know? Sometimes I just sit here and reminisce..wondering where the years have gone. Just looking back on my life and lessons learned. Sometimes it feels like I'm not even supposed to be here right now. Like I should be dead or in jail. But I'm still here. And I'm thankful...for everything this Carolina life has shown me. I aint done yet though..let's go!

(Chorus)
Lookin back on how these years made me
Coming up in Carolina. She's forever my lady
I tell my people now that we on. In this industry
It's '91 to infinity and beyond
From the Queen City to the 9 Dime
Home of the best, I'm guessin next that the world is mine
I really hope that I aint leavin too soon.
Every night of my life, I've been admiring the same moon

(Verse 1)
See it was back in '96
Had my first kiss in kindergarten
and I've been chasing waterfalls ever since
Wrote a poem for my teacher on some "roses are red"
She called me mannish. That went over my head
I wasn't trippin. I was livin every day like the first of summer
Outside in any weather. I thought it'd last forever
Playin with my cousins and them. My mama watched us race bikes
She was hustlin then, them late nights
I never realized we were up in the hood cuz I was five.
Mama watched me like a hawk in the sky
I gotta give it up cuz I know for a woman it aint EASY tryna raise a man
I understand. I got a plan, mama. On how to make a couple grand, mama
Couple pages per day. I'm nice with the wordplay
Gotta match you in the work put in. In terms of mothers, you a perfect 10
I'll hustle til you never have to work again

(Chorus)

(Verse 2)
See it was back in '02
Middle school I was dressin old school. Little dude tryna pose cool
Those were funny days. I was goin through my chubby phase
Had my pants saggin with the struggle braids
But effervescent adolescent I was,
Though it was tough tryna impress girls around the thugs
Tryna get attention, that's when I rebelled
Skippin class to get detention, like goin to jail cell
I remember all my boys playin basketball and
I was sittin writin raps and drawin
Hated the monotony. People shoot hoops every day.
I was droppin new jewels every page.
And they used to tease him.
Every day he would say that he'd make it but they didn't believe him
I aint mad though, cuz I don't know if I believed myself
I prayed to God cuz I needed help
now

(Chorus)

(Verse 3)
See it was back in '09
I was just a college boy
The freedom sweeter than an Almond Joy
That's when I met my boy Steve
And we both figured
We had to come together in the name of something bigger
We dropped the Validation. It was the foundation.
Tru Muzzik is the movement. This is OUR nation
Realist Undergrads....now we payin rent...
Staring at the same moon...as I plan my ascent...
Realist Undergrads...now we payin rent....
Rest in Peace, Deena....

Mike Brown vs. Robin Williams

Good day, everyone. As I sat here on my bed, listening to the new Ab-Soul album, scrolling through my IG timeline, I knew I'd have to hop on here and give my two cents on this whole Mike Brown/Robin Williams death situation.

What I see on my timeline today are a lot of posts criticizing

people for mourning Williams "more" than Brown, President Obama for acknowledging Williams' death and not Brown's, Williams for "choosing" to die, etc, etc, etc. 

I promise social media gives me a headache sometimes lawd.. 

Firstly, I'd like to go on record by saying that Mike Brown's death is a tragedy. From what I've read in the news, I imagine he was a fine young man who didn't cause trouble and dreamed of making something of himself. I can only imagine the pain his family is going through right now and I hope the police officer responsible is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In many ways, this is the Trayvon Martin situation all over again, only this time there's an actual police department being held accountable. While Brown's friends claim the policeman instigated the altercation by telling them to "get the f*ck onto the sidewalk," the police department claims that Brown initiated the struggle by trying to reach for the officer's gun (read about it here). Sound familiar? 

History has a funny way of repeating itself, so they say.... 

That being said, I hope that my black brothers and sisters really aren't sitting around waiting for Obama to say something about Mike Brown. Ok. Let's say today he finally acknowledges the situation, then what? Let's say he gets behind his presidential podium today and delivers some prepared remarks about how his thoughts and prayers are with Brown's family and the Ferguson community and how we have to work to prevent these sort of occurrences in the future. Then. What? I can see why some people are disheartened about Obama's silence on the issue, but I personally couldn't care less if he says something about it or not. I'm sorry, but Obama is not a sorcerer; his acknowledging Mike Brown's death will not bring him back, nor will it stop policemen from abusing their authority and shooting more black people in the future. The sad truth is, we're pretty much the only generation in America with the power to stop this sort of atrocity, but we've been pacified into believing that we're doing our part by prefacing our tweets with #RIPMikeBrown. Slacktivism runs rampant and it's a problem. 

Have yall ever heard of Leroy Powell? Probably not. He was 15 years old and gunned down in an alleyway last week after giving an eyewitness statement of a murder his friend committed. What about Jakari Pearson? He was an 8-year-old who was killed in his sleep last month by a stray bullet through his wall. Where's Powell's Twitter campaign? Where's Pearson's? Where's the demand for better witness protection and stricter gun regulations? Don't their deaths deserve just as much attention and mourning as Brown's? Don't they deserve acknowledgement from President Obama as well? Apparently not..

Cuz that's just boring, right? 

Nope, we didn't hear about their deaths because black-on-black crime doesn't benefit the media. I said long ago in a previous post that I believe the media purposely focuses on stories like Brown's because they'd love nothing more than for a riot to break out; that way they can send some bemused-looking reporter out to cover it acting as if they have no idea what sparked it in the first place.

Moving on to Robin Williams, Uncle Rob was an American treasure; his body of work spanned generations and he brought countless people joy. This is not to say that his life was "more important" than Brown's by any means...but one must understand his magnitude. I didn't cry when I heard he passed, but dammit if I didn't come close; Mrs. Doubtfire and Aladdin were both staples of my childhood. The fact that Williams apparently struggled with depression and committed suicide makes his situation that much sadder. Of course people are going to grieve extra hard knowing that the man that brought them so much joy was so sad and experienced so much angst. 

Tony Soprano sums it up best, I think. 

And SHAME on anyone who feels he shouldn't be mourned because he "chose" to die. Depression is real and if you don't understand it, you shouldn't speak. 

In closing, instead of griping over which individual is receiving more attention, let's take this time to honor BOTH their lives. They were both men fighting the brave battle of existence; it's up to us as a nation to learn from their deaths and become better. That's how we pay our respect.

-Nick G. 

Jada

Good evening, everyone. As I'm sure many of you are aware, a disturbing meme has recently surfaced relating to a photograph of a 16-year-old girl known only as "Jada" passed out on a floor. In the photo, Jada is naked from the waist down with one leg bent up behind her. It wasn't long before the picture went viral and people the world over were making fun of this nameless naked girl.

Now I will admit, when I first saw the picture, I didn't pay much attention to it. Social media has desensitized me to the point that the most profane images can pop up on my timeline and I won't bat an eye; I simply shook my head at this girl and kept scrolling. Yesterday however, I learned the full story. Jada was invited to a party by some of her high-school friends; once there, she was given a beverage, after which she passed out. The picture of her on the floor is allegedly what occurred afterwards; she was stripped of her clothing and raped, then photographed and placed on the internet for the whole world to see and ridicule. Here's a video of her giving her account of the story.

Besides Jada being violated and thrown to the internet wolves, what really angers me is the fact that someone, somewhere thought it'd be a good idea to capitalize on the photo's popularity and take pictures mimicking her pose. Of course, the idea quickly caught on and spread like wildfire throughout social media.

I was speaking with a friend about the rationale behind this trend; how could people mock someone who had been subject to such treatment? After pondering on the situation, I reached a sobering conclusion; the internet removes personal attachment from everything. Think about it, if you saw an elderly woman on fire running down your street, you'd probably try to help her or at least call someone, right? But if you saw a video of that same lady on fire, it'd probably have hundreds of retweets and comments ranging from "Lmao!!" to "Damn! Hahaa" Either way, the lady would have suffered the same burns and would probably need surgery afterwards; after you scrolled past the video, her personal situation would remain the same. The same goes for Jada. After everyone has had their laughs at her expense and moved on, SHE will still have to live with what's happened to her. Years after we've all forgotten about this, she'll still be saddled with the stigma of being the girl in THAT picture back in 2014. I think one of the graver effects of social media is that it makes us forget that the people in these videos and pictures aren't actors. They aren't television characters. They are human beings like you and I. Jada is a MINOR who is being subjected to some of the most despicable treatment mankind has to offer; and I for one, am sad. 

Fortunately, after searching the #JadaPose hashtag on Twitter and Instagram, I found that 99% of people had used it in protest of people making light of her situation. Thus, the little faith I have in my generation remains intact for now. Let us all keep Jada in our prayers. You think we all would have learned from the Steubenville incident a few years back, but apparently we haven't. I'm not naive enough to think that rape will ever completely go away, but surely we can each do our part to lessen how often it occurs in this country. It seems a shame to say that boys need to be TAUGHT to not rape; but men, it is our responsibility to make sure that this upcoming generation of males knows the importance of respecting and honoring women. Likewise ladies, it is up to you all to educate the upcoming generation of girls. Mentor them, teach them that a real man would never force himself on them, and PLEASE stress to them that they should never get into cars with strangers or take unidentified drinks. The future is in our hands, everyone. Yall be blessed.

-Nick G.

P.S. Peep this too. Let's pray for our young men also...for many of them are lost. 

Blink (Freestyle)

Well everyone, this is probably the last freestyle I'll put on here for a while (Check out the first two here and here). Anything after this, I'll be fighting to get on the radio. Just had to come on here one more good time and show you all that we're still workin out here! Enjoy. Carolina, let's go!!!




(Yeah!)
Ok I'm back, relax. I never left
I was chillin on the porch eatin Apple Jacks. I'm def.
And if the sample's wack,
I still give ya dope lines with the punch like Snapple Facts
Cuz I'ma dope militant under no ceiling
And my stuff is so pure, it's like I'm dope dealin
No feelin like cruising screamin "Ooh kill em!"
In my car bumpin Babyface like I was born in '88
But I'm a 90's kid. I got 90's swag.
Phat Farm with a Tommy Hat.
I got bars like Atari had
And yo I'm hardly mad like baby mamas on "Maury." I'm sorry
I'm out'chea.
Made it to the top of the mountain, now I'm thinkin that I'll build me a house here
Or better yet, a hotel. Charge 4 mil a night.
Unless you nice, then yo bill is hype.
Who's badder in the new game? That's what I ask you lames
Because I kick it like a black Liu Kang
I'm underground where they got Hussein.
Lookin back on days when I was crushing on this tattooed dame
With cherries on her rib cage. In 6th grade.
Walked with her nose high cuz she KNOW she a dime
Trophy or not, I was tryna be her Kofi Annan
If she was tryna be Nane. Boy was she fine
But back to the matter at hand. I'm daydreamin
Damn, it's like a law in this land to stay scheming
Funny how we run for the top. We race, even
But I'ma win it long as I remain breathin.
As I remain writin. They'll remember my name even
When I aint droppin the same type of
lyrical gems that make em think til the weak are extinct
But you might miss it if you blink.

Nardwuar Vs. Chief Keef interview (Parody)

Hello, everyone. I'm back with yet another one of my bored projects (or borejects for short). This time, I decided to have a little fun and give you all my impression of how a Nardwuar interview with Chief Keef would sound. If you don't know who Nardwuar is, click HERE and look at some of the interviews he's done. You'll thank me later. Those who are already familiar, enjoy...