The most popular go-to solution is to “get an education”. I absolutely hate this statement as it misrepresents what getting “educated” does to the “blackness” of a person. Educational institutions are designed to steal your imagination and encourage a certain way of skewed thinking. Your papers are graded in attempts to guide your mind away from your own original thoughts, solutions or representation of the world around you. The institutions deal passive-aggressively with the only race who were brought here under very different circumstances than all other immigrants.

I do agree that we, as a people, need education but I disagree with the method we have adopted. We need to be educated on the positive, uplifting truth about ourselves and accomplishments of black folks not just the same old depressing slave tales. We should not aim to be successful monetarily, but mentally and spiritually free from rejection and oppression. Free from self-hate, free from the crabs-in-a-barrel mentality, free to love and not fear each other, free to correct each other, free to live in neighborhoods with a high black population without the high crime rate. How can we learn these things in an institution that benefits from pushing historical black inferiority into the psyche of the precious, tender black minds of those trying to better themselves? How can we expect this educational system, who rejected integration for years, to teach us anything worth knowing about how to thrive (not just survive) their system? Their educational system teaches blacks to mentally submit to be enslaved and work in the fields (of “study”) of the modern day plantations.

We must take responsibility to teach our children to support, love and protect each other. If we are our own enemy, we will never reach the promise land. If the best elders the elders can do is hand us over to the system that has taken them for all they are worth, how can they expect their “get-an-education” solution to take any magical effect? There so many things that the elders in the black community don’t share with young people because of their own personal shame. The things some older blacks had to endure to survive angers them but they turn that anger on the black youth like it is their fault. Yes, we should be in a better place but I think that responsibility lies with black leadership (who is usually ancient themselves and part of the problem by fighting all the wrong battles). There is more finger pointing and condemning the black youth than encouraging and educating. These are angry elders who have done nothing their whole life but sit back with their hands out, working their fingers to the bone for almost nothing for years, hoping to squeak by one more year, all the while praising God for the minimum.

These are the people who have achieved nothing personally but somehow they feel they have all the answers for what black folks need to do to move forward. If you haven’t been a shining example of how something has worked for you keep your mouth shut when it comes time to condemn the black youth. If you have “made it” ask yourself, “What have I done to make sure someone else has this knowledge or opportunity?” If you are not a part of the solution, you are part of the problem. It has nothing to do with wearing slippers in public, visible tattoos or nose piercings. If any of you non-productive black elders have a problem with someone just because of how they look, you may be the blacker pot calling the kettle black.

I watch as:
Someone’s tragic windblown umbrella;

Ambles the edge of concrete and asphalt,

Like a drunk crab trolling along

The beach tidal borderline.

Imagine I am not at the bus stop.

I close my eyes on the commuter train.

Dreaming a snow crab voice-over

I once read for Red Lobster.

A beach bird, umbrella and then me at the

Bus stop again trying not to get,

Blown down the curb of life’s boulevard;
Walking the best that I can,
Often lost, alone and crabby.
Pushing to catch that last wave

Towards the needed pot of gold.

These mercurial March mornings,

I awaken to a new bird-call of spring daily

In this old and new former place.

Where I exist in spite of failure’s frustration;

In the temporary solitude of the barrel of many Indies,

Among those of you who I do not want to see.

When you are content with the status quo and refrain from questioning how things operate in life, everyone will tolerate you, even if they have other issues with you, but as soon as you question why certain things are acceptable or why certain processes have not changed over the course of an extended period of time, you become a threat to them.  You become a threat to those fixtures around you because they begin to feel as though your change is an attack on the way they personally live their lives.  In their mind, you are essentially saying to them “Your life is not good enough for me,” and to them that means they are not good enough to you.

There is no way to prevent this phenomenon from occurring once you make the decision to change your life, and honestly, the reactions from your friends and colleagues is going to hurt. A lot.  You’ll hear how much you’ve changed and how they don’t recognize who you’ve become, and you may even begin to question whether your change in direction is a good idea. Don’t.

Greatness has few friends while mediocrity has many.  You are going to lose some people on the way to your destination, but the great news is that you will gain some people as well.  The doomsayers will do what they do best and predict doom.  Sometimes they will even do everything that they can to create doom in your life plan… Keep progressing anyway.

The old saying that misery loves company is truer now than it has ever been, so what I will say to you is if you’re not talking about doom around the water cooler, don’t talk around the water cooler.  Keep your deepest ambitions safely managed because as soon as the wrong person feels as if you want to be different from the pack, you become a target for negativity.

This is not to say that you only want people in your corner who will agree with you, but what you don’t want is people in your corner who will attack your goals just because it’s not something they are brave enough to do.  There is a popular song out right now that has a refrain “Keep them squares up out your circle.”  Keep those squares out of your circle.

Broke and out!

It is only necessary that today’s Bars of the Day reflect the most important time of this year. I first would like to thank everyone for voting today and if you haven’t yet (in NYC) you have until 9 PM! I love the excitement from the first time voters who have possibly been waiting for this moment since last election. I can relate because I was able to vote my first year of college and I felt empowered. I remember the voting process and the anticipation I felt while watching the votes tally up and literally crying tears of joy seeing Obama gunning for the win. That night, my campus went bizzerk as did the whole nation.  In the words of the Snowman, I was finally able to say, “My President is black.” 

Now today is the day to put forth the civil responsibility of voting to keep it that way! There has already been so much commotion about the poll sites and machines. Recently a voter videotaped how a poll machine was selecting Mitt Romney instead of Barack Obama (link after the jump). That’s some different type of sketchy, but don’t let that and long lines deter you from voting. As a culture, we are always going to be the odd ones out; the masses do not want to see our culture act together and for  a cause. Whatever happens, do not let any of this discourage you from voting. If you can stand/wait in lines for kicks, tickets, and video games, you should have no problem with awaiting your chance to vote for this election. Don’t give up; if anything that is what everyone against us is praying for.  Your vote does count. Confused about the electoral college? Blaming it on your reason to not vote? You’re on the internet for Twitter 24/7, go research the election process. Do not watch this election in ignorance. If you voted and felt like it didn’t count, at least feel like you did it for those who do not have the opportunity to vote. Have a purpose. Things will get better, once we do better.

Machine turns vote for Obama into one for Romney

Moving along:

My president is black
In fact, he’s half white/
So even in a racist mind he’s half right
So if u have a racist mind you be ‘aight/
My president is black
But his house is all white/
Rosa Parks sat
So Martin Luther could walk/
Martin Luther walked
So Barack Obama could run/
Barack Obama ran
So all the children could fly/
So I’ma spread my wings
So you could meet me in the sky/

What’s so crazy about these lyrics is the majority of our culture does not recognize the trials and tribulations the Black community has gone through. Some are so quick to pull it as evidence of what someone did back back in the day instead of honoring and carrying out the messages and the respect those great African-Americans wholeheartedly fought for. It’s time to stop blaming when you haven’t put the necessary work in. It’s time to stop letting the media persuade our culture into feeling as if multiple partners/babymommas, all gold everything, and making it rain is the one life to live by any means necessary and in the same breathe, please stop spending like you never had a dollar. Stop beating your own people down and having a pride that is destroying the community everyday. Help out. Stop killing each other. Stop complaining. My mother told me some years ago that I am a black, woman in this world; two handicaps I was just born with. However, I am educated and knowing all three, I can succeed in anything. She always tells me, “don’t give up until you have exhausted every possibility.” Our culture is so quick to give up, say “fuck everything”, and not practice what we preach. Please understand, we are always watched. Yes, we all were raised differently as a culture. Some people come from generations of hard working generations that only wanted the best of the best for their kids; culture, morals, values, knowing the way of the world as early as possible. Then there are some who come from generations of struggle in every sense of the word and have no positivity around them. WE know the difference between the “coons’ and the “blacks’ (whatever you’d like to call it), but the world views us all the same.  One color. Waiting for us to be angry, rude, and ignorant. Stop giving society what they want and do betterrrr. Everyone wants to scream, “My president is black,” but doesn’t want to emulate what he represents as a black man. I guess Rick Ross is more matched for your living standards. Ehh. Learn the difference. Just know, these n*ggas won’t hold me back. Trust.

Respect our women. Support our men. Take care of our children. Go vote.

I mean the theory is that having your dream come true is the best thing that can happen to you in life. It’s above being married and welcoming your first child. For a man, sometimes, it’s what must happen before they even think about settling down. They at least need to be on the path to fulfilling their dream before having the time to spend on a woman.

So why don’t our dreams come true? Why don’t we help each other make it? Why do we hold each other back from greatness?

The only thing I can really think is that…well, people believe that if someone has the same dream as they do then they won’t be worth anything if there is more than them. .They have to be the only one, the numero uno, and the boss man; or woman. But my theory is that we can all share the glory. There is more than enough world, earth, money, air for all of us to make it beyond our sleep state of dream.

Maybe it’s just me but the crabs in the barrel are getting no where. After a while everyone will be so tired of trying to bring others down that they can’t fight to get to the top. Personally, there are more than enough crabs to create a ladder. The lowest climb up to the top until there are no more crabs in the barrel. Who knows, maybe one day this can happen for us. Maybe not.

The late, Whitney Houston

I, like so many folks the world over, have been coping with the death of one of the universe’s most gifted and beautiful singers. Being a young, Black 20-something with a passion for singing, I’ve looked up to Whitney Houston since I was old enough to understand how to work a radio (about 3 years old). I’m not alone. Just about all my female friends and acquaintances  can recall how Whitney Houston made an appearance at some point on the soundtracks to their lives. I think it is safe to conclude that the sting of this unfair theft of a sometimes troubled albeit beautiful life is still sharp and widespread. Right? Right.

In light of the grief many of us are experiencing and the below-the-belt criticisms that many are spewing about the late Ms. Houston, I have been overwhelmingly comforted by the way women – both fans and colleagues of Ms. Houston – have banded together, remembering her legacy and uplifting her memory.

For example:

“Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, `Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed,” – Dolly Parton (www.cbsnews.com)

“She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to grace the earth.” – Mariah Carey (Twitter)

“”I truly, truly adored Whitney Houston. Her album `I’m Your Baby Tonight’ was the very first album I ever bought.” –  Michelle Williams (cbsnews.com)

“Whitney was the reason many of us do what we do. ‘A few stolen moments is all that we share’ RIP.” – P!NK (Twitter)

“I think her contribution was her excellence of all levels. She was outstandingly gorgeous, an excellent performer … Excellent vocalist. She was excellent on some many levels, and set the standard for what it is to be a great female artist.” – India Arie (cbsnews.com)

There has been so much love broadcast far and wide for her over the past five days and I believe that, in and of itself, is beautiful. Though I have no doubt that the above friends of Ms. Houston and many more were rooting for her through her trials and tribulations, I can’t help but wonder, how often was she affirmed this way while she was living?

In death, we reach for the best facets of a person and helplessly cling to them. We cry out as if they can hear us and reminisce on their wonderful ways. We often wish we could have said all the things we should have said. Given the compliments that were due. Been the shoulder to cry on a few more times. Spent more time. How often do we as women – both young and old – DO and SAY all of the beautiful things we do and say for and about one another after their death?

Having matriculated a women’s college for seven long and trying albeit fruitful years, I’ve witnessed the very real ‘crabs-in-a-barrel’ syndrome that has been attributed most widely to the female race. I’ve seen young ladies strive to simply be their absolute best academically and socially and I’ve seen them hated for their success. I’ve been in the middle of groups of young women who, though they were afforded no less an opportunity to develop their talents and skills, found it necessary and guilt-erasing to verbally defame and accost other young women who were actually just minding their own business. I can think of more than a few occasions where these same backbiters could not wait for the chance to say “I toldja so” when the successful ones showed their humanness and made a mistake or succumbed to any number of vices.

“I knew she wasn’t all that.”

“She thinks she better than everybody else.”

“There goes ‘Little Miss Perfect’.

“Girl, you look so cute!” …. “She makes me sick.”

Sound familiar?

It always begged the question: Where do we go wrong?

I want to believe this behavior hasn’t poisoned the majority of women but nonetheless, where does this viciousness stem from? For every ballad that Whitney Houston serenaded us with, every bit of charity she humbly and quietly gave, and every spirit she lifted there were so many women who reveled in her battle with drugs. I remember hearing joke after joke about her famous interview with Diane Sawyer and many of us who once sang her praises ultimately gave up all hope for her future. Recently, radio personality turned television personality, Wendy Williams, tearfully recalled her ‘connection’ to the late Ms. Houston.

*blank stare*

I was angered and shocked to see Wendy Williams ugly cry over Whitney Houston’s death especially when I remember her extremely condescending and – for lack of a better word – RUDE phone interview with the late singer in 2003 when she was still a radio personality on NYC’s WBLS. There were countless times that Wendy and her colleagues demeaned and made horrible jokes about Whitney Houston as her drug addiction played itself out for the world to see. NOW, she’s crying and speaking of a bond she shared with her? Stop it. Your ratings aren’t even that bad for you to pull a shameful stunt like that.

In thinking about it all, it reminds me of the crowds that once piled into Rome’s majestic Coliseum to watch the gladiators literally fight for their lives.  When the gladiators gained the upper hand, the fickle Roman audience of thousands cheered. Thumbs up. When they succumbed to their rival, the bloodthirsty crowd cried out for their blood. Thumbs down.

There’s very little difference in that form of entertainment thousands of years ago and what we have allowed and participated in over the years. Whitney Houston’s case is only one very public example. Women have been at each other’s throats whether publicly or under the guise of friendship for ages. Why does it seem hard for women to celebrate one another? Or is it not so hard? Is this just what we are being fed by the media?

I see so many young girls being picked on because they are talented or because they would rather choose all things scientific over parties and clubs. I have been that girl. I didn’t know how to fight that kind of meanness so I tried to be what others wanted of me although to no avail. When you’re different, you’re just different. And there is nothing wrong with that. However, learning how to accept who we are and how to peacefully and even JOYFULLY co-exist is a lesson that seems to need to be revamped and taught firmly in our youth.

With so much division for every other reason under the sun, it is silly that women find it necessary to pull each other down in order to reach the top. It’s so easy for us to criticize one another’s shoes, choice of career, downfalls but how often do we SINCERELY tell each other how beautiful we are? How often do we commend each other for a job well done? How often do we step back to allow the woman who is the underdog to get her chance to shine?

It’s all well and good to remember the good about someone after they’ve passed but what about celebrating each other in life?

Melody T. McCloud M.D stated in a March 2011 article on http://www.psychologytoday.com,

Some people just don’t want to see others succeed, or they feel threatened if a little light shines on someone else, even for aminute. …It may in fact, just be human nature. But it doesn’t have to be. …do your thing; do it well. Your light will shine, and we can celebrate you. When it’s someone else’s turn, celebrate them. This is America; there is plenty room at life’s table for everyone to get their slice. As people, …as women…we don’t have to compete, we can complement…and ain’t that a good thing?

I think it is high time we all take a step back and apply Dr. McCloud’s words to our own lives; examine our mindset toward other women and what frames our way of thinking.

Why?

Because people who should be helpful because of similar affiliations or backgrounds have repeatedly come up short.  So much so, that I internally discredit certain populations of people because they have angered me so many times.

To be more specific:

Example 1: Crabs in a Bucket Syndrome

For the 10th time in two months, an individual that shared both my undergraduate and graduate experience (Harvard Business School) has purposefully withheld resources that could be helpful for my startup.  They have exhibited one of the following four characteristics…

1. Blew me off completely and not answered calls/emails/texts
2. Set up a meeting only to cancel last minute
3. Took my meeting only to berate my business model and call my efforts to be an entrepreneur naive, or
4. Told me they would help when it was convenient (i.e. other people were around) and then completely dropped the ball when it comes time to execute.

I still try to trust people with similar affiliations.

Example 2: Benjamin Button Syndrome

For at least the 10th time in two months a person 20 years my senior (in age) but naive to the particular subject matter (startups, tech, or healthcare) has flexed their clout inappropriately and had to pay the price later.  My business is in the healthcare space.  I do not attempt to tell doctors how to see patients.  Lawyers / Doctors / Consultants are unlikely to know how to finance and build a small startup.  That is my area of expertise.  But, this does not stop the “Benjamin Buttons” out there from trying.  Some specific examples are…

1. A former consulting boss used his 5 unsuccessful years of trying to find a solution to “the healthcare integration issue” as the reason my business could not possibly be viable (so…Apple could not be successful because Microsoft couldn’t do it? The logic dose not hold.)
2. A lawyer looking to be MY general counsel refused to believe that I could raise an Angel round of financing in 90 days because “it takes 2 years to raise a venture capital fund.”  (A venture capital fund takes longer because they need $100 million, I need 1/200th of that – it won’t take that long.  A lawyer should not doubt their client – you loose money that way)
3. A potential business partner’s COO has destroyed value for his boss several times by refusing to negotiate in good faith.  Instead of a 10% equity stake in the company (original offer), he has “successfully” negotiated his boss down to 30-50% of that.  How?  Because he is using outdated scare tactics instead of effective negotiating tactics.

In each case, I blame their 20 years of “mis-education” and subsequent insecurity for their transgression.  #1 will see his six figure salary dwarfed by my economics if things go right.  #2 will never be my general counsel because he doubted the one who would sign his checks.  #3 will leave money that could have been his bosses on my table.

Both “Crabs in a Bucket” and “Benjamin Buttons” disappoint me.  But I must go on because…

This is a startup….This is a battle…

Two prime examples from this past week come to mind: the viral craze that Tyler Perry may be starting his own network and the Poverty tour with Dr.Cornel West and Tavis Smiley.   I’m about to go in so feel free to change stations now!  *This rant will begin in 5…4…3…2…1

I woke up Thursday morning and viewed a blog that I find very entertaining.  I love this blog because these guys always think outside of the box.  On this particular day the topic was about Tyler Perry and the possibility of him starting his own network.  I enjoyed and in some ways could relate to the authors perspective but what got me were the comments that some of the blog followers made.  

There was a range of comments but a good percentage of them talked about how they refused to watch the network and some comments were downright appalling and disrespectful. Even worse than that were some of the twitter comments.  All because the man may be getting his own network??  The solution is simple, don’t watch!  Dare I say, haters! Now, everyone has the right to choose what they like or don’t like but do we have to be negative and condescending in our dislike? 

The next thing that got my goat over the past week was the “Poverty Tour” that Tavis Smiley and Dr.Cornell West embarked on recently.  Now I have a great respect for both of these gentleman but I don’t necessarily agree with part of the premise of this tour.  They are choosing to call out our President to do what they call, “bring attention to the disadvantaged.”  Is this the right avenue in which to state your case?

Now I’m using these people as an example because you’ve likely heard of them before but the truth is that these issues exist throughout our community.  We have friends, co-workers, family members and enemies that fit this bill.

I’ve just seen and heard alot of things lately that make me question the motives of some of our brothers and sisters.  When did we stop being the type of people who respect one another even in differing opinions?  Why does it seem that we are the epitome of the “crabs in a barrel” mentality?

Find a positive African American trying to embarked on a successful venture and I bet you will find 3 more African American‘s trying to climb over him/her rather than support their vision.  I remember a letter that was circulating years ago by an alleged KKK member that taunted the African American community for being our own worst enemy.   You know the one that said we were killing ourselves and how they no longer had to do it. I remember thinking how disgusted I was by that letter but how valid some of the points were that the writer made.

I’m hoping that what I’m trying to convey in this blog comes across as I intended.  Plain and simple we have to learn how to uplift one another rather than tear them down.  We have to learn to disagree respectfully as opposed to bashing someone because we don’t agree.  If I’m trying to reach for the sky, give me a boost and I will pull you up as I move along.

So I ask: Are you a crab?  Do you know a crab?  How do you deal with those that you felt were supposed to have your back but are steady trying to dampen you light?

Don’t just LISTEN to this song, DIGEST this song. The lyrics speak so poignantly to black on black crime in America. However, I will venture so far as to include crime amongst all cultures. Violence begets violence, and it appears to be inexorable. Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” I completely agree with her. What else do we have if we do not have each other? It is up to us to infuse positivity into this world. However, a disconnect exists in communities that resemble crabs in a barrel/bucket (whichever you prefer).

“If you put crabs in a barrel to ensure your survival you gon’ end up pullin down n****s that look just like you”- Jay-Z

It is extremely difficult for individuals bombarded with negativity, isolation, violence, drugs, single-parent homes, trauma, etc. to develop a positive attitude-especially without a stable support system. In many cases, a support system acts as a protective factor that develops one’s resilience even in the face of such adversity.

Violence therefore presents itself in a simple manner. It is easy to to observe violence, but the workings of this phenomenon exist below the surface in the infected minds of individuals who, in many ways, feel that they have no alternative but to do whatever it takes to live. It usually results in remaining in the barrel/bucket. Contrastingly if more choices existed, more support systems, and more outlets were present to act as antibiotics to heal this cycle of desolation, our fellow human beings will work together to get out of the barrel and thrive.

Positively Influence,

Key

My Synopsis: Crabs are scavengers who eat whatever they can get access to. When one puts many in a barrel and as one opens the lid, one will notice crabs climbing on top of each other to get to the top to exit. Now logically this is a methodical way for ALL crabs to leave, standing on the “shoulders” rather shells of the others, then the next then the next. However, characteristic of this syndrome is that each crab only desires ITSELF to exit, so  it uses the others as a stepping stool to do so no matter what the cost. In the end the stupid crab doesn’t realize that as a loner he is susceptible to the one(s) who put him in the barrel with the others in the first place, it eventually will be cajoled, seasoned only to be steamed for someone’s palette. Get it?

This syndrome is everywhere but the acute nature of it when trying to “arrive” in America is peculiar among black Americans. I noticed that Africans and West Indian attorneys usually sit together, arrive together and even eat together on document reviews.  Then again there aren’t many black American attorneys (especially women) to begin with.

Yes, there is an ethnic and cultural distinction among these groups though they MAY have a historical common tie. If anyone knows about black history, divide and conquer and “breaking a person” then you can understand how this is more prevalent among black Americans. Even as of 2010 one will see on network television a sassy black assistant who is smart but for some reason is the servant of the white person whose life isn’t together (I’ve even read this about movies, i.e. Morgan Freeman-no I don’t detract from what he accomplished but still); the black males who focuses on a short-term scheme bound to fail but with a false hope it will grant a windfall, etc.  The African migrant who became a citizen or who is on a work visa, usually grew up in an enviroment surrounded by people who look like them, share all of the same culture, understands their struggles within their original homeland. In America, blacks are frowned upon, janitorial staff who is of Latino descent, or the Indian or Ethiopian guy who may work at a convenience store or the parking garage. No matter how much one reminds ALL Americans and immigrants of the contributions and foundation that blacks and Native Americans have made, in 2010 most of the time a Black will be the butt of a joke before a South Asian, Asian or an African.

In document review land, one does not work to gain experience, one works for survival. As the economy steadily worsens (and even before), this becomes the bottom-of-the-barrel way to live until the following week. Thus, the goal is to stay on the job as long as possible no matter what. Knowing that most likely Black Americans (sometimes it will be an African who does it, but from what I observed this is rare) won’t have any alliances to conspire to get “others” fired, he or she becomes confident that at least they can assail another Black, because the reality is that no one cares what happens to a Black and if someone who appears to look like them are at the helm of subjecting the target to an earlier exit, by all means.

It begins with an overzealous black attorney (for purposes of this post). The one who is all too friendly, smiles just a little too much and one wonders what types of “special” brownies she ate. If one is normal, one cringes at the fangs bared as it reminds you of Jack London’s novel ‘The Call of the Wild.’ She will be the one who arrived on site only five minutes before you but is an expert of where everything is and who are the correct points of contact. All the while she acts like she’s 007 asking people around you about you, whether or not you worked with the other before, make subtle comments at the “standoffish” behavior one appears to demonstrate. While this is happening she is counting how many people, regardless of race or gender, that she has summoned unto her mental prowess to bring more attention to this other person. 

The next step is to become friends with the team lead or project manager. If this person is Black, you may really be in trouble because likely this person also never really had any “power” in the legal field as they were usually not left in a position of supervision of others.  Then if accessible, the same person will attempt to reach the senior associate (who will likely be white) on the case, but knows this is not likely as she has not been admitted to the socially accepted notion of speaking to a peer–but she is not considered one. At this point the attorney has brought out the plastic stacking cups of illusion with gossip, make-believe and conspiracy. Like some document reviewers the target may not care as she does not desire to be there in the first place, but I doubt anyone isn’t scuffed by false pretenses, false accusation and conspiracies. The real question to ask is why, I assume for the temporary euphoria that someone thought she was important enough to influence the decisions of others. Little does she understands that she is even less respected for betraying one of her own. She probably thought she was a puppetier, yet was only the string and wood for the unseen hands you will never be. The reality is that everyone will be “released” when the contract ends anyway, as you stood on the others’ shells you will be consumed just like the rest.

I SAY THIS NOT OUT OF NEED, BUT FOR YOUR SAKE (NOT ALL OF US NEED SELF-PROMOTION)

I SAY THIS FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP OF MY HEART:

1.) DO NOT MARKET YOUR MUSIC TO ME IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO LISTEN AND COMMENT ON OTHER ARTISTS……

2.) YOUR PEERS ARE MEASURING YOUR LOVE FOR HIP-HOP AND THE MUSIC BY HOW MUCH RASPECT YOU SHOW TO YOUR FELLOW ARTISTS.

3.) YOU CAN TELL FAKE ASS RAPPERS AND MUSICIANS WHO KNOWS LOVE NOT FROM THE FACT THAT THEY ALWAYS REQUEST SOMEONE TO LISTEN, COMMENT, AND SHARE THIER SONGS, BUT CAN’T DO THE SAME FOR ARTISTS WHO ROW THE SAME FUCKING BOAT THAT THEY ROW…..THIS MEANS, YOU ARE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TO THE STRUGGLE AND REAL ARTIST CONSIDER YOU TRANSPARENT AND POWERLESS!!!!!!! ENVY AND JEALOUSY IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL, AND THESE COWARDS EXEMPLIFY IT WELL……YOU AIN’T HOT IF YOU AIN’T HUMBLE…..ASK YOUR PASTOR AND HE’LL TELL YOU DAT CHIORBOY!!!!!

4.) IT’S TOO HARD OUT HERE FOR YA’LL TO BE HATING ON EACH OTHER….SEEMS LIKE THERE’S MORE OF YA’LL POSTING UP MUSIC AND THERE’S PLENTY OF LOVE TO GO AROUND….KINDA-LIKE EVERYBODY’S SELLING WEED THAT NOBODY’S SMOKING….TOO MANY BODEGAS WITH NO BUYERS BECAUSE YA’LL PUNKS ARE TOO BUSY HATING ON EACH OTHER!!!!! COME HATE ON ME YOU FUCKING ROLLOVERS, YOU’LL FIND THAT YOU CAN’T MEASURE UP TO THE ILLMAXX INTELLECT AND DRIVE, YOU’LL BE VICTIM 7 BRINGING THAT HATRED TO MY FACTION!!!!!! JUST KEEP IN MIND THE HATE IS ALWAYS WELCOME IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND YOU COWARDS!!!!!!

5.) WITH THAT SAID, IF YOU ARE AN ARTIST AND I AM LISTED UNDER YOUR PROFILE AS A FRIEND, PLEASE BY ALL MEANS, GO AHEAD AND DELETE ME OFF OF YOUR LIST BECAUSE I WILL NOT LISTEN OR SUPPORT YOUR SOUND, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVEN’T SUPPORTED, LISTENED OR COMMENTED ON OTHERS…REMEMBER THIS…..GOD DOESN’T NEED YOU, YOU NEED GOD AND WE ARE CREATED IN GODS IMAGE THEREFORE YOU NEED THE SUPPORT OF YOUR PEERS TO GAIN REAL CREDIBILITY.

6.) ANOTHER THING, THERE ARE PLENTY OF PRODUCERS OUT HERE THAT WILL BE WILLING TO GIVE YOU FRESH BEATS IF YOU’RE HOT ENOUGH AND HUMBLE ENOUGH TO SIMPLY ASK…..ANY MC RHYMING A WHOLE ALBUM ON TRACKS THAT HE OR SHE HAS NO REAL RIGHTS TOO I SAY THIS, FOR YOUR SAKE…..PLEASE, REACH OUT TO A PRODUCER FOR SOME ORIGINAL SHIT…YOUR FLOW MIGHT BE HOT, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT ITS THE BEAT THAT THE PEOPLE ROCK TO AND IF THE AVERAGE PERSON SAYS “OH THATS
- – - – - – - – - – - SPITTIN OVER THAT JAY-Z TRACK” IT TAKES AWAY FROM YOUR GIFT AND JAY-Z FOREVER HOLDS A SHADOW OVER THE SONG THAT YOU CREATED USING HIS TRACK. COME ON MAN…DON’T PLAY IT STUPID NOW THAT I’M SPITTING TRUTH ON YOU KID!!!!!!!!

7.) GET SOME REAL SUBSTANCE, RESEARCH SOME TOPICS, STUDY SOME HISTORY…THEN PICK-UP A BUMBACLOT MIC IDIOTBWOY!!!!!!!…DO THIS FOR YOUR FANS SAKE!!!!!!! MI A TELDAT TO DEM BLOODCLOT FACE DAT THE KING SAYSO SI-ME-SAY!!!!!!!!

8.) NO BULLSHITTIN AROUND…..YOU CAN GET ME ON THE CORNER OF WEST 131ST AND 7TH AVENUE (GOOGLE IT) RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE C-TOWN IN WEST HARLEM EVERY OTHER DAY SO IF YOU DISAGREE WITH WHAT I’M SAYING, OR IF YOU THINK THAT YOUR FLOW CAN WITHSTAND MI BUMBACLOT HURRICANE…..GET AT ME…….MY FREESTYLE IS SICKER THAN MY WRITTEN WORKS KIKKO…THE VIDS AND TESTIMONIALS WILL BE ON MY OFFICIAL WEBSITE….. BETTER STUDY ME UP LIKE BUSTER DOUGLASS STUDIED TYSON IF YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN BUST MY CHOPS KID!!!!!! IF I’M NOT OUT THERE ON THAT CORNER AND YOU TRYNA GET AT ME…….SKYPE ME AT SKYPE.COM/ILLMAXX TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET VERBALLY MURKED LIKE THE 6 BEFORE YOU!!!!!!!

9.) REMEMBER THIS…..YOU THINK THAT YOU’RE HOT?…..THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE HOTTER, BIGGER, BADDER AND FRESHER THAN YOURSELF…..SHIT…I’M NOT EVEN EXEMPT TO THAT, SO I HAVE NEVER & WILL NEVER CLAIM TO BE THE BEST, ONLY THE BEST AT WHAT I DO IN PARTICULAR!!!!!! – GET HUMBLE OR YOU WILL NOT MAKE IT IN THIS BUSINESS……..BELIEVE ME….I’VE SEEN THEM FALL QUICKFAST BECAUSE THEY LACKED BEING HUMBLE AND THEY FELL HARD…….IN BEING AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST, YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO BYPASS THE SUPPORT OF YOUR PEERS……..YOU’RE BLOODCLOT REPUTATION IS ON THE LINE SONNYBOP!!!!……….

10.) ONE LOVE TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FANS WHO LOVES BEING HUMAN AND REAL, WHO LOVES HIP-HOP, WHO LOVES GOD AND WHO RESPECTS AND LOVES EACH OTHER……THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF MY FAMILY.

WITH THE ABOVE 10 BEING STATED AND REFLECTED UPON, IF YOU ARE AN ARTIST AND HAVE SENT OUT YOUR SONGS AND KEEP SENDING THEM OUT ON A DAILY BASIS AND YOU DON’T SEE YOUR PLAYS GOING UP…..A PIECE OF ADVICE STOP SENDING YOUR SONGS, YOUR MAKING A FOOL OF YOURSELF….THEY AIN’T LISTENING FAM!!!!!! A VERY SIMPLE RULE…..SHOW LOVE, GET LOVE……..ANY ARTIST STANDING IN AGREEMENT WITH ME ON THESE POINTS, SHOOT ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT I CAN FORWARD YOU A FEW LINKS AND MATERIAL SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS ALLIANCE AGAINST THE FAKE COUNTER BOTTOM!!!!!!!

FURTHERMORE, IF YOU’VE SENT ME A SONG, AND I OVERLOOKED IT AND IT’S FIRE….FORGIVE ME….I MYSELF PROMISE TO START LOOKING HARDER FOR YOUR PASSION……FROM THE HEART!!!!!!

THIS WAS WRITTEN IN THE HONOR OF ALL THE LISTENERS AND APPRECIATORS OF REAL MUSIC….I KNOW THAT YOU ARE TIRED OF ARTISTS THAT ONLY REPRESENT THEMSELVES FORGETTING ABOUT YOU IN THIER DISILLUSIONED RISE TO THE TOP, THEREFORE, THEY CAN REALLY ONLY GET SO FAR BEFORE THEY FALL…….

I MAKE AND STAND BY THIS PROMISE, EVERYTHING THAT I DO AND EVER WILL DO IN THE FORM OF MUSIC IS FOR YOU SINCE I LIVE FOR YOU, THEREFORE, I AM WITNESS TO THE STRENGTH OF THE PEOPLE WHO I UPLIFT AND WHO UPLIFT ME IN RETURN…..

SUPPORTING ONLY REALNESS AND TRUTH……………..

EVEN WHEN IT HURTS!!!!!!!

SUGARHILL……………….EEEEEEEEE-ZEEEEEEEEE…..

SELASSIE-I