I am listening to De La. I just returned from running.
I can feel in my soul, that this is gonna be one of those DNA revealing posts in the vein of that TL sh*t from late March.
I listen to Stakes is High, cuz I know De La feels me.
See. Im from East Oakland. A place that YOU are not suppose to make it out of in one piece.
Let Alone be a black people loving, fast talking, tight dress wearing feminist.
I just got back from running the BK bridge.
I was trying to run the anger out. Studying in the library last night I hit the anxiety wall.
A wall that I have not seen sense BL. You see, this semester, I had to battle the destructive nature that East Oakland represents.
See.
The East Oakland Greasy that propels me, can be the same thing that holds me back.
I come from a self destructive place.
A beautiful place.
But a destructive place.
Outsiders often wonder why people in the hood destroy sh*t.
It's because n*ggas CAN'T see a future for themselves.
AND HERE IS THE RUB.
I have been just as destructive also.
But PEEP GAME.
I had EVERY THING going for me.
Thats why I had so much love for Clarrett.
Here was this dude, w/ mega talent, but his dark side KEPT F*CKING WITH HIM.
So I listen to De La.
I listen to De LA and I remember WHEN I WANTED TO BE WHERE I AM NOW,
and I am thankful.
It takes a village to raise and m.dot.
So I offer thank you's.
In alpha order:
Danyel Smith: For telling me to WRITE, regardless.
Dekka: For explaining that in order to focus for two weeks straight, NO CELL, NO IM.
Dig Dug: For being hilarious. For feeling me. For allways wanting to know when Im coming home.
Gotty: For being my muse. For deading me when I complained about BL incessantly.
Harlem Gem: For telling me last November " You are either going to break up with him or go to DC". For re-affirming my confidence. For not knocking me when I was down.
Irish Liberterian: For staying on me to study in the basement. Now I be in that b*tch erry day.
J!: For taking me seriously.
Jase: For never judging me.
Jonzey: For being here since the admission essay, for being l.school strategy architect.
Lurkers: I know yall out there. Say hi. lemme hear from ya.
Mean Sexy: For being firm w/ the NO NEW N*GGAS rule this semester. And for coming through when my money got funny.
Minnesota: For telling me about his grad school woes, and helped me to see, adminstrative hoop jumping was something that MANY a student went through.
Min Reporter: For encouraging me to take risks when I write and for letting me know, subtly, that she reads everything.
Miss Ahmad: For knowing and loving the Oakland we BOTH remember.
Mum: For being compassionate when I least expected it.
Neo: For being an "artist".
Pet Detective: For forcing me to be cognisant of how my thinking affects my surrounds. For helping me realizing my gift.
Poppaay!: For being compassionate, obnoxious and brilliant. For showing me that Black men never give up.
S.Bot: For being my greasy hero. For being the architect to my L.school survival. For helping me see that we all deal with urges.
Texas Truth: For providing constructive criticism, for being available and for riding for Jesus and Black people.
Walt: For loving Hip Hop and Detroit as much as I do.
Wil.e.: For enthusiasticlly listening to my mundane details, for being thorough.
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To De La. Thank you for providing a soundtrack to my dreams and everything that falls inbetween.
To My angels and God, thank you for listening.
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