DISPOSABILITY

 

“As the social

state is displaced by the market, a new kind of politics is emerging in which

some lives, if not whole groups, are seen as disposable and redundant.”

—Henry A.

Giroux, Youth

in a Suspect Society: Democracy or Disposability? (New York: Palgrave

Macmillan, 2009), pp. 155-156.

They lack the

minerals and vitamins which time releases

So they try to

blind you with the diamonds in they time pieces

Okay, you got

money, and we all can see it (great!)

Now, rhyme about

something time don’t depreciate

—Hi-Tek ft.

Talib Kweli & Dion, “Time,” Hi-Teknology3(2007).

Round about midway through the last

decade, no more was it acceptable to cling to that absurd conviction claiming

Hip-Hop was merely undergoing “shifts” and “trends,” and that much of the remonstrations,

showering down from all tunnels, were ill-begotten and untimely and but the misguided

ramblings of a few East-Coast-elitists displeased with another region (the

South) assuming control of the Rap music machine. With the silly and senseless

parodies that came to count as true

artistic creations, most who once held skepticism to any criticisms began

losing faith. It was at once clear, that more than a shifty trend, the ship was

sinking—thrusting all those within deep into the bottomless sea—and that a

future, if at all there was one, might be greatly imperiled.

How, for instance, could rappers

recklessly resurrect Minstrel themes of old, without a piece of protest from a

public that likes to think of itself intelligent enough to e#### ever-higher

standards for the many annual Rap aspirants eager to be accepted as authentic

and legitimate—“real”—representatives of Hip-Hop music and culture? How could

major radio stations whittle down their playlists considerably—and fall

dependent on no more than 5 or 7 songs (each blasting out exact, decadent suggestions)—and

face no concerted, consequential demonstration demanding better? How could a

rapper, in a music video, swipe down his credit card, spilt-through the

backside of a female dancer, and have a popular TV station plug it endlessly (around

midnight, of course), and have many rise up to his defense because, so the

chants went, Rap is about free expression, and this man deserves no less right

to express himself as Hugh Hefner or Howard Stern?

Beefs,

Blings, Bricks, Bullets, and Backsides

And if the misogyny wasn’t firm enough,

the ravenous glorification of violence and vapid materialism certainly broke

the water. Having come through a decade that opened coffins for two of the most

explosive and expressive Rap artists, it was agreed a new dawn must arise, and

a new way of thinking surrender, if a future for this international cultural force

was wanted. But the last decade began no better than many hoped. Two great New

York rivals clashed hard to serenade the new millennium, and drew at each other

for many years, until, in October 2005, maturity and intelligence steered their

hearts toward reconciliation.

But as both growled and gnashed, putting

their lives in persistent danger for incidents a good one-on-one session could

have corrected, the only winners, as always, proved to be the major record

labels, for whom both were serfs—mere lackeys on the field, walkers on the

streets.

They take the

strongest of slaves to compete in a track meet

For the king of

the city, sing songs of back streets

Choruses of

cocaine tales and black heat

Only to trade ni**as

like professional athletes!

Years after Tupac and Biggie, LL and

Canibus, Nas and Jay-Z, it took long for 50 Cent and Ja Rule to embrace this

sobering reality, as both walked into the same trap their many predecessors had

once too been entangled in; but, as always, by then the game was nearing final

whistle, and anticipated revenue had already been met, and the real winners

were out the door, brimming with great pride—another set of young Black males

heisted, millions of fans swindled (but, by god, entertained!), and millions

more in cash collected.

At every major intersection in Hip-Hop

history, never has this plan failed or fall short—of pitting natural allies

against each other, setting up fictional accounts that send both boiling and

scribbling feverishly into their notepads, and sitting calmly-faced as they

sling fireballs back and forth: and in case a fatality should occur (as past

events document), retreating into total obscurity, all the while well-pleased

with the ignorance of men who can move hearts and souls with complex poetical

constructions, but whose humanity has been defined, and they’ve come to

interpret, by narrow conceptions of Machismo.

We played against

each other like puppets: swearing you got pull

When the only

pull you got is the wool over your eyes

In midst of crafting threatening rhymes

toward anyone insecure enough to take the bait, many rappers assuredly took

time out to account the number of chains hanging from their necks, bracelets

and watches fastened to their wrists, shine and size of rims spinning on their

tires, the amount of cars overflowing from personal garages (and, dear god, the

paint jobs glistening thereupon), the piles of raw cash stacked on either sides

of their pants pockets, the make of sneaker shoes—preferably custom—dragged

around with their feet, the design of clothes stashed in their closets, the

brand and size and kind of wine

preferred at choice-strip clubs. Opulence, for sure. But, even then, little

harm was meant—and felt. Soon, however, the bar lowered—from carats to cars,

human life factored shortly: the waist-size, body-shape, skin-color,

hair-length, attitude-type, etc. Women now ranked as low as the 24 inch rims

many bragged excessively about.

Sickening, certainly. But millions of

fans lapped this up for years, unquestioning and undisturbed. It became

necessary chant for anyone with dreams of acceptance: for if you happened to

take pleasure more in the social

crises threatening the very world surrounding you, chances of commercial

success or affordable living slimmed greatly; but if you chose to join the

crowd which, just like you, couldn’t wait to share with fans every immaterial

facets of their splashy (though spiritually empty) lives, lifted up as

substitutable for self-worth, a door at every major record label, major radio

and TV station, and major concert venue held your name emblazoned, bidding:

“come in and do business

with—for—us.”

The

bling-bling era was cute but it’s about to be done, Immortal

Technique swore 7 years ago. Look back carefully, and rosters of artists never

wavered through those years, never dropped the tempo of their march to the

graves of immoral infantilism. Not many understood what they considered poetry

could only count, to adults with the courage to think for themselves, as

self-parody and an embarrassment at what had become of music—repeated loops of

content-absolved incoherence shot, unchanged, through the lips of diverse dolts

introduced, to an unwitting public, as artists and, the whopper of all,

“creative” artists at that! Lupe Fiasco’s brilliant satirical commentary mapped

this farce gracefully—

Now come on, everybody,

let’s make cocaine cool

We need a few

more half-naked women up in the pool

And hold this

MAC-10 that’s all covered in jewels

And can you

please put your ti**ies closer to the 22s?

And where’s the

champagne? We need champagne!

Now look as hard

as you can with this blunt in your hand

And now hold up

your chain, slow-motion through the flames

Now cue the

smoke machines and the simulated rain

Pop

Artists

Just as many couldn’t see their

creations as the farthest from Art, many, I’m certain, would have been equally

befuddled if explained to that in a few years their names would be

unrecognizable to the millions of kids for which their music was once Holy

Grail. It would be unfathomable that a rapper once christened the next “big

thing,” and sure enough primed to sell out millions of CD copies, would in less

than 5 years be restored to anonymity, with no name in the street. I wouldn’t

embarrass any such rappers in this editorial—they’ve suffered too much—but the

list runs endless. Today, king of the jungle. Tomorrow, unknown quarry.  

The shock is hardest of all. Then sense

of betrayal sets in. The artists’ rage immediately flames at managers and

publicists and friends and fans and executives, unable to grapple with what is

truer than all the lies (s)he once heard as matter of course: that (s)he was

but a mere commodity, sold for a good price, but, like all disposable

commodities, set with an expiration date, upon which usefulness (and

relevance)  passes off. The artist, after

much soul-searching, confronts this bitter truth: that (s)he was disposable,

that the music was only an immaterial part of the package—worm for fish, carrot

for donkey—and now another commodity has been placed on the shelf, whose date also

has been set.

One from a thousand

speaks in his own voice

The other 999

imitate without choice

My sympathy forever stays with the artist, for no human being deserves to

be used or abused—and, particularly, dehumanized. But how much sympathy can be

invoiced for hordes of hacks who delighted in swanking about crafting whole

songs in 5 or 15 minutes, and foolishly presenting this

wonder-of-the-modern-world as evidence of their divine artistic abilities. For

years, Hip-Hop fans took beating from scores of artists who strolled out to outdo

whatever the record stood at: to pen the fastest bar, hook, verse, or entire

song. Of course the thought and time put in always betrayed the ordinariness of

the composition. And as the ghosts of Usain Bolt attacked the hands of

so-called Rap artists, the channels of creativity began closing, reducing

commercial Rap songs to futile repetitions of long-established themes.

Pop

Music

The mind that produced “Poet Laureate

II” (Canibus) certainly could not take pride in coughing up entire songs in 5

minutes. A certain patience that only great artists—painters, writers,

poets—possess, patience to sit still until the right words or shadows and

colors can be brought forth, has never known most involved in making Rap music.

Prolific artists like the GZA—renowned for such painstaking creations as

“Queen’s Gambit,” “0% Finance,” “Labels,” and “Publicity”—must have fallen into

light comas upon each sighting of peers

and colleagues whose bank accounts

boasted millions of dollars for essentially restating what the last man

dictated from some previously published script. 

 

“It takes me a while to write sometimes because

I’m always reconsidering words,” revealed the GZA in a 2006 interview. “I go

line-for-line. Every time I write I try to go line-for-line. It’s a puzzle to

me. That’s how I write: this has to fit here

and that has to fit there.”

Two years later, he again outlined his

work ethic, and the high bar of quality set for his craft: “I like the patience

that I have. I once said on the “Crash Your Crew” song, I seen a million try to set a flow/ Thousands at shows/ Observed with

the patience of watching a flower grow/. So, I have a lot of patience when

it comes to writing. I mean every rhyme that I write, I usually draft five or

six or seven times.” (Exclaim!,

Nov. 2008.)

This talk must sound foreign to

countless artists comforted for years that a first draft is best because it

speaks to the most specific details of the heart’s cries, and that needless

tinkering for grammatical or dramatic accuracy borders on artificiality or

Nerdism, and can only drive away “real” Hip-Hop fans. To this end has rubbish

been approved for 21st century Hip-Hop standard. And with many major

record label executives sub-literate to any conception of Art—since artists are

put on excruciatingly tight schedules that smite the mere possibility of

contemplation-before-creation—artistic integrity is an early casualty.

In today’s climate, Prince Paul could

never launch A Prince Among Thieves

on a major record label. The time required to assemble a line-up of epic

quality, to program a storyline of classic complexity, to produce the record

with success true to the integrity of his vision, would all be denied. The

thought alone—to create operatic Hip-Hop, and craftily insert dialogue,

character, plot, flashback, narrative at every 

turn—would more than likely elicit slammed-shut doors at the offices of

the Big 4 record factories.

The force of compromise is often stronger

than the public acknowledges (and gives artists the credit for battling). A man

with a message, and a strong belief in how that message should be offered

publicly, who is then informed his message is unfit or too intelligent for the key-demographic the label plans to market

to, can spiral out of control—as many Rap artists unfortunately have, through

their careers. The microphone then serves as instrument to punish the rage and

fury—the I-have-had-it-up-to-hereness—built up within meetings where White

executives claim to know more what Black and Brown audiences deserve—and what

flies above their heads. Nothing here is pretty, and what comes off often

irritates, as Talib Kweli fired—

And you see that

there microphone

Ain’t no place

to work out your self-esteem issues

Do that sh**

when you alone!

I beg of Kweli, and those in his camp,

to be more compassionate of artists suffering deflated egos, robbed of their

sense of worth. When denied any sense of agency, sense of ableness to speak

against the wicked doings of the rulers in high places, it’s easy to rather

jingle about how many Rolexes wrap their wrists, than how timely the moment is

for true social change and true revolution of values. It’s easy to rather

scribble rhymes about countless lives they’ve physically and personally—without

the jail-time one would expect and hope for—sent over hell’s gates, than

address increasing inner-city violence, a racist and classist economic system,

or a Prison Industrial Complex built on the backs of children and adults priced

with little opportunity since birth.

Unplug it on

chumps with the gangsta babble

Leave your 9s

(mm) at home and bring your skills to the battle

Pop

Culture

None of this, however gory or ghastly,

deviates from script: for most Rap artists are little other than slaves to a

system they lack full understanding of. When a rapper entertains young

masses—millions around the world tuned to this endless stream—with tales of

gang exploits, drug sales, court cases, illegal

businesses, and steel-like toughness, only one side emerges victorious—and

neither the rapper or the fans had a shot to start with. The rapper is blessed

with chump compensation, and fans (many of them from suburban families) are

transported to a high upon which only Scarface

and The Godfather has thus far been

capable of lifting them.

While the song plays and the beat goes

on, however, both artist and fan are denied slices of their humanity: artists

find their dignity missing when told their capital function in life is to crank

out destructive and pathological representations of reality, and overrule any

possibility of inner-city Black and Brown kids struggling and overcoming.

Struggling, here, represents the end to many means—an ongoing, mindless

activity disconnected from any sense of hope and change. Nihilism and fatalism

are fetishized over—as worthy answer to constant disappointment over failed

struggle. Fans, whether poor or privileged, are robbed of the importance poets

once served in society—as prophets and oracles, drawing up inspiration for a

better tomorrow and a better today, exposing the inhumanity of life to force

radical change. When artists find more value in embodying and embellishing,

rather than erasing, decadence, a line has surely been tipped over.

“It is the principal function of popular

culture—though hardly its avowed purpose—to keep men from understanding what is

happening to them, for social unrest would surely follow, and who knows what

outbursts of revenge and rage,” William H. Gass insisted more than three

decades ago in Fiction and the Figures of

Life. (New York: Knopf, 1970; p. 272) You see traces of this sad spectacle

everywhere, even with the year-long health care debate, with many, sick to

their lungs, railing against “socialized insurance,” with senior citizens

decrying government-run programs as “Communist” and “Marxist.” If only their

eyes were introduced to reality, and their ear drums turned the way of

truth—truth that reveals the inhumane and deadly practices of gluttonous health

insurance giants: gladly denying coverage to dying children and “overweight”

infants—there would be, as Chris Rock promised a month ago, “riots in the

streets … They would burn this muthaf**ker down!”             

Those who sway the future of our planet don’t

sweat bullets much, however, thanks to a public that does not “wish to know

their own nothingness—or their own potentialities either, and the pleasures of

popular culture … give us something to do, something to suffer, an excuse for

failure, and a justification for everything.” (p. 273)

Rappers can get real cranky when sober,

when pushed to stare down the truth in all its ugliness, “So, the business,”

poet Black Ice revealed years ago, “feeds them all the weed and ecstasy and a

little bit of paper to provide some pacification from all the bullsh**

frustration they serve you.”

Now, the high is

just an illusion: lies and confusion

But, just for

that rush, just once, these young bucks’ll go through it

So, in essence,

they’re still flooding our streets with thugs, drugs, and killing

They just using

these record labels to do it

The public fares no better. When shaken

out of tabloid-induced coma, bricks rush into office glass windows, buildings

explode, planes crash into skyscrapers—pandemonium ensues. For years now, the

rulers have fed the donkey its carrot, and blissfully led it down many rivers.

And Rap music, for many, is that slim, orange, pointy, juicy vegetable. They

swear greater command of what is held before them for consumption—you hear the

proverbial “I know he ain’t talkin’ ‘bout me” from female fans—but reality spells

differently. William Gass explained:

The objects of

popular culture are competitive. They are expected to yield a return. Their

effect must be swift and pronounced, therefore they are strident, ballyhooed,

and baited with sex; they must be able to create or take part in a fad; and

they must die without fuss and leave no corpse. In short, the products of

popular culture, by and large, have no more esthetic quality than a brick in

the street. (pp. 272-273)

And though lacking any “finish,

complexity, stasis, individuality, coherence, depth, and endurance,” they possess

that one quality requisite to claim the hearts of a culturally illiterate

public—“splash.” (p. 274) The commercial, dominant Rap music content of the

last decade falls in this lane—of engaging beats and superfluous styles lacking

bitterly in substance. But as with a mansion of cards—no matter how well adorned

or spruced up—with time the foundationless structure gives in.  

Endless times have I heard the defense,

“I don’t like the rhymes, but the beat is tight!” and, refusing to grab a brick

and smash over the heads of these otherwise intelligent people, I walked off

disturbed. How pitiful do we determine a woman whose purse has just been picked

by the neighborhood conman, and, though knowing all this, responds—“I don’t

like the act, but he’s good-looking”? It would sound unreasonable if the

structure of popular culture did not rest on this very foundation—the

unbelievable, unexplainable gullibility of an ostensibly aware public. “[P]opular

culture is the product of an industrial machine,” wrote Gass, “which makes

baubles to amuse savages while missionaries steal their souls and merchants

steal their money.” (p. 274)

However uncool preachers might be today,

sermons need to shoot off from rooftops to millions worldwide trapped in this buffooneristic

enterprise, shorted for all their worth and fed deleterious values, many of

them too young to estimate the total effect of the destruction until later

on—at stages almost irreversible. “This muck cripples consciousness,” Gass warned.

“Therefore no concessions should be made to it.” (p. 275)

[Next week’s editorial would extend this

topic—of whether the “muck” has so crippled consciousness, not only of

listeners but of Hip-Hop itself, that all life has been sapped, dragging away to

the valleys of death.]

Tolu

Olorunda is a cultural critic whose work appears in various online journals. He

can be reached at: [email protected].

Kimbo Slice is gone.

The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) has unceremoniously dismissed the Florida pugilist after he lost his second UFC fight on Saturday Night. Kimbo was beaten in classic form – outlasted and convincingly. The thing is, in an odd Hip-Hop sort of way, Kimbo was “us.”

The quintessential underdog, the dude honed his skill in Florida backyards and parking lots. He fought for “piddly” money to get his food on the plate. He wasn’t supposed to be at the meteoric heights of the UFC to begin with, but somehow he made it. He wasn’t even close to being the best fighter, but everybody loved the Kimbo Slice saga.

You love to hear the story again and again….

Kevin Ferguson, Slice’s real name, rose to prominence after his street brawls grew virally on the internet and in the underground DVD world. He was big, Black and appeared to be your worst nightmare in a dark alley. But, rise..Kimbo did.

He adapted, trained and took his natural skill to professional Mixed Martial Arts. The defunct EliteXC bet the farm on Kimbo, who had become a mainstream spectacle, and when he lost, they went out of business. (He was paid $500,000 for his 14-second losing effort again Seth Petruzelli) Dana White, the head of the UFC, had publicly dissed Kimbo and his skills as a fighter. He saw the loss against Petruzelli. Yet, White gave him a shot. No matter what people thought of him, Kimbo Slice was interesting. Quite simply, he got viewers and put bodies in seats.

But in the UFC, Dana White is god and so White giveth, White taketh away. But Kimbo Slice was never supposed to be in the UFC. He created a path that was not trodden and one that won’t be followed anytime soon. How Hip-Hop of him. “We” always find away against all odds, no matter how far-fetched the outcome seems.

I rooted loudly for Kimbo Slice. I wanted him to win each and every time he fought. Why? For one, the story is familiar. Two, I heard the snickers. I saw their noses turn up when he was mentioned. It was odd witnessing haughtiness in a brutal sport like MMA. It could even be argued that those conceits got exactly what they wanted to prove in the first place – that Kimbo Slice wasn’t worthy. Exploit him a bit, get some voyeurs to watch the sport and kick him out as fast as possible. Laugh at him as he weakly covers up from a flurry of punches from ex-football player Matt Mitrione.

Maybe…maybe not.

The story of Kimbo Slice isn’t over yet, but his time in the UFC is. He’s outta there. Now time will again tell how Hip-Hop he really is. He’s lost the battle, but he’s still got one hell of a war to tend to.

Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur can be found at twitter.com/chuckcreekmur

We are living in precarious and dangerous times.  The economy remains unstable,

joblessness is continuously skyrocketing, development is stagnant and

unpredictable circumstances around the world are exacerbating the fears of

many.  But what is also quietly

bubbling underneath the surface is a far more treacherous and detrimental push

for a shift in American psychology that in effect undermines the core

principles upon which this great nation was founded.  It is the concerted, conscious effort to stoke the qualms of

many with a great divide that is once again pitting ‘us’ against ‘them’.  Except this time, the ‘them’ could

virtually be you, me or any one who slightly looks as if he/she doesn’t belong.

For the past few days, we have been inundated with images of

the now infamous failed Times Square car bomb suspect, Faisal Shahzad.  What began as a thorough search for the

person or persons involved in this foiled attempt has culminated into a drastic

transformation in dialogue that is establishing dangerous precedent for many to

be presumed guilty on the basis of their national origin, familial ancestry or

travel records.  When authorities

first released footage of an initial suspect over the weekend, the vast

majority of broadcasters and reporters stayed clear of mentioning this man’s

race.  Save for a few exceptions,

the bulk of coverage on all three major networks – conservative Fox News, more

liberal MSNBC and ‘fair and balanced’ CNN –  weren’t focusing on this man’s Whiteness, but rather leading with copy like ‘officials are

seeking a middle-aged man seen here’ or ‘they are searching for a man in his

40’s’.  Fast-forward to Mr. Shahzad

and all you see blaring across your TV screen is this man’s ethnicity and ties

to another land far far away off in the distance somewhere.  But it isn’t only Pakistanis or

Pakistani Americans that should be deeply concerned about this troubling

imaging and change in verbiage.

This past month, Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the

most controversial immigration bill in our country’s history.  Literally institutionalizing and

justifying racial profiling, this SB 1070 legislation transferred immense

authority into the hands of local police that are often-times notorious for

their biased behavior and poor judgment (one needs to only look at NJ were

racial profiling was found even at the state police level).  But what is even more troubling than

the potential backlash against all minorities in Arizona, is the ripple effects

this is having across the nation. 

Several other states are already pursuing their own versions of

immigration ‘reform’ which amount to nothing more than criminalizing and

dehumanizing certain groups of people. 

The politicians and pundits that are pushing this anti-immigrant message

need to be reminded of the intricate benefits that immigrants from all over the

world have bestowed upon the United States and the plethora of ways in which

they continue to do so.  If the

backers of this SB 1070 wanted to be truly honest, they might as well say ‘if

you’re not White, show me proof you belong here’ – because that’s literally

what this bill means.

Everyone is familiar with the inscription on our symbolic

emblem of freedom, the statue of liberty, that reads in part:  “Give me your tired, your poor, your

huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. 

But ask yourselves, how did we go from that optimistic, inclusive message

to one filled with fear mongering, division and a sense of entitlement?  If you are Brown, Black or tan in

Arizona, who’s to say your family members weren’t here before the area even

received statehood in 1912?  And as

some on the right push for all Pakistanis and all Muslims – whether citizens or

not – to be monitored and watched, they are in fact turning back the clock on

decades of progress.  If they

espouse that we ‘end political correctness’ by questioning everyone who

‘doesn’t look like us’, what is to become of our inalienable rights that led

the vast majority here in the first place?

For those who do not see the ominous bias in our mainstream

press when it comes to coverage of others versus

coverage of so-called natives, just watch and observe over the coming days,

weeks and months as Shahzad’s background is probed and dissected.  But unlike when Timothy McVeigh

slaughtered scores and injured hundreds, the focus won’t be on his own troubled

life (which includes the recent loss of his home and other economic troubles),

but it will instead be on any ties to extremist elements.  Now in no way am I condoning his

behavior or stating that he didn’t have ties to any groups in Pakistan, but

what I am doing is reminding people that when Joseph Stacks flew a plane into

an IRS building less than three months ago and killed an African American man,

he was not labeled a terrorist. 

And yet this foiled attempt in Times Square, where nothing thankfully

happened, will almost certainly create a backlash for Pakistanis, Muslims or

anyone that resembles them. 

As the jargon gains momentum with talk of homegrown

terrorists and the cells within, we have to wonder, are we at stake here to

slowly lose all of our basic fundamental civil liberties?  There is now even talk from politicians

like Senator Joe Lieberman pushing for legislation that would strip anyone

accused of terrorism of his/her citizenship.  But if terror and terrorism are terms used at our own

discretion, do we now hold the power to determine one’s allegiance, patriotism

or love of country?  If we can now

be stopped in Arizona simply for jay walking and asked to ‘produce our papers’,

isn’t that creating and justifying bigotry and racism?  Are these consistent regressive

maneuvers a reaction to an ever-unstable economic future?  Or is it something more nefarious at

play?  When did the United States

of America became a land of ‘us’ verses everyone else? 

These are indeed volatile times, and we should all be very,

very afraid.

Nida Khan is an independent journalist and producer working in both print and radio.  She is currently a news correspondent with WRKS 98.7 Kiss FM NY, and is a member of the production team of Rev. Al Sharpton’s nationally syndicated broadcast, ‘Keeping it Real’.  Nida previously served as the Editor-in-Chief of elan:  The Guide to Global Muslim Culture, and has contributed pieces for such diverse outlets as the Associated Press, Alternet.org, DUB Magazine, Lifetimetv.com, The Source Magazine, The Women’s Media Center and more.Nida can be found at:

http://twitter.com/NidaKhanNY

It’s not many words in the world more

powerful than “mother.”

Those six letters can bring joy, just like they bring pain. It can

invoke excitement just as quickly as it can anger, depending on the

context, I guess. For myself, it means more than I can ever possibly

describe, but I will try. I associate the term with immeasurable

strength, beautiful patience and infinite wisdom.

You can probably already tell, but the

main reason for this letter is

to pay tribute to every positive matriarch on Mother’s Day. In my eyes,

that day is 365 days a year, but I understand the significance of the

holiday. The love between a mother and her offspring is hands down the

most beautiful thing God created. More than money, more than fame, more

than cars. You know why? Because true love is the only thing that lasts

from the moment you’re born to the second you perish. To all the

mothers who read this letter, I hope this day allows you to feel the

love and respect you so rightfully deserve. You are the role models, not

me.

To the mothers of my beautiful

children, there remains nothing but

love, adoration and respect coming from my heart. Even with the mistakes

I’ve made in my life, you give me reason to smile in a place where they

attempt to break your spirit each day the sun rises. I love my babies

with all my heart. And the fact you brought them into this world only

gives me more and more motivation to write these words. Happy Mother’s

Day.a(Editorial continues under picture)Last but not least, my own mother, Ms. Cita. You are my heart and you

are my soul. Please don’t ever forget that. We’ve been through

everything one could possibly imagine together. With each obstacle that

has come our way, you have handled it with the grace and dignity I can

only hope to mimic. Even writing this, it’s tough to come to grips with

the fact I cannot spend this special day with you. Like you always

preached, a man must accept his own actions – good and bad – and learn

from them. And that’s what I’m doing. Mom, I love you more than you will

ever know. Probably more than I love my own self. Enjoy Mother’s Day

because you deserve it. Also, find comfort knowing your son loves you

and misses you like crazy.

To everyone, again, I cannot stress this enough, thank you so, so

much for the support. My spirits are sky high thanks to you all. It

makes the day pass faster knowing people out there care about you and

want you to do well. I pray the letters keep coming in at the volume

they are right now, especially the overseas ones. They let me know life

still does move on, even if I forget at times. I just ask that you all

keep the letters to one page. And keep sending the pictures, too. Some

of you are talented beyond belief with the drawings and paintings.

I’ll go ahead and end the letter here, but again Happy Mother’s Day

to each and every lady who has raised/is raising her kids the best way

possible. Take care. God bless. Live life. Show love.

“I can trust my loving Savior

When I fear the world’s alarms;

There’s no safer place of resting

Than His everlasting arms”

___________________________________________

I would love to thank the following fans:

Saraya Mabrey – Thanx for the love & for

attending all my shows.

John Hoffman – thanx for the kind words

Sonovia McPhee – Thanx for holding my hand + you

haven’t lost a friend, you’ve found one in me…

Liana Washington – Yes, I’m getting my arnold on

Susan Riler – Thanx for the support Wifey

S.Nicol Bell – Thanx for the respect & for

really listening

Esther Oladele, Anita Abayome & Co – (I love

ya’ll too in my best english accent)

Luisa Sulsona – you’re nervous but you wrote 7

pages, thanx baby

Anna Hundy Golden aka Miss Cousin – run baby run.

thank you

Josiah Temple – Thanx for the love but your eternity

is more important. Trust me

Chelsea from Pittsburgh – I honestly couldn’t read

your letter from your handwriting. sorry but thanx anyway

Shae Carr – Don’t cry baby

Illya Mitchell – thanx & sorry about your pops

Lindsey Watson – thanx for the luv & carter V is

coming soon, yes I’ll be touring & Sorry I only sleep at my house

Emily Ness – thanz for your absolute love &

support and knowing all my songs. You’re a true fan. And the sky isn’t

the limit, there are footprints on the moon.

Raven Smith aka Ray Simone – thanx for the real

love. I’m honored to know I helped you in anyway and the tat in the

mouth would be simply f###### awesome & yes I smiled and Laughed

while reading your letter.

Jordan Rando – Your words were as motivated as my

own. Thank you & I hope that party shuts down!

Ysabella Espinoza – Thanx for the support babe.

Thanx for wearing the shirt & attending the show.

Chris Austin – thanx for the love, i’ll let Lil

Twist know that I read your letter. Much love 2 the dream team

Ms Carrie Yates – thank you for the words &

tears, My new gal pal

Shaniya Duncan – thanx for the words & yes that

was me int he episode & don’t worry an alien is cool!

Allison Holley – thank you – your profession is

ultimate

Zohal Amir – thanx for the love & support since

“hardball”! and you’re a cutie

Joshua Andrews – thanx for the strong words &

shout out to the westbank!

Joelle Bryson – you are beautiful in every way I

want to meet you. Write back with a #

Samantha Madrid – sorry about granny. there is no

secret. Just live & smile. Pain helps the strength of the smile. I

wouldn’t change a thing.

Adam Hosford – thanx for the amazing words for

attending my show. I be back!

Jacquette Vencie – your words were intelligent yet

funny. made me think & laugh & I want 2 meet you as well, &

yes I’ll take it easy. By the way, that’s an Aries symbol on the right

side of my face.

Ms. Amber Upton – thanx for attending my show &

for finding time to write me. I bet your kid is amazing & thanks for

the compliment. I hope your fam is fine now.

Tia Wunder – thank you babe. And I hope you kill’em

in softball field. Go Tia!

Erica Lynn “Mrs Carter Campbell” – I luv the

envelope & what your idea the F is for.

Daniel Wykowski – Write about you babe – be you!

Chris Melchor – thank you & I hope 2 meet you

too someday. Tell moms she should listen too! And I hope you never get

tired of me.

Samantha Hutcherson – I hope I keep poppin up in

your dreams babe & you should still be head over-hills for me

K. Foxx (Hot97) – You are truly a beautiful woman

inside and out. Thank you for always remaining positive. Tune is Tuned

in to you in the morning.