1. |
Children of the Sun
03:16
|
|||
From the docks to the blocks
to behind the pines, on the rocks
or behind locks, like in the box,
the basket is a case
of what takes the cake: stocks.
On the list, it is tops
and protected by the cops.
That’s why the train goes a bit North and just stops,
keeping out kids, moms and pops.
It’s a strange city, it’s pretty
but smells pretty bad,
it’s full of paradoxes
but outside the boxes,
a lot of love and laughter,
which some find obnoxious
they box us in,
but we’ll growl and punch
just like boxers,
two species, both tenacious
unwilling to live in places
where the sun don’t shine.
I know sometimes
the sun won’t shine
but I don’t mind
cause when it does, it’s all mine.
And I Feel Fine.
Like a little one, a little sun,
nice day, ok, let’s go play,
take a dive, strive to see
what it’s like to be alive
how it feels, how real it is
when we really live
outside in the streets,
a nice way to take away
all of the gray,
a little bit of blue
otherwise it’s no fun,
but a sun so yellow, it mellows,
it bellows out like a cello,
a vibration of fellowship.
I know sometimes
the sun won’t shine
but I don’t mind
cause when it does, it’s all mine.
And I Feel Fine.
Why not sail away
on a ship of happiness?
Or endless bliss?
Never feeling hapless,
love kiss the lips
and we’re feeling fantastic,
finally a little bit more enthusiastic
‘bout where we go from here,
those we keep near
and we steer ourselves
clear of the coast,
the cliffs, the coves,
the mist can mix us up,
so we stay in the sun
cause when we’re broke,
then who gonna fix us up?
I know sometimes
the sun won’t shine
but I don’t mind
cause when it does, it’s all mine.
And I Feel Fine.
|
||||
2. |
For the Good of the Land
03:45
|
|||
I’ma crack the safe
and vacate the place.
No patience for paychecks,
the paper chase,
gloves and face mask
so I don’t leave no traces
I don’t need the loot,
but I just want it in cases
so I could make a run
like a day at the races
with leg braces
Forest goin’ for it, gon’ make it.
Take it to the bank and break rank
break down, break out,
break off of a piece, say ‘‘Peace’’
and get back to being a thief,
beat the cops on the beat,
sneaking in the service
entrance undetected
security cameras exposed
when I wrecked ‘em
damn near killed him,
grab the loot,
bounce outta the building
not hurtin’ no women,
no children, just chillin’
making a killing
and billing the man
for killing the Cheyenne,
pillaging Afghanistan
Robin Hood of the hood
for the good of the land!
99.9% only got a little bit
And bad jobs they can’t quit
99.9% of the people ain’t rich,
the rest just don’t give a shit
99.9% only got a little bit
And have no choice but to submit
99.9% of the people ain’t rich,
the rest just don’t give a shit
It’s a new phase of life for me,
a transition
got an itchy trigger finger,
I’m a man on a mission from God
like the brothers of blues
Does anybody here
got any good news ?
I’m kind of tired
of my present situation
all the tests of will
and stress I’m still facing
I’ve tried to figure it out,
and have but still got doubts
about where to go from here, what it’s all about.
99.9% only got a little bit
And bad jobs they can’t quit
99.9% of the people ain’t rich,
the rest just don’t give a shit
99.9% only got a little bit
And have no choice but to submit
99.9% of the people ain’t rich,
the rest just don’t give a shit
The last tidbits of past acid hits
flash back like a blitz
help me regain my wits
the responsibility belongs
to he who commits
til’ the shoe fits.
If it doesn’t it’s useless,
who gives two shits?
Gotta get used to it,
cause I blew it,
won’t blow it again,
blowing in the wind.
Can’t rewind the thing
once it begins
thinking too much
is a thing of the past
I’m never gon’ last
if I can’t be steadfast
forget the regrets,
so many questions unasked.
My capacity for tenacity... surpassed.
It’s all about changing,
put things in order,
they need rearranging
it’s strange indeed
but we’re each evolving,
maturity only when we
nourish the seed,
need courage to bleed,
when we fight for what’s right
and impede the greed
of those who mislead
there are too many
we need to feed
to not succeed
so we heed the creed!
99.9% only got a little bit
And bad jobs they can’t quit
99.9% of the people ain’t rich,
the rest just don’t give a shit
99.9% only got a little bit
And have no choice but to submit
99.9% of the people ain’t rich,
the rest just don’t give a shit
|
||||
3. |
Who we Be
03:39
|
|||
It’s like life keeps on going
even though it just stopped
for the faithful, my friends,
and black men on the block
shot at by the cops, hands up, they never dropped,
it never stops
we ain’t gonna solve this
through hip-hop
just bring attention, mention it, hoping in the end
the tension gets lighter,
that the light gets brighter,
that we learn to be fighters
for rights as well as what is right
but still lovers of one another
cause who here’s not my brother? On Earth, but one mother.
So why smother each other? Gotta let a brother breathe
we can do better than deceiving, bereaving, leaving others grieving
Let’s start believing
in society’s patches
working together …
to start weaving something, achieving something,
giving to the greater good, receiving something
You ever wondered what type
of legacy we’d leave ?
Or thought about how much greatness we’ve achieved ?
Even with faith
how can anyone believe
in you and in me
and in who we be?
You ever wondered what type of legacy we’d leave ?
Or thought about how much greatness we’ve achieved ?
Even with faith
how can anyone believe
That God still believe in us ?
What the hell
we doing fighting this war for?
Budget deficit
but keep paying for more.
We’re getting screwed,
still sore from the night before
told more lies than before
Nixon resigned or feeling fine,
see no problems, we’re blind
until we follow our whole soul instead of our minds
You ever wondered what type of legacy we’d leave ?
Or thought about how much greatness we’ve achieved ?
Even with faith
how can anyone believe
That God still believe in us ?
|
||||
4. |
Everything we Got
03:08
|
|||
I’m feeling that I haven’t been productive enough,
like I got so much
extraneous stuff on my mind
that I can’t seem to find the time
to do something so simple
as to make lines rhyme.
I do my best not to hate,
not to fight,
not to get jealous or spite
cause I’ve discovered that life’s greatest crime just might be
failing to create, innovate, communicate one’s ideas
in a given time and state of mind.
So I’m stating mine immediately so I could make my qi flow
with such immediacy
to be the MC that spits
the positivity
which in my soul I feel
though I’ve never seen a danger clearer than that posed
by the man I fear above all others
smothering me with his presence
I’ma steal the best of his essence, teach the rest of him a lesson.
When I catch him staring at me
in the mirror,
I’ma get a confession.
When you’re locked in a bad spot,
can’t stop, don’t stop, won’t stop
give it everything you got.
When we’re locked in a bad spot, Blockstop can’t stop, don’t stop,
we give it everything we got.
Living not to give in
but this shot needs taking
to create things but somehow
I must be mistaken,
willing to learn
from every mistake I’m making,
but it’s harder in reality
than people make it out to be.
Undoubtedly, we evolve
and problems get solved.
Still others emerge,
leave us standing on the verge
of all things we’ve ever known, and the place we call home.
And now I’m locked in a bad spot feeling all alone.
I guess I’m not that versatile,
it’s not personal, no.
I don’t wanna name names
but in the end,
I’ve got but yours truly to blame
but what you gonna do
when the answers
right in front of you?
I know one or two
who don’t know what to do.
In my head,
most of what I had in mind
was hazy
In bed, couldn’t get up,
was too lazy
It’s tough to live like that though, you go crazy
So after months of doin’ little
I said ‘‘maybe
it’s time to write a rhyme
and quit being a baby,
quit chasing ladies,
let my muse invade me
persuade me that I got stuff
to say daily, like the show,
but with a flow to amaze thee.
When you’re locked in a bad spot,
can’t stop, don’t stop, won’t stop
give it everything you got.
When we’re locked in a bad spot, Blockstop can’t stop, don’t stop,
we give it everything we got.
Get outta the funk
and find the feeling.
Search for it,
don’t get caught up in caution.
Go for it
not just through the motions.
I used to have it all,
now not even a notion.
|
||||
5. |
To the Beat
03:21
|
|||
Once the band walks in,
start feeling the swing;
something I can’t explain
but it’s stuck in my brain
like a little melody tellin’ me
to put on my dancin’ shoes
and start dancin’ to the beat,
to the sound,
take a crack at the track,
get your feet back
on higher ground,
dance with the divine,
drinking wine, feeling fine
good times so chic,
get down on the floor
’til your knees get weak.
not bleak like memphis, tennessee,
going to graceland
(who’s comin’ with me?)
Just a couple a hippies,
and flappers lookin’ dapper
tryin’ to bag a rapper.
So hit me if you wit’ me
and start spinnin around
getting down on it,
gonna want it ‘til we dead
but we alive instead
and we ain’t faintin’
just a singer and a swinger
who be paintin’ the town red.
move your feet to the beat
do your thing to the swing
show the world to your girl
and get down to the sound
wake/ up, get/ up, dance
I take letters, put ‘em together
to make up words
articles, nouns,
prepositions, verbs
my prose wax poetic,
that’s how I prefer
to say my spirit rise
like curds and whey
or the volume when you hear it,
you press play
my words convey 33.3 per minute
DJ spin it, my verse I’m in it
and I can’t get out, leave no doubt
move your feet to the beat
do your thing to the swing
show the world to your girl
and get down to the sound
wake/ up, get/ up, dance
When you feel that beat
start moving your feet
when you hear that swing
start doing your thing
when you love that girl
gotta show her the world
when you hear that sound
then you gotta get down.
Gotta get it
when the getting’s good
when it’s easy pickens, not slim
don’t need no spring chickens
need people ready to dance
with a glance
’til they in a trance of romance.
Let me see them hot pants!
|
||||
6. |
Live in a Van
04:30
|
|||
I need to find an outlet,
need to get out and about,
get going, get caught up,
get lost and find myself,
to remind myself
of the time when I find my health,
the wealth that’s mine
when I’m of a sound body
and sound mind,
a sound state of being,
accepting that I’m not seeing
all the signs but sensing them,
not living fenced in
or on the fence, nor in the past tense
or tense or too intense
but finding a sense of innocence,
between intellect and ignorance,
the rent’s free in this place,
so why not me?
Why just be a fraction
of what I am?
A spiritual being
just as much as a man,
try as hard as I can,
find a brand new plan,
F society, gonna live in a van.
Unless we’re detached,
we latch on to meaning
where we see it, be it true or not.
A lot simply comes down
to perception, but not perfection
what’s right depends on
where we see the intersection,
what we anticipate
when we arrive,
how far we drive
and how we navigate,
cause it’s never too late,
but it’s too great for some of us,
a thin line between love and hate
some wanna destroy,
some die to create
we can no longer dominate, incarcerate
we need coordinate and educate
eradicate boxes,
categories, labels,
cause when we speak
that is how we’re able
to understand it, explain it,
question it, demand it,
celebrate it, hate it,
reward or reprimand it.
|
||||
7. |
Whodunnit
04:07
|
|||
When we stopped
seeing Iraq and Syria’s problems
in the news it was a clue
to some serious problems.
A mere year after
one the world’s worst tsunamis,
we forget Fukushima,
eating fish fingers calmly.
Remind me how many wars
are still raging?
From Congo to the Ukraine,
Bangui, Bangkok, Bahrain,
Rio, Tegucigalpa, Gaza, Libya,
not trivia but the news we see
couldn’t be sillier.
Consider for a minute
what’s in it for networks;
when ratings grow higher
then so does their net worth.
It’s all about ads and fads,
it’s so sad;
viewer fatigue, a story takes
a second to go bad
but rarely gets solved,
it often evolves and falls in the lap
of those caught in the collective memory loss trap.
Watching, reading, hearing
and consuming more crap;
hooked on bad news so bad
it’s like crack is back.
What happened last week ?
Another attack ?
Where’d it happen ? I don’t know,
I didn’t read the caption.
Why, how, whodunnit ?
Who cares, who knows ?
We just see what we want
like the Emperor’s clothes.
Like a Fox in news clothing
or unstable news networks
taking over the sector like soundbites and excerpts
and all the commentary of these so-called experts.
People watchin’ fiction like reading a text hurts.
If you can’t believe your eyes, then what you believe ?
Reporters don’t tow the line
and are then asked to leave.
It’s tough to disbelieve
a notion once it’s preconceived.
Are they trying to deceive
or are they just naive ?
Pre-packaged, pre-chewed,
pre-digested, no food for thought
store bought tricks up sleeves
like quick fixes.
Xenophobic, racist, misogynistic claims
that our enemies are socialists, foreigners and mystics.
But our enemies are demogogues and even ourselves,
buying their bullshit and whatever’s on the shelves.
All opinions are on sale,
they’re just sticking to scripts.
Misinformants’ll be dormant
once we give ‘em the deep six.
What happened last week ?
Another attack ?
Where’d it happen ? I don’t know,
I didn’t read the caption.
Why, how, whodunnit ?
Who cares, who knows ?
We just see what we want
like the Emperor’s clothes
On the net, no editor,
just competitors for buzz,
no desire to inform or educate
because kids searching for quizzes
and random shit with kittens
It’s all about tits and dicks,
clits and clicks.
Social media like mass media
but seedier intentionally crafted
for being much greedier.
More channels, more crews,
more stories, more news,
more quicker, more better,
a set of the mo’ better blues.
What happened last week ?
Another attack ?
Where’d it happen ? I don’t know,
I didn’t read the caption.
Why, how, whodunnit ?
Who cares, who knows ?
We just see what we want
like the Emperor’s clothes
|
||||
8. |
Seconds Away
03:42
|
|||
From the second
State of Consciousness
to a breath the depth of the sea
that can span
the breadth of continents,
between being liquid
and incontinence. You know
both are of no consequence.
Hence we follow common sense,
when we are not tense
but don’t lower our defense
cause we lack confidence.
It’s a false pretense,
we’re seeking a truth
so deep-rooted that
there are no more disputes;
original sin within the holiest fruit
the reason for my pursuit
and my existence to boot
and everyone else
inside our minds and souls,
the only goal I see
is to be in total control
or not to be it’s all philosophy,
it’s got to be.
Sunshine breaking
through the clouds so loud
it’s cacophony, and my spirit
sing in unity,
I hear it as a symphony.
We are all seconds away
from reckoning,
wandering through life awakening.
We need exercise
for the mind to come alive
be revived as it enters
the light in which it thrives.
We set forth
looking for true north
inevitably blown off course,
of course
knowing more cost reports
could cause a loss of sorts
from concentrating on
what matters the most.
The ether’s energy floats
on matter like boats.
The slippery slope
is what everyone hopes to climb
but Sisyphus can’t find
no reason or rhyme
and keeps biding his time
by dulling his mind.
Muscles never moved mountains
despite years of trying
but the mental magic carpet
just might start flying
the moment we are thrown in head first,
not ready to dive,
wake up in the water,
amazed to be alive.
It pays to take a ride
sometimes and not hide
search for the soul inside
and replace pride
with prana and peace
and search for purpose to guide
once we recognize the divine
we find within our eyes.
|
||||
9. |
Dirty Hands
03:44
|
|||
We produce too much
and we throw away tons.
We work for shadow-dwelling
shareholders who make sums
we can’t even dream of.
We rarely do what we love,
spend time to spend money,
hit snooze, springing to life
to spend hours in traffic,
sleepless, coffee addict;
and work,
what a waste to lose years
living buried in fear.
We’re stressed, it’s a mess
and we can’t get help,
financial or psychological,
It’s an improbable existence
at best.
We gotta follow through,
work collectively.
Forget the debt we’ve accrued,
it’s officially skewed
and time the government
had a judicial review.
They say we owe CEOs,
how ‘bout IOUs or FUs?
Eschew punks like Trump
and all their right-wing views.
Every one of us is disabused;
it’s time to fight the ruse,
the rules are misused.
I officially accuse the news
of trying to confuse
so let’s light the fuse!
Who is the dirty man
who got the dirty plan?
We do the dirty work
but they got the dirty hands.
Who is the dirty jerk
who got the dirty plan?
We do the dirty work
but they got the dirty hands.
It’s a dirty game,
is any man worthy of fame?
Let alone being worthy
of that man’s own name
or his title,
what’s a head of department
without a heart? It’s just a brain.
When will we learn?
We earn less and less,
we pay interest
but we get laid off or outsourced
whenever their profits are lost.
Who knows the real cost
of this system?
There all paid off, on the take.
What will it take?
That all the victims
and the workers unite,
unlikely, gotta be consumers
who stop
going to the company shops
and hit ‘em in the pockets.
Who is the dirty man
who got the dirty plan?
We do the dirty work
but they got the dirty hands.
Who is the dirty jerk
who got the dirty plan?
We do the dirty work
but they got the dirty hands.
It’s our copper, our coltan,
our cotton, our water
our tears, their slaughter,
our sons, our daughters
our love, our sweat,
our blood, our debt
our ancestors who died
it’s our culture, our pride.
Who is the dirty man
who got the dirty plan?
We do the dirty work
but they got the dirty hands.
Who is the dirty jerk
who got the dirty plan?
We do the dirty work
but they got the dirty hands.
|
||||
10. |
Just be Just
03:40
|
|||
Be yourself, be clean,
be kind, be beautiful
be practical, creative, logical,
open and original,
be conscious, be aware,
sensitive, be sensible,
sensual, sentimental,
take care of yourself
and know your body,
know your mind,
know where you’re going
mostly all of the time,
be responsible, responsive,
reach for autonomy and
realize your dreams, be healthy,
helpful, hopeful, not doubtful,
be safe, be courageous,
don’t fear death,
it’s just a transition,
don’t get rattled,
complete your mission,
serve yourself,
take the road less travelled,
look inside for answers
but ask others if you must
and just be just.
Open your mind.
Feel the presence of light
shines at the right time.
Sometimes you feel
like you’ll never live
something that’s real
but it’s just in your mind
you should know
that it all will be fine.
When you feel free
then you know just who to be.
You should choose to believe
what you feel in your soul
is the goal to behold so be bold
Sweet pea
my plea
to be me
completely
you must believe
to just acheive
my love and your love
we know that they will be
exactly what you need
we then use it to see
discover that the key
is love and we’ll be free.
Be a child of the universe,
be at peace with God,
be godly, be good,
be holy, life’s unfolding
as it should
be a doer, a generator, practice,
be persistent, embrace difference,
honor your own existence
cause it can only serve
to enhance your aura,
karma, prahna,
build your home, keep it clean,
warm and welcoming,
speak to strangers
and welcome them,
even just to say hello,
know no one’s above you,
no one is below you,
they don’t know you,
you don’t know them,
make whoever you can a friend
unless they got bad energy,
then just let it be
meditate, drink V8,
lose weight, shoot straight,
don’t lie to loved ones,
just love them and just be just.
Open your mind.
Feel the presence of light
shining on time.
Open your heart,
let it guide your life.
You’ll see love is ours.
|
||||
11. |
Voiceless
03:49
|
|||
I wish to speak for the voiceless
not given any choices
and still seeking out a living
in a world so unforgiving,
full of misgivings
we need more giving, thanksgiving,
praise giving
and forgiving for loving to be felt
within every heart
as they start down the path toward
healing, hoping, feeling
there’s a difference to be made,
wild card to be played,
someway to make the grade
instead of looking
to be paid millions
start considering the children indebted
ahead of their days
taken away cause bankers
borrowed against their future
and now they just
gotta get used to
being used, being abused
being tossed scraps
that’ve already been chewed,
basically getting screwed;
living a life of the blues and bad news
with bad shoes.
These voices,
where did they go?
Why and how long ago?
I think they’re there,
but way too low.
How are we supposed to know ?
I don’t hear enough voices
making noise about
all our leaders bad choices
over the years.
Fear has been fabricated,
the room for debate’s been vacated,
money in bed with power.
But power’s resisting
paying people 12 dollars an hour.
So how are they subsisting?
And why aren’t they resisting?
I think many are,
others are entrenched
too far in debt
or drenched in sweat
constantly they fret gettin laid off
gettin old
before gettin all the loans
and their home paid off
we’re way off track
from we would should be
think of how positive
our society could be.
Democracy ain’t perfect,
neither are people
but we’d treat ‘em differently
if they were our equals.
It’s not who you speak to,
it’s how you listen.
We only hear politicians,
people are missing
from the opinions on radio
and television.
we all have the same vision,
we just gotta raise our voices.
|
Streaming and Download help
If you like BLOCKSTOP, you may also like:
Bandcamp Daily your guide to the world of Bandcamp