Piped down, kept low. They saw it, rubbed their hands, said let’s go.
Shoved from behind, shoved back much harder.
Angrier, snappier, no more not ever.
Rejected, ate lunch in the stall. Shit was better than other company.
Toes were squashed. Feathers flew. Ears went down. Here it came.
Never to anyone who didn’t need it or start it.
You’re a loose cannon. You’re unpredictable. Who’s next?
Fuck if I know, but my targets don’t miss.
Show me collateral damage. Right, there is none. It’s just survival, it’s not even fun.
Then came the one who got it. Held me. Loved me.
Explained all that went wrong. How they couldn’t see.
Only she was fifteen plus years my senior.
My friend’s stepmom. For her too easy.
Tried to get out. Again and again. How did I end up with her alone?
So many times? So many ways? Seeing so much?
What a 16 to 18 year old boy shouldn’t be seeing.
Oh right, hated my house. Had no home.
Was there all the time. With one of my few friends.
While she set the scenes to take take take.
It took a divorce and a deployment to make it end.
Seven years later. The damage, warping, grooming, rewiring done.
During that time flipped it.
Used my knowledge, learning, skills, and pain.
Español es emoción.
Français, c’est la résistance.
Italiano è cultura.
English is bullshit.
Then was a teacher. Those who broke me down, guess what?
Was now teaching your kids to read and write.
Not that kind of story. Had their backs.
Your kids rebuilt what you tore down.
Gen Z, Gen Alpha. Shit. They’re more than X and Millennials.
They may save us all.
From ourselves.
Hate violence.
Hate sex.
Hate anger.
Hate hate.
Hate justice.
All the above weaponized and used to break me down.
Turns out they’re not all bad all the time.
Who knew?
Not me.
Hip hop is the language of survival.
Music’s a character. A myth.
It has an intro. And an end.
When an MC raps?
They break the fourth, fifth, sixth walls.
Say who it’s for. Where they were.
Invite you in.
Show the why. Burn the need. Fuck the how.
Shit wasn’t allowed to hear it or listen.
Was bad, they hate the police, I think they said fuck?
Never say the n word or refer to women as a dog or body part.
Will take the rest.
Watch me drop these bars and spit some truth.
Come back to my world, if you dare.
It’s scary here. There’s no place to hide. There are predators lurking.
Worry not. See the monster now. They don’t see me coming.
Not safe. Risky. Dangerous.
Oh let’s split those bars the beat’s too long.
Will keep you safe and protected in this world.
No enemy will even get close.
It’s second nature now, can’t help it.
Wrote this beat in under ten
While my students were in homeroom.
Notes on paper? Prebeat? A hook ready?
No. Nada. Niente. Non.
Come on algorithm, Substack, TikTok, Instagram.
Bury me deeper than six.
Wrote this in under ten, no plan, no plot.
Imagine how many more have in me.
What if took a minute to think?
If didn’t do it by thumb feel.
Shiiiiiiit. You know that means more’s coming.
Reader, listener, viewer, it’s done.
Catch your breath. Relax. Exhale.
Unclench your asshole.
Hope your toes are comfy.
Dare you to leave a comment or a like.
We both know you won’t.
