RSSAOG: Straight, No Chaser..
“The game ain’t the same no more..”
You can probably quote a whole bunch of rappers, gangster movies, and people around the way for that line.. I’ll go ahead and quote myself.. I’m jealous of the old school gangsters.. The Malcolms.. Jeff Forts.. Mikes.. Back then rules meant more.. I mean, you could change the rules, but you better have had a strong support system if you planned on doing that.. Or just a mean idea.. Nowadays? Shoot, you don’t need nothing but a mouthpiece.. Not too many more, “is he serious?” Or “negro please?” Or “no way Jose!” Or whatever term people used to shut nonsense down immediately..
Nowadays? People are either changing the rules on a whim’s notice, or there just aren’t too many rules left.. It’s almost like anything goes.. Honestly, I can’t stand it.. Your word used to be your bond.. Now words mean nothing as we see Webster adding words to the dictionary that don’t belong.. Irregardless, I’m bitter at our social landscape.. I conversate with people that really think conversate is a word.. That’s cool, but when I let you in that you sound ridiculous (but I say it in a nice way), you laugh it off and keep going with it.. Because nowadays nobody is straight anymore.. We all playing with the rainbow..
Yellow dudes raise their voice to you in public, but would cross the state line if they saw you in the street.. The Blues don’t bleed the same blood we bleed.. They make up sob stories that were never true, cuz they can.. Get away with it, that is.. The Reds end up stealing elections and running countries into the ground for 8 years at a time.. Telling so many lies that they have to laugh as they say it.. State of the Union address, Post 911 speeches, War updates.. Peep the chuckles in each of those moments.. Wasn’t nothing funny.. Orange people just look funny.. Lying about their complexion like we can’t tell they tan.. Orange is not a pigment of our imagination.. We don’t believe you, you need more people.. Nah, nevermind that.. It’s enough of y’all going around, and y’all got shows on TV and stuff.. I’m just sayin’..
Green dudes make deals that they never plan on owning up to.. Them green dudes are the craziest right now.. They lie about doing business with you, because they can.. They run the businesses and keep that green paper in their pocket.. They build companies and then milk them before leaving the employees left on Gilligan’s Island.. Then they get caught, get their people (other Green backs) to work(out) the system, and they get to go to Arizona in a prison that is nicknamed “The Biltmore” or “Camel(green)back”.. None of it helping any of us struggling to be a song on the Kweli album..
All I’m saying is, can we have the rainbow back? Can we just be straight with one another like they used to be back in the day? (props to that comedian for saying that joke!).. Can’t we all get along and be truthful to one another? We can tell little black lies, but nothing blatant.. Shouldn’t the truth set you free? If we keep lying to each other, won’t we remain locked up in this mess?
In other words, if you gotta live a lie, then you can’t be a gangster.. Peep that I said “live” and not “tell”.. There is a difference.. Educate one another about our history (and your history, and her’s too).. We weren’t always like this.. Do your research, cuz an AG would.. No lie..
R.I.P. Big Brother – Love you..
12 Comments, Comment or Ping
TROUBLMan
People lie because the truth makes them afraid. The truth makes the feel small in a world that is so big.
Personally, Blue dudes sound like these half-ass rappers out here. Yellow dudes sound like the fake thugs who try to down me for being educated. Orange people are insecure and have a little bit of yellow in them. Green dudes feel the smallest, so they deny others from growing to remain on top.
[Reply]
boosy
I will admit, I got lost at the yellow dudes, laughed at “conversate”- which i thought was supposed to be converse.
Many of these dudes aka “gangsters” trying to be something they are not.
Brings me back to Little brother’s line- Looking good losing.
And i’m sorry but i have to speak on this. We spend too much money on shit that depreciates. You don’t need 75 pairs of sneakers. and you ain’t even got a passport, a savings account. That’s not cool,that’s coonery….Sir Bougie Black~ Duke Boosy
P.s Wanna be a real gangster, get a damn nice suit, no the silly outrageous colors that make us look ridiculous, that’s not being an AG. matter of fact if you don’t have at least a custom monogrammed shirt with cuffl-links for the suit. you are not a real gangster, ask Frank Lucas and all the other gangsters out there.
[Reply]
Terry
I definitely feel you on the mass compromise of truth and integrity. The codes of honor that we have been taught to believe in do not exist in this individualistic, materialistic, cut throat world. But, did they ever exist or was it all an illusion of their being rules in the first place? While there is no doubt that certain leaders and role models exhibited the quality of truth and honor that you speak of, were they just a minority in a world of liars and villians.
The “rules” are abstract and always in flux, but which ones do you think are timeless? Moral relativism is the order of the day.
I would also like to hear more about this rainbow that you are talking about. While I think I get all of your color allusions (cowards, blue bloods, republicans, body alterations ‘r’ us, corporate scam artists, etc) I would like to hear more specifically about your opinion on these issues.
I feel your frustration, but our culture preaches the twisted philosophy, the ends justify the means. Media, government, and culture have conditioned Americans in general with the philosophy, “Fuck you. I’m getting mine. And it will be BRAND NEW damn it! I’ll come back in 2 weeks to switch it up cuz my shit will be old by then.”
Your right though. These are not gangster moves. But I have a suspicion that most people don’t really want to be CEO, regardless of how hard they APPEAR to flex. These dudes want hand outs, so they can eat, while they make it look like they run shit. They the dudes sitting in the passenger seat of their boy’s whip, calling out to the girlies on the street. “Yo mama, come hop in OUR ride.” They are aspiring entourage yes men: a liability.
So, what happened to integrity? I think it died when we traded thinking for ourselves and independence in exchange for comfort the the illusion of grandeur. It ain’t a hustle if you see no movement. You just getting by with your champagne tastes and beer pocket change. Not very gangster at all.
[Reply]
Q.
Personally, i believe it starts with our own morals, which i guess can go a whole bunch of ways, but i break it down to the common denominator.. things we innately feel and understand as being right and just.. those are the things i’m talking about.. it doesn’t have to be the 10 Commandments, but we all can agree on what we know is just wrong..
i’m more about just being as truthful as possible.. in the business world, i understand we have to bend to make things work, but that’s understood and doesn’t need to be stated.. on the street, their used to be a code of ethics as well.. that’s what i’m referring to.. i do believe that we used to have them, because when i was growing up, there was things we just weren’t going to do.. shoot, even gangsters knew what to do and what not to do.. it wasn’t on some every man for themselves stuff..
i’m not really sure i get what you mean about me going into more detail about the issues that i relate to color.. the main point from that was that people use issues/color to figure out who they are going to be.. and what type of lies they are going to tell..
see, i don’t think our “old culture” taught that.. i think that’s some new ish.. ends justifying the means.. we’re just caught up in the ride.. but i think we have the ability to change if we want to.. just because other businesses are doing things a certain way, doesn’t mean that i have to.. i will have to suffer the consequences of going against the grain, but those are the morals that my company stands by.. in the street, the same thing.. as old as a 12 year old might look, i know i need to stay my behind away from her.. that’s just not cool, and no matter if i can justify Woody Allen doing the same thing, doesn’t mean that i should follow it..
i guess that’s what i’m trying to say.. how we used to have things that we all pretty much followed (especially with having your word), but nowadays, that’s not happening.. times change, but everything else doesn’t have to change with it.. shoot, some parents can give out blackberries at 6 years old, but that’s not going to be me, no matter what trend is out there..
[Reply]
C3
As an old head I can attest for the fact that the game has changed. Cats are too lazy to live by the old rules so they create their own and hope no one ever steps to them.
Here is a small but relevant illustration of how we got here. We started out saying, “Word is bond to Allah” (even if you weren’t Muslim) to let cats know you meant what you just said before man and God. That was changed to, “Word is bond” - not as forceful but you were still standing behind your statement. Now it just, “word”… nothing more, take it or leave it. A nuance but reflective of the times.
It wasn’t all glorious “back in the day” but the “code”, in business and the streets, provided a sense of order… a blueprint for getting things done. There weren’t too many Marlo’s, it took time and experience to get your status.
Here is my three step plan to head back in the other direction:
Hold each other accountable - If you say it, do it or I’m going to call you on it.
Demand substance over sizzle - don’t be fooled by the wrapper (or the rapper) - what’s inside? We need to raise our standards.
Take pride in everything that carries your name - ’nuff said.
[Reply]
Niggas R Us
I think integraty starts with self one has to establish their own morals or rules based on their own lives experiences and how it applys to them. The game as well as people are ever changing and evolving to stay on top people must adapt. Stay true to yourself, be real and people wont have a choice but to respect you.
….I know I look familiar
[Reply]
TROUBLMan
It takes leaders to have integrity. The generation of kids today know a world where leaders get struck down. Most people are too afraid of that. Their afraid they’ll be struck down.
It takes a emotionally secure society to live with ethics and we all known America’s emotions are out of wack. We’re continuing to raise kids who aren’t independent, addicted to anti-depressant and so fourth. How can they make the tough decision necessary to have integrity, when they low self-esteem.
More leaders die because they never try than leaders that get assasinated.
[Reply]
Troublsome
They sure don’t make them like they use to!…
[Reply]
"a mom"
Nothing can replace the originals.
[Reply]
Q.
Mom:
I agree.. We can’t place the originals, but we can still walk in the path that they set, and learn from the things they’ve done and overcome.. I guess that’s my issue.. Not enough Will Smith’s going around.. Too many copycats of the wrong kind for my liking.. What’s up with that??
[Reply]
"a mom"
You can become an original. They didn’t just start long ago. There are some originals out there. They just haven’t been discovered yet.
[Reply]
Niggas R Us
Be an original, blaze a trail and lead by example. We just met someone who had a dream and followed it. Everybody Can!!
[Reply]
Reply to “AOG: Straight, No Chaser..”
SEE ALSO
♦ Q - AOG: Spread the Word
February 25, 2008
♦ Q - AOG: Gangster Starter Kit Pt. 2
February 19, 2008
♦ Q - Anatomy of a Gangster Part 3
December 24, 2007
♦ Johnny Haze - Theme Music
May 5, 2008
♦ TROUBLMan - Gassed
December 19, 2007