Sabotage

"Watch dem niggas that be close to you

And make sure they do what they supposed to do
Cause you know they be thinkin about smokin you
Never personal, nowadays, it's the ways"
-Nasir (Nas) Jones, "Watch Dem Niggas," circa 1996

Some of you may be offended by the use of the word, "nigga," but I've said before, this word also means ignorant person. Now, we have a lot of these people roaming on earth be it our friends, enemies, families, coworkers, or fellow students. They are everywhere and most of these people are the ones who are very close to you. I don't want you all to start getting suspicious about those who you know deep within your gut are really for you. I'm talking about those people you know deep inside you can't trust, not even with a cent or lint in your pocket. People are something else nowadays and will do whatever they can to keep you from attaining success. Over the weekend, I had a much needed conversation with an old friend of mine about a goal he's reaching for this year. Actually, the process was beginning last year. He connected with someone that had some information on what he needed to get the ball rolling to achieving a business venture. However, he shared this "dream" with a "friend" who on the outside is an "angel of light" but inwardly a "slithering snake." The next day, he was going to talk with this well established businessman at a certain time but the meeting never happened. Later on, he saw the businessman and he didn't say a word to my friend. Who's to blame? The supposed friend sabotaged the meeting and derailed his business venture through lies and manipulation. It cost him several months in the process but he's on track and getting all the tools needed to get on the ball. Nasir's lyrics above show the mentality of some people we think we're cool with. These people we believe we trust are supposed to support us, push us, pray for us, and protect us so we can fulfill our dreams/goals. However, they are plotting against us, through the telephone, stealing our socials to mess up our credit, take credit for projects they never built, turn other friends against us, and demonize our name in the public (usually in the social networking world). They smile in your face but envision themselves holding a 9mm to our forehead; ready to pull the trigger. In real life, this has happened to the greatest of us. The Judas syndrome is what I call it. These actions are performed from the uncontrolled evil that each of us possesses. Some of us know how to put that syndrome in the coffin, others go with it. Sabotage is a very dangerous and debilitating experience. Sometimes, we can escape it, other times we can't. However, we need to recognize it. One thing I remember the RZA (WU Tang Clan) said back in the days, "you can tell the spirit of men by looking in their eyes, which are the windows of the soul." Some people like to where sunglasses but even that can't stop us from knowing the true nature of that individual. So my people, we have to be careful, whether its our marriage, business, family, finances, or aspirations, have fun but keep your eyes open. Dem niggas are out there and some of them are very close to you. Make sure you're packing knives like Rambo for close encounters in this combat arena also known as life.

Til Next Time, "David Rambo....."