Lessons We Can Learn From Jay-Z's "Adnis"

This past Friday, a bonus edition of Jay-Z's 4:44 LP was released, which includes a song dedicated to his late father called "Adnis." Although I've enjoyed the project, I was anticipating to hear "Adnis" and when I heard it, I was buried with tears. I felt where Jay-Z was coming from because I've been there before with my biological father, "Ben." I listened to that song at least 4 times within a 30 minute period and let my wife listen to it as well. After I played her the song, I cried again.

"Letter to my dad that I never wrote"
Speeches I prepared that I never spoke
Words on a paper that I never read
Proses never penned they stayed in my head (fear to release those emotions)
Jotted on dotted lines, "I'mma fight you nigga" (revenge, anger, hurt, loneliness, abandonment)
Stories that I heard I'm just like you nigga (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree)
Must've been some pain in your past too (in the black community, the cycle of pain never ends...)
Must've been karma that was past due ("the sins of the father/mother are passed to the sons/daughters")
Must've been the energy that passed through (the chance of redemption, the chance the break the cycle of pain)

Ask anybody from my family, I'm the spitting image of my father, down to the way I act. My mom would show me pictures of him when I was a kid to remind me that I had a father (he left us when I was 4). I can remember many times I would be frustrated with my life because I wanted what my other friends and classmates had, a father. I was a very angry kid and it followed me for a long time. One thing I will say, my stepfather, "Daddy Tony" has been an amazing father to me but deep inside, I wanted my father around. There have been periods in my life that we had no contact, sometimes months, most times, years. I went through so much shit, mental shit in my life that no kid before the age of 10 should experience but I did. Sometimes, I say to myself, how would I be if my father was around. Nobody will ever know. I'm a big Jay-Z fan and the second song I heard from the God emcee (besides "Lucky Me") that showed his "mortality" was "This Can't Be Life" (from "The Dynasty" LP). Then I heard "Momma Loves Me" (off "The Blueprint" Vol 1) and boy, that took me through some various emotions (in September 2001, I hadn't heard from my father since June 2000). Fast forward 2017 and this song hits my spirit. The part that got me was this:

"Who would've thought I'd be the dad I never had (maturity)
Be the husband I've become
You, see nothing come from that
I forgive you as I live through the beautiful present of the past (if we choose to...)
I'm just thank that I get all these gifts to unwrap" (lessons, taking the good out of the bad)

I'm a fairly new father as of June 25, 2016 and it's been a terrifying ride. Once my father told me that at least 3 generations of fathers left their families and everyday I fight to break the cycle. I've long forgave my father for all the times he wasn't there, especially after knowing the circumstances he's told me he experienced in his childhood. 2017 has been an interesting year in hip-hop music but to hear a legend of S. Dot come from the throne to tell people, particularly men, his struggles when it comes to fatherhood/childhood/parenthood. "Adnis" is a song of reflection, which I believe is stark reminder of the continual problems in the black community. There are too many single mothers with multiple kids and those kids don't have their father around to love or provide. We've got too may young boys (and girls) walking around angry with the world, hating themselves, and borderline homicidal/suicidal because their father (mothers) is nonexistent (most of the time emotionally/psychologically healthy relationships). This song talks about the culture of abandonment that so many of us in the black community (or anyone of any race for that matter) deals with when the people we love the most leaves us hanging. This song also touches on the problem that the black community has when it comes to drugs and alcohol (oh yeah, this includes me, too). Most importantly, this talks about the black community finally letting go of its ego, its pride, its carelessness, its selfishness, its religion, its excuses, and talk about the various shit that plaques us as individuals as well as families. Albums like Jay-Z's "4:44", Tyler the Creator's "Flower Boy", Vic Mensa's "The Autobiography", and Logic's "Everybody" are wake up calls for us to speak honestly and openly. However, there is reasonable doubt the black community as a whole are listening to the horns to simmer down, sit down, and get real. 

Tim next time.....

How To Be A Super Saved Saiyan Christian

Good day everybody. Today, a good friend of mine showed me a comment of a well known rapper who is on tour. He gave a shout out to all the Christians who have something negative to say about something positive. So true and that "confirmed" that I needed to write a tutorial on how to be a super saved Saiyan Christian (the word Saiyan comes from Dragon Ball Z). 

Now for those who are "of the faith" or not, you guys will probably agree with the things I'm about to say; mostly because you see this on a daily basis. 1st, to become a super saved Saiyan Christian, you always have to be "in the Spirit." Meaning, when you speak, you have to use big, long, and extensive words to sound like you are a theologian. You always speak on things you perceive things happening in the supernatural and make a big deal out of it. Whenever you speak, you command and demand respect from others, whether they are "beneath" you or above you. You must speak with a loud, annoying, and condescending tone when you speak on "the deep things of God" with others. 2nd, you must be full of pride and judgemental. You are a know it all who reads the Bible only when you want to prove a point to to others, manipulate how others think about certain topics, and coercive. No one can tell you anything, no matter if it's coming from someone who has a higher level of understanding and experience in a certain subject. You are never wrong, you are always right, and everyone is wrong, has an evil spirit, and listens to the devil. Whenever you see someone who looks different than you, believes in something (even if it's about the same thing) in a different way, or expresses themselves in a way that is different, they're living in sin. Of course, we can't forget if a woman wears pants to church but doesn't wear long skirts, wears make up, or a man rocks long hair (including dreadlocks), and wears everything else than a suit and tie,they are out of the perfect will of God. If we see people with a bunch of tattoos or straight from the hood, you have to change the outer part of themselves before allowing God to work on the inside. You're good is make them into the image and likeness of what you want them to be instead of what God says about them. Importantly, if someone is befitting of what you believe is "holy", you need to drag their name and reputation through the mud. Gossip about them and when you see them, coridally smile in their face (the talk about them some more). Finally (for today), you are to preach and teach inclusion of those who are just as a Pharisee as you and exclusion of others who don't fit your application of being a super saved Saiyan Christian. You are to turn your church and prayer meetings into cult meetings. You are to mind warp those around you; thereby to rob them of their time, money, investments, and other resources. You are supposed to draw people into a place of an all access form of slavery. All others who speak up are Lucifer, not saved, and you are obligated to gossip about them. This is what being a super saved Saiyan Christian is all about; becoming what Jesus preached against. As one man said, you're not glorifying God by being this type of person but serving yourself (becoming a god yourself). But just follow these 3 things, and you'll be guaranteed the fastest train to hell than the most crooked drug dealer in NYC. I hope this helps you drive away more sheep from the True Shepherd.

Til next time, words from "The Ventilator"

References: 

Ezekiel 34

Matthew 21-23

Romans 16:18

Pride

Pride - inordinate self-esteem, proud or disdainful behavior or treatment, disdain, ostentatious display 

Basically, pride is smelling yourself or thinking that you are above correction, guidance, or better than others. I've seen this some many times within myself, different leaders, people of all places, races, creeds, and nations. It's crazy how many people are walking in pride. Pride is sort of like a cancer that spreads breaking down one's life; like a symbiotic (something like Venom, a villain in Spider-man) that only drives one to destroy and kill anyone and anything it comes across. It's evident in our culture (Congress-hello...). It's evident in the "marriage equality" movement (hello to that, too...). It's evident in about 99.9% of all religious communities ("religious" leaders taking advantage of the people's finances, time, family, and talents, hello...). It's evident when we see a man with a face full of tattoos and give him the stink eye. It's evident when we come before people, like the Pharisees, and speak of our own goodness to pump up our own ego. It's evident when we gossip about someone we say we love and then we smile in their face like everything is cool (but the words of death through our gossip is killing that person's destiny). People are leaders of others in pride, using and abusing with their words and deeds. Pride makes people think of themselves higher than they ought to. Pride will disallow themselves to receive correction or advice from someone who has the expertise they need to become success (another form of slavery, hello...). Pride will take the truth, manipulate it, and use it to cause people to do things to build their image (another form of control = slavery). Nowadays, people will ostracize those that carry "the voice of reason" and drag that person's name through the mud. Pride is a ugly thing, even when those who walk in it look like "an angel of light." 

Like Beanie Siegel said, "let me talk to you scrap." Many governments, businesses, churches, Buddhist temples, school administrations, and the list goes on are falling because of the pride people that running them at any capacity. Warnings are sent to them and to "average Joes and Janes" to change the way we live, think, and do things. But as Solomon said, pride comes before the fall." That's true. A man who is known as the wisest man that walked on this earth, full of riches, things, and sadly, vanity. He was warned and if people who know his story, he almost lost his mind. Because of pride. Lucifer, fell from his lofty place of heaven because of pride. Adolf Hitler, because of his egomaniac pride, committed suicide, which was a result of pride. My friends, it's best we walk in humility no matter who we are, what position or title we hold, or how much money we got. Humility will cause you to admit to your faults against someone else. Humility causes us to seek direction, guidance, and correction. Humility is the byproduct of love and peace. Pride is the byproduct of fear and hatred. Think about it. 

So much that I can say but it can't be said one post. If some of you get offended, oh well, my mentors Houston and Cepada used to get on me about the same things. It's time for us to be humble and stop walking in pride. Much love to you all.

Til next time....

Reference:
Proverbs 16:18
James 4:10

Pride Is A Dangerous Thing

Sometimes in life, you've got to come straight from the heart about what you're truly dealing with. One of my main issues in my life is pride and I know I'm not the only one who has to fight against it daily (that's right I said daily!). Pride is a sneaky little devil that enters the heart and mind of man influencing us to "exalt ourselves above measure." We attain knowledge and wisdom allowing ourselves to get puffed up. We get rich from successful business ventures and discontinue our need to rely on God. People with abundance of wealth (money, education, health care, laws, religion) are coming together to make life unbearable for the increasing masses unable to have the necessities of life (the 1%=N.W.O.). The masses stuff feeling our writings or music and we start to get the big head when it should be about God.  We know we have issues we need help with but figure we can handle things all by ourselves. Hmmm... Well, enter into the mind of David G.W. Overton for a second while I expose what I wrote in my journal ("the type of stuff that'll in-jure you" - Da' T.R.U.T.H - Price Tag-'07).

August 7, 2012, 7:05 am:

This morning, I woke up repenting to God for not repenting every day I should. Last night, I felt this urge to truly lay down my life for God. I started to feel like I didn't need to repent because of my title, my giftings, and labors for Him. I realized a stumbling block in my life and it's called pride. Pride is a dangerous thing. It'll make you think you're up there when you're really down there. Pride will have you believe you don't need God. Pride will make you trust in things instead of the One who made those things. I've found myself trusting more in resources than in the Source. It's gonna take discipline and hard work to break this attitude down. The true success is coming to God naked and unashamed. In pride, we cloak ourselves to hide our weaknesses, short comings, and dirty work. Pride is a partition separating us from God. Pride is as simple as not asking others for help in times of need. That's a big problem of mine nowadays. Pride closes you off from giving and receiving love. Pride dilutes the true power of knowledge, which is to first humble ourselves before God. Pride is believing in self-sufficiency. Pride is looking down on others based on their appearance, age, race, problems, culture, and current living arrangements. Pride is withholding help for others when they need it. Pride is thinking our own ways are right but in God's sight is wrong. Pride is not acknowledging God at all, which sort of gives us a liquor licenses to stay in various sins. Solomon was well acquainted with pride and he shared these words in Proverbs 16:18:

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

Pride is what caused Lucifer, Adam and Eve, and many of us today to fall from grace. Pride is the fast track to destruction. Ask many world renown drug pushers, musicians, singers, rappers, preachers, and politicians. They thought themselves to be something when they were really nothing without God. Take heed to Proverbs 16:18. It was written by a man who was inspired by God to tell on himself as well as show the effects of walking in pride. It has many shapes, attitudes, forms, and actions. None of us should say we have no faults, mistakes, imperfections, sin, or pride in our lives. If we do, then we're deceiving our own selves and the truth (according to Jesus Christ) ain't in us (1st John 1:8). We're just a bunch of successful liars. Let's search ourselves, it's ugly head is there. When we find it, take it's head and throw it in the fire. The root of all sin is pride and if left unchecked, the consequences are horrendous.

Til next time, dgwo

Reference:

Proverbs 16:18
Isaiah 14:12-15
1st John 1:8