"ISSA DATE"

"ISSA DATE"

working title for summer 2019 performance piece.

The concept behind this project is a Sunday stroll.



TABLE OF CONTENTS


1. #LATEBRUNCH

2. #FIRSTROUND

3. #BARCRAWL

4. #SHOOTMYSHOT

5. #MAINCOURSE

6. #LASTCALL


#LATEBRUNCH

I’m too stubborn to turn over a new leaf so I chief
I briefly pondered where I squandered my talents
The end result was really of no single relief
Generally speaking I doubt I’ll the find the peace-
I’m seeking quite unsettling, on the daily I’m battling
Mind rattling thought's that travel haphazardly
You'd think I do what I do randomly
And that's before I even exhale the blunt
When the thought's I scale have no rhyme or reason
I’m one hell of a character, dead ass no front
But, at least I know what it is that I want
No scavenger no average life traveler
I shift and adjust with every passing season
A verbatim so cold it can’t help but be freezing
It haunts me, it taunts me,
Doesn’t help that the blunt is still lit and chauncey
A scheme so slick you'd probably think it was a Ponzi
But, it’s the real deal honestly, spitting out how I feel
No need to applaud me, I’m not trying to be Godly
Just kicking a cool flow and killing you softly
And for any Joe Schmoe that is at heart low key salty,
These thoughts that come while finishing my black coffee…
I want the turkey bacon on rye lightly toasted w/ avocado life
Where whenever I check out I mean card with the chip or swipe
Manifesting my intentions, retiring my title as child of night
I don’t ask for much just repentance and a desire to do right
Not so much acceptance as having a better life within my sight
You see my character on occasion attracts some very odd types
I'm sure some may think of me as too dim for being this bright
Should push come to shove my bark is not half as bad as my bite
Don't take delight in opening up but I’m fighting the good fight
I see myself making reservations and at some point I just might
Before that I need to give my testimony with a dash of gripes
Been to hell and back, for the first time I can see the light
You'd think I’d given up long ago, I’m a fighter so not quite
Knowing I have no one to blame I’ve surpassed regret and spite
I don't want to come off as vain, materialistic or even trite
Just returning to my true potential, to my ancestors delight

#FIRSTROUND

One solid saludos to all my rudas and my rudos
Expertos en la vida callejera como si fuera escudo de honor
Flossing and showing the world que si se pudo - puro valor
Say what they will our lives have a rhythm - mucho sabor
Grifos asfuck but feet freely flowing on that dance floor
I bust a rhyme on some aver compita gimme some more
Otra copita, ahorita nos vamos disculpa mi amor
Dios me dio el don de ser el neighborhood canta autor
Y en este mero momento siento los espiritus dentro de mi
Telling me "this here is what you are meant for"
And you yourself are your one and only cen-sor, no me falles
A talent for talking about what I know best - las calles
Caught between the outskirts of benevolence and malice
Those that don’t trust ballots and those dreaming of a palace
Ahora si fuga, disculpa, rambling - one of my bad habits, chales
But talk about urbanhistorias, just Google Rockdrigo Gonzales…..
I don't slam, I don't freestyle, I damn sure don't fake the funk
Just an average desmadroso reading thick books getting crunk
Nipsey's hooks on blast drinking 40's rolling Mr. nice guy skunk
I know most of y'all like "Chapu aint nothing but a lowlife drunk"
And I mean yeah, but my roots been and will be abstract punk
Mixed with sur centro rudeboy make me a bastard gutter monk
Dispensa, try and test, off rip I’m going out my way to flunk
In the cut macking it to a cutie, palabra, never on no bunk
Breaking down her guard like it was a swisher sweet blunt
I’m dumb hella ratchet all the stories are true no front
Unlike some, when I’m broke I can still swag, fade and stunt
I ain’t got trophies an honorarium is the last thing that I want
The world my aquarium when I drowned is when I flaunt
Drinker like a fish and it's that very ego that makes me taunt
Deep sea thinker encourages the rebuttal, my every response
Black label liquor while in the cut puffing on a chaunce
Motivated hussle bumping CRENSHAW & The Marathons
Not righteous but only a fool to be focused on others wrongs
Truth be told I’ll be in the stands on my Cheech n Chong
No bullshit, for real, neta, on the set, palabra, word is bond
Ain't no one got shit on me, not even not even King Kong
Push come to shove a thing of beauty, me dead in my zone
Must be tripping to think Big Gee Hop can't hold his own
Got me fucked up, how I became infamously ill known
Give me the crown I’m melting it, this ain't game of thrones
I'm prone to doing everything, all day, traveling into the unknown
Soy Domingueada, mariscos, cahuamas frias, arrreh cabron
Word to Chandler, Fante, Bukowski, Brown Buffalo, STONED.

#BARCRAWL

It's finally come down to sprinkling salt n pepp game
Refrain from reflecting on overall losses and net gains
Simply focus on this free fall suspended by strong strains
Prepped for life's inevitable pains, no longer explain instead
No guilt acceptable, anything else is merely for show and in vein
Many full moons, mistakes later, no fear of meeting my maker
Double shot of street life, no chaser, still live life no eraser
For those i did wrong I’m sincerely sorry, glory be to getting better
Can't help it be night owl rolling when night owl living affords me
A prayer by my side for safe measure as reminder of the core me
First open letter in an arsenal of infinite hood stories...

Seconds for the shorty’s, hearts I’ve broken, them yet to break me
Refuse to learn lessons when set free, they regret me can't forget me
Most in my past really hate me, brut honesty but honestly promise me
The same and this hell I’m in will seem hella heavenly - constantly
High honeymoon probability followed by crashing and burning horribly
Unapologetic lust till we argue about who really owes who an apology
Not sure I'll ghost you but it’s almost certain you'll end up blocking me
Ending in some ole’ strangers now don't even talk to me or cross me
Attention once all mine runs its course in the end proves costly
Never the less seconds for all those hearts I lost and that lost me

But TBH, I be on my bullshit more than half of the time
Well known for pushing boundaries, over stepping the line
Most people would tell you I done been way outta my mind
One of kind, far from refined, sucio yet still manage to shine
Vices like a motherfucker still i dont even bother to hide
When i come around some dip real quick or step to the side
Only the strong come along I’m for sure one hell of a ride
Dont say that with pride - but these facts can't be denied
When it comes to life on the edge i'm one hell of a guide

#SHOOTMYSHOT

Blood red docs matched her blood red hair
Blood shot eyes matched her cold dead stare
On me, these jet black eyelashes out to there
Strutting through the laundromat not one care
Thought if she was mine bet I wouldn’t share
Matter of fact, take her just about everywhere
Made me wish that I had greased up my hair
Lil working class brown beauty, vampira waist
Love for her to invite me right back to her place
And if I got her mad bet I’d give her some space
If she were to leave me I'd probably give chase
For real she’d wanna deck dead ass in my face
She look like the type that got no time to waste
Looking like the type that just can't be replaced
Like we could have a good time boozing or not
That caramel complexion Isn't all that she's got
Like everything she do no prob, just put it on lock
Not just a pretty face done earned all of her props
I see us at protests screaming, "fuck all these cops!"
My clothes finished drying - my daydream stops

Deep convos with a woman I ain’t even met yet
Walked up confidently and said, “aaaight bet,
First and foremost sis is upmost mutual respect”
Energy got me feeling like we just might connect
Where my mind says truxa and come correct
Type that won’t set trip but down to chin check
And always got that good, good forever on deck
Look at her sideways I’m coming for your neck
Look at me side eye, she’ll be like, “girl, step!”
No creeping, cuz on me ole’ girl can detect
A feeling like she’s the one I want to protect
Fuck around, wanna man up take that next step
Apply lessons from all my past horrible wrecks
But before that, must cop consistent fat checks
Grown folkness first thing these queens expect
She only make legit promises no time for threats

#MAINCOURSE

They said G.hop you're a cold code switcher
I said blame it on this dank rolled swisher
I'm just a common ass gray haired old fixture
Tell the people no flash with those pictures
I’m always tipsy off of potent bold mixtures
Talking shit to dime a dozen or more hipsters
Openly drowning in pro devil laced elixirs
Still I treat language like ancient scriptures
Always weary of ill meaning street tricksters
ill - literate in the ways of sacred encryptions
Distorted depictions viewed as malicious
Still I speak in the ways of olden traditions
Suspicious of all modern day urban renditions
Hunters of phrases to be hip with the diction
Not living in facts but boasting their fiction
While I admit an addiction to semantic vision
Still, every two weeks must hit a clean lick
Pay might scale so I gotta choose quick
Pick a poison can’t just scat all licked split
Must secure a bag any ole pocket to pick
Persist and something will eventually stick
Stay long enough and something will click
Time in between though one hell of a trick
FML to the skies when the going gets thick
Memorize deep thoughts, prayers to spit
Chase that next bag if not its back to the pit
Adventures only built for true grade A grit
Rooted in gutter gravel down with the shits
Some shiver but this soul has many a gift
Swift with the swerve strong herb to uplift
In a curve preaching the “let’s get it” myth
On my word building nerve drinking a fifth

#LASTCALL

I’ll write you a rhyme and recite it for life
Despite what may come whether wrong or whether right
I aim for my words to keep you company during lonely nights
If you’re cold and it’s dark may my words bring warmth and light
If you’re feeling low may these words help you up and take flight
If the world keeps tripping I’ll help you squabble and put up a fight
Life isn’t simple far from being just plain black and white
Nothing but gray scales have been all up in my sight
If my words can do one thing let them give reflective insight
I’ll ignore those that feed off envy, gossip and spite
Deliver these words like Post mates fresh, focused and tight
I’ll take care of anyone who dares bring you any type of fright
No time to deal with pointless suckers or a trivial gripe
Come hell or high water for you I’m forever sharp as a knife
At the very best it used to be fat sacks of schwag stress
Uncouth grimey crimeys ditched school all day, classless
When it came to streets though we passed every last test
All the pretty girls we liked we were never able to impress
But then again we were too stuck on repping our given sets
I need not mention when in school you’d find us in detention
Vandalize everything with monikers for fame and attention
Youngsters avoiding officers with mad misplaced aggression
Thuggish little necios never knew the definition of confession
Some still doing time for not giving up the local connection
Permanent residence became California state corrections
I made it to a certain degree free, Lord knows RIP all my OG’s
Now we cop private reserve trees and some got legit J-O-B’s
Some homies are 6ft deep others w/ cases they’ll never beat
I’d be a liar if I were to say that it’s all roses and shit is sweet
I am however grateful for not having given in to utter defeat
Gutter always around the corner just like that white sheet
No high scores or played sports, got high played the doors
Didn't think what we were doing was crucial to our course
Literature was 12 oz Prophet, Art Crimes and The Source
That was then and still it’s all good times with no remorse
But, that’s just a lil bit of my life, how about telling me yours?