KENDALL WA
SISMO (2020)
I wrote most of this in my extra “free” week I got in Mexico. Came back to this wtf world, and finished it in quarantine. I try to speak to everything that’s going on cause I’m a real person. I worry bout rent, I worry bout debt, I worry bout being black in America, I worry bout police brutality, I really worry bout having kids in America. I worry bout the fakeness of social media and the lengths people go to be famous, and stay famous. I love art and appreciate it so much I just wanna add a forever memory. I hope you listen to this today, next year, in 20 years. I hope it means something to you.
RISE
We gonna rise/never die/we alive/
When you chained to your desk/
when the stress only amounts to pain in your chest/
when your body n soul don’t move/
when you no longer feel that goodness in your groove/
when the rents been due/
when you flooded in a debt it’s a deep ass pool/
when every one else in bloom/
and you just a bulb relax it’s coming soon/
when your four corner room/
start closing in you begin to assume/
the only way out is click boom/
that’s not the way we here to holiday/
believing in yourself can be the harder way/
the greatest things in life ain’t easy I oughta say/
believing in yourself can be the harder way/
the greatest things in life ain’t easy I oughta say/
When you face plant/
and you get up walking like a zombie in a trance/
when you land on your feet every chance/
when you realize you can’t leave fate to chance/
dance the rhythm is the move the rhythm is a tool/
a tool that consumes/
leaves you in a state of a higher euthanasia/
the body has shed the soul has lead/
dead
we’ll never be dead the souls that we led/
will let a brotha know you ain’t a wreck/
what the heck has this life vet/
we all dogs chasing our tails well/
bail
bail a brotha out/
trapped in this body tryna ball out/
what’s w all this clout what’s w all this doubt/
what’s w all this later
homie do it now/
A sign a sign of the times/
the need to divide is never a good time/
if we all unite we can battle every fight/
we can win outright or just claw at the sides/
then let the problem heal regenerate/
leave it to our niños to do this damn thing/
I can’t breath it’s the corona in the air/
our father our father why he put the thing there/
I come to you bare like the forest black bear/
would you care to support us is that fair/
you gotta life but is the life ahead of time/
or are you spinning spinning in place so you define/
this line that’s been crossed as just a loss/
jerking back n forth like the floss/
hanging from a cross writing your obituary in chalk/
rebirth when the rain wash it off/
Are You Well
I been trying to ask you I been trying to help/
I been feeling this pressure it’s a bank of wealth/
you are alone never maybe if you had felt/
I’m your everything baby are you well are you well/
Are you looking for a daddy are you looking for a friend/
are you looking for a partner or someone to defend/
are you looking for a starter or you looking towards the bench/
are you a high fiver or a closed fist/
are you a problem solver or a magnet to the ditch/
do you study hard or just a dumb bitch/
is your life in order or do you need a helping hand/
ain’t no shame in the game
When the sun sets down
Where will you be where can you be found
When the high tide comes rushing in
And mi casa comes crashing will you defend
When the island decides to shut down
Where will you be can I count on you now
When life starts to get us all down
Will you be mi marijuana will you be mi high now
Are you looking for a friend
Call up your best one now now
Someone close till the end
Who will you cry to now now
When this all liquifies will you swim w the best of them
Will you join in the flinging the shit oh the suspense
In Kingston in Brixton in Washington heights
To the shantiest shantytown in joburg we rise
Mi eggs n bacon been contaminated n I’m sposed to sit n drink the piss
I say goddamn
Who gon uplift
I was born a pacifist but I might just die holding up mi fist
Mi friends n family I’ll defend till the end
It’s survival it ain’t living you claim you ballin but who you kiddin
We herded by the wardens in this prison
Don't Deny the Ride
2 times for the homies in the pen that ain’t getting let out stressed out to the end/
to our justice system that be locking up brothers/
that be doing they best to stress all our mothers/
I gotta hankering we been tanking in/
slowly clunkly living/
3 times to them tapping my phone when I hear that click when I’m yapping w the bros/
when I’m here I split I’m rapping just to go
tryna not be broke tryna not be po'/
shouts out to the police/
when they hit my block on the slow creep/
4 times for the black teenagers roaming the streets minding they biz taking the heat/
tryna be somebody or something till they body gets pumped in filled w lead/
I can’t even begin to comprehend/
what goes thru a cops mind to take innocents/
5 times for the mothers n the fam to the community to the aftermath/
to the brothers to the cousins to the pastors to the priests
to the school teachers to master's leash/
I sincerely apologize/
for not abiding to mi place in these trying times/
6 times for the west side 6 times for the south side 6 times 6 times/
6 times for the east side 6 times for the north side 6 times 6 times/
6 like Michael Jordan these rings these things/
don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing/
7 times for my people who been thru so much
still going thru things the instant we show up/
man we gotta unite it’s time to glow up
light every bulb illuminate the trust/
I for one am done the fun/
has dried its run its course
the race is far from one/
La Fiesta
I’m hands off everything like an amputee/
those jocking me need to stretch cuz they cramping me/
style everywhere I go it’s worth while/
hearing lame lines all nite like “baby just smile/
you look prettier why you so mean”/
once they get dissed I slide right in between/
if mi vida was ruled by green I wouldn’t be who I be/
I just wanna Cupid shuffle I just wanna lean/
2 puffs then pass 2 chumps just asked/
if I wanna fight not really you killing mi high/
the haze wore off what a damn shame/
heard right down the block it’s lit it's flames/
if it isn’t and it’s tame somebody gon get maimed/
n thrown off this cage like mankind in 98/
they just wanna summer jam/
here it is here I am hear em cry I won’t give a dam/
2 felonies around Melanie’s swelling/
chest n backside lock you up for life/
we throwing these beads we sowing the seeds/
of later you n me listening to Jodeci/
ima old school type of fella w hella/
taste only the finest eff it I’m hood/
that’s too much time on the West Side of the Chi/
it opened my eyes to what really matters in life/
like procreation and we should get to it/
the practice makes perfect and I aim right when I’m shooting/
but I may make a mess you may need a change of dress/
the relieving of all this stress may even change your address/
like uptown to 5th ave/
we can switch pads like Jay change clothes/
weekends in Hawaiian bungalows/
snorkeling n surfing in Puerto Rico/
I know I don’t shout out my country much. But I gave you so much over the years and I felt I ain’t get my just do. So you know what, I want New Orleans on they feet. We gon break like levees. Flood the dance floor like republicans did our cities. Everyone in Memphis shake your hips to this. Chicago you already know what it is. I need Harlem and Brooklyn to dig. South Central Los Angeles in here. And Tacoma, oh Tacoma. We gon rock it to Rwanda... come on!
Wrestle on the mat
Don’t get blood on that
Flashing all them stacks
Round here get you jacked
Black woman no want drama
Latina mamacita gon holla
Rwanda to Guatemala
White man invited to feast
Ain’t no race hate today please
Todo mi gente son felices
Mi back hurts carry me brother
Alotta Holy Spirit being shared w each other
We the same helluva discovery
Take one take two bless you
This week on you next week I owe you
Truce fist up it’s true
Nothing but excellence in the room
La fiesta take a siesta
Next semester don’t let ya hate fester
Tonight we gon have us a double header
All I see is you n me being together
Social Media
They say tax the rich I say blast the bitch/
I say grab the switch fuck abstinence/
we penetrate skin and cause the limps/
stop the wimps in they tracks caution/
peel out the whip n slap a bitch/
grab em by the pussy like the government/
they got you by the balls so they got your kids/
once they pop out all innocent/
send em to war we all militant/
make millions but you can only feel the cents/
smell the scents of murderous intents/
you try to scrub it but fuck you need to pay rent/
so you choose health care or a protest/
they say there’s evil in unions who’s them/
scare you outta your rights so by 25/
you now feel old used n abused right/
The social media don’t agree w ya/
it don’t agree w me it’s only thievery/
don’t wanna be you just wanna be me/
it’s on mi private parts like a bikini/
And I’m going out to swim
Just covering every part that God intended
To see the light
They say “buy my product it’ll make you me”/
why would I wanna be you what was wrong w me/
now everybody thinking they unique/
when everybody was made in a factory/
assembly lines putting people together/
fake eyes fake nose fake hips do you ever/
wander into a mirror thinking it’s a fun house/
and ponder out loud what’s happened to me now/
we all tar we all concrete we all roads/
winter time comes n we all erode/
spring time comes look what’s in the fold/
summertime come we replaced n old/
it’s a cycle pistons through the populace/
never touching opulence what a bitch/
sit stand clap your hands whatever/
join or fall apart you pick never/
the choice is outta yo hands my friend
The social media don’t agree w ya/
it don’t agree w me it’s only thievery/
don’t wanna be you just wanna be me/
it’s on mi private parts like a bikini/
And I’m going out to swim
Just covering every part that God intended
To see the light
What happened to that girl she was so recognizable/
remember back in the day when you let your eyes close/
n people would still be people would still strive to be equal/
but equal does not mean the same/
when you can change the pain wouldn’t you
or are you one to endure/
shovel shit like manure this whole life is a blur/
is there a cure to the madness/
everything seems to be going fascist/
why are you different why don’t you try n fit in/
you’ll never make it not a single soul attempt to break it/
fuck it I’m going naked I mean nekkid/
they’ll never change me see where I’m headed/
baby you’re beautiful brother you’re strong/
that’s why I penned this song/
got it barely covered like thong/
this is our world it’s their loss/
The social media don’t agree w ya/
it don’t agree w me it’s only thievery/
don’t wanna be you just wanna be me/
it’s on mi private parts like a bikini/
And I’m going out to swim
Just covering every part that God intended
To see the light
I’m Alive
She threw them titties in my face/
threw her ass at my waste/
what am I s'posed to say/
please don’t damn keep it in your pants/
I respect women too much/
to not touch if she say don’t touch/
but when shawty goes get you a handful/
I tend to get a li'l bit more than a sample/
if we date n baby you throw a tantrum/
I’ll show you how I move on your boy handsome/
I can say it I can say it I ain’t playing/
screw you harder than Reagan/
you New Orleans I’ll play Bush/
get you wetter than you ever been/
screw you harder than a republican/
George Clinton say funk it then/
I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive
Mi pulse been pumpin' sangré
At this time it comes handy
I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive
Mi pulse been pumpin' sangré
Why would anybody hate
Mi novia turn into mi esposa/
is this syndrome called imposter/
we was in Roma Italy comiendo pasta/
caught Ronaldo in persona/
can’t wait to do it again fuck this corona/
every now n then I leave the west side hop a flight/
get back to Cali where I was born I’ll show ya/
top down cruising Pomona/
your top down I’ll motor boat ya/
smell that aroma it’s success baby/
not bad told me I wouldn’t be shit baby/
this is how you do more than exist baby/
look ain’t his wrist crazy kente everywhere/
Africa in mi corazón/
probably why I don’t see niggas no mo/
I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive
Mi pulse been pumpin' sangré
At this time it comes handy
I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive
Mi pulse been pumpin' sangré
Why would anybody hate
My country is ravaged by methamphetamine/
niggas got tigers n lions/
n petting zoos in they backyards it’s a jungle/
keeping mi cabeza above water is a struggle/
all this shit I juggle plus a beautiful chick from Humboldt/
had to go to Puerto Rico now I claim it as mi isla/
tienes un poco cocaina en tu nariz/
hombre I don’t blame you this vida ain’t a breeze/
I do good people beg for me to fall n collapse/
hate when I rap hate when I sing/
hate that I’m possibly the greatest thing this generation ever seen/
when I was a young teen I knew who I be/
when mi body’s done existing I won’t need ID/
estoy aquí siempre get used to it/
your thick skull I think I just got thru it/
I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive
Mi pulse been pumpin' sangré
At this time it comes handy
I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive I’m alive
Mi pulse been pumpin' sangré
Why would anybody hate
Big A$$ Chain
I remember what’s my name by Snoop Dogg/
I memorized it was my first song/
as a Cali born kid it made me proud/
to twist up mi fingers n wave the dub proud/
we was c walking like we was gangbangers/
slapping on girls asses for I learned to use a razor/
his silky smooth flow I would imitate/
plus mi hair went down mi back what can a brother say/
I remember bumping 2pac like my uncles n aunts/
California luv would drop n everybody would dance/
we’d throw up our hands when he shouted Rosecrans/
and if you brought up Biggie we’d probably throw hands/
Ice Cube taught me how to be a man/
giving up the nappy dugout taught me keep it in mi pants/
you don’t want it falling off you don’t want all them baby ma/
aye pawning yo big ass chain/
We had biggie da ha da ha/
we never thought that hip hop could take it this far/
I wish that I was from Brooklyn I watched Spike Lee's Crooklyn/
I had a new blue Yankee on I felt like Jigga/
when Ice Cream drops I catch the soul of the Rza/
start spitting liquid swords like the Gza/
the Gza the Gza I’ll Be Dat/
but on the west coast I can’t look like the Red Man/
bloods n crips in case you didn’t get it/
went to Paul’s Boutique 5 Piece Chicken Dinner/
remember when Snoop kicked down the towers/
that shit wasn’t meant it’s all innocent/
without the Bronx I dunno where the hell I would be/
without Nas how would I learned that I am a king/
all the times in the shower I yelled out/
Queeeeeeeens bridge/
The RunDMC leather the Slick Rick stories/
Fat Joe Big Pun NORE/
bitches catching the vapors when I blast my radio/
cant go nowhere without my radio/
mama said knock yo ass out w the bass/
we all should give thanks to LL Cool J/
when I go back to Cali ima let you kiss my chucks/
no I don’t think so the king said don’t touch/
flip a sample like Pete Rock I’m the Lord of the Underground/
rock it from Brick City up to the Boogie Down/
play that Yo Yo play that Queen Latifah/
“who you calling a bitch” thru my speakers/
hit the west coast for that reefa/
is Compton in the house homie did it you peep it/
ain’t no one more slick than the homie Dj Quik/
without the c so c yo ass out in these streets/
Da Herbman
Been doing this since 17/
been had a kid since 16/
been all about saying hi/
to the suits n the ties helping them kiss the sky/
funny how those who seem to have it together/
probably never/
Trench Town been a hit now/
crazy when you up you always feel down/
he rode his bicycle to corner/
of the sign that said don’t loiter no spoilers/
exchanged hands w the fans/
made a couple grand brought it to the fam/
the government reached into his back pocket/
made it legal after discovering how to profit/
taxes after taxes have it it's a habit/
once you get going man they snatch it/
Da herbman brought it to the burbs man/
made a dollar then he brought it back to his fam/
Took a trip to Kingston/
heard bout the fiendin' learned how to lean in/
how can we get these smiles beaming/
pass the dutchie sonny lets double team it/
puff puff pass w just a dash/
scrambled hella fast even forgot the cash/
raided by the feds cuz they hate when a brotha has a good time/
oh what a nite/
I i I wish I could say syke/
nada but blue n whites in his site/
he had that Damian Marley Welcome to Jamrock/
it was blaring from his inner lobes trying not to get caught/
one hand on his crotch one hand up to Jah/
middle finger to the law/
singing this song
la la la la/
Hail Mary y'all
Da herbman brought it to the burbs man/
made a dollar then he brought it back to his fam/
How bout a game of volleyball/
anyone for tennis wouldn’t that be nice/
what if our vice didn’t have to pay the ultimate price/
like locked up for life/
we wan feed our fam we wan get high/
we gwan feel something gwan get hype/
but the government hatin' like a principal/
let us kids have fun just be civil/
Da herbman brought it to the burbs man/
made a dollar then he brought it back to his fam/
Pride & Heart
The rents due mi checks late
So the rents late more headaches
It’s midnight just one night
I’d like to sleep tight
Mi back hurts these chest pains
Just might take me to the spirit plane
Do you smoke weed how bout balls of speed
This life is cold crank the heat
Mi back breaking I can’t shake this
Feeling that I’m being taken
For a ride on the interstate
Your rents late well my dinners late
Mi back hurts these chest pains
Just might take me to the spirit plane
Do you smoke weed how bout balls of speed
This life is cold crank the heat
Everybody breath you’re allowed a chance to greave
If there’s anything you need I got something for you to see
It’s called pride it’s called fortitude
It’s called heart I’m proud of you
You go thru so much n you still show up
Throw it up
Can I open up I froze enuff
They say I’m bold enuff I’m oh so tuff
Mi back hurts these chest pains
Just might take me to the spirit plane
Do you smoke weed how bout balls of speed
This life is cold crank the heat
Ever be on yo last dollar then say something n they say it ain’t they problem
N you like I was talking n I been there for you
Mi back hurts these chest pains
Just might take me to the spirit plane
Do you smoke weed how bout balls of speed
This life is cold crank the heat
Just wait
My life depends on this moment
Just wait
This ain’t a time to be choking
Mi back hurts these chest pains
Just might take me far away
Do you smoke weed or balls of speed
This life if cold crank the heat
A peep I never hear
When the end is near
Everybody hid n now I’m alone
Seks Object
I try my hardest not to turn you into another sex object/
it’s hard tu eres muy guapa and you got mi/
heart don’t start crucifying send me away with my/
sins it ends and begins in the same sentence/
All around the world I bare the scent of mi lover/
Inside n out my connection to her like a mother/
I can’t shake the awkwardness it’s tough I wonder/
If us growing up so far apart connected us subconsciously far/
I carry baggage it’s all you you dragging that baggage it sounds rude/
I just wanted mi just due mi comeuppance shut up kid/
I’m coming she coming
I’m running towards the sun and melting
I’m yelling my chest I’m pelting
Screaming like King Kong I couldn’t help it
You stick by your man even when he wrong
You stick by your man even when he spill his guts on these songs
You stick by your man when he fail cuz well
You don’t look at him as a failure but more a not winning trail blazer
We figured out ways to lose so the next is a winner and you’ll be there too
Reaping all the benefits flashing on the Internet
Dashing into England hopping jets to Greece
All cuz you stuck w the kid w the grease stain
The day dreamer who was addicted to pink hey
Slay slay slay itchbe this is pig latin
Lay yo head on mi pillow this is real satin
Really explosive feeling like bin laden
Somebody stop me calling general patton
Shhh too much pressure
Will I abandon you never
Ima small axe you a big forest
I keep taking a wack you tell me go for it
The blood runs but the roots deep
You ain’t going nowhere no shook feet
From Santa Cruz to Tallahassee
To the Arabian Sea you the salt that keeps me
Afloat
If I hung myself you would be that rope so gentle so full a hope
Never lemme go
Even if at one point you were just a warm hole
That’s a truth no more
You are my ceiling you are my floor
You are my healing you are my manure
Baby you the shit you the reason that I grow
Black Mexico
Black Mexico I’m at the Texaco like fillerup/
gasolina spilling on mi Doc Martens I don’t care speed it up/
I just passed Houston I’m cruising I10 to I35/
Nuevo Leon
mi GPS llamas llamo
pick up ya phone/
You the French toast to mi cinnamon/
you the fresh roast in the am/
you the mountains I can see from the flat lands/
Las montañas miss me w the blancas/
back when I was w the white chick tryna fit in/
I never imagined/
you know black guys who feel enlightened/
cuz they w some skin that’s a few shades lighter/
now they better than the rest of us fuck that life/
rest in peace throw em on the ofrenda/
Santaria pray for the poor moron/
clean em up w sanitizer n some Clorox/
burn the hombre w phosphoric/
acid beaker in both hands pour it/
I burned mi finger prints tits now have a different grip/
I lockjaw like a pit/
Black Mexico I’m at the Texaco like fillerup/
gasolina spilling on mi Doc Martens I don’t care speed it up/
I just passed Houston I’m cruising I10 to I35/
Nuevo Leon
mi GPS llamas llamo
pick up ya phone/
In Juarez we sparring all the jargon/
in the garden 2 glocks/
pump fake blow mi load like Harden/
got hit in mi ombro get 2 free shots/
what a bargain
look where I charted/
sabes que if coronavirus don’t wipe us like toilet paper/
ima recruit the best squad like Nick Saban/
new world order in Mexico
red n black now green/
mask on I can’t breath/
they know what we going thru but still targeted by CHI PD/
I seen hysteria on my tv/
virus spreading like HIV/
it can’t see me even when dressed in hi-vs/
sipping hi-c had to get to the heat/
I heard the flu don’t spread in 85 degrees/
Fahrenheit bear if I might/
give advice would you listen/
would you go south of the border or are you chicken/
pollos sin cabezas nothing but liquor chasers/
denture grazers never really chewing the fat of life/
just touching everything like the Vatican/
facts of life 2 fingers in the air/
one on each mano while across the border I stare/
Don't you dare
Black Mexico I’m at the Texaco like fillerup/
gasolina spilling on mi Doc Martens I don’t care speed it up/
I just passed Houston I’m cruising I10 to I35/
Nuevo Leon
mi GPS llamas llamo
pick up ya phone/
We were somewhere in Tennessee/
traded tequila for Hennessy/
nos conocimos hace diez días/
estamos viajando, las montañas en Pachuca/
nos buscamos
paz y el amor/
lemme tell it in English/
It’s been a day it’s been a day
If there’s any commotion coming from the Dodge Charger’s back seat
We may attract heat
We’ll turn this Hispanic country to a black one
How could you turn your back on
Estados Unidos
Easily/
do you not understand that your speaking to me/
do you understand I love freedom of speech/
like actual freedoms
not just symbolic/
that’s why I left freedom land or whatever you call it/
dumped mi passport out mi wallet I’m dying here/
anyone erring on America try it here/
switch gears fifth gear blow past border patrol/
we going home
Black Mexico I’m at the Texaco like fillerup/
gasolina spilling on mi Doc Martens I don’t care speed it up/
I just passed Houston I’m cruising I10 to I35/
Nuevo Leon
mi GPS llamas llamo
pick up ya phone/
(In Spanish) The sun had set on the horizon, but he wasn’t deterred. He clutched his steering wheel and looked into the eyes of each and every police officer. Determined. Balls of steel. He clutched his steering wheel. Revved his engine. The slight purr of the dodge roared like a lion in the African safari. Never in a thousand years could he have imagined his life would be decided on this one moment. As he stepped and crept closer to the border, the sirens blared. Blue and white lights painted the neon sky. Every stray cat and dog stopped to witness this blaze of glory. The red white and blue, on this night, would become the red white and green. Viva Mexico!
It’s All Love
If I broke mi leg if I broke mi hip/
would I be equipped w adequate friendship/
if I fell down n uh buss mi lip/
would you say mi speeches as I dictate/
mi lip quaked as a 12 yr old/
so as a 13 yr old I said I would be bold/
as I get more old n mi world gets jaded/
n mi flow gets cold despite global warmth/
I pour a quart to everybody that we keep losing/
from gun violence to the flu it’s/
a vagabond of instability that is killing me/
this anxiety is filling me/
the rastas tote the weed like Americans tote the gat/
now tell me where the holsters at/
you started the game now where the closer at/
word to my president hold the snatch/
It’s all love it’s all love/
give it to jah above/
jah above/
you know it's all love/
it's all love/
give it to jah up above/
jah above
Don’t you know dog I hate you all/
I think it’s bout time you take the fall/
you clogged mi head up w all that fog/
and when you fall I hope you count your loss/
it might be one but it’s the biggest one/
so what do ya figure son/
you can throw a few Hail Marys
you can pray to Valhalla/
I will go thru Ragnarok and still make you holla/
I will run thru hell/
I will pour gasoline on every inch of my body just to kill you again/
I hope you tell a friend I hope they carry big sticks/
I hope they scientists cuz ima bout to teach em physics/
like getting uppercut in the air/
gravity won’t help you stay there/
so much for it all being love the lord will have to forgive/
no ones perfect not any one of his kids/
It’s all love it’s all love/
give it to jah above/
jah above/
you know it's all love/
it's all love/
give it to jah up above/
jah above
Now we can all hold hands/
but I’ll be dammed if we dance like it’s all according to plan/
and it’s all in the can when we all getting canned/
and our ass getting sanned/
when a couple grand starts to dwindle in your hand/
when yo fam ask for a loan and it leaves you straight broke/
where do you go/
when the rich get richer and the planet start to Bill Whither/
singing ain’t no sunshine/
and the clouds really gas disguised here’s a mask/
take the president to task/
but it’s a big ask/
another bill to pass just to flash n end up back in the saddle/
falling off horses and cows at the rodeo/
time to bring in the clowns/
my life is comedy
It’s all love it’s all love/
give it to jah above/
jah above/
you know it's all love/
it's all love/
give it to jah up above/
jah above