word \'werd \ n. (1) : a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, that functions as a principal carrier of meaning
Inside > > 10.96
the sky sends down the rain until it becomes a crazy manifesto
streams of fury
washes away the discarded stressors of modern life's nature
captures the unique essence of a long-awaited Saturday
and it is way too hard to take that away
I never complain as the rain
cleanses the Earth
sets the cycles of rebirth
when it is mischievously trickling down window panes
or glistening upon asphalt expressway lanes
I'll stand aside and gaze at the downpour
within the eye of the storm at the shelter of a cornerstore
look into the charcoal sky and wonder why
these liquid bullets dare to fool us
dare us to change for its own agenda
all we can do now is surrender
Copyright 1996. A JB Production.
word \'werd \ n. (2) : any segment of written or printed discourse ordinarily appearing between spaces or between a space and a punctuation mark
Kid On The 7 > > 5. 06
Kid on the 7 looks up at the straphangers
As a lofty goal not that intangible
One day his hands could grasp the metal bar slash handle
Seeing slick written inscriptions made by young vandals
Graffiti made the city's subway system a mobile museum
These were the days prior to the epidemic
Writers got sick, their lives not enriched
But that kid had not seen many trains that got cleaned
All he really needed was a token to get open
Or not, just a hop when the turnstile was broken
The subterranean landscape was vivid with
Inner city kids n' T.A. cops busting junkies who were dopin'
Get in where you fit in mindset
Starting scribbling with older children - it wasn't time yet
Because most were like DNA copying the structures, copying itself
Keeping Krylon cans on bedroom shelves
Primarily primaries, ROY G BIV-style - canvases by amateurs
Not to be elitist - graffiti just - came and went
Overtaken by the cash cow, peace to the block parties
And B-boys breakin' on the pavement
We moved down to Tigger's basement, the culture
A decade away from being complacent
Multimedia globalization beyond
Expanding from ghetto schoolyard fountains
To suburban meadows and ponds
The new era scattered regions and
Legions of new heads fiending for beats and rhymes
These were the times when more money changed hands
And those who rocked right scored overnight made fans
Before nothing but thug clowns who dumbed down the vibes
And put a whole lot of garbage right into their rhymes
Before we creep over the third rail and get deep into details
Here's a break from the New Order Nouveau
A trip to the past, the last orbit of Pluto
When gold chains were links and remained stately
And MCs stayed out of the AP
A culture defined by DJs and MCs with nasty flows
Rhyming real relatable rhymes incongruent to the cash flow
Fast forward to the now and it just isn't the same
The generation of rappers out isn't just in it for the fame
Sacrificing creativity for money and negativity
Abandoning integrity for record label levity
We don't need a savior, someone to come along
To inspire us to nod our heads and hum along
We need a new movement because cycles come to renew shit
Pardon my French, but le faire (that means do it)
No surprise them guys are more fluid
Graf is wild in Europe it has a better home
Architects of the art's respected pieces recognized and known
Artifact Rosetta Stone and the kid on the 7 now a grown-up
Watching the culture fade fast fantastic into corporate commercial plastic
He now holds the straphanger handle looking out the scratched windows
On the train witnessing the storm that precedes the rain
Copyright 2006. A JB Production.
word \'werd \ n. (3) : a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used to form sentences with others
King > > 1.02
Happy day of birth to the . . .
D octor who opted to drop it
R acism came and a race escaped its prisms of
M ental defeat, men and women rose to their feet when
A man uttered the words, "free at last, free at last,
thank God almighty we are free at last!"
R enegades and radicals did kill
T o compensate as opposed to moderate
I t caused rifts in liberation
N on-violence the message as his throat broke the silence
L aws needed to be amended as the light ascended
U p from the darkest places to be blended
T housands marched the streets down South with arched feet
H arriet Tubman was smiling from up above
E veryone was overcome with love and
R espect for themselves, blessed with better health
K ids are now allowed to drink from fountains
I n integrated areas without causing mass hysteria
N ubian sisters and mahogany misters can listen to
G reat sounds of rhythm with jobs for men and women
Copyright 2002. A JB Production.
word \'werd \ n. a (1) : a speech sound or series of speech sounds that symbolizes and communicates a meaning without being divisible into smaller units capable of independent use
< < INSTANT REPLAY < < 5. 05
I replay conversations in my head
Back from when I chilled with the living dead
I've got straight edge now . . .
[REWIND THE TAPE]
I replay conversations in my head
Back from when I chilled with the living dead
I've got a handle on lye and homegrown addictions
And I stand on my own feet and my own convictions
Existence is mathematic and not simple addition
Life is what you make of it . . .
[YO DJ : TAKE IT BACK]
I've got a handle on lye and homegrown addictions
And I stand on my own feet and my own convictions
Existence is mathematic and not simple addition
Life equals the measured ability to finish shit, divided by the probability of an ill English Lit synthesis
School can be cumbersome
Better off in another one
So you see . . . the way things stack up on me, I react
[YO DJ! PLEASE BRING THAT BEAT BACK]
School can be cumbersome
Better off in another one
Studying social sciences and writing
While my buddies are so defiant and still fighting
Everyone on the block is just compliant and self-abiding
They don't know why those cats are so high
On the corner drinking Coronas as their cars go by
I replay these images in my mind, pause and then hit rewind
[HEY DJ: REWIND IT JUST ONE MORE TIME]
My buddies are so defiant and still fighting
Everyone on the block is just compliant and self-abiding
They don't know why those cats are so high
On the corner drinking Coronas as their cars go by
I'll replay these images and convos over in my mind
Until I finish the bottle of soda I could find.
Copyright 2005. A JB Production.
word \'werd \ n. a (2) : a sound or a combination of sounds, or its representation in writing or printing, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning and may consist of a single morpheme or of a combination of morphemes
What You Stand For > > 9. 05
Are you a democrat or a republican?
He said, "I don't know what the fuck I am."
But aren't you registered to vote?
"Nah yo. I just got this leather coat."
Do you believe in a right to choose or unlimited healthcare?
He replied, "I ain't got shit to lose, I ain't livin' on welfare."
Do you support equal rights or the concept of gay marriage?
He said, "That's why more people fight and I ain't got nothin' to say about them faggots."
Do you believe in the need for teachers and quality education?
He said they treated him like a creature and hardly educated him.
Do you believe in career opportunities in the American workforce?
He said, "Son, I live where my peers are cruel to me. I can get murked at the cornerstore."
Don't you believe in anything? Haven't you anything to stand for?
He had his hand on the .44, said, "I plan to get more cuz' I can't stand to be poor."
Copyright 2005. A JB Production.
word \'werd \ int. (1) : in hip hop slang, an exclamation, often not spoken in exclamatory voice, indicating deep and complete agreement. this use originates from the Five Percenters' mantra that "Word is Bond"; an earlier form was word up
Fill In The Blanks > > 11. 05
Get Brian Williams out of his tanning bed!
I've got a breaking story!
we live in a nation where 12 year olds are made into
pop sensations and they drop songs about relationships
I'm not making this shit up
each day we inhale the world with our lungs
and while our idols are hung we calibrate the young
to go to school and learn how democratization can rule
if you take out the cogs and replace them with spokes
bring out the giants and arm them with jokes
we've spent time studying how much time we've spent giving thanks
to the ones they've opressed as to fill in the blanks
sometimes life has a way of making you know
that willingness determines how far you'll go
and honesty is not only the best policy, but honestly, the current state
is opposite of the way it should be
home of the brave, land of the free
alone in a grave, plans of the elite
repositioning the transitioning missions of the militaristic vision
life isn't scripted, shit isn't television
so your reality to me is more than reality TV
we see your hellish missions on the television while selfish millions don yellow ribbons on their Expeditions
when you cross the street and forget where you are
you just fill in the blanks to continue moving
because last week's setback can bring you improvement
we watch the sun take down the moon and see the stars reflected in our eyes
wake out of bed, break bread, energize and exercise
go to the institutions or the places we all subside
commit to obligations and start journeys with laces untied
with banners and badges, bad manners and catches
when you get to the bottom line - don't bother signing your name
just fill in the blanks so everything remains the same
Copyright 2005. A JB Production.