Dear Lover: Letter 1

June 5th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

Dear Lover

I began our relationship with hopes of forever. I saw in you, MAGIC. You weren’t perfect, neither was I, but together we made sense. Where I was weak you made me strong, and I gave every bit of strength I had to you, without asking.

Now I find it difficult to see any magic. Where I once trusted you with my heart, I now cry above the broken pieces. Where I once cradled you in my soul, now echos with emptiness. Where I once held thoughts of a future, now pulses pain in my brain.

So what to do?

Shall I continue on or should I bail out? I pose this question to you. What will you do to get me to stay?

Let me answer. You don’t care, because I need you more than you need me. I’ve heard it a thousand times, You don’t care, but I stay.

So Dear Lover

I’ve found my self worth, and it’s worth more than you give. So I’ll walk away, with nothing but what I came with, and I’ll cry. I’ll want you back. I’ll think I need you back, but I’ll remember your words.

Your words, that once sparked magic, will now reinforce my self worth. Your words will become seeds that grow my self-confidence.

So thank you Lover

From you I’ve learned so much about myself. I don’t need you. I need to love myself enough to throw you aside.

I do love you. I just love me more.

Tell Elon Bomani She Can’t Do It

June 3rd, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I’d like to see you try.

What would you do if your spouse walked out and left you penniless? What would you do if you couldn’t even get a bed in a homeless shelter?

ELON BOMANI, a black woman, raised on the streets of Philadelphia to a drug dealing father and welfare mother found herself there. Reliving the cycle set forth by her mother. She refused.

“I was not going to play the victim blame game. My greatest fear was that i was going to be in the vicious cycle that my mother fell into; a single mom on welfare.”

BOMANI, with her perfect credit, took a chance on herself. With nothing more than faith, hardwork, and a refusal to give up, she brought herself from homeless to prosperous.

“I believe in multiple incomes. Your not wealthy until your making money in your sleep.”

After investing in one property, she took that equity and bought a duplex. This was right in the real estate boom. So, she took her profits and moved to Houston, where she now lives well.

It would’ve been easy to get a check for ELON BOMANI. She could have applied for public housing and sat around and let the Democrats take care of her. Instead she decided she could control her future better.

She realized the social programs that didn’t push her mother forward, were not a path to financial freedom or peace of mind.

No one was going to hold her down. She had good credit, so she got a loan. If you opened a credit card account, maxed it out, and aren’t paying it, you’re not getting a loan because you are irresponsible. It has nothing to do with the color of your skin. The only thing that matters is the color of your money, and I’ve never seen someone get credit with foodstamps.

There is no magic man trying to hold you down. If you don’t have faith you can do it, write to me and I will give you all I have, because I know you can. I have had people tell me writing is not a real job. I’d like to see you try and stop my words.

So to ELON BOMANI, I say thank you for having the courage to follow your dreams, thank you for not following the easy path, and thank you for sharing your story. Now I have another example for those who say ‘We Can’t Do It’.

HAVING FAITH

June 3rd, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

The moment someone mentions faith, those who don’t believe have something to say. Yet, they have faith that their government will protect their speech.

Faith is important. Knowing you can accomplish something when all signs point to failure, faithful. Having that faith and letting the world see you wear it as a badge of honor, priceless.

“I always admired Atheists. I think it takes a lot of faith.” Northern Exposure1991

MARCHE TAYLOR’S PROM DRESS JUST THE FIRST

May 27th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

“They didn’t give me any options, but to go to jail or go home.”  Marche Taylor

I wouldn’t have given her any options either.

Usually the main concern over Prom Night is underage drinking and hotel reservations, but Marche Taylor never got to participate.  Before she could make it into the lobby of the Sugar Land Marriott, Taylor was stopped and told her dress was inappropriate.

She offered to cover up, but was still denied access.  Taylor then requested her money back.  During the confrontation, someone called the police, and when they arrived, they escorted Taylor from the venue.

The dress was totally inappropriate, and the officials had every right to deny Marche Taylor the right to attend the Prom.  She does deserve her money back though.

But what does this do for schools all over the country? In our YouTube society, the amount of attention brought to the disagreement has only set up future rule breakers.  Some Junior in High School is designing a dress that would make Taylor’s dress look like Sunday wear, and she is going to show that dress to her friends and they are going to want one too.

Get where I’m going.  Instead of having a single incident involving a single person, there is going to be a swell of groups participating.  Tact should have been used in this situation.  Taylor’s offer to cover up, should have been taken, instead of giving the youth another reason to rebel.

I’ll be back in one year to say I told you so.

TOO LITTLE TOO LATE

May 21st, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

You told me you loved me

And I loved you too

But I got a little tongue tied

And never managed to tell you

You told me you adored me

And for me, you’d always care

I never told you how I felt

I thought you’d always be there

You told me how you loved my eyes

How in the sun they would glisten

I never complimented you back

Sometimes I didn’t even listen

You tried to give me everything

If  you had it, it was mine

I was going to repay

But I ran out of time

You tried to please me

But to my standards, you could never live up

I tried to deny you

But know I would die for your touch.

You finally found that love

Promised to a true lover by fate

I tried to live up to those standards

But I gave Too Little Too Late

You Won’t Get My Money

May 21st, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I was overjoyed watching the 07 BET Music Awards. Katt Williams was great. I loved how he highlighted all the positives happening in our communities. I loved it, but my favorite moment came from legendary Hip Hop’er.

MC Lyte said “Know who is making music for you.” I jumped off my couch and began jumping around yelling and screaming her praises. All she had to say was “Ludacris” and I would’ve created the new MC Lyte Fanclub with a tattoo on my forehead.

Now I know he isn’t the only one, nor is he the worst. Ludacris just happens to cause the most drama in my house. My beau was a huge Ludacris fan when we met. I listened and since we were in that new stage of a relationship, I didn’t rant and rave. I even went and bought him’Chicken and Beer.” I wanted to surprise him so I put it in the car.

That was it. I lost it. It was the worst kind to. You know from “Anger Management” when Jack Nicholson kept pressing Adam Sandler. I was there. Every song was about a ho. Now I’m not sensitive. I know there are whores, tricks, and the rest, but every song.

I instantly formed an opinion of Ludacris. He doesn’t want my money. He isn’t making music for me and the women like me that show respect for ourselves. I bet he was payed alot of attention at school, because no girls would give him any play.

Then my dude confirmed my thoughts. He informed me Ludacris grew up in Fairfax, and he was a total goober. He had seen pictures. He began back pedaling when I began laughing and throwing insults Luda’s way. Now that could have been someone making up an I know him story, but I believe it. No man that has been touched by a real woman could make an entire album without a single nice thing to say.

Now I’m going to stop downin Ludacris, he making money and I’m far from a hater. I just know who’s making music for me. So I’ll buy my favs the day they come out and I’ll teach my daughter what to look for.

Inspiration, a message, a slammin beat, and an artist that considered you as target. Those of you that refuse to see women as more than a wet spot, you get no love, no airplay on my radio, and especially no money.

Magical Security

May 21st, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

Got a question. If Barak O’bama or Hilary Clinton became president and pulled the troops out of Iraq, where would we get our intellegence? Now alot of my comrads have told me, we should bring our troops home and protect the homeland.

How? In the Politically Correct Nation in which we live, gaining intellegence with out lawsuits, is an impossibility. Now you have to remember Clinton or Obama is President. What are the chances of getting the Fiza bill passed with protection from lawsuits or plugging the leak in our border.

President Bush doesn’t get a pass in this arguement. He will have a huge blemish in the history books when they write about his border security, but with us not being attacked since 9/11 his domestic security will be amazing. Now that O’bama or Clinton is president and there is no threat of veto, fiza will be passed. The difference, the democrats will be calling on the telecom companies for records of Presidents Bush’s two terms. They’ll pass the bill, with no protection for the companies they count on for information. Smart?

Our borders will go unprotected. Well to be fair, that would happen even if Bush got another term. He bowed to the pressure behind his party, but not with the vigor that actually got a real solid border in place. We are a soverign nation and we have the right to secure our borders.

Okay, so where are we. We don’t have troops to back up our undercover agents and informants. Iran and Syria will realize the pressure if off them, and Isreal becomes a huge bull’s eye.

Now Isreal with have actionable intellegence and guess where we’ll be? In congress, holding hearings, trying to figure out what went wrong. We’ll be trying to regenerate and deploy troops, while we are still vulnerable to our now emboldened enemies.

I don’t think I’m an elitist, but I do think we are the World Super Power. Though we are not perfect, we have a society of rules and rights, compassion and tolerance. We should share that with the world. In the same breathe we can’t be blinded by Utopia. We have to remember our enemies don’t think like we do. So while we’re getting complaints about gitmo, our soldiers our beheaded on T.V. (And shame on any network that would show those images, and give them all that free publicity.)

Not only should we lead the World in trade, foriegn aid, and ideas, we also have to lead with force. We tell the world to trust us. We promise them security to promote democracy and we have to honor those promises.

Magical Security happens when only words are spoken. No one takes Canada or France seriously because they have no military. In the same way we have to take Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea seriously because they are increasingly increasing their military strength.

“Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Now we’ve used our big stick once. We showed the world our reach. They saw how fast we took out Saddam. Yes, we maybe in a pickle in Iraq, but I bet they remember Shock and Awe.

There is not Magical Security. Osama Bin Laden told us how to end this worldwide war. All we have to do is convert to Islam. There is not a chance in hell that’s gonna happen, so we have to fight. Not withdraw within ourselves, but continue to speak to the World, and use the stick when it’s necessary.

EXPECT PROBLEMS

May 21st, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

There will never be a situation that doesn’t contain problems, because nothing worth obtaining comes easy. The test is learning to deal with problem.

EXPECT PROBLEMS. That’s the key. Allow yourself a second to deal, then look for the path around or through it. This will give you time to process your next move, giving you some flexibility in reacting.

LET YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM BE THOSE OF MORALS. Most problems aren’t that important and can be fixed by your need to move forward. Only those that affect your moral decision should you hold stead fast.

“I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming odds” Christopher Reeves (1952-2004)

REMEMBERING NOTORIOUS B.I.G.

May 21st, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOTORIOUS B.I.G.

On this day in 1972, hip hop was given an icon. Christopher Wallace was born in Brooklyn, New York, the only child to Voletta Wallace.

He got the name BIGGIE, while attending George Westinghouse Information Technology High School, with fellow rappers JAY-Z and BUSTA RHYMES. He stood 6’3 around 250 lbs.. He adopted the name from 70’s gansta film “Let’s do it again”, and his stature played a role as well.

At the age of 17, Biggie dropped out of school and became a full time drug dealer. After a few run ins with the law, Biggie decided to release a demo. He was posted in the undiscovered section of the Hip-Hop magazine, “The Source”.

SEAN PUFFY COMB, an up and comming A&R Rep at Uptown Records, jumped at the chance to work with Biggie. Months later COMBS was fired from Uptown, and started his own label, “BAD BOY”. He took BIGGIE with him, and started taking back Hip-Hop from the WEST COAST.

In the mid 90’s, WEST COAST rap was predominant. Biggie was in New York, still selling drugs to support his new born son, when Sean “Puffy” Combs was getting his label together. Upon finding out how Biggie was making a living, Puffy immediately told him to stop. He had big plans for the Brooklyn rapper.

Biggie appeared on a myriad of remixes, before the release of his first album, “Ready to DIe.” Then he met Faith Evans, and married her ten days later.

1995 marked the birth of Notorious B.I.G., the name Biggie Smalls was taken. That year he recieved Best New Artist(solo), Lyricist of the Year, Live Performer of the Year, and Album of the Year from the SOURCE AWARDS. He also got Rap Artist of the Year from the Billboard Awards.

As Notorious B.I.G. would say, with more money came more problems. East Coast vs West Coast was plastered over the news. TUPAC SHAKUR, West Coast Captain, and Notorious B.I.G., East Coast Captain, were hurled right in the middle.

While TUPAC released numerous diss songs, Notorious B.I.G. said it was out of his character.

Notorious B.I.G. began working on his second CD, “Life after Death”. Before it’s release his life was cut drastically short. On March 9, 1997 Notorious B.I.G. was gunned down while leaving an after party in Los Angelos.

“Life after Death”, was released 15 days after B.I.G.’s death. It debuted #1 on the top 100 Billboard. He was the first artist to go double diamond after his death.

I could’ve wrote about Notorious B.I.G. on the day of his death, but I think he deserves more respect than that. Through his music, he gave us colorful stories of pain and success. We felt “Juicy”, we know “Beef”, and we all understand the “10 Crack Commandments”. We should celebrate his life, instead of constantly talking about the circumstances of his death.

If your heading for a corner today, know that NOTORIOUS B.I.G. made it. He was standing on those corners, but he made it out, and so can you.

I could’ve had a huge section about the beef between NOTORIOUS B.I.G. and TUPAC, but why? Battle rapping is a staple of Hip-Hop. Those who don’t know that made it worse than it was. Nothing is wrong with diss songs as long as they stay on wax.

Fun Fact

Did you know JUNIOR M.A.F.I.A. stands for Junior Masters at Finding Intellegent Attitudes.

BET INTERVIEW WITH T.I.

May 20th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I pumped T.I. vs T.I.P for two months straight. I admired how he showed his inner struggles throughout the CD. I thought to myself, a rapper with swag and self awareness. He had been in trouble with the law before, but we all go through shit.

Upon hearing he had been arrested before the 2007 BET AWARDS, I was disappointed. Not because another rapper was in trouble, not because T.I. happened to be one of my favorite artist, but because every radio station was talking about how “the man” was doing him wrong.

They should just let T.I. go. They always want to bring down a black man with some money. Grow up and get real. They’re not trying to catch you because you have money. They are trying to catch you because you’re buying guns. You know those things that are wiping out our younger generation.

I haven’t listened to T.I. since. I refuse, and with the lack of good artist, it isn’t easy. I was waiting for something. Something that would allow me to listen to him again with out shouting stupid at the radio.

Posted on BET.COM, an interview with T.I.

T.I. started the interview by accepting responsibility for his decisions. He didn’t rant and rave about how he is a victim, instead he was humble and blessed for making it through his troubles.

When asked why the constant run ins with the law, the Atlanta rapper was lost for words. He finally decided his inability to let go of things in his past played a major role. He had to learn to control his alter ego, T.I.P.

“You’re missing the point.”

That was his response to anyone who thought he was cool for having multiple guns in his home. T.I. wanted them to take focus on the things he lost, in all about $10 million. He lost his endorsement deal with GMC and a couple movie roles he had lined up, not to mention his reputation for the future.

“Nothing’s cool about going to jail for longer than you’ve been alive.” T.I. was reflective in this moment.

Looking forward, T.I. sees nothing but a bright future ahead. He stated his music has always been about happenings in society, and now guns and drugs won’t be as prevalent in his songs, as they are no longer prevalent in his life.

T.I. then had a sit down with some of his fans. Before accepting questions, T.I. gave the teens some advice.

First, live and learn. Nobody expects you to be perfect, but you have to learn from your mistakes.

Second, things that mean the world to you right now, won’t matter in 10 years. Don’t let the mistakes of you’re past define the person you become.

Last, don’t get in a permanant situations because of a short temper.

The last thing he said had to be the best. His biggest obstacle in his life was himself. He had a hard time reprogramming himself from street life into normal society.

T.I. is facing a year in jail, but his optimism wouldn’t show it. He was happy he would be home for the birth of his 6th child, a boy, and have time to get his affairs in order before beginning his sentence.

So today, I pull up my T.I. playlist from my IPOD, and I flow along with the KING OF THE SOUTH. I don’t shout at the radio. I smile. I’m happy I wasn’t wrong rating him a complete artist.

They pushed up the release day for the new CD. I can’t wait to see what lessons he learned and how he applies them to his music.