mosh

"Let me simplify the rhyme just to amplify the noise."

Becoming music without words and thought. Now I'm from the South, so I enjoy a good beat. And that's great for the club scene. But in my car and in my home, it doesn't do much for me. Remember the days of rap that spoke the voiceless blacks in the projects. Or the music that came with a strong political purpose.

There are folks who don't believe in rap because all they hear is the noise. But maybe they forget about the numerous rock and bubblegum pop songs that are nothing but sound without real lyrics.

There are folks who've given up on rap because all they hear is the noise. I would challenge both to respect the ability to flow in Jay-Z and Lil' Wayne. To see evolution in Kanye and Lupe. To recall the thoughtful lyrics of Common and Talib. To embrace the diversity of Eminem and M.I.A. To acknowledge growth by T.I. and Jeezy. Not to mention the dozens of artists rarely seen or heard by the masses but inspire the superstars we know.

This is rap music. It is alive. It is beautiful. It is complex. And true fans want the rhymes and can live without the noise.

a song for you

"And if my words don't come together, listen to the melody 'cause my love is in there hiding."

When the love is strong and true, words are inadequate.

Sometimes when he just smiles. It almost seems to be a simple, unconscious reflex. He'll see me reading a book or tearing up during Grey's or primping in the mirror, and he smiles. Its a small smile, and so quick that you could miss it if you blinked. He smiles. I see pride, adoration, respect, understanding, trust, hope, appreciation. There is his love, strong and true, and it seems to just innately beam out from him. No words could ever say so much.

tracks of my tears

"People say I'm the life of the party 'cause I tell a joke or two"

We are the ones who smile. We stand tall and brave in the crowd. We illuminate the room and energize the people. We make the party.

"Although I might be laughing loud and hearty, deep inside I'm blue"

We smile because its quieter than crying. We want to be brave and strong. We don't want to be lonely alone.

"So take a good look at my face"

And we wait for that moment, that person who can see...

"You'll see my smile looks out of place"

That our grin is a grimace, that our exuberation is exhaustion and delirium...

"If you look closer it's easy to trace the tracks of my tears"


* dedicated to 50 years of timeless music