The Freedom Tape XI

Trump Urinal in Paris

1. So Unjust - Stephen Marley ft. Rakim & Kardinal Offishall

2. Letter to the Free - Common ft. Bilal

3. Filthy America - The Lox

4. Don't Shoot - Dave East

5. Black America Again - Common ft. Stevie Wonder

6. Change - J. Cole

7. Gotta be More - Nick Grant ft. BJ The Chicago Kid

8. Don't Touch My Hair - Solange Ft. Sampha

9. We The People - A Tribe Called Quest

10. Go Tell 'Em - Vic Mensa

11. Uprising - Muse

12. The Party's Over - Prophets of Rage

13. Formation - Beyonce

14. Million Dollar Loan - Death Cab for Cutie

15. F.U.B.U. - Solange ft. The Dream and BJ The Chicago Kid
16. Breathing Under Water - Emeli Sande
17. Stay Up - Fantasia ft. Stacy Barthe
18. War - Nas ft. Raye
19. Freedom - Pharrell Williams
20. FDT - Nipsey Hussle ft. YG

Extraterrestrial

Sculpture by Woodrow Nash

This is nothing common this is extraterrestrial,
It's common sense that the spirit I channel is ancestral.
Descendant of a people that conquered theirs masters,
Rebellion in my blood so I can make a dynasty from disaster,
An ineligible bachelor, a conscious brother bout to get a masters'.
A jack of many trades and a master of some,
Almost lost my way as a youth till I chased after the One.
Chillin’ in the cut my shades lookin’ like I took the blue pill,
Young Morpheus man in black mourning for the ones those in blue kill.
That's why people crying black lives matter,
400 year from poplar trees, whips, chains, and bullets made black lives shatter,
The Jews got Moses when they got to four centuries,
After Tubman, Shabazz, Mandela, Castro, King who is the one meant to be?

While we slaving for pyramids printed on the backs of dollars,
Trump grabbed lady liberty by her you know and I heard her holler.
What happens to the people when they fed up and tired,
Instead of punk ass elitist politicians they hired the celebrity famed saying "you’re fired."
As much as I want to laugh the jokes on me,
Broken systems, broken families, but I still cling to the word "hopefully."

A brother hustling with the cosign of Yahweh,
Take that and run to the bank, Barclays.
The only safety net I ever needed was the Highest,
Granted the gift to write to call out the pompous and pious.
Living in an age of Trump cards, police bullets and rising waters,
I know we won't need another arc so I'm trying to get a closer walk with the Father.
Distracted by screens, lust, and the seduction of personal gain,
But it's gonna take the power of the people to readjust the frame.
So I'm building with my black queen, family and chosen circle,
Learning to be leaders and protect the matters of the family and community from Urkels.
Cause when those with power try to change the game,
Get ready because it's probably in the name of profits and chemical rain.
We need more water protectors, guerrilla farmers and rebels,
Turn up the teaching and learning and turn down the bass and the treble.
It's like we so scared to face reality so we're buried in distractions,
Social media, drugs, and other social contraptions.

But it was written, man wasn't the beginning and they won't be the end.

When the bees go extinct we won't be able to bring flowers to the funeral procession,
When the crops cease to produce we won't be able to continue the progression.
But those thoughts are too dark talk about how Chris Brown gonna box Soulja Boy.
While overseas we got drones bombing weddings, civil wars, and rebel soldier boys.
When you face the music will you be able to stand it?
The times are real get ready for a shift in the planet.

-E.R.

4 Your Mindz Soulfully

Source: Esquire

Some tracks spark a flame and get me in a contemplative state of mind,

Less chances nowadays cuz I'm in an almost constant state of grind.

The last year been wild seen princes, champions, and guerrilla socialists fall,

Seen family and friends move on and younger ones grow tall.

Somethings in the air, somethings in the water, somethings shaking our souls,

Got me wondering if I've been naive and ignorant to go accomplish my goals.

A generation yearning for change lost between being leaders and followers, 

While Mother nature screaming bloody murder do we hear the call from her?

Sickness all around people suffering in silence,

Others implode let the guns explode and increase the violence.

Marley told me we just living out the final chapters in The Book,

So will my life be summed up in a valiant verse or caution for the ones that's shook.

The poor getting poorer and the rich rule the nations,

Whether it's sitting in office or they giving politicians donations. 

Read this somber sonnet as we approach the new year,

Some would rather hide then confront a few fears.

May you conquer your demons and shed some tears of joy,

In the big and small victories when bravery was employed.

It's a cole world just some thoughts bumpin 4 Your Eyez Only,

Dropped these choice words 4 Your Mindz Soulfully.

-E.R.