yeah
 

Hey, Jason! Congratulations for the nominations!! You truly r a musician's musician...the Grammys got it right this year w/ the Brits winning..Adele, coldplay, and rock icon Plant. But as much as I admire John Mayer (and Coldplay) I really wld have love to see u win in both categories w/c means to say that u r my all time favorite singer/song writer..you and Paula Cole humbles me. How 'bout a future Mraz/Cole collaboration or duet? it's gonna be awesome.

...Your song "I'm Yours" is brilliant in it's simplicity and message of love. I still feel the good vibes and energy of it from the moment i heard it off a compilation of acoustics..anyway, u're just gettin there,better and better w/ ur craft w/c is good music..and in what u do ..u are supercool and a bright spark! your worth is more than bright gold. Thank you for the music and the inspiration. Manila misses Jason Mraz! i'll definetly see u again on a concert in the future.

Livin'high,
paul lennon
 

IM A 34 YEAR OLD "G" AND THAT SAYS ALOT IN ITSELF. I CAME FROM A BROKEN FAMILY, BEEN IN THE STREETS SINCE I WAS NINE YEARS OLD. MOMS COULDNT AFFORD TO RAISE ME AND MY BROTHER SO GOT SENT TO LIVE WITH MY POPS AT 8. I REMEMBER THE SHIT LIKE IT WAS YESTURDAY. NEVER WANTED TO BE WITH THE NIGGA CAUSE I NEVER KNEW HIM THEN HE HAD A FAMILY HE STARTED AND HIM BEING A MAN HE TOOK ME IN. I WAS ALWAYS A WILD LIL DUDE BUT I WAS INTELLIGENT AS HELL. SO I USED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND ACT OUT IN CLASS BUT WAS SHARP ENOUGH TO STILL GET GREAT GRADES. SO THE BAD BEHAVIOR CAUSED ME TO GET MY ASSED KICKED AT HOME. THOSE SHITS WERENT MEANT FOR NO 8 YEAR OLD LIL NIGGA, BUT ISURVIVED. AFTER AWHILE I GOT TIRED OF NOT BEING ABLE TO FIGHT BACK, MY POPS WAS A KUNG FU ASS NIGGA SO I HAD NO WINS ANYWAY, SO I DECIDED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TELL THE TEACHER I WAS GETTING ABUSED AT HOME. SURE ENOUGH THEY TOOK ME AWAY AND PUT ME IN A FOSTER HOME, I MUST VE THOUGHT THEY WOULD CALL MY MOTHER AND SHE WOULD COME GET ME BUT THAT WASNT HAPPENING, SO OFF TO THE HOOD I WENT. AT NINE YEARS OLD I WENT TO FOSTER CARE AND HATED EVERY MINUTE OF IT, I RAN AWAY IMMEDIATELY AND STARTED TAKING CARE OF MYSELF ON THE STREETS. IF YOU GUYS EVER SAW THE MOVIE ABOUT THE KIDS IN TIMES SQUARE, I WAS ONE OF THOSE. I STOLE OUT OF STORES, I SNATCHED PEOPLES POCKETBOOKS, I EVEN ROBBED OTHER KIDS. IMAGINE A NINE YEAR OLD PULLING OUT A GUN AND DEMANDING YOUR TRAP, THAT WAS ME. I DONT KNOW HOW I SURVIVED AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE BUT I DID IT UNTIL THE SUMMER OF 1985 AND THATS WHEN BCW( BUREAU OF CHILD WELFARE) CAUGHT UP TO ME VISITING MY BROTHER KHALID WHO WAS ALSO IN FOSTER CARE AND THATS WHEN MY INCARCERATION CYCLE STARTED. I WAS SENT AWAY FOR 18 MONTHS TO A ALL BOYS HOME IN DOBBS FERRY NY, THE NAME OF THE PLACE WAS CHILDRENS VILLAGE. AH MAN THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES TO TELL ABOUT MY DAYS THERE, BUT FOR TIME SAKE I WONT. I WAS RELEASED FROM CHILDRENS VILLAGE THE WINTER OF 87 AND I WAS BACK HOME WITH MY MOMMY! SOMEHOW SHE HAD GOTTEN HER LIFE TOGETHER DURING THE 18 MONTHS I WAS AWAY AND SHE WAS ALLOWED TO TAKE CUSTODY OF ME AND MY BROTHER KHALID. LIFE WAS GOOD, FOR AWHILE. WE MOVED TO BROOKLY, CROWN HEIGHTS. IM A HARDENED 12 YEAR OLD WISE TO THE STREETS AND HAPPY TO BE HOME. IM DOING GOOD IN SCHOOL AND STILL GETTIN MY LITTLE THUG ON ON THE SIDE. NOTHIN TOO SERIOUS CAUSE MY MOMS WASNT HAVIN THE DRAMA, I COULDNT EVEN BRING CLOTHES HOME THAT SHE DIDNT BUY SO I HAD TO HIDE MAD SHIT. AT THAT TIME OSH KOSH AND OP (OCEAN PACIFIC) WAS THE SHIT SO I GOT MY BOOSTIN GAME ON AND STAYED MAD FRESH ON THE LOW. I USED TO HIDE MY CLOTHES IN PEOPLES BACK YARDS AND GO THERE TO CHANGE EVERY MORNING JUST SO MY MOMS WOULDNT KNOW. IT WAS JUST MY LUCK THAT ONE DAY MY MOMS CAME TO MY SCHOOL UN EXPECTEDLY AND SAW ME LOOKIN CLEAN! SHE WAS LIKE WHERE THE FUCK YOU GET THOSE CLOTHES FROM? AND STARTED RIPPIN THE SHIT OFF ME RIGHT THERE IN SCHOOL! MY MOTHER WAS GANGSTA LIKE THAT AND EVERYBODY IN THE HOOD KNEW HER. ANYWAY THAT WAS HOW MY MOMS FOUND OUT THAT HER SON WAS A HUSTLER. SHE STILL NEVER LET ME BRING ANYTHING IN HER HOUSE, BUT SHE KNEW I WAS DIFFERENT FROM THAT POINT ON.I DID MY LITTLE THINGS HERE AND THERE BUT NOTHING LIKE MY PRIOR YEARS ON THE STREETS. SO LIFE WENT ON UNTIL ONE MORNING IN THE SPRING OF 88. I'LL NEVER FORGET HOW MY MOTHER WOKE ME UP OUT OF BED CRYING. I THOUGHT SHE WAS UPSET ABOUT ME STEALING CLOTHES OUT OF STORES, SO I IGNORED THE INITIAL LOOK ON HER FACE. THEN I LOOKED DOWN AT HER HANDS EXPECTING TO SEE A BELT OR EXTENSION CHORD TO BEAT ME WITH, BUT INSTEAD I SAW A BUTCHER KNIFE. I ASKED HER WHY SHE HAD THE KNIFE IN HER HAND AND SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS SORRY FOR BEING A BAD MOTHER TO ME AND MY BROTHER. I TOLD HER THAT SHE WASNT AND THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. JUST AS I SAID THAT SHE PICKED THE KNIFE UP OVER HER HEAD AND WITH BOTH HANDS SHE BROUGHT THE KNIFE DOWN RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF HER STOMACH. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE CAUSE NO BLOOD CAME FROM THE WOUND, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BLOOD STARTED OOZING DOWN HER STOMACH. NOW IM SCARED TO FUCKING DEATH CAUSE I SEE BLOOD, BUT MY MOMMY STILL STOOD THERE CRYING LIKE SHE WAS UPSET IT DIDNT WORK, SO SHE RUSHED INTO THE BATHROOM AND I RAN BEHIND HER CRYING AND SCREAMING FOR HER TO STOP AND THEN I SAW HER TAKE THE BATHROOM RADIO THAT WAS PLUGGED INTO THE WALL AND THROW IT INTO THE BATHTUB THAT WAS FULL OF WATER. I SEE MAD SPARKS FROM THE ELECTRICITY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE THREWW HERSELF INTO THE WATER. I IMMEDIATELY GRABBED THE CHORD THAT WAS STILL IN THE SOCKET AND PULLED THE RADIO OUT OF THE WATER. I DIDNT EVEN CARE TO SHOCK MYSELF IN THE PROCESS, I JUST DIDNT WANT TO LOSE MY MOMMY AGAIN. SO NOW SHE RUNS PAST ME CRYING AGAIN AND THIS TIME SHE STOPS IN FRONT OF MY BROTHER KHALID WHO IS SITTING ON THE BED CRYING AND TELLS HIM AND ME TO COME WITH HER. SO I SAY OK, WHERE? AND SHE SAYS LETS GO TOGETHER AND SHE CLIMBS OUT THE FRONT WINDOW. WE LIVED ON THE FORTH FLOOR AT THAT TIME AND SHE WAS BUTT ASS NAKED EXCEPT FOR AN OPEN ROBE AND STILL BLEEDING FROM HER STOMACH. SO I GRABBED HER ROBE AND HELD ONTO HER BEGGING HER NOT TO JUMP. BY THIS TIME A CROWD HAD FORMED DOWNSTAIRS ON THE STREET AND SOMEONE HAD CALLED THE POLICE I BELIEVE IT WAS MY BROTTHER CAUSE SOMEHOW I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THEM AND THEY TOLD ME TO KEEP TELLING MY MOTHER HOW MUCH I NEEDED HER UNTIL THEY GOT THERE AND THATS WHAT I DID, I PLEADED WITH HER TO NOT JUMP AND TOLD HER HOW MUCH ME AND KHALID NEEDED HER AND SHE LISTENED. I COULD TELL SHE RECOGNIZED THAT AND IT WAS JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR THE NYPD TO CLIMB UP THE FIRE ESCAPE FROM BELOW AND GRAB HER BEFORE SHE COULD CHANGE HER MIND. THEY TOOK HER AWAY AFTER THAT AND ME AND MY BROTHER WAS SENT TO LIVE WITH OUR GRANDFATHER IN THE GAWANUS PROJECTS IN BROOKLYN. THAT LASTED ALL OF A MONTH BEFORE I GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT WHILE PLAYING BASEBALL AND HIT THE OTHER KID OVER THE HEAD WITH A BASEBALL BAT. I GUESS IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR MY GRANDFATHER TO TAKE WITH WHAT JUST HAPPENED WITH MY MOMS AND KNOWING HOW BAD HE HEARD I HAD BECOME. NOW THAT IM A MAN I CAN UNDERSTAND HIS POSITION BUT THE DAY HE TOLD ME I WAS GOING TO A COUNSELOR FOR HELP AND THAT COUNSELOR TURNED OUT TO BE BCW I WAS CRUSHED! MY GRANDFATHER LEFT ME IN THEY CUSTODY WITHOUT TELLING ME AND TRIED TO SNEAK AWAY. I SCREAMED AND CRIED UNTIL THEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CALL HIM AND LET ME SPEAK TO HIM, ONCE HE CONFRONTED THAT HE WAS ABANDONING ME TO THE SYSTEM I JUST STOPPED GIVING A FUCK. I IMMEDIATLE RAN AWAY AND WENT BACK TO WHAT SEEMED TO EASILY EMBRACE ME, THE STREETS. UNFORTUNATELY IT DIDNT LAST TO LONG THIS TIME CAUSE I WAS AN AMATURE TO THE GAME AND INSTEAD OF USING MY BRAINS TO GET MONEY I USED A GUN AND GOT CAUGHT. I WENT BACK TO AN ALL BOYS HOME IN THE SUMMER OF 87 FOR ROBBING SOMEONE AT GUNPOINT AND WAS SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS IN DFY (DIVISION FOR YOUTH). MY FIRST STOP WAS SPOFFORED, I WAS ONLY 12 BUT I WAS A GANGSTA 12. I KID YOU NOT, DAY ONE I STEPPED FOOT IN THE DOOR I HAD TO FIGHT. NIGGAS THINK RIKERS ISLAND WAS TOUGH, IT HAD NOTHING ON SPOFFORD! JUST IMAGINE 1500 LITTLE BAD ASS NIGGAS ALL IN ONE BIG JAIL. THERE WERE SO MANY FIGHTS THAT IT WAS LIKE A ROUTINE THING THERE. NOBODY EVER GOT KILLED SO I GUESS THEY DIDNT CARE ABOUT THE FIGHTING. BUT I SWEAR TO YOU I HAD TO FIGHT EVERY DAY! ANYWAY I GRADUATED OUT OF THERE AND WAS SENT UPSTATE TO LINCOLN HALL. IT WAS A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM SPOFFORD. LIFE WASNT LIKE JAIL THERE. IT WAS A BIG COTTAGE THAT HELD 60 KIDS IN DORM LIKE SETTINGS. EVERY KID THERE WAS A KNUCKLE HEAD BUT IT WAS MORE OF A VACATION COMPARED TO WHAT I JUST LEFT. I LEARNED ALOT ABOUT REGULAR LIFE THERE. I DID SPORTS, WENT TO SCHOOL, EVEN WENT TO CHURCH. I BASICALLY DID EVERYTHING THAT A NORMAL KID GROWING UP SHOULD BE DOING. ON THE FLIPSIDE I WAS THERE WITH ALL THE KIDS THAT WERE CAUGHT DOING SOMETHING IN THE STREETS. SO AT NIGHT WE TRADED WAR STORIES AND MOST OF US BONDED. AT LINCOLN HALL, IF YOU WERE BEHAVING APPROPRIATELY YOU WOULD BE ENTITLED TO VISIT HOME ONCE A MONTH FOR A WEEKEND AFTER YOU WERE THERE FOR 6 MONTHS. AT FIRST I DIDNT CARE ABOUT A HOME VISIT BECAUSE I HAD NO HOME, SO I DID WHATEVER I WANTED TO DO AND ALL THE OTHER KIDS USE TO LOVE ME BECAUSE OF MY ATTITUDE. I FELT COMFORT BEING AROUND THE GUYS IN JAIL WITH ME CAUSE THEY WERE LIKE ME, AND WITH NOTHING ELSE TO HOLD ONTO I JUST KEPT ACTING OUT TO HOLD ONTO MY NEW FAMILY.I DIDNT GET MY FIRST HOME VISIT UNTIL A YEAR LATER! I GOT INTO SO MUCH TROUBLE THAT ALL OF THE STAFF MEMBERS USE TO LOVE ME AS WELL. I GOT PUNISHED FOR MOST OF MY PROBLEMS BUT I GUESS THEY SOON FIGURED OUT WHY I WAS THE WAY I WAS. THEY ALL STARTED TO TRY AND BE MORE HELPFUL IN THEIR PUNISHMENTS INSTEAD OF JUST MAKING ME FEEL I WAS MISSING OUT THEY WOULD ENCOURAGE ME BY GIVING ME MORE RESPONSIBILITIES. I ALWAYS LOVED FEELING NEEDED AND SHOWING MY WORTH, SO WHEN IT CAME TO DOING THINGS I MADE SURE I DID IT THE BEST. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULDNT DO OR LEARN FAST. I ALWAYS EXCELLED AT EVERYTHING I PUT MY MIND TO AND IT WAS RECOGNIZED AT LINCOLN HALL. I CAN HONESTLY SAY I LEFT THERE WELL LEARNED IN ALOT OF AREAS IN LIFE. I WAS RELEASED FROM LINCOLN HALL THE SUMMER OF 89. I WENT RIGHT BACK TO CROWN HEIGHTS TO MY MOTHER. AFTER THAT MORNING SHE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE SHE WAS TAKIN TO THE G BUILDING AT KINGS COUNTY FOR OBSERVATION. I REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT WENT ON IN HER LIFE WHILE I WAS AWAY, BUT WHATEVER IT WAS SHE WAS ON SOME POSITIVE SHIT AND LIFE COULDNT BE MORE BEAUTIFUL TO HER. I WASNT BUYING IT THIS TIME. I WAS ALREADY LOST TO THE STREET AND NOW I WAS EDUCATED TO WHAT SURVIVAL IS. I DIDNT NEED A MOTHER ANYMORE AND MY ACTIONS DICTATED THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINING. YES I WAS HAPPY TO BE HOME BUT SOMETHING CHANGED AND ALL I WANTED WAS TO BE FREE ON THE ROAM. I HOOKED UP WITH MY BOYS FROM THE HOOD AND IT WAS LIKE I NEVER LEFT. ALL THE MORALS AND GOALS I WAS TAUGHT AT LINCOLN HALL WENT RIGHT OUT THE DOOR WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. I USED EVERYTHING I LEARNED TO BE THE BEST CROOK I COULD BE. TO ME IT WAS GET MONEY BY ANY MEANS NECESARRY. ALL OF MY BOYS WERE FLY WITH THEY GOLD CHAINS, FRESH CLOTHES, AND OF COURSE GIRLS. IN 89 I WAS 14 YEARS OLD AND AT THAT POINT A VIRGIN. I DIDNT EVEN KNOW WHAT PUSSY LOOKED LIKE UNTIL I WENT TO KIDDY JAIL, AND NOW I WANTED SOME. SO THE FIRST THING I DO IS BORROW A GUN FROM ONE OF MY HOMIES AND GET MY PAPER UP. I REMEMBER LIKE IT WAS YESTURDAY, MY FAVORITE SHIT WAS TO CATCH A CAB AND THEN ROB THE DRIVER ONCE I GOT TO WHERE I WANTED TO BE. IT WAS EASY MONEY AND IT KEPT ME FRESH UNTIL ONE DAY I ROBBED THIS CRAZY ASS HATIAN AND HE HAD THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS IN HIS CAB. THAT WAS SOME NEW SHIT TO ME AND I STARTED KICKING HIS WINDOWS TO GET OUT, THE NIGGA GOT SCARED AND RAN OUT OF HIS CAB WITH ME STUCK INSIDE AND HE CAME BACK WITH THE POLICE. OBVIOUSLY I GOT CAUGHT WITH EVERYTHING AND GOT SENT BACK TO JAIL FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THIS TIME NO KIDDY DAYCAMP LIKE LINCOLN HALL. THIS TIME THEY SENT MY BAD ASS TO A PLACE CALLED OATKA JUVENILE FACILITY. THAT PLACE WAS THE CLOSEST TO SPOFFORD I EVER CAME BEING IN A JUVINILE FACILITY. BUT I WAS ALREADY USED TO THE TREATMENT SO I DID THE YEAR STANDING ON MY HEAD.( THATS JAIL TALK FOR EASY) MOST OF THAT YEAR I SPENT IN A CELL JERKING OFF TO THE MEMORIES I HAD OF THAT BEAUTIFUL SUMMER OF 1989. I WAS RELEASED FROM THAT BID IN DECEMBER OF 1990, I STAYED IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH MY NUBER ONE HOMEY THE WHOLE YEAR THROUGH LETTERS. I WAS ONE PLACE AND HE WAS ANOTHER. HE WAS OLDER THAN ME SO WHEN I WAS IN JUVENILE HE WAS ON RIKERS ISLAND HOLDING IT DOWN. I USED TO SEND HIM PICS OF ME IN THE GYM FRONTIN AND THAT NIGGA USED TO SEND ME PICTURES OF HIM IN THE YARD WITH MAD NIGGAS. I ALWAYS LOVED THE POWER HE HAD AND HIS INFLUENCE OVER ALL THE OTHER KIDS AROUND US. I WANTED TO BE HIM AND SO I SOAKED UP ALL OF HIS ENERGY AND SWAGGER I COULD AND PUT IT TO MY OWN USE. I GAINED PLENTY OF STATUS ON THE STREETS FROM MY EARLY DAYS AND NOW THAT I WAS OUT IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO GET MONEY AGAIN. NO MORE CAB DRIVERS FOR ME, I WANTED THE REAL MONEY AND TO ME AT THAT TIME DRUG DEALERS WERE THE ONLY ONES GETTING IT. SO I STARTED SELLING DRUGS. I DIDNT KNOW THAT YOU HAD TO GRIND AND BUILD CLIENTELE UP BEFORE I WOULD GET ANY REAL MONEY SO I DIDNT LAST LONG IN THAT GAME AT LEAST NOT THE CONVENTIONAL WAY OF SELLING DRUGS. I GOT FRUSTRATED WITH HOW SLOW IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING AND CAME UP WITH THE BRIGHT IDEA OF JUST ROBBING THE DEALERS. THAT WAS THE BEST THING SINCE PUSSY TO ME! NOT ONLY DID I NOT HAVE TO STAND ON A CORNER ALL DAY, BUT I COULD MAKE TEN TIMES AS MUCH JUST TAKING IT FROM SOMEBODY ELSE THAT ALREADY PUT IN THAT HARD LABOR ON THE BLOCK! I STEPPED MY GAME UP FOR LIKE 2 MONTHS DOING THAT UNTIL ONE DAY I DECIDED TO ROB A DOMINCAN NUMBER SLASH COKE SPOT. ME AND MY TWO DUDES GO UP IN THERE GUNS OUT AND TAKE DOWN THE SPOT, WE CAUGHT ALL OF TWO OUNCES OF COKE, 3,000 IN CASH AND THATS IT. NOBODY GOT HURT AND EVERYTHING WENT SMOOTH. WE LEAVE THE SPOT AND GET INTO OUR CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN POLICE LIGHTS ARE ON TELLING US TO PULL OVER. WE ALREADY KNOW WE DIRTY SO MY BOY THAT WAS DRIVING STEPS ON THE GAS AND TAKES OFF. THE POLICE CHASES US FOR LIKE TWO BLOCKS AND THIS NIGGA TURNS DOWN A ONE WAY BLOCK AND CRASHES DEAD INTO ANOTHER CAR COMMING THE OPPOSITE WAY. HE GETS OUT AND RUNS, SO DO I, BUT MY LIL HOMIE GOT HURT AND WAS STUCK IN THE CAR. THERE WAS NO TIME TO STOP CAUSE THE BOYS WERE ON OUR ASS. WE LEFT THE GUNS, DRUGS, AND HIM RIGHT THERE IN THE CAR AND WE WAS OUT. MY BOY GOT AWAY AND I HID IN A BACKYARD UNDER A CAR FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE HOURS. FINALLY AFTER BUILDING UP THE NERVE TO LEAVE I CLIMB OVER THE FENCE TO LEAVE AND A FUCKIN POLICE CAR PULLS UP AS SOON AS I JUMP DOWN ONTO THE FLOOR. I IMEDIATELY JUMP BACK OVER THE FENCE BUT IT WAS TOO LATE, THEM NIGGAS WAS ON ME FASTER THAN SHIT. WHEN THEY CAUGHT ME THEY BROUGHT ME TO THE POLICE CAR AND OPENED THE BACK WINDOW. THEY ASKED THE PERSON SITTING IN THE BACK IF IT WAS ME AND WHEN I LOOKED INTO THE CAR ALL I SAW WAS MY LIL NIGGA SHAKING HIS HEAD YES. THATS WHEN THE CUFFS WENT ON. I FINALLY MADE IT TO THE BIG TIME, RIKERS ISLAND HERE I COME. MAY OF 1991 I WAS 16 YEARS OLD AND LIFE JUST GOT CRAZY. MY FIRST REACTION TO RIKERS ISLAND WAS CLASSIC. I HAD ALREADY HEARD ALL OF THE STORIES ABOUT WHAT GOES ON TO PRETTY BOYS UP NORTH AND I WASNT HAVING ANY OF IT. AS SOON AS I GOT THERE AND SOMEONE LOOKED WRONG AT ME IT WAS ON. I ALWAYS KNEW HOW TO FIGHT SO IT WAS NOTHING TO ME, WHAT I DIDNT KNOW WAS THAT ON RIKERS THEY FIGHT A DIFFERENT WAY. IT AINT ABOUT FIST AND FEET. ITS ABOUT RAZORS AND BANGERS! I LASTED ABOUT 7 MONTHS ON RIKERS ISLAND WITHOUT GETTING ONE SCRATCH ON MY BODY. IT WASNT UNTIL I HAD ONE MONTH LEFT TO GO BEFORE I WENT HOME AND I GOT INTO AN ALTERCATION WITH A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE BITCH ASS NIGGA. I HAD MY HOUSE BUZZIN AND THE NIGGAS DIDNT LIKE ME SO THEY CALLED THEMSELVES TRYING TO HERB ME UP INFRONT OF ALL THE INMATES AND I SPAZZED OUT. I PUNCHED ONE OFFICER IN THE FACE AND WE STARTED SCRAPPIN. HIS PARTNER CAME FROM BEHIND ME AND TRIED TO HELP HIM BUT I WAS ALEADY FUCKIN HIM UP, I HIT THE NIGGA IN THE HEAD WITH A FOOD TRAY, AND I TOOK ONE OF HIS PENCILS THAT FELL DURING OUR FIGHT AND STABBED HIM WITH IT. HIS PARTNER GOT IT IN ON ME, BUT I GOT IT IN ON HIM SOMETHING TERRIBLE BEFORE IT WAS OVER. ANYWAY THE OTHER INMATES BROKE IT UP AND SURPRISINGLY NOTHING OF THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED. THE POLICE LET IT RIDE OR SO I THOUGHT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY AT COMMISARRY TIME. WE ALL LINE UP IN THE HALLWAY TO GO AND I PLAY THE BACK OF THE LINE SO I CAN KICK IT WITH MY PEEPS. THATS HOW WE DID, BUT ON THIS DAY THE POLICE LET BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSING UNIT OUT TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME AND THATS AGAINST THE RULES BECAUSE ONE SIDE NORMALLY HAS BEEF WITH THE OTHERSIDE TO SHOW WHOSE THE GULLIER SIDE. SO TO PREVENT SHIT FROM HAPPENING THEY KEEP IT SEPARATED, BUT ON THIS DAY THEY DIDNT AND WHILE IM WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY I TURNED TO SAY WHAT UP TO A DUDE I KNEW AND HAD LOVE FOR, AND AS I TURNED TO KEEP WALKING THE NIGGA CUT ME FROM THE TOP OF MY HEAD TO MY CHEEK. IT WOULDVE BEEN WORSE BUT I GRABBED HIS HAND AND STOPPED THE BLADE FROM CONTINUING ACROSS MY FACE. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO FIGHT AND WHEN THE POLICE SAW ME FUCKING HIS ASS UP THEY HIT ME IN THE FACE AND THE CUT OPENED UP LIKE A WATER HOSE. BLOOD SPURTED EVERYWHERE AND I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL. I HAD TWO EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO STOP THE CUT ARTERY IN MY FACE AND ALSO TO REPAIR THE NERVES THAT WERE SEVERED. I SPENT TWO WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL AND CAME OUT WITH A SCAR THAT WOULD BE WITH ME FOREVER. I LOVED IT! I THOUGHT MY SCAR MADE ME LOOK SO GANGSTA! THAT WAS THE FAZE I WAS GOING THRU IN MY LIFE, I TURNED EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE THAT WAS TRAUMATIC AND MADE IT WORK FOR MY BENEFIT. A MONTH LATER I WAS RELEASED FROM RIKERS ISLAND WITH A NEW LOOK ON LIFE AND A FRESH SCAR. IT LASTED TWO WEEKS! I WENT OUT ROBBING AND LANDED BACK IN JAIL THIS TIME TO BE SENTENCED AS AN ADULT TO TWELVE YEARS IN NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. I WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON IN JAN 1999, SINCE THEN IVE MADE MILLIONS AND HAD THEM TAKEN, MY LIFE FROM THAT POINT ON YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE IT ON YOUR TV SCREEN HOPEFULLY IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. ITS TITLED " POTNAH" (PARTNER) ITS WRITTEN BY ME AND I WON THE BEST SCREENPLAY AWARD IN LAST YEARS POCONO MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL, AND WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR ACTOR JAMIE HECTOR (MARLO STANSFIELD) IN THE SEASON FINALE OF HBO'S HIT SERIES "THE WIRE".
TALK ABOUT CHANGE!
 

The whole gangsta thing is hard to break free of. I started, but my thank god my dad saw what was up and moved us out of there. far away. I sympathyze bro, but you broke free. Kudos to what you have come through and where you are. Dont ever forget those victimized though. You owe them to make something of the hardship you put them through. Its time to change and make a difference. Thats why Jason touches people like you and I and millions of others. We are ready to show the change we have made and live in peace and love. I am a former MARINE and am willing to fight to the death for what I believe, and am well schooled in the ways of violence, but would rather talk and find a common ground than resort to a mindset where the winner of an altercation is the one with less physical damage. What about making a well thought out point and changing an apponants mind about something important? Like war. I am trained as a Marine. Which means trained to kill. As fast and efficient as possible. I will always be a MARINE. Always. But I am not brainwashed. I, and many others, understand that there is a time to use that training. And a time to use the discipline. I choose to use the discipline to cancel out my training. Would you rather take a punch in the face, and still try to talk it out? Or would you rather take a punch in the face, take them out, and then have them think that they are even more right? I for one, am going the Jason way. Peace brother. Teach others. Forgive. Dont lie down, but dont forget that words are the strongest weapon of all. Everyone has love. Every culture, every race. Thats the one thing we can all connect on. So why not "open up your mind and think like me? Open up your mind and then your free, look into your heart and you'll find Love, Love, Love...
 

im not in to the whole gangsta thing infact im completly against it... but thats beside the point i think your a really good writer and i think you deserve the award you got.

nice job lol.

hope ya get good ratings XD
 

hey I like your pic. I gotta have more cow bell.

 

ooo
 

How do you feel about Lerio Moore getting snubbed in the Video Montage of people who dies during 2008?
As I am sure it is an honor to be at the grammys. Honestly it just doesnt feel like it really means anything any more. Seems like all the real talented people get snubbed in more then one way.

 

Isn't it nice to see a young guy like that have such obvious respect for his mom?
 

Amen...:)

u're already a winner, yeah hun...just bee~ing you wit ,humility, kind, and thankful ;) as always.


john m.
is soo sweet, kinda like you brah! aloha ~m~
 

Your mom is very beautiful and looks so happy to be standing there next to you
 

I was so hoping you would win! Well you are the winner here!! We love you Jason, and THANKS for making us sing along.

 

:)
 

You deserved it, Jason. I'm Yours has been an earworm that's been stuck in my head since the first time I heard it, and I have never grown tired of it.

 

humility looks good on you ;)
 

hahahhaa he tries.. he tries.

 

as does a well fitted suit!
 

It was fun hanging out with you guys at world Fest. You guys were realy down to earth. Next time you guys are in sacramento Let us know and we will open up for you.

 

Jason,


Have I told you lately that I love you?
 

It is even more generous when someone can recognize your talents from the bottom of their heart. I can truly say that you are MY artist of the year ... and all of the years to come :D and how did you make it to Indy so fast? it seems like only yesterday you were here in Rhode Island with us :'(
 

I absolutely agree. I love John Mayer and you. You're two of my favorite boys.


I was incredibly excited to see you and your mom. You both looked amazing. I can't wait to see you live in Houston! You actually met one of my friends a few years ago at a radio station here in Houston. Her name is Caroline and she's an immense fan like myself.
We hope to see you back soon!

:)
 

You and you mom looked so good at the grammy's! Im glad you had fun...It was good seeing you in RI I only drove 10 hours to see you :) I hope you like the bear and card I gave you for Valentines Day!

Love, Joy
 

AWESOME!
 

I think you are awesome and I absolutely love your music! Keep up the great work! Come to Central Texas sometime!!

 

I might not a gold plated statue to give you, but it's still song of the year to me. Dorky, but true.

 

And the award for bad grammar goes to...
 

Very Cool... your an amazing Artist! im sure there will be plenty down the way for you to give a speech too ;) keep up the talent!
XoXo
ErinKate<3
 

Love you
 

i kinda love you.

 

I'm Yours is definitely my song of the year :D <3
 

that would've woken people up for sure!
 

The two of you look stunning.

:]
 

you're a saint.

 

and you were so cute! gorgeous on stage!
 

you two look stunning.

although you didn't get a golden statue, you'll always be golden in our hearts :)
 

that was a really amazing and inspiring speech. i wish u won, but john mayer did a good job. "I'm yours" was the most played song on the students' ipods at my school. congratulations though on all ur success with your music.
u r an awesome singer
 

<3
aww.

that's so sweet & cuute :)
<3333
 

You were robbed of the Grammy!! John Mayer is awesome, that goes without saying,but the vocal in that particular song just wasn't as strong as yours on "I'm Yours"..sorry gotta be said..had to get that off my chest!!!:O)
 

Jason,

Both you and your mother looked lovely and I think this is just the beginning for you so keep that speech close by because we will get ot hear it.


You are talented and I'm watching!

Remember, "Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
" - Sun Tzu 600BC

GMG ~ The GunnAr Management Group, LLC
 

I'm Yours is my happy song. I have to hear it at least once a day or it just isn't a happy day for me.

 

Jason,

You’re truly an amazing person!! You have such a beautiful gift touching people’s lives through your music!! Keep up all your hard work~ you’re my Grammy winner most definitely!

Many blessings to you,
Yvonne

 

You were robbed!!
 

BRAVO!!!
 

Your mom looks stunning! How nice to have a parent see their child so successful, thank you for sharing. I watched you on the red carpet and thought you are such a great person, at ease with life, and appreciative of accomplishments. I very much enjoyed seeing you and am glad you were nominated for a Grammy.
No worries, there are many years to come and you will have yours in time, I know it, xo
 

Wonderful stuff!
 

you're are so amazing!!! i love you're music and i love the fact the you seem really down to earth..you are simply incredible :)
 

When I first heard your voice, thought--what a great human being... and you are.


Congrats on being a GREAT HUMAN!
 

That's profound. We need more acceptance speeches like this. Thank you.

 

Aw that is such a great speech!
You are my inspiration Jason!!

I have your lyrics posted all over my walls because they have helped me through some tough times in my life.


Everyone where I am from (outside of Mechanicsville!) was hoping you would win something, the local radio station talked about you all day! We were all really disapointed you didn't win, but you won in our hearts lol :)
 

I was so disapointed when you didn't win at least one of the nominations. I would've loved to hear you say that speech live.

You're well deserving of one, indefinitely.

:]