Don't get it twisted. I have the GREATEST mom in the world. And I mean that.

If there was a contest in which mothers across the globe competed in things like Nurturing, Culinary Skills, Child Reering, Guidance and Mentoring, Talent, Beauty, and Satisfying Her Husband...



(Look at her beauty, her wonderful husband, and those kitchen skills!! Not to mention her talent!!)

*in my taunting school yard voice*

My Mom Is Better Than Your Mom!!

*gives you the finger and walks away*

However, there isn't a contest of such so consider yourself lucky cause my mom's would've won that joint for the past 31 years...Hands Down!!
Instead of having a great competition that would encourage the Strength, Resiliency, and Foresight amongst moms in America, we have this asinine, meaningless, Hallmark-invented holiday known as Mother's Day. This is the day where everyone with a mom (or motherly figure) is suppose to acknowledge the great "mothers" in their life. Dead-beat moms, Irresponsible Baby Mamas, and Young ass Baby Mamas' Mamas (also known as 40-year-old 'GRAND mamas') partake in this glorious day and bask in the glow of receiving cards, flowers, gifts, praise, and everything under the sun on this fiscal holiday. They kick back on this day, get taken out to dinner, and are told by everyone (including strangers) "Happy Mother's Day!"

Let's be real...

Half of these chicks aren't even REAL mothers. Yes, they bore a child, or two, or three, or four, or ELEVEN, but if they're all by different fathers, are you REALLY a good mother??

There was a story recently here in Atlanta in which a mother went to school with her daughter and whooped the teacher's ass over a grade dispute in front of the rest of the class. What kind of example is that?? Or what about this seven-year-old who stole his grandma's car and took it on a joy ride? Where was mom??

You got mothers out there who don't even know who the father of their child really is. They just played "Eenie-Meeney-Miney-Pick-A-Nigga" and pinned the fatherhood on whatever dummy who believed he was the "only one" or the one they feel is most fit to be a dad. Does that broad deserves a "Mother's Day"??

We live in a day and age where celebrity mothers pimp out their kids to the magazine who pays the most for exclusive baby pictures of their newborns, career-absorbed mothers are too busy with their work load to even learn who their child's friends and their parents are, and some mothers are just cranking out kids to remain on government assistance. And Hallmark tells me these bytches deserve a fuggin' greeting card??

Shiiiiiddddd...Happy Mother's Day My Ass!!

Now, if you're like me (and you very well may be with the exception that your mom ain't as good as mine), you don't need a day set aside to appreciate all the wonders that your mother has provided you. If you're like me, it may be a Tuesday or a Saturday when you think of that special interaction, conversation, or moment between you and your mom that puts that warm feeling in your heart - not just a Sunday in May. If you're like me, all the flowers, cards, trinkets, jewlery, gifts, spa treatments, clothing, shoes, dinners, WHATEVER could not place a value on the Love, Life, and Lessons you receive from your mother.

Thanks Hallmark for creating Mother's Day and all the other senseless holidays you've created for economical gains at the expense of simple-minded individuals who can't seem to express their genuine feelings without breaking bread at the local mall or restaurant. But I'll pass. Give that purposeless balloon, card, and plant to one of the dead-beat moms out there.

Mine deserves more than that.

Everyday is Mother's Day Mom,
Love Ya!!

Special shout out to all the single and married mothers who have stepped up to the plate and handled their responsibility accordingly in what is arguably the hardest job of them all.

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"I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.T. - Do You Know What That Mean, Mane?"

By now, I know you all have heard (and is probably tired of) Webbie's catchy jingle, "I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.T." and it's accompanying video that concludes with a Black woman becoming President of the United States and putting an end to all of the world's major problems. Far-fetched? Very. Good message? No doubt! I find the song very refreshing amongst other tunes that pollute the airwaves these days.

Over the past few decades, we have witnessed numerous other tunes that have become "Women's Anthems" in Hip Hop as well as other genres of music. I think this is fantastic. However, in my opinion, the true meaning and message in these songs usually goes over the heads of the general public and is misconstrued. For some reason, the phrase "independent woman" has erroneously transformed into "I Don't Need A Man." I'm sorry ladies, but that's bullshyt!!

A lot of women wear the badge of "independent woman" with pride when in actuality, they ONLY claim that title by default. Let's face it, men sometimes drop the ball in relationships, thus FORCING the female to be independent and provide for themselves and their children. They have no choice. Trust me, if you had a good man who held up his end of the bargain, you would not be beating your chest bragging about your independent status. Basically, you made a poor decision in choosing a man and put yourself in that predicament.

On another hand, you have women who are educated, financially stable, and can honestly do for themselves who throw around that title. Whoopity Do. You want a cookie? You're SUPPOSE to be able to provide for yourself if you're grown - be it man or woman. I liken that ideology to men who want "brownie points" for raising their damn kids. You don't get extra credit for these things people.

But getting back to the music...

My brother recently asked me if I felt like Beyonce was contradictory in making a song like "Bills Bills Bills", which most considered an ode to golddiggers, and then turn around and make ditties such as "Independent Woman" and "Upgrade You". I explained to him that the lyrics are not conflicting because "Bills Bills Bills" is not about a girl who's just looking for a man to pay her bills. If you listen, you'll discover it's about a female who's tired of her man running up her bills (phone bill, gas bill, car note, etc.) and not putting in. Therefore, the lyrics coincide with those of the other tunes I mentioned. Most women took the song the same way my brother did though and interpreted as a man needs to pay the woman's bill. Not true.

I remember around this time last year, damn near every chick with a myspace page had "Upgrade You" as their profile song or quote. However, many ladies are incapable of upgrading shyt. Flossing their sassy ass attitude, they missed the key elements of which Ms. Knowles was saying. Let's take a look...

Beyonce: "Taking care of home and still fly / That's a good look / I can help you build up your account / That's a good look..."

Translation: Real women take care of their home (read: their man and children).

Beyonce: "Anything you cop, I'll split the bill."

Translation: None needed...that's self-explanatory.

Beyonce: "It's very seldom that you're blessed to find your equal / Still play my part and let you take the lead role / Believe me, I'll follow, this could be easy / I'll be your help whenever you need me / I see you hustle, with my hustle, I can keep you / focused on your focus, I can feed you"

Meaning: In one verse, Ms. Knowles basically explains how relationships SHOULD work and how they can work. Everybody should just play their role.

The bottom line is, with the "I don't need a man" attitude, our families will continue its downward spiral in the era of baby daddies/mamas and poor child-rearing practices. Being able to provide for yourself should be the norm, not a title that's used to exhibit cockiness and vanity. Ladies, just remember that independent means SELF-contained, SELF-governing, SELF-sufficient, and SELF-supporting. But when taken overboard, you'll only find yourSELF by YOURSELF.

my two pennies...

This is from the AUC Magazine. I write a column in there and I encourage you all to check it out. It’s available at selected college campuses across the country or you can go to aucmagazine.com for more info.

Anyway, I know the words in this picture are kinda small so here’s the unedited text from yours truly...

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Ok...I’m sick of this shyt!! As a music video director, I am utterly disgusted by the name-calling and double standards that society has put in place when it comes to ethnic models who appear in music videos. Why the hell are they labeled as "video hoes"?? To hear these grossly exaggerated generalizations is despicable especially when they’re from a race of people who have been plagued with stereotypes for centuries.

Let me ask you a question: Did the young ladies of the Rutgers basketball team deserve to be called "hoes"? Let me answer that for you. NO!! So why is it that so many ignorant fucks out there pass judgment and place labels on these women knowing very little about their personal lives. These women are Sisters, Daughters, and Mothers-just because they’re in music videos, why should that warrant the unjust labeling?

Advertisers adhere to the age-old adage that "sex sells" and models in videos are essentially selling the artist and the song. It’s the same principle alcohol distributors, car manufacturers, and clothing companies have utilized since their conception. Even when the blond-haired, blue-eyed Barker beauties are parading around Rice-A-Roni, vacuum cleaners, and "new car"s on "The Price Is Right", those models are using their sexy appearance to sell the show. When the sexy ladies of the popular game show, "Deal Or No Deal", open those briefcases, their appearance is a part of the show’s appeal. Those women are not called "game show hoes" so why are the women in urban clips called "video hoes".

I think it goes back to black people just hating themselves - forcing them to hate on others like them...but that’s a different article in itself. I digress.

Many people who aren’t in the industry doesn’t realize that these women are on set (at work) for 14, maybe 16 hours a day. In addition, it takes a huge amount of courage and confidence to be in front of a camera while people are standing around watching you. The average person can NOT do it. Many of these women watch their diet and exercise regularly to keep their bodies in great shape and we KNOW that the average American does NOT have gym memberships and fast food consumption is the norm since everybody’s always in a rush.

I’ll even say instead of blasting these women, more folks should look at their positive attributes and emulate them. Especially the over-weight slobs that sit on their asses all day and watch music videos.

Just my two pennies...

***NOTE:  This is a repost from my blogspot.  Check it out at My2cents-sense.blogspot.com***

It seems like just yesterday.



I had just left school on a chilly November afternoon. It's 1993. I remember vividly the brisk Detroit wind shaking my hooptie as I drove down the freeway. I was a senior in high school so as usual, I couldn't wait to get as far as I could away from that eight-story prison called Cass Technical High School. On a typical day, I would head straight home so I can change clothes and go to work. But this was no typical day.

I was FEENIN''. I mean, like, Really Jonesin'. So I was on a mission to get to Damon's Record Center, who was my reliable supplier whenever I needed my frequent fix for dope lyrics and intoxicating beats. I just wanted to get hiiiigggghhhhh.... Keep in mind, this was 15 years ago when the shyt we used to intake into our ears was much more potent than the watered-down shyt they sell on the streets nowadays.

Long story short...

I got there...got my shyt...and raced to the car so I can take a hit. I ripped off the packaging and popped the tape into the deck. I just sat there in the parking lot soaking it in. It was DOPE!! It was Snoop Doggy Dogg's (before he dropped the 'Doggy') first tape - "DoggyStyle".



When I got home, I locked myself in my room and indulged.

Snoop's lazy yet acrobatic drawl was the perfect match to Dre's rhythmic symphonies. The lyrics were raw and crass, unapologetic to a degree where it was almost a fault. I really knew that when Snoop said, "I don't love dem hoes," he really meant it. I can't fault him for that. Even though the infamous way he exclaimed "Be-yotch!!" was derived from the great poet Too Short, it just seemed so much cooler when Snoop said it.

This was an era in rap music where it was cool to be a pimp. No Doubt. This post is not about the many morality issues surrounding pimps, hoes, squares, and tricks, but moreso a question to the young brothers who were supposedly influenced by these iconic hip hop tunes that some classify as "Gangster Rap". WHEN DID IT BECOME COOL TO BE A FUCKIN' TRICK????

I ask this question with a great deal of sincerity and seriousness because I really don't understand. I don't know, maybe I'm stuck in a different era, but I didn't think we were suppose to love these hoes. Remember Big Daddy Kane and Nice & Smooth's "Pimpin' Ain't Easy"? Ice-Cube's "I Ain't The 1"?? Geto Boys' "Gangster Of Love"??? Hello...Anyone???? Not once in any of these songs did niggas make it rain on dem hoes!! Why is it so "cool" nowadays to throw money in the air and watch it fall on broads' heads and then to the floor? No matter how you look at it, THAT'S TRICKIN'!!

You say, "It ain't trickin' if you got it." I say, BULLSHYT!! Regardless of how much you have, if you trick off your money, you's a fuckin' trick, TRICK!! Case close.

What's the deal with young folks these days? They're makin' songs about buying broads drinks, being in love with strippers, even lacing bitches up with jewlery, clothes, and all types of Burken bags and shyt. What The Fuck!?!? A Birkin bag is like 12K. If you spending that much, it's obvious you love the hoe. When does the simpin' cease? You're sending all types of mixed messages to the youth by saying that you're a pimp or mack or you're swagger is so undenible, the girls just flock to you. No Nigga...their flocking to you cause you're a trick ass nigga throwin' money in the air. It's not your swag, homie. Sorry.

The music I was raised on taught me that you suppose to spit game to a girl and get her with your mouthpiece. And in reality, any decent woman worth talking to should like you for YOU and not your net worth anyway.

Let's cut to the chase. C'mon dog, be real...you're spending money and making it rain cause you want to hit it OR you're an attention whore yourself. That's it. If that's what you're doing, hey, to each his own, but don't deny the fact that you're a trick. Bottom line is, you's a trick, she's a hoe (if she's fuckin' you for cash or "gifts"), and 9 times out of 10, she's probably paying another dude...we'll just call him "the pimp".

Now, don't get me wrong. I've been known to go to a strip club or two in my day and by no means am I saying that I am tricking-exempt. BUT, I've never claimed to be a pimp either and I damn sure don't make it rain.

I'm just sayin', let's call a spade a spade and stop the frontin', Trick.

This public service announcement has been brought to you by Concerned Citizens For The Betterment Of Dilusional Rappers and of course my2cents-sense.blogspot.com.