Monday, November 29, 2010

Immortal Words


Hotep,


My man Ed (R.I.P) used to say, “Pressure will bust a pipe.” He’d always say it in the waning minutes of a basketball or football game. If a player choked in the clutch, you could count on Ed’s signature phrase ringing in your eardrums: “Pressure will bust a pipe!” Followed by his crazy Herman Munster-like laugh. A laugh that was contagious. Breeding humor when you least expected it. Word is bond!


Ed has moved on. His bouts with hemophilia, hepatitis, sclerosis of the liver and H.I.V eventually forced him to succumb in 2002. But, as long as there’s ink in my pen and words on my tongue, his memory will live on. No doubt. Ed and I would gauge the best players by how well they responded under pressure. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Joe Montana were always the standard. These cats thrived under pressure. They raised their level of play, deflating the pressure and dictating the outcome of games. That’s what’s up.


I was watching t.v. with Ed when the towers fell on 9/11. Prior to the special report, we were debating about my beloved Sixers and his up and coming Pistons. You see, Ed was a motor-mouth from Detroit and I’m an MC from North Philly, but at that moment we were both speechless. Stranded on death row, watching thousands of people perish brought new meaning to: “Pressure will bust a pipe.” At that point, sports talk seemed immensely senseless to me. Na mean?


When the report of a third commercial flight hitting the Pentagon dashed across the screen, the last days seemed to be more reality than prophecy. Instinctively, we prayed for our families and loved ones. We couldn’t pick up a phone to call the kids. We couldn’t jump in the whip to go check on Moms. Panic grew from a seed to a mature adolescent as other prisoners started voicing their opinions about the very near future.


Some anticipated a mandatory lockdown. Others feared a mass execution of death row prisoners, but “Dr. Detroit” and I diffused the pressure. We overcame the sudden panic of 911 by acknowledging the footprints in the sand. Ya heard?


The following year, Ed’s health was rapidly fading. Watching him die before he had his day in court was added pressure that was beginning to get the best of me. But, hi voice of reason was there for me whenever I felt like I was dying on the inside. He’d explain to me what dying truly felt like. Then he’d tell me to look into his purple-shaded eyes to remind me what dying looked like. Real talk.


Ed, a.k.a “Dr. Detroit,” died in prison, but he left behind a strong sense of freedom. A solid foundation exudes an undying confidence in the face of any form of pressure. Taking the last shot, running the two-minute offense, or witnessing an American tragedy while waiting to become one. You gotta keep your head in the game people. If not, “Pressure will bust a pipe.” For sure.


Keep it 100,



MannofStat

Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Monday, November 22, 2010

Gratitude

Hotep,


The season of thankfulness is upon us once more. It’s ironic that we’ve set aside a particular season for being thankful when every waking hour of our existence gives us plenty to be thankful for. Na mean? But, in the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, I’d like to share my thankfulness with the masses. So here’s some flavor for your ear.

First and foremost, I have to thank my Creator for allowing my eyelids to continue blinking throughout an eventful 42 year journey. I’m truly thankful for my life’s experiences, good and bad. The best times made for some good memories, but it’s the pitfalls in life that define a Mann’s character. Ya heard?

For my fam and my loved ones, thankful doesn’t begin to describe my gratitude for their unconditional love and support. My current situation has been a strain on our ability to break bread in the traditional Thanksgiving fashion, but the visits and correspondences keep me in the loop of your life’s progressions. And for that, I’m deeply grateful. Word is bond!

And how can I not be thankful for the future of my fam? My cuzzo Jazzy, my nephew Juwan and my grandseed Daveante Jr., aka “Deuce.” My love overflows for you. Whenever I think of Jazzy’s creative writing skills or Juwan’s hardy demeanor and inquiring mind or my Lil’ Mann Deuce getting his first haircut, I see myself within them and I gush with pride. Their existence has healed some of my old wounds and injected me with a vaccine that helps me combat the virus known as despair. Feel me?

Basically, I’m grateful to just be alive and experiencing the art of living. No matter what your situation may be, you can always make the most out of being alive. I experienced one of greatest joys in life last night (11/15/10) while listening to my man Mike Vick “Vicktimize” Donovan McNabb and the Washington Redskins over the radio waves.

Vick completed 20/28 passes for 333 yards. He threw 4 touchdowns, ran for 80 yards and 2 more touchdowns and his 150.7 passer rating is tops in the NFL. His journey is a true redemption story (http://word2themasses.blogspot.com/2010/10/redemption.html ), one that allows media pundits to understand that some of us are truly thankful for second chances. And, for where Vick is taking the Eagles this year, I am so grateful! Holla if ya hear me.

Keep it 100,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Monday, November 15, 2010

Rock the Mic Right

Entering the sound booth...

Adjusting the mic...

Donning the headphones...

Inhale...

Exhale...

Then signal the engineer to key up the track...

Welcome to the moment of truth, the life of an MC...

OH, what a beautiful life it could be.


Hotep,

This intoxicating ritual has bred timeless lyrics by some of the rawest MC’s ever know to man. Think of the greats: KRS-One, RaKim, Kool G. Rap, Biggie and Jay-Z. When speaking of all-time greatest MC’s that’s my starting five. Give me Nas and 2Pac off the bench and I’ll show you a lyrical dream team without competition. Na mean?

In my opinion, the best lyrical content is founded on life experiences. Life experiences of struggle, disappointment and striving to come up. The life experiences develop great MC’s, not songs about the latest dance. Not the mass of ringtones you’ve accumulated since your latest single dropped. Not the high budgeted music video with the half naked females over shadowing the delivery of all lyrical content. Nah, an MC lives for the expression of his words. Feel me?

Notice I said, “MC” not rapper. Rappers come and go, but an MC is forever. An MC will always be an MC. The booth, the mic, even the headphones maybe taken away, but the MC’s expression will continue to burn within.

Words are the MC’s addiction. Consonants, vowels, prefixes and suffixes are an everyday habit. An MC speaks metaphorically during basic discussions without intent. Syllables and similes are literary planks that support the direction of an MC’s expression. Despite false accusations, rush to judgments or convictions granted by injustice, an MC will be an MC. Word is bond.

So I ask: Who’s the MC? Is it the latest rapper with the chart topping smash hit? Here’s a hint: The sound booth and the microphone isn’t always guaranteed. Ya heard? Holla if ya hear me, Lil’ Wayne. Stay chiseled “T.I.” From one MC to another, the fame may change, but the picture remains the same. Real talk.

Keep it 100,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Monday, November 8, 2010

You Scared of the Dark?


Even on the darkest days the light is shining somewhere
 Hotep,


Whenever the media reports something tragic, the phrase: “The darkest days are amongst us,” always come to light. I actually felt that way when I saw two commercial planes slam into the sides of the twin towers on 9/11/01. The Columbine High shootings at the hands of the “Trench Coat Mafia” gave me deep dark feelings of despair as well.

Hurricane Katrina was a disaster, for sure, but the government’s initial rescue response was outright tragic. The earthquake that shattered Haiti was horrific. The visual of a child crying beside a house that collapsed on the child’s loved ones was a devastating image, indeed.

These are some dark times, no doubt, but the common denominator in all of these tragedies is the unification of humanity. No matter how dark of an era we may encounter, (The Great Depression, The Civil Rights Movement, or the Move Siege in West Philly) the human race tends to evolve and surmount the obstacles within the darkest of times. An evolution that encourages us to rise above the turmoil of life; to make do with what we have and to acknowledge that your situation could always be worse. Na mean?

Oft times, as people, we have the tendency to get caught up in the “Why me” syndrome. Well, there’s nothing wrong with asking that question unless you’re afraid to answer it. Feel me? Hear me people: when you get stuck on “Why me,” that’s the beginning of your darkest days. But, answering the question and using the answer as a template to better the lives of those around you will always bring light into your darkness. You may not notice an instantaneous improvement of your personal situation, but you’ll feel much better about who you’ve become. Word is bond!

So keep in mind people, the darkest of days is still light years away, if you understand why you’re in your current situation. Make the most of your situation by helping others in order to better yourself. Ya heard?

I’m out like Glenn Chapman.

Stay up,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Monday, November 1, 2010

Depressed No More

Hotep,

I attended last Sunday’s morning worship service and let me tell you, the chaplain spit some jewels, concerning depression. He gave examples of God fearing men (Moses, Jonah and Elijah), who dealt with depression, which isn’t hard for me to believe, considering the magnitude of the responsibilities they faced. Check out Elijah at Mount Carmel (Kings 18:16-38). After defeating the prophets of Baal, Elijah should’ve been on top of the world, right? But, not long after, fear and doubt got the best of him (1 Kings 19:1-16).

Depression can be lethal to the best of men. Check the math: 18.8 million Americans suffer from depression and know this: 1,080 people attempt suicide everyday. Real talk. Being on the row, can be a very depressing experience, no doubt. Like Elijah, sometimes you just get fed up with life’s trials, but depression is no reason to stop living. Word is bond!

In basketball every shooter will encounter a shooting slump at some point and time in their career. From personal experience I can tell you that the only way to defeat a shooting slump, is to just keep shooting. Depression can be defeated in the same manner. You just eventually become precise. Every shot attempt feels like the game winner and your swagger will return to high definition. Na mean?

Don’t give up on life. Depression is merely a slump. Fight your way through it, because the Creator is setting you up for the game winning shot. Ya heard?

R.I.P E-Boogie. I hate that I’m not throwing lobs to you anymore. You could’ve defeated your slump Dunn. But, your memory will live on because I’m still running the point. Feel me?

Stay up,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Elwood Mann