"It Was All A Dream"

"Juicy" Notorious BIG

(Fuck all you hoes) Get a grip motherfucker.

Yeah, this album is dedicated to all the teachers that told me
I'd never amount to nothin', to all the people that lived above the
buildings that I was hustlin' in front of that called the police on
me when I was just tryin' to make some money to feed my daughters,
and all the niggaz in the struggle, you know what I'm sayin'?

Uh-ha, it's all good baby bay-bee, uh

[Verse One:]

It was all a dream
I used to read Word Up magazine
Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine
Hangin' pictures on my wall
Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl
I let my tape rock 'til my tape popped
Smokin' weed and bamboo, sippin' on private stock
Way back, when I had the red and black lumberjack
With the hat to match
Remember Rappin' Duke, duh-ha, duh-ha
You never thought that hip hop would take it this far
Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight
Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade
Born sinner, the opposite of a winner
Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner
Peace to Ron G, Brucey B, Kid Capri
Funkmaster Flex, Lovebug Starsky
I'm blowin' up like you thought I would
Call the crib, same number same hood
It's all good

Uh, and if you don't know, now you know, nigga, uh

[Chorus:]

You know very well who you are
Don't let em hold you down, reach for the stars
You had a goal, but not that many
'cause you're the only one I'll give you good and plenty

[Verse Two:]

I made the change from a common thief
To up close and personal with Robin Leach
And I'm far from cheap, I smoke skunk with my peeps all day
Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way
The Moet and Alize keep me pissy
Girls used to diss me
Now they write letters 'cause they miss me
I never thought it could happen, this rappin' stuff
I was too used to packin' gats and stuff
Now honies play me close like butter played toast
From the Mississippi down to the east coast
Condos in Queens, indo for weeks
Sold out seats to hear Biggie Smalls speak
Livin' life without fear
Puttin' 5 karats in my baby girl's ears
Lunches, brunches, interviews by the pool
Considered a fool 'cause I dropped out of high school
Stereotypes of a black male misunderstood
And it's still all good

Uh...and if you don't know, now you know, nigga

[Verse Three:]

Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis
When I was dead broke, man I couldn't picture this
50 inch screen, money green leather sofa
Got two rides, a limousine with a chauffeur
Phone bill about two G's flat
No need to worry, my accountant handles that
And my whole crew is loungin'
Celebratin' every day, no more public housin'
Thinkin' back on my one-room shack
Now my mom pimps a Ac' with minks on her back
And she loves to show me off, of course
Smiles every time my face is up in The Source
We used to fuss when the landlord dissed us
No heat, wonder why Christmas missed us
Birthdays was the worst days
Now we sip champagne when we thirst-ay
Uh, damn right I like the life I live
'Cause I went from negative to positive
And it's all...

(It's all good)

...and if you don't know, now you know, nigga, uh
Uh, uh...and if you don't know, now you know, nigga
Uh...and if you don't know, now you know, nigga, uh

Representin' B-Town in the house, Junior Mafia, mad flavor, uh
Uh, yeah, a-ight

RL 7

This is an  add from a local restaurant in my hometown of Mobile AL. AS you can see, foosackly's is a chicken finger restaurant and is pretty popular in Mobile. When Mobile was being looked for as a potential building site for airplanes, which would have created hundreds of jobs for the area, BOeing a foreign airplane company intervened and decided not to create the factory in Mobile. Many people were very angry with this decision, so when foosackly's was offering BOeing a "finger", was definitely the middle one. This is just another cry against foreign business interfering with U.S. jobs.

This is an ad from a popular item weve probably all seen on tv. This is a pill that upon taking, your (in the words of Ms. Sellers) "hoo-ha" enlargens. This ad is particularly interesting because it shows a magnifying glass with the phrase "don't make it difficult for her." This is meant to demean men who might not be proportionally happy with themselves. "MAybe if i get this product, then women will be pleased, and i will be able to participate in sexual activities more often." is the thought that runs through their head, because let's be honest, sex sells.

The title of this ad, taken from my tab, is  "Nothing to Wear". Clearly this is a closet full of clothes, but what do we normally say when we open up our closet to change? This image shows how we as
Americans seem to be pretty selfish and take many things for granted. It shows that no matter how much we have, we still want more.

RL 6

2. The "hard decisions" Johnson speaks of in his opening statements should, in reality, be quite simple. Do what makes the most sense (aka do what is economically sound). But the media doesn't make them so. The media shows all the erroneous choices, ones that shouldn't make sense, but they're surrounded by attractive people with big white smiles and happy faces. When we, as Americans, were born into an image society, this can only make things more difficult. When these are "difficult choices," it means that we are incredibly lucky, and we should shut up and move on to something that is actually important. The fact that Johnson sees these things (possible sarcasm) as difficult, shows the reader that he is generally part of the American DReam mentality.

RL 5

1. The connection that Thoman makes between images and lifestyle is that when we see the images (someone in new clothes, smiling and happy, with multiple other attractive, well dressed people) it makes us wish that the image was our reality, and that we should chase after that. If we chase after becoming like this image, then "all will be well."

2. Thoman's main idea is that the rise of photography and televison (with the help of the media) keeps re-inventing what we see as the American Dream. Basically what is known as socially acceptable is now based on commercials and ad campaigns.

3. Thoman uses history as a means of developing her main idea by showing how technology has changed, meaning that as images and television became more prominent, this evolution of the "upgraded lifestyle" has formed in many modern day Americans' heads. Thoman also uses words that trigger certain emotions to get her point across, such as rejection, resistance, or denial.

4. Thoman's essay is a call to action because it really spits in the face of modern day media and how it now dictates what is socially acceptable/unacceptable. It basically states that WE should decide what we need, not the media and image based ads.

5. She really needs to explain how the media is doing what they're doing clearer. I would do this by giving specific examples, probably from certain commercials or ads, that shows how the media tries to tell us what we really "need."

Why Cant I Comment?!

It seems that i am completely technologically impaired and i cant comment on yalls blogs...any suggestions?

RL 4 "A Beat Education" Leonard Kress

1)      One of the expressions Kress uses that helps bring the story to life, to me anyways, was when he spoke of the hobo tackling him to the ground. The overall imagery he uses, him being too shocked to resist and the hobo coming uncomfortably close to his face, really brings this essay to life. If you can picture the terrifying adrenaline rush of being tackled by a railroad bum with the fear that this might be the end, then you know exactly what im talking about. Another phrase in which Kress brings this essay to life is when he speaks of how uncomfortable the ride was. Imagine going over railroad tracks in a fast moving metal box. The jitters and vibrations would be close to unbearable. It only added insult to injury when he couldn't eat what he brought along (very serious statement especially when i love food, i was sad for him!).

2)     Kress might have better described the scene had he described the bum in better detail.
- The man, almost a shadow of a man, was dressed in remnants of old clothing and soot.
This statement can contribute to the "sketchy factor" when speaking of when the man tackled him to the ground. Describing the sunset in detail would have helped the essay come alive as well.
- As the sun was sinking into the murky depths of Lake Michigan, streaks of gold, purple, and orange shot through the trees. 
Althought the journey was rough, Kress did point out the beauty of the sunset, and this statement would've helped described it in further detail.

3)     Kress' voice seems to be one of a weathered man looking back at the "green" youth he used to be. Words and phrases that would help prove this point are everywhere in the text.
-"Doubtless, my sense of education at the time...was more than mildly seasoned by the Beats..."
-"If I were to characterize it now....and my own middle class suburban naivete..."
- "Here was a whole gallery of street life like i had never seen."
I believe that Kress' voice is appropriate for writing about hopping a freight train, because it focuses on what new experiences he got from doing it.
 

Hello and welcome to the BK Lounge

So this is my first blog...ever. I guess the main reason im posting is because my teacher told me to, for our writing assignments and whatnot. Beyond that, im really going to try and get as much out of this experience as i can. In highschool i was thought of as the jock, sure a smart jock, but i mean really, what could i even be thinking of past football and cheerleaders? I hated that that was how i was thought of, which is why i want to set the record straight now. I want everyone who reads this blog to at least peek through the window that is my perspective of how life is, and/or how it could be. Be warned now, i am into star wars and the occasional production of some sort of theater (crazy i know). Some of this will be things i find humorous or interesting, some will be my views on my faith or politics, but most of this blog is intended to show you what i think about life, and why it's worth living.