Larry Pinkney appears in the lyrics of the poem Hip-Hop Framed by poet/musician Blackman Preach (Cedric T. Bolton) which premiered on the Bumpy Tymes album (Track 4), released May 14, 2007 on the Blackman Preach label.
“going to places where Larry Pinkney & Huey P. Newton have been
for real causes—the people’s struggle & not for the non-sense”
Lyrics (includes audio) published in Issue 272 of The Black Commentator on April 10, 2008
http://www.blackcommentator.com/272/272_pbf_hip_hop_framed.html
Hip Hop Framed
Hip-Hop images captured & stilled for
the worlds view
their mug shots are a center piece portrait
—with most rappers thinking—
the snitch framed them
reading exclusive interviews some writers have
created a moral panic on their client’s profiled
in magazines asking:
are rappers the target?
is the justice system fair?
behind bars they tell their pathetic stories of
bad habits: sex, drugs—violence
glorified on record
magazines post
nineteen faces in the trenches
awaiting trial to be punished not by their peers
but twelve evaluators
a jury
& the rap artist get sentenced according
to their crimes:
holding firearms, robberies, murders, rapes, perjury
5 yrs—8 yrs—& lives are accumulated
now these enslaved patrons of hip-hop—leave slogans
to market their release “get free or die trying”
there’s some confusion here
the jail system shouldn’t be a boost
for the label to sell more records
and the beat goes on… the beat goes on
radio in heavy rotation rapper get crazy spins
in the urban markets
promoting beefs and misogyny—their vocals rain supreme
as many-many words come across teenage equilibrium
in song format that djs scratch derogatory terms back
and forth
that even a five year old can retain songs
like “I’m Locked Up”
kids understand it more
especially when their brothers in detention &
father’s serving eight years for domestic violence &
distrubution of powder white
operation lockdown is in effect
with female rappers—too
are almost identical with their cell space
the monkey bars are holding their words
they’re punished for selling sex—lies
in court
then—they’ll get a little conscience
& see their adversary for who they really are:
corporate industry designed to profit
& incarcerate all Black and brown …
do not quote me
see Ms. Barnes piece “off the cuff” & read the depressing media hype
with some of hip-hop most celebrated
going to places where Larry Pinkney & Huey P. Newton have been
for real causes—the people’s struggle & not for the non-sense
of seven shots in crowded parties or aggravated assault
rappers now sit miles away
isolated from fans
platinum records
& iced out jewelry
that could’ve saved residence of New Orleans
SUFFERING without revenue or a place to stay
these are members of Hip Hop images captured & stilled for
the world’s view
their mug shots are a center piece portrait
–with most rappers thinking—
the snitch framed them.
The preceeding words are lyrics from the CD Bumpy Tymes
Click here to listen to Blackman Preach read this poem.
BlackCommentator.com Spoken Word Columnist, Poet Blackman Preach (Cedric T. Bolton), is a poet (spoken word artist) and producer, born in Pascagoula, Mississippi and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. Cedric received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Washington University and currently resides, with his wife, in Syracuse, New York. He is the Founder of Poetic Black Fusion, a writers’ workshop that provides access and opportunities to poets of African Ancestry living in Central New York. He is also the co-founder of Voices Merging, a student-run poetry organization (spoken word) at the University of Minnesota that provides a social outlet for undergraduate students to develop as writers, network and express themselves on stage. He has been writing poetry for 14 years and is published in the Ethnic Student Center’s Newsletter at Western Washington University, The Spokesman Recorder, and St. Cloud Times. Click here to contact Blackman Preach.
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