All About The Rings

This has nothing to do with sports. I went out Friday night with a group of friends I've known for years. The main culprit, my homeboy got married for the second time three weeks ago. This wife is great, almost perfect. He's a good guy and has a daughter from a previous marriage. His ex-wife is a piece of work with skewed priorities. His life was miserable with her. Dude never had a problem meeting women so when he got married to this woman it was an afterthought. The divorce was a motherfucker. My Godbrother is barely thirty and happily married with four kids ten years in. He's a great father and his wife is supportive. So, what got me on this? People believe you're supposed to do certain things between 25 and 30 like get married, buy a house and have a career instead of a job. Look, that ideal life shit changed September 2008 when the economy went straight to the sewer. Now it's about maintaining if you aren't thriving so thank God my life doesn't suck. However, I am single again. My previous posts explain why I broke up with my most recent exes. I plan to record a song about that shit and never bring it up again. I want to be married with children but I have come across some strange women. Seriously, they're strange. I had a show in Lawrence, Kansas I missed due to a frame rod splitting under my car. By the time we finished fixing it, it was too late to make the show. I went out instead. I danced with a married woman all night that danced like she wasn't married. It was crazy because a guy was doing his damndest to buy her and her friends drinks all night. I grabbed a beer and struck up another conversation with an attractive woman that had been looking at me. Me being me I chatted her up. In conversation she said she was married to a nice guy nine years older than her that wanted her to stay in the house all the time. She was NOT wearing a ring. What the fuck?!? Then she said she wasn't looking for any dick because she didn't want to cheat but she was free to sleep with women. Again, what the fuck?!? A couple years ago I would've convinced her she needed my penis in her life but I was cool. I went back to dance with the other married chick's much hotter friend. As I left I thought to myself how messed up some people get when they're marriedm SOME people. Married men that cheat think they can do so as long as they take care of the house. In most cases those same guys would pitch a bitch if their wives cheated on them. You can't justify cheating when you're unhappy. Get divorced or work it out. Some women just want to be married to have a ceremony and they don't give a fuck about the actual marriage. I have another homeboy like that with a worrisome fiancee but the nigga probably marrying her for money. Then there's the ex that sand bagged she was separated from her husband months into our relationship. There's the female friend that sand-bagged her engagement and half-ass remained in an unhappy relationship. She says she ended but I really don't care. I want one woman and over time if it works out that way, I want to marry her. My outlook on things have changed but one thing still remains: I will not marry just anyone and I have my pick. - Moolah

Why I Believe

My last few posts have been about the evils of Cuffing Season. Please refer to them if you want me to elaborate on the myth that is Cuffing Season. I'm motivated to blog about something much more important tonight. Yes, I have music on the way but instead of just tweeting and faceboogering about it like I'm an idiot rapper that never does anything in real life with my music, I'm just going to record it, master it and work it with a plan I've developed. I also have shows on the way to but this isn't about that. Recently I've read posts from friends and people I know that are going through trying times, some trivial and some very serious. A couple months ago I was hit with losing income. I put a plan together and stayed afloat. Some people rap/tweet/facebooger about making things happen. Some of us do it because we're wired that way. I beat myself up over losing that money but at the same time, I wasn't happy with that source of income. It was legal but borderline depressing dealing with the legal/civil issues of others in a toxic environment. So I prayed as I always do that things will work out. Prayer alone is a nice start but God puts us in position to take advantage of his blessings. For two months despite my ex-girlfriend saying she would've crawled into a hole had it happened to her, I found income, handled business, did shows, recorded and kept praying. Were there setbacks? Minor ones like my tire exploding or finding creative ways to make beefaroni and soup. I know there are people much worse off than me so I plugged away knowing I'd succeed and that God was making a way for me. I know my spirit. Of course I hear that voice of doubt in my head and I have reasoning like any thinking adult should BUT my confidence in myself doesn't allow me to crawl into a hole and quit. That's one of the reasons I left the ex. She ain't bout that life. What I mean is, I'm going to succeed one way or another because God didn't give me tools and talent so I can just quit when things aren't ideal. I joke about being bout that life because I really am bout that life. I drove alone to Miami to promote two projects, one TNL and the other Loud & Clear at the Core DJs Retreat because I felt I HAD TO. I prayed driving through the Deep South alone with a plan to succeed. I made it to Miami and handled business. I had the confidence and my faith in God to do what I felt compelled to do. Do I want extra credit for that? No, I don't. There were times driving back I felt like an idiot for not flying but I drove to and from Miami with no problem. I kept my faith in God. I always do. When my friends say FML, I pray for them to realize God didn't let Jesus shed his blood for that. I don't beat people over the head with my religion because that's unfair to them. I just pray for them. Some people think life is supposed to be easy. Jesus didn't have it easy to sacrifice for us. Get it? Now, if you're familiar with my music or my tweets, you may be confused if you don't know me as a person. My tweets are gutter humor a lot of times but I know God has me. It's funny and people laugh at the crude truths I point out on Twitter (@duckyhines by the way). My music, TNL lastly had a lot of cheating girlfriends being my side piece, street references and bragging. Well, I have had my way with other people's women in my PAST. I kinda gave that up as a new year's resolution. The guns? I shot my first gun at 15 when I carried around my brother's Desert Eagle. True story. He didn't figure out rounds were missing until we were grown. Selling dope? I first cooked and sold crack along with powder coke when I was 12. So, before I was old enough to legally drive I was living what some of these sucker rappers talk aboutm I digress. I've coached children in basketball. I help people. I like to make people laugh and dance. I am a work in progress. I have faith I'll improve as a person but I always praise God because everything starts with Him. Why not go to church and share The Lord's teachings? I enjoy it and it makes me happy. When things get tough, always remember God wants you to endure. Jesus didn't die on Earth for nothing. His blood is for our sins and our lives. I remind myself of this a lot. Thanks. - Moolah.

Cuffing vs Relationships (The Cuffing Season Blog Part III)

I love my ex-girlfriend but I never again want to fuck with her in real life. She didn't do anything malicious but I can't fuck with her in real life. Almost every woman I've met since becoming some kind of adult says they want a nice guy. A lot of guys, selfish douchebags if you ask me want a good girl but want to do what they want. Now, if I've already ruffled some feathers then good. Look at yourselves in the mirror and don't blame me for calling you a douche. I'm a good guy. Women have told me so. I'm respectful, positive, gentlemanly, courteous and chivalrous. These are attributes expected of me and instilled in me. At the same time, I'm not a pushover. In a common sense world, when a woman knows a good guy likes her then she should be responsive to hearing that good guy out. I had two-psuedo girlfriends that I saw a lot of and wanted to be with but they had their representatives out. What I mean by representative is the person you want your mate to see instead of who you are. I'm me. I'm nice but I have a toilet sense of humor and I stay me at all times. Some people only act like they have tact, sense and understanding. My most recent ex girlfriend never opened her mouth about what bothered her except once. I look back on it and despite me being a good guy that would treat her well and how do I say...keep her wanting more, she never said anything bothered her. Then we grew distant while I had outside endeavors offered to me DAILY. I didn't cheat. I'm not bitter but I have no desire to deal with people that I can't trust. I think she liked being cuffed. When it got serious, she freaked out and didn't want to hold up her end of the bargain or disappoint me as a girlfriend. I wish she would've said as much but sometimes women say one thing and do another. Women do it and people say they have "issues". Men do it and we ain't shit. It's a mixed up double standard but as long as that is understood, you gotta charge it to the game. My last psuedo-girlfriend wanted to have girlfriend treatment but didn't want girlfriend responsibilities. AND she was selfish. She's 37 and acts like a brat if she doesn't get her way. I've had other women that wanted too much and offered nothing. They wanted me to cuff them on their terms. Cuffing is the devil. If you fate, have rules. Cuffing is so vague and shallow. Last night I went out and this young lady that I see sporadically had to babysit her friend who was being cuffed all night. Now, let that been the other way around and I was being cuffed...my night would've been over way early with her. The friend would've wanted to go home. I cannot stand selfish people. Cuffing is selfish. Dating is grown-up. Having a fuck-buddy is convenient but as long as there's an understanding, I can respect that. Cuffing is like being restricted with no understanding whatsoever. I want to date women I like, not cuff them or be cuffed. Hanging out is one thing. Cuffing makes me sick. I've always wondered why SOME women can't say what they want, what they're willing to do in return and then stand by it. Instead they get cuffed because it's easy. I'll tell a woman exactly what I want from her in a polite manner. If it doesn't get through then I'm done. I know women that are married, engaged and with men they don't love or like for real because they like being cuffed. It's pomp and circumstance. To close, my homeboy I've known since we were little is re-marrying in a couple weeks. His fiancee is great. They weren't cuffing. They dated like adults and are truly happy. I want that. Cuffing doesn't make me happy. Get cuffing all the way the fuck outta here. Being single is fun but there's nothing like a loving supportive relationship. I know. I've had my fair share of married, engaged and involved women that enjoyed my time with them. That's not my life anymore. I'm chillin. Moolah.

The Washing Theory

Shoutout the brother Corey Black. He and I had a lengthy but friendly disagreement on who's a better rapper than Eninem.  I replied that it was Busta Rhymes and Twista could be considered but not better. The only other person logically is Jay-Z. Corey countered that it's Nas. Nasty Nas. I still have my copy of Illmatic. I loved I Am lyrically but my counter to that is Jay-Z. Jay-Hova, Jiggaman Iceberg Slim.  Corey said that couldn't be because of "Ether". Well, "Ether" is a legendary song. However, that was 10 YEARS AGO and Jay-Z has had the much better career with much better, classical music in that ten years. Since then Jay's released The Black Album, American Gangster and The Blueprint III. I could include Watch The Throne with Kanye West in which Jay sounds like a combination of his late-nineties self and current sound. I said lyrically Eminem is better and more consistent than Nas at emoting, cadence, delivery and songwriting. Now, some people just don't like the idea of Em being the better emcee but there is proof. All my friends locally that I support are lyricists, me included. My Intro to Thurrrzday Nite Live is lyrically better than a lot of people's whole projects. I can say that without bragging and I can perform it live to the point the crowd enjoys it. People get disappointed when I don't perform it. This guy I follow on Twitter, Ice from New Jersey says flow is more important than lyrics now. Royce Da 5'9, one of Em's partners from Detroit said the same thing. The way things are in St. Louis, unless you make club music you better know how to spit with substantial lyrics. I make club music with substantial lyrics so I'm not talking out of my ass on this. There is also this perception that Li'l Wayne is better than Jay-Z. I bring this to what I call The Washing Theory. The Washing Theory is when you have two or more different artists on the same song and one's performance is better than the other. The act of out-doing someone on a song is knows as WASHING THEM. For example, people say "Ether" was better than "Takeover" and that "Ether" was so potent that Jay came back with "Super Ugly" even getting more personal with Nas. "Takeover" was the better song but you cannot discount "Ether". Five years later Jay and Nas call a truce and do what many of us that love Hip-Hop BEGGED THEM TO DO since 1996: they made songs together. They made two songs together: "Black Republican" from Nas's ironically titled Hip Hop Is Dead then Jay's "Success" off the excellent American Gangster (the 21st Century Reasonable Doubt). Jay's verses were better than Nas's verses on those two songs. Not to say Nas was wack because Nas was killing it but Jay spazzed on the songs knowing Nas was on the songs with him. He washed Nas on those songs. I'll give you another example of something people do not want to admit. On "Carter IV Interlude" from Li'l Wayne's last album, Tech N9ne washed Andre 3000. Yes, he washed him. Three Stacks spit an awesome verse but Tecca Nina washed him by changing cadence and seizing the moment knowing he'd be on the songs with one of Hip-Hop's most celebrated lyricists.  Kanye washed Jay-Z on "Run This Town" lyrically but you have to do it more than once to be considered better. Jay obviously washed Kanye (by Ye's admission on "Big Brother") on the "Diamonds Of Sierra Leone" remix. Jay washed Ye constantly on WTT. Back to Weezy though. When Jay retired, Wayne took a lot of Jay's style admittedly and became a much better lyricist when the first Carter came out in 2004.  "Best Rapper Alive" is lyrically one of Wayne's best songs. "A Milli" is  timeless song now and it bangs like it just came out instead of in 2008. However, lyrically and delivery-wise "6'7" is a much better song, especially if you listen to everything Wayne says regarding the "fucked-up family picture". People didn't get the "real G's move in silence like LASAGNA" line until they read the lyrics. In my opinion Wayne is better than what he gets credit for ad he's now better than a lot of the legends.  Lyrically, listen to Twista on "Overdose" and "Adrenaline Rush". Listen to him on the original "Is That Your Bitch" with Jay. Delivery and lyrics still matter. Even battlers out of St. Louis are being hailed for bars and wordplay, see Hitman Holla's third verse against Arsonal about the King's Mom in their URL battle. Lyrics matter more than ever despite the amount of dumb-ass songs you hear on the radio. End note, compare Em's lyrics on "Lose Yourself" and "Not Afraid".  He paints a picture of angst that Nas never could. Em's better. Peace.

Cuffing Season Has Returned (The Cuffing Blog Part 2)

*Cue Nas's "Hate Me Now"* My friend reamed me out about the usage of the word SLUT so I'll refrain. So I'll keep it gutter without that word. I am not thanking The Based Gawd for this. I'm thanking my buddy Laura. Hi, Laura. I was partying with my brothers The Chalk Boys. Debauchery insued. Before that I was out in the clubs chillin and doing me. The thirst, that inkling inside others that makes them act lame to gain someone's attention, affection or services was on LEVEL FREAKING ORANGE! I crossed the street to see someone I know in an adult sense out with somebody that isn't me. No problem. She's single and I'm single but she wants a good man. Her issues have kept her from making her next move her best move though I've given her ample opportunity to get into a grown-folks situation with me. She doesn't like single me because single me has his pick of women. (Don't hate me, blame my parents and the streets for swagging me out like this). Anyway, I saw her and her friends out with dudes. No prob. I was cutting a rug with many a round-bootied young lady before I saw her. Her friends looked like they wanted to deficate a brick when they saw me. I saw her and said hi. She said hi and kept it moving on her date. Now, details are to be witheld at this point because she may read this and curse me out but she knows I don't play those games. Why blog about it? I saw so much cuffing out and so much thirst that I'm glad I told the girlfriend her exclusive rights to me were forfeited. She did it by not seeing me or being a functioning girlfriend for a good minute while I stayed faithful. I'm a good guy but I don't like to be unhappy. I had chances to do things outside of the monogamous relationship and declined them because I committed to my relationship. Once the girlfriend forked over her rights, Single Ducky checked back in. My lady friend was cuffed for the night. No prob. Let her eat but single me: LET THAT BOY COOK. Now when her friends tell her reports on my actions if they see me, I'll know she's doing her and I'm doing me but she was cuffed despite wanting me to wait so we could talk or whatever the hell she wanted to break her date from. So I'm partying with my bros and lo and behold, a woman chooses me. I get chosen like Goldie in real life. This is why I don't sweat women and lack the thirst that lames do. Dudes in the clubs get a chick and cuff their territory...the same night they met these women. Ok, handle your beeswax but then they hop on woman to woman trying to cuff for the night with the thirst. GT entire FOH with that. I'm sure I'll have another girlfriend but not until I'm with someone that is consistent as I intend to be with her and make her happy, vice-versa and all that jazz. I am not cuffing a dang dern thing out here, especially in small-town St. Louis. Either we kick it or we don't and it's mutual. I will not chase and I will not cuff. If you like me like I like you, everything's negotiable. I guess some people want attention from whomever gives it to them. Oh, well. I can't even date a woman if I DON'T LIKE HER AS A PERSON. Once a woman falls out of favor, she's either gone or she gotta come with some SUNSHINE I can throw up in the air. Then again, polishing the silver will get her in my good graces temporarily. If she's good enough, I'm returning the favor if I like her like that. Still, I ain't cuffin' a dang dern thing out here. Peace. Moolah.

Cuffing Season Has Returned (The Cuffing Blog Part 2)

*Cue Nas's "Hate Me Now"* My friend reamed me out about the usage of the word SLUT so I'll refrain. So I'll keep it gutter without that word. I am not thanking The Based Gawd for this. I'm thanking my buddy Laura. Hi, Laura. I was partying with my brothers The Chalk Boys. Debauchery insued. Before that I was out in the clubs chillin and doing me. The thirst, that inkling inside others that makes them act lame to gain someone's attention, affection or services was on LEVEL FREAKING ORANGE! I crossed the street to see someone I know in an adult sense out with somebody that isn't me. No problem. She's single and I'm single but she wants a good man. Her issues have kept her from making her next move her best move though I've given her ample opportunity to get into a grown-folks situation with me. She doesn't like single me because single me has his pick of women. (Don't hate me, blame my parents and the streets for swagging me out like this). Anyway, I saw her and her friends out with dudes. No prob. I was cutting a rug with many a round-bootied young lady before I saw her. Her friends looked like they wanted to deficate a brick when they saw me. I saw her and said hi. She said hi and kept it moving on her date. Now, details are to be witheld at this point because she may read this and curse me out but she knows I don't play those games. Why blog about it? I saw so much cuffing out and so much thirst that I'm glad I told the girlfriend her exclusive rights to me were forfeited. She did it by not seeing me or being a functioning girlfriend for a good minute while I stayed faithful. I'm a good guy but I don't like to be unhappy. I had chances to do things outside of the monogamous relationship and declined them because I committed to my relationship. Once the girlfriend forked over her rights, Single Ducky checked back in. My lady friend was cuffed for the night. No prob. Let her eat but single me: LET THAT BOY COOK. Now when her friends tell her reports on my actions if they see me, I'll know she's doing her and I'm doing me but she was cuffed despite wanting me to wait so we could talk or whatever the hell she wanted to break her date from. So I'm partying with my bros and lo and behold, a woman chooses me. I get chosen like Goldie in real life. This is why I don't sweat women and lack the thirst that lames do. Dudes in the clubs get a chick and cuff their territory...the same night they met these women. Ok, handle your beeswax but then they hop on woman to woman trying to cuff for the night with the thirst. GT entire FOH with that. I'm sure I'll have another girlfriend but not until I'm with someone that is consistent as I intend to be with her and make her happy, vice-versa and all that jazz. I am not cuffing a dang dern thing out here, especially in small-town St. Louis. Either we kick it or we don't and it's mutual. I will not chase and I will not cuff. If you like me like I like you, everything's negotiable. I guess some people want attention from whomever gives it to them. Oh, well. I can't even date a woman if I DON'T LIKE HER AS A PERSON. Once a woman falls out of favor, she's either gone or she gotta come with some SUNSHINE I can throw up in the air. Then again, polishing the silver will get her in my good graces temporarily. If she's good enough, I'm returning the favor if I like her like that. Still, I ain't cuffin' a dang dern thing out here. Peace. Moolah.

To Cuff Or Not To Cuff

It's Fall. Summer has ended. People have summer flings for superficial reasons. I used to be super-duper superficial. When I was 17 my mom worrid about me being color struck because I messed with mostly light-skinned and white young ladies. My weakness is actually pretty dark-skinned women. I've had dark-skinned girlfriends, white girlfriends, girlfriends of multi-ethnic backgrounds and whatnot. I either date, smang (smash/hang) or get serious with women. I don't chase women and I do not cuff based on the season. For someone that dated women because they had donk booties, awesome sex or used to model this seems like a stretch. I've seen women I've had adult relations with get in relationships with good guys even though they weren't good girls. Dudes cuffed these women because they liked those women. It still seems a little ridiculous to me but to each his own. I could DATE a slut but if she's known for more than just having a healthy sexual appetitie in public, we can't be serious. I'll treat you like a lady but I will not "cuff" you. It seems crazy to me to cuff someone because it gets cold. Then again, some people don't want to be lonely on a cold night. I'm too busy to cuff someone for something so silly. If I like you and I feel like you should meet my family, you can be my woman. Otherwise, we're casually dating no matter the season. As long as we understand that then it's all good. On another note, who came up with "cuffing"? Is it not cool to be with a respectable partner in a relationship? Cuffing to me has a negative tone to it like cuffing a slut to keep her from smanging someone else. I'm that voice in someone's head that goes, "Dude, she gets around and has no morals. She's community coochie. Stop playing yourself". You don't cuff those women. You just date smang with them like any respectable single man should. Now if you're the type that doesn't partake in sluts, I applaud you. I don't discriminate. I just have rules and my rules state that I cannot allow myself to be with someone other than I want to be with them, simple as that regardless of the calendar. Peace.

Is This What It's All About?

It takes major issues for a lot of people to recognize injustices. My father grew up in rural Texas. My mom and a lot of my family through my early childhood including aunts, cousins and friends I used to play court ball with are from Goodfellow & Highland on the Westside of St. Louis. My mom told me stories of how blacks used to have to sit in the balcony of The Fox back suring Segregation in St. Louis. Nelson Mandela was freed from prison in 1990 at the end of Apartheid in South Africa. Sean Bell, James Byrd Jr and others were victims of injustice. Troy Davis was convicted of murder and executed under court order despite lacking evidence and witnesses recanting their statements. In North St. Louis County between Lindbergh and Goodfellow on the same stretch of Highway 70 as well as the Natrual Bridge, police from what seem like a hundred different municipalities wait to generate revenue from traffic stops while more serious crimes go undtered. On that same stretch of Natural Bridge, there are routine sobriety checks in an area where there are hardly any bars or liquor stores that stay open past 10pm. There's only one and that is on the city line next to Goody-Goody. I'm from that neighborhood. City police blocks away are dealing with murders so much that people are surprised when someone gets pulled over on a traffic stop. Traffic stops in North County are commonplace to the point we just shake our heads. Common sense would say don't drive through there if you ain't right. Duh! What about those struggling day-to-day that can't afford correct plates? I'm not saying it's right but I understand. Now if you speed through there, that's just stupid. The point is that some officials are out to get certain people and there are those that should be caught. The others are profiled and prosecuted to the extent the law allows. I know people that are paranoid of police and people in authority. After witnessing cases where there are corrupt police cashing a check like many of us do, I know what's out there. Brandon Long is in jail in Kansas and had the book thrown at him on a first offense. He admitted doing the crime but the judge gave him more time than rapists and killers. Reggie Clemons, Mumia Abu Jamal and others are in prison on crap. I do my best now to stay out of trouble. I pray for people I don't even know. I want an equal world but I just have to do my best in the world I live in. Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, many of The Black Panthers, Freedom Riders and others DIED for what they believed in. I cannot look myself in the mirror and live stupidly off the sacrifices they made or me and others. This fuels my quest for greatness. I saw injustice working in a law office. I saw it first hand and I learned from it. Injustices can't be swept under the rug. Just because some of us won't raid the state capitals where we live with M-16s and AR-15s doesn't mean we aren't fighting it. I share my knowledge and experiences in hopes that others learn what they can and can't do out here. No cliches. This is real life. Peace.

Is This What It's All About?

It takes major issues for a lot of people to recognize injustices. My father grew up in rural Texas. My mom and a lot of my family through my early childhood including aunts, cousins and friends I used to play court ball with are from Goodfellow & Highland on the Westside of St. Louis. My mom told me stories of how blacks used to have to sit in the balcony of The Fox back suring Segregation in St. Louis. Nelson Mandela was freed from prison in 1990 at the end of Apartheid in South Africa. Sean Bell, James Byrd Jr and others were victims of injustice. Troy Davis was convicted of murder and executed under court order despite lacking evidence and witnesses recanting their statements. In North St. Louis County between Lindbergh and Goodfellow on the same stretch of Highway 70 as well as the Natrual Bridge, police from what seem like a hundred different municipalities wait to generate revenue from traffic stops while more serious crimes go undtered. On that same stretch of Natural Bridge, there are routine sobriety checks in an area where there are hardly any bars or liquor stores that stay open past 10pm. There's only one and that is on the city line next to Goody-Goody. I'm from that neighborhood. City police blocks away are dealing with murders so much that people are surprised when someone gets pulled over on a traffic stop. Traffic stops in North County are commonplace to the point we just shake our heads. Common sense would say don't drive through there if you ain't right. Duh! What about those struggling day-to-day that can't afford correct plates? I'm not saying it's right but I understand. Now if you speed through there, that's just stupid. The point is that some officials are out to get certain people and there are those that should be caught. The others are profiled and prosecuted to the extent the law allows. I know people that are paranoid of police and people in authority. After witnessing cases where there are corrupt police cashing a check like many of us do, I know what's out there. Brandon Long is in jail in Kansas and had the book thrown at him on a first offense. He admitted doing the crime but the judge gave him more time than rapists and killers. Reggie Clemons, Mumia Abu Jamal and others are in prison on crap. I do my best now to stay out of trouble. I pray for people I don't even know. I want an equal world but I just have to do my best in the world I live in. Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, many of The Black Panthers, Freedom Riders and others DIED for what they believed in. I cannot look myself in the mirror and live stupidly off the sacrifices they made or me and others. This fuels my quest for greatness. I saw injustice working in a law office. I saw it first hand and I learned from it. Injustices can't be swept under the rug. Just because some of us won't raid the state capitals where we live with M-16s and AR-15s doesn't mean we aren't fighting it. I share my knowledge and experiences in hopes that others learn what they can and can't do out here. No cliches. This is real life. Peace.

Persistence & Ducky Hines

My closest friends know I've had a life-altering experience two weeks ago. Though it had me down for a couple days, I've kept positive and am working through it. As far as I know, I still have my health. I lost income. I still have music out that people enjoy. People shout me out and I appreciate it. I'm going with instinct and working to gain revenue. My closest friends know how persistent I am toward my goals. My friends are also supportive and helpful. In the past couple of weeks I've performed in Kansas City as my Doorway fam and fam in The Force will do this weekend. KC loves "Paint The Chevy" so I'll work it there as well as everywhere else. I've kept my faith and I'm determined to progress with my goals. Peace! Praise God. Moolah.

Facebook Is My Bitch

Women like me. I figured this out when I was in high school dating girls at my school, having a college girl and girls at other high schools. I learned a few things about women by observing, listening and doing. For instance, I know women that can throw down in bed but would never meet my mom because of their uber-ratchetness. Why did I mess with those broads? The sex was good and I didn't have to exert any effort into being with them. That's the truth. I'd give them good wood and then they'd go back to their lives and I'd go back to pursuing capital. Sometimes these women had baby-daddies, bum-ass boyfriends and even husbands and the married ones...I digress. Anyway, these broads would be somebody else's woman or problem but these broads were my bitches. Within my inner circle, my people say I'm hard on "hoes". I'm not hard on "hoes". I just treat them accordingly. My girlfriends are treated like queens because they have better qualities and standards than the broads I was just smashing. I can count my serious and semi-serious girlfriends on my hands under 10 so I'm picky as heck in a good way. This brings me to Facebook. Facebook is like a chick I met in the club at 1-something in the morning drunk off my ass off Ciroc Berry/Stoli Bluberi and juice. She looks good. People like her and always buy her drinks but I don't take her seriously. She can cook, throw down in bed but she surrounds herself around fake ignorant people and she likes attention. BUT...the sex is sooooo firrrrrre!!! I tell her to get dressed, we go out, she gives me plugs and we have mutual friends but this bitch has issues. People tell her things via text, she spreads the word and then people turn to her for their problems when she's unqualified to deal with that shit. She just says dumb shit like, "Why you got me in the middle of all this drama?" Then she acts like the shit never happened because they brought it to her. She knows everybody. She gets around. The wrong people think they're popular around her. MySpace is that bitch that used to be bad but now she done had a couple bad relationships, got ran through and now she's trying to rehab her image because nobody messes with her anymore. She tells people about new music, shows and everyone like's her pretty ass. She's not marriage material and she doesn't live in the real world. She has stuuuuupid money and people (investors/advertisers) tricking to her to get a taste but...I would never marry this bitch. I tell her: "Bitch, tell them about my music, my shows and occasionally introduce me to new people. Shit, reconnect me with people I ain't seen in a long time but this isn't forever. Even when someone passes, you still try to bring them up like they're still here. You nutty bitch." Yup, facebook is my bitch. Once I start making more money off her, she'll be my hoe but never my girlfriend. My girlfriend loves me and I treat her like a queen. Not Facebook. The homeboy recently got in his feelings about what I DON't put on Facebook. I explained to him I live in real life and people see me out on the street where I have real relationships, not on friggin Facebook. In music, we DO NOT respect MySpace/Facebook celebrities & MySpace/Facebook rappers. Log off and get out chea in real life with the rest of the people I connect with in REAL LIFE. Peace. Praise God. Moolah. Check out my music in real life at Cicero's August 12 starting 9:00pm.

The Myth

I have to dispell a bullshit myth. Here's the bullshit myth: ST. LOUIS DOES NOT SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC. Again, that is a bullshit myth. I've performed in front of packed crowds here at home where there were no national or out of town performers. I've managed to take music seriously and put out an acclaimed project available here: http://t.co/jVuzoAw and I've been applauded for having a dope live show by people I don't know. This isn't about me however. It's about this dumbass lazy myth. See, my friends that bust their asses like I do and handle professional business are supported by St. Louis. The only people that say there is no support here are the people that WANT to rap but won't take the steps to be taken seriously. They don't perform and if they do, they aren't entertaining. They don't do legwork in the street and don't politic with fans and artists that are making moves. Take for instance the July 20 show at The Old Rock House. There were no out of town performers but it was packed. Murphy Lee has platinum plaques and a Grammy but he's one of us. He's St. Louis just like us. Miss me with Lunatic slander and Nelly not putting people on. I'm tired of people saying he's obligated to do that shit. Rick Ross is putting people on that he feels can sell. His obligation isn't putting South Florida on. SLUMFest, the local underground music fest was stuuuuupid packed! I got snubbed to perform but I went to support my friends that were performing and I'm glad they were happy to see me. I was glad I saw them perform. Honestly, most of these rapping-ass mofos that cry about not getting support need to get off their ass and do work. Either that or quit. St. Louis doesn't owe anyone shit. Any respect you earn is that: EARNED. Nobody owes me anything. Any sales, downloads, shows, merchandise, airplay or whatever benefits I receive are results of hard work and respecting this shit. Praise God. Moolah. #TeamVoltron #everybodywins - PS check me out at Cicero's August 12 at 9:00 pm. Peace!

I Am Not THEM

I'm trying green font on my blog. Get over it. This is a non-music promtional blog but I'll be remiss if I didn't say I'm performing at Cicero's Friday August 12. Now, back to the matter at hand. I am not THEM. THEM are those guys that'll try to smash (smush, tap, poke, cut, stab - see how sexual euphamisms carry a violent theme?) anything over 18 with a vagina that can talk and walk. I'm not them. I'm not thirsty. I won't tell a woman any and everything to have sex with her. I'm also not going to listen to them bash the men in their past and act out their issues on me. I'm not them. I used to have the patience for that shit but I've since become way businer and more focused on a venture called being a professional musician. I also don't have the time or the desire to mess with any woman with a decent smile or a fat ass + nice boobs. They're good to look at but after a while, it's just decoration for a really fucked up woman. I have some kind of standards. I haven't been out socially in months. Anytime I go out now it's usually to handle business or see a show, a lot of times both. There are women at these places, nice-looking ones, ratchet ones and some that are looking for attention. Some time ago when I was unfocused about doing something with my life, I was enjoying single life. Now I enjoy the company of someone special and she seems to tolerate my sinuses while I talk shit about her smoking. Back to THEM. These cats are always in the same club week after week with the same drama-filled basic ass females. It's insanity: going to the same clubs seeing the same people and some of those people recycling the same outfits expecting different results. (SIGH) A lot of times I would even relieve some of these guys of these femails. They didn't know what they were doing with them and they'd get dumb aggie about it. Now with music and knowing the who's who and all that shit, I can't be out here whoring. So it's shows, studio flow, laundry and chilling with that special someone because she isn't like THEM and she likes me because I'm not THEM either. Peace, hair grease and Hennessey no ice. #pow

Props vs Profits

I love The Gramophone. I don't own the place and I don't have stock in it but I love the place. I feel at home there and many of my fellow musicians in St. Louis feel the same. The homeboy Rocky said it's like the place Prince played all the time in Minneapolis. I feel the same way. I wasn't around the hip-hop scene as a major contributor during the "Hi-Pointe Days". I was more into other capital ventures even though my crew was killing it weekly at The Evening Shade. People here in St. Louis refer to 1999-2007 as the local Golden Era. I did music and had a plan but we were more in the streets then. Now for me it's about being a dope emcee as well as a competent businessman. Some people just want to rap and that's cool. I'm still working with a street mentality to make money except I do music 100% with more dedication. I could always craft complex rhymes and come up with real songs. I needed to capitalize more off my efforts. This is why we have paperwork. I just returned from Indianapolis where I performed at a seminar with people not from St. Louis. I represented well and those that saw me perform were entertained. I asked questions of industry vets and have some new contacts to work with. I have mixtape placements and shows coming up. Now the plan goes to another gear to make more money off the reputation I have more capitalistic opportunities based on my business and music reputation. It's happening so I just keep working. I get props for being professional at what I do. Now it's a matter of making more money with it. How does The Gramophone play into this? The Gramophone will host national to local artists that kill it on stage so it's taught me to kill it everytime I perform, even when I'm not at The Gramophone. Trust me. I KILL my performances. See me August 12 at Cicero's in the U-City Loop in St. Louis to see for yourself. Peace. Praise God. Moolah.

Exhaustion & The Goal

I have my days where I don't feel like doing anything. Those are usually the days that I end up doing something major or something major happens for me. Sometimes I feel like I'm being overlooked then when I least suspect it, someone recogninzes me for my music and my efforts. The Goal is simple: capitalize of great heartfelt music. I can't give the details because again, the game is to be sold and not told. If you're on the team then you already know the plan. If you're not on the team then you can spectate. If you wish to join the team then we welcome all positive contributors. I've spent time at home the last few weeks not going out unless it was on business but I've started venturing out again. Trips are tiring but well worth it for The Goal. Some people don't want to take the trips I HAVE TO TAKE but then again, maybe I have bigger goals than they do. Nonetheless, my goal isn't about me and I'm not that much of a self-centered person to think it is. Doing hole-in-the walls to real concert venues has been a great ride and Lord willing I'll continue to do so in my quest of reaching The Goal. Praise God. Moolah.

This Ain't Back In The Day

You know how people romance about how Hip-Hop used to be when people paid dues to get on? You know how they say people had skills back then in The Golden Era? You know how they say music had more substance back then? Well, there was a lot of greatness back then but people's judgment gets clouded in mediocrity. The reason people paid dues most of the time to get on was because the big homies or people in position had the resources. A lot of those people in Hip-Hop then would've probably got out on their own if they had the resources to do so. For example, some people believe there are too many rappers and not enough fans because everybody thinks they can rap. Ok, do you think you were the only person influenced by your favorite rapper? True anybody with the resources to buy a real mic, ProTools, a session board or inbox and some insulation can record at home. However, it's what you do with those recordings that make you a professional. People knock novice rappers all the time. I tell them to do their resarch, keep working and stay humble. Once you swim in the real waters, people will try to eat off you so put yourself in the best position to eat off them as well.
Lenny S told me your internet presence has to be respected and known. Your street presence musically has to be known to if you're in Hip-Hop or at least get millions of people in non-urban areas to like what you do and acknowledge it. I know real DJs that support good music that's presented professionally. However, there are $50 dollar deejays that mess up the art of deejaying. $50 DJs don't care about mixing, blending, scratching or loving music. They'll play for $50 a gig and charge independent artists $50 to play a record once. I despose $50 deejays because they're culture vultures. Everybody gotta eat but respect the game and I'll respect your hustle. After meeting Kool Herc in Miami, I despise $50 deejays even more. You have your beat makers vs producers. Beat makers just make beats and try to sell them to anyone. Producers will sit down, create a track for you and with you based on how the music FEELS. I work with producers. I will beat jack a beat maker and be proud of it. GTFOH. See, there are more avenues in Hip-Hop than ever before but one has to be smart with it. Back in the day people had backing from record companies to develop. A&Rs scouted talent and developed it. Now they sign someone with a buzz, peep their hustle then decisde whether or not to try and put The Machine behind it. We can romance anout back in the day all we want but it's exactly what it is: The Past. Take what you can from it and build your future from it. Peace. Praise God. Moolah.

This Is Not A Game

The big homie put me onto some game that I can't FULLY share because it's to be sold but it involves numbers. There are 32 teams in the NFL with 53 spots. The NFL draft is 7 rounds each year so multiply 7 rounds by 32 teams then figure out 53 roster spots. What does this have to do with Hip-Hop? If you can't figure out the parallels then you might be kinda dense. In St. Louis, niggas are gunning for one spot. Personally, fuck that spot. I am interested in building the maximum capital for Team Voltron. We're taking the necessary steps in building that capital but some fools are more interested in "making it" as a rapper. The fuck outta here with that! Are you thinking as a businessman or a rapper? We got the bars and the music so why would we worry about "rapping". I put my homie onto the info I got down in Miami and I put some nigga on to where I was and why I went. I don't know if it went over his head or what. Fuck trying to make it out of St. Louis. Get out of St. Louis and do it. Miami was a business trip and people think this is a game. It's not a game. It's a business ofgoods, supply and demand. People demand great music so supply the goods all while maintaining your spot out of 53 players on 32 teams with rookies coming in every year. The rest of that shit I learned in Miami is to be sold. Thie blog told you enough if you break the numbers down. Peace. Praise God. Moolah.

The Community

So I rocked a show in Chicago last night. The heads in Chicago really welcomed my crew and showed us love. They didn't even know we came up to do the show from St. Louis until I said something about and they looked at my Cardinals cap. We represented and came back to the crib. I get back and my battle emcee friends are going back and forth about who's the nicest. My homies with established fanbases are talking about unity and I'm on the same page. The way it used to be was politics and bullshit as usual. Now it's about the music, bringing something to contribute to the table and not being a douchebag. If your business is good we'll fuck with you but no matter how good your music is now, we won't fuck with you. I love the sense of community we have in St. Louis now. People are collaborating and fucking with each other based off the quality of music being created here. Anybody trying to shine while ostracizing the rest of the scene here gets outcasted. That's the way it should be. We're all trying to get to the top but at the same time be good people in the process. So, the upliftment of our musical and civic community is the focus as well as getting paid. Praise God. Moolah.

Me And The Project

I'll take the time to actually promote music instead of spamming like lazy douchebags that play with this music do. As you can see my name is Ducky Hines. I make music. The music I make is called backpack trap hop. I grew up on Highland Ave & Goodfellow when I was little. My whole family was on that block. When I was a toddler I spent most of my time with both of my parents. My childhood was split between the old block and Dellwood. Later my life was primarily in Dellwood but I always came back to the old block, still do though most of my friends I played with are long gone and don't come back. I can't blame them. The West Side I remember as a kid is gone and it's worse. I teetered between sports and street life, mainly basketball and making enough money to get fresh. Occasionally I kept an extra arm to protect me from the goonies when I couldn't box my way out. Enough about me. This is about THURRRZDAY NITE LIVE, my passion project of the last year with DJ Shad of TraKCbanga DJs. Oh, and my emcee influences are Biggie (RIP), Busta, Jay, Pimp C (RIP) and most Golden Era greats. 1) TNL Intro - I destroyed Darth Vader's theme and yes, I am a real Jedi. 2) Break It Down feat Mos Precious - it's the story about a girl I met a couple years ago, a tall stallion chick with a really thick body that could dance her ass off. I love this song. It's #9 on DJ Sir Thurl's Loud & Clear at http://www.stlmixtapes.com 3) Moolah On My Mind - it's about how I think about money, simple as that. 4) Capital Of Hate - it's about the music scene, crooked cops and these backwards clown-ass rappers here in St. Louis. The song was inspired by a trip to Chicago. I was literally driving down Pulaski jamming LEP Bogus Boys. It made me think of home and I turned it into something of mine. Shoutout to Moonie and Count though. Don't Feed The Killaz vol 3 is my shit. Gotta Give credit where it's due. #midweststandup 5) Fresh All Day feat Zone Caleone - it's about what we do: have fun, get fresh and party on hood shit. I'm not trying to save Hip-Hop or any of that crazy shit. I'm just giving a microcosm of my life. For the rest, holla at me April 28, 2011. Praise God. Moolah.

The Venitians

This is not a post about blinds. It's about women. Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars...get the fuck outta here. Women and men are different but women are different in their experiences, approaches and feelings. You have your super-sensitive women that would not hurt a fly and you have your uber-bitches that feel domination is the only way to live. Now, for me to call all women one thing and generalize is asinine. I am going to merely post about women in  my experience. I've been technically single since December 2007. Now, somebody (a fool out their rabbit-ass mind) may think one needs a girlfriend to get pussy. (I'm grown and this is MY BLOG, get over it) That is totally wrong. Since I have been single, I have not had to try very hard to get pussy. Getting pussy is not my ultimate goal. Getting to know a woman I'm attracted to is. Now, if they choose to use their grown mind and offer some pussy then yes, I'll take it on MOST occasions. If that pussy impedes progress in my lifestyle (my moolah either making or spending) then I will kindly pass for the next pussy. I have not coerced women to have sex with me. I don't have to. I don't even have to chase women as some men do. What I mean by chasing women is doing whatever that woman says in order to keep her happy even if it makes that man broke and unhappy. Some women use the pussy as a bargaining tool. (see Chris Rock HBO special 2008 Kill The Messenger or some shit like that) I don't have to play those games because I know I'm a rare commodity: I'm over 25, I have no kids, I'm a Black Male with a college degree, I live alone and I own reliable transportation. I also dress decent and have musical talent. I'm able to support myself. That is all a blessing and I thank my Lord & Savior for this life. Because of those traits I've encountered women that think because I'm single and I like them, I'm automatically inclined to be their significant other. Then I remind them unless otherwise discussed and agreed upon entering a mongamous relationship that I AM SINGLE. Being single doesn't suck. I can go shoot pool til the wee hours and not have to worry about anyone bitching about how late I stayed out and who I was with. I've had psuedo girlfriends, most recently as of two months ago. This psuedo girlfriend, let's call her SHARONICA or RONICA for short. Ronica is very pretty, has her own hair, likes most of the same music I do, is articulate, has a full time job, her own place and car along with a pre-teen daughter. I could take Ronica anywhere and she'd be cool around my people. On top of that Ronica has a donk. I'm an ass man so Ronica having a donk was a nice bonus. Now, the problem I had with Ronica is that she wanted the girlfriend benefits without the girlfriend responsibilities. For example, she was two hours late for my birthday when I invited her out with friends. I could've flipped out on her but I didn't. I put it in my hat for later. I got hungover on my birthday, she got lost coming to my house and she wasn't happy with me. I got over her not wanting to talk anymore. A couple days later, she called me and we talked. I told her I was more interested in her than the mind-blowing sex we had. Her birthday is a month apart from mine so I bought her a dozen roses, took her to dinner and she was happy. A couple days later I had an event to go to on The East Side. She went out with her cousin, got drunk and drove her ass from U-City to East St. Louis. Not cool. Instead of building with people I needed for business and a damn good time drinking Rose` that night, I took her ass home. I was pissed but seeing as I wanted to be with her, it was an obligation. The next morning at her house I'm watching ESPN and she throws out, "I want some pancakes." I go, "Ok" and keep watching ESPN. Then she comes back like, "Are we going to get pancakes?". I was like, "What?" I previously told Ronica to ask me direct questions if she wanted something from me. She took her saying she wanted pancakes as I should stop what I'm doing to take her ass to get pancakes. I took at is a blanket statement, a declaration. So I asked her, "Well, are you gonna cook some pancakes?" She's like, "Whatever, Ducky". Now she's all pissy a day after I prevented her from getting a DUI because she was BLASTED drunk. Long story short, she wanted to go to IHOP. I'm not an IHOP fan so I wanted to go to Uncle Bill's. Now, she agreed to go since we had to go near my place anyway. After brunch or whatever she's like she feels something is off. That should've been my first clue. I told her everything was cool and went home. Then she had a thing about me starting her car for her in the morning when I slept at her place. 1, she knows I'm not a morning person and she is. 2, I've never heard of such shit. 3, I thought she was goosing. I made her bed more often than she did before I left. I opened doors and pulled out chairs for her. She was selfish. She made it like I was the bad guy when I kept telling her that I wanted to be in a relationship with her. The problem was she was used to running her relationships. I dumped her when she gave lame excuses for missing one of my shows to go out with her same loose-ass cousin. She would say it wasn't working and I'd say it was but this last time I told her she was right and there was no point in me dating her anymore. She was dumbfounded. I told her we were better off as "FRIENDS". She said we couldn't be friends because we have sex. I told her I wasn't interested in sex anymore, especially since I met someone that didn't ask as much with no return. Ronica was a done doodle so she had to go. There was the one girl I worked with that thought she was an exception because she's a white girl with a Double D set and a fat ass. I had to inform her that in St. Louis a lot of those run around so she wasn't as special as she thought. She was used to running relationships too so she had to go once she contradicted herself one too many times. There was the girl that couldn't get over her baby-daddy issues to give me a straight answer as to why I couldn't take her out. Where the fuck they do that at? There was the married woman that loved to have sex and go home to her miserable married life. There's the chick who didn't have her own place or her situation straight but wanted to tell me how to keep my place. She also didn't want me having sex with anyone. I told her she was on some shit I better not get my hands on or it's hustlemania out here. She wanted the relationship where I move out of my place and move into another place with her. I told her that was an ideal situation so obviously that is not going to work with her. There was the chick that didn't give head but expected me to knock her back out. Bitch, you lost your marbles. There was my ex back in 2007 that told me she wanted to be with her son's father but called me three days later saying she made a mistake. I told her she did and I didn't want to have shit to do with her anymore. There's the coworker that says she likes me but can never tell me what she likes about me despite me being an asshole in her eyes. She's 36. Get the fuck outta here. My other psuedo ex is a smarty-art with a doctorate. Yes, and she's older than me with her own house. I met her when she was estranged from her husband. She wanted to jump in a relationship despite all her issues and my "nefarious activities" with characters. I was wild back then but still cerebral. We went on for 18 months. She could cook, clean, and all that but she was too opinionated to the point it irritated the fuck outta me. I had to leave her alone when I took a high-pressure sales job with one of the biggest telecommunications companies in the world. Anyway, I've had my fair share of women and I am not opposed to being in a relationship, a real relationship where I'm happy. It just has to be the right relationship and not just a pretty girl that thinks they got me because they have some "good-good". In the words of John Witherspoon from Boomerang: "Don't get pussy-whipped! Whip that pussy! Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang!" Those wise words have kept me out of having baby-mama drama and all that other bullshit with bad real relationships other cats get trapped in. Also, my dad told me women will trap you if you let them. He's been happily married over 20-something years and faithful to my doll of a step-mother, real shit. So, once the right woman comes along and we can stand each other to be in a happy relationship, I'm off being single. Until then, BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! - Moolah

This Ish Right Heeeerrreee!!!

Right now I'm sitting in a library in Frontenac watching The Show on YouTube and shit like that. It brings me back to what Hip-Hop was when I was younger. This isn't about how people say Hip-Hop was better back then. There were corny mufuckas back then just like it is now. It was just a must that the best of the best went hard at their craft. They also talked about how fucked up the "Rap Industry" is. It seems like most Hip-Hop docs with show footage and performance footage sees even the top dogs complaining about the same shit: labels fuck up, management be on some bullshit, other artists are liars and the same shit going on. The difference is they persevered and made it to the top of "The Game". I fucking hate that term. people say they the hottest in "The Game" and all that bullshit. With the money, time, energy, effort and heart put into this shit it is not a fucking game. It's serious shit and some of us take it more seriously than others because for some, it's all they have. Luckily for me I have a college degree and a nice resume as well as some street knowledge but I take this shit seriously. For some of us it's life and death trying to make it in the Hip-Hop Music Industry as either a performer, producer, manager, videographer or whatnot. Sometimes peoples' feelings get hurt because they feel slighted or money situations are fucked over but that's common shit in "The Game". I invest a lot in it because I love it and I'm serious about it. The people I deal with, friends and/or business associates are serious about it to so that's what it is. - Moolah