I will never tolerate terrorism, even in my own backyard

We will never tolerate war who the #@!* do you think we are

I will forever embrace the truth even when it sounds so raw

Friends, all my people, put your fists up and occupy the stars

I will never tolerate hatred to any man, woman, or child

We will never tolerate genocide just to see the rich man smile

I will forever embrace my people even when it’s not popuLAR

Friends, all my people, put your fists up and occupy the stars

Dear Gandhi, JFK, King, Pac, and Che

You have now multiplied to the 99 percent

Everything you represent is now alive today

Your spirit occupied our streets, let us occupy again

People over profit, revolutionary concepts

Industrial complex predicted by the prophets

Still we rise from the concrete, they can not stop it

The world is in our hands, and we will not drop it

“Honest disagreement is a good sign of progress” [Quote by Gandhi]

Let’s agree to disagree, but this is NOT congress

So we rise on a mission, and stand in solidarity

They invested in the death of our dreams to live happily

Politicians for sale, why do we vote for this insanity?

Deregulation, Washington failed to protect this humanity

Let us march and reinvent democracy

As we watch the neoliberal throne fall to our feet

That’s something that the rappers don’t preach

That’s something that the teachers can’t teach

When we die the truth we shall see

Open up these caskets let our revolutionaries run free

Tu eres mi mundo, my star

Mi sensacion

Mi vida, my baby

Mi besito

Tu eres mi luna, mi sol

My future wifey

Mi café con leche

The girl of ma dreams

Mi boriquen bella, mi estrella

Te amo, te quiero, tu eres mi nena

They say home is where the heart is but my home is not here

So my heart is feeling lonely can I have another beer?

I’m feeling so cold, where’s my baby girl?

I’m feeling so alone in this crazy world

They say when times get tough you just keep your head up

Always have hope baby even when you’re out of luck

Always feel dope baby cause we on the up and up

I remember you a baby now you all grown up

Little morning star is shining, all the old G’s dying

Brooklyn found diamonds, the Bronx is still surviving

I hear Tru Life’s still rhyming, Ortiz got signed and

My people from the Lowa got more Hope than the Mayans

Drug dealers closing up, violence is going down

Sweep away all the dust; I think I see some hope now

Some are falling in love and some are falling out

Some are giving up but hold on cause hope is on the outs

I see a world of peace

A world where love rules the nations

A world enriched with freedom and justice

A world without fear or darkness

The ground trembles with passion

The skies full of light, A fresh scent fills the air

Flowers blossom, Animals run wild

Everything belongs to everybody

No one is rich or poor

Sickness does not exist

Freedom reigns, Love is king

The soldiers become angels

The war is over, The grass is silent

Spirits run free, All can now see

The chains are buried, Slaves are no longer

This world exists… it exists through change

This world exists in my mind and it is the future to come

(Verse 1)

‘Round the L.E.S. memories are fresh to death

Fighting for money, power, respect. Striving for excellence

A thirsty mind, hungry heart beating in my chest

Professional grind, yeah I’m street destined for success

Avenue A: A-Life walkin’ to Rivington & Essex

Avenue B: Built on the essence of NuyoRican poetics

Avenue C: Capitilizing off death, liquor, & violence

Avenue D: Determined to exist in the midst of nonsense

And by the time we hit the F.D.R. Drive

Memories of Summer birthday parties start coming alive

Resurrecting in my mind, father’s face momma’s eyes

Blowin’ out my candles, will this pain ever die?

All I see are momma’s tears of pain & joy

As she smiles down, forever holding on to her boy

Pop’s playing catch with me, smiling happily

I’m holding on to fresh memories with this broken family

(Verse 2)

Remember 10st, the Dime, street drugs, mean crime

Through it all we survived, through black outs and hard times

Through the death of my grandma, I wistfully miss her

Through the passing of my uncle, my only father figure

‘Round my hometown heroes are forever courageous

Rising up for 911; Our unity was contagious

‘Round my hometown youth believe anything is possible

So they take initiative to live and be responsible

May I ask why the greatest have to leave so early?

May I ask why New York City taxis are yellow & dirty?

May I ask why the stars are so close yet so far?

May I ask why we made it to the Moon but never to Mars?

May I remember the broken glass, the blood and the hate?

May I remember how I gave and they always seemed to take?

May I remember chilling with the ladies and ballin’ with the fellas?

Let us remember great memories are fresh forever

(Verse 3)

What’s the East Village? Yo! This is the Lower East Side!

Where dreams are breathing and memories never really die

Where the Loisaida festival lives and thrives in the soul

Where Pasteles fill the air and Tamarindo Piraguas are sold

‘Round my hometown we breathe in the ashes of Miguel Pinero

And listen to the sounds of the congas, coquis, and Hector Lavoe

‘Round my hometown my efficacy lights up creative minds

Never conform, we lyrically reform and tenaciously shine

My chronicles were born when the Summer was alive, Coney Island rides

1989 A Young Lord’s spirit was born with revolutionary rhymes

I salute & pledge to survive and commit to live resiliently

Inevitably this life was given to me to succeed viciously

‘Round my hometown from Campos to Jacob Riis, from Baruch to Cherry St.

From Delancey to Houston & Avenue D to 14th we live relentlessly

Dreamers born in the Summer heat, to the sound of Salsa beats and Biz markie

To the Freestyle so fresh memories became engraved in our sleep

(Verse 4)

‘Round my hometown we remember all the times together

Remember my days at PS34, all my poems and love letters

Whether the weather be cold or whether the weather be hot

We’ll be together whatever the weather, whether you like it or not

And even though memories may be ephemeral

A Carpe Diem attitude is emperical to be successful

Express yourself in every moment and never say never

As our lives go on we create fresh memories forever