The Poetry
Latoya Gore - "Misunderstood"
Sometimes I’m misunderstood
But I’m all good
I’m from the hood and I’m misunderstood
I’m all good
Sometimes I’m misunderstood
In my own hood
I just pretend
I’m all good in my own hood
Sometimes everyone is misunderstood
In our hood
Just don’t tease me
Don’t hurt me in any way
And I’m all good in our hood
Please don’t lie to me
Before I lie to you
In our hood
Don’t hurt me
Why is it cool to lie?
Is this the norm?
Is God wrong?
To be misunderstood our hood
Amir R. Benjamin - "How Am I?"
Verse One
It's the soundtrack to the life of one Amir R Ben
Jamin, even infamous and notorious now moreso then
I call myself Press, because I'm a lyrical medium
The 6-foot-3 inch boy trying to a tower of freedom
Here's the bad part, my peers won't give me clearance
Plus I get shown the door only 'cause of my appearance
'Look at that black ass nigga', idiots all up in my face
Here's the ironic part, all who say that are of my race
Do I turn my back, or just take the same abuse?
I feel like Barry Bonds after he got onto the juice
'They never did nothing for me, why should I care?'
When there's too much suffering going on out there
Next dude sees my lyrics, they tell me I'm a wannabe West
Then I say I'm the only person I want to be; Press
They're not buying my claim, that's why I'm not heard
So how am I supposed to achieve when we won't spread the word?
Verse Two:
I'm a man apart, yet still a boy at heart
Wondering how these no-talent rappers are on the charts
Was it something I did, or is it what I stand for
I used to ask myself why do I have to be a man for?
When it's easier to just talk about what's really hood?
Or run my mouth about making money as I should
I would if I could, it's still not my preference
I said it before; Amir is here to make a difference
Since Amir's from the South Side, he's supposed to be a G
We like stereotyping, at least that's what they told me
Maybe that I'm black, rap might not be my calling
Because I'm 6'3 or 6'4, they think I should be balling
It's a pathetic display, but I have to take what's given
Other people say that I should be happy I'm living
No one likes to be in the dark, they want to see a clear champ
So how am I supposed to see when no one'll turn on the lamp?
The Poetry
The Amir Show Returns! by Amir R. Benjamin
Welcome back to the Amir Show, and you're cordially invited
To take part in our festivities that are short-sighted
You think people don't like me because they'd rather not love than hate
The masses all hate me because I'm so great
Plus I'm not tooting my horn, how would that look?
Someone of my stature trying to be the crook
So remember the name, the name would be Amir
That single name that makes people brace in fear
The greatness is palpable, and so is the mission
Amir Benjamin; Embarking on a dangerous mission.
The Queens of Teens - Cleveland Jones
We the voices of the teens of Queens.
We got to get the paper done in two mouths so that we gotta be team.
The things we write in our paper will make you scream.
Everyday I do what I gotta do so leave the scene.
By Cleveland Jones