Listen, whoever gets here with the money first, gets the house first. I don’t care if you carry it in here in a plastic bag, Money is money.

I...also thought about how important it is who you allow into your personal space and trust. A woman you love, or your favorite restaurant owner, or anyone who could serve you food or drink or handle items that belong to you that you will in turn touch; has the power to poison you in a way that authorities might never trace.

It was crazy to me, how I make it my business, to lay low, to keep my mouth closed, to play my cards straight , but somehow , people, all kinds of people still think I’m showing off and shining. How could I dim my light? How does a youth keep from shining when it’s a natural thing? And why isn’t it enough that I don’t mess with nobody else’s women, money, or things? Still men wanted to have their things and my things too. Wars are made like this...

It was a mad rush like everybody had the same idea at the same time and wanted to get on the same ride. But, as we stood there, I could see that every ride was packed with people trying to get on. It was a slow moving maze. Some was pushing. Some people were cutting the line. The people on the line closed in tighter, trying to stop the cutters. It was a Brooklyn crowd.

I’mma run down the starting lineup, but y’all already know the deal. You know who the strongest players are. If you’re not one of them I don’t want no back talk, just get your game up.~Vega.

My father did not have to go through India to acquire authentic gold and clear diamonds. They were pure and original in Africa, buried in the soil, drifting in the waters, mined and sold in our shops...with the jewels in close view, glistening under Umma’s night lamp, the seriousness of my taking a wife sunk in even further. It was deeper than Akemi’s beauty and charm and intelligence and creativity and passion. If my mother sat poised to part with those items which my father selected and purchased specifically with Umma in mind...then this was a huge responsibility and a very warm acceptance of Akemi into the fold of our family.

Anger blocks success,because anger shuts down a person’s thoughts, which paralyzes a persons skills. ~SENSEI

We both agreed that there was no reason for us to move out of a horrible place into a terrible place. If we were gonna make a move, it needed to be a real improvement or else what’s the point of parting with our hard earned capital?

In the sunlight I saw that she was a natural beauty, no makeup, just grease shining on her combed down swirling bangs...It seemed like she could ask me all the questions but was too jumpy to listen for my answers. Or maybe she really didn’t want any answers, I don’t know.

Now, curiosity had me open...I wanted to read about females, what they want and what they like. I wanted to learn about how to make them feel good...I knew I could just rely on my instincts...yet when I looked into these females’ eyes, they looked at me like I was gonna give them the most extreme amount of pleasure imaginable, the highest high. Truthfully, I wanted to be able to do it right and smooth so she could feel real, real good. When she thought of the best earthly feeling in the world, I wanted her to think only of me.