Ms. Wrong

you should've kept your silence no
you shouldve kept your word
and now what you say no longer bears meaning
see what i mean is that you are absurd
forget what you heard dismiss your beliefs
im not coming back its about time i leave permanently
permanently im not coming back its about time i leave
see. when i was with you i thought i was happy
entranced or entrapped you had me
in some sort of subtle illusion
confused i wondered if you were human
when you left were never enthused
but when you returned the change was apparent
i knew you were with somebody else
so when you were gone i cursed your health
like women are not the only ones whose hearts can really be broken
men are just as susceptible to hurt for what its worth
you used to be the quiet type but lies had you outspoken
and you even said i love you.. i knew i couldnt trust you
ms. wrong

ms. wrong
i couldnt trust you and i knew it all along
(i said) forget you ms. wrong ms. wrong
i couldnt trust you and yet i loved
ms. wrong
i couldnt trust you and i knew it all along
(i said) forget you ms. wrong ms. wrong
i couldnt trust you... i couldnt....

set it off

purple heart with the soul of a soldier
experience creates perfection or me when i older
or as close as i. can be to it
if. rap was a language then id be fluent
my heart speaks through my words no stethescope
shining so brightly to see me you'd need a telescope
once shy i decided to stop hiding
my talents nd now people know where it is they can find me
higher than tech swag like inspector gadget
attracted to a pencil like metal is to magnet
time slows down when im around we instant classics
so they yell that we the bomb like a terrorist jacket
stayin on the right track so they know where its at
watch me leak whatever i know so i go and speak
sick when i spit like i had a high fever
killing this nitch like the mythic grim reaper
running power circles we hotter than bomber thermals
they call me the quintessential example of being verbal
fly enough to jump over a jutting flying hurdle
yea we came to steal the show so now theyre claiming they got burgled
pushing behind the curtain
words goin deeper in the mind beyond the surface
etymology might as well be a part of me
we major its in our nature so failures our only danger
like yes there is never any threat
to us because. we are the best

(chorus)
ive, ive come so far
destined for success you know we came to set it off
best by far so acknowledge our greatness
so high up that we might a well be weightless
i said i.i've come so far
never had enough so i cant help but being gracious
didnt come for nothing we are here to make a statement
laugh while you scoff we came to set it off

i said iiiiiiiii have come so far
destined for success cuz our talents never wasted
best by far so acknowledge our greatness
so high up that we might a well be weightless
i.i've come so far
never had enough so i cant help but being gracious
didnt come for nothing we are here to make a statement
here we are we came to set it off

Original Rap #1 F***in Problem

if you aint got a message its a fuckin problem
and if the lyrics wack i got a fuckin problem
if you aint got a message its a fuckin problem
and if the lyrics wack i got a fuckin problem
if you aint got a message its a fuckin problem
and if the lyrics wack i got a fuckin problem
im trying hard to avoid these fuckin problems
getting rid of the garbage maybe i should absolve them

you aint nothing if you aint got a message
in a time where we progress rap became regressive
we take steps and encounter these strange questions
like the morals we were raised on we're inclined to just forget them
never that my memory's too good
simple-minded rappers i guess they misunderstood
lyrics that they speak are embracing another evil
giant misfits theyre dismissing all reason
im heated they seem to be products of inbreeding
always thanking god but they might as well be heathens
leave a bad example for those who will proceed them
making light of all the things that people should believe in
stop. then rap will probably be better
tell who signs these rappers that they made a huge mistake from
what i observe these words seem to be worthless
and the minds of those who listen merely need a new escape
kelv

Imitation #2

Kelvin Then                                                                                                                9/11/12

                                             James Brown: I Feel Good (1965)

            In what may be known to many as his greatest hit ever, the late “Godfather of Soul” James Brown talks about feeling good when he is around his lover. He repeats the lines, “I feel nice, like sugar and spice,” to emphasize his emotion toward the girl he is with. This song was written in the midst of Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s and shows how even through all of the protesting that was going on, the “Godfather” found a way to remain both happy, and exciting to watch with his amazing funk music and soulfulness.

            The song is a confessional because he is depicting his feelings about that girl to the audience, something that most people tend to keep private. The song does not rhyme the whole way through but it does have some parts where it has end rhyme every other line. The song incorporates, arguably, one of the most well-known simile’s in music with “I feel nice, like sugar and spice.” The tone of this song is a very happy and cheerful one, it seems as though Brown is excited to share his feelings with his audience. It also has some repetition such as “I feel good” which portray his emotion even more. The upbeat tempo and jazz like influence of the instruments also give the song a great rhythm, which is fun to listen to. This song is an amazing song, maybe even the greatest funk song ever.

When I hold you in my arms
I know that I can't do no wrong
And when I hold you in my arms
My love can't do me no harm
And I feel nice, like sugar and spice
I feel nice, like sugar and spice
So nice, so nice, well I got you
Wo! I feel good, I knew that I wouldn't of

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/james_brown/#share

Imitation #1

                                                                                                                                                                                Kelvin Then

                                                                                                                                    9/1/12

                                    

            This poem is about a man’s love for a woman, this love he expresses through a memory of a night in June where they spent said night in each other’s company while watching the rain. This poem was a part of one the first collections of poetry published during the Harlem Renaissance and gave way to the beauty that would go on to be known as the Roaring 20’s. This  poem is a confessional as it gives insight to the narrators love life and provides us with some insight as to the kind of man that McKay may have been. The Rhyme scheme in this poem is bilinear end rhyme, or when words rhyme at the end of every other line.  

             

The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain Critique

                                                                                                                                    Kelvin Then   

9/1/12

                Langston Hughes, famous for his poetic masterpieces during the Harlem Renaissance, speaks on the topic of young black poets in his era and what he called the “Racial Mountain”. In his time, a time where African American people were finally starting to make a statement in an ever-changing world, Hughes found it somewhat worrisome that so much of the black youth wanted to be white. He believed that too many black families were attempting to erase their heritage by moving toward a “white” lifestyle. It saddens me to think that in such an amazing point in the history of our country, some of the people responsible for this amazingness did not want to take part in acknowledging the beautiful standards that their own people had set. It’s hard for me to fathom that had it not been for these people’s denial of their own culture, then maybe black poems, art, and music would have been so much better than it already is.

   Race plays a crucial role in the success and even creation of any given work of art. Poets, musicians, and artist tend to be extremely weary of who their audience is because certain works are meant for different people. For example, Hughes wrote poems for black people in the 1920’s, had his audience been white then his poetry may not have been as effective and we may not even know who he was.