Don't limit what you show to the world. I know a guy who has a Range Rover and dresses nice. He has young guys coming up to all the time asking what team he plays with. To their surprise he says, "No team. I work three jobs. I work at Home Depot, Walgreen's and on the weekends I go to the old folks home and help them." Songs should reflect the life of real people. You're watching MTV Cribs, all you see is the finished product from years of hard work. We see how people live, how many cars they have, what they have in their refrigerators. But what they don't show is the hard work it took to get there. This is what our children need to know and understand, what it takes to get there.
During my visits to charter schools, I make a habit of asking the students what they'd like to be when they graduate. Most answers are typical, a rapper or a ball player. I tell them everyone is not going to make the team. Then I introduce them to a different twist, by opening their minds to an array of successful people making money. I give an example, you can be the doctor who fixes Iverson's knee, the doctor has a mansion and whips too; or you can be the lawyer that represents the ball players, the rappers and the actors, they have mansions too. After opening their minds to these new professionals, the kids look at me all wide-eyed and say, really?
I include in my discussions to be proud of who they are, don't try to emulate someone to be accepted. Later, when I returned to those same schools and I ask the question again. Now I'll get responses ranging from, I want to be a cook, I want to be a doctor, a teacher, I want to be veterinarian. I let them know it's good to have a back up profession, you never know when your knee will mess up. These are lessons our children won't learn from the media. It's up to us as parents, guardians, and teachers to enlighten them.
# # #
Extra Feature
DMC at Second Chance
8350 Frankstown Avenue
Friday, March 2, 2007
A Second Chance, Inc. (ASCI) is a non-profit corporation established in 1994. Its mission is to provide a safe, secure, and nurturing environment to children who are being cared for by their relatives or a close family friend - formally called "kinship care".
The message delivered to the children at Second Chance from DMC was to the point and simple, Whatever you want to do, you can do.
After an introduction by way of samples of his music and brief bio, DMC sauntered into a room filled with children ranging from ages 5 to 17 with a sprinkling of parents, guardians and program administrators. DMC Dressed in a T-shirt, jeans and his trademark black hat wowed the crowd when he took the mic.
He shared with the audience his personal journey of adoption, reminding the children no matter what's going on around you, you're here for a reason and you're destined to be great.
He let them know if he, DMC, didn't go through what he did, he wouldn't be here today to share his story.
Touching a tender spot with many children, he explained to them, when terrible things happen to you, you don't do terrible things to get through. That will mess you up more. That's why I'm here to tell you, you guys are just like me. You're like a million other people on the face of the earth. But I wanted to tell you to your faces, don't be like others, be like you. Reach to a higher level of those before you. Work on your own destiny.
Throughout the evening his connection with the audience was great, as he mingled with the audience even sat down with them. His commitment to sharing and helping the children was evidence to all in attendance. He even surprised us with performing bits and pieces of his rhymes.
He urged the children, even though they may be angry about their circumstances, find someone to confide, don't hold it in. They're not alone. DMC shared the reason why he travels to talk to children. "I'm talking to you, cause you can help me. Cause I was there where you are and then you can look at me and say D was here and I can look at you and say we're all in this together."
After speaking to the audience DMC opened for questions.
Q: At the end of the day do you think you did what you were supposed to do?
DMC: No, you never arrive. It's always a continuation of whoever you are. Experience is the greatest teacher.
Q: Where were you when you heard yourself for the first time on the radio?
DMC: At home in Hollis, I ran to the phone to call Run, he was calling me. When I heard the record, I said cool. I never told my parents I made the record. I wanted to play football, but none of the schools I attended had good teams, so I was into grades. But I was still writing my rhymes. Once the record came on I was in the lunchroom at college and all the students started dancing. I looked and said this ain't gonna last, a week later I took a leave of absence from college, went on tour and I'm still touring today.
Q: What exact moment did you know you were supposed to be a rapper?
DMC: Not until our 2nd record. The tongue and the mind is a powerful thing.
Q: How were your grades in school?
DMC: I had straight A's all through school. If you handle your business good things come to you.
I'm DMC in the place to be, I go to St. John's University
And since kindergarten I acquired the knowledge,
And after 12th grade I went straight to college
When it comes to rock, give it all we got
To be MC's, we got what it takes
Let the poppers pop and the breakers break
We're cool cool cats, it's like that
That's the way it is, so stay the hell back
We're causin' hard times, for sucker MC's
Cause they don't make no songs like these
PERIOD!
