Listening to mom weeping in the next room. Comforting my own mother. Assuming the role she assumed for me my entire childhood. I can’t remember feeling more of a man than the moment I wrapped my mother in my arms and held her.
The Best of Talib Kweli featuring 29 tracks spanning his 15+ year career, including singles from his new album ‘Prisoner of Conscious’ out May 7th. Mixed by Mick (formally Mick Boogie).
‘Prisoner of Conscious’ iTunes Deluxe-Edition : http://smarturl.it/TalibPOC
Buy From Your Local Indie Record Shop: http://bit.ly/162Kfgs
Amazon:
Digital: http://amzn.to/15Liskr
CD: http://amzn.to/ZOPvvN
Vinyl: http://amzn.to/15LjjRZ
Tracklist:
01) Intro
02) Gutter Rainbows
03) Beautiful (Remix) Ft. Mos Def & Mary J. Blige
04) Upper Echelon
05) Move Somethin’
06) Chain Heavy Ft. Kanye West, Consequence
07) Get By
08) The Blast Ft. Hi-Tek
09) Go Brooklyn Ft. Graph Nobel
10) Chaos Ft. Bahamadia
11) Hot Thing Ft. will.i.am
12) Too Late
13) Manifesto
14) Lightworks
15) Never Been in Love
16) Thieves in the Night Ft. Mos Def
17) Astronomy Ft. Mos Def
18) Little Brother Ft. Mos Def
19) History Ft. Mos Def
20) Definition Ft. Mos Def
21) Re-Definition Ft. Mos Def
22) Respiration Ft. Mos Def
23) Push Thru Ft. Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar
24) Outstanding Ft. Ryan Leslie
25) Let it Go (Remix)
26) Get Em High Ft. Kanye West, Common
27) Good to You
28) Fortified
29) Just Begun Ft. Jay Electronica, J. Cole, Mos Def
Madrina
Watching the life slowly leave your fragile, battered body with each labored breath inspires me to live mine as completely and fully as I can. To nurture the relationships with those friends and family I’ve ignored. To use these words and this voice to leave a story my children and grandchildren can listen to and learn from. To use my position of influence to draw the best out of the young men who will join my second family, and not allow them to “falter in the face of fear or doubt”; to help build respectable young leaders. To reinvigorate my hunger for learning and tap into that inherent ability to succeed, and fulfill all the goals I set aside when everything once fell apart; to live up to that which I claim to be and propel myself even further than I may have thought possible.
Death itself has never been difficult for me to wrap my head around. But to see you dying right next to me, to hold your frail hand and feel its final bits of warmth… and to know everything that you accomplished and everything you’ve meant to so many in those 60-some-odd years… to watch you continue to push through knowing that you believe in miracles, yet knowing from your words that you are ready to go… I’ve never been so inspired to live. Not just settle for existing, but living.
If you’re ready to go, then I’m ready to let you go. And these words I’ll save right here, and refer back to in the moments of doubt, procrastination, and idleness sure to come. And I pray that when that final hour comes and the Good Lord accepts you into his embrace, He’ll allow you to watch over me, your daughters, and all the family and friends you touched throughout your life so that you may continue to inspire all of us with the strength of your memory.
Happy Mother’s Day, Madrina.
I love you.
Farewell to thee, farewell to thee
Thou charming one who dwells in shaded bowers
One fond embrace ere I depart
Until we meet again.
“Aloha’oe (Farewell to Thee)” by Queen Lydia Kamakaeha Lili’uokalani
(Source: quentintarantinos)
(Source: mcpartymcfly)
(Source: amazingfaraz)
