Did you see that video?

Did you?

That’s my favorite rapper/mc/hip hop star Murs. He’s from my home town, Mid City, you know..West Los Angeles…just a walk and a skip from Culver City, Ca!

The lyrics to this song hit me like a ton of bricks a few months ago, and since then the opening of this song and the ending has me feeling a bit of hope because although I work for a dot com, I know that I’m not alone in the notions of understanding.

I’m positive that Murs is not waking up 9 to 5 any longer but the sheer fact that he mentions it in his music keeps me in the know that I’m not the only one stressing about getting up early and working…with a lunch in a box. The lyrics are as follows, and I’ve bolded the parts that connect with me as a video store clerk, web developer, and overall human being!

(Yesterday I)
(And Today I’m)
(Yesterday I)
(And Today I’m)

I ain’t, I ain’t, I ain’t getting out of bed today
9 to 5 to survive, theres gotta be a better way
Waking up early to punch in the clock
How I look, a grown man with my lunch in a box
But my kids need socks and shoes, I’m walking through
The office, boss yelling “Who you talkin to?”
Dont you know on the streets I woulda- nevermind
The past is the past, I gotta leave it behind
But man, back on the block I was a bonafide hustler
Spot popping off until the police rushed us
Handcuffed us, I thought I was gone
Coulda cried, thinking I’d miss my son being born
But I was blessed, beat the case, now I’m tryna reform
But these white folks, make it so hard to move on
You gotta, jump through hoops, anger management coups
But the fact I’m still standing here today is proof that…

[Chorus]
(Yesterday I) Felt the most hated
I thought I couldn’t take it, they said I couldn’t make it
(And today I’m) Feelin’ brand new
I got nothin’ to lose, I’m bout to make moves
(Yesterday I) Felt the most hated
I thought I couldn’t take it, I fought until I made it
(And today I’m) Feelin’ brand new
I got nothin’ to lose, get out my way move

On to the next, it was all about sex
When I first met my little baby girl Anette
shee was standing at the bus stop, sucking on a lolli-pop
Eyes collard green, lean, thicker then a pork chop
Stop- cause I don’t eat swine
But this girl was so divine that I had to make her mine
Called her phone a few times, she thought I was funny
Fell for it like a dummy, it was all for the money
Gyeah…growing up in the hood
You would think Id understand,but I never understood
Why she really came around, when my dough wasnt good
Now you could call it puppy love cause I got dogged out
Now on all my note books I got her name crossed out
But she lost out, I just lost profit, when she left me in cold
Heart broke like like my pockets and…

[Chorus]

You know them days you just got the blues
All stressed and depressed from just watchin the news
No matter what good you do it seems you always get screwed
Got you caught up in your feelings now you off in the mood
Shake that attitude and do what you can
Set a couple goals follow through with your plans
Time waits for no man and tomorrows not promised
So if shes still alive shoot a call to your momma
Cause the fighting and the drama, its just not worth it
Nobodys perfect, ain’t none of us worthless
We all got a place, and we all got a purpose
Now I’m not taking y’all to sunday service
But ya clap your hands as you stand up and work it
Like your grandmama used to do that fan down at worship
Spread it, pop it, and wave it in my face
Put your hands around your waist, let me ride to the bass like…
[Chorus]

I grew up through some hard times, and I never understood hip hop until I started my own record label at the ripe age of 16 years old. Then I started to listen to the words, rhyming over bass lines and beats that were manufactured to produce an emotional connection. Now I understand the plight of the underground MC, and the MC’s that get a huge record deal only to flounder and not sell a lot of records. But out of all those guys, Murs has been an inspirational underground MC for me, ever since I discovered his music on accident by watching wrestling.

I strongly urge you to check out the video a few times, and read the lyrics in bold, and then compare them to what I write here.

Music bridges the gap a little…if you’re not an ex-video store clerk, if you’re not a web developer dealing with low wages, bad times, or anything along those lines, then at least listen to the cool rhymes.

I haven’t written poetry online in a long time, but someday maybe I’ll unleash my book of rhymes, not set to music, but they do exhibit an angst that is not unlike many people’s feelings. Enjoy the Murs video, he’s now on a major record label, but from the looks of this awesome video, he’s still keeping it DTE (down to earth) if you’d like to purchase a Murs cd, you can do so by Click Here. I recommend Murs 3:16 the 9th Wonder, The End of the Beginning, and of course the latest and greatest Murray’s Revenge. Check them all out, I highly recommend them…and no this is not a sponsored post or a push for sales, it really is something that I enjoy and love…music…lyricism…and the connection that I am not alone in my disdain of this adult life…hence the Blues title to this blog.