A Difficult Transition....but a Love Worth Fighting For!

"Knowledge is power, and knowledge can be the difference between life
Or death...you should know the truth and the truth shall set you free!"
- Gangstarr (Intro to Who's Gonna Take the Weight)


Yesterday, as I was twitter debating with some of my younger followers, about Hip Hop, our community,and what it needs...I realized, that I wanted to blog about what I currently observe, and that's a standstill, not only in Hip Hop, but in taking responsibility for moving our community to the next level. I ended my soap box rant, by saying that today, I would blog about the changing of the guard in Hip Hop and, the difficult transition between the older soldiers, and the new Souljas. I was so frustrated, by young brothas, that boast of never reading a book, spewing simpleton rhymes, and honestly thinking that they had new ideas ranging from age old conspiracies, to tatics in a game on a path heavily traveled by young men, whose names, they've never heard, lessons never learned, and voices never recognized.

I had no idea...at the moment..that a Hip Hop legend, Guru had just lost his year long battle with cancer. I woke up this morning in a state of shock and emergency. I was comforted by the neverending tweets of my generation, feeling the same passion, respect and reverence for a long standing legend, but my heart was also dismayed, by the number of young people, who simply...had no idea at all, what we all just lost. Let me make this perfectly clear...it's by NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, they are simply products of their own environments, and that includes products..that have manifested, developed, and become hungry..without the lessons of the past. That my 30 + 40 year old friends..I blame on us..so now we ask,"Who's Gonna Tale The Weight?"

So wont you dig the scenario
And just imagine if each one is teachin one
Well come together so that we become
A strong force, then we can stay on course
Find your direction through introspection
And for my people out there I got a question
Can we be the sole controllers of our fate?
Now whos gonna take the weight?
- Gangstarr (Who's Gonna Take The Weight?)

As a Principal, and a person who manages teachers, but more importantly is systematically responsible for learning as an outcome, I recognize how hard it is to pass on information, especially when each and every single one of us is still "GRINDING!" and many students appear uninterested, or don't see the value in studying the past, but what I challenge..is that it's not only worth it, but an inevitable task, if we...the guardians of Hip Hop, ever expect to reap what we've sown, and continue to plant seeds for a better tomorrow, then Hip Hop is a passion, and a culture worth fighting for!

Spirituality supports reality
We gotta fight with the right mentality
So we can gain what is rightfully ours
This is the meaning of the chain and the star
Land is power, so gimme forty acres
Lets see how far I can take ya

Each and everyone of us must find a dedication to a cause that is greater than our own ego. Once you've done that, then you must strategically fight for your passion. By no means do I intend to chastise the past, or the brothers and sisters of our generation, but I will tell you what I've seen. We are quick to criticize our younger folk first, before recognizing their strength, their struggles and their accomplishments. I include myself in this category, until I realized yesterday, while debating with a young brother, that just like my teachers at school, if I want them to listen, I must start with praise, even when the situation is dismal at best. If the criticism is not CONSTRUCTIVE, if it doesn't start with,"I see you working hard, here is how to do it better, and ultimately...I'll help you," then it just comes across as HATE, regardless of how true, or important the message. You have to pull someone out of the ocean, before you give mouth to mouth. If we want Hip Hop to live, then we must feed the offspring with life, or like Nas said "Hip Hop is Dead."

In closing, I beg..that before you ask "Who's Gonna Take The Weight?" Ask yourself..."Is that brother too heavy?" Because he needs a back, and a foundation to build, then think of that Gilbert Young painting, with the extended hand reaching out, and remember, "he ain't heavy."

Original invincible
Thats how Im lookin at it
I use my rhymes like a glock automatic
Any means necessary, Im goin all out
Before the rains bring the nuclear fallout
So let me ask you, is it too late?
Ayo, whos gonna take the weight?

---RIP GURU, A legend, a teacher, a prohet.

Peace,
Principal Shells

Rules...Are...Made...To..Be...BROKEN!

As a woman, they are many "rules" that you learn along the way, that never seem to apply to men, or dynamic people, or strategic game players, but you still know that they exist.

For the most part, I play by the rules, follow the line, meet the expectations, and stay comfortably in my box, but..not always. There are a few occasions, that will tempt me over the line, and right now...I find myself facing a glass wall, that might have to be shattered.

I found myself..is this same exact place...almost ten years ago to be exact. I was hanging out with a great guy. He was extremely talented, but I drew no connection from him, or vise versa. He was simple minded, which isn't a diss, but it's just not enough to fan my flames, but he was fun...so I lingered, for atleast a little while.

Shortly afterwards, I met...his...friend...and there was instantly a forrest fire of flames, a mental connection, that I couldn't dismiss, and a passion that was unparalled. My first instinct was to "follow the rules," so every single time, he approached me, I quickly gave the prompt, and scripted response "I used to mess with your boy." Thank GOD, he kept pursing, because eventually...after telling the first guy the truth, talking to all mutual friends to fend off the "HOE" commentary, I surrendered to the most passionate love affair of my life.

And now...10 years later, I'm faced with the same dilemma, and deep in my heart, I know, that I'm going to break all the rules, because brilliant men come far and few in between, and I just can't pass up the opportunity to surrender, I know he's worth it, and life is too short, so I'm breaking the rules.

Bueller....Bueller.....Do you remember those days?

I remember coming painfully close to failing US History and Government in the 11th grade. I hated that class, so incredibly much! It was close to impossible to skip without getting caught, we were forced to memorize a bunch of useless dates on a calendar, and I just remember looking at the teacher like "build me a bridge with those useless facts buddy!" I can't tell you one thing that I learned, except that if I smiled nicely, the teacher would point the fan in my direction on days that were sweltering.

The thing is...I had taken classes that I didn't care about before, and still done well, especially because history is really just...reading, and that's something I do well, but this class...it was different. It was the teacher, it was his lack of effort in making the class even remotely interesting. He didn't even seem to have a real passion in the subject matter he was forcing down our throats. It was almost like, he picked a stupid activity for us to do every single day, and nothing was connected, it was random, it was remote, and worst of all...uninspiring! The one thing, that I remember the most, was sitting in the classroom, watching the clock, and waiting for the bell to ring. I felt like I lost years of my life in that 50 minute class. It was the first time in school, that I honestly remember....not caring anymore.

As I embark upon opening our second school, and go through tons of teacher applications, I look at the resumes, and wonder about the names that I see, the skills that are listed, and the randomness of it all. I watch each teacher present a sample lesson in front of students, and I must say....it's very telling. The best part is getting the kids reaction afterwards, but this time it's different. I'm hiring elementary teachers, and kindergarten kids aren't going to be able to give me that uncanny, and genuine perspective, that I get from my middle schoolers.

If you could give me one piece of advise in selecting a teacher.....what would it be? Who are the teachers you remember? And why?