Ode To Big Allis (Ravenswood No. 30)

Nana Debbie raised me
When nobody bothered
Came from a single mother
Danny was a dead beat father
Eastwood 560 made me on Roosevelt Island, Main street
Step pops grew up there at 15 running from public safety
A latchkey during the reign of Pataki
Half Jewish I look spanish, hair half nappy
City kid, these streets
You can’t take em out of me
Must be in my anatomy, yeah
I think it gotta be
Ya just online gossiping a contrasting dichotomy
Mugger money in my socks just in case there’s a robbery
New York be the native tongue we eat out like pornography
All I know is pizza, bagels & chicken & broccoli
…To the 718, to the 718
To the 718
Lansky:
When the fuck did this dude Lansrock get this poppin
He smooth like the suede nubuck, beef & broccolis
See his point of view, articulate like he Socrates
Appears so aloof, and racially an anomally
On corners like isosceles or among aristocracy
My vernacular Nas
But emotional as Pac could be
Out of thin air he came to disrupt the monotony
I came to share my autobiography chronologically
B & C student, always room for improvement
Fine arts major
I met Nigel, inspired a nigga to rhyme
He aspired to be a rapper
Our focus shifted in class
To recording, soon after that
And of course, bitches and Jordans
…To the 718, yeah, to the 718
To the 718, to the 718
Reni:
…And get the gold medal around my neck
I wanna be like…
Tommy Smith and John Carlos, at the 1968 Olympics
With my black first in the air. Like that’s the type of shit I’m trying to be
on right now man. That’s the type of shit that I want all my niggas to be on.
I’m seeing many get lost and give up they goals, that’s why I try my best to
stay long-winded. And you know, the definition of being long-winded is being
capable of doing something for a long time without needing rest.
And in this game we play called life my brother, you have to learn your pace
before you learn your race. Understand me? Many do the opposite that’s why they
get the Bronze medal. So I really need you to stay focused, and be committed.
You truly one of the most talented people that I know. A stand-up guy.
Real mensch-like. And when I’m at the finish line, I wanna see you there with
me, you know? I just wish you could see what I see my g. So get up, be a man,
wipe that sweat off, cause sometimes to win the race, you have to start
disrespecting people to get respect