“Hurry up and drop that album Korey so I can meet Q-tip.” She would often joke. “Stop playing girl, what you gonna do with Q?” I would then ask. “Hmm, you don’t know? When that brother be singing that Vivrant Thang, he’s definitely talking about me.” She giggled. “What you know about that Ms. I’m going to a poetry reading exhibition or whatever they call them.” I joked. “It’s all about the flow of the poet my brother, all poetry is poetic justice.” She said. “You can get that type of love too if you just stay focused, and put more thought into your music, and definitely watch your back as far as your finances is concerned.” Jackie said as she touched me on my shoulder. “Remember Korey, everybody that’s with you, ain’t down with you, and don’t forget that. Most importantly always stay true to your roots baby brother.” She added. Aww shit, here we go again with the pro-black speech. I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes towards the ceiling. “It’s about brotherhood.” Jackie stated with a serious look on her face. “You see Korey I don’t just come around Kev and treat him like a kid. We hang out and catch a movie sometimes, or we might go to the beach once in awhile. I know he only goes because he likes to watch the girls in the bikinis, but it keeps him off the streets, so I don’t mind. You need to get to know your little brother better, and stop trying to be his father. He needs all of us. I try to show him that there are other things to life besides hanging on the corners, smoking weed, and having babies. I promised to take him to Jamaica when he graduates from high school next year. Maybe we can all go.” Jackie said with a smile on her face.
“Maybe we can even take mommy with us too.” Jackie said. “And what makes ya tink I nev’r been to Jamaica befur yung ladee?” My mom’s interrupted while walking towards us. The bugged out thing was that she was trying to sound like she was from the islands somewhere. “Come on Jackie we’d better get goin’ I don’t want to be late.” “Are you staying here Korey?” My mom asked me as she put on her jacket. “Nah I’ma finish this game and then I’m gonna finish some of that fried chicken you got on the stove in there.” “Okay, well save some for your brother and make sure the doors are locked when you leave, bye baby.” My moms ordered. Jackie saluted me with a wink and a two finger peace sign followed by a pat on her upper chest as she and my moms walked out the door.
18 GETTIN’ READY FOR SOME MENTAL KOMBAT
(Korey)
I left my mom’s crib after I finished playing the video game and was walking back to my apartment when my cousin Jay pulled up besides me driving the latest E Class Mercedes Benz with the top dropped down. “What’s up Mann? Damn nigga everytime I see you you walkin’. What’s the matter with your car?” He asked.
“Ain’t nothin’ wrong with my ride, I just like to catch a little fresh air sometimes, know what I’m sayin’?” I said.
“Me too nigga, that’s why I got me a drop top tonight, so I can get alllll the fresh air I need Mann.” Jay joked as he stuck his head up over the windshield. “Tonight is what’s up, you ready to take that mafucka out or what?” He asked. “Get in cuz what you scared to ride with me now or somethin’?” he added. “What’s up with that C.D. you told me about?” I asked. “I got it right here, get in and listen to this shit and then you tell me if that nigga bit your shit or not.” He explained. Now as bad as I didn’t wanna ride with Jay, I really wanted to hear what was on that CD even more, so I ultimately found myself in the front seat of my wannabee NASCAR driver cousin of mine again. I thought to myself as I was again quickly thrusted back against the seat from the force of Jay’s quick departure. “You iight over there, maybe you should try putting your seatbelt on.” Jay smirked as I regained my balance in the front seat. “You damn right I’ma put my seat belt on cause you tryin’ to kill a mafucka’ for real.” I joked as I strapped myself in.
“Yo Mann, listen to this shit.” Jay ordered as he put the C.D. into his car’s console and the C.D. began to play. When the beat came on, I started to think that there was no way that anyone could’ve gotten their hands on the music that I wrote. But when that dude Gameface started rapping! I couldn’t believe what my ears were hearing. I knew right off hand that nigga bit my shit, and I’m not talking about a line or two, he was spittin’ the exact same shit that I wrote about 6 months ago.
“Yo! How the fuck that nigga!?.. Who the fuck!?.. Oh shit!” I yelled as I listened on. “Who is that nigga Jay!?” I asked him as I asked myself why I never heard of this nigga before!? “I don’t really know too much about him but I know he be runnin’ with then niggas from Da Woodz sometimes.” He answered. “Who, Big Ox and Jamar and nem?” I asked as I grew angrier by the second. “Yeah them niggas and you know them mafuckas like to stay involved when the bullshit comes into play.” Jay replied. Iight then, well we’ll see tonight. I thought to myself as the song came to an end.
“Yo Mann, Yo Mann!” Jay yelled. “Huh? Oh, what’s up?” I answered after I returned from cloud 9. “Now I know you pissed and that’s good. Sometimes this battle shit is kinda healthy nameen? Now I know you gonna wipe up Foxes’ floor with that mafucka tonight right!? Know what I’m talkin bout!?” Jay yelled excitedly. But I wasn’t excited, not even a little bit. I was still baffled about how that nigga got his hands on my rhymes. “Yo Jay?” I said. “What’s up?” He replied. “Take me home.” I told him. “Why what’s up? You’ve been in battles before, now I know you not gonna let that shit...”
“Yo Jay!” I interrupted. “Take me home! I got work to do. I gotta get ready for some Mental Kombat.” I told him. I looked over at Jay as he glanced my way while still driving. “Iight, I understand.” He said. I guess he could tell that I was very upset, and I was, but I’ma see about this shit tonight. I thought to myself as Jay brought me back and dropped me off in front of my crib. “I’ll call you later on.” He said as I got out of his car and went into my place.
By the time I got inside it didn’t matter to me where he got it from. That was my shit and I’m gonna let that nigga know whose shit it is. So I grabbed me a pen and some paper, sat down at my kitchen table, put on some instrumental beats and started writing. At first I wanted to get at him on some straight up battle shit, but I never saw him before so I couldn’t talk about his appearance or anything personal about him. So I decided to keep it professional. I’ll kick some songs and do it like a show, and when I see him, I’ll size his ass up and then get at him on some personal shit. You see, I’m tryin’ to be a recording artist one day not just a street battle rapper runnin around town rhymin on street corners and battling everybody that can rhyme.
I want to be an entertainer and still keep my music on some street shit because the streets is the truth, but at the same time I wanna make some music that everybody can listen to. Now the song that that nigga Gameface got his hands on was a song that I wrote about a dream that I had after I fell asleep while watching that movie The King of New York. I dreamt that Frank White came to me in my hood and showed me how to sell drugs. He rode me around in his limo and showed me the ins and outs of the drug game. Of course the movie was still playing so as I was dreaming I could sorta kinda hear all of the drama that was going on in the movie too.
It was like I was part of the movie. Scarface gave me a brief case full of money and left me in charge of his business while he handled business elsewhere, but I was awaken by the television’s static channel after Sinnamin came home and turned off the movie just before the shit started getting thick in my dream. That dream was what inspired me to write that song that I called ‘Addicted to the Dividends.’ So after Jay told me that dude had kicked that song on a mixed tape I searched my place and my notes for it but I never found it. I’m thinkin maybe I dropped it somewhere. I can’t remember where I had it last, but I made sure I memorized it, it went like this:
“Hey yo my man clockin’ kilos on the dirty down low, the cash flow goes everywhere he goes, all across the country, state to state, ridin’ in a stretch limo like diplomat livin great, he kept his cash clean like a laundromat, always handle busines
s first, and that’s that(’s) what he told me, about the drug game he showed me, he had to hold me, mold me, sometimes scold me, listen closely, everything else is secondary or you’ll wind up locked up or in the obituary----column, that nigga startin petty shit don’t follow ‘em, let that nigga do his own thing don’t bother ‘em think quick, talk slick, and that’ll keep ya pockets thick, you’ll have it maaade in the shaaade all daaaay millions to swim in, excessive spendin bank accounts in Switzerland never endin
Cause I’m Addicted 2 da Dividends-- u gotta be in it 2 win it- if u get the chance betta get up in it-- ‘Cause the skyyy’s the limit-- so make that take that-- or else, u won’t ever get it back!
Cause I done seen all da bullshit, how niggas pull shit, and make them other niggas give up they goods quick, if ur dollars make good sense(cents) kid, u betta use it, now love it or lose it now here goes the rules kid, {1} play the game never let the game play you, {2}change ur name ur real name u should never use, {3}never stay da same watch what u say an what u do, {4}and maintain all dem nigs runnin’ with cha crew, {5}remembr this snitches stick 2getha betta watch em, {6}dem fuckn’ cops always change shifs betta clok em {7}dem other niggas tryin’ get da block-betta stop em, dem old school cats, don’t sweat that, ayo I got em, {8)& never under any circumstance do you break, {9)& always double count da dividends that u make, {10}& keep a cool head, all da time, on da right track, or else, you won’t ever get it back!”
Cause I’m Addicted 2 da Dividends-- u gotta be in it to win it-- if you get the chance betta get up in it-- Cause the skyyy’s the limit-- so make that take that-- or else, you won’t ever get it back!
So it’s on now we got the whole block locked down, and five-o, we got them niggas tic tocked now, niggz strapped with the heat up on the roof top now, I’ma new jack like Nino Brown, I got the crown, top notch shorties in the crib, assed out, the finest wines smokin’ blunts till we pass out, step outta line nigga u gone get mashed out, cause I gotta get mine, although I’m on the wrong route, remember when I used 2 have nothin now I’m holdin, down the fort mad cash in my pocket folded, & Mr. Bigg I know he’s somewhere out there chillin, and when I see em hit him with about half a milln, just tryna make a killin feel I gotta give em sumthin, if not for Mr.Bigg hey yo I wouldn’t have nothin, Now I’m in it 2 win it cause I’m Addicted 2 da Dividends, (now)My Organization---Yeah it Never Ends!
Cause I’m Addicted to the Dividends-- u gotta be in it to win it-- if you get the chance u betta get up in it-- Cause the sky’s the limit-- so make that take that-- or else, you won’t ever get it back!”
I memorized the fuck out of that shit too, and now some other nigga tryna get the recognition off of the shit I wrote? That corny ass hell! He ain’t even ask me can he get that or nothin’. Shiiit, not if I can help it. Hmmm, as a matter a fact, im put down a better one! Yeah that’s what I’m gonna do. I’ma let mafuckas know that that nigga Gameface stole my shit! Win lose or draw is the way I’m feeling right now. By the time I’m finished with that nigga he gonna know who Da Mann is! I thought as I sat at my kitchen table writing a new Addicted to the Dividends, and when I’m finished with this shit, I’ma put a little something together to get at that nigga and anybody else that try to fuck with me. Win lose or draw, I’ma get at ‘em all. I just wish I knew more about him. My thoughts were interrupted by the telephone’s ring.
“Hello?”
“Hey baby, what you doin’?” It was Sinnimin. “Gettin ready for kombat, what’s up with you, how’s the baby shower?” I whispered. “It’s all right Tiara got some nice gifts too.” She said. I could hear a lot of commotion in the background. “When we start makin’ some more money and get a nice house ‘n stuff , you know I want me a baby too right?” She added.
“What do you mean when we get more money? Sinna we ain’t gotta be rich to have a baby.” I said. “I know, I just don’t wanna be struggling and trying to raise a baby like my mama had to do with me.” She replied. “I can understand that, but if we have a baby, hold up, we already talked about this before. Oh, I see what’s happening now. You at that baby shower with all ya girlfriends, and you see your peoples all pregnant, now you thinkin’ about havin a baby now huh?” I said.
“Yeeah, Tiara looks so happy Korey and now she about to have a little baby. I hope it’s a girl too.” She said excitedly. “Come on Sinnimin!” I overheard some of the women calling for her in the background. “Okay yall, I’m coming! I’ll see you later when you get home alright?” She asked. “Alright.” I replied. “And you better win that battle tonight too, bye.” She said quickly and hung up. “Damn, my girl sure knows how take a nigga out of sync with all that baby talk shit. She knows I love the hell out of her and I couldn’t even think of having a baby with nobody else... but back to the nature at hand. I got a battle tonight and I’m tryin’ to win. So I’m about to black out for a few hours and finish what that nigga started.” I thought as I started writing.
Later that evening
It was almost midnight when I hooked up with Jay, Raheem and Ivan. Jay picked me up in a black Ford Expedition. Damn I wished I worked at a used car dealership like my cousin, he gets to drive all kinda cars and trucks anytime he wants to.
He said his boss let him hold this SUV for the night but he had to have it back by 9 a.m. tomorrow. I thought as I kept reciting the rhymes that I wrote over and over in my head so I could memorize them. Jay said he told everybody about the battle tonight, and knowing him I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole city showed up tonight to check it out. I thought as I tried to stay focused on my rhymes.
“You betta bust that nigga ass too Kore!” Raheem yelled from the backseat as the music played. Ivan slipped his arm between my front seat and my window and handed me a bottle of beer. We listened to the song that Gameface bit off of me as we headed towards the club and when we finally pulled up we could see that there was a long line that stretched around the corner of the nightclub Foxes.
“Yo, I spoke to my man that be doin’ security here, he gonna let us in through the back door.” Jay said as he picked up his cell phone and began dialing. “Why we gotta go through the back? I wanna see some of them bitches on that line.” Ivan said. “Nigga picture me waitin’ on some line. I’ma V.I.P. all day everyday.” Jay bragged as he held his cell phone to his ear. “Hello... Yeah son we out back now... Iight.” He said and hung up his phone. “Come on yall, my man gonna meet us by that door right there.” Jay added as he parked and then turned the truck’s engine off. We all got out of the truck, walked up to the door and waited. About a minute later the door opened and one of the security guards let us in. “What up Jay?” He asked as he gave Jay a brief hug. “What’s up Big Animal?” Jay replied as we walked past him and into the club.
“Now that’s what I’m talkin about son! V.I.P. like a mafucka!” Ivan yelled. “They gettin’ ready to start the open mic session. You can let your man go on whenever you want him to.” Big Animal stated. “Iight, that’s good money, where the D.J. at?” Jay asked. “Oh, he musta went to the bathroom or something. He was just in the booth a minute ago.” Big Animal said.
“Iight, tell him I need to holla at him.” Jay said. “I got you.” Big Animal replied and walked away. We hung out in the back of the club while Jay went to talk to the D.J. The only thing that was on my mind was gettin’ my hands on that microphone and letting loose these rhymes that I was swelling up in my head. I thought as I stayed in my zone. Jay came back with a few bottles of champagne. “Compliments of Foxes’ y’all, and we ain’t drinkin’ from no fuckin’ champagne glasses either! Yo it’s mad packed out there right?!” He asked. Jay gave us all a funny lookin’ ass wink and then nodded his head. “Word, word Iight that’s what I’m talkin bout!” Ivan and Raheem responded excitedly. Jay handed Raheem one of the bottles then gave them both a plastic pass. “Here yall go now go ‘head out there and get our team amped up. They about to start the open mic sessions.” Jay ordered.
“Yeah iight, we gonna close this fu
ckin open mic session the fuck down riiight ha ha haaa!” Raheem joked and he and Ivan left and went into the club’s main area. “Yo Mann, I talked to the D.J. and told him what happened. Now we gonna wait ‘til all the rest of these niggas finish they shit. That nigga Gameface gonna go on last, so he thinks. Now look, you know I ain’t no rapper, but I’ma set it off. The D.J. gonna give me one of them mics and I’ma say a lil’ somethin’ and then give you the mic and you can take it from there Iight?” Jay said then took a swig of the champagne.
“It’s showtime right, aint that what you said?” I asked while I nodded my head to the music that was playing. “That’s riiight, It’s showtiiiiime.” and I meant that to the kore as I kept reciting my rhymes in my head. It’s been a while since I kicked any rhymes, and I know lot of these nigga in here heard me rhyme before, but this is like one of my biggest battles that I’ve ever had so far. I don’t know why that nigga stole my shit, ‘cause now I gotta address him. Win lose or draw. I thought as the open mic competition started.
I closed my eyes as some of the rappers kicked their rhymes, I rapped over them in my head as they rhymed. I had to get a feel for the tempo, now I’m almost in my zone...and now…i’m gone. I must’ve blacked out for a while, because I swear it felt like Jay called me as soon as I hit my zone. I didn’t even realize that so much time had passed. “Yo Mann, that nigga Gameface about to go on, come on!” Suddenly I felt an adrenaline rush like I’ve never felt before. I don’t know if I’m nervous, overanxious or what.
Introduction To Hard 2 Da Kore (Hard2daKore Book 1) Page 15