Bittersweet

Today was the first day of my last week of work, and perhaps a more distinct start of a countdown... I've been wallowing in the bittersweet feeling of the present for a while now. The anxiety to return to my homeland coupled with the sorrow of leaving NY makes for a miserable state of mind.

I've been in NY for 3 years, since I came to school in the Fall of 2006. It's been a great experience overall. I graduated from college and worked for the greater part of a year, witnessed some of the most random things that comes with this territory, and also many of the landmarks and attractions... And now my time is up, as they say. My intentions were always to take what I can get from this country and return to T&T to share the wealth (of knowledge)... in a way yet to be determined.

Last Wednesday I bid farewell to Work As Renaissance, the open mic in Harlem where I was first featured. This Friday I would say goodbye to the staff at my job whose company I've shared for some time, as well as the Urban Juke Joint. UJJ holds a special place in my heart, as I'm sure it does in the hearts of many others who have found a home in its four walls. UJJ is the place I found my artistic home, where I've felt the most comfortable on stage, and was able to grow to another level. The September edition will be my last... for some time...

My Word!... I Am Poetry

I performed this piece recently and reminded myself how much I liked it myself... I think it's one of my most creative... If you have ever heard my poetry, you would realize that my style incorporates a flow resembling the delivery of hip-hop. I don't often write the type of poetry to be published in books... Quoting myself from 'Speak'... "Truth is in the spoken word, that's why I'd rather not be read but instead be heard..." My goal in writing this poem was to combine the colorful imagery of written poetry with the delivery of a spoken word piece...

I Am Poetry (Poetree)

Let me start by thanking my Mother... Earth... to my Father
For planting his seed, cuz indeed it was fertile
So I succeed in growth...
In the form of reeds
So you could read the quotes
And feel the notes as I come to be what I wrote...
Poetry...
In my roots, written on the loose leaves of the birch
Where the birds and the bees never leave
And the ink from the pen is like the sap of the tree
Cuz it lives in the wood that would be...
A piece of paper later...
If the lumberjack brings me down then he could be a player hater
In either form I'm getting pissed on...
Put it like this, I probably wouldn't exist
If the originator didn't send his only son
To make my leaves go and come with the seasons
As I need them...
To chlorophyll me up with the nutrition
From the light of the day shone in the forest
Before I'm chucked like Mr. Norris for deforestation
I'll be a scapegoat for the landscape
Portrait of the art representing the heart they put into me
The oxygen I put into them so they could breathe...
Now everybody wanna do me
Use me to fight for... what is right
Or write for what is wrong
Hear me tonight on stage at an open mic
Later I'll be in a song that I hope you like
Hopefully I'll take us all to a whole new height
And in the heat of the day, in my shade you would stay
And I might bear the fruits of your labour
So that you could savour the taste of my flavour on your tongue
And due to the nature of this one...
I came from the underground
Now I bow when the sky claps with the thunder sound
And the greater that would come out of me
Will make you see what I see
Feel the joy I have brung
Sing the songs that I hum in the wind for freedom
Til, no one is hung from my limbs
No pain, and now I'm stained in your brain
And in the sign on your Timb's
And you wondering my name
How do they call him?
And the answer... you probably already know it
See... Navy's the master, but me
I am Poetry

Only the Beginning...

Every so often there comes a time in any purposed journey to reflect on where you are, in light of where you have been... A point of realisation of a dream, or part thereof... A hurdle crossed, fence scaled, or wall climbed. Exactly 3 weeks ago, I made one of those long-awaited steps. I had grown well into my (poetic) shoes for some years and it was due time to plant my foot onto a higher tier and make an ascent. On Wednesday 19th August, 2009, I was given the opportunity to feature my poetry at an Open Mic event. This was my very first feature and would be the most momentous one for some time to come...

I first hit the stage as a poet in October, 2005, in my homeland of Trinidad & Tobago. Moved to NY one year later and continued with the poetry club at College. I performed at open mics, talent shows and, in 2008, one poetry slam in which I placed 2nd (they say I deserved 1st). In that final year of school, I started venturing on my own into the unknown territory of the NY poetry scene. Nobody knew who I was. I had hit a few spots where I was met with indifference and left with mixed emotions of content vs contempt. My 4 years of experience sounds like a long time, but in NY I'd be considered a newbie, considering that their youth talent is fostered from teenage years.

Back home in T&T, the artform is still relatively new. I had been a part of what I feel was a movement, still ongoing, that brought poetry to the forefront of the art scene. Soca and Reggae/Dancehall had been the mainstream seemingly forever, but a vibrant underground was emerging. New York, however, was different. I must say that my eyes were opened wide to the poetry scene in NY. I saw and heard people and styles that I've never heard before. Expression at its liberal best! After getting my feet wet, and establishing a solid reputation for myself amongst my small circle of poetic peers, I earned my first feature.

Work As Renaissance @ La Pregunta Arts Cafe in Harlem... It was a tremendous experience and the start of bigger and better things to come. Much thanks to all who came out to see me (we packed the house!). And I must give love to the event's host, my very dear friend, and extraordinary poet, Jamica, for making this happen!

Summerstage pt. II - Jazm... Ms. Cox???

About three weeks ago, the time had come again for some more freeness in Central Park... Another Summerstage, but this time around... some R&B. The show was headlined by Jazmine Sullivan, whose soulful "Fearless" album was a breath of fresh air among today's R&B (no autotune!), and was also to feature Chrisette Michele & Ryan Leslie.

Earlier in the day I found out that Chrisette had canceled. I took this sorta personal because it was the second time she did this to me! I had bought tickets to see her and Ryan Leslie at the Apollo in February... never happened.

So new line-up... Case, Jon B., Deborah Cox, Ryan Leslie, Jazmine Sullivan (in that order). Not bad!

R. Les was amazing! He's a musical genius, I must say, and very passionate about it. Great performer. I left the show singing "How It Was Supposed To Be". His band is tight!

Jazmine was aite... she sings well live but didn't really capture my attention even though I knew all her songs. Her set seemed way too scripted... and she seems to only have one screaming-type note in her range...

... Rewind...

So after Case brought a lady on stage, sat her on a stool, and sang with his face IN her crotch; and Jon B's waayy too long and boring performance (felt like I was watching Dark Knight w/o the Joker!); came the highlight of the show for me... Ms. Deborah Cox... I must say that before the show I was probably the least hyped about seeing Ms. Cox... just because she had been gone for a whiiile... as were Case and Jon but I sorta wanted to see them perform (sigh)...

Out came Deborah, looking like she just hit 25 (she's 35), and with her very first note made my blood crawl and had my ears on lockdown. With no band behind her, just accompanied by an instrumental CD, sang 3 songs and stole the show for me. She started with "We Can't Be Friends", then had the audience singing along to a song off her new album which most of them never heard before, and ended with her classic "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here". The crowd was begging for an encore but to no avail... we wanted more!!!



I'm glad to hear real R&B again. I'm glad to hear a real singer again! Even her new stuff doesn't sound watered down and "pop". MJB should take notes... no need to sell out to pop culture to make good music. No need to let a machine sing for you if you have a voice of your own! Go Deborah!

Summerstage pt. I - Q-Tip!

What season is better than summer? What's better than a free concert?... What in the world could be better than a free concert in the summer???

Last month I had the amazing experience of seeing Hip-Hop legend, Q-tip, rocking live. Chester French opened and did an okay job... but everyone was there for the ATCQ leader. This was my second time seeing him perform... (first time opening for Common at Nokia Theater Times Square) and it was even better than the first! Something about the outdoor vibe mixed with hot sun made it more intimate than a dark room with flashing lights.

I've had Q-Tip's most recent album, The Renaissance, on heavy rotation since it dropped in November, '08. It's the first Q-Tip album I ever really listened to and imo it's one of the best for '08 and so far '09... and most certainly ever! Hearing those tracks live made me appreciate his artistry even more. People have questioned Q-Tip's relevance to the current state of music, but his album stuck to its title, bringing it back to the music... minus the bling and the swag (THANKS!).

Q-Tip had his mother on stage; played a tambourine while rapping; gave a tribute to MJ for his song "Move", which samples the Jackson 5's "Dancing Machine"; went back into his older hits; was joined by Diddy on stage to dance to "Vivrant Thing"; jumped into a "Tribe" set, performing all the classics... and as if that wasn't enough, he walked through the crowd, pushing his bodyguards away, so that the audience could join him in singing "Life is Better".





That, my friends, is a true artiste!

My Word!... Empty Barrels

This is my most recently completed poem (new shyt!) and is the second piece I wrote as a follow up to "Speak". One incident in particular served as the main inspiration for this poem. One of my professors heard me perform "Speak" for a debate team we were hosting. He was surprised, to say the least, and made it known that I hardly ever spoke in (his) class. A friend, who also heard me then for the first time, shared a similar sentiment. I'm usually very low-key, not to be confused with anti-social but I choose carefully when, where, and with whom I am more vocal. This is my response...

Empty Barrels

People always used to say I was not like most boys...
Growing up I was a shy kinda guy
Quite quietly reserved to myself
Ask me why and I'll tell you...
Because empty barrels make the most noise
Most toys don't make you much smarter
So I play with words
Because it is much harder to win
And I like the challenge
Of getting my barrel almost full to the brim
So if you want to describe him as quiet, think twice
Cuz his words are strong enough to incite riots
But... but I just don't want to start one
Smart ones know that those who have the least to say
They talk the most
And those who talk the least, when they speak
You should listen close
So it's not ironic that I'm not quite sonic
Unless I see a stage with a mic on it
Or if there is something to address
That is when I feel like my tongue cannot rest
None the less, all the more
When I was in form four
I used to speak on behalf
Of the boys in the class that were labeled delinquents
Cuz they were relinquent to the taunts from my teacher, unjust
Trust that "class lawyer" was the title she gave me
Still speaking, but now they know me as Navy
And to me there's a difference between
Speaking and talking
Just like creeping and walking
One takes less courage
The next, should be encouraged some more
Therefore... the next time you take the floor
Make sure that your words are the opposite of poor
Cuz my tongue is raw
So don't make me draw my lyrical pistol
And have you running to the door
I'm not above the law, at all, at all
But I would Empty Barrels on all of y'all
Make you fall from your poise
So call all your boys
And tell them what I said about making old noise

By: Yvan 'Navy' Mendoza

It Doesn't Alma Mater!

It was my brother who alerted me to this story while chatting online. The conversation went something like this...

Bro: You heard about the (expletive) Monroe Grad?

Me: No

Bro: The (expletive) graduated in April and is trying to sue Monroe for not finding her a job!

Me: Are you serious???

Bro: $70000 for tuition and $2000 for stress

Me: WTF?!? Who is she?

Bro: Trina Thompson... the story is all over the news all over the world!

My brother is not known to be a "cussbud" but it was clear that he was angered by the utter stupidity of this woman. I too was vexed when I heard the news because both he and I are graduates of Monroe College. After a google search which showed 23,400 results, and a day for the shock to subside, I am here with a few thoughts on the matter...

Apparently Trina Thompson believes that acquiring a college degree guarantees you employment. Why not? Especially given her (superb) credentials of a 2.7 GPA and good attendance, why wouldn't any employer be dying to hire her? Not to mention the fact that the job market is bubbling with opportunity!

Sarcasm aside, I think Ms. Thompson, as an individual, sadly embodies a vast fraction of the society at large. The black community, in particular, is plagued with many Trina's who are lazy in their attempts to earn a living, and rely on a quick fix. I applaud her efforts for making and completing the step to obtain a college education but one must have the mentality to complement the degree. Too often we sell ourselves short and resort to playing the "blame game." If you are at the bottom, bringing others down will not take you to the top. This could only bring them below you but you will remain at the bottom.

As the old adage says... "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."

The story by CNN