HAPPY, HAPPY FATHERS DAY to my Dad and all the Dads, GrandFathers, Great GrandFathers, Father-In-Laws, GodFathers, and Father Figures out there making a difference in their children's lives. You are beyond appreciated!! #HappyFathersDay
@GetJETmag For so many years getting this small printed treasure in the mail or off of the stands was the true Beauty of the Week. You kept us informed. You inspired us. You shed a beautiful light on Black Culture. Springing from my hometown #Chicago you touched tens of millions. Many flipped thru the pages and wished to be on them. Many flipped thru the pages and dreamed bigger. Personally it was an honor to be able to grace some of those pages... You were our Internet, our radio, our television... our pipeline of information. You put the crown on top of countless African-Americans. You were our voice, holding true to being a beacon of light for us to look to, documenting our grand tale, incasing the power of our history, our story, and our future. From news, to the arts, to politics, to beauty, to fashion, to music, to writers, to entertainment, to sports, to love you broke stories, told stories from our perspective and forever jetted into our hearts. To John H. Johnson, the Johnson Publishing and JET Family, we love you. We thank you! Cheers to the next chapter! See you online... J. Ivy
#LinesOnMyMind #TheJET #TheJETMagazine #BlackHistory
The JET!
"Point blank, they say J. Ivy on some other shhhhh... Well, let it be none that I've been a son of a gun ever since my Pops grabbed his lover's hips and shot me into the Mothership...I'm spacing out!" - J. Ivy
In celebration of our new books, I had the honor of performing and introducing The GodFather of Funk Mr. George Clinton. (Be sure to check out "Brothas Be Like Yo George, Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard On You.") This was one of those moments I'll never forget. There's nothing like doing your thing, but to do it with one of the greatest ever is humbling to say the least. And Big Bruh was cooler than a fan! After the show he kicked a couple poems for me... Some of the coldest poetry I've ever heard. Appreciate the love G!
Shout out to the Parliment Family, Funkadelic, Atria Books, Beyond Words, Judith Curr, Yona Deshommes, Emily Han, Jackie Hooper, Richard Cohn, and The Simon & Schuster Family. Looking forward to the next time...
"I WANT TO GET FUNKED UP!"
On the Mothership!
Renowned poet and author J. Ivy reflects on the life lessons of lyrical legend Maya Angelou
Today the world took a deep breath, paused, and smiled at what she left. Poet, author, writer, director, actress, activist, and professor, Dr. Maya Angelou had an amazing way of connecting to us all. She connected us all. No matter your ethnicity, your religious belief, your gender, or your age, she penetrated your way of thinking, shifting and guiding us with her passion and insight.
Fear was never heard in her words. Her honesty, her vulnerability carried an indescribable strength, a strength that inspired us to look inside and ignite our own. The undeniable beauty of her work made you want to write your own. She pulled at our heart’s cords and moved us to push the pen. She breathed new life and birthed the playgrounds our creativity would play in. She nurtured us with hope. She planted peaceful seeds that would sprout in our ideas. She became the Mother of our Words.
Sweet Maya moved us. She awakened us. She transformed us. She placed us in a new light. We all wanted to shine like her. We wanted to rhyme like her. When we discovered her, we discovered the artist within. Whether you rapped, sang, or wrote poetry, she ignited a love in you that motivated you to create new worlds. She taught us that words have an immeasurable power. She made you think deeply about each letter you chose to place on the page. There lied a challenge to construct the perfect stanzas, the perfect phrase, and the perfect quotes.
What will make the people think? What will make people jump up from their depressions, their woes, and their heartaches? What will make someone go against the strain of any grain and do something spectacular? What would lift people? What would inspire people? What would move people? What will make me break the chains of life’s challenges? What would Maya do?
Over time she wrote a revolution. Minds spun and opened at every graceful stroke she penned. Elegance embraced her energy. She was electric. Angelically she touched our souls. Her poems became our prayers. She gave us an undying hope to believe, to dream. Love was the force that drove her so we fell in love with her over and over and over again. Her voice was our calm in the storm. Her gift was our warm in the cold…
For generations, she led us with her grace. From our parent’s and teacher’s introductions to her, to every following line that she uttered, Dr. Angelou touched us with her light, raising our vibrations. She pulled back the steel curtain that shaded our power. She helped us discover the majesty inside. She helped us recognize our worth and our value. The blues she put in print became our blueprint. She turned her misery into works of art that the world will forever admire. When she spoke, without force, we silenced our minds and listened intensely. Without hesitation world leaders gave her the floor.
And when the future ask why, we’ll tell them because she was a beautiful giant, perfectly, poetically, pirouetting on timelines. She wrote her way into souls. She was a lifeline, which is why her voice, her ideals, and her wisdom became our fuel, our food for the soul, our antidote for our pain. She was beautiful. She was priceless. This un-caged bird still rises, singing with a rhythm that beats like God’s heart. Her phenomenal truth will echo endlessly…
What Would Maya Do? (VibeMagazine.com Feature)
She taught us,
She defined us,
She redefined us,
She helped us find us,
She inspired us,
She shaped us,
She wrote us,
She painted us with words,
She filled us with pride,
She made us proud of the skin we’re in,
She lifted us,
She convinced us to rise again,
And again,
She gave us strength,
She whispered life into our spirits,
She read our beauty,
She fed our hearts,
She motivated our beings,
She encouraged our courage,
She saved so many,
She birthed the poet in us all,
She spoke love into our existence,
She shattered the hate that imprisoned us,
She set us free with her mind, her soul, her heart, her words,
She is our sweet voice,
She is the voice of the ages…
Sweet, Sweet Maya, we will forever love you.
Rest In Peace…
Sweet, Sweet Maya
I love hollering at cool people. Check out my new interview with the good people of @paradigmMag... Live Your Purpose http://paradigmmagazine.com/2014/05/15/j-ivy-interview/#prettyPhoto
Interview Paradigm Magazine
EVERYDAY IS MOTHER’S DAY
Written By: J. Ivy
Everyday I celebrate you,
Because your love has no limit,
No blemish,
I celebrate your natural willingness to care and encourage,
I admire your courage and strength,
You’re my gift,
My breath of fresh air,
My hero,
My superhero that has sacrificed so much so I would have a fair chance at life,
You put your time aside to teach me to fight thru the challenges of life,
You taught me to be strong,
To right my wrongs,
You’re the perfect song,
The brightest smile,
Who would do anything to protect her child,
Making me laugh when the world was so cruel,
Molding me with wise rules,
Kissing any bump or bruise so it would feel better,
And it always did,
You would give and give and give so my dreams could live,
You gave your all,
You give your all,
An angel who will never fall,
Just soar and inspire,
GOD’s special work of art on display for me to admire,
You paved the way for my deepest desires,
With an honest tongue you would tell me the ways of the world,
There are no maps for the traps,
But you always say, “Just keep on trucking,”
Wise words from my favorite girl,
The perfect pearl,
My thorn-less rose,
Everyday my love for you grows deeper,
I understand what you’ve done,
You’ve always made me feel important,
Yes, I’m a proud son,
Who deeply appreciates your dedication and resiliency,
I’m appreciative of the love and value you’ve instilled in me,
From day one it’s been pure and true,
That’s why everyday is Mother’s Day,
Because everyday I can’t help but celebrate You…
I LOVE YOU MA!
Everyday Is Mother's Day
"...So Branch out,
Stand tall,
Reach for your Horizons.
BREATHE...
Then Paint your Canvas,
As High as the Sky is." #PeaceOffering Part 4 of 4 #PhotoPoem By J. Ivy #LinesOnMyMind#DigginInThePapes
#PhotoPoem
NEW YORK Performance
Tonight I'll be rocking with the fam & fellow Poet Lemon Andersen for his show "A Poet's Stories." This is going to be one of those nights so be sure to be in the building. Tammany Hall 152 Orchard St. New York, New York. Doors open at 730pm. SEE Y'ALL THERE!!
"Name in the rafters. Champions who championed thru life's chapters." #Happy #NationalPoetryMonth#LinesOnMyMind #DigginInThePapes #Inspiration#PayingHomage #TheBlackPoets #WriteON
#PhotoPoem
Photo by: David Guttenfelder
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
Poem by: J. Ivy
How do you shine in a city so big?
Needle in a haystack wanting to be a twig,
A branch,
So you branch out,
Stomp hard with your dreams,
Rooted by the passion that burns within,
Not knowing how your path will bend or end…
You begin,
With high hopes and burning desires,
You float thru your concrete jungle,
In search for inspiration that will fuel your fire,
Feed your purpose,
Reveal your reason for being,
Clearly seeing,
You become a beacon of light in the darkest days,
A sign that leads us thru life’s shade,
Haze,
You maneuver thru the maze,
At times you may flicker,
But you never stop breathing life into your flame,
You trail blaze with the motor of your blaze,
Your wants,
Your needs,
Your ways,
You protect them with an unbreakable force,
On course with your lantern,
Your heart,
Leading the way,
Amongst tall buildings and a billion stories,
It’s your wishes,
Your will,
It’s you that you find,
As the choir in your core sings,
“This little light of mine…”
#PhotoPoem #LinesOnMyMind #DigginInThePapes #NationalPoetryMonth
#PhotoPoem
EMPTY THE CLIP
Written by: J. Ivy
“Run, Nigga, Run…”
The gun has sounded,
The alarm has rang,
Unchained by masters that want us to remain slaves,
We we’re built to be masters of our own domains,
Minds,
Bodies,
Spirits,
In so many different facets everyday-greatness is attained,
But our neighbors’ thoughts are still estranged,
Hate is still the aim,
The target,
“You can entertain, but don’t mingle,
Don’t touch our women,
But we’ll touch yours,
Fill their bellies with our seed.
Don’t touch our men,
But we’ll criminalize yours,
Bend laws,
Take homes,
Imprison them for our needs,
You didn’t read the fine print,
Your silence agrees to our terms…”
Haven’t we learned?
We’ve stretched the curve,
The other cheek has been turned,
While our churches, our language, our culture was burned,
Respect is earned,
Sitting on the sideline you voice your concern,
“RUN! JUMP HIGHER! RUN FASTER!
I give you food, clothes, and cars…”
False bandages for the scars, the wounds,
Ignorance is bliss,
Arrogance is blind,
Wicked ideals spit on the tombs of those who’ve died,
For our freedom,
Equality,
Obviously your Jim Crow badge is brightly pinned to your suit,
“RUN! DIVE! SHOOT!”
We’ve been shot,
Clipped by a Clipper whose ownership mentality feels he owns niggers,
Blames it on the culture,
“Stay away from Blacks,”
The energy you and yours spend holding us back,
Holds us all back,
Holds us all down,
The weight of hate is profound,
We’ll be lost as long as this kind of evil is found,
In our hearts,
In our homes,
Collectively this is our house,
Our family,
And the clutches of your racist ways are no longer welcomed,
Nor will they be condoned…
#LinesOnMyMind #DigginInThePapes #LosAngelesClippers #DonaldSterling #RacismWillNeverWin
"Empty the Clip"
"...There's always more.
Trust that,
Trust yourself,
Seek what you adore.
The key to life is finding Beauty in spite of what may wash up on your Shores..." #PeaceOffering Part 3 of 4 #PhotoPoem By J. Ivy #LinesOnMyMind#DigginInThePapes
#PhotoPoem
"...Your eyes will rest on the Peaks ahead,
Move with confidence,
Knowing there's another Beach ahead..."
#PeaceOffering Part 2 of 4 By J. Ivy
#PhotoPoem
GOOD PEOPLE!! It's time to take a break and scoot on over to okayplayer.com for the premier of @decapmusic & @nyceonthebass #DRT feat Yours Truly! This joint is so refreshing and the album #Qi, which is being released on Monday April 10th, is CRAZY!! #GetInTune @okayplayer
Okayplayer Premier
"When you go against the Grain and Focus on the Sands of time. You won't lose sight of the Mountains set for you to climb..." #PeaceOffering Part 1of 4 #PhotoPoem By J. Ivy#LinesOnMyMind #DigginInThePapes
#PhotoPoem
CONGRATS to @SmokeDZA on the release of his album Dream.Zone.Achieve ft Yours Truly on the song "Black Independence!" Download it on #iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dream.zone.achieve/id840267026
Dream.Zone.Achieve
WRITE ON POET!
Today is the first day of National Poetry Month so I have to shout out to all the Poets past, present, and future. I'm honored to call myself a Poet and I am blessed to have been inspired by so many. To the Poets, stay inspired and continue to be a voice for the people. To my people who follow my work, check back here throughout the month for new pieces and quotes. But for now here is the piece that I performed on Sean C & LV's "Loud Dreams." Much Love!!
LIGHT FANTASTIC
Written By: J. Ivy
The sun rose,
Instant inspiration for my pose,
My soul,
My shine,
My time is accounted for,
Somewhere inside of every light bulb that I explore,
Every piece of hate that I ignore,
My spirit I implore,
Conscious begging for more,
Begging for more!!
This is my panhandle,
It’s hot in the kitchen,
What can your hands handle?
In life you better be ready to throw those mittens,
Cause bitches get man handled,
I know GOD ain’t give me nothing that I can’t handle,
You’re good in the pocket, but can you scramble?
Freestyle,
Improvise,
A man who has the freedom to trust himself is already wise,
I already won,
I’m winning,
We winning,
Wheels spinning,
In search for new beginnings,
We get caught up celebrating old endings,
Self-imprisoned,
Still suffering from old feelings,
It’s a new day,
I’m on my new shit,
Formulating ways to fulfill every new wish,
Lift the weight of the world,
Exercise your gifts,
Space is the limit and space is limitless,
Universes are sparked in those moments that are intimate,
Quiet,
Sound,
Turn my music up loud,
These are loud dreams,
My Big Bang,
When you Dream BIG,
You end up doing BIG things,
The cause of small moments effect big change,
As long as your soul sings,
Aim high,
Let your light shine,
Make the most of every moment,
And your name will never be left behind,
SHINE…
YO!! I had the pleasure of blessing the homies @ItsSeanC & @LVizual's #CLASSIC new album#LOUDDREAMS!! This joint is CRAZY!! Feat @MyFabolouslife @Pusha_T @BustaRhymes @BunBTrillOG @SmokeDZA @CharlieRed @MCTREEG @BIGKRIT @Raekwon @TheRealKiss @DomKennedyOPM @devindude420 @ASAPferg @AsherRoth @KeonBryce GET IN TUNE and download the album at seancandlv.com...LETS GO!!
Loud Dreams
"We constantly have to find ourselves..." #linesonmymind#diggininthepapes #hereiamthenandnow #recreate#reinvent