HOODRICH!!

Real Quick - this was on my mind this morning...


I grew up in the hood back in KY, (yes, we have them in Louisville too.) I never really knew it was the "hood" until I moved out, in fact I didn't even know what "hood" was exactly until I moved away from there and into a more peaceful and diverse community.  I didn't take that way of life with me when my mother took us from it.  I was always focused on having a laughing and playing with my neighborhood and school friends, going to the community center, going on visits to my grandmother and my daddy's house, riding my dirt bike, playing football, basketball, or racing barefoot in the middle of the street, and every now and again a little "hide n' go get it" on 39th & River Park Drive.  There were little gangs and wanna be ballers in the "hood" that never sparked any interest of mine so I stayed away from it.

I came up a fighter, I had to, I went through a little bully phase too, - was this the "hood" in me? Probably.  Thinking about the torture and hate that I displayed to some of my vulnerable victims as I grew up, makes me feel ashamed and makes me sad every time I think about it.  And NO, I wasn't "doing what I had to do," I was acting out what I had always seen.  That's all I knew coming up in a certain environment, my mother fought physically and economically since the time I can literally remember.  It was not pretty, nothing was.....  I do remember seeing and experiencing  the nature of the hood, but I was just a kid, all that I cared about was fun, junk food, and granny's house where it was calm and loving.  Thinking back today, I can say I did a lot of "hood" shit in my life time, and I'm okay with that.  One thing I will never forget, is where I have came from - how could I.

Now I'm older, "a grown ass woman" that is, and I ain't got no love for the hood!!! Now let me get into this and if I step on some toes, excuse me, but I am speaking from my heart and my own experiences as a black woman, we all have our opinions.  What the hood has done for me is shown me how much I dislike and/or disagree with the labels that society has put on it and how "we" accept them, it has shown me that I wouldn't want to re-live, nor would I want for my children to live what me or my mother had to live once upon a time, this is all the hood has done for me honestly.  A lot of memories have been left behind.  How much love is there in the hood and how often is it displayed?  I know there is love in there somewhere, but it starts from within the home.

One of my friends told me, "L you should take it to the streets, get some shots in the hood, ya know to set the image and make it look like..."  Truth is, I've never really cared about what it looks like when it came to marketing myself and reaching for my goals.  I don't want to confuse or mislead my audience and those who fan me.  I know what "hood" is, I know what it is to be street and I am the least bit interested in following that road, I've seen where it leads, and again, that IS NOT where I am going.  I see a bigger, brighter, a more rewarding road.  I pick and choose my destiny, I create my space.  That may be good for some, but just not me.  No disrespect to the "hood" at all, but I know it goes beyond that.  It can only take you so far and there is no life longevity in it unless, it's in you.  And most that I've seen come from the hood - they've come and they've gone.

See the hood can only give me so much, so I would never settle on being "HOODRICH", I see that as chump change. I even tried to be once, but it was short-lived and filled with drama and constant commotion.  I'm talking about building empires in foreign lands and showing them the way to all around good music and enjoyment of life.  A man said to me, "Lying can save lives..." (smh) No sir, Music can. #VALUE  JAY-Z type ish, and I have to give credit to my rappers who have set this standard in the industry, I understand it.  It is right before our eyes, we can use many people and scenarios as example.  I'm on my Josephine Baker, Tina Turner, Beyonce shit, ya know.  I don't have time to play around in the hood to get some sort of street credit - F! That!  The only thing I can give to the hood is good music and hope, and I will.  I have enough friends from all different walks of life, all different races, cultures, and beliefs that have influenced me and my everything!  I have friends from many places and not one of them is more or less important than the other because of their social standard.  I'd suggest everyone to diversify their group of friends and learn something.  I don't think I could ever stuck into a certain mentality, better yet let me use my favorite, "I can not be placed inside of a box.."  I'll lose my mind and become bored with in 12 hours.  There is so much to conquer in the world and I am going after it - HANDS DOWN! Hence my motto, #GETLIVEORGETLOST 


Thank goodness we have the power over our own lives by grace of God to make our lives what we want. TAKE IT!  WHATEVER YOU WANT and you don't have to cheat anyone to get it.  You may have to use some as pedestals, but that isn't a bad thing.  I believe in karma, therefore you get what you give.  So be true to yourself, follow your hearts, and be humble all at the same time.  The reward in the end will be far beyond your imagination.  I've seen it and I want it too bad


Blessed Day to All <3