OFF MY CHEST (free-writing)

It's like I can't smile anymore, people get upset
that this underdog rallied back for an upset.
TOUGH! I ain't done yet... stay on my grind.
My brain vacant? Nah, money stays on my mind.
But every time I try to come up with doin' new things,
the world trips me up, like it's tyin' my shoe strings.
I guess there's no place in the world for innovation.
Cuz y'all jockin' each other... another imitation.
There's no relation, but y'all are soundin' similar.
Spittin' that nonsense... soundin' like the Riddler.
Here's a riddle for ya... What is one syllable,
hatin' on a man who once was just as pitiful?
You ain't gotta guess... Just glance in the mirror.
Stare in THAT man's eyes. Now the answer is clearer.
I was once like you... a dunce like you.
TRUTH once I knew... Then, at once, I grew...
Now some of y'all thinkin': DeLa's really a phony.
But that goes to show none of 'em really know me.
A million different faces I got... And none of 'em fake:
whether smilin' or a frown that I make...
I'll be silly and retarded, really amp'd, or modest,
quiet and shy, arrogant, obnoxious...
These are ALL me and my swagga within.
And I sleep fine at night, comfy in my own skin...
Forgivin' my own sins. Can't none of y'all judge me.
God's his own father. Thus, I father'd and loved ME...
I did it on my own, ga'dammit! Understand it.
Y'all given a full deck, I played the cards that I'm handed...
And when I leave the planet, at least I'll know I managed
to have found peace-of-mind... I found a piece of mine!
While most of y'all are blind, stressed, with lots of issues.
Ya need to let it go... Here's a box of tissues...

~ DeLaCases ~

Who's That The Man In The Mirror???

This world is crazy as a Mc Mofo on St. Patty's day (happy belated btw)... It's interesting how people's residual imagery of themselves are so unsettling that they must go and fabricate their own history in order to recreate someone of greater substance to the world. Now, I am somewhat of a hypocrite, for I too tell myself lies every morning... but hey, that's just how a man of arrogance begins his mornings, am I right?

"Damn! You'z one good-lookin' ass muthaf*cka!"

"Your haircut game is on POINT son-son!!!"

"The b*tches are gonna flock today ma'dude!!!"

and so on...

But I tend to keep those lies hidden from the rest of the world and locked solely within my own dome-piece. Whereas some in this crazy, little, mixed-up world that we're living in wear them as their everyday outfit.

Now, I try to be as REAL as possible... I'd put my LIFE on this statement. Despite the fact that it takes one time to get to know me and see the real me, it's possible... even to my naked skin. However, it's unfathomable to completely grasp the logic in others who lie about who they are... even after long periods of time. I suppose they sort of "dig a ditch" that gets too deep, huh?

Moral of the story??? Be comfortable in your own skin... for at the end of the day, the one who's starin' back in the mirror is the ONLY person that you truly have to answer to. Y'dig? heh...

The Update

What's poppin' America? I know it's been a minute since I've last posted, but I've been hella-busy... my apologies many times over. It's been incredibly difficult for me to adjust to this 'quest for ever-evolving lifestyle' that I've embarked on at the outset of this blog.

I've obtained a decent-paying 9-5 job (or should I say 11pm-7am) being a lab-rat for Tropicana Inc. (yes, the O.J. company), I'm still working on developing my own LLC or Inc. within the next few months (meeting and proposing plans with the city and state officials) while still doing my little retail business on the side, and I'm still hittin' hard with the beats as well as the lyrics... all in all, I can say that I'm about my hustle.

::PONDER:: I've been thinking a lot about this downwards economy and how to make it work for my benefit... however, my end solution has been one that, although profitable, is inevitable unpatriotic. What exactly is that??? hmmmm... well, let's just say that it involves the currency ratio of less-fortunate, 3rd world countries. Hey, we all gotta eat, am I right? I'll keep you posted.

On the musical note... I've been working on a collaboritive effort with a few different people, in a couple of different genres of music. First, I produced and co-wrote a track with a new lyricist friend from the U.K., Jerome Dadirep... you can check it out on Facebook (if we're friends... if not, friend me). It's called "HUSTLERS 2009" and although my vocals are a bit on the raw-side, the entire theme and vibe of the track is what I was pushin' for... and I think it's a good one.

I've also received a text a few days back from a friend of mine back in NY. Now, I used to have a HUGE crush on this girl... but after time and experience, we've gotten to be just cool and what-not. Whatever, Whatever... anyways, she hits me up and tells me that her girl linked her up with this Music-guy, who turns out to be a boy of mine from a few years back... he saw their "mutual friends" on facebook and ended up droppin' my name to her... to make a long story short... he ends up textin' me, tellin' me that he wants me to get a couple of tracks ready for my homegirl and get her radio-ready... I mean, this is exciting sh*t. For one, it's always been her dream to sing... and I mean SING. Y'kno? She's definitely got the persona for the limelight... just needs to see a dream come true for once. And I also share that dream... not to mention the pleasure of being the one to help someone try to accomplish something this paramount. Unreal, really. heh...

So, this is where I'm at right now in life... 40-52 hour week job, side-businesses operational, bigger business in the works, music, family, and friends... not to mention my new-found hobby of auto-mechanics that I've taken up via means of my uncle who's a long-time mechanic.

Life's busy... Life's good... thus far.

But stay tuned... It's Murphy's Law: What could go wrong, most likely will. I'm no Alchemist... so I'm sure some of these things will fail and fall. Thanks for your optical-ear.

WHY HATE WHEN YOU CAN LOVE?

There is no such thing as "right" or "wrong"... there is only the consequences of our actions.
People will always do what they want to do (regardless if it's selfish or selfless)... resulting in the present situation, good or bad. I've learned in my experiences that the best solution to any particular problem is simply this: to do what you are going to do. Simple enough, huh? Well, it is that simple; it's just we as human beings have this unquenchable thirst to have a reason, a purpose for EVERYTHING. We feel the need to justify our behavior to validate our own "normality"... and this is actually why things become so impossibly difficult. However, if you just took a step back and acknowledge one simple truth, you would find things are not as complex as you perceived them to be at the outset.

What TRUTH is that???

That when people will do what they want to do... there is nothing that we can do to prevent it. We may be able to prolong or systematically manipulate the other person, but the conclusion will be one of human nature, emotions (chemical reactions), or whatever you want to call it. Ego... Pride... Vanity... if these are what you feed your hypothalamus within your neuron-network, then this is inevitably what you will develop and addiction for. These are easy addictions to be associated with in comparison to patience, love, and compassion.

I am in no way saying that you should suppress any emotion either... just find a healthy channel to release them. The majority of this world has set their sights on rebellion... thinking that it's the most individualistic thing to do, when it's quite the opposite. I dare any to actually display compassion, sympathy, and/or selflessness to a stranger... and more-so to their supposed loved ones. I can assure you, in the end, everyone can walk away as bigger people - mature individuals.

But what do I know, right?

BIG DREAMS TURN REALITY

This is an investment property I'm dealing with at the moment.
Negotiations are under-way and it's looking quite promising...

'CRAWL' Key, Belize

Specifications:
45 acre island property
10 - 11.5 miles off the coast of Belize.
Beautiful reefs (scuba and snorkel)
Deep shore drops (great fishing potential)
Undeveloped (endless possibilities for tourism and\or resorts)
Current Estimated Value: $4.5M ($100K per acre)

Can you imagine what you could do with a little bit of capital?

THIS is what the ☆☆☆American Dream☆☆☆ is all about...

NEW DREAMS... NEW DESTINY...

When is "enough"... enough?
How thin can you actually stretch yourself before you finally snap?

I've never had a full understanding of how this world works (financially) until the later half of 2008. And now that I do, I feel as though I've become just a tad-bit too excessive in my enthusiasm for business. Even my hobbies transform into potential money-making ideas. Gift and a curse?

My desire to "MAKE IT" is vast enough to fuel each aspiration equally, without any neglect. However, I tend to find myself changing into something that I am not quite sure how to define as of yet. Music, Art, Design... any and all forms of my creativity willfully submits and becomes a slave to the new-born capitalist within... and I'm not complaining either. From Carhart vests, hoodies, Timb's, and 3XL white-T's... to high-end stripe button-downs, Italian loafers, and Trilby hats... I feel like a new man with a new goal in life: TO PROVE TO THE WORLD THAT IT CAN BE DONE. I have no "limelight" shining upon me... I have no extraordinary gift. I don't know everything about anything... but I know "enough" about a lot.

::PAUSE::

On a more personal note:
I had a bizzare dream come to me early this morning. I'm walking this long hall of broken mirrors, dimly lit by a glare off in the distance. I continue to walk, for what seems to be an eternity, until the light becomes so bright that I am blinded. Once the light ceases, I try to focus. That's when, all of a sudden, I'm no longer in the darkened hallway, but in the foyer of this grand, marble-floored mansion, accompanied by all of my closest friends and family. Time stops... and I awaken. I don't know why I woke up... there was no dangerous threat or exillerating situation occuring during the moment of awakening. Not to mention that this was the first dream that I could remember to a "T".

I don't think it was a dream of fantasy... but perhaps one of destiny.
I walk the dark path alone in order to reach the things I desire the most: riches, family, and friendship. And these are the things that will define me... not some mirror image of what I currently look like.

We shall see, won't we?

BUDDING POTENTIAL

"If at first you don't succeed... try, try again." This cliché phrase currently seems to be most logical one of them all. I can't say that I've been through it all, but I CAN say that I've been through enough... enough to know that when life knocks you on your hind-side... you gotta get the f*ck back up, dust yourself off, and prepare yourself for another ass-whoopin'. Time and Life are flaunting and selfish "sum-muh-mah-b*tches." (R.I.P Bernie Mac) They are, in fact, the only constants in this world. (I would like to think that greed, envy, and hatred will one day find peace and subside once and for all)

With that now being known, I am ever-more driven to accomplish whatever it is I desire to do: Create stable, cash-generating businesses, experience and enjoy life, and channel my perspective thoughts through music for the masses to hear and vibe with. A wise man once told me ~ "You have to have more than one hustle in this world, son." I, in turn, asked him ~ "To survive?" ~ "No... to LIVE!" he replied. Times are changing, lifestyles are evolving, and people are starting to realize that if you don't have an open mind... you'll inevitably be left behind.
~☆☆☆☆☆::{REAL TALK}::☆☆☆☆☆ ~

So this is where I will scribe my thoughts: when I'm bored, or when I just want to tell to the world about what's poppin' off in this crazy, little life of mine.

My name is DeLaCases...
...and from here on out, it's "HIS STORY" IN THE MAKIN'!!!