#MNR: POWER

#MNR: POWER
 
“Bitch I dig it. I eat ice cream with my chicken.”
Young Thug
 
First you get that money then you get that power...
 
What, exactly, is power? Well, dictionary.com defines it as “ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something.” I always try to speak on the positive aspect(s) of ambiguity first, as I consider myself an eternal optimist. Yes, I’m a glass half-full type of guy. I thank the Lord for deliverance from perpetual negativity. I do enjoy negativity from time-to-time (shouts to my ace). Get to the point, Monday. My bad, pardon self. Power, when used in positive and even altruistic methods is amazing. Examples, please. Cool. Got you. I’m rolling with John Calipari.
 
Yes, Coach Cal. Cal has the reputation and juice to recruit 5-star ball players in his sleep. And he does. In his 14-year residency at the University of Kentucky, Coach Cal has one championship (2012). He has had 47 players drafted to the NBA. Of those 47, 35 were first round selections. Calipari is the innovator of the “one and done” athlete, meaning his best players usually only attend for their freshman season before departing for the draft. Anthony Davis, Devon Booker, and De’Aaron Fox are three players on his long list of one-and-done ballers. All three are all-stars. But what makes Cal a beacon of positive power? Well, the trend in college has reversed course. The best teams now actively recruit talent like they did before the late ‘90s, meaning they direct much of their efforts towards recruits who plan to stay a while. They don’t pursue guys who are only attending university because of NBA Draft rules like they routinely did 25 years ago. Cal still vigorously recruits the one-and-done athlete. Why? Because he makes it crystal clear that his primary intention is getting these boys directly to the money.
 
Sure, Cal could go all-out and recruit players to strategically put teams together better suited to win more titles. He can recruit three and four-year lettermen who are these days vital to a championship run. But his biggest reward happens every June, when he’s seated with his boys and their families as their names are announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on draft night. He recruits, cultivates, and develops his guys specifically for that purpose. His mentality is forthright -- if I win it all again cool, but my focus is getting these young men prepared to attain and secure generational wealth. So, in essence, John Calipari has willingly forsaken personal glory for the benefit of others. Good power.
 
But why Calipari, specifically, Ty? Why was he your example? Well, I chose Cal specifically because Kentucky just lost in the first round of the tournament. Again. He lost with an array of blue-chip freshmen on the roster, many in key roles. He hasn’t had a deep tournament run in a good while. The critics were on deck to call for his head on a stick wherever the town square in Lexington is located. But UK already announced Coach Cal would return for season 15. Apparently, the athletic department and boosters are good with Cal. The cycle shall continue. Rob Dillingham and Ross Sheppard are projected first-round picks in the draft this June. Coach will undoubtedly be there with those young men and their families. His game just rewinds.
 
And now for the other side of the coin...
 
Sean Combs is an evil man in the eyes of many. Shit, that’s an understatement. We’re going to get to the latest talk. For now, let’s talk about what we knew prior to the latest developments, while remaining on course with the thesis of power. Diddy is a man who has wielded power for evil for a very long time. My first and ultimate bone to pick came on 3.9.1997, the night Christopher Wallace was assassinated in Los Angeles. Fuck that party, fuck that pussy ass award show, and fuck him being in LA at all. We just lost Pac a half year before. Tension was still EXTREMELY high on that side of things. Back then (I don’t watch award shows anymore so I don’t know about now), it was a regular occurrence to watch an award show and see an artist win an award but not be present to receive the award. There would usually be a bit of recorded film with them in a studio accepting the award while explaining that they were unable to attend because they were finishing up an album or watering their mother’s flowers in the projects– something. The point is that they accepted the award without being present.
 
INSTANT UPDATE: Wow. Biggie wasn’t even at the show to accept an award. He was there to present for the Best R&B Single. At the damn Soul Train Awards (respectfully). Not the Grammys. The MF Soul Train Awards (respectfully). I have learned in the years since that BIG didn’t want to be out there. Puff insisted. Former bodyguard turned tell-all artist Gene Deal said that he tried to do everything he could to keep BIG from attending that after-party. He could not. Puff would have it no other way. Power. I just saw a quote from Ms. Voletta Wallace that went something to the effect of “I think Sean loved my son after he died.” I don’t think you need me to Google Translate that for you, but I will. BIG didn’t become the ultimate asset to Puff until after he perished. The BIG fella was about to finish his deal with Bad Boy and go his own way. He didn’t need Sean. But Sean needed him. He needed all those BIG features on No Way Out and the “Missing You” single to boost record sales AND propel HIMSELF into rap superstardom. Every damn record that we love on that album featured Biggie. Mr. Wallace was the King of New York. He was the heart and soul of Bad Boy Records. Oh yeah, speaking of BBR...
 
RIP Black Rob and Craig Mack. Puff did both of those men slimy. Let’s keep it going. 112. Total. Faith. We can stop there. That’s more than enough artists to comprise a lengthy list of disgruntled employees. Unfortunately, Rob and Mack aren’t alive to voice their angst anymore. But every story is symmetrical. Puff did them dirty. I left G. Dep (MY nigga) off the list because he’s [self] admittedly the cause of his demise. FREE MY NIGGA DEP. IT’S BEEN LONG ENOUGH. I saved the good brother Murda Mase for last. Mase has kept the same energy for a long time now. His issues with his former boss have been well chronicled. Mase kept his story consistent – Sean Combs is a crook and ain’t ‘bout shit. In the words of Brother Malcolm, the chickens have come home to roost. Puff had the hottest label in the game. He had artists shipping platinum on rumor alone. He could have done right by them AND still been as rich as ever. Say what you say about Russell Simmons, but I’ve NEVER heard any story about a Def Jam artist getting jerked in 30 years. You robbed MF for their publishing. You deprived them of the right to eat in perpetuity. You’re a mean one, Mr. Combs. Terrible (Charles Wade Barkley voice). You had all the power. You had the power to do right by your people. You failed them. The cause? Insane levels of avarice (go look that one up). Now for the salacious parts...
 
Damn, Puff. You’re duking Meek Mill in his booty hole? I mean, I don’t want to believe it. But damn, Meek. You let a grown man take you shopping. And y’all dressed alike out in public on several occasions. I’m not saying you’re definitely gay, but you’re definitely gay friendly. Puff, you had Stevie J. fuck a male prostitute in the asshole on camera. You used the footage to convince another impressionable young producer that it was ok to get fucked in his ass. You played with Usher and Biebs when they were little boys.
 
ALLEGEDLY.
 
I learned long ago that rape is not about the actual sexual act. It’s all about wielding power and fear. Fucking an otherwise heterosexual male to buck break him is levels beyond wicked. This MF waved the figurative carrot of more fame over their heads like they were work mules. I too blame those grown men for submitting to that sick fuck for promise of more. Power. This shit is crazy. But then again, is it? This isn’t the first time we’ve heard allegations of this sort of thing. It’s just crazy that we’re talking about Sean Combs. We’ve long known that he’s one of the many devils in the multiverse. It’s also crazy that we’re talking about Meek Mill. Not hungry lil Meek with the dusty ass braids. Not the dream chaser. Not the creator of arguably the greatest album intro ever “Dreams & Nightmares.” Not the first rap nigga to date the Barbz. I can’t believe that you walked through those doors. Not you. I don’t have a problem with you being a Chuck. That’s your business. I do have a problem with you being a liar and a fanboy. You let power turn you into a tool.
 
Hold up, wait a minute. Y’all thought I was finished?
 
I’ve also heard rumblings about my baby Mary J. being an integral part of the sex trafficking allegations. Say it ain’t so, Mary? Not you? But damn. Jaguar Wright’s crazy ass has got me thinking on a few things. Look at all those pics of Puff, Cassie, and Mary J. Puff is holding both of their hands like they’re some type of freaky Jack, Chrissy, and Janet. When Cassie broke from the cult and her oppressor, she was switched out for Yung Miami. Again, there are numerous pics of Puff, Mary, and Miami on the same type of time. The rumblings are that Mary is in some type of madame role. Jaguar made another good point. Faith was the one with the vocal talent. We love Mary, but no one ever mistook her for being a voice. When Whitney (the voice) recruited two young thoroughbreds for “Heartbreak Hotel,” she went and got Faith and Kelly Price. She didn’t get Mary. Mary is my 1A to Faith. But respectfully, I haven’t cared about a complete Mary album since Mary. That was 1999. The album after with “Family Affair” was cool, but not on par with her first four albums. So how did Mary keep her profile so high for so long? Because Puff made her. He gave her the image. He gave her the sound. He gave her her entire career. She’s stayed in the spotlight the last decade or so because she’s regularly by his side. That’s why crazy ass Jaguar said that Mary hated Faith so much. Faith had the vocal talent she lacked. She envied and hated Faith for it. She had to do whatever Puff told her to do to remain afloat. All Faith had to do was go into the booth, put the headphones on, and get busy. Jaguar said that Mary used her bit of power within Bad Boy to oppress Faith. It’s crazy because Mary was never signed to Bad Boy. Puff developed her and created her image, but Mary was Andre Harrell’s signee at Uptown/MCA. Puff was just the help back then. Faith has said that they don’t rock with one another. This shit is deep. What’s the motif? Power.
 
ALLEGEDLY. ALL THIS SHIT IS ALLEGEDLY.
 
I don’t give a fuck about Puff. But do remember this: he hasn’t been arrested – yet. If he doesn’t end up dead, I’m 99.9% sure he’s going to dish all types of dirt on all types of entertainers, athletes, and even preachers (forgive me Lord). Gene Deal already said Puff was a long-time confidential informant. He’s been on point with the dirt thus far. I’m not betting against him. It’s going to get dark. Power corrupts.
 
Take that, take that.
 
FREE THE SLIME YOUNG THUG
 
Y’all know where the fuck to @ us.