We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

P​.​O​.​E​.​T.

by TONY B. CONSCIOUS

/
1.
Tony's Tune 01:27
info
buy track
2.
P.O.E.T (feat. Artus Mansoir) 10:43
lyrics
buy track
P.O.E.T I am a POET, (even though you may not know it) And I intend to show it (whether I write it or I flow it) Cause who I be (is TONY B) And I am a P.O.E.T (that’s me) I’m a Professional Oratory Education Technician While it seems like some of these cats have straight gone fishin And forgot the mission, just listen I’m giving you verbs full of vitamins and nouns full of nutrition With some political prose for your soul, so pay close attention (check it) I’m a “P”, which stands for professional, cause yes, at this, I’m a pro “O” is for oratory or the oral tradition, the power of the spoken word or NOMMO “E” is for education, cause I’m here to teach, preach and reach And “T” is for technician, cause I work with these words Throughout each and every speech See, now other poets ain’t all that topical nor philasophical Trying to feed you poetry popsicles, while me. I get verbally optical But when they step up to the mic, Trying to “step and fechit” poetry I be thier obstacle And Pimpin’ poetry for profits might just land them in the hospital But I’m still hospitable Cause, way before “Love Jones”, I’ve been blessing microphones Selling Poetry when it wasn’t popular, before the attack of the “open mic clones” They be some trendy “nine to fivers”, when hell, I’m a spoken word survivor Lacing coffeehouses, stages and schools with spools of stanzas Cause I’m that much liver See, way befo’ HBO caught on to our flow And Hollywood, said it was all good, you could find me in the hood Livin’ out the true essence of the art, way before the movie “Slam” And Saul Williams, I was writing about theIlluminati and Reptillians But if ya’ll don’t know who I am I am a POET, (even though you may not know it) And I intend to show it (whether I write it or I flow it) Cause who I be (is TONY B) And I am a P.O.E.T (that’s me) 1 I be writing for where I’m from, the inner-city, the underground,the ghetto slums I’m talking about the projects and shanties, while other cats just do it for the panties Pimpin’ poems like prostitutes ain’t cute cause you diluting the truth And everything our people been through, just to get back to our roots (so I drop it) But not like I’m Robert Frost, more like I’m LANGSTON HUGHES I ain’t hearing no Emily Dickenson, But straight no chaser MAYA ANGELOU No Alan Ginsberg, but the power of the spoken word Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Richard Wright, Claude Mc Kay Countee Cullen and all of the elder griots from the Harlem Renissance, ASHE’ See, My flow can’t be Judged or condensed to merely 3 minutes Yet I’m still getting perfect scores, yet breakin’ all the time limits While other cats are becoming commercial, Me, I stay controversial They be trying to seduce the crowd, while I’m steadly making them Black and Proud See, I’ve been livin’ solely off poetry day in and day out While they working for the very system, they be writing poems about They be workin’ for the government, while talking about the establishment While me, with sincerity and legitimacy, be in the inner-city trying to end illiteracy Cause that’s who I be... I am a POET, (even though you may not know it) And I intend to show it (whether I write it or I flow it) Cause who I be (is TONY B) And I am a P.O.E.T (that’s me) From the Nuyorican and Blue Moon in New York all the way to the World Stage in L.A. The Yin Yang in Atlanta used to be the spot and club Kaya was straight hot From Oakland, Nashville, Florida, Saint Louie all the Birmingham Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston open mics all know who I am I got pieces in peoples homes, by laminating and framing my poems I’ve got C.D’s for that dome, and coffee table booklets, for you to look at I’m the epitome of poetry, LITERALLY with an additional acronym too I’m also P.O.E.T.R.Y, Putting Out Energy To Raise You See, I hit the open mic list like a Mack 10 truck Or like a track star while you sit in the bleachers Or in the back row, thinking to yourself YO.. This cat should be the damn feature... 2 And by the time I’ve worked my second piece, You’ll be motivated like I’m MLK Or Malcolm X in Harlem back in the day, Cause with this art form I don’t play I hit you with plain or the fancy, similies, or the spiritually advanced see I enhance thee, listener lyrically, while keeping it timeless and not trendy I mean I’m putting Hallmark out of business, when spit this I’ve got notebooks full of prose, and daily my portfolio grows I’m the M.C. before the M.C., the royal scribe documenting history The hieroglyphic carving, never, ever starving Storyteller and teacher since antiquity I’ve been reincarnated yes, I’ve made it and been created as I’ve stated To balance the poetry movement, though I’m hated By these microphone minstrels with dialects dilapidated And this is just an introduction, in conjuction with my products and clothing line As I’ve come to free your mind. so let me tell you who I am just one more time I am a POET, (even though you may not know it) And I intend to show it (whether I write it or I flow it) Cause who I be (is TONY B) And I am a P.O.E.T (that’s me)
3.
God is In The Ghetto 07:20
lyrics
buy track
GOD IS IN THE GHETTO Yo, Yo Yo Yo Yo...God is in the ghetto !!! I said Yo, Yo, Yo, Yo, Yo, The gods are in the ghetto !!! I stepped outside early this morning in the ghetto, walking down the block to the store Thinking as I’m looking at the living conditions, GOD must not live here anymore When sitting on the corner, with a blunt and a fourty, dirty as hell with bloodshot eyes Was the diety I’d been looking for, so I said “What up” and he said “I’m the MOST HIGH” So I said “Where have you been ? I’ve been praying, meditating and looking for you everywhere” “The preacher up the block claims the church is your crib” and he said “Nah cat, I don’t live up in there” “That’s where JESUS kicks it giving those seminars and running that big ol’ game” “On how to make a million dollars real quick, by franchising your name...” “But you can check out my fam, they’re everywhere, in every hood, any place you go...” For we be with the poor righteous teachers, not the pork chop preachers For the GODs stay in the ghetto Yo, Yo Yo Yo Yo...God is in the ghetto !!! I said Yo, Yo, Yo, Yo, Yo, The gods are in the ghetto !!! So I went back to the lab, changed clothes and left my crib at about 10 Walked down to catch the bus on the corner, and saw that same ol cat THE MOST HIGH again He was getting roughed up by some reptillians Claiming he was loitering, panhandling and breaking the law When out of nowhere came ALLAH, trying to sell me a beanpie and a Final Call I had forgot I’d given all of my change to the MOST HIGH on the corner, And my dollars to JEHOVA this morning See, JEHOVA be knocking on your door at 6 o’ clock, the crack of dawn Trying to read you scriptures while you still sleepy and yawning So I’m walking with ALLAH, asking about MUHAMMAD, who got poisoned by the CIA in the ATL When I see this cat shining shoes in front of the mall, who was it ? No other than ISRAEL He said HERU was teaching Egyptian Yoga classes, And OSHUN was giving swimming lessons at the “Y” YAH had a raw health food store in Atlanta and in New York, KRISHNA got shot 41 times BUDDAH was a D.J. in Detroit, But was still selling that good ol’ “BUDDAH BLESS” While ATOM was a beatbox and PTAH an M.C., and yo his rhymes were mad fresh He could create shit just by his very words, and it would actually appear But the Masons were taxing fools for practicing spirituality And had the whole hood full of fear He said the ILLUMINATI were putting out tabloids about the MECHELZEDEKS And creating false rumors about the universal flow But that’s when I said “I’ll talk to you later yo, I‘ve gots more GODs to see in the ghetto...” Yo, Yo Yo Yo Yo...God is in the ghetto !!! I said Yo, Yo, Yo, Yo, Yo, The gods are in the ghetto !!! So next I headed over to this goddess by the name CALIFA ‘s spot For, she be hooking up the tight ass briads and plats While her homegirl MEDUSA did twists and locks OGUN was in the building next door, hooking up the bomb jewlery and metal cuffs While JAH was sittin out front, listenin’ to Bob Marley, rollin’up a spliff And then he asked me did I want a puff I was like “I’m cool” and that’s when ISIS walked in, Personifying beauty,100% natural but with so much sass Talking about how she’s raising the peoples consciousness By giving a metapysical astrology class Down at IMHOTEPs healing center, right after the African drum and dance Taught by ASHE’ and YAHWE’, with RA providing the lighting when he gets the chance But I told her I couldn’t make it today, my schedule was full and by the time it was done I’d probably be at Club Kemet checking out KRIST Performing his classic hits “South Bronx” And “I’m Still #1” But that’s when LUCIFER rolled up in a fly ass Hummer on 20’s,bumpin’ “LIL JOHN” Saying BEEZLEBUB was throwing a playalistic, orgy type jam in Vegas And if I wanted to go, I needed to come on... And then who rolls up right after him ? some more REPTILLIANS on bikes Asking me for some I.D., and who I be So I said “Me, I’m just a P.O.E.T, out her looking for my G.O.D.s” And that’s when they gestured and pointed across the street, right towards the bank They said”If you want to find GOD, he’s in there all tied up, And you can get him in DOLLARS, PESOS and FRANKS And that’s when I woke up from my dream Completely drenched in sweat, thinking to myself, aw HELL NO Cause I guess I forgot, whether we like it or not, Money ‘s also another GOD in the ghetto... Yo, Yo Yo Yo Yo...God is in the ghetto !!! I said Yo, Yo, Yo, Yo, Yo, The gods are in the ghetto !!! When you look at your people what do you see ? An enemy or a diety ? I know sometimes it’s hard to believe But everybody’s a reflection of the G.O.D So,... yo, yo, yo, yo.... do you see GOD in the ghetto ? Yo, yo, yo, yo...do you see GOD IN THE GHETTO? I SEE GOD, I SEE GOD...... I SEE GOD, I SEE GOD
4.
FLAVORFUL (It's like Candy) 05:52
lyrics
buy track
FLAVORFUL Ain’t no need to look no other place Cause we’ve got flavor for your face No matter what your preference and your taste You can find it within our race (And it’s like candy...) See relationships be like a ROCKY ROAD, so I’ve been told Or even sometimes they be making you high, like APPLE PIE ala mode Other times they be like BLACK COFFEE, steaming hot or COLA SLURPEE cold But the love and flavor of my people is one thing that can never be sold Why ? cause we gots so much soul... See, sometimes I get SOUR APPLES when chasing after a WILD CHERRY Having PRALINE dreams of her COOKIES N CREAM And wanting to pick her BLACKBERRY When some POWERHOUSE, who makes her SNICKER Comes and gives her an ALMOND JOY Or uses his BUTTERFINGERS on her PEANUT BUTTER CUPS Making her say “You go boy !!!” I tend to get a CHOCOLATE CHIP on my shoulder, but before it goes to far I just remember sistahs are like GINGER SNAPS And I can just stick my hand back in the cookie jar And say “what shall I pull today? A sexy STRAWBERRY in a RASPBERRY beret?” “Or a cute PASSION FRUIT, APRICOT who’ll give me a buzz?” “With some BUTTERSCOTCH breasts, TANGERINE thighs or a little PEACH fuzz?” Whatever I pick, whether it be lighter, darker, browner or blacker I know it’ll be the bomb, as long as I remember that “CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM don’t taste good with no CRACKERS” So “Jungle Fever” is out of the question, cause my name ain’t O.J. So give me some MOCHA or MANGO on these COCONUTS Cause I’ll never, ever go the other way... Why? Cause Ain’t no need to look no other place Cause we’ve got flavor for your face No matter what your preference and your taste You can find it within our race (And it’s like candy...) See, sistahs come in all FLAVORS you can savor From bourgie, TUTTI FRUITY to cosmopolitan NEAPOLITAN Whether you want a half breed OREO Creole FRENCH VANILLA, GERMAN CHOCOLATE or even TAPIOCA To a mixed up MOCHA or Black and Mexican SALSA Or even a Black and Asian ALMOND ROCA If you chill on “BLUEBERRY HILL” like “Alexander the GRAPE” Going “Coo-Coo for COCOA PUFFS” Or go BANANAS for BUTTER PECAN sistahs in bandanas And like em’ kinda SALTY with VINEGAR,we’ve got your stuff From the SOUR CREAM AND ONION, round the way hoochies To the RUM AND COKE, ALIZE’ and CRYSTAL tasting groupies From the hot and spicy, CARAMEL, JERK, BARBECUE queens To the sleazy SKITTLE, NOW & LATER ladies And CARROT CAKE college girls in their teens There’s no need to “jump the fence”, cause you ran into a SAUERKRAUT Or a PINA COLADA, wanting your dollars, smelling like a two day old TROUT See, from A to ZINC, we’ve got what you drink From CAFFEINE to KHALUA, we’ve got JELLYBEANS that’ll do ya From the GREEN TEA Goddesses, to Vegan WHEAT GRASS for dat ass The “Mother Of Civilization” comes in numerous variations Tantalizing your taste buds and BROWN SUGARed with several sweet sensations From the country like RANCH, Earthy like CELERY KIWI, BOYSENBERRY, PINEAPPLE and VITAMIN C, see, she be a REAL FRUIT SMOOTHIE The perfect GRAPEFRUIT substitute, she’ll have you swimming in PERSIMMON JALAPENO, Black and Filipino, Her SWEET POTATO PIE will make you feign, YO Like “BUBBLE GUM. BUBBLE GUM in a dish...” “What flavor sistah do I wish?” Whether you’re a King or a Prince Preferring a exotic GUAVA or maybe a QUINCE FIG NEWTON, WATERMELON, ROOT BEER PEAR and ORANGE MARMALADE all make perfect sense Cause our beautiful BLACK LICORICE ladies Out do all the rest of them So brothas, there’s no need to turn to any others Just reach in and grab yourself an M-n-M... Ain’t no need to look no other place Cause we’ve got flavor for your face No matter what your preference and your taste You can find it within our race (And it’s like candy...)
5.
KEEP ON USING ME (ft. Artus Mansoir) 06:43
lyrics
buy track
KEEP ON USIN’ ME I was taken from my habitat where I used to chill Brought to America against my will Made to do labor, treated like a slave Killed and mutilated when I wouldn’t behave Taught I was inferior, made to believe Knowledge and success I could never achieve Kept down kept out of the mainstream While always searchin’ for the “American Dream” So many times I tried to escape To protect my sistahs who you used to rape But I would always get caught when I tried to run Shot, beaten bad, burnt, bit and hung Branded like an animal, put in chains Fed the worst food time and time again Made to sleep in quarters too narrow and small And rise at dawn with no rest at all I built your plantations, I built your nice homes Planted your crops and your gardens all alone Made you look good in the New World While my sistah raised your little boys and girls Playin’ nanny while your woman sat on her fanny Thinkin’ evil thoughts about my granny When all I ever wanted was to be free So why, oh why, can’t you let me be ? Let me explain to you Why I’m feelin’ black and blue You just keep on usin’ me Until you use me up... For this country, the one I helped build I worked in your house and in your field I worked in your factory and on your farm Took care of your cattle and built your barns I fought to free you from colonial oppression And in the civil war, I showed my aggression In a battle over me that I had to fight During slavery, both day and night Getting paid less, as a soldier Sleeping in places that were much colder I fought in every battle, even World War 1 Then came back to hatred when I was done I fought for you in World War 2 Loyal on our soil, standing proud and true Which is the reason I can’t understand Why I was considered three-fifths of a man I wanted to go home But you wouldn’t let me go Wanted equality, so you gave me “Jim Crow” Wanted Education and the right to vote So here you come in your sheet with a gun and a rope Committing hateful crimes, shouting profanity All in the name of God and Christianity When all I ever wanted was to be free Yet to this day, You won’t let me be You say we’re all the same Yet you keep on playing games You just keep on usin’ me Until you use me up Now in the nineties, things ain’t even changed You still continue to treat me the same Every time I speak out on how much you hate me You want to discredit or assassinate me You still got me fighting for Uncle Sam Yet at home you’ve got me starvin’ and don’t give a dam I continue to help you defeat your enemies In the name of freedom and democracy You pay me to give drugs to my people You bring them in the country and then call ME evil I seem to take the rap for all the bad you do A.I.D.S, unemployment, crack and crime too In my own neighborhood you use me to spy Be an “Uncle Tom” in the F.B.I While you make certain that my freedom doesn’t ring By beating down my brothers like Rodney King I’ve helped you everyday, every minute, every hour Made sure you became the “Number One Super Power” Helped you to control, coerce and create Yet you still deny me justice, still give me hate Why, oh why, must you be so cruel ? Must I always be made a fool ? When all I ever wanted was to be free So why, oh why, can’t you let me be ? Let me explain to you Why I’m feelin’ black and blue You just keep on usin’ me Until you use me up...
6.
P.O.E.T.R.Y (just so you know) 05:30
lyrics
buy track
P.O.E.T.R.Y (Chorus) Spoken Word is something you do, Poetry is something you live Putting Out Energy To Raise You While staying focused on the positive Next on the List, Who could it be ? No other than that brotha by the name of TONY B. A true P-O-E-T, everyday of the week That’s how I eat and put shoes on my feet But wait ? When you hear this beat You might say this is something that is made for the street Nah the coffeehouse is where I read But play this in your Jeep? Yes indeed Do that, I approve of that, so move on that I’m a cool cat, who too raps, I do that Just the way When people and talk Whether in L.A., ATLANTA, THE BAY, or NEW YORK We can take this art form to the next Plateau Just by the way we write and how we flow By putting aside our pride and our egos And respecting the Art and the Beauty fo sho’ But, this is for Every POET who loves to recite
And is really scared to go to an open mic For anyone who’s seen a POETRY SHOW And likes the content and the way we flow Every individual that loves to dance And all the starving artist never given a chance Play this while you’re chillin’ or on the go This is just a little somethin’ to let you know... Spoken Word is something you do, Poetry is something you live Putting Out Energy To Raise You While staying focused on the positive See, I used to read my poems from a pad But now I use my brain and I refrain From coming to a spot unprepared To connect with the audience when I share Look them in the eyes and take control Open my heart and spill my soul So many fronters and fakers in this game Only out for fame, but I won’t say no names Coming to the venue, with a menu Of 3 minute slam pieces...shall I continue ? Nah, not right now, cause my vow Is to be a role model and to show you how We can take this art form to the next Plateau Just by the way we write and how we flow By putting aside our pride and our egos And respecting the Art and the Beauty fo sho’ But, this is for Every POET who loves to recite
And is really scared to go to an open mic For anyone who’s seen a POETRY SHOW And likes the content and the way we flow Every individual that loves to dance And all the starving artist never given a chance Play this while you’re chillin’ or on the go This is just a little somethin’ to let you know... (2x) Spoken Word is something you do, Poetry is something you live Putting Out Energy To Raise You While staying focused on the positive See there’s a thin line between and rap And I made this to make your hands clap And fingers snap, like you up in the club TONY B.’s on the mic, so show me some Love I’m just came to show you Poetry’s potential Over an instrumental, which is an essential And monumental, when we’re doing our thang And want to start a new movement like the SUGARHILL GANG Yea, just like RAPPER’S DELIGHT Can the spoken word movement be that tight ? Yes it could, if it doesn’t stay in the hood But goes mainstream, yet its still understood We’re not gonna let em’ do us like they did jazz Nor THE COLD CRUSH and GRANDMASTER CAZ We’re not gonna let em dilute, substitute nor POLLUTE By staying true to our roots So we can take this art form to the next Plateau Just by the way we write and how we flow By putting aside our pride and our egos And respecting the Art and the Beauty fo sho’ But, this is for Every POET who loves to recite
And is really scared to go to an open mic For anyone who’s seen a POETRY SHOW And likes the content and the way we flow Every individual that loves to dance And all the starving artist never given a chance Play this while you’re chillin’ or on the go This is just a little somethin’ to let you know... Spoken Word is something you do, Poetry is something you live Putting Out Energy To Raise You While staying focused on the positive
7.
Happi 2b Nappi 04:32
lyrics
buy track
HAPPI 2B NAPPI Every since I came out of my mother’s womb After being conceived by my mommy and pappy I loved everything about myself And have always been HAPPI 2B NAPPI All through Jr. high and High school All the white kids would constantly be looking at me Because I’ve always been proud of my history and culture And even then I was HAPPI 2B NAPPI For, the CREATOR gave us these beautiful shells And to tamper with them would be oh so tacky So I just let be, what is supposed to be And I stay HAPPI 2B NAPPI Our Ancestors braided, locked, twisted and combed So if you ever see me with a perm, please somebody slap me !!! For, straight is not strong, and if you think it’s cute, you’re dead wrong It’s Beautiful 2B HAPPI 2B NAPPI And I just love how the beauticians, christians and fast talkers Bring up Madame C.J. Walker and try to attack me She did make a million dollars as they state But off of teaching our people self-hate And making our children unHAPPI 2B NAPPI So I take them to the bible, Revelations 1:14 And they say “so you think you’re JESUS ?“ and I reply “EXACTLY !” For, it’s no bull, his hair was like lamb’s wool And you can best believe he was HAPPI 2B NAPPI We have awesome brains, so let me explain Why the Creator gave us kinky hair and not flat, see It’s thickness is to protect, all of the head and back of the neck With antannaes so B HAPPI 2B NAPPI For in the end my friend, our hair and skin Reflects the first on the planet The original and not anything crappy So my sistahs and brothas We should love ourselves and Earth Mother Love our blackness and B HAPPI 2B NAPPI I LOVE MY NAPS !!! I LOVE MY NAPS !!!
8.
Dear Little One 05:38
info
buy track
9.
Happiness 06:11
lyrics
buy track
HAPPINESS Only YOU can make YOU Happy, Happy , Happy Only YOU can make YOU happy, happy , so Happy As I look in the eyes of sistahs and brothas Fathers and mothers of all creeds and colors I don’t see happiness, but sadness, yet still We all wear a mask like our lives are being fulfilled The material items we gain are supposed to numb the pain But they only lead us back eventually to depression again We try to use sex, sugar alcohol and tobacco plus more As band aids to cover up our internal sores But what’s truly missing ? That’s the question we must ask It’s the lack of truly finding our GOD, which is a difficult task One man’s CREATOR, is another man’s DEVIL For, we are all here on this earth, but spiritually in different places And on different levels... The GOD within, for me, is not the GOD for you That’s why it’s important to thy own self to be true True and living divinity cannot be defined to a book Nor a religion or set of laws, it’s everywhere we look Only YOU can make YOU Happy, Happy , Happy Only YOU can make YOU happy, happy , so Happy Is our interpretation and worship of the most high Being influenced by this society and our oppressor’s way of life ? Maybe that’s why people I see, look unhappy and unfulfilled Because their so-called faith and connection is forced and not real Was the GOD of Columbus the GOD of the Indians ? Or the GOD of the Christian missionary the GOD of the spiritual Africans ? Was the GOD of Hitler, the GOD of the Jews ? See, if you’re thinking there’s only ONE GOD, then for you I’ve got some news... The concept is great, but in reality it’s odd To think that in this 3rd dimension, there’s only but one GOD Societal pressures, organized religion and the very constitution Makes one believe blindly and not seriously question morality and find true solutions So the dilemma lies in whether to have faith or self doubt Do we get to know our GOD’S within, or worship the GODs without ? Once we find our inner beings and communicate effectively We’ll all be better people and have a greater love for humanity And there won’t be as much sickness, poverty, death or even stress While we’ll all be genuinely fulfilled and possess internal happiness... Only YOU can make YOU Happy, Happy , Happy Only YOU can make YOU happy, happy , so Happy You're all you need in your life, you don't need no one, you don't need no one but you (so get to know the GOD within) You're all you need in your life, you don't need no one you don't need no one but you (so get to know the GOD within)
10.
My Eyes (ft. Sandbloom) 08:12
lyrics
buy track
EYES When you look in my eyes, do you see what i see ? When you look in my eyes, do you see what i see ? When I look into someone’s eyes, sometimes I see Beyond the outer person, into the mystery The soul, the essence, the being, the deepest darkest part The nature of an individual, the innocence, the heart When I look into LIGHT eyes, I used to often stare And wonder what I saw and why I saw it there After years of being bewildered, I now know why I see what I see and feel what I feel, when I look into someone’s eyes When you look in my eyes, do you see what i see ? When you look in my eyes, do you see what i see ? When I look into BLUE eyes, I see the seas The oceans wide and dark, the waters cold and deep I think of slave ships rolling, a captain and a crew With my ancestors who were packed like cargo, trying to make it through I think of all the ones who died, when I see eyes of BLUE I think of the Atlantic and Pacific, which they often went into I see the skies and I see the Creator, somewhere up above And I wonder why my people suffer, and if it’s out of love I see the BLUE that’s in the “American Flag” and the freedom once sought That same freedom my people fought for and died for, but never, ever got When you look in my eyes, do you see what i see ? When you look in my eyes, do you see what i see ? Now when I look into GREEN eyes, I first think of leaves Grass, plants and animals, then I think of trees Trees on which my ancestors hung, because there had to be People GREEN with envy, hate and bigotry GREEN eyes to me, what do they symbolize ? Dead presidents who once owned slaves on GREEN dollar bills DAMN THEM GREEN EYES !!! When you look in my eyes, do you see what i see ? When you look in my eyes, do you see what i see ? Now when I look into BROWN eyes, LIGHT BROWN, let me explain I see the sands of Egypt and fields of golden grain When I see DARK BROWN EYES, I think of Egypt again But I also think of Kenya and Ethiopia, for, I think of the motherland I think of the originators, my ancestors, and their demise Due to others with recessive genes, and also recessive eyes I think of how people make-believe every other color is worth more BROWN EYES symbolize the beginning, the genesis, the core As I look into all these eyes, one thing I truly see Is how America has programmed most eyes to be as blind as can be I see the future and what could be, If the consciousness would rise If someone like me could give people vision And they could see like I see through these eyes... When you look in my eyes, do you see what i see ? When you look in my eyes, do you see what i see ?
11.
PAIN ft. SANDBLOOM (mellow mix) 05:13
lyrics
buy track
PAIN Let me tell you a little something about a word called Pain And how it affects you in ways, you can’t even explain See, for me, it started with my ex, by the name of CHARMAIN And not it lingers and makes me never, ever want to love again See, when we first met, Soulmates is what my spirit claimed But for her, the feeling Well, it just wasn’t even the same We shared alot of commonalities, and an identical aim But on the relationship itself, see, there was a constant strain Now I cannot exclaim, that I was not the one to blame For, I was more concerned with fortune and fame We created a group called N2WISHN that was off the Chain And when we stepped on stage to entertain We received serious Acclaim Now everybody thought we were the perfect couple, And they would say “You two are the same” But little did they know, after the show... We were going through things She didn’t like my mannerisms, and claimed by demeanor was lame So, every night we would get in a figh, And I would get verbally slain My self-esteem became soft like Ice cream But up in my brain I used to say, I need to deal with this today If I want fortune and fame So, I guess I was only out for the monetary gain Which is a shame, cause I used to love her But now I was filled with disdain And of course, she wasn’t happy either, having a man she felt she had to train See, N2WISHN was the bomb But, it was the relationship that was insane So, I tried to be tame, time and time again And I tried to refrain from doing all the things That she claimed drove her insane Why? Cause to be perfectly honest... She was quite a beautiful dame And I somehow, someway wanted her to have my last name See, I wanted our love to last, so inspiring others would be the thing We did, when I did my poetry and beatboxed And she scatted and sang But no matter what I did, the relationship always stayed the same And I always ened the day, with the same ol’ pain Now looking back, I wish I would’ve done more In the beginning, to make her refrain From getting annoyed and taking my joy And on my heart leaving a stain But I was addicted to my goals in aims And living life in the fast lane Wanting Fortune and Fame and monetary gain While loving it when we entertained But now, I find myself lonely, for she was the only Sistah who truly shot her love in her veins And I was addicted like cocaine So now I abstain, from dealing with any dames She was the queen of my dreams, A conscious sistah, Vegetarian and metaphysical, who could sang So, now I just hang, trying to do my thang And often find myself walking in the rain Trying to get Charmain, off my brain For, my life will never, ever be the same For, I’m forever scarred, which is why it’s so hard Dealing with word called PAIN.... By TONY B. CONSCIOUS COPYRIGHT 2003
12.
WHAT IT IS 05:07
lyrics
buy track
WHAT IT IS Tell me, what is poetry and a P-O-E-T? Is it someone on stage shouting deities ? Is it someone regurgitating history ? Or does it have more to do with creativity ? I thought a poet was supposed to use the art Of writing and speaking to touch one’s heart By weaving their experiences and knowledge they have to impart Not just by using big words just to prove their smart Does a poet have to speak in rhythm all the time ? And does every single line always have to rhyme ? Does the topic have to be something defined ? Or can a poet just write what’s on their mind ? See, I hear so many people saying what poetry is and is not But who defines poetry and categorizes one’s thoughts ? Who is to judge one’s expression and say what’s hot ? And can poetry truly be learned ? Or even taught ? Can a poet use abstract similes and metaphors ? And can they be sensitive sometimes ? Or must they always be hardcore ? Isn’t slammin’ kinda like the art of war ? And Yo, aren’t there any philosophical griots anymore ? It’s like everybody sounds like somebody else Doesn’t anybody’s flow come from their inner- self ? It’s like they all got SLAM, LOVE JONES and SLAM NATION upon their shelves And they biting, cloning and stealing styles to obtain fame and wealth And yea, must every poet say poems that are funny ? And are poets supposed to stay broke , or can they make some money ? And are they selling out if they try to put food in their tummies ? And wind up doing a commercial, a movie, or T.V. show cause they hungry ? I ask these questions, cause in reality, there are no saints Nor supreme rulers who get to decide what it is and what it ain’t The universe has already thought every thought you could ever think So we’re kinda like old cars that are just covered with brand new paint We, being poets need to show the art ITSELF respect So I wrote this to even put MYSELF in check Cause every time we speak, someone or something we effect So can poetry be anything and everything ? CORRECT !!! There’s not one thing in this dimension that by itself can be defined All energies are co-existing and oftentimes , they’re intertwined Other times they represent opposite polarities or may be aligned But they all come from the ONE great divine mind 23 So poetry cannot be boxed, cubed, nor pigeonholed Hell, the word poetry is only 2,000 years old What was it called before that when a story was told ? Or wisdom was passed down , say 5,000 years ago ? Were there people like us sitting around a fire ? Was competition or community their focus and desire ? Was it done because acclaim and gifts they wished to acquire ? Or was it done to truly take the people’s consciousness higher ? Ask yourself what your interpretation of poetry does or did For yourself, the world, the universe, or even the little kids Are you trying to change society or make it in showbiz ? Cause whatever you think poetry and a poet is Well hell, that’s what it is...
13.
TONY B. CONSCIOUS, GIA SCOTT-HERON - P.O.E.T.R.Y (REMIXX) Feat. Gia Scott-Heron 07:02
lyrics
buy track
P.O.E.T.R.Y (REMIXX) Next on the List, Who could it be ? No other than that brotha by the name of TONY B. A true P-O-E-T, everyday of the week That’s how I eat and put shoes on my feet But wait ? When you hear this beat You might say this is something that is made for the street Nah the coffeehouse is where I read But play this in your Jeep? Yes indeed Do that, I approve of that, so move on that I’m a cool cat, who too raps, I do that Just the way When people and talk Whether in L.A., ATLANTA, THE BAY, or NEW YORK We can take this art form to the next Plateau Just by the way we write and how we flow By putting aside our pride and our egos And respecting the Art and the Beauty fo sho’ But, this is for Every POET who loves to recite
And is really scared to go to an open mic For anyone who’s seen a POETRY SHOW And likes the content and the way we flow Every individual that loves to dance And all the starving artist never given a chance Play this while you’re chillin’ or on the go This is just a little somethin’ to let you know... Spoken Word is something you do, Poetry is something you live Putting Out Energy To Raise You While staying focused on the positive See, I used to read my poems from a pad But now I use my brain and I refrain From coming to a spot unprepared To connect with the audience when I share Look them in the eyes and take control Open my heart and spill my soul So many fronters and fakers in this game Only out for fame, but I won’t say no names Coming to the venue, with a menu Of 3 minute slam pieces...shall I continue ? Nah, not right now, cause my vow Is to be a role model and to show you how We can take this art form to the next Plateau Just by the way we write and how we flow By putting aside our pride and our egos And respecting the Art and the Beauty fo sho’ But, this is for Every POET who loves to recite
And is really scared to go to an open mic For anyone who’s seen a POETRY SHOW And likes the content and the way we flow Every individual that loves to dance And all the starving artist never given a chance Play this while you’re chillin’ or on the go This is just a little somethin’ to let you know... (2x) Spoken Word is something you do, Poetry is something you live Putting Out Energy To Raise You While staying focused on the positive (And Now introducing... GIA SCOTT HERON...) I want my word to stick, to your mind’s ribs Like hot grits, Cause like a Dragon, it’s hot fire when I spit And since my debut, back in 02’ My main goal has been to inspire and uplift you I fight for the cause, at any cost Rappers are scared of me, cause I’m hotter than hot sauce Spoken word gave birth to HIP HOP I’m fluent in both, so you know that it don’t stop You’re gonna feel the truth, just wait til’ my album drop It’ll be the proof, I’m the daughter of GIL SCOTT But in the meantime, in between time Let me kick my rhyme, and let it jump start your spine Though HIP HOP defines the times, Poetry has proved to be more than a state of mind So kick back and press rewind, Just kick back and press rewind Cause... Spoken Word gave birth to HIP HOP, Though they’re 2 seperate genres They are like action and KARMA... Spoken Word was born in AFRICA Griots spoke from KENYA to GHANA SO remember your ORAL tradition (do, do, do, do, do, dah) (Tony B.) Next name written on the open mic list Is a brotha from the gutter with a black fist But if they into slam or commercial shit And the host is a sellout, you bound to get dissed Yea, keep it real., be about your ends I’ll be the first conscious poet who’s done bought a benz On spoken word, cause if you haven’t heard I’m slanging c.d.s like I’m slanging birds And t-shirts, I’m puttin’ in work Got a knot in my pocket, and you ain’t gonna stop this You might as well cop this , when I first drop this Cause everybody knows TONY B. CONSCIOUS Attacking the track like a super hero Not another negro with a suped up ego Coming to the spot, but ain’t sayin nathan Hoping to get caught and jocked by STAN LATHAN Man I ain’t hatin’ on your “Mantan “ mantras But don’t your ancestors voices haunt ya Been on HBO but look what it done got ya Alot of dope features but the hood don’t want ya Yea, your ghetto pass has been revoked And like CHEECH and CHONG, you’re up in smoke Cause like RAKIM , I ain’t no joke And am still getting paid off the shit I wrote But just like Jigga, I jumped off the boat So I could paddle past you and your wack ass crew Of putanany poets who don’t have a clue That I’m livin poetry, and it’s what I do... Written by: TONY B. CONSCIOUS & GIA SCOTT HERON COPYRIGHT 2006
14.
POETICALLY SPEAKING 04:33
lyrics
buy track
POETICALLY SPEAKING... Ya know, people walk up and ask me all the time What is it that makes a person poetically inclined ? Is it thier PLACE IN THE SUN, that makes them an INVOLUNTARY CAMELEON turning DEEP RED ? Or having a NAPPI TOUNGE and PITCH BLACK attitude that makes them a MISTY MUSE, with NRCITY BLUES ? And I reply it takes a GOLDEN CHILD like my man JAVON With FLOETICS to use KNOWLEDGE to be a FLY POET For some, it’s a PARADOX, They’ll be standing in their SOCKS Like a SEKOU THE MISFIT Reciting POETRI about Krispy Kremes Instead of SPREADING LOVE & SPOKEN WORDS My man SHIHAN, said MUSIC WAS THE NEW COTTON And MALCOLM JAMAL WARNER said the road to success was MILES LONG So, I be having COCKTAILS with BREEZY PEOPLE Sitting on CLOUD 9 watching the SANDBLOOM Because my secret is BESS KEPT, by those who intake CAYANNE Wear SARDONYX JADE jewelry, and walk in the RAIN... Whether I’m feeling NIKKI BLACK, ANT BLACK or DEE BLACK DE POET is always TAMARA BLUE, seeing the world in shades of BRIDGET GRAY However, JESSICA CARES MOORE about the GEORGIA M.E. than the AK TONEY Who might be a DISCO POET, , like my man KHARI B But will stab you in the back with a GHETTO SPEAR, When you’re looking SPIFFY, in LILY white MY partner SHANG once said “You ain’t SH--”, If you can’t CHILL THE PLAYA and make JOHN B. GOODE, Cause you’ll be stuck in an ABYSS of MEDUSAs, NEFERTARIs Princess LEAHs and QUEEN SHEBAs Who will call you their X-MAN, while you’re steadily screaming “I Used To Love Her” like KING HENRY See, ARTUS MANSQUOI will tell you “Life is like an Amusement Park” In which “Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone” If you’re making BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS... So, poetically speaking, I live an ICE LYFE, like my homies SADIKI and ZO Not caught up in the matrix, but rolling a LUCKY 7 And like this cat LORENZO, giving you “POETIC JUSTICE” With a “Love Jones” like REGGIE GIBSON But, REG E GAINES, D-KNOWLEDGE when like TALAAM ACEY There’s a “BLUES RESURGENCE” All that’s needed is “ONE MIC AND DIM LIGHTS” And you’ll find me having “Coffee On 6th” with PAUL MABON Or at 5TH STREET DICKS, trying to make some “GREEN” with “RATPACK SLIM” Asking this dude AKIL in Atlanta, if the “CRIMSON SPOT” was “FUNKNASTEE” And if they “MIKE THE POET”... Cause I want to be a “AMETHYST ROCK STAR” like SAUL WILLIAMS Expressing my SOUL EVANS, while playing 14 instruments like my man RON DEEZY But always being “A Round” like BABU (The whole world is round) I guess I’m just curious like GEORGE And an “EARTHTONE AFRICAN RAINBOW” like my girl SANDRA Calling out “Stereotypical Sambo Negroes” like ALICE THE POET On a Tuesday night at “ The Poetri Lounge” And then I said “So you really wanna know why I’m so poetically inclined ?” “It’s because I’m inspired by and hang around dope poets all the time” “I’ve just ran down a few to you, but there’s so many more I could name” “Who inspire me just by doing their thang...” Because empowerment and enlightenment everyone is truly seeking And I AM, THAT I AM, BECAUSE WE ARE... poetically speaking..

about

Before Saul Williams, Before HBO DEF POETRY, there was TONY B. CONSCIOUS. This is his signature c.d. recorded in Los Angeles in 2006, Featuring KEVIN SANDBLOOM, ARTUS MANSOIR and introducing GIL SCOTT-HERON's daughter, GIA SCOTT HERON.
This album is definitely a masterpiece and a collectors' item for the spoken-word poetry connoisseur.

credits

released September 9, 2012

Produced by: Kevin Sandbloom, Ron Deezy and Artus Mansoir.
Co produced by: TONY B. CONSCIOUS

license

tags

about

TONY B. CONSCIOUS image

TONY B. CONSCIOUS Los Angeles, California

A renaissance man (Harlem Renaissance that is), TONY B. CONSCIOUS
is the personification of AFRICAN- AMERICAN culture.

He is (amongst other things) A B-BOY, BEATBOX,EMCEE, GRAFFITI/VISUAL ARTIST (known as “THE GHETTO VAN-GO”), Poet/ Spoken Word Artist, Vocalist, AUTHOR, ACTIVIST, VEGAN VEGETARIAN and PHILOSOPHER.

ALSO a member of THE UNIVERSAL ZULU NATION and THE TEMPLE OF HIP HOP. ... more

contact / help

Contact TONY B. CONSCIOUS

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Report this album or account

If you like TONY B. CONSCIOUS, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now