DA ART OF STORYTELLIN’

RIGHTEOUSNESS. [Andre Benjamin] Yea yea yea yeah yah yo. Baby did you hear that yea baby I heard it too. Look out the window golly the sky is electric blue. Mamma Earth is dyin and cryin because of you. Rainin cats and jackles all shackles disintegrate, to residue. Silly mortals haven’t a clue as to what the f’ is goin on. I’m on the telephone, dialin the Dungeon “Hello?” This Dre, bring the MP and the SP. Meet me at the center of the earth and travel carefully. Baby grab the baby cause baby it ain’t much time. Mamma Earth is tossin and turnin and that’s our sign. Omega Jigga IFO’s are landin in Decatur. Hope I’m not over your head but if so you will catch on later. Play the track, guess she could not take it anymo’. Rapin her heavenly body like a hoe, coochie so’ from jiggaz constantly f’in her never lovin her never showin appreciation bustin nuts in her face when they done.

Ok, so this is the first time I’ve taken an ENTIRE song and used it for the DDR. But given the circumstances I think it is befitting for me to end the week with “Da Art of Storytellin (Part 2)” – especially since it’s predicted that the world is supposed to end this weekend. (Click the Youtube clip above to hear the song and follow the lyrics.) Oh, you haven’t heard? It’s predicted that we will all meet our makers on Sunday. Now, do I believe this? Not really. I believe when the world ends our mere mortal selves will be in no predicament to tell you when and where it will happen. I just don’t think God works like that. I think He shows us glimpses, and it is our responsibility to have our life in as much order as possible for when He calls for a new beginning. Like Dre says in verse one “[I] hope I’m not over your head…” because this week I’ve really been going in. One of my readers was like “Dr. Joyce, why you being so heavy this week?” I’m like “Sometimes we need heavy.” Besides OUTKAST is HEAVY MENTAL. They always have been, and I think that part of them is so under-rated. Their art of storytellin’ has always centered on a pursuit for harmony and balance. And for them, that includes talking about the world, what we do to the world, and how one day it’s gonna end. They always challenge me – and I hope you too – to think about how I’m living day-to-day, and if I were to leave this world would I be prepared.

[Big Boi] The sky is fallin nobody ballin they done gave back they guns for some tickets to the playoffs but the Hornets they won. Jigga we SLUM, kept all the guns, I gotta protect my family. I drove the biggest thing at the house cause I knew they’d try to ram me, but I’m stabbing. Makin a path on expressways, the best way I know how. Up in the sky, East-West, no clouds. Him comin now, f’ that money now, I ask my honey how she feeling and is Jordan okay, yeah yeah she’s chillin. We should be in the Dungeon shortly. Ain’t nobody on they porch see. Approachin the final exit I’m thinkin I see four horsies but I don’t though. Jigga you WON’T know, until it’s on ya. I put that on my dope boys from A-Town to California. All the weed smell like ammonia
but at the Dungeon I know they smokin. Writin the raps and doin the beats to make this last recording. F’ abortion, I got in the booth to run the final portion. The beat was very dirty and the vocals had distor-TION *echoes* {sung in a low voice over and over} All’s well, nothing’s well

So two things. First I hope I’m not over your head. If so, my prayer is that you will “catch on later” to this KNOWLEDGE we drop each morning. Second, ARE YOU READY? Should the world come to an end this weekend. When your time comes. If the sky turns “electric blue” will you “have a clue” to what’s going on? Click below to comment.

The DDR: Should the world end this weekend, I hope to see you all behind the pearly gates. (Not AT the pearly gates because I plan on getting inside.) Should the world get an opportunity to see Monday, I will see you all bright and early Monday morning as we enter into the world of Stankonia. So pull out your Speakerboxx as we travel to the Love Below.

The sky is fallin’. Nobody ballin’. They don’ gave back they guns…