mo·nop·o·ly: A situation in which a single company owns all or nearly all of the market for a given type of product or service

My favorite past time. Actually of all time, it was just not even 2 years ago when the “bew” and I would have 3 day Monopoly sessions..[ and I soooo got his ass too] . The first time I learned how to play was from my older cousin Amer [R.I.P] who I used to visit when I would go back to Jordan in the summers [ think 1990-1993]. I remember being 8 and infatuated with brokering deals, negotiating prices on properties, and holding the monopoly money. I thought I was really doing something. I felt accomplished when I would wipe him clean. Monopoly and my brother are the reason why I don’t think I can hold a corporate job [ later on my brother].

But as much as I love the game, I don’t believe in monopolizing any market, scene [ ugh I hate that word] , or service. Recently I had a conversation with a friend … and it went a little something like this:::: us talking about how being in our little sub-culture, its like crabs in a barrel, everyone is trying to get to the top, instead of working with one another to get there.. but you know how it goes…some folks feel like if you don’t come up with the idea.. its just not a good idea. Or some people are overly protective of their brand/image/name. Some people just want to have fun. Some people are too business. Some people do it for the fame and glory. Some people do it for just the money. Some people just do it to get some kind of respect with their peers. Some people do things just because they think its cool. Some people do it cause its truly what they love, its their passion. But all these people, can make such an impact in this little town we live in . And nothing is wrong with any of these reasons.You have to live with yourself at the end of the day. So kudos for any of the reasons mentioned above… but…

There is no collective.

So after saying all that to her, and venting about my frustration about how people never want to work together and how people are quick to compete … she said: [courtesy of iChat]

” no…it’s not that u have to compete…i’ll be honest with you… the way you’ve been doing business…it comes off like more of a monopoly…but ppl want a chance to do things and do things on their own without some1 having to carry them in”

WOW.

So now I’m monopolizing shit huh? I find that somewhat entertaining. Its pretty amazing the way people justify things to themselves to feel better. Monopolizing to me is being selfish and never pulling people in with me on my parties, or not promoting other peoples shits, or not coming up with CUK.COM, or constantly bullshitting people, or when I work my magic and get PROTON in URB.COM [with a blessing from a nice intro from R.D >F.B] , I don’t pull GRIP in with us…. If I was really playing a game of monopoly, I wouldn’t be sitting here working so hard to COME UP with the creative geniuses I see on a weekly basis at these parties and out in these streets who I feel like deserve a platform to show how we can allllllllll eat off our creativity and drive.

But I get it. Hard work, focus, determination, drive, being a female, standing for something, and not just falling for anything, hard work, and EXECUTION is considered a monopoly.

I spoke to Nicole Garner about that today, and she gets that all the time… other publicist calling her, telling her she has a monopoly on the city… well hot damn..I mean.. what are we supposed to do .. “Dumb it down” as L.F would say? Would you feel better at the end of the day if I failed terribly.. would that make you feel more like a man/woman and more accomplished in your craft? Im not perfect… I have great events.. I have shitty events. I have parties that only 75 people come, I have parties were close to 450 people come, I have nights where I walk out with $20 in my pocket [ like the Goonies, but I feel like its the quality that made it worth it] and other nights where my rent is paid for 3 months. This shit is not consistent. Thats the beauty of not setteling for a normal 9-5, but the curse is that there is no stability and there is wear and tear with that. You are constantly on HUSTLE MODE. and as much as I love the GRIND, I hate that sometime I feel like its me against the world.. but then again .. maybe I set up shop like that.. someone close to me today .. told me I’m the ultimate crab.. I’m hard on the outside.. but a crab cake with extra butter on the inside… and you know what… he might be right. At the end of the day … the only way I’m gonna get stronger and faster is by admitting my weaknesses.

Hunger is one thing.. but thirst is malicious. Please get a grip.

So to this I say, what you eat doesn’t make me shit [ it might hurt my stomach from time to time]. While you were trying to be the moneybags and buying hotels playing monopoly.. I’m straight with building one house at a time, buying the railroads and being the shoe.

Move in silence. Lay your foundation down before you ever step to me on shit. I have a lot on the line [Scar shameless plug]…….and in 2008.. watch me .. read this and read it loud… 2008 I’M HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING. Either your with me .. or against me. Savage , I might just have to jack you for your name.. cause I’m about to start beastin…

Then you can be justified in saying that I’m monopolizing shit *wink*

Oh.. and don’t forget to vote for PROTON on URB.COM..

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Posted at : December 12th, 2007 - 7:29 pm
Filed under : Ambitionz of a ComeUpKid, f.y.i
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