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People often say that I don't speak about real things...I offer you this...


      Tuesday evening, as I was walking into a Jack in the Box, an assumingly homeless woman asked me for food. She did not ask for spare change or tell me some sad story with the goal of sympathy or guilt, just simply asked if I could get her a bite to eat. I replied, “I'll do my best”, as I try to never make promises I cannot keep. As I stood in line debating what I was going to order, I was also figuring out the best way to leave the building without her seeing me...I know, right?!? I ordered my food and waited for them to slide it through the gated door...As I watched them through bulletproof glass and thought "My, Aren't we humans clever...or maybe we could just stop trying to rob each other?!?"...

       I was still figuring out my escape. 

      I glanced outside and saw her standing there looking out towards the street… 

                                                  Waiting.

                                                             Hoping.

      It was then I realized that I was in a "no win-lose/lose" situation. I could sneak out, eat my two tacos and Jr. Bacon, leave this woman hungry, be full and feel like a complete and utter douche bag sandwich or I could walk out, eat my taco and Jr. Bacon, give this woman a taco, not be full and feel like a douche for various other reasons...either way I lose/supposedly "gain" something...

                                                                   Conscience and Food.

      I tell you that to say this. I recently made a decision...honestly, I made it less than 20hrs before this damn near picture perfect example was given to me...Without any details, let's just say that either way I was going to get hurt. Either I hurt internally, hurt others indefinitely, try to live with unanswered questions and keep or I hurt internally, hurt others momentarily, try to live with more answers than I might want and let go...either way I suffer, but in one scenario...others get the help they need...

      I cannot give you details now...and I might not be able to give you details later...We will all just have to wait and see...but it is hard for me to breathe...it is hard for me to think...and this is a lot harder than I thought it would be and I knew it was gonna be hard...so I apologize...


I gave the lady my taco...


X

How writing a song is like having a relationship

Sumatyme posted a new blog!

New Post from Sumatyme

http://sumatyme.blogspot.com

Before I get into my weekend adventure, I will share a couple of thoughts I have about Arizona:

1. If it weren't for family, friends, and music I would never go back there.
2. There has never been a time that I have visited and not gotten myself into some sort of trouble.

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of fond memories of the roadrunner state. I learned amazing things about music. I forged bonds with unique people. I made horrific mistakes. However, I swear that AZ is competing with Texas for the top slot on the list of ass-backwards states.

So I started the weekend the way everyone should; good company and an alcoholic beverage. In my circle, "drinks with friends" usually means binge drinking while playing stupid games - then mercilessly ridiculing those who can't hold their liquor. I mean, what kind of friend invites you over, pays for the beer, then draws a penis on your face? Ain't love grand!

But the REAL reason for my trip to AZ was to pick up some beats and hear the greatest lyricist of the west coast: Crooked I. This brotha is extremely dope. He also scares the shit out of me. He came to the venue, ten deep with some vicious dudes. Now I have seen my fair share of shit, but these guys looked like they ate it for breakfast. I started thinking about my crew and had to laugh. Sumatyme, master wordsmith and avid comic collector. Damn, I'm fearsome.

Whatever. I suppose I'm just marveling how we treat those closest to us. I have a friend going through a rough divorce. How do I offer solace and show solidarity? By making fun of her for not getting any booty. "A true friend stabs you in the front." To all of mine near, far, lost, found, drunk, or sober... I love you all. Now fuck off.

Sumatyme

Chronicles of a Broke Rapper - Allow me to re-introduce myself

In the spirit of change that this country of ours is desperately trying to hold onto, your favorite MC is also looking to revamp the way I do blogging.

With that in mind, may I present: the Chronicles of a Broke Rapper. This will be a weekly account of my life and travels as an MC. I hope that by painting a picture of my world, I be able to share my insights and also use the thoughts I share with you to make me a better artist. So, let's get started...

Allow me to re-introduce myself. I go by Sumatyme. I'm one-third of the super-charged group Identity Crisis. (Yes, the Identity Crisis) I hail from the Southside of Chicago, the suburbs of Arizona, and most recently downtown LA. I spent my whole life studying jazz and classical music and the first chance I got, I walked away from it to be a part of a movement that America doesn't fully embrace, yet has no problem exploiting. I'm no thug, but I still managed to land in jail for being stupid (and black). I don't fit the category of a "normal MC." Lyrically I'm on another planet anyway. I'm scared of success, but can't stop pushing myself. I've been called overly cheerful, difficult, and brooding. I've been considered caring to a fault and self-absorbed. (Aren't all artists?) Oh yeah, and I drink too much. I am Identity Crisis.

You will be hard-pressed to find another crew to match our passion during shows. Identity Crisis obessses with growth and mastery of the art form. Becoming one of the ranks of the dopest MCs is not a dream. For us, it is inevitable. Now, if I could only translate all that to dollar signs, life would be perfect.

So now that the "get-to-know-you" stage is over, I invite you all to come with us as we journey into sound. Hip-hop is easy, listening to the music of life is a whole lot harder.

Peace,
Sumatyme

You can find Sumatyme's weekly blog HERE

Homecoming

A new state, a new vibe, new rhymes and a new school of thought. Martini Ranch, stand up!!!

Our shows have always spoken for themselves, but this time around I feel we all have something to prove. It truly is a lonely road that we walk and I finally understand why so many of us fall in this industry. This music requires so much from us and there are days where I feel shattered at the core.
Then I think of my DJ, raising two kids keeping his family together. My partner in rhyme working his ass off at his parents' crib. It goes without saying that we can't stop, won't stop.
(heh)

Come out on Thursday to witness the rebirth. Satisfaction guaranteed.......
and if not, well I hear the new Timbaland/Miley Cyrus jam is the shit.

-Sumatyme

In the Immortal Words of Our Last President... Tacos Rule!

Ok, so our boy Emcee Criterion had a show friday night at a place called Stray Cats… I believe IDC has played there a time or two. ;-) 

To cut the story short he ends his set early and invites the MCs (because at every underground hip hop show there’s one true spectator for every 300 MCs) to join him on stage for some freestyle fun and games. The infamous Mike Paris gets me to go on stage with him…I haven’t been on a stage in well over 2 ½ months, let alone not had my lifelines Sum and Choice. That was nerve wrecking people. Simply nail biting, hair pulling, bone chilling…nipple hardeningly scary.

And then I spit the illest shit ever been dropped to snares and kicks.

Ok, so there wasn’t that much drama, but it did remind me that performing is as much fun as I can have without a 30 pack, firecrackers, two 4lb balloons filled with salt and lemon juice, a box cutter and my fifth grade teacher bound to a cactus. (Sorry, she was a real bitch back then.) Anyway,it was yet another wake up call for what I’m here for. I know, I know. Broken fucking record! I don’t say it for you…I say it for me. (We artista are very touchy, ya know…) It’s just getting the ball rolling and watching the pins fall in the wake ladies and gents.

Anyway, Citizen Cope is dope, the new Rakim album is dope, Sons of Anarchy and FlashForward are TV dope, House makes me laugh (reminds me of me, but with a longer attention span) and Lie to Me makes me want to practice lying more. The Mentalist is just good ol' fashioned fun. And you still can’t name me one song, by any of the artists that are “hot” right now, that makes you think you might have actually learned something. (And no, the fucking stanky leg dance doesn’t count.)
 

I agree with my brother…Top 40 is getting lamer and dumber every second…
X

What happened to the music?

Times are changing y'all. Okay, obvious cliché #1, but it doesn't make it any less true. When I started making music, there was nothing but my emotions and the sounds they generated. Right, wrong, good or bad, it didn't matter. I created it and put it out to the world and then walked away.

Now my mind is chock full of tour dates, press releases, radio, and convincing big-wigs to give my crew the time of day. And for what? So I can write a two-syllable song and ignite a new dance craze that everyone forgets ten seconds later. How am I supposed to even write so much as a stupid haiku?

It could be worse. I could be an extra on a Diddy reality show. Hearts heal, souls mend, chicks dig scars, top 40 still sucks. Hip-hop I will love you 'till the day I die. Peace.

Sumatyme