Two Rappers in the Studio

Andre:​​There’s no solution to this confusion.

​​None that I can see.

​​We drag our nails where we have failed,

​​Instead of cutting free.

 

Laroque:​Whatever, friend! I have no time

​​For this mess, right now.

​​You and I have got a rhyme

​​To finesse somehow​​

​​In the next two hours or we die.

​​Right now’s not the time to scour

​​Or to even question why.

​​These differences of ours?

​​I’m down for whenever.

​​But which one of us is

​​Gonna overpower

​​The mob when they come back in?

​​Are you that clever?

​​They will kill us both

​​Before we kill ourselves.

​​Then they’ll kill our families

​​For costing them money.

​​See just how unfunny this shit gets?

​​This ain’t just a couple hoods running game.

​​These fools retaliate on your friends and loved ones.

​​They be cutting holes into the sides of homes at night

​​If they have to.

​​They do not fuck around.

​​Fuck with them and you’ll be found.

​​Then they do that ground-and-pound

​​That resounds from here to kingdom come.

​​I’m done.

 

Andre:​​Maybe so. I guess so.

​​I don’t know.

​​Something’s gotta give.

​​My cuz was my rib.

​​Your crew. That shit they did…

 

Laroque:​We do what we gotta do!

​​Just like you do, too.

​​If you knew what I knew,

​​Which I’m sure that you do,

​​You too would do what I’ve had to.

​​Why we are discussing

​​Baffles to the core.

​​Either fight; fuck all this fussing

​​Or let’s complete this chore.

​​Do we have a deal?

 

Andre:​​I suppose we do. Let’s go.

​​What should be the feel,

​​Fast or slow?

 

Laroque:​I dunno. I hadn’t thought about it.

​​That’s rarely the way I go about it.

​​I think of what’s been on my mind

​​And use my words to unwind

​​Or unpackage, as it were,

​​Several similar concepts

​​In a way that serves to blur

​​How we form our precepts.

​​In this way, I really dig in

​​To my inner inner self.

​​Talkin’ bout that deep within:

​​Life completely off the shelf.

 

Andre:​​Boring to me, but whatever,

​​What’s been on your mind?

​​I suspect it will sound clever,

​​Which means difficult to find

​​The point the poet’s making,

​​Using hooks and catches.

​​True wisdom-faking

​​With insincere patches

​​Of wordplay meant to hook

​​Those who do not read books.

 

Laroque:​Oh, my God! You saw right thru me,

​​Mothafucka, what’s your deal?

​​Are we here to set me free

​​Or to get our troubles sealed?

​​Reveal to me what you suggest

​​As a better option!

​​I’ll play host while you play guest.

​​I’ll start with “adoption.”

 

Andre:​​That’s a curious theme to me.

​​But, then, I can’t disagree

​​That it strikes a certain core

​​Deep within my soul

​​In a place ancient lore

​​Still controls.

​​In a place so foreign to

​​All our daily chores

​​Just to speak of is to bore into one’s core.

 

Laroque:​Yes, indeed; I cannot lie:

​​That is where I’m coming from.

​​Deep within, where angels sigh,

​​There’s an ancient drum

​​Echoing as if a chamber

​​Has been opened

​​Just to change you.

 

Andre:​​You, I take it, were adopted

​​And are well-informed

​​On this topic I have opted

​​To learn about more.

​​Any less would not impress

​​Who we reason with.

​​You and I, I must confess,

​​Have no time for hit and miss.

​​Let us settle on this, then,

​​As the central theme.

​​I imagine I’d begin

​​By envisioning a meme

​​With an image to the point—

​​Touching contradiction.

​​This should hit just like a joint

​​Embracing willing fiction.

 

Laroque:​Good enough. Start with some riffs

​​I can hang my rhyme on.

​​Something that hits a lil dif

​​And young ears can climb upon.

​​Something that will drop the bass

​​Like earthquake rubble.

​​Something that, for God’s sake,

​​Announces signs of trouble.

​​Something that will double-up the controversy

​​Bubbling up some sorcery

​​Deep in pedigree.

​​

Andre:​​I can see that you be free

​​With your words unfolding.

​​Layer-up and player-up

​​With these words you’re molding

​​Young minds as well as old,

​​I’m sure you have been told

​​This more than once already

​​And choose not the firm and steady

​​Road leading to success.

​​But choose instead this mess

​​Which I confess

​​Has some allure at first,

​​But on probing introspection

​​One is worse for false reflection.

 

Laroque:​Your quick rejection is

​​Cause for reflection.

​​Alone and free of situation

​​You seem to think with such negation

​​That even before you

​​Employ your latest idea

​​You are cutting it down

​​Like something to fear.

​​Oh, dear! I’ve said too much!

​​Here comes such-and-such.

 

Andre:​​What feareth thy? Quick reply

​​Or die ere I first cry

​​To them all reason why

​​You, my alibi, sought but to fry

​​Me at your first opportunity.

​​That should me free.​

​​And another day I’ll live

​​To them help forgive

​​Me for my old transgressions,

​​One more chance to be refreshin’

​​All my past and current ties

​​In the community at large

​​Helping those whose nightly cries

​​Could unseat a barge.

​​We be there to help our own,

​​Unlike yours, that look to own.

​​

Laroque:​You be blown away

​​By some old hay,

​​Googling shit that goes your way.

​​Head-up-ass to this day!

​​We, too, are all about helping

​​Those whose nightly cries

​​Keep the puppies yelping.

​​You’ve been too much listenin’

​​To the glistenin’

​​Crap on FOX TV.

​​That’s why you can’t see

​​The truth.

THE END