Death comes always 

Scars/

Scars make voice

Love/

Love breathes deep

Madness/

Madness keeps score

Passion/

Passion puts love back on play

Balance/

Balance forever chases

Dreams/

Dreams quiet me still

Gods/

Gods don't play tricks

Grace/

Grace raised me

Politics/

Politics makes it personal

Hope/

Hope...

Tears/

I swore I was done with that

Laughter/

Laughter I swore I was starting that

War/

War is the mirror

Humankind/

Is the child

Why not take the shorter way home?

Habits get very, very old.

An aguinaldo, Bomba y Plena, Salsa singing Actor Activist

South Bronx streets follow me wherever I go

From the Seine in Paris to Old San Juan’s callejons

I was raised on a steady diet of Ralphy Leavitt y la selecta

Hector Lavoe, KRS one Bob Marley The Doors Jimi Hendricks y la protesta

I am the tree that grew from the seeds planted by Ruben and Willie so many years ago.

I am Juana Pena and Pedro Navaja’s illegitimate child

I AM Hip Hop

I AM Salsa