Killer on the loose in Flint Michigan

ALERT: There is a serial killer in Genesee County. The News says that he is a stocky white male posing as if he needs help and then stabs his victims. Mostly older black males. Even if you don't fit the profile, BE CAREFUL!

My city needs help!

My Nike Commercial!

So, I had an opportunity to write a commercial for Nike while I was out in LA! This is the video, lets see what happens!!!

Feelings like. . .

Normally I don't post my lyrics, but here goes nothing. . .

Feelings

feelings often are socially transmitted diseases, it’s

easy to spread std’s like these when you don’t watch what you say

not thinking before you speak is like not watching with whom you lay

and since I'm always on display I never know who I may do next

so I practice safe text

I'm careful with the content of my context

careful not to spray I, lay text before I play text

play house

doctors orders:

lay out my oral erection in sections so you know what you getting

the lesson

is size, can be deceptive

should be concerned with if its tight, the fit and if you can work it right

some realize they’re good and start to work at night

skip ethics if the working price is right

say the right thing and they’ll work you tonight

might go straight to head if the line is tight

the vultures circle the spot light when that lime lit right

like freshman whores in college dorms, the line…is tight!

you might as well be on the mic 'cause everybody know what your business like

and its just like kids to kiss and tell, so you getting emails asking what the business is

but what you're missing is

you cant make a pass just to fit in

what you spit in got to sit in line with the mind receiving

I mean the quarterback, has to be in tune with the wide receivers!

so whether or not you’ll enjoy this started long before this evening or heavy breathing

you have to work out the word play, like lingerie

its more than underwear

you lace up the shape tough to intensify what’s already there

a gift is just a gift

but you bow tie and hide it under wrapping paper to show you really care

it might not be new, but

sometimes you want people to stop and stare

look away just to double take

make you break it down, slow it up, bring it back, work it out

tilt it just right to see what it looks and sounds like in a different light

and if its hitting right it might get ripped and torn, stripped bare

thoroughly tested, dissected, inspected inside and out

just to see the smiles and what comes out of their mouths

there is no greater pleasure than pleasing

except maybe a little teasing, a little teeth in the right places be anxious, for nothing

savor, everything

be present

in the present

Written by Edwin "Future" Wilson

Moments

Some people say life is about moments. I can agree that in life there are moments. Some good, some bad, both are ever changing. I think as people we often rush from one moment to the next. Never fully enjoying or learning from the moment we're in at the time is like speeding towards a red light. You know that you have to stop, but for some reason you rush to it, you have to be there now!

If life is made up of moments, then not taking in every moment is like skipping out on parts of your life. Like dozing off on a movie and waking up asking, "what happened? What I miss?"

True enough, there are moments we all wish we could forget and moments we wish we could relive, but what about the moments we let pass us by? What about the moments we never paid any attention to?

Two nights ago a gentleman at my show told me he thought that my performance was the best thing he had ever heard. I immediately thought about all kinds of other artist, other performances, anything to feel like what he was saying wasn't true. I find it hard to accept a lot of compliments without feeling vain or unworthy of the praise I happen to be receiving at the time, but not only am I brushing off someones compliment, I'm robbing myself of encouragement i need. How many times have you felt like people didn't respect what you were doing? How many times have you wanted or wished someone would reach out and encourage you through tough times or times of challenge?

I know we all have felt as if people didn't care enough, but I also know that its easy to focus on the negative around you instead of the positive. It's like when people respond negatively to us, we forget all the positive things we have to be grateful for. We all have rainy days, but lets not forget that rainy days keep us inside with our loved ones, they make us want to rest, relax, chill out, things most of us don't get enough of.

It's easy to focus on what we want or what we don't have at the time. My challenge to you and to myself is to focus on the right now. Where are you right now? How do you feel right now? What GOOD are you doing right now?!

If life is but a moment, live for the moment!

Future

My Canadian Experience (When Brothers Speak)

Being from Michigan, going over the border to Canada was nothing new to me. Well, aside from the changes being made when with what you need to have to cross the border and all, but Windsor and Toronto Ontario Canada were places I had seen before and sorta liked.

So I finally get a message I had been waiting for, "Future, we have the budget to bring you to Toronto and Ottawa for shows!" YES, I thought as I wondered what it would be like to perform for our northern neighbors.

November 13Th 2009:

I leave Flint early thinking I'm going to be EARLY for check in at the hotel in Toronto, but upon reaching the boarder I was stopped (as always). I guess once again I fit the description, so I was sent to immigration to be searched and questioned. This cop or Mountie or whatever leans into my window telling me to get out, so I step out and walk to the front of my car like I'm told. Next thing I know, this lady comes out with a search dog, the officers start pulling all of my belongings out of my car and patting me down asking me if I'm smuggling anything. So they send me inside where this lady ask for my passport and license, then she tells me I'm not me! She asked where I was born and I tell her, then she says, "yeah, well we'll see about that!" So after a 2 hour sitting and arguing period they let me go and I was on my way to Toronto at last!

Upon arriving at the show there was food backstage (which was GREAT!), all the poets performing in the show were relaxing and eating. We get the line up of the show and we are off!

I step out onto the stage, and the crowd goes wild. "That's the guy from YouTube," says someone close enough to hear in the theater. Instantly I felt that this would be one of the best shows I have been a part of. I started the set by sharing my story about being held up at the border, after they laughed themselves to tears we got into some poetry.

I never knew that art and poetry were/could be appreciated like the way it was at When Brothers Speak. These people paid $35 to $45 dollars to get into the show, then purchased EVERY album I had! I had never been apart of anything like it!

Night two was even better than the first night! After the audience screamed themselves hoarse, the CD selling frenzy began! I had to run back to my hotel to grab my whole box of albums! When the people leaving the venue saw me running back with my box, they ALL ran back in and cleaned me out! That's a GREAT way to make a brother feel GOOD! The show in Ottawa was no different. I actually took more pictures after the Ottawa show than both night in Toronto, although I did get to hang out with a few Zombies in T dot!

Out of the country love, you have to get some

An Honor

Recently I performed at the University of Toledo. I was invited by a young lady who (while in high school) learned about my work from her African Studies teacher. Not only was this the first class of its kind at her school, but I was the first Spoken Word artist she had heard of.

Its always an honor when someone approaches you after a performance or even in the street to let you know that you are hot, dope, bloody brilliant or anything else that lets you know they appreciate your work. Whats even better, is when you find out that your work has been studied and used for lessons in creative writing as a part of an instructors course work!

When I first received the phone call about the show I didn't really know how to feel. What do you say to a person that holds you in such high esteem? What do you say when someone tells you that you have helped them get through tough times in their life? Thank you doesn't seem to be enough.

It ceases to amaze me when I'm told that my work did something for someone. I always think, "wow, you're really listening to me?" For some reason I always feel like I'm just Ed, just a brother, just a friend, cousin, son, writer. I have always believed in putting my best foot forward in all that I do. I have always believed that I should be responsible for what I say to people, whether on stage or in regular conversation I am mindful of I you say because I never know how it may affect a person.

Years later, my phone rings, 4 weeks after that, she is standing on stage introducing me to her classmates, telling them how she never thought she would ever meet me, much less bring me to her school to perform. WOW

You would think that being an artist from Flint Michigan I would frequent the open mics and spoken word venues of Detroit more often. Well the fact is I don't. I am out of state for most of my shows. Rarely am I ever in Detroit to perform or take in the craft the way it’s done in Motown, but after the way my show went last night that MUST change!

They Say restaurant is home to The Main Course open mic, hosted by Marsha J. Carter. I must say, the vibe when I walked in was marvelous! It feels good to walk into a well hosted venue. Knowing that the people have been groomed and your platform has already been set makes it easy to concentrate on connecting with the audience.

My intro was pretty dope! Marsha told a story about her and I performing at a venue together some time ago (the name of the place still slips my mind), I had not thought or even remembered I performed there! It made me think about how much of my poetic history is linked to Detroit (that's for another day, another blog). Walking to the stage I felt the energy in the room change. It wasn't the typical, "I have been waiting to see him perform" vibe. It was a rare, but always welcome, "who is he and what is he going to do." I felt like a stranger in my own back yard and it was GREAT! There is nothing I love more than the element of surprise when dealing with an anxious crowd of people. All I have to do is read the vibe of the room and NOT BLOW IT. Lights. . .Camera. . .ACTION!

The right piece at the right time is a powerful thing. It's like the wind hitting your sails head on, all you have to do is ride the wave and steer the boat in the direction you want it to go.

I felt nothing but acceptance the entire night. Not only were they hungry for it, they were excited, energetic and more than responsive! They made me feel as if they had been waiting all year to see me perform, like I was saying all the right things at the right time to the right people! It’s hard to describe, but it feels wonderful.

Thank You Detroit City, I am sorry I stayed away for so long

Future