I am a cool guy, I ain’t got beef with anyone. I serve up what you give out. If you treat me good and with respect you’ll receive that a thousand fold, but if you an asshole I am happy to dish out shit. No excuses, no privileges, control yourself. I am a pro at your passive aggressive antics – what? Did you honestly think that you were smarter than everybody else? Funny guy, out of sync, you ain’t shit. I see through disguises too, masks can’t fool real eyes. If you want beef I am happy to serve it on a platter. If you organizing a hit, make sure it sticks cause if you botch it, I am coming for your soul. I am tired of being humble, I am the greatest of all time, come close and I’ll show you, anytime, any place. Receipts, receipts, receipts I am happy to reflect your tastes. If you want a battle, I am happy to oppose you. Words don’t count, it’s your actions that are gold. I am a fucked up person too and I am ready to exercise my repressions. Receipts, apologies don’t mean much prepare yourself for my comeback. I hold grudges, I never forget and I am coming for your ass. Receipts, don’t start wars you can’t finish. No negotiations, no treaties, everything will end up in fire and smoke. Cause I don’t give a shit, I am narcissistic, grandiose, egotistic, irrational and envious, so please give me an opportunity to exercise my nature. Receipts, cross the line please, I am begging you! Disrespect me, slander me, make me the scapegoat and I’ll show you why I am the goat. Receipts, receipts, receipts you on an imaginary pedestal, time to take you down and humble ya. Receipts, cause I also don’t care, I am after power, I am merely a reflection of you.
Award winning actor Shannon Esra plays a character who is a one-breasted, menopausal, Jewish, bisexual lesbian mother. The play is a woman’s humorous and moving encounter with relationships, parenthood, cancer and her ever-changing self. Unbelievable performer! She is pretty great! Captivating, entertaining, a real master of her craft. Quite clearly she has mastered the art of storytelling. She is lively, animated, expressive, has heart, and made use of the stage to perfection. It didn’t matter that the set was minimal, it was all about her, her story, her experiences, the lighting captured that beautifully, wonderful direction. Difficult story to tell, cancer, but she made it her own, she is convincing, it was her story. She is entertaining, she gives her all to the stage. I loved everything about the show, it is well-written, it has cadence – it flowed, very personal and subjective and that made it powerful. It is the best one woman show I’ve have ever experienced! It was the first time I’ve seen Shannon on the stage and I am a big fan. Simply, I loved her, so magnetic, she has charisma, she drew in the crowd, she had them in the palm of her hand, she commanded everything about that experience even after that slight turbulence; heckler alert, so you bought a ticket to be a thorn in the performers act, a wonderful job you have. Somebody get this spotlight stealer out the auditorium! Shannon remained calm and professional, it didn’t affect her swagger and frame, she pushed on fiercely and continued with the play!! A real master at play!!! I loved her!!! I loved the play, the subject matter, the lighting, how intimate it was the direction and most importantly her performance! She is the best! Well done to the whole team and a deserved standing ovation.
Drake responded but he seems drained at this point. It’s like his giving up, like he doesn’t want to play anymore. The song is defensive, he denies the pedophilia allegations and about hiding an 11 year old daughter. The “Push ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle” energy is gone. He is preserving what he has. He is still doubling up on Lamar being a wifebeater though and apparently Whitney and Kendrick have been separated for a while and Kendrick hasn’t seen his kids for 6 months. It’s information but not a diss, I think Drake has someone on payroll supplying him with all this. I don’t think it hurts Kendrick all that much. I mean why is Drake being a fly in Kendrick’s marital problems. He is weaponizing useless things and all his material is still based on “Mr. Morale and the big steppers”. If he was the one fucking Whitney, he’d have something but now he has his dick in his hand. I don’t think it’s wise that he keeps on persisting with this narrative, this will only energize Kendrick to keep on releasing more 6 minute diss tracks – a nightmare for him because he wants to bow out. I don’t think Kendrick will let him bow out, his intention is to destroy him! Kendrick Lamar is Drakes biggest hater! Interestingly, the whole culture seems to hate Drake. Everyone is releasing diss tracks against him. Mustard came out of retirement to collaborate with Kendrick on “Not Like Us”, a certified club banger, that’s saying something. Metro Boomin is giving out free beats to fans who can come up with the best verses aiming at Drake. Even Kanye had his say and claimed Drake has a “Rich baby daddy” who controls music and streaming algorithms in his favor. It’s a pattern, everyone dislikes Drake. Bowing out is the right choice, he has taken a lot of damage in the past couple of weeks. He is bleeding fast, he needs to salvage what’s left of his career.
I don’t even know what to say anymore! Cause Drake dropped “Family Matters” only for Kendrick to respond minutes later with “Meet the Grahams”. J. Cole seeming like a genius with each passing day for not getting involved. This beef is intense, probably the greatest hip-hop beef of all time. Drake actually wrote “Family Matters” alone and he raps! But I have to concede, if somebody dissed me like how Kendrick dissed Drake on “Meet the Grahams”, I’d jump off a bridge or something. Both are not holding back! Drake just said Kendrick beats his wife cause she’s “bigger” than him. That’s funny but in all seriousness, being labeled as a wife-beater, Goddammit! 7 minute diss track with 3 beat switches, I didn’t expect that from Drizzy. He started off the song with defiance, using “NIGGA”, the word Kendrick revoked from him. He is charged up! Kendrick responded with a 6 minute joint and he turns his attention to Drakes family, labeling him deadbeat, accuses him of targeting and grooming young girls and he is hiding a second child, an 11 year old daughter – serious character assessination! It’s a brutal song! This has become personal, I don’t think Drake realizes it, he is busy making bangers, Kendrick is aiming for that headshot. I won’t choose a side. I am happy hip-hop is revived. I have to say, I am enjoying this toxicity. What does that say about me? These guys have been subliminally dissing each other for years, they have a lot on each other, this might go on for a while but Kendrick definitely cooking Drake. In my estimation, this is done, “meet the grahams” is the killshot, it’s psychological, it discredits him heavily, it just might be the greatest diss record of all time. Drake should have never responded, he is finished.
“Don’t look at me like that, we are practically family. I see the way you look at me.” GUILTY. She was right, my thoughts were not the purest but she was encouraging the behavior. She has been flirting with me the whole night. The sexual tension is prevalent, her gaze is intense, attention focused, wants to sit besides me, can’t stop playing with her hair and she’s all touchy-touchy. Surprise, surprise I’ve turned into Richard Pryor in her presence. She enjoys my attention and seems to want her hands inside of mine. Eyes closed, her head resting on my shoulders, the mood intimate, sweet and close. We are in sync, we are vibrating in unison. Not hard to see why my oxytocin levels spiked and my dopamine went off the charts. I’ve given it away that I want her. I may be drunk. My actions are all wrong, I’ve lost control, passive to her aura, lagging like a moving average, she’s in control like the driver and I am in the backseat of the vehicle. It’s like I am high of love-heroine, floating, hallucinating, hypnotized, in a trance. I have these raging thoughts, to tear off her blouse, drop her panties to floor and penetrate her to the core. We not family, her sister is married to my cousin, that doesn’t count, incest implies the same blood. You are not my family. Ain’t no way we of the same kind, you are out of this world! Legs created for mini skirts, body advertises lingerie and a face that graces magazine covers. We can fuck and our babies will be beautiful. I yearn to do things to your perfect body, your personality is fire but objectifying you is all that is in my mind. I want you, I’ve wanted you for a long time. I can’t get over how you make me feel. I see it in your eyes, feel it in your energy, I know you want the same thing.
J. Cole apologized for a reason, you don’t want beef with Kendrick Lamar, he is brutal, real life not AI and he will end you. Step to the side brother Jermaine, you are exempted from this slaughterhouse, be a fan like the rest of us and enjoy this from the comfort of your house. To the Rap Gods, we thank you for this gift, bars on bars we are appreciative of this gift. Kendrick, his a menace, he just caused a shift, hip-hop was on snooze, the game needed a lift. So much much for the Taylor shots, Drake was too swift. Damn! We said Kendrick needed a Hit em up kinda response and he topped that with that response. No pun intended, he PGLang now and there was nothing PG about that response. The runtime is six minutes, the beat changes 3 times. He starts off calm and mellow, beat soulful and voice low, then the beat changes and intensifies, you thought he was zen but hell no, the grim reaper is about to take souls. I get the feeling he hates Drake, something about his mannerisms, how he dresses, how he walks and how he sneak dissing on his songs. Kendrick asks an important question, namely is he battling AI or ghosts. I don’t think he was too impressed with Drake imitating a ghost. He went out of his way to be a visitor when he was the host. The type of things that will be exposed by a goat. I am ashamed to have conceded that Drake has my vote. Kendrick ripped him apart, called his use of the “n-word” cringeworthy and disbarred him from ever using the “n-word”. He revisited the Pusha T beef that Drake had to take the L in and covered how he hates women. He further assassinated his character and destroyed his reputation. He communicated he likes back-to-back and he’ll come back to that. I don’t think his done, his about to go back-to-back. Somebody should stop him, it’s a bloodbath, he killed him, it’s done. On a random Tuesday for that matter, Lord have mercy. Drizzy could respond but he has been rebuked, AI won’t do it, he needs an atomic bomb, something like Hiroshima to burn this bitch to a crisp. I don’t he has that, he’ll bite his lips and get a lisp. Kendrick will bury him and all his ghostwriters on the list. There we go again, me judging based on a singular angle rather waiting to see the broader picture. Good luck “Drizzy” Drake. Hip-hop is great again and I am feeling euphoric. Kendrick Lamar is a blessing for the culture – such euphoria.
I am done slamming Cole, it’s hypocritical. I am not going to be one of those guys who thought the album was fire for 2 days and slammed it on the third day. Admittedly, the album sounded different after he apologized. It was infused with disappointment. Yea, he disappointed everyone, if you release a diss record, you have to stand by it and face the music. Is it cowardice or death prevention? Ain’t no shame to run if the amygdala is triggered. Hardly, he just wants peace because the game is toxic. 20 guys dissing Drake, the apparent plan is to end him. Damn! Envy, pettiness and jealously running rampant. How can you plan for another man’s downfall? Cole said it best – p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l. Apologize and sit on the sidelines, stay neutral, forever the middle child, you don’t have to commit to anybody, that’s idiotic. Pride is what will lead to your downfall because even Superman has kryptonite. There’s a huge difference between healthy competition and toxicity. This is toxic. A J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar collabo album might still change everything, we might still get that, that will be healthy competition. We shouldn’t act like Cole’s skills regressed after the apology, quite the contrary, he is in his prime. He says so himself and as somebody who has been listening to him since “The Warm Up” in 2009, I agree. He is still one of the best wordsmiths in the game, you can’t fault his skill and he can still bury rappers. I am done slamming Cole, he chose his mental health and peace over ego and pettiness. At least he is consistent with the messages he preaches, he is a stand up guy, I respect him for that. He is not feeding a facade of what a rapper should be, he is not perpetuating a stereotype, he is just not participating, I can respect that, he has always been conscious. Personally, I can’t leave now, I have been a fan since “The Warm Up”, since “Dead Presidents II”, he got me on the first listen and I’ve been with him ever since. I can’t leave now when he is better, when he is rich, when he is in his prime. I was there when he had no money and was dreaming out loud. “The Off-season” had some of the best writing, he flowed, he had punchlines, he told stories of the underdog, he gave us access to his psyche, he was vulnerable, he educated and he empowered – a full J. Cole album, the moment everything came full circle for him. I am not leaving the moment he says “The Fall off” is like Hov dropping “Reasonable Doubt” last. Hell no! I believe that assertion. Let them fight over the throne, they will tire themselves out, discredit one another and commit silly mistakes, clearing the way for you to ascend. Although he apologized, “7 Minute Drill” still exists, it’s still valid and was named after a whole album that is still streaming. Is he really sorry? Might Delete Later still awesome, still Cole in his prime.
I fell in love with her when I heard her sing “Back to Black”, I got goosebumps and I started to shiver. I felt Amy’s spirit, she lived through Sharon, her execution was flawless, I had never witnessed talent like that. She was amazing, she felt familiar, my dopamine levels spiked to new levels, I loved watching her on the stage. She made me happy because now when I went to the theatre I’d hear Amy. Everything just felt like devine intervention, like a higher power was in control, like the Universe was conspiring in my favor, like I finally made it! It was my first week on the job on the square as the stage manager, Daphne Kuhn on the credits. For me it was a dream job because I’d get to interact with fellow content creators. Theatre on the square is known for hosting the best talent in the country, if not the world and for me the opportunity to be a spectator of greatness is heaven. I had seen “Nothing but the truth”, written by John Kani, starring Sello Maake Ka-Ncube, Mbali Nhlapo and the Ziaphora Dakile. It was a spectacular show, honestly the best I had ever seen. I saw it twice. I remember after the show, I saw Mbali near the box office. I remember feeling the urge to go up to her and congratulate her on the great show. So I went up to her and told her that her performance was awesome, I hugged her and I walked away. I meant it too, everybody in the production excelled with flying colors. First time I went to the theatre I watched “Home Affairs” starring Sello Ramolahloane and Lawrence Joffe. I went to the theatre with the hopes of getting a job, lucky for me Daphne was in the box office. I talked to her and gave her my CV, but the theatre wasn’t hiring, Covid sent the whole industry on its knees and the theatre didn’t have sponsors to sustain the expenditures of the business, to cut matters short, there was not enough money coming through. I persisted and made my case stating that I just love content and I just need a chance. She relented if not compromised and offered me a ticket to watch “Home Affairs” the next day at 20:00. At the moment the heavens opened up and I heard choruses of Hallelujah in my head. I took her up on her offer and went the next day and I loved the show. Of course one ticket for one show was never going to be enough for me, I needed more. The theatre door was the door I’d been looking for all my life, the stage, the lights, the sound and the live performance. For me getting a job on the square was never about money. I felt establishing connections was key for the long-run and ultimately, I started working there for free, for the love and happiness it gave me but Daphne did give me money for transport, a wonderful gesture. She changed everything for me. After “Home Affairs”, I sent an email to Daphne thanking her for opening up this beautiful world of theatre for me and I asked her for tickets for the next show. She obliged and with that I started coming to the theater more often. I saw every production. It was not until “The Dress Code” that I was welcomed to the family. Reginah Dube who started alongside Daphne in the early days of the theatre took a liking to me straight away and offered to take me under her wing so I can learn more about theatre, I accepted. Loftus taught me how to operate the lights, he was the technical guy in charge of the sound and lights, he had a good taste in music, level-headed, calm, the voice of reason, showed care and love towards his work and was always good to me. He was a great guy, I admired and respected him. Melidah was accommodative, kind and beautiful. She was the person I looked forward to seeing at the theatre. Malebone was the light that brightened my day, she had a smile that radiated and always made me feel welcomed and at home. Reggie was the guy who opened the door for me when I started for the first time that monday. That’s the day I first heard Sharon sing “Black to Back”, it was like I floating on clouds, like I was one of the 144 000 people selected to go into heaven, like everything was finally coming full circle. Of course her co-stars are on the level of her excellence. Lorri is a different beast when she’s on the stage, she lights up, you can literally see light emitting through her pores, she glows, no hyperbole. She is witty, comedic, intelligent and a great singer. She is the tempo of the show, the heartbeat, the soul. Ntambo is powerful, assured, heartfelt and dominant – also a great singer, when she sings “My Mother’s savage daughter” the whole world is at her mercy, she doesn’t even need the piano, she performs it acappela style, she’s on the stage barefoot with her dreadlocks dangling on either side of her shoulders, she is raw and empowering, she is amazing! One of the top highlights of the show. And Cliff of course murdering it on the piano. No mistakes, 10/10 performance every day! Shoutout Craig Jackson with his show “Defending the Caveman”, a great show I watched twice. And it would be a great injustice if I left out “Cat and Monkey”, I loved it, it reflected so much about reality, about how toxic co-dependent relationships can be, it was funny and relatable, I knew the characters on the stage first hand, Danielle Retief and Rowlen von Gericke executed extremely well. Even with that Sharon takes the cake for me mainly because of Amy. Lorri helped immensely at the end of the song, her song “Black Velvet” converges at the end with “Back to Black” and the end result is a masterpiece. It was the day everything finally came together and Amy Winehouse was the soundtrack, I felt blessed and everything made sense.
P.S. A big congratulations to Amanda Bothma, Vincent is a masterclass on theatre. When I heard Germaine Gamiet playing the piano in rehearsal, I thought he was the best piano player in the world and I told Daniel Anderson his talent was on another level! After the first show, I told Germaine that his the best piano player in the world and for Daniel, well, I told him his the goat – that’s the best I had, it wasn’t hyperbole, it was the general consensus, you have to see “Vincent” for yourself, it was what I felt and it needed to be expressed. Vincent always had people on their feet clapping and clapping, it was warranted to, it’s a great show. I am proud to have been a part of the production staff for “The Dress Code” and “Vincent” – Daphne Kuhn on the credits.
I used to be famous back in the day, you know when Dube was on 2 and Stokvel on Sundays. My claim to fame was to entertain you, to make you happy. I graced magazines covers and walked different stages like a catwalk. Panties would be soaked wet when I appeared on the screen and did what I did best. The spotlight was always on me and I’d leave many starstruck, shinning like light reflected on a diamond. I used to be famous and finessing was easy, I would just show up and I would be lavished with gifts and money streamed like a waterfall into my bank account, there wasn’t anything I couldn’t afford or a girl I couldn’t get to the fort. It was automatic, my presence unlocked all doors and left many knees weak. Mute and in awe like a vegetable that can’t speak. I used to be famous, walking on the street was near impossible. Every time I was sighted, the paparazzi would be on my case, bombarding me with flashes that would send an epileptic into space. I used to be famous, I was loved and appreciated for my skills. I mattered, I used to exist. Now I am a fragment of yesterday’s slide show, a glimmer of a star that used to shine bright, a dinosaur that history has left out of its archives. I walk on the streets and no one wants a picture of me, with me, paparazzi is present, they just fed up with me. Finessing is harder as my efforts are off target, Mercedes Benz repossessed as money is proving hard to get. I used to be famous and everybody knew my name, today everything is relative, we are all the same. Panties dry and left to crack on the washing line, abandoned like a kid in foster care who’s never been mine. The spotlight and lights off me, career dimmed out like 6 o’clock in winter. I used to be famous, I was on Billboards that oversighted highways. Today the trajectory of my career is sideways. No one cares, I am an afterthought and kinda look like somebody who used to be famous for a while. Maybe the glitz and glamor was all in my head, maybe I am worthless after all. I used to be famous, I was special and different. Nowadays, I struggle to pay rent. Cause the people who used to love me are now suffering from voluntary Alzeheimer disease, they choose to forget that I once ruled the set. Or maybe they just don’t care. I used to be famous back in the day.
Money can’t save your soul, it’s illusory like fairy-dust, made-up, a figment of your imagination. Cause one day you have it and the next you don’t. Even if you have barrels of it like Walter White, it can’t buy you love, it’s insufficient to buy you life, it’s meaningless. Saul and Mike had 7 million in cash and they would have traded it all for a glass of water, cause 7 million in cash is worthless when you are in the dessert trapped in the scotching heat dehydrating your body of fluids, leaving you dry, stretched out like biltong. Cautionary tale money feels good now but what did you do to get it? Criminality and drugs have fixed endgames namely being murdered or a lengthy prison spell. There’s no wiseguy on the street, even the bosses get taken out, you will get outsmarted, you will be marked and you will get taken out. Cautionary tale, crime doesn’t pay, it robs you off your peace and state of mind. The bitches leave after you cum and the drugs just numb the pain but the persistence of life guarantees yesterday’s pain and empty void. Cautionary tale money is just paper or numbers on the screen. What matters most is relationships and bonds you share with others. What matters most is love, real love, your family, your friends and everyone you hold close to your heart. Cautionary tale, 7 figures can’t fix what you are, you’ll just be an asshole with 7 figures that no one likes. Cautionary tale, get your soul in order, treat others how you’d like to be treated, show empathy, love, be grateful for life, take it one day at a time, take it easy. The cars on magazines look great until you get them and start taking them for granted, cause greed is like an insatiable desire that spreads every time a level is reached. The power, the greed, corruption it never stops cause money never stops, it’s all in your head. Cautionary tale, don’t take someone for granted because of money. Don’t disrespect or put another person down because of money cause a bullet in the head makes us all equals. Cautionary tale, cautionary tale, everything is cause and effect, when you take a soul for money, you will lose your own. Cautionary tale, what matters most is temperance, justice, God and love. Cautionary tale, all that you have is your soul. Cautionary tale, slow down, you moving at a fast pace, you have snort too much cocaine, the feds are on your case, the bitches are all the same, your family has moved to Spain, you are alone. Cautionary tale, you have lost everything, you have money but can’t spend it on anything and burning it won’t accomplish anything. Cautionary tale, everybody gets caught or ends up dead, don’t sell your soul for a fleeting distraction cause the persistence of life will still hold you accountable.
antakalipa 