New TQ blog about his new album: "Still Dreamin’… Street Dreams"

[Portugoal]

When I was a kid I wanted my own dough. I’d work for it, hustle for it, sing for it, whatever. The one thing I wasn’t trying to do was ask for it. Plus we were so broke, my mom and pop were just conditioned to say NO outta necessity. My mom used to always say “can’t get blood out of a turnip” so I just stopped asking. I used to sit on my steps and dream about being as fly as the cats riding by… “One day Imma get me somethin fresh with candy paint and Daytons. Imma put pumps in the back and get me a girlfriend with a big ole booty”… That was me. That was my dream. I grew up in Compton in the 80’s and 90’s and thaz how I measured success. All the older cats loved me. They always gave ne Lil odd jobs and made sure I had a crispy $20 in my pocket. I watched the OG’s get it in and I had to have it. That was my dream.

Then something strange happened. I grew the fuck up. I quit all the dumb shit and went balls to the wall for my job. Everything changed. As u get older, Ur exploits pretty much speak for themselves. U become a father and life takes on a whole new meaning. Ur looked at differently and any links that u have to Ur former self u try to suppress as much as possible.

But the more things change the more they stay the same. Never more evident than a couple months ago when I’m at the liquor store in my old hood. Now I got the D&G belt that I love cuz the buckle is fly. Its red. Thaz a no-no in my neighborhood. I’m thinking nothing of it cuz I’m extra grown and extra ME. Plus I’m on my block… Sure enuff as I walk in the store I see some Lil dudes staring me down.

When I come out one of them is blocking my path. “What set u from homie?” he asks… In all my days as many times as I’ve been asked that question I’ve never been asked that HERE. Furious, I immediately turned my hat around so he could see my face. I replied “Lil nugga I’ll beat yo ass right here in this parking lot”. At that point his homies recognized me and tried to call him off. When he heard them say “that’s TQ” I saw his eyes get big… But pride is foolish and it was bound to take over. This Lil tuff guy shows his strap and asks ne how much was my chain…lol!!!! Wuuuussaaaah T! Calm down… Knowing I got my Glock in my sweatshirt I walk over to my truck, put my items from the store in my truck and walk back over to them. I knew this lil dude. I remembered him from when he was a toddler. I played football with his older brother and me and him used to get ‘em up all the time. I suggested to the guy that we put the guns down and take a walk to the ally and I show him where I’m from. He wasn’t interested. I look in his eyes and he’s looped outta his mind. Things have changed. The heroine in this neighborhood used to have zero cut on it. If that was still the case this Lil cat woulda prolly blew my head off b4 asking a question. But right now he’s half in and half out. His homies grab him, and sit him in the car… I stand there and shoot the shit with them for about 15 mins. They ask me about music and Lil Wayne. I keep one eye on the high one in the car. I’ve seen him b4. Many times… At this same liquor store, in his khakis with a .380 in one pocket and stones in the other. It wasn’t heroin but Malt liquor which seemed to make us just as crazy…

We’d stand on this corner everyday strapped and ready to trip on site…

Dreaming.

I’m glad it was just a Dream.

Street Dreams is the 2nd song on my new Album Kind of Blue which drops on the 23rd of this month. It features my Dawg At Will of Kinfolkz, The Pride of North Richmond California. He’s fresh off a bid and we’re already working on his new album…

Thaz just how we do it…

Stay tuned for the next Kind of Blue Blog. Are u ready for “Hollywood”?

We’ll find out shortly…

WESTSIDE4LIFE!

http://tqsblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/still-dreamin-street-dreams/