Image ripped from :www.greenphillyblog.com
I remember my days growing up in the Eastern Shore of Maryland and actually couldn't fathom moving from there.The funny thing is I wasn't very thrilled when I found out I was moving to Philly. I was actually pretty upset.For the same reason I get homesick for Philly now,... it was all I ever knew. I grew up there. All my family and friends were there. I resented my stepmom for making us move for like the 3rd time in like 2 years and now Philly. But honestly; I seen it coming. I knew eventually it was going to happen. My Dad killed my whole day with that news. I was HOT !! but I played it cool. While I was packing up my room, my stepmom walked in and said something like this: "Poppy I know I say this alot ,but this is the last time we're moving". I told her with as little hostility in my voice as possible "No it's not '' (and I was right because we moved to another house not too long after getting settled) but I really wanted to tell her to get outta my face. I got used to living in Philly pretty quick though. I didn't know how to get around but was forced to learn once I got my first job here.I'm glad I had that challenge, I loved the scenery as I passed through North Philly on the el train. It was a beautiful ugly. So gritty.So alive. To the average person it was a shithole. To my country ass it was a live picture. From the endless chinese and "papi" stores (bodegas for NY folk and non locals) to the streets filled with vendors where I got fake Air Force Ones. (I didn't know any better at the time gimme a fuckin break) to the Muslim brothers selling the oils and just folks hustling in general. I'm feenin for Reading Terminal as we speak. I haven't been there in years and would probably kill for a gallon of that Amish made strawberry lemonade. I mean if we're being honest I was always fascinated with Philly since before my first visit in July 2007. My oldest neices father was from Philly originally but had moved to Pocomoke where I was living at the time. West Philly, a few blocks from where I live now actually. He introduced me to Ram Squad,State Property ,Major Figgaz, the heeltoe..this was like 2001 when I knew jack shit diddily squat about anything. It was so fascinating to my country ass. Still to this present day I'm still intrigued by the city. I been living here since 2010. I smoked my first blunt here. Lost my virginity here, Fell in love here. Had my first performance here . Came of age here. This has become my second home . I can't recall the last time I was actually homesick for Maryland. I may get the side eye for this post but I'm just living my truth. I don't miss living there. At all. I miss my friends I grew up with and some family members. I get nostalgia and quite a bit of inspiration when I visit but I don't miss needing a vehicle as a neccesity. I don't miss the weird vibes I used to get because I knew I was "different", even though I'm even more different to Philly people than people in Maryland, the difference is Philly people don't give a shit for the most part. I've never been made fun of in Philly . Nobody pays me any mind. Which is fine because I'm not very social these days... which of course we already know where I get that from . Another funny thing to know is I had no friends here outside of maybe social media ,until I went to Job Corps and associated myself with others from my same city of residence, 2 of them turning out to be my cousins and I never knew it until all of us were home from Job Corps. Jason Preston and Brian Wallace. They are the opposite of eachother and I'm the opposite of them... which for some reason is probably why this weird ass relationship works in the first place. This of course came with more characters whom I also grew to love to death like family ; Sheek,Tray aka Frankie Rizzo,Tyree aka Ree Raw, Paul aka P90 Smoove, Bar, Davey Dave,Donnovan, Lani, and everybody else that I can't name because I smoke too much weed and can't think but blame it on the mind not the heart. Man oh man I remember all of us hotboxing in that Monte Carlo that B had and our quest for curry shrimp when we had the munchies. That 2 toned Buick that Tray had (that I thought he had on purpose as a pun on his skin LMAO) High as shit in Hibachis smh .Breakin down in Frankford and damn near ain't make it to B and Roger's video shoot for "Put In Work". The new years parties at J house.The performances when everybody would have their woman in attendance (which for me was extra special because I finally had one and she actually liked my music), the now laughable time Tray and B tried to teach me how to drive that shit is hilarious lookin back in retrospective ...unforgettable man smh Too many memories to name and I wish we got ALL that shit on camera . All bringing me back to my point; How I'm able to be born AND raised from age 0-17 in Maryland with my past being damn near a blurr that rarely gets acknowledgement; its not even on purpose. Those were also critical times in my life that had much to do with the shaping of who I've become today , but the City of Brotherly Love that gave me tough love made me a man...."Philly,Philly...mmmmhmm Philly where I am from"...kinda sorta. Love is love and s/0 to everybody whether we on good terms or not. Its all love .
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