Da Beginning

I remember pestering a guy for help. I wasn't sure he was holding out on me, or if he just didn't have the resources he claimed to have, but he eventually handed me what I thought was my start. Being completely unfamiliar with the substance and just thrilled to finally have something, I tucked it into my book bag and headed back to school downtown. Now, you also have to understand, I had never handled dope before.  This was my first time, and it looked exactly like what I’d seen people exchanging on the street. I arrived at school near the end of the second period and, when the bell rang for the third, blended in seamlessly with the crowd. I took my seat when a guy from my neighborhood who hustles approached me. I showed him what I had, and he started acting like he wanted to buy it." I handed it over, practicing the exchange I had rehearsed in my head a thousand times. Everything seemed to go well at first, but thirty seconds later, he handed it back. He looked me in the eye and said the words that made my heart sink: "Boyd, that shit fake."

Disappointment hit me like a physical blow. I thought he was trying to play me, but then he told me to smell it. I did, and that’s when I realized it was Ivory soap. I was crushed. If I had taken that "product" straight to the block instead of school, I would have been in serious trouble. While some in my peer group sold "dummies" now and then, I was far from being one of those guys, but that day, the game showed me exactly how cold it was gonna be.

I eventually got connected with some real game-changers, and I was able to collaborate with them near Hunter's Field in the back area, where they hosted community events during "SuperSunday." I was even able to make a real impact there, and as soon as I made my first move, I had already seen results by the time I got back on my side of the 7th ward (tha Box). Trying to find my way, still learning the ins and outs of the game. I was eager, maybe too eager, a hunger that could cloud judgment. When it came to a crucial moment, (RE-UP) I chose a known face, a guy who ran the basketball courts with my brother. I thought that history meant something solid. Sometimes personal ties can lead to new opportunities. It was a reminder that the world is full of possibilities, and you have to learn to see things as they can be. Just another stepping stone, another lesson learned on these streets: everyone on your team isn't there to help you grow. Walking along, the sounds of the city under the bridge are not always easy to navigate. I was still figuring things out, wanting to understand the flow and the unspoken rules.

 (Da After) Part1

 Coming (4/6/26)