Steven Willis - How the Hood Loves You Back

[@rheamarcia]

"Ain't it funny how death becomes fashionable" deep

[@sameriakha9627]

Rhea Dehaney oh yeah....welcome to the 21th century

[@marichanil99]

Rhea Dehaney awwz zx asaaz

[@mwmann]

Only to fools who reject Christ.

[@dhare07]

@@mwmann because he ain't what you claim him to be. Why would we love the massa's son when he's the reason for the pain we're in? Lie upon lie upon lie he ain't even the color you say he is. That god ain't ours. He just wish he was. Like those in Israel calling themselves us and ain't been through an inkling of what we're still going through. Dealing with people like you, for example.

[@marissaburdock6550]

@@mwmann that makes no sense think again

[@CrudusViscus]

"The hood will love you enough to murder for you, but never enough to snitch."

[@joshuawatts9996]

Snaps up

[@kyramckenzie7556]

WORD

[@PoetryandVlogging]

Watch first 48" they snitch too" smh

[@Jay-jb2vr]

They snitch all the time....

[@Sisko526]

ofc not snitching means the cops that are the reason the hood exists in the first place come and kill someone else off the hood

[@blvkrxseofisrael5215]

“This is no longer Jefferson Avenue, but where Twig got shot.” I’m crying 😭

[@MannyTwice]

Man....that hit hard

[@justanotherisekaiprotagoni7293]

“If the hood loves you she’ll write it in tombstone text”.....dam g

[@admedina1993]

“No matter the politics all black boys are doomed to die by bullets but how can you complain? When the hood loves you” damn 😓

[@divalizzous]

"The hood will love you enough to murder for you but never enough to snitch".... "I will do it again, b/c I miss my brother so much. But that don't mean that I agree with what they did. That just means I've learned not to judge a people by how they grieve. Learn not to judge the hood for how it loves you back." Deep shit. Real shit.

[@raisworld1833]

when he said "cuz I miss my brother SO much" I felt it I broke down g

[@dianaenamorado3526]

My heart broke for him. I've seen how the media and people talk about riots. How people will say "black lives matter" but dont remember the person they talkin bout. How they say "he will forever be remembered" but by next week you already onto the next "victim." They use their names to get publicity but that person that was killed is still dead, they family is still greivin, and they tombstone is still polished.

[@salp.5882]

@@dianaenamorado3526 that makes it all the more that they are so many victims. I don't think it's solely publicity but all victims names to be heard when people say "Say his/her name"

[@geraldine3058]

"I've learned not to judge people by how they grieve" was your most impacting line. For me.

[@asseater0077]

This was so powerful. When he mentioned his brother I got so emotional you could see the pain in his eyes

[@jessica0321]

"That just means I've learned not to judge a people by how they grieve." This is an entire education in one line. Thank you.

[@jeihaynes7077]

As soon as someone says “what about black on black crime,” I send them here. Truly powerful and encompasses everything I’m too clumsy to say

[@ButtonPoetry]

Wow. Thank you Jeilyn. That is such a great approach to a very difficult and often problematic statement and way of thinking. Also a humbling thing to hear this poem has done for you.

[@davidking8744]

I revisit this poem whenever greif waves over me harsher than before, on the world, on my personal life, everything. I want this poet to know his poetry has changed my life

[@shantshair2583]

"The hood will love you enough to murder for you, but never enough to snitch." had to repeat

[@awaitingaugust1681]

Does anyone else hear someone in the audience 'gasp'/inhale loudy right after he says he says "'cuz I miss my brother so much.."?? It sounds like an audience member crying...

[@leilanidababe8146]

Shit even I'm fucking crying

[@raine7814]

@@leilanidababe8146 same I got really emotional watching this.

[@MichaelOrMikey-Games]

I mean that line makes me choke up. I can’t help but imagine what it would be like if my brothers were dead

[@mo-mo9421]

"The hood well love you enough to murder for you but never enough to snitch " so true !! Praying for my fellow brothers and sisters . ❤️

[@joefresh82]

One of the realest poems about life . I got that lump in my throat, eyes all puffy , reliving the senseless murder of my 11 year old nephew and he has a building and baseball field named after him that hurts even deeper. Rest in Heaven Lloyd McCoy Jr

[@BP-gl7zt]

My condolences. Strength to you, brother.

[@j.w_la]

Res n peace n paradise

[@joefresh82]

@@BP-gl7zt Thank you fam. It ain't easy , time heals some wounds, but not this one

[@joefresh82]

@@j.w_la Thank you fam, I miss him

[@abarzua21able]

The hood & streets will never love you back. My husband is an O.G. & he has bled, sweat, & tears for the streets in the hood. Everything u said is the truth. He has seen a bro's brains splattered, he has held dying bro's in their last breath, and he has helped a mother grieve for losing her kid to the streets.

[@MzAmberJ]

"Ain't it funny how death becomes fashionable." That part.

[@alliewonders117]

omg I cried ❤ this was painfully true, sad, and beautiful all at the same time

[@stephaniecolangelo7004]

I can't even tell you how many times I've watched this performance. His tone is amazing.

[@madisonxiong2662]

Rough Transcript: I'm not saying that I agree with what they did Just saying I've learned not to judge a people for they grieve Learned not to judge the hood for how it loves you back Love from the hood: An honor only bestowed on those who show the hood the most unwavering of loyalties I'm talking street n* Most literally from cradle to grave Most literally from corner to coroner Most literally n* who hopped the block in their last moments gasping for air Right before yellow tape makes a spectacle of their bodies sprawled on cement If the hood loves you, she'll make a monument of this location They will bring teddie bears, well wishes, and heavy hearts This is now sacred ground, to be renamed as memorial and landmark This is no longer Jefferson Avenue But where Twig(?) got shot For the next six nights you will see candles light this space only Until the wind blows it silent Until the amber is blown in the direction of the summer's(?) next casualty If the hood loves you, she'll write it in tombstone text A boy's face and childhood nickname will be written in script across a double XL white tee Ain't it funny, How quickly death becomes fashionable? A testament, To how tragic memories don't fade, even in a washing machine You can expect your cultures of kin to tattoo your name in the most visible of places Your birth date in roman numerals will kiss the left side of your little sister's collarbone, long before a boy ever does In grief, we graffiti mirrors That's how Biggie and Pac got faces in places that they never called home I know boys who bore the weight of pallbearer long before the rigors of college But the most famous of us will have streets named in our honor Martin Luther King Drive And Malcolm X Blvd Both debunk the myth of respectability and proves that no matter the politics, All black boys are doomed to die by bullets but, How can you complain? When the hood loves you? And we gon' keep lovin' you Long after the gravel has swallowed your portion of the 40, Long after they've packed that car with vengeance Long after another boy's life is taken in retaliation of yours, Continuing the cycle of trauma and street violence Yes yo' The hood will love you enough to murder for you, But never enough to snitch Yes yo' I know who did it, I was there when they brought the 4-50 Yes yo' I watched the news, I listened as they emptied the clip And yes yo' I'll do it again Yes yo' I'll do it again! Damn motherfucking right, I will do it again 'Cuz I miss my brother so much But that don't mean that I agree with what they did That just means I've learned not to judge a people for how they grieve Learned not judge the hood For how it loves you back

[@samersuleman4523]

Appreciate you for typing this out for one of my favorite poems! I noticed a couple wrong transcriptions and here are the corrections: •”In grief, we graffiti murals” - 1:40 •”Yes y’all” - 2:25 •”Yes y’all” -2:30 •”Yes y’all” - 2:33

[@rochellewarren6219]

By design our trauma.

[@kevinbourgeois9528]

« We’re gonna still love you, long after the ground will have swallowed your portion of the 40 » that’s amazing

[@anthonydelgiudice5103]

the imagery was so on point, as well as the figures of speech. Its one of those things you would take a long time trying to find a flaw to, every word seems delebrite and holds meaning, like every word was a piece of his hesrt sprawled out onto this poem. Truly beautiful

[@gia5802]

I started to cry. The ending was so intense. He did amazing.

[@jonakafunda6635]

The emotion he put into this piece!

[@quack5034]

"After the gravel has swallowed your portion of the 40" .

[@lalluna9460]

does anybody else listen to this before going to bed and finds it INCREDIBLY comforting?

[@shaniawilson9128]

I am literally doing that now and saw your comment ❤️

[@bsequichie]

i made a playlist of my favorites and will fall asleep listen to them

[@alexisgramlich273]

“ain’t it funny how quickly death becomes fashionable” i- wow

[@sagel6225]

I’m responsible for atleast 50,000 of the views on this video. I’ve been coming back to this video over the last 5 years every now and then. Feels like I’m hearing it for the first time every time.

[@KhamalIwuanyanwu]

A minute in and I had to hit like already. Powerful.

[@perladavus3893]

“ I Will Do It Again Cause I Miss My Brother So Much” Hearing That Put Nothing But Tears In My Eyes You Honestly Showed What Were Going Through In The Streets, Beautiful poem

[@gregorysporleder4749]

Please don't ever stop. Ever. You got the gift young man, spread the word.

[@nelliebean84]

“The hood will love you enough to murder for you but never enough to snitch.” Too true.

[@baileylantman1348]

"Most literally from cradle to grave. Most literally from corner to coroner." when i tell you chills took over my entire body....

[@BuffaLinds716]

🥺💔 Poetry has never moved me more...thank you

[@KhamalIwuanyanwu]

Oh man and now I'm in tears, good lord that was great

[@jamiemuse3799]

This was really powerful and extremely beautiful

[@deepnetanon504]

This really speaks volumes for what's happening now in the nation..

[@Philosophat75]

From cradle to grave, from corner to coroner. Super dope line.

[@toniharrington2851]

Thank you for sharing your passion and Art about my old home town, Chicago.

[@chrisloveall971]

Talent is what this beautiful black man has. I love all of it.

[@ceny1196]

Wow this hit home... thank you

[@alvinbuyinza4697]

Steve Willis is amazing I love this poem

[@callmekells802]

God. Rattled me to my core. Steven, you have a gift.

[@TJ_6112]

Why did I burst out in literal tears when he said “because I miss my brother so much” my brother ain’t even dead 🥴😩😭

[@wtf.iswrongwithella]

Raw and pure emotion right here

[@dianalong529]

"The hood will love you enough to murder for you but never enough to snitch." Damn. Speechless.😶

[@jayali8907]

He was my poetry teacher I miss him.

[@KraziVokalz]

Have never seen him cry during a piece... that year made this piece so much deeper... great piece....

[@ShykelLucas]

I still listen to the old ones literally

[@MelMelx365]

Always hits the same no matter where I hear him do this poem.

[@sadeb9109]

I got to see him perform in person incredibly

[@angelinadelapaz6459]

“Your name written in tombstone text” he is amazing honestly

[@dj4-play]

This keeps strumming on my mind so much that I keep replaying it. I may have to recite it at an open mic.

[@mr.Nobody_raw]

Michael McPherson I love the enthusiasm, but please don’t lol. No disrespect but this poem is a masterpiece and shouldn’t be recited because no one will ever convey the emotions that he did.

[@Saleena3333]

I relate to this and I can see the imagery while he's performing it.

[@aestheticallymichelle2992]

I love this guy, bro

[@popbando1264]

Aesthetically Michelle Tasha Cobbs

[@popbando1264]

Tosha Cobbs gospel

[@nec4471]

40 secs in and I started to cry. This is why I love button poetry

[@mariaalejandrabrea5841]

I love his voice, it's like music

[@Amina-il2nb]

Amazingly beautiful... I'm crying

[@offical.savedqueen]

“ your birthday will kiss the left side of your little sisters collarbone long before a boy ever does “ wow that’s good 👏🏾

[@madalynchavez4909]

I love how he puts all emotion in and holds nothing back. truly amazing

[@lailawhite2084]

This was amazing. Reduced me to tears

[@riasandy8490]

Wow... truly powerful. I'm speechless.

[@noiwantjamilah]

R.I.P Nipsey 😔🙏🏼💙💙💙💙💙

[@sagel6225]

Ive been watching this for the past 5 years, I guarantee I'm atleast 30k of the the views

[@bbee4983]

This gave me chills, he was so passionate.

[@polohorse8262]

I dead cried. This was beyond amazing

[@kpacshakur6969]

The fact that this doesn’t have a mil yet is beyond me

[@tremeramcbean3719]

I got chills watching this

[@getmoney1st312]

That shit was deep. Gangster Crazy 🔱 💫. You know the hood loves when yo boy looks you in the eye n says.. I’ll kill for you dawg. Real shit.

[@aaronbell4004]

My mouth was wide open. Amazing

[@1dunno325]

That hit me , relatable asf bro

[@AA-rl7kg]

Still here all these years later wow

[@ButtonPoetry]

Still kicking!

[@CM-wr3hf]

Chills and tears...

[@liya5725]

damn i am actually crying.

[@fatoufrancescambow5876]

Woooowww....thank you. In tears. Grateful. ❤️

[@akeemadams4255]

This gave me chills👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@zohangood2222]

Damn homie you giving me chills

[@lillymirembe4474]

Moved me near to tears...

[@eriksoncherilus7508]

Why hasn’t this gone viral?

[@marcuservin9990]

Powerful 🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@meganshanece]

One of my favs of ALL time.

[@shanaibrade4498]

This is one of my top poems of all times and definitely one if my favourite slam poets, there’s something about his voice that makes you listen, and you can understand what he’s saying, he doesn’t lie he tells the truth and you can hear the emotion in his voice So because I can’t find it anywhere and lockdown got me bored as shit I wrote it up (so hear you go people) I’m not saying that I agreed with what they did Just saying I’ve learned not to judge a people for how they grieve Leant not to judge the hood, for how it loves you back Love from the hood, and I know only bestowed on those who showed the hood the most unwavering of loyalties m talks street n****s, most literally from cradle to grave, most literally from corner to coroner, most literally n****s who hugged the block in their last moments gasping for air Right before yellow tape makes a spectacle of their bodies sprawled on cement. If the hood loves you, should make a monument of this location. They will bring teddy bears well wishes and heavy hearts. This is now sacred ground to be renamed memorial and landmark This is no longer Jefferson avenue but were twig got shot For the next six nights you will see candles light this place holy (clap) Until the wind blows it silent Until the amber is blown in the direction of the summers next casualty If the hood loves you, should write it in tombstone text A boys face and childhood nickname should be written in script across a double xl white tee Ain’t it funny, how quickly death becomes fashionable, a testament to how tragic memories don’t fade, even in a washing machine, and you can expect your closet of kin to tattoo your name in the most visible of places Your birthday in Roman numerals will kiss the left side of your little sisters collarbone Long before a boy ever does In grief we graffiti murals That’s how biggie and pac got faces in places that they never called home I know boys who ????? Long before The riggers of college But the most famous of us will have streets named in our honour Martin Luther king drive, Malcolm x Boulevard Both debunked a myth of respectability improves that no matter the politics All black boys are doomed to die by bullets But how can you complain when the hood loves you And we gone keep loving you Long after the gravel has swallowed your portion of the forty Long after they packed that car with vengeance Long after another boys life is taken in retaliation of yours Continue in the cycle of trauma and street violence Yes yall the street will love you enough to murder for you but never enough to snitch Yes yall I know how did it I was there when they brought the four fifth Yes yall I watched the news I listened as they emptied the clip And yes yall I’ll do it again Yes yall I’ll do it again Damn motherfucking right I will do it again Cause I miss my brother so much But that don’t mean that I agree with what they did That just means I’ve learnt not to judge a people for how they grieve Learn not judge the hood for how it loves you back.

[@chamkym6920]

Oh man tat was great and truly powerful.. I loved it.

[@katiek5717]

Although I’m from an upper middle class suburb I have an undying love for this poem, I feel the emotion pouring through each word he says, and frankly it’s beautiful

[@beautifulAK82]

This is beautiful 💚

[@morgancooper1524]

Love it 💖

[@domvsjen150]

Excellent. Flawless Victory

[@justinosuji5613]

Flat out amazing Instant fan

[@EsotericElle]

amazing!!

[@julien5592]

this was everything:)

[@johnjacobs2812]

I love this piece anytime of the day it comes on in one of playlists I just have to listen it has my full focus as if it’s my time hearing it

[@nellybelle5378]

I felt every word in this poem 😞😞❣️ beautiful poem

[@curvecast]

Great redo of the poem. He put his own flare own it! I can't remember the name of the original poem but it was featured on Def Poetry Jam years ago.

[@asiamarie4]

come on!!!! where did you come from! talented for real

[@VivianUwakwe]

He came to my school when i was in 8th grade... never understood it the way i do now

[@Manifestwithme777]

Iconic

[@scratchsquad7320]

Soul is snatched!

[@lifeasbriel3015]

His voice so strong n powerful 🙏🏽

[@ItsMoMoneyyy]

this was spoken so beautifully.