Hip-Hop History: Rap Anthology

New Anthology Traces Rap’s Lyrical Journey, Its Poetic Roots

A MAYA ANGELOU POEM.. "ALONE"

Alone
by Maya Angelou
Lying, thinking Last night How to find my soul a home Where water is not thirsty And bread loaf is not stone I came up with one thing And I don't believe I'm wrong That nobody, But nobody Can make it out here alone. Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody Can make it out here alone. There are some millionaires With money they can't use Their wives run round like banshees Their children sing the blues They've got expensive doctors To cure their hearts of stone. But nobody No, nobody Can make it out here alone. Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody Can make it out here alone. Now if you listen closely I'll tell you what I know Storm clouds are gathering The wind is gonna blow The race of man is suffering And I can hear the moan, 'Cause nobody, But nobody Can make it out here alone. Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody Can make it out here alone.

MAYA ANGELOU "STILL I RISE"

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise. 

A POEM BY COREY PORTER "RAIN"

“RAIN”  

THIS RAIN WON’T LET UP….

ITS BEEN RAINING FOR YEARS….

HURRICAIN AFTER HURRICAIN….

MY PILLOW CASE TASTED MY TEARS…

THIS RAIN WON’T LET UP….

WILL THE SUN SHINE AGAIN?...

I FEEL LIKE IM DROWING IN THIS RAIN…

GOD, HELP ME GAIN MY SECOND WIND….

IT RAINED ALL YESTERDAY…

THESE PILLS ARE MY UNBRELLA….

SO I POP’EM….BACK TO BACK….

BUT SOON I’LL BE BACK TO FACE THE FACT….

THAT ITS STILL RAINING IN MY LIFE….

I ASK GOD TO DRY MY CLOTHES…

BUT STILL THE RAIN REMAINS…

HE SAID ONEDAY I’LL BE A ROSE…

HE SAID MY LIFE IS LIKE APRIL….

SO EMBRACE ALL THE RAIN..

FOR THIS RAIN IS FOR MY GAIN….

BUT THIS RAIN WILL NOT REMAIN…..