By: Cedric McClester

Any ***** can shoot a *****
What’s it take to pull a trigger
How much pressure do ya figure
Is required to dead a *****
Problem is you’re killin you
When you pull the trigger to
Shoot someone who looks like you
But ain’t that what you ****** do

A ***** lookin for respect
Could pull out a Nine or Tec
At a time you least expect
And you might have to hit the deck
Cuz when the bullets start to fly
Those who don’t just might die
And you don’t wanna go - okay
Like ****** do around the way – cuz

Any ***** can shoot a *****
What’s it take to pull a trigger
How much pressure do ya figure
Is required to dead a *****
Problem is you’re killin you
When you pull the trigger to
Shoot someone who looks like you
But ain’t that what you ****** do

Keep one eye open when you sleep
Cuz in the hood life is cheap
So watch the company you keep
Your main man might be a creep
Don’t let ‘em get the drop on you
The way some ****** like to do
They’ll roll up on you with a crew
And run a clip off into you

Any ***** can shoot a *****
What’s it take to pull a trigger
How much pressure do ya figure
Is required to dead a *****
Problem is you’re killin you
When you pull the trigger to
Shoot someone who looks like you
But ain’t that what you ****** do

****** don’t respect themselves
Never mind someone else
That’s why they keep their gats and shells
And you know what that often spells
Cuz ****** are up to no good
There’s gun smoke in the neighborhood
And it’s high time they realize
That it’s themselve who they despise – cuz

Any ***** can shoot a *****
What’s it take to pull a trigger
How much pressure do ya figure
Is required to dead a *****
Problem is you’re killin you
When you pull the trigger to
Shoot someone who looks like you
But ain’t that what you ****** do

Did you ever stop to think
****** could become extinct
In the time it takes to blink
Like some kind of missin link
Unless we suddenly stop killin
The prophesy will keep fulfillin
Even though the thought is chillin
Long as the blood just keep on spillin – cuz

Any ***** can shoot a *****
What’s it take to pull a trigger
How much pressure do ya figure
Is required to dead a *****
Problem is you’re killin you
When you pull the trigger to
Shoot someone who looks like you
But ain’t that what you ****** do

Although it’s often said in play
And despite what some folks say
The use of ***** ain’t okay
Though you might hear it everyday
My usage of it in this joint
Is for effect to prove a point
It’s not to glorify the term
But will you ****** ever learn – that

Any ***** can shoot a *****
What’s it take to pull a trigger
How much pressure do ya figure
Is required to dead a *****
Problem is you’re killin you
When you pull the trigger to
Shoot someone who looks like you
But ain’t that what you ****** do

Although it’s often said in play
And despite what some folks say
The use of ***** ain’t okay
Though you might hear it everyday
My usage of it in this joint
Is for effect to prove a point
It’s not to glorify the term
But will you ****** ever learn



(c) Copyright 2015.  Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Despite some misconceptions
And attacks
Endure for centuries
By us blacks
Let me lay down
Some unknown facts
How ‘bout we start with
Henrietta Lacks

For most of us
After our death
Other than memories
What else is left?
For our survivors
The bereft
Yet her cells live on
It’s a matter of theft

From Henrietta’s
Cancerous cells
A bold idea
Suddenly jells
Spawning cures for cancer
As her biographer tells
And in vitro fertilization
Other things as well

Science took complete advantage
Of her cells
Which they still manage
Though she died of cervical cancer
Her cells provided them
With the answer
To scientific mystery
Check out her cells history











Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Locked down nineteen hours
Five hours he plays
That’s the way the prisoner
Whiles away his days
On death row for the murders
Of his wife and son
Locked in a four foot nine cell
For the crime he’s done

Four years down and counting
See I’ve done the math
It’s death by lethal injection
For that sick sociopath

Decomposing and headless
In San Francisco Bay
He said she was missing
But she was found that way
His son’s lifeless fetus
Had previously washed ashore
Which repulsed everyone
Even that much more

Four years down and counting
See I’ve done the math
It’s death by lethal injection
For that sick sociopath

Her family were all hoping
She’d be found alive
Though he knew she was dead
He feigned concern (what jive)
She was weighted down
Which made him quite convinced
That she’d never be found
Floating in that rinse

Four years down and counting
See I’ve done the math
It’s death by lethal injection
For that sick sociopath

While they were contemplating
Their poor loved one’s fate
His only concern was
Which chick he should date
See he had to satisfy
An internal itch
But karma is a mother for ya
It can be a *****

Four years down and counting
See I’ve done the math
It’s death by lethal injection
For that sick sociopath

Four years down and counting
See I’ve done the math
It’s death by lethal injection
For that sick sociopath

Four years down and counting
See I’ve done the math
It’s death by lethal injection
For that sick sociopath



Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

I was born and raised in the ghetto
But the ghetto wasn't raised in me
Guess that's why I be the way I be
Some people say I'm crazy  cool
See Mama didn't raise a fool
Every day I went to school

To overcome my environment
No wasted time was spent
I was born and raised in the ghetto - see
But the ghetto wasn't raised in me
Guess that's why I be the way I be

It never is just up to chance
We're not victims of circumstance
Though some are seeking an excuse
But I just think, hey what's the use
I was born and raised in the ghetto - see
But the ghetto wasn't raised in me




(c) Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

When Trump and Carson fall
And the foolishness ceases
Rubio will be there
To pick up the pieces
He’s salivating
As his chance increases
He’s now looking at curtains
And White House leases

When Trump and Carson fall
And the race is in shambles
He’ll bet his  house
You see. The man gambles
He’s not alone
Cuz there’s many other examples
Of men who’ve picked up swatches
And other samples

When Trump and Carson fall
And they look towards the rest
Rubio’s convinced
That he alone is the best
In fact he’s thinking
Nevertheless
It will be him and not the others
There’s no contest

When Trump and Carson fall
As inevitably they must
And Marco Rubio watches the others
Bite the dust
As they complain
Then spit and cuss
Marco will be the one
To lead the rest of us




Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2015.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

To achieve your ambition
Stop hoping and wishing
Voting is a mission
It’s like going fishing
No fish will you find
If you don’t cast your line
So drop your remote
And go out and vote

Your candidate
Might not win the debate
But let me clearly state
If you don’t participate
Then you abdicate
By not voting your choice
You lose your voice
And can never rejoice

Democracy demands
Having all hands
Both critics and fans
Despite their brands
Being involved
To get their problems solved
Things tend to revolve
So we’ll be absolved

Voting is a right
We could lose over night
Unless we unite
Stop being uptight
And stay engage in the fight
For which people died
Payed in blood or their hide
To not be denied


Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2018.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

As we shall see infidelity
While seeming to be
The latest fashion
Where there’s conviction
And passion
So even those
Who walk down the aisle
Are often betrayed by words or a smile

Increasingly
We’re beginning to see
Infidelity
Wouldn’t you agree

Let’s keep it real
There’s Bill -  (And Camille)
Knows how it feels
When tabloids reveal
The infidelity
That she didn’t see
Though it kept happening
Time and again

Increasingly
We’re beginning to see
Infidelity
Wouldn’t you agree

The unions survive
The husbands and wives
Living separate lives
Check out the archives
So what’s the reason
For their treason
Finding someone to squeeze in
Must be in season

It’s hard to respect
Those you wouldn’t suspect
Of bedding the babysitter
So you can’t blame the wives
For being angry or bitter
Cuz it never occurred
It was the babysitter
Who was preferred

Increasingly
We’re beginning to see
Infidelity
Wouldn’t you agree












Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

ALLAHU-AKBAR, (TRUE)
GOD IS GREATER THAN THEY KNEW
Or why would they do what they do
And then pervert al-Islam too
BISMILAH – (IN THE NAME OF ALLAH)
They plant bombs inside of cars
To blow up strangers near and far
But they take things too ******* far

AL-HUMDILILAH – (PRAISE ALLAH)
But not by giving Islam a scar
Who the hell they think they are
Shaytan’s minions? They’re on par
ASTAGFIGALAH (MAY ALLAH FORGIVE)
Those not cursed by how they live
Chopping heads off especially with
A rusty knife known as a shiv

INSHALLAH (IF IT’S ALLAH’S WILL)
Those who maim and also ****
Will soon be presented with the bill
And their ambitions will get them nil
ALLAHU-ALUM (ALLAH KNOWS BEST)
The sins they will have to confess
To get those sins up off their chest
While facing hell fire nevertheless

WALAHI (I SWEAR BY ALLAH)
Hell will find them wherever they are
In their homes near or far
Because they have raised the bar
YA-HAMUKALAH (MAY ALLAH PROTECT YOU)
From those ****
Who constantly beat their war drums
And take advantage of the deaf blind and dumb




Copyright © 2015, Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

He calls himself a man
Yet he can’t understand
Why the baby won’t stop crying
In the crib in which he’s lying
He agreed to baby sit
Not to take this **** (But now he’s catching it)

Rock-a-bye baby
But he wouldn’t stop
Now it’s a plea deal
That he hopes to cop
And the baby’s momma
Is out of her head
Rock-a-bye baby
Her baby is dead

He picked the kid up
To rock him at first
But the crying continued
And in fact it got worst
Then he shook him
In an aggravated state
And by the time he stopped
It was a little bit too late

Rock-a-bye baby
But he wouldn’t stop
Now it’s a plea deal
That he hopes to cop
And the baby’s momma
Is out of her head
Rock-a-bye baby
Her baby is dead

She tosses the details
Around in her head
Cause she can’t believe
Her baby is dead
And it doesn’t matter
Who is to blame
Her baby is dead
And she won’t be the same

Rock-a-bye baby
But he wouldn’t stop
Now it’s a plea deal
That he hopes to cop
And the baby’s momma
Is out of her head
Rock-a-bye baby
Her baby is dead

What we do to children
Is often so cruel
Because the exception’s
Becoming the rule
But infants are helpless
So **** the excuse
Because whatever you say
It’s still child abuse

Rock-a-bye baby
But he wouldn’t stop
Now it’s a plea deal
That he hopes to cop
And the baby’s momma
Is out of her head
Rock-a-bye baby
Her baby is dead

She tosses the details
Around in her head
Cause she can’t believe
Her baby is dead
And it doesn’t matter
Who is to blame
Her baby is dead
And she won’t be the same

What we do to children
Is often so cruel
Because the exception’s
Becoming the rule
But infants are helpless
So **** the excuse
Because whatever you say
It’s still child abuse


Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2016.  All rights reserved.

SATAN’S WORLD

By: Cedric McClester

It’s Satan’s world
That’s how it seems of late
Especially when God’s people
Appear to abdicate

There’s trouble everywhere
And life’s a living hell
For far too many people
Caught in the devil’s spell
They’re busy seeking this world
With no thought for the next
Worshipping possessions
And engaging in loose ***

It’s Satan’s world
That’s how it seems of late
Especially when God’s people
Appear to abdicate

Some don’t have a conscience
And they’ll do anything
Like sexing fourteen year olds
Who like the songs they sing
They take away their innocence
Cuz they don’t know the deal
But we’re exposing them right now
So they’ll know how we feel

It’s Satan’s world
That’s how it seems of late
Especially when God’s people
Appear to abdicate

Some want the best of both worlds
They want heaven while raising hell
And we’re not making judgments
You can look at them and tell
That they’re in bed with Satan
While they say they love the Lord
Just look at what they’re doing
Cuz their deeds can’t be ignored

It’s Satan’s world
That’s how it seems of late
Especially when God’s people
Appear to abdicate

Here’s the deal let’s keep it real
Cuz we’re not out to play
It may not be tomorrow
But you’re gonna pay one day
Cause all things done in darkness
Will soon come to light
Just because you’re a celebrity
Don’t mean you’re living right

It’s Satan’s world
That’s how it seems of late
Especially when God’s people
Appear to abdicate




Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

It’s, “affordable housing,”
That we can’t afford
Our cries in vain
Go largely ignored
So please don’t ask us
Where the grapes of wrath are stored
If you don’t want us
To respond untoward

They show us an unaffordable
AMI
For people who barely
Are just getting by
So to call it affordable
Is a bold face lie
That try though they may
They cannot deny

We’re brought together
To plan and plot
Our community’s future
Are we not
But they won’t admit
To what’s already in place
Like a zoning change
What a disgrace

Ultimately we’re told our future’s
Up to us
And if we believe them
As they say we must
They seek our ideas
Like they really matter
But I know all that is
Is just chitter chatter






Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

You went undercover
Only to discover
That your big brother
Was watching you
There’s no escaping
Cos he was taping
Now you don’t know
What to do

You’re reaction
To this distraction
Has you packing
But they’ll be trackin
Where you are
Use your cell and they can tell
Whether you’re walkin
Or in a car

Nineteen eight-four
Came inside the door
And Orwell had it right
Like a doting mother
Your big brother
Is clockin you day and night

You feel trapped
Cos your phone is tapped
And your TV’s watchin you
The places you shop
At every store you stop
Has information too
The time and date
What you bought and ate

Nineteen eight-four
Is inside the door
And Orwell had it right
Like a doting mother
Your big brother
Is clockin you day and night

You feel trapped
Cos your phone is tapped
And your TV’s watchin you
The places you shop
At every store you stop
Has information too
The time and date
What you bought and ate

Nineteen eight-four
Is inside the door
And Orwell had it right
Like a doting mother
Your big brother
Is clockin you day and night

You’re reaction
To this distraction
Has you packing
But they’ll be trackin
Where you are
Use your cell and they can tell
Whether you’re walkin
Or in a car

Nineteen eight-four
Is inside the door
And Orwell had it right
Like a doting mother
Your big brother
Is clockin you day and night



(c) Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Thanks for never giving up on me
You always kept your cool
Even when it was plain to see
I was acting like a fool
You’re the one who believed in me
When there was no one else
And your encouragement was the key
To making me believe in myself

Thanks for all your time and energy
And everything that you invest in me
Thanks for your words of encouragement
Especially when my head is bent

How can I ever thank you enough
For all you do and have done
For being there when it gets rough
I’m just so proud to be your son
At times you even were my crutch
That’s what everybody said
They even thought you were too much
From what I’ve heard and read

Thanks for all your time and energy
And everything that you invest in me
Thanks for your words of encouragement
Especially when my head is bent

I never would have come this far
Had it not been for you
So you deserve these accolades
And every word is true
It’s little more than the gratitude
That you’re deserving of
These are heart-felt platitudes
That are used to express my lov

Thanks for all your time and energy
And everything that you invest in me
Thanks for your words of encouragement
Especially when my head is bent

You brought me closer to the goal
That I had set for  myself
Right from the start you were sold
Long before anyone else
You’re the rock that gives me strength
Because of you I persevere
And I would go to any length
To thank you I’m sincere

I never would have come this far
Had it not been for you
So you deserve these accolades
And every word is true
It’s little more than the gratitude
That you’re deserving of
These are heart-felt platitudes
That are used to express my love

Thanks for never giving up on me
You always kept your cool
Even when it was plain to see
I was acting like a fool
You’re the one who believed in me
When there was no one else
And your encouragement was the key
To making me believe in myself






Cedric McClester,Copyright © 2015.  All Rights Reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

The night was hot
So she retreated
To her front stoop
But things got heated
5 shots rang out
Into the night
And who got hit
You guessed it right

Dem thugs ‘n gangstas
Ain’t up to no good
Dey always
Shootin up the neighborhood

Pregnant and shot
Right through the neck
And so the ambulance
Made the trek
To the hospital
Five blocks away
Where she arrived
DOA

Dem thugs ‘n gangstas
Ain’t up to no good
Dey always
Shootin up the neighborhood

In the O.R.
It was intense
But due to God
And providence
A healthy baby boy
Was born
Torn from her womb
His mother, gone

An act of violence
Gone aerie
A pregnant woman
Caused to die
Because of someone’s
Senseless act
And nothing said
Can bring her back

Dem thugs ‘n gangstas
Ain’t up to no good
Dey always
Shootin up the neighborhood

In the O.R.
It was intense
But due to God
And providence
A healthy baby boy
Was born
Torn from the womb
His mother gone

An act of violence
Gone aerie
A pregnant woman
Caused to die
Because of someone’s
Senseless act
And nothing said
Can bring her back

Dem thugs ‘n gangstas
Ain’t up to no good
Dey always
Shootin up the neighborhood


(c) Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester.   All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

You lying ***,
You so and so,
You didn’t know,
That she would go?
As if the general
Didn’t tell you though,
You’re claiming ignorance
And putting on a show

You lying ***,
You so and so
Keep it up
And your nose will grow
Just like the puppet
Pinocchio
You’re trying to reach
A new plateau

You lying ***,
You so and so,
You paint a picture
But you’re no Van Gogh
You’re gonna fall
Like a domino
See you belong
In a minstrel show

You lying ***,
You so and so,
You hired her
Don’t cha think
We know?
That you’re duplicitous
As world leaders know, yo
Like Canada's Justin Trudeau




Cedric McClester,  Copyright © 2018.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

***** **** ***
Terms that we all know
Which only goes to show
The depths to which men go
To shame women although
They have mothers who
Get categorized that way too
But they act like who knew

*****, ****, ***
It has a certain flow
On and on we go
Tryin’ to bring ‘em low
But it’s not fair and yo
We need to take it slow
Before those labels stick
Let’s change our rhetoric

*****, ****, ***
People that we know
Use it frequently although
It shouldn’t be that way but yo
Guess that’s just how it go
We use it for ammo
When we refuse to grow
Change sometimes is slow

***** **** ***
Are terms that havta go
Why hold ‘em in escrow
For the sake of puttin’ on a show
Of put downs that’s below
The ladies we bestow
Those names on even though
They’ve become status quo


















Cedric McClester. Copyright © 2015. All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

The coming of Trump
Like the coming of Jesus
Is hailed by the masses
He knows how to please us
Or maybe it’s that
He just knows how to tease us
Cuz he’s clearly not Christ
Nor is he close to Jesus

The coming of Trump
Like Jesus went through Galilee
All that’s missing
Are the palm fronds ya see
But Jesus rode an ***
Trump rides an airplane
And so you’d have to say alas
The two just aren’t the same

The coming of Trump
With all the adulation
As if his words alone
Could really save the nation
And those who are prone
To not have any patience
You find at every stop
Wishing him their salutations

The coming of Trump
Like Jesus’ Sermon On-The- Mount
Talks about bringing
Many things into account
He’s gonna build a fence
At a huge discount
The Mexicans will pay for it
Which for him is paramount








Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2016.  All rights reserved.

Names are funny funny things
like a bell that often rings.
Time brings in its crazy swings;
surf the web and memory pings.
Can't negotiate this site;
rhymes are all I can recite.
Well, I here submit a flight
of feeble rhymes to frame my plight:
I cannot find a Councilman
McClester, a real gentleman.
If you the poet and that man
are different, then this dumb fan
will simply have to find more guides
where Councilman McClester hides.
But if it's here the C'man bides
and frees your soul as it derides
in lay upon delightful lay
the foibles of the current day,
then I can only truly say
your probity has made my day.

Geoffrey Riggs

By: Cedric McClester

Your ***** - my ***** - our *****’s gone
Over 5000 people were there to morn
So when I hear you callin him I get real torn
And emotionally become a bit forlorn
Your ***** – my ***** –our *****’s dead
What’s it gonna take to get that through your head
Some blame it on the kinda life he led
But I blame it on all y’all instead
Your ***** – my ***** everywhere I go
Our *****’s dead - act like you know
It’s become a sport or some kinda game
To casually evoke his name in vain
Your ***** – my ***** – our ***** is
Turning in the grave site where he lives
All the while wonderin what the hell gives
And I ain’t jiving you I’m talkin square biz

Your ***** – my ***** – our *****’s gone
Out of pain and struggle our ***** was born
The object of ridicule and also scorn
Now the mention of his name only brings a yawn

Your ***** – my ***** – our *****’s at rest
After all he’s been through he deserved no less
But y’all like to drop his name nevertheless
No respect for the dead if I was to guess
Your ***** – my ***** – our ***** died
But y’all still call him like he was alive
If the truth be told then you would confide
Nothin I said can be denied
Your ***** – my *****- our ***** too
Carried himself the way most ****** do
Pants fallin down draggin at his shoe
Actin as if he had a missin *****
Your ***** – my *****- our ***** was
Characterized by what a ***** does
Everywhere he goes he creates a buzz

Your ***** – my ***** – our *****’s gone
Out of pain and struggle our ***** was born
The object of ridicule and also scorn
Now the mention of his name only brings a yawn

Your ***** – my ***** – our ***** see
Met with a horrible tragedy
So he’s not here he ceases to be
Anything other than a memory
Free at last free at last at last he’s free
Your ***** – my ***** – our ***** gave
Everything he had when he was enslaved
Finally at rest in a six foot grave
And all we’re left with is his name to save
Your ***** – my ***** - our *****’s through
But then again I think somehow you knew
To a *****’s code the ***** was true
Now letting him go is the thing to do
Your ***** – my ***** – our ***** left
But none of y’all act as if you are bereft

Your ***** – my ***** – our *****’s gone
Out of pain and struggle our ***** was born
The object of ridicule and also scorn
Now the mention of his name only brings a yawn

Your ***** - my ***** - our *****’s gone
Over 5000 people were there to morn
So when I hear you callin him I get real torn
And emotionally become a bit forlorn
Your ***** – my ***** –our *****’s dead
What’s it gonna take to get that through your head
Some blame it on the kinda life he led
But I blame it on all y’all instead
Your ***** – my ***** everywhere I go
Our *****’s dead - act like you know
It’s become a sport or some kinda game
To casually evoke his name in vain
Your ***** – my ***** – our ***** is
Turning in the grave site where he lives
All the while wonderin what the hell gives
And I ain’t jiving you I’m talkin square biz

Your ***** – my ***** – our *****’s gone
Out of pain and struggle our ***** was born
The object of ridicule and also scorn
Now the mention of his name only brings a yawn


(c) Copyright 2015. Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Judging by the way
It’s now appearing
Looks like the lady
Wants  a hearing
Even though their deadline
Is swiftly nearing
And old white men
Are often domineering

There’s two sides to
Each and every story
Theirs and the truth
Then there’s allegory
Now you can disagree
But you can’t ignore me
He might cop a plea
If he wants to bore me

She’ll be accused of
All kinds of lying
As he prods along
Patently denying
That anything happened
Way back then
You know how it is
Men will be men

How it’s gonna wind up
Is anybody’s guess
Although he should be toast
More or less
Cuz his confirmation’s turning
Into one big mess
He should be withdrawn
See it’s no contest










Cedri c McClester, Copyright © 2018.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

It’s a shame
And the disgrace is
A neon shirt
And pink shoelaces
Resulted in an act
So tasteless
That the victim wound up
With stitches in some places

A neon shirt and pink shoelaces
Or acting effeminate
If that’s what the case is
Physically attacking him
Was entirely baseless
And sooner or later
We all need to face this

Why you ask
Was he under attack
Homophobia
And as a matter of fact
Though it’s not a case
Of white or black
The bottom line is
It was a hateful act

A neon shirt and pink shoelaces
Or acting effeminate
If that’s what the case is
Physically attacking him
Was entirely baseless
And sooner or later
We all need to face this

What people do
In my point of view
Is a matter of personal choice
Not up for review
Unless it’s hurting others
Or causes their rights to
Be infringed upon
Then ya might wanna sue

A neon shirt and pink shoelaces
Or acting effeminate
If that’s what the case is
Physically attacking him
Was entirely baseless
And sooner or later
We all need to face this

And here’s the thing
That I don’t get
How is what he does
Considered a threat
To anybody else
Albeit
Even those who object
Shouldn’t become upset – cos

A neon shirt and pink shoelaces
Or acting effeminate
If that’s what the case is
Physically attacking him
Was entirely baseless
And sooner or later
We all need to face this


(c) Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

From the streets
Of the windy city
In a cold world that
Showed him no pity
He used his gift of gab
To sell their kitty
And it wasn’t done
By committee

Iceberg Slim
I know you heard of him
He was a **** a playa
A consummate lady slayer
Who knew the game
So what’s his name
Iceberg Slim
I know you heard of him

He had no shame
Or second thoughts
He was true to the game
Followed the dots
He ducked the law
Sidestepped their plots
Paid his dues
And carried knots

Iceberg Slim
I know you heard of him
He was a **** a playa
A consummate lady slayer
Who knew the game
So what’s his name
Iceberg Slim
I know you heard of him

Iceberg Slim was
A legend
True to the game
And his profession
Handled his business
With discretion
Then wrote a book
A true confession

He tired of the **** life
In the end
He couldn’t go through the motions
And just pretend
He started feeling like
He might have been condemned
And he didn’t like
What that might portend

Iceberg Slim
I know you heard of him
He was a **** a playa
A consummate lady slayer
Who knew the game
So what’s his name
Iceberg Slim
I know you heard of him


Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Snitches get stitches
So nobody drops a dime
Meanwhile we're the biggest victims
Of inner city crime
It's happenin' everyday
Without reason or rhyme
Don't cha think it's high time
We change that paradigm

Snitches get stitches
That's the code of the street
But you'll be given up
Once the cops apply the heat
That Mafia example
In real life ain't complete
Cos they're the biggest snitches
That you'll ever meet

Snitches get stitches
And they probably should
If both of ‘em were down
Then it's understood
But if you see sumthin'
Happenin' in the hood
Then you need to say sumthin
Cos I know I would

Snitches get stitches
That's the code of the street
But you'll be given up
Once the cops apply the heat
That Mafia example
In real life ain't complete
Cos they're the biggest snitches
That you'll ever meet

Our mutual destruction
Is clearly assured
If the challenges we're facing
Continually get ignored
Our future salvation
Demands we're of one accord
So let's pray for the strength
As we look towards the Lord

Snitches get stitches
But ya wanna know the truth
It's high time the rest of us
Better stop being aloof
We're dying every day
The statistics are the proof
So let's raise the white flag
And declare a truce

Snitches get stitches
That's the code of the street
But you'll be given up
Once the cops apply the heat
That Mafia example
In real life ain't complete
Cos they're the biggest snitches
That you'll ever meet


Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2015.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Sister Sara’s talkin’ ‘bout reload
I think she’s tryin’ to get my goad
Those who says don’t build it there
Don’t want it built anywhere
You can shake your head and sigh
But it’s American as apple pie

It’s American as apple pie
As American as apple pie
As American as apple pie
As American as apple pie

His campaign ad’s imagery
Of Nine/Eleven is on TV
I hate to even say his name
Because it’s clear he has no shame
You can shake your head and sigh
But he’s American as apple pie

He’s American as apple pie
As American as apple pie
As American as apple pie
As American as apple pie

Divide and conquer
Has become a tool
Cos they don’t believe in
The Golden Rule
So who is it they think they fool
The uninformed and unschooled

It’s American as apple pie
As American as apple pie
As American as apple pie
As American as apple pie

We don’t seem to know no more
What it is that we stand for
Some say freedom
But I’m not so sure
When hatred and division
Is at the core
Of what we’re seeing nowadays
So openly as it plays

It’s American as apple pie
As American as apple pie
As American as apple pie
As American as apple pie

Divide and conquer
Has become a tool
Cos they don’t believe in
The Golden Rule
So who is it they think they fool
The uninformed and unschooled

Sister Sara’s talkin’ ‘bout reload
I think she’s tryin’ to get my goad
Those who says don’t build it there
Don’t want it built anywhere
You can shake your head and sigh
But it’s American as apple pie

She’s American as apple pie
As American as apple pie
As American as apple pie
As American as apple pie


(c) Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

It’s a steep hill to climb
But I’ll climb it anyway
Hoping I might make it
To the top one day
It’s a steep hill to climb
But I’m in for the long haul
I’m heading for the top
Even if I have to crawl

It’s a steep hill to climb
But I’m climbing every inch
I won’t be sidelined
I’m not sitting on a bench

It’s a steep hill to climb
There ain’t no doubt
But there’s a way to the top
That I’ve figured out
It’s a steep hill to climb
Yet I’m not discouraged
All it takes on my part
Is a little courage

It’s a steep hill to climb
But I’m climbing every inch
I won’t be sidelined
I’m not sitting on a bench
It’s a steep hill to climb
But I’m not dropping out
Getting to the top
Is what I’m all about

It’s a steep hill to climb
But don’t expect me to be gone
I’m too ****** determined
Not to carry on
It’s a steep hill to climb
But I have to do it
Despite the obstacles
And you and I both knew it


















Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Time goes by fast
But memories that last
Are like snap-shots of the past
That we view in contrast
To the here and now
And so we make a vow
To apply the breaks
And avoid our past mistakes

Time goes by fast
And nothing ever lasts
For those who are miscast
Or the errant iconoclast

In the rear view mirror
Things become much clearer
To the standard bearer
Who see them much nearer
Than they were before
When it was easier to ignore
The intricate designs
Of the various warning signs

Time goes by fast
And nothing ever lasts
For those who are miscast
Or the errant iconoclast

Seconds minutes hours
With all it’s magical powers
We observe like blooming flowers
That time finally devours

And as slowly we retreat
To our thoughts so bitter sweet
Not acquiescing to defeat
That occasionally we meet
So we long for yesteryear
Cuz we’re far away from there
And the veil is very shear
Between there and here

Time goes by fast
And nothing ever lasts
For those who are miscast
Or the errant iconoclast

Time goes by fast
But memories that last
Are like snap-shots of the past
That we view in contrast
To the here and now
And so we make a vow
To apply the breaks
And avoid our past mistakes



Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Don’t drink the elixir
That he’s trying to sell
If you start believing him
He'll catch you in his spell
Avoid the snake oil salesman
At all and any cost
If you follow his advice
You’ll truly be lost

He’s a snake oil salesman
Traveling state to state
Trying to sell his portion
That you're gonna learn to hate

(2nd Verse)
Don’t drink his elixir
Though pleasant to the taste
Some have bought it wholesale
Others by the case
Don’t believe the claims
The snake oil salesman makes
He’ll say or do anything
That he thinks it takes

He’s a snake oil salesman
Traveling state to state
Trying to sell his portion
That you're gonna learn to hate
He’ll never reveal what’s inside
Of his opaque bottle
But he wants you to take the ride
While he goes full throttle

He’s a snake oil salesman
You better heed my warning
It might be too late
Once you’re underneath his awning
He’s a snake oil salesman
I’ve told you once before
Cuz it’s at your own peril
If you choose to ignore

He’s a snake oil salesman
Traveling state to state
Trying to sell his portion
That you'll learn to hate

Don’t drink his elixir
Though pleasant to the taste
Some have bought it wholesale
Others by the case
Don’t believe the claims
The snake oil salesman makes
He’ll say or do anything
That he thinks it takes






Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Justice delayed is justice denied
A familiar credo rarely applied
So the call for it is a rising tide
They’re only trying to close the divide
It came so quickly in Baltimore
Like nothing that they had ever seen before
The young prosecutor was so able and sure
Though she never tried a case like it before

This time a rookie would light the fuse
People rejoiced once given the news
The laws don’t exist for police to abuse
Responsible parties have to pay some dues
She laid the facts out chapter and verse
Starting with what she said occurred first
It began to appear that Freddie was cursed
As she laid out the charges it looked even worst

Although color only tends to distract
If you must keep track as a matter of fact
Out of the six cops three were black
Which doesn’t suggest that they knew how to act
Cops bleed blue whether black or white
The uniform’s the same am I wrong or right?
Either or they’ll put out your light
Then say you resisted and put up a fight

People were asking how Freddie died
Some rightly suspected from a bumpy ride
And now that those facts have been verified
It’s more than a theory that will get tried
Just as if Freddie was sending a sign
His broken neck and a badly cracked spine
Wasn’t self-inflicted we got to find
Did they really think that we’d lost our minds



© Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

The first black president
Must have made one hell of an impression
On the man who followed him
Directly in succession
He seems to want to unravel
Whatever is at his discretion
In order to rob the legacy
Of the man whose name means blessing

He did his best to chase
Obamacare away
Without an adequate replacement
To make its absence okay
Now it’s gas emissions
Being lowered by the EPA
I guess fossil fuel behemoths
Are sadly here to stay

And on the international scene
The man has been a wreck
He left the Paris Climate Accord
And gives our allies no respect
Then ***** up to Vlad Putin
A man of greater intellect
And pulled out of the Iran Nuclear deal
To spite Obama I suspect

And when he can denigrate him
He never misses a chance
Much like a woman scorned
Caught in a bad romance
People are getting tired
Of this dismal dance
They can predict his moves
Four moves in advance


Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2018.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

In a world
That’s so politically correct
What are we to call ‘em
Thugs -  or criminal suspects
Perhaps it’s something else
That we should project
Maybe our language
Needs to be checked

Must urban youth
Be marginalized
As a result of their misdeeds
Or can we recognize
That they have certain needs
They haven’t realized
We read the news feeds
And then we demonize

Is it a riot
Or an insurrection
Maybe it requires
Some more introspection
Before we decide
It’s their predilection
Because the evidence
Leads us in that direction

I don’t know
Who it was that stated
What poverty often does
Is underrated
And victims of poverty
Are often hated
Though the larger implications
Are complicated


© Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Sadly Paris is
Feeling the ravages
Of those heartless savages
Whose numerous miscarriages
Of jihad on the average is
A total mischaracterization
Of what they claim is the Muslim nation
And frankly speaking I’m losing patience

This I hope you understand
There’s no justification in the Qu’ran
For what they do to their fellow man
As if it’s part of Allah’s Plan
Show me the sunnah if you can
That allows aggression in any land
Things have gotten out of hand
If everything you do is banned

You can spread your hate
But I have to state
There’ll never be a califate
That’s solely built on one man’s hate
It will crash and burn under its own weight
And heaven help those who participate
For them I fear it’s much too late
And that’s not open to debate

Paris is crying, naturally
Because of the carnage don’t you see
But they’ll continue to be free
And enjoy the support of humanity
We all must ask how could this be
While sealing the fate and destiny
Of those miscreants who **** with glee
And have the significance of a flea







Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2015.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

You know he’s full of stuff
When the evidence ain’t enough
And he’s acting like a cream puff
By not calling Putin’s bluff
If I labeled him a scaredy-cat
Or better yet Putin’s new doormat
Would that raise the thermostat,
And flush out that Norway rat?

When the evidence is irrefutable
To the point that it’s not disputable
His response is always mutable
And comes out as most unsuitable
Then his mouthpiece attempts to frame
An alibi, but we’re hip to her game
She can’t absolve him of the blame
Though she tries to just the same

So you better believe and trust
That she looks ridiculous
When she’s being duplicitous
By trying to fool the rest of us
It’s a sin to stand there and lie
But she gives it a college try
Like the mistress of deny
As if the Ten Commandment don’t apply

They interfered with our election
With a clear cut interjection
Of cybernet deflection
Without protest or objection
Two days before his inauguration
He was told of the Russian’s participation
Much to his own consternation
Yet he still voices reservations





Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2018.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

I lit a candle in you memory
A simple gesture it may be
But even though my eyes are wetter
It makes me feel a little better
See I know for a fact
That nothing I do will bring you back
Though I had to do something in your memory
Some kind of expression to show what you mean to me

So I lit a candle and then I prayed
And I thanked the Lord for what He made
Someone as wonderful and real as you
And I prayed that He would see me through

I lit a candle the other day
I couldn’t believe you had passed away
Guess in between the pain joy and sorrow
We’re here today and gone tomorrow
But the memories we have can last forever
That’s something we never have to sever
Out of darkness we can find the light
And eventually we’ll be all right

So I lit a candle and then I prayed
And I thanked the Lord for what He made
Someone as wonderful and real as you
And I prayed that He would see me through

There’s no point in me masking
The pain I feel cos of your passing
But why’s the question I won’t be asking
God has a plan that’s everlasting

So I lit a candle and then I prayed
And I thanked the Lord for what He made
Someone as wonderful and real as you
And I prayed that He would see me through

I lit a candle and prayed for you
A special prayer as I often do
The difference this time is you’re not here
And I’ll never again hold you near
But here in my heart in so many ways
I’ll remember you for the rest of my days
Up until the time that we’re reunited
And our Book of Deeds is recited

There’s no point in me masking
The pain I feel cos of your passing
But why’s the question I won’t be asking
God has a plan that’s everlasting

So I lit a candle and then I prayed
And I thanked the Lord for what He made
Someone as wonderful and real as you
And I prayed that He would see me through

I lit a candle in you memory
A simple gesture it may be
But even though my eyes are wetter
It makes me feel a little better



(c) Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Smoke a blunt?
Somebody's gonna!
Though it ain’t
The same marijuana
That they smoked
Back in the day
So what’s inside it anyway?
Truthfully, it’s hard to say

It might be laced with
Fentanyl
Until you smoked it
How could you tell?
Ya see, it’s properties
Don’t ring a bell
So their affects
Could be hell

And now they rush
To legalize
For the dollars
I’d surmise
Whether, or not
That move is wise
See those who object
Are ostracized

Yet all the evidence
Isn’t in
And that alone
Speaks to the sin
The wise go slow
But fools rush in
So John Q Public
Takes it on the chin








Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2019.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

As the Protagonist expects
*** as a pretext
Baffles intellects
In an election context
So it’s no mystery
That he does this ya see
When ancient history
Can be so blistery

Given the nomenclature
Of its prurient nature
Clearly I would hate to
Be forced to debate you
But the Protagonist
Has long been doing this
Although he gets me ******
He doesn’t feel remiss

As long as he’s untoward
He won’t fall on his sword
And you can rest assured
That the past won’t be ignored
In any given broadcast
He can be put on blast
Because if one chose to ask
They'd learn about his past

Right down to his hair follicle
The man is diabolical  
And also quite methodical
What I’m saying is he’s horrible
Like excrement stuck on a shoe
He’s nasty and it’s also true
Like a bowl of witches brew
He’s impossible to misconstrue















Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

She’s a Republican
In Democratic clothes
Which means - she’s beyond contempt
Someone to be loathed
An anomaly?
Well if you’re askin me
She’s what every one of ‘em
Pretends to be
A centrist
Who might go either way
On any issue
On any given day
She likes to calls it
A winning strategy
But it’s still selling out
As far as I can see

She’s a Republican
In Democratic clothes
But with the right pedigree
As everybody knows
She’s very bright
That’s obvious - it shows
Though you’ll find her
Wherever the wind blows
I often wonder
Who she really is
Behind the mask
I’m talkin ‘bout square biz
It’s hard to tell
With the naked eye
How she really feels
Though some of us do try

She’s a Republican
In Democratic clothes
Her popularity
Is always in the throes
We love her one-minute
Then hate her the next
She brings out feelings
That are that complex
She’s very hard
For us to get to know
How much is real
And how much is for show
That’s the question
On many people’s minds
What’s goin on
Behind those closed blinds

She’s a Republican
In Democratic clothes
Who’ll run for president
One day I suppose
She’s very suited
For the life she chose
A prodigy
Who won't be unopposed
There’s so much baggage
In her sordid past
The kind of thing
That usually tends to last
She’ll ascend
But then she’ll drop so fast
Say what you will
The dye’s already cast

She’s a Republican
In Democratic clothes
Who has a war chest
That grows and grows and grows
She’s courted equally
By the rich and poor
With the kind of access
That many would die for
But still she’s baffling
To say the very least
It’s hard to tell
The nature of the beast
And to add insult
Along with injury
Is we don’t know
How she's gonna be

She’s a Republican
In Democratic clothes
Who lost my vote
But that’s just how it goes
When one has trouble
Being who they are
It doesn’t matter
That they’re a rising star
I can’t support her
Under any circumstance
It would be foolish
To even take that chance
Though I do like her
I have to admit
I’ll vote against her
Or maybe I’ll just sit

© Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester - all rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

I took a journey in my mind
Back to another place and time
Now all I want is another line
Seeing is scary to the blind

Seeing is scary to the blind
Ya never know what you might find
Reality can be unkind
I feel the need to just unwind

The past and present gets confused
Just like the needles that I've used
My flesh was made to be abused
They say detox but I refuse

Seeing is scary to the blind
Ya never know what you might find
Reality can be unkind
I feel the need to just unwind

Now you might think that I'm insane
Cause I get off on my own pain
It's something deeper in the brain
A closer look and you might find
Seeing is scary to the blind
Seeing is scary to the blind

I feel the warmth of mother's womb
Or perhaps it's just impending doom
Could be the weight of my own tomb
So all that's left for me is gloom

Seeing is scary to the blind
Ya never know what you might find
Reality can be unkind
I feel the need to just unwind

Now you might think that I'm insane
Cause I get off on my own pain
It's something deeper in the brain
A closer look and you might find
Seeing is scary to the blind
Seeing is scary to the blind

Seeing is scary to the blind
Ya never know what you might find
Reality can be unkind
I feel the need to just unwind
Excuse me while I take a hit
Cause everyday I feel like ****
If I had sense maybe I'd quit
I  tell myself but still I find
Seeing is scary to the blind



Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester,

On the basketball court
Prince had to come up short
At least that what
Charlie Murphy and them thought
So they went to his house
Thinking they’d just get ******
And the basketball could wait
But then they heard Prince state

He asked,
In his high heels and all
Wanna play basketball?
The shirts vs the blouses
Now you may be six feet tall
And I’m clearly small
But I betcha
You’ll lose your trousers

Eyewitnesses say
That Prince could play
Better than any of ‘em knew
He could shoot and defend
Against the much taller men
And before the game was done
Charlie Murphy said
Prince led two to one

“No hard feelings.
Let’s shake
Would ya like some pancakes,”
Prince is alleged to have asked?
Nevertheless
Who could have guessed
They’d be the best
Pancakes that they ever had

He asked,
In his high heels and all
Wanna play basketball?
The shirts vs the blouses
Now you may be six feet tall
And I’m clearly small
But I betcha
You’ll lose your trousers

“No hard feelings.
Let’s shake
Would ya like some pancakes,”
Prince is alleged to have asked?
Nevertheless
Who could have guessed
They’d be the best
Pancakes that they ever had



Cedric McClester,  Copyright © 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Your changing looks
Only shows
What you and I
And everyone knows
You hate the real you
And it clearly shows
I hope you’re happy
Although I suppose

You’re not happy
And how could you be
You manufactured
Everything we see
Five shades lighter
Than you used to be
With blonde hair too
It’s no mystery

We don’t recognize you
Anymore
You’re not the same person
You were before
And all the changes
Are hard to ignore
Though you can’t change
Your very core

You’re not happy
And how could you be
You manufactured
Everything we see
Five shades lighter
Than you used to be
With blonde hair too
It’s no mystery

Remember beauty’s
Only skin deep
Ugly inside
Is to the bone
Who you are
You can’t escape
By trying to live
In a Twilight Zone

You’re not happy
And how could you be
You manufactured
Everything we see
Five shades lighter
Than you used to be
With blonde hair too
It’s no mystery

Stay the hell
Off of Instagram
You’re passé now
No one gives a ****
The girl we knew
Has turned to spam
And when’s the last time
That you dropped a jam

You’re not happy
And how could you be
You manufactured
Everything we see
Five shades lighter
Than you used to be
With blonde hair too
It’s no mystery






















Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.







042516cm

By: Cedric McClester

Don’t call it a protest
When clearly it’s anybody’s guess
From what I see it’s the anatomy
Of how things can digress
Don’t call it a protest
If it’s an urban insurrection
Although I feel at best
It's a blow to the mid-section

Don’t call it a protest
Or the perpetrators simply thugs
After years of daily oppression
Knowing what oppression does
Don’t call it a protest
Call it anything other than that
When you see the anger boiling over
Because they’ve taken it to the mat

Don’t call it a protest
Or believe the media’s spin
When grievances aren’t addressed
It’s no telling where it will end
Don’t call it a protest
Or even try to dignify
The looting and the burning
Without answering the question why

Don’t call it a protest
Or mention First Amendment rights
When the majority of the people
Have to spend sleepless nights
Don’t call it a protest
Or look for a convenient excuse
For how they expressed their frustration
Through criminal acts of  abuse


© Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Life’s a marathon
It’s never been a sprint
But time goes by so fast
You’ll wonder where it went
So make the most of it
Would be my comment
And when the clock runs out
You can die content

Life’s a marathon
It’s never been a dash
You must conserve energy
If you want to last
It’s not won by the swiftest
Because they run real fast
Is it won by the wisest
You might want to ask

Life’s a marathon
So to stay in the running
More than being fast
You’ll have to be cunning
If you want to last
And be deemed as stunning
Once the dye is cast
Your victory is coming

Life’s a marathon
Not a simple race
If you want to win
You’ll have to keep pace
And time yourself
To stay in the chase
In order to cross the line
And come in first place




Cedric McClester, Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

We're either a nation of cowards
Or a nation of fools
When our kids shelter in place
Inside of their schools
And our president breaks
All of the rules
And locks children in cages
Which proves that he's cruel

We're either a nation of cowards
Or a nation of fools
When criminals are pardoned
As part of the tools
That the president uses
To protect his footstools
Which he bandies about
Like they were precious jewels

We're either a nation of cowards
Or a nation of fools
Who proceed blindly
Like a wagon train of mules
Who are being driven
By an assortment of ghouls
Who push our buttons
And change our molecules

We're either a nation of cowards
Or a nation of fools
Who resist climate change
And biofuels
Those who mention them
He simply overrules
With little resistance
From those he ridicules





Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2019.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Muslims killing Muslims
Is Scripturally banned
So who wrote the fatwa
That says that you can
**** fellow Muslims
In another’s land
Across your border
In the desert sand

Bombing the Houthis
With wild abandon
With no regards, for
What target they land on
Like a school bus
Full of small children
Won’t bring your war
To a quick end

It’s time the Saudis
Come clean and confess
Their Crown Prince
Has created a mess
I’m talking about
His highness MBS
Their rising star
Who’s clearly much less

Killing a journalist
For telling the truth
Then attempting to manipulate
The clear-cut proof
Trying to play it off
Like some sort of spoof
He must not realize
That he’s not bulletproof



Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2018.  All rights reserved.