For the LOVE of Money

I’ve always had the utmost respect for a hustler. Not just the 9 to 5 person, but people who often get looked over. Like the neighborhood weed man who’ll make a run for the smokers after midnight or the man on the side of the highway cleaning windshields. Those people who really out here getting it. And I’m not saying they shouldn’t be getting it a better, more postive, way, but I admire that kind of drive.

Some of them mainly out like that and don’t sleep because of this one element in our hoods that drives the most of us: money.

But it’s not just the money that we should be after. I swear, one of my favorite lines from any movie is Lisa Raye’s in Player’s Club. “Make the money; don’t let the money make you.” It stuck out for a while to me, good lesson from a Chi-town sister that made it.

The drive of a hustler should be the actual hustle…not the monetary rewards, not the love from the hood. But the passion. Passion and love for what you’re doing is what’s the most important. However, most of the times we get lost in the dollar signs. However, no matter what you out here doing; good, bad or indifferent, make sure it's not all for the money.

Money is not the root of evil. According to scripture, (1: Timothy 6:10-12) it is the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil. Let’s face it, we need money to do the things necessary to survive, make us content and satisfied. But if anyone has developed a pattern where they’re only in it for the money, I encourage them to find the passion behind it.

A true hustler knows anyway that the money comes and goes. Just as quick as the money is made, the money is spent. So I advise all my youth hustlers out here…don’t look to your television sets and your music videos and lyrics to tell you the hidden truth about money and how to get it. Truth be told, Lil Wayne doesn’t completely know…his love for money landed him behind bars for a while and a lot of it is going to good kush and ink for his skin.

You see, our love for money isn’t really love…it is lust. Yeah, I said it. It’s that girl or boy you just can’t stop meeting flesh with; when you know you should have stopped months ago. Money has became that real bad break up…and we always go back.

Let your love for the inner hustle be the reason you rise and grind by 6am. Because if it’s only for the money, you may as well stay sleep. Now some of you may be thinking as you read this letter, Vee trippin’. It’s a recession out here…we geeettttiiinnn it! And guess what, I feel you all, too. Let’s get it. But know what you out here getting, and know why you should be getting it. And most importantly, know how to get it!

Now, I could go all religious but I will respect my loves out there who has another kind of thing for their God, or maybe don’t honor a God at all. Regardless of who you praise at the end of the day, you know it’s someone or something out here bigger. So that means among all these creations around you (family, cars, shoes, MONEY) there is a reason for YOU…and trust me, you way better than any bill…no matter which dead president on front.

Our media bogus as hell sometimes because the majoirty of what they show us is only the good side of money. They show us the Maybachs, the Gucci, Moet Rose’…they never got a music video where somebody at Aldi’s spending their LINK. Or a video with Nicki Minaj at the public aid office with a snotty nose baby on her hip. That’s real life…that’s really what most of our money is doing right now in the hood. Face it. And if you doing better than that, keep it up; but someone you know living with a little less.

I’m not judging you. I’m a proud recipient of WIC and affordable housing and need to stop being lazy and apply for this LINK. But what I’m really saying is we’ve gotten so caught up in “GETTING MONEY” that we don’t even know why we’re out her getting it anymore. The money and the feeling it gives us has clouded our passion. Used to be women/men over money…now it's money over us.

And it’s not about boosting up your list of haters (and man, I love that Katt Williams joke..but too many folks took it to heart) and it’s not about stuntin to make the next man feel broke. It’s about being in this because you value your time here on earth, NOT just for the love of money. Don't let G-Unit teach you how to stunt. Be for real with yourself.

We can think back, and you know Vee will always have some history for you…but you can think way back to Good Times, yeah Good Times! With Jay Jay, Thelma and them. James went out everyday to work, and it made him feel like a man to be able to bring home the check, get a decent, hot meal and just have the say-so around his domain. And with all that, they lived in the projects. Clearly James focus was to get his family out of that kind of living; and so everyday would be about that. Not making $82.00 a pay check. Getting his family to a better place. That was his hustle, his passion... not the money.

So if you out here…and you living in these music videos and reality shows, know that all that stuff that look real good to your eye, and all that stuff  to smoke and drink out here that makes you feel real good, it’s temporary. Wherever you believe you’re going when you die, you’re not taking that with you…the money is NOT going with you. However, your soul, the inner-spirit of you…the part of you that either lived your PURPOSE or didn’t…that’s going with you. So hustle hard, but not for the love of money…for the love of you.

Love You…alright now, go HUSTLE

Vee