Last time you guys found out what I listen to while I’m getting dressed and that I am late for just about everything. I have said numerous times that I have a playlist for everything and when I am between checks I have something to get me through. Since I am really in between checks this list is actually playing as I am writing this. Before I get started let’s discuss being broke for a minute. What I am talking about is being “broke” not poor these are two very different situations. Being poor is like you really cannot afford the basic necessities that you need to survive as in you work and if you spread your check to everything you need to have and you still come up short. That is poor and that is unfortunate cause if you work forty hours a week you should be able to live in my opinion. Being broke is when you have all of those basics taken care of but you can’t have fun like you want to. If you have a fresh head of hair that’s $100 a bundle got your edges laid right nails done but you politicking for rent money, no you are not broke or poor you just have your priorities all out of shape. When I personally say that I am broke that means all my bills are paid my rent is paid but when I go out to eat I’m only going to a restaurant that I am familiar with because I don’t have time to experiment. If I go out I’m not doing a cover charge and I am not ordering Ciroc and Sprite. I will be order Tokyo Tea because its stronger and I can sip on it until the ice melts and it’s still fine. Now that we all know that I don’t misrepresent my financial earnings let’s take a look at what I listen to when I am waiting for my money to come through.

“Blood on the Leaves” by Kanye West – I know we all have our mixed feeling on Yeezy. Just remember he used to be so dope and he is a musical genius but it’s been real tough trying to get him back after his mother passed. Kanye got me through a lot back in the day and he is on this list and many others that I have for different reasons. This song really has nothing to do with being broke but there are a few lines that I identify with. “I just need to clear my mind now, it’s been racing since the summertime, Now I’m holdin down the summer now, and all I want is what I can’t buy now. Cause I ain’t got the money on me right now…” So y’all telling me you haven’t had this conversation with the student loan people? I tell them all the time that I am still not in my field of study so if you want to just take the degree back and call it even we can do this.

“Money in the Bank” by Swizz Beatz – This happens there is always that one friend that come along and she really didn’t have enough but she knows yall some real ones so you all pitch in a couple of dollars cause she needed a night out but just not that night. As a result, she at the club mad drinking well liquor with an attitude. Then all you male friends starts clowning her like “she ain’t got no money in the bank, she be walkin round lookin all stank.”

“Last Two Dollars” by Johnnie Taylor – This song plays on the Thursday right before I get paid. Johnnie knows what it’s like to have those last two dollars and folks want it. I get offended sometimes when folks try to get gum out of me let alone my last two dollars. First of all if it’s my last anything it’s not for grabs unless you are on my “dream team” and Johnnie was nice enough to explain what those two dollars was for. He had one for his bus fair and the other for the juke box to hear the blues. Also ladies if you have a dude that got you out in the casinos askin randoms for two dollars, y’all may need to break up.

“Rich Girl” by Hall and Oates – These two are very talented and this song is one of my favorites and I decided to add it to this list. We must all know that it’s wrong to take what is given. This is a lesson for all the rich girls out there don’t go too far cause it doesn’t matter when you could rely on your old man’s money.

“If I Had no loot” by Tony! Toni! Tone! – Listen when you not at the top of your game you really know who your real folks are. Try it sometime, if you are the one that’s always buying shots or whatever for no other reason but for everyone that you with to have just as much fun as you even if its for only one night. Next time out just be like, “Yo I ain’t got it tonight” see who offers to take care of you like you took care of them. Sometimes this is a no brainer your crew is like “If I got it we got it” but on the other hand there is a time where you may unfortunately find out that everybody doesn’t think like you do. Now I don’t have the bread to be buying rounds for everybody but I’ve done this experiment on a smaller scale and I know who is who. Everybody has a limit with me and so far, I am glad to say none of the folks I call my friends has crossed these limits. Also with that being said remember who held you down save for room for them at the top. Yes you made it but it was with the help of your support system so save them a seat. I know the “Dream Team” all have seats they invested a lot in me so they will get a return.

“U Dummy” by Juelz Santana – Same concept as Swizz Beatz just done in the more comical Dipset fashion. If you are broke, that’s ok but don’t start frontin like you have money when you don’t. Especially if you are with your crew casuse “we know you ain’t got no money!” That’s the worst when a person fronts all day just to be broke all night. It’s actually kind of sad.

“What we Do” by Freeway – It’s one thing to be broke so you clock in extra hours but its another thing to be broke and have to hustle. Even though what the they do is wrong they still hustle til the sun come up. I already have a plan if I get this low in funds, I can’t write too much about it on the grounds that it may incriminate me but just know I won’t sink. Also not only was this song dope the video was one of my favorite because it had the cast of the Wire in it.

“Keep Ya Head Up” by 2Pac – Pac always gave us words of encouragement even to the sisters on welfare Tupac cared if nobody else did. This was not a song about being broke more so about being broke down but when you are in a vulnerable state you will pull on anything to pick yourself up if it’s nothing but the chorus telling to keep your head up things will get easier.

My broke mix will always be shorter than any other mix because I will not stay broke for long and I tend to not hang around too many broke people we just don’t get along. To all my broke folks out there you got keep ya head up trouble don’t last always and just like the storm this too shall past. Until we party on payday spice up those noodles and save me a chicken flavor cup with Franks.