This Is A Birthday Present, Not A Blog Post

Amina, Al and me in the back of a Chicago Police... I don't know, a riot truck? Note to my dad: We were not actually under arrestToday is my friend Amina's birthday! Happy birthday you little baby!!! [Amina is the youngest friend as well as super proud of the fact that she was a premature baby: "You could hold me in your hand like a kitten! My ears were malleable!"] I love you!

So, what do you get the girl who has… an average amount of stuff, and probably needs a few key items, none of which you can likely afford? A blog post of memories, that's what. Plus, Facebook Notes is going away soon so I needed to republish this stuff somewhere. This is your present, which serves no other purpose besides bringing you joy on your day!

Let's start with "Untitled (The Best Rap Song Ever Written)," a little ditty that Amina and I composed and performed for our roomies who were bogged down with studies circa 2004. It's safe to say neither Alysson or Lindsay would have made it through college had they not been reassured and inspired by the following work of art: 

(Intro)

Hey Al

Hey Lin

Wassup

Alright

Don't Fret

It's tight

Cause we gonna help you out tonight

You're bout to write this paper

Thinkin teacher hate cha

But really

He's just tryin' to

Educate cha

You're not the only one

Feeling kinda dumb

No this shit ain't fun

But Hayley and Amina

Gonna show you how it's done

Step one, brainstorm

Lettin' those ideas form

One thing at a time

Write down what comes to mind

Focus and you'll find

You can see

Where you was blind

Step two, outline

Like you was on the front line

Like we was in Kosovo

You want me to flow some mo'?

Just some roman numerals

It ain't like it's your funeral

So just chill

Til the next episode

Gotta get the young thesis 

So easy you could teach this

Gotta run your game

Which starts with the claim

Then evidence to back you up
So teach don't smack you up
Then you gotta warrant 
(Like for your arrest)
If you follow these steps
Yo shit will be the best

Then you just type it up

You know you need to hype it up

Need coffee? Damn son
Go on and pour a cup

This little stint will get you through

All you gotta go is press print you foo

Intro to conclusion

Gotta find your fusion

Pickin' and choosin'

Which shit you be usin'

When it's done

Time for fun

Let's get to boozin'

Yea

One beat

One love

We out

--

And now I present another relic, from the same year, grabbed from AllMSU.com, which apparently still exists:

Oh, Albert.

Happy birthday Amina! And goodbye Facebook notes, without which I might never have become an on-and-off blogger.