Did “Love” Motivate “Solo Armor” to “Kill” or was it for The “Love of Hip Hop?”

 

 

Dear Readers,

Firstly, the approach with this essay was to write a back-story about uncle, who was introduced in: “ How to Kill a Man Without a Plan?”

Secondly, I wanted expirement with tense shifts and with the vernacular of New York’s inner city ghettos.  However, these two elements may not allow for a smooth read or comprehension.

 

Lastly, I wanted to leave you wanting to know more about the circumstances and characters provided by this story.

 

What literary device would you like to see employed within this essay?

What could I have done better in allowing you to have a better connection with the characters and/or the time they placed into?

 

Thanks in advance for your patience and astute readership.

 

Respectfully,

 

Jay

_______________________________________________________________

 

“Dam, it feels good mi armor, it does baby, and we are going to make some money off this: a real good sound to it.” My uncle said to his ex girlfriend. She was a Latina from the Bronx.

 

***

 

New York City, in front of a Brooklyn deli, the year is 1982.”Yo, playboy! You going to that new cold-fresh jam in the park?” said, by “Splash-1” a graffiti writer. “Nah, man, I am going to be home with my Tender-Roni, I just got off of work. But I know them cats from uptown be getting down, though. It’s their jam, right?”

 

“Yeah, homeboy, all the “Fly Girls” and “Fly Boys” will be in the spot- like that movie “Wildstyle!” spoke, by grafitti artist. His government name is Jose Rodriguez: aka, “Splash-1” to the Graffiti world, and to NYPD transit unit.

 

“Man, you are great at communicating with people. Why don’t you manage “Splash Stars? We got the best singers, breakers, and writers down with the posse! And we would pay you twenty percent of any money we earned!”

 

My uncle’s nickname name is “Solo Armor.” He is a hopeless romantic. He would often desperately descend into love with a young lady and quickly have his smashed. He was a kid in a rough Harlem ghetto, looking for love

 

Valerie an exotic beauty from Venezuela, my uncle’s former fiancé . She spoke with South American -Spanish accent and often would interweave Spanish words while she spoke English.

 

“Hola K-tal Armor? Where have you been?”  My uncle announces happily, ” In Brooklyn and guess what baby? I am the manager of the “Splash Stars.” Valerie did not like Hip Hop and the characters it attracts.

 

With in short order, “Solo Armor” managed to book a show for his clients at the “Fun Gallery” in Lower Manhattan. The Showing was a success.

 

“Splash Stars” became a lucrative venture – The kid from the ghetto moves to Riverdale, NY. Valerie is pleased that they moved out the slums. Six months of living in Riverdale transformed her soft spot of affection towards my uncle into a grey cement brick. “I am tired! F— cansado! Tu y Hip Hop, y the scribbles! You are never home for dinner, I am done! I found someone else, con mucho tiempo para mi,Yo neccesita tiempo for un relationship.”

 

My Uncle replied back, “Vee, quierdia, please no, we can go on a vacation! Things are slowing with my work. I got this house and the cars for us, me and you. I want to earn enough money so we can have a real future. Tu sabes? A real house: white fence, our children playing with their puppy, in the yard!”

 

She responded favorably and my uncle admits was the best sex of his life. The next week he arrives home late from a showing, the house is empty; nothing, nada, only one letter, tapped onto a wall, where their picture use to hang.  The letter had a childlike sketch of a red sad face, a drawing of black heart, and the words “Solo Armor” are green, Solo is underlined and Armor is circled!

 

What does it all mean?

 

“At that point man, I swore, I was going to be on top and wherever she goes, she would see me and my work! I pledge I was going to kill the game and she would never forget who she left! “

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3 Responses to Did “Love” Motivate “Solo Armor” to “Kill” or was it for The “Love of Hip Hop?”

  1. Jay,

    I found your essay to be really interesting.

    I love the way the dialogue engages both Spanish and English within a single sentence.

    Since I’m unfamiliar with the text which informed this text I had trouble understanding where it was coming from.

    If I were to offer any suggestions it would be to make more clear transition and provide a little more background to support the dialogue which I think is strong.

    Rebecca

  2. kk132097 says:

    I enjoyed the read. I think your dialogue works really well, and I especially like how after a dialogue, you narrate the story. It grounds the reader, and puts him or her on the same page as you.

    Also, the story is relatable, and the clash of languages is awesome. However, I think there are too many dialogue tags and it would be a more fluent read if you cut some of them out. This would work if you started a new paragraph after every new speaker.

    Possibly put the spanglish in italics? Just a suggestion…

    And I think the contrast of your characters is a strong element, because they both have different backgrounds. I think you should elaborate on that and it will become even a more cultured story than it already is, especially with musical content icing the cake.

    -Kris

  3. Dear Jay,

    I hope I’m commenting on the right essay. I love this essay. I am a Cuban girl born and raised in Riverdale, so I know and identify with what you are writing on. I have a few corrections for you that you may or may not like:
    1) Splash-1 don’t bother putting it in quotes- it is his name/nickname, which you explain later
    2)”have his smashed”- I think your missing the word heart or are you talking about a smash and dash. Either way if the word missing is heart its cliche. Try soul smashed or change the word smashed. Add a metaphor there? How smashed- like bananas for a baby?
    3)”The Showing”- Showing should NOT be capitalized unless its the name of the show then it should be in quotes or italics
    4) To those que no puedo hablar – the way you integrated the Spanish is great. It is readable and understandable to those who do not speak Spanish except for the word “queridia.” Maybe, try “querida” I know what your trying to convey but others won’t.

    Best of luck with this essay. It’s bomb!

    Best,
    Alee

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