THE REAL THUG MANSION. 

do you really wanna be a thug? 

BET ....the big lie.

I remember when I used to be a fan of BET (Black Entertainment Television) . I loved the music videos with the ghetto booty, the bling bling, the rides, the party scenes. I was like these jamaas are trully livin' it up. That was before I met real gangstas, dope dealers and pimps...in jail. Then I hated the crap BET feeds to young black males and females.

As a matter of fact, I dare to say that the reason we got more niggas in jail is coz of BET. Young black males are exposed to a false lifestyle of luxury and whores, that life is all about getting that money, screwin' them tricks, spottin' the bling and driving a $40,000 car with $10,000 dollar rims. Don't forget smokin' it up like Snoop dogg, partyin like Nelly and of course don't forget to swipe your credit card on the girl's butt. Scary huh.

After being a cop for a while now, I can tell you that America's jails and prison are filled up with young black males who wanted the easy money and the lifestyle they see on the music videos. They not only craved the lifestyle, they sold drugs, pimped girls they grew up with and joined gangs that promised to watch their back only to end up getting busted by the popos and rotting in jail. For those of you who think I don't know what the hell am talking about, read my resume.

And to the young black males in the US and the misguided african wannabees wanting to be thugs and hustlers, the gangster life ain't pretty. Ever seen a dude get raped in prison? I have. Ever seen a nigga get his ass kicked in jail so bad that he had to hold his broken jaw to prevent it from bleeding? I have. Ever seen a nigga get shanked in jail? I have. ever thought that in prison, everyone is tough and living the thug life? wrong. Niggas stay and eat with niggas. The esses(hispanics) eat with the esses, the aryans(whites) eat with the aryans. There is no brotherhood in prison. You talk to the wrong colour and your ass is toast. literally. Ever seen a grown man cry coz he hasn't hugged his daughter in 10 years? I have. That my brother is the thug life. A life of watching your back, don't drop the soap and fight(everyday) for respect.

So next time you look at the music videos glorifying the thug lifestyle..think about the thug in prison who has someone like me telling him when to wake up, when to eat, how to walk, how many letters he can have in his property at the same time trying not be punked. yer..its real cool top be a thug.

In essence though, as a cop and a CO(corrections officer), I've developed surprisingly close relationships with the worst of the worst. I've grown to have compassion for them and see them as human beings who made a mistake and are now paying for it with their lives. All because they wanted the lifestyle that snoop has, that Dre has. What a waste of human life.

I remember arresting this guy in Carlsbad, New Mexico last year outside his house. As I put cuffs on him, I heard the agony of his crying wife and the young 8 year old son ran up to give his dad a last hug. I choked back tears. I felt angry that the people who suffered the most were the people who loved him the most. I put the guy in my unit and tried to comfort his wife by telling her when the visiting hours were in jail.

So That is why I no longer watch rap videos on BET. its all an illusion that's getting too many brothers locked up.