I’m not going into a long post about the Five Percenters as a culture (I choose “culture”, as I view that as a more appropriate description than words like “religion” or “organization”. FYI, it’s also NOT black supremacist! Contrary to the common misconception, NGE is inclusive of ALL races.). That’s a whole book’s worth of information and history and such that someone or some people are more qualified to write.
For me, I’m not personally a full-fledged Five Percenter. I’ve never taken the lessons or any of that. I’ve spent some time with some Gods doing some build&destroy/show&prove sessions just for our own communal and individual overstandings, and I would say my personal philosophy definitely takes significant cues from both the 5% and Taoist philosophies. I associate with it enough that today I wore my Five Percenter armband (the universal flag on a yellow and black bandanna) to commemorate the event and show the love. I’ve talked about my relationship with the Five Percent Nation/NGE on here in the past, so I’m just going to say:
PEACE TO THE GODS AND THE EARTHS/GODDESSESS! IT’S A CELEBRATION!
C.A.C.T.I.!!*
Here’s a short “youtube video mixtape” of some of my favourite NGE-influenced songs to celebrate, all by 5 Percenters and/or people influenced by the movement (and a Rasta or 2):
1)Lord Jamar: "Greatest Story Never Told"
2)Gang Starr: "Above The Clouds (ft. Inspectah Deck)"
3)Mos Def: "Mathematics"
4) Poor Righteous Teachers: "Gods, Earths, and 85%ers"
5) GZA: "Publicity"
6) Rakim: "The 18th Letter"
7)Erykah Badu: "On & On"
8) D'Angelo: "Africa"
9) Nas & Damian Marley: "As We Enter"
10) SmiffnWesson: "Warriorz Heart (ft. Dead Prez)"(sounds pro-gangs if you don't really listen, but it's not)
11) Meek Mill: "What's Free" (ft. Jay-Z and Rick Ross (not a big fan of Ross' verse, but Meek and Jay have inferno verses))
12)ProdigalSunn: "Keep Rising ft. HellRazah& Tua)"
13)KillahPriest: "B.I.B.L.E." (I LOVE this song except for the 1 line where he disparages legalization of abortion)
14)Masta Killa: "All Natural"
15Cormega: "Rise"
16Prodigy: "Genesis"
17)Anthony B "Redder than Red" (KinDREAD brethren & sistren bonus track)
Normally I try to make my mixes flow from song to song better/more fluidly, but I rushed this one.
*C.A.C.T.I. translates, via my personal breakdown of the backronym, to 'Cee/See' 'A.L.L.A.H.' 'Cee/See' 'Truth': 'I.S.L.A.M'., where A.L.L.A.H.=Arm Leg Leg Arm Head (god body) and I.S.L.A.M.=I Self Lord And Master.
So, my overstand is that to see one’s self (god body) is to see the truth: you are your own lord and master. May we all be righteous, truthful, and benevolent lords and masters of our own lives and destinies.. Peace.