Happy B-Day Jim Richards (Dad)!!!

Happy Birthday Dad!!! Your spirit is so amazing. Thank you for speaking to me. Thank you for walking with me. You will forever Live thru me and our Legacy. Your Loving Son...

"Too Many Mothers Crying" By: J. Ivy

Too Many Mothers Crying By: James Ivy Richardson II – J. Ivy

What's wrong with my city? Really I have to ask… Outside of Fenger, They laid hands on a young man who had a chance to dance with glory. This isn't your average sad story. It’s the beginning of the end... The climax. The Chi lacks love and hugs. In our streets there’s a flood of blood, Beauty that’s budged by imbalance, It’s becoming more than a challenge. Too many tales of lost talents, I tried to hold back my emotions but I can't front or pretend. When I saw young Derrion fall, I felt like I lost my most loved, loved ones all over again. Felt like I was robbed from meeting a good friend, a best friend. A destined legend… Why did this young life have to end? Why did hate have to break this young man's hourglass? Why is our future quickly turned into our past? We’re at the top and bottom of the totem pole, stuck in the middle… What's wrong with our class? Too many questions, not enough answers. There's too much eating away at our souls. Too many cancers, Too many zombies, Too many walking dead, Talking dead. Somebody needs to sit these young boys down and examine their heads. Because there’s too much division on Division, Too many archers on Archer. So many angels playing they're harps too soon on Harper. Meanwhile, Stony Island’s being invaded by pirates of the Caribbean, There's a fire brewing and we’re walking around like balls of kerosene. My city is burning. Yearning for healing. Half of us is hardly living cause the other half can't stop killing. When I saw that video of young Derrion, My God it was chilling!!! My heart sank and ached. In a moments time I could hear it break and crumble to the ground. And it ain't like this the first time, Cause I just heard 30 rounds outside my window... Damn it, you can't ignore the sound! It echoes and echoes until somebody falls down. Cats living on boomerangs cause what you shoot out, Put out comes right back around. Round here, Chicago is like Iraq and Afghanistan minus the sand. What's wrong with my city? Really… And the world could give a shit less about a bully, So they ain't showing no pity. I'm glad we ain't get those 2016 games, Give a hand to the committee. They playing games, wasted 48 million on an Olympic bid. And with no shame, They don’t give a shit about what’s happening with our kids. That's what happens when you build experimental projects, And then suddenly tear em down. Got the world looking around like what happen? What happened is our captains turned our city into a murder Capitol, For Capitol, I see thru the bullshit. If they ain’t go do something, Somebody needs to pull somebody out of office. It's offensive. Cause our kids are now acting purely out of anger. How do you beat an innocent stranger to death? To a young man’s last breath?? Maybe cause their hurting. With no apparent opportunities, No proper education, They can’t see a future, So they’re tugging on the curtain. Crying out for attention. I hope they got your attention. Maybe it wouldn't of happen if some cops were in position. Maybe… But whatever the case there's too many innocent babies dying. And way too many mothers crying… Way too many mothers crying…

Ivyous Entertainment, LLC All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2009

J. Ivy @ The Double Door

I'm excited to announce that I'll be performing new joints from my forthcoming album "Here I Am" at the Double Door on October 2nd...Also performing is the fellow Grammy Winner PJ Morton and Jesse Boykins III. Come check your boy out!!

J. Ivy & Sprite Green

Fresh off the plane from K.C., where MO showed me so much lovthat night. It was an amazing feeling to hear my voice fill the room at the Harris Rooftop, which served as the perfect location for this one of a kind event. With Million Dollar Mano on the turntables and Hollywood Holt hosting, the pieces served as the perfect intro for performances by Big Sean, Mr. Hudson, GLC, my cuz Really Doe, Consequence, Kid Cudi, and my all time favorite Common!! Damn, I had a ball. Shout out to Shareeff, Imani, and the Common Ground Family, Don C., Virgil, Happy and the R.S.V.P. family, and of course the G.O.O.D. Music family. Also, shout out to Andrew Barber and FakeShoreDrive.com, Alex and RubyHornet.com. Much Luv...check out some of the footage below...Green lights, Green Sprite, Green with Ivy...what more can I say.

Kid Cudi + Common - "Make Her Say" + "The People" + "Resurrection" + "The Corner" Live in Chicago 9-18-9 from Brandon "N2ition" Riley on Vimeo.

J. Ivy in KC!!

What up People!! If you or your people are in the Kansas City, MO area tomorrow night (9.15) come check me out at the American Jazz Museum as I perform new works from my forthcoming album "Here I Am..." and of course some of the classics. It's my 1st visit to KC, so it's going to be a fun night...see you there!!

J. Ivy on SNF

Earlier this summer I landed a voice-over job with the NFL. Every week on NBC's "Sunday Night Football" you can hear my voice on the Faith Hill open. The Chicago/Green Bay game was the 1st. If you missed it last night, listen out.

J. Ivy on ICF

This is a spot that I wrote and performed for CBS Sports "Inside College Football." I had a ball shooting it and it came out pretty hot. Check it out...

'09 Truth Awards

It is an honor to announce that I, J.I. have been nominated in the category of Best Spoken Word Artist for the 2009 Truth Awards. With the overwhelming amount of talent that is bred here in the Chi, it truly is an honor. When you get a minute, please visit cityalert.com/thetruthawards to cast your vote. It's much appreciated. btw...I'm just getting started. Let's Go!!

"King Mike" By: J. Ivy

“King Mike” Michael Jackson By: James Ivy Richardson II - J. Ivy

Michael Jackson set us free. He used love to set us free. He sang with love, He made us get up and get out on the dance floor, And in that moment we were free. He impacted the World like Christ, because He was Christ-like, An Angel is Disguise. With every ounce of His soul He supplied, The world with memories, History. He moved us with His movements. His movements was a movement. How else do you touch billions? From the elderly to the children. One Man gave an entire World hope as He broke color lines. He made a prejudice world color blind. And with a heart of gold, He took Black people to a place we’ve never been before. He didn’t open doors, He crushed them, From the age of 5, From the moment when He sang His way into our lives, From G.I. to foreign skies, He was a part of our lives. Quite like the air we breathe. The wind beneath the leaves. He stood tall like the strongest of trees. As He Moon-Walked on the breeze, And made us all believe again. He gave us hope. Sang us hope. He gave us so much of his soul. He sacrificed his life. The love He put in his songs you could feel it in your bones, So the media threw stones and tried to paint Him as a menace. In the meanwhile He broke records on the charts And when He gave from His Heart, Just ask Guiness. From cancer patients to burn victims, In Africa He fed millions. He gave over 300 million towards Healing the World. Even when the world treated Him foul and tried to tear the King down, Love was His style. MJ was much more than a glove and a smile. That’s why He trilled us. He told the world to Beat It, As He danced thru our hearts, And literally became apart of each and every one of us. This Prince of Peace, Who pieced together our wounds thru His music and philanthropy. He was messiac. They don’t want to buy it, But how else to you reach so many, And create a colony of harmony? Many that don’t even speak the same language… You see, He was a soldier, A General in God’s army. Born with bronze skin and hair like wool and a loving sound as His tool. He was a healer, a teacher, a wise warrior who enforced God’s will. By starting with the Man in the Mirror. He made things clearer that’s why His life was a Thriller. Becoming the Greatest Entertainer the World has ever seen. The Greatest Humanitarian the World has ever seen. Ever known. He touched us deeply. He’ll never be gone. We can never say good-bye. Because He lives in us, with us. The Brother was anointed. Appointed to lift the disappointed. The lost sheep. The walking dead. His music is more than Pop. His songs are more like popular spirituals. So for decades our souls were fed. As His universal sound led us to unity. Thru Him and a few others we were soon to be one. We Are the World! Something that the powers that be don’t want, But Michael left messages in His music. And it’s up to us to use it to win this war against hate. Can you feel it? It’s not too late. Let’s Remember the Times of this true humanitarian and give like He gave. Make the type of music He made. He played. Let’s honor Michael Jackson, By reaching out to every Man, Woman, Boy and Girl. Because He magically put a smile on the face of a cruel and uncaring World.

Michael Jackson, We Love You!!!

Ivyous Entertainment, LLC © 2009

J. Ivy shoots w/ Andre' Wright

This a shoot I did last week with my guy Andre' Wright for my album "Here I Am." I definitely had a lot of fun and the shots came out crazy. Can't wait for yall to see all of 'em. In the mean time, enjoy the video.

So Chicago...

Don't get it twisted people...House music belongs to Chicago and always will. Someone once told me that they thought the "Perculator" was a Maryland song. I love Maryland, but this is so Chicago...now I don't have any idea where these cats jukin in the video are from, but damn they gettin it...you got to love Black People!!

Lebron and Shaq???

So word on the street is Shaq might be heading to Cleveland to ball with Lebron. Can you imagine that? If Shaq is in Shaq-form, can you imagine him and Lebron balling together...King James and the original Black Superman...CRAZZY!!! Shaq did it for Kobe, he did it for D-Wade, now with Lebron just needing a lil bit more help, could he possibly have Shaq-Diesel in the post (pause). I mean damn, that's a one- two punch for the books. Can't wait to see how it pans out. I just hope the Bulls can step up like that and make a power move...we'll see.

X-Box steps its "GAME" up

This is super next level...what's next? Dream analyzers to go along with the sky cars that are already in production? Beaming up like James T.? Or your own personal Surrogate like Bruce Willis???

J. Ivy-Nike "Ride Hard"

J. Ivy rides the streets of New York for a Nike spec, then delivers a hot poem called "Ride Hard" to compliment the action. Directed by Warren Oliver aka Snoop and Chris Velona. Edited by: And the only driver to keep up with J. Ivy was Juan P. Music by: Eric B. & Rakim "Don't Sweat the Technique."

J. Ivy performs "King Heroin" by James Brown

This is from a couple of years ago when I performed James Brown's "King Heroin" during a James Brown tribute in New York with Chicago's own Chris Rob. The end gets cut off so here is the full piece...rest in peace JB!!

Ladies and Gentlemen Fella Americans Lady Americans This is James Brown I wanna talk to you about one of our most deadly killers in the country today I had a dream the other night And I was sittin' in my living room Just dozed off to sleep So I started to dreamin' I dreamed I walked in a place and I saw a real strange, weird object Standin' up talkin' to the people And I found out it was Heroin That deadly drug that go in your vein He said...

I came to this country without a passport Ever since then I've been hunted and sought My little white grains are nothing but waste Soft and deadly, and bitter to taste But I'm a world of power and all know it's true Use me once and you'll know it, too I can make a mere schoolboy forget his books I can make a world-famous beauty neglect her looks I can make a good man forsake his wife Send a greedy man to prison for the rest of his life I can make a man forsake his country and flag Make a girl sell her body for a five-dollar bag Some think my adventure's a joy and a thriller But I'll put a gun in your hand and make you a killer In cellophane bags I've found my way To heads of state, to children at play I'm financed in China, Ran in Japan I'm respected in Turkey and I'm legal in Siam I take my addicts and make 'em steal, borrow, beg Then they search for a vein in the arm or the leg So be you Italian, Jewish, Black, or Mex I can make the most virile of men forget their sex So now... So now, my man, you must... You know, do your best To keep up your habit until your arrest Now the police have taken you from under my wing Do you think they dare defy me? I, who am king? Now, you must lie in that county jail Where I can't get to you by visit or mail So squirm with discomfort, wiggle and cough Six days of madness and you might throw me off Curse me in name, defy me in speech But you'd pick me up right now if I were in your reach All through your sentence you've become resolved to your fate Fear not, young man or woman... I'll be waiting at the gate And don't be afraid, don't run... I'll not chase Sure, my name is Heroin and you'll be back for a taste Behold! You're hooked Your foot is in the stirrup And make haste, mount the steed, and ride him well For the white horse of heroin will ride you to Hell

To Hell Will ride you to Hell until you are dead Dead, brother... Dead! This is a revolution of the mind Get your mind together And get away from drugs! That's a demand.