Band Of Brothers

[J-Hop]

MADE: JAIR HOPKINS
“Becoming One Of The Greatest!”

“Fight For Your Dream … Don’t Let It Fade Away!”

May 15th 2004 – Brooklyn, New York

“Smile for the camera, homie … It’s Made!”

Laughter was heard throughout as it was Jair who was being filmed, sitting on the concrete steps outside of an apartment complex that was damn near covered in graffiti stamps. His friends, neighborhood homies were all around, laughing as you could hear laughter from the person filming the footage.

“Where do you see yourself in a year from now?”

To be asked that question, whether serious or in a jokingly fashion, it was tough doing. It was something that required not only an answer, but a gameplan along with it. Jair just shook his head, showing a smile as he couldn’t seem to find an answer.

“Still alive, a job, a side-piece … Fuck, I don’t know. I just wanna’ live to see tomorrow.”

With all that laughter, it came to a halt as the look on Jair’s face was truly undecided. Sucking on his lip, he pointed out his finger, looking to say something…

“Let me rephrase that! By next year, with all this hustling, corner to corner service … I look to make bank. I want out of this and aim for a regular job. I want to do that until I become great at it. A promotion up the corporate ladder. A lady, a better life. There, that’s a better answer.”

Do it to death in other words. Be great at it and proceed to the next level and be great at that. Every level, seeking to be great at it until you’re at the top of the mountain. His boys just nodded their head, seemingly agreeing to what was just said.

“I just want that green dollar and some protection at my waist. I can do this for a living. Make bank and be rich!” One of the fellas said as Jair’s facial expression changed as he shook his head.

“Yeah, while getting richer and furthering yourself into that trapping hole, death will come. I’m trying to evade that at all cost.”

“Man, you trippin’ like hell! A job? Shit, this is work. I ain’t working at McDonald’s or some shitty Foot Locker. I want that ‘bank’.”

Anything was better than this lifestyle, according to Hopkins. He might not have known his skillset and a job position he’s qualified for. He just wanted a normal life, a job that is a five to nine hour shift and he was pretty much set. Better than running on a consistent basis, trying to find shelter from being capped off in the head.

“I’ll take my chances with real work. This life ain’t for me. I’m just doing it now to support my Moms’ till one of us get back on our feet.”

They look at Jair as if he lost his damn mind. His face remained the same, no smile, no sign of a “joke”. He was dead-serious.

“Ahh Shit!” The man behind the camera said as the camera quickly aimed at the ground.

“What’s up?” The group said in somewhat of unison response.

“Running low on f—“

All went to static…

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I found out last week, who was in my corner. It obviously wasn’t the lady I considered the missing piece to this puzzle of my life. I truly thought it was, but her shape was all in all, different from the rest. While she may have protected me from getting my head caved in, she waited until I was all broken up to leave for her new friend, Space. Space was a complete ‘shitball’. He was the destroyer to this once considered, beautiful relationship.

Oh well … Move on!

You can’t have your tongue lagging out because your meal is no longer being served. You have to continue to move on. Life serves you happiness and it serves you with disaster. It tests your will in every way. It checks and sees how you can adapt to changes. I’m one who’s been through a whole lot of shit, a whole lot of good, bad and that ugly shit. It happens, you just have to battle through the toughest times.

I have already covered that hole.

“The Dying Breed” … the familia, my band of brothers. We are like twins, not identical but in terms of personality and our motives in life, we are the same. We ride together, not solo. Our bond is closer to being that of superglue.

I’ll find love later … Right now, love isn’t earning any profit of dollars.

Looking out the window, riding on this in-city transit in Hartford. I wasn’t too far away from home. There was no rush in timing. It was just me, myself, and I … resting against the glass window of the transit bus.

Rest was needed, plenty of it. We have a heavy load amongst us. Buckson Gooch and Mac Bane … “Sons Of The South”

Life and it’s choosing of roads to send you on. It’ll never grow old.

We fight for our rights …. to survive.

We are the only one ones left. This is the semi-finals.

One more step and we’ll be cemented.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE, BABY!!!
“Destined”
Promo vs. "Sons Of The South"

Ever remember that warm night, sitting on the concrete step or the grass of your house, condo, apartment, you, glaring up at the dark night sky, seeing the Moon and a few stars, with seeing that one star, shining brightly. It wasn’t a shooting star, but you closed your eyes and wished that in life, things would turn out better than it already is. That was my wish. I wanted out of the gutter and into a better space of living. I haven’t quite accomplished that goal yet but where I am in life this moment, it’s making that task that much more easier.

Life certainly has a way of working. It has an answer for every situation you will face. It could be good, it could be bad. I never expected to be this ‘loved’ for. I never expected to be on the road constantly, from city to city, state to state, country to the next. I never intended to put my body, heart, and soul on the line for thousands of people, once or twice a week.

All I wanted was too just hustle hard. Make a living. Stash it and be happy.

Almost one year in, I’m one of the hottest names around. I have loving and caring friends who I now consider my “brothers” in my life. I’m part of a movement that is about to take on a course that will certainly change things in the future.

I’m completely blessed.

I have the chance, to build on this success level, alongside my homies, a chance at becoming a champion. I’ve had individual chances before but this, this is different. Winning this chance, means that the level of camaraderie and teamwork is high. No matter the struggle, the pain endured to get to that point, WE did it. Not I. There is no “I” in the word “We”. There is however “Wii” but that still has two I’s which pretty much makes it a combined effort.

Me and Ant, we know entering this that there wasn’t no easy ‘lay-up’s to the bucket’ … We know. We’ve finally got that chemistry under our belt. While it may not be at a level of most who tag night in and night out, we have that fighting spirit. We don’t lay down, we don’t complain. We work at it until it is achieved.

This team, Sons of the South, they have the same plans, their travels are relative to ours, which makes this battle that much more important. We also know, someone has to lose. While I appreciate the comments from Buck, I don’t appreciate the comments on my partner, Bailey from neither of you. Now, I know everyone has to find that one line, that one shot to trying to stir controversy, especially with tag team matches, I certainly get it…but aiming daggers at my brother like that, it’s a trail that you do not want to approach. I know it’s a pre-planned attack. You know it isn’t true but just because the ‘One Man Wrestling Crew’ stated it first, little ol’ Buck chooses to follow to keep it flowing. Mac Bane, look at his moniker, One Man Wrestling Crew, why would he need you Buck if he is his own ‘crew’? You make one mistake, he’s going to be all over you. Everything is covered in gravy right now, all is good. Wait till’ ya’ll start sweating out your pores … Shit is going to get ripe. Glade’s air-freshner isn’t going to cure it.

We fight for one another. Divided, we fall. That will never come to a point, we’re different. That is why we are entitled “The Dying Breed”. The style we bring, the passion we show, the lifestyle we live, it’s all going extinct. While those that rather point fingers and blame someone else, we take up for our mistakes. Those that look to find an easy way out, we look to ride through the horrible weather. It shows just how much we want THIS.

If anyone is a fraud, you should aim your sight to Rom---Callahan. A devil who smiles in front of you while he aims to stab you with his ultra-sharp pitchfork in the back. As I said, I get it, you two are trying to tear down this fence so you can get through … It’s never going to happen. I don’t have to worry about Bailey stabbing me in my back and he doesn’t have to worry about me doing the same. My advice to you two … Stop drinking the Budweiser’s. It’s not improving your smartness.

Southern fried? Nah, I’ll take the ‘pot-boiled’ option…

You bastards are too ‘salty’ for the tastebuds.

You got the match of the night on Meltodwn, we get it. You feeling high on your horse. I’d be thrilled with having a match of the night, but while that is an honor, it’s not something I look forward to. I feel I give a high-quality match every time my name is yelled through the PA system and that voice of Kanye flows through the arena. Every match is a high stake for me because you never know where the road leads to after the match. I’m honored to face you two and at the same time, I’m honored to smack the ‘dogshit’ out of you two as well.

You will be taught a valuable lesson. You will learn by the end of the night that we are for real. I’m real, Anthony’s real and “Krunk” is real. We can’t be divided off of other’s jealousy. Some people, those tactics work but not with us. We are united.

We’ll be sure to give you a “Dying Breed” sticker as a consolidation prize. Everyone wins!

Peace.