"What's Pride?" Photo Shoot

"Que es orgullo? Orgullo es lo rico de ser Latino! Orgullo es la unificacion de mi gente de Santo Domingo Cuba y Puerto Rico!"
- "What's Pride" by The Poet G




"What's Pride" is one my favorite performance pieces. I feel it embodies a great deal of who and what I am. Pride is a main driving force behind individual accomplishments, group progress and mass movements. It starts with me. I must take pride in all my effort and resulting accomplishments. I must stick by my decisions and constantly work to grow and be better. Then comes the team, which involves family and friends. To me, their accomplishments are my own. Their progress is our progress and vice versa. I truly feel we are representations of one another.Lastly, comes the teams position amongst the masses. BORIQUA!! Many know I carry the flag in my heart. Cotto! Cotto! Cotto! I feel every punch. Fuera de Vieques! I hold Cuba near and dear. I live there through the tears my grandmother sheds when she tells the stories. Have you ever wondered why a lot of Cuban immigrants like to keep it to themselves? I did until I began to hear the stories, so I keep it in my heart. Que viva Cuba! Arroz con frijoles negroes and two chuletas is my way of life. And DR. As a product of Washington Heights I stand by my Dominican people. I've seen the hard work and the progress 1st hand. I respect the culture and relate to the great sense of family. "Tres Golpes to soak the Presidente Up!" The best barberos on Earth. I would take mine through life if I could. My pride extends. Goes deep into Latino and beyond. Colombia is as gorgeous as mi Colombiana, Mejico siempre lindo y siempre clasico, Peru fuerte, and yes God Bless America! Is it realistic to just take pride in people? Everyone has a natural gift and as me and my boy Vic pointed out chillen on the corner of 5th ave the other day like it was 165, every single human being is unique. Damn, genes run deep! The message is fundamental. It is undeniable that we are all people. We all think. We all feel emotion and we all bleed the same. "One Day we will celebrate unity with no race!" I am that proud Porto Rock that wears flags as a cape. But I am willing to be proud on behalf of all....



So me and Celofus as well as my cousin and stylist Carly had been pondering this shoot for a while. In my mind at this point this was the most important one. I'm thinking front cover, back cover, 1st page. I'm thinking high energy. I want emotion. Carly had the wardrobe on lock, but the back drop was tricky. Go cliche with a graffitti back drop? Mural? Then the idea of red brick was thrown out there. So we decided on the park terrace section of Inwood for some red brick. It was a beautiful warm Sunday. My pops, girlfriend, two gorgeous sisters and Shea joined so I was super excited! We met up with Celofus aka AC at the entrance of Inwood park, which added to the emotion. Why? That park holds many of my most beautiful memories playing my 1st love baseball under my Pops. I saw the diving plays the homeruns. I saw Damien on the mound pitching a gem. I saw our district, city and state championship games. I saw my family and friends in the stands cheering me on. After taking it all in we began to stroll looking for the ideal spot. We had climbed the Park Terrace hill when Elie yelled to us ahead, "Come check this out!" This place literally had the feel of a Roman arena. The connection to it was instant. We all felt it including Shea dog. In our years living up in Inwood me and Celofus had no clue this place existed. This shoot was definitely meant to be. Every shot felt perfect. I felt like me. Celofus felt like him. The perfect flow for the perfect beat. And to top it all off I shot a series with my lovely sisters. You wanna talk about pride?? These girls are my pride and joy. So much so that they are not allowed to have boyfriends until they turn 21! They are the future and they represent both sides of The Poet G. We rewarded ourselves with some brick oven pizza on Isham St. Filled the bellies then moved on to the next shoot.....

Randomizations: Beltran on the DL too?? Bodegas are starting to charge 10 bucks for a six pack. I'm tired of the fellas getting spanked by the girls in Taboo. Can't wait for my 1st vasito de carruncho en Cabo Rojo. The U.S. does not know how to market to the 2nd generation Latino. Monte Cristo sandwiches are the shit! Cotto won the fight. Yes I would be the one who got lost in Hangover. I cried during Marley and Me pero soy macho!

Shout Outs: Carly you are the future in styling...Jar I hold you down for life...Wissy so proud of your great soccer season...Titi thanks for getting me into college...Congrats to Rebel Diaz and thank you for supporting freedom!...Lethy its time...Welcome back Carlito!...Jamal I miss you my blood brother...E Cruz Consulting will take over....

"When finding one self one is supposed to enjoy the process."

- Elie Garcia 6-18-09

"Everyday I wear my uniform proud."

-Roberto Clemente

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Intro to Poet G: I Soy Latino

Hola Mi Gente. This is The Poet G and I want to introduce my blog and inform you on whats cookin in my stove top oven....

Most to all of you know me as Gabriel Irizarry. You have caught me at family reunions, parties, Met games, happy hours, the GabElie mansion and of course La Esquina and other live events throughout the city. Nicknames include G, Ito, Mav. Willy Wonka and G Diddy. As some know I've spent a great deal of time in recent years producing, developing and promoting. I truly believe that this passion and talent was inspired and built by my father. As a father as well as a coach my father always had an incredible knack for identifying talent, putting together the right pieces and developing a mentality built on success. He won numerous championships as a coach in the Inwood Little League and most importantly has inspired countless individuals in his community to do better and work to their potential. This is exemplified through the constant waves and handshakes as we stroll through the hood. This as well as the undying support from my beautiful family and positive group of friends led to the creation of Cepa Entertainment, which has contributed to the development and has successfully promoted many talented artists out there. It is recognizing the gifts in the Ron Kains and the Homeboy Sandmans. It is spreading the word on the Akil Dasans, Rebel Diazs, and Anthony Moraless. It is knowing who the great players are on the field you play on and turning the double plays that win games. In every player lies a fan.

A 4 Life brother Jeremy aka Jay aka Hovi says, "G, I respect what you do investing your time, energy and money in these talented people. I respect your vision and what you work to bring to light. But recognize that you yourself are a talent. Do not forget to invest in yourself. Everything else is out of your control. You could only navigate your own destiny." One of the many 4 life heart to hearts. Thanks Jay look forward to the many more to come.

I started writing poetry my senior year of college. It was a rainy night when me Juanca and PJ and Vaughn went to support a good friend named Anthony Morales at the Nuyorican. Democracy Democracy Dem-Mocking-Me!!! Wow!!! When Ant went up that night I was in every word, stunned like Ricky Hatton with every punchline, I saw the imagery in his words on the very walls of the venue, I felt the aggression but was eased by the humor...Ant came in 3rd that night...I was so tight I wanted to get igggnniiinnntt in that place! I boo-ed my ass off like I was at Shea Stadium (Don't worry I've grown a little since then). Ant was already a proven winner. I really was the biggest winner that night despite not being a participant. The writing started that same night and continued with freestyle battles over IM with an old friend throughout that year. I have not let go of the pen since. O yea and the keyboard.

I now have embarked on a journey to tell my story and share my soul through Spoken Word. I have teamed up with photographer extraordinairre Celofus aka Anastasios aka AC to create "I Soy Latino." Why AC? I will first say why not. Not because he is the 1st friend I ever had circa 1st grade. AC is a teacher, photographer, designer, coach. AC has made huge contributions to Washington Heights/Inwood. AC is not afraid to give. He is not afraid to lend. He has seen it as I have seen it and this is embodied in every photograph. The goal is for the book to hit press by years end. We will do our best to share as much as we can along the way. It has already been a beautiful journey. Of course I will be dedicating a section to guest art as no project is a good project for me if I am not supporting the vast talent out there. Dale.....

Randomizations: Mets need to trade one of their studs for pitching. Citi is not a hitters ball park. I take credit for discovering Manny Pacquiao pre 1st Barrera upset. Ask my brother Jamal. Kobe is a role model through basketball doesnt go any further. Cotto Cotto Cotto!!! If you know me you know where I will be from Noon to Midnight this Saturday. 3 Splendas are best in coffee. Dogs are mans best friend. Eminem needs to show versatility and experiment with different producers. Yea I said it!!!

Shouts: To my soon to be born nephew Little J with God on our side. Pops you are my rock homie. Elie aka Puchi you teach me. Jay you know I got your back. E Double you did it! Ant Mo without you there is no Poet G. Micaela miss you. My little boy Bryce. Mi familia en Puerto Rico los extrano! Marquis I see you....those I missed I always get you next time....

"Pride is a unified force institutions can't divide!"

-The Poet G

"You + Motivation = Success"

- Jim Valvano (Thanks Vic. you are a blog in yourself)

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