Steven Willis - How the Hood Loves You Back 

"The hood will love you enough to murder for you, but never enough to snitch."

“This is no longer Jefferson Avenue, but where Twig got shot.” I’m crying 😭

"Ain't it funny how death becomes fashionable" deep

“If the hood loves you she’ll write it in tombstone text”.....dam g

“No matter the politics all black boys are doomed to die by bullets but how can you complain? When the hood loves you” damn 😓

"The hood will love you enough to murder for you but never enough to snitch".... "I will do it again, b/c I miss my brother so much. But that don't mean that I agree with what they did. That just means I've learned not to judge a people by how they grieve. Learn not to judge the hood for how it loves you back." Deep shit. Real shit.

"I've learned not to judge people by how they grieve" was your most impacting line. For me.

This was so powerful. When he mentioned his brother I got so emotional you could see the pain in his eyes

As soon as someone says “what about black on black crime,” I send them here. Truly powerful and encompasses everything I’m too clumsy to say

when he said "cuz I miss my brother SO much" I felt it I broke down g

"The hood will love you enough to murder for you, but never enough to snitch." had to repeat

I revisit this poem whenever greif waves over me harsher than before, on the world, on my personal life, everything. I want this poet to know his poetry has changed my life

Does anyone else hear someone in the audience 'gasp'/inhale loudy right after he says he says "'cuz I miss my brother so much.."?? It sounds like an audience member crying...

I’m responsible for atleast 50,000 of the views on this video. I’ve been coming back to this video over the last 5 years every now and then. Feels like I’m hearing it for the first time every time.

"After the gravel has swallowed your portion of the 40" .

"The hood well love you enough to murder for you but never enough to snitch " so true !! Praying for my fellow brothers and sisters . ❤️

"Ain't it funny how death becomes fashionable." That part.

The hood & streets will never love you back. My husband is an O.G. & he has bled, sweat, & tears for the streets in the hood. Everything u said is the truth. He has seen a bro's brains splattered, he has held dying bro's in their last breath, and he has helped a mother grieve for losing her kid to the streets.

“ain’t it funny how quickly death becomes fashionable” i- wow

the imagery was so on point, as well as the figures of speech. Its one of those things you would take a long time trying to find a flaw to, every word seems delebrite and holds meaning, like every word was a piece of his hesrt sprawled out onto this poem. Truly beautiful

"That just means I've learned not to judge a people by how they grieve." This is an entire education in one line. Thank you.

I can't even tell you how many times I've watched this performance. His tone is amazing.

omg I cried ❤ this was painfully true, sad, and beautiful all at the same time

A minute in and I had to hit like already. Powerful.

“The hood will love you enough to murder for you but never enough to snitch.” Too true.

One of the realest poems about life . I got that lump in my throat, eyes all puffy , reliving the senseless murder of my 11 year old nephew and he has a building and baseball field named after him that hurts even deeper. Rest in Heaven Lloyd McCoy Jr

« We’re gonna still love you, long after the ground will have swallowed your portion of the 40 » that’s amazing

Rough Transcript: I'm not saying that I agree with what they did Just saying I've learned not to judge a people for they grieve Learned not to judge the hood for how it loves you back Love from the hood: An honor only bestowed on those who show the hood the most unwavering of loyalties I'm talking street n* Most literally from cradle to grave Most literally from corner to coroner Most literally n* who hopped the block in their last moments gasping for air Right before yellow tape makes a spectacle of their bodies sprawled on cement If the hood loves you, she'll make a monument of this location They will bring teddie bears, well wishes, and heavy hearts This is now sacred ground, to be renamed as memorial and landmark This is no longer Jefferson Avenue But where Twig(?) got shot For the next six nights you will see candles light this space only Until the wind blows it silent Until the amber is blown in the direction of the summer's(?) next casualty If the hood loves you, she'll write it in tombstone text A boy's face and childhood nickname will be written in script across a double XL white tee Ain't it funny, How quickly death becomes fashionable? A testament, To how tragic memories don't fade, even in a washing machine You can expect your cultures of kin to tattoo your name in the most visible of places Your birth date in roman numerals will kiss the left side of your little sister's collarbone, long before a boy ever does In grief, we graffiti mirrors That's how Biggie and Pac got faces in places that they never called home I know boys who bore the weight of pallbearer long before the rigors of college But the most famous of us will have streets named in our honor Martin Luther King Drive And Malcolm X Blvd Both debunk the myth of respectability and proves that no matter the politics, All black boys are doomed to die by bullets but, How can you complain? When the hood loves you? And we gon' keep lovin' you Long after the gravel has swallowed your portion of the 40, Long after they've packed that car with vengeance Long after another boy's life is taken in retaliation of yours, Continuing the cycle of trauma and street violence Yes yo' The hood will love you enough to murder for you, But never enough to snitch Yes yo' I know who did it, I was there when they brought the 4-50 Yes yo' I watched the news, I listened as they emptied the clip And yes yo' I'll do it again Yes yo' I'll do it again! Damn motherfucking right, I will do it again 'Cuz I miss my brother so much But that don't mean that I agree with what they did That just means I've learned not to judge a people for how they grieve Learned not judge the hood For how it loves you back

I started to cry. The ending was so intense. He did amazing.

The emotion he put into this piece!

🥺💔 Poetry has never moved me more...thank you

This really speaks volumes for what's happening now in the nation..

“ your birthday will kiss the left side of your little sisters collarbone long before a boy ever does “ wow that’s good 👏🏾

"The hood will love you enough to murder for you but never enough to snitch." Damn. Speechless.😶

does anybody else listen to this before going to bed and finds it INCREDIBLY comforting?

Please don't ever stop. Ever. You got the gift young man, spread the word.

“ I Will Do It Again Cause I Miss My Brother So Much” Hearing That Put Nothing But Tears In My Eyes You Honestly Showed What Were Going Through In The Streets, Beautiful poem

That shit was deep. Gangster Crazy 🔱 💫. You know the hood loves when yo boy looks you in the eye n says.. I’ll kill for you dawg. Real shit.

Oh man and now I'm in tears, good lord that was great

Why did I burst out in literal tears when he said “because I miss my brother so much” my brother ain’t even dead 🥴😩😭

"Most literally from cradle to grave. Most literally from corner to coroner." when i tell you chills took over my entire body....

This was really powerful and extremely beautiful

Steve Willis is amazing I love this poem

Talent is what this beautiful black man has. I love all of it.

From cradle to grave, from corner to coroner. Super dope line.

God. Rattled me to my core. Steven, you have a gift.

Wow this hit home... thank you

Thank you for sharing your passion and Art about my old home town, Chicago.

Raw and pure emotion right here

“Your name written in tombstone text” he is amazing honestly

This gave me chills, he was so passionate.

I got chills watching this

Amazingly beautiful... I'm crying

I dead cried. This was beyond amazing

That hit me , relatable asf bro

Always hits the same no matter where I hear him do this poem.

He was my poetry teacher I miss him.

"From corner to coroner". Holy shit..

This is one of my top poems of all times and definitely one if my favourite slam poets, there’s something about his voice that makes you listen, and you can understand what he’s saying, he doesn’t lie he tells the truth and you can hear the emotion in his voice So because I can’t find it anywhere and lockdown got me bored as shit I wrote it up (so hear you go people) I’m not saying that I agreed with what they did Just saying I’ve learned not to judge a people for how they grieve Leant not to judge the hood, for how it loves you back Love from the hood, and I know only bestowed on those who showed the hood the most unwavering of loyalties m talks street n****s, most literally from cradle to grave, most literally from corner to coroner, most literally n****s who hugged the block in their last moments gasping for air Right before yellow tape makes a spectacle of their bodies sprawled on cement. If the hood loves you, should make a monument of this location. They will bring teddy bears well wishes and heavy hearts. This is now sacred ground to be renamed memorial and landmark This is no longer Jefferson avenue but were twig got shot For the next six nights you will see candles light this place holy (clap) Until the wind blows it silent Until the amber is blown in the direction of the summers next casualty If the hood loves you, should write it in tombstone text A boys face and childhood nickname should be written in script across a double xl white tee Ain’t it funny, how quickly death becomes fashionable, a testament to how tragic memories don’t fade, even in a washing machine, and you can expect your closet of kin to tattoo your name in the most visible of places Your birthday in Roman numerals will kiss the left side of your little sisters collarbone Long before a boy ever does In grief we graffiti murals That’s how biggie and pac got faces in places that they never called home I know boys who ????? Long before The riggers of college But the most famous of us will have streets named in our honour Martin Luther king drive, Malcolm x Boulevard Both debunked a myth of respectability improves that no matter the politics All black boys are doomed to die by bullets But how can you complain when the hood loves you And we gone keep loving you Long after the gravel has swallowed your portion of the forty Long after they packed that car with vengeance Long after another boys life is taken in retaliation of yours Continue in the cycle of trauma and street violence Yes yall the street will love you enough to murder for you but never enough to snitch Yes yall I know how did it I was there when they brought the four fifth Yes yall I watched the news I listened as they emptied the clip And yes yall I’ll do it again Yes yall I’ll do it again Damn motherfucking right I will do it again Cause I miss my brother so much But that don’t mean that I agree with what they did That just means I’ve learnt not to judge a people for how they grieve Learn not judge the hood for how it loves you back.

Wow... truly powerful. I'm speechless.

This keeps strumming on my mind so much that I keep replaying it. I may have to recite it at an open mic.

Woooowww....thank you. In tears. Grateful. ❤️

This is beautiful 💚

Have never seen him cry during a piece... that year made this piece so much deeper... great piece....

Oh man tat was great and truly powerful.. I loved it.

Love it 💖

My mouth was wide open. Amazing

This gave me chills👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

This was amazing. Reduced me to tears

I love how he puts all emotion in and holds nothing back. truly amazing

The fact that this doesn’t have a mil yet is beyond me

amazing!!

40 secs in and I started to cry. This is why I love button poetry

this was everything:)

Powerful 🙌🏾🙌🏾

damn i am actually crying.

I love this guy, bro

I relate to this and I can see the imagery while he's performing it.

Damn homie you giving me chills

I love his voice, it's like music

This was so beautiful ❤

Excellent. Flawless Victory

I got to see him perform in person incredibly

I love this piece anytime of the day it comes on in one of playlists I just have to listen it has my full focus as if it’s my time hearing it

I felt every word in this poem 😞😞❣️ beautiful poem

This is so dang beautiful.

Chills and tears...

This is powerful. Amazing 🙌

Love this!

One of my favs of ALL time.

damn this is really powerful. i love everything about this poem.

R.I.P Nipsey 😔🙏🏼💙💙💙💙💙

Deepest thought. The hood will love you when your blood sheds. But not enough to snitch. Only wearing your name and picture on a XXL.

AAAAhhh man I needed that.

Flat out amazing Instant fan

Moved me near to tears...

Soul is snatched!

Gave me chills 🙌🏽

That was fucking beautiful To all those that know about the struggles that go on in The Hood, that bitch have eyes that don't ever sleep, only in The Hood ... I cried

This is amazingly good!