The Tao of Hustle
Poem by Justin “Amadaeus” Collins // Art by Adrian Avila

 

The tao of hustle is knowing true strength is knowledge.
The tao of hustle is knowing when saying less translates more.
The tao of hustle is asking not what you can do for your hood, but what your hood can do for you.
The tao of hustle is having verifiable earnings to show the tax man.
The tao of hustle is not cheating on the “once in a lifetime girl.”
The tao of hustle is staying loyal when only you will know.
The tao of hustle is seeing without looking.
The tao of hustle is demanding like a toddler while expressing the desire like a Buddhist monk…calmly, but with an air of it being the only possible way.
The tao of hustle is knowing when to walk…quickly.
The tao of hustle is putting some away… in an ingenious way.
The tao of hustle is not incriminating yourself through boasting to a friend.
The tao of hustle is never doing anything you're not willing to answer to.
The tao of hustle is not promising things you can't do.
The tao of hustle is showing more than you were shown.
The tao of hustle is listening to an OG…and not interrupting.
The tao of hustle is being cool.
The tao of hustle is not leaving shell casings around.
The tao of hustle is getting back in school.
The tao of hustle is learning your lesson.
The tao of hustle is not coming back.
The tao of hustle is not being greedy.
The tao of hustle is re-thinking who you hang around with.
The tao of hustle is remaining honorable.
The tao of hustle is remembering those who fell…and why.
The tao of hustle is having mercy.
The tao of hustle is being the first.
The tao of hustle is not talking stupid over a phone…someone is always listening.
The tao of hustle is putting family first…once they're gone you'll miss them.
The tao of hustle is not dipping into the product.
The tao of hustle is knowing the District Attorney and the Public Defender both get paid to screw you.
The tao of hustle is having nothing to hide…or working towards it,
The tao of hustle is remembering Feds are patient and persistent.
The tao of hustle is trusting your spider sense.
The tao of hustle is making a list a checking it twice.
The tao of hustle is taking note of strange occurrences and spreading the word.
The tao of hustle is investing in your future,
The tao of hustle is feeling good as you think, “I could have just came up, but my life's too valuable to find out.”