Heroes Are Gang Leaders
for Chuck Brown 1936-2012
Sell Chuck.
Buy Chucks.
One Chuck fits.
Lace up Liaison
gold Chucks,
All Stars.
Chucks come in
all pockets
not just Pops.
High top,
low top, green
snakeskin,
boot-length Chucks.
Battle of the
Kicks—
Kenboy,
Suga,
Milton,
Kiggo,
JuJu,
Kwick.
Footlocker Chucks
may smell like
condoms,
but nunchucks
bow-leg the chain
between Chucks.
Unlock Chuck. Chuck lock it.
Lorton Chuck up.
Chuck so country.
Cost more
to see a reformed Chuck
than a pair
of toe-guarded
Ex con verse Chucks.
Women love
a sweaty Chuck,
Bama and Show.
Shout like Lotto
when Chuck socket.
Rumors of a Chuck mural.
A Chuck Park.
Chuck jock it.
Chocolate City
Chocolate Chucks
by Chucky
Thompson.
Win a Chuck
Winnebago.
A Drama Cruise for two
to Chuck Levins
with Chucky Burwell & Boo.
Junk love Chuck.
Chuck all a bucket got.
Win a week in Brad’s
trumpet bag.
Touch Cherie’s sweet,
grown ass, Grown & Sexy keys.
Them play better
in Chucks.
Wet Chuck roaches
not the dry ones
Chuck left Reo.
Hustlers want a cut.
Chuck give ’em
the bridge.
Chuck give ’em the shank
but no gym
shoe deal.
Don’t give a Chuck
how many times
you saw Chuck.
More Bright
“Mighty Moe” Shorter
Moments in Chucks,
did pushups.
Chuck gave Thanks. Chuck accepted Christ.
Chuck stopped fights.
“Who baby dat?
Dat Chuck
Baby!”
“WIND ME UP, CHUCK!”
Say What!?
“WIND ME
DOWN,
BROWN!”
Footz wore Chucks.
Sneakers talk
to pimps behind Chuck’s back,
tie up two-faced
tennis shoe tongues
before they flap.
Elect Chuck.
Got Chuck. Got votes.
Now Listen! A tin
toy wind-up Chuck,
already wound up.
“Wind me up,
Chuck”
winds Chuck up
like a tradewind of well-tailored
wind-songs
a tale of two Chucks,
Chuck Taylors,
wing-tipped. Breeze called Chuck
a Chuck never
too old to spill
his own too big
to refill Chucks.
930 Happy Birthday Chucks.
Not enough Chuck
then Chuck
enough Chuck tributes
to monument Chuck.
D.C. don’t stand for
Dodge Chuck.
Run fast like Joe
in Chucks.
Any other way to Go,
GoGo in Chucks.
Chuck fucks
with us.
We fucks with Chuck.
Even without Chuck,
Chuck band
still work,
still work, still work
with Chuck
and Chuck ghost.
Scooby Chuck.
Picture Chuck taking
a picture
of a Poet picture-taker.
I saw Chuck
in a hearse.
Soul, reflection, search.
Chuck heard
my camera curse.
Just one more frame
of flowers
from Chuck
for all of us.
“WIND ME UP, CHUCK!”
Say What!?
“WIND ME
DOWN,
BROWN!”
Audio Recording Credits
Heroes Are Gang Leaders:
Margaret Morris, Vocals
Nina Angela Mercer, Background Vocals
Luke Stewart, Bass
James Brandon Lewis, Saxophone
Ryan Frazier, Trumpet
Janice Lowe, Piano and Vocals
Warren “Trae” Crudup, Drums
James Brandon Lewis, Background Voice
Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, Background Vocals
Randall Horton, Background Vocals and Cool Ass Bama Adlib
Catalina Gonzalez, Background Voice
Ailish Hopper, Background Vocals
Poem written and read by Thomas Sayers Ellis
Arranged and Composed by Thomas Sayers Ellis and James Brandon Lewis
Nods to The Soul Searchers, Eric B. & Rakim, Rare Essence, Petworth Band, Little Benny and The Masters, and Backyard Band
Produced by Thomas Sayers Ellis
