Poems and Texts

“CLASSIC MAN” by Devin Kenny with Amethyst Amelia Kelly, Jonathan Shave, Kurtis Mckenzie, John Turner, and Charlotte Aitchison

CLASSIC MAN

I’m told it’ll all be all right
I can pull the wool while I’m being polite
Like, I may or may not win a fight
but I can be a bull while I’m being polite
Like, oh me oh me oh my
I know many people want to be in my life
Like, oh me oh me oh my
Why are hard licks my passage’s rite?

[Pre-Hook:]
Even if she go away, even if he go away
Even if dey go away, even if dey go away

[Hook:]
I’m a classic man
You can be mean when you look this clean
I’m a classic man
Silence deafening like a young OG
I’m a classic man
Your needs get met by the street, restrained and impassioned man
Yeah baby I’m a classic man

I burn through the ‘hood like whoa
know I’m on point when the haters so cold…
I idolize folks I don’t know
And fellies get jelly off a bit of my glow…
I got charm like a leprechaun, mummafunka
I feed off myths whenever I’m wrong mummafunka
Don’t Not treat me like a don, mummafunka
And we don’t live by the law, mummafunka

[Pre-Hook]
Even if she go away, even if he go away
Even if dey go away, even if dey go away

I’m a classic man
I can pull a big cult
Even when I’m at fault

I’m a classic man
I can Be out of pocket
And neva say sorry no worry

I’m a classic man
Always the first to explain
If I know or I don’t it’s the same
Most spaces I find I can claim

Keep my gloves dirty
But my Hands clean
Gotta keep the business in the family
Bread when I’m filling up the pantry
Now my slaves slang ‘caine like a dandy
I tell you how it go —
You pull out the rubber bands, I pull out an envelope
The ladies on my elbow ain’t for the show
Every madame on my team is a top general, oh
Got to be ready for war, (war!)
Should they start to envy doors, (doors!)
We’ll get ’em, we’ll get ’em, I know that we’ll get ’em
‘Cause I lived through this shit all before, oh

Even if she go away, even if they go away
Even if he go away, even if they go away

[Hook:]
I’m a classic man
You can be mean when you look this clean
I’m a classic man
For basic respect for others I deserve a cookie
I’m a classic man
Your needs get met by the street,
Restrained yet impassioned man.
Yeah baby I’m classic man.

Photo: Janna Ireland

Devin Kenny

Devin Kenny is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, musician, and independent curator.

Hailing from the south side of Chicago, he relocated to New York to begin his studies at Cooper Union. He has since continued his practice through the Bruce High Quality Foundation University, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, SOMA Mexico, and collaborations with DADDY, pooool, Studio Workout, Temporary Agency and various art and music venues in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and elsewhere including: Recess, Het Roode Bioscoop, REDCAT, MoMa PS1, Freak City, and Santos Party House. He received his MFA in 2013 from the New Genres department at UCLA and is an alum of the Whitney Independent Study Program.

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