Junior Jackson Margolis’ biweekly blog, Ballerino Baller, is a collection of responses to the book “500 Writing Prompts,” which his mother gave him for Christmas. The posts will foremost try to comedically entertain but still have a note of seriousness.
Write a short rap song about yourself. Make sure it rhymes.
Similar to basketball and ballet, rap is a perfect blend of artistry and technique. Making a rap about my life is the perfect way to both artistically yet directly explain my values and what “Ballerino Baller” means:
They say I move like a twig
Tell them this twig’s got a name
Might not be that big
But boy I still got some game
While my only real skill is at the free-throw line
Mama says it doesn’t matter
“You still got places to shine.”
When I’m dancing on the marley, I be thinking bout the euro
When I’m sinking that three, I want to Shenae like a churro
(Chorus) Cuz I’m dancing when I’m balling
I be balling when I’m dancing
Got these thoughts of revolution
Working toward the evolution
Yes, I’m dancing when I’m balling
I be balling when I’m dancing
Got these thoughts of revolution
Working toward the evolution
5, 6, 7, 8
I say I want to do it all
It’s just when I shoot the ball
My ego is breaking when my maestro is shaking
Look, I respected Kyrie till he thought the world was flat
My boy Drew ain’t no artist; he’s an acrobat.
Ain’t got no handles like Kyrie or some turns like Mikhail Brish
But my threes and all my sautés make the sound of a swish
(Chorus)
I am living it every day
Yay yay yay
Insecure’s not the way
Not the way-ay
Asking me if I slay
Do you slay, man?
It’s only when I pray
Ay ay ay
(Chorus)
—By Jackson Margolis
