Me nah beg no friend. This statement can be used to sum up my attitude towards friendship. I have very few real friends, and I like it that way. For me, a true friend is someone who I can tell all the little embarrassing truths about me without judgement, someone who I can trust. A bredren is genuinely interested in your best interest. Selfishness is allowed from time to time, but a bredren isn't going to do something they know will hurt you if they have any choice about it.

Unfortunately, the world is full of fake fuckers. Infiltrators will insinuate themselves into your circle, then do their best to arrange your downfall in one way or another. On the other hand, with careful observation, it's usually possible to pick these types out before they do too much damage. It's not always that simple though. For example, sometimes the signs are there, but in our arrogance, we ignore them, trying to convince ourselves that the person really is our friend. The equation is pretty simple. If you're not sure whether or not a person is your bredren, they aren't.

So what sets bredrens apart from the rest of the people we deal with on a daily basis? Your bredren is the one who has a bunch of important shit to do, but drops it to come pick you up from work because you're stranded. Your bredren is the one who doesn't really have enough for himself, but shares the little bit he has with you anyway. He's the one whose motives you never question. When you ask a bredren for advice, you can be sure of two things. First, that you're going to get the best advice he has to offer and secondly that you are going to get an honest answer, which is not necessarily the one you wanted to hear.

For me, a bredren is a person for whom I would lay down my life, no questions asked.

Who

Dedicated to my BREDREN Rec. Peace and good luck as you make your West Coast swing.