Mary LaCue Booker, Singer, Actor

School Rules

Mary LaCue Booker studied both nursing and psychology in college before attending the competitive American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. Later, as the chair of the fine arts department in a Georgia middle school, Mary began writing rap songs to help motivate her students. Mary now has three CDs under her stage name La Q, and she has acted in the movie We Must Go Forward, about African American history. Mary writes songs, motivational speeches, and screenplays. Below are some lyrics from one of La Q’s hit songs.

Now get this, now get this, now get this.

If ya wanna be cool, obey the rules

Cause if ya don’t, it’s your future you lose.

I’m a school teacher from a rough school.

I see students every day breakin’ the rules.

Here comes a new boy with a platinum grill

Makin’ trouble, ringin’ the fire drill.

There goes anotha’ fool wanna run the school,

Breakin’ all the damn school rules.

Runnin’ in the halls, writin’ graffiti on the walls,

Tellin’ a lie without blinkin’ an eye,

Usin’ profanity, pleadin’ insanity,

Callin’ names, causin’ pain,

Joinin’ gangs like it’s fame,

Dissin’ the teacha and each otha.

Regardless of color, they’re all sistas and brothas.

Now get this, now get this, now get this, now get this.

Boys and girls are skippin’ class,

Cause they late with no hall pass.

They wanna have their say, and that’s okay,

But they’re outta their minds if they wanna have their way.

Now get this, now get this, now get this.

If ya wanna be free, school’s not the place ta be.

But if ya wanna degree, you gotta feel me.

So if you wanna be cool, obey the rules

Cause if ya don’t, it’s your future you lose.