​#MNR: GOD’S FAVORITE
 
“We’re born to live a life to die. Life is so damn short, man I wonder why.”
O.C.
 
My brother Rev “St. Louis” (Louie) Glaspy hit my line late Saturday night and told me he went to see his folk and ended up running into one of our VUU big homies. Actually, he was more than just a big homie – he was MY nigga. He still is. I don’t want to put his name out, so I’ll refer to him as Big Bro. Big Bro had the biggest impact of any of the big homies my freshman year. He wasn’t just older than us, he was like fifth-year senior older than us (I could be lying, but I think so). I was still 17. Bro was 22-23 at the time. I still remember him pulling up to Huntley World one afternoon first semester. I was on my usual, coolin’ out on the bricks, dolo. Big Bro pulled up and told me to get in. I asked him where we were going. He calmly advised me to never ask “where to” when an old head told you to get in; it was a privilege and guaranteed to be worthwhile. He didn’t exactly say all that, but that’s basically what he said. A half hour later, I was on the southside smoking blunts in another big bro’s fully furnished basement. I was also introduced to Courvoisier, courtesy of the basement’s FULL bar. Getting wasted with the big homies on a random Richmond late summer/early autumn weekday afternoon is extra valid, especially when you’re still a novice to the university and Richmond culture. But I cherished every opportunity to see and explore. That was the best non-yard part of freshman year. Big Bro was one of the first to provide that opportunity. Technically, Ant introduced us to the southside, but he moved a bit different (IYKYK). Big Bro was easily the most consistent. He stuck around Richmond and became an educator. He randomly popped up on the yard throughout my Union experience. We broke bread as recently as 2017. He was the same old Big Bro: cool, calm, assertive, subtly demonstrative and very astute in diverse fields. His laugh was unique but fitting. Hadn’t a thing changed except damn near twenty calendars. Oh yeah, back to Louie. He told me that he ran into Big Bro. Big Bro is fighting a neurological disorder that has taken his ability to do much of anything. I don’t know the name of his affliction, and I wouldn’t disclose it if I did. But Big Bro is not able to be anywhere near what he used to be. He’s in the Lou because Louie’s folk is holding him down. I could go on and on about Big Bro and who he is, but I’ll simply sum it up like this: he had a heavy influence on my VUU experience and made an indelible impression on my life. My thoughts and prayers are with him. Big ups to my brother Louie and the entire Huntley World Family. Big ups to the entire 1500 North Lombardy St. Love infinite.  
 
In a week’s time, the Supreme Court has allowed for religious schools to receive public school funding, made it a hell of a lot easier to carry a concealed weapon (even in areas like tri-state and Cali) and struck down Roe v. Wade, ending the federal right to abortions. In less than 168 hours, the six conservative justices have effectively taken the country more than a half a century back in time. I don’t need to put my skis on to know that the slope is slippery AF. What’s next? Bans on interracial and gay marriage? Contraceptives? Will Times Square and your local shopping malls turn into the OK Corral when someone bumps someone else by accident? Who knows? What I do know is that conservative court packing has changed the landscape of America moving forward. We live in a land where, in certain places, it’s waaaaaay easier for an eighteen-year-old male to purchase an assault weapon than it is for a young woman the same age to receive an abortion. LGBT rights are next on the chopping block, and I mean way more than gay marriage. Rich, traditional, old money white America has spoken. They’re tired of minorities’ rights. It’s time they take it back to the “good old days.” It’s time they “make America great again.” This will definitely be a chapter in the novel of the downfall of the greatest dynasty in modern history. America is on the way down the toilet. C’est la vie.
 
I’m in the process of trying to elevate, career wise and financially. I have an opportunity to receive a certification that will boost the salary of one of my gigs. It’s going to require a month of vigorous work, so much that I probably will not be able to deliver a #MNR for the month of July. But rest assured that when I do complete my objective, I’m going to be on here talking my shit OD. Trust. For now, it’s time to go dark. See you children of God in thirty days.
 
tymonday.com: @tymonday on Twitter & IG
theunbearablescrew.com: @crewunB on Twitter & @theunbearablescrew on IG

#MNR: NOTHING IN PARTICULAR
 
“I heard the beat and I ain’t know what to write.”
Nas
 
Alas, we have reached the penultimate Monday of the academic school year. And, just as any other year, most of the staff is mentally somewhere between burnt out and Cancun. Not me. I’m good. It’s all a cycle for me. Rinse, wash, repeat. I had to train my mind to be this way to be different from others in life. People love to bitch and complain. Mondays only exacerbate their states of mind. Once again, not I. My name is Monday. It’s my day. I thrive on Mondays. Let’s get it.
 
The B-section of this blog is completely gratuitous promo for Hatland.com, home for your fitted hat desires. They have all types of products AND they have large sizes for the brothers (and sisters) whose heads are on swole. I’m an 8 & 1/8 or 8 & 1/4 type of guy when I have the option. If not, I can make do with an 8. But I’m not the type who likes to wear a hat that looks and fits like I’m a long-distance trucker from Alabama. I like a bit of space in my cap. Hatland.com has it. They immediately leapfrogged ecapcity.com as my exclusive fitted hat provider. They ship out IMMEDIATELY, and you receive your product in three business days. The best part is the fact that they have an app. I’ve been a fitted hat loyalist since 1993. I thought I was in stagnant water between the lack of size and product on the traditional sites (Fanatics.com, newera.com, etc.) and the lack of sizes and variety on ecapcity.com. My prayers have been answered. I’m riding with y’all, Hatland.com. Keep on doing what you do.
 
Thank me later.
 
Uber, Lyft etc. have abandoned their masking policies for both drivers and riders. I understand why – other modes of transportation have as well. My astonishment is at how a patron or a driver could feel at ease riding maskless. If you’re a driver you have no idea who may be getting into your vehicle with the full-blown and not a mask in sight. The average driver sees at least 20 passengers a day. Driving maskless makes you braver than a Mormon in Memphis (IYKYK). The logic for a rider is quite similar. That maskless driver has been riding around all day servicing riders. The driver has no idea who may have gotten into their vehicle and spread the germ around. It’s hot. Most drivers have the window up and the AC on. That damn COVID may be all up in that bitch. Riding maskless in a random Uber/Lyft makes you more courageous than a Vegas dice shaker. I’m going to continue to wear my mask. I’m not going to tempt fate.
 
After a year of fact-finding, subpoenas and testimony, the January 6 Committee has convened for primetime hearings on their findings in hopes of proving beyond a “reasonable” doubt that Donald Chump was the chief conspirator in the insurrection that took place before our very eyes a year and a half ago. From what I’ve read thus far (I can’t watch that shit), there have been some revelations previously unheard. I’ll cut to the quick: for most pragmatic Americans, the hearings will only reaffirm what we already know. We know the election wasn’t stolen. That decision has been upheld over fifty times in court. The sad part is that for damn near half the country, those findings are meaningless. tRump, Fox News, Newsmax, Rudolph Giuliani and others have lied so consistently that their sycophants are convinced that their word is the ironclad truth. You could present them with anything factual and they will simply dispel it as lies from the “radical left.” So what, exactly, is the purpose of these hearings? My answer, which I believe is the correct answer, is to compel Attorney General Merrick Garland to pursue federal charges against #45 and other conspirators. The hope is that at worst it will bar Cheesy from running for president in 2024. At best it will all conclude in him being formally charged for his misdeeds and eventually convicted and sent to the clink. My honest opinion is that these hearings will do nothing more than [further] galvanize Rs and make them even more hellbent for the getback if and when they reclaim the House and quite possibly the Senate. I hope I’m wrong, but if you read this blog ardently, you know I usually don’t miss. We shall see.
 
I know I’m on the short end of the discussion I’m about to bring up. I also know that around my age is the cutoff to even be able to have a word in this matter, from a standpoint of experience. GET TO THE POINT FAT MAN. Ok. Here it is. I wish the internet didn’t exist. If I had it my way, it would only be used for its original purpose: to link medical and academic information. I’ll even throw in law enforcement. That makes this thing somewhat of a paradox because history has shown that it expanded far past its original purpose. The “i” in information reigns supreme. There’s no logical scenario in which the internet would have remained strictly for academia, medical etc. Logic says that there would have always been a person or people who saw the potential in the internet and exploited it. But damn it, it’s my blog and we’re going to speak on it. I love the internet. I can’t lie. In mere seconds it accomplishes things that used to be damn near impossible to accomplish anywhere near its brevity. If I wanted to know Reggie Jackson’s career batting average when I was in high school, I would have either had to have had a card from the last year of his playing career or taken a trip to the library. Even if I did happen to have a card (I didn’t and don’t), it would’ve taken me a minute or so at least to find, assuming I’m in proximity. A trip to the library takes MUCH longer. And who’s going to the library to search a single statistic? I just asked Siri. The heifer didn’t know but referred me to baseball-reference.com. That withstanding, it took a bit over 18 seconds.
 
OH YEAH. REGINALD MARTINEZ JACKSON BATTED .262 FOR HIS CAREER.
 
I HATE AND LOVE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE INTERNET.
 
At the end of the day, it boils down to social media. It’s not the only reason, but it has the majority slice of the pie.
 
I could go in so many different ways with this one, but I’ll focus on only a handful of things: clout, trolling, glizzy inhaling and vanity/narcissism.
 
It blew my fucking fitted off my mammoth dome piece about a decade or so ago when I was riding an uptown M100 bus from the world of Harlem to the GWB (George Washington Bridge) terminal. I saw an article on my Blackberry about a team of hustlers from somewhere in Harlem that had recently gone down for the RICO smorgasbord: drugs, guns, dirty money, bodies – all that and then some. No biggie. But the article led with the fact that they went down because of the content they posted on Facebook. They showed money, straps, work. Even worse (or perhaps tantamount), they had FB posts talking about hits they pulled. WHAT IN THEE ENTIRE FUCK??? I know. Fast forward a decade to today and that’s a regular day in this MF. I agree. But this was ten years ago, and I’d never seen it before. I was raised by and hustled under the code. Silence is golden. Snitching is forbidden. Self-snitching is absolute lunacy. Dummy. Y’all told on yourselves. As we all know, clout only evolved from there. I just want to state for the record that, unless you’re a public figure with 150K or more acolytes and get paid to turn a camera phone on, I hate the whole “live” experience – IG, FB, wherever. I understand going on live with others. But to go on just to look into your phone at yourself and reply to MF who comment on/at you? I can’t fade that. I’ve seen a young lady go on live with two people watching. Two whole people, y’all. Ole boy sitting by her called her out and she was unphased. I threw up a little in my throat area. It was disgusting. MF will straight up front with money that isn’t theirs, cars that aren’t theirs, homes that aren’t theirs, women that aren’t theirs – just to look a certain way on the damn blogs. I’m no type of medical professional, yet I’m convinced that this is some type of mental illness. It’s type spooky.
 
I didn’t even know what a troll was until about three years ago. Rather, I didn’t understand its depth. There’s a big difference between some pimple-faced, dickheaded kid just talking crazy on the net for a jolly and a person actually and actively trying to destroy a person. I respect the venom minus the reason/cause. I understand how shit goes. But I only respect it when it’s done in a confrontational manner. Chest to chest. Tough Tony MF are the absolute worst. Sadly, they are still able to be successful in ruining others’ lives. Y’all heard about that girl who kept encouraging that boy to kill himself and he went on ‘head and went out carbon monoxide style. Shit is vicious. That’s pure evil. I can’t fade it. It’s also absolutely cowardly. A MF can hide behind the anonymity of device screens and VPNs. Now, every sucker has a chance. I could do without that shit.
 
DICK RIDING IS SELF-EXPLANATORY. IT’S ALSO NON-CIPHER. THERE’S NO NEED FOR FURTHER COMMENT.
 
Last, but certainly not least, is perhaps the worst of them all – vanity/narcissism. RIP Kevin Samuels. Big ups to Melanie King (sorta of a female Kevin). They provide blunt but candid perspectives to a lot of individuals who aren’t living and thinking realistically. I’m not the type to talk bad about a woman or man. I am the type to remain cerebral and pragmatic in all circumstances. There are a lot of delusional women and men. Social media has given everyone the carte blanche to act like the sun rises when they wake up every morning. It has women on social media thinking it’s mandatory to shit on a man who makes under 150K a year. It has men on social media proclaiming that damn near every woman is little more than a possession. It has children on social media thinking they can move the way adults move. It has grandmothers on social media dressed and acting like they’re 22. It has young women with 400K IG followers faking like they’re living the glamorous life who still live in their childhood bedroom in their mama’s apartment in the Ps. My bro Mike Epps (DJ SHOWTIME) summed it up about five years ago when he said he knew girls that wouldn’t leave the club unless they had 150 likes on IG. That shit blew my mind. Ain’t a damn thing wrong with loving yourself. I love me some me. But I still maintain perspective. I am no more important than anyone else. When we premier our first production on HBO/Netflix, I’m going to keep the same energy. I love humility. I respect confidence. But I can’t fuck with the arrogance, vanity, narcissist shit. But at the end of the day, I’m just one man. I really can’t stomach the fact that there are kids coming up who believe that this is the way to go. It’s almost like casting them into the fire if they fall in love with this type of shit. Empathy and compassion are paramount, yet we exist in a world where the polar opposite is not only accepted but is also the standard. My God.
 
I could go on and on, but I’m not. This is simply an intro to why I wish there wasn’t an internet. It’s accelerated our mass destruction. I didn’t even mention the spread of misinformation and hate. But you get the picture. I sit back and see a bit more of the iceberg of humanity break off and descend into the ocean of purgatory daily. But maybe I’m just ‘noid. Y’all tell me.
 
tymonday.com: @tymonday on Twitter & IG
crewunb.com: @crewunB on Twitter & @theunbearablescrew on IG
 
 
 
 
 


e to edit.

​MNR: SOMBER THOUGHTS/BETTER DAYS
 
“You gotta take the time to thank God you made it.”
Jeezy
 
Some days are better than others, but every day spent above ground is a blessing. I’m usually reticent and taciturn when it comes to speaking on my issues because I realize that everyone has a laundry list of their own. Please forgive me for the blog’s delay, but I had a medical procedure yesterday that had my mind in a labyrinth all week. I lacked the concentration necessary to lock in and prepare a blog. I’m pleased to report that the results were favorable. God is the greatest. Now, let’s get to it.
 
Once upon a time I was so ignorant that I ignored my health because I was convinced that I couldn’t afford to pay for it. In retrospect, I was damn near right. Healthcare is expensive AF (even with most insurance), but your health is priceless. I’d much rather pay down on a medical bill than miss a diagnosis and be terminal when I find out about my condition, learning that early diagnosis would have saved my life. I have a good friend who lost his father because he refused to go to the doctor. For years I felt the same. I was a macho Negro male. I was too hard to go to the doctor. Then I got public school health benefits. I went to the doctor often. I even saw a cardiologist and a podiatrist (the agony of the feet). Then my position was outsourced. No more benefits. I felt betrayed by my employer, and out of defiance and self-pity, I used the excuse that I couldn’t afford Obamacare to avoid going to the doctor. My lapse in judgment almost killed me. Never again. If you’re like the old me, please take your stubborn ass to the doctor. It’s a matter of life and death. Take it from your fly-ness.
 
“And just cool out – cool out and listen to her.”
Common
 
“Iz Us” by Aphex Twins is my throwback song of the week. Retro electronic music can be quite relaxing in times of peril.
 
I’ve heard a few Nas/Olu Dara (Nas’ dad, a blues artist) stories over the past quarter century. My favorite will always be the “Life’s a Bitch” story. Olu played the trumpet toward the end of the classic track. Pop asked his son what he wanted him to accomplish on the track. His son told him to play something that reminded him of when his two boys were kids. Olu Dara’s trumpet notes still captivate my imagination to this very day. My most fond memories in life are the times that Shareon and I spent together out and about in the streets of New York, away from the abuse and tyranny of Tyrone. That’s why ‘80s R&B (the WBLS era, as I call it) will always be the greatest to me. After that it’s the soundtrack to my high school and university eras – Nas, Mobb, the BIG fella, Mary J., Faith, SWV, Jodeci, etc. After that is anything that serves as the catalyst for escapism.
 
“All you see – is crime in the city.”
Skeme
 
I had an interesting conversation with my Uber driver earlier, an African brother a bit younger than I. He outlined three distinct problems that America faces: college tuition debt, lack of universal healthcare, and gun violence. The first two are harrowing, to say the least. But irrespective of who’s talking, gun violence is usually at the top of everyone’s list. We are being bombarded by two types of gun violence: urban warfare and mass shootings. Guns are seemingly easier to access than an abortion these days. Nowadays a gun can be made from a kit or 3-D printer (ghost guns). They aren’t traceable. Naturally, this already exacerbates an ongoing crisis. There are more guns in the hands of criminals than ever before. New York City reminds me daily of the perils of inner-city gun violence. The South Bronx is a war zone. So is Chicago. Both are trailing Philly. In essence, it doesn’t matter what the city in question is. Damn near every big city in America is being overwhelmed by gun violence. My cousin in #BXNYC expressed her anxiety to me the other day. She has a 20-year-old daughter and a twelve-year-old son. It’s sad that she has to worry about whether or not her babies will make it home safely each day. Her anxiety extends to places where fear shouldn’t even come into play. She can’t even enjoy a trip to the mall without utter fear that MF may start shooting out of nowhere. Shit, suburban ass Bergen County felt the sting of a mall shooting recently. It damn near makes people not want to go out in public and enjoy themselves, which is a tragedy within itself. This wasn’t even a concern a generation ago. Times have changed.
 
Mass shootings are so common nowadays that no one even pays attention unless it’s a deranged MF shooting up a school or targeting people by race. I said it before on a #MNR blog. It’s to the point that we don’t even bat an eye until it directly hits home. America continues to beg congress to enact change and congress continues to turn its back. Like the brother driving the Uber said – there’s so much money going into the pockets of politicians that they’ll never acquiesce and pass tough legislation. With that being said, this will never end. All we can do is pray for the best. I’m like Styles P. I’m still talmbout we gon make it, but I pity the odds.
 
I didn’t have any new hot or pressing topics to speak about this week. I’m usually impervious to the usual fuckery that exists, but shit hit home a bit more amidst me thinking about my own vitality. I think about the little ones, from Rhino to Zari to Ace to Chayse to Phy to Wookie and I pray that they all get the opportunity to live long and strong. I pray that none of them face what too many of their peers in America face these days. All I can do is watch and pray. May God bring better days.
 
tymonday.com: @tymonday on Twitter & IG
crewunb.com: @crewunB on Twitter & @theunbearablescrew on IG