#MNR: The Streets Need a Body

“I was born in the gutters of Southside. And outside is where I earn my stripes, I’m ‘bout mine…” Famous

How y’all? I know all you colored folk tuned in at some point between midnight Sunday and 20:00 (8:00 pm) for the Power Book III: Raising Kanan season finale. It didn’t disappoint. It was a true cliffhanger. The finale left many unanswered questions, as a good finale should. But we do know a couple of things for certain. Raq is the devil, simple and plain. While it was drill time, she donned the obligatory red dress and attended the church house, a place she hadn’t been in years (according to her mama). She used the house of the Lord as an alibi while her son attempted to assassinate a NYPD detective in Baisley Park, an assassination attempt that she put him up to. Who does that? The devil. We all heard what Kanan narrated at the end. He said that life taught him that he couldn’t trust a soul, not even his mother. I like the way the writers have allowed for the present-day Power universe to include Raq, Lou-Lou, and "can’t get right" Marvin in the mix, if they choose. Perhaps all three are locked away on RICO charges. Perhaps all three are deceased. We have no clue. But I love the fact that ambiguity exists. It only makes the Power books more complex in the big scheme. 50 is a genius. I can’t wait for season two.

BMF, the tale of drug kingpin Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory’s Black Mafia Family and its rise to supremacy in Detroit, debuted after the Power finale. We all know how pilots work. They give a little bit, just enough to keep you interested. Well…they gave enough. I like the glimpse we were given last night of Meech and his brother Tee. We’re beginning with the late ‘80s so that means that there will be damn near 20 years of ground to cover. I’m all for it. Fif, you’ve got another one. Salute to Curtis Jackson. When we reassess GOAT status, his combined contribution to the culture may eventually see him atop the mountain.

I tried y’all. I promise I tried. I tried my best not to mention COVID-19 for the second consecutive week. But just when I was prepared to fall back again this week, I received word that there was a positive case and subsequent contract tracing at my place of employment. We were [mysteriously] held in place until fourth period and then released without any given explanation. The grapevine told it all, but if that wasn’t the case I honestly wonder if we (outsourced paraprofessionals) would have ever been notified. I’m thankful for the bonds I’ve forged over the years; they ensure that I’m perpetually in the unofficial loop regarding district information. Had I not been, I’m quite certain I wouldn’t have known a damn thing about what happened today. Since being outsourced years ago, I used to get really upset about the lack of disclosure and general disrespect I felt. These days, I don’t give a single fuck. But I would like to be informed when there is something calamitous going on. Smmfh.

Honestly, I think one of the best adjustments I’ve made in the past three years has been the steady progression in my general apathy toward bullshit. I used to be the type to take any type of slight or disrespect to heart. I used to wear my emotions on my sleeves, which can often make for a precarious situation. In that time, there’s no telling how many opportunities I’ve fucked up or potential alliances I’ve destroyed. This I do know; not giving a fuck makes things a heck of a lot easier. I’m a borderline neurotic; I make Mt. Mauna Kea (do some fucking reading) out of grains of sand. This usually means shit can go left at any moment. But I’ve made the self-adjustment. I don’t let the bullshit invade my happy space anymore. If I don’t like a situation, I simply remove myself from the situation. If I’m hearing some genuine silly shit, I simply remove myself from the conversation. I refuse to have my sunny day hindered by stormy clouds. I hit my “serenity now” mind frame (IYKYK) and let the bullshit float downstream. Everyone deserves their own brand of peace. I suggest you endeavor down the path to serenity if turmoil is your current state of being. You deserve to be happy. Nothing should impede your pursuit.

Summer Madness 11 was a mixed bag of nuts. Aesthetically, I loved it. The venue was official, and Caffeine did a great job with the visuals. Houston provided a good and fair crowd. There was no unnecessary hate. I also loved the flow of the event. Even though it endured for more than six hours, there was minimal time in between battles. After a bit of commentary from J-Blac, Nu Nu Nellz, and DNA, the next battle was ready to begin. For those who haven’t heard the [unofficial] results, here they go. Real Name Brandon had a judged unanimous win against MVP, taking the $25,000 Ultimate Madness 4 purse home. Arsonal and Lu Castro had a 2-1 debatable either way, depending on preference. Lu definitely proved he is big event and big stage worthy. Chess and Eazy the Block Captain had the battle of the night, with the consensus being that Eazy took it 2-1. Watch the playback and judge for yourself (they got apps for that). After years of pursuit, John John Da Don got dog walked by Tsu Surf. JJDD waited all those years to see Surf and got dragged. I called it a Gentleman’s 30, although the playback may be a bit more compassionate towards JJDD. Either way, Surf got the win. Hollow Da Don did my man K-Shine type dirty. It wasn’t Chilla Jones dirty, but the effect was similar. Hollow with a clear 2-1 or Gentleman’s 30. Shine might want to stay away from the “pens.” In the SMACK DVD era main event, Reed Dollaz defeated Murda Mook by consensus. That’s the best way to put it. Reed wasn’t all that (definitely not Surf or Rum Nitty Reed), but he was still clearly better than Mook IMO on this occasion. I don’t know what’s up with Mook and big rooms, but his efficacy doesn’t quite translate. But I don’t need to see the playback to solidify how I called it. Mook didn’t say shit that stuck. He barely punched and his setups took way too long. I agree with Piperboy. Mook might not want to see Brizz on the Drake card. He may die. In the real main event of the night, I had Calicoe in a surprising 2-1 upset over Geechi Gotti. It was a B or B+ battle, far from a classic. But it was good enough. I had Cal taking the first and third. Geechi’s second may have been the round of the entire night, but it wasn’t enough. He had a couple of slips in the third, enough for Cal to win on points. Again, I must agree with Piperboy. If, in fact, Lux is going to be Geechi’s competition on the Drake card, he’s going to have to bring more to the table than he did for Cal. If not, it may get bad for him. Having said all that, we only have a couple of battles confirmed at this point for the Drake card: Gattis vs. Jaz the Rapper and Tay Roc vs. Twork. But I’m expecting a whole lot more. It’s slated for 10.30 so I’m certain we’ll be brought up to speed very shortly. P.S. – Geechi is still my favorite. I’m riding with him regardless. AND Beloved is in my Top 5. I can’t wait. But we’ll see.


I’m on the lookout to see which NBA players haven’t been vaccinated. Here’s a list of rules and health/safety protocols for 2021: mandatory COVID testing on game AND practice days (up to two on game day), mandatory seven-day quarantine for close contact with someone who tests positive, separate lockers and not sitting next to vaccinated players at team meals/meetings, and separate seating on flights and buses. Unvaccinated players who have documented recovery from COVID-19 within the previous 60 days may have some of the protocols relaxed, pending final approval.

HERE’S WHERE IT GETS EXTRA SPICY: New York City and San Francisco have mandated that pro athletes be vaccinated. That means that players who refuse the vaccine would be ineligible to play in those cities. That’s 41 games for players on the Knicks, Nets, and Warriors, not including when either of the three teams face the other two on the road. And guess who’s at the top of the fuck a vaccine list (allegedly)? Kyrie Irving. I mean, it can’t come as a surprise, coming from a man who insists the earth is flat. I read some bullshit about the Moderna jabs (the ones I received) installing a chip in Black folk for some Satanic type of list or some absurd shit. I didn’t even give enough of a fuck to go back and get the specifics. I’d just be fully explaining stupidity. I don’t know about any chip being implanted through a fucking liquid vaccine, but I do know that damn near every dip shit on the planet has a smart phone with a chip that tracks their GPS and other things. Further explanation is a waste of time. If you plan on going that far down the rabbit hole, there’s no stopping you from being the best idiot you can be. For all I know, Kyrie could already have gotten a jab and is just playing coy. But the paperwork as of today spoke differently. This is only going to get more interesting. Oh yeah. Fuck the Nets. #KNICKSNATION. P.S. – 100% of Knicks players have been vaccinated. Thanks. And Kyrie is still my favorite player. I accept him being “different” because I know he stands on his principles. I have to respect that regardless.

I’m through, mane.

tymonday.com: @tymonday on Twitter & IG
crewunb.com: @crewunB on Twitter & @theunbearablescrew on IG

#MNR: MNR Uncut

Disclaimer: This week’s blog WILL NOT include: any references to COVID-19, any type of political commentary, any MAGAt commentary, any vitriol directed at any of America’s 50 state governors, or any reference to Black ignorance and how it’s crippling us as a people. Your subconscious can rest easy today.

I heard that there were a record number of persons of color who were nominated for Emmy Awards last night, yet no POC won an Emmy. That’s about white, err um right. Hold on…youse pilgrims mean to tell me not ONE mother effing POC was worthy of that golden statue of some unknown deceased white man? No one? Fuck outta here. That’s some primetime bullshit. It’s the exact reason why I haven’t watched an award show since the 2000 Source Awards (RIP Jefferson Houses’ own Black Rob, winner of Song of the Year for “Whoa”). FACTS (Piperboy Williams voice)!!! Fuck the Emmys. But I do appreciate the Biz tribute (Angie Matinez told me).

It’s almost Homecoming time y’all! I’m not quite sure what that means to MF who graduated from PWIs (predominately white institutions), but for us HBCU alums and attendees, the exclamation point after the first sentence is well warranted. It’s especially true for a delinquent attendee such as myself. I attend about 1.5 homecomings per decade. I love the idea of being able to “go back in time” for a 72-hour period, back to when I didn’t have a care in the world, back to when most of my folk were still alive and well. I love being able to see my college family again, with many of whom I’ve formed lifetime bonds. Last, I love the vibes. There’s nothing like a HBCU Homecoming, irrespective of the university. To those who have no idea, no one does it better than Howard University (Washington, DC). Howard has a ton of tradition (including being the origin of some Black fraternities and sororities), a generous endowment [as compared to many PWIs] which is the largest of any HBCU (BY FAR) at $712,410,000, a super huge courtyard that makes mingling damn near performance enhanced, and that Biggie Smalls shoutout in 1997 that made it a must-attend event for Black celebrities ever since (they were already showing love way before the BIG bars). Sadly, Howard, Morehouse, and Spellman (arguably the who’s who of HBCUs) have already informed alumni that HC 2021 would be limited to undergraduate students. That fucking sux. But this damn [REDACTED] shit man…It is still player hating to no end. As of press time, my alma mater Virginia Union University’s HC is still open to alumni. The hotel room is booked. I really hope nothing changes within the next three weeks, as HC is 10.9.2021. I also hope that if there is any type of requirement of proof of vaccination that no one will be bringing their Queens Blvd issued fakey cards to any event where proof is required. As a matter of fact, I really don’t care. Brandi and I WILL NOT be attending any big room events. Shit, we’ll probably have our masks on at the game. We don’t play around with our lives. We also don’t trust youse cotton-picking N-words when it comes to being truthful. [THIS SENTENCE HAS BEEN REDACTED TO ADHERE TO PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED PROMISES NOT TO EXCORIATE COTTON PICKERS IN THIS BLOG] So, we’d rather remove ourselves from the situation. Y’all have fun. We’ll be in our room, doing what grown folk do. That is all. GO PANTHERS! 1865 PANTHER PRIDE. RIP Kermit.

Big ups to my housemate Dwayne for showing love and throwing a brother that password to HBO Max. I’ve watched every damn movie available that I haven’t seen in the theater (Malignant was crazy). I’m loving the Titans series as well. And you already know that I’m happy as Eartha Kitt’s drawz on their day off about The Many Saints of Newark dropping next month. It’s time to see how young Anthony Soprano laid the groundwork to be the king of North Jerz. Woke up this morning, you got yourself a gun…

I’m a hustler baby…

There’s only one episode remaining on “Raising Kanan,” by far my favorite book of “Power.” Every single actor plays her/his role extraordinarily well. Raq is the baddest bitch on camera since Bridget Gregory (Linda Fiorentino) in “The Last Seduction.” Jukebox is extraordinary. So are Marvin and Lou-Lou. Young Kanan was perfectly cast for the role. And my nigga Joey…the kid is a natural at acting. He makes Unique pop every episode. In addition to the characters, I love the setting, styling, and “costumes.” For those familiar with South Suicide Queens, Supreme Team, and early ‘90s NYC in general, the vibe feels just right. Parting is such sweet sorrow, but it only builds my anticipation for next season. In full disclosure, I must admit that this is the first season of Power I’ve watched from front to back. It’s also forced me to backtrack and learn my history pertaining to Kanan, Ghost, and the rest of the gang. And, as sad as I am to see Book 3 go, the BMF series premiers on the same night as the Book 3 finale. Let’s get it (insert robotic arm emoji).

IT’S SUMMER MADNESS TIME Y’ALL

Damn near 3K MF will be packed into a designated venue in Houston, TX this Saturday 9.25 to attend SMACK/URL Summer Madness 11. This is the first big room event since the [REDACTED]. There shall be no [REDACTED] restrictions pertaining to attendance. It’s going to look like events from the near distant past, back when battle rap aficionados would pack Webster Hall and other big room venues past capacity to see their favorite battle rappers wage war on the biggest stage in the sport. The buildup to SM11 began as a crawl but has quickly progressed to the normal pre-fight fuckery that we’ve come to love in the community. The main event is the long-awaited battle of the two (arguably) greatest battle rappers of the DVD era, SMACK sniper Murda Mook of Harlem World against 2 Raw For The Streets alum and Philadelphia, PA native Reed Dollaz. As of last week, Murda Mook was trying his best to find an angle for Reed, which is concerning. Mook is arguably the GOAT. His skill in the ring is tantamount to Ric Flair’s in the squared circle. If he (Angle Gawd along with T-Top) is still trying to find an angle, he may be in trouble. MONDAY’S PICK: Reed 2-1 debatable in one of the night’s biggest upsets. I’ll continue with what I’ve already established and run down the card in top to bottom order. After YEARS of shit talking, styling, and general disrespect, Yonkers, NY native John John Da Don will finally face Newark, NJ legend Tsunami Surf on the big stage. JJDD even offered to sweeten the pot with a $20K side bet, which Surf obliged. Surf’s been ducking JJDD for years, not out of fear, but out of hubris (if that makes any type of sense). I don’t think Surf is scared, not even a little. I really believe that Surf felt like JJDD was beneath him, unworthy of battling. Even though JJDD is the overwhelming favorite headed into Saturday, MONDAY’S PICK: I have Surf edging JJDD 2-1 in the other upset of the night. Nutty Block, Compton’s own Geechi Gotti (my favorite battle rapper) and Detroit legend Calicoe square off in one of the realest real talk battles in the history of the sport. Gotti is arguably the top dog in URL at the moment. He’s fresh off being co-winner of the Ultimate Madness 3 tournament, and his win/debatable streak heading in was pretty impressive. Cal is no slouch himself, fresh off the RBE main event stage versus another legend, Hitman Holla. I have Cal edging Holla 2-1, although I feel the battle could be judged either way. I also had him beating Aye Verb last year at SM 10. This is going to be a better battle than many expect, especially the Caffeine babies who think battle rap was created a couple of years ago. Nevertheless…MONDAY’S PICK: 2-1 Geechi, clearly. Cal will take a round, but Geechi will [west] coast to the victory. My other favorite battle rapper, Harlem’s K-Shine, will face fellow legend Hollow Da Don of Queens fame. The anticipation became intense, and the vibe became extra spicy after the faceoff, where Shine asked Hollow to step outside and fight him. No punches were thrown. But come Saturday, expect an all-out, Pier-6 brawl (RIP Gordon Solie). Shine still has the taste of the Chilla 30 on his tongue, and I expect him to come out swinging. The big stage will serve him well. Hollow arguably just beat the #1 ranked battle rapper on the app, Rum Nitty, in his URL comeback, and I don’t expect any fall-off on Saturday. For me, this is the toughest battle to predict. MONDAY’S PICK: Shine 2-1. I don’t go against Harlem. Other than that, I’d probably pick Hollow. We shall see. In what is easily the most anticipated battle of the night, former battle rap prodigy Chess squares off against the most popular “new” face in the URL, Philadelphia’s Eazy Da Block Captain. This will be the struggle talk battle of the millennium, as both men pen vivid depictions of surviving the ills of urban decay. Eazy is undefeated on the URL app, knocking T-Rex off at NOME 11 in his last battle. Chess is fresh off a victory (2-1 edge) in an all-out bloodbath versus Loso and a string of more than official battles in the past year or so. This battle was not originally on the SM 11 card, but fans and bloggers screamed until Smack, Beasley, and Chico listened to good reasoning. I can’t wait. MONDAY’S PICK: Chess 2-1 edge. Eazy won’t be able to out struggle bar Chess. Chess is the better rapper, bar for bar. Eazy’s amazing streak will come to an end. In a late addition, Mr. Disrespectful, Newark’s own Arsonal squares off against fast rising star Lu Castro of #BXNYC origin. Lu has been on fire lately. He was in the Double Impact battle of the night alongside K-Shine. He recently edged Mike P. He also beat Jakkboy Maine on the fake SM card in Raleigh a couple weeks ago. Arsonal is Arsonal. Few, if any, can clearly 2-1 Ars when he’s on ten. The rumor is that Ars is just battling to fulfill an obligation to the company, as he reportedly has a battle remaining on his current contract. If that’s true, there’s a good chance that Ars won’t take this battle very seriously. Having said that…MONDAY’S PICK: Arsonal, 2-1 clear, or perhaps a Gentleman’s 30. Ars DESTROYS up and comers. He did O’fficial very dirty. He got Jerry Wess up outta there in similar fashion. Ars aint finna look crazy on the big stage. I expect him to dominate Saturday. Last (first) is the Ultimate Madness 4 finals. MVP out of Charlotte, NC faces Real Name Brandon out of Pasadena, CA. I don’t have an overwhelming scouting report for this battle. I’ve seen MVP twice; I’ve seen Brandon a few times, mostly on Geechi’s league The Riot. MONDAY’S PICK: RNB 2-1 in a semi-upset. MVP is the prohibitive favorite, but I think RNB’s ability to do a little bit of everything well will be the difference maker. I’m looking forward to a movie type of event Saturday. Let’s get it. SMMMMMMMMMMMMACKKKKKKKK!

There you have it. I did a whole blog without mentioning [REDACTED], [REDACTED], or [REDACTED]. I can’t promise the same next week. Hopefully, this blog was much easier to light a Wood and parlay with than my normal brand of fuckery. Power to the people. Lagos visions.

tymonday.com: @tymonday on Twitter & IG
crewunb.com: @crewunB on Twitter & @theunbearablescrew on IG

#MNR: Richard Petty

“If money’s your religion, sky’s the limit, live life…”
Nas, “Book of Rhymes”

Thank you, Lord, for another year of life. In my younger days I couldn’t imagine seeing this age. It’s not that I was some gangster-type MF; I was quite the opposite. It’s just that when I was coming up, there were so many ways to meet an untimely fate and too many of my peers were seeing the casket way too early. Gunplay was ridiculous. AIDS was knocking us off left and right. But I endured. I made it through the storm. I beat a pulmonary embolism a year and a half ago. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Here’s to my Richard Petty year. #43

The irony of this COVID madness is that, even though the virus has affected so many around me, it really hadn’t entered my personal life outside of my queen losing her favorite uncle (RIP Uncle Sonny). I also lost an old co-worker (live on Chuck). It hurt seeing my lady hurt. It hurt hearing of Chuck passing even though I hadn’t seen him in years. Chuck was beloved in Englewood, and many of those who mourned are my folk too. But through it all, it had evaded my inner circle. That’s no longer the case. One of my close family members is suffering from COVID-19. It really sux not being able to visit or even speak to him (his breathing is being assisted; he can’t speak), but he is a man of great faith. I am too. I’m confident he’ll pull through.

The most fucked up aspect of my loved one being stricken by COVID is that he’s an anti-vaxxer.
What’s even worse, what’s mortally worse, is that he’s an anti-vaxxer that ties his COVID ignorance to faith. Yes, the Lord is faithful. But he teaches us pragmatism. If you don’t believe in the efficacy of a vaccine – do what works for you. But to propagate the idea that being vaccinated doesn’t matter if you are a person of faith ain’t it. I’m not a fan of decreeing any and everything as demonic. Your level of Christian faith will not be a COVID deterrent. At the end of the day, a lot of Black Baptist Christians are no different from southern evangelical MAGAt lunatics. They dismiss the virus as being something that can easily be defeated with mustard seed faith. In other words, they want you to believe that you can pray COVID away. Just trust and believe. I’d like to amend the sentiment a bit. Trust, believe, and get vaccinated.

Please remember that vaccines aren’t only meant to protect ourselves from COVID. They also help to protect those around us. Children aren’t old enough to receive the jabs. They have no say over who is in and out of their homes. They can’t make decisions for themselves. As Black folk, many of our loved ones suffer from diverse preexisting conditions which make COVID even more likely to be fatal. At the end of the day, this shouldn’t be an issue. The greater good should always be the goal, especially when dealing with loved ones.

The ignorance I see displayed regarding COVID is mind-boggling. I wonder what’s to become of this world when scientific logic is shirked for eyebrow-raising conspiracy theories and outright ignorance. A thin cloth mask has become the symbol of dystopia in America and around the world. Somehow, wearing a mask when in public is too much to ask of a society trying to curb a global pandemic. I think back to America’s response following the tragedies of 9.11.2001 (minus the fuckery Muslim-Americans were forced to endure). For the most part, tragedy brought people “together.” There was a bit less racial tension in the air. For better or worse, the nation had a common cause. It allowed for tunnel vision and unity on a certain level. America drastically needs a similar catalyst, and hopefully it won’t take another national tragedy for it to happen. We needed a response similar to the polio vaccination rollout from back when. It’s too bad that it will not happen.

I’ve been delivering mundane prophecies from my Apple pulpit for a while now. It’s been so long since Ty “Mr. Ignorant” Monday graced you all with his presence. (A-Verb voice) So it’s showtime…

Big ups to Dr. Rashad Rickey, host of the YouTube broadcast “Indisputable.” For those unfamiliar with the show, Dr. Rickey and his team lowlight male and female Karens around the nation and continent. It begins with visuals and audio of the improprieties followed by context and commentary from Dr. Rickey, usually with additional commentary from a colleague. Dr. Rickey, you do admirable work. I enjoy watching these assholes reveal their troglodyte tendencies. But y’all know how I give it up. I have the spirit of AG Warren Sr. running through my veins. I watch “Indisputable” daily, and I wish a Karen motherfucker would EVERY time. I especially wish a MF would with regard to my queen Brandi and I’m in the cut peeping game, oblivious to the Karen. Now, for a female Karen, I wouldn’t even sweat it. My baby is nice with hers. But if a male Karen were to ever step into her face with aggression, I’d liberate his teeth from his dick sucker. Sheeeeitttt…I’d take that lil bid with no problem.

Please don’t EVER hit my line if you are a grown ass man in his feelings. First off, pull your damn skirt down. We can all see your panties. Second, I DON’T FEEL SORRY FOR ANY GROWN ASS MAN. I’m the wrong one to call on. I feel empathy for your situation, but you need to cowboy up. Handle your fucking business. Don’t expect to be bailed out (figuratively or literally) by the next man. Last, I don’t give a fuck about your troubles. We all have our own. Figure the shit out. Pussyclot.

You anti-vaxxers really are some dumb ass, ignorant motherfuckers. Here’s to good health.

COVID is dropping school-aged children like flies. I guess y’all not gonna be satisfied until it’s one of yours. Sins of the father…

If you can count on Black folk to consistently be one thing at the same time, it’s a safe bet to go with ignorance. Ignorance is so prevalent in our culture that I ask myself from time to time, “Am I really living in reality? Are we really this damn stupid?” The answer seems to be a resounding “yes.” It’s not that we’re incredulous to most things. It’s that we’re proud to be dead wrong about things. We can admit that we’re wrong yet continue being wrong “just cause” or because it’s easier to go about our everyday lives being completely wrong. That shit ain’t cute. It allows the New York Post and Fox News to talk about us the way they do. But hey, most of us don’t read or watch news anyway.

I’m done. Aye yo, CEO, take us the fuck outta here (IYKYK).

tymonday.com: @tymonday on Twitter & IG
crewunb.com: @crewunB on Twitter & @theunbearablescrew on IG

#MNR: Lagos Visions

“Don’t make me go, no. I just want to hold you. I need no control, no. Would you let me love you, me love you? It’s all over. I lost my composure. I got love to show you. Would you let me love you, me love you baby?”
Tems, “Fountains”

For the greater portion of the calendar year, my baby girl Rhino’s been asking me a particular question on a consistent basis. The question is “When is Drake’s album coming out?” For a while my response was, “It’s supposed to [have] been out.” Then I heard Drizzy tore his knee up and was recovering from surgery. It made sense. You can’t perform on tour with a bum knee, and I’m almost certain Drake will have a domestic AND world tour. Cool. Then I saw him at the SMACK/URL event NOME (battle rap), where he personally added 50K to the 100K purse for the Ultimate Madness 3 tournament winner (finalists Geechi Gotti and Rum Nitty split the prize). He looked to be back to normal, so I knew it was close. Welp, September 3 was the day (finally), and Drake didn’t disappoint. Certified Lover Boy broke all types of streaming records upon release. I know, I know. Every Drake release since Take Care has been HIGHLY anticipated. CLB was no different. But we all know the knock on Drake: he drops great material but barring his “mixtape” debut So Far Gone, [arguably] none of Drizzy’s releases have been worthy of the classic label. I think Nothing Was the Same came closest. That’s my opinion. Now, I’m not jumping off the roof after a couple listens, but Aubrey may in fact have his c-word. Time will tell. But off the jump ball, Drizzy comes out firing. “Champagne Poetry” goes crazy. Soon after, the features start. Hov goes melo ape nuts on “Love All.” “Fair Trade” with Travis Scott is very nice. Both Future features get busy. Of all his “rappity rap” tracks, my favorite is “Knife Talk” featuring 21 Savage and my nigga Project Pat, 36 Mafia and Memphis legend. We all know that Drizzy gon have his slow songs and panty droppers. “Yebba’s Heartbreak” is a nostalgic tearjerker. Drake and the People’s Champ Ty Dolla $ign combine for the soulful “Get Along Better.” My favorite track on the album is the aforementioned “Fountains,” an Afrobeat MONSTER featuring my baby Tems. She goes type crazy. My, my, my… At the end of the day, we’ll have to let time tell the story. But this may be Drake’s best effort since NWTS. It may be his…c-word. And word to CEO, “Papi’s Home” was sooooooo disrespectful.

Last week, I spoke on Hurricane Ida and the devastation she brought to the Gulf Coast. I failed to mention that that bitch was headed this way. Even though her classification was downgraded to Tropical Storm, Ida slammed the northeast (NY metro) in a way unseen since that dirty whore of a Hurricane, Ms. Sandy. Sure, we lost power for a good minute in Englewood. There was serious MTA and commuter tunnel flooding. 43 people lost their lives. But we sorta expected the sheezy to hit the feezy. I can’t quite say the same for Ida. The last update I was able to find (ABC News) from three days ago had the death toll at 51. I watched a news report with a reporter live from Passaic. She stood beside a parked car, ravaged by Ida’s treacherous flooding. The water line was slightly above the windshield wipers. After mentioning this, the reporter noted that some of the residents she interviewed stated that Ida’s flooding was worse than Sandy’s. Wow. Some basement apartments became watery tombs for residents, trapped inside with no viable exit option. That’s because many basement apartments from NYC to Jerz were illegal and not in accordance with local law. Englewood saw a lot of devastation. West St., Westmore, and plenty of the westside were slammed. The bridge in Westmore is gone. The football field turf is done. I was on both Rt. 80 and Rt. 46 the day after; quite a few cars were abandoned. Teterboro Airport looked like a big ass pond. Qué lástima. As I’m typing, Sleepy Joe is in the area assessing the damages. I pray all will be well in time for those affected. My prayers are also for the families who have lost loved ones.

For those of you who live in a hole in the ground, you may be largely unaware of the fuckery that Governor Abbott is setting in place in the Lonestar state of Texas. He was able to get the state senate to pass restrictive voting laws despite the exodus of state Dems to Washington in effort to thwart the process and to lobby on Capitol Hill for federal help on voting rights (RIP Rep. Lewis). That was signed into law as of today. The madness continues in historic fashion. He signed a new abortion ban into law, and it is the most restrictive law passed yet. It bans abortions in almost all cases after six weeks, including rape and incest. Many if not most women are unaware of pregnancy after six weeks. It also incentivizes private citizens to snitch on anyone they SUSPECT may be either getting an abortion after the six-week mark AS WELL AS ANYONE who aids that woman in receiving an abortion in the state. What’s even more insane is the fact that the US Supreme Court turned the appeal away on what’s largely considered a minor technicality. Look, I’m pro-life, but I’m also pro women’s reproductive rights. That’s between them, their physician, and the Lord. I don’t feel that I (as a man) have a right to tell a woman what to do with her body. But apparently, old white men feel that they have the carte blanche. It’s sad. I hope that the case is reintroduced to SCOTUS, minus the bullshit technicalities. We shall see. It was brought to my attention yesterday via my VUU brother Todd (Umansky) that Abbott signed a law on 9.1 that allows most Texans to carry handguns in public without going through training or having to get a permit. This has the propensity for disaster for several reasons, but I’ll look at how it will disproportionately affect Black Texans. Do you honestly think that a (young) Black man walking through South Dallas or the Fifth Ward in Houston can [legally] have a Roscoe on his hip without a PIG trying to split his cabbage? I don’t. I think the new law will make it even easier to harass innocent Black folk in Black neighborhoods. I don’t live in Texas so I can’t speak as if I know the vibes there. But I know how PIGS get down from Frisco to Maine; it’s all the same. Todd said that he thinks that it “could make it way easier to target minorities and easily say I shot her/him in self-defense.” As usual, my brother is on point. I concur. He also broached the idea that it could enable the average “knucklehead” to treat Texas like an open GTA simulation. Again, I agree. As with everything, time will tell how it works out for Texas. I love to add insult to injury, so I’ll add the tidbit that their COVID rates are still way above average. 4,711 confirmed cases and 47 deaths – YESTERDAY -- to be exact. My God…

As much as I’d love to have thousands, no millions of loyal readers who visit our site every week to read #MNR (and the almost certain uptick in merch sales), it’s most important that I just stress research and knowledge to all who read this. Look, you don’t have to treat my blog as if it’s your breath of life. I just want you to do your own research and use your own intuition. Black folk love ignorance. We can’t help it, so it seems. It’s been indoctrinated into us via Uncle Sam. But knowledge reigns supreme over nearly everyone. Do your own reading and use your own discernment. Develop your own brand of sagacity. Stop doing or not doing something because some idiot “told you” something in a reefa cloud or at the water cooler at work. All y’all have Google. Take the time to do your own research. And please don’t look at what’s going on in your region, country, and world and think that just because it doesn’t personally affect you at the current moment that things can’t change in time. The gods call it knowledge of self. But you don’t have to follow 5% teachings to have knowledge of self. You just need to be literate and awoke. That’s all I have for y’all. Be more than just another living for the moment and lost dickhead. I’m out. RIP Nicole. Jukebox and I miss you.

All jokes aside, RIP Michael K. Williams, best known as Omar Little from the acclaimed HBO series The Wire. I have rated it as the best show in television history and Omar as the greatest villain in television history. I’ve BEEN saying that fentanyl is going to be the cause of an entire generation of drug-related deaths. I hate that it (allegedly) had to be your demise, MKW. Rest easy.

For y’all youngn’s out there who can’t comprehend how a man with so much fame could go out like that, understand that he was in his mid-50s. He’s from a different era of NYC. A lot of those cats play[ed] with their nose and veins. And you don’t know that man’s troubles. Last, if you still can’t comprehend, think about it the next time you pour that 2 or 8 of lean in your double cup or ingest that yellow bar or that Perc 30. #ijs

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