#MNR: EARTH (BIRTH) DAY EDITION

MNR: EARTH (BIRTH) DAY EDITION
 

“I woke up early on my born day, I’m twenty years, a blessing. The essence of adolescence leaves my body now I’m fresh (and). My physical frame is celebrated cuz I made it. One quarter through life, some godly, like fame created.”
Nas
 
I MADE IT TO MY GEORGE GERVIN YEAR. I’M 44 YEARS STRONG.
 
Now, the typical birthday blog would be a bunch of blah, blah, blah about how I coulda made an early departure from life like too many others. Nah. We’re not doing that. This isn’t a “never woulda made it” blog. I am supremely thankful to the Lord, mom (in heaven) and dad – they knew the time (IYKYK). But I’m not trying to portray some “last man standing” type shit. I’m not finna cry and carry on. I did that on my 30th. Mentally and emotionally, I’m in a good place in life. I’m happy to be alive every day of the year. The only special thing about 9.10 is that it was my introduction to the world – in 1978. Other than that, it’s business as usual. I’m also thankful for Brandi and all my brothers and sisters from other mothers. I’m thankful for the legalization of cannabis. I don’t have to pee on myself a little whenever I’m riding dirty and the fuzz is in the rear view. I’m thankful.
 
This is the first year that I didn’t make a birthday post for any social media in quite a while. I used to make a tweet and IG on my born day, but who cares? I always call out MF who appear to be thirsty for attention, and I feel that being a hypocrite isn’t becoming. In all honesty, I probably was. I loved the attention and accolades I got from my “followers” (I hate that term) on Twitter and IG. It’s a favorable “all eyes on me” moment. I enjoyed the retweets/mentions and IG likes/comments. They’re all warm fuzzies. But when I criticize the next person in the same breath, it immediately becomes hypocrisy. Ultimately, I’m at the point in life where I’m always more likely to be in-cog-NEGRO.
 
Inflation is way past ridiculous these days. Yeah, I know that’s an obvious statement. But damn it, sometimes the obvious must be stated. Thankfully, gas prices have returned to somewhere close to normal (in most places I’m guessing). I can’t say the same for groceries. Inflation has boosted food prices to a near-ridiculous level. My immediate thought and example are mayonnaise.  Mayo is damn near five dollars. Five dollars? In fucking sane. In addition, manufacturers have quietly decreased the weight/amount/size of products. My immediate thought and example are Doritos. Doritos has reduced the packaging size of bags as well as the weight of its contents while increasing the prices. It is more than noticeable. There is no return to “normal” pre-pandemic and inflation prices, from what I’ve read. The increase is here to stay.
 
First and foremost, rest in paradise to PNB Rock. I pray for healing for his family, especially for his little girl, who was with dad and mom when he was assassinated. It’s a damn shame that a family can’t enjoy a meal at Roscoe’s without a life being taken. Tragedy aside, there are specific points to be made in the aftermath of the loss of another Black man who chose music as his career.
 
We’ve learned that both PNB and his child’s mother made social media posts that revealed their location. I’ve always felt that a relative unknown like myself shouldn’t post a location, and if I do, it’s long after I’ve left said location. I figured celebrities learned as much from Pop Smoke and the IG post that led to his assassination. That was a bit different yet in the same ballpark. Pop’s assassins got his addy from a note on a Mike Amiri bag in an IG post. It was a costly but honest mistake. The argument in PNB’s situation is regarding dropping locations in social media posts altogether. It made him a sitting duck. I recommend against “dropping lo’s.” Showing fans that you’re “outside” [in the moment] isn’t worth it. Like I said, drop that shit hours later when you’re back home in Calabasas smoking a husky L while relaxing on a floaty in your backyard pool. I make sure my location is off on Twitter, IG and Snap. It’s a wise choice for celebrities and unknowns alike.
 
I’m not mad at PNB for wearing his jewelry in South Central Los Scandalous. He worked hard to purchase it. It was his. But there is plenty to be said about subtlety, especially when moving around a m.A.A.d. city. L.A. has been on fire for quite a while. I still remember the LAPD brass telling out-of-towners a year or so ago that they didn’t recommend them visiting Los Angeles because police couldn’t guarantee their safety. Ain’t shit changed but the crime rate.  YouTube shows brazen L.A. robberies in broad daylight. Them niggas don’t give two fucks about snatching a rich white woman out her luxury sedan and taking her Rolex off her wrist while strong arming her for her vehicle. The same type of trouble man/men is/are also following the affluent to their homes and “taking” upon arrival. And this is in the “nice” areas. You KNOW these niggas don’t give a fuck about pulling a jux on a Black celebrity eating in a restaurant in the hood. The latest I heard (which I cannot verify) is that PNB and his family were sitting in the restaurant for upwards of 45 minutes when the trouble man came in to take what he wanted. The word is that he and PNB tussled for a while, as PNB refused to give it up. Apparently, the skirmish didn’t last for long, as the robber fired on PNB and struck him several times. Unfortunately, I saw that man’s life leaving him on a Snap, which leads me to my final argument on the topic.
 
I find it absolutely disgusting that a MF’s first instinct is to pull a camera out and record during an impending tragedy. I’m not condemning the camera person for not helping, I’m condemning him/her for recording in the first place. It’s an obvious clout move that shows just how fucked up the average person’s mind is. That man’s family may have seen that footage before they even received word that he was in peril. That’s nasty work. I was on Twitter shortly after the initial Snap was posted. He hadn’t even been pronounced dead. His shit was already up. It was an obvious clout move. The person who posted the footage said that it was no different from a news outlet posting a celebrity death. That’s a MF lie. The news will not show footage of a homicide. If anything, they will show the footage but will stop short of showing the actual shooting/stabbing/whatever. Irrespective of whether you agree with the sentiment, it’s untrue. Not even TMZ will show a death. This is eerily similar to all the NYC MTA online footage of fucked up individuals on the trains putting hands and feet on women. MF will record but MF will not help. It’s an ugly nation.
 
I’ve stayed away from political blogs because I needed to take a break from politics. I dive way too deep, naturally. I read from at least seven different news sites on a daily basis. I had to step back. But trust...I’m coming back with a vengeance soon. Neither side of the aisle is safe. Until then, let the band continue to play on. Mobb niggas to the exit, we out.
 
BRENT FAIYAZ IS A GENIUS. WASTELAND IS A MUST-HAVE FOR ALL OF US WHO SPEND WAY TOO MUCH TIME IN OUR OWN HEADS.
 
tymonday.com: @tymonday on Twitter & IG
crewunb.com: @crewunB on Twitter & @theunbearablescrew on IG

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