Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire

Poetry from Kemit Mawakana
Bill Quigley
19 Mar 2008
🖨️ Print Article
{mp3}poetry/074_7ft_2216{/mp3} 
2216

He told me he’s been putting in work for 22-years

He said he’s been spittin on the mic for 22-years

From cipher to ciper to hole in the wall

He’s been droppin’ 16-bars at 16-bars

for 16-slobs that said they was A&Rs

Said he loved hip-hop bleed and die for hip-hop

STOP

What he really told me was that he

didn’t have a 401k which is ok I guess

when he’s young at his age

but when he’s 43 – if – he makes 43

he’ll say damn a 401k would sure sound good to me

But all he’ll have to listen to

is a 99-cent demo he dropped when he was 16 but

He told me he’s been putting in work for 22-years

He said he’s been spittin on the mic for 22-years

From cipher to ciper to hole in the wall

He’s been droppin’ 16-bars at 16-bars

for 16-slobs that said they was A&Rs

Said he loved hip-hop bleed and die for hip-hop

STOP

What he really told me

was that he’s not married and his maturity was retarded

because he would bleed and die

for hip-hop but not a real black woman

Should have been building a relationship

family and kids not a bootleg cd collection

I’m guessin he’s thinking hip-hop is a culture too

True source and vibe write that

but they ain’t write and he ain’t read Yurugu but

He told me he’s been putting in work for 22-years

He said he’s been spittin on the mic for 22-years

From cipher to ciper to hole in the wall

He’s been droppin’ 16-bars at 16-bars

for 16-slobs that said they was A&Rs

Said he loved hip-hop bleed and die for hip-hop

STOP

What he really told me was that he was born in 1980-something

which means since birth he’s used to hoping something

would trickle down to him

Even when no child left behind he was remembered

They remember to forget him

What’s worse then they remembered him

Said he was the one that liked pens and 16-bars

So they built pens with 16-bars

and since he liked tracks

they tracked him in schools

they tracked him at the mall

they tracked him like the 5-civilized tribes tracked his ancestors but

He told me he’s been putting in work for 22-years

He said he’s been spittin on the mic for 22-years

From cipher to ciper to hole in the wall

He’s been droppin’ 16-bars at 16-bars

for 16-slobs that said they was A&Rs

Said he loved hip-hop bleed and die for hip-hop

STOP

What he really told me was that for at least 22-years

a glock tek 9 38 four-five nor 22

were able to find his vital internal organs

even if chronic and malt liquor had

he nevertheless was able to avoid bullets like his Dad avoided him

then and now child support payments are too high so he get’s high

His pants sag low and he knows there’s no

Platinum or gold at the end of this rainbow

at least not beyond his teeth or Jesus piece

When socialization under alien control

behavioral result is pathologically normal

direct correlation between consciousness history

and what you want aspire to and dream

He said “I know” but I know he didn’t know -- you know? so

not to be too hard on him

because I put a big chunk of it on black men age 40 and over

He is their seed

Indeed he is them tomorrow

like they are him yesterday

so start today

start today

start today and

STOP.

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles? Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


More Stories


  • Caribbean Activists Turn Up the Volume for Reparations
    The Voice
    Caribbean Activists Turn Up the Volume for Reparations
    21 Sep 2022
    The death of the queen is a reminder of the debt that Britain owes to Caribbean nations. Reparations are owed for slavery.
  • US Launched 251 Military Interventions Since 1991, and 469 Since 1798
    Benjamin Norton
    US Launched 251 Military Interventions Since 1991, and 469 Since 1798
    21 Sep 2022
    The U.S. has interfered in the affairs of other nations since 1798 with more than 250 military interventions in the last 30 years alone. 
  • Black Agenda Radio September 16, 2022
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Black Agenda Radio September 16, 2022
    16 Sep 2022
    Black politics in San Francisco Part 2, FBI surveillance of Aretha Franklin, and how the U.S. drives conflicts in Horn of Africa nations.
  • Black Politics in San Francisco, Part 2
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Black Politics in San Francisco, Part 2
    16 Sep 2022
    Jemma Decristo is a community organizer in San Francisco, where a Black mayor, London Breed, continues neo-liberal and pro-police policies and where gentrification and displacement continue. She…
  • FBI Surveillance of Aretha Franklin
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    FBI Surveillance of Aretha Franklin
    16 Sep 2022
    Afeni is a community organizer and writer who is co-authoring an article soon to appear in Rolling Stone about FBI surveillance of Aretha Franklin. Afeni is joining us from Washington DC.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us