
Dad
Life came out today
In the worst way
Voice raised, daughter crying
Wife pleading
No heeding to anyone
Hit 100, wreckless, gone
Chest burning, on fire
Called by homie, got corrected
Sent text, got prayer
Life came out today
In the worst way
Voice raised, daughter crying
Wife pleading
No heeding to anyone
Hit 100, wreckless, gone
Chest burning, on fire
Called by homie, got corrected
Sent text, got prayer
Her mom misses her A child is gone too soon Today she’s 27, smiling, excited Her mom, crying with joy …
Now crimson ❄️ is this season
Black man, wake up bro I get it. You worked hard. You did you. Became the beast Worked your way …
Ghana is my first identity trip of Africa. I look forward to being intimate with Africa. I can’t wait to feel, touch, taste, smell, see, hear, and experience my first voyage home.
Walking, briskly, thinking; tires screeching, window down, shots fired Chest burning, falling, hands, clutching, near heart, life, lights, flashing, brea…thing… …
What’s up people? Well, I have been in school and hosting a Monday Night show on Facebook called Message Monday where two Christian brothers come together and talk about faith, life, fatherhood, marriage, and politics. What’s major in my world? My second album, My Ode to Hip Hop has been released. There’s seven tracks, two of which had been released as singles previously. Enjoy a synopsis of the album
People ask why at 51 I am rapping. It’s what I do along with spoken word. Nope, not famous, not rocking any shows but it’s a gift that I used to engage young people at church, at work, and on the poetry scene. I’ll always right and create. I’ll never stop. I hope you take this journey with me and explore my craft that is all positive, N word, non-women bashing, no profanity, project. Artistry is always the goal and I’m a hip hop head for life, this is my contribution to the genre, to the people, and #fortheculture.
Unfortunately there were no consequences for the young racist who sent the message. Typical slap on the wrist justice for such actions. He’ll carry this on to his children, his nieces, his nephews and the cycle will continue. Why? Because in all our humanity some people has lost the concept of what it means to love thy neighbor.
I have spoken with several of you who have reached for the same heights in your career. Years of dedicated service, outstanding reviews, and leading with heart, integrity, diligence, and human skills, along with other building blocks of performance leadership were essential to this moment.
My country, where tears flow
Where guns grow with liberty
Of the I sing
Land that your fathers stole
Land that’s not your you hold
Tonight I went to see my family It was not easy, we haven’t spoken in 2 years The hurt, the …
My present stress traumatic disorder knocks at the door
I answer, all I see are silhouettes of young people
I didn’t meet them in this life, but the visit mean in the spirit
And I fear again, chasing the dollar and career
That I have failed to be human
We will hold each other tightly
After spring break
Because we hope to never become
Memories
At such a youth age
They took the court proudly As they always have Never assuming arrogance Ready to give it all Game by game …
I’m surely not saying that the NFL is responsible or culpable but we can’t deny the impact of head trauma that has cases of domestic violence, brain damage, physical trauma, and suicides that have been shared.
There is hope for them; there should be respect for them, and there should be love for them and teaching them the right way.
They will burn jerseys, spray a byword on your home
Throw your shoes in a bonfire, call you Benedict Arnold
Threaten your family, say you betrayed them
Don’t sweat them, it’s not your fault
Their lives are incomplete, broken, purposeless
They are all from Chicago and are very active and engaged in their specific crafts.
Part of my spiritual growth is standing for the marginalized, the forsaken, and the forgotten. That is the life I work to live daily in honor of my Lord Yeshua.
We must root out racism in religion so it can be rooted out in the laws that are instituted from a such a viewpoint. Otherwise we remain one nation under fraud, divisible, with liberty and justice for the rich, the wealthy, and the White.
Black people wake up and no matter what trauma we experience as a community, we have to go into work …
The eerie feeling when a police officer pulls up behind you. He was behind me for about 6 blocks. I …
I was grateful to interview the Founder and Executive Director of Grace and Grief. LaSandra Hutchinson opened up the world …
My son Where did I go wrong What song didn’t I sing of love What gift didn’t I give from the heart What birthday did I miss What event didn’t I attend
African history was not a part of my upbringing. I was about survival. No different from any other African child …
We’ve been taught to fight each other, steal from one another, kill one another, reign down terror and rage on our children, leave our women, leave our kids, hustle illegally to get by because we knew America has always been devoid of humanity.
…I am beginning to feel the spirit of Elijah. But I am not at Mt. Carmel up against the prophets of Baal. I am in Mt. United States of America up against racism.
Yet, if I don’t shift my mindset towards those young Black men I don’t know and assume the worst of, we will never break the cycle inflicted on us by forces that have put us in the condition, put the knife in our hand and causes us to continually blame ourselves for our own problem.
There is no judgment or ill intent towards anyone, it’s only a challenge for us all to re-evaluate what really matters.
I have never cared for most board meetings. If there is no willful intent to actively listen and address parental concerns regarding administrative changes then don’t open board meetings to the public. Parents were not heard and that corporate adage of “the board of directors knows what’s best” is arrogant.
Where Brooklyn at? New York, big city of dream Came in the form of teens Like animals, they ravaged A …
If you want to know the value of White lives in America you can look in several directions. You can …
Today was amazing. I had the opportunity to perform at Facebook Chicago. It was the moment of a lifetime and …
I learned not to judge, walk out, or be rash; translated, not walk away because anger at my child which won’t allow me see how deep she’s hurting.
I am a message, a call, a text away! I don’t have all the answers but I do have the resources. You don’t have to live life burdened anymore.
Dearest Tony, I’m 80 years old now and there’s something I’d like to say to you. Focus on your strengths. …
Hi Depression, Sorry I missed your call earlier, but I am calling you now. I know it’s that time of …
When five students raised their hand when I asked if they had lost a sibling to gun violence but only one said they had received counseling…
A major blow to school-choice has hit Chicago. The Chicago Virtual Charter School (CVCS) has been recommended as one of …
I struggle here, in America
We hunted like wild game
Emasculated daily
Images of torture
Places in the south we still can’t go
Yet, it’s the burden every woman and adolescent girl must carry. It makes me think how fortunate I am as a man, a husband, and a father.
One of the major highlights of the night was honoring two members of the community who embody the principles and goals of the foundation.
Single parents across the country, male and female, go hard everyday as single parents. If my wife and I get tired or exhausted and we are together, how much more for the single parents? My focus is single women because I’ve been raised by three. Single moms have to put
As in the interview, Abdullah shares his transparent journey of laying his hands on a woman the one and only time in his life. “It was a mistake and it cost me…”
He is a metaphorical genius. He bends words like a contortionist. His freestyle prowess in rap and spoken word is second to none.
We are a nation at crisis and a people at war.
Yep, my 14 year old is heading off to high school and I am terrified. Now, I know for a …
I think the movement is important to Chicago because currently men are being demonized and all thrown into a bag there is no balance in the narrative that is being put out. I personally don’t think there is an attack on masculinity.
I’ve been tested for two months. Three test to be exact. In devotion the Spirit of the Lord gave clear …
I wonder if they sleep at night Jurors, who convicted the pure Little African and Latin boys Detectives who are …
I am awake, again Unable to sleep, restless No words to pray, seeking No thoughts developing, silence Fatigued with energy, …
Well, folks, it’s almost time for us to vote again in Chicago. Before I get started I’d like to say …
As a minister of the Gospel I am saddened by all lost of life. Be it babies in the womb, …
When I read the comments that people make on LifeNews in their replies to a post, I am saddened. I am saddened that these same Christians make comments that are just as vile as the act of abortion. “I wish their mothers had aborted them” is what I read when they are talking about the Democratic Party. “They are going to the pits of hell”. “They should be killed”. Yes, so many wonderful Christian comments and I know that God is truly pleased with them.
We don’t have churches being bombed but we have white supremacist walking in and murdering black worshippers. We don’t have crosses burning on front lawns but we have white evangelicals praising a president that has lifted the ugly cinderblock of racism to Hitler-like levels.
And the future of the white race rests in a recent MSN post displays Nazi’s in training as they taunt and mock a veteran of the United States Military.
There is no doubt that most people in the world have experienced domestic abuse. I was hit with extension cords, …
How is it that a Black or Brown citizen can be punished for growing up in an impoverished environment, but white people can use privilege as a defense to escape murder charges and walk free? Is this how we make American great again?
Every click arouses sounds, enticing, alluring, hypnotic
Engaging, interactive, my virtual world is heaven making my natural world hell
A sensation, the grabbing, mind pierced, darkness shining as my light
GOP victory will be taken as affirmation and everything I’ve written is not the America I know and we won’t get back to us if that happens.
Despite attempts to boycott my shows, by some in the poetry community, they continued to be sold out. I have one philosophy, counter hate with love.
Well, folks, it’s here. After all these years I have finally completed my first Hip Hope CD. How did I …
I’ve learned a lot from Desiree in the 31 years I’ve known her. She continues to champion, cheer, support, and call me on my BS.
While his name is Michael, he’s known on the Chicago poetry scene as Double G (G2 for God’s Gift). He’s …
“I’ve always been an opportunist over money. Money grants access, opportunity grants expansion.” ALB
Kells the Artist is beyond Spoken Word. He’s a wordsmith and a Hip-Hop artist who is destined to make waves …
After fixing my immigration status I was able to go back to finish my BA. During this long journey with many sacrifices…
It feels like months
Where have I traveled?
A place of mystery and uncertainty
I can’t believe I am here
In this place, at this moment
Thinking, relishing, questioning
My purpose, my call, my existence
Surrounded but alone
Clinging to hope yet untethered
Trapped in the crevices of thought
I’ve traveled here before
It’s uncomfortable, that face, the reflection
Its shadow reaching out to hug me
Whispers of I love you, you have a purpose
You exist for a reason
I don’t embrace it
I turn off the light
Tears run down the mirror
I’ve been here before, it hasn’t been days
It’s been hours
In front of an empty table
Food cold, coffee bland, water lukewarm
Depression says hello
I’m fighting against depression with lots of Joy, Love, and Prayer and of course counseling because I’m unashamed.
I am not a perfect dad. If the cameras where rolling in my house last week, even while in a …
The racial divide in Christianity is so real and a recent comparison between Lecrae and NF, in a premierechristianity.com blog, …
Her voice, hard, subtle, strong, melodious, and powerful. She doesn’t have to work at grabbing the attention of any audience, it’s simply a gift that comes with her anointing. She is a retired teacher but she has never stopped educating.
What is Kaepernick Syndrome? It’s when you decide to speak up for the rights of your people in protest and …
Today is Father’s Day. It doesn’t garner the attention of Mother’s Day. Restaurants don’t sell out, theaters are not packed, …
In every relationship, there is compromise and change.
I encouraged her to stay optimistic, open up a safe dialogue, and don’t cut off your nose to spite your face. Meaning, keep your job and if you’re that uncomfortable find a new one.
“We need more men stepping into the roles of fathers, and modeling how to overcome the negative influences of the streets, by capitalizing on opportunities. Education is the greatest equalizer, with it you can go in any room and compete.” ~ Vondale Singleton
Chicago’s own Blaq Ice, one of the best entertainers in Chicago talks about his work in Chicago and the P.O.E.T organization.
I spent six months in an extraordinary Mastermind Group this year. Lead by one of the most critical thinkers I …
This is a station identification break. Originally I had scheduled a young hip-hop artist and recent Columbia University graduate for …
What profits a person from gaining the world and losing their spouse? Ok, that’s not the scripture.
I was in Dallas last week, facilitating a cybersecurity leadership panel. I asked the panelist about the challenges of providing for their families and balancing the demands of work-related obligations. One told the story of a retirement party he attended for an executive with over 30+ years in business. “What’s next for you now that you’re retiring? asked a panelist.” He responded, “I’ll have to see if my wife still loves me.” He noted a seriousness in his voice.
People who know me know I run hard. I had to learn to run hard for my family (and I’m still learning). Life after 50, college tuition coming, shaky savings, bad investments, economic turndowns, you name it, the saints have experienced it. While running hard, forgetting our family and relationship with JAH (God) is easy. I have to remind myself that He is the Provider. I then battle with Adam’s punishment, being condemned to work by the sweat of his brow. I wrestle with being worse than an infidel for not caring for my family. All those “I’s” must be replaced daily with “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” That leads to the role of the Lord as Shepherd and how He cares for us.
I recall some of the most powerful words from my daughter when I was called upon to do something that would take me away from my family. “Just call Tony Briscoe because he’ll say yes no matter what his family needs.” Talk about a blow to my heart. I was present for others but not for the one who needed me the most. So, pray for me because it’s time to check-in, and I have to ask what I can do better as a father. What about being a better husband? Hey, one step at a time, ok? 🙂
Life won’t stop happening. The panelist vowed on the day of his interaction with the retiree, “I will never let my wife or children suffer by me not being present.” May we also be direct, working wife and/or working husband, working wife and husband, vowing never to forget our families. We must lean on the Lord, from whom all blessings flow, to help put the right people in our lives to help us with our financial planning, child-rearing (it still takes a village), professional and personal development, and our Christian walk.
I believe the right thing should be done. I also understand that in the economic downturn that is about to put the average American on their knees, that I am highly blessed. For any complaint I have had over my 26 years corporate (at 51, I’ve only had four jobs in my life in adulthood), after coming from Ghana I went back to work with a renewed vigor. Being their was humbling and because I’m still processing that trip, that’s all I am comfortable to share at the moment.
Praying for you, bro I don’t know your pain I don’t know your passion The profound loss of a mother …
One 24 hour trip Covid Snuck in Through Mask Penetrated lungs Isolation At home, with family a part from family …