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


  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Denial is Not a River in Egypt, or in Venezuela
    03 Jun 2026
    The U.S. regime change plot against Venezuela succeeded and created a puppet state. Anti-imperialists must admit this reality and forge plans for fighting against it.
  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    POEM: To The Aircraft Carrier Intrepid, Pedro Mir, 1962
    03 Jun 2026
    Oh, carrier Intrepid/you in these torrid waters of Santo Domingo/only out of fear.
  • Anthony Karefa Rogers-Wright
    Fourth and Long: The Curious Juxtaposition of Jaxson Dart and Colin Kaepernick
    03 Jun 2026
    The same sports media that celebrate Jaxson Dart's endorsement of Donald Trump called Kaepernick's anti-police violence protest disrespectful. The racial double standard has not changed since the…
  • Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Short word problems: do the math
    03 Jun 2026
    "Short word problems: do the math" is the latest from BAR's Poet-in-Residence.
  • Dhoruba bin-Wahad
    Dhoruba Bin Wahad, Co-Founder of Black Liberation Army, Reflects on the Legacy of Assata Shakur and Revolutionary Sacrifice
    03 Jun 2026
    On May 30, 2026, a Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Assata Shakur was held at the Riverside Church in New York City. Dhoruba Bin Wahad, co-founder of the Black Liberation Army, wrote these words…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us