Anthony J. Blackman is a Gospel Hip Hop artist, minister, entrepreneur, and community leader whose life story reflects the power of redemption. After overcoming addiction and incarceration, he now dedicates his life to helping others discover hope, purpose, and transformation through faith, music, mentorship, and community engagement.
Through initiatives like Revive Memphis, Pray4TN, & Holy Ghost N Da Hood outreach to incarcerated men, and creative work through Blackman Music Group, Inc., Anthony continues to inspire individuals and communities to pursue healing, unity, and a renewed future.
At 10 years old, Anthony Blackman took his first drag of a cigarette. Growing up in Mobile, Alabama, smoking defined the 1980s and characterized everyone Anthony idolized as a young man. Unbeknownst to him, that cold day in Mobile would mark the beginning of Anthony’s 31 year battle with smoking.
For Anthony, smoking was a crutch that carried him through his tumultuous young adult life. Gradually, however, this crutch became an enemy that barred him from his newfound goals of joy, peace, self-love and spiritual devotion. For over a decade Anthony thought about quitting, yet it was another 14 years before he made the dedicated decision to quit for good. March 1st, 2017 became Anthony’s day of rebirth: the day he would quit smoking.
For 90 days, Anthony journaled the ups and downs of quitting his addiction as a means to motivate himself to keep going. His trials, tribulations and unwavering faith spurred him forward, and at the end of 90 days Anthony was confident to proclaim that he had quit smoking for good.
For the first time, Anthony is sharing his personal journal with fellow smokers in the hopes he can inspire them to follow the same journey. Accompanying Anthony’s journals are daily reflections and spiritual considerations that will help readers make the most of every day and fight to be the strongest smoke-free version of themselves.
If you’re ready to quit smoking for good, follow Anthony on this 90-day journey and be free from smoking.
From Hunger Strike to Revive Memphis
On March 9, 2019, nine men from the Liberty City community of Miami—later known as “The Hunger 9”—launched a public hunger strike to raise awareness about the growing crisis of gun violence in underserved neighborhoods.
The initiative, organized through the Circle of Brotherhood, brought together community leaders, activists, clergy, and citizens committed to confronting violence and inspiring change. What began as a courageous stand by nine men soon grew into a broader movement supported by organizations and institutions across the community.
Among those who joined and supported the effort were Moms Demand Action, March for Our Lives, Miami-Dade Public Schools, the Miami Heat organization, the University of Miami, and many other community partners who helped amplify the message and call for solutions to gun violence.
The hunger strike lasted more than 21 and a half days, drawing national and international attention to the urgent need for solutions to urban gun violence and community trauma.
I was honored to be one of The Hunger 9, standing alongside other leaders willing to sacrifice and raise awareness for the safety and future of our communities.
In 2024, on the 5th anniversary of Operation Hunger Strike, the Hunger 9 were honored in a ceremony recognizing the impact of the movement and renewing the city’s commitment to addressing gun violence.
Today, that same spirit of prayer, sacrifice, and community transformation continues in my work and leadership.
After relocating to Memphis, Tennessee in 2023, I helped launch Revive Memphis, a public 21-day prayer and fasting initiative that brings together pastors, community leaders, and citizens from across the city to seek God for healing, unity, and transformation in Memphis.
Revive Memphis was created to mobilize people of faith and community leaders to come together in humility and prayer for the restoration of our city. Since its launch, the initiative has brought together diverse voices from across Memphis who share a common desire to see communities healed and lives restored.
In addition to community leadership, I am also a Gospel Hip Hop artist and music producer, using music and testimony to reach young people and individuals impacted by violence, addiction, and incarceration. Through music and mentorship, my mission is to inspire hope and point people toward the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
The work continues through prayer, community engagement, music, and leadership that seeks to bring healing where brokenness has taken root.
Together, we believe Memphis can be revived.