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STATS:


1. What is your mission statement as a lyricist?

To speak truth, to heal, to uplift, to enlighten and to empower. I want to be a vessel that allows the universe to speak through me.


2. Being a lyricist can be a discouraging journey. Describe a moment, where you said it’s all worth it?

I have a few moments worthy of mention:
There are people from all walks of life that I’ve never met before who have come up to me and quoted lyrics from their favorite song I created. That can be flattering, overwhelming and humbling all at the same time. It lets me know they’ve taken my words (or the words I’ve been given) to heart.

Hearing your music playing in a passing car can also mess your head and make it all worth it. At a show when people are moved and really enthused about the music I’m inspired…my purpose is being fulfilled.

This next one takes the cake though. A while back, I had a sister that was in labor 20+ hours tell me that my music was the only thing that got her through. She said it was soothing, inspirational and motivating. I could only give thanks for that one. She said she gave birth to one of my songs about the power and possibility of children.


3. If you weren’t working in the arts, what would you do or be?

I probably couldn’t function properly. In this life I’m supposed to be creating and spreading messages through music and performance. But…when I boil it all down to the essence of me…I’m only using the music as a mechanism to get the attention and the imagination of the people. It’s creative, it’s fun and it’s really only an extension of those who had a similar purpose before me.

4. What is the Key to becoming a better lyricist?

I think it’s different for everyone. For me, I have to read, write often and be around other serious, talented lyricists. I also have to study those lyricists throughout history whom I admire and value. I also have to practice often. Aside from these things, I have to try to live a life and have experiences that are interesting enough to write about and intriguing and relative to other people’s experiences.

5. Where do you see yourself in the next decade?

In the next decade, I see myself obtaining an international platform, spreading the aforementioned messages and using that platform to develop global institutions of restoration for people of Afrikan descent around the world. I also, see myself fully operating my company, Liberation Music Group, a multimedia entity, and grooming other artists to create and perform as an extension of the black aesthetic legacy (ie. Harlem Renaissance, Black Arts Movement, Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Amiri Baraka, The Last Poets, Public Enemy). I’m looking to initiate an international artist academy that will function to do that, while molding community-minded, social entrepreneurs. Oh yeah, I do want family as well. That’s critical to the whole movement.

ARTIST’ WORK

Brooklyn
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Slave
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