family

Lived Dreams in Broken Hope

Her mom misses her A child is gone too soon Today she’s 27, smiling, excited Her mom, crying with joy …

Ghana Bound

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.

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

MY ODE TO HIP HOP

  1. My City
    • Lifting up the City of Chicago, my home, and highlighting the positives in the city. We do have a lot going on negatively and positively in this city but you know the media and people love drama. I partnered with one of Chicago’s most known and influential spoken word artists, Jeronimo, so the old skool (me) could have some young flavor (him) as representative of our uniqueness as local artists. Videography was done by Caliko Films.
  2. The Gospel
    • This track is produced by Leland Philpot. It’s me keeping Yeshua at the center of all that I do and engaging no matter what I am speaking on. No hooks, just flow and one of my favorites.
  3. Dream Too
    • This track is me having fun. On the hook is my man Double G, one of the coldest spoken word artists in Chicago. A great brother in Christ and was grateful to have him on the hook. Dream Too speaks for itself. We have a vision of what we desire for our lives and the work we do to make it all possible. Keep pushing family.
  4. No Trap
    • Leland Philpot is featured on this track. His energy is not only kinetic but off the charts. Duke Digital shot the video and its awareness of police brutality and Black-on-Black crime and innocent victims like Tayshawn Lee and Hadiya Pendleton who were murdered by the merciless in our communities.
  5. For the Heads
    • Yeah, this is just straight #Barz. Hip Hop to the core and what it means to battle rap back in the day. Battle rapping is still very popular but it crosses the line of my generation. If you battle today you’d better be careful. People are pulling out pictures, background checks, and family history to battles these days.
  6. Ode to Hip Hop
    • This track features Rhamell El, a 30 year friend, who I couldn’t wait to collaborate with. We wanted to do it in our  younger years but it was time now. We’re older, seasoned, and have a different respect for the craft and talk God has given us. It’s a tribute to some hip hop greats and to local Chicago artists who have paved the way.
  7. Slow Flow
    • A title with irony as life is a Slow Flow but these barz are not. No hooks, straight through, standing in who I am and who I’ve grown to be as a man, a Christian, a husband, a father, and an humanitarian.

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.

 

Isolation

One 24 hour trip Covid Snuck in Through Mask Penetrated lungs Isolation At home, with family a part from family …

You Are Enough

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.

Gun Nation

T’s & P’s

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

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

The Other Side of High Contact Sports

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.

Heartbroken: The Curse of Music

There is hope for them; there should be respect for them, and there should be love for them and teaching them the right way.

Open Letter to Mike Huckabee

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.

Ramblings…

Black people wake up and no matter what trauma we experience as a community, we have to go into work …

Facebook Post Gone Wrong

I have seen several Black men, FBF, and associates post the featured image. They caption it “A Black Woman’s Worst …

Living While Black

The eerie feeling when a police officer pulls up behind you. He was behind me for about 6 blocks. I …

Where Did I Go Wrong?

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

Free flowing

African history was not a part of my upbringing. I was about survival. No different from any other African child …

A Day to Remember

Today was amazing. I had the opportunity to perform at Facebook Chicago. It was the moment of a lifetime and …

Memories

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.

Invitation to Dinner

Hi Depression, Sorry I missed your call earlier, but I am calling you now. I know it’s that time of …