i came a long way
since selling mixtapes
in high school hallways
some thought it was a phase
i made a lot of mistakes
and i'm a make some more
if it was all figured out
what would i do art for?
i'm not paid
but thankful that i got to explore
places i now call home all over the globe
i found healing through a song
and i do it to grow
without a musical release ya'll, i just don't know
i used to freestyle outside every show
or in the front row if i could ever slip in the door
now i'm backstage writing prose in a long form
before i stretch, then step on stage and perform
more me then i've ever known
my armor is gone
vulnerability is where i am most strong
it's the practice of loving without holding on
still on my bell hooks and Khalil Gibran

i can't call it
it might seem crazy
but i'm following a calling
"i write to describe"
like a young James Baldwin
a phoenix rising up while the empires falling
i can't call it
it might sound crazy
but i'm following a calling
do what we can now
cuz tomorrow's not promised
right now
i know i put my all in

ever since Random Abiladeze' "On My Feet"
song i ended up on with brotha Uptown Swuite
i heard of SoulChef, and i knew he had beats
so when he hit me out the blue, i was like brother please...
recorded "Black Love"
released it in a few weeks
then within a few months
we finished this LP
Seattle, Washington to Auckland, New Zealand
it's nice to meet someone that'll match your work
and this wouldn't of happened before last year
best investment i made: my own recording gear

tomorrow's unknown but today is clear
connection: why else have we been placed here?

Peace to Sarah MK, Jonathan Emile, Shakiah and Luam Kidane,
for real. Thank you to Iris, and thank you to my Mom.

the Southend got something to say
and i'm gone.