and I’ma do something I never did go somewhere I’d never been say something I
somewhere I’d never been say something I
somewhere I’d never been say something I would never say and I’m gonna make a
would never say and I’m gonna make a
would never say and I’m gonna make a song I would never make imma get what I
song I would never make imma get what I
song I would never make imma get what I asked for
asked for
asked for i’ma go to a place to get a passport
i’ma go to a place to get a passport
i’ma go to a place to get a passport because I ain’t never been anywhere
because I ain’t never been anywhere
because I ain’t never been anywhere except here and not knowing anything
except here and not knowing anything
except here and not knowing anything here except fear ain’t nothing left here
here except fear ain’t nothing left here
here except fear ain’t nothing left here except death here and if I want to live
except death here and if I want to live
except death here and if I want to live I can’t rest here I can’t wait until the
I can’t rest here I can’t wait until the
I can’t rest here I can’t wait until the check clear I wonder what it’s like to
check clear I wonder what it’s like to
check clear I wonder what it’s like to live in Paris next year I wonder what it
live in Paris next year I wonder what it
live in Paris next year I wonder what it costs book a flight to day I’d sleep
costs book a flight to day I’d sleep
costs book a flight to day I’d sleep there wake up in Tokyo with show with
there wake up in Tokyo with show with
there wake up in Tokyo with show with Lupe I know what you say you say I’m too
Lupe I know what you say you say I’m too
Lupe I know what you say you say I’m too late it’s never too late to say I’m too
late it’s never too late to say I’m too
late it’s never too late to say I’m too great one of my earliest memories
great one of my earliest memories
great one of my earliest memories happened around the time that I was
happened around the time that I was
happened around the time that I was about three years old I remember my
about three years old I remember my
about three years old I remember my father came to pick me up from daycare
father came to pick me up from daycare
father came to pick me up from daycare upon entering the car I started to cry
upon entering the car I started to cry
upon entering the car I started to cry sad and that’s children often are when
sad and that’s children often are when
sad and that’s children often are when they have to depart from their friends
they have to depart from their friends
they have to depart from their friends my father asked why are you crying I
my father asked why are you crying I
my father asked why are you crying I told him I didn’t want to go home
told him I didn’t want to go home
told him I didn’t want to go home he replied when we get home I’ll give
he replied when we get home I’ll give
he replied when we get home I’ll give you something to cry about
you something to cry about
you something to cry about and he did matter of fact my father gave
and he did matter of fact my father gave
and he did matter of fact my father gave me something to cry about so often that
me something to cry about so often that
me something to cry about so often that him and my mother was soon divorced
him and my mother was soon divorced
him and my mother was soon divorced leaving her as a single parent with two
leaving her as a single parent with two
leaving her as a single parent with two kids on the east side of Columbus Martin
kids on the east side of Columbus Martin
kids on the east side of Columbus Martin that road growing up I was embarrassed
that road growing up I was embarrassed
that road growing up I was embarrassed by my home it was small vines wrapped
by my home it was small vines wrapped
by my home it was small vines wrapped around the buildings we shared a
around the buildings we shared a
around the buildings we shared a backyard with three other units and we
backyard with three other units and we
backyard with three other units and we had roaches I used to spend my time in
had roaches I used to spend my time in
had roaches I used to spend my time in the living room with wooden blocks and
the living room with wooden blocks and
the living room with wooden blocks and Legos building buildings imagining
Legos building buildings imagining
Legos building buildings imagining structures that weren’t available to me
structures that weren’t available to me
structures that weren’t available to me in my neighborhood then it was time to
in my neighborhood then it was time to
in my neighborhood then it was time to move
move
move this time and to what seemed like a
this time and to what seemed like a
this time and to what seemed like a better place it was a double had a
better place it was a double had a
better place it was a double had a basement it was still Eastside but a
basement it was still Eastside but a
basement it was still Eastside but a little nicer still has some roaches but
little nicer still has some roaches but
little nicer still has some roaches but maybe not as many and I felt like this
maybe not as many and I felt like this
maybe not as many and I felt like this is really going to be the place for us
is really going to be the place for us
is really going to be the place for us my father a fresh out of prison included
my father a fresh out of prison included
my father a fresh out of prison included into us when he came out of prison he
into us when he came out of prison he
into us when he came out of prison he started off a great guy involved loving
started off a great guy involved loving
started off a great guy involved loving God changed but it wasn’t soon before
God changed but it wasn’t soon before
God changed but it wasn’t soon before the violence would pick up again I
the violence would pick up again I
the violence would pick up again I remembering those times going to school
remembering those times going to school
remembering those times going to school welts and bruises all over my body
welts and bruises all over my body
welts and bruises all over my body I remember being taken to a basement
I remember being taken to a basement
I remember being taken to a basement being forced to do workouts that he
being forced to do workouts that he
being forced to do workouts that he learned in prison and lift weights and
learned in prison and lift weights and
learned in prison and lift weights and if I couldn’t get the weight off my
if I couldn’t get the weight off my
if I couldn’t get the weight off my chest then he would hit me with the
chest then he would hit me with the
chest then he would hit me with the weight belt while most kids around that
weight belt while most kids around that
weight belt while most kids around that time we’re probably thinking about
time we’re probably thinking about
time we’re probably thinking about something more innocent and childlike my
something more innocent and childlike my
something more innocent and childlike my every thought in those days were I
every thought in those days were I
every thought in those days were I wonder if my father’s going to kill one
wonder if my father’s going to kill one
wonder if my father’s going to kill one of us several traumatic events later led
of us several traumatic events later led
of us several traumatic events later led to my sister being taken to live with my
to my sister being taken to live with my
to my sister being taken to live with my grandmother my mother having a nervous
grandmother my mother having a nervous
grandmother my mother having a nervous breakdown
breakdown
breakdown and be somewhere in between trying to
and be somewhere in between trying to
and be somewhere in between trying to make sense of everything I mean I was
make sense of everything I mean I was
make sense of everything I mean I was still in elementary and then it was time
still in elementary and then it was time
still in elementary and then it was time to move again when I think back to these
to move again when I think back to these
to move again when I think back to these events there’s a part of me that’s
events there’s a part of me that’s
events there’s a part of me that’s saddened by what happened to me and what
saddened by what happened to me and what
saddened by what happened to me and what happens to so many children all the time
happens to so many children all the time
happens to so many children all the time yet there’s a part of me that is greatly
yet there’s a part of me that is greatly
yet there’s a part of me that is greatly empowered by that circumstance there’s a
empowered by that circumstance there’s a
empowered by that circumstance there’s a valuable lesson in there you see even
valuable lesson in there you see even
valuable lesson in there you see even when all this was going on and I spent a
when all this was going on and I spent a
when all this was going on and I spent a lot of my time creating I spend a lot of
lot of my time creating I spend a lot of
lot of my time creating I spend a lot of my time in my own world what I’ve
my time in my own world what I’ve
my time in my own world what I’ve learned is that children have this
learned is that children have this
learned is that children have this remarkable ability besides being able to
remarkable ability besides being able to
remarkable ability besides being able to make things disappear into thin air when
make things disappear into thin air when
make things disappear into thin air when I’m looking for them are breaking things
I’m looking for them are breaking things
I’m looking for them are breaking things that just seemed unbreakable they also
that just seemed unbreakable they also
that just seemed unbreakable they also have this amazing ability and I know for
have this amazing ability and I know for
have this amazing ability and I know for a fact
a fact
a fact I’m a father of five they have the
I’m a father of five they have the
I’m a father of five they have the ability to not listen to a word you say
ability to not listen to a word you say
ability to not listen to a word you say and they have ears amazing it’s the
and they have ears amazing it’s the
and they have ears amazing it’s the craziest thing and no matter how often I
craziest thing and no matter how often I
craziest thing and no matter how often I try to get them to adjust it never works
try to get them to adjust it never works
try to get them to adjust it never works but in there is a powerful lesson you
but in there is a powerful lesson you
but in there is a powerful lesson you see sometimes I would get so caught up
see sometimes I would get so caught up
see sometimes I would get so caught up in duck hunt or creepy-crawlers or a
in duck hunt or creepy-crawlers or a
in duck hunt or creepy-crawlers or a Batman comic book or dancing with my mom
Batman comic book or dancing with my mom
Batman comic book or dancing with my mom to Michael Jackson that it wouldn’t seem
to Michael Jackson that it wouldn’t seem
to Michael Jackson that it wouldn’t seem like the corner store just got robbed it
like the corner store just got robbed it
like the corner store just got robbed it wouldn’t seem like maybe we were low on
wouldn’t seem like maybe we were low on
wouldn’t seem like maybe we were low on food that day it wouldn’t seem like my
food that day it wouldn’t seem like my
food that day it wouldn’t seem like my dad was crazy what I found out is that
dad was crazy what I found out is that
dad was crazy what I found out is that children have the ability to live in
children have the ability to live in
children have the ability to live in their own imagination and they visit
their own imagination and they visit
their own imagination and they visit this place we call reality sometimes and
this place we call reality sometimes and
this place we call reality sometimes and that can be a powerful powerful
that can be a powerful powerful
that can be a powerful powerful situation as annoying for adults as it
situation as annoying for adults as it
situation as annoying for adults as it is what I basically learned is this at a
is what I basically learned is this at a
is what I basically learned is this at a fundamental level what allowed me to
fundamental level what allowed me to
fundamental level what allowed me to survive my situation is knowing that I
survive my situation is knowing that I
survive my situation is knowing that I could imagine and create my own world
could imagine and create my own world
could imagine and create my own world and live there I began to realize that
and live there I began to realize that
and live there I began to realize that home is not necessarily a place that you
home is not necessarily a place that you
home is not necessarily a place that you live but it’s a place that you create
live but it’s a place that you create
live but it’s a place that you create when you create after the move I found
when you create after the move I found
when you create after the move I found myself caught between two worlds one was
myself caught between two worlds one was
myself caught between two worlds one was the world outside and the other was the
the world outside and the other was the
the world outside and the other was the world going on the side of my head that
world going on the side of my head that
world going on the side of my head that was becoming more more allowed each day
was becoming more more allowed each day
was becoming more more allowed each day I knew I had to redefine my sense of
I knew I had to redefine my sense of
I knew I had to redefine my sense of home because to attach myself to the
home because to attach myself to the
home because to attach myself to the events that happened where that would be
events that happened where that would be
events that happened where that would be quite depressing also in my new middle
quite depressing also in my new middle
quite depressing also in my new middle school on the first day when they’re
school on the first day when they’re
school on the first day when they’re students running around talking about
students running around talking about
students running around talking about who was stomped and kicked in the face
who was stomped and kicked in the face
who was stomped and kicked in the face you see violence was a everyday part of
you see violence was a everyday part of
you see violence was a everyday part of my life and it wasn’t soon before I
my life and it wasn’t soon before I
my life and it wasn’t soon before I found myself engaged in it fights here
found myself engaged in it fights here
found myself engaged in it fights here and fights there in school suspension
and fights there in school suspension
and fights there in school suspension out-of-school suspension in my general
out-of-school suspension in my general
out-of-school suspension in my general apathy but growing up right alongside of
apathy but growing up right alongside of
apathy but growing up right alongside of that
that
that the popularity of rat now drawing was my
the popularity of rat now drawing was my
the popularity of rat now drawing was my first art form but music well that’s
first art form but music well that’s
first art form but music well that’s something I was born into my uncle
something I was born into my uncle
something I was born into my uncle played guitar and my grandma kept us in
played guitar and my grandma kept us in
played guitar and my grandma kept us in that church I love music it was all
that church I love music it was all
that church I love music it was all around me if you ask me any words on the
around me if you ask me any words on the
around me if you ask me any words on the radio around that time I could have told
radio around that time I could have told
radio around that time I could have told you
you
you whether it was Outkast me and Jew yo
whether it was Outkast me and Jew yo
whether it was Outkast me and Jew yo mama and yokas into or maybe it was a
mama and yokas into or maybe it was a
mama and yokas into or maybe it was a routine song a bomb atomically Socrates
routine song a bomb atomically Socrates
routine song a bomb atomically Socrates philosophies and hypotheses can’t define
philosophies and hypotheses can’t define
philosophies and hypotheses can’t define though I’ll be dropping these mockeries
though I’ll be dropping these mockeries
though I’ll be dropping these mockeries I knew it all I will go home break out a
I knew it all I will go home break out a
I knew it all I will go home break out a cassette tape put the paper in top
cassette tape put the paper in top
cassette tape put the paper in top record my favorite mix and just write
record my favorite mix and just write
record my favorite mix and just write down all of the words to the song well
down all of the words to the song well
down all of the words to the song well one day a friend of mine said you know
one day a friend of mine said you know
one day a friend of mine said you know all of the words to the song so why
all of the words to the song so why
all of the words to the song so why don’t you just try to come over rap and
don’t you just try to come over rap and
don’t you just try to come over rap and I said no man I don’t do that but since
I said no man I don’t do that but since
I said no man I don’t do that but since he was the best rapper in the school I
he was the best rapper in the school I
he was the best rapper in the school I decided to try my hand at it
decided to try my hand at it
decided to try my hand at it I wrote my rhyme during a paper route
I wrote my rhyme during a paper route
I wrote my rhyme during a paper route that morning and I came back to school
that morning and I came back to school
that morning and I came back to school and I spit it for him or performed it
and I spit it for him or performed it
and I spit it for him or performed it for him when he heard it he said well
for him when he heard it he said well
for him when he heard it he said well it’s not whack but to me it was like he
it’s not whack but to me it was like he
it’s not whack but to me it was like he was saying I was the best rapper ever so
was saying I was the best rapper ever so
was saying I was the best rapper ever so I came up with my second rhyme and that
I came up with my second rhyme and that
I came up with my second rhyme and that one they had everybody in the school
one they had everybody in the school
one they had everybody in the school jumping I still remember it
jumping I still remember it
jumping I still remember it I used a mic like gamma transforming on
I used a mic like gamma transforming on
I used a mic like gamma transforming on there like my name was Bruce Banner you
there like my name was Bruce Banner you
there like my name was Bruce Banner you want to go one on one with the
want to go one on one with the
want to go one on one with the microphone Bama Grand Slam and hit your
microphone Bama Grand Slam and hit your
microphone Bama Grand Slam and hit your heart like a sledgehammer
heart like a sledgehammer
heart like a sledgehammer oh and then everybody knew I was the
oh and then everybody knew I was the
oh and then everybody knew I was the greatest of all time
greatest of all time
greatest of all time I remember that feeling though from
I remember that feeling though from
I remember that feeling though from right in that rap and I remember
right in that rap and I remember
right in that rap and I remember everyone’s response and in that moment I
everyone’s response and in that moment I
everyone’s response and in that moment I noticed that everything that I have been
noticed that everything that I have been
noticed that everything that I have been through for that moment of time it all
through for that moment of time it all
through for that moment of time it all faded away all of a sudden my history
faded away all of a sudden my history
faded away all of a sudden my history and my biography wasn’t as important all
and my biography wasn’t as important all
and my biography wasn’t as important all of a sudden I was in a special place and
of a sudden I was in a special place and
of a sudden I was in a special place and it even changed the way the teachers
it even changed the way the teachers
it even changed the way the teachers responded to me and so I was eager to go
responded to me and so I was eager to go
responded to me and so I was eager to go home and fill up my notebook and take
home and fill up my notebook and take
home and fill up my notebook and take that journey what I found out is that I
that journey what I found out is that I
that journey what I found out is that I could use language I could use words
could use language I could use words
could use language I could use words alliteration poetry literature and I
alliteration poetry literature and I
alliteration poetry literature and I could construct words the same way I
could construct words the same way I
could construct words the same way I used to construct those blocks in the
used to construct those blocks in the
used to construct those blocks in the living room and I could create my own
living room and I could create my own
living room and I could create my own world and invite everyone to come and
world and invite everyone to come and
world and invite everyone to come and visit me and so hip-hop became this
visit me and so hip-hop became this
visit me and so hip-hop became this constant in my life all the way to the
constant in my life all the way to the
constant in my life all the way to the present day 2012 I dropped the EP called
present day 2012 I dropped the EP called
present day 2012 I dropped the EP called passport which chronicled a journey of
passport which chronicled a journey of
passport which chronicled a journey of fulfilling your dreams of pushing your
fulfilling your dreams of pushing your
fulfilling your dreams of pushing your limitations inspired by my reading the
limitations inspired by my reading the
limitations inspired by my reading the book The Alchemist I felt like the main
book The Alchemist I felt like the main
book The Alchemist I felt like the main character on that journey but also
character on that journey but also
character on that journey but also discovering what I was looking for was
discovering what I was looking for was
discovering what I was looking for was with me the whole time how I still
with me the whole time how I still
with me the whole time how I still continued to create this day is by being
continued to create this day is by being
continued to create this day is by being as creative as possible and helping as
as creative as possible and helping as
as creative as possible and helping as many people become creative as well
many people become creative as well
many people become creative as well about six years ago a couple of friends
about six years ago a couple of friends
about six years ago a couple of friends of mine had an idea to create a
of mine had an idea to create a
of mine had an idea to create a conference that celebrated diversity and
conference that celebrated diversity and
conference that celebrated diversity and creative fields they reached out to me
creative fields they reached out to me
creative fields they reached out to me to help with the conference and out of
to help with the conference and out of
to help with the conference and out of that came creative control fest we was
that came creative control fest we was
that came creative control fest we was able to secure a partnership with the
able to secure a partnership with the
able to secure a partnership with the historic Lincoln Theatre and we’re going
historic Lincoln Theatre and we’re going
historic Lincoln Theatre and we’re going on our sixth year running to create home
on our sixth year running to create home
on our sixth year running to create home for artists of color shortly after that
for artists of color shortly after that
for artists of color shortly after that in the same neighborhood
in the same neighborhood
in the same neighborhood Danette when I currently reside in my
Danette when I currently reside in my
Danette when I currently reside in my wife and I purchased a home and I did a
wife and I purchased a home and I did a
wife and I purchased a home and I did a pilot program in a local middle school
pilot program in a local middle school
pilot program in a local middle school across the street from our program herb
across the street from our program herb
across the street from our program herb escribe which is basically about Chinn
escribe which is basically about Chinn
escribe which is basically about Chinn students how to use arts and technology
students how to use arts and technology
students how to use arts and technology in order to document their history and
in order to document their history and
in order to document their history and become leaders in the community and most
become leaders in the community and most
become leaders in the community and most recently I tried my hand at photography
recently I tried my hand at photography
recently I tried my hand at photography through a photo exhibit called talking
through a photo exhibit called talking
through a photo exhibit called talking to the building’s inspired by a song I
to the building’s inspired by a song I
to the building’s inspired by a song I wrote called the city it was picked up
wrote called the city it was picked up
wrote called the city it was picked up from a local newspaper and explores
from a local newspaper and explores
from a local newspaper and explores gentrification it explores different
gentrification it explores different
gentrification it explores different things and personal stories and my
things and personal stories and my
things and personal stories and my relationship with the architect
relationship with the architect
relationship with the architect during my community so I stay creative
during my community so I stay creative
during my community so I stay creative and I stay creating in the fundamental
and I stay creating in the fundamental
and I stay creating in the fundamental level I believe that creativity allows a
level I believe that creativity allows a
level I believe that creativity allows a person to transcend their current
person to transcend their current
person to transcend their current situation by tapping the power within I
situation by tapping the power within I
situation by tapping the power within I was able to find home through music and
was able to find home through music and
was able to find home through music and through writing and through poetry but I
through writing and through poetry but I
through writing and through poetry but I recognized that everyone here today has
recognized that everyone here today has
recognized that everyone here today has to find their own sense of home and it
to find their own sense of home and it
to find their own sense of home and it may not be the same way I just want to
may not be the same way I just want to
may not be the same way I just want to leave you with some brief points first
leave you with some brief points first
leave you with some brief points first in order to find home you have to stick
in order to find home you have to stick
in order to find home you have to stick close to the filling home is a feeling
close to the filling home is a feeling
close to the filling home is a feeling that you get when you’re creating
that you get when you’re creating
that you get when you’re creating something it’s a healthy anxiety that
something it’s a healthy anxiety that
something it’s a healthy anxiety that allows you to express who you are is
allows you to express who you are is
allows you to express who you are is something that you love it’s something
something that you love it’s something
something that you love it’s something that you have to do you don’t have to do
that you have to do you don’t have to do
that you have to do you don’t have to do it as a career it could be a hobby it
it as a career it could be a hobby it
it as a career it could be a hobby it could be a lifestyle I’m not a
could be a lifestyle I’m not a
could be a lifestyle I’m not a professional rapper but I love hip-hop
professional rapper but I love hip-hop
professional rapper but I love hip-hop and that’s a home for me a good thing is
and that’s a home for me a good thing is
and that’s a home for me a good thing is when you’re creating invite others to
when you’re creating invite others to
when you’re creating invite others to share one of my mentors from California
share one of my mentors from California
share one of my mentors from California told me the way to establish yourself in
told me the way to establish yourself in
told me the way to establish yourself in a new community is to open up your doors
a new community is to open up your doors
a new community is to open up your doors and invite others in I used to be a
and invite others in I used to be a
and invite others in I used to be a perfectionist the person who would
perfectionist the person who would
perfectionist the person who would create a lot of things and keep them to
create a lot of things and keep them to
create a lot of things and keep them to myself but now I understand that you
myself but now I understand that you
myself but now I understand that you have to share and allow people to
have to share and allow people to
have to share and allow people to experience it as well home is a place
experience it as well home is a place
experience it as well home is a place where many things are exchanged and many
where many things are exchanged and many
where many things are exchanged and many things are shared and lastly home it
things are shared and lastly home it
things are shared and lastly home it doesn’t have to be one place I have many
doesn’t have to be one place I have many
doesn’t have to be one place I have many homes I’ve done things in real estate
homes I’ve done things in real estate
homes I’ve done things in real estate I’ve done things in workforce
I’ve done things in workforce
I’ve done things in workforce development violence prevention gang
development violence prevention gang
development violence prevention gang intervention and most recently I work as
intervention and most recently I work as
intervention and most recently I work as a developer and Technology and a lot of
a developer and Technology and a lot of
a developer and Technology and a lot of people say I’m scattery and I’m jumpy
people say I’m scattery and I’m jumpy
people say I’m scattery and I’m jumpy but let me at TEDx talk so oh well the
but let me at TEDx talk so oh well the
but let me at TEDx talk so oh well the point of the matter is you don’t have to
point of the matter is you don’t have to
point of the matter is you don’t have to stick to one thing I consider myself a
stick to one thing I consider myself a
stick to one thing I consider myself a serial creative there’s things that
serial creative there’s things that
serial creative there’s things that interest me and they become like second
interest me and they become like second
interest me and they become like second third and fourth places to visit so be
third and fourth places to visit so be
third and fourth places to visit so be inspired and encouraged but most
inspired and encouraged but most
inspired and encouraged but most important is remember that home it’s not
important is remember that home it’s not
important is remember that home it’s not a place you live it’s a place that you
a place you live it’s a place that you
a place you live it’s a place that you create when you create thank you
create when you create thank you
create when you create thank you [Applause]
”
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