[Applause] as a kid I was hurt
as a kid I was hurt
as a kid I was hurt tilting the work it was me thinking I
tilting the work it was me thinking I
tilting the work it was me thinking I could never be what my mama wanted me to
could never be what my mama wanted me to
could never be what my mama wanted me to be
be
be damn my heart was low my father was a
damn my heart was low my father was a
damn my heart was low my father was a no-show and now I’m pissed at the world
no-show and now I’m pissed at the world
no-show and now I’m pissed at the world feeling like I ain’t got nowhere to go
feeling like I ain’t got nowhere to go
feeling like I ain’t got nowhere to go I grew up on the west side of Chicago in
I grew up on the west side of Chicago in
I grew up on the west side of Chicago in the dirt poor neighborhood where poverty
the dirt poor neighborhood where poverty
the dirt poor neighborhood where poverty and violence was normal in every day
and violence was normal in every day
and violence was normal in every day thing I lived in a single-parent
thing I lived in a single-parent
thing I lived in a single-parent household with my mom and my older
household with my mom and my older
household with my mom and my older brother boom my father was never part of
brother boom my father was never part of
brother boom my father was never part of my life
my life
my life a beautiful mother who’s here today
a beautiful mother who’s here today
a beautiful mother who’s here today she’s loving smart talented she worked
she’s loving smart talented she worked
she’s loving smart talented she worked two jobs to do the best she could for us
two jobs to do the best she could for us
two jobs to do the best she could for us she was the mother and the father of the
she was the mother and the father of the
she was the mother and the father of the house now going to school was rough it
house now going to school was rough it
house now going to school was rough it was violent
was violent
was violent it was infested with gangs and I was
it was infested with gangs and I was
it was infested with gangs and I was scared it was dangerous not only did I
scared it was dangerous not only did I
scared it was dangerous not only did I have that weight on my shoulders I was
have that weight on my shoulders I was
have that weight on my shoulders I was constantly teased about being poor and
constantly teased about being poor and
constantly teased about being poor and about only having one pair of shoes for
about only having one pair of shoes for
about only having one pair of shoes for the entire year I felt invisible I felt
the entire year I felt invisible I felt
the entire year I felt invisible I felt like I had nothing what was I supposed
like I had nothing what was I supposed
like I had nothing what was I supposed to do I literally started to hate school
to do I literally started to hate school
to do I literally started to hate school then one day I was walking home from
then one day I was walking home from
then one day I was walking home from school and I saw one of the neighborhood
school and I saw one of the neighborhood
school and I saw one of the neighborhood guys running from the police
guys running from the police
guys running from the police he threw a small gym bag into the bushes
he threw a small gym bag into the bushes
he threw a small gym bag into the bushes I grabbed that bag and I took it home
I grabbed that bag and I took it home
I grabbed that bag and I took it home not knowing that what was inside of that
not knowing that what was inside of that
not knowing that what was inside of that bag was gonna changed my life I got home
bag was gonna changed my life I got home
bag was gonna changed my life I got home hoping that back and I saw rows of money
hoping that back and I saw rows of money
hoping that back and I saw rows of money in small packets of aluminum foil I had
in small packets of aluminum foil I had
in small packets of aluminum foil I had no clue what it was
no clue what it was
no clue what it was so I took it to my auntie girl that she
so I took it to my auntie girl that she
so I took it to my auntie girl that she was like boy them drugs that’s heroin
was like boy them drugs that’s heroin
was like boy them drugs that’s heroin now I’m scared and I’m like yeah I got
now I’m scared and I’m like yeah I got
now I’m scared and I’m like yeah I got to get that bag back to the guy that it
to get that bag back to the guy that it
to get that bag back to the guy that it belonged to his name was chief who would
belonged to his name was chief who would
belonged to his name was chief who would later become my best friend and he was
later become my best friend and he was
later become my best friend and he was showing me everything I needed to know
showing me everything I needed to know
showing me everything I needed to know about selling drugs
about selling drugs
about selling drugs how to hustle and survive in the streets
how to hustle and survive in the streets
how to hustle and survive in the streets I was scared Joe but I felt like that’s
I was scared Joe but I felt like that’s
I was scared Joe but I felt like that’s all I had
all I had
all I had so I embraced it because I wanted
so I embraced it because I wanted
so I embraced it because I wanted something for my mom and my family so I
something for my mom and my family so I
something for my mom and my family so I owned it and I took those opportunities
owned it and I took those opportunities
owned it and I took those opportunities not even knowing what they fully meant I
left my mama’s house when I was 16 had a
left my mama’s house when I was 16 had a kid now I’m on the streets poets hell on
kid now I’m on the streets poets hell on
kid now I’m on the streets poets hell on the west side and my brother’s bed
the west side and my brother’s bed
the west side and my brother’s bed sleeping hair defeat the streets was our
sleeping hair defeat the streets was our
sleeping hair defeat the streets was our upgrade to me that dope money start
upgrade to me that dope money start
upgrade to me that dope money start coming in and I met music I met Ivan my
coming in and I met music I met Ivan my
coming in and I met music I met Ivan my brothers keepers they took me in you
brothers keepers they took me in you
brothers keepers they took me in you can’t stop my folk when all we know is
can’t stop my folk when all we know is
can’t stop my folk when all we know is survival I’m out here saving lives like
survival I’m out here saving lives like
survival I’m out here saving lives like it’s near my disciples you can’t stop my
it’s near my disciples you can’t stop my
it’s near my disciples you can’t stop my folk when all we know is survival cuz
folk when all we know is survival cuz
folk when all we know is survival cuz ain’t nobody getting it for me so this
ain’t nobody getting it for me so this
ain’t nobody getting it for me so this is what I do get it every day get it
is what I do get it every day get it
is what I do get it every day get it every day
every day
every day get it every day get it every day I had
get it every day get it every day I had
get it every day get it every day I had no choice y’all when I was up there
no choice y’all when I was up there
no choice y’all when I was up there selling drugs I didn’t know I was doing
selling drugs I didn’t know I was doing
selling drugs I didn’t know I was doing anything wrong it was a way of life it
anything wrong it was a way of life it
anything wrong it was a way of life it was a way for this 16 year old high
was a way for this 16 year old high
was a way for this 16 year old high school dropout to take care of my
school dropout to take care of my
school dropout to take care of my daughter Alexis I felt like I had
daughter Alexis I felt like I had
daughter Alexis I felt like I had nothing but I had to keep going and I
nothing but I had to keep going and I
nothing but I had to keep going and I had to push through y’all I had to push
had to push through y’all I had to push
had to push through y’all I had to push through cuz where I’m from the street
through cuz where I’m from the street
through cuz where I’m from the street guys they had money power and respect
guys they had money power and respect
guys they had money power and respect and I wanted that chief pretty Willie
and I wanted that chief pretty Willie
and I wanted that chief pretty Willie vest lil June those were men that I
vest lil June those were men that I
vest lil June those were men that I looked up
looked up
looked up they were like father figures most
they were like father figures most
they were like father figures most importantly they believed in me just
importantly they believed in me just
importantly they believed in me just those guys listening to tell me gave me
those guys listening to tell me gave me
those guys listening to tell me gave me hope this spire me to keep going now
hope this spire me to keep going now
hope this spire me to keep going now chief he was the one that said I had
chief he was the one that said I had
chief he was the one that said I had something special and he encouraged me
something special and he encouraged me
something special and he encouraged me to do my music he went Saul my talent
to do my music he went Saul my talent
to do my music he went Saul my talent shows and performances he push you to
shows and performances he push you to
shows and performances he push you to the point that one day he was like you
the point that one day he was like you
the point that one day he was like you can’t do this no more
can’t do this no more
can’t do this no more you can’t sell drugs no more and I’m
you can’t sell drugs no more and I’m
you can’t sell drugs no more and I’m looking at him like is you crazy
but he pushed me
but he pushed me and he told me you got to move out of
and he told me you got to move out of
and he told me you got to move out of this neighborhood he showed me love and
this neighborhood he showed me love and
this neighborhood he showed me love and moved me out of the neighborhood into a
moved me out of the neighborhood into a
moved me out of the neighborhood into a neighborhood with nobody knew me and he
neighborhood with nobody knew me and he
neighborhood with nobody knew me and he said you got to either go back to school
said you got to either go back to school
said you got to either go back to school get a job or pursue your music so I got
get a job or pursue your music so I got
get a job or pursue your music so I got a job at the east bank club as a busboy
a job at the east bank club as a busboy
a job at the east bank club as a busboy and I pursued my music no chief he won’t
and I pursued my music no chief he won’t
and I pursued my music no chief he won’t pick it out of the drug game too but
pick it out of the drug game too but
pick it out of the drug game too but unfortunately he was murdered he was
unfortunately he was murdered he was
unfortunately he was murdered he was shot violently multiple times in the
shot violently multiple times in the
shot violently multiple times in the face I’m telling y’all I was angry and I
face I’m telling y’all I was angry and I
face I’m telling y’all I was angry and I wanted revenge I wanted to hurt the
wanted revenge I wanted to hurt the
wanted revenge I wanted to hurt the people that did that to him but I knew
people that did that to him but I knew
people that did that to him but I knew in my heart he didn’t want that for me
in my heart he didn’t want that for me
in my heart he didn’t want that for me so I continued to push I fought through
so I continued to push I fought through
so I continued to push I fought through it give up just through a friend of a
it give up just through a friend of a
it give up just through a friend of a friend I met a guy by the name of ivan
friend I met a guy by the name of ivan
friend I met a guy by the name of ivan dupay who was a music producer he
dupay who was a music producer he
dupay who was a music producer he produced music for ready on television I
produced music for ready on television I
produced music for ready on television I haven’t offered me opportunity he
haven’t offered me opportunity he
haven’t offered me opportunity he offered me a job and I’m telling you I
offered me a job and I’m telling you I
offered me a job and I’m telling you I felt like I won the lottery it was a way
felt like I won the lottery it was a way
felt like I won the lottery it was a way for me to learn more about music in the
for me to learn more about music in the
for me to learn more about music in the music business and it was a way for me
music business and it was a way for me
music business and it was a way for me to make more money to take care of my
to make more money to take care of my
to make more money to take care of my daughter
daughter
daughter and my baby boy Avery
I had to push I was the first one in the
I had to push I was the first one in the studio and I was the last one to leave
studio and I was the last one to leave
studio and I was the last one to leave and I even saw that so one day I got to
and I even saw that so one day I got to
and I even saw that so one day I got to going to commercial he put me on my
going to commercial he put me on my
going to commercial he put me on my first commercial all I had to say was
first commercial all I had to say was
first commercial all I had to say was SUV with a PhD and I knew from that
SUV with a PhD and I knew from that
SUV with a PhD and I knew from that point on then I was gonna push through
point on then I was gonna push through
point on then I was gonna push through the good or the bad y’all hear me I was
the good or the bad y’all hear me I was
the good or the bad y’all hear me I was gonna push through that good in that bad
gonna push through that good in that bad
gonna push through that good in that bad and I was gonna fight through to 500,000
and I was gonna fight through to 500,000
and I was gonna fight through to 500,000 notes because I only took was one yes
notes because I only took was one yes
notes because I only took was one yes whether it was a yes from chief about
whether it was a yes from chief about
whether it was a yes from chief about the streets or yes my even about the
the streets or yes my even about the
the streets or yes my even about the music it was enough to keep my hope
music it was enough to keep my hope
music it was enough to keep my hope alive today I’m an independent recording
alive today I’m an independent recording
alive today I’m an independent recording artist doing positive music the owner of
artist doing positive music the owner of
artist doing positive music the owner of a DJ company founder of a not-for-profit
a DJ company founder of a not-for-profit
a DJ company founder of a not-for-profit organization that inspires the youth to
organization that inspires the youth to
organization that inspires the youth to never give up to dream big and to use
never give up to dream big and to use
never give up to dream big and to use their hope as a guide to success but
their hope as a guide to success but
their hope as a guide to success but y’all know some still went red with all
y’all know some still went red with all
y’all know some still went red with all those blessings someone ranked I was
those blessings someone ranked I was
those blessings someone ranked I was telling all these kids to finish school
telling all these kids to finish school
telling all these kids to finish school and to do good ain’t even finished so
and to do good ain’t even finished so
and to do good ain’t even finished so last year I went back to school to get
last year I went back to school to get
last year I went back to school to get my GED
right now y’all clapping but I failed
right now y’all clapping but I failed math twice and keeping the honey I
math twice and keeping the honey I
math twice and keeping the honey I didn’t know you needed some math to do
didn’t know you needed some math to do
didn’t know you needed some math to do science so I failed science too but I
science so I failed science too but I
science so I failed science too but I ain’t give up I kept pushing I was
ain’t give up I kept pushing I was
ain’t give up I kept pushing I was fighting through it and one day I got to
fighting through it and one day I got to
fighting through it and one day I got to walk across that stage and I got to give
walk across that stage and I got to give
walk across that stage and I got to give my mama that diploma that diploma she
my mama that diploma that diploma she
my mama that diploma that diploma she never got when I was a teenager so I say
never got when I was a teenager so I say
never got when I was a teenager so I say to you don’t give up on the people that
to you don’t give up on the people that
to you don’t give up on the people that may have made some bad mistakes in their
may have made some bad mistakes in their
may have made some bad mistakes in their lives I’m one of those people don’t give
lives I’m one of those people don’t give
lives I’m one of those people don’t give up on them just like Ivan the chief
up on them just like Ivan the chief
up on them just like Ivan the chief didn’t give up on me just like I haven’t
didn’t give up on me just like I haven’t
didn’t give up on me just like I haven’t given up on my old neighborhood or the
given up on my old neighborhood or the
given up on my old neighborhood or the people in them the best thing that we
people in them the best thing that we
people in them the best thing that we can do together is try to understand
can do together is try to understand
can do together is try to understand where they are and where they trying to
where they are and where they trying to
where they are and where they trying to go together with hope we have to push
go together with hope we have to push
go together with hope we have to push every day and we got to work hard and
every day and we got to work hard and
every day and we got to work hard and give back so that the next kid has more
give back so that the next kid has more
give back so that the next kid has more than enough opportunities and they won’t
than enough opportunities and they won’t
than enough opportunities and they won’t have to take the same path I took I went
have to take the same path I took I went
have to take the same path I took I went back to school to get my GED GED stands
back to school to get my GED GED stands
back to school to get my GED GED stands forget it every day it’s a piece of
forget it every day it’s a piece of
forget it every day it’s a piece of paper it’s the education that I’m proud
paper it’s the education that I’m proud
paper it’s the education that I’m proud of
of
of I took my life experiences and I turned
I took my life experiences and I turned
I took my life experiences and I turned it into a song get it every day so I
it into a song get it every day so I
it into a song get it every day so I asked all of y’all how can you turn you
asked all of y’all how can you turn you
asked all of y’all how can you turn you how can you use your life experiences in
how can you use your life experiences in
how can you use your life experiences in your hope to inspire someone else cuz
your hope to inspire someone else cuz
your hope to inspire someone else cuz you can’t stop my vote when all we know
you can’t stop my vote when all we know
you can’t stop my vote when all we know is survival I’m out here saving lives
is survival I’m out here saving lives
is survival I’m out here saving lives like it’s me and my disciples you can’t
like it’s me and my disciples you can’t
like it’s me and my disciples you can’t stop my vote when all we know is
stop my vote when all we know is
stop my vote when all we know is survival cuz ain’t nobody getting it for
survival cuz ain’t nobody getting it for
survival cuz ain’t nobody getting it for me so this is what I do get it
me so this is what I do get it
me so this is what I do get it every day get it every day get it every
every day get it every day get it every
every day get it every day get it every day get it every day thank you
”
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