I know it’s long..but This would’ve been on my Dedication portion of The Huey Vs Riley EP if it became an official duplicated album in stores but…you know how it is…haha. (Circa 2011)
I will first like to thank the higher power for blessing me with the gifts I have to continue blessing others. All things are possible through God, and the people. I would like to thank my grandmother Alice Rolle. Your wisdom carried through to my mother and me into becoming the individual I am today. Mama, what can I say that hasn’t already been said? I gave you the roses while you could still smell em’ J. Pops, I appreciate the conversation we had about me following my dreams…it meant a lot. All the game you gave me as a youngin made me into the man I am today. I live to grow from your mistakes, becoming a better me. My bro Kario, you are the main reason why I began rapping in the first place. I wanted to be like you, big bro. I still remember the first instrumental we rapped on. You were a big influence on most of my recent work, throughout my life. Love you bro… I wouldn’t be the hustler I am if it wasn’t for you and Greg. Before I go any further, I would like to thank my Uncle Maurice and my cousin Vernon Jr. for pushing towards their dreams and showing us where this music could go before I ever thought of music. The hunger, passion and drive I observed from the both of you influenced me without even realizing it. I would like to thank Meni Faces for shaping me into the artist I am today. I wouldn’t be this far if you didn’t believe in me. To me, you are Jay Z nigga! (Although you don’t like his music that much, lol) Jose’—You called “That’s My Car” a classic before anybody heard it. I appreciate you fam. shouts to my #1 fan from Bulgaria Bianca Dimitrova. You’ve been a fan since the days of Myspace. You made me believe that I could have a following in this rap shit. I still have some of the motivating messages you sent me. You’ve been down since day one. Thank You. Edwin Wesley- Thank you. You already know. If it wasn’t for the church visit, I wouldn’t have known this was my calling… Joel Hackman…I don’t even have to speak to you…the universe already told you what I had to say, stay true family. Malik, I never forgot what you told me that night at the Funky Buddha. “If it doesn’t come from the heart, you’re thinking it. And if you have to think it, it’s not music.” I will take that to heart for the rest of my career, wherever you are. Shouts to Ricardo—you pulled me out of the trenches every time I was ready to give it all up. Thank you for pushing me, and supporting me. Mick-I can tell you in person—you already know where my heart is at. WE IN HERE!!!! Brelin…u completely understand where I come from lyrically. Your appreciation as a fan means a lot to me. Blayne & Jamar, WE WILL MAKE IT ONE DAY BRO. BELIEVE ME, IT’S GONNA HAPPEN. I swear every time we talk its motivation. Pecko-my brother from another mother. You always motivated me to continue with this music. I’ll never forget the days of us freestyling in class simply to sharpen our talents because we wanted to get better at our craft. Keep grinding, my dude. We don’t always talk a lot, but you know where my heart is at. A little goes a long way, man. Jimmy Adolphe—Believe it or not, you play a big role in my life, bro. That conversation we had before I decided to leave rap alone for a while was a pivotal moment in my life and career. Everything happens for a reason man. Hope all is well. Mikhail McLean-You were one of the first who understood exactly where I was coming from musically with my first album. I appreciate you for all your motivation man…for real. Jon Bernard-I’ve been taking your advice since the day you left Gainesville bro. It never left me. Chris Campbell—your guidance has taken me a long way bro. You won’t believe man… EFON, I do this for you bro….don’t give up man. Even when you feel like you don’t want it…YOU WANT IT. Get up and get it fam, we in here. Ish- WE DID IT!! Val—Thank you for opening me up. Some things may never change, but you’ve help me reach many epiphanies about things I could never understand throughout my life. THANK YOU. Don’t give up on this music shit. Your time will come. Shouts out to the whole HIP HOP COLLECTIVE Family!!! Y’all had my back since day one out here. You know who you are. Vince, Queso, Wasser, Hector, Marley-ya’ll my niggas. Saint Tellah. Bro you’ve seen me at my highs and lows man. Your confidence and belief in yourself helped me believe in myself even more. I’ll never forget the days of rocking the Omni-square in Ocala. Robzilla—you’re one of the illest DJ’s I know. It was a pleasure opening for Common & Kid Cudi with you. Justin- I appreciate you as a friend, and a fan man. You’ve always been a keen spirit. I won’t forget what you told me about this music. Adriana-I appreciate all your words of encouragement. It’s very nurturing to the soul. La’tece-I appreciate your appreciation. Recognize your potential, and make it happen. Marcda & Brent-I appreciate you being the channel for the spiritual Journey I went through…Thank you for understanding. Aldric Marshall-it took time to overstand everything that happened in the past, but thank you for showing us all a glimpse of how far we could go with this music. That is the one thing that made me believe that dreams do come true. D.P. – Thanks for giving me the guidance that I needed man. You put a lot of people in Gainesville on your back bro. All respect due to you fam. Shouts to PROTOMAN-I appreciate the respect you gave in the past, man. They say “you can tell the true character of a man, by how he treats the little people.” You are one True Humble Individual. No matter what happens, I’ll still respect you. Sean Buck- I’m glad we finally connected bro. IT’S TIME TO LET THE WORLD KNOW ABOUT PALM BEACH. Last but not least, To anyone else I forgot—Thank you all. If you personally showed appreciation after a show, or supported simply by giving extra feedback or sharing any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, whatever! THANK YOU. ALTHOUGH MOST WON’T ADMIT IT, WE AS ARTISTS, are more sensitive than you think, and we NEVER FORGET THOSE THINGS. THANK YOU ALL….
(Source: http)
Learning to Love without the fear of Pain is the goal that we should all attain.
Yay! @Rene_LePaul got The Foreign Exchange to check out the cover :)
Hell Yeah.
No one can take away what you know, but they can alter what you think of it. However, no one can take away what you understand, for it remains grounded, as the individual.
We must teach ourselves to believe beyond what we cannot see.
You’d be surprised how much wisdom we both hold. I’m sure you can relate to me when i say that in the relationships we have experienced, we have tried to be the lighthouses to the people we care about the most, only to be disregarded as they cruise into the rocks. People always want us when they are the most vulnerable. I’m not god, but I can see how we follow the images of god. Weird as it sounds, Betrayal is not essentially Betrayal. There’s a lesson in everything. Every move is a chess piece.
SOUL. My grandma used to have this record. You can watch any video with a soul train background like this IMO
PremRock: Obviously a successful hip-hop career is something only a few can achieve in a sea of so many. What words of wisdom do you have for the aspiring artist reading this now?
Homeboy Sandman: To be honest, if your music is part of a sea of so much other music, maybe music isn’t your thing. Maybe it’s architecture or maybe it’s marine biology. I think that only a few can achieve it because only a few are supposed to be able to. Only a few are actually good enough. I’m not in a sea of many. Anybody who thinks that about me hasn’t heard my tunes yet. Moment they do they’ll realize I’m one of a kind. The genuine article. For the aspiring artist I’d say, make sure you’re really an artist, because there’s a lot of confusion these days on what being an artist means. It doesn’t mean somebody that wants to be famous. It means somebody who can’t stop from doing something. Who has to do it everyday. Who is obsessed. Who’d better make a living doing it, otherwise they’re going to die. This isn’t a job. This isn’t something cool to do. Is there anybody else in the world that does what you do, like you do it? If so, sorry to break it to you, but you might not be an artist.
But if you find that you are an artist (and if you are then you knew it way before applying the test I just gave you) then never give up, because true talent is an undeniable thing, and if you have patience and you have faith and you have integrity, you can’t fail. Failure is a myth. I don’t know one person who had what it takes to succeed, and never gave up, that failed. Not even one. Neither do you neither does anybody reading this. It is impossible. Cannot happen. Some cats give up. Some cats lose focus. Some cats never had the goods in the first place. Some cats half ass because they’re scared to spend all night riding the train because they have no place to sleep. They’re worried more about their paycheck than their art. But if you are truly an artist, and you go as hard as you can every minute of every day, you can’t fail. It’s impossible.
http://www.audiblehype.com/blogs/business/2012/apr/10/homeboy-sandman-interview/ (via kennysmyth)
…Real…
29 Black People Have Been Killed by Police/Security Since Jan 2012: 16 Since Trayvon
Twenty-eight Black People (27 Men and 1 Female) Killed by Police Officials, Security Guards, and Self-Appointed “Keepers of the Peace” between January 1, 2012 and March 31, 2012