I grew up in New York City, the Bronx to be exact. My mother had an eclectic taste in music. Depending on her mood we would listen to The Temptations, The Spinners, or Fleetwood Mac, America, maybe Bob James, Grover Washington Jr, or James Cleveland. I hate to use an overused phrase, but music WAS the soundtrack of my life. Much like my CDs are now, mom's vinyl lined the living room walls like furniture. I briefly attended Hampton University in Virginia where my major was Electrical Engineering. While in school I found myself singing with His Chosen Sounds Gospel choir and recording in my free time. Before I knew it I had an entire demo recorded and I was no longer interested in engineering. I was listening to John P Kee, and Mississippi Mass back then. I returned to NY where I continued to record and shop my material to the currently defunct Spike Lee's Forty Acres Records. Since I was a starving musician, I got a job at HMV Records where I learned all about World music, New Age, Show Tunes, but I was the Gospel Music Specialist. When i was younger, I took Piano, Guitar, and Acting lessons. Now I write most of my songs on the piano. I own a pretty burgundy Acoustic Electric Guitar, but I can still act (not really). I've been singing in choirs since elementary school, but on my first recordings I was doing the human beat box and rapping! I've recorded Rap, R&B, Rock, and Gospel songs over the years. Last year I recorded a Gospel song which I had the opportunity to perform at a church. The response was so overwhelming that I thought I should keep recording inspiring songs. Actually I felt God was trying to tell me something (refer to the Color Purple). So now I'm on a mission from God (refer to the Blues Brothers). I grew up with Hip Hop. Living in the Bronx I was there from the beginning. Hank from Sugar Hill Gang lived down the block from me. I listened to: Sugar Hill Gang, Run DMC, Dougie Fresh, Slick Rick, BDP, Special Ed... As a singer I loved and still love Marvin Gaye, and Donny Hathaway. As a lad, I loved Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson (insert joke here). I have been a Prince fan forever. Being a Donny Hathaway fan, Universal made it possible for me to hang out with his daughter, Lalah, of whom I am also a fan. I describe my music as R&G (Rhythm and Gospel). I fused current hip hop beats and R&B music with very personal and inspiring lyrics. When I was in New York I recorded with Daddy-O he was in a Hip Hop Group on Tommy Boy named Stetsasonic. He and I are friends to this day. He used to work in the urban department of MCA with Hank Shocklee several years ago. It was while I was recording in Brooklyn with Daddy-O that I met Kedar Massenburg who is a friend and former manager of Daddy-O's. Currently, I have a production team which includes Atlanta Def Jam ADR, Ricardo Spicer. We composed music for a seatbelt safety campaign for Atlanta's Mayor Shirley Franklin. We even wound up in the commercial! We have recently submitted beats to many well known artists and are simply waiting for one of them to realize they have platinum selling beats in their possession! See for yourself at www.myspace.com/sweatboxproductions. My CD was Mastered by a local celebrity, Rodney Mills. He has worked with Sheryl Crow, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Jefferson Starship, Rage Against.., REM. Too many to name so check out www.rodneymills.com I also enlisted the help of a nationally known comedian, Small Fire (Formally known as Small Fry) www.smallfire.biz. With my new project, Relationships, I talk about my relationship with God, Family and Friends. I look forward to sharing my messages of encouragement with the world. I wanted to make sure my tracks were Hot while my lyrics are cool. Some people seek therapy to overcome trials, tragedy, and tribulation. I seek a new word file and my keyboards.
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