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Inspired: By True Events Rhyme & Reason
Now Or Never
Produced by Vybe Beats
"Can you feel the pressure/it is now or never.."
Now or Never was initially the title of the album. It represented a sense of urgency to make some type of splash in the game. I've been doing this for a long time now, and not that its all about the money, its just that at some point you gotta sit back and wonder if all the countless hours in the studio are worth it. I'll honestly probably never stop making music, but some times I wonder if I should continue to focus the majority of my energy to it or spend my time on something else..
No Place For Minorities
Produced by AT Dubb
"Arizona natives, put ya hands up/ its time to fight back, time to stand up.."
I'm born and raised in Arizona and I love my home state, but I can't ignore the fact that its involved in a lot of racially motivated discussions. Dating back to recognizing Martin Luther King day as a holiday and more recently with the SB1070 bill, Arizona is constantly in national news for all the wrong reasons. I was driving down the street one day listening to a talk radio show that originates from Arizona and I heard a conversation about why the Fore Fathers had every right to recognize slaves as only 3/5ths of a man. As he went on explaining why I got filled with all types of emotions. Only in Arizona could someone get away with a statement like that and it not cause a problem. I was pissed and headed right to the studio to vent.
More Like Me
Produced by DJ Naydee for Beats Planet
"A diamond in the rough, from the floor I reach/to the sky, hands high I be.."
More Like Me is one of my favorite tracks on the album, and that's why it became my lead single. I loved the chorus, shouts out to the talented Hersh for that one, and I wanted to let these people know why I am who I am. Some people come from nothing and use that as an excuse to strive for nothing. I'm the opposite. I came from the bottom and worked for everything I have. I never got a hand out or a fair deck for that matter but I never let that handicap me. Some say they are a product of their environment, but I rose above the stereotypes and will continue to climb.
Got To Get It
Produced by Main Event West
"And I ain't never giving up, I just can not get enough.."
This track is defenitly an anthem for anybody out there hustling to get theirs. Whether you hustling on the block or at a 9 to 5 we all got one thing in common; trying to survive. I knew Mr. Khao$ could relate to that to I hit him up and had him bless the track with a 16.
Real As It Gets
Produced by Cashous Clay
"Told me only trust ya self, no one else/cuz when times get hard, that's who's gon help.."
This is another personal favorite of mine. It was initially slated to be a song for a mixtape release, but it just felt to big to just be a throw away track. I had worked with Cashous Clay on my previous album, To Whom It May Concern (Song: Driving Nowhere), and the chemistry was still there. Once again I wanted to let the naysayers know why I'm one of the realest up and coming artists and why they don't f*ing with me.
Mr. Get It In
Produced by Don Coda
"Cry me a river shorty, know that I'm built to swim"
This record kind of came out of nowhere, I was just about done with the album and getting ready to put some ideas together for the group project I have planned with Mr. Khao$. We hadn't quite came to terms on the direction the project was headed and I was in the zone to keep recording. Instead of waiting and losing that energy, I decided to go ahead and do the record and put it on my album. It's what happens when a banger meets the strip club armed with witty one liners. It creates an unstoppable force.
It's Showtime
Produced by Evelution Beats
"She go to ASU, major in psychology/head game stupid, just like this economy"
A problem I have too often, is being too serious and trying to prove something everytime I get behind the mic. With this record I wanted to chill and have a good time. Talk about shit I enjoy doing like chasing chicks, playing video games and watching wrestling. You can't expect everyone to enjoy the same hobbies but everyone should relate to just wanting to but the problems of the world behind them and having a good time.
Hollywood Dreaming
Produced by AT Dubb
"I want the power, respect, and the women, I'm Hollywood dreaming.."
No matter what anyone tells you, everybody would love a taste of that Hollywood life, even if just for a moment. When I heard this record I just envisioned what I would go through once Hollywood fame is achieved. The life, the women, the jealousy and the curse. Everything that glitters ain't gold, but who doesn't wanna be a star.
Never Forgot
Produced by Phat Crispy Productions
"I will never forget, never forget-get-get/where I came from.."
Growing up in a single parent household on a fixed income lead to experiencing life a little different then others. Gangs, drugs, homicides and various other incidents happening in and around your life during your childhood can scar. Instead of taking those negative situations and harboring resentment, I used those same negative examples in life as fuel to drive me to bigger and better things. I always at the end of the day look back at where I came from to give me the motivation to keep moving forward. That way my son won't have to endure the same hardships.
Tears Drop
Produced by DJ Naydee for Beats Planet Productions
"They say good things happen to those who wait/But how long does that take.."
Tears Drop is a emotional record about dealing with ones insecurites. We all going through the feelings of self doubt, especially when the road to happiness has been long and bumpy. I couldn't be adVerSity if I never spoke about dealing with adversity. Lara Janine laid a passionate hook and I came through to tell my story. For every good day, there's at least one bad night and I wanted people to experience one of my moments of self doubt. Some artists stray away from showing vulnerability on a record but I embrace it. Because there's at least one person out there going through the same struggle I am, and this may be the record they need to push on.
Eye To Eye
Produced by Evelution Beats
"Relax, do like Marquis Houston and drop that Immature act.."
If its one thing everybody can relate to, its the struggles of relationships. No matter how much you care about someone, its impossible to always see eye to eye with with them. I can speak on that first hand being an inspiring artists. If its one thing we don't have its a lot of free time. There is always a new record that needs to be written, produced, recorded, mixed, mastered, promoted or performed and never enough hours in the day. Sometimes your significant other doesn't always sympathize and that always leads to misunderstandings.
Black Rose
Produced by AT Dubb
"Kesha, Kesha, how you been/it's a battle upstream but still you swim.."
When I first got ready to work on a new project, I linked up with a producer I had been working with for years, AT Dubb. We linked up, listened to a bunch of records, I picked several but before I left he wanted me to hear this record. I'm glad he did because I instantly feel in love with the record. I could hear a young girls struggle in life. So I wrote a story about a girl, which embodied a lot of the girls I encountered growing up. No father, Moms on that shit and they fall victim to the life. It's a sad story that happens to often, but this Black Rose gets a second chance at life.
Brand New Day
Produced by Phat Crispy Productions
"Its like the sun just woke up/ sleeps the cousin of death and we just broke up.."
This was another positive record I wanted to include on the album. "To Whom It May Concern" the album, found me at a low point in my life. But like the title of this album, this time around, I was Inspired. I wanted to present the ideology that no matter what you went through yesterday, today was a brand new day full of hope and opportunity. Some may find that statement corny but a lot of people look at life in an all to negative light. It's time to get past that, its a brand new day.
So Fly
Produced by AT Dubb
"Even parapalegics can feel this joint.."
This is another track I got from AT Dubb that just had crazy energy to it. It reminded me of South Phoenix in everyway. BBQ's, lounging and relaxing with ya folks. I had to get at the homie Ken Kong for this one, because I knew he could bring the exact same energy to the track. The homie Young Rico was also suppose to make a feature on the record, but due to timing and deadlines, we couldn't make it work. So me and Kong just hoped back in the lab and spazzed out on the 3rd verse. This is definitly one of those summer time records that you ride around to with the windows down and the bass up.
No Return
Produced by Main Event West
"So I write till I can't no more, the page about to burn/and if you can not tell I'm at the point of no return"
This record came together in the initial recording of the project when it was still named Now Or Never. Going back to what I said earlier about taking a look at life and when it's time to move on, in the same breath it can be said that when your in too deep, its nearly impossible to go back. No matter how often I feel ready to walk away because I feel I haven't reached a level of success I know I'm capable of, I don't honestly see myself being able to step away. Not anytime soon at least. I could never sell a record in my life and you couldn't tell me I can't hang with some of the top artists today. At the end of the day it comes to visibility and your brand being recognized and I don't have the financial backing to go against a major label artist. That won't stop me from attacking the Indies and releasing a good album out yearly. Like I said, I'm in too deep at this point to stop now.
Touch The Sky
Produced by Joey Trife
"Life, I swear we been through it all/but everytime I reach that mountain top you seem to make me fall.."
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Even with the amount of energy and inspiration I had working on this album, deep down there was just as much fear and doubt. For every good time at the party, there's the drunken drive home where your expecting your world to come crashing down. And at times, hoping for it. Hoping that wall you've built up over the years, will fall down, so people can see how much of a mess you really are. Yeah, it was the best of times.. It was the worst of times..
Inspired: By True Events singles now available
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