I’VE ALWAYS HAD THIS FEELING, THAT EVERYTHING I’VE OVERCOME THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, HAS MADE MY STORY, ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD. IN THE BEGINNING, I STARTED PERFORMING AT CHURCH, WHEN I WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. MUSIC IS IN MY BLOOD, IT’S IN MY SOUL, IN MY BONES.

I GREW UP SINGING FRANK SINATRA AT FUNDRAISERS AND BEING THE ENTERTAINMENT AT MY SISTER’S TEEN PAGENT SHOWS. I WAS ALWAYS ATTRACTED TO THE MICROPHONE. THEN THINGS WENT SO WRONG, WHY? I WAS TOO YOUNG AND INNOCENT TO REALLY KNOW. BUT EVERY MONTH WE HAD TO MOVE, HAVING TO SWITCH HOMES FASTER THAN MODELS HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR CLOTHES. I WAS ALWAYS THE “NEW KID”, EVERYONE KNEW WHO I WAS, BUT YET NEVER TOOK THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW. MY FAMILY WAS GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES, SO REALLY WHO? WANTED TO KNOW THE “NEW KID” ESPECIALLY, WHEN HE’S BROKE.

I HAD TO FIND A WAY TO SHINE, SO I’D WRITE POEMS IN CLASS, AND GET ALL THE GIRLS PASSING NOTES. PLUS, I COULD LAST WITH ANY OF THE “JOCKS” IN ANY SPORT, DIDN’T MATTER WHAT I WAS WEARING, CAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE BEST ATHLETES ON ANY FIELD OR ANY COURT. THEN CAME HIGH SCHOOL, ADOLESENCE, BAD INFLUENCE, AND “THE WRONG CROWD.” PEOPLE FINALLY THOUGHT I WAS COOL, CAUSE I SOLD THEM WHATEVER THEY WANTED, EXPLAINED WHAT WAS ON MY MIND, MADE IT RHYME, AND FLOWED LIKE I HAD SOMETHING TO PROVE.

LITTLE DID THEY KNOW, ON THE LOW I ALREADY HAD A STACK OF SONGS ACTUALLY, ABOUT 9 OR 10 SHOEBOXES FULL. MY WORDS ARE POWERFUL. MY PURPOSE IS GOOD, I’M NAMED AFTER MY FATHER, AS THE BABY OF 6 CHILDREN AND I FEEL MISUNDERSTOOD.

RAISED IN MOTELS, TINY APARTMENTS AND PUBLIC HOUSING HOODS. ALL MY SINS MADE “A BOY” CHANGE FAST INTO “A MAN”. AND MY BAD CHOICES FOR A WHILE HAD ME OFF TRACK, STRAYING AWAY FROM WHAT I ALWAYS KNEW WAS MY DESTINED PLAN. STRUGGLING HAS GOT ME SO FEDUP, THAT I'M MAD EVERYDAY FROM THE MOMENT THAT I GET UP.

RECENTLY, MY MOMZ AND POPZ GOT REAL SICK, AND I THOUGHT; “ WHAT HAVE I MADE OF MYSELF? WHAT HAVE I BECOME?” “WHO AM I?” ON THE SIDE, I’VE BEEN MAKING MUSIC FOR SO LONG AND IT'S ABOUT TIME I LET THE WORLD KNOW WHAT IM REALLY WORTH, ITS TIME FOR ME TO RISE, THEN ATLEAST I CAN SAY, “I TRIED.” AND GET THE CHANCE TO MAKE MY PARENTS TRULY PROUD, BEFORE THE DAY I SEE THEM DIE.

WRITTEN BY: ROGER GARRITY A.K.A “R.G.”