Music

Being a music afficionado is about dedication and an open mind. I had my first taste of the world of music as a child, when my father introduced me to Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, and many others that drew inspiration from the spirit of rebellion and tumult of the 1960s. Although my Dad has never claimed to be a hippie, I do have my doubts, especially when I look upon early teenage pictures of him with long hair and bellbottoms, along with what would now be considered a tacky color scheme. The next person that helped get me into music was my older brother, a young breakdancer that would often bring home Hip-hop mixtapes such as “Rapper’s Delight”, one of the seminal records that introduced me to the artists that really birthed the Hip-Hop movement, from Disc Jockeying and Graffiti to Breakdancing and Emceeing (rapping), the four quintessential elements of Hip-Hop. I would later start listening to artists such as KRS-One, Public Enemy, De La Soul, and others, before even getting into Tupac, Biggie, and other mainstream 90s artists. It goes without saying, I have an eclectic taste in music, and I can appreciate every sound and rhythm. In my early twenties, I would dabble in music production and rapping, using a homemade studio purchased and pieced together with the help of friends, and that, if nothing else, helped me understand the creative process that musicians constantly seem to dig into for many a “muse”. Although I didn’t gain a record deal, I did record some tracks and produce instrumentals, which in retrospect is more important than any monetary gain or benefit, as I my intentions were genuine, and my appreciation was wholehearted.