From The Launch.

Peace. Welcome to life at a new speed: Quarantined. Adjusting to these times has bought the light and the darkness into clear view for all of us. And as a so-called Black man in the world, I find irony in the lack of refuge for people of color during this worldwide pandemic. From Freddie Gray to Sandra Bland, Aiyana Stanley-Jones to George Floyd and the countless names that continually are added to this seemingly endless list year after year, we live with the knowledge that there is a structure in place that deems our lives as void and meaningless.

But we all know that’s really not true. So-called Black people are some of the most beautiful, thoughtful and passionate folks on earth. Our tenacity and accomplishments continue to amaze everyone to this day. Maybe that’s why there are forces that try to limit our potential. The key word there is ‘try’ because they’ll never succeed. I repeat: THEY WON’T SUCCEED! If you’re reading this please do remember this as fact! We all fall down on the journey but the winners are the ones who get up and keep going. So I just want people of color to never give up the good fight.

Concerning nonviolence: it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks. - Malcolm X, A Declaration of Independence (March 12, 1964)

I don’t advocate for anything other than music. The best way I relate to anything is through my own experiences. The places I’ve been, the people I’ve met and the art that I have created are what encompass the heart of my journey in this wilderness. I find beauty in this particular sequence of expression because it shows, (at the core), what it means to be human. It’s a way to combat the constant negative barrage of propaganda that seeks to tear us down. I think this is worth sharing now more than ever.

Protect your mental health. Do not consume images of Black death so freely. I point to Black because mainstream media has the tendency to replay these situations so much they become snuff flicks. Remember these people are HUMAN and have families and friends just like you. All of that type of media can desensitize and erode away at the beauty of our spirits making us more docile and complacent to their bullshit. I won’t pretend like I have all the answers because I, like everyone else during these times, am trying to figure out how to rebuild some semblance of what life used to be. I’m just saying.

Stay safe. Be on the lookout for new music.

You already.