Born From A Boom Box

My brother is one of my true heroes. Steady and sober where I am impulsive and emotional. A friend at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. I grew up with an younger brother, and the bond between siblings is unlike anything else, and it can be a real journey to accept what that bond is once you both mature into it. Because it's not always what you want. It's not always what you expect. It's not always what you imagined or hoped.

But it's one of the most important things in the world.Having a brother is so many emotions bundled into one―he reminds you of all your childhood memories ... he was right there making them happen with you. You remember the bullying that happened (doesn't matter if he was younger―you know it happened). There were the cycle lessons that had you falling down over and over again, and the threats that ensued after to keep it hush. There were the fights that happened on the slightest provocation. There were the planned raiding-the-kitchen-for-treats while your parents napped ... and there were so many other things.

But the most special memory of all was me and my little brother getting bored when we don't move and groove since we were kids. Hip hop dance music is an emotional journey. It's how well you can make people feel something that they haven't felt. Hip-hop is the streets. Hip-hop is a couple of elements that it comes from back in the days... that feel of music with urgency that speaks to you. It speaks to your livelihood and it's not compromised. It's blunt. It's raw, straight off the street - from the beat to the voice to the words. We go forever on the floor, singing and dancing. Wherever we go on our own, we bring the culture with me, so that they can understand that it's attainable. We didn't do it any other way than through hip-hop.