“WHEN I WAS YOUNG”
PRODUCED BY JUNIA T
FEATURING OBIE AND TANIKA CHARLES
[DOWNLOAD THE SINGLE] – right click and save as
[DOWNLOAD THE RINGTONE] -MP3 - right click and save as
THE FIRST SINGLE FROM THE SOON TO BE RELEASED “thin.KING. SOON COME. (with hidden riches)” EP(s).
(DISTRICT SIX MUSIC).
(see SOON COME. Thin.KING.SOON COME. (with hidden riches).
“the time ain’t coming, if the time ain’t now”…
The last few years have been harder than I ever would have imagined as a younger man. Unfortunately, and despite our best efforts, that statement rings true for so many people I know. It is not just the artists. So many of us have spent our lifetimes working towards goals we dreamed up in our younger years. Success seems so much closer when you lack the perspective to define it. Small victories can provide much comfort to a man that hasn’t figured out just what is at stake. Something happens as we age.
We tell our children they can be anything they set their mind to. I haven’t quite figured out what time frame is given to our children to make their dreams reality, but those of us still struggling to bring their dreams to fruition as we get on in years can certainly tell you,that somewhere along the way things change.
As we get older, supporting voices can become questioning ones. The validity of your dream, your talent and your drive to succeed with it, can become fodder for reality checks.
I’m not sure what point it happened, but at some point “you can be anything” became “maybe you should think realistically”. Though those words most likely come from caring voices they still deflate, (and while everyone needs those people who keep their head on straight), hitting that wall of doubt can be enough to break one’s will.
Now, let me say for certain, I have always been my own worst enemy. My focus has waxed and waned at times, my determination to make the most of every opportunity has been found lacking on occasion…needless to say, I’ve earned my reality checks.
Their was a point a few years ago, where after trying to build a life for myself which wasn’t built around music, I couldn’t be happy in life unless I took a fair shot at making some kind of living by doing the things through which my spirit has always communicated. I had become overwhelmed by the odds stacked against my building an artistic life that could provide enough to begin a family.
In truth, I’m still very much overwhelmed by those odds. But I know now, that this is what I’ve got, and thus, this is what I’ve got to do.
I must work to make it work.
I can be a very stubborn individual. I am still not interested in working with people with whom i share no deeper connection. I still believe that my success can only ever be measured by the well being of the people around me (my fellow Honour Rebels). And I will be damned before I let commerce decide the merit of the projects my spirit follows.
I refuse to believe that these principles are any thing less than the foundations on which I will build my success.
And since I’ve always desired to change the definition of what is possible and what isn’t, well, to quote the track “when they say I won’t make it, I gotta use it as fuel”.
I dedicate this song to all of my people who struggle against the tide of doubt.
(and remind them, that just because you’ve fallen down and it seems the world is tilted against you, that there is no time limit on reaching your dreams).
And so, it is my pleasure to share with the world “when I was young”. If you’ve felt how I feel, you already know…we’ve “got to really be something”. Be strong. Be smart. Be ready.
I’d very much like to thank Obie and Tanika Charles for lending their vocals to this song, and of course Junia T for the beat. (Much respect also to Shaun at king west studio for his engineering work and the mix).
People, these are some of the most talented individuals I’ve ever worked with, and their involvement is an absolute honour. Their contributions are essential to the fabric of this song and I am so grateful that they were able to make real what I heard in this ever cluttered head of mine. Check out their links as soon as you’ve finished reading this. They will not disappoint.
I’d also like to thank Jose at Honour Rebel for working out the ringtone, and just generally being the man.
One Trackback