“Ill-Maculate conception”

🤔💭I was in Middle school. Picking up my younger sister and taking the 6 train back to the Bronx from Harlem, we would stop at the bodega for snacks before the ride - and on special days when I had extra money we would stop at the fish market on 110th street for a fish sandwich and some fries.... it was on one of these days I stopped at the CD guy and bought my first 2 albums with my own money - they were Kanye’s “College Dropout”, and Nas’ “God’s Son”. 🎵💿 🎧


In recent years as I have grown, I look back and realize just how much those two albums influenced me - not only as an artist, but as a young minority male in NYC searching for Identity.... 🗽🌇🌃


Nas in particular grew to be like that cool older brother or uncle who was teaching me about life; it’s struggles, and how to persevere through it all staying centered in God. Where others may have had family members to tell these stories about their neighborhoods, and oppression, and maintaining the willpower to survive I had Nas. My pops was always working and him and my mom were always bumping heads until my freshman year of high school when they fully split. My maternal uncles and Grandfather served as role models but due to them living all the way down in Florida, I would only see them a few times a year if that.... Nas’ lyrics seemed to fill the void for the meanwhile. ✍️📝📖


As a Father, husband, youth minister and leader in my community I am grateful for someone who their platform as a place to teach and impart knowledge on the less fortunate. I’ve grown from “illmatic” as a “street disciple” and learned to execute “as it is written”.... Blessed by the Virgin Mary there’s a concept my homie Zay used to call “the ILL-maculate conception”.... Which is probably the best description of where I stand today. - A man building a bridge between two worlds. 🌎 ✝️🕊


#SainthoodInTheCity

- The Symbol
- All is Love