"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">Krip-Hop Nation (KHN): color:#222222;mso-ansi-language:IT">Hello One Son. color:#222222"> color:#222222"> "Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">I came across your Hip-Hop color:#222222"> color:#222222"> "Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">song, Janessa feat Tia off your EP, BRILLIANT for your daughter who has cerebral palsy but before we get to that your bio says you are Finau Entertainment CEO, Hip Hop Artist, Apollo Legend, Poet, Activist. Break down each one for jus & tell us how you continue in those she's today?
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: Finau Entertainment is a label that me and my wife Seini spearheaded Finau is my daughter's middle name, I've released my five projects (A Poor Man's Testimony, The Voice: From Bama 2 Baghdad, Microwave Age, Canvas, and BRILLIANT) on this label. Helvetica;color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">I color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">use the term Hip Hop artist, because I represent Hip Hop culture color:#222222">matter of fact I Am Hip Hop and I use rap and spoken word as an artistic expression, some people don't look at Hip Hop music as an art form because nowadays artist settle with being simplistic so our music has become disposable. Helvetica;color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">I always try to be poetic and give the listener something to digest after the listen, I also color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">enjoy performing spoken word because you can't camouflage there's no beat to hide behind it's all about your words. Apollo Legend comes from a successful color:#222222">performance I did at the Famous Apollo Theater in 1997. I use Activist because I'm working toward a better tomorrow, I try to invoke change for the better through various means whether Hip Hop, Spoken Word, Interviews or Blogs I talk to the youth about the hidden hand that manipulate our ignorant, for every puppet there's a puppet master we get so caught up in color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">the show that we don't see the strings. Helvetica;color:#222222">
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">I never heard your CD, Poor Man color:#222222;mso-ansi-language:FR">’ mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">s Testimony. color:#222222"> color:#222222"> "Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">Tell us about that project & why was it well receive in Japan?
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: To understand that project we have to flashback to 2003, when 50 Cent debut was highly Helvetica;color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">anticipated color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">I chose to color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">release A Poor Man's Testimony on the same day he mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">released Get Rich Or Die Tryin, I wasn't able to promote worldwide but for one month mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">regionally I mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">had my commercials run in conjunction with his on BET, MTV, and VH-1. The concept of the project started with the title color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">and cd color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">cover which was split in half with two pictures, one being dated 1555 showing myself as a slave in the fields plowing, the other picture was mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">that current time of 2003 showing me as a construction worker giving the concept of mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">as times change some things remain the same. The songs take your on a emotional roller coaster dealing with life struggles, and finding your way through the maze. One of the songs on the project was Lone Star Livin which I recorded for a soundtrack, that was the song that got the attention of playerzball Helvetica;color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">from Japan who interviewed me for his mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">Hip Hop site. It allowed me to expand my fan base and keep in contact with old and new supporters.
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">In you other project, Microwave Age you dealt with Hip color:#222222">— mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222;mso-ansi-language:NL">Hop culture. Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222"> "Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">Can you expand on the meaning and message of that project inside and outside of Hip-Hop?
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: In one of the lyrics from Crossroadz I said "We in the Microwave Age, where we want everything ready made" This is not only true in Hip Hop with the fast food rap you hear on the radio, it's true in society. Everything from your IPhone to using text terms (LOL,OMG) mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">deals with the Microwave Age concept, kids will complain that the internet is running slow, but they never had to go through the steps of writing and mailing a letter. As we advance in technology we lose certain color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">characteristics like looking a person in the eye and interacting with that individual. I felt the need to address my concerns as well as deal with the cause that effects us today. Helvetica;color:#222222">
"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">Back to your song, Janessa, tell us story behind that song & how is Janessa today?
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: When I was in Iraq, I wrote a poem about my daughter which eventually became the song Janessa. It was years later that I let my friend/producer Khalid Salaam (Green Tea Musik) Helvetica;color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">hear a ruff draft of the song, he composed the track and Tia and I collaborated on the hook. color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">The song deals with her struggles with cerbal palsy and how she continues to color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">defy the odds I also color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222;mso-ansi-language:FR">touch color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">on the doctors color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">negligence at birth color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">which caused her to almost lose her life. My goal was to tell her story, and hopefully educate those who are ignorant mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">about people mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">with special needs. Today Janessa is doing well she still has the same everyday struggles, that's why I'm blessed to have my wife be a stay home mom to assist with her needs.
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">As the founder of Krip-Hop Nation (Hip-Hop/musicians with disabilities) & a Black activist with cerebral palsy, I was touched that a father, Hip-Hop artist & a Black man had the courage to put that song out. color:#222222"> color:#222222"> "Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">Tell us what kind of reactions have you received from that song?
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: The reaction and support thus far has been good, especially with fans and people who've heard me perform the song. I've learned that oftentimes support comes from the ones you least expect.
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">As a Black man in Hip-Hop with a daughter with a disabilities have that change the way you view Hip-Hop? mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">I asked because Hip-Hop especially mainstream Hip-Hop have a history of taking shots toward people with disabilities.
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: Having a daughter with a disability not only changed my outlook on Hip Hop but life in general. My wife and I was young parents, and having a disabled daughter helped us to mature faster then most, color:#222222">I also mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">think society as a whole is ignorant toward people with disabilities, I'm familiar with some of the lyrics that take jabs at people with disabilities or the comedians that often do the same, I'm definitely not a fan of that, but sometimes if you don't know you want show, so that's why I applaud you for your efforts with Krip-Hop Nation color:#222222">we need more platforms to educate. Hopefully for those who have taken jabs in the past hear a song like Janessa, or learn about your movement and better Helvetica;color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">understand our plight.
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">I always notice that disability national organizations/charities use a lot of famous Hip-Hop artists to push their cause or do a benefit but their efforts sometimes don mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222;mso-ansi-language:FR">’ color:#222222">t touch people with disabilities & don color:#222222;mso-ansi-language:FR">’ mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">t highlight the talents of people with disabilities that are doing things. color:#222222"> color:#222222"> "Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">How do you see giving back to the disabled community including Hip-Hop artists who are disabled?
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: I understand a mainstream mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">artist using there celebrity to bring more awareness to a cause my only thing is to make sure you're passionate about the charity and it's not just business as usual. mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">I think a person has to start within his or her means, if you know someone with a disability and you really want to help you can assist that individual personally. Also lack of monetary value isn't always a reason not to get involved, you can always volunteer your time.
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: It would be kool if you do a video for your daughter color:#222222;mso-ansi-language:FR">’ mso-ansi-language:FR">s song.
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: That is definitely in the works, but I want to be able to involve others who share the same struggles. As an independent label supporting my music color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">allows me the means to expand on the song with a visual expression to match the vocal expression. color:#222222">
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">What do you want people to take away after listening to the song, Janessa.
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: I just wanted to tell her story, and hopefully touch those that can relate directly or indirectly and bring awareness, also to let people with a disability know they are not alone, or forgotten.
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">Has your activism change because of you daughter & if so how?
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: Due to my upbringing I've always been conscience and aware, color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">but my daughter having cerebral palsy definitely changed my activism because during the time she was color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222;mso-ansi-language:IT">diagnose color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">my wife and I where privates in the military, and mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">we experienced doors being shut when we was pleading for help, this taught Helvetica;color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">us a valuable lesson. color:#222222">
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: color:#222222">From my research knowing that many times when fathers (Black color:#222222">… "Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">)find out that their sons/daughters might be disabled they nine times out of leave that relationship leaving the mother to rise that child, What is your advice to fathers especially Black fathers who just found out that their newborn has a disability?
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: color:#222222">I would say there's a difficult road ahead but you and your wife (or mother of your child) don't have to take that journey alone, God will be with you and always get a second or third opinion. Do as much research to educate yourself Helvetica;color:#222222"> mso-hansi-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">and try to reach out to others who might be dealing with similar situations. I recall not having a peer to talk too, none of our friends or family was dealing with a child with a disability that also made me and my wife bond even stronger, because it felt like no one else could relate to our struggle.
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">Any words to the Hip-Hop community about disability & your views on it?
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: Some people treat the disable like the outcast of society, like they don't belong. Compassion has become an afterthought only to be exercised when it happens close to home but we see the stares and hear color:#222222">the whispers please mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;color:#222222"> color:#222222">understand this, just because you're disable it don't exclude you from being a person.
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">KHN: color:#222222">What is in your future & how can people get in touch with you?
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"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">One Son: I'm continuing to push my EP BRILLIANT which includes the song Janessa, you can reach me on
"Arial Unicode MS";color:#222222">Bandcamp: color:#222222">BRILLIANT, by ONE SON