You know what they say location, location location. You might often see ADEK BKNY EXMN if you're not familiar these represent three major locations I have lived for more than five years. I called these places home, they shaped my reality and became the cornerstone of my artistic journey. Not only were these places home but they represent pivotal points in my development.
ADEK being ADo EKiti, Nigeria where I first laid eyes on the world. The beginning where Africa made a man out of me at a very young age. I quickly understood the world is cruel and as we say in Nigeria "Fingers are not equal" . My love of art and creativity is definitely a reflection of my Nigerian identity, growing up in Nigeria I was heavily influenced by various artists, philosophers and musicians, this was the beginning of my enlightened journey.
BKNY being BrooKlyn New York, one day I was in Nigeria and the next day I woke up in Brooklyn. My transition from Nigeria to Brooklyn was like that of a baby being snatched from its mother. I was only 11 and by the plans of my own mother I never got a chance to inform anyone of my plans, let alone say goodbye to anyone. Overnight I traded one life for another. I left my tropical rain forest to find my way in the concrete jungle. Just when I thought life couldn't possibly throw me for another loop. Brooklyn in a weird way allowed me to regain some of my innocence at the same time corrupting my world view all over again. Brooklyn is where Hip Hop became my dominant genre, I officially began writing Poetry and Rap. Brooklyn was the final piece to my developmental puzzle, Brooklyn made me realize I could only run so far from myself. Brooklyn is my first city in America, sort of like a gateway between this world and that world. Brooklyn is the center point should I ever stray too far from the myself. When I leave America its through Brooklyn and when I return it will be through Brooklyn.
EXMN being EXcelsior MinNesota, where it all came together. Minnesota in general represents my breakaway from everything I knew. My breakaway from home to create my own home, my breakaway from family and my comfort zone. I became accustomed to my New York lifestyle where it seemed I could do no wrong. Ironically I left New York to Minnesota for higher education. Minnesota became my own path to blaze, far from the center but for the first time in my Life I am doing things exactly how I want them. Excelsior is one of the most beautiful places I have ever lived and provided the necessary resources to begin my journey into creating Music. I am more focused than I have ever been and falling more in love with the process of becoming the person I knew I always was.
ADEK BKLYN EXMN represent the trinity of Life. Everything has a Beginning, a Center point and a current state where it all forms a bigger picture. These cities make me who I am and I am very thankful on the path that I ended up on. I may never be in all three at once but I'm always representing.