I started working at UPS on September 10th 2001. Crooked apostles had broken up for the last time the year before, it was always a rocky relationship but we made good music and had all of the fun in the world. A couple of us started a new thing, we didn't know where it was all headed yet. While I was at UPS, I'd work during the week, then use that money to go to New York on the weekend normally crashing with Erik at Ramon's. Once during that time I slept at the Fader offices while they were there working on the cover for the magazine one night. I spent a lot of time hanging out at O+ studios, I'd decided to put out a solo hip hop record. G13 was going to do production on it, the crazy gypsy. So I went back and forth from DC to NY trying to get studio time when I could. Eventually, somewhere between November and January Erik, Aaron and I moved into Ramons studio on Eldridge and Delancy in Manhattan. It was a 1000 sq. ft. space that we divided into 5 sections. 3 small rooms for us one big space for Ramon to work in and a little living space where we had a TV and video games. There was no heat, no hot water and no shower. We were so poor.... Erik and Aaron worked on their computers most of the day, clicking away. We sustained ourselves on dollar dumplings, 2$ bento boxes, pizza and Georgi vodka. We showered once or twice a week, either at Ramons or at Aarons parents house on the upper west side. Sometimes we'd shower at Sonny's, he had the coolest shower I'd ever used up until that point. It was all white tile with 2 shower heads and you would squeegee the left over water into the drain after you were done. Mostly I went between the studio in Williamsburg and the crib just writing and working on music. O+ was recording a record with Killah Priest, which came out dope, but I was kinda back burnered because of it. I was frustrated, I felt like I should have been the priority but it makes sense. O+ was just getting started and Priest had already had a hit record. I was grateful to have some free studio time in a professional studio but I was frustrated by not having the opportunity to push my vision forward.
I met Sonny through Ramon. He was always interesting to me. He was older than us, like Ramon. He took an interest in us and our projects. I'd go to talk and hang out with him, we got closer. He had a sound proof room in the middle of his apartment where he kept all his recording equipment. One day we went to have lunch at Cafe Habana, I was complaining about not getting studio time and I asked if I could maybe lay down some demos with him at his house in the meantime. He suggested we just record and release my first album. Obviously I said yes, I was eating a cheeseburger. We worked for the next 6 months to finish the album. In that time we moved out of Ramons studio. I moved back to DC, Erick moved in with Sonny and Aaron ended up in Williamsburg on N6th in a place where we'd share many adventures. I lived between New York and DC really. I'd stay in NY for a couple weeks and do work. Then I'd be in DC for a while. Shortly before the Vinyl was done and ready to be released I went to California for a month or so to hang out, promote and meet new people. Once the record was done Sonny mailed me a box of the 7”. Opening that box was a pretty awesome feeling. I made connections with a bunch of different musicians, made some music, made some friends. One night I went out to a bar by myself, I think it was called the Tunnel Top. Josh told me it was going to be a good party and it was. I talked to some girls and had drinks, the Dj who I recognized by his Charlie Brown shirt was at the bar between sets and I walked up to him complimented him on the set and the tee, handed him my vinyl and told him a little bit about myself. He walked back to the booth gave my record a listen and mixed it in to his set. That was the first time I heard my record on in a room full of people. I stood in a corner by myself looking to see if people enjoyed it. Turns out the DJ was actually an editor at XLR8R magazine. It felt like I was on my way.
I left California to go meet Sonny, Erick and Aaron in Vegas for the Pool show, which was the streetwear trade show at the time. Sonny was working with Erick on his first brand Demographx. When I arrived for a 3 day trip I had $20 in my pocket. The first night we went to the 4 queens, I played Roulette, I won $120 and we went out for buffet. That cycle pretty much continued for the whole trip. They'd show clothing out of the hotel room by the trade show. I'd hang out at the pool or something, then we'd go gambling at night and I'd win enough money for the next days fun. When I left for home I had $20. I was sitting in the airport by myself and I wrote one of my favorite verses up until then, I called it “Vegas 12:04am.”
At some point before that west coast trip. Probably when I was still at UPS or something I went to a party at a friends house in Virginia. My friend Mous had been telling me I needed to hang out with this guy James, who worked in music and had some connections. James was at this party, I have a clear memory of playing him my music for the first time sitting in his car outside the party. Then I think in the spring prior to Cali and Vegas James had come to visit New York and we sent him and his partner home with an early version of the final Natural Progression album. They called back from the road on their way back to DC buggin on the record. James and I would end up working together on music for the next 15 years.
The record dropped and was well received and when I got back to DC, I went back to work. Lance was throwing this open Mic at Harambe with the No Name Band, which was him on drums, Kris Ringlien on percussion and Will Rast on Keys. Both Lance and Kris were in Crooked Apostles. Lance was the other emcee in that group not the drummer, he's a pretty talented guy.... Erik and I had initially started the open mic at Harambe before we both moved to New York. While we were gone Lance had brought it back. Gradually it turned into the best open mic in the city. Many of the artists that would eventually come out of DC would go by there to perform. Through the open mic we built a bond and I was fortunate enough to play with No Name for the next couple of years.
Will had come to NY with me when I was still working with O+. We drove up together while I was working at UPS to go to the studio, we were only staying one night. We got to the city and split up to head to our respective sleeping places. I was staying with Erik and his girlfriend in park slope. We all went to a party in the city at some huge loft space. I tied on a right proper drunk. Erik went home before me and they left me with a key to let myself in. When I finally got there I promptly threw up in the kitchen sink. Which I didn't realize had a food trap in it that would not let my spew pass. I crashed and woke up to an apartment that smelled puke and Erik's girl yelling at me to clean it up.... I shook off the cobwebs, cleaned up, then made my way to meet Will at the studio. We got there and were both smashingly hung over, he had had his own adventure the previous night. G13 was late and eventually never showed up. Jo+ put on a drum beat, Will played and I freestyle'd what would become my first track for Natural Progression “Willonkey”. We drove back to DC, plotting what would come next...
Innate- Willonkey
Pictures From The Process
