What do you listen to or turn to when things get ruff or you are trying to make a major decision? That's a great question! It is depending on the situation. I have a very eclectic array of music. One day I'm Marvin Sapp Praising in Advance Worshipper in Me, the next Erykah Badu Window Seat Me, another Miles Davis So What, Raheem Davaughn Final Call, Revolutionary Pac Mode, Jay Z, Movado I'm on the Rock, Bob Marley, to Goo Goo Dolls Iris, Jill Scott Hate on me Hater, Mu Mu fresh We're Already Royal, then Smokie Norful I need you now, then Talaam Acey and Black Ice, I also listen to the young man Ali that I mentor to remind me of the responsibility that I have to get my head in the game because he and countless others are watching to see how I move through my situations. It's relative to the mood and situation. But usually when things get crazy I pray and watch the great orators on youtube, Malcom X a message to the grass roots, Martin Luther King the knock at midnight, Minister Louis Farrakhan (take the meat and leave the bones), Dick Gregory, Muhammad Ali, Talaam Acey, Tupac, Bob Marley, and zone out. Other times I lean on a small circle of men, advisors if you will, that have poured into me over the years and ask the view points. Then I wait to hear the familiar voice in my head and that feeling in my gut and I make the call. People depend on me to make the call so I execute.
This issue is called "God Culture' with subtitles of 'Kingdom Men' and 'What Women Want'. What do you think is imperative to those who are in their early 20's late 40's when searching for a mate? . "What Woman Want" I think is a question only a woman can answer. But things I think are imperative when searching for a mate from 20 to 40... The biggest thing is finding YOURSELF. Know who you are. You need not look for a person when you haven't found yourself. That's like serving a meal that is under prepared. A person can love pork chops or chicken beyond the comprehension of the human psyche but serve it to them under cooked and it can kill them. Same thing with a relationship if you are not FULLY prepared you will kill that relationship. Next, you have to really get into those "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" and really understand what your position is to play when a mate is involved. All to often people look for a mate, don't fully understand who they are, and jump into it blindly THEN they find out what the requirements are and wanna say, "Wait a minute I ain't signed up for this!" But in actuality they did. If a man does not understand "Love your wife like Christ loved the church" he may go crazy when he finds out the magnitude of that statement. Think about that Jesus ain't did nothing wrong and the church of that day, lied on Him, chastised Him, spit on Him, stabbed Him, crossed Him (Literally), COME ON NOW, mocked Him, called Him everything but a child of God, and He still carried the cross for them, stretched His arms out on the very cross He carried for them, DIED for them, and asked God to forgive them! MAN WHAT? YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT?! Its that literal though. You have to die for this woman in some shape form or fashion day in and day out. When I heard that I said, "My God surely you don't mean like that? Like Christ loved the chuch? Did I get the raw end of the deal lol?" Man I wanted to ask God was this a typo because that is a heavy load on a brother! Come on man Jesus made a way outta no way for them! Water into wine? That means I have to turn her pain into champagne! Fed the multitudes off of a loaf of bread and 2 fish! That means I gotta make a dollar outta 15 cents to feed her and whoever else I bring to the party! Sleep in the bottom of the boat then wake up outta His sleep to say peace be still! That means though I have proven myself time and time again rose to the occasion time and time again and I'm trying to sleep because I ain't worrying about the storms that come (I READ the book we win at the end) I gotta get up and fix this storm for her so she can remember who I am and the God I serve! COME ON NA!!! And all she gotta do is be a help meet? Be submissive... That's the part where the Jesus in you don't wanna go through with this thing and you gotta say, "Not my will Lord... Yours." Whew!!! I'm sorry but that's heavy heavy... so I suggest before you get you a mate, you get you some word, get under some good leadership and study for that test that you are about to take. That's the first and foremost thing me, Life thinks you need to do when searching for a mate.
What is it that you do as an occupation? I am currently a Gunnery Sergeant and have been in the United States Marine Corps for 19 years and 4 months but who's counting? Lol but I have been a Poet (Spoken Word Artist), Lyricist, mentor, motivational speaker, and revolutionary for this Village Minded Movement in some shape, form, or fashion for as long as I can remember.
What is the next level for you? Was this call or journey ever something you saw coming? I don't think there is a next level because in every position there is a lesson learned which builds you up for the next assignment so I have no earthly idea. I wait for the Gift to make room for me. I just stay obedient to what it is telling me to do at the moment, & ensure I don't get in its way or compromise it's integrity. I never knew what was coming I was just every day moving in expectation of His Greatness and grinding in the purpose that he had for me right at that moment. Trying to stay ready so I don't have to get ready. So I didn't know and don't know where this is leading, but I am too far gone to turn back now and I'm excited to see what the Giver wants me to do next.
How do you balance it all: A live of devotion to God, Country, Family, Faith, and Fun? Balance... That's exactly it! God and I talk all day. My father is a professional percussionist and since I have gotten older I have made it my point to get to know him. He wasn't there for me growing up but my mother taught me to honor him nonetheless. I am so greatful for that, because though it may seem unusual that may have been what God intended for my life for her to give me a solid foundation and when I got older he would come in that season and give me jewels for this season of my life. Well he is the most devoted person I have ever seen in regards to his Gift so I asked him one day as we joked about who had the most work for the week (which he had more engagements that day than I had that week), "how do you fit drums into your day?" For the first time since I've known him he screamed at me, "FIT MY DRUMS INTO MY DAY?! FIT MY DRUMS INTO MY DAY?! I wake up in the morning I go play drums. If I have something to do I get up go do it and then I come back and play drums. I AM A DRUMMER THIS IS WHAT I DO!. I NEVER HAVE TO TRY TO FIT MY DRUMS INTO MY DAY I HAVE TO FIND TIME TO FIT MY DAY INTO MY DRUMS!" That has shaped the way I move in regards to moving throughout the day. My first priority is God's assignment whether, at that moment it is, Poetry, Pops, or Profession he decides that. I just give 100% of my energy to whichever position I am in and if something arises in the middle of one that needs to be priority over what I'm doing it becomes the priority and then I get back to it. My day is hectic. I wake up 3 hrs before work to spend time with God and the Gift while I prepare for work. At that time the family is still sleeping. Then I drive an hour to work were I prep for work, recite poems, talk to people on the phone that I don't talk to at work or home so it doesn't take away from either of the two, and build with God some more. Once I'm at work I tenaciously execute as a Gunnery Sergeant but while I'm walking down hallways, across, the flight line, or to the bathroom I'm reciting and writing poems or lyrics in my head and out loud continuously (practice ain't never over) then when I leave work for the hour drive back I do the same thing I did on the way to work except instead of preparing for work I'm preparing for the family. Once I'm home I'm in family mode whatever they need me to be. Between walking, cutting grass, and using the bathroom I'm working on the Gift. I try not to waste my time. I live in 'Go mode.' If a situation presents itself or an engagement is suitable the family comes with me to my shows... we make a day out of it. Hotels movies shopping going out to eat whatever we need to do for fun and in the times that people think are idle I'm working on protecting and perfecting the Gift.
What does it mean for you to be nominated as the #1 Top 10 Kingdom Men of 2014? Not me Him... What a blessing He is. I grind so hard accolades and things of that nature never really settle with me because I'm always on to the next, but how beautiful He is. Being one recognized as a Kingdom Man was honor because my movement His movement for me is out of the box in regards to what most would consider Kingdom business. I don't speak, post, or 'Ha' bible verses in every sentence message or word spoken but I make sure that I'm lined up with Him and His calling on this Village Minded Movement. So for people to see the God in it is amazing to me. Also, it is an honor to me because, I look like the environment I'm from, I speak the tongue of the place that I'm from, I move like the place that I'm from, I represent the place I'm from, but I am not the place I'm from! (Be cunning as a serpent but as gentle as a dove). If you can see that I am but bait used by the Most High to catch a certain type of fish, a different type of fish, the fish that lives in the mock, in the bottom, surviving off the mock in the bottom, the one you ain't gonna catch with the regular bait, the ones you are gonna have to drag the bottom and stick your hands down in the mud, merky waters, and caverns to get to and you can see that in me and you get it, then I'm in line with my purpose! NOT ME HIM! God has no box! You will know his disciples by the way they love! I love, love, love, you all for understanding, praying, and speaking purpose over me! May His peace be with us all... Life
Interview Conducted by: Rev. Angel Onley-Livingston, MA, LPC