cover of the tape is an adaptation of a front page newspaper, showing a kid that Mir used to mentor who was crying at the death of a 12 year old Camden comrade. The death tolls and crime rates that he was telling me about were eye opening because no one ever talks about Camden, but I think Mir Fontane is going to change that.
He’ s far from a superhero, but I think his love for his city and growing acclaim makes him the closest thing Camden has got to one. The way he discussed the hopes he had for the city was inspiring, but also the hardest thing I have ever had to talk about during an interview. I had promised that the interview would be fun and not too serious before we started, but I was right there breaking my word. I think he wanted all of this to be said though. When you hear“ Twenty Five” and talk with him about 50 percent of the population being under 25 years old, its eye opening, especially coming from a place where I never doubted that I would live long enough to see my 30s.“ Down By The River” is also a great song riddled with depressing themes. While he has lost many friends like the one mentioned in the song, he hasn’ t made amends with all of the losses too. Perhaps I probed him too much, and perhaps I shouldn’ t have even gone so far, but I had to ask him if there’ s any of his fallen homies that he wishes he could say some last words to. If he hated me for the question I could not tell, but he responded with“ I’ m sorry.” He explained how he could have helped his friend redirect his life into more positive activities, but he simply didn’ t. And although I definitely made the mood a lot more somber, there was real emotion and real things that had to be said that day.
A few days later, Mir would lose another comrade in Camden.
Meeting Mir Fontane was a lucky opportunity that I will always cherish. In fact, healong with Jon and Veli- inspired me to do something more important than just make a living through interviews and parties. Mir Fontane is an anomaly; according to where he’ s from, he shouldn’ t even be alive right now. But somehow, he made it and is working to change his city and give the people in it hope. That’ s why Mir Fontane is up next, and that’ s why you will always see The Roshua Review supporting that man because his music inspires while bringing problems to the spotlight, goes in while bringing hope to his troubled city, and shares a story while simultaneously becoming your new favorite artist.
RJ
Check out the full interview below:
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