It was 2016, with Summer approaching and a real🧯scorcher in Cincinnati that day! Sis, Cameron Joy and I were loading the car with a couple outfit changes, making our way north to a videographer she’d referred me to. Ilyas was his name.
He was medium height, thin build with long locks that hung past his waist. Big brown eyes, quirky smile and intriguingly handsome.
Sitting down with him at a nearby Panera Bread, discussing the vision of my video over a Mediterranean veggie sandwich and a cold green tea kind of felt like meeting up with an old homeboy. I’m not sure what he ordered though, it was whoofed down so fast, I forgot.
The fact he wasn’t worried about impressing me, made me like him even more. For him, it seemed more about how we could create amazing content. He was abstract with a deep and wild imagination. I instantly felt his vibe and hired him for the job.
Before he pushed record to shoot, let me give you a little bit of history.
Here I was, just 2 years into what some coined as “the truth” and having released my first “truth” album called UPLIFT, I felt ready to share a visual aid for one of the most transparently raw songs I’d written to date - 🎵 Freeeeeeedom.
Thinking back to when I wrote it, I woke up that morning with a chip on my shoulder. As I sat at my studio desk, in a 2-bedroom apartment, I felt suddenly overwhelmed with all of the things I was learning: The Father’s name being blotted out of scripture, the awareness of His chosen people, the lies beneath the holy city, the deception in Christianity and the search for answers that continued to pull me deeper in uncertainty.
I thought to myself,
“You ever have one of those days when you’re sick of it? Sick of the bull, sick of everything the world has ever been!?”
Therapy for me is pretty cheap when you can release your pain and frustrations on a beat. This method has worked for over 20 years, and I praise the Father for hearing my cries and bottling my tears.
Pulled up iTunes, pressed play on a vintage Tone Jonez track and lyrics began to flow.
After the writing session, the stress was less as it felt so good to get the cocktail of emotions off my chest.
Now back to the video… when we arrived at the videographer’s house (most call him Illy), we had a loose plan, to hit the streets, beat the heat and create something lookers would be interested to see.
We wanted to take advantage of natural light as it can be a great way to capture good looking footage, however, like I mentioned at the start of this story, it was boiling HOT hell that day. Any breeze that was supposed to blow that day, called off.
Well, we’re here now, might as well shoot.
The record button was pressed. As they say… Lights, camera, ACTION!
I won’t go through the entire day, just know the white girl you see in the beginning of the video who handed me the “shades of truth,” Robyn. She was my AC that day. My cold glass of water. My “You can come cool off at my place and change fits if you’d like” angel. She was the videographer’s friend and stayed just a few blocks away from where we were shooting, so when things got too hot (literally) - insert Robyn in the script. Straight up blessing.
Once I cooled off and freshened up a bit, I thought to myself, maybe she’d want to be a part of my history. I knew I’d take a smidgen of heat but aye, I’m not affiliated with any of those crazy Israelite camps or Hebrew assembly cults that hate other races. Why not give her a shot to act and add some contra-diversity to my vid. It worked out. Besides, she did save me from roasting in what felt like the Sahara Desert.
Fast forward . . .
An email from Illy came through saying the changes requested were made and that the video was edited and ready to be seen by the world. I was juiced. I downloaded and saw it for the first time. I just sat there staring at the computer, clicked play and watched again… “Sis are you busy? my video’s done, wanna see it!??” shared with my sis and watched again. I was satisfied with what I saw. I took a deep breath and pushed the upload button to share it on Facebook. Yes, I was on Facebook at the time. A lot has changed since then. In fact, it’s been 2 years off since June 1, 2020, but who’s keeping track 👀 (cheese).
What’s it saying now… “processing video” and at this point I’m both overly excited and extremely nervous. You see, at the time of leaving Christianity, not everyone was leaping for joy or doing cartwheels with glee. Those were some hard times, man. My beat business took a hit, as it was supported mainly by Christian music artists, so called “ministry partners” weren’t very understanding of my new position. They slowly drifted away with no communication in sight. I felt alone.
Aware of the criticism and judgement one could receive to release a video with this type of message - I knew what I could face and was up for it.
When passion and purpose collide - the truth will be set free.
As I came into more knowledge of the real truth of my identity, it left me feeling discouraged because the majority of the Pastors out here aren’t teaching the real deal, and the leaders who seemingly scratch the surface are too afraid to lose their position and funding, so they don’t make a big deal about it. Sadly, many of the so-called leaders who are considered “woke” are in it for money and control.
Congratulations, your video has been uploaded.
O snap, too late to turn back now, lol. FREEEEEEEDOM (Music Video) had over 12,000 organic views and 400+ shares on Facebook within the first week of its release! Whew-hoo!!
A special shout out to the handful of people who gave financially to make the -Freeeeeeedom video a realty - especially my brother Deric.
The whole purpose of shooting and releasing the video was to prick the heart of those who have had questions about their identity, the foundation of their beliefs. It’s incredibly amazing how Yah can take my pain and frustrations, uncertainties and questions, morph them into music and allow a visual seed to plant hope.
Are we the covenant people? Were our ancestors, who were enslaved, in those chains due to disobedience? Was there a plan with all the other nations to conspire against us, snatch away our culture, language, divide our families and ultimately separate us from our Creator so we’d take on the ways of the heathen?
This was no light pick 2 from Panera, rather a heavy meal to digest. The intent was to share my awakening journey of our true identity and make one feel uncomfortable just enough to start seeking Yah for answers.
Thank goodness Jerimiah (Yermiyahu) 3:33 says,
“Call unto me and I will answer thee and show you great and mighty things you do not know.”
Do you think The Most High, Yah would want His people asleep in a delusion, when scripture clearly says His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge?
Now many people can be blessed by the words, further investigate the story and be awakened by the message.
Thank You For Listening
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6 Year Anniversary 🥳 & The Story Behind “Freeeeeeedom” (Music Video)