My Love For Music

 

My love for music started in my mother’s womb and only grew as I grew. Music was always playing—my mother and her friends made sure of that. I grew up listening to Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Earth, Wind & Fire, Tina Turner—and the list goes on.

Rap was just as big in our house. My brothers stayed playing Grandmaster Flash, Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, LL Cool J, and more. Listening to all of that now still makes me smile. Those lyrics? They hit different. When The Message came on, that was the breakdancing-on-cardboard type of jam.

And listen—couldn’t nobody tell me I wasn’t singing Tammi Terrell’s part in Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. I was loud, off-key, and fully committed. I just knew I was her.

Growing up the only girl in a house full of boys wasn’t easy. I tried to keep up—especially during my “rap era.” I memorized songs just so when their friends came over, I could jump right in like I belonged. At the same time, I was low-key earning my “spy wings,” reporting back to my mama, Ms. Juanita—only the important stuff though. I wasn’t trying to get us all in trouble.

But my brothers? They had my back. They didn’t really have a choice—but still, we rolled together. One love.

One memory that will never leave me is dancing in my mother’s thigh-high burgundy boots, a disco ball spinning, and What's Love Got to Do with It playing through the house. Little skinny me, singing at the top of my lungs— “What’s love but a secondhand emotion…”—like I was on stage somewhere.

That was at 51 North Columbus Ave, Freeport, NY. I still remember that address like it’s part of me.

Because honestly… that’s where my love for music became real.

Stay Tuned, There Is More To Come.