Twenty years ago, at 23 years old, I released an instrumental album called Beats For Lovers. This was mid-2000s South Carolina. Crunk ruled the airwaves. Club records dominated. The South was in a very specific sonic pocket, and soulful instrumental hip-hop wasn’t exactly the wave. But I wasn’t chasing what was hot — I was chasing what felt good.

Age brings clarity. At 43, I know exactly who I am and why I create music. This EP is a product of that clarity. It’s not about chasing trends or fitting into a mold. Instead, it’s about sending out songs with intention, trusting they will reach the people who need them most.

When I made my first beat the summer of 1997 there was a fearlessness and strong feeling of necessity. It was like I was posessed and in my mind looping this record (Strawberry Letter 23 by Brothers Johnson) was the most important thing in the world. In fact, humanity was depending on me to loop this record over and over again on the first blank cassette tape I could find. As time presses on, adult responsibility and perceived expectation can be a real hurdle when it comes to

In 1995, GZA released Liquid Swords, and I went on a full-blown ’90s preteen adventure trying to get my hands on it. I was 12, and the album dropped right before Christmas—November. For a lot of my friends, that meant a copy under the tree. For me? Absolutely not.

Back in 2018 I was traveling down a rabbit hole on YouTube and Wikipedia. I started with Mike Tyson highlights and iconic moments which...