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It’s 1988 in the Fort Greene Projects of Brooklyn, NY. At the height of hip hop’s first golden era a young Awon came home from school to Ralph McDaniels and Video Music Box when Big Daddy Kane’s “Ain’t No Half Steppin” debuted. For the then eight year-old Awon, emceeing became a passion he would undoubtedly pursue. As hip hop gained mass appeal, Awon found his place in a locale frequented by rappers. Greene’s infamous residents: Dana Dane, the notorious 50 cent, and Supreme Magnetic were rising names in the neighborhood. When crack-cocaine arrived in the Brooklyn streets, Awon and his family got out, relocating to Virginia. As hard as the epidemic hit cities across America, Awon hit the page with rhymes. Awon honed his skills performing in talent shows across Newport News and Hampton until the streets got the better of him. He became a felon and was sentenced to the state until his twenty-first birthday, Awon was 15. He wrote rhymes to relieve stress and worry while serving time. Good fortune landed Awon his freedom in 1997. Determined to refocus his energy, Awon poured into rhyming with support and guidance from older cousin, Jay Swift who introduced him to Jinx the Juve (Def Jam) and Papoose (Kay Slay) in 1998. That same year Swift introduced Ike Infa Diamond who with Jinx, Papoose, and Awon formed The Black Cartel (Medina Records). The group split in 1999 when members pursued recording contracts with major lables. Unshaken by the breakup, Awon became one of the premier emcees in the Seven-Cities through word of various freestyle battles and ciphers with hip hop legend Kool G Rap. In 2004 Awon met Al Bumz (Soul Students) through a mutual friend. The Soul Students family included Kameleon who provided a jazzy canvas for Awon’s melodic flow, think CL Smoove or Phife Dog. The single “Would You be True” was produced by fellow Soul Student Indelible and features Tiffy the Gift; it’s a gritty reminder of how hip hop used to be and still is since its break by DJ Bee of 103 Jamz in May 2005. His resume also includes collaborations with Memphis rapper Dulla and fans across the country. To Awon, hip hop has been in a constant struggle with corporate America for exploiting the culture for the past two decades. Awon is one of only a handful of complete emcees still approaching music for what it is and not what it generates. |
