COME IN2 THE LIFE OF THA PRINCE

Born on October 22 1975,the first of eight children, to a Marine and his wife, THA PRINCE was put into a position to lead and teach from an early age. Raised with Marine like standards and this many children teaches you to hold your own, protect your own, and live with almost nothing at times. It wasn't hard all the time, but the rain showed more than the sun. Whatever the case he was brought up to live the good times, survive the hard times, and take nothing for granted, because it can all be taken away in the blink of an eye. The week of Dr Martin Luther King JR's birthday, second grade. His class was given an assignment to find out, and report to the class how much they could learn about this man, and his mission. THA PRINCE immediately became interested once he learned that this man was assassinated, and died for what he believed in. This prompted him to go further than the rest of the class, and gather as much information as he could and compile the most extensive research paper as possible. After watching television specials and reading as many newspapers articles and books as he could, he went into the classroom and gave a presentation like his teacher had never seen before. THA PRINCE, then, at an early age knew that there must be something in life that we all fight for, live for, and ultimately die for. He decided that this was his cause. He decided that he would make a stand, and be different than those around him, if needed, that he would always support the under dog, and stand up for the right, no matter the cost. Maybe you think this is a bit too extreme for a child in the second grade. But then again, maybe you don't know THA PRINCE.

COME IN2 THE MIND OF THA PRINCE

It's around the age of fifteen, or sixteen that most boys think they are men, and can hold their own. Shortly after this time THA PRINCE figured he could do the same, after all it says in scripture, "…there comes a time in a mans life, when he will leave his fathers home, and make a home for himself…" his home was soon to be anywhere he could lay his head. What man in his right mind will admit defeat, and go running back to the home, which he left? He figured, any man, except a real man. So, after sleeping on park benches, washing in restaurant bathrooms, and crashing anywhere with a heater and blanket, THA PRINCE decided something must change. But it wasn't that easy.

COME IN2 THE TIMEZ OF THA PRINCE

All of us are born wild at heart, to test our boundaries, and know our limits. We all act up on occasion, we all feel as if this world hates us at one time or another. The type of person to take every action to heart, THA PRINCE remembered everything that anyone ever did for him, good, or bad. He decided, while spending a night in county lock-up, with his girl pregnant with his child, that he had strayed from initial plan to keep on the straight and narrow, and ended up back where he had started. "I walked into the cell expecting to be out by that evening. It was my first offense, no big deal, a little less than $500 in stolen merchandise, I was good at it. I didn't have a job, it's how I was making a living, F%*k 'em I said, they wont hire me anyway, I don't look like your average person. I was also pissed at the fact that people would actually judge me by how I looked, rather than how I was. I guess it took a little more time for it to sink into my head than it does for most, actually, I was trying to give society another chance, after chance, after chance. Finally I said forget it…i'm taking control, they are gonna know what they missed out on by judging me, by having this prejudice towards me, I'll do it my way! I tried their way, they kept pushing me around!" This is the path that many troubled, insecure, or unfavored youth take. THA PRINCE took it also. It wasn't worth it to him to keep fighting clean, if everyone else fought dirty, he decided to beat them at thier own game. This eventually led to the experiences that would help mold him with a prince's mind, and a soldier's heart. "It was only one night, about 32 hours to be exact, but I did more thinking, and retrospection in those 32 hours than I had ever done in my life!"

COME IN2 THE HEART OF THA PRINCE

His girl gave birth to his daughter shortly after. He married her one month later. THA PRINCE tried college, working two jobs, plus the community service that he was sentenced to for the $500 dollars in stolen merchandise. He figured if he put him self in that position, he had to get him self out of it. "I wanted it to work, I wanted to have a family, I wanted to do something right with my life. I believe that the man should be able to supply everything a family needs, but that it should be team work, and both parties would contribute in their own way." Within months after being married his wife was screaming for a divorce. She said that she couldn't take being married, and not being able to things that single people do. THA PRINCE was determined to show his wife, who was only 19 years old, that he would never give up on her, or them, even after some of the things she did to adversely affect the relationship. They were together for approximately five years, married for four. "It got too hard to handle, her coming home every night drunk and/or high. The lies kept building up, I couldn't trust her anymore. With out trust, how can there be love? At this time I was 100% involved in trying to get a record deal, I need someone I could rely on, someone who could understand me, and if not, just respect me, and what I was doing. She had a hard time with that, and I guess that caused her to act up. I had to walk away, I couldn't let her fits get in the way any longer." It was the first time in life that he had given up on anything. It made him more determined to go after what he wanted. "I pulled out Machiavelli's 'The Prince' I read it again, understood it more, and I understood why I had adopted the name as my own in the first place." "I'm a big fan of 2pac. I started listening to hip-hop seriously after hearing 'Holla if ya hear me'. It struck me in a way that pop music, rock music or any other genre couldn't. It was speaking the truth. The influence that 2pac's music had given me has only gotten stronger with time, and doubled the nite I heard he had passed. He could have been President, he could have made 300 times the impact on society that he had, if his time on this planet wasn't so limited. He had a lot to say, he was doing a lot, like building rec centers for innercity youth, and starting a non-profit organization. He had a lot more to do, and a lot more to say. I decided that I would try to take the torch, and carry on his message. There was a lot to be said, still is, I hate seeing people sleep on the streets, or on benches in Washington Park. I was there, I need to help them. If not for any other reason than paying back humanity for those that helped me. I was always good at art, good at poetry, I was writing since 5th grade. This was my mission in life. It was going to be how I could let my message be heard. It is the way that I will make places for these homeless families to live. It is the way that I will carry on DR Martin Luther King JR's and 2pac's dreams. It is the way that the youth will follow, if I can get them to pay attention. They will know that there is a better way, that things can work out if we put our heads to it. I'm not trying to take anyone's place, I'm not trying to be anyone. I'm trying to do my part. Music makes people listen. I will make people listen."

C LIFE THROUGH THE EYEZ OF THA PRINCE

Come take this journey. C what THA PRINCE has to offer. C what he has to speak. C what he has to shout. C what the world has to c. "IM bringing to the table what no one has ever brought before. I live my life for this. I live my life for the masses of the people who can't receive from life what I can. Roll with me, or stand to the side, but when the dust settles, I PROMISE YOU I will still be standing. Label me a rebel if it helps you brush me off, label me a rebel if it helps you ignore the truth, label me a rebel if you don't understand, that which you don't know." "I'M doing this for DR Martin Luther King JR, I'M doing this for 2pac, I'M doing this for the children with out families, i'm doing this for the families with out hope. I'm doing this because it is my life."