This is my brother and dear friend Jeremy.

As kids, he taught me to love hip-hop, basketball, and people unapologetically. That it’s cool to care about people. That it’s okay for you to tell the people you love that you love them. That it’s powerful to connect with your emotions.

We both grew up pretty far apart, but those seeds germinated within me and contributed to the person I’ve grown into. 2 Years ago, when I heard of his passing, I felt frustrated at myself. Frustrated at imagining how many people he has touched. Even though it’s impossible to reflect back to someone in their lifetime, I selfishly wished that I had the awareness, or the -something- to show him what he did for me. Every big bro deserves to see their siblings go on to do great things, to love themselves, and to use their gifts to support and uplift others. I realized only after getting the news, that I had not shown him much of my version of the art form we shared a deep love for— RAP MUSIC.

I wished that I could show him how well I could put words and ideas together. How I had learned to express myself unapologetically and love myself enough to do so… because that was not always the case for me, and it’s something he hoped for me during our time of being in each other’s presence.

This song I write to him, so that everywhere he is, he can know that I am okay and hear me sing about the gifts and woes of my path. This song I write also in honor of the part of his spirit that lives within me, so that others can listen to it, and smile, imagining him out there somewhere, balling on a mountain, with a deep love for life and people.

I sing to him by sharing this love with those that he has loved and who have loved him, and find joy in rapping to my big bro in this way, for the spark of his eyes is reflected in the eyes of so many.

Feel free to download. I don’t want your money.

I would rather you donate to the summer camp scholarship fund in his honor. I love you forever, bro.