When I first came to Dallas, itching to make a name for myself (both in real life and in music) I had tasted the bitter-sweet smack a bit, but I didn't realize I was about to be jumped into the gang of life. My first place I called my own home was a hotel room. Me, my girlfriend (now my wife), a cat briefly, and four walls. It was an honest experience that I've only been able to relate to one other person. At the time making music, I didn't know what to talk about, didn't know what people wanted to hear, and slowly I started not to care. That was a good thing though, because my message evolved into something more potent even though I didn't realize it.
It gave me reason to express myself in way. I didn't necessarily want to be proud of not having anything at the time, I always wanted more and better, and whats next (sometimes that led to us making sacrifices we probably could afford) but it did open my eyes to others like me. I call it "poor like me" not because of a dollar value, but because each time I improved my life a little bit, whether it was getting monthly bus tickets instead of daily ones, finally getting an apartment, or finally getting a car, I was still able to relate to people who shared pieces of my experiences because at one time or another, they were poor like me, no matter how they were now.
So even if I ever make six figures, or get the so-called "life changing record-deal," there is a place inside me that can't turn away from people who aren't and may not be as privileged because I remember sitting in that hotel room wishing life would get better and I remember, they're just poor like me.
