RE: A Tale Of Transformation: Why I Legally Changed My Name A Decade Ago...
I like to consider myself unique for having two middle names (David Josiah). But the journey you went on to decide on your name (A Rocker / Sekker) is one of the most interesting stories about a name change I have heard.
Yes Cascious Clay to Muhammad Ali is also a great story, but does not have the same depth if I were to be completely honest.
I've listened to some of your more recent music and tried to tell my Dad that I had been in contact with a really cool Canadian DJ. (Being old school he assumed you simply picked out what songs to play on the radio).
DJ'ing is a skill that especially effects what's going on behind the lyrics. A DJ like DJ Mustard brings his trademark "plinking keyboards, slower BPM, repetitious handclaps" to DJ Khaled with his infamous "Anothuhh One."
But club DJ's have skills that are unique to them. I listen to your music to get in a creative writing spirit and since this was more about your name and less about your music I'd like to share a link for those to enjoy your unique sound. Rok-Sivante Music
Even though hip hop moguls like Russell Simmons, Puff Daddy and Pharrell Williams are extremely wealthy, I find it funny that so many people have no idea who Russel Simmons is.
It was nice to not only see your progression in names, but also how your life changed along with it and led you to some incredible stories & experiences.
In a way, that's partly why I identified with / related more to Simmons - working more behind the scenes. He & Rubin were visionaries in fuelling the popularization of an entire culture.
I respect Diddy's hustle and drive for impact - though would never want to be a star like that myself. Though even Simmons is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum as a Dealmaker, where I'm a Mechanic...
Gotta keep reading through wealth dynamics. Rick Rubin is so famous in the hip hop world, but again even less well known than Simmons. I love reading up on rap/hip-hop history. I've been to my share of mainstream artists, but had the pleasure of meeting a few underground and not as commercial gritty artists.
Who would ever guess Rick Rubin to look like this?
Lol! Dude, that shot of you with DMX giving you the finger is GOLD!! 😅
His baby mama drama led him to be imprisoned in new york near me and this was the day he got out at a sneaker store in the mall. He owed about $500K in child support, but I can't help but love DMX and his bark and gritty badassery, his personal conduct is a different story, but one that is often repeated in the rap game.