On July 1, 2022 I officially released the single "I Want Peace". I originally wrote I Want Peace in 2002 as part of a finals project in one of my College classes. The U.S. was still in shock over the 9-11 attacks and the start of the war against terror. It was these events along with the gang violence happening in my area that inspired the song.
In 2011 I reworked the song in hopes of officially releasing it but life just got complicated for me as I was settling down in a new country having moved from the United States to Norway.
In late June of 2022 I was invited to perform at The Protest Festival in Kristiansand, Norway as part of an event that would be honouring Leo Ajkic. Leo Ajkic is a Norwegian-Bosnian presenter for radio and television in Norway. Ajkic and his family fled Mostar, Bosnia due to the civil war in Yugoslavia . After four years on the run, they found themselves in Norway. Ajkic was eleven years old at the time.
Learning Leo would be receiving the Erik Byes Award for his work and contributions to society I dug into my archives and retrieved the song I Want Peace and reworked it yet again. I thought the song was still very relevant after all the years that had passed by. I also thought it was a perfect song to start the concert off with honouring a man that has accomplished so much after experiencing all he and his family had. I also thought releasing I Want Peace in the midst of the war in the Ukraine was also just as well the state of the Hip Hop where rappers are being killed near monthly.
While working in the studio recording I Want Peace I reflected over my entire life. I have lived my entire life during times of wars and also the constant threat of even more wars. The constant thoughts of one day World War 3 erupting and finally ending humanity as we know it. I thought of my life coming up in violent environments and having to become violent in order to survive. Just thinking of all the turmoil and unrest was exhausting. It is as though I have been fighting for everything my entire life. I have fought racism as a youth. I fought off bullies. I became so enraged I began to fight others just to fight becoming somewhat of a bully myself. I fought with my parents, with teachers, the police and the courts. I fought for my rights, I fought for my life and also for my freedom. I realized that I was tired of all the fighting. I was tired of all the wars being fought while so many in the world struggle as a result of wars. It was at this moment I decided rather than fight another day of my life, I would become Peace, and spread Peace, in every which way I possibly could.
The release of the single I Want Peace sparked something up inside of me I couldn’t ignore. A transformation was taking place and I welcomed it. I fully embraced what was taking place. It was at this moment that I knew there was much more to releasing the I Want Peace song than I had imagined. Releasing the song would be the mark of new beginning for me, a new journey towards fulfilling my purpose in life.
I Want Peace is now on all streaming platforms. You can hear it and PLEASE follow me on Spotify below. Thank you and may Peace be Unto YOU! #letsmakepeacegoviral
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