You’ve probably already seen the video of a homeless gentleman begging for change while holding a sign reading “I have the God-given gift of a great voice” – and then proving, when asked by a local reporter, that he really does possess an incredible voice. It is a great story with a great new beginning, as this gentleman now has several job offers. I’d like to show you another video – it is in fact the very first video I ever uploaded to Youtube, and it features another obscured talent, another dream deferred…At the time, I asked anyone watching the video to please write a beat for it, help him produce a track, and I’d put them in touch.
Sadly, no one did, and I’ve since lost his contact info – at least, current info – but if anyone out there wants to write to this, I will try damn hard to find him in Miami in a few weeks; he lives near the outskirts, in the industrial area, where parties are often thrown during WMC. The video is totally dark, as it was shot on-the-spot in the middle of the night, but the song is powerful. If you listen with headphones, you can hear my sorry attempt at offering a vocal bassline, as he kind of beatboxes the punctuation between verses. He said it was his letter to (then) president George Bush. Anybody got a beat for this? I know the odds are against finding him, but if this other video from Ohio proves anything, it’s that one can’t ever give up. So wherever you are, Sir, I pray you and your family are in better circumstances.
VazquezNYC | March 31, 2007 | 0 likes, 0 dislikes
I MET THIS GENTLEMAN AND HIS FAMILY AT A WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE AFTER HOURS PARTY I WAS SHOOTING FOR URB MAGAZINE. HE HAS EVEN MORE AMAZING A CAPELLAS FOR SALE. I CAN PUT YOU IN TOUCH AND AM NOT INTERESTED IN ANY AGENT’S FEE.
- honestly…i didn’t think twice about watchin this video bcuz it was so dark…but hearing the whole song just makes_ life seem that theres’ some1 out there thats’ doing worser than u!!! so stop complainin!!! give all u can but especially give from ur heart…it means a lot!!!
kristie16101 3 years ago
kristie16101 3 years ago
This displaced-but-dginified Brooklyn son should be the announcer for Brooklyn’s new basketball team (see text below)
Note to Jay-Z and Brooklyn Burough president Marty Markowitz: I thought your stadium idea wasn’t really as good for the community as you claimed (stadiums never are) but since you’re still going ahead, watch this interview: this gentleman claims Brooklyn as his home turf..forget the old Lebron James debacle, let’s draft this gentleman away from Ohio to be the Voice of Brooklyn’s b-ball team. Now that would make for a righteous homecoming. R.I.P. Frankie Crocker, the signature voice of one of the greatest radio stations of my NYC youth, W-B-L-Sss. (say it in a baritone w/reverb)
Extra-credit reading: a brief history of homelessness. Image of a homeless man living in sewer in Vienna circa 1900, corurtesy of Wikipedia
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