Braille.... finally home from the road

Ladies and gentlemen - after shredding the road together for 3 months, my family has finally arrived back home.

Some people might be wondering why we are home already. We were actually scheduled for two more weeks on the Warped Tour. My family was traveling with Othello and his family on the Warped Tour for the first full week - and we were having so much fun together. Me and Othello have always been close friends, and our wives have developed a special friendship together as well. Being on the road together wasn't a problem at all. On the flipside, the Warped Tour is much different then a normal tour. Most bands ride in tour buses with a designated bus driver. We were doing our own driving and staying in hotels each night. Everyone was handling the situation like troopers but me and Othello were barely making enough money to cover the traveling expenses. Rather then digging ourselves in a hole, we decided it was best for my family to drive home, Othello's family to fly home and for Othello to finish the tour SOLO - riding on one of the buses. I'm so glad that we were able to spend some time on the Warped Tour - I learned a lot during that week. Props to Jamie and everyone who was performing at the Skull Candy tent. I really hesitated leaving because I was enjoying everyones company so much and I knew people were planning on seeing me at certain dates on the tour. In the end, we had to do what was best for everyone involved.

Braille.... Paid Dues and still crusing

Hello hello.  The last two weeks were so crazy I never had enough time to write a blog.  The first thing I want to talk about is the Paid Dues show I performed at in Denver, CO.  There was also a second Paid Dues event planned for Berkely, CA but it got canceled at the last minute.  The Denver show was amazing!!!!  DeLa Soul was headlining this concert and they were definitely one of my favorite groups when I was growing up.  This was the third time I opened for them and their live show still blows me away.  There are very few groups I can watch that make me feel like I want to step up my game.  They are still one of my favorites.  I run into Trugoy from the group and gave him a copy of "The IV Edition".  Hopefully he'll get a chance to check it out.

The first artist I ran into during the event was Sage Francis.  I wasn't sure if he would remember me but we met about 9 years ago when I was 17.  He did remember and he was a little surprised to see my name starting to pop up again.  I've been making music non stop since last time I saw him, but I guess my name didn't really start buzzing again until after this new record dropped.  It's been an exciting process!!!  Other artists I was able to meet and give CDs to include Murs, Yak Ballz, Gift of Gab, Double-O of Kidz in the Hall and 9th Wonder.  My encounter with 9th Wonder was dope because we did a song together 5 years ago but this was the first time we met in person.  Apparently I was one of the first artists to pay 9th Wonder for a beat...(we did our song together before he worked with Jay-Z).  9th asked me if I had a laptop with me and after he performed we met backstage and he put 10 beats onto my computer.  Murs, Supernatural, Scratch (of the Roots), and many others were in the room while this was happening.  It was a dope Hiphop moment and a couple of those beats will probably end up on my next album.

There is one last story I want to share from Paid Dues.  When it was my turn to perform I wasn't sure how the response would be.  Many people in the crowd had never heard of me.  The show ended up going really well, a lot of people bought "The IV Edition" that night and I also handed out free copies of other Hiphop IS Music titles to spread the vibe around.  At one point, I was going to the parking lot to get more flyers and I met a guy working the door.  His name was JD I believe and we would have small conversions whenever I would run to my car.  I don't usually share these kind of stories because it's personal between me and the individual - but JD talked with me about how he had fallen away from God and how he was inspired that night to start serving God again.  I was so amazed that even in the midst of one of the biggest Hiphop shows I've ever done - God could still use me and remind me why he has brought me to the places he has.  The bible says if a shepherd has 100 sheep and one of them gets lost then the shepherd will leave the other 99 together to go find the one who was lost.  This summer has been all about shining light, being an encouragement to the communities I visit and trying to find a few lost sheep along the way.  My next blog will talk all about the Warped Tour!!!!  Gabriella is still smiling every day on the road.

Nikki...from LA

So we are in LA again! We passed through here at the beginning of our tour...It feels good to be back on the west coast. I love it! I feel like I do not write blogs enough. Time passes so quickly it seems. We are starting what we are calling "The second leg" of our tour. Bryan and one of his best friends Othello are on the Warped Tour. Im excited for this part of the tour because Othello and his wife Rebekah and their son Asa are traveling with us! We are all together in our van! Rebekah is a super cool girl! We get along really well...we have so much in common and have very similar personalities. Thats really a plus because when you are basically living in a van with someone its always good to get along haha. We all just met up today. They flew in from Michigan, and we drove here from Denver, CO. So much has happened since I last wrote. For one, Gabriella and I flew back to Oregon for my soon to be sister in laws bridal shower! It was such a nice visit. Gabriella LOVES her  "mi-ma" and "poo-pa" and they are pretty much obsessed with her! It was hard saying good bye. When I was there it was a little shocking. I had been on tour for almost 2 months. On a hectic schedule and staying in hotels and different cities every night. Then suddenly I was back home where everything was familiar. After the first day home felt normal again, and seeing Gabriella enjoy her grandparents and vise versa was great!!! I saw my grandpa while I was there ... he used to be a traveling salesman, he took my grandma and their 5 kids with him. so he totally understands what we have been doing, when I saw him he asked me how things were going. I said "really well" he asked if I was getting tired of the road, I took a second to think about it and I answered honestly "no" then he said to me "traveling gets in your blood doesn't it?" When he said that I knew exactly what he meant, because it really does! I am so thankful I am able to experience so many different places and people while I am able to do so. And to do it together with my family is an absolute blessing.

        I was driving today and we went through Vegas, it appeared out of no where, it was all desert then there was LAS VEGAS! I have been to Vegas a few times before. There is something about that city! All the different colors and flashy buildings. I can see why it is so appealing to people. The sad truth is that alot of crazy/horrible things go on there. Today we saw a bill board that straight up was asking if girls wanted to "make a dirty movie" for "500 bucks" It was awful. When you see the true side of Vegas you know why its called Sin City. We also stayed in Denver, CO for a bit. And discovered some really good places to eat and get coffee at. Its hilarious Bryan and I have our "spots" in almost every city we visit. When you eat out so often finding a good place sticks in your mind. This second leg of the tour is going to be crazy! Mostly because we are on someone elses schedule. When Bryan books a tour he can control how far apart shows are etc. But the Warped Tour is different, they let you know when to be there and when you perform each day. Its going to take some getting used to! Luckily I will have Rebekah with me ! So there will be someone else going through what I am! Even though it will be different I think its going to be a good experience for us all. I am looking forward to meeting new people and Bryan is excited to get exposed to new audiences! I will write again soon!  

Nikki...From Michigan

Hi everyone...

   We have been in Michigan for the last few days. I have been having a Blast here. We are staying with Othello and Rebekah, some of our best friends. Its nice being around a couple you have so much in common with. So the guys have been writing some new songs and recording (having a super fun time :) they also have some local shows in the area, its cool that they are able to perform together after so long. 

  Othello and Bekah had a baby boy about 7 weeks ago. His name is Asa. Gabriella loves to look at him and point while saying "baby baby!" then she lets me know he has a nose, mouth, eyes and feet. She really enjoys pointing out those things on babies, its so cute. 

  In about a week we are going to be leaving on tour with Othello, Rebekah and Asa. The guys are going to be on the warped tour. We are really excited but we know it will be challenging. The schedule is pretty intense. And I know we will be tired. I also know we are going to make some life long memories. Its so cool we have the opportunity to tour like this while our kids are young. Before the warped tour Bryan has 2 paid dues festivals he has to fly out to, so while he is doing those, I am flying home with Gabriella to Oregon for my soon to be sister in laws wedding shower. Im really excited to be visiting home, it will be really nice to see my parents and brother. Gabriella and my mom are best friends so I know Gabriella will be very happy to see her! My parents have not seen her for about 2 months. She has grown so much and developed such a personality in that time. I am excited for them to be able just to watch her to the hilarious things she does :) The only sad thing about taking Gabriella to see her grandparents is taking her away from them again. I just feel horrible, I almost feel like I am teasing her or something. The good things is as long as she is with mommy and daddy she is content. Im crossing my fingers she does not get mad at me for taking her away from "mi-ma" and "poo-pa"  :) 

   I have been really tired lately, I dont know if its because we have been at one place for so long and my body is just not used to that, or if I am not getting enough sleep. We have been staying up super late each night watching Lost. Othello got Bryan and I hooked! Its an amazing show, the writing is super intense. Luckily he has the DVD's so we are able to watch episode after episode. I have to say the Office is still my favorite show though... :) I will write again soon! Right now I am baby sitting Asa, and he is waking up!!! good bye! 

Braille....from Michigan

What's up ya'll.  A quick entry while I'm in the studio working on new Lightheaded material.  I've really been enjoying time with the family.  We had an incredible concert in New York with the Youth Explosion team.  After that we spent a weekend in Baltimore - shouts to Trey and his family for the great hospitality.  I rocked three shows in one day, starting with a sunday morning service and ending with a jam in the basement of a fancy hotel.  I originally had a Saturday night concert that got canceled, so with the help of some friends I was able to rally together three last minute gigs.  Pretty fresh.  After a successful weekend, we went to Washington D.C. and celebrated with a visit to the National Zoo.  Gabriella liked the monkeys and lions (kitty cats) but her favorite part was playing inside the giant pizza playground.  haha.  We stayed at another incredible hotel and I want to officially give props to www.priceline.com.  If William Shatner (sp?) every decides to retire from their promotional campaign then I will gladly take on the job.  haha.  Staying in 4 and 5 star hotels for under $150 is really fresh.  Right now I'm in Michigan, chilling with Othello and getting ready for the warped tour.  During our preparations for the road we are also finding time to record new Lightheaded songs and watch season 1 and 2 of the TV show LOST.  That show is crazy.  I never followed it before but I've been enjoying watching it on DVD.  Oh, and notice the picture of Gabriella wearing Nikki's shoes.  She has been doing that a lot lately and it's hilarious.

Im BACK! ... Nikki from New York

Oh my gosh! I feel like I have not written a blog in forever! Well, I guess that because i haven't. I stayed with some family in PA for almost 10 days. It was a blast. Gabriella and me got some good down time and got to spend some quality time with family that i hardly ever see.  I told Bryan that i have been avoiding writing a blog since i got back because I feel like i have to much to write and i wont be able to remember it all..or I might go over board and tell you every detail and then the blog would just get boring. All in all i decided not to worry about it and just write how i feel. 

  I ran into a bit of bad luck right before i met back up with Bryan in New York. First my luggage was overweight so i had to take out a bunch of clothes and shoes making my carry ons extra heavy.  I missed my flight, and was a nervous wreck! Then was on a stand by flight. They called my name and as I was stepping onto the plane i heard my name again...turns out the lady who was missing her flight decided to show up extra late so i had to come back and wait even longer for another flight. After all that i finally got to New York and Bryan had lots of surprises for me! He booked the Grand Hyatt on 42nd and Lexington Down town Manhattan. For 2 nights! He also got me delicious pizza which i ate in bed. I pretty much laid in bed for the rest of the day because i was so worn out from my travels to the city, as was Gabriella. We love being in New York , for many reasons. The sounds of the city, all the culture, the food, the convenience and the history. And of course the music scene! After a couple days of relaxation we headed to Queens. Bryan did a performance for one of the largest youth groups in New York. The experience was great. We fell in love with this church. The people were amazing and the youth inspiring. It was the first time that i could see myself living in New York having a foundation in this church. Its in the back of our minds, but only God knows the future :) While we were in the city we got to meet up with a couple more friends such as Bryan's manager Mike.  he is hilarious and we all get along so well...we went out to dinner at an outdoor spot .. the weather was perfect! the food delicious, it was a memorable night. 

 From New York we headed to Baltimore and again met some life long friends. One of Bryan's friends opened his house to us. Him and his wife have 2 little girls. One is 2 years old so her and Gabriella got to play for about 3 days. Gabriella is getting better at being social. For along time she would just avoid kids her age, but this time she actually opened up and played. So tonight we are in Washington DC . And its actually somewhere i have never been before!! I was excited to visit and see the sights! We took Gabriella to the National Zoo..and she loved it .. in her own way .. randomly running in circles and being in a jolly mood hehe. We are staying at a hotel called the Palomar, its a Kinton hotel and i have to say its the coolest place i have ever stayed, its technically in Virginia since DC is so small, we crossed the border in about 10 min from where we were. This hotel is gorgeous. the way they explain it is "art in motion" and that's exactly how it feels. Every detail is covered from a nic nak on a table to a light fixture everything is unique and artistic. The colors are calming , dark and robust. A down feather comforter makes the bed a dream to sleep in. If you are ever in this area, i highly recommend this hotel!  Its about 12:20 so I think i need to get some sleep. We have about a 9 hour drive to Michigan where we meet up with Othello and Rebekah and their new baby Asa! We are so stoked to meet him...i will write soon...:) 

Braille.....from NYC

 I've had a pretty incredible week.  It would be hard to tell all my stories cause each one is so unique but I'll try to share all the highlights.  This blog covers a full week, from one tuesday till the next.

day 1 - I did a performance at the www.ughh.com store in Boston, MA.  Rather then just doing one or two songs - I did a full 35 minute concert including bonus freestyles.  Footage should be going up on the website soon.  One guy drove from Maine for this event, that's love!!!!  He's the one in the grey throwing up the "IV" in the picture.

day 2 - I drove to NYC and stayed with my manager.  We watched the American Idol finale and then went to www.wnyu.org where I did a live interview and freestyle for the "Halftime Show".  DJ Eclipse using runs the show but he was out of town - either way, I had a great time.  I got a recording of my freestyle and I intend to put it up on Myspace soon.

day 3 - I had a show in Danbury, CT.  The turn out was a little small but I had a great time kicking it with DJ Halo.  He showed some super hospitality and also DJ'ed for my set.  Adam B (journalist who interviewed me for Beyond Race) was in the house and all the other acts gave excellent performances.  Two kids drove to the show from an hour away, unfortunately they weren't old enough to get in.  The venue was called "Cousin Larrys Cafe" - so they assumed it was all ages.  I felt bad but was glad that I got to chat with them before the show.

day 4 - There was a huge youth event in Agawam, MA.  I was performing in a church and there was about 200 kids (see picture with kids in the front).  Shouts to Fat Soul, Wut and all the other performers.  This was a memorable night, when it was time to talk with the crowd I felt like God was really moving.  I crashed at a wonderful hotel and did some much needed laundry the next morning.

Day 5 - I drove back into New York City and got ready for my show.  The doors didn't even open till 11 PM and I ended up performing around 2 AM.  It was a late night, but the show was incredible.  My friend Ken (from Seattle) came to the show with his brother.  My manager and his girlfriend came through, and overall there was a great crowd.  DJ Halo linked back up with me, so he held down the wheels and that always brings a fresh energy to my set.  The performance definitely felt powerful.  I even had an intern from DefJam ask for a CD.  Word.

Day 6 - So I mentioned my friend from Seattle was in town for NYC.  It just so happens that my friend Ken works for the Seattle Mariners.  He translates for Ichiro, so he was in town because the Mariners were playing against the Yankees.  He was able to get me 4 free tickets for the game and I was so thankful.  First of all, the weather was perfect.  Second, our seats were stellar.  Third, this is the last season for the original Yankess stadium.  Forth, my dad was a baseball fanatic - so I really enjoyed the game because I know it's something he would have LOVED.  It looked like the Mariners were going to win, which I was kind of excited about but the Yankees pulled away with the win after scoring 4 runs in the 8th inning.  It was a roller coaster game for sure.

Day 7 - I had a day off so I ended up hitting an open mic that a local artist named Propaganda Anonymous invited me to.  The spot was called Sin Sin - and the vibe was super fresh.  There was a live band - just a 3 piece - plus two singers.  The singers would drop hooks and then a line of MCs would take turns freestyling the verses.  After feeling out the vibe for a bit, I stood in line and waited for my turn.  When my turn came, they switched the format.  Me and another MC had to trade 4 bars back and forth.  This is all freestyle!!!  I love freestyling, so it was no problem but after waiting in line for three turns of trading 4 bars - I started getting restless.  I wanted to flow longer.  haha.  So when my next turn came, I couldn't resist and I just kept spitting past my 4 bars and dropped a full freestyle.  That's how the whole night was before they started the trading, so I just wanted to get my piece in before the night was over.  My timing was perfect because the open mic literally got shut down after my turn - simply because it was two in the morning and the band probably was ready to call it a night.  Real dope vibe though.

TODAY - So today I had a live performance for fearlessmusic.tv.  Check out the website and you'll get a feel for what Fearless is all about.  Bands come in and do a performance in the studio and it airs on Fox late nights.  DJ Rob Swift came through and backed me up for this performance, and I also had some friends add live instrumentation.  We had Ben on the guitar and Charlene on the keys and vocals.  The set up was super professional, so we all did our best to be professional as well.  We knocked out all four of our songs without messing up once - everything went super smooth.  We were able to watch back our performances on a nice flat-screen in the lobby and it looked/sounded amazing.  Once I get more info about when the show will be airing - I will definitely spread the word.  Anyway - my wife and daughter are flying into New York City tomorrow morning.  We have two days off and I was able to book us an incredible room at the Grand Hyatt Hotel near Central Park.  I booked the room using Priceline and literally got about 50% off of the normal price.  I can't explain how much I've missed Gabriella and Nikki.  Tomorrow is going to be more exciting then all the last 7 days put together!!!!

Braille ... from Boston

So right now I'm chilling in Boston.  I have so many stories to share.  First, that picture of me and my wife in the car shows me holding a Rockstar brand coffee drink.  I don't really like the Rockstar brand but I bought that particular can because it was "lite" and I wanted to share it with Nikki.  Anyway, when your on the road - you get tired of the usual gas station options for beverages.  I'm not much of a soda guy.  I got intrigued by the Monster brand coffee drinks.  A lot of them are pretty tasty - and I have curious taste buds.  haha.  I like to try new things rather then just have the same stuff over and over again.  I have one question though - are these drinks bad for you?  I can't really figure it out, so in all honestly - I am really limiting my consumption because I just don't know much about it.  I'm not an "energy drink" type of guy, so I like the Monster drinks mainly because of the taste.  If anyone knows much about it, let me know.  In the meantime, I think my curiosity has been quenched.

This week has been pretty intense.  I did 5 shows in 5 shows and drove about 6 hours each day.  Not to mention, since my wife was staying with family in PA - I've been completely alone.  I've been waking up, driving all day, rocking shows and then repeating the cycle.  It hasn't really been that bad though - but I do kind of feel proud of myself when I arrive into the next city on time.  haha.  The picture with the highway sign is from when I was passing through Scranton, PA.  Home of the Office....haha.  

So about my show in Buffalo - this was a crazy night.  I arrived to the venue around 7:30, which was way to early cause apparently heads in Buffalo don't get started until super late.  Since nothing was going on, I wandered over to a Jamaican spot and ate a beef patty with cocoa bread.  It definitely hit the spot.  This was my first time in Buffalo so I didn't have any friends from the past to visit with.  I did however enjoy chatting with Tone from Deepthinka and DJ Cutler.  It was fresh to meet the guys and build a bit in the local scene.  I didn't take stage until around 1:30 A.M. or something...haha.  I wasn't sure what to expect but I just poured my heart out on the stage.  At the end of the show, I got a lot of love from the crowd.  Edreys was in the house, and there was also a local crew called Sons of the King who rolled deep.  They performed after me and had like 12 dudes on stage.  haha.  After the show we were all building and it led to a huge prayer huddle right outside in front of the bar.  I stayed the night at Tone's spot and his hospitality was great, he even cooked me some potatoes in the morning.

To close this post, I will explain the bowling score above.  haha.  Bobby Bishop had an event in NorthHampton, MA and he invited me to be apart of it since I was in town.  Me and Bobby played two games of bowling and although both of us struggled to even score 100 each game, Bobby did take me out both times.  We attempted to throw a concert in the bowling alley but the sound system was a little insufficient.  I was playing submission hold and the sound of bowling balls rolling was much louder then the beat.  haha.  None the less - Bobby took a moment to share a message with the kids and we all ended up huddling together and praying before it was all said and done.  I've been staying with Bobby's family the last two nights and we've been having a lot of fun.  His daughter loves it when I stand on one leg (I'm a one trick pony, haha) and so she had me jumping around on one leg for like two hours strait.  Tomorrow I performing at the Undergroundhiphop.com store in Boston.  I'm really looking forward to it.  Thanks for tuning in.  Much love.  peace

Braille..... from Philadelphia

Hello.  I got a long drive today so I'm going to keep this short.  I rocked three shows in Pennsylvania over the last three days.  It started out in Washington - which was a show at my cousin Andrew's church.  One guy drove like two and a half hours to come and see the show.  Crazy.  Another guy drove from 30 minutes away.  It was hilarious because the youth at the show were playing some games before the concert - and the two guys who drove to see some Hip-Hop got recruited to play some broom ball.  haha.  It was like hockey with brooms.  You never know what your getting yourself into when you come to a Braille show.

Nikki decided to stay in Washington, PA for about a week because she has a lot of family there that she doesn't get to see very often.  So I'm doing the next 5 or 6 shows on my own.  I miss them already, but I think it will be refreshing for them to stay in one place for awhile.  I did a show in Pittsburgh and that was a memorable night.  Shout to Destro for setting the gig up and shouts to all the local homies like Conduct, Set Surgeon, Calm, Mike and many more.  The Pittsburgh show ended up being pretty comical towards the end.  I fumbled my lyrics for "Shades of Grey" - which doesn't happen often - and ended up dancing for awhile and joking with the crowd.  We all had a blast.

Last night I rocked in Philadelphia.  Shouts to AOI, The Hustle Band and Vitamin F.  The local talent was all rocking with bands, so I was the only solo artist.  Muze One, Victor (the macho twin from Holy Culture Radio), Phanatik, DJ Essence, Tekson and others from the Extreme Tour (it was a surprise to see them, cause they just happened to be in the area, but they come from Texas), Shai Linne and many more were in the place.  Although the crowd was small, it was a very meaningful group of people and it was an honor to share what I do with all the Philly homies.  After the show I went to DJ Essence's studio.  Official was supposed to come through with some beats, but he had other engagements so me and Essence made a song together right on the spot.  It turned out really fresh.  That joint is going to be exclusive for a mixtape coming out soon.

Anyway... I'm on my way to Buffalo.  Just wanted to give a quick update, it's been a busy week for sure.

Braille.... from Washington, PA

So here I am in a Panera Bread again.  Haha.  This last week has been an adventure.  We drove from Rockwall, TX strait to Chicago, IL.  Look at a map, it's a long drive.  We stopped half way somewhere in Missouri.  We were staying at a Comfort Inn and Gabriella wanted to play instead of sleep after such a long car ride.  The next morning we continued on our drive and arrived in Chicago about 20 minutes before the concert started.  Gabriella was restless after spending two days in the car.  Nikki couldn't really stay at the show, because Gabriella needed some alone time before being surrounded by tons of youth.  

I performed at a spot called The House in Chicago and they were doing a Stop the Violence special.  It was an honor to be part of the event.  They were offering free AIDS testing to the community and spoke about some of the violence issues happening in the city.  Many young people loose their lives way to early from un-necessary gunfire.  We can't blame any ONE person for these social ills, but we all can play a roll in helping to bring PEACE.  Before I performed I had to run to my van to grab some CDs.  The neighborhood we were in didn't have many white people.... and while I was walking I crossed paths with a black guy.  (please excuse my use of "white" and "black" because I know they are very bland terms).  Anyway... I said "what's up" as we passed and he reached out to shake my hand.  He said "that's right, we gotta stop this racism stuff".  It was a short moment, but it was definitely significant.  Unfortunately, there is still racism happening in the U.S.  I don't witness it very often, but every now and then I'm reminded that it still exists.  In some areas two people of different colors shaking hands is no big deal, but in some areas it's still very rare.  I've always been friends with people from all different nationalities, racism has always seemed ignorant and pointless to me.  I don't judge people by the color of their skin.  If someone does me wrong... that's between me and that person.  I don't hold it against their community, their skin color, their race or their family.  The history of the U.S. is littered with hateful things that have taken place... .a lot of racism and separation.  In some communities you still see the effects of things that happened 30 or 40 years ago.  It's painful and I definitely want to play my role in loving both sides of the fence and help bring healing.  While walking around this neighborhood in Chicago, there was a lot of broken glass on the concrete, kids running out of buildings at full speed, broken windows with boards.  I'm really thankful for The House and the work they are doing to bless the community and invest time in the youth.  I was glad to be a part of it.  Shouts to Pastor Phil Jackson!!!

I also met another guy at my show in Chicago who took a Greyhound Bus from Michigan just to come and check it out.  At a few of my shows people have come from long distances to see the concerts, give me words of encouragement and just build.  It's been incredible.  The next day me and the family celebrated Mothers Day in Indiana.  We had a Jacuzzi room at our hotel... and although me and Nikki didn't get a chance to soak in the tub together - the Jacuzzi was the perfect size swimming pool for little Gabriella.  haha.  My show in Indiana was also very significant because it was a mothers day event.  The crowd was small but I was able to share the stage with YSG Timothy (who I've talked with via email in the past) and some other artists from within the region.  Props to DJ Rhino for setting it up and blessing the Mothers who were in attendance.  It was a real fresh night.  After the show I took my wife out to eat so we could close out Mothers Day with a bang.  Earlier in the day I also took her shopping for some new clothes - .... I still think shopping in the mall is more exhausting then rocking a show.  haha.  While I was in the mall I picked up a June issue of The Source magazine.  They did an interview with me in the "Under The Radar" section and also reviewed my record.  I used to cut out pictures from The Source and hang them on my wall when I first started rapping.  It was an honor to finally be featured in that magazine.  www.rapreviews.com also reviewed my record this week - so it's been a pretty exciting time.