It has been stated, one cannot be a true artist without first
experiencing pain. If that is accurate, BloodRaw has struggled all
of his lifetime to earn the right to be a hip-hop Picasso. Thats
why my music is so soulful. I have people crying when they hear my
music because Ill only spit what Ive been through.
Born to a mother that did the best she could to raise he and his
sister by hustling, BloodRaw learned the game at a tender age. By
age 12, BloodRaw lost the center of his universe when his mother
died. As for BloodRaws father, Tupac described it best, the coward
wasnt there. So, to put food on his table, BloodRaw did what he
knew best, serving fiends with whatever vice they needed. Street
life is not as glamorous as music videos describe, it is a matter
of continuing to exist. Unfortunately, as with most urban soldiers,
the life was leading BloodRaw to the grave or jail. It just so
happened, the latter got to him first.
After losing 6 years of his life to the Florida Department of
Corrections, BloodRaw saw the time spent as a blessing. The time in
prison allowed BloodRaw to cool down and reflect upon the life he
was leading. Soon, he began putting his experiences to paper and
testing his verbal skills in the yard. Day by day, year-by-year,
the other inmates noticed this young, brash, and focused lyrical
monster gathering crowds under the basketball hoops. They began
awestruck whispers among themselves, Damn, dat boy is blood raw.
Meaning his ability to rhyme was amazing and off the chain! Ever
since, he was rightfully dubbed, BloodRaw.
When his release date finally approached in 1998, BloodRaw decided
to take rapping seriously and joined his uncle, Dennis Wesley at
the Hip-Hop Cafe in Atlanta, GA. Since he was responsible for the
music that was played, BloodRaw rubbed elbows and linked with the
hungriest talents who just wanted to be heard. The likes of 50
Cent, Ludacris, and JT Money were constantly in attendance during
the Rap Offs every Friday night. In fact, he often picked the
brains of these future millionaires while he broke their music.
Ludacris even placed BloodRaws son on the intro to his
multi-platinum Chicken & Beer album.
In 1999, BloodRaw decided to move back to his native Panama City,
Florida to join the Niggaz Fo Life (N.F.L.) crew. However, the
storybook ending he was looking for was postponed after an
appearance on former Lox member Genoveses album did not blossom as
he had hoped. Undeterred BloodRaw theorized, not everybody is
promised to get out of the streets so he continued his annual
grind. Luck occurs when opportunity and preparation meet. Luckily,
BloodRaw found a management team in C. Wakeley that prepared him
for the opportunity when fortune smiled upon BloodRaw at a show in
Dothan, Alabama.
I performed and Young Jeezy was impressed with my show. Although I
was talking with T.I. and had a few other situations, working with
Jeezy just felt right. A week later, BloodRaw became an official
member of Jeezys crew, USDA and toured the country. But as Michael
Corleone learned, once you think youre out, they pull you back in.
Fresh from an appearance on MTV in front of 8 million viewers,
hours away from a European tour, and a lifetime from the soul
sucking vacuum of the streets, the federal government snatched
BloodRaw at the passport office and charged him with the same
crimes that sent Boston George (of the movie Blow fame) up the
river.
BloodRaw changed directions from living the life to fighting for
his life. BloodRaw would have to serve a mandatory life sentence if
found guilty. With a 98% conviction rate, there is a reason why
Biggie said, only the feds I fear. Against this heavy pressure,
many have folded, flipped, or snitched. BloodRaws response? I could
never live and face my son knowing that I had snitched. This
situation is bigger than the federal government; it is in Gods
hands. And I have never felt such peace.
To paraphrase Jay-Z, even though the D.A. tried to box BloodRaw in,
somehow he beat the charges like Rocky. And the entire state of
Florida rejoiced! But, BloodRaw with a smile attributes his victory
to God. He knew my heart. He knew I gave up everything to do my
music. I could have easily went back to the streets after He took
away everything. But, Ive got relationships instead of fans. I had
so many people praying for me that Im sure He was like, who is this
dude?
Now with a new lease on life, BloodRaw does not plan to waste a
second. Ive adopted a new nickname, Mr. Florida because the game
plan is to get back to business by repping my state. BloodRaw is
constantly in the studio making fire tracks like Indictment Papers,
Problems produced by Orlandos DJ Nasty, Getaway produced by
Tallahassees Justice League (Mary J. Blige), and My Way featuring
T-Pain. Plus, fans can look forward to a BloodRaw edition of the
legendary Bigga Rankins R.N.R. mixtape and BloodRaw becoming the
first Florida artist on DJ Dramas Gangsta Grillz mixtape series.
Not to mention BloodRaws debut solo album is set to drop on Young
Jeezys imprint CTE Records.
BloodRaw has learned when you go to jail or die is when you find
out who really loves you. This is something you should learn when
youre alive. Thankfully, Mr. Florida will see first hand how much
the world loves their music BloodRaw.
Click HERE
for a BLOOD RAW Audio Video Presentation
For booking BloodRaw contact:
Coach @ 850-294-0533 or Terrance "Snake" Hawkins @ 404-425-2974;
404-425-2274
Emails:
snake@czar-ent.com;snakeczar@gmail.com
Blood Raw management:
Jimmy Henchmen of Czar Entertainment 212-414-2483