SE7EN

A wise man once quoted, "Great works are performed not by stength but by perserverance." This would definitely prove to be true when speaking of the rap artist Se7eN. Born March 25, 1982 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL as Derrick Crew to a struggling home, Se7eN endured a tumultuous childhood. With his father leaving two years after his birth, there was little to no stability in his life. This lack of stability would prove beneficial because it would lead him to seek solice in the arts. "In my childhood years I could literally draw portraits of people, but because my talent was not encouraged, I slowly lost that talent." With no encouragement and instability bountiful, It was clear that 7 was going nowhere fast. "As a 9th grader I attended school 30% of the time and drove a stolen car to Georgia with drugs in the vehicle." Afer being arrested and bussed back home, he was adopted by Sharon Irons. She supplied everything he needed. "She is the number one reason I'm who I am today. She personally can take credit for my high school graduation. The future was definetely dim prior to her." The adoption was indeed a life raft in a sea of trouble, and distant dreams seemed much more obtainable.

          Even though Se7eN was creative and musical, it would take the loss of his football scholarship and a heart condition to open his eyes to the possiblity of a music career. After blueprinting Se7eN ENT and SoundWavez studio, he decided to speak to the world as Se7eN, and through music. "I chose the name Se7eN for religious reasons. Although I am not a church-goer [laughing], I still respect the Cross. I looked at the number seven as an alternate icon for my savior. I tattooed a seven on me every time a miracle-like event happened in my life. So far I have five tattoos of the "7" on me. I know I will eventually add two more. One for my son, and the other when I get signed." It's true that life for 7 has been no golden road, but music and his passion for it has made life much more bearable. "Music is "in" me now. There are times that I will be driving or asleep and a song will repeatedly play itself in my head and demand to be written down. Music lives and takes its own form; I understand that I am just the the median and must relay the message." While most new hip- hop artist choose to hide behind good beats and catchy hooks, Se7en has chosen to take the road less traveled by lining his music with significant content, and often uses the voices of 2pac and Malcolm X to whisper significant things to his audience. "I want music that will live long after me. Music that will touch each person it reaches and inspires them. Music is in me. It is my essence, and I am Se7eN."