Senior AJ McCrea was put into foster care at age 12, and with nothing else to do, started writing lyrics, surprising himself and those around him with his talent.
“I wasn’t very good with words actually, and I had nothing but time on my hands, and I just started writing—all I had was a pad and a pencil,” McCrea said. “The first thing I wrote, I showed it to my social worker, and she was actually surprised that it was written by me, and she told me I should continue writing, so then I continued to write and write.”
Junior Caleb James first became interested in music during the fourth grade, when his mom signed him up for guitar lessons.
“From there I was hooked, and I just started listening to more music in my free time, and learning more songs on the guitar, and it eventually evolved into writing my own,” James said.
Sophomore Trevor Kikuyu says his musical beginnings were shallow, but then evolved into something deeper.
“It started off with me just trying to be cool in eighth grade,” Kikuyu said. “But why I became so passionate about it is it’s just a way for me to get negative energy out of my body. I feel like weight is lifted off of me when I’m done writing.”
Though each has a different story of how they started, they are all dedicated to making music, and they devote time and energy to it each day.
“I never really do homework,” said James about time management, saying he would rather spend time working on his music. “I’ve never really met anyone who likes music as much as I do.”
McCrea sets aside two hours every night to write, saving homework for later in the night, because if he’s tired, his writing isn’t as “vivid or clear.” Even with his set writing time at night, he continues to write throughout the day, wherever he is.
“Throughout the day I’m constantly writing, no matter what time it is,” McCrea said. “I might think of a verse, and I’ll write it down on my arm.”
Kikuyu mirrors the sentiments of James and McCrea, saying he prioritizes music over school, and that he’s struggled with staying academically focused.
“There’s a whole lot of homework—that’s what I have to battle,” Kikuyu said. “Last year I just said, ‘Forget homework.’ I just completely ignored it. I just didn’t do it; I just didn’t feel like I had to.”
Kikuyu says that not much has changed in his sophomore year, as he tries to improve his music.
“I just don’t do homework most of the time and focus on my music—go hard core,” Kikuyu said. “I do it as if it is homework; I do rap everyday.”
Visual arts teacher Leslie Burwell has had both McCrea and Kikuyu in her art classes. Kikuyu went straight into Visual Art 2, instead of Art 1, so as Burwell tried to get to know him, she learned about his passion for music.
“I was asking him questions, and Trevor was like, ‘I really love music,’” Burwell said. “With Trevor he’s always got a notebook, and he’s always writing music.”
Each musician has had struggles while pursuing music but believes these won’t hold them back from their dreams.
James worked “odd jobs” for two years to get enough money to buy the studio equipment he uses to make his music, and says that a career in music “isn’t a matter of if, it’s just a matter of how.” He acknowledges the challenges many musicians face, but says they don’t scare him.
“I’m acquainted with the struggling musician model, and I’m prepared for it,” James said.
Kikuyu says that his dream is to influence as many people as possible with his music and “maybe make their lives a little happier.” One of his biggest obstacles is creating work that stands out, so his voice will be heard in the rap world.
“Nothing’s ever promised, which is why you have to try as hard as possible to be better, to upgrade hip hop itself and bring it further, instead of saying in the same spot,” Kikuyu said.
Burwell says that both McCrea and Kikuyu are genuine artists, and she has seen them develop even over the past year.
“Both of these young men are really passionate about the words that they write, and they’re very influenced by some of the things that they’ve experienced personally,” Burwell said. “I think that that’s what takes a really good rap artist, is that it has to come from within, and it has to have a personal touchstone.”
McCrea’s struggle is deciding between majoring in production, business or graphic design. Though music is his dream, he acknowledges that it’s hard to make it in that world. He says a video of him rapping on YouTube has gotten 3 million views in the past, and that helped him realize that he has a chance. His ultimate dream is “just to change the world,” and says music is the best way to do that.
“Music is the perfect way for you to get your message out,” McCrea said. “People won’t listen if you scream or you talk, but they’ll listen if it’s put into song, and that’s what I’ve realized.”
– By Meera Butalia
