RIVELINO “R. D. B.†STERLINGRev Da Banditt
Every kid dream of growing up in a nuclear family, but Rivelino, known as R.D.B., was not afforded that opportunity. Born to immigrant parents from the poverty stricken island Haiti, R.D.B. did not have the luxury of growing up within a family that consist of a mother and father with a son and daughter who reside in the suburb. Instead, R.D.B. grew up in a family that one would not consider normal. R.D.B.’s childhood was full of turmoil and disappointments. As a kid R.D.B. wanted to pursue basketball, but his parents did not share the same dream for him.
R.D.B. (Rev Da Bandit) was born on March 31, 1981 at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. He has a 5 year old daughter named Mayah, 2 brothers, and 6 sisters. R.D.B. is the sixth of the eight children in between his parents. R.D.B. grew up in the immigrant section of Miami, known as Little Haiti. Little Haiti could be classified as one of the toughest ghettos in Miami. It is overridden with crime and poverty. It has its share of gangs and crime-lords. By the time he reached age 18, his mother and father split up and R.D.B. chose to remain with his mother. However, their relationship became estranged. He was mostly in and out of his mother’s house and some nights R.D.B. didn’t come home to avoid a confrontation with his mother. He eventually left his mother’s house and ventured out on his own. “Growing up there was not easy, †R.D.B. explained. Because him and his family were estranged, R.D.B. turned to the mean streets of Little Haiti to get the acceptance and affection he badly desired from his mother and father. Not to be too descriptive about his days on the streets, he hustled to get what he wanted and needed for himself & his daughter. Fill in between the lines.
R.D.B. is truly an artist. Other than basketball, one of his passions is writing poetry. In School, he wrote poetry for the girls in his class and had many secret admirers. He received praises from his peers and teachers. He is also a very talented artist. He excelled in drawings. He got accepted in the art magnet program at South Miami Senior, where he received great reviews for his work. He won numerous art contests and received many awards for his pieces. His artworks are displayed throughout several locations in Miami.
R.D.B.’s inspiration to embark on a rapping career is the well-known rap group of the mid 90’s Bone Thugs & Harmony and the late great Tupac Shakur. He recited B.T.& H’s lyrics like they were his own creation. He would write down their lyrics down on paper and recite them over and over again until they became automatic on his lips. R.D.B. set himself apart from other rap artists by describing himself as being real and genuine about the craft of rapping. “I talk about real issues that affect me in my music. I can’t talk about having a million dollar and driving a Benz because I don’t have these things, and even if I did, why would I want to?†he explained. His contribution to music, he explained, would be versatility. “I don't limit myself to one genre of music, I make music from my heart, how I feel, and
issues that affect me and others,†he claims. He describes himself as being limitless and original. The next Hip Hop Legend.
R.D.B.’s inspiration to embark on a rapping career is the well-
known rap group of the mid 90’s Bone Thugs & Harmony and the late great
Tupac Shakur. He recited B.T.& H’s lyrics like they were his own creation. He would write down their lyrics down on paper and recite them over and over again until they became automatic on his lips. R.D.B. set himself apart from other rap artists by describing himself as being real and genuine about the craft of rapping. “I talk about real issues that affect me in my music. I can’t talk about having a million dollar and driving a Benz because I don’t have these things, and even if I did, why would I want to?†he explained. His contribution to music, he explained, would be versatility. “I don't limit myself to one genre of music, I make music from my heart, how I feel, and issues that affect me and others,†he claims. He describes himself as being limitless and original. The next Hip Hop Legend.escribing himself as being real and genuine about the craft of rapping. “I talk about real issues that affect me in my music. I can’t talk about having a million dollar and driving a Benz because I don’t have these things, and even if I did, why would I want to?†he explained. His contribution to music, he explained, would be versatility. “I don't limit myself to one genre of music, I make music from my heart, how I feel, and issues that affect me and others,†he claims. He describes himself as being limitless and original.
The next Hip Hop Legend.
