BlackShoes

BlackShoes was born in Bridgeport, CT, which at one point had a higher per capita murder rate than New York City. He and his mother would eventually move to safer surroundings but not before BlackShoes soaked up the creative energy the city had to offer. As a child, BlackShoes was always into drawing and writing stories. Give him a pen and a pad and he was the most well-behaved child you could have over the house. He was content as long as he could write stories, songs or create his own comic books. However, his creative mind almost got him in trouble in the third grade. His mother had to make a visit to Multi-Cultural Magnet School when a teacher got a hold of a song he wrote. It spoke of things well beyond what a second-grader sees every day, such as guns and world politics. BlackShoes' mother reassured the principal that her son's home life was fine and that her son was just a very creative young boy. BlackShoes would continue his love for writing a number of years later when he switched his college major from physical education to journalism. Although he had a full plate of classes, BlackShoes made time to host a weekly Hip Hop radio show. These shows often featured live performances by local rappers and marked the first time BlackShoes rapped over the airwaves. BlackShoes' main reason for pursuing journalism was to become a boxing writer. That goal has already been accomplished. He's been ringside for boxing legends such as Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, Jr., Pernell Whitaker and Evander Holyfield. He's interviewed or rubbed elbows with Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Oscar de la Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. BlackShoes has met a multitude of stars from the entertainment world while covering world championship boxing matches, including a slew of Hip Hop greats he never thought he'd meet. He sat right behind one of his all-time favorite rappers - Jay-Z - at one fight. BlackShoes has seen the Hip Hop stars up close and personal. He has seen how their fame makes them role models. He has seen the difference they can make in their communities when they become famous and give back to where they came from. BlackShoes is no longer content to be a writer observing these rappers from ringside. He's on a mission to become a well-known performer himself and recent albums from top-notch lyricists - Common, Jay-Z, Nas, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Kanye West, etc. - have inspired BlackShoes to once again pick up the pen and pad - and also the microphone.