What makes a soul singer? Is it his clothes? His words? Or is it his guitar? Well according to Purpose, “It’s about the music in his heart.†That sentence reflects the man and voice that is Purpose.Purpose was born and raised on the south side of Chicago to a middle class Christian family with high classed aspirations. His family was a musical and artistic family that saw something in this child of God. While he was taking early piano lessons as a child, his grandmother kept him grounded by introducing artists that paved the way for him like Nat King Cole, Donny Hathaway, and Mahailia Jackson. His mother introduced him to a wide arrange of musical revolutionaries like Freddie Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Natalie Cole, Anita Baker, and Will Downing. The one artist that stood out the most and has been the most prominent in Purpose’s career is the great Luther Vandross. As he honed his vocal abilities he found that his love for the baritone crooner was deeper than he thought. In fact Purpose listened to Luther so much that he began singing like him, and even vocally matching Luther’s tone and voice. That particular ability had people dubbed him “Lil Luther†while in college. Of course he was happy to get rid of that moniker. “For me to even be mentioned in the same sentence with Luther is already too much!†says the 27-year-old father of two.As Fate would have it of course, Purpose discovered his vocal ability in 3rd grade while singing in his church choir at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Time went by and he also discovered his tremendous love for hip-hop and the culture itself. Along with great singers and artists of his time like, Boyz II Men, D’Angelo, Eric Roberson, Frank McComb, Dwele, John Legend, India Arie, and many more, He began to tap into his own style and discovered who he is along the way. Also being introduced to the acoustic guitar he found more reason to live for the art.After accolades for his singing throughout High School, by the time he got into college in 1999, began to find another form for his expression. The Spoken Word. This was a time of change for Purpose (born Daniel Hammond), who has found a way for his music and his poetry to coincide to his own style of alliteration and metaphorical splendor.
While one day evaluating the complete decimation of good music. Purpose has decided to take the responsibility of bringing back true music from the soul by providing premier soul and spiritual vocals over jazzy grooves and smooth underground hip hop rhythms making sure that you are touched by the art and the sound all together. “I always said...If music was a drug, I’m not just the dealer…I’m the addict.â€God has indeed anointed this voice of power and love to touch the hearts of a tainted society…Are you ready for the revolution?Then stay tuned for music. this is still under construction
