April 3rd, 2008. My boy Frosty Freeze has left us. Over the last decade, I didn’t get many opportunities to see Frosty but whenever we did, there was always an abundance of love and fond feelings between us.You see, way before I was down with Doze or West or Poke or the legendary and iconic graffiti crews, The Cool 5 and Fame City, my sister Pat brought home this dude named Kano Tc5. I was 13 years old when Kano took me to a nightclub called the Roxy where parts of the movie Beat Street was filmed. At the time, the place was Hip-Hop’s mecca. This is where I met my friends Roz-One and Frosty Freeze for the first time, along with Crazy Legs, Dondi,Keith Haring members of the New York City Breakers and just about everybody who was somebody in the mid-80’s. The thing was that I was only a shy, little, dirty Puerto Rican kid and nobody paid much attention to me. Roz-One and Frosty immediately took me under their wing and showed me mad love my first night at the Roxy. Try to imagine what it must have felt like being embraced by the legendary, vice-president of the world famous Rock Steady Crew at 13 years old. It's crazy.Soon afterwards, I got my first job as a messenger in midtown. This was way before the fax machine and e-mail was even thought of. Roz-One and Frosty were also messengers. Frosty for Lee’s Art on 57th street. This is where Roz and I would meet up with Frosty on many a perfect Spring afternoon, neglect our duties to hang out for a little while, smoke some weed and talked shit. Good simple times that never fail to bring a smile to my face when I reminisce about them.I can honestly say that in the twenty six years since I’ve met Frosty, he has shown me nothing but love. He never disrespected once. And it's wasn't because I was so special or anything. Frosty was like this with most everyone he came across. He was a rare character this way, especially in New York in the 80’s where dissing was a way of life. It was tough times back then. Not for folks with thin skin. I’m going to miss dude a lot and I know I’m far from alone in this. To have really known Frosty was to love him. Everybody dies. It’s just a part of life that I’ve accepted and become comfortable with over my life. It’s been a very long time since I’ve shed a tear over someone I lost. But I just couldn’t help but shed many for Frosty, even as I write this. We didn’t just lose a Hip-Hop legend and pioneer, we lost a very beautiful soul. Rest in peace, Frosty. I love you.I like to view the video below with the volumn turned down, listening to the song on my page, "Stressed Out" by A Tribe Called Quest. I find it to be a better experience.I've learned that no matter how much you think you know or been through, life is always ready to show and teach you some more. It's nice to feel confident and sure of yourself, but remember that humility is always just a slip away. Love hard and reckless, but not at the sacrifice of your self-respect. Then it'll be hard to even love yourself. Life can be good or bad, but always appreciate it for what's worth. Everything could be taken in a blink of an eye, and then things will definitely be worst. Do your best and if you slip, don't bother to beat yourself up. Others will do that for you. Just get up and keep on going. Always, always question who you are, and more than anything love yourself more than anyone can ever love you.Only then, you can love others like nobody else can and the people in your life will never forget your
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12OUNCEPROPHET
