AOS "OZ"

In The Beginning...
Born and raised in one of Toronto's most notorious west end neighborhoods. Aos is emerging as one of Canny's most talked about artist. As he shares his own truth on life, poverty and the image that threatens our society as a whole!
Nurtured wit tough love and raised by his mother, Aos and his brother grew up south side Jane & Finch. But in this household, Aos would grow up by himself. Often feeling alone and neglected! "At tha time, I never got along wit my brother. We're okay now but back then it was different. He was five years older and I was tha youngest of five. So you can say we shared different points of views!". With a tedious schedule, life's pressures and a commitment to the church. Aos's mother would spend more time on the road, than at home. Leaving Aos’s older brother..in charge! "My father was gone. So my mother like most mother’s, had too work twice as hard and more just to get bye! So, we didn't spend a lot of time together. But when we did, she was strict!".
With a strenuous relationship with his mother and brother and the world rapidly changing. Aos would have no choice but to look within himself for support, hope and answers. "It's a tough task to deal with when your four years old. I mean there ain't much love out here on tha streets and all you got is yourself! So you gotta protect yourself, hold your own and struggle to survive. That’s it!". Transferring from school to school, Aos's personal and academic behavior got worse. "I couldn't focus in class. There was too much going on and too little answers!". With no progression in school or outta class, Aos would be placed in a behavioral program. "They said I had a temper and I needed to be placed in a class for tha bad kids. I mean that sounds strange to me...like I’m going to jail or somethin' (laughing). I mean I live in tha hood! You can't put me beside tha bad kids! I live wit em! Next door and all over tha block (still laughing)! But I don't regret it (fading laughter)! Shooot! It made me what I am today. I mean tha struggle alone was a significant factor! You see tha struggle gave us an opportunity. It gave us an opportunity to see the world for what it is and things for what they are! So yeah, we got strong! And yeah, we got deep! But it made me humble!".
After the fourth grade, Aos would return to a normal classroom. However, his grades and life struggles would remain the same. In his high school years, Aos would barely pass or barely attend. Transferring yet again, to a second high school, Aos would eventually dropout. A reality partially due, to a couple new found blessings in his personal life. "I don't wanna disrespect school or nothing like that, but to each their own. There's real problems out here, so lets face fact! Whether we pass or fail, they get paid! So tell me who's here for who? How much do they care? I mean you can tell how much they care cause for those who work, there's more people wit jobs, than people wit careers! And most people don't even like their jobs! They wake up in the morning and say everyday, I don't wanna go to work! But we don't have a choice! We still gotta work. Why?...Cause that’s our only means to survive or at least some think so. So tell me, is it fair? Is it fair that it’s either that, end up dead or end up in jail! Now I don't want you to get me wrong, I'm not telling people don't go to work. We have to work, one way or another! But it's how we do it, that has been a problem in the past and increasingly now! That's what's affecting our economy! We have a lot of people who go to work, non-energetic, unmotivated, non-productive, disorganized and all because they don’t like their jobs. So that affects their personal life and work ethic! Now I’m no rocket scientist or no Uncle Tom but these are four conditions, that is a major problem in each and every single business and corporation today! So if they can't figure that out, then they got another thing coming!".
If the future is ours, then the future is Aos! As he shares his experiences, words and views, with the world. "I'm not doing this for hip hop. I'm doing this for tha globe! That's what's important here! We need to check ourselves! We need to find our roots, learn to stand up and be somebody! We can't just sit down screaming broke no more cause help ain’t coming! I’ll tell you straight! Unless we start giving back to our communities, start taking care of one another and start having some pride in ourselves...our future is lost! We are all one, yet we fight one another for color! Land we don't own! Highest status and don’t forget male dominance! Shallow, foolish, petty and feeble! You can say what you want bout' me! I wake up just like you. Two arms, two legs and a head on my shoulders. The only difference, is our heritage, our culture and our mind set! But these aren’t things to be ashamed of, these are things to embrace! Is that a child's waste of time? That's a child’s education! Matter of fact, it's a lack of historical education that allows us to possess a lack of honor towards one another. So there is no king among man! Not today and not ever! We are all one! Man and woman are two of the same, created equally! So I’m telling you and I’m telling you now! We need to awaken our minds and find our soul, or greed will be our downfall! Peace to all people.".
“The blind man sees what his eyes cannot. For he see’s threw his heart, to establish the mind! Vision.”
Aos