Today, I split my time as a writer between formulating press releases for cannabis companies, reviewing albums for music sites, arguing about random boxing topics on Twitter and dropping well-written comments on Instagram for women that I’ll probably forget to text back. However, things weren’t always like this. I’ve worked at a number of places, but I landed my first full-time job at the ABC News bureau in Washington, D.C. three years ago.
Just a few blocks away from the White House, I remember working one of the dreaded weekend shifts at ABC News as I searched through news sites and social media for a story to cover when I learned about the shooting death of Davon McNeal. At just 11 years old, he was shot in the head by a stray bullet shortly after a July Fourth peace cookout organized by his mother. In the world of television and general journalism, you read and hear about at least a dozen deaths each week. This was one was different. This one reminded me of the kids I used to work with at Amidon Bowen Elementary School near the Waterfront and Malcolm X Elementary School near the Southern Avenue Metro Station. I remember how one student introduced me to the concept of Mumbo Sauce as an 18-year-old college freshman. Also, I remember the time that I walked a kid home because his Mom didn’t show up to bring him home from aftercare and I nearly got jumped on the way back. Throughout the good and the bad, he kids made it worth it. They put it all out there just to make you smile and laugh. They’re kids.
All of these aforementioned emotions flooded through my heart as I listened to Big Stealf’s “Hunting Season.” As someone who grew up in the city that I once called home, he speaks about the way young teens are dying around the nation’s capital in a vivid nature that I never could.
“These situations never end well. Bullets aimed at your temple,” he raps.
“Family functions turned to screams,” he adds.
Beyond the emotion and backstory of what I felt about hearing this record, it’s also a major development in the work of an emerging artist. Way back when, Big Stealf, then Stealf Soulja, appeared on “Here Tonight” with First To The Aux alum Ainae. While the Washington, D.C. native held his own on the record, the story of that particular song was Ainae. This time around, it’s different. Over here at Def Pen, we receive a ton of new music each and every day, so it’s hard to keep everyone up to date about every artist that we think is dope. With that said, a lack of coverage doesn’t mean that an artist isn’t working. Big Stealf is a great example of that. Within the last year and change, he’s dropped a number of records like “God Complex,” “Homesick” and an album called All The Things I Meant To Say. Along the way, his hard work has caught the attention of Earmilk, Respect Mag, High Snobiety and of course, Def Pen. His bold perspective coupled with a heavy handed vocal tone allows him to cut through each and every track he’s on. While “Hunting Season” may be a bit heavy for every day listening, a track like “96” is a great to listen on a sunny afternoon drive and “Intro” is something I may find myself bumping in the gym.
With that said, today is about “Hunting Season.” Check out the new track.