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The first time I fell in love with Hiphop was in 1987 when I was a little boy. Since then, it was as if something sparked inside of me. I became possessed with the spirit of Hip Hop. From way back then, I could write and remember rhymes. But ironically, only a handful of people stood by me throughout my musical journey. Freestyle battle after freestyle battle. Critic after critic. No matter how hard I tried or whom I’d beaten before, the answer was probably no whenever I showed up. That’s just the way it is.
Throughout my journey, from country to country, one show to the next, my haters held me to a standard and left me to stand alone. There are always those few who believe in me, and they encourage me never to give up. I appreciate that. One such person was my big homie, Joseph Wisman Jr., known as Daddy Wise. I met him as a freshman, and he was a senior at Christ The King College in Bo, Sierra Leone. He was also a University Of Sierra Leone student and later traveled to Germany.
When I was a refugee struggling in the Gambia almost six years after Bo, Wisman happened to move to the Gambia from Germany. He introduced me to people who helped me, provided reading materials to increase my knowledge, and took me out for many adventurous nights in town. Another ten years later, we met in the States, where I was now a financially stable young man. He celebrated my success with me as we spent many more days reminiscing about hard times in Africa. He reminded me of times when I almost gave up when he had encouraged me to hold on and be patient.
The playful, jovial and brilliant brother was in a place where no one really knew him and his life was taken for no reason. Another victim of gun violence in the United States.
Sadly, the gentle soul of Daddy Wise was spent on July 13th, 2013 (7-13-13) when Wisman was attacked and killed in Philadelphia. He never carried a gun, ever. I never offended anyone. He always smiled and did his best to help those in dire straits. Wisman was still ready with a good laugh. The playful, friendly, and brilliant brother was in a place where no one knew him, and his life was taken for no reason. He was another victim of gun violence in the United States. His families in Africa, Germany, and the United States mourn his passing as his friends remain shocked someone sorted and murdered this gentleman. May he Rest In Perfect Peace!!!*
