Part 2 — How Music Saved One Man: The Story of John D.

Just as John was putting the pieces of his life back together, he was dealt another blow — mental illness. He was diagnosed with severe hallucinatory bipolar disorder. As a result, he was unable to read, had difficulty speaking and began hallucinating, where he saw imaginary people that he referred to as “the not people.” At this time, John simply felt “crazy.” He couldn’t even focus on his passion, music.

“My music didn’t make sense or was too complex. I had a great music composition professor/friend who told me ‘composing is not what you put in to a song but what you take out.’”

At this time, John was forced to take a leave of absence from SMU and sought medical help. During this period, John taught himself how to produce the music he had been composing. Yet through the darkness, John was able to find some solace.

“Yet, with medical help I got better and found that a little crazy can make you a better artist. I still have a little crazy left for that, and I am actually grateful for it.”

Once he got stabilized, he returned to SMU where he graduated, earned distinction in the philosophy department and won the Hoskins Award for Essay Writers.

As time progressed, he continued to work and improve his music, including the hip-hop he heard while living in the projects. However, John was faced with his largest obstacle to date – cancer.

In 2011, John was diagnosed with kidney cancer. A malignant, potentially life-threatening tumor was found in his left kidney. Doctors advised that this cancer was severely rare for men his age and John was facing a potential death sentence just as he was on the cusp of realizing his dreams.

“I was on my way to law school; I got a full ride scholarship for my work with the poor after graduating SMU.”

Luckily, the cancer was discovered in time and was surgically removed. This caused John to re-shift his focus and actualize his real dreams.

“That near death experience moved me to follow my dreams. I was given a full ride scholarship to Texas A&M Law School for the first year and completed it. However, being a lawyer was not a dream of mine, and when I got the opportunity to work [with] my heroes Paul Wall and Tech N9ne, I went after it instead.”

John has been cancer-free for 4 years and has been on a mission. He just released the first authorized and accredited remix of Mr. Pookie’s hit “Crook for Life” and has collaborated with celebrated artists such as Tech N9ne and Paul Wall.

Even after collaborating with some of the biggest artists in the game, John finds himself most at ease when working on his own, with the bare essentials.

“I work alone except when recording vocals. I put together a big expensive studio awhile back, but now when I’m writing and recording music, I almost always just use a laptop, keyboard, and headphones.”

Though the future is uncertain, John has one goal when it comes to his music – togetherness.

“I want to bring people of all social classes (from the poor to the wealthy) together as my music is a hybrid between the gangster rap and electronic dance music genres.”

Through his music, John wants to inspire and invoke change, that’s why he donates sales profits to Love Hope Strength.

“I donate all my song sale revenues to Love Hope Strength – a cancer relief charity. I want to inspire bigger acts and artists to do the same.”