Of course, this book wouldn’t exist without the goodwill of the people in it. Sincerest thanks to everyone who saw the positivity and made time to speak with me. There are far too many of you to name (sidenote: I’d always cringed when I read that in album liners, but now I understand), but I truly appreciate you all. I realize it’s my name on the cover, but this book is a combination of Songs In The Key of Life (Stevie Wonder’s landmark 1976 album) and Everything’s Fine (Jean Grae and Quelle Chris’ stellar 2018 album) with great voices and perspective filtered throughout the work, even if I orchestrated it. This much isn’t lost on me, either: It was tough to explain the focus of this book in an email, especially when there are so many things commanding our attention. That it was the first, or one of the first, books on Kendrick likely caused some reticence. He’s such a private guy and some worried that I was digging for dirt. As you can see, The Butterfly Effect wasn’t a celebrity biography in the traditional sense; it’s a testament to the creative community, and how staying true to your vision can ultimately change the world.
It’s taken a while to get to this moment, and I wouldn’t be here without family, colleagues, mentors, and editors who saw something in my work and decided to give me a chance. To my mother, Delores, my first best friend, and closest supporter. You’ve always been the ultimate parent, and from an early age, you let me determine my path without steering me to what you wanted me to do. You let me discover and guided me with a loving hand when I faltered. To my aunt Pam, my creative twin: I discovered the world through your record collection, and you were the first to teach me that great music is great music, no matter where it originated. I’ve always loved your real-talk perspective; it helped me through some tough moments. I learned a lot about music, culture, and life from my cousins Ike, Tiffany, and Eric. As a kid, I’d watch MTV for hours; then we’d play cassettes that I was too young to hear: N.W.A, Boogie Down Productions, Too $hort, Public Enemy, and so on. My cousins gave me a serious education in music; they’re the reason why I dig in the crates now. Love to my aunts Claudia and Claudette, my uncle Joe, and all my paternal aunts, cousins, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Big blessings to my siblings: Judy, Fella, Katina, and Angie. I love and think about you all even if we don’t talk every day. Love to my in-laws: Mr. and Mrs. Koroma, my sisters-in-law, Satia and Kamilah, and my brother-in-law, Mohamed. Thanks to Suitland High School as a whole, and to the Class of 1999, especially. We had some stars graduate from that class! Blessings to Bowie State University as well; the experience was immense.
Eternal love and gratitude to the Prince George’s Sentinel and The Gazette newspapers. Thanks to Vanessa Harrington and Ulric Hetsberger for showing me what leadership looks like, and to my colleagues for being the best reporting team in the region. Without a doubt, the biggest mentor in my career was Michelle LeComte, a tough-minded yet loving editor who’d scream at you on deadline, then sing your praises if you submitted a great article. She taught me how to be strong and compassionate, and to tell the truth with care. Thanks to the best reporting squad in the world: Janel Davis, Sean Sedam, Doug Tallman, Clyde Ford, Alan Brody, and Margie Hyslop. It was an honor to work beside you all. You’re all rock stars and I still can’t believe I got to share space. Thank you, Ginny Suss, for letting me write for Okayplayer (another sidenote: go back and check the “Boards” archives: there are plenty of people who came through that site who are now steering culture). Thank you, Godallahtruth Hall, for ushering me into the DC music scene, and to Jon Fischer at the Washington City Paper for bringing me into the fold. Peace to all the publications that ever gave a shot: SoundSavvy, Beats Per Minute, Prefix, Potholes In My Blog, BBC Music, Rolling Stone, MTV Hive, Billboard, Spin, NPR, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Pitchfork, Entertainment Weekly, The Nation, The Fader, and WTOP. I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank J. Edward Keyes for calling me up to Brooklyn from Washington, DC in the first place. You have the most nuanced ear for music I’ve ever encountered, and whether you want to admit or not, you’re a great friend, editor, and person who deserves all of the things. Bandcamp Daily is the squad.
To Brooke Hawkins: You’ve been my dear friend since high school, back when we compiled the Class of ’99 yearbook and shared laughs in the hallway. You’ve been there through every major life event, always with a smile and words of encouragement. You’ve always seen things in me that I don’t see in myself, and as I worked on this project, you were always there to cheer me on. I’ve watched you become a great writer, editor, wife, and a mother, and with each milestone, you’ve grown exponentially. Keep shining. Keep winning. Keep fighting the good fight.
To Brian Wallace: I still think about the first time I met you, at Suitland High School in gym class. I think about that basketball game and how you got the best of me (I paid you back, though), and how we’ve become brothers. I think of your family and how loving you all are. I’ve known you, Trecia, Felicia, Araina, and Mr. and Mrs. Wallace for twenty-plus years, and now you have your own beautiful family. You heap heavy superlatives on me, but I applaud you for being the real star. You’re a shining example of quiet
