Young rapper says Tobacco Road is dead end
Anthony Price, 18, of Roxbury, has a great ambition for his future, and says, "I am doing the footwork to make it happen right now."
From the tender age of six, Price's dream has been to become a successful rapper, and The 84 Digital Media Contest, "Brand You," has become a significant step in fulfilling his aspiration.
The 84 -which represents the percentage of 7th to 12th graders in Massachusetts who don't smoke -is a statewide tobacco-prevention movement led by teens. The campaign attempts to eradicate the influence of tobacco among young people and encourage healthy activities instead. Out of over 100 submissions from teens all. over Massachusetts that were judged on creativity, originality, use of digital media, message, and representation of the 84, Price won the grand prize with his song, "Live Life," which urges people to live life to the fullest, because, as the lyrics say, "You only got one life, so live it up."
"Live Life" originally wasn't written for the contest. Price heard about the competition from his former supervisor, Hernando Buitrago, at Sociedad Latina, an organization on Mission Hill that provides community programs for Latino young people and their families. where Price was a youth leader. Buitrago suggested Submitting the song. Although
c Price's entry doesn't mention smoking, he believes that good health an being tobacco-free is a major part of living life to the fullest.
Price admits to trying a cigarette once out of curiosity at the age of 13 or 14. However, he says, "I don't need nicotine. People in my family have had lung cancer, so I know tile dangers of smoking." He hopes that his song will positively affect his community, and he wants others to relate to its message. As Price says, "Some people don't take advantage of life. They think everything is promised."
Price says the song took about two days to write. It took one day to sing and record the melody at the studio of Sociedad Latina with the harmony of a Berklee College of Music student. A beat was added to the background and a studio engineer produced the final cut, adding special effects. The song is about three minutes long. It is posted online at: http://www.the84.org/dmcj20 9jlive-life-sociedad-latina.
For the grand prize, Price was awarded $250. He says he has already invested his prize money in accomplishing his dream of becoming a rapper by recording. Currently, Price is working on his new album, "Rags to Riches." He says, "I want to establish myself on a higher plateau. I want to be a big-time artist. I am destined for music."
