Note to the fans
Welcome to “The Pieces”. Before I made the decision to start my first musical project, I made two promises to myself. The first one was that this project would be an album. By album I mean, cohesive, holistic, and a piece of art. Although the project is titled, “The Pieces EP”, I did not want to just put together a random collection of songs that I’ve written and recorded and then call it a day. No, no, no… I wanted to create a project with artistic merit. I wanted to create a project that played like a movie in your head. This is no concept album, but you can bet that a conscious decisions was made from the track listing, sequencing within songs, lyrics, production, to many other subtleties that go into making a project. To some it may sound nerdy, but growing up my favorite music came from great albums. Albums that I listened to with my favorite headphones, closed my eyes, and escaped for about an hour as I drifted into someone else’s world. On that note, I ask you for a simple favor. For your first listen I’d like you to listen to this project from front to back. Don’t randomize it on iTunes. Don’t just blindly double click the tracks. If you do that, a lot of effort goes bye bye. The experience we tried to create is best felt if you listen to this project in order from beginning to end. I humbly ask you to find an hour in your day. It would mean a lot to me and everyone else involved in the project. I sincerely hope we’ve done our job as artists and just like my favorite artists did for me, I can only hope that we help you escape in the world we’ve created with this EP. We invite all of ya’ll with open ears.
The second promise I made to myself was that I would be as honest as I could with this album and try not to have any regrets. A wise friend of mine told me that you can only do your first project once. As you’ve realized, this is not an LP but seldom will I have another chance to write about the first 21 years in my life. To me, it’s a cool opportunity. I wanted to reveal the most honest sides of me that make me who I am as a human being. I want you to be able to think, cry, laugh, dance, and love when you hear these songs. Hell, some of the verses on this EP were written when I was 13. Others during high school and some in college. Honest music is what has inspired me and what made me start rhyming back when I was 11 when I had the thickest pair of glasses on Earth. Google it, it’s true. 10 years later I hope these songs that came from deep inside can also inspire you to do what it is you love. Nothing can be more rewarding than that. For those who want to dance, drink, and party to a project – let me give you the heads up and reveal that this EP is not for you. There are countless of other artists in all genres who can perform those styles far better than me, and my goal was to reveal the most relevant emotions in my life thus far. This EP is who I am. I hope we’ve done our job. Without you all these thoughts and feelings are left unheard. The connection between artist and audience is beautiful, and I thank you all for that.
Why “Pieces?” There are two answers. One lies within listening to the album so you’ll get that when you finish. The other is within the creation of this album. This project wasn’t made with the fanciest equipment and it wasn’t paid for and backed with a major label budget. Everything cost money, but it’s probably the best investment I’ve ever made. One of the coolest elements in making this project is the team effort that occurred. Luckily for me, this team happens to be people I truly appreciate and love. Without Rick Warren, I don’t know what could have been achieved on this album. You’ll hear his unique and great voice throughout the album, as we joke around calling him “Captain Hook”. Not only has he contributed vocally, he features on multiple tracks with keys and guitars. Last but not least, the whole project was recorded in his bedroom. The dopest thing about Rick being the person to both record and mix this project is that we teamed up for my first ‘mini project’ back in high school. Four years later, we still manage to have an uncanny chemistry. I wouldn’t have wanted to do this project with anyone else. I know that he truly tried to put his heart, mind, and soul in the same place where I was when making Pieces. The coolest thing to me is that Rick is probably the furthest thing when it comes to hip-hop, but it’s the love for music and the friendship that allowed us to complete the task at hand. He is a very important Piece.
Tatenda, for doing an unbelievable job with the album artwork. Chris and Allan for helping with promoting and online-marketing. To all the features. I only add features if I truly think they need to be there, but all of you who contributed, have added a piece of yourselves to this project. You all did work. Thank you. Stan, Tunji – Having two favorite emcess and bigger brother figures still makes me so proud. Thank you both, I see you. The producers – you have created the soundtrack to the first 21 years on this planet. To my family who has dealt with the sacrifices that come when their Jewish son aspires to be a rapper. Not all parents can comfortably support that. Even though I don’t think you’ll ever truly believe in this like I do – I love you. (my mom is cooler than yours). To my brothers who have influenced a lot of the good qualities you all see in me today, I love you both.
Lastly, the final pieces which is all of ya’ll reading this. These stories and songs can only be heard because of ya’ll. For that, I truly appreciate each and every one of you. To all my friends and anyone who I met who has impacted me for the past 21 years. There’s way too many of ya’ll and although I seem to drift away some times, I see you all. From the closest friends, to girls I used to love and can’t even talk to anymore – you’re all pieces in this creation. Thank you.
So…Is it everything I wanted it to be? No, not even close. This album has been recorded a year ago and I wouldn’t be honest with myself if I didn’t think that I could rap it doper. I’m continuously trying to get better by the day and don’t plan on stopping, but we’ll save that talk for the next project ;-). It’s not 100% the way I wanted it to sound, but I have no regrets. Shit, making a project while studying in college is, excuse me mom, fucking hard. (and expensive)
So not to bore ya’ll any longer, I finally present to you the “Pieces EP”. Welp! See ya later! Open the box and connect ya’ll.
Peace n’ Love,
Cosmo