Son Of Harlem

“Son of Harlem is Here...” Roscoe Gordon, better known as “Son Of Harlem”, was born September 11, 1988 in Harlem Hospital located in Harlem, NY to singers Malinda Gordon and Richard Williams. He was then raised in St Nicholas Projects until he moved to the Bronx, NY at age 12 when his father bought a house to provide for his family. With this transition, a whole new light shined upon him. Having a history of musicians in his family, Son Of Harlem was introduced to his own skills in the music ...

“Son of Harlem is Here...” Roscoe Gordon, better known as “Son Of Harlem”, was born September 11, 1988 in Harlem Hospital located in Harlem, NY to singers Malinda Gordon and Richard Williams. He was then raised in St Nicholas Projects until he moved to the Bronx, NY at age 12 when his father bought a house to provide for his family. With this transition, a whole new light shined upon him. Having a history of musicians in his family, Son Of Harlem was introduced to his own skills in the music field before he could even walk as his uncle Jerome had him listening to soul, old school rap, and R&B music. Together they would analyze the work of artists such as Michael Jackson, and Marvin Gaye. Soon after, his uncle Jerome utilized the young talent’s voice and began recording his vocals at only age 5. Many factors contributed to a growing love for music in the Son Of Harlem’s continuing march for success. Included, is Shiloh Baptist Church (located on 7th Ave. in Harlem, NY) and P.S. 92 elementary school (also in Harlem, NY). While attending services at Shiloh Baptist Church, Son Of Harlem was given a sense of admiration. He, as a young boy, adored how the Preacher would grasp the attention of his audience and how the voices sung in the church would bless the most saddest person with hope. Then at P.S. 92, he would participate in music programs during the day. Nevertheless, he kept the flow going as he and local school mates would hang out and rap their favorite songs or sometimes freestyle after-school. Growing up, Son Of Harlem admired artists like Big L, Nas, Jay-Z, Jadakiss, and Kanye West. He also admired rappers Ma$e particularly because he too was from Harlem; Common and Talib Kweli for rapping life learning lyrics; and of course Tupac Shakur as well as Biggie Smalls which he puts the two into one category for leaving their marks in the infinite history of rap music. Listening to the words of some of these rappers, he would act as the artist, rapping along with their music. He took account of how they described their metaphors and the depths of these metaphors. More importantly, he knew first hand how to relate to the rappers’ experiences with most of them also being born and raised in the “hood”. During his early teenage years, Son Of Harlem was a joker but, oddly, a person who was stayed alone at times. He was heavily engaged with the sport of basketball to stay positive but as the relationship with his coach went in shambles, he slowly became demotivated. However, bigger let downs brought a new serious, concentrated side: a father falling ill and becoming hospitalized then the sorrowful loss of a mother. Both during his high school years. Not choosing to act negatively, Son Of Harlem remained strong by expounding his emotions as he locked himself in his room with his pen and paper. What was at first a hobby to express his feelings, writing lyrics graduated its introductory phase and entered a whole new level for this young prodigy. Music. “I didn’t feel like I was writing it. It felt like someone else was.... When I said the words back I felt like a ventriloquist. It felt like somebody else was rapping to me” he said, still not believing his own transformation into an artist. When asked how he feels rapping would change his life, Son Of Harlem responded by saying “ I came from a family of musicians, but me, I have the gift that blossoms. My parents both sang: my father having to work 9 to 5 to take care of the family lost focus; my mother having an addiction made me have a steady head and do the right thing for my family... There’s too many obstacles in life and by rapping, I want to be the one to make a difference”. Born to the sometimes mean streets of Harlem, Son Of Harlem sets his music concepts based on as he says “keeping it real” and being who he is rather than glorifying guns and topics associated with the street life. He wants to show others who were brought up in similar situations that there are other ways to get over your problems. “Instead of doing the street life, you have to find ways to keep happy... By moving to the Bronx from Harlem, moving from St Nick’s Projects to a house, I looked back and saw how much I been through. I still have family in Grant Foster Projects in Harlem so I go there a lot. Now when I go back and see what’s going on there, I want to show youths how to keep their dreams and hopes high; not to let the hood put you down”. With no negative feedback on the music itself, Son Of Harlem has faced few challenges on his journey to the industry world. He is a young man not knowing what is going to happen. However,this doesn’t stop him from trying to keep people together so that Harlem Legendz can stay focused on the prize awaiting ahead. Also, many people feel he should hold the music off and go to college so that he will have something to fall back on. Hearing this is no real challenge to him having already fallen in love with music. Son Of Harlem is one of many young men and women born into an environment that can either make or break you. He found peace in hobbies such as playing basketball and, as we know, articulating his rapping skills which progressed into lyrics, songs, then music altogether. He is a young man who stepped forward from what was behind him in his past to proceed into his love for music. He believes that any star within you is attainable. So for others pursuing a dream , those inspired by his music, or those who are simply in love with music Son of Harlem leaves you this message: “Stay focused-don’t let your dreams die. Keep it positive in any dreams you pursue, music or not”. ....and everywhere I go,i make sure Harlem is there”.