“I like that I got a voice now. I really used to pray to get in positions like this, so I could say shit like this.” — Lil Bam
More often times than not, everyone has their own interpretation of what they think it’s like to reside within a certain community.
From the politics, the policing, shootings etc. it’s easy to focus on the negative aspects surrounding the city of Birmingham, Alabama but there’s plenty of good, a significant amount of warmhearted initiatives geared towards shifting perspective as it relates to the perceived understanding of “The Magic City”.
The inaugural Lil Bam Day is one of those initiatives that will soon become a staple within the community, something I’m sure to be referenced as the prototype to convey the personified “It takes a village” mindset.
MBK4L Records seemingly curated one of the most community-engaged events that I’ve been fortunate enough to experience and what makes it all the more worthwhile is the fact that it transpired in a town known for highlighting the “change” narrative that inspired masses.
“A community is a family. Without them you have nothing. It’s where we grew from and it’s where we will continue to pour into for generations to come.” — Rodney Lewis
The strength of a community is a true testament to the leadership characteristics instilled in every member of that area. It takes patience and understanding to develop the cognizance behind why influence matters, and it starts with the children.
What better way to symbolize this mantra than with some fun in the sun and a courageous effort to bring not only surrounding communities together, but also the city.
Lil Bam Day featured an array of activities catered towards the youth. Providing them with the opportunity to live carefree, typifying nothing short of an blissful experience that encapsulates change.
Whether it was the bounce house, catchy tunes, free food or the celebrity basketball game, the underlying concept surrounding this day was team effort. Team effort exemplified by everyone involved. It was truly an all hands on deck situation where you didn’t have to ask for help, because the desire to help served as the catalyst to ignite and inspire an unconditional love for humble beginnings.
In the midst of all the excitement, we had the opportunity for a brief one-one interview with Lil Bam to talk about the importance of community, forthcoming work and more.
Q – Who is Lil Bam?
A – Right now, I’m an upcoming, developing artist. Developing Birmingham artist, got to put that on there. We don’t get a lot of love for real. Folks on the outside, all they see is “y’all killing each other”. I actually seen folks say that shit.
Q – What does Lil Bam Day mean to you?
A – It really mean a lot to me. I feel like it don’t be nothing for the kids to do no mo’. Like they used to have playgrounds in every section of the projects, but they took all the playgrounds out the projects. The only way kids get to do stuff is if they come up here (Martin Luther King Jr. Park Recreation Center), but when they come to the center it’s probably rented out or something. Like an AAU team running practice, so they don’t get to be here long. It just give the kids something to do, they gotta see some other shit.
Q – Talk to me about MBK4L Records
A – It’s family. We got a lot of hard ass artist. You just get a piece of it with me. Whitt, he can sing his ass off. I feel like Whitt gone be the richest one out of all of us for real, I ain’t even gone cap.
You got Rudy, Rudy gone talk his shit regardless, whatever. And my boy Day Day, he don’t give a damn, that’s why I love that nigga man, I want em’ to get away from here and just stay gone, for a lil’ while. Folks down here be looking for a certain sound and shit. If he get away from this right here, man would be a f*****g superstar.
Q – Talk to me about your new EP “Newborn”
A – That m***** f****r hard, it’s a no skippa’. I swear to God. I feel like Hardhead ain’t f****n’ wit that one.
Q – What inspired the title?
A – It’s gone be a series of tapes. I wanted to start with newborn because it’s like the beginning. I don’t even feel like I started yet, feel like I was just getting my feet wet.
Q – What was it like working with Yungeen Ace on the record “God Forbid”
A – Shit, buddy cool as hell. Before I even did a song with em’, I fuck wit em’. That’s what even made me wanna do a song wit em’.
He came and f****d wit me, all good vibes the whole time. When you featured wit artists that’s bigger than you, you don’t have a lot of folks tell you “bruh this song hard”. He actually f**k wit the song, he not just tryna get the paper.
He was really involved in what was going on.
Q – What’s your opinion on the recent state of violence amongst hip-hop artists?
A – Them folks got shit going on, situations that the internet don’t know about. It just get more attention for who they are.
That’s regular shit man.
If they were regular people, it wouldn’t be all over the internet. Shit for me, that’s a regular day, somebody shooting at somebody. It don’t make the news. They report to Fred Davenport, Fred Davenport gone let the folks know before the news do.
Folks making it more of a big deal because they have eyes on em’.
Q – What does the word “community” mean to you?
A – I feel like community is a family. You grow up in a community, you have different adults that you meet and them people play a big part in yo life.
When you’re a child, you have that lady next door that’s gone fuss at ya, that’s gone tell on ya and do all that shit, but you appreciate those people. Cause when you don’t have those people, it’s certain stuff your parents might miss out on, they don’t see everything.
My grandma used to always say “It takes a village”, ya feel me. You come to the projects, everybody knows each other, we all family. Such and such gone get on yo ass, them folks really raised ya up, it’s people that you’ll be able to go to like a mentor.
Even now, I have people that I looked up to when I was younger that will pull me to the side and say “Keep doing what you doing” and that type of shit keep me going. To hear them say that means a lot.
Q – Closing remarks
A – Be smart. Graduate high school, get yo high school diploma. I can’t tell everybody to go to college, I ain’t gone tell you that. Do what’s best for you.
I like that I got a voice now. I really used to pray to get in positions like this, so I could say shit like this.
It can touch people, people that I don’t even know.
I want positive shit to come off my attention.
Listen more than you talk, that’s all I can tell you.
Check out Lil Bam’s newest release ft. Yungeen Ace entitled “God Forbid”
