Hailing from Queens NY, Reflect unapologetically created music that impacts his community and speaks to our culture today. Being a true embodiment of HipHop, lyricism has always mattered most. His unique approach to music pulls from influential names like; Lupe, Jay, and Nas. Reflect acknowledges, “It was artists like DMX, Cross movement, and Japhia life that broke the mold and showed me that you can rap about God and journey with him without it being corny. It was fire.” Music isn’t the only way Reflect makes an impact. Being an educator, justice minister, and community leader with youth to seniors, who are also battling poverty and systemic injustices, is just as important. Expanding the conversation in Hip Hop around justice, fighting systems, and worshiping God is the backbone of his life work.

Next up, Reflect is working on releasing his new album: ‘New History' . “This is a progression of my journey as a Black man, Christian, Husband, Artist, Activist, Educator, and Minister.” This project digs deeper into Reflect’s family history and how it’s connected to the broader history of this nation. Reflect shares, “It's my hope that this project can be a soundtrack to those in the fight for justice.”

How did you get your name? 

I chose it based on how people reacted to my lyrics.

How did you get into creating?

Came from a household that loves music. We had tons of vinyl stacked around an old-school record player with all the R&B, Soul, Hip Hop, and Gospel classics from my Parent's youth to the present. At that present, in my youth, Hip Hop was growing fast on the national and international scale. I loved every bit of it. In cyphers with friends, I always had the itch to get in on it, and when I got in, people would take notice of my freestyles encouraging me to keep rapping. This pushed me to become a student of hip-hop and start writing songs. From that end, I also was blessed to get positive feedback from my peers. So I just kept creating.

How has creating changed your life?

Oh, it has fulfilled it in ways that I couldn't imagine life without it. Creating brings out another dimension of me that's therapeutic but also expressive of the matters I really care about. My creating isn't just for me, but it bends towards justice, so I feel my creativity helps advocate for the marginalized.

Where are you from?

Wyandanch, LI (NY) by way of a few other places. Traveled a lot growing up due to my Fathers Job in the service.

How did growing up in your neighborhood/city affect you?

Growing up in Wyandanch & multiple neighborhoods/cities broadened my view of people and the world. I felt like I was an insider and an outsider at the same time.

What did you do to advance your skills/knowledge?

I really studied the art form and connected with a community that loved it as well. Soaked up wisdom for those older, and observed the world closely with great curiosity.

What does your current setup look like?

A studio in the corner of my bedroom. Not much.

Who inspires you? Why do they inspire you?

Artists that are authentic and make content that is fearless to speak the truth on injustices, inspire people, and is faith-driven.
Sho Baraka
Prop
Black Thought
KB

What is your goal when you create?

To articulate what God puts on my heart in a way that is received with the same energy that inspired it.
To be a messenger of the Father.
To be authentic in myself and my story.
To provide people with something that makes them think and take action that is Godly, either for themselves or their neighbor.

Why do you create?

To Glorify God and make a difference. God designed me this way and life would feel incomplete if I didn't create

What's your go-to song right now and why is it important to you?

Black Reconstruction: Sho Baraka Feat Prop, Lecrae

Love the energy and it expresses my ethos & mission.

What is your dream as an artist and what steps are you taking to reach your dream?

To inspire change & justice for Black & Brown communities. To have the ear of the nation to destroy white supremacy and inspire authentic Christianity in America.
I'm keeping my music aligned with life work & mission. I'm writing the best I can as an artist and taking steps to help everyone that cares about my music to hear it.

What is the best advice you would give someone with a dream?

Put God first and make sure your dream comes from God and is facilitated by God's grace & strength. Never stop learning, and never let other peoples expectations dictate yours. Go at God's speed. I would also say a "dream" should never center on one's self. The greatest commandments in the Bible are Loving God and Loving your neighbor. If your Dream doesn't allow you to love your God and neighbor better. It probably ain't from God which means it will fall short at some point even if you accomplish it.

Tell us about your most recent release

Good Man feat Jeremiah Bligen is a song born out of tragedy. I wrote it after losing my Uncle in 2021. So it spans from the loss of a loved one to the struggles of life for a Black man & family. It is a lament prayer that cries out to God for help on this narrow road. Everyone that understands struggle regardless of race should be able to relate.

Listen to 'Good Man'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nB--dOfKno

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reflectdartist/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/reflectdartist

Facebook.com: http://www.facebook.com/reflectdartist

Website: http://www.ireflect720.com

Photography credit: Pablo Zuluaga
Farrah Cogdell

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