Mea Culpa

The Gift & The Wound

By Cameron Swift & Art Quiros
Produced by Art Quiros

John Hawkins Feat. C. Swift (A History Of Violence)

Written and Performed by Anton Burrell & Art Quiros

Concrete Jungles Feat. A. Burrell

Art Quiros started rhyming and diving in to freestyle cyphers at the age of 16. Off the top, his word play often depicted the fear and the reality of a kid growing up in underserved communities of color. His lyrics often described being raised by hardworking low income immigrant parents striving for a better life. Seeking initiation but lacking the presence of mentors in his youth, Art looked to the streets to fill the voids that felt empty in his life at an early age. Art began to walk a path often glorified by the media, that continued to influence and fuel fear and violence in his community. Losing peers and friends in his upbringing, Art was escorted down a path often described as the school to prison pipeline. Through his poetry and music, Art gives voice to a story, similar to countless individuals, who like him fell through the cracks of the flawed public school and justice system. Learning to walk with what he carries, Art found ways to utilize his love for words to share his story and to invite folks to do the same. From facilitating writing workshops with youth in juvenile detention centers, to working with young people in Belize City, Art's story and creativity has allowed him to have the privilege to travel and connect with folks in different parts of the world. From working with young people on Native American Reservations, to protesting with Anti-Nuclear demonstrators in the streets of Koenji, Art's poetry and message remains the driving force which has allowed him to make connections with folks across all spectrums. Art continues to work with numerous organizations working to uplift and shift communities hungry for change and direction. Art continues to seek to develop opportunities for young people to find power in their writing and words through sharing their stories and by building platforms to help amplify those voices.

SOUL FELONY / ART QUIROS

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