50 Cent in his 2005 autobiography said, quote: "After I got shot nine times at close range and didn't die, I started to think that I must have a purpose in life …"
Now, Belizean artist John King wasn't shot nine times but, two weeks ago, he was shot twice, and this morning he sat down with Cherisse Halsall to discuss how he escaped with his life and his pursuit of freedom from the realities of the streets.
He was the first artist to close off the week on Channel 7's morning show, "SunUp on 7," a young man with an inspiring story who's striving to overcome and struggling to pursue his dreams.
But we wanted to delve deeper into the story of brand new artist, John King.
John King, Footballer/ Artist
"I first got into music like a month ago or two months and you know it was just one of my friends who was listening to me while we hung out and the man said you know you have a little voice, I should try the studio. And he took me to the studio and I did my first song and from there you know, history tells now."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Wow!, and it's been a few music videos since then, how many have you filmed and put out to the world."
John King, Footballer/ Artist
"Well, I already filmed like 5 but we only put out three so far. But we always, you know constantly we are working and working and working behind the scenes you know. So that in the past we already prepare you know."
But many may be surprised to hear about John King the artist because they know him as a footballer.
John King, Footballer/ Artist
"We'e striving for positivity same way."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Tell me about how music compares to playing football?"
John King, Footballer/ Artist
"Well me i'm a person i'm an entertainer. I'm always entertains always having people happy and with me playing futbol is just something to keep me happy because as a Ghetto youth I was born growing up rough and it's something that I don't want to be constantly going through. Povery is something that I fear you know and playing futbol I just feel the joy with that and music is the same thing because I always listen to music before I go on the pitch and with that I just like entertaining people, and I just want to stay on that positivity."
But while John was striving for positivity there were negative forces at work. And John says that after a fight with his girlfriend he sought refuge and video games at a friend's house near the hutment.
Little did he know that he'd end the night crawling on all fours away from a gunman, terrified that standing and running would mean the end of his life.
Cherisse Halsall:
"Now, you came to our attention because of a specific incident and we never got your take on that shooting."
John King, Footballer/ Artist
"Well it was a bad experience, yes, but first and foremost you always have to thank the lord that he gives us a second chance at life, right. But I do have my time when I'm by myself and I'm thinking all kinds of thing but same way I know I'm a good person and I'm humble but I put the actions in God's hands and I'll always be honest about that. I forgive and I forget sometimes, but sometimes the ghetto youths they have to understand you know sometimes they have to put down the gun too, you dig, because it's innocent people getting hurt and it doesn't make sense anymore mean, to beef and to beef for what."
John King, Footballer/ Artist
"The more you share love to people the more the world will continue, the more the world will share that positivity and if I perform for people and I see people smiling I'm always happy to do that."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Any projects in the work that you can tell us about?"
John King, Footballer/ Artist
"Yeah, right now me and celeb Omar Aldana we are shooting Cry right now, so that will be the next video and yeah after that I already got a call from Miami for a festival next year October, so hopefully that comes forth too."
Cherisse Halsall:
"As you look forward to an overarching album, you know that set of songs that will introduce John King the artist to the world, what would you want that album to say?"
John King, Footballer/ Artist
"Freedom, just that one word because that what everybody needs, freedom."
You can find King's music videos "Cursed", "Hold it out", and "My Break" on the "Thugzbunny" TV youtube page.
