My Hometown Playlist:
“Givin’ Up (Not The One)” By Don Toliver, 2 Chainz, & 21 Savage
“Rock With You” By Michael Jackson
“Gone, Gone, Gone” By Philip Philips
“Flashing Lights” By Kanye West & Dwele
“No Role Modelz” By J. Cole
I grew up in a household that wasn’t very wealthy. My home was rough, as I was taught that I could not show emotions due to me being a boy. I was born in Houston, Texas on May 7, 2007. My mother was born here in America and my father was born in a small town in San Luis Potosi, Mexico called Ignacio Allende. My father moved to the USA when he was 15 years old and met my mom when he was 18. I was raised by music my cousin would play in the car, which introduced me to artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Kanye West, whose music I found to be good and resonated with me and my home well.
The song “Givin’ Up (Not The One)” By Don Toliver, 2 Chains, & 21 Savage resonates within me because growing up Spider-Man was always my favorite superhero, with Spider-Man-themed bed sheets and having as many toys of him as I could, I always thought I could be Spider-Man in real life. That’s when I heard the quote from Stan Lee, “Anyone can wear the mask.”. It hit home, especially after he had passed away a few years back. The song starts with Miguel O’Hara (Spider-Man 2099) saying, “But I’m not like the others, I don’t always like what I have to do. But I know I have to be the one to do it.” This quote in the song resonates with me because growing up I had to learn a lot of things by myself, and doing things that others wouldn’t do regardless if I enjoyed it or not.
“Rock With You” by Michael Jackson expresses within me because the song is about “rocking” with someone, as in loving someone. I remember meeting this girl I was into, she was in my neighborhood back when I was still living in the house and we always talked. We’ve unfortunately grown distant since then but every time this song pops up, it always reminds me of the times with her. The lyrics “I wanna rock with you” touch my heart because it was always a message from me to her, as in saying I’d never give up on her.
My favorite Spider-Man on the big screen was Andrew Garfield. The way he portrayed Spider-Man, wearing the mask on and off of the studio and playing basketball with kids in the streets of New York really made me happy. The song “Gone, Gone, Gone” by Philip Philips was played in Andrew Garfield’s second Spider-Man movie, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” in the scene where Peter Parker tries to piece together clues and find out who his father was. Hearing this entire song fills me with nostalgia, and also helps me remember that scene and tells me the message that even if you’re on the brink of giving up, you will always find out something new at the very next corner you turn.
Kanye West was one of the artists I grew up listening to with my cousin, being a city boy I would always remember listening to the song “Flashing Lights” by him when roaming the city with my cousin at my side. This song makes me remember all of the lights in the city and places like the zoo lights in which I visited when I was young and still visit to this day. The lyrics “And the weather so breezy, man, why can’t life always be this easy?” really reminds me of when easier times would pass whenever life, for me, was at its hardest point.
Another song that hit me when it was released was “No Role Modelz'' by J. Cole. The lyrics that really spoke to me were, “No role models and I’m here right now, no role models to speak of, searchin' through my memory, my memory, I couldn’t find one.” J. Cole is saying that he didn’t have a role model growing up; I had a few, but it was mainly my dad, who kept telling me to keep going. I like the dynamic between me and J. Cole because of how similar both he and I ended up, besides the fact that he’s a celebrity and I’m just a kid in high school.
I’m now just a kid in high school who is trying to make it into the big leagues. I’ve had many accomplishments that I am proud of, such as even getting the chance to step into the boxing ring again after a horrifying heart murmur, getting to qualify for the Golden Glove Award even though I fell short, being able to play the drums for my cousin's band, and going out with my friends and being able to put a smile on others faces. I’ve been disrespected and told I don’t do what I do, but every time I get put down I always try my hardest to stand back up, and I always do.
Stan Lee, the man who created Marvel and who created the superheroes that made my childhood, inspired me to write this story. He always taught me through Spider-Man never to give up and keep on pushing through life even when it gets tough for us. Stan Lee was someone who encouraged determination and always believed in the process, truly a hero in his own right. He made my home joyous, the work he created truly has touched not only my heart but many others as well. Through him, my family, and my friends, I am Finally Home.
“I believe there is a hero in all of us. That keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride.”
Stan Lee 1922 - 2018