The Mission Back to the Terminal (Album Explanation/Thank Yous)

Judge me as you shall, but understand the expression through experience not just words. The Mission Back to the Terminal is an album based on the true expression of the source we all are as deliberate creators and sifters of life. The journey begins with I in place of the Jet headed back to the terminal, which symbolizes me attempting to find myself. The album opens up with "The Mission," through all of the doubts I experienced from either others or myself; I am questioning and expressing the questions posed from what I have experienced in life. As the tracks progress down the album, the journey continues to reveal the jet headed on its way to the terminal flying over different cities and sights, each city and sight being a different life experience to learn and grow from. The first half of the album, I feel to be the outcast of those that surround me causing me to feel rebellious towards the norm of things in my experience. "It's my world inside the body that I'm living in." - Shoemaker

Nearing the second half of the album, by "Find a Way," I find interest in a high school friend and receive my first glimpse of affection towards her. This clearly foreshadows an event between the two of us when the mission is to be completed during the album. I leave very vague clues throughout the album. "Earth Girl" is an interlude track that can be considered a layover for the flight during the journey back to the Terminal. "The pursuit of passion" is the chase, which is open to any interpretation, believing any external object or person and my case the girl can be the source of happiness and which is where I am attempting to impress and also express myself to her during this place in the album. During the journey of finding myself at the Terminal, I realize that true place and joy comes from loving yourself.

Thank you.

I would like to thank God for giving me the courage and words to express my appreciation for every moment that unfolds allowing me to grow as an individual being. My parents both instilled wonderful values in me that I carry till this very day! I humbly say that they both are the reason that I am very meek, outspoken yet kind-hearted. Thank you to my extended family in both Ghana and Nigeria! I love you all, and this experience is definitely one we will all benefit from. Thank you Mya Bledsoe (we'll just say Ihejeto)/TaMya Raine for having faith in me from the moment we met and continually showering me with your love even when I feel unworthy of it. I am very blessed to be experiencing this journey with you by my side, I love you more than words and time can express! Thank you for being the girl of my dreams! You're truly my backbone. Thank you to Jhené Aiko for being the connecting link between Mya and I. Thank you for retweeting "High School Sweetheart" because of your sample in the song. Thank you to D'Angela Kelly for being a source of motivation with the music, motivating and leading me to one of my prominent sources of drive, motivation, and a guide to lead me to a person that has become my backbone, love and support. Thank you to Aunye Scott Anderson for listening to the album before the release and all of those people that decided to assist me in getting Jhené Aiko's attention with "High School Sweetheart." You changed my life for the better! Thank you LuMo for starting this musical journey with me and being my "40." I remember being in the apartment right on 5th Street, two blocks away from San José State University when we applied for the dorms too late and had to find a place to live a week before school started. Everything worked out as fate and faith would have it and we discovered we both had a passion for music! Back then, I would record songs to Ruqaiyah Muhammad that I'd never release. You gave our group the name "Wrekless" and since then, it's really taken off! Thank you to the whole class of 2008 at Dorsey High School, DDP, those that were in the ninth through eleventh grade when I was a senior as well especially the football team and coaches. You gave me a foundation and taught me how to persevere and be passionate about everything I believed in! Thank you to DJ Mustard, Rahim Moore, Jeremy Harris, and Johnathan Franklin, Johnathan Kelly, Joshua "Jboy" Ottemewo, Justin Webster, Vaness Harris, Michelle Harris, and Dale Alexander for showing me that dreams do come true and achieving your dreams. Thank you to Johnathan Kelly for listening to this album in its entirety and offering suggestions on "Break Away" that really brought out its potential! Thank you to Ms. Estes for inspiring us as students! Thank you to Ms. Kinney, Mr. Speakes, Coach Dave! "You're gonna be something one day; not today though!!!!" - Coach Dave. You always made us all laugh and I am glad to see that your daughters are doing wonderful now that they're at Dorsey! Thank you to Coach Beno Bryant for having faith in me since I was a young quarterback attempting to prove myself and be a part of the football team. I appreciate coach Don, Coach James for your support on the track during practice and words of wisdom during track meets. Thank you to Coach Tilly for giving me the moniker "Jet 2." Thank you to Max "Willie" Williams and Marcus "Spiyda" Jackson & Nashawn Jackson! It's great to see little Drew Jackson grow up so fast! Thank you to Victoria Blanco for your support and joy! I truly appreciate every word of encouragement. Thank you to Nate Tavasti for praying over me and giving me my first glimpse of the holy spirit! I truly appreciate you for drawing me nearer to God. Thank you Sherina Summers for being an encouraging friend of mine, listening to me go on about my "girl problems," and giving me advice that I could never forget! It truly changed my life and helped me to be the person I am today. Thank you to Stevie Crooks for coaching me about hip-hop, the moves you make and taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk about the ins and outs of the music business. Thank you to Noa James, Curtiss King, Phantom Thrett and all of the wonderful artists out of the Inland Empire and especially the Common Ground for being a beautiful platform for me to express and perform my music! I truly appreciate you for that. Thank you to Ali (MixedbyAli) for accepting my phone calls after Kendrick's Whisky A Go Go show in 2011 and taking the time to listen to me express how much of a fan I am of TDE. Thank you to Kendrick Lamar for writing my e-mail on a dollar bill and making me feel as though the dream was coming closer in that moment. Thank you to all of the dope rhyme spitters that allow me the canvas to be able to focus on my lyrics and get to what truly excites all of us "hip-hop heads!" Thank you to Garrett "V.C." Veasey for being my Diddy and always letting me know when it didn't sound right and giving me pointers on things I could do to make it perfect! We were always the best dancers at any party we went to at San José State! Thank you BeeGee for bringing the rest of the crew members together in the perfect ways you did. You're a wonderful solid person and I truly appreciate your enthusiasm about the vision. Thank you to Roy "Charlie Brown" RockstarTuNE Sanders!!!! Words can't even explain how appreciative I am of you for everything you've done! Truly being a pioneer and entrepreneur with Project Dark Saga, allowing me to borrow your Macbook to finish the album when mines was down, purchasing the midi and truly pushing the creativity through our talks about our observations on the life around us. "Yeah, our heart's clean you can let God tell you that!" Thank you to Tajmeer "Hitman" Jones for being my ace. We kill everything musically and yes; the Staples Center is ours! Thank you Josh "Jboy" Sanders for always coming through in the clutch moments! I hope you're enjoying yourself out in Nevada!!! Thank you to Jamal Cristopher and his twin Justin Wilson for being blessing amazing! If it wasn't for you two and of course Len Springs, The Mission Back to the Terminal would sound no where near as good as it does! Len, you always made me re-do verses and songs and add some and take some off and you let me know if it was weak! I love that now that it's done, but I hated it during the time! haha I appreciate you so much! Jamal Cristopher, I appreciate you for dreaming with me continually and allowing me to be your engineer and inspiration! You inspire me to keep reaching new heights. Thank you to Rodvé "Vé317" Lewis!!! Turn up, turn up, turn up, turn up, turn up!!!! We are the Black Romans and they need to know that hahaha! I appreciate you for coming through to freestyle with me for at least three hours every time and doing overtime afterwards with the flows! We would talk daily on how to make our presence known in hip-hop and every time we performed and did our Stand Up skit, the crowd knew this was the real deal for real! Thank you to Nick Banga for being an amazing producer and allowing me and my crew to bless your wonderful instrumentals! You're a wonderful musician and brother! Thank you to young "Kitty Rico," Alicia Beckford for being a live-wire at all times and going to get what you know is yours! Your hustle and drive is truly motivating to watch! Thank you to Nella and all of the "Ignant Angels" for helping me through my L.A. Trade Tech days with your comedy, and Breauna for listening to Kendrick Lamar with me when no one knew of him or cared to hear! Thank you Shara for making me go back to school back in twenty eleven! I was done for sure… Thank you to Sophia Bailey, Daniel Turner, Viron "Left Brain" Turner and everyone that I went to Audubon Middle School with! Royanae Corsey, Clint Floyd, Curtis Price, Kent Jamz, all of you guys gave me a wonderful story to tell through your jokes, joy and support. Thank you to Jevante Davis, Sohail Ghaemi, Ryne, John "Kiwi" Roberson, Tyla, Marquis Veasey, Noah Morris, and everyone that really supported my movement and thought towards making music to express myself and help others. Thank you to Godwin "Goddy" Thurton for being the motivation and person to tell me that I should rap when I made "Sippie Cup!" I appreciate all of your support and comedy bro bro! Thank you to Iman Europe! "Baseball Stuff!!!" You're amazing sis!! Thank you to T.H.E! Irin "Threat" Wesley, Brandon "Headhunter" Wade, Cymone Regine, Christopher Jackson! I truly appreciate you! You’re a real bro! Richard Thiong (I really hope I spelled it right!!), Richard Young, Caleb Lang, Renee Nash, Mariah Penson, Raymar Penson, and everyone! Please don't feel offended if I didn't mention you, you guys are really an army of God's wonderful messengers! Oh yeah, Jarnette Brown, Jasmine Jackson, the list goes on and on! If I remember some more, I'll mention you later on lol! I appreciate all of your prayers, support, and acceptance of me and my crew even when some of my content may have been explicit. May God continue to bless you all! I am truly appreciative of enjoying this journey with you all! Thank you to Brittney Jaii for blessing my music with your wonderful vocals and allowing me to engineer for you and being a part of the Wrekless movement! Thank you to Rufus Phillips, Brafo, Terrance, Efe, Keimute, Onome, the whole of 7 Jungle for allowing me to express my creativity as a drummer. Last but never ever ever ever least… I would like to thank all of the fans and listeners of the music and all those who supported me on my birthday by purchasing this album and leaving reviews! You guys are really making this an amazing experience! WIth you by my side, I've already gone platinum! You're the greatest birthday present I could have. Thank you. #TMBTTT