Introducing Jeron Bro 1.0 

Jeron Bro 1.0 is available on Spotify, Apple Music and ITunes right here!
 
Introducing Jeron Bro 1.0
By Jeron Bro

Jeron Bro 1.0 is full of aggressive lyricism and stories that tell the emotional journey of underdogs. This project is my first studio album, my first album in digital stores and it's brand new!

(Click Image to get album now!
Family - This project is very personal and relational. It describes how family has inspired me in my darkest times.

Faith - This project is about faith. It answers this question: How do we find a reason to keep going in the face of rejection and weakness. 

The Underdog - This album is for the underdogs! These are anthems for the highs and lows of a peculiar life, when one is mistreated, misunderstood and tempted to conform. 

 
THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR INSPIRATION

This music video says one big message, those around us can inspire us the most! It was shot by Denzel Barnes and Emily Linser with the help of many other friends like Lawrence and Jazmyn Nichols, Grady Jones, Lakia Morrow and Tre Harrington.

 

Behind the New Song: Samson 

By Jeron Bro
Get the new album on ITunes here!


My wife and I had just decided to invest in my first studio album. While recording, I received a call from my surgical doctor with a diagnosis. Just a week prior, he told me I was fine. “I don’t know how we missed this, but your results show signs of Low-Grade Lymphoma. You need to see a [cancer] specialist immediately.” he said.
  
My heart sank…what was I supposed to think? My favorite professor was diagnosed with Lymphoma just a month before. They found multiple tumors in his body. What was I supposed to tell my wife? I asked the Lord what was wrong with me. 
  
I decided not to tell my wife until her job shift ended. She’s employed at a hospital. I couldn’t help but wonder if this would be my last chance to record music in a long time, since the last surgery was on my neck. 
  
“What would I say if this was my last song?” I asked myself. 
  
That’s when I was reminded of my usual songwriting goal, to share “life-messages”. I felt like Samson in the last moments of his life, dedicated to his people and to his God even in his weakest moments. 
  
I’ve taken a few medical tests since then. My latest diagnosis was Hyperplasia with features of Lymphoma. It’s a cell disorder we have to monitor long-term and I’m not sure of its current impact—besides fatigue and some skin issues. God has a purpose for us, even in our weakest times. Let’s dedicate our lives to faith and service until the end. If I go out, I'll go out like Samson. #LikeSamson 


A Pastor's Call 


Have you heard my latest song "Inspiration"? Get your copy by clicking here!
 


A Pastor’s Call 

By Jeron Bro
  
On a stressful day, a random voicemail was all I needed. An unknown number appeared when this phone call came. It was an Atlanta call. I didn’t know anyone in Atlanta, so I assumed it was an advertiser. They left a message and I wanted to know if it was a business opportunity. 
  
The voicemail said: “Brother Jeron! I just wanted to call you and let you know your CD is really affecting my kids. My daughter has been listening to it. God bless you brother…” he said. 
  
The phrase made about my music affecting his kids meant something…it sounded sincere. Something I longed for. 
  
I’m arguably a local performer, though I’ve performed in different regions and countries than my own. Most of these shows were free. During the time of the call, I was performing regularly; booking 2-3 shows a month. I did eleven shows consecutively…the most I’d done in a year. These shows differed from previous ones, because I planned to earn funds through demo CD sales. They weren’t selling, though I performed for hundreds of people. I wondered what audiences thought of me…so this message from a Pastor in Atlanta meant the world. At a show, a young girl asked me questions about the event agenda. I figured, she’d seen me playing cards and wanted random conversation. I’d look toward the stage--in case, my name was called to perform. She heard I was a rapper, but she didn’t know how serious. She may have assumed I was another teen interested in music, until hearing I was a 27 yrs. old married man, doing music since the 90s. She wanted to do music, so I shared everything I knew. After all, tomorrow isn’t promised. I told her how to get her music out there, start booking herself and follow-up her fans on social media. She was surprised, especially when I was called to perform a few minutes afterwards. I gave her a CD with my number on the back and told her to call me if she needed my help. 
  
Her Dad called from Atlanta nearly 6 months later. I was reminded that business is like farming. You don’t know what the harvest will be until you plant on good soil, trust God with the weather, and wait. The harvest was fresh on that day. God works in mysterious ways.

The Untold Story of Young Black Men: Our Hatred, Gifting & Redemption 

By Jeron Bro
Click Here to Find Me on Twitter!



            I remember smelling the sweet perfume of educated, powerful, and beautiful black women at family gatherings—aunties and cousins. My mom was one of these ladies and I’d known their trials. Many held their own because they had no choice. Our fathers neglected parenting responsibilities and showed up for entertaining events only. They left our mom’s to fend for themselves. I’ve come to highly respect the power of black women like my Momma. Now, some of those men are stuck in the same status. The strong black women have outgrown them. 
  
I assume black males are behind in a lot of ways. Black ladies in my life have been on their A-game since I can remember. I network with black entrepreneurs and most thriving platforms are led by brilliant black women. I’m so eager to learn from them, which causes awkwardness sometimes. Many question my motives, wonder if I’m uneducated, idle, and distracted. Some say they plan to only help black women. Others show much grace, offering help when possible. I assume that young black women are more valuable than young black men in the Blogosphere. I also hear conversations about dating black men. Jokingly, it’s said there are two dating options for black women: dating other women or a dating white men. Simply, because young black males just “can’t get it together”. 
  
            Young males may be the weakest link in the black community. Once, I was called to the front of a church and acknowledged for wearing a suit. They said I finally looked like a man. I was a bit offended. They implied my wardrobe made me a man—not my character. They implied maturity is based on appearance. They wanted me to look educated, like older black men, like older white men. 

  
Inner-City Black Men vs. the World 

  
Relationship with Culture 
  
We don’t fit in professional culture. My white friends get uncomfortable in suits, just like me. But, they may not be oblivious to middle-class culture like me—the lingo, the tone, the jokes. They struggle getting a job like me. But, the middle class workplace isn’t far from their home culture, unlike me. So, they fit in more than me. Inner-city culture seems unacceptable professionally. The values of low-income communities are different and to ‘gain the whole world’ of professional life, is to lose one’s soul for us. 
  

Relationship with Ourselves 
  
It’s hard to like ourselves. A line in my new song suggests the cause: 
  
“…hundreds of years of pain, what they know bout’ that? Ask young black teens what they know bout’ dad.” (To find song, click here)
  
Perhaps, absent fathers owe perspective about acceptance, creative leadership and self-love. Professional culture labels our values (creativity, language, fashion, reserve) unacceptable…why not agree with them? The young black man “being himself” could cost him income, his reputation, and his life. We are angry and facing an identity crisis. The culture seems to not want us…like many of our fathers didn’t want us. We’ get jealous when others are promoted, constantly aware of un-shared privilege. We hide behind our arrogance, depending on our sexuality and aggressive nature. After all, since the slave-trading of Africa…that’s worked for us. 
  

Redemption in the Inner-City 

  
It seems to begin in school. Our destinies are left up to chance. We don’t see ourselves in educational life, we see ourselves in media. So we hope to become professional entertainers and athletes. Struggling to conform ourselves to “the image of the middle class culture”, we settle for acceptance in gangs. They understand more than our teachers. Depressed, we artificially boost our self-esteem through sexual encounters, lies of masculinity, and untapped dreams. 
  
I believe the world must love black men and we must love ourselves.  We must encourage the inner-city black male in these four ways: 
  

  1. Love Yourself. Culture may not accept us, but we must accept ourselves. Acceptance must start from within. The creativity, emotion, and complexity of young black men are significant to family, culture, and human history. We are valuable to the world. Value yourself physically, emotionally, and socially. 
  2. Be a Creative Leader. Inner-city values, personality traits, and ideals are often rejected in professional culture. But, your value is not determined by acceptance. Create opportunities compatible with inner-city culture—start businesses and organizations. Start new cultures of educational and professional life. 
  3. Be Emotionally Healthy. We must handle our anger, our sadness, and our disappointment. We must forgive our fathers, our culture, and each other for rejection. Our pain will become bitterness and hatred otherwise. Let’s handle our pain in constructive ways. We must cry, pray, and channel our frustration. We must ask for forgiveness for our wrongs, and then forgive ourselves. Let’s use our energies to prevent the cycles of hurt. 
  4. Love Each Other. We must love and value each other. Let’s embrace, affirm, and empower one another. Let’s support one another emotionally and resourcefully. Reject comparison and envy. Celebrate the differences among one another. 

  
Perhaps we will never fit in…that’s not our purpose in life. We’re here to represent our maker with character and be creators in a world.  Our value will always be questioned. Create new career paths and treasure your characteristics, values and personality. You will be tempted to lack self-love and self-destruct. Hold on to your self-worth, given from God. We mature in wisdom and stature. But do not believe your value matures. God had us in mind before the foundations of the earth. We are not hoodlums to be corrected. But, we were made to be healthy creative young black men, not afraid to build our community. Build…

Rejection 



By Jeron Bro
Find me on Twitter!



One rainy day, I sat in the car frustrated, emotional, not wanting to talk to anyone. And here came a man with long hair who limped toward me, motioned me to roll down the window and bent close enough for me to see his fluffy black and grey beard. 
  
“Hey brother, I saw your headlights are a little yellow and I can get them clean for you. I just need to get some money to get on the bus.” he said. 
  
Leaned back in my seat, I felt comfortable…too comfortable…like a king talking to someone inferior. So, I lifted up my seat. I had a pencil in my hand and planned to write some lines to a rap…probably about integrity. I had some extra dollars and he looked sincere. I stared this man in the eyes and said "thanks, but no thanks". He looked down, then up toward me again, stood upright, looked far off, and limped away. My heart sank. 
  
This wasn’t the first time I'd felt this feeling. A young friend asked me for help getting with filmmakers for a music video. I felt his methods were wrong and chose not to help, got off the phone and felt my heart sinking again. Not to mention, in the car the other day, my wife was so excited to see me. But, she did that repeating thing I don’t like…you know, reflective listening, when someone asks about something you’ve just said, because they want to clarify. I stopped talking after that and in the corner of my eye…I felt her sadness. She doesn’t like when I’m irritated. I watched the cars go by while driving and my heart did that sinking thing. I was being what I call “reject-ful”. 
  
It must have hurt others really bad when I did that, like it hurts me when I stand in front of a room full of entrepreneurs, tell them I want to mentor young teens in the inner-city, ask them to affirm my idea, and they don’t. Or when I call a program director of a radio station, share my vision for music, email my mastered song like he asked me to, and get no response…even if it’s the fourth time. Maybe my song isn’t good enough or something. That may explain the face of friends when they ask how I’m doing, I mention how I feel, and they look disturbed, then bring closure to the conversation. Yeah, I know how rejection feels. I look in the mirror asking myself if my music will never be up to par. I asked three local record labels to work with me, one in Kansas City, two in Virginia and they didn’t seem interested. I met upcoming artists and asked to work together, they just didn’t seem interested. I called my dad to talk life…he just didn’t seem interested. I know rejection and I know it well. So why do I keep rejecting others, when I know how it hurts me so bad? 
  
I try to deal with the rejection by working. Yeah, I try prioritizing, because if I get too down in the dumps, my life will fall apart. I try to ask people around me to push me. I mention to them how I never want to do music again, but I think it’s God’s will…so I need them to push me. I rarely get that, so I try to push myself. I make myself plan and do things, whether my emotions are for it or not. 
  

Lessons about Rejection 

  
I want to get better at helping others. Here are some of my goals: 
  

  1. Say “maybe” before saying “no”. Sometimes, I should do just things without thinking about it. I wish I could have just said “yes” to that man and let him have the twenty dollars in my wallet that I eventually spent on snacks or coffee. 
  2. Offer help in more ways than one. Even if I can’t help, I can offer alternatives and find the help for people in need. 
  3. Keep it honest. If I don’t feel comfortable helping, I can at least engage in a conversation. I can tell people about how I feel and treat them with dignity. It’s nothing wrong with sharing I’m insecure about giving. 
  4. Love is the key. Rejection makes us feel unloved. We gotta find that in our lives and dedicate ourselves to giving that love. Otherwise, our hearts will grow cold. 

  
One of the ways to find inspiration in life is learning life is about love.  

Growing,
Jeron

Remembering Homeless Friend in New Song "Inspiration" 

By Jeron Bro

Find Me on Twitter
 
This blog is tough...a few years ago I lost a friend that was a source of encouragement for me and he was homeless. I dedicated this line in the song "Inspiration" to him and other homeless friends: "this for people with a sign that they roll right pass..."

 
See the art video below, where I use texture and objects to depict the city-life of the underdogs:
 



Get 'for the underdogs' T-Shirt here:

https://goo.gl/ydZaLY​ 
 
THE STORY
I hoped to be the best person I could while employed at a grocery store in Norfolk, VA...so, I had nearly a dozen homeless friends who I'd spend time with off the clock. I didn't know if it violated my employment policy (plus, I'm not one to brag), so I didn't tell anyone. They had HIV, were drug-addicts and some were dying. This led to one of them giving me a heartfelt conversation one day...

He approached me and lifted up a jewel-case CD of mine. He said one of his friends had it and he exclaimed how much he was a fan. It's stirring that they found a CD player to hear the music. He challenged me to keep going and wanted to share it. Later that year, someone asked me if I knew he was sick...I did. Then, I was informed of his death.

I dedicate this song to him and so many underdogs. A young friend questioned the reach of my music recently, pointing out video views and online reach. I heard his heart, but I shook my head at the same time. Sometimes, finding inspiration will not be about business...it's personal.

RIP Rob.
Jeron 

Behind the New Song: "Inspiration" 

I faced a dilemma late 2015. The fundraiser for my debut album fell short. I could keep producing music of lower quality, but I built relationships with professionals in the local music scene who waited for radio-ready material. I decided to face my fears with my new song "Inspiration". I wanted it to represent what I live for. 


  
I went back to my roots and connected with the best producers I knew to share my life message. A pastor from Georgia called me to explain how impacted his children were because of my music. I remembered the friends overseas who connected with my music. I remembered why I was doing this. I wanted to promote hope and inspire others. I wanted to say "don't give up on life. Embrace second chances we wake up to."

What's Your Life Mission? 

I released my debut song "Inspiration" that year. I call it an anthem for the underdogs. It's my first song in online stores (ITunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Tidal). What's your life mission? When faced with obstacles, God's plan for us will be inspiration. We must find your purpose and then dedicate our lives to it. I dedicate this song to my community, family, and the underdogs. After coming so far, should we turn back?


 

A photo with Quinton Wilson, producer for Inspiration

In the studio with Biggz, engineer for 'Inspiration'

Planning a Legacy - Jeron Bro 

Planning a Legacy 
By Jeron Bro
Find me on Twitter! 

 

 

To hear new song 'Inspiration', click image.

 

  
To me, there are three steps to planning a legacy: reflective thinking, prioritization and living. I believe that when a person answers life-questions, schedules their priorities, and takes action they live intentionally. Here are a few factors that we can’t ignore: 
  

We aren’t promised tomorrow. 
We’re not perfect. 
Things change. 

  
So, how does this planning a legacy work…exactly? 
  
Self – Discovery (values, personality, skills, weakness) - I encourage friends to buy a dollar store journal and answer a few questions about values, personality, and character traits. 
  

  1. What legacy do you want to leave in the world (or who do you want to become before you die?) 
  2. Who do you want to leave a legacy for? (Family, community, field of work?) 
  3. What are your personality traits? (what are your strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes?) 
  4. What are your talents and skills? (career ideas, job qualifications, etc.) 

  
Prioritization – Next, you’ll want to put your steps in order. 
  
What needs to be done first? For example, you can’t live tomorrow…if you aren’t alive tomorrow. You need to drive safely, eat a certain way, live a certain life in order to see your future. Do you have children? You have to change a diaper? Do you have a spouse? You need to care for them and live with them. Figure out what’s important and take it a step at a time. (Note: this may take 10+ years! But, it’s part of the process of living a legacy without regret.) 

Faithfulness 
  
Be faithful to the life you’ve planned. Let New Years celebration remind you to revisit your life-vision. Take it one day at a time. When you accomplish something, celebrate and put it in a photo album…or on the wall! When you face discouragement, stay faithful. If things need updating, update them. One day, you’ll look back and say…I did this intentionally. 
 

Join My Email List

Get invites to events, updates and new music by signing up here!