HAZEY

.. Lonnell Haze. Born October 6, 1985, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Il. Basically, I was thrown in the trash at three days old. I was found by a janitor who left me on this lady's doorstep. She took care of me until I was three. One day, she took me to McDonalds and left me there. After that, DCFS picked me up and I’ve been in foster care ever since. I have stayed in 20+ different homes in Chicago while I was growing up. When I became an adult I moved away from the city to go to college, play football and pursue a career in music. I currently live in Champaign, IL, attend School and work on my music every day. Musically, I'm influenced by Kanye West, Twista, Crucial Conflict and Lupe Fiasco. They are all Chicago natives that put niggas like us on the map. They opened the door for people like me. Also, I respect Tupac, Eminem & Biggie. Personally, there is only a handful of people that influenced me positively growing up. My caseworker Jill was the coolest lady in the world and the first person who ever believed in me. Social worker Gail Thompson was another person who saved my life by holding me down when I needed her the most. Finally, I want to give a huge thanks to all the foster parents, teachers, "friends," and all the organizations that were supposed to have my back as a kid growing up alone in Chicago that were gunning for me instead of helping me. Thanks for telling me that I couldn't do it. I would not be as strong as I am today without you. You gave me the reason to dream of something bigger and better...and i think its that time.