There are so many people doing great things in Detroit; showing that
Detroit is more than a wasteland filled with dilapidated buildings and liquor
stores. They are making marks in fashion, music, philanthropy, and so much
more. It is impossible for me to highlight all of them, but I have to tell it
like I see it, when I see it.
I met David Michael a
couple a months ago after he ministered at an outdoor concert I attended.
I don't know if it was the encouraging lyrics or the tight hoodie he was
sporting, but I knew that I needed to meet him. David Michael is a native
Detroiter making major moves. He has his hands in a little bit of
everything owning a Christian based clothing line, David Michael Clothing Co.
and being one of Detroit's hottest Christian Rappers.
David's story is that of
redemption. As a teen growing up in inner city Detroit, he was negatively
influence by his surroundings, and was on his way to being just another
statistic. At twenty he found himself, incarcerated, angry, broken, hopeless,
and disconnected.
David Michael grew up in a
broken home, witnessing countless fights between his parents and experiencing
both physical and verbal abuse. Reflecting on his childhood David Michael said,
"They would get into physical fights...my siblings were always angry
because of that and they always took it out on me. They divorced when I
was seven and my dad got custody of us. We got to see her every other weekend
when he would let us." Even though he lived with his father, they never
really had a relationship. “He was
always working, and when he was home, he was physically, mentally, and
emotionally abusive,” David recalls. His father never visited him during
his multiple stays in juvy', and when his mother eventually got custody, he
dropped out of school and bounced from house to house, and slept where he
could. Needless to say David has not spoken to his father in over ten years.
Before being saved David
states that, he was, "broken, hateful, hurt... [and] had a huge anger
problem [that] enticed fights." Most of David's early years were
spent behind bars. He was incarcerated for the first time at eleven and at
twenty found himself facing charges for attempted murder and assault, but it
was at this moment that God stepped in with his redemptive powers. David
should have received 5 to 25 year sentence, but his sentence was reduced and he
found a faith in God that stands strong. Like David of the bible, he was
flawed, but God washed it all away. From the day the doors of the jail house
closed David was destined to become a representative for Christ.
David not only reps Christ
through his music, but he literally wears Him. When I asked David where
the inspiration for his clothing line came from he stated that, “I had been obedient to the Holy Spirit…literally clean out my closet of
all the clothing that represented lawlessness…So I'm standing there…looking at
a half empty closet and I say out loud ‘what am I supposed to wear God?’ and He
spoke deep into my Spirit [and said] ‘Wear me boy’ it was so clear, but not
audible? So…I began to buy White-Ts and took paint and started creating these
shirts that had all my favorite scriptures on them, [what I was] reading…[what]
was pricking my heart. I wanted to wear the Word because I understood the
Power [of] it… He is His Word, so essentially, I'm literally wearing Him!”
David is an excellent role model for the youth of
Detroit and hopes that the young people of Detroit will come to know God for
themselves. To those broken adolescents in Detroit he says, “…I found
myself in a cell guilty of a crime knowing I should never get out. Yet when I
cried out for answers just wanting to know if He was really real and this Jesus
I heard about, He met me right there in that cell. If you’re ever looking for
answers....He will meet you too. I promise.”
In future David hopes to become an integral part of
the social and spiritual growth of Detroit. “There [are] not enough people
seeking people here.” He has several projects in the works and the
recently released the album WASH, available for a free download, CLICK HERE.
He is anticipating the Fall 2011 release of, "The Underground Pt. 2,"
the second installment of his debut album, "The Underground."(2010)
He will also be touring throughout most of this year, and will be opening up
for such artist as Grammy Nominated LeCrae and KJ52 this May.
To find out more information about David Michael and future events,
Visit the his official website at www.davidmichael313.com
Become a fan on facebook at www.facebook.com/davidmichaelclothing
Follow him on twitter at www.twitter.com/davidmichaelclothing
Peace and Love,
Najeema Iman, I AM Curly Locks
All Rights Reserved Najeema Iman of I AM Curly Locks Blog
To my fellow Detroiters: Do you know any people making moves in Detroit and think they should be highlighted on my blog contact me via email at najeemat@gmail.com.
