Today we’d like to introduce you to Shemuel Parker.
Hi Shemuel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always had a deep passion for music. I remember when I was a child and my mom purchased me a hip hop cd. My parents are divorced and my dad would not allow me to watch MTV or BET. I attended private Christian schools. One school in particular is where I started my music career.
At the age of 10 years old, my dad placed me in Calvary Christian Academy. Yes, we wore uniforms to school. I sang in the choir, but that was not “real” music to me. One day at lunch in the cafeteria, some of my peers got into a rap battle. I just watched anxiously. Listening eagerly to the rappers and following the emotion of the crowd. When I came home that day, I called my friend on a cordless phone. I told him that I wanted to battle Mike on a 3-way phone call. Mike was the guy who won the lunch rap battle. My friend set up the battle for that night. I remember using the internet back then to search for a Biggie song. Being that I never wrote a song before, I used Biggie’s lyrics in the rap battle but with my own rhythm. I won the rap battle, everybody thought the lyrics were my own. This ignited the fire inside of me that is still burning today.
Shortly after that night, I began writing my own lyrics. Many years went past as I patiently continued to develop this skill. In 8th grade, I met a few guys in my class that were also rappers. One of the guys that I became close friends with is Kyle. I spent a lot of time at his house. We had our own rap group and we had written a bunch of songs together. We just needed to record them and put them on cd. I had a HP Desktop computer at home. I brought it over to Kyle’s house and watched tutorial videos on how to set it up to record audio. This was 2005-2006 and Adobe Audition was our savior. I taught myself how to record, edit, mix, and master. While Kyle worked on the artwork using Photoshop, I spent countless hours training myself as an audio engineer. His parents literally had to remind us to eat.
Today, I am still training myself as an audio engineer. I taught myself how to use Pro Tools although I prefer to use Presonus Studio One 6. Over the years, the quality of my hearing has increased along with the quality of my mixes. I do not use reference tracks. I go where the song takes me, that is the magic of it. I let the song express itself and leave room for the universe to speak.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I struggle with being misunderstood. As an INFJ (personality), there is only 1.5% of the general population that can see the world from my perspective. Instead of society taking the time to understand me, they diagnose me. I get labeled as a threat because I am not a part of the collective insanity or group psychosis. Therefore, I must be sick? I must have a major mental illness?
Lately, I’ve been working to understand myself. What I do not understand is how a Psychologist can act like they know me more than I do. I was released from Eastern State Hospital (Virginia) in March of 2024. Judge Steven C. Frucci of Virginia Beach, VA locked me away for 5 years. What have I been convicted of?
In 2013 I was found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI). The word ‘insanity’ may scare people. In this case, this particular word is used as judicial terminology which drastically differs from its clinical meaning. To keep it simple, I was found judicially insane by the State of Virginia in 2013. This is a formal acquittal of all charges. My criminal history is clean. Yet, I spent 4 years in Eastern State Hospital starting in 2014. I was released in 2016 and then locked back in the hospital in August of 2019. Why? I failed one urinalysis because I smoked one marijuana blunt.
During my initial release, I was attending college online at Full Sail University. When Judge Frucci sent me back to Eastern State Hospital in 2019, I was swiftly kicked out of Full Sail because my records said I was ‘incarcerated.’ Once again, what have I been convicted of?
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a HipHop artist from Norfolk, Virginia. Also, I am a Sound Designer and entrepreneur. Professionally, I am known as 2xSammy. I have over 100 albums. You can find my music on all major platforms and music outlets.
I am a junior at Berklee College of Music (Online). I have maintained a 3.7 GPA. Also, I have made Dean’s List over 5 times.
I am proud of my ability to stay authentic. In a society who tries to dictate who you are, I don’t listen. I have a keen ability to channel the wisdom of my ancestors through my music. This is how HipHop originated and I must maintain supreme excellence to keep the original artform alive.
– I am in the developmental stages of my company SamBae’s Health & Wellness*
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Yes! Andy Frisella and Sal Frisella have a company called 1stPhorm. This company is dedicated to helping me become the best version of myself. There is a 1stPhorm App. With this App, I can track my nutrition, have a personal lifestyle coach, and have access to numerous workout routines. Our motto is “We Do the Work!” 1stPhorm has a large line of high quality Nutritional Supplements and a community of disciplined people that are helping me tremendously! Also, I do have an accountability partner that works for this company named Michael. Andy Frisella has the REAL AF Podcast which I watch on YouTube almost everyday!! Overall, this is a thank you to Andy, Sal, and Michael for guiding me in the right direction when I was lost. #iam1stPhorm
Contact Info:
- Website: https://unitedmasters.com/2xsammy
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2xsammyofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArFlowz/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shemuel-parker
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/arflowz
- Youtube: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCvdwfVTSd-kzNG85cUQr7cQ?si=U7fmaDa4qBZuMi1z
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/2xsammy/1290847359
Image Credits
Shemuel Parker