Raised on Rhythm

Raised on Rhythm began as a school assignment centered on family, legacy, and the stories that shape who we become. When I was asked to explore my own story, I knew I wanted to turn the camera toward my dad.

I've always known my dad through the stories he's shared with me, but music has always been one of the most meaningful parts of our relationship. I remember practicing on his DJ equipment, listening as he introduced me to new songs, and learning from the music he loved. In many ways, his relationship with music shaped my own—and it's a big reason why my music taste is so broad today.

Although I didn't get to spend as much time with my dad growing up as I would have liked, music became something we shared. Through it, he taught me about creativity, culture, and pieces of himself that I might not have otherwise known.

This film gave me the opportunity to learn more about his early years—from his beginnings as a DJ to cutting hair and growing up in Baltimore—and to preserve those memories in a way our family can return to. I wanted to create something tangible that I could one day share with my own children and future family, so they could know where some of our story began.

That's where Raised on Rhythm comes from. It's about music, but it's also about fatherhood, memory, Baltimore, and the ways the people we love leave pieces of themselves in us.

I didn't just want to tell my dad's story. I wanted to make sure we had a piece of it to keep.