The following program
discusses sensitive issues.
00:00:01.36\00:00:02.90
Parents are cautioned
00:00:02.93\00:00:04.27
that some
material may be too candid
00:00:04.30\00:00:05.90
for younger children.
00:00:05.93\00:00:07.27
Welcome to The New Journey,
00:00:10.24\00:00:11.57
a program where
you'll meet real life people
00:00:11.61\00:00:13.54
with real life testimonies,
00:00:13.58\00:00:15.04
doing real life
ministries for Jesus Christ.
00:00:15.08\00:00:17.18
I'm your host Aaron Chancy,
00:00:17.21\00:00:18.55
come join us on The New Journey.
00:00:18.58\00:00:20.22
Welcome back to the program.
00:00:52.18\00:00:53.65
We have an exciting
program for you today
00:00:53.68\00:00:55.88
with the guest
G. Paul Foster II.
00:00:55.92\00:00:58.69
G. Paul Foster, we like to
thank you for being on today.
00:00:58.72\00:01:00.96
Thanks for having me.
00:01:00.99\00:01:02.32
All right, just for
some general information,
00:01:02.36\00:01:03.73
if you could
provide us with your age
00:01:03.76\00:01:05.16
and where you're
born and raised at.
00:01:05.19\00:01:06.63
I'm 25. Okay.
00:01:06.66\00:01:08.70
I was born in Columbus, Ohio.
00:01:08.73\00:01:10.87
I'm was raised in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin/ Madison, Wisconsin.
00:01:10.90\00:01:15.00
Okay.
00:01:15.04\00:01:16.37
Okay, what was it like
growing up at a young age,
00:01:16.40\00:01:18.84
number one, as a preacher's kid,
00:01:18.87\00:01:20.21
a Seventh-day
Adventist preacher's kid
00:01:20.24\00:01:21.88
as well as
growing up in Milwaukee?
00:01:21.91\00:01:24.25
Well, growing as a PK is
always different challenges
00:01:24.28\00:01:30.62
because you have that type of
00:01:30.65\00:01:35.72
stereotype of PK kid
where there's gonna be...
00:01:35.76\00:01:39.26
a PK kids, excuse me.
00:01:39.29\00:01:40.63
Where there's gonna be
someone that is trying too hard,
00:01:40.66\00:01:44.33
trying to overcompensate, to say
00:01:44.37\00:01:45.73
or that the other individual
is trying to overcompensate
00:01:45.77\00:01:49.54
to be like goody tushu.
00:01:49.57\00:01:50.91
Yeah, well.
00:01:50.94\00:01:52.27
And growing up I
found myself in the middle,
00:01:52.31\00:01:56.28
found myself trying to fit in.
00:01:56.31\00:01:58.51
But then also found
myself trying to do right, so.
00:01:58.55\00:02:01.58
Okay.
00:02:01.62\00:02:02.95
How hard was it
for you at a young age
00:02:02.98\00:02:04.85
to be able to try to fit
in, being that you are PK?
00:02:04.89\00:02:10.43
I guess it really depend
because in Milwaukee area,
00:02:10.46\00:02:14.86
it was hard trying to fit in
00:02:14.90\00:02:17.00
and trying to
get them to accept me
00:02:17.03\00:02:20.57
for who I was at a young age.
00:02:20.60\00:02:23.57
In Madison area,
growing up as a child was fine.
00:02:23.61\00:02:27.88
There was some
racism near by by and large,
00:02:27.91\00:02:32.61
fitting there was okay.
00:02:32.65\00:02:33.98
Okay. What did you have to do?
00:02:34.02\00:02:35.35
You mentioned a second ago
00:02:35.38\00:02:36.72
about you had to
do things to fit in.
00:02:36.75\00:02:38.42
What were some of those things
00:02:38.45\00:02:39.79
that you had to do to
fit in or try to fit in?
00:02:39.82\00:02:41.89
Just like I have
mentioned before,
00:02:41.92\00:02:44.13
just trying to overcompensate.
00:02:44.16\00:02:45.89
So as a young
child, swearing was big.
00:02:45.93\00:02:49.53
So my swear too much,
like, use different...
00:02:49.56\00:02:54.27
Now people can tell,
okay, yeah, he's saying so much,
00:02:54.30\00:02:56.10
he trying too hard.
00:02:56.14\00:02:57.47
Sure, using
different curse words,
00:02:57.51\00:02:58.91
when it's not
supposed to be used.
00:02:58.94\00:03:01.21
So sitting here,
just sounding like
00:03:01.24\00:03:03.88
I'm trying to formulate on,
type of different curse words
00:03:03.91\00:03:06.61
but it's not
just coming together
00:03:06.65\00:03:07.98
because again, we're
trying to overcompensate
00:03:08.02\00:03:10.19
because I'm trying to fit in.
00:03:10.22\00:03:11.55
Okay, okay.
00:03:11.59\00:03:12.92
Now, eventually, you
gravitated towards the streets.
00:03:12.95\00:03:15.29
So what was the motivating
00:03:15.32\00:03:16.66
or what were some of
the motivating factors
00:03:16.69\00:03:18.96
that led to you
gravitating to the street life?
00:03:18.99\00:03:23.73
I think a lot of it had to
do with being in Milwaukee,
00:03:23.77\00:03:27.37
because in
Milwaukee at a young age
00:03:27.40\00:03:30.37
I saw people from our church,
00:03:30.41\00:03:32.57
boy from our church
that were out on the streets
00:03:32.61\00:03:34.78
but they have
roots in the church.
00:03:34.81\00:03:36.88
So coming to
church with wads of cash.
00:03:36.91\00:03:40.92
I remember there's
this little basketball team
00:03:40.95\00:03:43.39
that I play with, called CFL,
Christian Fellowship League.
00:03:43.42\00:03:47.46
Anyway, I was Chicago
00:03:47.49\00:03:51.09
and I saw this
guy from the team,
00:03:51.13\00:03:53.63
he poured out a
wad of cash like this
00:03:53.66\00:03:55.76
and I'm like, "Wait a minute,
00:03:55.80\00:03:57.50
how is he getting
this type of money?"
00:03:57.53\00:03:59.03
That's the same question
I asked when I was young,
00:03:59.07\00:04:00.80
that's a trip, go on.
00:04:00.84\00:04:02.37
So then I'm sitting here,
00:04:02.40\00:04:04.71
seeing his lifestyles
of some of the cool kids,
00:04:04.74\00:04:08.68
you can say,
from Milwaukee church,
00:04:08.71\00:04:11.15
been there like
out in the neighborhood
00:04:11.18\00:04:13.65
having on the jerseys.
00:04:13.68\00:04:15.38
Back in day,
jerseys were popular.
00:04:15.42\00:04:16.75
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
00:04:16.79\00:04:18.12
Having the
jerseys, having the chains,
00:04:18.15\00:04:20.06
having the
Jordan's, having the cash.
00:04:20.09\00:04:22.09
So then as a child, I was like,
00:04:22.12\00:04:24.49
"Man, that's
something that I wanted,"
00:04:24.53\00:04:26.09
and I remember,
pops never really got me,
00:04:26.13\00:04:30.03
got me the jerseys, he'll give
me something from like K-Mart,
00:04:30.07\00:04:33.13
and I come back from Milwaukee,
get clowned, I'm like,
00:04:33.17\00:04:35.30
"Wait a minute, what
you're talking about?"
00:04:35.34\00:04:37.07
Is it really to me
like it's not real.
00:04:37.11\00:04:39.07
So just trying to fit in really,
00:04:39.11\00:04:43.95
had me curious about,
00:04:43.98\00:04:45.91
okay, how do I get
these nice clothes?
00:04:45.95\00:04:48.72
Like how do I get
these nice wads of cash type?
00:04:48.75\00:04:52.35
Now that's
interesting you said that
00:04:52.39\00:04:53.72
because that's the same
thing that happened to me.
00:04:53.76\00:04:56.79
And my father wasn't a pastor,
00:04:56.83\00:04:58.63
but I grew up
in a Adventist home
00:04:58.66\00:05:00.46
and I remember 15, 16 years old,
00:05:00.50\00:05:03.06
seeing young kids with
wads of money, like you say.
00:05:03.10\00:05:05.83
And it was intriguing like,
00:05:05.87\00:05:07.20
"Wow, what are
they actually doing?"
00:05:07.24\00:05:09.64
How deep did you get into
that lifestyle just based upon
00:05:09.67\00:05:13.51
looking at what
other people had?
00:05:13.54\00:05:16.58
I want to say
that was everything,
00:05:16.61\00:05:18.61
because something I fail
to mention, my brother...
00:05:18.65\00:05:21.58
I heard so much
about my brother.
00:05:21.62\00:05:23.72
He went down Alabama,
and I'm getting phone calls
00:05:23.75\00:05:28.22
or hearing some
of my younger friends
00:05:28.26\00:05:30.36
talking about my brother,
he did this, he did this...
00:05:30.39\00:05:32.06
Okay.
00:05:32.09\00:05:33.43
And then he went in
like the Madison area,
00:05:33.46\00:05:35.20
he was doing a lot,
making a name for himself.
00:05:35.23\00:05:39.37
So from the
attraction in Milwaukee
00:05:39.40\00:05:43.14
to really trying
to be like brother,
00:05:43.17\00:05:46.94
everything that I saw,
00:05:46.98\00:05:48.31
it was something
that I wanted to do.
00:05:48.34\00:05:51.38
I blame media for that also.
00:05:51.41\00:05:53.21
Okay, okay.
00:05:53.25\00:05:54.58
And we're gonna talk
about that in a little bit,
00:05:54.62\00:05:55.95
how does media
play a strong effect.
00:05:55.98\00:05:58.35
But before we get to that,
00:05:58.39\00:05:59.72
what do you think were
some of the negative influences
00:05:59.75\00:06:01.59
as well as some of the positive
influences in your home,
00:06:01.62\00:06:04.56
and even surrounding you being
00:06:04.59\00:06:05.93
that you came from a
two parent home, like I did?
00:06:05.96\00:06:10.53
Something I'd say
about my pop and my mom
00:06:10.57\00:06:12.33
first before we go on.
00:06:12.37\00:06:13.70
Okay.
00:06:13.74\00:06:15.07
Pops and mon are great.
00:06:15.10\00:06:16.44
Okay. Amen.
00:06:16.47\00:06:17.81
Like they did
everything in their power
00:06:17.84\00:06:20.58
to raise me up correctly.
00:06:20.61\00:06:22.08
Yeah, in a
right direction, okay.
00:06:22.11\00:06:23.45
But I as a child, just
decided to veer off too.
00:06:23.48\00:06:28.02
I remember
nights, pop literally,
00:06:28.05\00:06:30.89
he would have wore
some of the same suit,
00:06:30.92\00:06:33.86
some of the same dress shoe,
00:06:33.89\00:06:37.13
because he was making
sacrifices for the family.
00:06:37.16\00:06:40.63
So from that standpoint,
pop and mama did great.
00:06:40.66\00:06:44.93
But from the
negative stand point, for me,
00:06:44.97\00:06:47.90
it was trying to
be like my brother
00:06:47.94\00:06:50.04
and spending too much time
in Milwaukee on the weekends,
00:06:50.07\00:06:55.14
sometimes during the weekend,
and coming back to Madison
00:06:55.18\00:06:58.28
for like three days.
00:06:58.31\00:07:01.45
I was sitting their so confused,
00:07:01.48\00:07:03.15
but I wanted
this lifestyle so bad.
00:07:03.18\00:07:05.15
Yeah, well, okay, okay.
00:07:05.19\00:07:07.19
Now you mentioned a second ago
about media had part to play.
00:07:07.22\00:07:11.56
If you can expound upon that,
00:07:11.59\00:07:12.93
how media played
a part in your life
00:07:12.96\00:07:14.73
as well as how it
effects other people,
00:07:14.76\00:07:16.63
that say, okay,
it's just entertainment,
00:07:16.67\00:07:18.00
entertainment
doesn't effect me like that?
00:07:18.03\00:07:20.67
Well, first of all, I
believe everybody is different.
00:07:20.70\00:07:22.74
Yeah.
00:07:22.77\00:07:24.11
Have a friend of mine,
00:07:24.14\00:07:26.11
media, as far as like
different type of music.
00:07:26.14\00:07:29.18
It may affect them internally.
00:07:29.21\00:07:32.35
But on the other
side, I've never seen it,
00:07:32.38\00:07:34.68
actually effecting.
00:07:34.72\00:07:36.35
But for me, I have a
very addictive personality.
00:07:36.38\00:07:41.12
And if I see something that
I want, I'm gonna go get it.
00:07:41.16\00:07:44.89
But I'm not
just gonna go get it,
00:07:44.93\00:07:46.26
I'm gonna go over board with it.
00:07:46.29\00:07:48.26
So growing up, rappers
like Boosie was a real big,
00:07:48.30\00:07:53.34
Gucci Mane, Jeezy.
00:07:53.37\00:07:54.94
So and then Diddy and the boys.
00:07:54.97\00:07:57.81
So I'm sitting here
sneaking, trying to watch BET,
00:07:57.84\00:08:02.58
sitting there, just
trying to get a little dose
00:08:02.61\00:08:05.61
of something at that
time I thought was glorify.
00:08:05.65\00:08:08.62
So seeing the
money, seeing the cars...
00:08:08.65\00:08:12.79
Yeah, all that going around.
00:08:12.82\00:08:14.16
Seeing champagne being popped.
00:08:14.19\00:08:18.26
All of that is something that
affected me based off of media.
00:08:18.29\00:08:23.40
Because it was portrayed
that, okay, selling drugs...
00:08:23.43\00:08:26.84
Was cool.
00:08:26.87\00:08:28.64
Going out on Friday,
going out, buying out the bar,
00:08:28.67\00:08:32.14
driving some of
the nicest whips,
00:08:32.17\00:08:34.84
that was something
that was proclaimed.
00:08:34.88\00:08:37.48
So that happened
from social media.
00:08:37.51\00:08:39.58
And I believe
everybody to a certain degree
00:08:39.61\00:08:42.92
has effect from it.
00:08:42.95\00:08:44.29
Yeah, wow. Yeah, definitely.
00:08:44.32\00:08:45.65
How far did that lead you?
00:08:45.69\00:08:47.12
Because I know from
myself looking at it,
00:08:47.16\00:08:49.09
I remember back in mid
'90s, mid to late '90s,
00:08:49.12\00:08:52.39
I was being going
like Cashmoney records,
00:08:52.43\00:08:54.43
No Limit record,
and people out of Texas.
00:08:54.46\00:08:57.77
And I remember just like you do,
00:08:57.80\00:08:59.63
the money being thrown around,
00:08:59.67\00:09:01.10
the bottles of
liquor, and the club scene,
00:09:01.14\00:09:03.94
and all those kinds of
things, and they attracted me.
00:09:03.97\00:09:06.01
And it led me down to dark path
00:09:06.04\00:09:07.88
where, you know,
incarcerations, juvenile,
00:09:07.91\00:09:10.88
prison, jail, not
scared to rob people,
00:09:10.91\00:09:13.48
not scared to break anything.
00:09:13.52\00:09:14.85
How far did you
get led down that path?
00:09:14.88\00:09:17.99
To say, it was far out be
the biggest understatement.
00:09:21.72\00:09:24.46
Okay.
00:09:24.49\00:09:25.83
And for someone of my church
family that really know me
00:09:25.86\00:09:30.10
and some of those individuals
that know one side of GP,
00:09:30.13\00:09:36.00
they would never
understand this side
00:09:36.04\00:09:38.77
because it got to the
point of the activities
00:09:38.81\00:09:42.74
that I was involved in,
it came with the territory.
00:09:42.78\00:09:46.41
For example, if you're
involved in that street life
00:09:46.45\00:09:49.58
which I later on
got deep involved,
00:09:49.62\00:09:54.82
it came with,
always carrying a pistol.
00:09:54.86\00:09:56.66
I remember time going
to church with the pistol.
00:09:56.69\00:09:58.16
Wow, wow.
00:09:58.19\00:09:59.53
Sitting there, sleeping, having
a pistol underneath my bed
00:09:59.56\00:10:03.70
because I was
always into something.
00:10:03.73\00:10:06.00
Once I got jump off
15 cats in the nightclub
00:10:06.03\00:10:09.34
because, it was
like some foolishness,
00:10:09.37\00:10:11.27
but there was all type of...
00:10:11.31\00:10:16.48
trying to think,
all type of reactions
00:10:16.51\00:10:19.08
that happen from that.
00:10:19.11\00:10:20.58
So because I got jumped
00:10:20.62\00:10:22.75
and because what I was
listening to on a daily basis,
00:10:22.78\00:10:26.35
I had to retaliate.
00:10:26.39\00:10:28.42
But the way I retaliated
to this day is kind of,
00:10:28.46\00:10:33.16
you know, still
a mute point type.
00:10:33.19\00:10:36.67
So from social or
from the media up until
00:10:36.70\00:10:41.87
how things really
drove me to that lifestyle,
00:10:41.90\00:10:45.17
it had me deep it,
have me to the point
00:10:45.21\00:10:47.84
that dying didn't face me.
00:10:47.88\00:10:49.88
Wow, wow. Period.
00:10:49.91\00:10:51.25
Wow.
00:10:51.28\00:10:52.61
Now what were some of the
drugs that you got involved in?
00:10:52.65\00:10:54.75
Alcohol,
because you talked about
00:10:54.78\00:10:56.18
how they were
glorified on music videos
00:10:56.22\00:10:58.85
and things like that?
00:10:58.89\00:11:00.22
What were some of those
things that you got deep into?
00:11:00.26\00:11:03.29
Growing up was a...
00:11:03.32\00:11:05.83
may be until I was like
20, I got involved with that,
00:11:05.86\00:11:09.90
smoking heavy.
00:11:09.93\00:11:11.27
Okay. Real heavy.
00:11:11.30\00:11:13.44
Okay, smoking marijuana.
00:11:13.47\00:11:14.80
Yes, smoking
marijuana real heavy.
00:11:14.84\00:11:16.97
But drinking is something that,
00:11:17.01\00:11:19.07
to this day I
still struggle with.
00:11:19.11\00:11:20.61
I've been drinking...
00:11:20.64\00:11:22.24
started drinking when I was 15.
00:11:22.28\00:11:24.65
But where it all
started at, it was just a taste,
00:11:24.68\00:11:30.99
it was trying to
peep that curiosity.
00:11:31.02\00:11:33.79
Wow.
00:11:33.82\00:11:35.22
And from there it
was a gateway road.
00:11:35.26\00:11:41.03
Okay.
00:11:41.06\00:11:42.40
You know, sometimes I
even just crack open the bottle
00:11:42.43\00:11:44.57
just to put myself to sleep,
00:11:44.60\00:11:45.93
or if something
happens in our home,
00:11:45.97\00:11:48.07
or something happens at
school or just something happens
00:11:48.10\00:11:50.77
that's dramatic then I
would use that for my outlet.
00:11:50.81\00:11:53.68
Yeah, wow.
00:11:53.71\00:11:55.04
Do you think that,
a lot of it started
00:11:55.08\00:11:57.25
because you were
tying to cover up something
00:11:57.28\00:11:59.15
or that you were just
trying to be like other people?
00:11:59.18\00:12:02.68
What do you think was
the root cause of starting
00:12:02.72\00:12:05.45
with alcohol and marijuana?
00:12:05.49\00:12:07.52
Well, definitely, the smoking,
it started from my brother.
00:12:07.56\00:12:11.39
Okay.
00:12:11.43\00:12:12.76
I was trying my
hardest to be like my brother.
00:12:12.79\00:12:16.73
In school, he had the girls,
he could play a little ball.
00:12:16.77\00:12:22.17
He had the money.
00:12:22.20\00:12:23.74
You know, so
smoking, that was something,
00:12:23.77\00:12:26.98
I was definitely
trying to be like my brother.
00:12:27.01\00:12:29.11
I looked up to my
brother, so tough,
00:12:29.14\00:12:30.81
so I was just trying to do
everything that he was doing.
00:12:30.85\00:12:34.62
Okay, wow, wow.
00:12:34.65\00:12:36.35
And drinking
started, when I was like 15.
00:12:36.38\00:12:39.69
Like I said, that happened
from best friend of mine
00:12:39.72\00:12:42.42
who was just sharing a bottle,
00:12:42.46\00:12:43.79
going around,
just passing that, so.
00:12:43.83\00:12:46.43
Wow.
00:12:46.46\00:12:47.80
So you mentioned that second ago
00:12:47.83\00:12:49.16
where you even
carried a gun to church.
00:12:49.20\00:12:51.10
How did that make you feel,
00:12:51.13\00:12:52.53
you know, having to
take a gun to church?
00:12:52.57\00:12:54.70
You said, you slept
with it under your bed.
00:12:54.74\00:12:57.04
But, you know, the
church, it almost seems like,
00:12:57.07\00:12:59.41
"Wow, he went
in there with a gun
00:12:59.44\00:13:01.28
to where he should feel safe."
00:13:01.31\00:13:03.14
You know, how did
that make you feel,
00:13:03.18\00:13:04.51
having to go to church with
a gun because you don't know
00:13:04.55\00:13:07.52
who's waiting for you
outside or even inside?
00:13:07.55\00:13:10.55
I guess at that point
00:13:14.32\00:13:17.36
I really felt
like, this was life.
00:13:17.39\00:13:21.10
Okay.
00:13:21.13\00:13:22.46
You know, I honestly
didn't fee safe without it,
00:13:22.50\00:13:26.77
I don't feel
comfortable without it.
00:13:26.80\00:13:28.14
Wow.
00:13:28.17\00:13:29.50
And going to
church, if I didn't have it,
00:13:29.54\00:13:32.04
I knew as soon as I left church,
00:13:32.07\00:13:34.21
I'm getting ready to...
00:13:34.24\00:13:35.71
actually go get into something
00:13:35.74\00:13:38.25
because the way
that I cover it up,
00:13:38.28\00:13:40.98
people never had any idea.
00:13:41.02\00:13:42.88
It was literally to the
point that I'm going to church,
00:13:42.92\00:13:45.35
and right after church,
dressed up, shirt and tie,
00:13:45.39\00:13:48.52
I'm going straight
to the liquor store.
00:13:48.56\00:13:49.89
Yeah, wow.
00:13:49.92\00:13:51.26
You know, I remember once,
like the sale clerk, he said,
00:13:51.29\00:13:54.73
"Hey man, how was church?"
00:13:54.76\00:13:56.50
I said, "It was good,
00:13:56.53\00:13:57.87
but can I get the
fifth right here."
00:13:57.90\00:13:59.23
Yeah. You know.
00:13:59.27\00:14:00.60
Wow.
00:14:00.64\00:14:01.97
But it really got to the
point that I could care less.
00:14:02.00\00:14:05.67
I knew for the fact
00:14:05.71\00:14:07.04
that I was either going
to end up dead or in jail,
00:14:07.08\00:14:09.24
but I could care less about it
00:14:09.28\00:14:10.78
because I was
chilling with my boys,
00:14:10.81\00:14:13.08
I was making money,
00:14:13.11\00:14:14.65
was sitting there partying,
just really living the life.
00:14:14.68\00:14:17.19
Yeah, living life, living life.
00:14:17.22\00:14:18.89
Now how did you deal with
all of that stuff in your life?
00:14:18.92\00:14:24.53
Being that you
grew up in a church
00:14:24.56\00:14:26.29
and you were
still going to church,
00:14:26.33\00:14:28.00
but you were
still in the what...
00:14:28.03\00:14:29.56
how did you
balance out those two?
00:14:29.60\00:14:30.93
And the reason I asked,
00:14:30.97\00:14:32.30
because for me,
I couldn't do that.
00:14:32.33\00:14:35.40
To me, it was going to church...
00:14:35.44\00:14:37.07
I couldn't put
on a mask basically,
00:14:37.11\00:14:38.81
and everybody
knew what I was doing.
00:14:38.84\00:14:40.98
If I'm in church, everybody
knew that I was in church,
00:14:41.01\00:14:42.64
if I was in the streets,
00:14:42.68\00:14:44.01
everybody knew that
I was in the streets.
00:14:44.05\00:14:45.38
How did you manage to
balance those things out
00:14:45.41\00:14:47.35
to where a lot of people,
like you said in the beginning,
00:14:47.38\00:14:49.52
don't know this side of GP,
how were you able to do that?
00:14:49.55\00:14:52.39
Well, everything
really that I'm telling you
00:14:52.42\00:14:54.72
other than
carrying the gun to church,
00:14:54.76\00:14:56.93
this is the beginning stages.
00:14:56.96\00:14:58.29
Okay.
00:14:58.33\00:14:59.66
You know, like going to church
00:14:59.69\00:15:01.03
like, that's the beginning stage
00:15:01.06\00:15:02.40
like, there was times that I
just stopped going to church.
00:15:02.43\00:15:05.17
But in the beginning, I
was still trying to balance,
00:15:05.20\00:15:08.74
I was still try to go to church,
00:15:08.77\00:15:10.34
still try to party,
00:15:10.37\00:15:11.71
but then, want to
say may be around 20, 21,
00:15:11.74\00:15:15.61
I just stopped going to church.
00:15:15.64\00:15:16.98
Yeah, okay.
00:15:17.01\00:15:18.35
You know, church
wasn't the priority.
00:15:18.38\00:15:22.28
Yeah, I might go
for mother's day,
00:15:22.32\00:15:24.15
show up to surprise moms,
00:15:24.19\00:15:25.92
or something
dramatic might happen.
00:15:25.95\00:15:28.29
Then I just feel like I
just need to slip in a church
00:15:28.32\00:15:31.56
for a little bit.
00:15:31.59\00:15:32.93
Now your brother was
older than you, correct?
00:15:32.96\00:15:35.66
Okay, how did he feel
when he saw you emulating him,
00:15:35.70\00:15:40.64
or following down that
same path he was going on?
00:15:40.67\00:15:45.07
At first I think,
he was okay with it.
00:15:45.11\00:15:49.31
I got you. He was like,
"that's just a little bro."
00:15:49.34\00:15:51.38
But then it got to a point
00:15:51.41\00:15:52.75
where I was any
deeper than he was.
00:15:52.78\00:15:54.62
Yeah, wow.
00:15:54.65\00:15:55.98
Then it got to a point
00:15:56.02\00:15:57.35
where I was more
reckless than he was.
00:15:57.39\00:15:58.85
Okay.
00:15:58.89\00:16:00.22
Do you kind of
feel like, he was...
00:16:00.26\00:16:02.72
that he felt responsible
for leading you down that path?
00:16:02.76\00:16:05.86
And the reason I
ask you is because
00:16:05.89\00:16:07.33
I remember the first
time I smoke some marijuana,
00:16:07.36\00:16:09.23
it was with one of my cousins.
00:16:09.26\00:16:11.07
And as I got deeper
into that lifestyle,
00:16:11.10\00:16:13.47
even deeper than
he had been in it,
00:16:13.50\00:16:15.47
he was, you know, he
came and apologized to me
00:16:15.50\00:16:18.04
for you know,
introducing me to marijuana.
00:16:18.07\00:16:20.31
And a number of
people, him included,
00:16:20.34\00:16:22.38
felt like they were responsible
00:16:22.41\00:16:25.08
for leading me
in that direction.
00:16:25.11\00:16:26.75
Where they weren't
necessarily totally responsible,
00:16:26.78\00:16:29.12
it was my decision also.
00:16:29.15\00:16:30.72
But do you think, that your
brother had that same feeling
00:16:30.75\00:16:33.69
of responsibility
towards his younger brother.
00:16:33.72\00:16:37.43
I'm not sure. Okay.
00:16:37.46\00:16:39.19
Because the reason why I'm not
able to elaborate on him more,
00:16:39.23\00:16:42.93
'cause my
brother's real stubborn.
00:16:42.96\00:16:44.30
Okay, okay.
00:16:44.33\00:16:45.67
You know, he really
doesn't talk too much.
00:16:45.70\00:16:47.07
So I'm really not sure.
00:16:47.10\00:16:48.77
Okay, okay.
00:16:48.80\00:16:50.14
Now as you're going
down that path, how do you,
00:16:50.17\00:16:52.61
or what did you see in a home
where you're mother and father,
00:16:52.64\00:16:55.48
they were seeing this
00:16:55.51\00:16:56.85
and knowing the things that
you were getting involved in?
00:16:56.88\00:16:59.71
How did you see that they
were reacting to these things?
00:16:59.75\00:17:02.65
I moved out when I
was 20, I want to say.
00:17:06.49\00:17:09.62
I moved out when I was 20.
00:17:09.66\00:17:11.13
So from when it really
started from 18 up until 20,
00:17:11.16\00:17:16.50
my mom, she'll get more anxious.
00:17:16.53\00:17:19.23
She'll pray more.
00:17:19.27\00:17:20.60
Okay.
00:17:20.64\00:17:22.24
She lecture more, you know.
00:17:22.27\00:17:24.57
Pop really didn't talk too
much, pop's isn't a guy like...
00:17:24.61\00:17:27.31
I'm not saying my mom isn't.
00:17:27.34\00:17:29.11
But, pop, he'll
talk to me just like,
00:17:29.14\00:17:32.48
he'll talk to me just
like you're talking to me.
00:17:32.51\00:17:35.12
You know, he wouldn't judge.
00:17:35.15\00:17:37.49
I can't never remember time
that my pop raised his voice.
00:17:37.52\00:17:39.75
Okay, wow.
00:17:39.79\00:17:41.12
You know, he'll just talk in,
00:17:41.16\00:17:43.36
he'll just lay
out the pros and cons.
00:17:43.39\00:17:44.76
Okay.
00:17:44.79\00:17:46.13
So I felt as if,
when I was starting
00:17:46.16\00:17:49.56
to spiral out
more, and more, and more,
00:17:49.60\00:17:51.97
some more of those
conversations got really,
00:17:52.00\00:17:53.87
he said, "Look, you know, son,
the life stature heading down,
00:17:53.90\00:17:57.61
like, I don't have to tell you.
00:17:57.64\00:17:58.97
Look how many times
you've been locked up already."
00:17:59.01\00:18:00.88
Yeah, wow.
00:18:00.91\00:18:02.24
"Look at this
gashes on your head,"
00:18:02.28\00:18:04.31
you know, 'cause
there still a gash
00:18:04.35\00:18:05.78
where I got cracked in
the head with a bottle.
00:18:05.81\00:18:08.48
Had to get
stitches and everything.
00:18:08.52\00:18:10.32
But it was just really more of
those heart to hearts with pop,
00:18:10.35\00:18:14.72
he was just really concerned,
and he really just pleading,
00:18:14.76\00:18:18.19
saying, "Look, son, like
you're going down a wrong path,"
00:18:18.23\00:18:20.80
and mom's was
just crying to pray.
00:18:20.83\00:18:22.86
Yeah, wow. You
know mon's just...
00:18:22.90\00:18:24.23
Definitely.
00:18:24.27\00:18:25.60
And we're gonna talk
about the power of prayer
00:18:25.63\00:18:26.97
in a second, from your parents.
00:18:27.00\00:18:28.57
But you mentioned
about you being locked up,
00:18:28.60\00:18:30.37
what were some of the
various things that you'd been
00:18:30.41\00:18:33.27
incarcerated for before?
00:18:33.31\00:18:34.88
By the grace of God,
00:18:34.91\00:18:36.24
it was really only
bunch of misdemeanors.
00:18:36.28\00:18:38.01
Okay, praise the Lord.
00:18:38.05\00:18:39.65
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
00:18:39.68\00:18:42.75
So... Amen.
00:18:42.78\00:18:44.12
Those are bunch of misdemeanors.
00:18:44.15\00:18:46.35
I had a high temper, man. Okay.
00:18:46.39\00:18:48.66
People,
especially back in Madison
00:18:48.69\00:18:50.86
say that GP don't talk too much.
00:18:50.89\00:18:52.99
Like as smooth as
I'm talking to you now,
00:18:53.03\00:18:55.36
calm as I'm talking to you
now, I could flip like this,
00:18:55.40\00:18:58.70
especially when
there is alcohol involved.
00:18:58.73\00:19:00.34
Wow.
00:19:00.37\00:19:01.70
You, know.
00:19:01.74\00:19:03.07
So if somebody would
look at me in the wrong way,
00:19:03.10\00:19:05.41
I was telling somebody that
a fight between black people
00:19:05.44\00:19:08.01
can start in the
first five seconds.
00:19:08.04\00:19:11.05
For example, if I'm
sitting near walking pass,
00:19:11.08\00:19:14.05
you look in this direction,
I'm walking, I look at you,
00:19:14.08\00:19:19.05
its one...
00:19:19.09\00:19:20.49
I'm sorry one, two,
00:19:20.52\00:19:22.56
if you don't nod
your head what's up...
00:19:22.59\00:19:24.89
Yeah, yeah, like
that, just like you said,
00:19:24.93\00:19:27.10
you're like, "What's up?"
00:19:27.13\00:19:28.46
So three, four,
five, I'm like "What's up?"
00:19:28.50\00:19:29.83
Yeah, yeah you got
to beat me or something.
00:19:29.86\00:19:31.23
And lot of those
fights started just like that.
00:19:31.27\00:19:35.00
And then,
whomever I'm sitting there
00:19:35.04\00:19:37.87
getting into the fight with,
00:19:37.91\00:19:39.84
we sit there and
just talk, talk, talk.
00:19:39.87\00:19:41.81
And by the time he's
talking, next five seconds,
00:19:41.84\00:19:44.88
he's on the ground leaking.
00:19:44.91\00:19:46.72
But, that was
that mentality though,
00:19:46.75\00:19:48.85
because I was actually a
huge 50 Cent fan growing up.
00:19:48.88\00:19:53.46
And some of his
raps, he was like,
00:19:53.49\00:19:55.82
"Boy don't play with
me, I'll bust your head."
00:19:55.86\00:19:57.79
So I'm sitting there
listening to this growing up.
00:19:57.83\00:19:59.93
Yeah, it is all
getting pumped into your head.
00:19:59.96\00:20:01.43
All getting pumped...
00:20:01.46\00:20:03.06
Remember, I told you,
I had to overcompensate.
00:20:03.10\00:20:05.20
Yeah, okay.
00:20:05.23\00:20:06.57
You know, but this
was my personality now.
00:20:06.60\00:20:08.17
Yeah, wow.
00:20:08.20\00:20:09.54
So if somebody
looks at me the wrong way,
00:20:09.57\00:20:11.54
I'm ready to fight.
00:20:11.57\00:20:12.91
And it got all the
way down to the point
00:20:12.94\00:20:15.24
where a close friend of mine,
00:20:15.28\00:20:18.65
he told me, he said,
"G, if you get a gun,
00:20:18.68\00:20:21.92
I'm not banging
with you no more."
00:20:21.95\00:20:23.55
I say, "Why?"
00:20:23.59\00:20:24.92
He said,
"Because, you're reckless."
00:20:24.95\00:20:26.96
I used to roll with
a crew of about 15, 16.
00:20:26.99\00:20:30.16
It all got cut in half because
of me being too reckless.
00:20:30.19\00:20:33.76
They're like, G, every
time we're out with you
00:20:33.80\00:20:35.73
there's always a fight.
00:20:35.76\00:20:37.10
But anyway,
going by to my partner,
00:20:37.13\00:20:39.43
he said, "G, if you get a gun,
00:20:39.47\00:20:42.70
I'm not banging
with you no more."
00:20:42.74\00:20:44.07
Okay.
00:20:44.11\00:20:45.44
And I didn't realize
what he meant until about
00:20:45.47\00:20:48.24
I was 22, I want to say.
00:20:48.28\00:20:51.08
I was in Milwaukee, I
was leaving this club 618,
00:20:51.11\00:20:55.45
and at that time, 22,
00:20:55.48\00:20:57.75
I was into this
game really hard.
00:20:57.79\00:21:01.26
And to me, if
somebody coming into my city
00:21:01.29\00:21:06.63
wearing the color
that's disrespectful.
00:21:06.66\00:21:08.83
Some people might
call it foolishness,
00:21:08.86\00:21:10.30
but because
that was my mind set,
00:21:10.33\00:21:13.44
I felt disrespect,
I felt disrespected.
00:21:13.47\00:21:16.91
So at the end of the night,
probably around 2:00, 2:30,
00:21:16.94\00:21:20.48
he pull a dub...
00:21:20.51\00:21:22.71
just happened to see
him stop that at stop light.
00:21:22.74\00:21:25.38
I pulled beside him, told
him to roll down this window.
00:21:25.41\00:21:30.15
I said, "Hey bro, what's up?"
00:21:30.19\00:21:31.89
He looked at me, he
was like, "What's up?"
00:21:31.92\00:21:34.52
I was like, "Hey, you
know where you're at?"
00:21:34.56\00:21:37.03
And then, his
friend pulled out a gun,
00:21:37.06\00:21:40.16
I pulled mine out.
00:21:40.20\00:21:41.66
I clicked it back, but
my, this was my mindset,
00:21:41.70\00:21:44.83
I could care less if I die,
00:21:44.87\00:21:47.04
I could care
less if I killed him
00:21:47.07\00:21:49.34
because this is the
lifestyle that I was living.
00:21:49.37\00:21:53.17
In this moment God saved my life
00:21:53.21\00:21:56.71
because I either A,
could have been shot and killed
00:21:56.75\00:21:59.88
or shot him, killed him,
00:21:59.91\00:22:01.82
and literally threw
my entire life away.
00:22:01.85\00:22:05.25
But before I was able to pull
the trigger, a cops came up.
00:22:05.29\00:22:09.86
I thought the cops
was coming up behind me.
00:22:09.89\00:22:12.49
Cops came up behind him.
00:22:12.53\00:22:14.60
Took him to the jail that night.
00:22:14.63\00:22:15.96
Wow.
00:22:16.00\00:22:17.33
Let's talk briefly
about the power of prayer.
00:22:17.37\00:22:19.47
Of course, you had mother
and father, father is a pastor.
00:22:19.50\00:22:22.47
Talk about how prayer
00:22:22.50\00:22:23.84
has really affected your
life in a positive manner.
00:22:23.87\00:22:26.68
Just going back to
that story I just said.
00:22:26.71\00:22:28.58
Okay.
00:22:28.61\00:22:30.78
I'm a firm believer if
my parents weren't praying.
00:22:30.81\00:22:34.62
My mom's wasn't
praying, my grandmother,
00:22:34.65\00:22:36.92
my aunty wasn't praying.
00:22:36.95\00:22:39.32
Then that story
could've ended differently.
00:22:39.35\00:22:41.29
Yeah, definitely.
00:22:41.32\00:22:42.66
Like, I may not have been
sitting here with you today.
00:22:42.69\00:22:44.89
Actually got in the head
on collision few years back,
00:22:44.93\00:22:49.96
driving on the inner state,
00:22:50.00\00:22:52.07
sitting there pumping out
Gucci like I was telling you.
00:22:52.10\00:22:53.87
Yeah.
00:22:53.90\00:22:55.24
Just going too
fast, like my partner
00:22:55.27\00:22:56.84
that was sitting next to
me told me, "Just slow down."
00:22:56.87\00:23:00.01
I lost control of
the car, a van hit me,
00:23:00.04\00:23:04.25
fish tell me all the
way into on coming traffic,
00:23:04.28\00:23:07.05
a semi hit us
head on, going 65 plus,
00:23:07.08\00:23:10.99
totaled the vehicle.
00:23:11.02\00:23:12.35
Wow. Nobody...
00:23:12.39\00:23:14.32
nobody had any type of injuries.
00:23:14.36\00:23:15.99
Wow. We walked away unsacred.
00:23:16.02\00:23:17.53
But that's from the
power, but I'm a firm believer
00:23:17.56\00:23:20.66
that if you don't
see any type of prayer,
00:23:20.70\00:23:23.87
if you don't see any type of...
00:23:23.90\00:23:29.74
trying to think of the
word, that I'm looking for.
00:23:29.77\00:23:31.11
Okay. See any type of...
00:23:31.14\00:23:32.71
Any type of
results in your life.
00:23:32.74\00:23:34.08
Thank you.
00:23:34.11\00:23:35.44
See any type of
results, just keep on praying.
00:23:35.48\00:23:36.81
Yeah, definitely.
00:23:36.85\00:23:38.18
Because, I'm
here, because of prayer.
00:23:38.21\00:23:39.55
Yeah, amen, amen.
00:23:39.58\00:23:40.98
Now you mentioned
to me before about
00:23:41.02\00:23:43.45
how you came to the
point of selling your soul.
00:23:43.49\00:23:46.05
If you could talk
about that for a little bit.
00:23:46.09\00:23:49.42
The reason why I was
mentioning that to you earlier
00:23:49.46\00:23:52.16
is because I
know that there may be
00:23:52.19\00:23:55.13
some individuals tuning in,
00:23:55.16\00:23:57.60
whether its late
at night, night or not
00:23:57.63\00:24:00.84
but so they're not thinking
that they have come too far.
00:24:00.87\00:24:03.71
Yeah.
00:24:03.74\00:24:05.07
So they're
looking at me, saying,
00:24:05.11\00:24:06.71
"Oh, well, that's the PK,
he had people praying for him-
00:24:06.74\00:24:10.05
but I've gone too far."
00:24:10.08\00:24:12.85
I can look into the
cameras right now and say,
00:24:12.88\00:24:14.92
if I try to sell my
soul three time, three times,
00:24:14.95\00:24:20.86
and if God is still
willing to work with me,
00:24:20.89\00:24:24.06
then he can work with anybody.
00:24:24.09\00:24:25.43
Wow. Wow.
00:24:25.46\00:24:26.86
Now when you went
through the process
00:24:26.90\00:24:28.23
of selling your soul,
00:24:28.26\00:24:29.60
what were some of
the things, briefly,
00:24:29.63\00:24:31.23
that you did or you say
it to come to that point?
00:24:31.27\00:24:34.30
I know the very first time
I was like, "Man, this is it."
00:24:37.77\00:24:40.94
Yeah.
00:24:40.98\00:24:42.91
That I will give
myself for this and this.
00:24:42.94\00:24:45.25
Wow.
00:24:45.28\00:24:46.61
And who is literally has,
00:24:46.65\00:24:48.05
if we were sitting down
talking, he said, "I bet."
00:24:48.08\00:24:50.22
Yeah.
00:24:50.25\00:24:51.59
I said, "Hey, it's
yours, come and get it."
00:24:51.62\00:24:53.66
Wow. God came in quick though.
00:24:53.69\00:24:56.02
Praise the Lord.
00:24:56.06\00:24:57.39
I instantly felt the
spiritual and He said,
00:24:57.43\00:24:59.53
"Ah, ah... you
can't have this one."
00:24:59.56\00:25:01.33
Wow.
00:25:01.36\00:25:02.70
So the great
controversy was real in life.
00:25:02.73\00:25:04.07
Man, it was real, but
that was the first time.
00:25:04.10\00:25:06.30
Yeah, wow.
00:25:06.33\00:25:07.67
The second time, it
was literally yelling,
00:25:07.70\00:25:09.04
"No, no, no...
00:25:09.07\00:25:10.41
I told you, I die
specifically for this one,
00:25:10.44\00:25:13.54
you can't have this one."
00:25:13.58\00:25:14.91
The third time, "Yo, I
thought I already told you,
00:25:14.94\00:25:18.28
you can't have this one."
00:25:18.31\00:25:19.65
Wow, praise the Lord.
00:25:19.68\00:25:21.02
But, that again, is going back
to just telling any individual
00:25:21.05\00:25:23.85
that thinks you
know, I've come too far.
00:25:23.89\00:25:28.62
That it doesn't
matter how far you have come.
00:25:28.66\00:25:31.99
Because if God
could still working
00:25:32.03\00:25:33.83
and still use someone
00:25:33.86\00:25:35.20
that try to sell
their soul three times...
00:25:35.23\00:25:36.90
Wow.
00:25:36.93\00:25:38.27
God can use
anybody. Use anybody.
00:25:38.30\00:25:39.63
Praise the Lord.
00:25:39.67\00:25:41.00
What brought
you, really briefly,
00:25:41.04\00:25:42.37
what brought you to
that point of realizing,
00:25:42.40\00:25:43.74
I need to make a
change in my life?
00:25:43.77\00:25:47.68
There's been stories
after stories after stories.
00:25:47.71\00:25:50.75
There's been
near life experiences
00:25:50.78\00:25:53.65
or near death experiences,
00:25:53.68\00:25:56.42
but I'm just going
to mention one briefly.
00:25:56.45\00:26:00.19
Last summer, I was locked up,
I was locked up on this charge
00:26:00.22\00:26:05.06
and there was
warrant out for my arrest.
00:26:05.09\00:26:07.10
I just got a good job,
00:26:07.13\00:26:08.53
I was really just
starting to do well,
00:26:08.56\00:26:10.93
and I said, "Look, Lord, I
need you to make this go away."
00:26:10.97\00:26:15.37
Yeah.
00:26:15.40\00:26:16.74
"Or at least give me a way out,
so that I can make it right."
00:26:16.77\00:26:19.47
I'm in jail for
about three or four days,
00:26:19.51\00:26:23.31
somewhere around near and
I remember praying to God,
00:26:23.35\00:26:28.42
and said, "Okay, look,
Lord, I'm finally gave up,
00:26:28.45\00:26:32.92
I'm gonna give my life
to you, right here in jail."
00:26:32.95\00:26:35.39
If I have to miss my
last year at Oakwood,
00:26:35.42\00:26:39.63
at that time I thought it
was, you know, Oakwood is.
00:26:39.66\00:26:42.13
Anyway, that's
a different story.
00:26:42.16\00:26:43.50
Different story.
00:26:43.53\00:26:44.87
But I said, "All right Lord,
if I have to miss this year,
00:26:44.90\00:26:47.97
and stay here, so be it.
00:26:48.00\00:26:50.21
But my life is yours." Yeah.
00:26:50.24\00:26:51.84
Wow.
00:26:51.87\00:26:53.21
And literally in about a
hour, somebody bailed me,
00:26:53.24\00:26:55.78
I said, "Amen,
thank God. Thank God, so."
00:26:55.81\00:26:58.01
Wow.
00:26:58.05\00:26:59.38
Have you seen the
difference in your life now
00:26:59.41\00:27:00.98
in serving the Lord verses
00:27:01.02\00:27:03.15
how you live
before in 30 seconds?
00:27:03.18\00:27:06.05
Yeah. Okay.
00:27:06.09\00:27:07.42
But everything is
still a constant battle.
00:27:07.46\00:27:10.96
Everything is
still work in progress.
00:27:10.99\00:27:15.60
Call myself David,
00:27:15.63\00:27:17.07
because David
would go out there,
00:27:17.10\00:27:18.47
he will be
murderer, but he will repent
00:27:18.50\00:27:20.84
and repent, and
repent, and repent.
00:27:20.87\00:27:23.51
You know, the beautiful thing
00:27:23.54\00:27:24.87
is that God is
willing to forgive us.
00:27:24.91\00:27:26.88
And the reality is, you
know, the Bible mentions
00:27:26.91\00:27:28.98
in Revelation chapter
2 and 3, where it says,
00:27:29.01\00:27:30.91
"To him they over cometh,
to him they over cometh."
00:27:30.95\00:27:33.05
You see this in
the seven churches.
00:27:33.08\00:27:34.98
And we know that
there is a battle with life,
00:27:35.02\00:27:37.65
but the reality is
that eternal life with Jesus
00:27:37.69\00:27:40.92
is to those who over come.
00:27:40.96\00:27:42.59
So you know, I just want
to give you encouragement
00:27:42.62\00:27:44.33
as well as we can
both encourage the viewers
00:27:44.36\00:27:46.73
that overcoming
is very important,
00:27:46.76\00:27:48.96
even though the various things
00:27:49.00\00:27:50.33
that we deal
with, don't you think?
00:27:50.37\00:27:51.87
Yeah, I think so. Amen.
00:27:51.90\00:27:53.23
Well, GP, I want to thank
you for being on the program.
00:27:53.27\00:27:56.60
Tune in next time
for an exciting program
00:27:56.64\00:27:58.64
of The New Journey.
00:27:58.67\00:28:00.01