I conducted an Interview with a friend who is a former street hustler known locally as Kenny G. https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ToP0pKxVYreb84aHPDR1N?si=PbjDr-9_T4OHid7M3OHF2w (Audio Podcast) Kenny G had the nice clothes, fancy cars, and the pretty women. Due to Kenny G’s lifestyles he got arrested and ended up serving 17 years in prison. Kenny g is now a free man making the best of his life and living the life of a Christian.
Doing this interview answers several questions of why. Why would anyone chose this lifestyle. Well in Kenny G’s case, he explains how he was abandoned at the young age of 12 years old by his mother. Kenny G was looking for love and acceptance since then. He found shelter anywhere he could. He lived in house to house with different people, whoever would let him stay there. Kenny stole clothes and food to eat each day. While doing this interview, all I could wonder was, where was the help for Kenny as a young teenager? Where was child protect and other child organizations? I guess that during that time there was none. Continuing the interview, Kenny explained that after years of stealing and making it the best he could, he finally got his break. His break came in the form of becoming a high level street hustler. This hustle was were he started making real money. The downside was this particular hustle involved selling illegal substances with a risk of going to prison. Kenny explained that when he got arrested, he was labeled as a kingpin. His case was blown up as if he was a amjor distributor. Kenny explained that wasn’t the case at all. At sentencing Kenny was given 40 years mandatory. He ended up serving 17 years before being released. Kenny G is now a devout christian trying to make the best of his life. Kenny gives God the credit for having the strength to make it through it all. Kenny also explained that he loves his mother who abandoned him when he was only 12 years old. (Kenny G’s mother passed away several years ago). Kenny give God all the praise and encourages others to trust in God through any and everything that you may go through.
A Father (Coley) went to prison when his son (Ahmarr) was only two years old. https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZHBhBOd4dfiJHGQeNWkG1?si=qary459HSAKliMdUxfHnqA There are a lot of stories where a father went to prison while having a young child out there. The difference with this story is how the father steppe up to the place and worked on restoring their relationship. This is a beautiful story to have a grown man finally stepping up and taking responsibility for the mistakes he made.
When Coley came home, his son (Ahmarr)was then 16 years old. A lot of time has past and many memories were missing in this child’s life. Though they had little contact through letters and visits, there was a big gap that needed to be filled. When Coley was released from prison, the first thing he did was go see his son. He was honest with his son and took responsibility for leaving his son. He then started listening to his son and hearing some hard truths. This was the beginning of the process of restoring their relationship. They started walking and talking while getting to know one another better. They tell their story on “Mark B’s Perspective” Podcast (audio podcast). Listen by clicking the link about to hear the story told by this father and son team.
While interviewing a former Kingpin on the “Mark B’s Perspective” Podcast, a few things stood out. Though Kenny G was a Kingpin, it came out that he had a lot of unresolved childhood trauma. The fact that Kenny G was abandoned, by his mother, at the age of 12 can’t be overlooked. This is in no way an excuse for the lifestyle that he chose. It does give a better understanding of why he made some of the choices that he made.
Being in the streets at the age of 12, Kenny then started stealing just to survive from one day to the next. Kenny would steal clothes and designer glasses to potray an image. He learned how to roll dice and commit other petty crimes. Kenny G eventually got introduced to the hustle game where he found his success. Kenny soon reached the status of a local kingpin. Kenny G was a flamboyant kingpin who liked having lots of money, flashy cars, nice clothes and fast women. This was the good life as far as Kenny was concerned, coming from where he came from. Kenny started to grow in popularity and the flow of money. This went on for several years but as we know, all good things come to an end. Kenny eventually had to answer for the crimes that he committed.
Journey 100 Years (Mark B's Perspective) 