“Growing up, my Uncle Jeff was always a positive role model for me. As a kid, I remember looking up to and wanting to be just like him. He was a DJ, and that was the coolest thing ever to me. He used to let me play with his equipment, keyboards, turntables, voice boxes, beat machines, etc. Those memories are so fun! We often played basketball together, and he never let me win, but that instilled a competitive drive within me and love for the game. He would do push-ups with me on his back, which inspired me to get fit from an early age. Many trips to the mall to go to the movies or arcades. Not to mention his hilarious personality. He was quite the jokester and great storyteller, so I just gravitated toward that as a youngster. He ran an after-school mentorship program, and while I was older I volunteered and was able to give back to the youth as well. All these things were vital to my upbringing and made me into the man I am today. My father wasn’t in my life, so I’m forever grateful for the positive male influence he’s had on me. Love you!”..