Wait there Don't you want to play fair I know that the dark can make us blind I've seen things that I would take back But there's no take backs in this line But I can't lie Might gotta be somethin that's waiting 'round the corner A little bit of shame among the mourners Separating real from paranoia As it all moves past Quick on your feet think fast We stuffed all our troubles in the bag You see it planted in the soil From here atop of the sequoia Life passes by like it always does How come I'm always tryna to fly to the heights above Would you let it all go in the name of love But this time in the fire tends to strengthen us Through all of our days here and away I'm here to say That's what I wanted you to say Through mirrors and haze Night into day I'm here to sta That's what I wanted you to say That's what I wanted you to say That's what I wanted you to say Now they say to choose your battles wisely Never a good time to burn a bridge Sometimes it's alright to let it rip Other times it's your pride should call it quits It's a little to crowded in this room right now Who let all these people in I'm not saying that I'm guaranteed to slip I'm just saying you should probably keep your distance Life passes by like it always does How come I'm always tryna to fly to the heights above Would you let it all go in the name of love But this time in the fire tends to strengthen us Through all of our day here and away I'm here to stay That's what I wanted you to say Through mirrors and haze Night into day I'm here to sta That's what I wanted you to say That's what I wanted you to say That's what I wanted you to say Hustleberryfin!

What's going on my guy?

Al Martin.

How you doing, bro?

I'm good man.

I'm very happy to be here.

I feel blessed.

You just completely rocked out that first song "What I wanted You to Say" What's the inspiration behind that joint?

So, last year, right around 2024, when I was turning 30, I decided that I wante to take things into my own hands a little bit and make- learn how to do some producing.

And so I was watching a show at that time called Arcane, and it was really inspiring to me.

I just I love the animation, I love the animation style, I love the story, everything about it.

So I wanted to make a song that felt like it could exist in that world.

And so that's that's what I attempted to do.

And then I ended up making like an AMV music video and, yeah, the rest is history.

It definitely feels that way.

Now, Hustleberryfin I have been a fan of your work for quite some time, bro.

I have been, really just kind of captivated by the sound of your music because you can't really put it into a box.

When I asked you about this, yo call it "eclectic pop," right?

And also I also want to throw in there.

I mean, you got billboards in New York City.

You have opened up for incredible legendary artists like Dru Hill.

How did this all start?

This all started when I was a kid.

I remember I was like at my, older cousin's wedding.

I was five years old, and I just was enamored with the idea of, like, being seen and dancin and wanted to be just involved.

I wanted to entertain peopl at a young age.

I noticed that.

So as I grew older then I was in elementary school, and American Idol for kids was like, wow.

And, just kept going from there.

I was in choir in high school and theater.

I would always freestyle rap in the hallways.

I'd walk around.

So I've just always been interested in performing and in music.

And my older brother, he's a performing artist ever since I grew up.

He's ten years older than me, so I've just kind of I've always been around it.

And, in terms of some of thi bigger stuff, well, I guess I, got lucky.

Luck is preparation meeting hard work, right?

And also too, "eclectic pop."

Why "eclectic?"

Well, I was telling you before, I, I just kind of like the word "eclectic," so, but no, realistically, it's because it's it's it's varied in style.

It can kind of float from pop to hip hop, indie, you know, singer, songwriter, whatever.

So it's it's it's it's varied.

It's however I'm feeling that day.

No doubt.

No doubt.

Also want to give you a bi shout out because, I know that you are a father, a a new father.

That's right.

You've been married for a few years now as well.

Shoutout Julia.

Yeah.

Exactly.

Right.

Right.

Hold on, say that again?

Shoutout Julia.

Gotta shout out Julia.

I love you!

Yeah.

You gotta make sure that comes out clear, right?

Yeah.

And also, too, you have an incredibly successful video production company as well.

And that's how we kind of got connected a while ago.

But how does all of that fuel your art and your music?

My family is my support system.

They're always there with me through my video business and through my music.

They're the first ones to want to cheer me on.

My son is just.

Wow.

I mean, it's a child will change your life.

It's it's a transformation that you can't really explain through words.

Especially not in, I don't know, five seconds.

So I'll leave that there.

But, Hey, speaking about video business, I had something, actually, a gift I wanted to share with you.

We love when our artists bring gifts.

Right?

You may be the first one to bring a gift, though.

Actually.

Okay.

So.

Yeah.

What is this?

So my company is called BeMVP.

Hoodie with the new logo, fun purple.

I went to Avondale High School.

Shoutou Avondale.

Purple is their color.

And on the back here we got "Focus.

Frame.

Captivate."

And that's kind of that's the slogan I'm rolling with.

And that's that's what I'm doing.

So, Al, I hope you enjoy it, man.

I think you'll look great in purple.

You already look good in blue, so.

Thank you, brother.

Purple is one of my favorite colors.

And also it is hoodie season, so this is right on time.

All right I love this.

Thank you so much brother.

You got it bro.

Also, you have a final message for our listeners and viewers out there who ar who are watching this episode.

I do.

Yeah.

And I guess I'll face the camera for this one.

Please.

So I'll just say this, that, as Al kind of said, you know, the video business that's been with me, if you know me, that's been with me my whole life, that's been the catalyst to a lot of these things as well.

But music is something I've enjoyed ever since I was a kid, throughout high school, throughout school age into my adulthood, and even now.

So I never gave up on it.

I always stuck with it, even if it wasn't the star of the show at all points in my life.

Every once in a while I get a great opportunity to do something like this, or to open up for a big show or be in Times Square and, I'll always have that.

So stick with it.

Even if it's not everything.

You never know where it's going to take you.

You never know.

Hustleberryfin here on Streetlight Sessions performing "I'm Sorry" next.

I'll let you take it away, bro.

Let's get it.

All right.

I'm sorry I didn't catch your name first time Could you repeat it before we started the meeting?

Oh yeah I'm sorry I didn't call you back last week It's been a doozy But can I get you a smoothie?

Yeah, oh yeah I'm sorry that I've change a lot since this decade started but I've been learning that I have a higher purpose and that's often not very convenient for me And sometimes all I see is what I'm supposed to do And who I ought to be Early mornings, I'm sorry Been distracted, I'm sorry Speaking bluntly, I'm sorry Moving fast like Ferrari Eyes a little too starry Talk too much and I'm sorry Out of touch and I'm sorry No Google Chrome, Safari We're simple things Human beings You and me I'm sorry that I'm seemingly too damn optimistic It's just that I see the world through a lens of abundance And that hope is a stronger tool than fear or dread I'm sorry that you lost your daughter way too early I can't begin to even fathom those emotions But I'm praying for you and your family at this time It's a difficult life But what can help me through Is when I say to you Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Early mornings, I'm sorry Been distracted, I'm sorry Speaking bluntly, I'm sorry Moving fast like Ferrari Eyes a little too starry Talk too much and I'm sorry Out of touch and I'm sorry No Google Chrome, Safari We're simple things Human beings You and me I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry