In this series, we’re highlighting our VERSIONS Alumni. You’ll learn about their transformative journeys with and through the VERSIONS Youth Fellowship.

Zen

“Music is in my blood,” says Zen, reflecting on his musical heritage. Born and raised in Alabama, Zen comes from generations of musical talent, especially on his father’s side. When the artist learned that he had a restricted vocal range which made it challenging to hit certain notes, his father encouraged him to write his own songs from a young age. However, it wasn’t until his senior year of high school that Zen began to take music seriously and started producing.

Zen’s journey into music deepened when he went to college, where he recorded his first self-written song. Although he eventually left college, it was the beginning of his serious pursuit of music. He began recording EPs, releasing singles, and developing his own beats, guided by his friends from college. One friend, an artist known as Umbrella Hat, taught Zen how to mix music professionally, helping him to level up as an artist.

While Zen relocated from Birmingham to Mississippi for college, he dropped out at 20, returning to Birmingham to care for his grandmother. During this time, Zen had a daughter and was recording his second album. His albums, he says, do not have happy endings because that isn’t always his reality. Instead, he uses his music to share life lessons with his audience.

Zen’s music draws heavily from his life experiences. “I was young, I was dumb, I wasgoing through a lot. But it gave me something to write about,” he shares. His childhood and early adult life may have been challenging, but it gave him ample material for his songwriting, allowing him to get vulnerable and explore themes of heartbreak in his early work.”

Zen’s Social Impact Project

Zen was excited when he came across the VERSIONS Youth Fellowship call for submissions. And when he was selected to participate, he was most looking forward to the social impact project. “When I realized that I would have to do a social impact project, I was quite excited about that,” he says.

As part of VERSIONS, each Fellow is guided in designing and implementing a social impact project for their communities. For his project, Zen facilitated a three-hour fantasy hip-hop writing workshop at the FireHouse Community Arts Center in Birmingham, Alabama, to change the historically hostile narrative of hip-hop/rap as a genre to one of hope.

He admits he faced challenges in getting people to attend his workshop, with systemic issues like lack of transportation money posing significant barriers. These hurdles highlighted the plight of Birmingham residents. However, Zen remains committed to his city.

“There’s a lot that I love about my city—it moulded me. But, I hate the fact that it’s drowning in gun violence, gang violence and all of these other things that make it hard to live here.”

Unparalleled Support

One of Zen’s most memorable experiences with VERSIONS was when co-founders Mel and D’Ari visited Birmingham to record his song over a celebrity-produced beat and capture footage for his mini-documentary. “I was so psyched,” he says, excited to show the team his city.

Zen was particularly excited to see D’Ari. “He really showed me he believed in my music and gave me hope that I could make something meaningful,” Zen reflects. The program as a whole was unlike any he had experienced before. It provided him with the support he needed when he had little elsewhere. One of VERSIONS’ life coaches, T, was particularly helpful during this period.

Messages in Music

Participating in VERSIONS transformed Zen’s perspective on his music. “It made me look at my music differently, more seriously. I didn’t want to send kids the wrong messages,” he says, aware that kids would listen to his songs and be influenced by them. This responsibility made him mindful of the messages he put out through his music.

A Life Changed

Zen’s life has changed for the better because of VERSIONS. “I have a different outlook on life. I’m more mindful about the music I make, and in turn, I’m more mindful about the message I put out there,” he explains. This newfound mindfulness has altered his perspective on many aspects of life.