Conversations | A Q+A with Jeron Bro on Worship, Self-Care and Prayers of the Streets, Vol. 1
Back in 2016, Jeron Bro and I chatted about his then-recent release, the song “Inspiration.” His newest album, Prayers of the Streets, Volume 1, came out in June. We chatted about the project and more. Read the Q&A below:
Congrats on the release of Prayers of the Streets, Volume 1! You describe it as a street worship album. What encouraged the vision and sound for the project, especially as the content is faith-based? How did you approach your beat selection?
Thanks! Yeah, I wanted listeners to know from the jump this project will tackle gun violence, PTSD, drug abuse and dysfunction...all topics that those of us in street culture, minority culture and vulnerable communities face regularly. Yet, I also wanted listeners to know that it's indeed a worship album--as in, every artist is having conversations with God about these real experiences. From the beats to my rapping style, I wanted it to be a contemporary gangster sound. That's why you hear beats with gunshots, rain and soul music samples. I wanted my homies in the hood to feel this. Like, I wanted it to have some bops, but I also wanted it to be emotionally gangster.
The album goes through a journey of searching for and embracing God in your life, of needing God’s presence and passion through all of the hurt that we deal with in our human experience. "Hold My Hand/Help Me Put My Gun Down” is a strong visual of that message. How has your personal experiences encouraged you to reach out more to God in your life? How do you open yourself up to receive the answers to the questions that you ask God about?
Thankfully, I think it's more like God is reaching out to me in my lost-ness and coming through on some promises I depend on. That's one of the ways I kind of...let God father me.
Like, there's a line in "God Aint Finished With Me Yet" where I say:
"I thought I was done, but he's doing new things. Never lost me though I lost my way."
That was a conclusion I came to after seeing my twin daughters be born. I was at my lowest, feeling like friends abandoned me, feeling like I just couldn't succeed being myself, self-esteem was low, we're getting murdered on television...and all of a sudden I have these two beautiful healthy baby girls in my arms and I'm like...why me God? And as I'm receiving such love from him, my self-esteem and hope is getting restored.
Speaking of mental health, what does your self-care look like and how does it help you in your day-to-day?
Self-care is up and down for me and creatives probably can relate alot with this. When I'm inspired, I'm very goal driven, emotionally and mentally. Like, I'm working out, sleeping and eating well, spending time with people I love and forgiving my enemies lol. But, when I'm triggered or discouraged, my self-care is usually survival like:
"okay, run to God in prayer. Run to a good therapist. Run to supportive friends. Run to ways to express how you feel. Don't do this alone or you may make it worse."
This helps me at least survive some really negative feelings about life and the world.
Since you were last featured on Transcending Sound, you became married and welcomed children into the world. How has marriage and fatherhood shaped your life and approach to your music?
Family, my wife and my children really have become like a life line in the last few years because...I ended up being like a fallen leader with no one or nothing to help me up except their smiles, kind gestures, etc. My oldest daughter waking me up in the morning to hand me my glasses and ask how I'm doing. My wife and daughters are the voice of God when things are really foggy.
Artists are leaders...and I found myself speaking, performing to, counseling and meeting hundreds of people at one point, but feeling like no one would be there for me. Putting down my music, my aspirations, to be present in my beautiful family gave me the courage to speak again.
How has the project been received amongst the faith community?
So far it has prompted great discussions! I've gotten texts and messages about people really wrestling with this project, crying over songs, using it to process trauma. Because it's so vivid, it's something you would never hear in worship services or events and we have to ask ourselves why is that. Why is something so related to the minority experience inappropriate for worship? And, how can we as people of faith offer society hope when we can't even stomach their experiences and voice? You can't be there for folks you are silencing.
What messages do you hope people receive from the project? How do you envision it impacting the communities that need the message?
Now this mug aint for everyone. If you aint struggling, it may not for you. But, those who are, I hope folk hear this and say...
"wow, maybe a thoughtful, honest and emotional relationship with God is for me."
If there's any who are like...God can't handle me. I hope folk hear this and consider walking with God in their hurt and lost-ness and loneliness instead of walking alone.