♪ (flute music) ♪ (music fades) ♪ Artson: Peace, one love.

My name is Artson.

I'm from El Paso, Texas.

I'm a hip-hop artist.

I'm about the culture and about what this culture represents with it being ancient.

Other things that we're doing reminds me of my ancestors.

I started MC'ing because, to me, it was a language that not everybody could understand.

To me it felt like modern-day slave music, and it helped me to escape from my life situations at the time growing up as a kid in the streets.

I first saw a brother named Mike 360, and he beatboxed on the flute.

That's where the flute made sense to me.

We used to have a crew called the Box Turtles, and this is about us beatboxing here on Turtle Island and using that modern-day flip to tap into today's generation and to the people that want to hear that organic hip-hop.

This is my Box Turtle song.

I hope you enjoy it.

(flute music) (beatbox effect/flute music) ♪ (music fades) Artson: It's the four elements of hip-hop that I love.

It's the graffiti, just like the petroglyphs.

And, it's the DJ.

Just like the drum, that sacred drum.

They use the turntable now.

Then, it was the dancers.

The dancers representing that fire, that circle.

And then, the MC.

The MC is the last thing that came and he's the storyteller, the modern-day storyteller.

Being that this flute taught me so much and it led me back to that, it's helped me to grow as an artist.

It's helped me to learn more about myself, and it's helped me to treat these gifts that were given to me by Creator.

It helped me to treat them well and to respect them, and to do something that was going to be impactful for the future and for the next generations.

To let them know that you can get anything that you want to do if you try your hardest to be your best.

And, to go out there and make yourself shine, and to help yourself grow and to recognize your wrongs and rights.

Those are the things that hip-hop gave me.

It's a hard thing to shine your light amongst your people.

You have to be brave, and it comes with a big responsibility.

So, this is Brave Star.

♪ (hip-hop beat) ♪ ♪ Artson (sings): I been dreamin of this moment ♪ ♪ ever since I was a shorty.

♪ ♪ On the block and at the parties ♪ ♪ gettin open with the homies.

♪ ♪ It was more than just a vision.

♪ ♪ It became the way we livin.

♪ ♪ Havin fun and actin dumb.

♪ ♪ Get your skills up was the mission.

♪ ♪ Was hard to listen to the drama when they said to stop.

♪ ♪ Kept it movin while I'm groovin ♪ ♪ and I'm reachin for the top.

♪ ♪ You could catch me when I'm flyin ♪ ♪ if you look up to the sky.

♪ ♪ Hey kid, walk straight.

Master ya high.

♪ ♪ I let go of the ego.

This was given to the people.

♪ ♪ Now I'm soarin like an eagle 'cause I know that we are equal.

♪ Spread these wings, let it be.

Didn't know I'd be so free.

♪ ♪ Chasing things I couldn't see but this I know and I believe.

♪ ♪ It's better when we're together, ♪ ♪ and I'm not much of a quitter.

♪ ♪ I still feel like that kid but I'm not a new beginner.

♪ ♪ It's just a new beginning.

Took some time to get it poppin.

♪ And this one's for my people who will never be forgotten.

♪ ♪ Let's go get'em Let's go get'em.

♪ ♪ Let's go get'em.

♪ ♪ Let's go get'em!

♪ ♪ Everybody get up Everybody get up.

♪ ♪ Everybody get up.

♪ ♪ Everybody get up!

♪ ♪ This the new beginning This the new beginning.

♪ ♪ This the new beginning I'm a brave star!

♪ ♪ From the time I was a youngin, it was somethin we were lovin.

♪ ♪ And we couldn't let it go.

We was always into somethin.

♪ ♪ This, that or the other.

♪ ♪ Practice breakin with my brothers.

♪ ♪ And always knowin one day that we would be discovered.

♪ ♪ So I put it on the wall with a can of ultra-flat back.

♪ ♪ Chasin all them honeys who were thick and had a phat back.

♪ Excuse me for them words but it was you that made me better.

♪ I wanted to be dope when you were lookin with no pressure.

♪ ♪ Every day I gave my all to ♪ ♪ these skills that we were rockin.

♪ ♪ Until they gave me chills and I knew that you were jockin.

♪ ♪ That's right, get it tight, and never let it fold.

♪ ♪ Take flight, break light, and let your spirit grow.

♪ ♪ This could be forever if we never let it fade.

♪ ♪ Promised we'd be together ever since the second grade.

♪ ♪ I know it took a minute but the beats are steady rockin.

♪ ♪ Now this is for my people who will never be forgotten.

♪ ♪ Let's go get'em Let's go get'em.

♪ ♪ Let's go get'em.

♪ ♪ Let's go get'em!

♪ ♪ Everybody get up Everybody get up.

♪ ♪ Everybody get up.

♪ ♪ Everybody get up!

♪ ♪ This the new beginning This the new beginning.

♪ ♪ This the new beginning I'm a brave star!

♪ ♪ (music fades) Artson: This next song is The Vision.

This song is about the hardships that I went through in my life, and the things that I overcame.

There was times where I was down and I had to pick myself up, and in order for me to do that, I had to have a clear vision of the things that I wanted to do, and where I was headed.

And also, to have fun with it and to walk with the joy, and walk with a strong happiness.

So, this is The Vision.

♪ ♪ Artson (sings): Ahh ya I could see it now.

♪ ♪ Lift off, ya we leaving now ♪ ♪ Hard work done paid off for me.

♪ ♪ I know they believe it now.

♪ ♪ So I can't see the ground underneath my feet.

♪ ♪ Some gon' love me, some gon' hate me.

♪ ♪ And it all makes sense to me.

♪ ♪ I could see it all now.

My vision as a lil man.

♪ ♪ Work hard and live wild.

My mission doin all I can.

♪ ♪ Dealt a bad hand but look ma, I made it.

♪ ♪ Played my cards right.

Took my time and I waited.

♪ ♪ You could love it or you hate it but it all makes sense.

♪ ♪ Made dollars out of cents and I jump that fence.

♪ ♪ They couldn't hold me back.

Gotta lift off now.

♪ ♪ A lil ruff, life helped built that style.

♪ ♪ Walked the block with a bop.

I'll make it to the top.

♪ ♪ You could laugh if you want.

The talkin never stopped.

♪ ♪ Brush it off with a smile and look at me now.

♪ ♪ On stage with a mic makin the crowd go wild.

♪ ♪ Life's bright as the day, stay booked and paid.

♪ ♪ Just had to reach past the gate, hold my ticket and wait.

♪ ♪ I made plenty mistakes, but the dream kept me straight.

♪ ♪ Fates in my hand.

It's something I had to take.

♪ ♪ Ahh ya, I could see it now.

Lift off, ya we leaving now.

♪ ♪ Hard work done paid off for me.

♪ ♪ I know they believe it now.

♪ ♪ So I can't see the ground underneath my feet.

♪ ♪ Some gon' love me, some gon' hate me.

♪ ♪ And it all makes sense to me.

♪ ♪ It all makes sense to me.

♪ ♪ New kicks and threads, I did it for the family.

♪ ♪ Creator gave me a gift.

Gotta use what he hand me.

♪ ♪ Got a way with words to help lift the people.

♪ ♪ So I jumped off the curb to do what I need to.

♪ ♪ Now I'm lookin at my past like that's what I was into?

♪ ♪ Sorry if I hurt you, I didn't mean to.

♪ ♪ Take my hand.

I'll feed you just so I could see you.

♪ ♪ Trade shoes and be you.

Promise I'll never leave you.

♪ ♪ Even when I'm gone you could play this back.

♪ ♪ Listen to your boy.

Leave my voice on this track.

♪ ♪ I made it out the trap so you could hear that.

♪ ♪ When it's all said and done, I'd do it all back.

♪ ♪ Reverse through time just to see my shine.

♪ ♪ Love the struggle I was given 'cause the struggle was mine.

♪ ♪ I did it for the town and the ones that held me down.

♪ ♪ Hard work and I'm leaving now I no longer see the ground.

♪ ♪ Ahh ya, I could see it now.

Lift off, ya we leaving now.

♪ ♪ Hard work done paid off for me.

♪ ♪ I know they believe it now.

♪ ♪ So I can't see the ground underneath my feet.

♪ ♪ Some gon' love me, some gon' hate me.

♪ ♪ And it all makes sense to me.

♪ ♪ It all makes sense to me.

♪ ♪ (music fades) Artson: This song right here that we're about to play is the last song.

This is The Blocks.

This is me going deeper into the story of growing up on the street, and seeing some of the things and putting them down on paper to help you see that block that I come from.

To see some of the things that I had to go through to be where I'm at.

I went through a lot of hardships and a lot of bad choices in my life, but somehow, it was always hip-hop that led me out of those situations.

It always showed me that there was something more inside of me to give and more inside of me to share with the people.

So, this is my story of me being on the block, and telling you about The Blocks.

♪ ♪ Artson (sings): I was raised on the blocks ♪ ♪ where you can always hear them pop.

♪ ♪ But something kept me pushing and it never let me stop.

♪ ♪ It never let me quit and it never let me drop.

♪ ♪ And I'm a tell you what it is.

It was that real hip-hop.

♪ ♪ I was raised on the blocks where ♪ ♪ you can always hear them pop.

♪ ♪ But something kept me pushing and it never let me stop.

♪ ♪ It never let me quit and it never let me drop.

♪ ♪ And I'm a tell you what it is.

It was that real hip-hop.

♪ ♪ I spit for the cause, for the culture and the people.

♪ ♪ I die for your applause like a soldier for the equal.

♪ ♪ Rights of the soul, your spirit and the mental.

♪ ♪ My life in a hole, had me diggin for a metal.

♪ ♪ I'm reaching for the gold and there's no time to settle.

♪ ♪ So I'm pushing through these streets ♪ ♪ on these feet that I peddle.

♪ ♪ Roll around hold it down and pound on the mud.

♪ ♪ Gotta love the dirt I did.

It built the ground that I love.

♪ ♪ Strong mind through hard times and the facts that I face, ♪ ♪ couldn't replace with lies this truth that I taste.

♪ ♪ Dreams that I chase like a fiend for the base.

♪ ♪ I'm on the block scheming like there's no time to waste.

♪ ♪ Sit and lace my sneaks and get ready to run.

♪ ♪ When I was young and actin dumb, ♪ ♪ I dodged bullets out the gun.

♪ ♪ Slipping through the slums but there somethin on my tongue.

♪ ♪ So I had to write it down and now you know where I am from.

♪ ♪ I was raised on the blocks ♪ ♪ where you can always hear them pop.

♪ ♪ But something kept me pushing and it never let me stop.

♪ ♪ It never let me quit and it never let me drop.

♪ ♪ And I'm a tell you what it is.

It was that real hip hop.

♪ ♪ I was raised on the blocks ♪ ♪ where you can always hear them pop.

♪ ♪ But something kept me pushing and it never let me stop.

♪ ♪ It never let me quit and it never let me drop.

♪ ♪ And I'm a tell you what it is.

It was that real hip hop.

♪ ♪ No need to tell it all but I'm a do the best I can.

♪ ♪ It was the homies in the hood that showed me how to be a man.

♪ At least that's what I thought when I was just a lil shorty.

♪ ♪ Chillin actin wild, puffin dreams and drinkin 40's.

♪ ♪ Rollin in the low low, 5 stars and them low pros.

♪ ♪ My Dickies always creased.

Lookin sharp but actin loco.

♪ ♪ Runnin from the PoPo with suckers in a choke hold.

♪ ♪ Livin fast and actin crazy but I had to slow my roll though.

♪ ♪ Caught slippin, now I'm tripping ♪ ♪ cause I'm lookin out these bars.

♪ ♪ I'm praying up to heaven ♪ ♪ hopin I could see the stars.

♪ ♪ Now I'm back on the block with the homies actin hard.

♪ ♪ Tripping runnin wild.

I'm a ghetto super star.

♪ ♪ You know what it is.

I'm straight back in the biz.

♪ ♪ And I didn't learn my lesson cause I'm still just a kid.

♪ ♪ It's just another story from a different angle.

♪ ♪ I'm thankful that I made it and it never got me strangled.

♪ (heavy breaths) ♪ ♪ Artson (sings): I was raised on the blocks ♪ ♪ where you can always hear them pop.

♪ ♪ But something kept me pushing and it never let me stop.

♪ ♪ It never let me quit and it never let me drop.

♪ ♪ And I'm a tell you what it is.

It was that real hip-hop.

♪ ♪ I was raised on the blocks ♪ ♪ where you can always hear them pop.

♪ ♪ But something kept me pushing and it never let me stop.

♪ ♪ It never let me quit and it never let me drop.

♪ ♪ And I'm a tell you what it is.

It was that real hip-hop.

♪ ♪ If you ain't from the ghetto, ♪ ♪ then you'll never know the ghetto.

♪ ♪ But if you from the ghetto, ♪ ♪ then do everything to get up out the ghetto.

♪ Let's Go!

♪ (music fades) Artson: I originally come from El Paso, Texas.

I'm Tarahumara, Raramuri from Copper Canyon in Chihuahua.

I didn't grow up with my culture like that, with tradition or a lot of stories.

But, I always overheard my mother telling me that I was Tarahumara and talking about my great-grandfather, and where we come from and our lineage, and what it means to us.

She always reminded me to keep that with me and to hold that strong, and to be proud of that, and to always remember.

So, the things that I know is that I had to learn on my own.

You know, they took our cultures from us and a lot of us that grew up in the city, we don't have that.

But, we're trying to learn and represent as much as we can, and to be strong with that.

To know that it's okay that we didn't grow up that way.

But, I still believe in myself and I believe in my people, and I know that we have strong roots, and we're all connected.

We're all here for a purpose.

So, that's my little story!

♪ (music fades)