Sum

East Point, GA 2008 (photo by Trevor Traynor)

As you can tell from the site, I’m a curator of sorts. I like piecing random things together and spitting them out into one digestible package. That’s why my name is Sum. I bring things together. But before Sum is a curator, Sum is an MC and a songsmith. I’m here to pay homage to all great artists, especially those who went against the grain when necessary. I love everything about rhyming and song-smithing. It has carried me through the valleys and kept me sane on the brink of self-destruction. It’s a spiritual experience for me. I feel connected to nature when I write songs. I love the alchemy of blending classic songwriting and raw MC’ing into one cohesive artform. I love letting music guide my hand. I like exploring the darker corners of the soul on dope beats, and surprising myself with nonsense. I like to write anthems, wrestle with demons and be grateful, all in one song. It’s an outlet for me to tell stories and air my grievances.. I like having conversations with myself on stage. I love performing and entertaining. I love the discipline it takes to stay sharp and how your style matures with you. I love studying the old masters and watching the new blood become masters. I’m thirsty for perfection and thrilled that I’m never going to have it. The striving will always keep me busy. After years of paying dues with my extended VJC/BLX fam and pushing somewhat of a solo career, I am now channeling all my creative energies in a singular direction. That direction is a band of rising stars called The Milky Way.