Jamaar Hutchinson: Breaking the Cycle
By Denise Dantzler
In the Beginning
If you go to Jamaar Hutchinson’s Neuman College Facebook page, you will see a picture of him and his girlfriend, Franchesca Brice posing nicely for the camera. His eyes look happy and joyous, you would never be able to guess the pain and the turmoil that those eyes have seen in his 20 years of life. From growing up in a broken home, to selling drugs, to near death experiences, Hutchinson is trying to break the cycle through hip hop.
Hutchinson was born and raised on the gritty streets of West Oak Lane in Philadelphia, where it is common to hear gun shots riddle the streets and see lives taken on a daily basis. Where it is also common to see drug feigns and dope boys on the corner, but Hutchinson is determined to not allow his surroundings to define who he is. He refuses to be another statistic.
Hutchinson did not grow up in a traditional home setting, with a mother and a father in the household.
“I was raised by my grandparents, my mom had a nervous break down when I was a few months old. My Dad took me from my Mom about the age of two, I lived with my Grandpa and my Grandma ever since.”
Until he was 10 years old his older cousin also lived with him in his grandmother’s house. His older cousin, who is 11 years older than him, was one of his biggest influences growing up. Jamaar did not have any other siblings in his household, so his older cousin became like his brother. Everywhere his older cousin went, he was tagging a long behind him. His older cousin sold drugs until Hutchinson was 10 years old, but was then locked up.
“I was hurt, but at the same time I was young, I did not fully understand it until I got of age. He is still in jail.” Hutchinson reflects about the lock up.
Continuing the Cycle
It was not long before Hutchinson found himself following in his older cousin’s footsteps. At the tender age of 12 Hutchinson sought out his older cousin’s connects, who welcomed him with open arms. He saw his family struggling and he knew he had to do something about it, selling drugs seemed like the only way.
“ I saw my older cousin getting money and prospering, but not looking at the negativity around it.” He says, looking nostalgic.
Hutchinson sold drugs until he was 17 years old, a when he was about to graduate from Roxborough highschool. The whole entire time he was an excellent student, making the honor roll, with few behavioral problems. He tried to separate the life he had as a drug dealer from the life he had as a student.
One of his close friends, who he also collaborates with on several tracks, Shareef Shakir remembers when they met in highschool.
“ We met in 9th grade, we had a lot of the same classes. Jamaar was very easy going, funny, athletic, just a cool dude.”
Shakir said that they shared a lot of the same interests and would rap during lunch time in the cafeteria, it was nothing serious, just playing around but at the time to them it was hot. Shakir’s fondest memory of Hutchinson is when they were in social science class and spent their whole entire class period cracking jokes on their friend Justin Spartly.
Hutchinson was a normal teenager by day and a caking drug dealer by night . His best friend Darnell Smith did not even know that he sold drugs, and still does not know to this day. Hutchinson tried to shield the harsh reality from the people that he cared about in order to protect them. His grandmother did not learn his secret until after he was no longer selling drugs.
“I sold numerous amounts of drugs. From pounds, KIs, bags, mostly hand to hand, until I got a little older.” He says. “Watching my older cousin when I was younger. Seeing him get money and prosper, but not looking at the negativity around it.”
While Hutchinson was pushing drugs he was robbed several times, as well as shot at. This combined with seeing the pain that his grandmother was going through ultimately got him out of the game.
My Grandma lost one “son” to the game, and I did not want her to loose another one.” He says. “My Grandma is my Mom, my Dad, my grandfather, my aunt, my uncle, she is whatever I want her to be.”
After Hutchinson gave up hustling drugs, he began hustling his rhymes. T date he has recorded over 97 tracks and has 4 albums under his belt. The first 2 are mix tapes entitled Mar Dot Com Pt..1 and L2F Mixtape Vol. 1. His two albums are entitled, my first album is called A New Beginning: Mar Tha Don and Becoming A Man All of his songs are based on real life experiences. His favorite song he has recorded is called “It was You,” because it is paying homage to all of the important people in his life that have help molded him into the positive man that he is today.
Hutchinson decided to leave Temple University because he wanted to leave all the negativity that he got caught up with inside of the city of Philadelphia. He decided to ultimately attend Neuman College, a small catholic university, located in the suburbs outside of the city. He wanted a new beginning where he could be focused, and no one knew his past.
He is currently an education major, because of his younger cousin Nasir. He wants to inspire kids not to follow in his foot steps and be a positive role model for them. On his song, “School you,” He is telling Nasir about what he should be doing in order to not get trapped in the same things that Hutchinson got trapped in.
69th street lounge: Breaking the Cycle
It is October 31 at 10:00pm sharp and the lights are dim at 69th street lounge. An intimate group of about 200 young hip hop heads dressed like they came straight out of a Common video are in clusters bobbing their heads to the DJ on stage. The performances for Roc Tha Mic have not started yet, they are waiting for the crowd of 200 to reach at least half of the 600 that the club can usually hold.
Roc Tha Mic is a talent showcase that is held by Rooks from True Hustler Records, every last Wednesday of the month. “ I just want to give the young people a chance to shine, and show the world what they got. It is something positive you know?”
Hutchinson is backstage getting into the zone. He is transforming from diligent college student into Mar Tha Don, the fire spitting rapper. In his ears are the headphones to his black mp3 player where he is playing the songs he has to perform tonight over and over. His head is moving back and forth to the beat, as he begins spitting the lyrics to his song “ Ran Wit Tha Winners.”
“ strapped up ready for war,” He says, as his eyes squint and his mouth draws up in the a scowl. His hands moving up and down, exposing his L2F tattoo, which stands for Loyalty to family, and his Chinese symbol for money tattoo located on his wrist. Seconds later he pulls out a Newport 100 cigarette, and lights up. He takes a drag as his friends surround him, dancing and singing, hyping him up for his performance.
It is time for him to get on stage he performs 6 songs. He commands the stage, he has the people feeling him. The crowd is shouting the lyrics to his songs and bobbing their heads.
Hutchinson describes what it is like to be up on stage .“It’s a rush, you get a feeling in your feet where you can’t keep still. It’s a huge rush. It is like if you are an athlete when you hit the game winning shot. And you know you do good when you see everyone around nodding their head and vibing to the music.
Many of his friends describe his rapping style as similar to the hip hop legend Jay-z.
Shakir describes it as , “intense, hardcore, and in your face. He was always good, but right now he is good enough to get signed.”
One of his roommates 18 year old Jonathan Charnigo says, “ I think his beats are really good, I like his lyrics. His voice is a little muffled in some areas, but other than that, I think it’s great. I would say if he is not in class, he is in here working on that. [His rhymes] he is self motivated, and a hard worker.”
Every day is a struggle, but no matter what Hutchinson is not returning to the game. “My hustle is legit.”
