"this whole time, i've been the one i needed."

i remember struggling as an independent artist in web2, wishing someone would extend an olive branch and save me. i remember thinking that the help i needed was outside of myself. i remember almost giving up, deciding to push forward instead, and pulling myself out of a depression.

like malanda says in the poem in the outro, "people will only see the peak of a mountain." but there were lows we all fought to arrive where we are today. and for every low, i need you to turn this shit up LOUD and go 10x as hard after every win. i want you to be prouda you, 'cause you could've stayed down but chose to press on instead.

i'm prouda me. i'm proud i kept going. i'm thankful for web3 for giving me a chance to have the music career i always knew i deserved. i appreciate david for believing in me and trusting that i was the perfect person for my position here at sound to help support so many amazing artists. i'm grateful for new community and life-changing experiences. i'm humbled by God's grace.

but i'm also prouda you. because you kept going too. that's why every holder of this NFT will receive access to my token-gated tellie page where you can access unreleased music, and one of those unreleased tracks will be "prouda you!" because i am!

holders of this NFT will also be able to vote on the graphics for the "prouda me/prouda you" merch that will be releasing soon. the golden egg winner will receive the first piece of merch made!

this NFT has so many goats contribute to it. from sango going crazy on the beat (per usual), to shawntel making literally the perfect piece of art to match the music, to mike spits killing the mix (per usual), and malanda jean-claude gracing me with his words, this came together exactly the way i wanted it to.

to my collectors, i'm thankful for your love and support always.

prouda me! prouda you too. love, iman