Wordsmith is a songwriter, poet, recording artist, actor, playwright, entre… Read Full Bio ↴Wordsmith is a songwriter, poet, recording artist, actor, playwright, entrepreneur and philanthropist from Baltimore, MD.
He earned a full athletic scholarship to play football at Morgan State University, however it was his transfer to Salisbury University that shifted his focus to entertainment. Studying radio & TV at Morgan State University, Wordsmith earned a Bachelor's Degree in Performing Arts (Music & Theater Arts) at Salisbury University in 2002.
Opening his independent label NU Revolution Entertainment in 2009; distribution and licensing deals with Ingrooves, United Masters, Redeye, and APM Music helped the company flourish!
Wordsmith is a Grammy Voting Member, finalist for the 2023 Baker Artist Awards, ASCAPLUS Awardee and winner of Best Rap/Hip Album for Perspective Jukebox at the 16th Independent Music Awards. His music has been featured on prominent networks and shows like Russian Doll (Netflix), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix), Preacher (AMC) and many more!
Continuing to expand his reach, Wordsmith partnered with the US Department of State to fund performances and workshops in Azerbaijan, Haiti, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Angola, Ukraine, Namibia, Cote D’ Ivoire, Panama, Tunisia and Tanzania over the years.
Wordsmith’s career took a new direction in 2018 when he was hired to write new narration for Carnival of the Animals with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. A second opportunity came when Wordsmith was asked to host the 2018 BSO Gala with special guest Cynthia Erivo. Officially becoming an Artistic Partner with the BSO in September 2020, Wordsmith & composer James Lee III debuted two commissioned pieces; “Destined Words” for the BSO Gala Celebration in honor of Marin Alsop and the Frederick Douglass inspired piece “Freedom’s Genuine Dawn.” Wordsmith followed up these performances with landmark reinterpretations of Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale”, “Beethoven Ninth” and his original classical fusion piece called “Made in America.”
The future looks bright for Wordsmith as he officially opened his nonprofit “Rise with a Purpose, Inc.” and delivered his first TED Talk via John Hopkins University. Always looking to expand his horizons, Wordsmith collaborated with composer/pianist Kory Caudill for a project called “Progressions” and an event dubbed “Concert for the Human Family”. Putting his Theater degree to work, Wordsmith wrote and directed an original play called “The Purple Tape” to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop.
Still, with Hip Hop being Wordsmith’s first love he has also collaborated with notable acts like Chubb Rock, Skyzoo, Camp Lo, Sadat X, Jaz-O, Ruste Juxx, Grand Daddy I.U. & his cousin Roc Marciano over the years.
He earned a full athletic scholarship to play football at Morgan State University, however it was his transfer to Salisbury University that shifted his focus to entertainment. Studying radio & TV at Morgan State University, Wordsmith earned a Bachelor's Degree in Performing Arts (Music & Theater Arts) at Salisbury University in 2002.
Opening his independent label NU Revolution Entertainment in 2009; distribution and licensing deals with Ingrooves, United Masters, Redeye, and APM Music helped the company flourish!
Wordsmith is a Grammy Voting Member, finalist for the 2023 Baker Artist Awards, ASCAPLUS Awardee and winner of Best Rap/Hip Album for Perspective Jukebox at the 16th Independent Music Awards. His music has been featured on prominent networks and shows like Russian Doll (Netflix), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix), Preacher (AMC) and many more!
Continuing to expand his reach, Wordsmith partnered with the US Department of State to fund performances and workshops in Azerbaijan, Haiti, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Angola, Ukraine, Namibia, Cote D’ Ivoire, Panama, Tunisia and Tanzania over the years.
Wordsmith’s career took a new direction in 2018 when he was hired to write new narration for Carnival of the Animals with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. A second opportunity came when Wordsmith was asked to host the 2018 BSO Gala with special guest Cynthia Erivo. Officially becoming an Artistic Partner with the BSO in September 2020, Wordsmith & composer James Lee III debuted two commissioned pieces; “Destined Words” for the BSO Gala Celebration in honor of Marin Alsop and the Frederick Douglass inspired piece “Freedom’s Genuine Dawn.” Wordsmith followed up these performances with landmark reinterpretations of Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale”, “Beethoven Ninth” and his original classical fusion piece called “Made in America.”
The future looks bright for Wordsmith as he officially opened his nonprofit “Rise with a Purpose, Inc.” and delivered his first TED Talk via John Hopkins University. Always looking to expand his horizons, Wordsmith collaborated with composer/pianist Kory Caudill for a project called “Progressions” and an event dubbed “Concert for the Human Family”. Putting his Theater degree to work, Wordsmith wrote and directed an original play called “The Purple Tape” to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop.
Still, with Hip Hop being Wordsmith’s first love he has also collaborated with notable acts like Chubb Rock, Skyzoo, Camp Lo, Sadat X, Jaz-O, Ruste Juxx, Grand Daddy I.U. & his cousin Roc Marciano over the years.
Living Life Check to Check
Wordsmith Lyrics
Let's go
How ya doin'? I'm word and I work a nine to five
Barely getting by and I'm rapping for ya'll on the side
Yeah, I'm broke with a dream driven for one hit and, yeah
I take some gigs for free most are roadtrips
Gotta a cooler with ice, drinks and all the snacks
Here comes the part where I'm dreaming, the show is so packed
Ten hours of driving arriving so soon
The way I hit the stage, you'll never know it was an empty room
It was five, six people who made the crowd
Two of them my boys, so it's three to four now
Ah, don't sweat it, regret it, I got pride
I'ma spread a new message, I'ma ah touch a couple lives
Word of mouth is great, tell a friend to tell a friend
Tell them Google up my name with that music on the end
Now I'm back to work, I gotta go support my family
I'm humbled by my job, I gotta make it there's no plan b, you'll see
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Live my life check to check, yeah, need money
Live my life check to check, aw, need money
A little money to pay my bills (my bills)
A little money for one hot meal (hot meal)
A little money so I can rest (a little rest)
A little money to ease my stress (come on)
How ya doin'? Let me stop for a second
I ain't selling you myself but, yeah, I'm selling self-expression
Yeah, that's the movement above beyond the norm
I'm ah form a revolution put the quiet to the storm
This is like my campaign, I'm rapping for some votes
But these haters treat me cold like I own no winter coat
Giving you my soul not an image for the cameras
I'm buzzing kind of crazy my support supply the spammers
This is for the dreamers, let me show you how to do
It only go to quit your job when you're living off your music
Giving you this knowledge cause I had to learn the hard way
But, yo, I preserved when they feared the art would fade away
I keep working I wanna make it that's all there is
I can make it in the biz build a fortune for my kids
Even though I'm blue collar my attitude is top dollar
I'm moving in your office word with that white colla, folla
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Live my life check to check, yeah, need money
Live my life check to check, aw, need money
A little money to pay my bills (my bills)
A little money for one hot meal (hot meal)
A little money so I can rest (a little rest)
A little money to ease my stress (come on)
Strolling down the block head in the clouds
And I'm singing those blue, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (sing the blue, baby)
Strolling down the block wishing I'm rich
And I'm singing those blue, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (sing the blue, baby)
La, la, la, la, la (la-di-da, babe)
La, la, la, da, da, da, da (la-di-da)
La, la, la, la, la (la-di-da, babe)
La, la, la, da, da, da, da (la-di-da)
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Live my life check to check, yeah, need money
Live my life check to check, aw, need money
How ya doin'? I'm word and I work a nine to five
Barely getting by and I'm rapping for ya'll on the side
Yeah, I'm broke with a dream driven for one hit and, yeah
I take some gigs for free most are roadtrips
Gotta a cooler with ice, drinks and all the snacks
Here comes the part where I'm dreaming, the show is so packed
Ten hours of driving arriving so soon
The way I hit the stage, you'll never know it was an empty room
Two of them my boys, so it's three to four now
Ah, don't sweat it, regret it, I got pride
I'ma spread a new message, I'ma ah touch a couple lives
Word of mouth is great, tell a friend to tell a friend
Tell them Google up my name with that music on the end
Now I'm back to work, I gotta go support my family
I'm humbled by my job, I gotta make it there's no plan b, you'll see
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Live my life check to check, yeah, need money
Live my life check to check, aw, need money
A little money to pay my bills (my bills)
A little money for one hot meal (hot meal)
A little money so I can rest (a little rest)
A little money to ease my stress (come on)
How ya doin'? Let me stop for a second
I ain't selling you myself but, yeah, I'm selling self-expression
Yeah, that's the movement above beyond the norm
I'm ah form a revolution put the quiet to the storm
This is like my campaign, I'm rapping for some votes
But these haters treat me cold like I own no winter coat
Giving you my soul not an image for the cameras
I'm buzzing kind of crazy my support supply the spammers
This is for the dreamers, let me show you how to do
It only go to quit your job when you're living off your music
Giving you this knowledge cause I had to learn the hard way
But, yo, I preserved when they feared the art would fade away
I keep working I wanna make it that's all there is
I can make it in the biz build a fortune for my kids
Even though I'm blue collar my attitude is top dollar
I'm moving in your office word with that white colla, folla
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Live my life check to check, yeah, need money
Live my life check to check, aw, need money
A little money to pay my bills (my bills)
A little money for one hot meal (hot meal)
A little money so I can rest (a little rest)
A little money to ease my stress (come on)
Strolling down the block head in the clouds
And I'm singing those blue, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (sing the blue, baby)
Strolling down the block wishing I'm rich
And I'm singing those blue, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (sing the blue, baby)
La, la, la, la, la (la-di-da, babe)
La, la, la, da, da, da, da (la-di-da)
La, la, la, la, la (la-di-da, babe)
La, la, la, da, da, da, da (la-di-da)
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Ooh, I be singing blue collar blues
Come on, come on, come on
Live my life check to check, yeah, need money
Live my life check to check, aw, need money
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Anthony Parker, Jon Kitto
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@abreannabananna389
wordsmith alright, frickin lyrical genius! x
@wordsmith
So dope of you to say; thank you Abreanna
@jeffreyshipp1948
All this talent and this video only got 30,000 views? What the hell?
@wordsmith
Honored!
@RR-ko6ue
@Jeffrey Shipp - I'm sayn the same thing🤔💯. This bro is baad! His real positive lyrics, bomb beats n videos to match. I jus came across his Victory video. I am too impressed. Now searching for all his joints. He needs to be so much bigger!!!
@alirezamo7333
After all these years, this song is still legendary! I remember when I played with my friends on the playstation 4 while listening to this song at 2016... Man... Those were the days... :/
@wordsmith
I appreciate that Alireza and most of all its dope to hear you have a memory tied to "Living Life Check to Check"
@alirezamo7333
@@wordsmith 😎💪🏼💪🏼🔥
@knutealbright9325
Keep up the classical music. Truly apreciated.
@wordsmith
honored to do it and thanks for the comment!