Lamar Skeete- An artist and father with a story to tell Pt II

BY GLORIA O’KOYE

Before moving forward with reading this article, I want to stress this may be a sensitive and triggering matter to some folks. I ask you to read this with an open mind and heart and please take care of your well-being. I want to continue my story about Lamar Skeete as a parent, and creative. I wanted to write about this to shed more light on what can go on within the system and also allow upcoming creatives to be mindful in their art practice. I want to send my readers tons of love and positive energy. With that, I want to present to you my interview with Lamar Skeete.

I started this interview by asking Lamar, “Can you share a bit about yourself?”

“My name is Lamar Skeete and I am thirty years old. I grew up in the west end of Toronto.” 

What inspired you to get into music? How long have you been making music?

“I have had a passion for music since I was a child. My mother would always play conscious reggae and we would sing along to the songs. When I was in grade school I would recite RnB songs with my friends. In middle school, I got into poetry and fell in love with the rhymes, and started practicing rhyming at the age of twelve.”

I also added the question, “What is your end goal for your music career? 

“My end goal for my music career is to inspire other people to follow their dreams no matter what their life situation is.”

“Could you share with us what you have learned over the years when it comes to family and friends?” 

“What I have learned when it comes to friends is it’s always the ones that you least expect are the ones that show up in your corner. Some of my friends are closer to me than my family members. In the cycle of life human beings, in general, may fall out. One day someone could be there and the next day they disappear on the account of something that someone put in their ears. My immediate family will always be in my corner regardless but most importantly, God. My expectations of men are very low because no man is obligated to provide for me.”

“Can you share with us your experiences of being a parent? How has being a father molded you as a person? Also, if you are comfortable, can you share your experience on how your current situation is affecting your child-parent relationship, and what have you learned? And what advice would you give to others who are also having similar experiences? What words of encouragement would you want to give?” 

“When my son was born I had an epiphany that everything on this earth is vanity except for two things: life, and death. I thank the Highest for providing my wife and me with more life. Being a father has humbled me and made me respect life even more. Due to the pandemic, my private family visits have been cancelled, which has caused me to not be able to spend quality father and son time for over a year. 

“I communicate with my son over video visits and he is familiar with my voice and pictures. He is way more comfortable with his mother because she is his full-time caregiver. For other parents that are in similar situations, my advice is to look up to the most high and be thankful for life. He would never put you in a situation that is more than you can handle.”

“What motivates you to keep pushing and gives you hope?” 

“The fact that The Highest has kept me alive and well at thirty years old proves He has a purpose for me. The fact that he has blessed my wife and me with more life motivates me. The fact that the community has been reaching out to us and resonating with our story motivates me.” 

“Can you tell us some ways that we as a community can come together and support you?” 

“The community can continue to tell my story and pray for me. Blessed is The Highest.”