When I was 13 I fell in love with the rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. As you all know, the group is from Cleveland. As a result, I spent a lot of my mornings, afternoons and evenings singing "Cleveland is the city where we come from so run, run, run!"
A year or two later, I started producing music and hooked up with some rappers from Columbus who, together with myself and a couple of other Ohio-based rappers, recorded tracks with multiple shout-outs to the state of Ohio (including a "FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA TO COLUMBUS, OHIO!" line).
From there, the affinity simply grew. I started to learn more about the city of Cleveland, and other artists from the state of Ohio.
My die-hard passion for the Cavs would've started the season LBJ actually left us. NBA Game Time was launched and as a result, I was able to watch all 82 games of every season. Previously, it was only ESPN Wednesdays and Fridays and playoff games. I simply couldn't call myself a "fan" watching 1 game a month but I always had the Cleveland sports teams in my heart. In '09/'10, it really kicked into gear. My first full season included the losing streak etc. so I've never had the opportunity to be fully immersed in any winning seasons. The seasons we were winning with LeBron, I was nowhere as die-hard as I am today.
And that's pretty much my story. I have a bunch of rappers from Cleveland to thank. As a result, I walk around Melbourne, Australia with "Cleveland is the City," "CLVLND" and "Cleveland Pride" t-shirts and hoodies as if I were born and raised. My love for Cleveland as an international cannot be explained, but I can only assume it must feel as real as living in the city itself. As a result, I'll be in Cleveland in February to catch a Cavs game and see see where Bone Thugs grew up.
And without a doubt, I'll be wearing Cleveland across my heart, like I do every day of the year, half way across the world.
