there was always intentions to be a representation of something great. You don’t understand greatness until after the experience is over. Sunday July 17th, 2022, I was able to experience a representation of what greatness truly is. Gregory Stephen Tate is someone whose name will forever go down in the record books of such existence.

Greg Tate was more than what meets the eye. With an abundance of accolades on his resume; writer, producer, musician, loving father and adoring grandfather, Greg was known for the numerous hats he wore in this lifetime. As long time Village Voice critic, he specified in writing on African American music and culture which entrenched Hip Hop as a genre worthy of musical criticism because of his writing.

I had the honor of meeting his daughter, Dr. Chinara Tate during my Lips Cafe installation where one of my creations spoke volumes of her late father. Later on in the year, I had the honor of being invited to celebrate the life of Greg Tate alongside his orchestra, The Black Rock Coalition, during NYC’s summer stage at Lincoln Center.