Written by: Andrea Hill
Despite Bay Area rapper and Mass Appeal artist, Fashawn remaining seemingly low-key on the music front of late following the release of his sophomore project, The Ecology back in 15.’ The 2010 XXL Freshmen is now opening up about his painful past growing up with a chemically dependent parent- and how it influenced him for the better. In an attempt to spread awareness on the prevalent issue of chemical dependency, the Fresno rapper sits down with Providence St. Joseph Health’s, Dr. Crescenzo Pisano, to discuss the long-term impact of he and his siblings dealing with a single mother battling chemical dependency while growing up.
Long before the 28-year-old emcee born, Santiago Leyva graced the cover of XXL with fellow Freshmen, Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole, Big Sean, Nipsey Hussle and more, Fashawn’s childhood was less than idyllic growing up as the youngest child of a crack-addicted mother and an imprisoned father. During his candid interview with the head of Providence’s Chemical Dependency program where they encouraged people struggling with a chemical addiction to seek out treatment in their local area.The “Mother” rapper describes first being made aware of his mother’s addiction in grade school after realizing she had been selling his personal belongings in exchange for drugs. Fashawn, fueled by the need to escape the inner turmoil happening within his home, reveals how he discovered his love of music and art and how it changed the trajectory of his life forever.
The emcee is currently back in the studio readying new music for fans, and is set to perform at the Grizzly Fest 17, Saturday, April 29.
Watch Fashawn talk about his childhood below.