Lyrics Born has resurfaced with a new video for “Can’t Lose My Joy” featuring Aloe Blacc, which serves as one of the singles from his latest album, Quite A Life.
The Bay Area Hip Hop staple penned the song about his wife — singer Joyo Velarde — and her 15-year battle with cancer. It marks the first time he’s publicly revealed her diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
“Unfortunately, one in three Americans are living with cancer, and my family is no different,” he said in a press release. “We kept my wife’s 15-year battle with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma a secret from the public until now. ‘Can’t Lose My Joy’ chronicles her being diagnosed at a time when we were working, touring, recording artists with our careers just beginning to blossom.
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“In the spirit of National Lymphoma Awareness month and day, we hope this song inspires you to keep pushing and staying optimistic. There is always hope.”
Throughout the visual, Lyrics Born opens up about the moment they got the news and the onslaught of emotions that followed.
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“This was by far the hardest song I’ve ever written in my career,” he explained. “I had a very hard time opening up about the concept with Aloe Blacc. When he sent me the chorus he wrote and recorded, I just cried. He captured my feelings so accurately, it floored me.
“We are blessed to be in remission now, but with that demon looming, you are never totally at ease in life. Seeing it through successfully gives you the confidence that no obstacle is insurmountable when you have spiritual grounding, love and support from the people that matter to you. If nothing else, that is what I want people to take away from this song. Hope.”
Quite A Life is available here. Watch the video up top.
