Music has always been close to my heart. I have tinkered with digital music creation along with learning how to play different instruments over the years. I wouldn’t say that I’m great at any of it, but I have a passion for it and it is an outlet for me. I have shared some of it under my true name several times in the past, and have recently stated sharing under my new name. I’ll post some of my examples below if anyone cares to give it a listen.
There’s a short story as to why I began sharing under “Ben Shelbrook”. My daughter and I were listening to a local radio station where the hosts have “rap battles” and declare a champion within the studio. The last battle they had declared a very clear winner. One host had great lyrics, but the beat was underwhelming and he wasn’t fully prepared. The opponent has a small rap career on the side. He had a great beat and flow, the lyrics were also amazing, but he didn’t really go after the other host. Instead, his entire rap was about the hosts’ wife. It kind of irritated me that everyone called him the winner, even though he didn’t “attack” his opponent. I ended talking to my daughter about it and she realized the same thing after listening to it again. Being the great role model I am, I suggested reaching out to the radio station and airing my point of view, followed by the words: “I think I should challenge this guy to a rap battle.” I’m not a rapper, by any means. I can make beats and insert lyrics, but they’re not amazing or spectacular. So I went to TikTok, posted a few rap songs against the champion, and about two weeks later I get a phone call from one of my coworkers telling me that the radio station was playing my music on air. I called the station and spoke with all of the hosts off air. It was a short conversation that ended with, “Would you be willing to come in a have a rap battle?” I couldn’t back down at this point, and answered yes. A few emails and a week later, I was sitting in the station’s studio, live on air, having a rap battle with the champion. I didn’t win. I had a few fumbles. But my kids, friends, and even outsiders understood my “attack” and saw my point of view. I put myself WAY outside of my comfort zone to prove a point to my kids. If you believe in something and feel that it’s right in your heart, stand up for it and give it your all. Regardless of what other people think, you always stand up for yourself, but do not impose your views on others. Some people will stand against you no matter what, and that’s fine. They’re expressing their views. Some may ask you to explain yourself to learn a different point of view. They may side with you, they may not. That’s up to them. At least these people are willing to explore outside views. Whether or not they agree with you is irrelevant. That was all I wanted to prove to my kids. Now they are even more proud of what I did, plus they can tell all of their friends that their Dad was live on the radio. I got major cool points, which is always a bonus. But the main take away is they are more willing to step up for what they believe in. Also, one of my daughters now wants to pair up for some Daddy/Daughter raps to post. Be on the lookout for Lil Guppy!
Below are some samples of the music I have put out. Thanks for reading and/or listening!
