Rapper, songwriter and producer, Lazarus whose new single and video “Heart of a Hustler,” is blowing up the internet and radio stations around the globe. Best known for his hit song Enemy & I (Alpha Dog movie soundtrack), Lazarus’ story is that of triumph and perseverance! Lazarus discovered a love of rap music in his early teen years. By the age of 19 he had recorded his first song now at 28 has put out two albums under his own label, Lazarus Entertainment. His second album, Heart of the Hustler, which is influenced by the West Coast, but flavored with his deep southern roots, tells the story of his struggle, his pain, his reconciliation and his ultimately, his breakthrough… The album is currently avail on ITunes and will soon drop in top retail stores across the nation on August 1, 2009 and will be distributed by KES Distribution. In addition to his music, Lazarus recently wrapped a lead role in the independent feature Joshua: The Heart of a Warrior starring opposite “This is a story about forgiveness and redemption but it also shows the effect that mental disability has on those who are in the affected person’s circle of immediate family and friends. Release date is TBD.

 

Growing up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Lazarus (né Rawlin Guidry) had a troubled youth, filled with verbal and physical abuse, drugs, and some jail time in juvenile detention. He’s the third oldest of seven children, primarily raised by a single mother who worked odd jobs to make ends meet. Throughout his youth, his father breezed in and out of his life. And when he breezed in, he left a lot of scars – both, physical and emotional. As a child, Lazarus captured the attention of his teachers for his creative abilities as an artist and painter. Interestingly, he won a drawing contest, which afforded him the opportunity to attend an art school, but he had to turn it down. His parents were not supportive of his ambitions to be an artist, due to their ignorance of art as a chosen profession. So, with no hope, direction or role models, he turned to the streets.

 

“I didn’t have somebody telling me that I could be anything I wanted to be,” he said. “That was my reality.”

 

Hustling the streets by day, but writing poetry at night, Lazarus listened to the rap music that filled the airwaves – namely Houston’s hardcore rapper Crime Boss. “He has been the biggest influence on my music,” said Lazarus. “He’s the real deal. He’s a rapper and a lyricist, and he rapped about the life I was living at the time.” Giving more props, Lazarus adds, “Anybody who’s true to the game, knows that Crime Boss was a rapper who influenced the art form.” Other musical influences include rappers N.W. A., 8-Ball, and MJG. Making a living on the streets, it eventually caught up with him. Lazarus first landed in juvenile detention at the age of 14. Once released, he went back to his creative juices – this time, making music.

 

At 15, he recorded his first single, “Another Day on the Hustle,” with a neighborhood rap group. However, the streets once again called… and Lazarus answered. This time, he had two products for sale– “rocks” in one hand, and his music in another. Although he was extremely passionate about his raps, it just didn’t pay the bills. Two years later, Lazarus was busted again for selling drugs. A juvenile, the

courts decided that he would to stand trial as an adult. As fate would have it, the 17-year-old Lazarus escaped the clutches of serving jail time in a state

penitentiary for a crime, carrying a 12-year sentence thanks to a smart attorney, who was also an advocate for child rights, Lazarus was paroled after

sentencing and allowed to finish high school. For such luck, he adopted the rap moniker “Lazarus” in reference to the biblical character who rose from the

dead and was given a second chance at life. Once on parole, Lazarus enrolled in college. “I had to make a choice,” he said. “There’s a lifestyle that comes with living as a true hustler on a daily grind,” he said. “I chose music as my way out.”

 

After his legal ordeal, Lazarus wanted to get on the right track, finding solace in writing songs and taking music more seriously. He became restless as a college student, and once paroled, he packed up his bags and headed to Hollywood and began shopping his demo tapes to record companies in Los Angeles. Seeing the success of rappers on the New Orleans based record label, Cash Money Records – i.e. Hot Boy – Lazarus grew impatient, and started his own independent label, Lazarus Entertainment. He released his first album, “Here I Come” in 2000, and moved more than 10,000 units, hitting the road in his hometown of Lake Charles, LA and neighboring cities.