HENO.

“Fold Proof” is about overcoming adversity and being triumphant even when all else fails. The photograph used in the cover art was from NFT NYC in November 2021 and was the night I got word that my uncle had passed the night prior & was buried the day of my performance.

Already having gone thru a lot of adversity (in life in general & leading up to that point), my experience at NFT NYC was filled with love & support from my new found community. It was all surreal and kept me in a positive headspace the entire trip. As I celebrate one year in Web3, I wanted to make this release special and take it back to when my community became family. Wouldn’t be here without the folks who believed in me, made me feel heard + seen, and really embraced me.

I want to dedicate this record to my late uncle but also hope this record resonates with folks everywhere who know that giving up is never the option (even when it feels like the easiest thing to do). I'm here to motivate, uplift, and inspire my community in the hopes that we can all help the next person out.  

Credits
Written & Performed by Heno.
Produced by J.Robb
Mixed & Mastered by Jose "Soberseas" Soberanes
Cover Art by Wesley Flores

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Fold Proof

GAMBIT is simply a groovy ass record that’s about being yourself, choosing to be grateful for the abundance that already exists in your life, and pushing on through adversity. 

In my verse I say “I could lose it all so I don’t ever take this shit for granted, no this wasn’t random had a vision than I planned it, took the cards that I was dealt and flipped them like I’m GAMBIT, if you ain’t come up how I came up you can’t understand it…” Life sometimes deals us a hand of cards we’re not happy with but life is going to test you either way. Might as well embrace the adversity we deal with head on, find comfort within it, & push on through. I genuinely feel like my life has turned around 180 degrees from where I was back in Maryland with little to no options. I made a lot of sacrifices and never succumbed to the pressures of society I’ve dealt with (death, grief, racism, police, etc). I’m thankful I never stopped or else I wouldn’t even be here talking about this. 

Written & Performed by Heno.
Produced by Chaz Bear (@ToroyMoi) 
Additional prod. by Anthony Ferraro (@tony_m_f_)
Artwork by Tara Moves (@taramoves)

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GAMBIT

PTSD - "A CONDITION OF PERSISTENT MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL STRESS OCCURRING AS A RESULT OF INJURY OR SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL SHOCK, TYPICALLY INVOLVING DISTURBANCE OF SLEEP AND CONSTANT VIVID RECALL OF THE EXPERIENCE, WITH BLACK THIS OUT TO OTHERS AND TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD."

EVERY ASPECT OF THE DIGITAL WORLD IS MONITORED TO SOME DEGREE: PHONE RECORDS, FINANCIAL RECORDS, FACIAL RECOGNITION, ONLINE SEARCHES, BLACK THIS OUT, ANALYTICS, AND APPS. 

I FEEL MUCH SAFER OFFLINE AND OFF THE GRID, BUT I’M AN BLACK THIS OUT, I HAVE A LIFE THAT REQUIRES MAKING DIGITAL CHOICES TO IMPROVE MY REALITY. A REALITY THAT’S UNDER HYPERSURVILLENCE. 

I’M TIRED OF HYPERSURVILLENCE. 

MY EXPERIENCES WITH AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT MADE ME AWARE OF MY OVERALL STANDING IN SOCIETY. AT SIX YEARS-OLD I WAS RACIALLY PROFILED AND HANDCUFFED BECAUSE A POLICE OFFICER MISTOOK ME FOR A DRUG DEALER. AT EIGHT YEARS-OLD I SAW MY BROTHER GET SLAMMED ON TOP OF A POLICE CAR BY AN AGGRESSIVE OFFICER. 

I’M TIRED OF POLICE BRUTALITY. 

AMERICA LIED TO MY PARENTS WITH THEIR PROMISE OF AN “AMERICAN DREAM.” THERE’S NO LAND OF THE FREE WHEN YOU AREN’T THE SHADE OF CHALK.

THE INTERNET ISN’T A LAND, THOUGH, IT’S A LANDSCAPE. A DIGITAL WORLD. AND WEB3 IS THE FUTURE. 

PAY MY REPARATIONS IN ETH. 

("PTSD" IS A PART OF AN ONGOING SERIES EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF HYPERSURVEILLANCE ON THE BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS)

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PTSD [demo]

Heno. is a multifaceted artist/producer/creative/organizer from Takoma Park, Maryland now based in LA. Heno.'s art is very intentional w/ the aim to push both culture & community forward as well as makes space for progressive conversations. Crowdfunding my next full length project via Mirror.xyz

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