Preface

With drinks in my system, I was beyond my own control. I spent 15 years free-falling into an abyss that always ended with a headache in the morning and a lot of questions to answer. I wouldn’t have been able to create this blog without getting sober. It’s only through having clarity that my self-deprecation has comedic value. I’ve had to comb through my entire existence and make sense of it all, and the more I dug, the clearer things became. I’m approaching one year sober as I write this, and the further away I get from what was, the more I’ve grown to appreciate it. I am but a collection of experiences, molded by the people who the universe saw fit to put in my life. My brother Angel aka X-EL. My best friend Alonzo aka Bud. My cousin Cheez. Nuck. Lorenzo. Christian. Eddie. Ricky. JD and Eddy Duran. My ex-wife Brenna and my daughter Alenna. Mena. Thunder. Maury. Coy. Mikey Pop. Javi Pardo. Frank Lopez. Nicole “NOE” Morris. Mike McHugh and Evan Ginzburg. John Waldman and Mark Kam. Salvatore Polizzi and Tony’s Pizza, the best pizza in Brooklyn. Jan Eckhard for expanding my craftsmanship. Danny Garcia for being a lifeline. The DMT shamans for removing my blinders, and showing me the value of the life I’ve lived. The infamous Rick Gonzalez, who made me believe that anything was possible, Fabian aka CloudKickaPiff for being a constant stream of motivation, and Anthony Ramos and Mario Martinez, whose rise to stardom was the catalyst for my rehab. Norman “Storm” Bell for not giving up on me, Nelson “Money Nels” Taboada for talking me off the ledge that night, my family and friends, my fans and haters, my Grove Street family, and those extended. The people who’ve inspired and believed in me. The people who allowed me a space to create, and time to grow. Math and Sosa. Nard and Pat. Kevin Donaldson. Tom “Special T” Frazier. You have all played a huge part in my story, and although this abridged version is far from everything, I’ll save what’s left for late-night television. I’m crazy enough to believe that I have been destined for greatness; an unwavering notion. And at 36 years old, sober, with a beautiful family and all the responsibilities of a husband, father, and a man, this truth remains. In this one-of-a-kind experience, you’ll read stories, hear audio, watch videos, and be guided by yours truly through the many phases of my life as I attempt to face my demons down the path to success. Welcome to Dominate The Globe, a motivational sobriety blog and the story of my life. Join me down the rabbit hole of my existence, and explore my everlasting artistic pursuit of Global Domination.