But, with the release of his latest single Revolutionary Suicide, people are starting to listen a little closer to what this self-proclaimed Black poetry writer has to say.
"This isn't American Idol." said the Managing Editor of Black Athlete Sports Network.
"I am not seeking validation from anyone spinning around in a red chair. Plus, I don't have any blind ambition of obtaining commercial success from some white record executive, who wants to market my music as if I was Justin Bieber. This is real Hip-Hop." he explained.
"I, however, find it foolish to put an age-limit on Hip-Hop. Plus, I think it is insane for the music industry, what is left of it, to place the entire history of a culture in the hands of a few adolescences, who, unfortunately, are often too young to "fully" understand its importance and significance to the world as a whole."
While many may disagree with Graham's premise as well as his motives for making music, he does make some great points about the ageism in the art form of Hip-Hop, in general.
If that was the case, we wouldn't have had Ray Charles playing the piano and B.B.King playing the guitar.
Or, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni or Amari Baraka writing mind-bending poetry.
Or, even KRS-ONE rocking the MIC. Or, Kid Capri, cutting and scratching, for that matter.
Yes, this would really be hard to imagine.
But, Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z, made it plain and simple, when he said, "40 is the new 30....."
And the "mature" MC with a African-American History background, admitted that he agrees with Hov's philosophy, as well as, with old-time rocker Tim Petty, who said "Pop music isn't very good, and it's not designed for anybody over 12.'"
Fortunately, for Graham, it is a historical point in the music industry, due to the rise of the Internet, which allows independent artists, like himself, to let his voice be heard, without worrying about trying to fit into the cookie-cutter standard being promoted by record companies.
While Graham is excited about his ability to create music at this moment in his life, he, however, understands the power that the youth possess and their ability to create new trends and styles. But, he still feels Hip-Hop suffers a form of "Arrested Development," especially when it doesn't allow "mature material" to be infused into the conversation as well as on the radio.
With Graham's mix-tape project underway and nearly completed, he confesses he can't wait to hear the finished product.
"I am like a kid at Christmas, ready to unwrap a big gift. Why? Because, I love Hip-Hop!!!...ever since I heard Afrika Bambaataa Planet Rock. I was hooked. It's in my DNA.....and Pocket Full of Ghetto Poems will display that."
