The Rescue

AJ Teaters

The Rescue

I recently had the honor and privilege to sit down and talk with Travis Clark about his current project The Rescue with Invisible Children. We met up at an amazing coffee shop/ market café and talked about everything from Justin Bieber to tattoos to God. This is how it went:


25 to Life: How long has music been a part of your life?


Travis Clark: Hip Hop music has been in my life since I was in Jr. High. I remember getting my first rap C.D. in 8th grade and sitting there listening to it over and over and over, just memorizing the lyrics. Then that evolved into me writing my own songs, and it's just continued to grow since then.


25: When and how did you start your Hip Hop career?


TC: I started making cd's and doing shows my sophomore year of high school. My wife's stepdad actually opened up his studio for me to record, and that really opened up the door for me to start getting my music out there.


25: Did you ever think that your music could be used to save lives?


TC: Honestly at first, I didn't. I just wrote from the heart and about things that I've gone through. But then I started seeing that my experiences spoke to the lives of many people. You never really realize how powerful your music is until someone comes up to you and tells you how your music changed and/or saved their life. That's when it hit me, music is a powerful tool that can be used to impact different aspects of peoples lives.


25: When did you shift your focus to helping people in Africa?


TC: It started a couple years ago with the orphanage that I've been working to build in Kenya. I started learning about what was going on in Africa and all the needs. I didn't know what kind of change I could bring but I knew I could at least do something. 


25: How did you hear about Invisible Children and what made you want to work with them?  


TC: I've known about Invisible Children for a while. I've gone to a couple of their events, and I have always been blown away by their work. I have really wanted to work with them because they are a solid organization that I know and I trust. I, as well as they (Invisible Children), believe that we can put an end to this war in Africa.


25: What makes this project different from your previous projects? 


TC: This project is unique because every song is going to be inspired from the stories of this war in Africa. Some songs will come from the perspective of a child soldier wanting to return home, one song in the works is actually a song about Joseph Kony, the man behind the war. While other songs are going to be a challenge to join this battle and to fight for freedom. I've never heard a cd where each song is inspired from a specific cause, and I think that makes this album super unique and powerful.


25: Where do you get your inspiration from for your music and your passion for this cause? 


TC: I pull inspiration from a lot of different places. Musically I am inspired by many different artists, but 3 stick out the most. The first is Eminem, because he is a lyrical genius. I don't agree with the raps he does that are dark or violent, but he does have power behind his words. Tupac, of course. I remember when I bought his book of poetry, and I just sat and read it over and over again. Really thinking about it, T-Bone helped me out a lot too. He was one of the first legit Christian rappers. My passion...  Not trying to give you the Sunday School answer, but I really am inspired by the life of Jesus. He fought for justice, He loved the outcasts. I think if Jesus walked this earth today that he would fight for those that are "invisible" to the rest of us. His life inspires me to do the same and to use what I have to offer to replicate that same kind of love for others


25: I'm going to steal a bit from "Inside the Actors Studio" and ask you the 10 questions that James Lipton got from Bernard Pivot. (To save on time I'll go over 5 of the 10)

1. What is your favorite word? Touché
2. What is your least favorite word? Cat!
3. What sound or noise do you love? A box fan
4. What profession would you not like to do? Accountant (I think I saw him shudder when he said this.)
5. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Well done. 

After all was said and done I was convicted by this cause. Travis is a remarkable person who is using his talents to connect people to greater purpose; a purpose of hope, justice and freedom. Invisible Children needs people, and not just people like Travis (who can drop killer rhymes, and fill you with emotion while smacking you with some knowledge) but everyday people to help bring change. If nothing else go to The Rescue Home Page, donate, and join the fight to help bring freedom to children that only know the word because it was taken from them. 


Travis has a goal to raise a minimum of $4000 to raise awareness about this war, and get this project off the ground and running. The $4000 will cover:

• Full album production from top-of the-line producer, Mustafa.
• The first order of CD's.
• A nationally-distributed professional music video about this war we're fighting.
• All promotional and marketing materials for The Rescue informing people how they can get involved and rally around this powerful cause.

*All donations that come in over and above our $4000 budget will go straight to Invisible Children.

So let's step out and take a stand against this war. Even the smallest donation will help this cause, and have the possibility to save a child the horror of being forced into slavery to kill his fellow man. Visit The Rescue, join the fight and become part of The Coalition.

Travis Clark was born in 1986 and raised in Mesa AZ. Along with being a rapper, he is a Young Adult Pastor in Mesa AZ. He's been married to the love of his life, Jena for 5 years. He is passionate about justice and speaking up for those who can't speak for themselves. To learn more about Travis and listen to his music, you can check out his blog at http://hellotravis.com.