Soldier looks beyond the words to help shape Soldiers' lives

By Staff Sgt. Miguel A. Rivas, 204th BSB, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

204th BSB, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - At first glance, the words of rapper T.I.'s song, "Rubberband Man" don't seem out of place in a country like Iraq.

A person first introduced to the music of the Atlanta-based rapper might be distracted by the harsh words and ideas, but to Pfc. Cornelius Johnson, a cook with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 204th BSB, the artist legally known as Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr., is a juggernaut of inspiration.

"'Rubberband Man' was so amazing to me; it drew me in. As the song progressed, I became a fan. The next day, I bought his album. I became an actual fan," Johnson said. It is Johnson's dream to become like the actor, music producer and television star. The 25-year-old Johnson has already begun the journey to follow his 26-year-old idol by stepping into the studio and donning the over-sized headphones to make his music magic.

While Johnson's quest to make the big time as a successful rapper has just begun, he plans to use his voice to send a different message to America's youth. "Live your life, don't try to emulate the pimps or the drug dealers, "Johnson, a St. Louis native, said. "Look at (President-Elect Barack) Obama, if you strive to do your best, you can succeed. (Music) is so life-like and real, it's captivating; it's the truth." Despite all the bravado of hip-hop music, Johnson's words make him sound more like Horatio Alger than Snoop Dogg.

Pfc. Cornelius Johnson, a cook with HHC, 204th BSB, looks at the hip-hop artist T.I., as a juggernaut of inspiration. It is Johnson's dream to become like the actor, music producer and television star. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Miguel A. Rivas)

The one desire Johnson holds close to his heart is to one day see people of all creeds and colors coming together to enjoy his music. "No matter what walk of life people come from, there is some good to be gained from anybody and anything if you give it a chance," he said. Johnson doesn't hear the songs' references to large wads of money, guns, drugs or alcohol. What reaches out to Johnson is the message that an urban youth can become successful without falling into the cycle of violent life that plagues parts of urban America.

"We both are from the urban community," Johnson said. "We both seek to educate the urban and African communities. In his later career, he has strived to be more of an inspiration to others." Music may be Johnson's inspiration, but he is clearly becoming one to his own Family and friends. His brother is also a cook at Fort Drum, N.Y., and another relative enlisted in the military intelligence field and is training at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

"I have little cousins, and I want them to avoid the problems (of the streets)," Johnson said.

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