9 years ago, Rob Sawan did an interview with the Penticton Herald. He recently left the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development and was just beginning his career as an aspiring hip hop artist. He had grown up with a father who was a drug dealer and pimp and watched him get stabbed, overdose and come back to life. His dad went on the run with him ending up in the Raymur Projects in East Vancouver, B.C. He experienced severe physical, sexual and emotional abuse as a little boy. He grew up knowing hunger and homelessness, understood drug and gang activity as a way of life and learned survival skills that kept him alive by the time he was 7 years old. His grandparents called him Casper because he had been born on Halloween so he took on the persona “Kasp”. You would think he would grow up to become a statistic, dead or in jail like a majority of the people he grew up with. Instead he delved into sports and hip hop and used writing music as a way to get his feelings out. An anonymous woman was touched by his story in the paper and sent him a message that a cheque was going to be sent to a studio so he could record his music. Kasp worked with a local producer and Kasp put together his first 100 CD’s and called it “Kasp - Komplikations” it was nominated for the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards in 2004 for “Best Rap or Hip Hop CD” it didn’t win but he began a crew called “7th Generation” and they went on to win multiple awards, including the “Aboriginal Peoples Choice Awards”, the “Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards” and the “Okanagan Music Awards” It was a success story and one of inspiration for anyone. He travelled across Canada, married, made a home and traveled. It could have been the end but what happened then is what Kasp wants to share with youth who are striving to become successful on any level, who have struggled through abuse, addiction and dysfunction. What Kasp didn’t understand at the time of his ultimate high, was that despite his success, he had a low self esteem and was deeply wounded. He took his first drink after being dry for 8 years when he won the Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Hip Hop CD. He left his family, moved to Edmonton and began drinking heavily severing many relationships, lost the trust of his family and friends, the respect of his peers and hit bottom. After many months of abusing himself he sought help. He attended a self development seminar called Choices and realized he hadn’t dealt with his childhood issues which caused him to become addicted to everything from pot and alcohol to women, steroids, to over-exercising. He began attending A.A. meetings, speaking with his elders, attending ceremonies and sweats, and has been living in sobriety for a year and a half. Kasp moved back to the Okanagan with his wife, 15 year old son, Kyle and new daughter, Phoenix. His family began their own entertainment company called “K.A.S.P. Entertainment” meaning “Keeping Alive Stories for the People.” He reconnected with his father before he passed away in June 2010 from cancer, it was one of the biggest challenges that Kasp ever had to face, doing it in sobriety meant feeling the emotions, and talking about his pain. His dad inspired him to live a sober life, taught him forgiveness and giving selflessly to people in need. The past 2 years of his life has inspired him to take his writing to another level, reinforcing his beliefs in working with youth, but this time around he wants to speak more about balance, culture, sobriety, forgiveness, and healing. His new CD is called “Muskwa” a Cree word for bear, in honour of his dad, his son and his daughter. He’s collaborated with artists who are striving to maintain balanced and positive lifestyles and includes a feature by Grand Chief Stewart Phillip. Muskwa will be released October 31, 2010.