At age six, most kids are learning to tie their shoes. OTE BOO was learning how to survive bullet wounds. Growing up in Lexington’s projects, his story isn’t just another rap tale – it’s a testament to survival in a place where childhood ends before it begins.
“I was shot at six in 2001,” BOO recalls, his voice carrying the weight of memories most couldn’t imagine. “Three wounds from two shots, fired by an eleven-year-old friend.” The matter-of-fact way he describes this incident speaks volumes about life in his section of Lexington, Kentucky – a place that rarely makes hip-hop headlines but breeds the same harsh realities as any inner city in America.
But that was just the opening chapter. By twenty, BOO found himself serving a decade behind bars, watching his twenties slip away through steel and concrete. While most artists claim to have been “in the streets,” BOO’s story isn’t a marketing strategy – it’s documented fact.
What sets him apart isn’t just his story, though. In a state known more for bourbon than bars (the musical kind), BOO developed a sound that breaks regional expectations. “I don’t sound like nobody from Kentucky,” he states, and he’s right. His flow and delivery carry none of the typical Southern Kentucky twang, making him stand out in a saturated industry.
The most remarkable part of BOO’s musical journey is that it truly began in those final two years of his sentence. While others might have been counting down days, he was counting bars – not the ones keeping him in, but the ones flowing out. “I had so much to say,” he explains, describing how writing became his outlet, his therapy, his future.
Now free and focused, BOO isn’t just chasing personal success. His vision extends beyond the booth. He’s planning to launch a talent agency in Lexington, creating opportunities in everything from sports to PC gaming, music to entertainment. “I want to give these kids a shot,” he emphasizes, knowing firsthand how slim chances can seem in a place that feels like nowhere.
For BOO, this isn’t just about making it in music – it’s about proving that something can come from somewhere that feels like nothing. His story resonates because it’s real, raw, and reminds us that sometimes the most powerful voices come from the places we least expect.
Every city has its untold stories, its unsung voices. Lexington, Kentucky, might not be the first place you look for the next big thing in hip-hop, but that’s exactly why you should pay attention. OTE BOO isn’t just trying to put himself on the map – he’s trying to put his whole city on his back.
And for the kids still in those projects, still feeling like they’re nowhere, BOO’s message is clear: your story matters, your voice matters, and sometimes the longest shots make the biggest impact.
The six-year-old who survived those bullets grew into a man with a mission bigger than music. Now it’s time for the world to listen.
