For more than a decade, John Watts and Steven “The Disciple” Marshall have been using music to wage a war against gangs, violence and the senseless killing of Chattanooga youth.
I’ve known both for at least that long, and I’ve always been struck by their sincerity and passion for inspiring urban youth. I’ve also noticed a change in their tone and message over the years. Like just about everyone else today, they are frustrated and angry at what they see, and they don’t pull any punches when talking about it.
“We’ve got to get through to these knuckleheads,” Watts said earlier this week. “We’ve got to get these idiots to think.”
Together they have written and recorded a song called “Think Twice Before You Take a Life” that lays it out there.
“Trying to take somebody’s life, you think that’s fun? Let me tell you bra, that stuff is dumb,” The Disciple raps in the song.