User:Blkwriter

Born in Newark, New Jersey on October 9, 1965 under the name Arnold Bernardo Durant to a single mother and four older siblings. Arnold began his life journey about as normal as any child, but with many interests, especially music thanks to his mother's rather large record collection and his brothers penchant for throwing impromptu house parties when their mother was at work (she worked the grave yard shift). In his early years the Scudder Homes Projects is where his single mother and familiy called home, and in that setting is where Arnold began many on his quests. Furthermore, during the early to late 1970's the project environment was alot different from what it is nowadays, and while living in and around that region is where the young Arnold began experiencing what would be the subject of many of his later writings. In the very beginning poetry or writing in general wasn't his first love, drawing and art actually was. But before all of that in 1979, Arnold was bitten by the "rap" bug in that he began pilfering from his mother's and brother's record collections to make those scratching sounds on a single turntable his next to oldest brother possessed. Even though Greg became angry with him, he soon noticed that Arnold could do some cool stuff on the turntable that he had never heard before. So in 1980, his brothers combined their financial resources to purchase Arnold a pair of Technic turntables that in turn helped in acquiring their little brother the block renoun he came to bask in. And later with his best friend, Le Roy "DJ Chemicals" Green, Arnold began traveling to many of "raps" hotspots, which included black parties and park performances in the Bronx and Harlem that showcased many of todays founding fathers of hip-hop. Not only did he gravitate to the art form as it unfolded, he was also working at becoming an extremely servicable DJ on his own back in Newark, NJ. But thanks to Greg and Rob's investment and Arnold's tenacity, he forged a path of neighborhood fame that aided him when he and his mother eventually left the project environment in 1984 to live in Newark's Weequahic section. And that is where he met DJ Walt/Cee-Boogie (Walter Corprew), MC Will, and dancer "Coke" (Romeo)and started a crew that took that section of Newark by complete storm. They were known as "Tech-4" and they were the best even in the surrounding areas, including Hillside and Elizabeth. Later in 1986 he met Gee Rock where he was instrumental in solidifying a group Gee had formed earlier called Too Dangerous. For the record, it was Walter Corprew who named Arnold "Treacherous D" after noticing how skillful he was on the wheels of steel. Arnold's career in hip-hop was off and running where after a long association with Gee Rock and numerous other MC's and DJ's, that same career stalled out due to a manager who wasn't honest about many of the particulars behind the scenes. As a result Arnold put his hip-hop aspirations aside and wandered about until he could find something of interest. And after a brief incarceration, he emerged from the situation a changed man indeed and a born-again Christian. Soon a five-thousand plus record collection went by the wayside, as well as equipment that he'd had for years that cost in the thousands too was given away. Matched with having a child to feed, and a desire to build a decent life after such an error, Arnold focused his mind and energies on working to provide for his child whom he dedicated himself to. Furthermore, it wasn't until 1999 that he started writing, but when he did it was like opening up a fire hydrant on a hot summer afternoon in the hood. That is when blkwriter was born whereas that moniker became his identifying designation when he wrote his first commentary. Fast forwarding to 2002, Arnold had gotten married to his daughter's mother despite them having a recent reunion after a long seven year split. Well in thinking that he was doing the right thing for he and his child's sake, Arnold married Belinda, but the union lasted only until they relocated to Greenville, North Carolina (her home town). In all the south gave him a lot of writing material, which inspired him to write "Gate-Haven Reunion" and an assortment of other writings that he has ammassed. Today Arnold is a prolific writer having spanned subjects that range from inspirational stories, commentaries to politics and various essays. Nowadays he's back in the Newark area making a living and writing as usual while spending time with his teenaged daughter and being the best father, artist, inspirational speaker, minister, and Christian he could possibly be.