"Do you want to live life… or do you want a life?”
That simple question, asked through the ventilation grate of a prison cell, changed everything for Soulful Smallz.
The Long Beach R&B artist recently joined The Jeremiah Show to share a remarkable journey that began with unimaginable loss. After losing both of his parents at the age of six, Soulful found himself searching for belonging in the streets of East Long Beach, eventually entering juvenile hall at 12 and later spending 14 years in prison. Yet it was behind prison walls where his future began to take shape.
Music first entered his life through church, where repeated punishments for getting into trouble unexpectedly forced him onto the choir stage. What began as discipline became discovery, and years later, while incarcerated, he taught himself to sing, write songs, and play guitar using little more than determination and imagination.
One conversation with a fellow inmate became the turning point.
Asked whether he wanted to "live life" or simply "have a life," Soulful realized he first needed to learn how to love himself before he could build the future he wanted. That shift in perspective became the foundation for everything that followed.
After his release, Homeboy Industries provided more than employment—it offered community, mentorship, and a new way of thinking. Today, Soulful is part of Homeboy Media, where he uses both music and storytelling to encourage others searching for a second chance.
His latest singles, "Do the Time" and "NUVO," showcase an artist whose music is rooted in lived experience rather than performance. While his songs draw from hardship, their message is ultimately one of hope, resilience, and personal responsibility.
Looking ahead, Soulful says his greatest ambition is no longer centered on his own success. "It's not about me anymore," he shared. "It's about building the next person."
For an artist who once believed his story had already been written, Soulful Smallz is proving that the most meaningful chapters can begin long after the world expects them to end.
SOULFUL SMALLZ Instagram + Music
Listen to the interview here: THE JEREMIAH SHOW
Photographer’s Credits: CATHRYN FARNSWORTH
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