IAMGAWD, Custom Made - The Eternal Reflection

September 1, 1994. Robert “Yummy” Sandifer, an eleven year old member of the Black Disciples; a Chicago street gang, was murdered execution style. That event sent shock waves through Chicago and the country at large so much so his story made the cover of Time magazine. While incarcerated in Clinton Max, Tupac Shakur did an interview with an enlarged image of Yummy’s face behind him.

Fast forward to 2021 and the conditions of Chicago’s inner city streets aren’t much different than they were in 1994. Some might say they’re even worse. The more things change the more they stay the same. Young prepubescent and adolescent boys and girls die here due to gang violence everyday.

I chose this infamous image of Yummy for the cover because he represents an element of inner city Chicago still prevalent to this day. I didn’t know Yummy but this image is burned into my memory and every time I hear another one of these shorty’s lives have been cut short I see this image in my mind. This project isn’t about Robert Sandifer personally, but instead the conditions of the city where countless numbers of shorties have suffered his same fate.

In the end, this project represents inner city Chicago. The good, the bad and everything in between.

IAMGAWD & Custom Made
In conjunction with Filthē Analects Record Company presents…

The Eternal Reflection

All tracks written & performed by IAMGAWD.
All tracks produced by Custom Made.
Track 2 co-written & performed by
Philmore Greene & Skooda Chose.
Track 4 co-written & performed by Mr. Akryte.
Track 8 performed by Xavier West.
Track 9 co-written & performed by
Oliv Blu & Brittney Carter.

All tracks recorded and mixed by Doc Da Mindbenda
at Grind House Studios Chicago.
Mastered by Serious Beats.
Art contribution/painting by 4Edesigns.
Layout by Custom Made.

Filthē Analects Record Company 2021.