‘City
of
Roses’
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Volume XLVII • Number 52
&
www.portlandobserver.com
Wednesday • December 26, 2018
Established in 1970
Committed to Cultural Diversity
photo by D anny p eterson /t he p ortlanD o bserver
Roy Moore, aka 3rd Twin (center), a home-grown rapper from Portland, makes a dramatic comeback after struggling with addiction, depression and traumatic events
related to gang involvement and opioid abuse. With “Honesty,” his latest single, he has touched the lives of many who have gone through similar trials and tribulations.
Also pictured from the Falcon Art Community building on North Albina Avenue are 3rd Twin Producer Na’eem Hall (left), video producer Juston Gaddis and video direc-
tors Jacob and Arnold Pander (right).
Transcended by ‘Honesty’
Homegrown rapper escapes
perils of drugs, gangs
by D anny p eterson
t he p ortlanD o bserver
As an addict and gang member, rapper 3rd Twin was in
dire straits. His brother had died of an overdose, his friend
had been killed inches away from him, and his alcohol
and prescription pill abuse was causing his life to spiral
even more out of control. Though he once had been one
of Portland’s most prolific underground rappers, he had
drifted apart from music for years. He contemplated sui-
cide one day, in his sister’s garage, but instead of putting
barrel to temple, he decided to release a different kind of
projectile, in the form of rapping about the dark place he
found himself in.
“I was still hurting. That song was a cry for help. I was
deep into my addiction and that was a therapeutic thing
that I did on accident,” the rapper, whose off-stage name
is Roy Moore, told the Portland Observer.
He recorded his partially improvised rap in late 2013,
which he dubbed “Honesty,” and Moore’s nephew posted
the video onto Facebook.
One of Moore’s best friends, Na’eem Hall, whom he’d
known since high school, saw the video and began en-
couraging Moore to do more music. Hall was so inspired
by the song that he started a record company, Thorn City
Syndicate, and they began recording together.
From there, the song “Honesty” lead to a professionally
produced version, featuring Grammy-winning producer
Tiger Roberts, a journey back into sobriety, and an award
winning and dream-like music video that is currently
screening at film festivals all over the world.
“That song honesty was the catalyst to me changing my
life,” Moore, 38, said.
Moore was on the fast track to stardom when he first
began his career as a rapper as a pre-teen. But opioid ad-
diction and personal tragedies knocked the Portland-na-
tive off his success track. Now, a 20 year veteran of the
craft, Moore is taking the positivity formed from his new
found sobriety to the streets through youth outreach and
hip-hop.
C ontinueD on p age 4