Photo By Staff Sgt. Kenneth Holston | U.S. Navy Seaman Recruit Brandon Davis poses for a photo on June 21, 2014 in...... read more read more
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FORT MEADE, Md. – Soft yellow light accents his dark brown skin as he steps into the small, soundproof room. His military issued brown-frame glasses, familiarly called birth control glasses, rest on the bridge of his nose as a slight smile emerges, making his face unforgettable. He places a pair of studio headphones over top of a carefully selected, tan fisherman-style hat. Cherry red boots carry him to the center of the room. Expressive style and noticeable swag is a must in this arena, he explains.
Clearing his throat for a final time, he tweaks his microphone slightly standing at a slim 5’9”. The yellow light which only flickers from one side of the room projects a great shadow of him on the wall, making him appear larger than life.
Seaman Recruit Brandon Decarlo Davis, also known as Steve Sentry, has a unique talent that often makes him standout amongst other sailors in the U.S. Navy.
“It all started when I began listening to old school rap that my parents used to play in the car when I was growing up,” said Brandon. “From there, I started writing poetry.”
As Davis became better, he began to realize he could take it a step further by thrusting himself into the hip hop scene.
“Obviously it wasn’t cool to say, ‘Hey do you want to hear me read a poem?’” he said as he let a slight chuckle. “So I started thinking and said, ‘You know what, I’m going to try putting rhymes and measures into this.’”
Music quickly became a staple for Davis, who considered himself somewhat of an awkward adolescent.
“I was a little self-conscious at one point when I was growing up, but music helped me get through that,” explained the Windsor, Connecticut native.
In junior high, Brandon and a few friends engaged in what they called lunchtime rap sessions, which eventually led to attention from girls, he explained.
Davis was tickled. With his sharp wit and poetic lyrics, he found himself at the center of attention, spitting rhymes and capturing hearts.
“I’ve always been a lover boy,” he said with a sleigh smile, “so I’ll always incorporate a soft side into my music. People say, ‘Wow, you can rap, but you’re always rapping about a girl. I just rap about what I’ve lived,’”
Though the idea of being a rap superstar sounded amazing, Davis knew it wasn’t the career path for him. By the time he reached the crossroads that most seniors in high school do, he had already made the decision to join the military.
In September 2013 Davis shipped out, landing at Naval Station Great Lakes, Chicago, for basic training. Though he began a new chapter in his life, his microphone and lyrics weren’t far behind.
As Davis has taken on the challenges many new sailors face, he’s often turned to his music to get him through the tough times.
Now a student at the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Maryland, Brandon has experienced his share of hard times as he studies to become a Navy journalist.
Early mornings stacked with a rigorous physical training program often leads to 14 hour days. Out of those 14 hours a minimum of 8 hours is spent chocking down college level curriculum in the class room, making for a challenging school environment, explained Brandon.
After completing 90 percent of the six month course Brandon was recycled, meaning he failed a portion of the curriculum and was faced with starting the entire course over while watching his peers advance. It was at this time Davis turned to his first love; music, to get him through, he explained.
“Music is a way for me to relive my stress. It’s like I can write out my problems and read over it,” said Davis. “It helps decipher how I’m really feeling and makes me more in touch with myself.”
While his music has served as a great stress reliever, Davis has also found ways to incorporate it into his everyday Navy life by calling cadence while marching to and from school.
Between 60 and 70 sailors fall into formation before making the trek to the school house. Along the way Davis keeps the mass group in step by singing military songs with distinct rhythm. The cadence booms from his gut as the sailors in formation echo the words back to him in harmony.
“There’s nothing like calling cadence while marching,” said Davis. “It’s kind of like performing, you’re leading everything. If I get off step, everyone could get off step.”
“It’s great to see someone who uses their passion in their everyday life,” said Seaman Recruit James Hunt, a fellow student. “Not only does his music serve as a stress reliever for himself but it’s also great for those of us around him who share a similar interest in that type of music. It’s a nice way to break away from our day-to-day grind.”
For now being a sailor comes first for Davis, but music will always be with him, he explained.
As Davis takes the necessary steps to get his Naval career underway, he has continued to make time to professionally record his songs at music studios.
When the studio light is on and the microphone is in his hand Steve Sentry comes to life, slinging lyrics as he projects a shadow that shows a glimpse of his soul.
“Well in that case you is a flower girl, I can fit another person in this shower girl. I’m not debating you need pollination, buzzing like a bee for my honey, why you sour facing?...I guess I’m just tweaking “B” I was sipping recently, dark brown liquor, black suits for the evening time, baby what’s your sign?...”
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.02.2014 22:21 |
| Story ID: | 146801 |
| Location: | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Hometown: | WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT, US |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Sailor finds solace in music, by SSgt Kenneth Holston, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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