Brockton teen songwriter hits the right notes

The Enterprise of Brockton, Mass.
www.enterprisenews.com

Mother really does know best.
Just ask Nyles "Lil' Witness" Houston, who took second place in the Essence magazine and Berklee College of Music "Take Back the Music" hip-hop songwriting contest.
His mother, Shirley Houston, sent Nyle's song, "The Gamble," into the contest with not a word to him — until the call came that the Brockton High School junior had won.
"He said to me, 'I would have entered a different song,'" she said. "There were some other songs he liked better."
Mom, though, was betting that her son's song, "The Gamble," would be a winner and her hunch was on the mark.

"'The Gamble' was talking about people gambling their talents for things that weren't worth losing it over and how they should look at their decisions a lot better," said Nyles, 17.
This is the second time Houston — eldest of Shirley and Leroy Houston's six children — won the "Take Back the Music" award.
In 2006, he also took second place with his song, "Represent."
He will receive a tuition scholarship to the Berklee five-week summer performance program at the college's Boston campus. He will also be performing in Boston on Aug. 2 at Mayor Tom Menino's annual Youth Peace Summit.
The lyricists and songwriters who entered the competition were ages 15 to 19.
They were judged on clever, thought-provoking lyrics, composition an performance.

Houston, who pens hip-hop gospel lyrics, said he hopes his songs get people to think about their lives and faith.
"Life is so much easier if you follow the teachings of the Bible," said Houston, whose parents are ministers.
"The Gamble" can be heard online at this web site: www.essence.com/
essence/takebackthemusic/contest/10finalists_08.html.

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• berklee
• rap
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• hip-hop

[DannyWrigley]

Nice to see a Christian rapper without trite lyrics, keep it up.

[IzzyProductions]

Nyles i would like to connect with you

send me a link where i could hear some of your music

[BronxAuntie]

Nyles, Continue to move FULL STEAM ahead -- LUV what you're doing. Great to see & hear ya. MUCH, MUCH success! love, Auntie (in da boogey down Bronx)

[delovelylady7]

oh snap go Nyles...he used to go to my church!