Almost 10 years ago at 17, Joeri found himself in a horrifying blind spot accident. After being dragged 600m by a truck he lost an arm, an eye and most part of his other hand. Pulling through as a symbol of strength and perserverance, he's managed to have a positive influence over road safety in Belgium. Having hiphop influences and a good support group, he decided to release a single to 'Begin' his musical career.
Today marks the release of his music video, a project of passion with amazing production quality. As a friend, I've decided to share his story and debut with an international audience. Don't worry, as it's rapped in a West-Flemish dialect, even the overwhelming majority of my country doesn't understand a word. Either way, I've translated the lyrics if you're curious.
Joeri Verbeeck - Begin [Translated lyrics]
(Actually they don't know how I... [feel])
I don't know how to Begin
Just words in sentences
But the shit I've been through
You couldn't even make it up
(You couldn't make it up)
I lost a lot by the road, but I'm here to Win
(Let's Go!)
Why are you looking? Am I in a film?
(In a film?)
I'm going to work, while you all just chill?
(Just chill?)
I do more than you, with only one arm!
I'm richer in perserverance, I'm definitely not poor
But still they're staring
Am I wearing your clothes? I only have one eye!
They tell me I gotta chill, I gotta keep calm
Take your time, but they didn't tell me time flies!
(that time flies)
You can't play with me like a nintendo!
No longer stuck in that blind spot
Next page, like a new book
Nothing happens if I do nothing
Thats why when I yell, I yell good
I jump from left to right like kangaroo
Klets in the pets, in the bottle [=fles], in de drets [putting anything before -ets is a yell, meaningless on its own]
And I flex on the mass and I'm not depressed
And I stress for the test in the first lesson
I thought it was my last day
But the world is still not rid of me, yeah!
I was 17, I hadn't seen anything
Almost my last ride, it wasn't that clean
Why did I have the see the street from that close?
(Why did I have the see the street from that close)
Nobody knows how I feel
It's like love isn't meant for me
Every day overwhelmed by it all
I'm a warm person, but let's it cool
(Actually they don't know how I... [feel])