Pray.Focus.Plan.Execute: A Memoir by S1

By Larry “S1” Griffin Jr

Larry D. Griffin Jr, better known as S1 (aka Symbolyc One), is a 2x Grammy award-winner and multi-platinum selling music producer. From humble beginnings in Waco, Griffin has overcome incredible odds to work with some of the most iconic musicians of a generation: Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kanye, Madonna and more! His principles of praying, focusing, planning, and executing has been at the forefront of his work.

Read it, experience it, be inspired, and start achieving your dreams too!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jan 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781543994032

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Larry D. Griffin Jr./Vohndee’s Book Publishing

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

without the express written permission of the publisher

except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America by BookBaby

First Printing, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-54399-402-5

eBook ISBN: 978-1-54399-403-2

Edited by: David (Flameshot), Stefanie Newell, Cara Lockwood

Cover design by: Clinton KNSCRY Williams

For bookings, press and speaking inquiries: [e-mail]

Vohndee’s Book Publishing

Po Box 540665, Grand Prairie, TX 75054

Instagram: @symbolycone

Twitter: @symbolycone

Youtube: Symbolyc One

Hashtag for Socials: #PFPE #PrayFocusPlanExecute

www.symbolycone.com

www.S1kits.com

Dedication

I dedicate this book to the late John B. Griffin (Big Daddy) and the late Dorothy Moriels (Dotty Mama). Miss y’all so much! My bro DJ Whiz T., Rest in Heaven.Also, to my family, friends, and everyone else who has supported, assisted and/or encouraged me along the way. I’m forever grateful. Love you all! And most importantly, to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his everlasting grace, mercy, favor, and protection over my life.

- S1

Acknowledgements

Writing this book was a lot more difficult than I originally thought it would be; from countless days and months of feeling uninspired, to constantly being distracted or pulled away from my creative writing space – even, some days, feeling like I should pull the plug on the whole project.

In the midst of all these, however, there were some amazing people involved that motivated and assisted me in undertaking and fulfilling this book project.

First, to my amazing wife, Theresa Griffin, for encouraging me daily and keeping me on track to complete this book. With so many things going on in our personal and professional worlds, you were always the one to help me refocus my energy back on what you knew was my priority, completing this book. Thanks, and love you Moo!

My writing coach and editor, Stefanie Newell, who changed my whole perspective and approach to writing. Thanks for the gems and nuggets you passed along to make my writing so much better.

To my main editor, David (Flameshot), you are amazing! Thanks for laying your eyes on my composition and applying your amazing literary and editorial skills. My additional editor, Cara, I appreciate your time and editorial skills that you provided.

Candace Manns, thank you for your continued assistance and helping me to document and outline my ideas throughout this process. My PR fam, Sarah Badran and B. Wells, thank you both for helping me to organize and streamline things for this project which made my life so much easier.

Dennis Webb, I appreciate your amazing eye and gift of photography. Clinton KNSCRY Williams, your work is amazing. Thanks for creating an amazing piece of art with my book cover. Special thanks to my dad, Larry Sr. for your wisdom and sharing new perspectives with me on some of my reflective moments.

To my loving parents, family, friends, and everyone who beta-read test chapters and provided me with additional information, insights, critique, and feedback, words can’t express my gratitude to each one of you. I love you all so much.

Table of Contents

About the Author

Introduction

The Lil’ Boy from Waco

Two Rappers and a DJ

Unsigned and Hyped

Militia Made

Unemployed Dreams

Strange Fruit Project

Enter Baduizm

A.o.O.M. Activated

The New Platform

Wifey’s Magic Wand

No Failure, No Fuel

Heaven Sent Che

I Got the POWER!

Yeezy Unexpected

Watching the Thrones Pt. I (Bath, London)

Watching the Thrones Pt. 2 (Sydney, Australia)

Bey Stings

Two Quarters, Two Years Later

The Material Girl

The Empress of Soul Shock

Pray.Focus.Plan.Execute

Symbolyc One S1 - Discography

About the Author

Larry D. Griffin Jr., known worldwide as Symbolyc One (S1), was born and raised in Waco, TX. S1 found his passion for music early in life while listening to his parents’ soulful record collection. This passion led him to play piano during Sunday School at his local church and also learn the alto sax in band throughout his teen years. In high school, he would go on to create a hip-hop group (Symbolyc Elementz) along with his cousin Kevin Gaither, which became the origin of his production.

Always one to learn and get better at his craft, S1 received his Associate Degree in Applied Science in Audio Engineering from McLennan Community College in 1997. There, he would learn the essentials of studio recording, mixing, and music industry business. He would also meet Anthony Stanford, Ramon Vigil, and Roderick Floyd who together would eventually become the collective, Third Eye Militia.

In 1999, S1 would go on to create a hip-hop soul-inspired group named Strange Fruit Project. As emcee and sole executive producer, he would zone in to create a unique sound. Over time, this group would travel the world touring and achieve much underground success. He would continue to develop his production career, competing and winning several producer showcases and working with various up-and-coming independent artists throughout the country. Although he had to sacrifice and endure several disappointments along the way, he continued to work hard and put ALL of his trust in God to guide his life and career.

S1’s dedication would pay off in 2009 when prolific songwriter/artist Rhymefest (Kanye West Jesus Walks, Common feat. John Legend Glory) would introduce his music to Kanye West. This introduction led to S1 co-producing West’s first single Power off his Grammy-Award-winning album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The following year, S1 would team up with Beyoncé to co-produce her multi-platinum selling hit single, Best Thing I Never Had. Then in 2012, he traveled to the South of France with Kanye and Jay-Z to create a song called Murder to Excellence (co-produced by Swizz Beatz) which was featured on the critically-acclaimed Watch the Throne album.

Shortly after, S1 teamed up with Dallas-based singer-songwriter, Sarah Jaffe, to create the collective, The Dividends. Together, the dynamic duo co-produced and co-wrote Eminem’s "Bad Guy" that was on the Grammy-Award-winning album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2.

Today, S1 has established himself as one of the top music producers in the music industry. From working with iconic legends such as Madonna and Gladys Knight, to crafting songs for other great artists such as Drake, Lorde, Talib Kweli, The Game, 50 Cent, Adam Levine, Common, Little Brother, Lecrae, Keyshia Cole, Logic, Lupe Fiasco, Cyhi the Prynce, amongst others, as well as being a core member in Erykah Badu’s electronic band, The Cannabinoids.

S1 has created his brand Pray.Focus.Plan.Execute as a way to describe the steps he takes to achieve any goals that he has set for himself and stay on the path that God has set for him. He has dedicated himself to these principles and knows that if he continues on this path, there is no limit to where God will take him.

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing my first book, Pray.Focus.Plan.Execute: A Memoir by S1. I’m so excited to share with you a collection of personal, life-changing moments that I’ve experienced throughout my life and career. From my early childhood growing up in Waco, TX, to my first attempts at pursuing music. From numerous setbacks and sacrifices that I’ve made, to becoming a 2x Grammy winner working with the likes of Kanye West, Beyoncé, Madonna, Gladys Knight and more. I soon realized that the common denominator present in all my achievements, was the consistent practice of prayer, focus, planning, and execution.

My purpose is to portray, through my story, that all great things come in God’s perfect timing. Success doesn’t come overnight. If it does, be prepared to lose it just as quick as you gained it. We learn more lessons in our losses than we do in our triumphs. Things will happen when they are supposed to. However, nothing comes to fruition if we are not consistently applying the right principles.

Beware, on the journey to fulfilling your dreams, you will face many fears and adversities, become discouraged, and have numerous defeats along the way. No one is exempt from it. However, our present situation does not determine our future. In this book, I focus less on my achievements and more on the challenging process and adversities that I overcame to get there. I hope that each chapter not only informs you about me, but more importantly motivates and inspires you to pursue your dreams. Always remember to Pray, Focus, Plan, and Execute.

Chapter 1

The Lil’ Boy from Waco

Embrace who you are and where you’re from. This is what makes your existence and purpose here on earth unique. - S1

I was born on August 3, 1976 at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Hospital, in the small, idyllic city of Waco, TX. It’s quite impossible to foresee from infancy what this unpredictable journey called life would bring about, and from childhood, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Whether I would fall victim to a single-parent household, an absentee father, or a mother addicted to drugs or practicing prostitution — maybe given away to foster care or initiated into a gang in my teen years. Well, by the grace of God, I can thankfully say that my life did not turn out in any of those ways.

I had a fantastic childhood. No, I didn’t grow up in a rich or wealthy family, and my sister and I weren’t born with a silver spoon in our mouths. I still faced the ordinary and mundane experiences of life, but in hindsight, I always say that I had one of the best childhoods that a child could ever want.

Born into a two-parent household to Charolette and Larry Darnell Griffin Sr., my parents were my guardian angels. I witnessed them sacrifice and dedicate their own lives to give my sister (Schondra) and I, not only life, but also value and substance to it as well. They disciplined us when we did wrong, yet rewarded us when we did good. In the midst of that, the importance of keeping God first in our lives and being polite and respectful to elders was not only taught to us, but exemplified for us as well. Our parents even educated us on how to be thankful for the small things that God had blessed us with, because somewhere, there existed many that were less fortunate than we were.

I witnessed my dad become such a hard worker and observed how he excelled in everything he sought out to do. Whether in his career, financially, spiritually, or even in his personal life, he constantly progressed. He took our family from living in low-income apartments to middle -class suburban housing, just from his sheer desire of wanting to have more and do better. He would continually progress to the highest levels of his job in management because of his drive and determination. Spiritually, I saw him evolve from a man just perfunctorily attending church to personally building a close relationship with God. Not only did I observe him study and teach the word, he lived it by example.

As a husband, he protected and loved my mother in the same way that God loves his children and the church. I was once told that life’s choices determine your destiny and fate. Well, his life decisions were based on his love for all of us and not just himself.

My mom is an amazing woman as well. She took care of our family and made sure our home was in order, all while she worked as a full-time Account Manager. I observed her compassion and how she encouraged my dad daily. She believed in him, and her actions supported that. She also cared for my sister and I like no other. She nurtured us, cooked, cleaned, and in the process, she made sure that we stayed on top of our chores and daily tasks. Back then I hated those duties, however, now I’m so grateful that she instilled those essential values of hard work and responsibility inside of us.

My mom is also a strong-willed and determined woman. During a temporary phase when we only had one vehicle for our family at the time, she walked miles to pick us up from daycare in bad weather, holding me in one arm and my sister’s hand with the other. As a mama’s boy, I’ve always adored my mom and her enduring love for my family and me.

My sister, Schondra, is my oldest and only sibling. We are two years apart in age, and I learned a lot from being her younger brother. She has a huge sense of humor but also a brave spirit, and she was

Reviews for Pray.Focus.Plan.Execute

[Apostle Raw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Incredible read gave a lot of inspiration and insight into the mind of success from a producers perspective