To my brother, HK Alhaji.

Many years ago, someone asked me what I'd do if someone harmed my brother, so I said the closest person I have to a brother is you. I took a long pause, went into a crazy thought process, then said, "I hope I never find myself in that situation, and I pray that never happens." Then I suddenly felt emotional and heavy-hearted, and then smiled. I smiled for two reasons: 1) I know I can be sinister if I need to be, and 2) I picked the right friend because you'd never get involved in anything that could lead to such, thus forcing my hand and potentially effectively ending both our lives. I said all that to say thank you. Though you seemed more aggressive, I was actually the one more likely to put you in a situation where you might have to act out. Thank you for always being level-headed, thanks for the times you told me to calm down and let things go. Thanks for the times you backed me, and thanks for the times you told me to “Share” LOL. Looks can be deceptive, because I was always ready to fight.

WWHD? I find myself in random situations where I ask myself, “What would Hakeem do?” In life, if you don’t have friends you’d model yourself after in some aspects of life, or in times of doubt, or fall back on them, then you gotta get new friends.

When I hit 30, you hit me up and said we needed to talk. This happens like once every decade LOL. I frankly wasn’t living or enjoying life. I was working, worried about family, always providing, worried about enjoying the fruits of my labour. We met up days after my 30th, and you shared some words of wisdom, telling me I’d become a shell of myself. I used to be fun, but the light had dimmed in my eyes, and you could tell that while I might be present physically, I was almost always not present mentally in the moment. I got home that day and wept, and the next day I configured a brand-new Merc and ordered it. That was the beginning of doing my best to take care of myself. I’m pretty sure I won’t have even done any of that if you hadn’t nudged me.

None of those things I’ve said are about me; they’re just reference points. They’re all about you and your character. We’re not perfect, but we try.

I’m so proud of the man you’ve become from our days of rolling with literally no resources, just trying to figure life out through the ups and downs. Eli is lucky to have you. Maleek, Haleema, and Taofeek are even luckier to have you. They ain’t got shit to worry about.

I pray that all your hearts' desires come to fruition. I pray you keep growing in grace, good health, wealth, peace of mind, and happiness. Hardship will come in life, I pray you keep having the grit to scale through them with ease.

Happy Birthday, HK Alhaji. I love you, bro. If I were to build my own blood brother, I’m not sure I’d have done a better job. Alhamdulillah for the day we met.