Dr. Ian Levy is a college professor and hip hop emcee. He has received many awards and accolades in recognition for his work with school therapy and counseling through hip hop. Dr. Levy is someone I look up to and admire but he’s also become one of my closest friends. At the beginning of Ian’s musical journey, we met and collaborated on many projects. Here was a young man full of music and joy. A young man who was obsessed with jazz. A young man whose mother was an opera singer. A young man that knew he wanted to use his gifts to help the world. That young man reminded me so much of myself and I knew that I needed to keep people like him around. A decade later, I consider him a brother. I had the honor of attending his wedding recently and it was a dream come true to see him as happy as he was that day. He has found a supportive, loving, kind, funny, beautiful, patient, and super smart partner in his wife, Joanna. This life is complicated and I couldn’t be happier for them that they have each other through it all. The song “Down” is by Dr. Levy and is a tribute to his new wife and their future together.