Newark Musician Rebounds From Rocky Past, Writes Kids Book

NEWARK, NJ — Ultimately, the story of musician and actor Jameel Laboo is a lesson about being genuine and staying hopeful, even when you hit bottom.

Especially when you hit bottom, he says.

The Newark native knows what it’s like to face tough odds. While trying to launch his music career in the Brick City, Laboo’s “street life” activities got him in trouble, eventually landing him in prison.

But according to Laboo, he stayed positive and tried to live his life according to a simple motto: “Just because I came from the bottom doesn’t mean I have to stay there.”

When his first child was born, Laboo finally got the motivation he needed to break the cycle that also set back his father, who was “in and out of prison” himself while Laboo was growing up. Taking up the stage name of CHAOS – “Creating Happiness After One Suffers” – he set out to change the negatives in his world into positives.

As part of his quest to make the world a better place, Laboo recently added another title to his artistic resume: children’s book author.

In his book, “Signs,” which is available on Amazon, Laboo sets out to help kids who are suffering anxiety and depression, telling them his own story to gain their trust.

Here’s how he describes the book:

“A heartbreaking story of an 11-year-old girl, written from a father's point of view. A girl who longs for acceptance from her peers. While battling whether to maintain her morals or let them go to fit in. She's a true mirror of what today's kids are dealing with in silence. A crowd of mixed emotions that they feel they're experiencing alone. That often leads them to thoughts of self-harm or regretfully suicide.”

For Laboo, his book is just one of many steps he plans to take as he continues to turn his life around.

“My biggest fear is dying and no one benefitted from my living,” he said.

• See related article: 60 Former Prison Inmates In NJ Get New Careers, Fresh Starts
• See related article: Newark Library Will Offer Ex-Prison Inmates A Helping Hand

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