I'm Tired Of Being Hypersurveilled: The Album [iTOBH!]

MY NAME IS HENO.

I’M A FIRST GENERATION ETHIOPIAN/ERITREAN AMERICAN FROM TAKOMA PARK, MD. I’M A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTIST THAT BEGAN MY JOURNEY AS A MEANS TO AVOID THE CHAOS THAT I GREW UP AROUND. IT BECAME MY SAFE HAVEN FROM A WORLD THAT CONSTANTLY PERCEIVES ME AS A THREAT; BY SIMPLY EXISTING IN THIS COUNTRY AS A 6’4” BLACK MAN W/ DREADS.

MY STORY IS UNIQUE BUT ALSO VERY COMMON TO ANYONE WHO SHARES MY INTERNALIZED EXPERIENCE OR STRUGGLES.

AS A VERY INTENTIONAL ARTIST DRIVEN TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS WORK, I’VE PUT A LOT OF MY FRUSTRATIONS EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF HYPERSURVEILLANCE ON THE BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS, PERSONAL STORIES, AND MY LIFE INTO A 14-TRACK ALBUM I CALL “I’M TIRED OF BEING HYPERSURVEILLED”.

[ iTOBH! ] - LISTEN TO “PTSD [demo]” BELOW:

EVERY ASPECT OF THE DIGITAL WORLD IS MONITORED TO SOME DEGREE: PHONE RECORDS, FINANCIAL RECORDS, FACIAL RECOGNITION, ONLINE SEARCHES, ANALYTICS, APPS, ETC.

I FEEL MUCH SAFER OFFLINE AND OFF THE GRID, BUT I’M AN ARTIST. I HAVE A LIFE THAT REQUIRES MAKING DIGITAL CHOICES TO IMPROVE MY REALITY. A REALITY THAT’S UNDER CONSTANT HYPERSURVILLENCE.

I’M TIRED OF HYPERSURVILLENCE.

MY EXPERIENCES WITH AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT MADE ME AWARE OF MY OVERALL STANDING IN SOCIETY. AT FOUR YEARS-OLD I HAD A GUN POINTED AT ME IN MY HOME DURING AN ILLEGAL POLICE BREAK IN. AT SIX YEARS-OLD I WAS RACIALLY PROFILED AND HANDCUFFED BECAUSE A POLICE OFFICER MISTOOK ME FOR A DRUG DEALER IN SCHOOL. AT EIGHT YEARS-OLD I SAW MY BROTHER GET SLAMMED ON TOP OF A POLICE CAR BY AN AGGRESSIVE OFFICER.

I’M TIRED OF POLICE BRUTALITY.

MY LIFE SHOULDN’T PARALLEL MY PARENTS, WHO ESCAPED ETHIOPIA TO AMERICA IN THE EARLY 80S SEARCHING FOR A FREEDOM THAT DOESN’T EXIST FOR US.

WE’VE EXPERIENCED SUPPRESSION, SUFFOCATION, GASLIGHTING AND DISTRESS DUE TO WHITE SUPREMACY. ON AND OFFLINE. WE’RE TIRED OF LIVING IN FEAR KNOWING WE HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

I’M TIRED OF WHITE SUPREMACY.

AMERICA LIED TO MY PARENTS WITH THEIR PROMISE OF AN “AMERICAN DREAM.” THERE’S NO LAND OF THE FREE WHEN YOU AREN’T THE SHADE OF CHALK.

THE INTERNET ISN’T A LAND, THOUGH, IT’S A LANDSCAPE. A DIGITAL WORLD. AND WEB3 IS THE FUTURE.

WEB2 HAS FAILED THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND IT’S ABILITY TO TRULY CAPITALIZE ON OUR CULTURE; THAT IS EXPLOITED IN A PERFORMATIVE FASHION…

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. WE CAN’T LET HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF WITH WEB3.

I WANT MY REPARATIONS IN ETH.

MORE INFORMATION

ALL backers of “I’m Tired Of Being Hypersurveilled” will receive

• $SVRLNC governance tokens
• Credits on the album
• Free access to livestream where Heno. performs the album in it’s entirety
• Discounts on iTOBH! merchandise upon release

Backers who contribute more than 1 ETH will also receive

• Executive Producer credits on the first music video
• One item of merchandise + poster upon album release

Top 3 Backers will receive everything above plus

• A 1/1 NFT
• Exclusive Merchandise Bundle
• Lifetime access to any Heno. shows.

The Highest Backer will receive everything above plus

• A 1/1 Physical representation of the album signed by Heno.
• One Heno. Feature Verse or Original Instrumental