The light that emanates from Raynard Lucas, 16, and Robert Rose-Thompson, 17, fills the space where they sit, interact and create their music—and it belies the shadows that are rumored to surround Murtland and Hermitage, the streets that flank Westinghouse High School, which they attend.
They share twin spirits and, when talking to them, it is difficult to distinguish the duo as two separate individuals. Now juniors, they met in seventh grade at Westinghouse.
“We both had an interest in Japanese Anime, but Raynard was really good at drawing and had more experience than me,” Rose-Thompson shares. “He showed me my first techniques; at first I was driven to be better than him, but after a while we pushed each other up in art.”
Music was the other common denominator around which they connected. In an unusual move, the Homewood-Brushton YMCA Lighthouse Project invited their participation while still eighth graders—an invitation usually reserved for grades nine and up. This took their creativity to a new level.
Lucas, the vocalist in the group, is an honor student and a skillful graphic artist. However, he claims culinary arts as his favorite class.
“I really love that program,” he says. “First, I’m an artist, and I see food preparation as an art and also as a life skill. There are no guarantees in life. I need to know how to cook in order to take care of myself.”
Rose-Thompson, also a very good student, enjoys an interest in forensic science.
“Forensics has taught me a lot about the importance of observation,” he says. “Life requires strong observation skills. I see that and, if for some reason my music does not work out, I see work in forensic science as an option.”
James Brown, director of the Lighthouse Project, says, “These young men are standouts because, while their peers are so caught up in hip hop and R&B, they have carved out their own unique sound. They are also talented visual artists and in their youth have a serious work ethic. Whenever they have free time, they are working on their craft. We can’t record their songs as fast as they can write them.”
The duo of Rose-Thompson and Lucas is known as “Ink.” They already have a following and an impressive track record of performances. So far, they’ve performed in such places as Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Harambee Black Arts Festival, Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, City of Asylum, Wyndham Hotel and Youth Invasion at the Andy Warhol Museum.
Both are the youngest in their families. Lucas lives in Lincoln with his mother, Ebony Winston, 40, a certified nursing assistant for a local agency.
“It was not easy with Raynard diagnosed with Oppositional Defiance Disorder,” Winston says. “I had to fight seeking the kind of support that would get him back on track. It was difficult but my top priority, and I wasn’t ashamed to accept that if I didn’t get the help I needed to redirect him, my child was going to end up on the news. When I see him now—a musician, an honor student and doing well—I’m so glad I never gave up.”
Rose-Thompson lost his mother two years ago, according to his guardian and sister, Amber Rose, 27.
“Even though we lost our mother and grandmother, they did their job with my brother,” she says. “I’m blessed that he is completely obedient to me, he listens, and shows me a great deal of respect. And I’ve been fortunate that he has his own mind and none of the negative elements have been able to distract him.
“Our mother knew he had a skill and set him up with a mentor and guitar lessons by the time he was only 8 or 9; that vision on her part is now paying off.”
Both boys aspire to continue their education at an art school and have a goal of doing great things with both their music and their art.
Their challenge, as they see it, is making sure they don’t get discouraged by people who want to do what they do, yet don’t make it.
“It is scary to see people who want this (type of career) end up on another path,” Rose-Thompson says. “This concerns me because it is difficult to see others fail at what I want to be. But at the same time it really motivates us to try harder.”
Lucas shares a similar view.
“We are all running the same race to get to the top and so many have fallen having almost gotten there,” he says. “It is so important that we stay focused, overcome obstacles and never stop reaching for our dreams.”
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