Rap Music Video Honors Rockland Village

For Marquis Julien Nyack is a paradise. Julien, a singer/song writer originally from South Central Los Angeles, pays homage to his new home in his latest video “I Love Nyack.” 

“Life is a gift and its presents lie within the people who live it,” said Jawonio, in an email to Patch. “I encourage others to share their daily gifts because you never know what you will leave with the next person. I have been granted the ability to share my life through music, which allows others to connect with me.”

Julien—who works for special needs service provider Jawonio in New City, formerly the Cerebral Palsy Society of Rockland—left California about five years ago to pursue a musical career in New York. 

After arriving in the Empire State, he was soon introduced to Nyack musician Steev Richter who invited him into the local open mic night scene, which eventually lead to the creation of his latest single. 

Find out why the Rockland village is so special to the upcoming rapper by watching the video above.

Though his new home is very dear to him, Julien longs to reunite with his brother, who has mild autism and still lives in California. 

“God has blessed me with the opportunity to give back to others while keeping the memories of my brother alive daily,” said Julien. “I believe that once I am able to live with him again, the experiences I have gained over the past two years will help me to give him the best life experiences possible.”

Julien also recently extended his musical talents to the Jawonio community by writing a song in honor of his brother and those who face stigmas because of their special needs. 

“I am Abled” was made after a rally over New York State budget cuts and was filmed in Nyack with Jawonio's Nyack Studio Arts program. Click here to watch it.

“What I love most about that is that my intimate experience through music helps me build family every time I perform because my immediate family is what I truly miss in my current life,” said Julien.