Lil NoiD

Derrick Harris is trying to atone.

For the violent choices he made that put him in prison at age 18. For the eight years he spent locked inside an even more violent world. For the pain his violent actions cause on his parents.

“I put rappin’ on hold and started banging the robbing ... went from eating good everyday to almost starving.”

Last month, Harris became a certified Commercial HVAC/R Technician, via Tennessee Technology Center. He’s working with his dad at Harris Heating and Air Conditioning. He’s got kids to feed, bills to pay, lost time to make up for.

“Put that pistol in my hand to try to solve my problem ... but I made things worse and got convicted of robbing.”

Next month, Harris hopes to release a new mixtape, “A Block Away.” Harris has been rapping as “Lil’ Noid’ (short for Paranoid) for more than a decade. He spent a minute working with Three 6 Mafia. Then he went to jail. He was a menace. Now he’s a messenger.

“I’m not lying it was a time when I didn’t know myself ... And I couldn’t find life cause I was looking for death.”

Every chance he gets, he talks to children and teenagers at churches and schools, on courts and corners. He tells them about the mistakes he made. Listening to the wrong people. Doing the wrong things. Thinking he was invincible, invisible, invincible, irredeemable.

“I have came to a point where I can see myself. I have came to a point where I can be myself.”

Harris works with his cousin, Brian Pierce, who was paralyzed at age 19 when he was shot trying to flee the police. Pierce is 33 now. Harris is 35. The years have given them perspective on their self-inflicted trials and tribulations.

“I took a look at my life and I knew I had to change. I value my life and that’s the reason for the change.”

Reducing youth violence is one of the goals of the Memphis and Shelby County Crime Commission’s Operation: Safe Community. The Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Plan is in its second year. Strategies include youth mentoring by ex-offenders like Harris.
- Commercial Appeal,David Waters

Derrick Harris is trying to atone.

For the violent choices he made that put him in prison at age 18. For the eight years he spent locked inside an even more violent world. For the pain his violent actions cause on his parents.

“I put rappin’ on hold and started banging the robbing ... went from eating good everyday to almost starving.”

Last month, Harris became a certified Commercial HVAC/R Technician, via Tennessee Technology Center. He’s working with his dad at Harris Heating and Air Conditioning. He’s got kids to feed, bills to pay, lost time to make up for.

“Put that pistol in my hand to try to solve my problem ... but I made things worse and got convicted of robbing.”

Next month, Harris hopes to release a new mixtape, “A Block Away.” Harris has been rapping as “Lil’ Noid’ (short for Paranoid) for more than a decade. He spent a minute working with Three 6 Mafia. Then he went to jail. He was a menace. Now he’s a messenger.

“I’m not lying it was a time when I didn’t know myself ... And I couldn’t find life cause I was looking for death.”

Every chance he gets, he talks to children and teenagers at churches and schools, on courts and corners. He tells them about the mistakes he made. Listening to the wrong people. Doing the wrong things. Thinking he was invincible, invisible, invincible, irredeemable.

“I have came to a point where I can see myself. I have came to a point where I can be myself.”

Harris works with his cousin, Brian Pierce, who was paralyzed at age 19 when he was shot trying to flee the police. Pierce is 33 now. Harris is 35. The years have given them perspective on their self-inflicted trials and tribulations.

“I took a look at my life and I knew I had to change. I value my life and that’s the reason for the change.”

Reducing youth violence is one of the goals of the Memphis and Shelby County Crime Commission’s Operation: Safe Community. The Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Plan is in its second year. Strategies include youth mentoring by ex-offenders like Harris.
- Commercial Appeal,David Waters