Brian Keith Dawson II begun making music while a teenager in central Louisiana. At the age of 15 he made his first attempt at making music and recorded a mixtape (2009). While falling in love with 90’s hip hop artists he also wanted to use lyricism to express himself. In addition he gathered inspiration from artists such as Common, Nas, Blu & Exile, The Roots, Kendrick Lamar, and other poetry oriented legends. He would later adopt the stage name Thomi Paine which stands for “To my pain”. Born in Louisiana a state known for its poverty the artist attempts to connect a political message of uprising to his art. Thomi Paine also draws inspiration from reggae,dancehall,afrobeat,soul, blues, and even bluegrass. As an artist he wants to make music which will positively impact the world. His goal is to bring a voice to Louisiana and spread its message across the globe. Although he is from Louisiana his music differs from other acts from the bayou state. Thus, he connects images of Afrocentric ideology, progressive ideas, and a message of unity through his music. He is not the typical rapper.