Hello, my name is Dominic Bonsignore, more commonly known as the rap artist “HARMINI”. I grew up in the projects of Riverview Apartments in Elmira, NY. Both my brother and I were raised by our mom who was a single parent struggling [with Tourettes Syndrome and] on welfare. At age seven I was molested by a local stranger who lived in our complex – the beginning of my personal life spiraling in a downward direction that was soon out of control. At age ten I began using drugs and was addicted and/or using up to 8 drugs for most of…

Hello, my name is Dominic Bonsignore, more commonly known as the rap artist “HARMINI”. I grew up in the projects of Riverview Apartments in Elmira, NY. Both my brother and I were raised by our mom who was a single parent struggling [with Tourettes Syndrome and] on welfare.

At age seven I was molested by a local stranger who lived in our complex – the beginning of my personal life spiraling in a downward direction that was soon out of control. At age ten I began using drugs and was addicted and/or using up to 8 drugs for most of my childhood and teen years. When I was 15, our home was raided by the Elmira PD for drug trafficking; a second raid was conducted by Elmira S.W.A.T. when I was 17. For 12 years I ran the streets with thugs, local gang bangers, rappers, drug dealers, and users. As the downward spiral of my life continued, it led to jail, then to prison. I ended up on probation four times during my teenage years and was hooked to the ankle bracelet for one year. I was placed in Glove house twice, rehab twice, and was also hospitalized more than a dozen times for drug overdose and suicide attempts, having my stomach pumped several times with black charcoal. I was placed in detention homes, drug programs, and respite homes numerous times. My repeated delinquent behaviors as a wayward child built me the reputation of an unreachable heathen without hope for change. All of these activities, including the jail and prison terms, occurred before I was 21 years old.

While approaching the final two months of incarceration, I received word that my mother had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Two weeks before my scheduled release, she lost the fight she’d briefly warred. My brother, Anthony, promised our mom on her death bed as she was approaching that golden hour that he would try his hardest to be patient with me and to take care of me when I got out of incarceration. He met me at the opening gate of the jail facility and that very day took me under his wing, in hopes that he might give me a chance to pick up the broken pieces of my shattered life. Upon release, I had no work experience (except in sales and distribution of illegal substances), no driver’s license, no understanding whatsoever of how to live in the real world and was recognizably ignorant of how to manage the normal responsibilities of everyday life. [My brother relocated us to New Mexico and I returned to the only life I knew.]

In spite of the answer many people didn’t want to hear and accept, they all sat in the front row seats of my life as they witnessed firsthand all of the hardcore drug addictions that had me chained and bound in a dungeon of sorrows for 12 years of my life. Then, after being put in the program after program locks up after lock-up therapy after therapy year after year time and time again and seeing that nothing that was given to help me really had the power to bring me the freedom I so desperately needed. Then all of a sudden in such a short period of time (less than two months) they witnessed these massive addictions just suddenly begin to fall powerless behind me. At that time I began pursuing what was responsible for this transformation… Jesus Christ. I found God (Jesus Christ) in the summer of 2005. My life began to change so fast and so dramatically that people couldn’t keep up with the transformation. And even though many saw it happening right before their very eyes, they did not want to accept or receive my testimony as to who it was that was responsible for what was happening to me. Any answer would do… except Jesus. Tell me anything you want to tell me… but just don’t tell me the Truth, don’t tell me it was Jesus.

I turned toward using my gifts and talents in music to spread this same Gospel that I knew was changing my life for good; I have committed my life and testimony to help produce a godly change in the lives of others. From 2007-2009 I became a member of a bilingual Christian rap group called O.N.C (Of No Consequence), evangelizing all over Texas as well as reaching people of other countries and nations with our music. Currently, I perform as a solo artist and write original music based on the Gospel’s transforming power. The Lord, by His grace alone, has also chosen to use my life in the areas of modeling, acting, co-directing film, and co-producing music as an influential means of reaching troubled youth in nations around the world.

I have been drug-free since the summer of 2005 and have been diligent in pursuing not only the dreams and visions God has set in my heart but also this calling for which I was born. I delight in loving, inspiring, motivating, challenging, and blessing others. I currently live in Dallas, Texas, where I continue to pursue the passion for music that was placed in my heart as a young boy.

And last but not least, I must express one of the most important delightful and meaningful gifts in my life, my son Nakye. I am privileged to be the father of a beautiful nine-year-old boy that never ceases to absolutely steal my heart away and bring unending joy to my life and the music I write.