Papi Da Connect is Using Music to Bridge the Gap Between the Life He Has and the Life He Deserves.

Solomon Hillfleet
5 min readMay 4, 2022
Photo Courtesy of Instagram

Adverse conditions can be a hurdle to success for many people and kindling for others. Papi Da Connect, also known as Capi Cu, has overcome more adversity than people see in a lifetime. His brief time on the streets of Brooklyn, New York, only added to his grief. Over the years, he’s made his fair share of mistakes while gaining clarity on his life’s path. Now, blessed with a chance to make music and change lives, the only thing on his mind is making sure the world dances to his rhythm and rewards him for it.

Born in Brooklyn’s King County Hospital as Rafael Hernandez, Papi’s early life was tumultuous. Family issues led to his mother and his siblings moving down to Georgia when he was still a child. When asked about his childhood, Papi is direct and unwavering.

“My family and I ended up homeless when I was around the age of four. My mother and father were both originally from the Bronx, and after they got into a fight, it left us in the middle of the Bronx in the winter. We eventually moved in with our aunt and her husband to Georgia. He was in the military stationed in Hinesville, Georgia.”

Papi started his schooling experience in Puerto Rico from kindergarten to third grade. From there, he came back to Georgia, spending some…

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Solomon Hillfleet

Avid reader, writer. Man of Alpha. Educator. Coach. Wisdom of Solomon. Follow me @samuelhwright.com