"HARMINI"
Hello my name is Dominic Bonsignore also known as the Rap Artist "HARMINI". I grew up in the projects of River-view Apartments in Elmira, NY. Both my brother and I were raised by our mom who was a single parent struggling [with Tourettes 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 from that point I found myself using up to 8 drugs at a time for most of my childhood and teen years. When I was 15, our home was raided by the Elmira PD for selling illegal drugs; a second raid was conducted for selling illegal drugs by the Elmira S.W.A.T. again when I was 17. For 12 years I ran the streets with thugs, local gang banger's, 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 over dose 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 term, 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 my release, I had no work experience (except in sales and distribution of illegal substances), no driver’s license, no understanding whatsoever on how to live in the real world and was recognizably ignorant on 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.]
After two years of running the streets with drug users/dealers and living the life a heathen once again, I found God (Jesus Christ) in summer of 2005. My life began to change so fast and so dramatically that people couldn't keep up with the transformation.
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 godly change in the lives of 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 can not end this bio without expressing one of the most important delightful and meaningful gifts in my life, my son Nakye. I am privileged and so blessed to be the father of a beautiful ten-year old son that never ceases to absolutely steal my heart away and bring unending joy to my life and the music I write.
