Culture & Entertainment
Singer and podcaster Emanny joined xoMan host Kiara Walker for a vulnerable exploration of manhood, love, loss, and growth. Known for his soulful music and unfiltered commentary, Emanny opens up about how being raised in a house full of women, his experiences in the Bronx, and the heartbreaks of life have shaped the man—and father—he is today.
Emanny reflected on growing up with his father and the strong influence of the women in his life after the early loss of his older brother. “The gift and a curse of having three women in a household, no matter what I went through, I could always rely on them to be there. My mother was my greatest protector and also my greatest crutch.” He explained how the streets and male mentors offered a contrasting lesson:
“The street and the other guy figures were kinda like, ‘No, fall. Fall. And I’m not picking you up. Figure it out.’”
Looking back, he admits, “I wish I fell more… there’s certain things that I went through that I really weren’t prepared for at all.” Later, the loss of both parents—his father in 2014 and his mother in 2023—brought unexpected revelations.
“I didn’t see a world where I didn’t have her around… With my mom, she still lingers in ways that, like I feel like mentally I still need just to be okay in certain instances.”
Now, as a father of three sons (15, 11, and 7), he navigates the world without the safety net his mother once provided: “To walk around and really feel like that parentless child… it really gives you an outlook on the world that you don’t even recognize.”
His father’s quiet strength continues to influence him deeply. “The one thing I will say about my dad is that I never saw him talk bad about anyone… Be a man of character. Be the person that if you say you’re going to be this, be this… Be who you say you are.”
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