Rapper to host Easter egg hunt

Sykesville (Map, News) - One of Billy “Lyve” Williams’ songs is about a 20-year-old friend who hung herself during her struggle with heroin addiction.

“I’ve seen nine funerals from heroin,” said Williams, whose MySpace page lists his hometown as “Heroin County, Maryland,” a nod to Carroll’s spike in heroin overdoses during the 1990s.

But the Sykesville resident is not your typical rapper. He doesn’t talk about flashy cars or gun-wielding gangsters.

“I’m not a thug, I’m myself. I’m just Billy,” said Lyve, a 26-year-old gas station attendant and single father to 3-year-old Skyler.

Life is looking brighter to him these days. He is anticipating the release this summer of an album titled “Til God Calls.” And to celebrate his success, he wants to give back to the community by hosting a free Easter egg hunt Saturday.

It’s boredom that lures children to drugs, so the weekend event — with free face-painting, candy and T-shirts — is a healthy alternative, said Jennifer Williams, a Taneytown resident and one of Lyve’s friends.

“We saw there’s a lack of things to do for kids in Carroll County and now that he’s old enough to host events to get everybody active, that’s what he tries to do, keep them off drugs,” said Sue Schemm, Williams’ cousin and manager.

To further those efforts, Lyve is also throwing a party for high school students May 25 at the Carroll County Agriculture Center in Westminster.

“High school kids can’t hang out in parking lots, and their parties are broken up,” he said. “I’m trying to do something that wasn’t there for us.”

If you go

What: Easter egg hunt

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Piney Run Park, Sykesville

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com

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