As ‘Slim Shaky,’ mom raps about life with Parkinson’s
Making a rap video was far from any life plan for Joni Lowe, but then again so was being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 10 years ago.
Lowe really stepped far out of her comfort zone to co-star in a rap video,
“Slim Shaky,” that was written, filmed and edited by her son, Sequoia Lowe, 23, for a senior project while he was a student at Western Connecticut State University.
“My dear, sweet son has lots of patience,” the 54year-old mother said, noting Sequoia helped her work on the “attitude” and “tempo” needed to rap.
The title, “Slim Shaky” is a play on words related to the popular character
“Slim Shady” featured in rap star Eminem’s videos. In this version, “shaky” is a reference to one of ParkinKennedy son’s most characteristic symptoms – the tremor.
For Sequoia, part of what was so “compelling,” about making the video with mom was that rapping was so far “out of her comfort zone,” yet she persevered.
“It was cool to see that commitment,” Sequoia said. “She cares a lot about uplifting people and celebrating them for who they are.”
Now nearly two years later, the video is going live, linked to a fundraiser for Parkinson’s research with Team Fox of the Michael J. Fox Foundation. The video/fundraiser can be accessed at slimshaky.com.
The video had input from the entire Lowe family, who live in Brookfield, making it all the sweeter for Sequoia. Dad, Robert, and 22-year-old sister, Daisy, did backup vocals. Daisy also appears in the video on a park bench as a personification of the disease Joni has named Penelope.
“There is a lot of love in our house and it was very special to build something like this together,” Sequoia said.
Parkinson’s is a degenerative nervous system disorder impacting movement. The most common early symptoms are tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with walking. Parkinson’s also involves brain fog, dry mouth from medications and constipation. The progression is different in every patient, and symptoms can come and go.
The first sign for Joni was her left hand shaking, which at first she attributed to a medication she was on because it was listed as a possible side effect. But the symptoms persisted, so she saw a neurologist, then a second, who confirmed the diagnosis.
Joni, who is on four medications and had brain surgery four years ago, said one could have a 10-minute conversation and not know anything was wrong. You can’t tell when symptoms are going to hit, she said.
“The goal is to have the best quality of life,” she said. “In general, I’m good and OK.”
Joni, a dance and fitness studio owner before diagnosis, said her body is more rigid than it used to be, her left leg can be heavy and sometimes she shakes.
“I don’t make big movements,” she said, noting the doctor refers to it as, “The Tim Conway shuffle,” a reference to a Conway character from the Carol Burnett Show. Generally, Joni said, one can live a normal life the first 10-12 years.
“It’s a head game,” she said.
Sequoia said the idea for the video started with dinner table banter. He told mom she should rap and he would make her a star. She rolled her eyes, he said. A few months later, he brought it up again and with a light heart told mom her rapper name would be Slim Shaky.
Then, as he approached graduation, Sequoia Lowe needed a project.
He said he had reached a point in life where he wanted to make positive change and realized he had an opportunity to make a video to share what Parkinson’s is really like. He also saw it as a chance to showcase that his mom isn’t the typical face of Parkinson’s.
“She was my inspiration,” he said.
The catchy video stars Joni and Heather Kennedy, 52, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011 and often produces media under the name Kathleen Kiddo.
To write the lyrics, Sequoia interviewed both women about how they feel about living with Parkinson’s.
“I was very sensitive to reflecting their life experiences,” he said.
and Joni rap phrases that include “When I walk with my friends they have to slow down and wait cuz you know I shuffle with that Parkinsonian gait,” and “Every hour’s like rolling the dice. No clue if my body’s gonna treat me nice.”
In the end of the video, Joni has a poignant conversation with “Penelope,” played by daughter, Daisy, who is sitting on a waterfront bench.
Joni says, “Penelope, is that you? … Why are you here? Why are you doing this to me?”
Penelope mimics her and mom asks: “What are you here to teach me?”
Penelope answers: “I will change your body and your mind, but your spirit is unshakable. Love yourself for everything you can do and make your life as big and intense and wonderful as you can. It’s that simple. It’s not brain surgery.”
Joni loves the last scene where she confronts Penelope.
“It’s really actually touching for me at the end,” she said. “It really touches my heart because my son wrote those words that my daughter delivered. It makes me cry sometimes in a beautiful way.”