KEEP THE FAITH: A MEMOIR - Couverture souple

It's been over ten years since Big was killed. I grieved for him for a very long time. And then, as time passed, the icy wall of grief surrounding my heart began to thaw and I began to heal. I remarried, had more children, and continued to record and release more music. I continued to live my life. And while I can never discount the time I spent with Big, I've never felt the need to live in the past.

But sometimes, I still find myself thinking about Big being rushed the hospital, and I break down in tears.

It's not just because we hung up on each other during what would be our last telephone conversation. And it's not because I am raising our son, a young man who has never known his father.

It's partly all of those things. But mainly it's because he wasn't ready to go. His debut album was called Ready to Die. But in the end, he wasn't. Big never got a chance to tell his story. It's been left to others to tell it for him. In making the decision to tell my own story, it means that I've become one of those who can give insight to who Big really was. But I can only speak on what he meant to me.

Yet I also want people to understand that although he was a large part of my life, my story doesn't actually begin or end with Big's death. My journey has been complicated on many levels. And since I am always linked to Big, there are a lot of misconceptions about who I really am.

I hope that in reading my words, there is inspiration to be found. Perhaps you can duplicate my success or achieve where I have failed. Maybe you can skip over the mistakes I've made. Use my life as an example-of what to do and in some cases, what not to do.

It's not easy putting your life out there for the masses. But I've decided I'll tell my own story. For Big. For my children. And for myself.

Faith Evans is a musical icon in her own right, dropping hit records such as Faith (1995), Keep the Faith (1998), Faithfully (2001), and The First Lady (2005).

Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Faith Evans started her music career as a songwriter for artists like Hi-Five, Mary J. Blige, Pebbles, Al B. Sure, Usher, Tony Thompson, and Christopher Williams. Faith released four albums, all certified gold or platinum. She has also collaborated with many music industry legends, including Whitney Houston, Babyface, and Sting. In addition to a Grammy Award, Faith has received a Soul Train Music Award, two Lady of Soul Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards. Faith also made an appearance in The Fighting Temptations, costarring Beyoncé Knowles and Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr.

Faith lives in California with her husband and four children.