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How this man with one arm is using tech-based music to bring communities together.

There are so many ways and reasons to make music.

True

Emman "Small Eyez" Twe loves music, but an obstacle has gotten in the way of him playing traditional instruments — he only has one arm.

Twe was born prematurely and never fully developed a left arm. It made a lot of things more difficult for him to accomplish, but that didn't mean his mother stopped pushing him to succeed.

"My mom always told me that you have to work 20 times harder than everybody else," Twe recalls.

[rebelmouse-image 19469826 dam="1" original_size="700x489" caption="Emman Twe. Image via Jarrett Heatherly/Digital Good Times." expand=1]Emman Twe. Image via Jarrett Heatherly/Digital Good Times.

He often turned to the music world to escape his frustrations and connect with his inner spirit, but he felt he couldn't contribute as much as he'd like to because of his disability.

That all changed when he discovered how technology made music totally accessible to him.

Twe playing a keyboard. Photo via State Farm.

Thanks to software advancements, Twe found he could do almost anything he wanted to in the music world. At the age of 14, he put his writing and freestyling skills to work and made his first eight-track CD demo. At age 22, he founded the label Mind Musik Records and was performing with artists like Talib Kweli and Dead Prez.

"When I was making music, that’s when I became me," Twe says.

Today, he's taking all his music tech know-how and sharing it with other underserved people via his podcast, "Digital Good Times."

He started the show with friends Jack Preston and Tristan Khavari, who also believe in the importance of bringing the power of music technology to disadvantaged communities.

Preston on the podcast. Photo via State Farm.

"We know the sacrifices that others made for us to have the opportunities that we have, so it only seems fair that we extend those resources to those who may not have that same opportunity," Preston explains.

But it's not just about empowering others through technology and music on-air. Digital Good Times brings communities together IRL too.

They host regular music-centric events that they hope are bridging the gap between communities while inspiring people using cutting-edge technology.

Fans at a Digital Good Times event. Photo via State Farm.

These events usually highlight major players in the music and tech industries that have something new and exciting to share.

"[They're] real-life examples of what it means to be the real deal," Twe says.

Through tech, community, and collaboration, Twe is helping to show struggling creatives there is a world of opportunity waiting for them.

Of course his dad, who was a professor by day and a staple of community support at night, is brimming with pride.

Twe's dad. Photo via State Farm.

"If I can live up to half of [what he's done], then I’ll feel complete," Twe says.

Check out Twe's whole story here:

He was born premature with one arm, but he didn't let that stop him from making incredible music ... and helping others. #GoodNeighborDay
Posted by Upworthy on Thursday, September 28, 2017

5 things to miss about Prince now that he's gone.

'Dearly beloved / We are gathered here today / 2 get through this thing called life.'

Fans around the globe mourned as TMZ and The Associated Press reported the tragic news of Prince's death at his home in Minnesota.

The superstar musician, performer, and songwriter was 57.

Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images for Lotusflow3r.com.

His talent was potent. His mere presence could take your breath away.

Remember when he made a surprise appearance at the Golden Globes in 2015 and hundreds of celebrities lost their minds? Even fellow famous people knew he was in a league of his own.

GIF via "The Golden Globes."

Prince was the very definition of inventive: constantly redefining himself and his work while remaining soulful, cool, and full of life. To put it simply, he will be missed terribly.

Here are five ways Prince left an impression on the music industry and the world.

1. He wrote songs and performed with some of the biggest names in music, many of them women.

Prince is best known for his storied career as a musician and performer, but his songwriting prowess is the stuff of legends. He wrote and performed with many of the top artists in the industry, even occasionally working under a pseudonym.

Many of his most famous songs were written with or for women artists including Stevie Nicks ("Stand Back"), Sheila E. ("The Glamorous Life"), The Bangles ("Manic Monday"), and Chaka Khan ("I Feel For You").

Prince and Mary J. Blige perform onstage in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel.

2. Prince was an unapologetic Minnesotan, through and through.

Born in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Prince was always proud of his roots. He recorded many of his early hits at a warehouse in Eden Prairie, and Minneapolis essentially played a supporting role in his hit film, "Purple Rain." Paisley Park, his home and studio, is a well-known site in Chanhassen.

He loved Minnesota, and Minnesota loved him back.

3. Even when it would've been easier to play the game, Prince was always true to himself.

In the wake of people questioning his gender identity, race and sexual orientation, Prince's lyrics and style remained confident. Take the lyrics from the title track off his 1981 album "Controversy":

"I can’t understand all the things people say.
Am I black or white?
Am I straight or gay?
Do I believe in god, do I believe in me?
I can't understand human curiosity."

His aesthetic was provocative and innovative, cutting across gender lines and any sort of expectations for what a male pop superstar should look and sound like. Prince did things his own way, and the music, his performances, and the industry were better for it.

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

4. He inspired a generation of artists and fans.

At the news of his passing, the outpouring of love and sadness was immediate. Tributes not just from musicians, but actors, writers, and creatives across disciplines is proof of his wide-ranging talent and appeal.

5. And the music. Oh man, the music.

He was a force of nature, and his music was nothing short of amazing.

Remember his Super Bowl halftime performance in the rain? THE PURPLE RAIN? It was truly masterful.

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images.

Prince made the world a little brighter.

While many mourn a legend gone too soon, let's remember the positivity and goodness he shared with the world through a lifetime of work and action and never forget what he gave us: music, style, creativity, and confidence.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images.