Jul 18, 2008 10:04 pm US/Eastern
Ex-McDonald's Thief Now Finalist In Jingle Contest
Watch Bain Sing His Jingle By Clicking In The Video Viewer
Click Here For The MySpace Contest Page
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Tamien Bain has come full circle, from a criminal to an aspiring music artist. As a teenager, the Miami boy robbed a McDonald's. As an adult, he's entered a contest to rap the chain's newest jingle. CBS4's Jorge Estevez brought the Miami man to the McDonald's for the first time to share how it changed his life.
"Welcome to McDonald's. How may I help you," a familiar voice comes through the drive-thru window.
"This is the first time you are back at this McDonald's," Jorge Estevez asks Tamien Bain. "First time," answers Bain. Today a man faced his demons. "I am back first circle, but with a different mind set," he said.
In 1994, Bain and others robbed the McDonald's across from the North Miami Dade Community College Campus. "I ran right in that door right there," said Bain as he pointed to the front door.
He was 14, but charged as an adult to fifteen years in jail. Out for about a year, Bain discovered a contest.
And this 29 year old who goes by "Bain The Locksmith" hopes to have the keys to win the contest, but first a look back.
"Do you want to go in and get a coke or something," Estevez asked Bain. "Yes," Bain said confidently. Bain went inside the McDonald's for the very first time where he made the biggest mistake of his life.
The two left the fast food chain after ordering a soda. "That felt kind of strange. It felt kind of really different. It is what it is-learn from it," said Bain.
"It gives me goose pimples," said Representative Maria Sachs of Delray Beach. Sachs was Bain's defense lawyer 15 years ago. Now the two are friends. "He didn't have a break as a kid, he didn't have a dad at home he didn't have a break in the courts," said Sachs.
But now Bain hopes to get the break of his life.
He said he told contest officials about his past when he applied for the contest on myspace.com.
Tamien then heard about a contest for someone to create a new jingle promoting the Big Mac sandwich. So, he entered the contest, and his jingle has now made it all the way to the finals of the competition.
Voting remains open until Sunday, July 20. The winner gets a trip to Los Angeles and their song will be the centerpiece of a national McDonald's ad.
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