By Jay Whipple,
Trend Magazine Online™
With A Purpose!
Re-published from a previous edition
Trend Magazine Online™
With A Purpose!
Re-published from a previous edition
I was on the scene when the now historic Rapper's Delight - by the Sugar Hill Gang - first
played on urban radio in 1979. Although it was not
the first single that featured the spoken word in place of singing,
it was the first to introduce the masses to what today is a
multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. That hit was followed up
by The Message by Grand Master Flash and the
Furious Five in 1982 and countless more
mega hits since then although critics (Black and white) predicted
rap's demise decades ago. I must admit that I too doubted that this
new genre, now known as Hip Hop, would survive the
test of time. If I can point to one rap artist that convinced me
that rap was here to stay, it would be the late Lesane
Parish Crooks b.k.a. Tupac
Shakur (1971 - 1996).
This brother, in my opinion, was way ahead of his time in that he
used his talents to galvanize the segment of the
Black community known today as
Thugs. His genius was incorporating slick catchy
beats and catch phrases with words of wisdom and knowledge that
moved the mind, body, and soul; much like the late Marvin
Pence Gay, Jr. b.k.a. Marvin Gaye (1939
- 1984). I was indeed ecstatic to learn that our featured rap
artist is also a Tupac (2Pac) fan and does realize
the innate power of the spoken word intertwined with a slick catchy
beat and phrasing. Back during Slavery times,
drums were used to communicate encoded messages from plantation to
plantation until the masters found out and did away with them. Here
is what King Royalty of Charlotte
(The Queen City) had to say about him and what he does to keep it
real:
Jay -- I see that you were born and raised in the Queen City
(Charlotte, NC), what side of town did you grow up?
King - I grew up on the Eastside of Charlotte, NC.
Jay - What high school did you attend?
King --- I went to a small private school called Evelyn Mack Academy.
Jay - Did you rap in High School? If yes, formally (on stage) or informally (on the block)?
King - In high school I would sometimes rap with friends in the parking lot just for fun. But I had a love for writing stories so I spent a lot of my time writing poetry back then.
Jay - At what age did you know that rapping would be in your future?
King - I was about 18 years old.
King - I grew up on the Eastside of Charlotte, NC.
Jay - What high school did you attend?
King --- I went to a small private school called Evelyn Mack Academy.
Jay - Did you rap in High School? If yes, formally (on stage) or informally (on the block)?
King - In high school I would sometimes rap with friends in the parking lot just for fun. But I had a love for writing stories so I spent a lot of my time writing poetry back then.
Jay - At what age did you know that rapping would be in your future?
King - I was about 18 years old.
Jay - Did your friends and/or family encourage or discourage you
from rapping?
King - My family always supported my music career and many of my friends thought it was cool. I had a couple of people who didn't understand it and didn't believe me because I was always seen as the shy quiet kid. They couldn't help but respect it once they realize how serious and dedicated I was to my music.
Jay - I see that Tupac was one of your early influencers, why, and what is your favorite rap by him?
King - I loved Tupac because he wasn't just a rapper. To me he was a leader and a poet who stood for something. He wanted to motivate and bring life back into his people. He just happens to rap and became a legend in hip-hop doing it. My favorite rap from him was his verse on "Same Song" with Digital Underground. I was a fan ever since I heard that record. I would also say "Brenda`s Got a Baby" & "Smile" with Scarface are my two favorite songs.
Jay - Do you think
that it is okay to drop the "N" and "B" words during your rap? If
yes; why? If no; why?
King - Umm.., I don't do it often because I don't like to say the "N" or "B" word in my music but sometimes I would say them depending on what I'm talking about and the point or message I'm trying to get across. Also I use them as an expression to bring the audience into what I'm feeling at that moment. But if you listen to my music you will hardly ever hear me use the "B" word in my music because it can be offending to my female fans/listeners. But the truth is there are some "B" words out here and sometimes I will touch a subject that speaks about those kinds of situations.
Jay - I consider the best rappers poets, do you consider yourself a poet? If yes; why?
King - Yes I do consider myself a poet because that is what introduced me into the hip-hop world. I remember I use to have my closet full of notebooks with poems and stories I've written. My mom use to yell at me because I would always use up all my school notebook paper and leave half written poems all over the place.
Jay – Is there one particular place that you physically go to produce your best rap? If yes; where and why?
King – I don’t have a certain place I go because music is so random to me. Sometimes I can be walking down the street or anything and I will get an idea for a song or I’ll put together an entire hook (Course) of a song in my head. Those are the songs that my fans love and I think that’s because it comes straight from how I feel and life experiences.
Jay – Do you keep in touch with Man and Tron from Footboyz?
King – Yes I do, Man is like my brother we speak on a daily basis and I was actually with Tron to celebrate his birthday recently. So we still have love for each other regardless of music.
King - My family always supported my music career and many of my friends thought it was cool. I had a couple of people who didn't understand it and didn't believe me because I was always seen as the shy quiet kid. They couldn't help but respect it once they realize how serious and dedicated I was to my music.
Jay - I see that Tupac was one of your early influencers, why, and what is your favorite rap by him?
King - I loved Tupac because he wasn't just a rapper. To me he was a leader and a poet who stood for something. He wanted to motivate and bring life back into his people. He just happens to rap and became a legend in hip-hop doing it. My favorite rap from him was his verse on "Same Song" with Digital Underground. I was a fan ever since I heard that record. I would also say "Brenda`s Got a Baby" & "Smile" with Scarface are my two favorite songs.
Jay - Do you think
that it is okay to drop the "N" and "B" words during your rap? If
yes; why? If no; why?King - Umm.., I don't do it often because I don't like to say the "N" or "B" word in my music but sometimes I would say them depending on what I'm talking about and the point or message I'm trying to get across. Also I use them as an expression to bring the audience into what I'm feeling at that moment. But if you listen to my music you will hardly ever hear me use the "B" word in my music because it can be offending to my female fans/listeners. But the truth is there are some "B" words out here and sometimes I will touch a subject that speaks about those kinds of situations.
Jay - I consider the best rappers poets, do you consider yourself a poet? If yes; why?
King - Yes I do consider myself a poet because that is what introduced me into the hip-hop world. I remember I use to have my closet full of notebooks with poems and stories I've written. My mom use to yell at me because I would always use up all my school notebook paper and leave half written poems all over the place.
Jay – Is there one particular place that you physically go to produce your best rap? If yes; where and why?
King – I don’t have a certain place I go because music is so random to me. Sometimes I can be walking down the street or anything and I will get an idea for a song or I’ll put together an entire hook (Course) of a song in my head. Those are the songs that my fans love and I think that’s because it comes straight from how I feel and life experiences.
Jay – Do you keep in touch with Man and Tron from Footboyz?
King – Yes I do, Man is like my brother we speak on a daily basis and I was actually with Tron to celebrate his birthday recently. So we still have love for each other regardless of music.
