King Azir, an Independent Hip Hop Artist
Peace everyone! I go by the name of King Azir & I am an independent hip-hop music artist from Charles City, VA. Thank you all for tuning in & much love to A.L.I.E.N for featuring me. I am honored to be here.
Q: What is G.E.M.S? Where did the idea come from?
G.E.M.S is a free EP that I released via my YouTube channel. The name itself is an acronym meaning; Grind, Elevate & Manifest Success. I titled it as such because I feel we are all “Gems” in our unique way through our flaws, strengths & experiences. With this project, I give listeners a peek at my experiences, who I am, and what I stand for.
Q: What do you think is the most intriguing part of freestyle rap?
Freestyle rap is dope because you get to see and hear the artist in raw form. Nothing is written or premeditated. You just turn into a medium, & let the lyrics come through you. Many artists may even shock themselves with what they channel during a freestyle. LOL
Q: Do you work best with free-styling or writing everything out? Why?
Writing everything out. I usually freestyle for fun, or just to get my creative juices flowing. I use the freestyle method for brainstorming ideas, & to create a main theme/topic for the song. Then once I have got my ideas flowing, I go to the pen to articulate it even deeper.
Q: Would you ever want to involve yourself in rap battles? Why or why not?
I mean, I love rap battles because of the competitive spirits that all of the artists bring to the table. But I am more so about speaking on the bigger “battles” that we face throughout our lives and speaking narratives to build, instead of destroy a fellow artist. At the end of the day what are we battling for; is it respect? Money? Attention? I know it is all entertainment at the end of the day, but my goal is to IMPACT the listeners, not IMPRESS them. I want to give you art that can help you grow and change your life, and in my opinion battle rap is not the space for that at the moment. Much love to all the battle rappers though. I would just rather fight with you, than against you.
Would you like to be featured?
Q: What is the story or picture you would like to paint with your music?
I am painting my story. The story of someone who did not give up no matter what the outside world projected onto me. It is a picture of growth. I want to show the world that it is okay to outgrow what you have always known, to become who you always were. We need to change to experience change. Deep down we all know what we truly want in life, so I am creating music to help you & I both move closer to that reality.
Q: What do you think is the most important thing when writing new music? Would it be rhyming, storytelling, etc?
Being authentic is first & foremost. You can say the most mind-blowing bars with metaphors, punchlines & everything. But if you are not being honest it is all null & void. I focus on being truthful more than anything.
Q: What words resonate with you most and why?
“Never surrender, tap into the the love inside. Because some people never find it, others never try. Some people wanna live forever, others wanna die. Because they think the grass is greener on the other side. But you gotta water it here first & conquer your fears first. And let the pain go, by healing wounds that still hurt.”
Those are some of the lyrics from the record ‘Grand Rising’ off of the G.E.M.S project. It is powerful to me because it sums up the totality of everyone’s emotions, & what must be done for us to evolve and be more at peace.
Q: What do you look for when you are looking for a new beat? Is there a specific sound or tempo?
Not really. I mostly just let the music communicate. Each sound and tempo has a unique energy that speaks to me. They all stand out in their own way, I just create music that speaks to & pulls out my emotions.
Q: What do you like to write about the most? What makes you want to write about this?
My personal experiences. It is very healing and therapeutic for me. I know there are a lot of people around the world who see what I see, and feel what I feel. That is what makes music so relatable and healing. I love to show people that they are not alone with how they feel, and how they perceive the world around them.
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration, outside the music industry? Who is your biggest inspiration, in the music industry?
Outside of the industry, it is Malcolm X. I have always loved how raw and truthful he was, no matter how people looked at him. He knew his life path was dangerous, but he still moved forward with his messages fearlessly until his death. I’ll forever honor his energy.
Inside of the industry, it is Master P. I love how he did everything independently. He did not rely on anyone for his success. He created his blueprint and built his legacy from the ground up. As an artist, I have to acknowledge & respect that.
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