Q&A With New Underground Artist Focus
Much respect for reppin Boulder, CO, and holding down the underground music scene out there! You mentioned you are currently only 17yrs old? So how long have be been rapping, also how did you come up with your stage name Focus?
Much love! I actually recently just turned 18. I’ve been rapping since I was 13 years old, 5 years now. I used to go by a different stage name, but wanted a fresh start. I came up with Focus after I met one of my favorite artists, and when I asked him what his best advice for me was, he told me to stay laser focused. Guess I took the advice to heart!
In high school, were you known as the rapper in the school? Are there other up and coming rappers on campus?
Yeah, in high school everybody knew me as the “rapper kid”. Nobody in my high school ever rapped and I was usually surrounded by and listened to rock. But around the area I grew up in there were a few other hip hop artists I worked closely with.
Feel free to breakdown the creative process of your latest single ““EGO”.
For EGO I basically took all my frustrations as an artists and spilled it over one of Urban Nerd’s beats (check him out he’s a great producer). Under my old stage name I was held down by one of those other local rappers, and never had room to move up. So I took everything going on with that, added some frustration from a past relationship, and wrote EGO in a day or two. Recorded it all in one take. My overall goal for the song was to have a killer flow with deep lyrics.
Who are your Hip Hop influences?
Too many to count! Right now my main influence is Russ. But I’m inspired by a good mix of old and new school rap. Abstract, Cam Meekins, Dr. Dre, G-Eazy, Ice Cube, Eazy E, etc.
How many music videos do you guys have under your belt as a solo artist?
None right now but expect that to change in a few months.
In your young Hip Hop career, how many times have you performed live? Also, do you ever want to tour on day?
I think I’ve performed live about 6 or 7 times. I’m about to get a lot more shows as well. I would take any opportunity to go on tour.
Where do you yourself in 5yrs time?
Still making music! To be honest I have no idea where I’ll be in 5 years, but I know I’ll never stop working my ass off to live my dream.
Here it is! Our most popular question! What is your definition of “underground hip hop”?
Non-commercial music. Usually unsigned artists (but could be rappers with a deal) who make music from the heart.
Where can people find you on the web? Drop all the vital links.
You can find everything over at hiimfocus.com.
Lastly, and shout out?
Huge shout out to Zack Markle and the whole team over at KMGLife Inc! Zack is crazy good at mixing, and the whole experience over at KMG has been nothing short of amazing. Shout out to my brother Hazy. Lastly shout out to everybody that’s been with me since I startedn5 years ago, they know who they are.
