with Ekow

Late Winter (February 2012) Edition 

I start laughing and then bust into a freestyle. I’m talking about the crowd, the venue, anything I can see around me I’m taking and putting into rhyme, then I pass it to my group members and they take it to the next level. This is one thing we always practice together but said we wouldn’t do on stage. The energy was intense and the crowd loved it. I’d say my Low point was missed deadlines for my first Project. Letting people down, not knowing what went into it, and just jumping in head first with no plan and making the release date first. However, from that experience I turned that around and started setting goals and realistic expectations that took me away from that.

Isaac: Brief history about your background plus the style of music you play. Ekow: I didn’t really start rapping until about 2006, before just having fun and freestyling recordings and such until one of my roommates got fruity loops and started making beats and sending them to me. That’s when I started writing actual songs, but music was always in me from a young age. We always had music playing in the house, and I always enjoyed writing poetry. The two worlds collided inside of me and joined together.

Isaac: How easy is it to gets gigs for you as an artist/band? What is the live music scene like in your area?

Ekow: Austin is the live music capital of the world, so live music is everywhere, before I ever started performing Id stand next to guys walking with buckets on the street and freestyling. Crowds would gather and it would be a good time. From that, I started going to open mics around town and finally started booking performances.

Isaac: What do you think of the state of Hip-Hop music at the moment? Do you listen to radio much at all? Has the Internet helped music grow or hindered it in your opinion?

Ekow: Hip-Hop has its ups and downs like any genre of music but it’s always so alive. It’s about taking what’s around and available to you and turning it into something truly great. Hip-Hop needs to always stay fresh new and cutting edge because it’s about creativity and energy.

I do listen to the radio all the time, always listening for new sounds influences and inspiration and checking out the current status of what’s going on in that specific arena. I feel the Internet has definitely helped grow music. With the Internet, music is able to spread farther and faster than ever before and artists are able to reach people they’ve never had access to before. People are able to choose who they listen to as opposed to having it forced down their throats.

Isaac: If you could create a fantasy band - what would be the line-up and why?

Ekow: I’d have to say my fantasy band would be The IntelliGents. I’m blessed to have a group of people where we all have a similar mindset, each enjoy a passion for making hip hop music and we’ve all known each other for a very long time. We’re a cohesive group that listens to each other and combined we’re very effective.

Isaac: What CD's do you currently have available and where can they be purchased from?

Ekow: “PolyTrix” is my first project and it’s a 3 part mixtape. The first two parts have already been put out, and the third part will be released very soon. All are available for free download, and once I’ve put out the third part I will combine all three into one big mixtape and post the link on my site http://www.ekowlocation.com

Isaac: Where can fans access your music, videos, blogs, and anything else about you online?

Ekow: The best place is my new website http://www.ekowlocation.com. I just launched it recently and I’m filling it up with all the details now.

Isaac: Message to your fans?

Ekow: Thank you. I’d never be this far without you and I can’t go further without you so I truly thank you for sticking with me while I ironed out the kinks. I still have a long way to go, but I’m here now, ready for the future, so let’s go and get it done together. Stick around its going to be a long ride, but I’ll make sure it’s a fun one.