Please tell us how many years have you been making music? Also, how did you come up with your artist name?
I’ve been making music for the last seven years. My name is derived from my religious roots. “Cross King” stands for two in one where God is “Cross” and I am “King”, so my name resembles God and I working together to accomplish the things I feel called to do. Although I don’t make gospel music God plays a huge role in my song writing and production.
A lot of Hip Hop greats are from Houston! How are you being 100% original and different? What is separating you from all the other up and coming MC’s coming out Texas scene.
Yes, there are a lot of greats from Houston. Nevertheless I am still the only me to ever come out of Houston. Only I have my experiences and mentality. As long as you stay 100% you, you will be always 100% original.
How do you describe your sound?
My sound is attractive and versatile. Every song you listen to on my latest album will take you to a different place in your mind and create a scenario for you to live out the song emotionally.
Tell us about your Hip Hop and/or music influences?
Eminem is one of my biggest influences. He’s been one of my favorites ever since I was a kid. His rhyme schemes are iconic! I have several memories listening to Eminem’s songs blaring out of my dad’s car stereo. I lost my father as a child, so these memories are some that I hold very dear to me.
Chance the Rapper is a very influential artist for me as well. Chance stands for great things, and I wholeheartedly believe in his message. He also brought a new spectrum to hip hop music at a time when most things seemed to blend together.
Kendrick Lamar is another of my greatest influences. He goes in so hard on every track, and he always delivers a viable message. His rhyme schemes have the same impact on me as Eminem’s did the first time I heard him. Kendrick always seems to write with a purpose which is something I myself strive to do in my own music.
Please breakdown the creative process of your new album “Cross King The Album”.
I made myself completely emotionally raw in order to write this album. I held nothing back whatsoever. I’ve faced tons of hard times in my life, and I encourage everyone to do something positive with the negativity life has thrown at them. If you reach deep inside and use the talents and abilities God gifted you with, and you use the knowledge and experience God has shown to you, with absolutely nothing withheld, the possibilities are endless!
Your honest opinion, out of all the songs on the project, which is the one song you feel stands out the most!?
In all honesty, it depends on what your favorite style of music is to determine what song will stand out to you the most, because there are songs on this album for all music style listeners. In my own personal opinion, my song titled “Love” stands out the most. I wrote this song to propose to my now wife Crystall Cravin’ from @LoveRadioHouston. This song speaks to her directly, telling her how large of a place she holds in my heart. It’s not very typical to hear rap songs that speak positively about women, and this one goes down in the books as a rap song that tells a women how truly incredible she is.
Rappers nowadays think by throwing up a few videos up on social media and pushing quick projects, they can blow up overnight! Give us your view on how over saturated the market is right now with so many MC’s/Producers but not to many quality music.
My opinion is that if you feel that the music industry is the right place for you in your heart than you should absolutely let nothing stand in your way. The one’s that really want it, who just can’t live unless they are making music, will weed out those that who are just doing it to follow the latest trend or because they think it’s easy. At the end of the day, if you’re diligent, committed, and you make great music then it won’t matter how over saturated the market, because you’ll stand out among the saturation.
If it came down to 1 ALBUM only, what underground Hip Hop album would you consider THE BEST OF ALL TIME!!!???……One 1 album you can choose.
Hands down “Cross King the Album” is the GREATEST underground hip hop album of all time!
Here it is! Our most popular question! What is your definition of “underground hip hop”?
In my opinion underground hip hop is any hip hop music that was created without the backing of a major label.
Where can people find you on the web? Drop all the vital links.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/cross-king/1217016244
www.instagram.com/therealcrossking
https://twitter.com/RealCrossKing
www.facebook.com/CrossKingImcool
www.youtube.com/c/cravinrecordz
soundcloud.com/crossking
Lastly, and shout out?
I’d like to shout out the latest and greatest online radio show Love Radio Houston featuring Crystall Cravin’ and Your’s Truly. Listen now on YouTube at Love Radio and at www.blogtalkradio.com/righteoushustle