Good day Everyone! This is KorthWest on the Westcoast with an exclusive Field Interview with Bless!
KW: Can you tell us about yourself? How did you get started doing music?
B: Well I am a child & servant of the Most High, a follower of Y’shua, a son, a husband of 10 years, a father of a 5 year old daughter & 3 year old son, an MC, activist, entrepreneur, and a Sojourner.
Growing up, my house always had music blaring through the speakers from Ol’ School Soul music to Salsa to HipHop! As far back as I can remember, I recall creating songs and poems even before I knew how to write. Fast forwarding to Middle & High School, I started free-styling in rap battles, which is how I got the name Bless. Around that same time, I recorded a few records that were featured on compilations and got involved in HipHop for Justice in Raleigh, NC. Then in 2011, I rededicated my life to Christ, decided to not bury my talents and recorded my first full length album, “12.16 The Overflow”.
KW: I can see from your BandCamp that you are a traveler coming from Oceanside, California to Jersey, to NC, and now to Phoenix AZ. Can you tell us about your journey a little?
B: I was born in Oceanside and moved to NJ around the 5th grade when my mom remarried. I spent my teenage years and early adulthood in NC, met my wife in High School and later we started our beautiful family. I’ve got a lot of love for NC! I recently moved my family to the Phoenix area in 2015 to pursue launching an indie record label and ministry that was in the making. Not by happenstance, all of the plans that I had upon moving to Phoenix quickly changed but the Most High in His Sovereignty redirected our paths for HIS glory.
KW: Can you tell us the meaning behind your recent project ‘Sojourner’ and why you picked that title?
B: I’ve never felt attached to any place as “home”. Also as a believer I know this world is governed by authorities and laws that are adverse to YHWH’s laws and to HIS people. I wrote this project to affirm and encourage believers that are “woke,” and my hope is that it would serve as a reminder that our hope is in Messiah!
KW: Who have been some influential artists in CHH to you and who would you recommend to others who want to move from listening to mainstream music to CHH?
B: Braille has been a huge influence, I was listening to Braille while I was still in the world and before I really knew what CHH was. He was on records with dope secular artists and never compromised his message AND kept it true to HipHop. Hands down I would recommend guys like Sevin, Bizzle, Eshon Burgundy and Gemstones. I have shared their music with brothers still in the streets and while there is still a slight stigma with the CHH title the aforementioned emcees go harder than most, mainstream or CHH. You can’t front on them period.
Stayed Tuned for Part II, dropping in a few hours!
