EBN Artist Next Up: K.O.G
Where are you from?: My name is K.O.G, and I’m an artist out of Flatbush, Brooklyn New York. I’m a part of a group called Forbidden Generation that was also formed in Flatbush.
How long have you been making music?: I started my process toward music at the age of 19 when I decided to take it a little bit more seriously. I’ve been doing this since I was 13 in middle school banging on lunch tables playing around with words freestyling with all my friends. All of this stemmed from when I used to write poems as a way to keep myself level headed and control my temper.
What are some trials and tribulations you go through as an artist?: The biggest roadblock for me as an artist was my own fears and doubts in my own head. Fear of me not being good enough, doubting my talents, and second-guessing the steps I should take in my life. Sometimes you picture your success in your own head and the vision might be so big that it could kinda scare you a little bit, but in your heart, you know you could do it. I just have to break through the barriers of fear, just do it and let my heart speak for me.
Do you feel like you’ve developed your sound?: I put some years into this, so over time I was able to know my strengths and weaknesses in terms of my sound. My goal is to master my sound and when I get it to 100 percent, I will be able to venture out and experiment with different sounds and switch things up a little bit.
Describe your musical style in three words: If I had to describe my music style in three words I would say that I’m original, authentic, and witty. I'm original because I studied those that came before me and laid the foundation for me to follow and then put my own spin on things. I’m authentic because all of my messages come from the mind and heart to translate to my people that take heed to what I’m saying. I’m witty because I take pride in being a specialist with words and how to use them and blend them into sentences so I could go over your head so you have to play it back to catch what I was saying and that’s what I want to be the best at.
If you had to write a novel based on your life what would the name of it be?: If I ever had to write a novel based on my life I would name it “The Power Within You”. The reason why is because before I started to pick up a pen, I had to notice that there is a power within you to change the world with whatever gift you are blessed with. To even know that you have a gift to begin with you got to have self-awareness, that’s what changes your perception of reality to constantly keep things evolving. When all odds are stacked against you, it literally forces you to tap into an inner power within you to change whatever circumstances around you. I feel that it’s not a coincidence, this is done because your higher self knows that you can do it because you have the strength to.
What is a quote that you were told or that you came up with that you will never forget?: The quote that I heard that literally changed my life was “hold on to your soul cause that’s the light that’s going to guide you in times of darkness”. This quote is important to me because it taught me how to dig deep with pure will, power, and strength to keep going even if my mind is telling me I'm tired. I know in my heart that the mission I’m on is bigger than me because I also have to be the light for others and ain't nothing going to stop me from seeing it through and fulfilling my duties here on this earth. I came too far in life to quit and just give up because I don’t know how close I am to victory, so I will keep going till my bones ache.
What are your three biggest accomplishments up to this point?: One of my biggest accomplishments so far was when I made my first music video called Imagine. To some, it might not be much, but it meant a lot to me. When I first saw myself on the screen rapping, it lit a whole different torch in me to keep going. My second accomplishment was my first performance at a club in Queens. I was shaking cause it was my first time being in front of real people and I was performing a song with my team called Heavy Smoke. I didn’t know how people were going to react at first but from start to finish the crowd was rocking with us, so that was a pretty memorable moment for me. My third accomplishment was going to California to network and link up with other artists and content creators to broaden my brand. I actually got to make a music video over there and hit the studio to make some music and enjoy the nice weather while I’m doing it.
Who are the artists that influenced you to make music?: The main artist that influenced me out the gate was Nas because of his ability to give you street knowledge, but uplift you at the same time is amazing. I still listen to his Illmatic album to this day. The song memory lane takes me back to the ’90s, giving you a vivid picture through his words alone which influenced my style a lot. Another artist was Mos Def, he influenced me to be smooth and have a style with how I'm saying my words. Also listening to him for a while made me slick with my wordplay. My favorite song from him in Mathematics. It touches on being aware of what’s going on around you, which is called breaking down the science.
What is some advice you’d give to an independent artist trying to develop their sound?: The best advice I could give to up-and-coming independent artists developing their sound is to keep experimenting with new things until you find your niche and with the right amount of work ethic you’ll get it in no time. Trust in your process, none of this could be done properly if you don't trust and believe in your sound.
Follow K.O.G on Instagram and listen to his songs available on all streaming services!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIHWpF-nRGG/
