I was born in the U.S but my father was born overseas in Nigeria, my mother was born in the U.S. and is an American citizen. I got the name Chin in middle school because my first name Chinedu was too hard for some to pronounce.

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1.) What elements and/or characteristics made you say to yourself that you wanted to do music for a living? Who are your influences/heroes/role models?

I have always had an interest for music ever since middle school. I remember making up remixes to popular songs and performing them to my friends on the back of the school buses or at the lunch tables during break. When I was a freshman or junior in high school I got the opportunity to meet Kurupt and Daz from Tha Dogg Pound. They were in town for a show and was staying at a childhood friends’ brother-n-law’s house. I got the chance to smoke and vibe with them for a second but just within those few minutes I was able see to that being a musician was about being yourself and getting out there and sharing your talents and passions.

As far as influences I have to go with Jay-Z and 50 Cent for building an empire and showing young artists that music is just the beginning and if you stay focused, anything is possible. My hero has always been God and no matter what I do, right or wrong, I have learned forgiveness through his grace.

2.) If you could compare yourself to an already established artist, who would that be and why? If you don’t like to compare yourself, then music-wise, what separates you from other musicians?

It’s hard for me to compare myself to one artist alone for I feel my style has a wide range of elements from all types of artist. I feel my sound generally levitate towards West Coast with a lil bit of Down South and Toronto vibes.

3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on the kind of songs you write? What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming a musician?

I try to keep my music positive because I feel like music should make you happy. Even if I’m doing something horrible, a major loss or something I would write a song about why that experience made me strong or how I planned to bounce back. An example would be during a break-up I would write a song about how we met, not how it ended.

4.) How do you prepare yourself to write certain songs? What is your song-writing and recording process?

I gotta listen and vibe to the beat. I feel when the beat is right it will talk to you, like the words should flow like water. If you are getting writer’s block, that beat is not for you. No matter how nice or hard the beat might sound I never force a song. If I can’t write a hook or chorus within the first 5-10 minutes of hearing the beat, it’s not for me.

5.) Unfortunately the music industry is full of talented individuals who just don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or hard work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed? Would you rather be on a major label or would you rather stay independent? Why or why not? In regards to the music industry itself, do you think that the traditional music industry model as we know it is dead?

Unfortunately music can only carry you for so long. I would prefer to get into acting once my face is known a bit and show people that I have other talents to share. I like to draw and design clothes, so a merchant store with a few gems for fans.

6.) Are you able to make a living with your music? If so, how were you able to attain a career doing what you love? If not, what do you do in order to fund your music career? What advice would give to someone who’s interested in pursuing a career in music?

I recently moved to Atlanta, GA like maybe 5 – 7 years ago, so being in the right city plays a big part. I have worked mostly in the customer service or the warehouse field. My advice to others is you have to make money to spend money. View this music thing as an investment. The more you are putting in, the more you get out. Don’t sit around waiting for a handout, your footwork will make people believe in you.

7.) How do you think the internet and social media affected the music industry and how musicians are able to market themselves? Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s music industry if they’re not social media savvy?

That’s an easy question and the answer is no. Social media is like the new news or an information outlet. You can find out more about something on social media before the news. Today I feel some artist are more famous for their antics on social media then their music.

8.) Artists who try to make music for the general public and make more money are usually seen as “sell-outs.” Do you see it that way and if so, what do you plan to do to make sure your music stays true to your brand and make a good living at the same time without having to “sell out”?

I honestly feel “selling out” is when you have to change yourself to stay relevant or trending. My plan is to grow and learn how to add new elements to my music and way of life. This way my change will be seen as growth versus “selling out.” An example would be making music but also taking on acting at the same time. I call that “chasing a bag.”

9.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I see myself using my music to get my face known and maybe taking on a few small acting roles.