How did you get into making music, and how did arts education (or lack thereof) affect you and your music?

I got into making music when I realized that there was an entire movement behind Hip Hop. I found in music a way to express my views and make a difference in my own life and hopefully in others. KRS One and Erykah Badu really inspired me to speak on self worth, conflict resolution, and spiritual expression. I was always a poet and wrote songs occasionally, but recognized I could make a bigger impact by dedicating myself to my art. Since there were so many talented emcees and producers in the Twin Cities at the time, it became obvious that that was where I belonged.

Music class was always my favorite time of the day in public grade school. Music arts was way under funded then, as it is now, and class really consisted of no more than singing in our seats with a few instruments passed around. What I really loved was when our teacher would let us all come up to the front of the class to sing and dance to Bill Withers “Lean on Me.” My best friend and I would sync up our dancing and sing our hearts out. In retrospect it inspired in me a passion for performing. Although art’s education was not abundant, I used to rock out my after school latch key programs. I would choreograph entire performances to my favorite songs and have my friends and I act out scenes while the other kids sat in the auditorium to watch. I took piano class in fifth grade that helped me learn some of the basics and about classical music. I feel like music class and arts education need to be stressed so much more in schools though, because music and art offer people a deeper meaning and motivation in life.

Indigo “Criminal Limerick (Kid Vicious Playin’ Hooky Mix)” (mp3)

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