Who's ready for another short interview? This time I got the chance to interview new artist BLKRAW. He was born in Oakland, California. He was encouraged to start his career in the music industry by his now deceased brother, Sean C. Fuller. Blkraw was only 17 years old when they had a car accident. He has since dedicated his time and efforts to himself and his brother’s dream to make it in the music industry. Blkraw has opened shows for some of hip-hops big names in the music industry, Nina Ski, E-40 and MMG’s very own Rick Ross just to name a few. Blkraw is energetic and has a very strong work ethic. One of the hardest working artist out of El Centro. One of my favourite songs of his is You Remind Me and below you can listen to Black Hoodie, his single with Big Mayne!  Now we can get to know him a bit better through this interview below!

1. What made you want to follow music? Was it always the #1 thing you wanted to do for a living?
I have always love music. If it wasn't music it was going to be sports . What help me pick music is in 1998 my brother died in a car accident we both were in. This is a passion of both of ours. So with him not being here I feel as though I owe it to him, to continue to chase our dreams and success in this music industry.

2. What song - out of the ones you already released/written - means the most to you? Why?
I would have to say striving artists. I feel this record really connects with my audience. I'm talking about real life situations, and how I want to someday be able to get my mother out of the hood buy her a house, free my cousin Mike that's locked in prison. When I wrote this record as soon as I heard it I already had something in mind for it, so I begin to just brainstorm and I just put pieces of my life together to make this record. Lyrics from the record "mama you are appreciated, the days that I was faded plus you told me, I would make it, I believed so I chase it, the fillings can't replaced it, pops telling me ill be nothing but basic face it, chuck tylors is what I lace shit, hustled on the block so homey that's what I paid with, light bill rent bill - nigga this the same shit, different hoods and poverty you ask me we one bitch" this song represents the struggle all across the board not just in the hood/urban communities, but everywhere someone is experiencing what I'm talking about on this record.

3. Which artists influenced you the most to pursue a music career and to adopt this style of music?
I grew up listening to artists like LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Heavy D, Nelly, Little wayne, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Wutang, Tupac, Biggie, R Kelly, Keith Sweat, Public Announcement and the list goes on. I would have to say LL Cool J influenced me the most. I wouldn't say these artists so much help me with my creativity but in fact they inspired my creativity.

4. Are you planning any collaborations/duets?
I always love to network and do collaborations. I have done a few with artist, Big Mayne, Sims, Chris Ray, and a new record I got called "She's So Ratchet feat. Oakland California's very own Mistah Fab.

5. With whom would you love to work with and why?
There is a few artists I would love to work with, The Dream, not only am i fan but he makes great records produces great records makes hit records, LL Cool J, because I am also a fan and I grew up listening to LL Cool J and he is someone I look up to in this music industry. It would be a great opportunity to work with an artist of his caliber. Erk The Jerk, overall cool dude and in my opinion one of the dopest artists out of the Bay Area. 

6. What has been the defining moment of your musical career so far?
As an independent artist you have to always be willing to work and put in more work and more work so a defining moment for me and my career at this point would be having the opportunity to have my own Pandora Radio Station (pandora.com/blkraw) thats big for a independent artist, Also being on a record with Mistah Fab which is a famous rapper, out of Oakland California. He has been on records with Snoop Dog, Too Short " Life Of Da Party", Ty Dolla Sign "Another Bitch" Tone Trump "Do It Right" just to name a few.

7. What kind of message do you want people to take away from your music?
The message that I want to get across in my music is positive, fun, exciting, uplifting, Real, When writing a record I think of them, not so much as this is going to be dope, cool, etc. but more on the lines of the boy, girl, man or woman listening to this record it touches close to home for them. And in some way it reflects a piece of there life.

8. If you were given the chance to pick one artist to tour with which one would it be and why?
I would have to say the artist August Alsina because he has stuck with his guns makes the music he likes, overall positive message, I feel I can relate with his music, his brother died my brother died. In two different ways but that is something that is related to why we do what we do. Not to mention I'm a big fan of his music.


9. What advice do you have for people who want to make it in this business?
The best advice I can give anyone trying to make it in this industry is stay focus grind hard and stay true to yourself.

10. What artists are you listening to on your iPod?
At this very moment I am not listening to anyone I'm currently working on a new mixtape title #IWAMF Independent With a Major Flow, so I like to keep my mind clear by not listening to artist I like so that my music does not come out sounding like those artist.

11. If you weren't singing, what would you be doing?
If I was not doing music I would be playing football, or coaching football those are my two passions in life.

12. If you could only listen to one artist the rest of your life, who would it be?
I know you ask if I had to listen to one artists for the rest of my life who would it be, I just can't pick one, It would have to be Notorious BIG & 2 Pac

13. Name five things you can’t live without.
In no particular order pepperoni pizza, music, family, money, laughter.

14. What’s your favourite song of 2014 so far?
Lifestyle by Young Thug.