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Mikhail Stukov: So X!, tell us a little about yourself, where your from? When did you first become interested in music? When did you start rapping?
X!: Well I'm 18 man, I grew up here in Valdosta, Georgia and I've been listening to music for as long as I can remember. I started off honestly solely listening to rock and weird al yankovic but as I grew up I heard Nas, DMX, and Eminem which put me onto rap.I started rapping about 3 years ago, I had been writing poetry and fun raps for years before then though.My close friend Mark Fury and I began a rap collective ivy league and now we are putting a solid foundation under us.
Mikhail Stukov: What prompted you to make a career out of rap? How you incorporated the name X! ?
X!: The passion I'd say, its something beautiful when you can do something all day and not get tired of it ever. That is a true love. I used to think I'd be a ball player but as I got more into making music I lost my passion for all sports. The name X! came up from ofcourse the variable in math.. only seeing as though a variable is not only anything but could very well possibly everything I threw the exclamation onto it just to move it up in importance.
Mikhail Stukov: When it comes to your lyrics, what motivates/inspires you ?
X!: Art , Scary movies , Anime and Life mostly. I love seeing my life as a movie but not like a low budget netflix one but more so an HBO or Showtime series haha.
Mikhail Stukov:What do you look for in beats you’re selecting?
X!: Well seeing as though I solely produced about a year or two before I rapped at all I think mostly the feel and completeness of a beat is what I factor in more than anything.
Mikhail Stukov: Besides music what other hobbies do you have? Please tell me about your typical day
X!: I'm deep into screenwriting and photography although seeing as though I am putting more and more of my time into music there is no other craft I can focus on right now. I honestly sleep till noon most of the time go record and maybe make beats, watch movies then possibly work on photography and pull together pieces for an upcoming clothing line I'm starting called "CreativelyxFrustrated" then I work on my craft until about 3:00 am or so and start again the next day.
Mikhail Stukov: What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
X!: Musically, I'd say being recognized locally by a fan, it was crazy weird but pretty tight considering the fact that when I started people told me I was wasting my time.
Mikhail Stukov: What are your thoughts on how things are going in the music industry right now?
X!: I think right now there is a transition, seeing as though many artists are now blowing up from internet power. The industry is finding a way to combat that and make it beneficial for them as well.
Mikhail Stukov:What are your plans for longevity in this business of music ?
X!: I plan to expand honestly, myself and my team Ivy League. I want to move the business into a new realm of originality and openness to say. Open to newer ideas and newer sounds and newer sub genres.
Mikhail Stukov:What’s one artist you would want to work with and why ?
X!: I'd say at this point it'd have to be Drake, because mostly for my generation he is the "Kanye" or "Jay-Z" of it.
Mikhail Stukov:Thank you very much for your time X!. Anything else you want to add? How can your fans get in contact with you?
X!: Yeah, You'll be seeing my name much more in the next few months
