We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Xplicit Life a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Xplicit, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I was fortunate to grow up in a happy family. My parents have four children and are still happily married today after many years.

I am the person I am today because of the values that my parents instilled in me. They raised me to be a good person, to be respectful and to have manners. They provided me with the ability to be a strong individual in this world. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without their love, guidance and support.

My parents made me feel safe and loved, gave me a good example to follow, gave me guidance and encouragement and constant love and understanding. My siblings and I are leaders and achievers. My parents pushed us all to try our best and praised us when we succeeded.

My upbringing and values play a major role in my daily life and my career as an artist. I’ve had many opportunities come my way just by being kind and having a positive attitude towards people and situations. I’m a professional about my business and I take what I do very seriously. People respect that fact about me. I’m a hard working, ambitious and driven individual who let’s nothing stand in the way of what I’m after. Everything that I have now I’ve worked hard for. I pride myself on being a good person and a good friend. I’m considerate, caring, trustworthy, loyal, honest, reliable and respectful. Being who I am has helped me develop relationships with my peers and other creatives in the industry. I’m truly grateful for my parents and my upbringing.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a rapper, singer and songwriter from Phoenix, AZ. I’ve been writing and rapping since I was 12 years old. Music has always been my love. My parents use listen to a variety of music in our household when I was growing up. I was intrigued by the many different styles and genres. I value the fact that music brings people together.

What sets me apart from other artists is my work ethic and my versatility. When I get in the studio I’m ready to get down to business. As an independent artist, time is money and I prefer to utilize my time wisely by being productive. Therefore, I’m always prepared with a check list of things I aim to get done prior to completing my session. My versatility makes each new song I record fresh and exciting to my audience. I like the fact that I can’t be boxed in to just one style. From my writing styles, to subject matter, to delivery, to cadence, I’m just different.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being myself doing what I love. Music is what I’m the most passionate about and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I think of where I started and how far I’ve come since then. It’s a different type of feeling when you turn nothing into something. I’ve worked hard to get to where I am today and I still have things I want to accomplish & goals I plan to reach. Believing in yourself and having faith is extremely important. There were many situations that God helped me through, strengthening my spirit and my faith along the way. Being an artist has taught me so much more about life and I’m grateful for every lesson. I’m proud of my growth during my journey as an artist thus far. I have so much more in store to share with the world coming soon!

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I feel that art is fundamental to our humanity. Engaging in art leads to increased levels of creativity and innovation in individuals. Creativity opens our minds. There are many ways society can best support artists and creatives. You can purchase their products as this will help them put more of their art into the world. Subscribe to their online platforms and follow their social media accounts. This helps you stay in the know of new releases and stay up to date on their latest work. Spread the word by talking to people you know about the artists you love. Share and promote their content on social media as organic reach helps artists grow their online platforms. Supporting artists promotes their creativity. Your support validates their hard work and respects their vulnerability.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/she2xplicit
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xplicitlifemusic100?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@she2xplicit

Image Credits
DeeDee Brooks