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

Alright, Aasir thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

As an artist, you have to be unafraid to fail. It’s all about falling forward and learning from what didn’t work to maximize your potential. I recorded my original songs on a phone in my dorm closet, and they weren’t that good, but I wanted the world to hear me, so I persisted. I kept at it and found a community that supported me and my efforts even against naysayers and lack of support otherwise. Be fearless in your pursuits because what you want in life is deeply personal, and there shouldn’t be any person or people who deter you. Artistry is vulnerable and inherently risky, but the reward is immeasurable.

Aasir, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am Aasir Mecca, a 24-year-old creative from Chicago. I started doing poetry as a kid and transitioned to rapping in January 2020. I go by goat because that’s a nickname I got as a baby; it’s indicative of my character and my desire to be greater every day. I’ve always been deeply concerned with issues of social justice and environmental sustainability, which has led me to the forefront of protests and community service initiatives. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Teaching so I can have a direct hand in helping to shape posterity’s course. My ultimate goal is to be a significant change-maker in the world, and by speaking and acting on issues through multiple forums, I believe it will give me access to a greater audience.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, I believe society’s preeminent issues are quelling systemic inequity and creating sustainable solutions to offset climate change. In a pluralist society like the United States, this looks like crafting a new constitution with members from all demographics there to contribute and establish a truly democratic and equitable society. I create to vocalize the need for change and gain support for collective efforts. I have no interest in exorbitant wealth or opulence; instead, I’d like to see a redistribution of wealth and resources to provide a quality living for everyone in America and beyond our borders.

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

As a society, we’ve adopted the mindset that creativity and innovation need commodification and commercialization, which has brought more competition than collaboration. Artists would benefit from community centers and communes that focus on cultivating, elevating, and developing talent and artistic prowess regardless of a person’s notoriety or monetary value added. Art is for everyone; it’s meant to express the fullness of the human experience, not be bottled and mass-produced for the gain of a few but to motivate and inspire us all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/taogoat
• Instagram: virtuogoat
• Linkedin: Aasir Mecca