Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Enaka Beteck. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Enaka , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I first knew music was what I was meant to do when I was in high school, at the time I was a senior in high school. I realized this because I was a great storyteller and I had a very creative imaginative mind. The songs I was making were very unique in terms of the concepts, themes, and stories I put in my music. But my music didn’t resonate with the locals because I stepped outside the boundaries of just making street and gangster music, so many people couldn’t gravitate to my music. Being a kid that grew up in the hood you’re influenced by the street life so a lot of the music we listened too portrayed that type of lifestyle. So as a black kid from the hood it’s like you’re expected to talk about the street life, especially if you were doing music. But for me, music was way more than just rapping about the streets. So, knowing this I felt as though I wouldn’t be successful artist based on the judgement from others about my music, and so I did music in secret and in private for many years without releasing it out to the public. Over the years after high school I ventured unto another path which was getting my college degree and playing sports. Many people thought I would become a professional athlete or have a career in sports due to the fact that I was always involved in sports since high school. I attempted to go pro as a football player but that career path was cut short due to many injuries. So, I fell back on getting my degree in college in Sports & Recreation Management. I used my degree to attain jobs in that field. It wasn’t until 2022 when I decided to get back in music. The reason why was because I had gone through so many hardships and struggles in life, and I dealt with depression, that I reached a point in my life where I had a life awakening vision. In this vision I realized I had been wasting my talent and letting my purpose in life slip away. So, after realizing this I made the conscious decision to pursue my passion and live in my purpose which has always been with music. Now, I’m doing what I was meant to do which is being a music artist with an overall message of spreading morality and self-reflection. Also, I currently work as a Club Manager for the Boys & Girls Club in the same neighborhood that I grew up in. This adds to my purpose because I want to lead the youth to being true themselves and following their passion, letting them know that being different and unique is a good thing. Don’t let your environment and others be the determining factor of what you should be in life.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I got into music based on my storytelling abilities, visionary imaginations, and creative mindset. Noticing I had the ability to rhyme while expressing myself made me get into music. In person, I sense many people don’t understand me so I found through music that I could express myself in a way that I can communicate to people and they could understand who I am. What sets me apart from many other artists is my purpose with music and who I am as an individual. I’ve realized music has given me an outlet to educate and inspire people as my purpose. Music has given me an identity and through my music people can see who I am as an artist, a man, a father, and simply just another human-being experiencing life. My musical style, versatility, and sound are other aspects of me that set me apart from other artists. The one thing I am most proud of is my growth. Despite the many failures and mistakes, I have made, I continuously seek growth and wanting to better myself. I’m constantly looking to make the right decisions for myself and helping those around me that I care about. Though I am not perfect, I strive to have a perfect balance in my life. So, through my music this is something that fans will pick up on.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
What drives me on this musical journey is basically just viewing the world and the people and things in it. I can’t help but to think that the many things going on in the world and in our society gives me a spark in my creativity and gives me meaning. Having a heart to want to help people drives me. Using my life experiences, knowledge, and wisdom through my music is a driving force for me to continue on this journey. My biggest goal is to touch as many people as I can and motivate and inspire them to want better for themselves and follow their passion. In order for the world to be a better place, it first starts with the individual themselves and how they perceive their life and environment. To change the world, we must make changes within ourselves first.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is knowing that your music has touched someone. Knowing that your music has inspired them and motivated them. As I mentioned before to change the world, we must make changes within ourselves.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nocbeteck/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enaka.beteck
- Twitter: @BeteckEnaka
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nocbeteck
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-453975106
