We were lucky to catch up with Juan Martinez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Juan, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

To be undeniable is the only thing it takes to be successful. When someone or something is undeniable is it without question. There is not hesitation, there is not question. I have been making music since I was 10 years old in Raleigh North Carolina. My personal story that would best illustrate my point is the 10 thousand hours I’ve put in to this. There is no teacher like time. There is no teacher like the past. My favorite thing to do is put my writing from when I was 16 years old to now. I am 22 years old still active. To box me in as a rapper would be counter productive to everything I do and stand for. I am a poet, a speaker, a lyricist. I’m even a better friend.

Juan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I got into music when I was 10 years old. At such a young age you don’t feel good at much. Everyone around me was into sports. I was not blessed with the genetics of Kobe Bryant but I was blessed enough to be gifted with words. So the route I chose was to rap. It was cool. It was empowering. It gave me a sense of identity that I could not find anywhere else. I could outrap anybody and nobody could tell me different. It became addictive. To build worlds with words was a high I didn’t want to come down from. My story isn’t special. I grew up in the hood and came from low income environments. I’ve seen the bad, good & the middle. People where I’m from usually don’t get to be in the rooms that I step in. I’m lucky enough to articulate myself well and be likeable, My story is common but my soul is not, Most are not. I’m just one of the few who got to speak about it, I do music for the ones who can’t. I speak for those who can’t. To think I live to only serve myself is foolish. I’m nobody without somebody, I serve everyone who’s ever contributed to my story and my life. I owe it to something bigger than myself, What truly separates me from the rest is authenticity. In a time where everything is fabricated and exaggerated there is something captivating when I rap. I know I’m telling the truth. The better part is that you know I am too. To be raw and authentic is intangible and you can’t quite put your finger on it. But when you see it you know. You always know. My most proud moment is definitely opening up for bigger artist at the Lincoln theatre. To be blessed enough to touch a stage and speak to people who listen is something I’ll forever be thankful for. I want potential followers to know I am for the culture. I’m for being productive in my field and doing my best to push it forward.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my social media following off of my real life presence. Some advice I’d give to people who need it is to be active in your local scene. You have to start somewhere. Me being outside and in peoples faces has gotten me traction on social media in many ways. From followers to overall engagement. People like someone they can relate to. Not someone they find as a stranger. There is no resonance there.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I have many stories that illustrate resilience but one in particular hits me the most. This takes place 2 years ago and I questioned my life more than anything. Especially my career path. I drove home thinking I wanted nothing to do with music. It felt dark. I didn’t feel like I had any flame in my eyes anymore. It was depressing. I talked to my mom and started crying my eyes out. She told me in her eyes she felt like I already made it. And it didn’t matter what I did as long as my heart was pure everything would work out. I was frustrated on how hopeful she was. Only because I was insecure on my lack of work ethic. Her hope inspired me months later to get back in it. This story was supposed to be about my resilience but as I’m writing I’m slowly realizing it wasn’t mine but it was hers. Her resilience to never give up on her babyboy. I love you mom. More than life itself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/juannyog
• Instagram: Juanny.OG
• Facebook: JuannyOG
• Twitter: JuannyOG
• Youtube: JuannyOG