We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful MK Zulu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with MK below.

Alright, MK thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Looking back on my life, I’ve always been an artist, even when I did not know it. Music was always a consistent factor in my life, from singing in the church choir to rapping at the lunch table and joining the school band. However, it wasn’t until I heard 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Trying” that I absolutely knew I wanted to be an artist. I started only wanting to be a rapper but eventually recognized my passion for playing the trumpet and singing.

MK, 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?

My name is MK Zulu, and I am a musical artist from Prince George’s County, Maryland. I rap, sing, and play the trumpet. I got my start in the industry as a kid doing my thing independently. I would release music on my MySpace page and perform at open mics, with the school band and local groups. I attended Howard University to major in Music Business. At Howard, I met the founding members of my group, DuPont Brass, and we began to create opportunities for ourselves. We started just busking on the street but quickly gained popularity and have grown from a 5-piece brass ensemble to a 10-piece band that includes brass, a rhythm section, and vocalists. While DuPont was rising, I began making a name for myself as an independent artist. In 2019, I released my first full-length project entitled “The R.a.N.T.S. Experiment”, where I displayed my different musical talents across multiple genres of music. Since then, I’ve released two EPs and collaborated on over 25 projects with different artists worldwide. Recently, I collaborated with composer and pianist Carlos Simon for his album “Requiem for The Enslaved”, which honors the 272 enslaved ancestors owned and sold by Georgetown University. The album was just Grammy nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. What sets me apart is my honesty and love for music. I’m not afraid to speak from the heart in my music because it’s how I cope with my life experiences and evolve into a better human. People resonate with that because we’re all here on earth trying to figure it out. As a student of the game, I’m clearly influenced by all kinds of music, including hip-hop, jazz, gospel, blues, and classical music. My eclectic sound makes me relatable to all different types of listeners.

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

Being an artist takes more resilience than most, especially since art is subjective. I started at the bottom of the barrel when I got to college. Initially, I wasn’t given any cool gig opportunities or special attention. Many teachers didn’t understand what my peers and I were trying to do musically. They meant well, but there’s a disconnect when you’re generations apart. I worked hard to establish myself as a trumpeter, and by senior year, I started to get somewhere. However, I had focused so much on the trumpet that now I had to prove myself as a lyricist. I don’t walk around with a chip on my shoulder because I make music from the heart, which brings me peace. However, the competitive aspect of art also drives me to be better. Balancing both sides of the coin is how I stay resilient.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Humanity is the driving force of my creative journey. Our ability to survive as humans all revolve around the need to eat, express yourself, and connect with others. Music allows me to do all of that. Of course I have aspirations for myself as an artist, but as long as music allows me to eat, express myself, and connect with others, I can live with peace of mind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://unitedmasters.com/a/mkzulumusic
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkzulumusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkzulumusic
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mkzulumusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnZwA6WI2SbpEWw_1nH6Wdw

Image Credits
Tony Lear (1,8) Jada Imani M (2) TLX Media (3) Noir Prism Studios (4) Erica L Blake (5-7)