Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Spike Yee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Spike, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

As a creative, it brings me a lot of joy and fulfillment to be able to do what I do every day. Since I left the restaurant industry in 2020, my quality of life has been much better on the spiritual/emotional side of things. However- financially speaking, there are ups and downs. I do sometimes miss the consistency and dependability of having a “regular” job, along with a regular work schedule. But I have learned to appreciate the highs and lows of being an independent artist and the lifestyle that it entails. It keeps me on my toes, and that’s honestly something that I need.

Spike, 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 an independent Hip Hop artist based in Morgantown, WV. I rap, sing, write songs, and host events as a freelance MC. I recently started hosting events in the last 2 years and have learned the industry/business side of things in the world of hospitality and entertainment. I also work with an event production company called Subtly Loud, and we throw local & regional shows and work in conjunction with a few of our friends to make these events happen.

I think what sets me apart from others is my cultural background, as I work in a space predominantly occupied by non-Asian Americans- especially here in West Virginia. As a child I struggled with many self identity issues (as do a lot of first generation minority children), trying to figure out who I was and what I offered to the world as well as my particular community. I had always felt like a displaced individual due to the color of my skin, until I had the opportunity to do some soul searching in college and after. Once I realized that music & art played a huge role in the quality of my life, and my overall confidence, I started going full force in those fields and progressed very quickly given my ADHD nature and habits of hyperfocusing on specific things. My enthusiasm to be creative always shined through in everything that I did, and I learned that this was the key for me to be able to fully enjoy and experience my existence on this earth. I love making music and serving others, and being a part of a community. In doing such, I have come to a point in my life where I have started to find peace and harmony within myself and the universe. Now the only thing that’s missing is financial stability- which I think is something that all artists strive for. But I fully believe that when you’re doing what makes you happy, that the rest will follow in due time.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is the outlook that many of us have on life. Since we think idealistically more so than logically, our take on reality is very unique and should be cherished. The best part about making music is that not only does it help me express my emotions, but it helps others in connecting with theirs.

Also the creative community is something that I am very happy to be a part of. In my town, it is a pretty close knit group of people who generally work together or find their paths crossing due to the events we have or just through our professional journeys. The creative community often includes a lot of like minded individuals- not in the physical form, but more so on a frequency level. In this day and age, we often find that people gravitate towards similar thinkers because of familiarity and safety- which creates an echo chamber that we get stuck in. The goal of our creative community is to promote free thinking and provide support for each other in all the different areas of artistic productivity. It is something that I am proud of and am very happy to be a part of.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After the pandemic of 2020, I think a lot of creatives came to a similar conclusion about pursuing their passions. Personally, I had lost my job as a restaurant manager and was at a point in life where I didn’t know what my next step would be. During my time off from work, I was able to dive head-in into many different creative fields in addition to music such as acting, script writing, songwriting for others and event hosting. It was this opportunity to explore my passions that led me to the decision that I was going to start working as a full-time creative. In this time I started my own LLC and invested in more studio equipment for my home so I could have a fully functioning work station and could work independently. Since 2021, I have been building with my friends & business partners in developing our businesses while putting on shows and events, which in turned helped perpetuate the liveliness of our creative community. We are just now starting to see some of the fruits of our labor, but also realizing that this is only the beginning for all of us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lnkfi.re/spikeyeezy
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/spikeyeezy
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/spikeyeezy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-mei-58988143/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/spikeyeezy
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/spikeyeezy

Image Credits
Grayson Hall Jesse Schiffbauer Tanner Henson