Behind The Music: I. K. P.

Over the weekend I had a chance to catch up with artist I.K.P. An individual of uninhibited creativity and artistic diversity, it was time to get to know the person behind the music.

Lock in as I take us up close and personal, behind the music with I. K. P.

DiamondKesawn: What current projects are you working on? Or, what projects have you just released?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): I have my 3^rd album in digital music stores now called In Positivity We Trust. My music video for the singles “Breakin’ Free Pt. 2” and “You Know The Drill” are out now on the IKP Vevo page www.youtube.com/IKPVEVO. The next single is called “KlapTrapperz (Self-Made)” and that video will come out in August, along with my mixtape called Make Peezy Great Again. That mixtape will feature some new brand new music. With The AlliYance, we just released our first mixtape called The Prequel, exclusively on our website www.thealliyance.com for free download. It includes our singles “Seltzer Water” and “On Our Way Up”. It includes some brand new material from us as well as some fan favorites.  After that mixtape, The AlliYance will drop the official EP called Introducing… The AlliYanceon July 29^th, 2016. That EP includes our previous single from March, “Sugar Water, Pt. 1: Phone Tap” plus our next single called “Cake” which we’ve performed a few times and has enjoyed great reception from our fans.

DiamondKesawn: What inspired you to be in the Entertainment Industry?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): I’ve always wanted to rap and make music since I was younger. As my skills developed and I started discovering my identity, I ultimately made the choice that I would be as honest as possible in my music and let that intuition guide me as far where I would end up. When I became honest with myself as far as my truth is concerned, sexual orientation and all, I realized maybe it wouldn’t be so easy to make it in entertainment, but the thing that keeps me going is that there’s a lot of people like me, that look like me, and feel alienated or ignored like me that I know will identify with what I have to say, especially if they are looking for a way to say what they really feel but can’t find the words or the courage to do so, or even those that will join me on the path being unafraid to speak their minds.  I think one way or another, staying on my path is going to get someone’s attention and they’ll see that I can have an impact.

DiamondKesawn: What was your first taste of Industry Life?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): I don’t know if I’ve had a taste of industry life yet. I’m still building, building my team, getting resources and just continuing to have fun putting out good music that speaks to my audience. Maybe the closest thing to industry life is doing music videos. I’ve done them on my own and I’ve done it with the help of full production teams.  The experiences range from stress-inducing to best fun I’ve ever had.

DiamondKesawn: What is your favorite color?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): Blue

DiamondKesawn: Who are some of your inspirations?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Nas, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Eminem, Bayard Rustin

DiamondKesawn: How do you reconcile your passion for the LGBTQ cause without it overshadowing you as an artist?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): That’s a good question! I’m unafraid to show my pride but I’m also real about mine, because when it comes down to it, it’s the music that will outlast all of the issues with identity. I’ve always been a fan of music that speaks to me on more than a superficial level. It’s not always about the party, or making a song for the radio. I look for a story. I look for purpose. I put more emphasis on that in my music than I do about the LGBTQ causes specifically, but of course, those causes are woven into my narrative because I don’t neglect that part of myself. But, that’s one a singular part of me.  It’s not all. The complete picture doesn’t end there. I’m a Black man. I have Caribbean and Hispanic roots. I served in the military. I’m HIV Positive. There’s a story with all those things and my true self exists at the intersection of it all plus more and I’m ashamed of NONE of it. I give you a little bit of everything. I can walk and chew gum at the same time.

DiamondKesawn: If you could collab with one person for the ultimate project, who would it be and why?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): Missy Elliott.  I might be the male offspring of her that was bastardized before she realized it. I channel her in decisions I make about how I’m coming across to people. It’s not obsessive; she has just affected me that much from when I was younger getting into music. I mean really and truly, she made me have a sense of pride in who I am, how different my tastes are and where I was raised. She carved her path against so many odds and now she’s very celebrated. There’s a whole generation of people that look up to her that identify with her and I think that a collaboration with her would not only be golden, but I know I would learn so much from her.

DiamondKesawn: What was your reaction to the Orlando massacre? What’s your perspective on the aftermath?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): I used to live in the Orlando area and I was more shocked than anything. I know the club and have been there a couple times while I lived in Florida. The way that club is set up, there’s only one entrance so I could just imagine the terror, the fear and feeling trapped. I couldn’t believe it. I don’t think Orlando will be the same town it was before that incident and I feel for the victim’s families whose lives are forever changed as a result. I had friends that maybe had just left the club moments before it happened and I also have a friend who knew someone that was a victim. When I realized all that, my shock turned into hurt. In the grand scheme of things, it lets me know that as much freedom as we as LGBTs earn through our fight, there will still be some who believe we don’t have a place in society, which is preposterous to me when you consider the foundations of that assumption. That incident is precisely the reason why as an artist, I dedicate my message to uplift our community and show that if there’s ever any doubt against the reason to continue to fight for our place in the world, to be seen as equals, to resist when there’s people who willingly want to inflict pain like this, this is what that horrific event showed us.

DiamondKesawn: As a man who has served in the US military, what was your reaction to the recent lift of the ban on transgender soldiers?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): I commend the Obama administration and the Pentagon for making this happen. I can’t say enough good things about the decision. From what I know, they are giving the trans community in the military a legal pathway and medical support for their transition within a realistic timeline, and that’s a struggle for some. The military opening their doors to the trans community in this way is truly remarkable to me. I always have been a supporter of the military allowing those who can do the job and letting that be the sole factor for unit readiness. Gender identity and sexual orientation, I believe should never be a factor in a service member’s advancement in the military and hopefully this ruling shows everyone that we all can and should be held to the same standard.

DiamondKesawn: Who is Top 3 on your Playlist/iPod/Music Stream/Etc. right now? Other than yourself.

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): Project Pat, Azealia Banks, Eminem

DiamondKesawn: What is one thing you do when you are alone that the fans would never guess?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): I think out loud. Sometimes, I have to hear myself say certain things to verify my own thoughts.

DiamondKesawn: What is one thing you want the reader base to take away from your body(s) of work?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): If you don’t see yourself or your ideas being represented the way they should, never be afraid to tell your own story. Document yourself because you’re worth it and if you believe you have something people can learn from. Otherwise, someone else may tell your story for you and you might not like their version of you.

DiamondKesawn: Being that hip-hop is such a macho culture, what is the reaction of other artists and fans to I.K.P. and The Alliyance?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): I think right now, people are getting bits and pieces of us from all of the things we’ve done before. I’m noticing as time goes forward, our perspective is slowly becoming more relevant than it has ever been. We trust that our audience gets us, but as for the wider audience, our goal is to make sure as many people as possible know we exist. Then, they can make their own judgments.

DiamondKesawn: Could you see yourself doing any other occupation?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): No. Not at all. Not at this time. If I do something else, it has to be a natural evolution from what I’ve already done.

DiamondKesawn: What is the biggest misconception people think about you before they get to know you?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): Probably that I’m unapproachable. Maybe that’s for the best though.

DiamondKesawn: To the aspiring talent who will read this interview, what are your words of encouragement for them?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): Don’t stop learning. Find ways to hone all your skills. Have fun. Take your work seriously, like a job, but don’t take yourself too seriously. Embrace failure as a learning experience. Only make moves when your heart is in it. Biggie taught me that last one.

DiamondKesawn: Any Shout-Outs?

I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity): Shoutout to my boys in The AlliYance, Swanny River, Billy Hood, EarthTone. Y’all keep me going. Shoutout to my cousin ToniSteelz who always encouraged me to be the best artist I can be and embraced me from day one. Shoutout to all the fans and supporters.

The Infamous King of Positivity is one to keep it true to the core. Make sure you follow his movement:

Twitter Handle: @IKP4President

Instagram Handle: @IKP4President

Facebook: facebook.com/ikp4president

Website: www.kingofpositivity.com