As time draws closer to the release of his EP titled “Blue Flame”, Kwestion; the artist, the producer, the visionary sat down with music journalist Lesi Valentyne to open up about past shortcomings, current life lessons, and future game plans.
Lesi: Thank you for meeting with me. How are you doing?
Kwestion: I’m coolin’, just trying to survive the Rona and stay moving forward with these goals!
L: Same! It’s been crazy these last couple of months. How have you been keeping sane during all this?
K: Actually, while living in LA I was able to buckle down and get some shit done. I finished an EP, I took this chance to come to Arkansas. I’m originally from Little Rock and spend time with my family and catch up with some of the homies! So this energy I’ve been around is exactly what I needed during all this shit for sure. I’ve been fine-tuning my business (Fresh Charisma) The Clothing line, building the website along with being in contact with other avenues to spread the word on my upcoming project.
L: I feel you on that for sure. I think during all this it’s a great time for artists to tap in and create while we have the time. It’s an even greater time to reconnect with loved ones, of course, while practicing social distancing. You mentioned your business, Fresh Charisma. What exactly is it?
K: Well Fresh Charisma was originally a record I did in 2011, which seemed to be a lot of people’s favorite record of mine. So, I revamped it in 2015 to re-release it on another project with improved production. I added a vocalist on it named Influence and two of my childhood homies Fame & Ton3 hit me and was like “Bruh, this Fresh Charisma shit is a lifestyle! You have to do something with it.” So I’m like, what else do you want me to do? I flew my whole team out to Miami, we shot the video and everything. They were like, “My guy, you have to make this a brand or something.” I really didn’t think much of it, but then they hit me up again. They both went out of their way to hit this guy named Jordan to get some designs done. He sent me 4 or 5 different designs. I believe the 3rd one I saw out of the 5 was just so fucking crazy, so we made that the logo for the Fresh Charisma Brand! Shout out to Fame & Ton3 for seeing something that I didn’t at the time. Now, we have an Urban Sophisticated Fresh Wear line for men, women, and kids.
L: That’s dope as fuck! It’s always great to surround yourself with people and a team that can help encourage a vision! What about Rock Da Block?
K: Rock Da Block is a group of guys that just wanted to be dope in any way and everywhere we went! Me, Curtis Rice, 1080p, Ace Dream & Eklipse are all members of Rock Da Block! Curtis Rice, A.K.A. Carteaire Custom, had got signed to Block Royal Records Jersey (a subsidiary label to Konvict Music from Akon), out of Jersey City. Ace Dream (@ImAceDream on Instagram) is an artist, actor, comedian, and director. He took the social media approach with Vine and Instagram, around the time they had started letting us make videos. On YouTube, he started doing major numbers from his Migos skits and single “Bi**hes Ain’t Shxt” produced by Johnny Juliano! Eklipse is a vocalist and rapper. He’s been my right-hand man since high school. We’ve been through the mud together and I owe him a lot for the way my nigga has been holding it down with business and finances. When the company was going through some rough patches, he was always there to pick up the pieces and make the next moves for us to be the best ones! 1080p is my family (relative). He’s a boxer and has won the Golden gloves a few times. He wanted to go pro but had a few issues but when he’s ready, we gon make sure he’s back in the ring ready to get these titles.
L: So y’all just out here making big moves from the looks of it?
K: As of right now we are moving independently. We are trying to make the best moves possible! Everything will lead up to something no matter what happens. We all have a vision and sometimes we agree to disagree but what I do know is, forward is the only direction to keep going.
L: Facts! I respect that. For future fans and the fans that are just now learning you, tell us, who is Kwestion?
K: Kwestion is the guy that has been the underdog and has consistently been sharpening his skills when no one was checking for him! From producing for other artists to creating a sound for myself that’s non-identifiable compared to any other artist that I’ve produced for! That takes talent to do. I’ve spent hours learning business practices and developing myself to be a top tier artist/producer/visionary! I took the time to research, educate myself, and find the proper resources to make sure I could operate on the highest-level solo or with a group of people! Late nights in the studio on my mommas back porch, to sleeping on air mattresses in LA, to now having a space to create of my own in LA! I’m the guy that never stopped when there was adversity in the way. Whether it be grinding to make ends meet or being in someone’s studio honing my craft! I still have so much grinding to do even if no one sees it. They won’t care until they can’t reach me, ha!
L: It sounds like Kwestion is the definition of a self-made guy! How did you come up with the name?
K: Do you know the Roman numeral for 1000? It’s the letter M, but in America and other countries, the letter K is used.
Here’s the breakdown:
K = I’ll always keep it 1000% with myself. If I can’t be real with myself, I can’t expect anyone else to.
West = I’m from the west side of Little Rock, Arkansas and it’s gon forever be what I rep, until the casket drop!
Ion = An ion happens to be one of the smallest particles and I’m from a small place. Little Rock isn’t that big and everyone kind of knows everyone, right? But also, like an ion, if enough of us make an impact we can blow like one of the most catastrophic bombs A.K.A an ion bomb. That’s how it all came about.
If enough of us make an impact we can blow like one of the most catastrophic bombs A.K.A an ion bomb.
L: The way you came about that is so inspiring! Like really it is! Where do you pull your inspiration from when it comes to your craft?
K: Most of this shit is definitely from life experiences. I’ve been dealt a hand that’s just been crazy. I didn’t have a lot of possibilities either, but I’ve managed… Last year I lost my Granny and in the same year lost someone I loved a lot and I’m still dealing with it. But, I know it only goes up from here! My family is a huge part of why I keep going. We didn’t have too much shit growing up, but I’ll make sure we don’t go without before the game is over with.
L: I can only imagine how you managed to rise above those tough losses. Sincerest condolences from myself and the Give it Gas team. Definitely keep that positive mentality when going through this time and if you’re able, channel that into your art.
K: The only way I know how to cope is through the music.
L: That’s very much respected. Throughout your beginning stages, when did you have your “Ah-Ha” moment? Ya know, that moment where you realized a spot in the music game is what you wanted?
K: I was at a show at the Rev room in Little Rock; I was the first act there. The show was being thrown by Big Piph and I had an early slot, but somehow I got switched to dead last! Now, if you know shows from back in the day, people would perform and leave, not giving the newer talent the opportunity to shine through! I’m not going to sit here and cap, I was pissed about it! Even though I was last with almost no audience, I still performed like it was one of my best performances! After the show, Piph pulled me over to the side and said “I don’t know what happened from your last show to this one, but whatever you did keep doing that my nig! Definitely a dope performance!” So, that’s when I knew. I went from people sleeping on me and every time I had a show being last, to be the best person in the room even if people didn’t see it or judge the book by its cover! Since then, I’ve attacked music the same way. Everything I put my heart and mind into has been flawless and effortless, to say the least! I’ve taken time to practice how to react and that is when I knew I had an advantage operating from a level headed space but also tapping into an emotional place to give the passion the supporters/fans deserve.
L: That’s EXACTLY what I was talking about earlier! Taking your life lessons and using them to fuel your fire!! With you working as hard as you do, I can see you going all the way. When you get there, who would you like to collaborate with?
K: I have a list of people man. 2 Chainz, for one. I feel my dawg is so slept on but he be going crazy. Yo Gotti, would be another. He’s grown so much as an artist and he be giving game. Hov, I mean who doesn’t want to be around one of the illest to do it without a pen? J Cole, definitely, we would have to get in our producer rapper bags, just to let them know we make fire beats and we got crazy bars. Same thing with Kanye. Beyoncé, I’d love to work with her, but I’d like for her to rap. I think she’s got something to say on some rap shit. Rapsody, another female lyricist. She’s gotten crazy with the bars! Ty Dolla $ign, really, the list goes on! I’m a work-o-holic so, I know if it all comes to fruition we will make classic records and if not I’m STILL going to make classic records! Oh, and Ariana Grande. Shorty got a special swag about her and it’s refreshing. Let’s say she has Fresh Charisma, ha!
L: Ariana is definitely EVERYTHING! I can see you making something crazy with 2 Chainz he’s super dope too. That line up is solid. Word on the street is you have a new project dropping called Blue Flame. Where’d you come up with the name?
K: Yes, It’s dropping on my baby sister’s birthday. I was originally going to call it Soulinary Arts, a name one of my brothers had come up with for a Soul Food meets Art museum restaurant, but I’ll save that name for when we are able to really move forward with those plans! Then one day, I was just researching fire and somehow came across information on why some flames are blue! Crazy thing is, it doesn’t happen with all fires. It actually happens when fire gets the most oxygen! So me being a hood geek, played that in a clever way! I feel like I’ve been fire for some time now and when people hear my music it’s a breath of fresh air, for them, it’s super refreshing to the ears! Not all artists or their music can be considered refreshing to the ears, so with me having these characteristics, I figured Blue Flame would be a suitable name for this EP. Just something to keep people’s ears tuned in during this pandemic we’re in, all while working on multiple projects to set the rest of the year straight! Also, I always try to release projects on people’s birthday, it makes it to where we can celebrate life and another accomplishment at the same time. Happy Birthday, to my sister Torya! Big Bruh loves you to the moon and back!
L: I bet she’ll really enjoy this! What are your plans with this project?
K: It’s a refresher project to get the wheels back moving. Last year took a lot out of me with losing loved ones, so it’s to get back acclimated with proper roll-outs, video shoots (Quarantine friendly), promotion, and having the engine behind it! I’ve been bouncing ideas off Liz Cuneo, just getting her up to speed on how I move. She’s been helping me see how from a woman’s point of view, I can do things differently! Liz is like a board member of Delorean Life Akademy! Blue Flame is also the beginning of me peeling back the layers to get to a bigger picture, which is a body of work called Resilient. It will drop in 2021 but as of right now, we have to revitalize our troops for this journey, because we’re about to deploy some dope shit worldwide.
L: So, with this being a refresher project, what are you wanting the fans to take away from each song on Blue Flame?
K: I’d like for them to either A) get to know me, or B) re-get to know me! Also, to know I’m human just like they are. I want for them to understand, this shit isn’t easy and at times I might feel discouraged but I have to shake that shit off and keep going! I also want them to know that they have an outlet through me. I’m speaking for the people that work their ass off and go above and beyond even though they may come up short, just to get back up and keep it moving! I want the fans to take every lesson and use them as fuel to keep going! To everyone who doesn’t have a voice, I’m the voice that’s going to shine and show up for the underprivileged. I’m everything and more so when you’re done listening to this EP, you’ll definitely want more and if you’ve missed some content, you’ll definitely go back through the catalog and find a lot of game and gems I’ve already been dropping!
L: The build-up around this has me leaning towards the get to know you side. I do not want to be on the regret side!! I’ve been going back listening to older projects you’ve released, in comparison to your later projects, what are some metrics you hope to improve with this one specifically?
K: I want to be in more publications, magazines, and articles. Grow in the social media space and know I’m creating innovative ways to connect customer to customer. I want to be able to build a direct relationship with everyone, or as many people as I can who support the content that I’ll be releasing this year!! From the music videos to the Fresh Charisma Release, we are going in on growth, strength, and numbers and that means bigger outcomes, but it has to be done effectively.
L: So, more press basically?
K: Yes, just getting everyone aware of what’s to come.
L: Would you say that lack of press was an issue in the past with projects?
K: Press and promotion have slacked off. The team I had working on certain things didn’t pull their weight, so I had to revamp and get a team that was as enthusiastic about the direction I was going in. I now know what must be done and it shall be done.
L: What other issues from previous projects do you hope not to repeat with this project?
K: Just lack of follow up and follow through. I know the key to keep anything going is consistency and if you aren’t consistent you’re going to miss the opportunities that you’ve worked so hard to create. This will always help you get further in life. Stay humble and stay dangerous but don’t speak too much about what you’re doing, just get in position to move the players on the chessboard when it’s your turn.
L: Facts. Lack of consistency and not moving in silence, I’ve seen can be people’s biggest downfall.
K: It’s definitely common but you learn from mistakes and you do better in your efforts the next time.
L: Right. Since we know you prefer to move in silence, are you open to letting the people know what’s next for you after this release?
K: Yes, most definitely. You have to stay tapped in with your audience, that’s something I’ve been executing well lately! I’ve been doing this Instagram story series called “Truth Or Truth”, which is actually one of my favorite songs from Slaughter House. Every day I tell fans a true story about me or a situation that I’ve been in and since then It’s been more people tapped in with me lately. Giving them a piece of me has been way more engaging. It’s focused in the right direction and it’s natural. Nothing about this is forced which is why I’m going to continue being transparent and tapped in with my audience and the new audience to come.
L: I can’t wait to see how you execute your vision! Your journey and work ethic are so unreal. It’s going to be exciting watching you work. Where can we find you on social media?
K: You can find me at www.itskwestion.com, the official website. On IG @ItsKwestion and @FreshCharisma. Twitter @Kwestion, YouTube Kwestion, and Facebook.com/Kwestion. I’m mostly on Twitter. On there I’m more free to just have some moments and get some dope thoughts off like Yeezy was doing!
All photos by @FamousPhotography501
www.itsKwestion.com
Kwestion – Social Media
Fresh Charisma – Social Media
Ace Dream Instagram: @IAmAceDream
Eklipse Instagram: @Eklipse_ChiRock
1080p Instagram: @IAm1080p
Curtis Rice Instagram: @BornRoyal86
Liz Instagram: @E_Liz_Abeth1
