DA MENACE

............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ..Derek Hovland aka " Da Menace " was born in Mesa, Arizona. Shortly after his birth he moved to South Beloit, Illinois. After spending several years there he moved back to Arizona with his family for a better opportunity at life. Music was a way for him to get away from the troublesome life he had going for himself growing up. His father was never in his life and he was raised by his mother. He was always getting kicked out of schools and getting into fights. In his younger years he had wishes to become a professional basketball player. He would play basketball by himself at night to get away from all the stress he had in his life. He has spent small time incarcerated like many of his friends growing up. His mothers troublesome lifestyle brought many problems for Da Menace growing up. He picked up a pen and It became obvious that music was his first love. He found away to express his emotions through his music. He had a hard time making friends growing up due to him and his family having to relocate time and time again. His mother raised him listening to Bob Marley, The Fugees, Rick James and Tupac Shakur. He enjoys old Motown artists such as the Temptations and the Supremes. He also loves p funk, George Clinton and Bootsy collins. Da Menace was mostly influenced by West coast music growing up .He remembers the first music video that inspired his rapping career as Tupac shakur's and Dr Dre’s California love was played in front of his eyes. He got his nickname from his favorite movie growing up Menace II Society . " I just thought that movie was gangsta and I liked that shit " He began writing at the age of seven Years old. He started recording on tapes on his cassette player. He didn’t have the money to purchase instrumentals once he got serious enough to record professionally, so he forced himself to learn how to make his own beats. He states, "I’ve yet to prove my true talent and love for hip hop period, I’m an old soul trapped in a young body and I’m going to bring it back to when music was actually good to listen to and not all about the money ". He is constantly writing every single day and currently has full albums written. The reason Da Menace believes he is so diverse and has allot to offer to this industry is, He isn’t just your average white rapper. The truth is Da Menace isn’t a rapper at all he is a full out entertainer and young entrepreneur . He writes and produces all of his own work. He is not a rapper he is an artist and He believes opportunity isn’t going to wait for him and he is going to have to prove what he can do and take his respect, because no one is going to give it to him. His home and birthplace is on the rise on the hip hop scene and he hopes to make history and be apart of this historical time period. He hopes to get signed to a major record label one day and show the world what he is capable of doing. " I want to be recognized as a good artist and not as a good white artist "....." I learn from peoples mistakes inside and outside the industry most of these other rappers are dumb asses "..." and im going to play this industry like a game of chess and move pieces the right way and watch success unfold "...He is currently working on his debut album. Keep your ears to the streets because he is coming in full effect. OFFICIAL MYSPACE..................................................... ............................................................ ............................................................ ..............