What is the difference between artificial and substantial hip hop? His name is AC, a young, cunning MC based in Portland, Oregon. Other rappers have said that they believe he is one of the last of a dying breed. His way of life, ability to overcome obstacles, his ability 2 produce with limited resources, and of course his on-the-mic skills, make them absolutely correct.
Literally, since he was in his mother's whom, AC has been listening to music. His father would put on jazz and blues cassettes for him to listen to, and his mother would showcase her collection of Latin artists. At this point in time, although it was unknown, AC and music had become one. There would be no separating them.
Throughout his early school years, the future rapper was an exceptional student, eagerly absorbing all sorts of knowledge he came across. It was then when his mind was preparing itself for the intelligence that would be demanded of him in a lucrative career. But things do not always go as planned. By the 5th grade, AC's grades would slowly begin to slip, and his ability to control his anger would seem to be nonexistent.
As he aged a few years, things drifted outside of school where he began to have run-ins with the law. Things were not always handled fairly, but he always had his music to turn to when things got too tough. Music always allowed him to be able to escape from the harsh reality around him, but at the same time, AC knew that life was NEVER meant to be fair. He knew that he was going to have to learn to take certain situations like a man.
When AC reached his mid-teens, things did not slow down. It seemed like the more he tried to do right, the more crooked the system got. AC never stopped learning though. Just as he was learning things to improve his music, he was learning things to improve his life. Learning which cops didn't play by the rules proved to be just as important as anything else. He learned that in the world it was either kill or be killed, and he knew that his demise was not going to come anytime soon...if he had a say in it.
Every Desert has it's oasis. "Music is my oasis." says AC. "It takes alot to find the good in a bad situation and focus on it. Even when you do, there will always be people and situations that make life seem out of control. The only thing you can do to stop it, is to never give up - EVER! If I had given up, I would've long ago been submerged in a life of gangs, drug dealing, fighting, and imprisonment."
If there were only one thing that AC could tell people to live by, he says that he would tell people to never give up in life, and to keep at it no matter what happens, and no matter what your situation is. The struggles in life are NOT meant to hold you back.
