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INTRO
Hip Hop was something that was not hard for Constant to find. He grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; a place more commonly known because of "The Tarheels." Basketball greats such as Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, and Jerry Stackhouse are mentioned in the same breath as Chapel Hill. But, this college town would later prove to be the birthplace of something much different from basketball... And Constant would play a vital role in it...
THE EARLY YEARS
Constant recalls hearing his uncles freestyle and recite hip hop pioneers. So by the age of four, Constant was also freestyling and making improv songs with cousins. Outside of hearing rap in his household his mother was singing songs by Stephanie Mills, Anita Baker, and Betty Wright, etc. His grandmother was singing gospel; Shirley Ceasar, James Cleveland, Rev. F.C. Barnes and James Brown. Thus, being involved in music was inevitable.... It was only a matter of how he would express himself.
THE EXPRESSION
Constant started playing drums when he was twelve years old, and he released his first hip hop project when he was fourteen. This showed his peers his dedication to the art that would prove to be his true love.
THE CONSTANCY
By his Junior year in high school Constant linked up with a few other loyal hip hoppers to form a hip hop collective called Tyfu. They began recording freestyle tapes, which eventually led to recording structured songs and performing in the local music scene. With Constant, Tyfu's popularity had quickly risen. They birthed the hip hop scene in their area, and Constant, in the midst of very talented emcees, was quite salient. His stage presence demanded respect, and his lyrical content satisfied the hunger of the toughest critics. Truly vicious! Constant sold his drum set and purchased an MPC 2000 in 1997. By '99, Constant and Tyfu released their first independent album, which soon gained the attention of numerous record labels. Along the way they opened up for Cam'ron, Outkast, 50 Cent, and The Clipse. Tyfu signed with Mammoth Records, a subsidiary to Disney. In 2001 they released an album, "Out of Control", but their rise to the limelight came to a screeching halt. Mammoth was bought out by Disney and Tyfu lost the long awaited record deal. The group dissolved and some members decided to "call it quits".
I AM HIP HOP
Constant however, continued recording and performing. In the spring of 2004 Constant moved to Florida, purchased Pro Tools, and the saga continued. His substance is still in tune with the essence of hip hop. Yet, from the lessons learned from the bumps and bruises during his journey Constant has an understanding of music as an industry, and what it takes to remain buoyant in the shark infested waters of hip hop. He knows how to take a song from his mind to the booth , and then to the entire world. Constant knows that musci can entertain the masses... But, one word can change a nation!
"I'm the EMS of rap. The whole game was unconscious when I came; it wouldn't answer back. I said, "Don't die on me." I gave mouth to mouth. Shook for a second, thought it permanently passed out... My only thought was to save you; without you it's painful. Then, you gasped for air,and I was like, "Thank you".
-Constant
