BVK is a local rapper from Delaware.  He has been doing music for quite some time now.  As I sat down with him, we chatted a little bit about his background history with music, his personal beliefs, and much more.

Q: Alright let’s get down to brass tax, break the ice: tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do in music.

BVK:  Hey, whassup, man? Alright, basically this is what chu need to know about me: I watch porn....a lot. It's all I do. In fact, I actually record my music while I got porn goin' on in the background. *laugh* Naw, but I'm BVK, and I love the craft of Hip-Hop and just all the technical stuff about it. I'm not about the typical radio Rap you hear today that's just basically Pop or music with no substance whatsoever. I like to keep it real and basically just rap about my life, man. That's what it's about for me. Just having fun with it sometimes, being serious, etc. You can have so many outlets in Rap and it's awesome.

Q:  *laugh* it's all good man! And awesome to hear what you're doing in the local rap scene! smile emoticon Now here's a question for you: How long have you been making music?

BVK:  I've been making music since mid-2008. That's when I had first capabilities of being able to record my voice. It was on a $300 laptop, so obviously the quality was AWFUL, but when you finally get that opportunity to just record, you're excited regardless and you think everything you do is "the best," when really it's terrible. *laugh* I actually still have some samples & recordings from that time period and I'll go back and listen to them. Sometimes just to hear how much I've evolved as an artist and to be like, "Wow, I was awful back then" and laugh at it.

Q: Sounds like you had a lot of history and experience with rap. I like that in an artist. What made you first realize you wanted to pursue music as a career? How did you become involved in the type of music you play? 

BVK:  Yeah, I actually hated Rap as a kid; I actually started liking it in late 2004. I don't know if I'd say I'm pursuing it "as a career," though. I first realized I liked doing it, though, when I realized I could have a voice, ya know? It was like, "Hey...I could have influence on people and have them think a certain way about something or someone"....stuff like that. Sounds pretty manipulative, right? Wasn't about having control, though, it was just like, "Damn, with just a mic. You can do so much and have all that influence." I'll never forget it: I became involved in Hip-Hop/Rap by basically just hearing Eminem's "When I'm Gone" on the radio when it very first came out in 2005. That song is still in my Top 3 to this day. Like, I was a lot younger, but I still understood the lyrics at that age. That song was and is crazy. I don't know, man, it just really impacted me and had me think, "Yo, I could be doing the same thing and have the same effect on people that this song is having on me." That's when I decided, "Hey, I wanna rap." Then the whole aspect of rap battles. That shit gets crazy, dog. Like, in a battle, the goal is to just diss the person and be the best at it, but at the end of the day you both know you're cool with each other. I just love competition like that, I guess.

Q: Hmm interesting. And I do have to say that with your history of getting into rap music is pretty intriguing as well.  I know you already touched on not making music into a career, but I just want to ask. What are your music career goals in the next few years?

BVK:  Within the next few years, I want to just keep putting more stuff out there. Whether it be online, handing out CD's at the mall (which I actually have done like the good ol' days before the Internet *laugh*), or whatever platform I gotta use to get myself heard. I just wanna put stuff out there, but have it be quality content. Like, as much as I wanna just keep throwing stuff out there, it needs to be quality stuff, ya know? That's pretty much it, though. Keep releasing quality stuff, perform locally for now, and just grow a fanbase. I got some unreleased material still, but that's why it's unreleased. It's good stuff, but I personally didn't think it was good enough to make my recent EP that I released. Which leads me to another point...as an artist, that's one of the hardest things to decide: Making good, quality music for the public, then listening to it for a while and having to pick and choose which tracks I want to make the final product of what I release.

Q: That’s a pretty elaborate answer. I like that. Now you mentioned that you released an EP. How long did the process take from start to finish? What recording process did you use and who produced it?

BVK:  The EP [titled "Alter Ego EP"] was released February 25th, 2015. I started recording it in the summer of last year (2014). It would have been a lot faster to release, but I hit a few obstacles like having to re-record songs, files lost, "friends" trying to leak my stuff, etc. But, it finally got released in Feb! I record myself in my own studio on my own equipment and edit myself as well. I do everything. *laugh* I had a few producers on the EP, namely Dansonn & Ear 2tha Beat, as well as myself as mainly executive producer.

Q: Interesting. We hope to share some of your music on our page soon! What other interests or talents do you possess that you would like to share with us? How do you like to unwind?

BVK:  Hey, thanks, man. Interests I have include women and my hand. *laugh* Talents? I can rap in quadruple time. But that's more of a skill. I'd say my best talent is I can see something and instantly imitate it or become better at it than the original person, if you can understand what I mean. I don't know, Rap is basically a competitive sport for me and it transfers down to everyday life. Like, if I see someone better than me at something, I instantly want to become the best at it.

Q: And it’s important to strive to be the very best at what you do. That takes true initiative and dedication. As an artist, how would you define “success”?

BVK:  To me....I'd define "success" as: "the only option." Meaning, if you try something and suck at it, you keep going and smashing your own personal goals and just keep getting better and better at it until you reach a peak where no one can touch you. That's success. Forget money, forget partying, forget all that. Make a goal, suck at it, and get better, then become the best to where no one can touch you.

Q: That’s a very bold answer and I do agree with you on that. Is there anyone in particular who influences your talent?

BVK:  My top influences (Hip-Hop-wise, in no order) are: Tupac, Tech N9ne, Eminem, Proof, Hopsin, Nas; there's more of course, but those are off the top of my head. Each influence has amazing talent as an artist and are just doing their thing, man, and it's awesome.

Q: Nice! I listen to a little bit of rap myself and I can identify with them. Pretty sweet, if you ask me. *laugh* Now let’s get into some personal territory. Have you ever had any strange, stalker-type fans that you’re aware of? How, if at all, does it affect the closeness you have with your fans?

BVK:  *laugh* Funny story. I've walked around a local grocery store one time about 20 minutes from my house and this one girl, who I never met before, actually recognized me from my online page and was kinda following me around for a little bit. Now, I have GREAT perception of things and can tell when someone is doing something. So I'd notice her kinda peaking around corners and such and so I kept testing her and she finally came up to me and was like, "Hey, you're uh, BVK, right? Branden?" or something like that and it went from there. Ended up signing a receipt of hers from the store and she took a picture with me. Never seen her since. *laugh* I've also had people find out where I live and when they drive by my house, they'll take pictures and send them to my inbox on my page. It's whatever, though.

Q: Sounds...interesting? *laugh* But sounds like you have some ladies following you around as of late. What’s your secret? *laugh* Just kidding. But anyway,  if you could perform with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

BVK:  My secret? Be a dick. *laugh* naw, man. Treat hoes like hoes, but if a good girl comes your way, she probably a hoe anyway. If I could perform with anyone at all, it'd be 50 Cent & Eminem. When those two are on stage together, it's just phenomenal. I'd love to get in on that hype, man. Besides them, I'd say MGK since he gets pretty wild.

Q: I was just kidding about that first part, but okay! Duly noted! *laugh* And those are some pretty talented rappers! And yeah, MGK is pretty wild, but talented nonetheless.  Alright, so for these last couple of questions, I'd like to do a fill-in-the-blank, complete the sentence thing. I'll start it off, you finish it. Then just explain why you say what you stated. Alright? So let's get started: "Music is..."

BVK:  Music is powerful. Ever heard the "sticks and stones" saying? Yeah, well, that's bullshit. Words do hurt. I say music is powerful since it can complete effect someone's mental-state (like emotions and whatnot). Like, it can be used as a voice for people to cause riots or get word to the higher-up government officials. I don't know, there's just so many things it can do.

Q: Powerful statement. I like that. Okay, next one: “I write songs because...”

BVK:  I write songs because I want to be able to send messages to people and be able to say, "Here I am. Listen to what I have to offer." Sounds cocky, but it's not like that. I want people to be able to say, "Man, that song really inspired me" or post my lyrics on social sites and things like that. I also just like doing it since it helps me vent.

Q: I like that. It’s very well-thought out. And finally, “People should support local music because...”

BVK:  People should support local music because it gives a chance for your community to grow. You can meet all kinds of different people if you're into that, perform for them and see if they cheer you on or boo you off, and it's just a great way to match yourself up against people and make yourself get better and better.

Q: Awesome! And that’s actually all the questions I have for you!  Thanks for doing this interview with us! Please feel free to add any other information you would like to share with the public audience. We extend our warm wishes for your success! We hope to attend one of your shows in the future, so please let us know on your updates!