Really Khalil

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bak Muhammad.

Bak, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a Hip Hop/R&B/Pop recording artist who goes by the pseudonym, Really Khalil. Formerly known as Bak On The Beat, the rebranding represents moving into a newer, brighter chapter of my life.

I was a 1990 baby born in Philadelphia, PA. I moved from Willingboro, NJ with my family to Savannah, GA due to homelessness. Major layoffs and other unforeseen events led us into a state of poverty we had never seen before. We trusted my uncle to help us through our unfortunate situation, but instead he saw it as an opportunity to increase his real estate capital. He bought the mortgage of our family home and proceeded to kicking us out onto the street. Though it was a dark time, moving to Georgia with my grandmother in 2006 was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Fast forward to 2010. My brother, a few friends, and I started a dance crew called Unrated. The low country area took a liking to our dance style and fell in love with our vlog series, “The Fraction.” This went on for about five years, resulting in 24 episodes and numerous live dance performances at concerts, competitions, networking mixers, fashion shows, community events, etc. Dance was my passion until I discovered my love for creating music.

My newfound interest in music took my mind, body and soul away from dance which eventually caused a standstill in the progression of the dance crew. Unrated Crew became Unrated Ent.

It was then that Bak On The Beat was birthed. My first song was total garbage and my friends didn’t mind telling me so. My failure to create a likable sound caused me to work expeditiously to create quality music. That took years, all the way up to my rebranding in 2019. The artist I am today is the result of extensive training, research, focus, and experiences.

Since then, I released two EPs and two singles. My very first album, Love Matters, is scheduled to release in May 2020. Preorders begin in February.

Currently, I reside in Savannah, GA.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In 2013, I witnessed three deaths. First, was my very close friend Peter Judson. His death rocked all of Savannah, GA. The great number of attendees at his funeral showed how many hearts he touched. It was amazing to see how many people loved him. A bittersweet moment I will always remember. Two weeks later, my grandmother, Jamailah Smith, passed. She took my family into her home when we needed help. She gave the most heartfelt advice, embedded with meaning, with love, and with intention. She loved all of her family. I thank God we were able to have one last family reunion before her passing. A week later, my mother passed. This hit me the hardest and I still deal with that pain today. What keeps me motivated is the fact that she accomplished many of her dreams within her life. Saiyda Muhammad had a heart of gold and loved like no other. My biggest supporter had left this earth. Only one of my friends, recording artist, Ethan Jeremiah, attended her funeral. That was my first lesson in loyalty. My family had to come to Savannah, GA from Philadelphia and New York three times in row within three months. We lost two gems and everyone felt that hit.

After my mother’s passing, my niece, my brother (recording artist, WZRDBLVK), and I decided to stay in Georgia. My love for the south is everlasting. Unfortunately, I experienced homeless yet again. In 2016, I moved to Troy, AL for sanctuary. There, was the birthplace of Really Khalil.

I am extremely thankful for my lasting through those situations while preserving my character and developing my perspective of life, my emotional strength, my passion for art, my creativity, and my perseverance.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Having the ability to produce my own sound, from the backing tracks/instrumentals to the mixing and mastering, gives me full control of his direction and approach. My style is described by most listeners as “a vibe.” More accurately, I have a goal of creating “good vibes only.” Whether the message of a song is joyful or depressing, the overall feel of the track will influence happiness, tranquility, pride, or hope.

Aside from having ultimate control of my sound and message, I also design the imagery. I do not contract anyone to manage and design my website or social media accounts. I don’t outsource designers for my album artworks either. Everything you see and hear is a product of my very own imagination. Though I am in search of a good design team to take the load off my shoulders, I believe that one must rely on self to reach the goals of self.

My passion for music lies deeply in the performance aspect of it all. I consider the stage as a place of comfort, a haven. I like to move the crowd with highly energized sets. My witty and charismatic nature combined with light humor and years of performance experience gives the audience an experience to remember. I ultimately enjoy changing the perspectives of each audience member who has not seen or heard of me before to more accurate one. Putting smiles on their faces give me joy.

Speaking of performing, with the help of Show4Me.com, I am curating a live concert and art showcase called “Really Real.” It will feature me, Really Khalil, as the headliner, and a few of my favorite musical recording artists: Ethan Jeremiah, OSG Breeze, Pacemaker, WZRDBLVK, Jamillah Bell, and Keaira Renay. There will also be visual artists there to exhibit and sell their pieces and dance choreography by Brandon Spaulding. I intend to make this an exciting night to remember. Before the main event we will be introducing a panel of artists and representatives to discuss important resources and tools for artists in 2020 at our Artists’ Workshop. It will all be located at Sulfur Studios in Savannah, GA on April 11th, 2020. Here’s the link to the crowdfunding campaign page:

https://sh4.me/fKU2M

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My perseverance is an integral part of my current level of success. It will be a major key my future progressions. To this day, life has shown me many reasons to give up. There were numerous discouraging events unrelated to music or business. These events were designed by God and the Universe to test my stature in times of hell, high water, and heavy winds. Being able to repurpose negative energy into positive motivation isn’t easy. Learning that requires surviving some tough experiences. In the end, it is all worth the lesson. - VoyageATL