Phat Word: The Artist Alone Must Take Action

“… nobody is giving handouts and if you want something done, do it yourself until you can build a team…”

Check out the interview with Phat Word exclusively on Skilly Magazine Online.­­­­

Skilly: Where did this all start? Tell us about your journey in the entertainment business.
Phat Word: I started making music in high school and performing at local talent shows and open mic nights. I was also battle rapping as its part of the hip hop culture, so it was part of my talent. After high school I performed at colleges and poetry events and booked my own shows at clubs while recording in Trombone Shorty’s studio; he’s is a good friend of mine, we are both New Orleans natives

What would be your biggest piece of advice for the young kids out there trying to do what you do?
Always be humble and stay focused. Believe in yourself and be self-determined because nobody is giving handouts and if you want something done, do it yourself until you can build a team. Not just a regular group of people, but position players, a dream team. People who have your vision’s best interest.

What are some of the hardest challenges and tasks in your position?
Some of the hardest challenges I’ve had were getting people closest to me to support me and having a job while being an artist. An artist is also an entrepreneur, so they’re also be the boss of their own team.

We all know the entertainment business is very tough, but what do you find is the best way to promote and advertise your music?
Press release distribution, blogs, social media, and always having promotional material on me like merchandise, flyers, stickers, albums, and mixtapes, etc.

Tell us about your city. How are the artists and the fans?
New Orleans may be one of the toughest cities to conquer considering the amount of talent that floods the city. Fans are supportive of consistency. If they don’t see or hear enough of you, the buzz can quickly die. The city is full of culture, so the people are very receptive to music artists; the artist just has to stand out.

Where do you see yourself a year from today?
I see myself on tour promoting my album, flying across the nation performing and doing interviews, not to mention many other successful endeavors I have lined up outside of music.

Who and what were your biggest inspirations? Who do you look up to in today’s world?
One person, simply because he’s an international artist from my city: Jay Electronica. He has influenced and inspired me as an artist in many ways. We are both from the same hood, uptown, 3rd ward New Orleans. Another is Jay Z and Russell Simmons, international business moguls that signed Jay Electronica.

How do you feel about the music coming out today? Do you like it?
I feel some of it, but a lot of it is artificial and superficial. I hate to say things like that because I’m a very positive person, but I’m also a very conscious person with the tendency to be a conspiracy theorist. For we battle not against flesh and blood; I’m not gonna preach. Peace to the Gods.

Where can we contact you and find you online?
Official website: www.phatword.com
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/phat_word
Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/phatword - Skilly Magazine

Phat Word is a New Orleans artist with an exceptional style of descriptive story telling in his own form of hiphop music. His song Where Y’at is about coming up from struggle, triumphing over adversity and gaining awareness of community and political immunity. - Fresh Hype Magazine

Phat Word is a New Orleans artist with an exceptional style of descriptional story telling in his own form of hiphop music. His song Where Y’at is about coming up from struggle, triumphing over adversity and gaining awareness of community and political immunity. - Now Music Digital

Phat Word is a New Orleans artist with an exceptional style of descriptional story telling in his own form of hiphop music. His song Where Y’at is about coming up from struggle, triumphing over adversity and gaining awareness of community and political immunity. - Indie Mash Blog