Last Friday Old English got together with a friend many of you know of as Kruk1.The Southeast Los Angeles rapper spent the afternoon with us and shared some interesting background on how the well known man behind Old English’s photoshoots is also a well known up and coming Latino Artist and how Kruk1 became the Southeast influencer not just behind the camera but on the Mic. Check it out.
· Personal
1.Can you State your name and who you are and what you do?
Kruk-“They call me Kruk, Kruk1, Kruixie but my favorite one is probably Kruk just without the one.”
1. What was it like with your background growing up in Whittier and do you feel like growing up in Whittier has had any effect on you and your music?
Kruk-“Yeah, growing up around here I spent the majority of my life around here so I spent my time all around Whittier, so I got homies all around and all into graffiti so eventually I myself got into it. The art influenced my music a lot and my friends.”
2. How did you start off making music and what pushed you into the direction on deciding to make music?
Kruk-“When I started making music I was young,as far as I can remember ive been writing my own raps since I was eleven and twelve years old.Growing up listening to music from my Mom and Dad they had around the house and in the car.”
3. Can you tell us the meaning behind your tattoos and which one do you feel reflects the most to you?
Kruk-“Yeah I got a tattoo on my shin its called let me ride, it's influenced by the Doctor Dre song from the Chronic, its one of my favorite albums and the song really influenced me as well. My other Tattoo is on my hand, my Dad sends me a lot of drawings from prison and I think they are really dope and, I feel it's cool to put them on my body for my dad.Shoutout to the homie(@tattoo_miggs).”
4. Any kids married single? Age
Kruk-“I ain't got no damn kids, I'm not married but I got a girlfriend named Samantha shout out to Samantha. I'm simple ya feel me I'm young.”
· Culture
1. What is your Ethnicity? Latino background
Kruk-“Im Hispanic, but I grew up in a house that wasn’t on the Spanish language growing up. I am Mexican but we spoke only English.”
2. What is your view on the Latino music industry yourself? What stands out to you the most that you as an artist and influencer admire?
Kruk-“You know I really respect the hustle that a lot of rappers do, and I think Hispanic hip-hop industry is something different and something new. I feel a lot of it has been done the same way for a long time, and I feel there are a lot of Hispanic artists that don’t get the recognition they deserve based on whatever society's issue is on the whether its being brown or whatever the case may be. But growing up I had a lot of influence on being brown, from Kid Frost to a lot of other people. But honestly I think someone needs to come and reinvent this shit and create more past for upcoming artists in the Hispanic community.”
3. What impact on the Latino Music Industry do you wish to give that you feel is important?
Kruk-“I want to influence a lot of people differently cause I know a lot Hispanic artist that be on some gangbanging shit and, that doesn’t really appeal to a lot of people. And for me I'm trying to reach out to more crowds cause I know a lot of people that would probably second guess me cause I'm Hispanic, but I'm here to let people know we have skills and I want to be here to influence people as I grow that’s my plan.”
· Music
1. Who do you identify or admire with in music as an influence?
Kruk-“ I've got a lot of influence overall defiantly Slim Shady aka Eminem from his earlier days, really inspired me to make music and Big L. I really couldn’t see myself as a rapper though without that early Eminem influence from his earlier days.”
2. How would you identify your style of music and influence?
Kruk-“I see it as really Hip-Hop and grungy on some more of a East coast 1990’s beat type of sound, but it up to you and up to the listener what category they wanna put it in. But honestly I think my category is on like some 1990’s part.”
3. How do you feel about East Coast vs West Coast 1990’s Hip Hop?
Kruk-“Growing up I have influence on both coasts and you can hear it a lot in my music too like, when you hear me rap you can hear of the influence you can hear sometimes some Ice Cube a lot of Slim Shady.I've got a lot of influence from spots in Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, the South so growing up I had a lot of influence from everybody.”
1. What is Top League? What does Top League Represent?
Kruk-“ Top League is a group me and my brother Kid Og started. We wanted to do something ourselves you know, we didn’t really wanna sign with anybody we wanted to be independent. Growing up as I rapped I was told I had a lot of potential so we did it ourselves.”
2. Who else is a part of Top League? Did anything specific lead you to create/inspired top league?
Kruk-“Yeah so it's Kid Og on the camera,me on the Mic and a couple homies that rap as well and I got my producer(@prezsinatra),we had everything we needed.We wanted to keep our circle small and show everybody we could make shit happen and get it poppin ourselves.We want to do something different so we are taking our time with it so eventually everyone will see cause we are taking our time with it on Top League.”
3. What is YouTube Space,what did you do there?
Kruk-“ Yeah so me and the homies went over to the Youtube Space in La, and shoutout to the homies at Cypher Effect for helping me out and we did a video over there,with a couple other dope Mc’s and it came out really dope and its Youtube shoutout to all the other Mc’s that did there thang with us it was tight I had a good time and the video came out really dope so shoutout to Cypher Space for that.”
4. What do you promote on your own Youtube Channel?
Kruk-“Its mainly music videos and us promoting our Top League video’s, we don’t dissapoint so we take out time uploading videos.”
5. Tell us about your popup shows? What do you like most about having the events as a musician?
Kruk-“For the popup shows I got some of the homies that are gunna get together for a show in West Covina, it’s a free show we like doing this for the fans on us. Its gunna be dope I got a lot of talented dope Mc’s coming and im looking forward to it coming up on April 22nd. I like having these events because the energy rapping infront of everybody and vibing off my words is the best feeling ever and that’s why I make music its fun to me and that’s why I choose to do it as a career its what I love.”
6. How do you feel about your fans and supporters as you have grown over the years? What is one thing you hope they gain from your influence and message through music?
Kruk-“Shoutout first of all to all the fans for staying loyal, my crowd has jumped tremendously throughout the years, ive been rapping about three to four years now so I think the progress and love people have showed has really boosted my popularity, im totally blessed to have them. As for my influence to my fans I hope they can gain vibes off my music, I try to make that music you bob your head most of the time too and sometimes I make some from my heart, hoping they can realte off that and I love making music so whatever you can get from it im glad.Right now I just hope I leave a lot of people inspired that’s the goal for everything for the love of Hip-Hop.
· Old English
1. How did you and Old English Brand become accessioned?
Kruk-“My homie actually hit me up for a photoshoot with them and I was free that day, so I pulled up to the shop and all the homies at Old English showed mad love to me, much respect to them. We had a good time took some photos we talked for a bit and ever since that day we all just became like family.”
2. Why did you choose to work with Old English brand? How do you feel OE style realtes to you?
Kruk-“ I think my style of clothing I could vibe off the clothing they out out. I love a lot of clothes they have so its beneficial to them and to me and we can make moves and that’s what im all about growing with each other. Old English also already has a good foundation so I hope we help each other grow and it’s a cool relationship. Everywhere I go I fuck with Old English I fuck with Old English probably more than anybody.”
3. Graffiti is something OE admires and I hear you yourself do Graffiti? Tell us about that!
Kruk-“Growing up around here all my homies did write, they hit up yards and mobbed around the city so eventually riding around with the crowds is what got me into Graffiti as well and art. Mostly in high school I was mobbing around with the homies, and it been a big part of me and ive grown up loving art, getting into Graffiti is cool and to this day I catch a couple tags, growing up in Southeast La graffiti is something all the kids do it’s a culture thing, so I love Graffiti.”
4. When you draw what do you love to illustrate the most?
Kruk-“ I like doing a lot of Cartoons, drawing a lot of realistic stuff it’s fun to me I do a lot of lettering to me both cartoons and lettering are fun.”
5. How would you describe your style? How do you feel about streetwear? And its impact on your style choices? Any particular favorite brands?
Kruk-“ I myself don’t really fuck with a lot of brands, if you see me anywhere you may catch me in a ProClub or some Old English or my Bro Kid Ogs brand called Vibes,yeah so I keep my circle small even with the stuff I wear. I feel you are what you wear so I feel Old English is dope they are all around the hood so people know what’s sup and I know a lot of people that fuck with that brand and dope and so like I said you know you are who you wear.”
Interviewer Insta @dahliamonroe
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