Interview

Interview With American Recording Artist VerseBorn

VerseBorn is an American recording artist, motivational speaker, and activist hailing from San Francisco, California. VerseBorn has recorded both solo and with Bay Area group KonQuest. His solo work spans several genres, including hip hop, new age, indie rock, and r&b music.

“Sounds and lyrics are tight men, keep up the good work- best thing I have heard in some time!” – Eliot Rivero, Automo VXF

VerseBorn has had the privilege of writing and producing for many popular artists associated with major record labels including Universal Music Group, Def Jam Recordings, E-One Music, Interscope, and more. He is able to play many instruments by ear (without formal training) and took inspiration from RZA, Hi-Tek, and Scott Storch as he began producing his own beats.

“Really feeling the style man, def on your way to the top!” – Def Jam, AR

Honk reporter had the opportunity to talk with VerseBorn on Instagram about his journey in the music industry and many more.

Welcome to Honk Magazine, tell us where are you from?

VerseBorn – I was born in San Francisco, ca, firstborn to a family of 10 siblings. my mother was a talented vocalist from the Bay Area, who has worked with many industry professionals and producers.

As a youth, financial burdens often caused my family to move from one place to another, as a result, I accumulated friends and contacts all across the Bay Area and Sacramento.

While shaping up as a young mc I spent most of my time within the inner-city streets of San Francisco, traveling often across the bridge to Oakland and San Leandro to connect with friends family, and associates.

How did you get into music?

VerseBorn – Before reaching 10 years old, I have been exposed to various studio sessions, band rehearsals, and live performances which helped me to set the foundation in achieving my own lane of greatness within the music industry.

What is the most challenging thing you have overcome in your life?

VerseBorn – While coming of age in California, I have battled heavily with depression and anxiety- which made it difficult for me to cope with the surmounting family issues. Music became the primary outlet and therapeutic tool which aided the most in getting through difficult times.

Are you currently signed or independent?

VerseBorn – Currently, I am unsigned and pushing all of my content independently. Freedom and ownership of the rights to my creativity are important to me although am open to exploring distribution and or management deals if the opportunity should provide itself.

Who inspires you the most musically?

VerseBorn – Well, a lot of my fans said I sound similar to Jalen Santoy, Ab-soul, and Evidence. I am mostly inspired by Logic, Jcole, and planet Asia

What do you want people to take away after listening to your music?

VerseBorn – I want to motivate people all over the world to let them know it’s never too late to achieve their dreams. Reach for the stars and go after what you want out of life. Rarely has anything given to us, it is up to us to go get it. All we have is this moment, KonQuest Now.

What is your greatest achievement as a musician?

VerseBorn – My greatest achievement as a musician was being able to amass a worldwide following and have the opportunity to work with artists from Def Jam, eOne, and more. And, being able to make this much noise independently is a major feat in itself. The journey is not over and I have a long way to go. It’s more in the experience than the actual end goal.

Do you produce your own music? If not who do you work with?

VerseBorn – I am an artist/producer who can rap sing write and produce beats as well. Many of the songs I released were produced and mixed by myself exclusively.

Other than myself, my brother Enyway and Wreck The Rebel (aka Flamingo Fred) makes a good majority of the beats you hear throughout the collective discography.

Who is one artist you wish you could work with?

VerseBorn – There are too many artist names!!

My dream project would feature Andre 3k, Ceelo Green, Planet Asia, Royce 5’9, Blackstar, Phatoah monche, and Executive producer would be DJ Khalil

Tell us about any new music you have coming out? When is coming out? What is it about?

VerseBorn – Check out my latest release, “Godly” available on every platform: https://bit.ly/vb-godly

New music is on the way: “Ask 4 Me”, dropping June 25th. Pre-save available: https://bit.ly/presave-vb-ask4me

Gems are dropped from beginning to end, as the cinematic reverence floods the listeners’ imagination. VerseBorn is able to eloquently explain the experience of traveling abroad, the culture shock of life in other countries, and the expanded mindset one achieves whilst returning back home.

What does a day inside your shoes look like?

VerseBorn – KonQuest Now fights for several causes locally and worldwide we help the community by striving to empower the youth with tools to help keep them off the streets and to help them tap into their creative abilities.

We have supported the black lives matter protest as well as protests in other countries such as Belarus where there are atrocities still being committed to this day.

We also push to support small businesses both locally and across the globe.

VerseBorn specifically is a hardworking person in general: Husband, father of 2, entrepreneur, music producer, and more.

VerseBorn is constantly working to build new bridges a d foster new connections friendships and business opportunities.

VerseBorn is also an activist and motivational speaker of sorts encouraging others to follow their dreams and KonQuest Now.

Anything else you want the audience to know about you?

From VerseBorn directly:

I’m just really hoping to grow as an artist I’m hoping to share my content with more like-minded individuals and really I’m just trying to network with more artists and people that are on the same wavelength as myself.

I’m a father.

I’m a husband.

I’m an older brother.

I’m a leader for KonQuest.

I’m trying to lead by example showing that if you follow your dreams anything is possible.

My goal is not to be famous or super-rich I just really want the ability to make a living be successful doing what I love to do and spending time with my family and those I love.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram @VerseBorn

Youtube:

https://youtube.com/channel/UC7HWRt7kgEzhmcAJ5A_0IVA

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Interview

Fabolous Claps Back at Hazel-E Over Controversial Health Claim

After reality TV sensation Hazel-E made a bombshell statement during her recent Unwine With Tasha K interview, Fabolous ended up at the heart of controversy after she said one of his exes down in Houston died from cervical cancer caused by an undiagnosed STI. That conversation, which was quickly shared on Instagram via a widely circulated clip, was widely criticized. Some people called out Hazel-E for being insensitive and speaking on the private medical history of a deceased woman, while others questioned the legitimacy of her statement as a whole.

In either case, the online chatter was quick and heated. However, Hazel-E doubled down later in the comments, trying to redirect the focus to women’s health awareness. “Allegedly is what I heard from a veryyyyyyyy reliable source… bv, hpv… tomatoes tomatoes,” she wrote, downplaying the backlash while saying her real goal was to bring attention to important topics of women’s health. It was damage already done, and it’s safe to say Fabolous wasn’t here for that. While he hasn’t penned an epic screed about the situation, sources close to the rapper tell us that he is furious behind the scenes, saying that Hazel-E really crossed a line, including someone close to him, especially under such uncertain and intimate circumstances.

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The situation gets at a bigger conversation happening in hip-hop. Hazel-E’s effort to turn the whole thing into some PSA may have been well-motivated, but going after someone connected to Fabolous with serious health allegations finds the balance between social media’s fodder for consumption and clout chasing, and now, a conversation about respect and consent in the digital age. Although Fabolous hasn’t clapped back with the same volume as the rumor, his lack of commentary is just as loud. In an era when everyone’s business is but a click away, this latest scrap is a reminder that in hip-hop, even the touchiest of subjects are often best broached or left untouched with a little more delicacy and a lot less guesswork.

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Interview

Corey Holcomb Ignites Controversy with Claims About Will Smith’s Sexuality on “Funky Friday”

Will Smith is riding high off the release of his new album, Based On A True Story, but instead of fans discussing his music, comedian Corey Holcomb has turned the attention on himself again with a very personal and controversial allegation. When Holcomb popped on Cam Newton’s Funky Friday YouTube show a while back, he didn’t pull any punches. In the middle of a conversation about celebrity polyamory and open relationships, topics that get linked to Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Holcomb went even further, claiming Will Smith is in the closet.

“But Will is gay,” Holcomb said bluntly, leading Newton to ask whether he had any proof. Not with proof but with casserole, “I live in L.A. Does that make sense to you? I live in Los Angeles. There’s a lot of opportunities I don’t get because the guys don’t want me to be in public with their boyfriends.” I’ve suffered from that. It’s like, everyone already knows anyway.” The exchange was casual in tone but had weighty implications. Holcomb’s comments, which are not substantiated, are rooted in hearsay and subjective opinion. However, they come at a moment when speculation about Will and Jada’s unusual marriage is still trending in public. It’s a step that straddles the line between audacious opinion and invasive rumor and raises questions about the ethics of speculating on someone’s sexuality without permission.

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With Based On A True Story being a creative comeback for Smith, the re-emergence of these kinds of headlines is somewhat déjà vu for the artist, whose personal life has long been tabloid fodder. And while Will has been open about love, fame, and even his mistakes in his memoir, the relentless mining of his identity, especially in such suggestive terms, continues to eclipse his artistry. To Holcomb, the comments seemed to express annoyance with Hollywood gatekeeping above all. But during a time in which queer identity is still a deeply personal journey, flinging allegations around without explicit context is hurtful. And though Corey Holcomb might feel like “everybody knows anyway,” we’re reminded here that there’s a difference between transparency and intrusion. In this case, the latter might have spoken louder than the actual joke.

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