Donferquan BKA Quan
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Donferquan BKA Quan

Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States

Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
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"Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables"

Quan, it's been too long. Five years ago, the VA native made an appearance on Nas' Street's Disciple on the thought-provoking "Just a Moment." The guy was spitting hard lyrics and had harmonious singing in his repertoire as well (this was way before the likes of a Kid Cudi or Drake). Esco was billing him as hip-hop's "future" in every interview, and later, Quan inked a deal through Nas' record company, Ill Will, and Atlantic Records. But things didn't quite pan out as he had expected.

Quan went through management problems that eventually led to his parting ways with Nas, and he could not see eye to eye with Atlantic. Quan eventually asked for and received his release. Since then, he's been circulating on the underground scene while dealing with severe family issues.

"Just to wake up is a blessing," Quan said of his album title, Walking Testimony. "Some people are like, 'What happened?' For a minute, I actually had mad deaths in my family. My goddaughter died. Zoe's daughter. He's a talented artist. [Hip-Hop Editor's Note: The "Zoe" Quan is referring to is an up-and-coming singer from VA, not to be confused with Atlanta rapper Gorilla Zoe.] She was 12. Right before that, my grandmother died. After that, my little cousin died. My biological father got thrown out of a five-story window in the Bronx; he almost died. He was in the hospital for almost two months. In the process of him healing, my cousin Boogie died in a car accident. It kinda rocked me. Then two of my friends died; they got killed. I was like, 'Damn.' "

Quan said he sat back to reflect on life but was still working on music. He's released a handful of mixtapes over the past three years.

"You really have to love it," he said of the industry. "If it doesn't happen for you [quick], you really have to love it. The industry and the politics behind it will really put a strain on your passion for it. Either you gonna move it or lose it. Keep on grinding or fall by the wayside. The blessing is to just have music the people wanna hear and feed that. Whether it's 100 people, 5,000, 20,000 — to have as many people as I do come up to me and say, 'Your music helped me through hard times,' I appreciated it. 'I admire what you are saying and what you're trying to do.' What greater gift can you ask for?"

Quan's album was released recently through Amalgam Digital and iTunes, and he's currently in talks with some labels about future projects.

"I'm still a free agent. Amalgam gave me an opportunity to share my music with the world," he explained. "It's a blessing. Obviously, me and a whole lot of other people [expected] my career to go major. But it don't always work like that the first time going around. 50 went through it. Jay went through it. I feel it's my season, and however God wants it to go, it'll go. In the meantime, I released five mixtapes, the last one being digital: Carry the Tradition. All my mixtapes did real well. For a while, going through different negotiations with different labels, I was so set on going major. In the meantime, I tried to provide my fans with as much music as possible. I didn't want to become a 'mixtape rapper.' I tried to provide my fans with quality over quantity." - MTV.com


"Quan: A Walking Testimony"

Once, the despondent feeling of unabashed loneliness overwhelmed Clifford “Quan” Peacock. As he stood to face the judge, the rapper's tailored reluctance and apprehension mimicked his Italian crafted suit. The penetrating concept of being caged for life ricocheted through his psyche, causing mental carnage. Seated in the front row of the gallery, his family showed its support. With tightly interlaced fingers and lightly sweating palms, the people in Quan's corner prayed. Some prayed aloud, while the prayers of others escaped from behind clenched lips.

Those prayers worked. Quan beat that life sentence and has triumphed over several other mandated court appearances. Carrying memories of the time that he’s invested inside and outside the streets, Quan’s cumulative experiences have shaped the man that he has become. Sculpted by these episodes; he is a walking testimony. The adventure that constitutes Quan’s life rivals any best-selling novel penned by Donny Goines. Physical restraint proved incapable of arresting his development as a man or as an MC.

“Just A Moment,” signaled the beginning of DonferQuan’s world wide musical career. The track boasted a collaboration with Nas; this talented pairing earned critical acclaim. Although several years have passed following the single’s release; Quan is still diligently dedicated to his craft. Breathing harmonic melodies into 16s; Quan is music. With the release of several mixtapes and now the debut digital album release, Walking Testimony, Quan testifies, “I’m Good.”

AllHipHop.com: You've released DJ Vlad Presents: Carrying the Tradition. From a business perspective why did your imprint, Kingz Nation, team up with Amalgam Digital to release this mixtape?

Quan: I got some good friends over there at Amalgam and they provided an avenue to release a digital album, it’s called Walking Testimony [which dropped on July 28th ]. So, you know, that was like the advertisement. We gave it away for free to let the people know that I’m still here. I’m still at it. I still got bars.

AllHipHop.com: Back in ’04, “Just A Moment” from Nas' Street Disciple served as your passport to worldwide recognition. It’s been five long years, what have you been working on?

Quan:When that record dropped, that eventually led to me getting a deal at Atlantic Records [about] six to seven months later. I went a year and a half to two years working on trying to get the album released. Well obviously, due to differences between my management and Ill Will and [between] Ill Will and Atlantic; my project came to a hold which eventually led me to ask for a release.

In between that I’ve released five mixtapes with Carrying the Tradition being my fifth one. Just grinding it out, traveling around, doing shows; if wasn’t doing that, I was in the studio and practicing. I’ve been practicing, playing the piano [and] getting better at my talents...Before I decided to entertain the independent route I was really focused on the mainstream situation. I still am; but, the grind continues.

AllHipHop.com: Let’s get on Until My Death. Is there a tentative track listing; when is it coming out?

Quan: Until My Death, that’s a project that I’m saving for— I want to say, for a major. I would want for that project to come out on a major.

AllHipHop.com: Is it done or is it an urban myth?

Quan: For the most part it’s done. I have the foundation pieces for that album; the rest is built around that. If not I might release it as an independent; but, when I do it, it's got to be on a certain level. In the meantime, and between time, I got records. I stay with records. But, it’s a few things that comes with my major album, Until My Death, that I want to share with the world. It’s a way that that story has to be told.

etc.... (Please go to the link to see the entire interview) - AllHipHop.com


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