The Great Brooklyn Streets

Up-n-coming rapper The Great Brooklyn Streets from an early age utilized Hip-Hop as a form of escape from his own struggles of poverty and homelessness. His relentless ambition and dedication to share his personal truth and message with the world is what drives this newcomer. He started his own record label named Team Zenith Platinum Status Inc in 2011 and as of March 2015 with the introduction of his debut single "A Star", The Great Brooklyn Streets is ready to take his music career to the next level.

Let´s start at the beginning, let the sleepy know who The Great Brooklyn Streets is.

In total I'm the sum of all my life experiences, growing up I lived a sheltered life. When I finally broke out of that shell, Hip-Hop gave me a voice. It's the reason I'm capable of sharing those experiences with you, it's what made a shy kid turn great.

With a name like The Great Brooklyn Streets, everyone knows right away where you are from. What is it about Brooklyn that you love so much?

Everyone recognizes Brooklyn as the school of hard knocks and those difficult experiences molded me into the man I am now. It's like being in a circus having to jump through hoops of fire. If you don't learn, you burn! I got burnt a lot, so I learned a lot. The fact that it's so rugged is what I love, it's the best teacher.

How did you get your start in music? At what point did you realize that you were talented and had a gift for this?

I didn't become passionate about Hip-Hop until I listened to Notorious B.I.G when I was 15. My bars were weak though and they remained weak until I began running with a click called Full Deck. One of the leaders King of Spades helped me put my bars together, helped me perfect my flow. After that my progression came gradually. I knew I had skills and what it took to be a great rapper.

What kind of artist or music has the most influence on you?

Nas and Jay-Z had the biggest influence on my flow and perception. Then I still bang with Kanye, Wiz Khalifa, Odd Future, J. Cole, and a whole host of others. I'm inspired by everyone and I listen to all kinds of music.

How would you explain your musical style?

I clearly enunciate when I rap so people can understand what I'm saying. I believe it's more power in your flow when you enunciate your words… it's like Nas and Jay-Z' s flow as opposed to Eminem and Busta Rhymes. But Nas and Jay-Z had the biggest influence on my flow.

What is your general message to the people when they are listening to your music?

Listen to relate.

Now, more than ever, in Hip Hop, especially in New York, you can find rappers on every corner. What is your concept to the way of success?

For me Hip-Hop is my passion, but it’s also my business. People support the music because they see me doing something productive. The key is get a finished product that the people love and relate to and get it to them and ask them to support it by contributing and continue on that path on a continued basis. Build your fan base by performing but get out here in front of the people and if you have what it takes they will love you.

To get your honest views on the future of Rap and the Hip Hop culture, where do you see its future both positively and negatively?

I see new characters emerging in the genre as always giving the world a glimpse into their lives and the world around them from their perspective. I also see Hip-Hop embracing traditional Hip-Hop out of NYC and respecting us as trendsetters and originators of this craft we call Hip-Hop. As for me, I'm here to lead the wave… that Brooklyn wave. So wave up! Ride the wave with me. That's all positive, the only negative I see is continued violence in Hip-Hop I'm no saint but at some point we really have to move smarter and do our best to be our brother’s keeper.

If you could collaborate with any two other famous rappers, who would you invite on the track.

Nas and Jay-Z.

What projects can we expect from you in 2015?

A solo LP. The EP I have out now is called “Rise Of The Zenith”. It’s available digitally everywhere. It’s five tracks with collaborations with my label mates and homies. My solo LP won't have any features, it will show my versatility as an artist. I'll touch on personal experiences, trials and tribulations and my triumph over them. We all stumble and fall but we have to get back up.

Where can fans find you online?

The EP “Rise Of The Zenith” is available on iTunes Google Play and other digital distributors. You can find me on YouTube at www.youtube.com/urbsnsoilmusicvideos and if you wanna reach out to me hit me up on Instagram @TheGreatBrooklynStreets. You can also sign up for the newsletter on www.brooklynstreetsmusic.com. - Yo Raps Magizine