Interview With Hip Hop Artist Anthony Kannon
Anthony Kannon is an artist who is on the rise. Hailing from Ithaca, New York, the artist has been called the “best rapper” in his area. Check out our interview with him below:
— Interview Below —
Tell us about your background getting to where you are today?
“For the majority of my life, I was in a single parent household-staying with my father and younger siblings. My mom let drugs consume her life, and kept going in and out of prison. At times we would be crammed 16 people in a 3 bedroom house, trying to make the best of our situation. I could never forget my roots. I excelled in school and sports, but music was always my true passion. My everyday life experiences led me to confine in hiphop, and use it as an outlet during rough times.”
Where are you from?
I’m from a college town in upstate New York-called “Ithaca”. It’s most known for for being the home of Cornell university and Ithaca College; two very respected schools. I’ve lived in many different places, but this is no doubt my “home”.
When did you start music?
“I started writing music soon after my mother got incarcerated for the first time; I was 7 years old. I wrote an a-cappella verse, that resembled spoken word poetry. It was about my life and how I felt at the time. I started recording at 10 years old, and releasing music at 13.”
How did you get into music?
“I got into music from a consumer stand point. I love, and always have loved every aspect of hip-hop; from the sheer culture, to the music itself. I always wanted to try, but I didn’t have the words to articulate what I wanted to say. My older brother (Zach) started rapping casually, just for fun. He’s years older than me, but I would stick around and practice with him; it made me want to get better and better.”
What is the most challenging thing you have overcome in your life?
“My upbringing was pretty tough. I went through a lot of things that I know would’ve broken most people, but I never let it deter me. One incident in particular that stands out, is when I got shot a couple years ago. There was an attempted home invasion at my house, and I was shot during an altercation with the perpetrator. This has left severe physical, emotional, and mental trauma that I have to deal with on a regular basis.”
Are you currently signed or independent?
“I am currently independent, but I am a proud member of the up & coming juggernaut “Smacked Records”. We have a deep and truly talented roster, I can’t wait to see how it plays out.”
Who inspires you the most musically?
“Tons of different answers I could say here. My father motivates me to be the best artist/man I can be every single day. No question. Music itself is a huge motivator; whenever I hear a song from a dope artist, I get inspired and want to be better myself. It just fuels the fire.”
What do you want people to take away after listening to your music?
“I want people for the most part to genuinely understand the picture I’m painting. Whether you relate, sympathize, respect, or hate what I am saying-I want it to connect and resonate. I tell stories of real life experiences, trying to use witty wordplay to incorporate more figurative elements into authentic writing. Nothing feels better than touching somebody with the words you’re saying.”
Any new music coming out soon?
“Absolutely. I will be dropping a new song every two weeks until I decide to drop a project. There should essentially be new music flowing from me for the rest of the year. Keep an eye out for “Simple & Plain”, on all streaming services on May 1st.”
What is your greatest achievement as a musician?
“That is a tough question. I have worked with countless artists that I have looked up to since a young age. That’s something that always makes me happy to think about. The foundation I built in my city, the core fanbase that I’ve established, is probably my greatest accomplishment to date. Also, organizing successful shows with crowds of almost 300 people. These are a couple things that come to mind.”
— End of interview —
Follow Anthony Kannon here:
https://www.instagram.com/anthonykannon/
Listen to his music here:
