Exposed Vocals Interviews TENCHRIS

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?  

TENCHRIS: I’m Christen by name but you can call me Chris A.K.A Tenchris the Rapper, I head from the western part of Africa “Nigeria”,lagos state to be precise, I chosed to become an artist because I was born into a music loving family,the love and passion mums got for music and the heart felt sensation Dad always make when he’s favourite song came on, made me realise that music heals the body, soul and spirit, suddenly it became part of me and as the last child of my family, my journey into music world started by the age of 14 but due to inappropriate funds or cash to stack up records, all I did was write down my lines and always engage myself in rap battles and during get together I do freestyle with my friends, in 2010 I was featured by Crew called Illa Tunes which comprises of 3 in mates (Olek, Cap T and SiQ da innovator), their CEO saw the inertial in me and thought I was dope enough to be on their track Illa tunes ft Tenchris – I pledge, and after that I was featured by another afropop singer Indo by name with song tittle Indo ft Tenchris-iniminimanimo, later on met with a group of rappers, the DESCENDANTS XI and we did a cypher which I was featured on “Cypher 101”
And finally 2016 was the year I finally get to stack up record titled slayers mixtape which comprise of 12 tracks from Love scene, Genesys, olosho, hustle, soul train etc was leased in last week of may 2016.
So far, i’m not satisfied with the low progress cos my mixtape barely made it off the street!
But i’m not giving up on that, cos no guts no glory, the journey have just begun!

I’m not just a Rapper but am equally a POET!

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

TENCHRIS: is very simple, I got my stage name from my real name Christen, I was called Chris during rap battles and my intro as the doppest MC of the hood goes as thus
It’s your hommie Christen on the M.I.C let’s take it back to when Chris was ten, moma was broke the boy couldn’t stack up records but right now am Chris running ten figures you can call me Tenchris!  And after the whole sensational moment,the name Tenchris came to be through the rape game! Hiphop is my motivation and rap is my inspiration. My POET part came to be when I discovered how powerful every words we say turn out to be! Words are certainly priceless but the way we use them determines it’s cost.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

TENCHRIS :music sharing is great, it helps an artist gain grounds, fans, recognition,and from day one, i’ve been running my promo by myself with some couple of friends, did share all my songs for free, after recording with my last penny i’d give it all out online for free, I needed to gain ground nd recognition, I can’t compare my songs to some works out there but I definitely did what I had to do to make it off the street, but i’m still underground as yesterday!

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

TENCHRIS: sure, i’m ready to do what it takes so far it’s good music we’re talking bout, make a classic jam, one in a million hit song and stack up life changing records! I’d advice every artist, band or group of musical intellectuals to put in their best, hard work,time,effort to make sure their song make it to both local and international radio stations, television channels and every way possible to get a visual or airplay!

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

TENCHRiS: Every artist is bound to make mistake, once there’s mistake, there’s progress, mistakes implies that you were only trying to beat who you were yesterday, so when I make mistake, I don’t let that put an end to my performance, for instance I went to a show, was performing and DJ stopped my song, I continued irrespective of the main song, cos I was conscious, extra careful to avoid failure and the show turned out great cos I was the best they had that night!

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about? 

TENCHRIS: I tour but not much, i’ve been to Benin Republic Cotonuo and that’s where I schooled too, so I went to beach tours, raggae night, and right here in Nigeria, i try my best to keep up with my fans and keep the crowd entertained! At first they would be wondering who the nigga is but when I hop on the m.i.c am like a god of the stage! Energetic performance full of live.
I take them back to the 80’s,90’s then 20’s the new school! “I’m the real definition of rap!

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?  

TENCHRIS: I get my inspirations from everything around me, the people, lifestyle, culture and nature, I love nature so much that every drip of its beauty inspires me! Perfect love stories and research to keep up with trends also!
The way I write my songs, I do paper work which is the frame work then I do modifications on my phone, make it simple but word packed like a dictionary that every single line carries a heavy message, if you put your mind down, you would understand my pattern cos it goes with my rhythm and reference to that is Love scene, Climax, olosho, the hustle, and genesys! Etc.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

TENCHRIS: I don’t have a band website yet and the platforms I lease my songs on are soundcloud.com, dropbox.com ,dopefilehost.com, datafilehost.com,

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

Tenchris: bout 1 or 2 tracks which were not properly mixed and mastered, due to insufficient funds and zero support from nobody, so I probably did all by myself! But all my tracks carries a heavy message, metaphors, verdicts, word-plays, heavy punchlines and my raptitude is A1!

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?  

TENCHRIS: wow, half a million US dollars is enough to gain proper grounds in the music industry, i’d probably get a studio, stack up records both audio and videos then run a viral promotion on it and make resourceful ends from the work then double the income! I’d try to have profits, gross profit and extra gross profit, Planning is very essential, but time is the basic commodity, i’d carry out my research on the mass, then discover their pressing wants and needs at that particular point in time! I’d split the cash into 3! One for music, one for business, one to maintain the finance and well being of the team!

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?  

TENCHRIS: my first official Album titled “RAVE” comprise of about 12 tracks!  it features my struggle, as a kid who barely knew silver spoon that hustled from grass to grace and he’s journey from zero to a hero. That’s my new project at hand.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

TENCHRIS: The Media such as tv,radio and other resources ways such as the Internet, social media!

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why? 

TENCHRIS: wow,wow,wow, Yes I will love to embark on such journey of greatness cos i’ve always wanted a world music tour with the world best rappers! The body,soul and spirit! Kendrick lamar, J.cole and Drake, these are my hiphop godfathers and reasons because they are the soul and life of new school hiphop and I like been different from the rest, uniqueness makes one exceptional!
Working with trends would make you last and survive in the industry!

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

TENCHRIS : As an unsigned performing and recording artist, i’d like to work with your platform, maybe work on my new project together “THE RAVE” this is my first official Album titled “THE RAVE” which comprises of about 12 tracks including, dancehall, trap, core rap, soul rap, hiphop, afropop because it features my struggle, as a kid who barely knew silver spoon that hustled from grass to grace and my journey from zero to a hero. That’s my new project at hand.
i’m writing a book too, titled Essence Of Existence!

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?  

TENCHRIS: I just graduated, i’m a paramedic student, a nurse, so if I probably not save lives through music, i’d be saving lives at work, the case is how many lives am able to transform and touch during my quest!
While I still keep to my POET part, i’m writing a book too, titled Essence Of Existence!

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?  

TENCHRIS:
Sure did remember, had a very nice time with my friends, the cheerful and resourceful feelings been able to fix something for yourself apart from helping people fix up their mess! It’s hilarious, I felt so extraordinary and the joy still reign in my heart till date.
I felt the joy of accomplishment

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?  

TENCHRIS:
Sure, I put all behind my career, every moment inspires me, every situation be it good or bad either motivates or equips me to prepare for what’s coming, I always believe that what’s ahead of us is better than what’s lost! So let’s do what we love and love what we do!

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?  

TENCHRIS:
Dropped my slayers mixtape in last week of may 2016, but the jam barely made if off the street but sure made it to the club bangers! Y’all expect something real, dope,the boys journey just begun, time to make real history! I AM TENCHRIS, A RAPPER and am about to thrill you with my new album titled “THE RAVE” but before that chill with my mixtape titled TENCHRIS-SLAYERS MIXTAPE