Exposed Vocals just sat down with Laquinn for an exclusive interview
Growing up in the inner cities of Virginia and travelling cross country has helped shape this artist. After multiple run ins with the law as a juvenile only honor roll and maintaining a higher education helped save this man.
Coming from a single parent family where his mother set the tone for do what you do to the fullest has driven this artist to succeed.
A life that mirrors “Forrest Gump” in having alot of interactions with influential people from George Clinton to Dave Matthews to Snoop Dogg, you can hear his influences in his music.
Crafty with lyrics packing alot of: double-time, off-time and multi-syllables. This artist leaves no topic untouched and or style.
Tune in because backed by a foreign and local following of “Quiet Hip-Hoppers”(no comment just listening and grooving while completing work or school) this artist is prepped to make a huge impact.ey hows it going. My name is LaQuinn; Im a hip hop artist,and you may or may not heard of me but…. Im an up and coming artist extending his services to you guys.
I have a couple albums out as well as videos. I am a stage veteran that would like to rock a show for you guys or get you to listen to some of my music..
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4wHpKmkgoRq7h583h9MHpf
Bandcamp:
https://laquinnofficial.bandcamp.com/album/el-bueno-la-mala-y-el-feo
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
I grew up mostly in Charlottesville, Virginia ;the home of the Virginia Cavaliers. I just fell into music because of my families ties to it and love for it. My uncle Johnny was a world wide musician that toured with a lot of people and his humbleness showed me music can be cool so as I got older I started to follow his path but only difference is I grabbed a mic. My whole family is into music but not all got to pursue it as far as I have. Like my younger cousin got hooked on crack and had a promising future which in return made me go harder.
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?
Cultivate your craft and pray,pray,pray. Procreate your songs and play,play,play.
I say stay positive and get in peoples faces that control venues or book shows if you want it that bad. Bake em a cake or send em a gift card anonymously and you would be surprised at how many people will take them.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Yeah, I fell once but I played that off. That was due to set design failure. Other than that I am really hype on stage and it pours out of me fluently. I love the stage and crowds, especially when I dont know the people I really can open up.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Yeah , I’m actually on the “Super Smash Bros Tour” now with my brother Gill and a couple of other rappers from my region. There’s always something going on like a couple weeks ago we were in the wrong VIP like we owned it but we didn’t know due to the club layout. Bouncer came and let us slide because the other people didn’t say anything.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
My studio upgrades are mics. I want this A6 microphone from ADK.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Honestly, I do everything from grass-root campaigns to media company campaigns and I have found that word of mouth and face to face is the best. I like the idea of street teams and personal human contact because it makes a better impression.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
If I could perform anywhere with any artist it would have to be my late Uncle Johnny Gilmore. He was a top level drummer and we were supposed to start something before he died in the house fire.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Yeah I just dropped my album “217” and its getting a couple of good reviews. My next project dropping May 17th but I don’t have a title yet though. Im always collaborating with a bunch of artist and I have alot of records in the vault. I actually have at least 8 in the cut. The main project I am working on is finding people interested in throwing a festival in my city and starting a culture for our blooming hip hop scene.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
If I weren’t making music I probably wouldn’t exist. I think that my purpose on this earth is to bring things to the masses. I always hear music in my head and its been like this since I was born. It is like a track is always playing.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
The fans should look forward to more good shows, more good music and my heart bleeding on wax.
Exposed Vocals: Any Shout-outs?
I want to shout out my mom Deacon DeeDee, my modelling sis and niece , my bro Gill, my road dog Meryem with MoRockO Films, the whole Ateam, Rapper1, Rickstrumentals,my fans in France,South America,Australia, Africa, Asia and all other areas abroad as well as Ohio,San Diego, Texas and etc in the US, PVCC( for telling me quit), the Charlottesville Police officers who gave me concussions, my favorite teacher Mr. Peter Berwald who told me Im immature but talented. There’s a lot more to shout out but that’s to come.