The King is Here: Chicago Artist Nick Kingz Releases Debut Mixtape

I grew up on the west side of Chicago and I've lived there almost all my life. I've been through a lot, to say the least, and music has always been the easiest way for me to tell my story and best express myself.

Keep your head up and don't be afraid to reach out to people. Networking is definitely a major key. The music industry is all about the fundementals and who you know. Never discount hard work though either. Hone your craft and develop your skills. It doesn't happen overnight.

Nobody's perfect and neither am I, so yes I've definitely made mistakes. To be honest, to handle those situations, I just keep going no matter what. If I mess up, I usually improvise and continue the show. The adrenaline kicks in and auto-pilot turns on. If nobody notices, then you've done your job.

I haven't actually been on a tour just yet. It's in the works though. Would love to do the collegiate circuit and get my music out to some of the most loyal fanbase you can have.

I currently record at Fort Knox Studios with producer/engineer Ramen "Rambo" Neesan. I usually make demos beforehand at my home studio, using Ableton Live and occasionally Pro Tools.

I share as much as I can with who ever I can, whether it be on Facebook, blogs, forums, etc. My manger helps a ton with promotions as well. A good reputable PR firm is definitely the most effective route. But, the social media grind gives us artists a chance to interact with prospective fans and make those real connections. Don't forget to follow me on social media: SoundCloud – http://soundcloud.com/nick_kingz Instagram – http://instagram.com/NickKingz_ Twitter – http://twitter.com/NickKingz Facebook – https://facebook.com/therealnickkingz

That would have to be J.Cole at the Soldier Field in Chicago. I've always looked up to J.Cole and where he came from. It's always been a dream of mine to sell out stadiums and where better to do it then my hometown. That's when everything would come full circle for me, really.

I actually have a project I'm working on now with Rambo down at Fort Knox Studios all exclusively produced by Rambo himself. For that project, we will be releasing it on all major platforms (iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, etc.). No set release date, but we're cooking up some heat. Stay tuned for nothing but bangers.

To be honest I can't see myself doing anything other than music. I'm born for this.

Everybody should stay tuned in for more fire within the year. We're definitely looking to get on the road and do live shows. Keep a look out for news on local performances around the Chi by yours truly. My website will definitely be up by then and have details on everything I'll be doing.

I'd like to start with my day 1 A1, my manager, Dennis Aguilar, for always holding ya boy down and making my dreams more than just dreams. Big ups to the people showing love on all my social media and supporting the movement. Thank you to Javier "Javy" Collazo for providing them smooth ass vocals on my track "LML." I'd also like to shout out Chance the Rapper for doing nothing but good for the Chicago community and inspiring other artists like myself. He represents Chicago hip-hop to the fullest and I want to do the same. Also, Dom, Justyce and Derrick for being there at the start of a legacy. Last, but not least, I'd like to give a shout out to Ramen "Rambo" Neesan for perfecting my sound, believing in my artistry and providing mentorship at this phase of my career. If you're a Chicago artist that is looking for somebody to bring your music to the next level, look Rambo up at Fort Knox Studios.