Today we’d like to introduce you to Konvo Tony Powell.
Hi Konvo, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My artistic journey was manifested while I was pretty young. However it did not start with music. My artistic journey began somewhere around elementary school. That’s when I can first recall my earliest memories of drawing, acting out scenes, scrap art, etc…
All I indulged in was fueled by something that no matter how much life I have lived to this day has never seemed to die…my imagination.
Now my journey as Konvo started around this same time. Though I would not know it. Long before I had fell in love with music, these other art forms would shape how I wanted to share my creativity.
My mom used to play Eric B and Rakim’s “Microphone Fiend” as we would ride from home to my grandparents house when we lived in New Jersey. I was immediately drawn in by what he did and wanted to express myself in the same manner. Though I loved listening my taste would look for more, and growing up in a Christian household didn’t always allow me to listen to what I desired. However I found a way to listen to Jay-Z, DMX, 50 cent, The Lox, Snoop Dogg, even that would grow into OutKast, Lupe Fiasco, Nas, and so on.
It wasn’t until I reached middle school that I started writing poetry, and not until freshman year in high school I started building the confidence to write rap lyrics. I started out pretty mediocre…I was made fun of and told to quit. However I wouldn’t let it stop me. I kept writing and writing and became better, I studied others and stayed myself, it was in college that Konvo was officially born.
I would take every opportunity to be on stage, I didn’t care if it was battling or performing I was going to do it. I took out time to try and rhyme words from the dictionary which would feed my ability to freestyle. Eventually these skills would land me on a reboot of BET’s Freestyle Friday…performing on A3C. Festival Stages in Atlanta, as well as other major opportunities.
To this day I still perform, and am still making music whether it be freestyles, features, or this major project I’m currently working on Guerrilla.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not entirely smooth, but I believe where there is resistance there is purpose.
I could talk about everything in my artistry that made it hard for me, but it’s really just the usual things you learn to push through as an artist.(like seeing the things I see in the world and relaying it in a way that can be received)
Then there are the spots where life happens to Antonio Powell. That affects me a lot. However as much as those things are obstacles once you conquer them they show you more about yourself. One aspect for me is my faith. I am a Christian, and I’m am not afraid to talk about that journey as a believer. You can have faith and be realistic. You can have faith, and not be judgmental, hateful, or condemning.
So the biggest obstacle is always how I deal with staying true to my own belief. Conflict is not evidence of weakness it is only evidence of opposition.
Other aspects include when my brother was killed, when my grandfather died, even having to start life over sometimes. These things all built my path and give me perspective.
However bumpy the road is though, I won’t quit riding.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a hip-hop/rap-performing/ recording artist with a gritty style focused on soulful hooks and intricate lyricism. I like to think of myself as a spiritual warrior.
I am more on the conscious side of things, but can write to anything. I like to focus on mental and spiritual health by looking at the root of the issue while also showing that it can be overcome. I specialize in my lyricism/writing. However I would say I’m most known for my ability to freestyle with no written work prepared.
I am most proud of a specific moment where someone in the audience came to me and told me that every time he sees me perform or hears me rap he thinks about his life.
I am most proud of that because it proves to me that I can touch one person at a time and that if we can talk about together…we can make the changes and be the changes we want to see. I love to have fun, I love it when people sing my songs. Nothing beats affecting a person in that manner.
What sets me apart from others…is that I’m not afraid to talk about some things people are afraid to address in my community, and the world. While I’m sure there are others who are similar to me. What sets me apart is how my gritty voice and demeanor and flows deliver that information.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy…if I could make a list I would say my faith, my son, my family, working out, seeing other people win, and eating….I love food.
A lot of these things really just provide a form of contentment.
Happiness I believe is found within self…so even if I didn’t have all those other things, it is up to me to find happiness or better than that peace.
My faith keeps me grounded and peaceful, not harmless but peaceful. That in and of itself makes me happy.
My son makes me happy all the time. I could watch him play for hours and just observe his imagination unfolding, he makes me laugh, and sometimes on my worst days that’s all I need.
I love working out because it just feels like a good consistent reset and is good for mental/physical health.
Pricing:
- Bookings-Konvo919@gmail.com
- IG Konvo919
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/konvo919
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/7Gm6LFCTSjM
- Other: https://youtu.be/7ATQzxCA3Is?is=RMx2EDQueiisuiLQ
