www.twitter.com/MeloKAN

MIL: Take us back to the beginning, how did you get started in the rap game?

Melo Kan: Picture a college dorm room with a standing lamp shade serving as a platform to hold the mic, a closet, and dual cassette w/ CD player component as our actual recording device and one guy whose job is specifically to start and stop, play and record (our engineer) [laughing]. Then picture three cats from three different walks of life, one from New Orleans, one from Oakland, and one from LA. All hungry. There you have my first real introduction into the rap game.

MIL: That's what's up. Tell us a little bit about the name Melo Kan? Where did it come from and its meaning to you?

Melo Kan: Melo comes from my naturally laid back demeanor. KAN is an acronym for something I'll let yall do the digging on that [laughing].

MIL: [laughing] okay well look into that! Moving on tell us, at what moment did you decide to seriously pursue a career in music?

Melo Kan: I've always toyed with the idea, but one day while sitting at my desk at a nine to five, I just about had it with "the routine". My spirit wasn't engaged, I was just becoming another wandering soul, not really making an impact in the world. I had the gift of music, which came naturally, so I figured it was about time to take this gift seriously and reach as many people as I could with my voice.

MIL: That's interesting, I'm sure many hidden talented people can relate. How would you explain your lyrical style?

Melo Kan: My style is a bit unorthodox at times. I try to keep some level of entertainment with my word play, while at the same time painting pictures of out right truth. I play with entendres, metaphors, allegories and such, but a lot of times you don't need all that to touch a person's core with something he/she just feels is the truth. That's what makes people like Jeezy so popular. He's not the best lyricist but you feel his stories because they are so believable.

MIL: True. Where did your love of music come from?

Melo Kan: I guess I can credit Moms and Pops with that. My mom was a singer in my pops band back in the day. He played the congas. They told me when I was around the age of two, how I stayed on the drums and messing with pops instruments and stuff. So I guess I got it honest.

MIL: Who is Melo Kan the artist?

Melo Kan: Melo Kan is someone who creates music to evoke emotion from my listeners. I feel, when I touch your core, you will be a fan forever; not just at whatever moment I just happen to be "popular". I want to be someone that you tell your kids about when they get old enough to appreciate music. Kinda like when I first heard Marvin Gaye. I was like mom who is this? It just sounded good and his words were so effective, they moved the spirit and touched the soul, even to this day. That's the kind of artist I am.

MIL: How would you describe your sound to somebody who never has heard your music before?

Melo Kan: [laughing] I just say you have to experience my sound for yourself.

MIL: What was life like for you growing up in California? The city of Compton to be correct.

Melo Kan: Same as it was for every other kid growing up black in America [laughing]. It's not that funny though in real life. I'm just happy to have made it this far, because so many of my peers did not. My success shall be the stepping stool for every dreamer who wants something better than the hand this life's dealt us.

MIL: Who were your Hip-Hop idols when you were growing up and why?

Melo Kan: Pac was undoubtedly the biggest. I could write a dissertation on "why" but to keep it simple, I saw his vision. Although he got distracted, I still saw his vision. I am fruit from that tree.

MIL: Your accomplishments thus far would include?

Melo Kan: I think my biggest one to date is recieving the people choice award for album of the year at the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards for EPU. That was the last official album I released, so you can imagine what this next one will be like...Yeah game over.

MIL: Yeah, make sure we get a copy! Who do you admire in the music industry that drives you to grow and be better?

Melo Kan: My list is short and sweat with sista Badu, Andre 3k, and vets like Ice Cube and DJ Quik. Just to name a few.

MIL: Definitely much respect there. Moving froward, who are your Top 5 Rappers Dead or Alive?

Melo Kan:Pac, Big, Eminem, Black Thought, and Andre 3k. Yeh dat!

MIL: Okay okay, What separates you from other artists in the game right now?

Melo Kan: I get that question a lot. There isn't much difference. We're all dreamers trying live a better life. I guess the main difference is what we are willing to say and do in order to achieve that better life. Personally I can't sell out my people for success. But that's just me.

MIL: Can you tell our readers about 4LB Musik?

Melo Kan: 4lb Musik is my label I formed back in 2002, in an effort to take care of my business before my music. I have artists I am grooming now and we definitley will be a force in the game in the near future. As of now I'm the flagship artist and my role is to pop things off.

MIL: What's it like being independent and doing so much on your own?

Melo Kan: Extremely difficult. I have to put my own money, efforts, blood and sweat in to it. But when you believe in something that much, the Universe has no choice but to concede. I will WILL my success to happen.

MIL: Those are deep words. Do you think Hip-Hop has gone too commercial or the poetry of Hip-Hop has disappeared?

Melo Kan: Mainstream Hip Hop yes. But, poetic and meaningful hip hop is very much alive thanks to the internet. All you have to do is look for it.

MIL: What do you have dropping soon? Do you have an EP or mixtape on the way?

Melo Kan: I have an EP on the way this summer. Still Untitled. The next album "Heart of the City" should drop next year. Until then, go pick up my latest project "Unkomfortable Silence" on ITUNES!!

MIL: Who or what inspires you to keep on pushing every day in such a tough industry?

Melo Kan: The alternative. I could keep pushing to make it or I could become an unimportant waste of space. I refuse to become another life less soul in the wasteland of dream killers. As far as "who" inspires me, all the babies. I want to change their world.

MIL: As of right now, who does Melo Kan listen to, what's on your iPod? and would you like to work with any of those artists in the near future?

Melo Kan: Right now I'm bumping Dom Kennedy, Kendrick Lamar, Blu, The Roots, Killer Mike and Big Boi. I'd work with all those guys.

MIL: Outside of the music, what else are you currently working on?

Melo Kan: Right now I'm planning a toy exchange banquet to reach some of the children that are in the system (group homes, foster care, wards of the state, etc). Let them know that some body cares about them and give them some inspiration to become the great leaders of tommorrow.

I'm fresh off a clothes drive we did for the homeless in downtown LA in March of this year. You can see the video of it on youtube (Melo KAN - So Kold) and hit my website to participate in the next one.

MIL: What can we expect from you for the rest of 2011?

Melo Kan: This EP slated to drop! I'm making some serious noise! I wanna shoot a video for every song on it so you will definitley see my name and face more this year.

MIL: Can you tell our readers where they can find you online?

Melo Kan: Keep it simple Melokan.com and http://twitter.com/MeloKAN

MIL: Music Is Life Magazine would like to say thank you for taking time out your busy schedule to do this interview with us. Do you have any last words for your fans?

Melo Kan: Thank you Music Is Life Magazine giving me this amazing opportunity. Last words... If you wait around for some one to give you permission to be great, you will never do anything. Get up and go get it! Respect.