Westleaf Staff
What's up Leafers? Welcome to the latest edition of On the Rise where we interview upcoming hip hop talent. Today's guest is rapper, IKNOWMARK. Mark's melodic bars and success driven content paints a vivid narrative of his life experiences and rap success. We can definitely see him performing on major stages such as Coachella or Rolling Loud. The rising MC is making a buzz in his city so we had to tap in with him. Check out the interview below.
Westleaf Staff: What's up, Mark? Your sound is dope! When did you start making music?
IKNOWMARK: I started making music in 2004 in a small town outside of Harrisburg City, PA.
Westleaf Staff: That's dope! What city do you represent?
IKNOWMARK: I was born in Harrisburg PA and moved to Florida in 2013, I've lived in 5 different counties in florida and plan to travel even more. I'm gonna keep my business operations in florida but where I reside probably gonna change often. Miami is cool, Orlando, Tampa, I be around there.
Westleaf Staff: Shout out to those towns! So how did you create your stage name?
IKNOWMARK: My name is Mark and people know me or have heard of me, so when people talk they be like ayy I know mark. Now when they see me they really like Ayyyyy I know Markkkk.
Westleaf Staff: That's a dope name. It's super creative. So how did your early life shape your interest in music?
IKNOWMARK: I just remember my older sister watching TRL and MTV back in the day. Up until that point it was classic rock and metal from my parents. When I heard rap for the first time it was over, never looked back.
Westleaf Staff: Cool! So who is your biggest Musical influence?
IKNOWMARK: I look up to a select few people who have made it independently in the music industry, some of those being Russ & Caskey.
Westleaf Staff: Dope! I feel that. Those are legends. What's been the defining moment in your music career thus far?
IKNOWMARK: When I decided to build a platform for myself and other artists called Always Active Media and working with some talented people in a small amount of time, but the defining moment for me was performing on stage and feeling the rush.
Westleaf Staff: That's dope! Congrats on the success. So what makes you a unique artist?
IKNOWMARK: I know I don't sound like anyone else and the style of music is different. Like it's still rap and influenced by 90's hip hop and early 2000's rap but its more conscious and I guess. more self aware. Im really just promoting self empowerment and manifestation.
Westleaf Staff: Dope! You're super unique. Manifestation is key. So what does art mean to you?
IKNOWMARK: Art is everything to me, it's creative expression, it's honest, it's whatever you want it to be and that's the cool part.
Westleaf Staff: That's deep! Where do you see your music career going over the next few years?
IKNOWMARK: UP
Westleaf Staff: I wish you much success! Before we go, describe music in three words.
IKNOWMARK: Timeless, Relevant, Important.
Follow IKNOWMARK:
@Markkjoseph on Instagram
@iknowmarkk on Twitter
@iknowmark on youtube
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