Meet: Prince Kofi The Vibe Maker

IG: @ForeverKofi

NAME:  Prince Kofi
LOCATION: Mid City LA
TALENTS: Writer, Singer, Rapper, Vibe Creator

How do you describe your music sound/vibe?

This is a hard question for me. I usually like to consider myself an enigma, because as a writer, I have created sounds in almost every genre, and even as an artist I love to venture anywhere from Hip Hop to R&B, to Rock Soul, Neo Soul, and some things in between. At the base of it, my sound is one you can trust, one that makes you feel good, no matter the mood, like comfort food, or a warm embrace.

Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere, whether from life experience, memories, stories friends tell me, things I see, do, or even am around. Sometimes I tell someone else's story, sometimes I blend the past with the present, just depends what kind of journey I want to take the listener on.

How did you get started in music? What's the ultimate goal?

When I was young my mother put me in the church choir, she couldn't sing so as soon as she heard me she kinda lived through me, had me singing at graduations around town and stuff like that. There are a lot of people who know me as the young boy who sang R. Kelly "I Believe I Can Fly" in my hometown. It grew for me from poetry writing later as I continued to hone my craft. 

My ultimate goal is to one day expand my fan base and tour the world, meet people from all walks of life, ask them how they connected to my music. This way I can bring fans together, bring more people together and use my influence to be a voice of change, just to leave the world better off than I came to it. I really wanna use this gift to heal, hopefully I can get that chance sooner than later.

What are your thoughts on "mumble rap"?

HA! I mean I know that things will change and evolve, I think that some of it serves its purpose, we have more access to information in the past kids that age wouldn't even have a studio, now we got everyone making whatever comes to mind. Some of it is artistic, Yachty, Uzi, and more like them created their own lane. My question is if it will be timeless, I mean their generation might play that when they are old, but I don't think it will last like that not all of it anyway, there are some songs that can stand the test of time, but overall I think it'll phase out over the next decade or so.

If you could collab with any major artists, who would it be and why?

That's a tough one, I would say Pharell. He understands music in such a different way, and I think he could bring the best out of me if we worked together. If you read this sign me! Haha.

Which do you enjoy more - creating R&B songs or Hip Hop slappers?

I enjoy R&B more because I can really take someone on an emotional journey, I can really pull things out of them that they didn't even know they were feeling. Rap is an art in itself don't get me wrong, but I feel R&B sometimes can be harder to craft, a real story a real feeling and vibe.

Where do you see Hip Hop in the next 2 years?

I see it still changing, still evolving, and presenting us with new sounds, vibes, and waves we didn't see coming, but it's up to the fans, so I hope that it continues to grow and change for the better. It has a responsibility to be the voice of a disenfranchised people, we can't forget that. We must pay homage, and do the duty that Hip Hop was created to carry out, I'm just along for the ride.

 

Meet Brandon Allen

NAME: Brandon Christopher Allen
AGE: 29
TALENTS: Lyricist, Poet, Actor
LOCATION: Inland Empire

What made you want to start your own clothing line (Poetically Adorned)?

I literally stopped doing poetry. I retired for more than six months. I fasted before God and committed all my talents, dreams and desires to him, and asked him to reignite my life in purpose. I went to a conference in Chicago and received a very vivid prophetic word about my purpose and about businesses opening up for me and creative forums to be able to get my voice out and it would leave a legacy for my daughter. I immediately went to writing and praying and God gave me a vision for a clothing line that makes impact by taking what's inside of me and pour it out on those in need. 

How did you get into spoken word?

I literally have been writing poetry since second grade and I won my first competition. Poetry saved my life. When I was suicidal and attempted to take my life twice in 7th grade, I vented my pain through writing. What once was a dark outlet turned into a place for freedom. My first real poem was in 8th grade and it was filled with emotion, pain, tears, blood and questions...literally! It transformed me into delivering messages of hope, refuge and escape. 

Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

I am inspired by culture. I see people everyday getting sucked into the everyday cultural norms of society and not exploring outward. So I want to jump in that river with a creative advantage. Knowing I have a source or idea portal that transcends time and thought. I'm more inspired by old school hip hop icons like Karl Kani and old Kanye. I like to describe it as modern fashion meets urban creativity.

Where do you see Poetically Adorned in five years and when can we anticipate the relaunch?

I see it in multiple stores as well as having its own new style store that doesn’t fit in your everyday box. I anticipate relaunching in mid-September looking into a fall release. 

You also started your own entertainment company with Co-CEO John Billinger, The Corner Ent. Why did you decide to begin this type of company?

I always desired to give an avenue and space for the creative to let loose and be empowered to soar. I believe in enlightening the hearts of the people and why not create a stage for that? To give people truth through the eyes of their peers and artists alike. 

When's The Corner's next big event?

We have a couple on the horizon, but we have a new type of experience coming. We are doing an all white party that isn’t your everyday shin-dig. It's an experience that will take people through culture while grooving and tasting their hearts away. 

How has your faith played a role in creating your own apparel brand and entertainment company?

MY FAITH IS THE FOUNDATION! IT IS EVERYTHING! WITHOUT IT, NONE OF THIS WOULD EXIST OR BE POSSIBLE OR BE A REALITY!

Click on the image and visit Brandon's website. Follow his journey on social media.
@iamelisha3