← THE STORY ERA I — MUSICIAN · 01 / 11

K.R.U.N.K.
movement

YEARS: 2009 — 2012
LOCATION: Pittsburgh, PA
ROLE: Rapper & Songwriter
WITH: Center of Life (nonprofit)

01 — THE STORY

Before the camera, there was the mic. In high school I wrote and performed with the K.R.U.N.K. Movement: Kreating Realistic Newschool Knowledge.

Part of the Pittsburgh nonprofit Center of Life, the movement gave me my first stage. I wrote original lyrics and performed at local events, and learned storytelling, rhythm, performance and collaboration, the foundation for everything that came next, from DJing to directing.

02 — WHAT I DID

01Writing original lyrics and songs
02Performing at local events across Pittsburgh
03Collaborating with fellow artists in the movement
04Building the storytelling instincts behind my work today

THE CHAPTER — IN THREE SCENES

IHow it started
High school in Pittsburgh: a notebook of lyrics, and a nonprofit, Center of Life, that gave young artists a stage.
IIThe turn
Performing with the K.R.U.N.K. Movement at local events taught me how a room answers a story told with rhythm.
IIIWhat I carried forward
Every edit I cut today still starts there, with the beat underneath the story.

Before the camera, there was the mic.