Today we’d like to introduce you to Ray Pearson.
Hi Ray, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Ray Pearson aka The Bar Khrist aka Suave Ramón. I started writing raps as a dark parody of what my older brother was rapping about. Hip Hop was always in my household so I grew up listening to artists like Naughty By Nature, Notorious B.I.G, Jay-Z, Nas, Run DMC, Kurtis Blow, KRS One, Kris Kross, etc. It wasn’t until I heard The Slim Shady LP by Eminem & Capital Punishment by Big Pun that I told myself “I can be this good at rapping?” and from there it was take off. Started writing at 12 and have been recording and making music since I was 13 years old. I was 13 years old showing up to open mics an hour before the promoters and security arrived to avoid being I.D’d since I was underage. I signed an independent record deal in 2009 and my music never saw the light of day due to a falling out I had with the CEO of the label after I relieved him of his management duties due to him shooting down a showcase where I was invited to perform versus having to sell tickets to perform. Since then, I’ve continued to make music and perform at open mics and showcases. As I got older my views on showcases changed and I feel a majority of showcases do nothing for artists and do nothing but take artists’ money where artists never benefit from performing in a room full of other artists. I performed at my first festival in 2019 and that’s been my mission ever since. I’d rather be a festival artist than a showcase begging artist. Through determination and dedication, I’ve also been fortunate enough to be a 4-time independent award winner. I started my podcast “Quarantine & Rap” back in 2020 when the pandemic began as a way to work on my engagement and starting that I had a chance to interview some artists I love listening to as well as up-and-coming artists to learn about their journeys. I want the viewers to be able to learn from their journeys and apply the knowledge to their journeys.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
No, it’s not been a smooth road. You deal with many disappointments. I’ve dealt with a ton of Yes’ and nobody shows up. I’ve dealt with a bunch of No’s but then see videos of “supporters” sitting in the nosebleeds to other shows. I’ve dealt with and still dealing with being my own everything from my own manager to my own booking agent to my own A&R. I’ve dealt with promoters telling me “You’re not ready” and “You’re not serious” because I wasn’t ready to flush money down the toilet as soon as they gave me information about a showcase. This isn’t the myspace days or the physical street team days. Social Media is now the streets and building an online presence is the go-to. Now it’s “you have to have a budget in order to….”. This journey isn’t easy. If I can do everything from making beats to shooting my own videos, I would do it because everything costs. This isn’t an easy passion.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Puerto Rican Hip Hop/Latin Hip Hop artist who’s also the host of Quarantine & Rap. I’m most proud of the dedication I have for making music and doing my podcast. What sets me apart from others is my passion and my hunger for music and podcasting. The more I become better the more in love with music I become.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice for those who are just starting out is to make sure this is something you want. Do your homework do your research like really DO YOU RESEARCH! You might find a pot of gold and have a “hit” but if you don’t have a follow up then you’re done. Don’t follow the trend be your own artist. Tell your story. Be real. Finesse the suits and do it your way. Don’t worry about getting a manager you don’t need a manager you need a good PR. Getting a manager at the beginning will do nothing but put your money is someone else’s pockets.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.itsraypearson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsraypearson
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsraypearson
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsraypearson
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/raypearson
