Today we’d like to introduce you to Rassan Hicks
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started rapping and writing poetry in middle school. I was a big fan of artists like Outkast, Murphy Lee, DMX, and Dr. Dre growing up as a child. When I first began writing it was admittedly just something cool and entertaining to try. I wasn’t completely sure what I was doing or why I felt compelled to script different patterns and rhythms of speech, but as I grew older I understood the pull and power of music, rhythm and poetry. I did small performances for fun growing up, but when I was first put on stage at a Black on Black Rhyme open mic show in Tallahassee, FL, I truly fell in love with the craft of writing, performing, inspiring and influencing people through creative works that reflect real life. Shortly after joining BOBR I formed a poetry/ Hip-Hop duo with my close friend Duwan Morris called ‘LxngStxryShxrt’ and we wrote several poems, songs and a mixtape called ‘To Be Continued’ and began pursuing a life as an artist while still attending Florida A&M University. We released a lot of material on a joint Soundcloud account and then I eventually began creating and performing as a solo artist under the name San Alexander. I grew as an artist creating two solo projects many single tracks available on all music platforms. Today I still create as an independent artist and entrepreneur striving to motivate and inspire not only other artists to continue to express themselves as they wish, but anyone who is a fan of my art to persevere and succeed in whatever endeavors they may pursue.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely been rough road for me as an artist. I have been ignored, overlooked, discouraged, disrespected, doubted etc. I have lost friends, disconnected from family, been through several failed relationships all while trying to find myself in my art. Just about every negative emotion has hit me in the midst of living life as someone passionately attached to their creative artwork. There have been and are times that I simply want to quit because I feel I haven’t excelled as an artist the way I feel I could have long ago. Admittedly, I still have yet to achieve many goals I have set for myself as a man let alone an artist, but I do my best to maintain motivation and continue finding ways to grind things out. My motto is “Keep the Faith, Do the Work,” simple, yet highly impactful words I received from my father many years ago and it helps me maintain what little sanity it feels I have left at times in tact to continue pushing forward. I ultimately believe in the beauty of the struggle and the greatness that struggle is capable of producing. Some of the biggest struggles are money and community. Having the proper funding and the right people around me to assist with my career goals could have possibly smoothed things out a little bit, but at the same time that struggle is what led me to start my business and begin creating opportunities for other people to grow and connect so I am grateful for it all at the end of the day.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a spoken word poet and Hip-Hop recording artist in addition to being an event Host/MC and coordinator. As an artist I am known for my lyrical complexity, flows, and passionate performance and stage presence. My style is often compared to some of my favorite Hip-Hop artists like Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T. and Outkast which means a lot from me having been born on the west coast (Tacoma, WA) and raised predominantly in the south (Central Florida). I am most proud of the fact that I was able to start my own open mic show that gives artists in my area a place to perform, network, and improve their art. I currently have my own business (F.L.O.W.S. LLC) that focuses on creating these opportunities for upcoming artists and performers as well as helping them prepare for more in the future. I have created two full length albums (‘Conversations W/ Contemplation’ and ‘Attitude Adjustment: Ascension’ and several other stand alone songs) all released independently. I have have competed in Southern Fried Poetry Slam twice and I hope to return in the near future to compete and collaborate with artists from all over the region. and I currently host my own Black on Black Rhyme open mic poetry show in Palm Bay, FL. The main thing that sets me apart from other artists is my style and passion for the craft. As a rapper, I write my songs in a way that they are poems when I perform them with no beat. For me, rapping is not only about complicated rhyme schemes, flow patterns, and saying things for shock value. To me RAP is an acronym that stands for “Rhythm And Poetry,” so I write my songs to be entertaining, but the most important thing is getting the message to the listener that moves them in the direction they feel they need to be moved. I also stand out as an artist that puts community collectiveness before self-aggrandizing success. Being a famous rapper was a goal when I was younger, but these days I get more pleasure from connecting to the people in my community through art and I prefer the simpler lifestyle.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
As far as music and poetry go the industry is ever-changing. I see the poetry slam scene becoming more prominent in certain areas and the use of creative writers expanding in the entertainment industry. Big shifts, changes, and trends are expected, but I cannot pinpoint what those will ultimately be or how it will impact the culture. The importance of music and poetry is only going to grow as time goes on because creative story telling and artistic reflections of life will forever be relevant to the human experience. I hope to one day ascend as an artist to the point where I am recognized as someone of great valor and fortitude who continuously inspired and motivated other people to express themselves and uplift those around them. I know that for myself in the next 5-10 years I hope to not only accomplish my first major distribution as a recording artist, but also I hope to have laid the foundation of my business enough to be able to focus on creative artwork full time.I aim to have and be able to make a living with my own label, studio, and means of assisting upcoming artists. I want to make better music, write more impactful poetry, and eventually get into writing screenplays for film and television to expand the reach of my influence. Long story short, I hope to exemplify and spread the concept held in the acronym of my business name – F.L.O.W.S.: Freedom, Love, Opportunity, Wealth, and Success.
Pricing:
- Host/MC: $150
- Poetry Performance: $100
- Event coordination: Will discuss
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.flowsonflow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanalexander_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rassan.alexander.9
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sanalexander4017
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/san-alexander
