Ty Scott King is a versatile, award-winning artist who has fine-tuned a balance between poetry and hip hop. Referred to by many as “the Maya Angelou of this generation,” she has shared platforms with a variety of notable industry greats, awed international audiences, and performed at the United States Pentagon.
Ty has successfully showcased her poetic talent on the National Poetry Slam level, founded and toured in the hip hop & poetry group: Platinum Souls, hosted an internationally broadcasted television show, and served as host of her own radio show. Her poetry has been featured in national radio ads, she has appeared on major television networks, and she has garnered multiple long-running successes on the Billboard Music Charts. Her mission is to inspire others to overcome their trials while boldly sharing their God-given gifts and talents.
The Crafty Musician Blog is very proud to feature Ty Scott King in this month’s edition of Artist Spotlight…
So you’re both a poet and a rapper and your music is basically hip-hop with a positive faith-based message. Are there any particular subjects you tend to write about or certain messages you try to get across to your listeners?
I don’t have a particular subject that I tend to write about but I do encourage my listeners to keep faith in the forefront. Also I always strive to leave my listeners with a message of hope.
Why did you choose to become an artist, specifically a poet/rapper?
I would say that poetry chose me at the age of 8 and it became my outlet for expressing emotions I had previously kept bottled up. Then, once I heard my first rap song, I appreciated the artform and mimicked it often. I like to say that I had MC fantasies. LOL. Eventually, I realized that rap was a way that I could further the message of hope and that I was really good at it, so I started to explore it more and it stuck. So, since the early 2000’s, I’ve been weaving along my path and blending both styles.
Do you remember what that first rap song was that had such an impression on you?
I remember clearly the day one of my brother’s brought home Criminal Minded by Boogie Down Productions (KRS-One & Scott La Rock). I’d heard rap before, but it had never impacted me like that. The lyrics were clever and positive. Plus, as a Jamaican being raised in America, knowing that KRS-One had Jamaican heritage gave him instant clout.
Nice! I was just listening to the Bridge is Over by BDP the other day. That was definitely some groundbreaking stuff that they did and I can see why that had such an impact on you. Also, you picked a great mentor in KRS-One…
So I understand that before becoming a solo artist, you were in a group. How did you end up going on your own and what were some of the challenges you had to overcome during that transition?
I ended up going solo because after 8 years, the group had run its course. When we initially came together, it was just to help each other grow as artists and to build our individual fan bases. We didn’t plan to form a group. But, once we worked together and saw that we had instant chemistry, we stuck with it. Then time ran its course and we knew we needed to part ways in order to keep growing.
My biggest challenge was my confidence. Before the group, I was gaining success as a poet. I’d gone to the National Poetry Slam Finals three years in a row, featured on projects, and I was starting to do a lot more events. But then I spent 8 years founding and growing the group, so I honestly wasn’t sure if I could (or even wanted to) be a solo artist again. Plus, I didn’t know if I should just focus on poetry or if I should continue rapping as well. I also thought a lot about if people would/wouldn’t receive me. But, through a lot of prayer, soul searching, and wisdom from those I trusted, I came to see that I was destined to use both poetry and hip hop as tools. Once I got that clarity, it was full steam ahead.
Yeah, it seems like you’ve got to have clarity and confidence in what your purpose/direction is before you can really go for it…
Absolutely! Once you’re self-confident, very little can hold you back.
Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of mainstream female rappers end up getting marketed as sexual objects. Meanwhile, you’ve done a great job of avoiding that trap by continually putting out positive and uplifting music. Has it been challenging to go against the grain in that regard and do you think being an independent artist has given you more freedom to be yourself and choose your own path?
Going against the grain is always challenging. But, I know that a huge part of my life’s purpose is to connect people and that requires standing in the middle and not quite fitting into any space fully. I’ve accepted that and fortunately so have my family, friends, and fans who encourage me to keep going.
Being an independent artist has definitely allowed me to do my thing to the beat of my own drum. I’ve had some interest from labels and distribution companies throughout the years, and it would have helped to have those large entities behind me, but I would have given up more than I wanted to creatively. So, up to this point, I’ve decided that it’s best to continue to forge my own path as an indie artist.
How long have you been a full-time musician and how long would you say it took you to go from side-hustle musician to full-time?
There have been years-long stretches in my career as a musician when I’ve been full-time. The first time I went full-time was after about two years of doing 1-2 shows almost every weekend. I started to really let go and trust that my art would pay the bills.
How often do you perform now and what kind of venues do you perform at?
I perform live about 4-5 times a month, so roughly every weekend and some week days. My usual venues are colleges, churches, festivals/outdoor events, cafes, and featuring at open mics.
I would think that being both a rapper and poet, while also doing positive faith-based hip-hop would allow for some unique opportunities. Is that true and if so, how?
Absolutely! I get to fit into a lot of different spaces. Sometimes poetry is all that’s requested/needed, sometimes I get to just rap, and other times I can bring all of me to the table. I’ve had many amazing opportunities, such as the honor of being one of the first poets/rappers to ever perform at the U.S. Pentagon, appear on TBN, and take the floor at the LA Auto Show. Because of my positive message, I’ve also been called on to add a different flavor to some major events where I was able to share the platform with quite a few well-known hip hop and r&b artists. I’ve also garnered awards and landed magazine covers and write-ups in both the faith-based and non faith-based arenas, so my audiences continue to vary and I love it! It keeps me well-rounded and on my toes for sure.
Wow, that’s quite a resume! I’m especially intrigued by your performance at the Pentagon. Can you tell us a little more about that?
Sure. At that time, I was still in the group and we were connected to an organization called The Fellowship of Holy Hip Hop. We got a call one day from one of the organization’s co-founders saying that he had been asked to speak at the Pentagon and he wanted to bring my group and a couple other artists along. I got to do both music and a solo poetry performance. It was an incredible honor! Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed in with any recording devices or cell phones due to the high level of security, so I just have to hold on to my mental memories.
I understand that along with being a full-time artist, you’ve also got some side hustles, which is very common among independent artists. Can you tell us a little about the other things you do to help fill out your monthly income? Also, what percentage of your monthly income would you say is from your music, versus the other things?
Yes, I have a few side hustles. I like to say they’re helping me use my English degree even more. LOL. So, I currently have freelance contract gigs as a book editor, a tutor, and a coordinator for a publishing company.
I’d say the percentage is 60/40 (leaning more towards the artist side).
That’s great that you still feel like you’re using your degree as well as your gifts in other ways. How do you deal with the financial uncertainty that can come from being a full-time independent artist?
I was always really great at saving, so when I realized early on that the financial terrain as an indie artist can be rough, my “storing up for the winter” senses were able to kick right in. So, I save as much as I can from every opportunity. My husband, who is also a musician (a producer and rapper), is a great support as well. I was a solo artist for many years before he and I met, and together we’ve continued to navigate those financial ups and downs. But, for sure, saving has been the saving grace.
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Oh cool, I didn’t know your husband was an artist as well. I’m sure being in the same boat allows you both to understand and support each other even more…
Yes, I don’t even want to imagine how it would be if he didn’t understand this lifestyle/calling. He’s a great encourager (especially when bookings get slow) and soundboard for my millions of ideas, and I do my best to make sure I support him fully as well. Plus, since he produces, I get first pick of his beats… for free. It’s really awesome.
Nice! A recurring theme that we’re noticing with the full-time independent artists we interview is that they all seemed to have had a moment where they had to redefine what being a successful musician was before taking the plunge. Did you have a moment like that and if so, what did it look like for you?
That moment is on-going for me. LOL. I have it monthly, especially after assessing my wins and growth-opportunities (never losses) from the previous month. Whenever I start to feel like I haven’t been successful, I remember that I started along this path out of a love for the people and the art form, not a paycheck. I’ve defined and redefined success many times. My current definition is doing what I believe I was put on this Earth to do… provide hope.
I think you might be onto something. It’s like defining success by whether you’re following your passions and calling in life, while letting the other achievements and accolades follow along as bonuses…
Exactly! You put it better than I did. LOL.
So I understand that you’ve been featured in several Radio Commercials, which is really cool. Can you tell us more about that?
Yes, I’ve done jingles for clients such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and Aveeno. They all allowed me to do the jingles in my own poetic way, and one of the jingles I did for Pizza Hut actually won a Silver Mic Award for jingle of the year. I’ve also done voice overs for hotels.com, cruise ships in Trinidad & Tobago, and several other major and private clients.
Nice, I’d love to hear some of those…
Unfortunately, none of the jingles are available online at this time, but here’s a super cool international project I was hired to do in 2017…
Wow, that’s very inspiring. Thanks for sharing. You’ve also been on a few television networks including BET and TV One. Can you tell us more about that…
Awesome experiences for sure! My first music video was directed by Christopher “Play” Martin from Kid ‘n Play. That video (“Til 6 in da Morning”) aired on networks worldwide, including BET. I’ve also had the opportunity to be a musical guest on shows that aired on BET as well as on TV One. I also hosted at TV show called “On the Yard” that aired on a major network. I actually came across some old footage of that recently, and it was encouraging (and hilarious) to see how much I’ve had the opportunity to do just from using my gifts and talents.
Yeah, it really is impressive to see where your gifts have taken you. Where do you see your career going next and do you have any exciting projects coming up that you can tell us about?
Of course, I’ll continue to push myself to maximize my growth in both the poetry and hip hop arenas. I’ve also been diving into the songwriting space by writing for singers/vocalists. At my core I’m a writer and I love singers, so I’m excited about those opportunities.
I recently released my new single, “Glory,” along with a music video. And I’m going back to some of my previous songs/poetry pieces and creating visual content for those- both videos and live footage. Beyond that, I’m planning some new releases for 2020. Outside of music/poetry, I’m also a two-time published author, and I’ll be releasing at least one new book in 2020.
That’s great! Do you have any advice for other artists looking to go full-time?
For artists looking to go full-time, these are the top 3 things I’ve learned (in no particular order) that I hope will be an asset to you as well:
- Save as much as you can before you take the leap.
- Never stop believing in yourself/your purpose.
- Stay connected to people who support you, will tell you the truth (even when you don’t want to hear it/it’s not favorable), and encourage you to grow.
That’s all really great advice. So where can our readers find you on the internet?
For all things Ty, it’s best to visit my website: www.tyscottking.com. From there, you’ll be able to click the links for all of my social media pages, watch my videos, book me for upcoming events, etc.
Well Ty, we really appreciate you sharing your story on The Crafty Musician. Definitely keep up the great work and we wish you and your husband the best!
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