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Reppin
area code 704, Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina by way of
Shelby, North Carolina, stands
the South's best-kept secret: Phenom, A testament to the theory
that cream always rises to the top.
A
superior rapper with the mind of a hustler and the drive of a businessman,
Phenom is as commanding as he is versatile. He understands that
hip hop is not just music, but a way of life, his lyrics providing
a window into the lives of southern communities that struggle everyday
to survive.
Hailing
from Charlotte, North Carolina, this nimble-tongued rapper grew
up during a time when turf wars between neighborhood gangs had turned
the city's streets into a bloody battle zone, and when Charlotte's
crime rate was ranked among the highest in the US.
No
doubt, Phenom's early years provide the soundtrack to his rhymes.
His love for his hometown and the south clearly dominates his music.
From the bricks in New Jersey to the slums in Bankhead, he reps
for the southern cities youth struggling to escape the hardships
inherent in growing up young, black, and poor. "Back then it was
hell in my hood man; if you left your block, you had to roll deep.
Sometimes it would be like 10 or 15 of us. When there was beef,
cats would be getting shot left and right…. dudes were getting jumped
for no reason, home life was hectic cause we were living broke…music
was our only outlet…our only way to vent…so that's what we did with
our time…hustled to make a living and rap about the shit that was
going on in our lives."
Raised
by a single mother in a household of 5, Phenom learned firsthand
how to survive on his own. "My mom's couldn't afford to buy me fresh
clothes and shit, but she made sure I had a roof over my head and
food in my belly. Everything else I wanted I had to get it on my
own. Pop's wasn't there for me, so the boys in my hood showed me
how to hold it down on the streets. As a teenager, Phenom rebelled
in typical fashion, leaving home at age 14, hustling on the block,
and eventually getting caught and going to jail. After his experience
with jail at an early age, Phenom vowed not to return, and he realized
that he had to do something positive with his life, so he did what
he does best, "spit fire." Realizing that music was his ticket off
the streets, Phenom got on the grind, writing, producing, and perfecting
his skills that has earned him the respect and the right to be Phenomenal.
Now
with more than 200 songs under his belt and the incredible work
ethic, Phenom is wreaking havoc on the industry - repping the South
to the fullest and warning any MC to" take a step back."
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