PHENOM
Dec 2014
Who are you?
I am PHENOM, aka Nomenon—I didn’t come, I was sent! Soon to be one of your favorites. Period. Upon God’s permission and grace, you’ll get to experience what I’m all about. Big-ups to UNDR RPBLC for helping to spread my light to the world, let’s get it.
Where do you live?
Currently, I live about 4 blocks from President Obama’s residence in Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois—where murder and violence aren’t the only things happening. I stay surrounded by young hopefuls, and some of the most talented artists and revolutionary soldiers you could ever meet.
What do you do?
I help change lives through hip-hop training, and running youth development and empowerment programs. I emcee, I rock shows, I pray, I study the game, and I allow the hip-hop legends to embody me as I travel this country/world re-igniting the love of hip-hop that lives within us all.
When did you start?
I started rhyming when I was 13 years old, before I became a freshman at OPRF High School (the same school that Ludacris went to before moving to Atlanta, Georgia, during his sophomore year). The cypher, the battle, and the respect made me jump up and try my hand at rocking mics—and I’ve done very well. And there’s still so much story left to be told…
How was your first show/performance?
My first show was the shit: You can go online to see it right now. I was in a group with my man Laheem, and we were on the same bill as a young Kanye West, live at the Double Door. Michelle Obama was mentoring me at the time, and hip-hop was alive and well—before all the money-grabbers and culture-vultures left us with the skeleton of hip-hop that is today.
What would you like to gain from your work?
A spot in hip-hop history, the love and respect of hip-hop’s elders/pioneers for being true to its original purpose, and to give back to life on a larger scale.
What would you like your audience to gain from your work?
Spiritual empowerment, musical inspiration and cultural motivation. In other words: I want them to live!
Who or what are your biggest influences?
My biggest influences are God, family, pain, success, Nas, Jay Z, KRS ONE, Lupe Fiasco, Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Kendrick Lamar, The Roots, Fela Kuti, Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. and Sr., my children and LYRIC Squad.
What keeps you up at night?
The constant disappearance of the original spirit that hip-hop brought me when I first touched it.
What’s next?
My I Didn’t Come I Was Sent tour: Denver, Colorado; Columbus, Ohio; Madison, Wisconsin; New York, New York.
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