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Rapper Willie of Wilshire, Bringing The Wow Factor

Willie Of Wilshire A.K.A WOW is an MC hailing from Downtown Los Angeles California. He has been rhyming and writing music since a young age.

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Rapper Willie of Wilshire, Bringing The Wow Factor
Willie of Wilshire

This month we would like to introduce you to rapper Willie of Wilshire.

Every month, through a partnership with Reverbnation, Unheard Voices chooses deserving artist cultivating their way and making their voice heard in the music world.

As we know, deserving artists often go unseen in an industry that praises mainstream success. Here at Unheard Voices we like to shine light on artists who are not only talented and gifted, but making a difference.

About Willie of Wilshire

Willie Of Wilshire A.K.A WOW is an MC hailing from Downtown Los Angeles California. He has been rhyming and writing music since a young age and its evident in his music.

Born Willie Arevalo from Guatemalan and El Salvadorean immigrant parents and raised in a rough neighborhood of Downtown LA, he developed a love and passion for Hip Hop music as a way to express his creativity which has grown into his life calling.

Songwriter, performer, and owner of his clothing brand I Awoke, he has collaborated and shared the stage with several artists and is always working toward improving his craft.

Interview

Unheard Voices asked Willie a few questions about his craft and where he sees himself going. I can definitely say Willie of Wilshire is definitely an artist you need to watch.

Willie brings his rich culture mixed with some hip-hop flow. He most certainly lives up to his alias, wow!

UV: When did you fall in love with music?
Willie of Wilshire: I fell in love with music at a very young age. My parents would play their Spanish music, Merengue and Cumbias in the house but it wasn’t until I heard Hip Hop that I knew what I wanted to do with my life.

I grew up in an apartment building in Downtown LA and I remember hearing Hip Hop music being played real loud by my neighbors one day.

We had this common area in the center of the building where everyone would hang out and these older kids I looked up too where blasting their music real loud.

I remember hearing Tupac and distinctively the song “Going back to Cali” by Biggie and I just fell in love with Hip Hop, and I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a Rapper.

Plus my elementary school bus driver would always bump Snoop Dog and Coolios song “Gangsters Paradise” over and over every morning on the way to school.

I would sit in that seat and I would tell myself as a little kid that one day it would be me bumping thru those speakers and on the radio. I knew one day that my time would come.

UV: How long have you been creating and performing music?
Willie of Wilshire: I have been creating and performing music since Junior High. Growing up where I did, full of violence, drugs, corrupt cops, prostitutes, gangs, homeless people and vast poverty I turned to rap as a way to vent my frustrations.

I would carry these notebooks to school and write lyrics on the school bus. In High School I formed a club called Hip Hop Fundamentals which consisted of a handful of DJ’s. We would host freestyle battles during lunch and it was there that I started performing in front of crowds.

Willie of Wilshire

UV: How would you describe your music?
Willie of Wilshire: I would describe my music as the soundtrack to my life. My music is an extension of myself and I express my thoughts, feelings, and experiences thru it. I like to look at my music as a blank canvas, where I get to paint anything I want with a beat and lyrics as my brush strokes. I have different sides to me and as such I have songs that portray each of these sides. Sometimes I may want to vent about a certain issue and my revolutionary side comes out when I record a song, other times I just want to turn up and party so I will record a party song. Just depends on my mood. As such I have conscious songs where I am rapping about socio-political issues that interest me, I have songs that are drawn from my experiences growing up in the streets, I have turn up songs for the club, love songs, and songs where I just express whatever experience in life I am going thru at the moment.

UV: What artists have the greatest musical influences on you and your music?
Willie of Wilshire: The artists that have had the greatest musical influences on me and my music would have to be Tupac, Biggie, WuTang, Psycho Realm, Nas, Gang Starr, Canibus, NWA and Immortal Technique to name a few. I like to listen to a lot of different artists but I would have to say growing up these where some of the artists that I listened to the most.


UV: I see you’re from Los Angeles, how have your tapped into the growing Los Angeles music scene?

Willie of Wilshire: I first started performing in the underground scene at local bars and clubs in my neighborhood. From there I met several artists and promoters and just expanded my reach. I started performing at different venues throughout LA from Downtown LA, to South Central, Watts, to West LA, to East Los, Korea Town, Tokyo Town, to the Valley, just anywhere I could do a show.

UV: What is the hardest challenge you have encountered with building your fan base and expanding your music?
Willie of Wilshire: The hardest challenge I have encountered with building my fan base and expanding my music has been financial. I have the talent and the ability to write songs, but having the money to record them, to buy beats, pay for videos and marketing for my music has been a struggle. I have had to balance out work with music when I really wish I could just focus on doing music.


UV: Has anyone ever given you negative feedback on your music, if so how did you react to it?

Willie of Wilshire: Well I get more positive than negative feedback but when I do get negative feedback it just makes me try that much harder to prove them wrong. If it’s a song I am working on and I show it to friends and they tell me it doesn’t sound good then I go back and rewrite it until it does sound good. For me it just has to do more with recognition. When I get overlooked or another artist get’s more time on stage even tho their music is wack, it makes me go harder to outshine everyone to the point that they have no choice but to recognize that I am one of the best and they give me my due respect.

UV: How important and how difficult is it to support your career with your own funding?
Willie of Wilshire: Supporting my career with my own funding has been very important and difficult at the same time. I don’t have any financial backers so I have to pay for everything out of my pocket, whether it be for beats, studio time, mixing and mastering, or music videos, the list goes on. This creates a conflict with having to hold a job and still finding time to write and record music. It’s a constant struggle as I have to sacrifice and choose between paying my bills on one hand or paying for studio time or a music video on the other. Like do I use this money to fix my car or to record my music? It’s tough but I feel it makes me stronger and hungrier to succeed when I do my music.

UV: To date, what has been your best performance? When was it, where was it and why is it your best performance?
Willie of Wilshire: My best performance I would have to say was the first time I performed at the House Of Blues in Hollywood back in like 2005 or so. Since I was a little kid I had made it a goal to perform there one day and so when I walked on that stage and looked out at the crowd I felt immensely happy to have been able to reach my goal. That was my first time performing at a large venue so I will never forget it. The crowd was very hyped and I could just feel the energy as I performed my music. I felt like a true star that day.

 

UV: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Willie of Wilshire: In the next five years I see myself as a successful artist in the music industry with millions of loyal fans worldwide, with hit records and a growing demand for my music. I see myself going on global tours, being able to make a living off my music and expanding into other industries such as acting and business.

 

UV: Do you have any upcoming shows?
Willie of Wilshire: I am working on my next Mixtape at the moment and have not planned any upcoming shows until I get this project done. I want to have some great material recorded before I go back on tour and perform it. The good news is I am almost done with my Mixtape and it wont be long before I am back on the road performing. I have some bangers I can’t wait to perform.


UV: What` current projects do you have out or forthcoming projects in progress?

Willie of Wilshire: Right now I have my Mixtape titled Practice out on datpiff.com and I am working on my next one called Showtime at the moment. I feel I am about 70% done with that one. I definitely feel this one is an improvement over my last project and fans will notice my growth as an artist.


UV: In closing, I would like you to leave the Unheard Voices readers words of encouragement and inspiration, especiallyfor those pursuing a career in music and entertainment.

Willie of Wilshire: I would like to say first of all no matter what path in life you choose, you must always believe in yourself. Believe that you can make it, that you can be successful and live out your dreams. If you can believe it, and picture it in your mind then you can achieve it. For those that are pursuing a career in music you need to work harder than the next guy. If the other artist is in the studio 8 hours a day you need to be in there 16 hours. You want to want it more than the next guy, be hungry be relentless. Practice makes perfect. You need to formulate a plan, put in the work, perfect your craft and when the right opportunity comes along you will be ready. With belief and hard work you can make your dreams possible.


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Interviews

Meet Singer TruSoul Davis

As an up & coming artist hailing from Cleveland, Ohio’s Morris Black housing projects, TruSoul Davis is adamant to keep love in music.

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TruSoul Davis
TruSoul Davis

As an up & coming singer hailing from Cleveland, Ohio’s Morris Black housing projects, TruSoul Davis discovered his affinity for music at a young age, singing in local choirs in his youth.

TruSoul Davis discovers his voice

In his later years, he began to take music more seriously, honing in on his gifts and finding his voice. TruSoul Davis went on to release multiple singles leading up to his first major release “The Tru Experience” to widespread local & international (UK) acclaim.

After a short promotional tour that included various radio station visits & shows such as “The FreeThinkers Tour”, “Indie Acoustic Soul Live” & “Song Wars 5” to name a few, TruSoul looks to make an impact in the R&B scene by “Bringing real R&B back”, as he says.

Unheard Voices had a chance to ask TruSoul Davis some questions on his journey.

Get to know the soul singer below and see why he’s Unheard Voices featured artist of the month.

Unheard Voices: When did you fall in love with music?
TruSoul Davis: At a very young age, probably about 5 years old. I can remember back when my mother used to bring home records from her job at the local record shop and let me just “dive” deep into her collection from artists like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, etc.

Unheard Voices: How would you describe your style of music?
TruSoul Davis: Simply a touch of 90’s RnB with today’s twist.

Unheard Voices: What is the meaning behind your name?
TruSoul Davis: My name came from me and a friend of mine listening to music. I started to sing the song we were listening to with a lil bit more sauce then my friend was like ” man you sang that with some true soul ” so I just dropped the “e” and put it together.

Unheard Voices: What does your work aim to say?
Trusoul Davis: With my music, I sing songs to the hearts of women and the minds of men showing the up’s and downs of love and life, good and bad, and just trying to keep ” love” in music because we need it.

Unheard Voices: What or who have the greatest musical influences on you and your music?
TruSoul Davis: There are just too many to name. I can name a few to keep it brief; artists like Luther Vandross, Donny Hathaway, Johnny Gill, Dave Hollister, Michael Jackson just to name some ALL PLAY A GREAT PART IN MY MUSIC.

Unheard Voices: What has been the biggest challenge you have encountered during your journey with music?
TruSoul Davis: The biggest challenge I have encountered is being my own worst critic, and just trusting the process.

Unheard Voices: Where do you see yourself musically in five years?
TruSoul Davis: I can’t say but what I will say is “where ever hard work and consistency gets me”

Unheard Voices: What is next in the works for TruSoul Davis?
TruSoul Davis: Dropping a video to my latest single “Wildflower” ft my homie Big Trip. Shout out my shooter Logan Kyngston also some big shows coming this summer.

Unheard Voices: What do you like to do in your free time (outside of music)?
TruSoul Davis: Outside of music I love spending time with loved ones, working out, and doing something proactive for those around me friends and strangers alike.

Unheard Voices: In closing, I would like for you to leave the Unheard Voices readers words of encouragement and inspiration, especially for those pursuing a career in music and entertainment.
TruSoul Davis: Some words of encouragement for those grinding just like me “keep ya head down stay focused stay sharp rock with the people that rock with you just like that and TRUST THE PROCESS stay consistent and results will come”.

Check out him on Reverbnation.


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Interviews

Missin Peace holds police accountable with national misconduct database

Missin Peace is the only national police misconduct database that collects formal civilian complaints against law enforcement.

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Missin Peace national police misconduct database
Envato Elements

Missin Peace is on a mission to connect the dots when it comes to police misconduct.

For decades, many Americans have suffered various forms of brutality and injustice at the hands of “bad” law enforcement officers.

With the upsurge of cell phone cameras, citizens are finally able to document their interaction with police. The unfortunate murders of
Daunte Wright, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and many others have galvanized the masses to demand justice.

Police officers are intended to be public servants, but what happens when the officer is accused of misconduct?

Sometimes, a civilian puts in a complaint in a step towards holding the officer accountable. But only a small percent of complaints result in the officer being disciplined —partly because the accusations are hidden.

Records of misconduct are filed away and rarely seen outside of their department.

Investigators can’t take action against corrupt officers if they are missing the pieces of the puzzle regarding stories of misconduct.

That’s where Missin Peace comes in.

How Missin Peace works

Missin Peace is a national police misconduct database that collects formal civilian complaints against law enforcement.

Missin Peace organization

 

Released in 2017, the registry offers two type of accounts.

One, it enables civilians to put the formal complaints they filed against the officer on record. Civilians are able to submit the official civilian complaint along with pictures, videos, and other accompanying documentation.

Two, the database also serves as a portal for investigative journalists, hiring managers, and civil rights attorneys to conduct research. For this type of account, users must contact Missin Peace to be granted access.

Currently, Missin Peace is the only national police misconduct database that allows citizens to follow and find any police officer’s history of complaints. The organization’s goal is to increase awareness on the database to be used as a tool for police accountability.

Check out Unheard Voices interview with Missin Peace founders:

For civilians who file their complaints on the database, personal information is stripped from the complaint, assuring complete anonymity.

The intent is to put on record police misconduct without fear of retaliation.

Traditionally, corrupt law enforcement officers have been allowed to transfer from one department to another and avoid the repercussions of their actions. To circumvent the recycling of corrupt cops, the American public and politicians finally understand the need for a centralized database of citizen complaints.

Missin Peace is here to fill in that void.

How to submit your complaint(s) in the database

If you have filed a complaint against a law enforcement officer, Missin Peace encourages you to put your complaint in the database to fill in the missing pieces. It doesn’t matter how old the complaint is, as long as it’s official.

To visit Missin Peace, check out their website and spread the word with your loved ones.


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Interviews

Rapper Chad Watson Is Poised To Become LA’s Next Rising Star

Chad Watson is a lyricist, songwriter, producer, and classically trained pianist based out of the Los Angeles area.

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Rapper Chad Watson
Chad Watson

Chad Watson is a rapper, songwriter, producer, and classically trained pianist based out of the Los Angeles area.

Who is rapper Chad Watson?

His roots began in the church at a young age where his love for music manifested. But it was only a few years ago that he started taking music seriously and he’s never looked back since.

His deep appreciation of acts like Andre 3000, transcends into his own style. He is the quinessential artist that is poised to become one of the biggest acts in the country and he’s well on his way.

With his growing buzz, he has appeared on various media platforms and now Unheard Voices.

We had the chance to chat with Chad Watson, asking the music artist questions on his journey.

Check it out below and click here to listen to his music on YouTube.

Interview


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