Introduce yourself
I’m an artist, poet and youth mentor from Chicago, IL. Previously released music under Scheme, but have recently transitioned to just using my last name for music releases, which is Navarro. I’ve been active in the Chicago scene for some years and have also played the back role for the last couple of them. Finally looking forward to releasing new music soon.
After taking some time off from releasing music, today you drop your new song Sin Sangre En Las Venas. Talk to us about this single. Why did you decide to drop this song as the debut single?
Sin Sangre En Las Venas is the intro to the album. It just felt right to let it be the first thing out from this project. Started off the record with the radio tuning in and out of Mexican joints I grew up on, to a documentary clip talking about corridos, to a hard beat by the homie Nascent. It’s a combination of both cultures that raised me. Which is why I’m rapping in Spanish and English as well. I’ve come to terms with the kind of music I make and what my purpose is with it. I’m just here to perfect my craft, release the kind of records/albums I feel are a reflection of myself and speak for a population that hasn’t really had a voice in Hip-Hop.
Your upcoming project is going to be called Modern Mexican Art: Radio Sonido. What had inspired this project for you?
The title came later, but these were some of the records I had written and worked on during the time I wasn’t releasing music. I was slowly stacking songs and planning releases. Modern Mexican Art is actually a three project series. Radio Sonido is the first of the three. The Modern Mexican Art part of the title is more so just stating that my music is a representation of modern Mexican art. It’s taking influences from what our Hip-Hop forefathers gave us, but incorporating my perspective as a Mexican-American man from Chicago. Radió Sonido came from how we tied all the songs together to make sense.
On top of the music, you also run an after-school program in little village/Lawndale called Beats and Bars where you teach teens how to write, record and produce records/albums. How important is it to mentor and give back to the youth?
It’s been the sole reason why my creativity stayed active these last couple of years. My students kept me on my toes creatively and helping them put together their projects has been an extremely fulfilling experience. It’s meant a lot to be able to teach someone else a skill set that I taught myself. Knowing that there is value in what we know and being able to give someone else the tools/guidance along the way has been powerful.
Have you thought about expanding it and offering it in different schools?
Yes. We actually are currently speaking to a couple other high schools, churches and juvenile facility centers that are interested in having a Beats and a Bars program for their communities. Hoping to really focus on expanding the program in 2018.
This year you put out Ni De Aqui, Ni De Alla. Could we expect more writings from you in 2018?
Hopefully. Publishing my written work, in general, is definitely something I want to tap into more, but it’s also a new world to me, so I’ll gradually be making my way into it.
When it’s all said and done how would you like to be remembered?
As someone whose sole purpose was to serve. Whether that was through my art, through my music program or the other work I do away from music. My intentions have always been good and my heart has always been in the right place.
Chicago Creatives 