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Ben Harris Tells Us About His Journey & His DIY Skills!

I got the chance to chop game with Arizona/Las Vegas’ own Ben Harris & it the convo was amazing. He’s been at it for awhile now & does it all himself. Find out more about his process and progress as an artist below!

Whats goin’ on pimp! Thanks for your time and doing this interview. You have a different sound altogether which I believe separates you from the pack in a great way. What made you start down the lane you are on & have you altered your flow throughout the years or has it remained pretty consistent?

What up A.D! First of all I want to thank you for this great opportunity and for reaching out to your fellow Lightskin.  I appreciate you saying the sound “separates me from the pack” because I am just being myself.  I moved from the Midwest to the Southwest so maybe I had subliminally combined a fast talkin’ pimp vibe with laid back West Coast.  I was always battling on the radio and at parities so I made sure to focus on the actual wordplay, cadence, and bars over street cred since most the homeys   I was with was affiliated to the South Side and I was fresh from Ladoga.

I used to write full verses in my notebook then when I heard a beat I would just do the whole thing filling up every syllable possible.

Now I usually play the beat and kind of freestyle melodies and lyrical concepts first so I am doing exactly what the beat is telling me and not getting in the way at all.  I’ve learned to let the ‘one’ of the beat breath sometimes.

Like Gary Vee say’s “dont be romatnic to old ways” so I figured there’s no need to interrupt a viscous dab and ruin any good vibes, but in between any pauses ill let em’ know what’s up.

BTW, congratulations on your newborn! How are you enjoying the dad life?!

Lovin’ it!! Gav has been a big part of my new motivation to finish what I started with not only being one of the best engaging live performers and entertainers, but also to finish what I started out to do, which is to compete as one of the best artists and lyricists in the game.  When he grows up I want him to see I fulfilled all of my dreams and then realize it is possible for him as well. Thanks Gav!!

You’ve been in Indiana, Phoenix and obviously Vegas — describe your journey for us..

I was born in Mesa, AZ, then left with my Mom while my Dad stayed in Phoenix (to become the first black City Engineer).  We moved to Fallbrook, CA. for 6 years, then moved to the small town of Ladoga, IN.  I finished elementary school and started high school at Southmont.  That was a very crucial time in my life as I gained my roots, manners, confidence and built life long friends while living with my brother Kaelan and sister Gretchen.  I also learned how to work hard and put family first from my Mom who now co-owned her own Civil Engineering Firm. Being the only minority at the entire school (or in the county), was actually the opposite of what many may assume.  I was friends with everybody from every click.  During the school dances they would always form a circle and cheer while busted out decent Usher moves. I was voted in the homecoming court and was fast in Track but there was definitely something missing.

I would often visit my Dad in the Summer and he would be bumpin’ the new Dre, Snoop,  Pac, Biggie and everything else I wasn’t hearing back home.  My brothers Troy and Ish would make videos performing and Troy started to figure out how to record ourselves over beats. I would also visit my Grandma in Gary, IN and watch Video Soul all day then record it so I could watch it back in Ladoga, where we didn’t have BET.

Back home I would lean on my desk and look out at the cows in the field next to the school and burn inside to get to the big city and do my thing.  I would make homemade videos of me performing to Usher and Ginuwine songs, way before youtube. Then my Mom let me move to Phoenix, to finish high school at Desert Vista with my Dad.

I instantly was around so many people that looked just like me and listened to the same music with the same ambitions of making their own. My brother Troy and new best friend $ike instantly formed a group with our homeys (RIP) Nino and Dre, and performed songs at school that we would record in my Dad’s house.

How was college life like down at ASU??

ASU was a great experience, I definitely learned how hustle the most during my 4 years on campus earning my degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Broadcasting.

I had my own campus radio show, tv show, and booked numerous shows on campus under the alias, Ol Green Eyes. I would design my own flyers then print them out at Kinkos then walk the whole campus putting them up (way before IG obviously).  I would record my music in my dorm and then and print my CD labels  until my ink ran out.  It was fun to perform and do my shows as the hip hop dude with with bars, then anchor the news in the morning as Ben Harris, the clean cut Broadcasting student.

I recorded the “Ol’ Green EP” with my friends Woody and Dax and my homey Ace Black was in a fraternity so he promoted the hell out of the project and had me perform at all his parties and events. During that time I entered my song, “We Gon’ Kickit” into a national contest, “The Next Hip Hop Supastar” hosted by Xzibit. I became a finalists and got a lot of press around campus as a college student in a Hip Hop contest. I was always freestyling with the athletes at parties so it was only right to do an ASU Football Anthem called the “A-State Shuffle” with starting players, Nate and (RIP) Reese. They came by my apartment and knocked it all out in one night.  The next day I was hearing it all over campus. It was one of the best feelings to perform with the whole team on stage, the energy was crazy. Right when I graduated I joined that band that would replace “Zowie Bowie”’s residency at Barcelona in Scottsdale since they just got a deal to play in Las Vegas. Performing with a live band was such a great experience. I love the energy of rocking out with live instruments.  That is why I include them in my shows today.  From there, we followed Zowie’s lead and got a deal in Las Vegas with Station Casino’s.  At that time, I auditioned for the winner of America’s Got Talent and started performing at The Mirage with Terry Fator.

You now work on the Terry Fator show here in Las Vegas – how did that come about and what do you do for the show?!

They loved my energy at the audition and I got the gig. It was initially  to play walk in music and MC, but Terry liked my asked me to do an opening dance routine to get the crowd going and it worked. The biggest thing I have learned, and love, is the ability to uplift souls out in the crowd.  I try to engage with every person that walks in individually and do my best to make sure they are starting the show on a high note.  Terry is the nicest person and so great to work with.  His story and talent is very inspiring as well.  I find my self doing more and more every year and get the opportunity to travel the country as part of the road show.  We have a blast and 8 years later it is definitely like a  second family.

Top 5 Favorite Rappers of All Time…

Jay Z

Eminem

Twista

Pac

Biggie

Obviously it was a very close race..

Favorite munchie of all time..

Shooo Imma have to go with the Chili Cheese Fries from Del Taco since they were my first actual munchie.  I don’t think they even make them anymore (damn).

Soooo I actually just found out that you can sing a couple weeks ago due to your song, “Reason To Smile” — as a fan I would like to request more songs like that!

Fasho!! I’m glad you like it.  I write all kinds of songs for different genres for my self and others. So for “Reason To Smile” I wanted to do more of singer songwriter type vibe and save the rapping for the end.  I had the demo recorded and Terry Fator’s drummer, John Wackerman hooked it up with his friend Mark Gray, who engineered at The Palm’s Studio  to re-record it there.  It was such a cool experience to have every musician in Terry’s band to come through and record everything live. I love the way it turned out.  I wrote a song for my wife, “Wrapped Up”, and performed it to her when I proposed.  It is the next one we are going to record with the same vibe.

You’re a very do-it-yourself kind of artist which I really respect. You record out of your home studio and do it all yourself. Do you find that limits you creatively at all or takes too much time?!

It definitely can but if you allow certain hours or days to be for creativity like writing and recording and others for busy work like emails, social media and mixing then you can balance it.  I often have trouble deciding when a mix is done and then not putting it out when I intended to.  This year I will work on not being such a perfectionist and get it out to the fans on a more consistent pace.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years??

Being a great father to my then 6 year old son, Gavin while continuing to be a great husband to Natalia.  I’m not sure what the platforms or ways to gage success will be but as long as I continue to feed my fans with what they want and perform to my best abilities then I will be happy. I will always uplift souls hustle to be financially stable to provide for my family and give back to those in need.

What is the hardest thing about being an independent artist?

Probably treating yourself just like any other boss at a job you enjoyed. It is too easy, at times, to push back a deadline or something since I have only myself to.

What can we expect from Ben Harris throughout the rest of 2017?!

This year I will work hard to make sure I stick with my deadlines and roll out plans for my fans.  They don’t deserve me to be a perfectionist and keep all the good stuff to myself.  You will consistently see and hear new heat from your boy throughout 2017.

If you could tell the readers one thing, what would it be?

Always believe that you are going to do what you want.  It can be easy to think you are derailed or not on track to your dreams but as long as you remember where you are going, work hard, and be a good person, your GPS will find the route.

Thank you for your time broham! More work on the way!

Twitter: @BenHarrisTV | Instagram: @BenHarris