Rising Stars: Meet Dmitriy Kono

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dmitriy Kono.

Hi Dmitriy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Like many other songwriters, my journey began with poetry. However, it wasn’t long before I was captivated by the power and energy of rap music. I remember walking through Santee Alley in DTLA when the song “Hello” by Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and MC Ren was blasting through every vendor’s speakers. I was enthralled by the vocals. I was little so the lyrics didn’t click for me, but the emotion captivated my attention.

Fast forward to high school – that’s when I discovered my passion for writing rap lyrics. I was in a small rap group. It was short-lived, but we inspired each other while we worked on music. A lot of fun memories remain from that time.

Over the years, music and I had an up and down relationship. Mostly because I wasn’t able to fully commit and she wasn’t able to give me everything I wanted.

In 2015, I decided to spend more time writing and releasing projects. That year I recorded and released a project titled Dedication To DJ Premier. It was a nine songs project with me rapping on various DJ Premier beats. I made sure to keep the flow on the project old school to give it a more nostalgic feel.

Soon after, from 2018 to 2019, I began releasing one song per week for 50 weeks straight. Those songs became the 50X50 Playlist. It was a grueling task but a lot of fun. When I began to work on this concept, I only had about 3 or 4 songs ready. All of the songs that I released after were recorded on a biweekly schedule. Not only did it push my creativity, but it also pushed my pen-game flow and improved my delivery. It was like a bootcamp for nearly a year.

Later in 2019, I began working on a new project – an LP. However, once the Pandemic happened I found more time to really focus on what I wanted to accomplish. As a result, I record and released four EPs in 2020 that became part of The Alchemy series (available on all streaming services). The project allowed me to delve deeper into my thoughts, beliefs, story and where I was mentally at the time.

In 2021, I found myself releasing several singles to DSP while learning more about sync licensing. 2021 opened the door to new ventures for me in music.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My road definitely had some bumps, detours, U-Turns and stop signs on it. At times there wasn’t any progress because life “got in the way.” However, I think that everything happens for a reason. At times I didn’t take matters into my own hands where I should have.

There were times in my life where I felt upset and frustrated with myself and my journey because I had been in studio sessions around people who are now household names. However, looking back at it now, there’s nothing to be upset at. It wasn’t my path. Regardless of how bumpy the road was, I ended up exactly where I was supposed to end up.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a Hip Hop artist and songwriter. I was born in Moscow, Russia. My family and I immigrated to Los Angeles when I was seven years old. Growing up, I had to learn the English language, general American culture and the many subcultures of Los Angeles.

What sets me apart is 99.9% of the time, I’m the only Russian to be in any given Hip Hop venue or any studio session. That can both be an advantage and a disadvantage.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
There’s a saying in Russian, “The one who doesn’t risk doesn’t drink champagne.” I’m a firm believer in betting on yourself and taking risks. Playing situations safely means you’re an average. There’s nothing wrong with being average and there’s no need to be flamboyant. However, taking calculated risks, such as applying for that job you don’t feel qualified to do, performing in front of people when you’re terrified or asking someone out who you feel is out of your league is necessary for growth.

Like they say, “If you don’t ask, the answer will always be ‘no’.”

In my opinion, risk-taking is the same. If you don’t take the risk, you will always be stagnant.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dmitriykono.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmitriykono/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dmitriykono/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/dmitriykono/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/dmitriykono
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/dmitriykono
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Rrtwzril6Ev2xijGh74aM?si=6HTOSLjlSdacZ-ax76Nxuw