Today we’d like to introduce you to Notorious Note.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Miami Florida, as a child my mother and father would always sing around my crib, and they would harmonize cover songs or create their own.
So I’ve always had a musical background and was raised in the church as well. Although you know things aren’t always ever perfect. My mother and father split up when I was six years old leaving me and my older sister to be with my mom. But despite the divorce my Mom was always a hustler and a go-getter, she worked three jobs and adopted 10 other kids on top of all of that, so my family was always big and crazy. During my middle school years, I was that kid that would be at the lunch table beating on the desk and coming up with songs not getting any school work done. I got in my first rap group with my boy Chris Webb and Zo called Regal gang. My first year in High school, Lil Wayne was super HOT at the time I was coming up so he was always my core inspiration to start rapping. I did my first tour with Regal gang, we went to North Carolina, Virginia, and Delaware and we opened up for Diggy Simmons. That was my first ever major crowd performance it had over a thousand people out there, just cheering and screaming our names.
Performing on that stage in front of the bright lights and seeing different girls mouthing their phone numbers and throwing themselves at me just did something to my soul and that’s when it hit me and I knew I wanted to be a superstar! Couple of days later after all the hype died down I got back home and I got straight to work. My older cousin came over that following weekend and he heard my music that I have been cooking up and then I started freestyling for him, and he went crazy!! He said “Cuz you are way too nice to just be sitting in Roanoke VA, I really believe in you bro and I think if you save up enough bread like 2K you can move up to the big city Washington DC and stay with me for a few months until you get on your feet and find a place.” So a few weeks went by and I took him up on his offer and I was working a little retail job at the time so I bussed my ass and saved up my money and moved out of my mom’s crib at the age of 17 and never looked back. When I got to DC the whole music scene was different but I had no trouble at all finding my lane. My cousin and I hit the ground running as soon as I got out there.
Killing a couple of showcases and really getting my face out there for the first time, with the help of a couple of dear friends my big homie Bishop Twan (R.I.P). He always showed me love and made sure that I got in at a good time on the showcases when the club was the littest. Supporting my hustle and the lifestyle wasn’t cheap, and I couldn’t stay on my cousin’s couch forever so I had to get a job, so I started working as a server and that’s where I met my musical match for the first time ever in life. I heard this guy singing while he was cleaning his tables and I said “what up Im Cnote and he said “I’m Spazz” then I asked him if he does music and he was like ”yeah sometimes”. So I invited him over to my new spot that I just got out in Maryland and I had my little computer and mic set up so we vibed and I played him my music. And then for an entire year straight this dude listened to my music before we even made a track. Like every time I saw him he would be cranking my music in his earphones. Which was crazy because when we made our first song finally together, it was magic, and everyone in the city knew it was game over. Fast forward 2013, I was in my 2nd year of college working two jobs and trappin, that’s when things started going up in my life. I was making fast money, and I was that guy in college throwing the wildest dorm parties and having the studio in my crib lit 24/7. Eventually, all that partying and turning up and selling drugs caught up to me, and my entire world turned upside down.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I got arrested in 2015 and I was facing huge charges …. A 5-year sentence with three years probation. I got set up to sell 4 pounds to an undercover cop by an evil low-life backstabbing friend who made the introduction back in college. Getting help from my cousin paying all the lawyer fees was only a blessing. I was protected and well taken care of but only because I stayed solid and kept my mouth shut and did my time. I had the best lawyer in Virginia which cost us around 40,000.00 and with that type of money I was only able to drop some charges I still needed up having to plead guilty to the two felonies for the possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. The deal I landed made me sit for three months out of my sentence, but probation for those three years was the worst time in my life. Overall I kept my head in the game and came up with a routine for myself so that I would stay busy and not be tempted to do anything that would jeopardize my freedom. I got a job at Honda and at Long Horn steak house and stayed on the grind for three years until it was over.
After probation, I moved to Atlanta with my cousin and opened up a multimedia production company. We found an amazing office in Buckhead Towers located in the mall. I made a name for myself and the company for the dope music we created and content for the brand. We went by P.O.C Positive Original Creations. After a year of moving around networking from studio to studio, I was able to work with all the dopest producers and songwriters in the city. The connect between Atlanta and LA was a main factor and that’s how I was able to build a bridge over into Cali. I reached out to Serayah from Empire which was one of my favorite TV shows at the time and to my surprise she actually responded to me and said that she would love to work with me. So that’s how I got connected directly into the industry out west super fast. After people seeing my gram and me working with her it opened more doors for my career and bigger opportunities for me, I got into my first studio out here called Green Tea Studios out in Culver City.
My boy Ursa hooked me up with a great rate and always took care of me. I was able to really lock in and develop a sound, and all my clients had a spot where they could feel comfortable and cook up hits. Everybody in the city started to hit me up after seeing my Instagram grow up to 200K in over a year. Staying consistent is the one thing that kept me thriving my entire career so. Now Im working with all the biggest producers and songwriters in the game, and Im currently about to drop my hit single ” Italy ” featuring the Cat Daddy. This amazing track happened on accident and I had no idea it was going to be my most favorited song. From the melodies in the hook to the fire versatile bars throughout the verse, this song has all the elements to hit the Billboard Top 100. It’s a high-energy feel good track that just makes you want to Bop and feels yourself. The video and audio will be dropping in late August. Look out for this hit record, it’s coming very soon with all the heat this summer.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a singer-songwriter, melody master, cadence coach, and certified hitmaker. I am known for my endless melodies and harmonies which is how I got the name ” Note “.
I mainly work with female artists but is open to working with all talent that has a budget or a label situation.
The main thing that sets me apart from everyone else in my field is my work ethic and the that I consider myself a master Jedi when it comes to this songwriting and reference game. I will literally come up with all the melodies and cadences on spot and then write the lyrics to the record and perform it exactly how it’s supposed to be executed. Then I will coach the artist through the record every step of the way, bar for bar.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Surround yourself with greatness and successful people and that’s what you will become. I just manifested everything I wanted and stayed focus and everything started falling into place for me. I was attracting all the right energy and got so many opportunities just by keeping the right mentors and company in my circle and fruits of my labor came back around full circle.
Pricing:
- Songwriting – 1500 & 30%
- Engineering – $50 per hour
- Vocal Referencing – $500
- Features – $2500.00
- Concepts – $250 -$500
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1notoriousnote/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1notoriousnote
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/notorious-note-b09369218/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/1notoriousnote
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU0rwR0ELQuo0nH8NS9d-3Q
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/1notoriousnote
Image Credits
T Melvin Productions- Vince Bouss – Preston Cousins
