Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyrone Stokes.
Tyrone, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Pomona, CA by my Father, Grandmother and Grandfather. I am the 3rd oldest of 5 other siblings. I started emcee’ing when I was 13 years old because a friend of mine read a poem I had written and said it sounded like a rap song. From the beginning, I’ve always wanted to write music that was meaningful. Funny enough, the first project I attempted to put together at such a young age was entitled “Meaning”.
As I got older, my passion for Hip Hop grew. I went on to college and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Relations from California State Polytechnic University of Pomona. While in college, I built a reputation by performing very frequently with a live band and by being involved in several different campus clubs and organizations; one of which I founded myself called “The Show”. Since college, I have built my own Recording, Rehearsal and Events Studio and Artist/Musician Housing Program here in Pomona, CA. My artist name, and my style of Rap, is Lyrically Twisted. My music is heavily focused on delivery, flow/swag and concept. So my artist name and style has a few different meanings… For one, I often like to put a twist (or a different spin) on my lyrics so much that it forces/encourages the listener to have to “read between the lines” or “dig deeper” to really understand the point that I am trying to convey.
I also like to get twisted with my lyrics in a sense where I provide listeners with smooth, yet semi-intricate combinations and rhymes. The majority of the time, you can break my music down into five different categories, including: Love, Consciousness, Inspirational, Storytelling and Lyrical Exercise. One of my biggest influences would have to be my Father, who introducing me to Hip Hop at an early age. He was a Rapper and his music was the first piece of Hip Hop music I had ever absorbed. Another big influence for me is giving back to my Community. My city isn’t the nicest, the cleanest or the safest, but because of the man I have become while being raised in this city, I feel a sense of responsibility to give back and to be a positive influence from within it. In addition to Rap, I run my own Recording, Rehearsal and Events Studio in Pomona, CA called The Dope Spot Studios, which was named after me and my backing band “Dope by Design”. On the same property, I run an Artist/Musician Housing program as a manager of a house for my landlord. The Dope Spot is first and foremost a Community Resource. We provide more than just Recording for artists and bands.
We make sure that our studio is well equipped and has the network to accommodate artists on all levels of their musical endeavors including, Recording, Rehearsal, Podcast Radio, Events, Music Production, Multimedia Services, Screen Printing, Merchandise, Artist Development Workshops, Booking and much more. Our studio has been active since September of 2013 and we have a huge network of Artists, Musicians, Producers, Talent Buyers and a strong connection with local venues and businesses. Lastly, aside from being an artist and running a The Dope Spot, I am a property manager for four properties at the moment with my Fiancè. I am a Freelance Multimedia Specialist who specializes in Photography, Video and Graphic Design for the use of Branding, Marketing and Public Relations. I am a Motivational Speaking Recording Artist for a company called Fearless Motivation and Fearless Soul. I host events at my studio and within my community. I am a Recording Artist for a Hip Hop Educational Music Company called MindMuzic. And I conduct workshops for Artists focusing on Writing technique, Recording technique, Performance technique, Music Business and the History of Hip Hop Culture.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road to getting to where I am today has been a pretty smooth one. I’ve been very open to changes in my life and living my life the way I want to. One of the biggest things that has helped me on my journey is being able to work for myself and make my own schedule. Having this amount of flexibility makes it so much easier for me to plan my life out and do the things I want to do. However, there have been a few struggles along the way, but they were enough to make me quit doing what I love. When something comes up, I simply find a way to maneuver the situation and get back on track.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am, first and foremost, a Hip Hop Artist. I am a writer, performer and teacher. I enjoy writing and performing music and would love to make a career of it. I often perform with a live band and have opened up for many big names in the Music Industry. I’m known for performing with my band and my ability to memorize and perform almost flawlessly any songs from my catalog that expands over 15+ years of music. My catalog of music is definitely a highlight of the kind of artist I am and the experience I’ve gained over the years. What sets me apart from other artists is that I make it a point to only create music that I truly believe in and in the way that I truly want to write and perform it. I don’t follow trends. I write what’s on my mind and do my best to perform my music in my own creative and artistic way. In addition to my own music, I run The Dope Spot Studios in Pomona.
We specialize in Recording Services and Artist Development. This is what sets us apart from other studios. We don’t believe in the standard business practices of a Recording Studio because we understand that artists need more than just Recording. They need more than just a place to Rehearse. They need more than Mixing, Master, Production, Social Media Marketing, Graphics for Artwork, Photos, Music Videos, etc. They need all of these things and we strive to build our network and make all of the connections we need in order to be a proper resource to artists and bands in our community and surrounding cities. A lot of studios are in the “Money-Making” business where making money is their priority. The Dope Spot is in a great position to help artists and this is the main reason why we put the artists first and the monetary gain second. This allows us to help as many artists as we can without feeling as though we need to constantly make more and more money in order to continue doing the work that we do. We have and continue to provide support for artists on many different levels without having to worry about how much profit we’re gaining. We know that money is important for us to continue providing the services we provide, but money does not restrict us and does not affect our goals so much that we cannot function in the way we intend to as a Community Resource.
What’s your favorite memory from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood is when my dad gave me his Yamaha keyboard so I could record and make my own music. He used to make a ton of music on that keyboard and when he gave it to me, I took real good care of it and produced the first handful of songs I wrote to on it.
Pricing:
- Recording Services at $15-$30/hr
- Rehearsal Services at $15/hr
- Mixing Services at $40-$50/song
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soundcloud.com/lyricallytwisted | www.thedopespotstudios.com
- Phone: The Dope Spot Studios – (909) 326-0285
- Email: [email protected] | [email protected]
Image Credit:
The Dope Spot Studios, Tyrone Stokes
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