We had the good fortune of connecting with Ratchet Scholar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ratchet, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I know whether to keep going when my peers or my loved ones encourage me to keep going, when people who care about me offer help and actually help me get my work done.

Giving up is hard for me. In one of my freestyles, I say “I might fall back but I never fall off”. Breaks are essential for me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart is the vocabulary I use in my music. A lot of people say you “have to dumb it down” but my love for words makes my music what it is today. I’m most proud of my ability to preserver. I never make excuses for why I can’t be creative I just use what I have and make the best out of it. When I do that God blesses me with more than I even thought I needed. I got to where I am by working at my craft daily, self reflection, doing research, collaborating, reading books, failing, and networking. No it was not easy, when you seek too much knowledge in this industry you hear many voices except your own.

I learned to listen and trust myself. If I do ask for advice, take what applies to me and leave what doesn’t.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ponce city market, hiking, the Belt Line, Piedmont park so they can see me street perform. Roof Top LOA, Patch work Studios, and Apache.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out all the independent artist, producers, and engineers who helped me along the way and those who inspire me even from a distance.

A big shout out to God, my Uncle Anthony he believed in me and was the first person to let me record my music in his studio and shout outs to my assistant who reached out to this magazine to help me to share my story.

Instagram: @iamratchetscholar

Youtube: Ratchet Scholar

Image Credits
Enoch Urban Poets

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