Today we’d like to introduce you to Reezan .
Hi Reezan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I have always been creatively inclined. As a child, I loved to dance, draw, and write stories, but I never thought I would become a rapper. It all started when I heard Childish Gambino’s “Freaks and Geeks” for the first time. I fell in love with his wordplay and metaphors, and he inspired my friends and I to start coming up with our own lyrics. In high school, we formed a trio rap group called “UBMN” (“Untitled but Making a Name”), but our bars mostly all stayed on paper besides the occasional freestyle sessions. In high school, rapping was more of a hobby and something I did with my friends for fun.
It wasn’t until university at UCLA when I started to take music more seriously as a solo artist. I learned about the engineering and recording process— that making a song is not just slapping vocals over a beat. I had the opportunity to collaborate with other rappers, singers, producers, and engineers, and if it weren’t for them, my music would not be where it is today. Making music turned into a concrete passion, and I dropped my first song freshman year in 2018. I moved back to Dallas in 2021 after college and continued networking through open mics. Since my first single, I have dropped 13 songs, including an EP, and have multiple performances under my belt. My highest performing song, “Need You”, has over 30k streams on Spotify, and I had my first official concert in April of 2022 in Grand Prairie under UFO Hip Hop’s “Outta This World Experience.”
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?
Most of my struggles have been internal battles, such as doubt, fear, complacency, and writer’s block. The biggest struggle I have had, and still do, is balancing my time among work, music, and other priorities. It can be difficult to manage a lot of responsibilities, and naturally one priority gets left behind for another, which has led to inconsistency on my part. Balance is something I’ve been working on for a while, and as soon as I get a handle on things, I add something else to my plate and have to start all over. I like to stay busy, so learning how to balance will be an everlasting and evolving process.
I can’t speak about my struggles without discussing how I’ve been able to triumph over them. Reminding myself of my aspirations whenever I am struggling and creating a specific plan to achieve my dreams has helped me to overcome those battles within myself. Musically speaking, I stay motivated knowing that I’m developing something new and achieving my own sound. Having yet to fully realize my musical potential keeps me grounded and pushes me harder.
What has been the most helpful though is my family, my girlfriend, and my friends. I am grateful to be backed by such a supportive and honest group of people, who make getting through my toughest moments a lot easier.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What I do is multifaceted. I am a software engineer for a major defense company based in Fort Worth. When I’m not working my day job, I’m pursuing my creative endeavors. I am a co-founder of a streetwear brand called BLNK FACE Collective for which I do graphic design. Second, I make music, which is my main passion and creative outlet.
Specifically, I am a hip-hop artist, specializing in lyricism, melodies, and flow. When it comes to music, you could say I’m known for my tagline, “Hop on a beat and I’m gon,” which you can hear at the beginning of most of my songs. In general, I’m known to do a lot of things, a “jack of all trades” if you will. Even with music, I record my own vocals, play a part in producing my beats, make cover art, and edit my music videos. I like to have control of my creations to ensure it’s the quality I want. Down the line, I would love to have a team so I can take some pressure off my shoulders.
I take pride in my versatility because it’s a big component in what makes me unique. When it comes to music, I have experimented in multiple genres from Hip Hop to Trap to RnB to Pop. Over the past couple years, I’ve learned enough about myself musically, where I can now create a sound that I can say is my own.
Alright, so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can get in contact with me through social media or my email. My DMs are always open for collaborations and creative spirits. If you have beats or need features, hit my line!
The easiest way you can support me is by streaming my music and sharing it with your world. Follow me on Instagram, Spotify, YouTube, Tik Tok, and wherever else you stream your music. I am grateful to everyone that takes time out to listen to what I create. Nothing is more satisfying than when people can connect to and genuinely enjoy my music.
You can also check out my streetwear brand, BLNK FACE, that I started with two of my close friends. We’re a new company and recently released our first design. If you’re a Mavs fan, you definitely want to check it out.
Contact Info:
- Music link: www.fanlink.to/reezan
- BLNK FACE Collective link: www.blnkface.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/reezanjiwa10
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnTDtC1dz16q01btST10qig
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2p8s1QqEiwMNcqFsTxoGeI?si=8uyY2ItxTri_WpXtUJU3iw
Image Credits
Khorey Henderson
Vik The Guru
Soha Habib
Zubair Sukhyani
Nehal Banik
Zill Jiwa
