Tell us more about some of your past projects?

Well, I have 3 projects of my own that have been released via the Definition Music LLC label, Motions Sound Picture, Running Man EP, and my newest project just released in October of last year, Hy-Definition. Other than that, I have been on numerous projects from artists, musicians, and community organizations in Toledo and around the region. I have worked with the Arts Commission to a poetry workshop for the youth (WREP). I helped build college prep curriculum around Hip-hop history and culture for Upward Bound students in Southwest Ohio. I have written work for the Fresh Water Initiative. I have also participated in different community plays based on works like Amiri Baraka’s play Dutchman, where I played the lead protagonist. And I have just worked with many community organizations over the years as well as advocated for better mental health services for black people.

What current projects are you working on?

I am still working on the Hy-Definition campaign. It’s my latest work and is my favorite so far. I executively produced all of my albums but this particular one I  took care to not just expand the sound and influence, but work on the visuals as well. So any online commercials/trailers or videos you see for the album were shot, edited, and put together by myself. So I guess I am trying my hand at videography.  I also wanted to make the experience with my art more interactive and accessible. So I created a line of shirts and masks in conjunction with the album that has a QR code that leads you to all of my content. That has led to some cool collaborative work with some artists here. I also plan to finish a poetry book, due to be released later this year.

What advantages does being in Northwest Ohio/Toledo offer your efforts?

It’s quite central in the region.  It sits at the crossroads of 2 major expressways (Turnpike and I75), so there is a lot of influence that enters and spreads out from the city because of it, I think. And you can access so many other markets from here. Within 3 hrs you have Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis.

Tell us about one of your greatest successes.

I can’t say I have one greatest success, but I do have what I consider really cool moments. I will share one. I was in Harlem, NY, 2009. I was supposed to go and perform with a crew of Cincinnati poets in Brooklyn. (I lived in Cincinnati at the time) One night we were supposed to go to Harlem. I remember our guide asked about Ohio because I drove there in a Ford F1-50 and it was the only truck like that in Harlem lol. So we get to the flat and I find out that one of the Last Poets lived there. We walk in, and there is a circle of poets reciting one at a time, and then they would discuss the piece. Mostly asking about its revolutionary impact. So it’s my turn.  I just finished performing my poem The Season in the home of Abiodun Oyewole, one of the legendary Last Poets, and he nods his head in approval, then so does the rest of the room, and began to discuss the revolutionary impact of the piece just performed. I will never forget that ever.

Tell us who or what gives you inspiration?

I have a lot of influences. Outkast, NIN, Han Zimmer, 80s, Edgar Allan Poe, Synthwave, Hip-hop etc. My environment. Movies. Just too many to name.

Tell us about your background.

Well, I grew up here in central Toledo. I started writing at an early age and received much support from local poets and writers like Dr. Imelda Hunt and Melvin Douglass. I went to Jesup W. Scott. Then I attended the University of Cincinnati. From there, I dove deep into the spoken word and underground hip-hop scenes there. I met and worked with some great friends and collaborators. From there was able to do some touring in spots both regionally and nationally before returning back to Toledo.

Do you have a motto or favorite quote you try to live by?

I tend to think about Nina Simone’s quote a lot lately with my work:

“An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times.”

Favorite place for local culture?

I don’t think I have a favorite place. Just mostly wherever it is.

Toledo’s “best kept secret” is . . .

Honestly? Its artists.

My favorite place to chill locally is . . . 

Home now lol (Covid withstanding)

My favorite natural space in the Toledo area is . . .

The Trails of Wildwood Metropark. 

When I’m not working hard, I can always be found at . . . 

A park with my headphones on lol or at work.

If you could change anything about the current landscape for creative, progressive people . . .

I think that art matters. Like REALLY matters. Not just for entertainment, but for culture, mental health, etc. It is important work, much like teaching. And like teaching, I would love for art to have a more important and respected standing within our culture at large. And they (artists) should be paid accordingly for it.

Any exciting collaborations (past or present) you would like to tell us about?

Definitely! One of my most recent collaborations actually came with a Cincinnati blues/punk/rock band Analog Panda for my track “Rocket” on the Hy-Definition album. The engineer’s studio was an old church building. And to have them play live and lend vocals for the song, considering its subject matter, was an experience!!! Also my latest album had many.  My partner and main producer Ill Poetic, (Cincinnati/San Diego) were great for the tracks “Vice Grip” and “Chasing Butterflies” especially. Fatal Prose and Yanna out of Cleveland.  DJ Inform and Nick Costa (San Diego).The Ingrid Rachel Project from Cincinnati. Greats artists from Toledo, Shan Digg, Chiefalone, Ben Cohen of Heavy Color, Mally the Martian, Charles Foster, Aleeus, The Beetz production crew. They all did collaborative work to make this latest effort my favorite.

Name one person (living or deceased) who you would love to collaborate with.

A tie with Outkast or Nine Inch Nails, definitely.

Name a CD, book or website you can’t live without.

Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man

3 words that best describe me or my work are . . .

Layered, Multifaceted, Out-of-the-box

Give us 5 Desert Island Album picks.

In no particular order:

ATLiens by OutKast

The Fragile by Nine Inch Nails

Tetsuo and Youth by Lupe Fiasco

So by Peter Gabriel

Good Kid Maad City by Kendrick Lamar

My biggest vice is . . .

Overthinking

I’d like to see __________ in Toledo.

A thriving central city

The last lyric that moved me was . . .

Right now I’m thinking of the song “Arsonist Lullaby” by the artist Hosier;

“All you have is your fire/And the place you need to reach.

“Don’t you ever tame your demon/But always keep em on a leash.”

One movie character I identify with is . . .

I can’t think of any one movie, but as far as a character I identify with, I have felt like Shirou Emiya from the Anime Fate/Stay Night Unlimited blade works sometimes lol

The best gift I’ve ever received was . . .

My wife

My most inspiring moment was/is . . .

I don’t think I have just one. Again, just really cool moments.

I want my last meal to be _______________.

The Best wagyu steak and Colossal Crab dinner ever!

Additional Links: http://smarturl.it/huntorprey-hydef