omar

1. Tell me a little about yourself and your background.

My name is Omar Garvey and I am a 19 year old hip hop artist out of the Bronx, New York. I was born and raised in the Bronx. I grew up in Co Op City section 5; I could never forget that place. I still remember the fun I use to have with my friends over there. I lived with my mother, my 3 brothers and my sister. I’m the youngest out of us all.

My family is Jamaican, but I only been to Jamaica when I was a kid so I don’t really remember too much about it. Coming up wasn’t very easy for us but I know it’s never easy for anybody, that’s life. We lived in so many different places from Bronxwood to White Plains road all the way to Wickham Avenue.

I have good and bad memories from all over. I moved to Georgia when I was 16. I been there for 3 years before I moved back. I stayed with my sister and her husband along with their 3 kids. I spent a lot of my time with my Cousin as well. Besides my brothers, he’s helped steer me in the right direction as far as finding out who I really am when it comes to music.

2. Who were some of your musical influences coming up?

I listened to a lot of Ludacris growing up. He’s one of my major influences still till this day. I started writing music when I was 7 so that was back in ’02 ‘03 I believe. I was into Luda, 50, Jay Z, Kanye, Bone Thugz, Tupac, pretty much whatever my brothers were listening too.

As I started getting older I got into a lot of J Cole, Nipsey Hussle, Kendrick Lamar, and Meek Mill. They’re pretty much all I listen too.

3. What’s your process like for making music? Do you have a set routine or does it vary track by track?

I don’t really have a set routine. It’s really just me hearing a beat and knowing if it’s special to me or not right away. Once I zone in that’s it. I just focus hard on it and thoughts start flying in. Anything can inspire you once you hear the right beat.

4. Can you run me through the making of your latest project? How the idea came about and what the studio vibes were like?

The title just hit me randomly one night. I was trying too hard to come up with a title that would catch people but they all ended up sounding so predictable and cheesy. Insomniac just hit me in the middle of the night. I told my bros about it and we took the picture right in the room.

I just stood by the wall and they held a little lamp by head. My brother had the cover to me that same week. I actually recorded the first 3 songs and the last song on the tape back in Georgia with my engineer J Bonkaz.

The other 3 was recorded when I got to New York. I had much more anger on this tape verses my first tape Look Who He Became, and that’s from dealing with so many different situations I was thrown in which is why I like it so much. I was giving you me in every song, however I felt.

5. As a independent artist, what are you doing in terms of promotion and marketing in order to differentiate yourself from others?

As far as promotion and marketing, we’re really just being out in every scene. You can’t only promote yourself online and expect to have a major fan base.

You have to actually be in the places these people you want to be like are at. Shaking hands with this person, giving a cd to that person, give the people a face to see. Perform. You have to be doing something each and every day. Time waits for no one. Then I have sites like Stop The Breaks help with online promotion.

6. What’s the number one tip you would give to someone who’s looking to get in the music industry?

Really be on it if you really want it. Do what you have to do because you can’t skip steps. We all have to start from the bottom and work our way up so aim high and start low. Patience is key, nothing happens over night.

7. How do you feel about hip-hop today and where it’s headed?

It definitely needs change. That’s where I come into the picture.

8. What music are you listening to these days? Anyone in hip-hop really blowing your mind?

The people I listed earlier are pretty much all I listen to, and the Migos. They get you hype.

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Written by Stop The Breaks
Stop The Breaks is an independent music marketing company focused on showcasing independent hip-hop artists. Our goal is to help motivate, inspire and educate independent artists grinding around the world. We provide branding, content marketing, social media, SEO and music promotion services.