Introducing new artist and producer, KoviNo aka Big Kov, hailing from Southeast San Diego, C.A. His latest single, “CHECK”, dropped this month following up his recent hit, “30 in Racks”, featuring Harlem’s own, YEZO.
KoviNo comes from a city that has no big radio station or magazine dedicated to exposing their local hidden talent. Artists are often reluctant to work with each other for fear that they’ll be outshined and DJ’s don’t spin local artists and break their records. KoviNo decided that despite these obstacles he would make his mark in Hip-Hop.
But music was more than entertainment for Big Kov. Growing up in Southeast San Diego, C.A., an urban area plagued by gang violence, poverty and homicide, a young black child needs a positive outlet and a goal to focus on to keep him from straying towards the negative. Music was that outlet for KOV. “Dealing with struggles, tough times and fighting and scratching my way out of being a statistic in the hood inspired me to create music. Music helped me get through it all.”
He remembers hearing rap music for the first time in the 1st grade, “I had to be about 6 or 7 years old when I heard this song with an upbeat tempo and a rapper flowing on it and it gave me an adrenaline rush! I never knew music could connect to me in that way. I was hooked from that point. My parents weren’t big on listening to Hip-Hop so I would sneak and listen to the greats like DMX, LUDACRIS and LiL WAYNE.”
By the time he started high school, KOV was enthralled by Hip-Hop music and its unique culture. He was even writing raps of his own and dreaming of hearing them on the radio. Not yet confident enough to test the raps he’d been writing in private in front of an audience, he recorded his very first song at a friend’s house. “Salvador was the first person to put me on a mic. He had a little makeshift studio in his crib and we’d be in there for hours after school just playing around with different sounds. One day I said to myself, ‘Music is my life and I have to start somewhere.’ Man, I was so nervous and anxious because I had never rapped in front of anybody before! I faced my fears and recorded my first song, “Manic City”. That was my introduction to what it meant to be an artist.”
Concerned about what his future would be if he stayed in Southeast San Diego, KOV joined the Armed Forces. For four years he traveled the world and served the United States. “During my years of active duty I learned a lot about myself and a lot about the world. I was able to experience different cultures and see things I would never have seen if I stayed in SoCal. These adventures and my life experiences are all incorporated in my music.”
KoviNo describes his style as a contemporary melodic, flow with relevant bars. He uses real life situations to tell stories through his songs. “I have definitely created my own lane. Anything I write comes from my everyday life, no cap in my rap (laughing). My knack for story telling, my arrangements, and the nature of the poetry I write sets me apart from other artists. My favorite artist of all time is LiL WAYNE because of his distinctive voice, word play and elite storytelling. His style definitely motivates me to become the best rapper I can be.”
KOV happens to be a certified audio engineer so he is skilled on both sides of the booth! “I fill the position of artist and engineer. I have the ability to mix and master songs, create beats and manipulate vocals and instruments. Knowing how to do all of that gives me a huge advantage. It quickens the process for me to go in and create and record a song because I can do the work from A to Z. I built my own in-home studio from scratch so I don’t have to wait for studio time or for a producer to be ready like most artists do.”
He spent the better part of 2020 and 2021 creating and releasing music, including two projects, “AFTERLIFE” and “FINESSE Season 1” and a variety of singles. 2022 promises to be more of the same with the recent release of two new singles, “30 in Racks” and “CHECK”. He is currently working on “FINESSE Season 2” which we can expect to drop some time in Spring 2022. BIG KOV is certainly doing his part to bring back real rap. “I love Hip-Hop and I want to make a real contribution to the culture by bringing back actual bars and lessons in the music. Music is constantly changing and evolving and so are we. The young ones need to hear our stories and understand how we survived the trenches and pushed past obstacles. Putting those jewels in the music can help them to avoid making the same mistakes. As artists we strive to be successful and gain fame but we also have a responsibility to make a positive impact during our journey.”
KoviNo was brave enough to share his greatest challenge as a person and an artist. “I had issues with anxiety. It was hard for me to get to the point where I was comfortable enough to put myself out there and showcase my talents. I am constantly working on being at ease with being in the spotlight. I hope my story can help others who are dealing with anxiety to build the courage to step out.”
We applaud KOV for being an artist who makes great music with no gimmicks. He plans to reach the highest heights in music while being a positive influence on the youth and staying true to himself. “My goal is to become a household name as a producer and an artist, making fans and not enemies and continue enjoying my journey as an artist. This is only the beginning…I know there’s much more to come for me. I’m looking forward to watching my career take shape!”
Check out KoviNo’s music it is streaming on all digital music platforms with visuals on YouTube, including his latest freestyle, “PUSHIN’ P”.
SHUBANGASHOW 