MerkOne

Springfield, MA, USA

Artist/Producer/Beatmaker-I've had a passion for making music since I was 11 years old and will continue making music till I pass on. born in Springfield, Ma. I was raised in the North End, in a predominately Puerto Rican community. The hood was rough, tough, and rugged, but I loved my neighborhood and still do, although I have moved on. It made me who I am today and is part of my fabric. Early on, I started making beats and playing keys. I borrowed my first keyboard. You had to play the beat through the whole length of the song. There were no loop functions, and only six MIDI tracks were available. I believe it was a Yamaha DJX. I was mean on those 6 tracks. Later on, I purchased Fostex 4 tracks and a sampler. I made beats on my porch. I'm sure I drove some people nuts. I spent many nights freestyling by the streetlight, drinking forties, and shooting hoops with my friends. We hung out in the parking lot behind the projects. That's where everything went down. I honed my skills in that