It was the immaculate amount of encouragement that helped launch one Okanagan hip-hop artist’s career.
“In high school I was encouraged by one teacher in particular to pursue poetry,” hip-hop artist Immaculate said. “I just enjoyed making words rhyme.”
Immaculate soon began to develop a love for poetry. By the time he was in Grade 10 he was rapping and was often allowed to complete school projects by rapping.
“That teacher allowed me to do essays and projects through rap songs. I would record them and then play the song to the class,” he said.
He’ll be hoping for an immaculate reception when he performs at tonight (Feb. 20) at The Cambie as part of the The Golden Tour, which features artists Relic, Fresh Kils, Ghettosocks, and Attikus.
Immaculate is no stranger to performing. He’s previously shared the stage with some of hip-hop’s most respected artists including, ASAP Rocky, Three6mafia, Xzibit, Swollen Members, Sweatshop Union, Classified and Madchild.
“It’s a huge rush. I listened to these guys growing up,” he said. “To share the stage with them and to meet them is a huge experience.”
Immaculate will also be releasing his latest album, Solitude, on Friday. The album follows up his previous records, Fourshadow, My Tall Shadow, and Here and After. He said he feels like he’s come into his own his new album.
“I feel like with this one I sound like myself in a lot of ways. So the things I am saying, especially the tone of my voice has gotten a lot more confident and richer,” he said. “It’s a lot more concise and a lot more mature of a sound.”
The Vernon-based artist is anticipating a European tour sometime this spring.
“I am really just trying to get behind and build the image and market myself better and not be so much of a basement artist,” he said. “I want to put myself out there and that’s where I am headed. With this album I would really like to do some out-of-country touring.”
Immaculate performs at The Cambie at 9 p.m.
For more information on Immaculate, please visit www.immaculatemusic.net/.