Even in dark emotional times or moments of pain there is hope that things will change.
It’s a philosophy Brooklyn rapper Maino, born Jermaine Coleman, believes. He said situations people go through are temporary and people can overcome those situations – it just takes time. He expresses those ideas through his music.
“It’s about never giving up. It’s about having hope, even in your darkest hour,” said Maino.
He said he tries to create music that is relatable to his audience – that has a perspective of realism.
“There is a lot of inspiration in my music,” said Maino. “I feel us as people are always striving for more.”
He said he puts his heart into what he does.
The rapper is embarking on his first cross-Canadian tour and his only Vancouver Island stop is in Nanaimo at the Queen’s on Sunday (Jan. 8).
“I’m absolutely super excited. I’ve only been to Canada one time before,” he said. “Canada was one of the places I always wanted to come to because I heard it was a lot of fun there.”
He’ll be promoting his latest single Rest in Peace and he is currently working on a new album.
Maino said the song Rest in Peace is about certain types of people, such as haters, and it’s about saying goodbye to them and cutting them out of your life.
Maino grew up in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a section of Brooklyn. When he was a teenager, he went to prison. It was there that he taught himself to rap.
“First off, prison is a hell of a place to be, especially for a young man,” said Maino, adding he was about 16 and wasn’t fully developed mentally or physically yet. He grew up in prison.
After his release, Maino decided to pursue a career as a rapper.
“It was either I try to make a change for myself or continue on the same path and I didn’t want to do that,” said Maino. “I’m the type of person, that if I set out to do something I am really going to do it.”
He released his debut album If Tomorrow Comes in 2009 and the album track All The Above, featuring T-Pain, became a top-40 hit single.
Tickets are $15 available in advance at the Queen’s or $20 at the door. Doors open at 9:30 p.m.