FerQuan: King Quan
Let’s hop right into this Barz EP — Tell me about this particular effort; how did it actually come to fruition?
Just buried myself in the studio for a year and a half straight…until I was truly happy.
Barz is one half of the just unleashed King Quan Project: Barz & Balladz LP — Conceptually, what does that title represent both to and for you?
The project in its entirety is about me growing into my throne…on multiple levels; music and in life. Showing growth from a rhymed point of view with Barz and a soul singers point of view with Balladz.
How then does this new material(s) either differ and / or compare to previous Quan entries?
Outside of my obvious growth with me musically, I’d have to say my sound has evolved. And living in Atlanta all these years definitely played a part also. But I’m still me, and will only ever be…don’t matter what kinda percussion and sound frequencies I rap or sing over🤞🏾💯
King Quan Project: Barz & Balladz is a Kingz Nation release — What are your immediate to future plans and / or goals for the label? And who all else, besides yourself of course, make up its artist roster?
Honestly, it’s safe to say I’m the one signed artist on my label at this moment….but I definitely have my eyes on a few artists that I think will help take this label to even higher levels. My teenage son, ZayFinnablow, to name one.
As a lyricist, when you sit down to pen your rhymes where do you draw your inspiration from?
From life and life alone.
Reflecting, tell me your whole inception into music — When did you first become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for Clifford Peacock?
Music has always played a major part in my life; from family members before me, during and after me being serious about music. My biological father himself was an artist, musician, and a gangster! Despite being a rolling stone…and my mother, a devoted music lover.
Now you’re a native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, by way of Newport News, Virginia, correct? So growing up, who all did / do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?
From Jackie Wilson to Marvin Gaye, to BIG, Pac and Jay-Z to OutKast, Snoop, Too $hort and N.W.A….too many to name foreal!
In having said that, how do you classify your overall sound and / or style?
Urban Alternative…or East Coast Southern Gangsta music🤷🏾♂️
Where does your moniker, Don Ferquan, originally derive from? And what actually prompted your decision to later shorten it down to just FerQuan?
Actually FerQuan is my given name, Clifford FerQuan Peacock. My family calls me QUAN for short…. but as I got deeper in the streets and I kept beating cases, me and my friends had a inside joke: Quan the Teflon Don! A play on my ego at the time, comparing myself to the mobster John Gotti who got the same name for beating law enforcement. As I’ve grown, I decided to just be a well rounded artist; that’s me just calling myself FerQuan.
What particular string of events led to your initial linking up with Nas and then inking with his now defunct iLL Will Records imprint?
I recorded a few songs with Kevin Crouse and producer L.E.S., who was working on Nas’ LP at the time. Nas heard my music, and the rest was history.
At what point exactly did Just Blaze / Fort Knocks enter into the picture?
Just Blaze only entered the picture based on my close relationship with New York emcee, Saigon; that’s it!
In your honest opinion, why didn’t — what was projected to be your then highly anticipated debut — Until my Death ever see the light of day?
A variety of reasons; management and label disagreements, I caught a gun case – I got my gun rights back – and ATLANTIC never pushed the button. I was the first Urban artist they had that was a rapper and a singer; they ain’t know what to do with me either…back then that was unheard of.
And in the end, did you leave or get dropped from iLL Will Records?
I think we kinda mutually walked away from each other. And my cases and his Kelis issues, it got crazy…but we made history. Can’t be mad bout that!
Switching gears here…
Longevity, what do you attribute yours to?
My love and passion for all music old and new…my willingness to challenge my talents, yet also to remain true to who I am.
What do you want people to get from your music?
Whatever messages it is that God use me for…and to tell my story in hopes that it’ll help someone else grow, believe and be better.
On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of Hip Hop?
Yes, as far as the sound. Not all the murders and lil homies throwin’ they life away.
Do you have any other outside / additional aspirations, maybe even completely away from entertainment?
Yes, to keep adding to my acting resume, to become a best selling author and definitely to expand my label and artist roster.
You’re appearing both on stage, Chaos in the House, and screen, Wide Open, playing the role of the late, great Tupac Shakur in the forthcoming Andre Rison biopic — Tell me a little bit about both of these bodies of work…
Chaos in the House was a regional stage play. I had the pleasure of playing a trigger happy hustler/ pimp who could sing his heart out. Fell in love with Broadway, and I got the role as Tupac in the WIDE OPEN MOVIE goin to casting calls in Georgia.
You’re also in the process of penning your memoir — Without giving away too much, what all can you reveal and / or divulge about upcoming said tome?
Yes, my first book is called “THE THIRST,” which details a series of events in my life that made me turn into a young hustler obsessed with fast money and violence, and what I went through to come out of that.
To date, what has been your greatest career moment(s), at least thus far anyway?
I’ve been blessed to have quite a few…from watching my first song go platinum with Nas, to signing a major deal with Atlantic…to any big movie placements or any entrepreneurial endeavors that I’ve been blessed to pursue and make happen. I’m just all around thankful ‘cause many times it could have turned out different for me.
What’s an average day like for you?
Wake up, check my appointment app, huh and kiss on wife…smoke one, drink a cup off coffee, eat a bagel, talk business. Go open my shop and my studio. Cut hair, make music, invest money, stack…flip…repeat. I can’t lie though, I’m blessed and living good.
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans…
I treat fans like family and friends, and keep it that way long as the respect is there.
What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?
My favorite part is when I can tell that my music has really helped and had a great effect on someone. The worse part about this line of work is the finessers, liars and bullshit con artists.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Long as those footsteps are not leading you to prison…do your thing and be the best that you can be and learn everything you can about everything you’re really dedicated to. And, use that to make a living,
“Just a Moment” is a bonafide Hip Hop classic — How did this particular composition come about? Who came up with its concept? And, please describe for me the overall studio vibes on that fateful day?
I was in prison, my sister had just got sent to war, my godmother died and I had just added more time to my sentence assaulting a rival. It’s out of all that ugly drama that such a beautiful song came from.
Lastly, what’s next for you, Quan?
More music…more movies, more books, business adventures…and I think I’m gonna start a school foreal once I finish writing up the curriculum.
Is there anything I left out, or just plain forgot to mention?
Yes please follow me on Instagram @kingferquan and join my website FERQUAN.COM to stay updated.
Any “closing” thought(s) for our readers?
Yes please go cop and share that album … #KINGQUANPROJECT : barz & ballaz (came out) AUGUST 26th‼️🖤 Appreciate the love and support foreal, thank you all for having me.
Tweet
Related Posts
Leila Steinberg Talks Tupac, Omari Hardwick, Mic Sessions Workshop →
Roc Nation, Caesars Palace, and SLGreen Hold Community Outreach Event →
Tommy Davidson Talks Jada Pinkett Smith, Tupac, In Living Color’s Legacy →
