Meet Spencer the MC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Spencer the MC.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’ve wanted to be a musician since I was a little kid, but I didn’t start making music until I was 16. I was diagnosed with clinical depression, and I needed a way to cope with the problems I had. My mom had breast cancer, my late auntie became ill, and I was an outlier at my high school. I wasn’t really that popular, and I struggled to really find a place to be comfortable in. That all changed once I began writing lyrics. I bought this blue notebook from the dollar store, and I inadvertently began what would be the first song I ever performed. About a month after that I released my first song on Soundcloud. At the time, I recorded on this software called Audacity and used a Singstar microphone to rap with, but I realized I was going to need better equipment. I one and got a job at my barbershop and made $25 a week. That money helped me buy all my equipment within two years.

From then on, I spent days and nights, even class time, working on my craft. I actually had a French teacher take my book away once! But I fell in love with the process of creating songs, and I moved to rap them over instrumentals. I joined a rap group my friend was in shortly after, but I left due to wanting a solo career. I graduated from high school, and now I’m at Georgia State University pursuing my dream. I major in Political Science, and I minor in Music. I’m also a Certified Entertainer for Panther Entertainment Group, which is an organization on campus that prepares students for the music industry. As of now, I’m doing shows around downtown Atlanta and working on an EP set to release later this year.

Please tell us about your art.
I primarily make rap music, but I also sing, produce, and engineer the tracks I record. The content of my lyrics ranges from politically charged statements to interpretive questions about the things I go through as a young adult. For me, music is the outlet I use to say what’s on my mind. I allow myself to get lost and the rhythm and become vulnerable with the listener. I want them to feel whatever emotion I’m trying to convey, whether that be happiness, sadness, or contempt. The messages I write are ones that relate to me personally, but I hope that someone else out there will connect to the same things I’ve experienced in my life. I’ve had so many nights where I’ve felt like no one could relate to my situations, and a huge part of that is because a lot of people are understandably afraid to open up. I want to break that barrier. Music saved my life, and I want to do the same for the person listening.

As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
To me, success is when you’re happy with the way your life is going. Metrics and money are nice, but none of that matters if I’m not enjoying myself. Being mentally healthy is pivotal to having a successful career, so every day I work to reach my pursuit of happiness. With that in mind, everything else will come in due time.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can find my music on any of the major streaming platforms, as well as Soundcloud, which features my older music. I also have a website, spencerthemc.com, which features all my music, the links to my social media pages, my upcoming events, and more. I have a new single called Notice that comes out on March 15th, so be on the lookout for that!

Contact Info:

• Website: spencerthemc.com
• Email: spencerbivins456@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerthemc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spencerthemc/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/spencerthemc

Image Credit:
Kenn Bivins II, Jalen Gray

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.