Life & Work with Ping Harris of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ping Harris

Hi Ping, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my creative journey my senior year in high school after getting injured playing football & I couldn’t pursue my original college plans anymore. I had always been in love with music & art as a kid, anytime outside of my sports (which my childhood consisted of year round ages 3-17) I would be watching music videos or catching up on the latest new music. Both of my parents are to thank for my initial wide variety of artistic inspirations. They both listened to pretty much any genre but had a wide catalog of R&B & hip hop which resonated with me more early on & still. Each of them had big CD cases filled all the way up with albums from the 90s – early 2000s which I began to come across over the years growing up. When I was about 8-10 yrs old my dad taught me how to use Limewire & burn cds.

I can’t forget about when I got my first iPod in 2nd grade. My dad loaded all the music on his iTunes onto my iPod & I remember like feeling a kid in a candy shop with all the options at hand. My taste today is heavily influenced on that music which ranged from TI, Jeezy, Hov. Biggie etc. to Usher & the likes.

Some of my best earliest memories would be riding in the car w my brother & mom singing along/ listening to “our songs” (Lil Flip – ‘Way We Ball’, Ying Yang Twinz – ‘Naggin’, Tupac – ‘Hit Em Up’ all come to mind)

With the grown love for music & new found free time since getting injured, I began finding myself in more creative settings. It was my senior year (2016-17) & I had a group of friends that I’d meet w everyday at these apartments, under a specific tree. We became known as Treehouse & ran with it. My best friend at the time had been working on his music & we’d listen to new music/find beats together on the regular. (Also hit concerts like Future & Young Thug when they came to OKC early on) I was always early on the new upcoming artists & music, sharing it w the homies. Eventually my friend had me start freestyling w him instead of just supplying beats & ideas. I made my first couple songs, enjoyed it & got good reception so just kept messing w it. By March 2017 (couple months before my graduation) we had our first show at a packed out Tymless 1824 in OKC & it went crazy. The people’s reception & support helped me realize how I could really make a living doing what I felt was fun & I loved. I still get that love & joy making/sharing music, but I believe in my product even more now because it’s more genuine & impactful so the overall process is even better now. Especially w my updated team 405NATION! Treehouse Creations is now my personal brand & I am President of 405NATION which is a label, collective of artists, & art studio ect.

My foresight as a kid & accuracy of predicting what artist would “make it” helps me understand the feeling I get now when I see such a bright future for us at 405NATION.
Despite opposing outside noise & obstacles, I stay aligned w the vision that I been blessed with early on.
I wake up everyday aligning w that vision & the understanding “God Got Us, We Got Us.”which simply embodies the faith & responsibility it takes to be where I envision for us.

At 405NATION we provide the community with a place to feel safe, welcomed & openly creative. We help artists of all mediums & ages bring ideas to life.
I spend a lot of time in our studio recording artists or producing/engineering my own music. We have a team of artists I help curate work for. S/o Moneyfacejay, Kasher, Boowopbaby, sosdaje, itsreallyJ.O, Duwop Fetti & LuvvShai
I also do most of the event coordinating for most of the shows at 405NATION. My position came about naturally as I spent the last 6-7 years working with & building relationships w artists. Before working at the Nation I was working out of my apartment studio I called ‘Tree Casa’.
So once I met Chris ‘The God MC’ Cain & he welcomed me in the space we began making plans right away & executing. I originally met him thru meeting at the space for ‘Stassi Baby’, an upcoming film by Grand National (Ronnie Johnson; another OKC Great). [[do research on him & stay tuned for that film also]] A couple weeks later I needed a space for a photoshoot I had w Galavonni (OKC Superstar in the making) & Ronnie connected me w Chris in like 15 minutes. I brought Uni (SUPERSTAR & Creator of @ONE.LOVE.UNI) that first day & he’s been locked in w us ever since curating majority of the artwork inside/for 405NATION, including the mural outside the entrance. It has all been a blessing, I’m thankful for each of these great people & excited for what’s to come for us all because this is truly still the beginning. We just getting things rolling & there’s no limit in sight.

I just released my album ‘All In’ which is available now on Apple Music & Spotify.
(Recorded at 405NATION & cover art hand drawn by @ONE.LOVE.UNI, creative directed by me)

This project embodies the title “All In” with my experiences over the years & all the growth made with my devotion. I see it as a blueprint for righteous success, available for myself or anybody to comprehend & be inspired to align w your best self) It has a special sense of balance & empowerment that I carry day to day. Iykyk. I look forward to progressing my sound & creativity all around, I will remain authentic & expressive with the overall intentions of empowering & uniting our people. God got us, We got us.
At the foundation, you’ll find love.

NEXT look out for the 405NATION Tape which will have many of the top artists in the city & songs we been working on over the last year/2. Crazy body of work & probably will be released in Volumes.

Another shoutout to Chris ‘The God Mc’ Cain watch out for anything he does & expect top notch creativity & quality music. The masses will be comparing him w Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole. Nas, Hov when mentioning the best rappers.
Then he got the future standing right with him. We got all types of flavors & styles, something for everybody to enjoy.

Uni & I have also been working w local youth programs showing kids what we do & inviting them to our space to get hands on experience. We are currently considering taking on a classroom next semester at a close by elementary school. S/o another one of our mentors Milton Hopkins for those opportunities.

Thank you Sarah for your interest & anyone who’s tuned in!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Overall it’s been a pretty smooth road, there has definitely been struggles along the way but I learned to appreciate & enjoy the journey. I’ve dealt w drug abuse early on & overcame addiction, have fell out friends I planned on coming up with & also dealt w the many sacrifices it takes when taking risk following dreams; spending time away from my daughter to get work done for example. Through every challenge I keep faith knowing everything is always happening for the best for me & my people; I see the light & understand there’s something to learn amidst any discomfort, & consciously choose to be that light which has me constantly growing reaching new heights.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I do many things including being a recording artist, engineer, producer, creative director & President of 405NATION. I specialize in my vision & also the ability to connect with & unite all the artists I believe in. By understanding artists/people/relationships & utilizing the space at 405NATION, I’m able to make plans & set up collaborations that positively affect all parties. Whether I’m engineering a session or simply referring artists to each other, I understand we’re stronger together & always push for us to work that way. The sense of unity & support is what I feel was missing in OKC the early years I started making music. Over the years I’ve seen an overall improvement & I’m thankful we’re able to keep things moving in that direction. I’m most proud of my spiritual alignment & mindset that keeps me blessed & in position to succeed getting to the bigger picture, which is all us living freely & happily as our true best selves, all inspiring one another.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Keep faith in God, myself & the vision knowing I always have everything I need to be where I desire.

Pricing:

• $20 405NATION Tees available @405nation on Instagram

Contact Info:

• Website: https://unitedmasters.com/king-ping
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/405kingping?igsh=MTg2b3E0OTgyaTlndw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Twitter: https://x.com/405kingping?s=21
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/XvOhVo2uXpM?si=7W-crm-6yxPhH2Zg
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/405kingping
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/405nation?igsh=dTlsM3Jjb2RscHNl

Image Credits
I sent extras for you to choose from***

All of these photos were shot by me except the personal photo I submitted & the similar shot added from the photoshoot w @ONE.LOVE.UNI (the shot of me sitting on the bench by his work area inside 405NATION) which was shot by the great @kobelensfluent