Today we’d like to introduce you to Rafael Cordero.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born from Dominican immigrants who came to Newyork to pursue a better living environment and chase the American Dream. My father was a hard worker and drug dealer and my mom was a housewife factory worker. I didn’t want to be like my father in one aspect but I learned a lot from his street hustle and short temper, and he was ultimately the man I grew to admire and know as my hero. My mom was the complete opposite very passive and very lovable and very emotionally attached to her kids and wanting a better life for them. She was the rock who kept us grounded. I’m was an avid reader and grew up taking a liking to poetry and reading Shakespeare. When I got old enough I gained an understanding of how fortunate we were to be born in the United States as opposed to in Dominican Republic the motherland because honestly the poverty rate and criminal activity would have made me grow up in different circumstances, and going by who my father was I might have not been the nicest guy or as educated or even alive to be telling this story for that matter. I know myself enough to know that things could have been different in the worst ways imaginable. But besides that at 13 years I stumbled on to a studio and started recording music and expressed my feelings and experiences with the microphone and instrumentals. I fell in love instantly. Music kept me occupied and off the streets although I was a little bit in the streets but music helped me steer away from it especially when I was aiming to be one of the best artist in the world. My main goal was to record until I got signed and could give back to my city and my country and assist with the poverty rate and feed the less fortunate. I feel like with great power and money comes great responsibility but I’m 29 now and I never got signed because of lack of marketing capabilities or lack of exposure, and lack of direction and honestly it’s made me become so I tune with myself and my strengths and weaknesses that now I feel anxious to show the world what I’ve been up to. I’ve helped facilitate small gatherings with my family in Dominican Republic to help fund a food drive for kids who are hungry there’s a link I’ve attached below for you to be able to see a visual but I’m nowhere near making a difference as much as I would like to but we do our best with the little we have. https://youtu.be/zMNB_QnzcVU
Maybe one day I can do more. Besides that, I grew up to be a pretty okay guy if I do say so myself.
Please tell us about your art.
My art is speaking on life’s highlights through music. I try my best to make universally accepted and appreciated music without compromising who I am as a person. I can go commercial in my music and I can go street with my music because I come from both spectrums of those realities so I can relate but the instrumentals give me the feelings that allow me to execute on each song in a different way. I’m honestly a poet and I like to change peoples lives In a positive way if it’s through music or my generosity of giving back even if I’m at my last is what makes me who I am. It’s the person behind the music that I’m most proud of.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
Surround yourself with people who strive for more and never settle for less. Surround yourself with people you can learn from because if your the smartest person in the room you’re in the wrong room. Never get complacent because we grow the most when we are outside of our comfort zone. And never be afraid to dream big no matter what the cost because gods testing your faith not your pockets and when it’s your turn you’ll be prepared and not caught off guard. And life to short and you normally you don’t realize that until it’s too late.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/medicine-single/1387975279
Google: Rmoney Rafayel, Google: Therealrafayel
All those outlets will point you to any and all of my work and movements I’m affiliated with.
Contact Info:
- Website: Artistecard.com/rafayel
- Phone: 13219460955
- Email: councilsnext@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/therealrafayel
- Facebook: @Therealrafayel
- Twitter: @therealrafayel
- Other: Instagram @councilsnext
Image Credit:
@CouncilPhotography
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