Conversations with Steven Koss

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Koss.

Hi Steven, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ah, the oldest profession, storytelling. Ok. Briefly here are the cliff notes. I never considered myself an artist and even today I have a hard time identifying as such but it’s growing on like all my work. It started in 2015 when I wrote my first book about caregiving for my father who had brain cancer. I did so to let that shit out and put together a road map for others because I got there first at 32yrs. old, This led to 5 more books (Amazon) about my personal journeys and a blog. I found I really enjoyed writing because it gave me a chance to speak uninterrupted and express myself.

This experience led to more creative outlets. In 2019 I made a home movie, Midlife Crisis A West Coast Road Trip, as me and a buddy drove across the country. From NC to the Pacific we hit National Parks, Cities, and everything in between cataloging our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGOdrIjvKFQ&t=9s

In 2021 I started training to become a yoga instructor and began building a park next door to train my students. I was diagnosed with MS in 2015 and yoga was recommended to aid in reducing inflammation. While I constructed a garden, pavilion, training area, and path I started to paint. I heard a voice tell me, I bet you could do that if you didn’t try. When I paint it’s not me ‘Steven’ it’s just a transfer of energy. I take shrooms (as a sacrament). Once they activate, I meditate and ask spirit for a playlist (Cher, really, ok). I light a candle, disrobe, close my eyes, and hit play. I never look at the painting until I hear done in my head. What has come out is really something. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ufvsu1NnQs

While all this was transpiring, I was also freestyling in my basement religiously! Why? I found it really, really, fun. I never had dreams of getting signed, but I wanted to get better at storytelling through song. After 800 plus videos (I post the good with bad, 1100 today) I felt it was time to test the waters in Atlanta, so I signed up for a Coast 2 Coast event to perform for a Priority Records executive. That’s where I met Kim, Key2Keys, or my sister from a different mister in February 2025. I had the studio for an hour after the contest and invited some the other artists to participate. I told Kim, the engineer, “I just want to freestyle to Day After by Goodie Mob and they can do whatever they want.”

She glared stoically through her glasses and brim of her hat as I redirected “It’s the last song on Soul Food.” “Oh, I know. They’re my friends,” she stated. I went into the booth locked from the outside isolated with 8 others watching from beyond the glass. I wasn’t nervous because I already knew but then panic set in! The volume was so loud in Dre’s I didn’t know if I could identify the breaks, but I knew from my only live performance you can’t stop. Really, I blacked out but when the 5mins ended I removed the headphones to see Kim with outstretched hands yelling ‘Sttteeeeeeveeee!” I came out the booth and high fived everyone like I hit the game winner, Kobe!

Two girls I met there participated writing a hook and a verse. At the end of the hour Kim exclaimed, “We got song Steve. We got a song.” I had called Tez before the event to ask if it was bullshit and he was straight with me but also informed me it was about meeting the other artists. He was right about that. But when I asked if we could get a song done in a hour he was not as certain. That’s what makes Kim and I something special. It’s not work for us; it’s far beyond that. Six sessions later (under 28hrs.) we’ve made 14 tracks of substance. That’s me freestyling once for 5 mins, her making up the hooks, and then putting the pieces together. Here’s our present. Next.

When I started out venturing to the Gateway in the South, I just wanted to make an album. Then I figured I should write a book with a soundtrack titled – SOS – Strengthen Our Signal. On my last visit in May Kim told me she wanted to work with me more and that she didn’t want me to release the tracks so she could sell them. Tez, Emerald, and the family showed up to listen to our project and Tez said “Let me holla at you Stu. Hey can have a smoke?” He told me how Kim felt and he wanted me to do a song with another artist, Ava. I wasn’t expecting any of this. Almost a year earlier a Dungeon Family member wanted to get on ‘First Glance’ and I was advised to get a BMI # but it never materialized. Today, it feels more like I’m part of the ATL HD Family and that to me is worth far more! Great business is built on bonds because you know a bond always is going to pay. Yep, graduated hip-hop 101 basics. Awesome!

This has been right up there with taking care of my father (who I didn’t like or know) as an accomplishment! I went from the basement in NC to Atlanta completely out of place (took me 4hrs. to win over the other contestants 1st trip) and never once felt that way. There’s always been this calmness with me and as I told Kim, “We’re on a mission from Wrigley Field.” All of this is detailed in the new book I’m getting ready to release. Strengthen Our Signal. But meeting Key2Keys has been a blessing. We are one in the same. Why? We both love tits! Ha! Seriously though we have connection that others search and never find. It only took us into later adulthood to find each other again. The spirit world just doesn’t understand man-made time.

I’m a graduate of USF (Marketing).
Study aboard University Florence Italy (Food, WIne, n Culture)
Bob Houge School of Real Estate St. Petersberg, FL
Ace – Personal Trainer Certified
Yogi – Yoga Alliance

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Fuck No!

If you aren’t failing, you’re not succeeding!

Three years of terrible (Charles Barkley) flows until I could finally stay on beat.
Art shows in W-S and the online community do not like me. I don’t do what they do. I understand that.
One of my first art posts had 150 c0mments, not positive. Others fought my fight though, no need to comment.
It took me 3 books to become an author as my aunt Besty (who red penned the shit out of my first book) told me after ‘White Blazing’. She has won awards for her work.
Dealing with my buddy ‘The Chad’ Van Winkle on the MLC tour. Holy Shit! And my own shortcomings on the road for 6wks. Then exposing that in the film.
Showing up to care for my dad unexpected (he wouldn’t of remembered) because the phone is disconnected and getting kicked out in the morning for cleaning piles of mail.
Building the pavilion with my hiking partner from the Appalachian Trail for a month was like WOAH!

“What you trying to be a Sound Cloud rapper Stu,” asked a childhood friend when I showed him a #basementfreestyles.
I responded, “What’s Sound Cloud?” LOL!

“Can you stop sending me freestyles,” more than one person.

Moving to W-S not knowing a soul in 2018.

Dealing with MS.

Listen, if you want to get good at something you just keep showing up. Why? Because you’re never going to get worse at something you continually practice. In order to show up you have to have passion, not of profit or success, but expression. That breeds excitement. Fuel for the fire.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I kind of hit that already but….

The books, movie, blog (too expensive just let it go), 60 paintings, the park I’ve built, becoming a yogi in the liberal lions den, the basement freestyles, and making a connection in Atlanta.

You can only grow by leaving your confront zone. That takes courage but you got it. We all do. And we all are an expert in something. Please share it.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
“You’re Jewish right,” asked Kim. “You see the freckles? I’m Irish Catholic. You’re the Jew,” I responded.
What Would Rudy Do? Some pushups, run, and pray.

It wasn’t luck that’s a different feeling. And yea I recognize a luck cycle, but this was spirit.
I’m not a Christian but that doesn’t mean I don’t have contact with the Trinity at times because I do.
I’m not sure how to explain this so bear with me.

Ok, so 3yrs. ago I was flowing in the basement (eyes closed always) and I’m out of body watching this guy go only to realize it was me. “I better get back in there,” I said. But this taught me to get out of the way. I call it channeled freestyle because 1/3 is me, 1/3 sub mind, 1/3 spirit.

I never try to tell you I’m the hardest or paint you the pic I want to see. Instead, I ride the waves like a surfer.
Man with Nature.
Not against it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1vzjIVjpMd4
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skossera1/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steven.koss.142
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t1bYiKF6fI
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/steven-koss-54800342/first-glance_1
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0pUOWSNgpc&t=1s