Ask Rakim Y Ken-Y One Question

Transcript.

When did you meet?

R: Rakim & Ken-Y have known each other since they were kids, we were neighbors. They asked me to do a record and knowing the talent that he had I approached him about the opportunity I had, and without thinking he said "Let's do it, lets work on it." lets work on it."

He said, "I don't want to sing at house parties anymore and this is a great chance to put out a record." And that's when Rakim & Ken-Y was born.

Is there anything that you don't like about what you do that is not related to stress and pressure?

K: I think that stress and pressure is part of this work. Let me look this way and I'll answer again. I think that stress and pressure is part of this work, where we have to travel a lot, fulfill a lot of commitments. But I can't complain -- I would be ungrateful if I did. There are uncomfortable situations at times, but I am very happy with what I do and I try to enjoy it as much as I can. The uncomfortable moments, I try to deal with them and make them positive. I thank God for the opportunity he has given me to take my music everywhere and I'm very happy.

Stress and pressure have no effect on me, I know how to deal with it.

What do you say to people that want to fulfill their dreams and make them a reality?

R: First of all they need to believe and trust themselves, trust in God; that no one and nothing gets in the way of what they're trying to do. Once they start, they must go on and not stop for anything. If you fall, get up -- it's another experience for what you're trying to achieve.

What do you think of Calle 13, are they representing PR? K: Calle 13? I don't know, they have their own way of making music and we respect that. He's [Residente] from Puerto Rico and is with one of Puerto Rico's greatest beauties. We respect their music but in reality, I'm not that on top of all their work as we're focused on our own careers. But still we wish them a lot of success.

What's the worst thing you've ever done?

R: The worst thing we've done? Wow. I don't think I've ever done something bad that I've regretted. Ken-Y, what's the worst thing Rakim & Ken-Y have done?

K: The worst thing that I've done, maybe, at some point, is not having followed my parents' advice. I think that's very important because parents always give advice for our own benefit. They're the people who know us, more so than anyone else. And when you don't follow their advice the consequences aren't that good. But, thank God, I'm still here and happy. Nothing too serious. Little things. One should follow their advice. Nothing too serious.

R: There is that saying that goes: "If you can't follow advice, you'll never reach old age."

What's something that you can't live without?

K: I can't live without God. I can't live without God, I can't live without my daughter, my family and my music. There are many things that keep me on my feet -- especially my baby and my family -- that give me the strength to keep on fighting. And truthfully if I didn't have the support of my family and my beautiful baby girl, and, of course, God's blessing, I couldn't go on.

R: Amen, Amen. The same for me, without my God, without my two beautiful children children, my sister, my music and my public, I would have no reason for living. They're my life and this is what I live for and I thank them for being there for me.

What other careers would you consider?

K: I also like to produce. I produce our songs and make musical arrangements for them. I would like to work for an artists company and get more involved in the music business. I don't think much about that now because of my career but maybe in the future, God Willing, I could work, produce and manage artists, to create new possibilities for the future in this business, one that's tough but fun at the same time.

R: In the future I would like to produce artists. At the moment, I'm focused on my career. I'm slowly working and helping someone but in the future I would launch myself as a to be a producer.

PR, state or independent nation?

K: Puerto Rico, I like it the way it is. Whichever way it is, I would still love it. I'm not that much into politics, I don't like to get into it because I don't know too much about the subject. And when one doesn't know much about something it's better to stay quiet and sit pretty. I can talk to you about my career, my music and other interesting things but at this moment I understand that I like how Puerto Rico is. You better ask that to Bush and Puerto Rican politicians.

R: Politics for politicians.

K: We're not very knowledgeable about that, it's very important of course, and more or less we know what's going on, but to give you a good answer I find it a little difficult.

R: Don't talk to us about politics.

K: Hello to all my people.

R: talk to me about music. What I want is democracy!